Glory Film Company

Episode 52. The Impostor

“Why? Why did he go through all that trouble to come back? Did he start missing Korea as he got older?”

“No way to know. Not yet, at least.”

Choi Suhyeon let out a frustrated sigh, and Lee Deokjae shook his head.

To be honest, the place Hong Ingi had stepped into was Ahn Junseok’s Master Film. Whatever chaos he stirred there had no direct connection to My Way Pictures.

However, if the butterfly effect of conman Hong Ingi’s actions ended up impacting Jeil Entertainment, which had made a significant investment in Master Film, the damage would undoubtedly ripple back to My Way Pictures. That was the source of anxiety for Lee Deokjae, Choi Suhyeon, and Jang Hyunmin.

“We’ll have to look into it.”

Lee Deokjae nodded.

Some realities are more dramatic than any movie or drama.
And this time, the scene-stealer of the story was none other than Hong Ingi—a man capable of creating twists shocking enough to rival any plot. It was better to gather intel before they got blindsided.

The tense atmosphere was broken by the sound of a door sliding open. Youngkwang entered the office.

“Oh, PD Youngkwang, you’re here?”

“Yeah. You haven’t gone home yet?”

“No, just nursing a hangover and chatting a bit.”

“So, what’s this about Deputy Yang? Why did they call all of a sudden?”

Youngkwang stared blankly at the three of them, who had been heavily drunk just a few hours ago but were now sitting there with sober faces.

“This works out. There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you three.”

The clock already showed 10 PM. Though he was tired from running around all day, Youngkwang felt he wouldn’t be able to sleep until he got some answers. He hoped these three might clear up at least some of his questions.

“About Producer Hong Ingi, who we met at the year-end party.”

“Oh, PD Hong?”

“Why bring him up all of a sudden?”

Lee Deokjae and Choi Suhyeon asked back in surprise. They’d just been discussing him in detail, and now Youngkwang had walked in and mentioned his name—it was enough to make them uneasy.

“Do you happen to know the name he used in the States or the company he worked for?”

“Hmm, not sure. He didn’t really mention it.”

“I heard he worked on some franchise projects and big productions, but the topic moved on pretty quickly.”

“Hm…”

“Why do you ask?”

“There’s something that’s bothering me.”

*****

A few hours earlier.

After leaving Ahn Junseok’s production company, Youngkwang was heading toward My Way Pictures when he received a call from Foley artist Do Junyoung. Changing course, he turned toward a studio in Nonhyeon-dong where the booth was located.

The team had requested priority work on a few key scenes for the official trailer of 300 Days After We Break Up, and the job was done.

“This is fantastic. The director must’ve loved it.”

“Yeah, he was cracking up during the rest stop bathroom scene. Said it sounded so real, like it was actually happening. He even asked if we’d recorded the real thing, hahaha.”

“Haha, I can see why he’d think that. It’s so realistic. What did you use to make that sound?”

“Ketchup bottles. We added a bunch of other stuff and squeezed it out. Want a demo?”

“Pfft, no thanks. But it’s seriously impressive. Just the trailer alone is going to have people in stitches.”

“Exactly. I poured my heart into these effects.”

The work itself had no issues. The problem lay in a passing remark Do Junyoung made.

“This isn’t work-related, but…”

“Yes?”

“I think I’ll be staying in Korea longer than I’d mentioned.”

“Oh, really?”

“I was supposed to leave in March, but it looks like my plans are delayed by a month or two.”

“Ah, I see. Preparing must be taking longer?”

It was a polite question, but—

“Ugh, it’s all bad timing.”

As if waiting for an opening, Do Junyoung began venting his frustrations.

“Apparently, a Korean guy caused a huge mess at the company I was introduced to. Pretended to be a producer, made a fake résumé, and worked on projects fraudulently. They said he was in his forties, so no spring chicken either. Anyway, because of that, they’re being extra cautious about Koreans now, scrutinizing portfolios and résumés much more thoroughly. It’s doubled the prep work I have to do.”

Could this timing be mere coincidence?

A cold intuition hit Youngkwang, and he pressed further with his questions.

“Do you happen to know the name of the producer who caused the trouble? Or maybe their exact age or any distinctive features?”

“I could ask around… Why?”

“Please do. Someone I know came to mind.”

“Ha, are they a close acquaintance?”

“No, he’s a conman. There’s some overlap, and if it’s who I think it is, he’s someone who absolutely needs to be dealt with.”

“…Wow.”

Although Do Junyoung agreed to look into it, getting an answer would take time. That was why Youngkwang turned to Lee Deokjae, Jang Hyunmin, and Choi Suhyeon to ask if they knew anything about Hong Ingi’s past activities.

Their response that they knew nothing gave Youngkwang a clue.

“So, he kept his background hidden from everyone, not just me? If he avoided bragging, it means there’s something he’s trying to conceal.”

A sense of unease crept in as a bad smell seemed to emanate from the whole situation, causing Youngkwang to frown.

“PD Youngkwang.”
Lee Deokjae called out with a serious expression.

“Don’t get involved with PD Hong Ingi.”

“…What?”

“He’s bad news. Nothing’s been confirmed, but there are plenty of nasty rumors about him. Whatever’s going on, don’t get curious or try to get close to him.”

Jang Hyunmin and Choi Suhyeon chimed in as well.

“Is this about worrying over Director Ahn? With Jeil Entertainment involved, they’ll handle it themselves.”

“Yeah. That guy? Think of him like Stay Film’s ex-CEO, Gu Bonjik. Petty, shameless, and relentless. If you rub him the wrong way, he’ll torment you to death. The best option is to stay far away.”

The same level as Gu Bonjik?
They really don’t know Hong Ingi, thought Youngkwang.

He looked at the three of them with concern. Hong Ingi was not someone to take lightly. He was capable of anything to achieve his goals, and his cunning surpassed Gu Bonjik by far.

The most disturbing part was his complete lack of guilt.

Avoidance wouldn’t solve the issue. He was like a cancerous tumor that needed to be excised before he grew stronger.

If no one else stepped up, Youngkwang was prepared to handle it himself.

*****

Meanwhile, at a High-End Korean Beef Restaurant in Gangnam

Over wine and premium cuts of sirloin and ribeye, two men were having a casual conversation.

With a shiny bald head, a short neck adorned with gaudy gold chains, and luxury brands mismatched from head to toe, one man was Gu Bonjik, the former CEO of Stay Film.

Opposite him, with similar taste in flashy attire and a greasy demeanor, sat Hong Ingi.

“Ah, eating this Hanwoo beef really makes me feel like I’m back in Korea. American beef just can’t compare. It’s all about the seasoning over there.”

“Good wine too, right? This place only operates by reservation. I only get to use my special privileges occasionally.”

“Wow. You’re on a whole different level, boss. Seeing it all in person now, I’m amazed. I’m truly moved.”

“Of course. Hearing about something and seeing it yourself are entirely different experiences.”

“Exactly. But I always knew Stay Film would grow to this level.”

“Haha, I know, I know. That’s why you worked so hard back then.”

“Ha, I’ve been through a lot in these past 12 years.”

“Yeah, you’ve been through the wringer. But now that you’re back in Korea, it’s time to get active again, just like before.”

The two exchanged compliments and pleasantries, lifting each other up. On the surface, it seemed like a long-awaited reunion, but in reality, they had always stayed in touch.

“…What about that writer?”

“Fired.”

“They must be crushed.”

“They’re probably miserable, not knowing why things keep going wrong just when they seem within reach.”

“That’s the beauty of it. If there’s no hope, they can give up. But when they think they’re close to making it, they can’t let go. People in this industry are just like gamblers.”

The two chuckled about writer Na Sejeong, who had been removed from Ahn Junseok’s project.

“They say she’s talented, but what good is that if her personality’s terrible? These days, kids think being rude and defiant is the same as being cool.”

“Getting rid of her early was the right move. That makes it easier for PD Hong to maneuver.”

“Exactly. And just as you said, Director Ahn is a perfectionist. It didn’t even take much pushing for him to cut her out like she was nothing.”

“That girl thinks she’s some high-and-mighty artist”

Clicking their tongues as they took another sip of wine, the two men mocked Ahn Junseok before lowering their voices and getting to the main point.

“How much access do you have to internal information?”

“Right now, it’s just the budget for the project I’m handling. But I think it’ll expand soon. Director Ahn doesn’t seem to focus on anything but his work. He seems aware of it too. After a few stressful moments, I’m sure he’ll start delegating bit by bit.”

“Of course. Producing isn’t child’s play. Ha, the idiot probably regrets taking on something this complicated by now.”

“Ha ha. His face already looks miserable.”

“Right? Hah hah hah.”

The one who planted the seed of suspicion that Na Sejeong was a plagiarist was none other than Hong Ingi. It was a calculated sacrifice for his grand scheme.

*****

A Few Weeks Earlier

“PD Hong, how about working on something with me again? It’s been a while.”

Gu Bonjik, needing a new collaborator after his failure in the U.S., made the proposal to Hong Ingi.

“It’s a new production company founded by Director Ahn Junseok. The confirmed production budget alone is in the hundreds of billions. Jeil Entertainment has invested as well. How about infiltrating it?”

There was no reason to refuse. Portfolios and résumés were just tools to be fabricated. With Gu’s help behind the scenes, entering Master Film was as easy as pie.

If done well, it could be a jackpot.

“Thank you, sir. I’ve missed Korea anyway. So, what do you need me to do?”

Hong Ingi was a man of clear give-and-take, and Gu Bonjik had a specific request.

“I need certain internal information. Just bring me what you can.”

Thus, their dirty deal was struck, and they joined forces once more.

*****

“How dare they make a fool out of me?”

After failing to secure a contract with Ahn Junseok, Gu watched the subsequent events unfold, his blood boiling. Unexpectedly, My Way Pictures received significant funding, and Ahn Junseok used Jeil Entertainment’s investment to establish his production company.

“I’ll crush them. Those cockroaches.”

Gu couldn’t stand seeing opportunities he believed were his slipping through his fingers. Reuniting with Hong Ingi was risky, but he didn’t care. Gu was determined to watch Ahn Junseok and My Way Pictures crumble before his eyes.

“Still, Master Film isn’t entirely owned by Ahn Junseok. Jeil Entertainment holds a significant stake, so there’s a lot of interference. It’s not easy to skim anything unnoticed.”

Executing the plan came with hurdles.

“Of course. Ten years ago, it wasn’t this strict. Now, everything—accounting, oversight—is ridiculously tight. But there’s always a gap. Especially now that the obstacles have been cleared.”

“Hm. That writer, Na Sejeong, was annoying, but there’s someone else—Deputy Yang Hyesoo from Jeil Entertainment. You know, the one overseeing My Way Pictures.”

“Ah, Deputy Yang. Yeah, I know her.”

“She’s a real piece of work. Sometimes she steps in as Director Park Sunghoon’s proxy, and she’s so meticulous nothing slips past her. She’s the one who introduced Writer Na to Director Ahn, so when Na got cut, she gave me hell about it. Honestly, I wanted to curse her out.”

“Ha. Deputy Yang is no joke. She’s notorious for being a terror in investment reviews.”

“Exactly. When I saw her at the year-end party, I could tell she’s a nutcase.”

“Then get rid of her too.”

“What?”

“She’s overseeing My Way Pictures, right? If something goes wrong with the films they’re funding, both the company and Deputy Yang can be taken out in one stroke.”

“Ah…”

At Gu’s bold suggestion, a smile crept across Hong Ingi’s lips.

“As expected, sir, you’re decisive. In that case, could I ask you for a favor?”

“Name it. Anything.”

As Gu nodded smugly, Hong Ingi stared at him, amused. How could this man be so consistently easy to manipulate?

“He probably thinks all these plans are his ideas. But the fact that he believes that only proves he’s dancing to my tune. Poor guy.”

Hiding his true thoughts, Hong Ingi flashed a wide smile.