Identity
Shortly after waiting in the parking lot of the park near the officetel, a silver car entered the entrance.
Ji-in.
“Congratulations on your award, Chief.”
Yeon-woo burst out laughing as he saw Hae-woon lowering the driver’s window and congratulating him.
“What congratulations. Thank you.”
I opened the front passenger door and went in, and Yeonwoo quietly pointed to the black box.
Then, Haneun unplugs the power cord from the black box.
“Do not record the information to be transmitted from now on, but memorize it in your head.”
“Yes.”
Seeing Hae-woon answering with nodding of head, Yeon-woo cleared her breath and began to speak the information she had obtained from the dark intelligence district in Berlin.
“First of all, Baeksol is a group name. No, it would be correct to call it a private organization within the group.”
“Is this also a secret organization within the NIS?”
At Haneun’s words, Yeonwoo nodded and spoke again.
“October 13, 1990.”
“It’s the day the Korean government declared the ‘War on Crime and Violence’.”
At the end of 1990, the government announced the ‘10.13 Special Declaration’ through a presidential discourse, and the government started a large-scale sweeping operation against gangs.
It was such a monumental event that a movie with a similar name was also released and was a huge hit.
“At that time, all the drug gangs in Korea were wiped out, but within a year, the Chinese triads and the Japanese Yakuza-affiliated groups came into Korea to fill the void and start a drug business.”
“It must have been. The drug business can’t go away as long as there is demand. Hmm, by that time, I wasn’t even in elementary school.”
That was 30 years ago. I remember how White No-ya said that when she was young, she got involved in that faction fight and went to prison.
“So, the National Intelligence Service, no, it was the ‘National Security Planning Department’ at the time. The infamous National Security Agency started to secretly control the drugs distributed in Korea directly.”
“The only thing they can’t get rid of is that they’ll keep it in their hands and manage it. It’s a project that can’t be imagined now…”
“By the way, that’s what it’s been like.”
Haneun’s eyes widened at Yeonwoo’s words.
“Yes? Did it continue until now, then that was ‘Baeksol’? It’s a secret organization that has been maintained within the National Intelligence Service for 30 years… Is it possible? I heard it.”
“That’s right. I joined the company in 2001, and there are only two riders up there. Most of the high-ranking officials were appointed from outside.”
“But how were the ghosts maintained?”
Yeon-woo opened his mouth as he touched his chin.
“If we manage all domestic drug distribution, the financial benefits that fall from it will be enormous. At first, we managed by orders from above, but when the military government came to an end, all those who gave those orders suddenly disappeared.”
“I would never have thought of giving up on it.”
Yeonwoo nodded and spoke again.
“Haeun-ah. Listen. The brush to take on white. They have only one purpose. To maintain this system by sharing the enormous financial profit that comes from collecting white powder.”
“Um, then what should we do next?”
“They say that they keep the number of seven members thoroughly. Only when one of the members dies, a successor is selected and thoroughly educated on ideology before joining.”
Haneun’s eyes lit up at Yeonwoo’s words.
“Then, the person I recently discovered is the agent Ha Joo-ran disguised as ‘Chan-suk Jeong’, the assistant secretary of the Ministry of Culture. That woman is…”
“I’m one of them. And there’s a person named ‘Kim Gye-sik’ whose identity is known to foreign intelligence agencies because he mainly deals with supplies abroad.”
Haneun ponders the name ‘Kim Gye-sik’ that came out of Yeon-woo’s mouth.
“It sounds like a name I’ve heard somewhere… Of course, it’s a common name.”
“You may have heard of it. After all, on the surface, it’s a person within the National Intelligence Service.”
“We’ve got two out of seven.”
Yeonwoo nodded at Haneun’s words.
“And I heard that there is a person called ‘Hoeju’ who manages all of them. Eventually, we have to find out all seven of them at once. If an official investigation into the two we know goes into, the rest will be left untouched. Other than that, I’ll wait for years to calm down beneath the surface.”
At Yeonwoo’s words, Haeun-woon thought about it for a moment, and then smiled bitterly.
“But now the direction is definitely decided. Then why not just run forward.”
“You quit smoking. Would you like to run with those lungs?”
“Kuh-hum. I’m reducing it little by little.”
***
“What? What do you mean. There is no manpower to send to Korea.”
“You didn’t like Jake to use Asian actors. It’s always like this.”
Hollywood casting director ‘Bernard Fenton’ put down the papers he was holding and touched his forehead.
“Even so, does it make sense to go to China or Japan to see the actors and audition after they even officially sent a contract offer?”
Bernard Fenton, who proposed to Korean actor Ryu Yeon-woo through LN Entertainment for a casting audition for a new film for Netflix.
However, the Hollywood production environment still showed a lukewarm response to the use of Asian actors, and it did not seem to be very attractive unless they were targeting the Chinese market for the so-called ‘China money’.
“This time I saw Ryu, who I was filming, wins the Golden Bear in Berlin. Why the hell is this damn Hollywood still standing in its own world?”
Fenton, shaking his head with a somber expression, was fed up with the whitewashing rampant in Hollywood.
Whitewashing refers to transcending white supremacy that is prevalent in Hollywood and changing even other characters of color in the original or screenplay to white.
“This time, the role I’m going to propose to actor Ryu is also Asian-American, but does it make sense that I can’t devote one day to my schedule? Ha.”
“I can’t help it. If you don’t want to participate, they tell you to just do something that didn’t happen. It’s been completely arbitrary since Jake became the CEO this time.”
Hearing the staff’s words, Fenton stood up.
“I have to personally apologize for this. The contract isn’t the problem, it’s the future relationship that depends on it. Korean content is growing in real time. The center of the times is slowly leaning this way… children.”
***
“Hey, can I meet you if you go looking for me like this?”
“You saw the interview too. Ryu Yeon-woo would recognize our romance.”
After Yeon-woo returned to Korea and watched the interview at the airport, unknown director Hwang Min-kwon was filled with unfounded confidence and became flaming eyes.
I recklessly entered LN Entertainment’s headquarters in the navigation and departed.
Jeong Yo-han is forced to follow his unstoppable friend when the switch goes up, even though he knows it will not happen.
“No, I’m not sure if I can make a reservation over the phone and hold a meeting, but if I go there blindly, I’ll be kicked out by the guard.”
“Let’s borrow your reputation. Still, he’s a famous CG director in Hollywood, so why don’t you meet him?”
Jeong Yo-han stares at Hwang Min-kwon’s words with absurd eyes.
“Hey, who knows me in Korea. Say things that make sense.”
“Still, LN is also a place where movie productions are made, don’t you know somehow?”
Jeong Yo-han stares at Hwang Min-kwon, who is only making noises without measures, with tired eyes.
“I don’t know. Do whatever you want. If I feel like I’m going to be bullied, I’ll run away.”
“Hey, brother. Isn’t that the only passion we have for the movie we’re making?”
“You’re bullshit. Only in times like this is Brother Taryeong.”
So Bernard Fenton, Hwang Min-kwon, and Jeong Yo-han were heading to LN Entertainment’s headquarters with different thoughts and goals.
Meanwhile, Yeon-woo, who met Hae-woon at that time, was also on the way to work with manager Kim Min-soo after sleeping at home.
“Mr. Bernard Fenton suddenly asked to see you? There must have been some audition schedules left…”
“Hmm, the actor won the award this time, and the opening results of “Master Plan” are also good, so the ransom price is going to increase, isn’t it because the child got burned?”
At Kim Min-soo’s words, Yeon-woo tilted her head.
“If that’s the case, there would be no need to see me in person…”
Suddenly, the car carrying Yeon-woo entered the underground parking lot of the entertainment office building.
“Let’s go. They say they’ll be waiting in the representative room.”
Yeonwoo and Kim Minsu took the elevator and headed to the top floor of the building.
ding-.
When the elevator door opened, the hallway was unexpectedly noisy.
“I beg you. I’ll wait quietly here in the corner until you have time, so let me see you just once.”
“It’s difficult because you didn’t make a promise. Still, I’ll pass it on to you.”
In front of the representative’s office, there was a man talking about town and the manager of the management team with a troubled expression.
“Um? What’s going on?”
As I approached to enter the representative room, a man who was working in the township found Yeon-woo and was startled.
“Huh! Ryu Yeon-woo…?”
Jeong Yo-han, who was bowing his head in shame, raised his head at Hwang Min-kwon’s words.
“Aww. What’s real? Crazy.”
Looking at the two of them, Yeonwoo tilted her head.
‘…are men in their late 30s reacting fresh?’
It was interesting to see a man with a beard growing like a bandit and a man wearing glasses and looking like a nerd in front of him, like a girl fan.
“Hello. I have business over here, so can I pass by?”
Seeing Yeon-woo talking lightly and smiling, Hwang Min-kwon rushed to grab even the crotch of his pants.
“Hello! I’m Hwang Min-kwon, director of the film. I saw the actor’s interview and it was romantic…, Eouk!”
Manager Kim Min-soo, who blocks and restrains Yeon-woo faster than Hwang Min-kwon is approaching.
As there was a lot of noise outside, the door to the representative office opened and CEO Joo-Sung Kim and Bernard Fenton appeared from inside.
CEO Kim Joo-seong, who quickly grasped the situation when he saw manager Kim Min-soo holding a man, opened his mouth.
“Hmm, Team Leader Im. I’ll have to call the guard.”
“Yes, sir.”
In the end, when the situation became like this, Jeong Yo-han stepped out with a deep sigh.
“I’m really sorry for my friend. I didn’t mean to cause any harm, but there was a scenario I wanted to request for production…”
Bernard Fenton claps his hand as if he’s just recognized him after looking at him carefully.
“Director Johan?”
“Umm…? Mr. Fenton?”
Seeing such Fenton, CEO Joo-seong Kim shook his head.
“Do you know anyone?”
Yeonwoo, Kim Joo-seong, and Bernard Fenton were seated in the representative room.
The two who caused a fuss had an important story to tell, so I told them to wait outside for a while.
Of course, if it wasn’t for the fact that there is a scenario I want to show you and Bernard Fenton’s identity guarantee, the guards would have been called and kicked out.
“…so it happened. It’s all my fault. I want to continue a good relationship with this company and actor Ryu.”
“Hmm, I understand Mr. Fenton’s point. So if you want to audition, you have to audition there according to the schedule in Japan or China.”
Bernard Fenton shakes his head as he sees Joo-seong Kim, who doesn’t express himself like a pro, but obviously feels bad.
“I absolutely do not mean it. The new CEO here is a little…”
CEO Kim Joo-seong, who nodded at Fenton like that, looked at Yeon-woo.
“What do you want to do, Yeonwoo-kun?”
Seeing CEO Kim Joo-seong asking in Korean, Yeon-woo laughed.
“CEO. I think my head has grown to a certain extent now. I don’t want me, so do I need to go?”
“Hahaha. He has a big head. He’s the smallest actor in our agency.”
In response to Yeon-woo’s mischievous answer, CEO Kim Joo-seong laughed and responded with a joke.
As an actor, I didn’t mean to be arrogant, but I didn’t even want to be treated like a fool.
Even if the contents of the provisional contract signed at the time of participating in the casting audition were drastically revised, it would be right not to go for this kind of treatment.
Then, looking at Bernard Fenton, Yeonwoo smiled and opened her mouth.
“Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be our relationship. However, I am always grateful to Mr. Fenton who recognized my talent early and bought it highly. I trust Mr. Fenton’s eyes, so if there are any good works in the future, please take care of it.”
Bernard Fenton asks for a handshake with his eyes shining at Ryu’s reaction.
“I’m happy if Ryu thinks so. In the future, besides this company, there are many companies in LA that I’m in charge of, so I hope we can remain in a good relationship.”
CEO Kim Joo-seong was deeply surprised to see the conversation between Yeon-woo and Fenton.
Asking the company I contacted first to go on an expedition to audition for casting crossed the line in the first place.
So I thought that Ryu Yeon-woo would show her feelings even a little bit.
Even CEO Kim Joo-seong himself was angry right now.
It’s only been 3 years since I debuted, and I’ve grown so much at just the age of 21, so even if I’m not an idiot, I can be cocky enough.
But, such an euphemistic refusal of such a political rhetoric.
‘I feel it all the time, but it seems like there is a serpent in it.’
Seeing such CEO Kim Joo-sung, Yeon-woo opened his mouth again.
“For those out there. I’m very curious about the scenario that we desperately want to deliver like that.”
