Return of the Genius PD

-Click, click.

The only sound in the office of Production Team 3 was the rhythmic clicking of a mouse.

“…I must be in a food coma. I’m dying of sleepiness.”

The team leader yawned widely, prompting Kim Hyun-chul, an eight-year veteran PD standing by the printer, to quip:

“Team Leader, you should see a doctor. It’s almost dinner time, and you’re still blaming food coma.”

The team leader, half-listening, responded, “What? Ji-won?” Kim Hyun-chul shook his head.

“If you miss him so much, why’d you let him go?”

Since Ji-won’s departure, the team leader had been suffering from a severe case of “Ji-won withdrawal.”

“There was no one quite like Ji-won…” he mumbled under his breath before raising his voice.

“Sigh, Hyun-chul. Let’s go for a smoke.” 

“What are you talking about? I don’t even smoke.” 

“Come on, just for some fresh air.” 

“I’m busy. Go by yourself.” 

“Quit whining and come with me. Supporting your team leader is part of your job.” 

“Huh? What? Team Leader—?”

Despite Kim Hyun-chul’s protests, it was useless. The team leader firmly grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the rooftop.

“Geez, I’ve got a mountain of work,” Kim Hyun-chul grumbled as he stared out at the Seoul skyline. The view was stunning, the setting sun casting a warm, reddish glow over the city.

“Isn’t it nice up here?” the team leader asked casually as he lit a cigarette. “Look at that beautiful sunset.”

Just as Kim Hyun-chul was about to chuckle at his team leader’s uncharacteristic comment, he heard:

“I wonder if Ji-won is doing well over at Team 2…” 

“You should’ve treated him better while he was here. You were kind of harsh.” 

“I was planning to mentor him… eventually.”

The team leader sighed, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

“I heard he’s working under Jong-su now. I hope he’s not struggling too much.” 

“Kim Jong-su sunbae from Team 2?” 

“Yeah, he’s in charge of Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju.”

Kim Hyun-chul scratched his chin at the mention of Kim Jong-su.

“He’s in for a rough time. That sunbae’s only got two things in his brain: dramas and muscles.”

The team leader narrowed his eyes and flexed his thin frame.

“What do you know about dramas, you mere assistant director? Don’t get ahead of yourself!” 

“Are you trying to impersonate Jong-su sunbae?” 

“Today’s meeting will be at the gym! Everyone, bring your workout gear, and don’t forget your protein shakes!”

The team leader, still caught up in his impression of Kim Jong-su, muttered quietly:

“Maybe I should give him a call.”

But then, he quickly shook his head.

“Nah, he must be busy. I’d only be a bother.”

Kim Hyun-chul nodded in agreement.

“Still, compared to almost being dragged into the Strategic Planning Team, he’s out there making the drama he wanted.”

He smiled at the team leader.

“He’s probably running around, thrilled right now, don’t you think?”

Images of Ji-won energetically darting around, his eyes alight with excitement, came to both their minds.

“I guess you’re right,” the team leader said.

Suddenly, he shouted toward the distant horizon, beyond the rooftop railing:

“Do Ji-won, hang in there!”

* * *

“Phew, I’m exhausted…”

-Thud.

Ji-won tossed the sun cap he had been wearing onto the ground and suddenly slumped down. 

For the past few days, his work resembled that of a professional mountaineer or wild ginseng digger rather than a broadcast production team member. 

Even now, he had crossed two mountains in search of Han Se-gyu.

“Haah.”

As he lay down on the soft dirt ground, his gaze naturally shifted toward the sky. Though he had set out early this morning, the evening sunset had already painted the horizon.

‘I’m sure I can find him…’

The first and second days had both been fruitless.

There was no trace of actor Han Se-gyu at the two fishing spots he had visited earlier. Not only were there no signs, but he couldn’t even get an eyewitness account. 

Now, there was only one place left. If he couldn’t find Han Se-gyu at the final spot, he might really have to give up.

“Alright, let’s see who wins!”

Ji-won abruptly stood up, walking vigorously again.

-Step, step.

Another hour passed.

‘It should be around here…’

He finally reached his destination, but—

“Huh.”

There wasn’t even an ant in sight, let alone Han Se-gyu. All that greeted Ji-won was an empty field.

His legs gave out.

As Ji-won caught his breath, he felt his phone vibrate. It was PD Kim Jong-su. No doubt, it was a call to check on today’s progress.

“Ji-won, where are you now? Are you on your way? Have you arrived?”

“I just got here.”

“So you went all the way to the end, huh? I’ll give you credit for your perseverance.”

A moment of silence passed.

“Is he there?”

Feeling apologetic, Ji-won answered in a small voice.

“He’s not here.”

After another brief silence, PD Kim Jong-su clicked his tongue in disappointment, then spoke in a comforting tone.

“Luck’s not on our side. Let’s head back for now. It’s late, so just go home from there and come in late tomorrow. You worked hard. We have plenty of actors on the list, so don’t beat yourself up. You did everything you could.”

As the call was wrapping up…

-Thud.

Overwhelmed by fatigue, Ji-won had no choice but to slump back down on the ground.

Actor Han Se-gyu was perfect for the role of Ham In-ju.

However, the fact that Ji-won couldn’t even catch a glimpse of him, let alone recruit him, was disheartening.

‘Is this as far as I can go?’

Ji-won closed his eyes for a moment, imagining a scene from the drama that would air soon. More precisely, he envisioned the character of Ham In-ju played by actor Han Se-gyu.

Inside the operating room.

Everyone had finished preparing for surgery and was waiting for orders.

“Scalpel.”

Actor Han Se-gyu, dressed in surgical scrubs, gazed straight ahead with eyes full of weathered experience as he received the scalpel. For a moment, it felt as if Han Se-gyu was looking directly at him. His eyes seemed to say:

‘Give up, you’ve done enough.’

Ji-won opened his eyes again, a bitter smile forming on his lips. It was a smile tinged with stubbornness. He murmured quietly.

“…I guess I can’t. Even if it kills me, I have to do this with actor Han Se-gyu.”

Ji-won adjusted his posture and sat up straight.

‘Let’s think it through carefully again.’

Since today was practically his last chance, he began desperately reviewing all the information once more.

‘I’ve searched all the most likely fishing spots…’

If that was the case, it was time to flip the perspective.

‘Let’s focus on ‘Han Se-gyu’ rather than the fishing.

The future Han Se-gyu would return from a long hiatus. Of course, that was much later.

A whole five years later.

‘Let’s focus on the whereabouts of Han Se-gyu five years from now.’

There had to be clues somewhere in the memories of his past life.

‘Focus. Focus.’

He began sifting through his memories for anything related to Han Se-gyu.

How much time had passed?

Suddenly, the memory of an interview with a certain media outlet flashed through Ji-won’s mind.

-“When I’m struggling, I hide in the place where my life began, a place full of memories. Of course, even during my time in seclusion. You could call it my secret place.”

Ji-won quickly pulled out his phone, frantically moving his fingers across the screen. Internet browser pages opened and closed hundreds of times.

“Found it.”

A smile crept onto Ji-won’s lips after his intense focus.

[A photo of a young man and a middle-aged man with their arms around each other.]

The post was from 30 years ago.

No, calling it a post wasn’t entirely accurate. The original had long since been deleted, leaving only a cached image on the internet.

The name of the middle-aged actor was Park In-hyun.

It was a younger version of the veteran actor who had passed away six years ago.

And the young man with short hair standing right beside him? None other than actor Han Se-gyu from 30 years ago.

There were three reasons why Ji-won fixated on this photo:

Interpreting “life” from the interview as his life as an actor.

The fact that the photo was taken at a mountain cabin, the filming location of Han Se-gyu’s debut work, Our Own Heaven.

According to information gathered from various maps, the area near the cabin used to be a fishing spot, long abandoned.

And the conclusion?

The lakeside at the summit of Chowon Mountain.

This was his last hope. Ji-won’s footsteps quickened.

‘Night will fall soon. If I don’t hurry, it’ll be impossible to find the way.’

The golden hour was slipping away.

.

.

.

The mountain path, untouched by human presence in the dead of night, was treacherous.

A pitch-black darkness, unlike anything seen in the city, had settled over the landscape, making it impossible to discern even what lay directly ahead. A single misstep could easily lead to an accident halfway up the mountain.

-Drip.

Sweat trickled down like water, soaking Ji-won’s clothes. As he took each anxious step forward, the thought of giving up kept creeping into his mind. Every time it did, he would shake his head, quickening his pace for no reason other than to drown out the doubt.

How long had he been climbing?

Just as Ji-won parted the reeds blocking his view—

‘A river!’

He saw a vast area with a flowing river.

And that wasn’t all.

In the distance, a tent had been set up. Right in front of it, a man sat in a camping chair with his arms crossed.

Was it because of Ji-won’s hazy state of mind?

That figure looked almost otherworldly, like an immortal. There was no need to confirm it; the man’s presence alone spoke volumes. He exuded an extraordinary aura.

It was actor Han Se-gyu.

Ji-won took a deep breath and quickly dialed PD Kim Jong-soo.

“PD-nim, I—I think I’ve found actor Han Se-gyu.”

“What? You haven’t left yet? Do you know what time it is?”

“I’ll send you the location. Please head over right away.”

Ji-won added, urgency thick in his voice.

“I’ll try to keep him here as long as I can.”

More words came through the line, but Ji-won hung up, tidying his disheveled clothes. He took another deep breath.

-Step, step.

After walking closer…

“Hm?”

The middle-aged man, Han Se-gyu, who sensed a presence nearby, turned his head slightly toward Ji-won.

“Could it be a guest?”

Ji-won swallowed dryly, trying to calm his nerves.

“Yes, a guest like Liu Bei (1), here to invite Master Zhuge Liang. I’m Do Ji-won from the JTVN Production Team.”

Han Se-gyu took the business card Ji-won offered, chuckling.

“Mr. Do Ji-won? So that makes me Kongming?”

He examined the card under the dim light of the lantern, then looked up, his cold gaze piercing through rimless glasses.

“Then, I suppose you’re prepared to be rejected three times?”(2)

A series of difficult challenges lay ahead.

Finding him was hard enough, but now, the real battle was about to begin.

(1) Ji-won introduces himself using a historical analogy. He compares himself to Liu Bei, a Chinese warlord, who sought out the brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang (also known as Kongming) to help him. 

(2) Han Se-gyu’s final question about being prepared to be rejected three times is another reference to the Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang story. In the historical account, Liu Bei had to visit Zhuge Liang three times before the strategist agreed to help him. This implies that Han Se-gyu won’t be easily persuaded and that Ji-won may need to be very persistent in his efforts to recruit him.