Chapter 147
“Media Future, such trash should be eliminated from the industry.”
At the intense remark, as if an ax blade had been embedded into a tree, Lee Min Ki held his breath.
What should he say?
‘It’s refreshing, refreshing, refreshing, but somehow, somehow…’
It was so strong that he instinctively sought a point to refute.
But upon reflection, there was no real reason to argue.
Lee Min Ki steadied his heart and spoke with a firm gaze.
“I think so too. It’s only natural for trash companies to go bankrupt.”
“Exactly.”
Director Seo Jung Woo promptly continued.
“I investigated their internal structure, and they resemble a staffing agency more than an entertainment company. Most of the actors under them specialize in minor roles, and they squeeze cash out of them indiscriminately.”
“Where do you think that money goes?”
“This is the issue. It doesn’t seem like they’re reinvesting it anywhere. Most likely, it’s sitting in the representative’s wallet.”
It was a typical business model for a fraudulent agency.
They’d place actors wherever immediate cash could be made, taking cuts under the guise of service fees.
“In cases like this, the ending is usually the same.”
Director Seo Jung Woo spoke with a quiet anger in his voice.
“No matter how much money piles up, they avoid payments under the promise of future settlements, then disappear in the end.”
“…”
“The contracted individuals are left hanging. They spend three years without receiving a penny, only to fatten the representative’s pocket.”
He was precise.
Too precise.
Director Seo Jung Woo’s explanation matched Media Future Company’s conduct exactly as Lee Min Ki remembered it.
“Moreover, there are likely more victims they’ve lured in under the pretense of commission fees. If they’ve received investments, that money would also be unaccounted for. Judging by their office location, it’s practically a paper company.”
“Then, was this company founded with fraud in mind from the beginning?”
“Yes, it’s obvious.”
Director Seo Jung Woo replied definitively.
“Judging by their founding timeline, it’s been about four years. Considering the number of people they’ve contracted and the timing, they’re probably gearing up to make their final move.”
He was spot on.
In just a few years, CEO Ham Chi Hyun would likely embezzle company funds and run away.
Lee Min Ki was impressed by how Director Seo Jung Woo’s speculation seemed to pierce the future.
‘Perhaps it’s something only someone in the same industry would notice.’
Someone in the same industry.
Though for Director Seo Jung Woo, even being associated by that term with such a company would be disgraceful.
“Even if we leave it alone, it doesn’t seem like it’ll last long. Judging by the company’s structure, it’s good for short-term exploitation but unsustainable in the long run.”
“It’ll collapse.”
“That’s certain.”
The company’s downfall was inevitable.
However, the victims that would emerge in the meantime were a separate issue.
‘That minor role actor, I didn’t even know their name.’
Even though Lee Min Ki had been a victim of the same Future Media Company, he wasn’t aware of that actor’s existence.
Had they even signed a proper contract?
‘No way.’
Lee Min Ki knew better than anyone that they hadn’t.
[Did you receive the signing bonus?]
[What? No? I actually paid a deposit upfront. They said they’d return it later.]
What kind of company takes a signing bonus from an actor?
Naturally, it’s supposed to be the other way around.
Yet, the minor role actor didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.
[They said the signing bonus is just a formality and doesn’t really matter.]
Ham Chi Hyun must have sweet-talked them well.
‘How many people have fallen for this?’
He already knew the answer.
It was just the tip of the iceberg.
‘There are many hardships in the world, and I can’t save everyone. But at least I shouldn’t feel unsettled.’
So, he couldn’t help it.
This time.
Just this once, he decided to meddle for personal revenge.
Why?
Because he had seen it with his own eyes.
[It doesn’t pay well now, but the company is working hard to place me in roles. They said I’ll start earning properly next year. Then I’ll be able to make a living just from acting. Haha, one day, maybe I’ll be like senior Lee Min Ki… Ah! No, I didn’t mean it like that.]
That rookie actor’s innocent chatter had stayed with him.
If he hadn’t seen it, he could have ignored it. But once he saw it, he couldn’t look away.
That person was like a mirror for Lee Min Ki.
A reflection of his past self that he desperately wanted to turn away from but ultimately had to face.
A trauma.
Something he had barely managed to bury deep in his heart resurfaced and consumed him.
But.
‘How long am I going to keep running? I’m the victim here.’
He had found his reason.
This time, he intended to mix in a heavy dose of personal feelings.
Why had he met that minor role actor on set?
Why had Ham Chi Hyun appeared before him?
After much thought, he realized.
‘This is my chance for revenge.’
It was also part of his fate.
“I was curious why you specifically requested such information, actor.”
Director Seo Jung Woo’s voice dropped to a calm and steady tone.
In the next moment.
The words that flowed from his mouth were quiet yet heavy.
“Did you hold a grudge against this company?”
The words were piercing, as if from a sharp needle.
“…”
Blinking quietly at the precise observation, Lee Min Ki lowered his head as if a weight had been dropped on it and nodded.
“Yes, just as you said, I suspect they’ve been scamming their actors with fraudulent contracts.”
It wasn’t over yet.
After a brief breath, Lee Min Ki continued.
“To be honest, I have significant public-interest reasons. If I turn a blind eye, my juniors will suffer.”
Public-interest reasons were significant.
It would help many people.
Even so, looking the other way and feigning ignorance wouldn’t have been wrong.
It would have been more rational, even.
Simply ignoring the issue wouldn’t harm him in any way.
His life would continue peacefully.
Even if there were floods on the other side of the world or earthquakes in a neighboring country, as long as his own life was undisturbed, that would be enough.
But.
‘I can’t do that. No, I won’t.’
He didn’t want to.
‘Not doing anything? For whose benefit?’
Evil people would continue living evilly.
Victims would continue to suffer harm.
Who is this world for?
Who turns a blind eye for whom?
‘Are you telling me to bow my head out of fear of potential repercussions?’
It was utterly laughable.
Isn’t that the person who ruined my life?
And the one who ruined the lives of so many others?
‘If I leave it alone, wouldn’t that make me a fool?’
If I could, shouldn’t I step up?
Some reasonable person might say this meddling is nothing but a fleeting moral victory.
‘So what if it’s a moral victory?’
A sickness of the heart is still an illness.
If the world doesn’t prescribe medicine, shouldn’t I at least prescribe it to myself?
That was all.
There is no need for a grand reason to do good.
There’s no need to set lofty justifications to convince oneself.
Once the sword is drawn, one should slice the radish; once the resolve is set, one should act.
“If I didn’t know, then fine, but once I knew, I couldn’t just ignore it.”
To this continued statement, Director Seo Jung Woo responded calmly, as if he had expected it.
“The actor I know isn’t someone who unnecessarily pays attention to other agencies. But if they are interested in such a small company, I thought it might be meddling.”
“Well... that term, ‘meddling,’ is accurate, actually.”
Lee Min Ki cleared his throat.
Indeed, from others’ perspectives, no word was more precise than meddling.
After all, Lee Min Ki had no connection whatsoever with Media Future Company.
All he had done was exchange a few words of conversation with them.
“It’s not bad meddling. Nor is it meddling that should be stopped.”
Director Seo Jung Woo continued, unbothered, with a calm demeanor.
“If we just have enough evidence, we could sufficiently spread the story and attempt to publicize it through the media. It could happen as early as tomorrow.”
“That quickly?”
“While investigating, I happened to find that a rookie contracted with this company is connected to someone in our network.”
“Who is it?”
“Trainer Kim Ah Sung’s former student.”
At those words, Lee Min Ki’s expression turned momentarily incredulous.
Why is that name coming up here?
No, considering Trainer Kim Ah Sung has had over hundreds of rough trainees, it wouldn’t be too surprising for even a small agency to have one or two connected individuals.
“If we tie in their contract terms or past activities, we’ll likely find at least one topic of controversy.”
His composed explanation flowed like water.
It was incredibly familiar.
It was as if he had done it countless times before. Observing the ease in his demeanor, Lee Min Ki swallowed nervously and asked.
“If it goes wrong, wouldn’t that burden JC?”
“Yes, it might. People might say we lacked business ethics and attacked a fellow company. It wouldn’t be pleasant to hear.”
“Then…”
Just as Lee Min Ki was about to ask if they were willing to take the risk.
“Still, if a company like this remains in the industry, it will continue to negatively affect those working in the same field. And.”
Clap.
Director Seo Jung Woo closed his laptop as he spoke.
“Trash should be cleaned up by the first person who notices it.”
“Ah.”
Lee Min Ki let out a soft exclamation.
He was starting to understand.
Director Seo Jung Woo already regarded Lee Min Ki’s personal grudge as their company’s matter.
No, perhaps he had other motives.
[We can handle this much for you.]
It might also be a form of salesmanship.
Exposing a shady company to the media wasn’t a challenge for them.
It was as simple as crushing an ant with a finger.
This could very well be JC’s intention.
……
…
That was where Lee Min Ki’s thoughts ended.
Director Seo Jung Woo’s thoughts, however, diverged slightly from here.
‘Media Future Company, huh. I had a hunch, and it turns out I was right.’
He had already known.
Even before Lee Min Ki brought it up, Director Seo Jung Woo was aware of the existence of Media Future Company and had a rough grasp of their operations.
However, dealing with them brought no benefits, so he had left them alone.
Asking the press for help is like taking on a debt.
If you stomp on every piece of trash you see, there’s no end to it.
But.
‘They must have done something to our actor.’
If the trash that came into view had made their actor uncomfortable, the circumstances were different.
‘I’ll take care of it while I’m at it.’
Simply owing a debt would amount to charity.
But if it’s an investment to gain returns, it could still be worthwhile.
This was business.
A deal to earn the favor of Lee Min Ki, a future star—no, a star already on the rise.
And besides, sooner or later.
‘Once the CEO hears about this, he’ll personally obliterate them.’
Right above him sat someone with selective anger management issues.
Before things got noisier, it was better to take action first.
Otherwise, that person might storm into their office and start swinging a bat; preventing that was part of Director Seo Jung Woo’s calculation.
The resolve was there, and so was the power.
With a valid justification at hand, there was no reason not to act.
“Now, all that’s left is deciding the basis for reporting to the media.”
“Uh, excuse me.”
At that moment, Lee Min Ki opened his mouth.
“Actually, I have a good idea.”
Ham Chi Hyun.
A con artist specializing in binding rookies with contracts and exploiting them for quick cash.
However, his business card boldly claimed he was the CEO of a talent agency specializing in new actors, [Media Future Company].
And yet, for some reason.
He didn’t feel too great today.
‘This feels ominous.’
It wasn’t as if things were ever particularly good for him, but today felt especially worse.
‘Something, something feels off.’
Was it because of Lee Min Ki?
That Lee Min Ki he had met yesterday.
Arrogantly dismissing every word he had said, only half-listening at best.
It didn’t sit well with him.
For someone who hadn’t even been in the industry for five years, where had he learned such arrogance?
‘Oh, really? Is that so? Seriously? What a way to speak.’
It rubbed him the wrong way.
When someone approaches you with good intentions and speaks, shouldn’t you at least respond courteously, like a proper adult?
He’s not a kid, after all.
“CEO…”
“What?”
“N-no, it’s nothing.”
At Ham Chi Hyun’s sharp response, the employee flinched and turned their head away in alarm.
That employee was also an accomplice of Media Future Company.
‘If only they did their job properly.’
Of course, that employee was also someone who exploited industry customs to their legal limit.
[By growing with the company and building your career, it will be a great opportunity for you, Mr. Yong Ki.]
There was no real affection for the company, of course.
But it didn’t matter since Ham Chi Hyun planned to blow up the company before moving jobs.
‘Yes, it’s not far off. Just a little more patience.’
It wasn’t far away.
Just one year.
In a year, he would take the money he had saved and leave for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to live a luxurious life without envy.
Each day now was merely time spent enduring for the sake of that bright tomorrow.
‘How delightful.’
Indeed, people needed a goal.
As he envisioned a positive future, peace soon returned to Ham Chi Hyun’s mind.
He decided to live diligently again today.
At that moment.
“Um… CEO.”
The same employee who had shrunk back earlier began trembling and opened their mouth.
“Right now, Lee Min Ki is doing a live broadcast on his SNS, and…”
“So what?”
At his sharp reaction, she swallowed nervously and spoke.
“He’s mentioning our contract terms right now.”