Reporter and Reportrash (3)
I arrived at the meeting place to meet Choi So-Hye, the team lead of the Culture and Entertainment Department at Central Daily Newspaper. But in the meantime, a new article by Ju Kang-Yong had been uploaded.
['The Private Life of Rookie Actress J']
-The Morning Takes Off, On-Set Sketch.
-Clash with sunbae Park Eun-Bin?
-'Sunbae, you don't like me, do you?' Rookie actress suggests. Is there an inverse relationship between popularity and personality?
(Seeking tips. Entertainment Big News Ju Kang-Yong)
Ju Kang-Yong was truly a master at captivating people with his attention-grabbing headlines.
'How does this guy constantly get better at writing each day? He should be a novelist instead of wasting his talent on writing tabloid articles.'
I couldn't believe he even fabricated a statement by Park Eun-Bin and attributed it to Yoo-Jin.
Fortunately, the publicity division of Hoop Entertainment was also engaged in a media battle to prevent Ju Kang-Yong's article from reaching the top of the entertainment news rankings.
I began reviewing the articles as I scrolled up, starting from the top-ranked one.
[Blue Sky's First Script Reading. Fierce Acting Competition Among the Actors.]
[Ju Yung-In and Jung Yoo-Jin, Hoop Entertainment's Dynamic Duo in Action!]
[SBC's Ambitious drama Blue Sky Cranks In on January 30th!]
While I was checking the articles, I heard the sound of Kang Ji-Yung walking into the room.
Click.
Then, a beautiful short-haired lady, who was wearing a suit, entered the room with Kang Ji-Yung and started to scan me from head to toe.
She was Reporter Choi So-Hye, a future bigwig who would shape the Korean entertainment industry.
"Is this the guy?"
"Yes, he's our company's rising star. Pretty good, huh?"
Choi So-Hye giggled at Kang Ji-Yung's remark. "Hey, he's totally your type, isn't he?"
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Just sit down already!"
"But he looks more like an aspiring actor than a talent agent..."
"Unnie, for real. I'm tired. Let's just sit and talk. My legs are swollen from walking all day."
"You are always so prickly... Alright, then."
Choi So-Hye approached me first and extended her hand.
"I'm Choi So-Hye. Nice to meet you."
Choi So-Hye, who was a competent and youngest team lead at the prestigious Central Daily Newspaper, was a year senior to Kang Ji-Yung in the industry. In three years, she would independently establish 'Star Special,' a company that she would propel to the pinnacle of the entertainment journalism industry.
However, my present meeting with Choi So-Hye was not focused on her capabilities; rather, it was because I knew she possessed information that could do more than merely tarnish Ju Kang-Yong's reputation.
We sat down after exchanging brief greetings.
Choi So-Hye, looking at the pricing of Hanwoo on the menu, complained to Kang Ji-Yung.
"What? This is too expensive, isn't it? Won't this violate the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act?"
"This isn't a bribe. It's for a tip-off to uphold social justice. Don't you eat with your sources?"
"Oh, is that so? Then let's start with soju."
"Soju? In broad daylight?"
"What's wrong with you? Don't you know that reporters in Korea don't care about the time when it comes to drinking?"
Kang Ji-Yung sighed and pressed the call button.
"If I keep up with your drinking pace, I might end up crossing the threshold to the afterlife."
'Wait a minute. Is 'Barrel,' known for being a heavy-weight drinker, actually talking about being weak in the face of alcohol? I'm getting scared of Choi So-Hye.'
I had never drank together with Choi So-Hye before in my past life. But looking at Kang Ji-Yung's exhausted expression, it seemed like I wouldn't be walking out on my own two feet today.
As expected, Choi So-Hye's order of alcohol was on a different scale. She started with three bottles of soju for appetizers. After placing the order, Choi So-Hye opened her mouth with her eyes sparkling with interest.
"Anyway, let's just cut to the chase. You're the one who called me here, right?"
"Yes, Miss Choi."
"I did hear the news that Ju Kang-Yong has been messing with the actress you are in charge of, Mr. Jung. But if you're thinking of asking me to write a counter-article against him, then you've got the wrong idea."
Her reaction was only natural because even though the entertainment section of newspaper companies often wrote or pulled articles for money, it was a different story with Central Daily Newspaper, one of the top three newspapers. Such big newspaper companies were more strictly regulated.
"It's not about asking for a counter-article."
"Then what is it?"
"I've heard rumors that you've been investigating Ju Kang-Yong's crimes for a while."
At that moment, Choi So-Hye's gaze suddenly turned sharp. Attacking a fellow reporter, even within the domain of tabloids, was generally avoided in Korean journalism. However, Choi So-Hye had ignored this culture and was digging into a sunbae reporter Ju Kang-Yong.
"How did you know?"
Choi So-Hye looked at me with suspicion and a cold expression.
That was when Kang Ji-Yung joined the conversation. "Don't be too guarded, unnie. Everyone knows Ju Kang-Yong is capable of such behavior. I told him myself because I assumed you must be investigating him as well."
I had already mentioned the crimes Ju Kang-Yong had committed against female rookie reporters and actresses to Kang Ji-Yung, including some specific incidents. As such, the conversation flowed well.
"Right... That human scum. I can't even keep track of all the crimes that asshole has committed."
Just then, the server came in.
"I'll serve the side dishes first."
We paused the conversation for a moment as the server brought the drinks and side dishes.
Choi So-Hye asked the server to serve the Hanwoo a bit later.
"Then what should I do about the side dishes and soju?"
"Oh, please serve those now."
After the server left, Choi So-Hye poured me a glass of cold soju as her stern face softened.
"Let's have a drink first and then talk."
"Sure."
As the cold soju she poured me slid down my throat, I felt more alert. Choi So-Hye stared at me for a while and offered me another glass.
"Another one."
After pouring me a second glass, she asked, "This isn't going to be an issue with the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, right?"
Gulp.
I calmly emptied my glass and answered, "I don't even know what that is."
"Okay, great. If you don't know, you should have another glass."
'What does not knowing have anything to do with having another glass?'
I found the logic puzzling as I stared at Choi So-Hye, who kept pouring me another glass of soju.
'I did hear she's the type to drink without food, but I'm different! Can we order some meat?'