Return of the Genius PD

The ratings for episode 6 of the two dramas, now in their third week, were released.

, true to writer Kim Seung-yeon’s meticulous craftsmanship, charted an upward trend in viewership.

Episode 1 – 12.7
Episode 2 – 13.1
Episode 3 – 14.8
Episode 4 – 14.4
Episode 5 – 15.1

However, as the episodes progressed, gained more momentum, showing an even steeper rise.

Episode 1 – 10.1
Episode 2 – 11.2
Episode 3 – 13.7
Episode 4 – 13.9
Episode 5 – 14.5

Last week’s episodes 3 and 4, along with this week’s episode 5, narrowed the gap, leading to…

Yesterday’s episode 6 ratings.

15.2

15.2

At last, caught up with ’s ratings. Perhaps that’s why Director Ko Dong-guk visited the set early in the morning, with a broad smile on his face.

“Good morning.”

PD Kim Jong-su, busy preparing for the shoot, glanced at Director Ko Dong-guk.

“Director, your usually slumped shoulders seem unusually straight today?”
“Well, the best massage of all massages is a ratings massage, isn’t it?”
“Indeed, in this business, ratings are the cure-all.”

Then PD Kim Jong-su spread his latissimus dorsi, making his already broad shoulders even wider.

“What did I tell you? Didn’t I say we could catch up?”
“Such bravado. You were trembling with anxiety just yesterday.”

Director Ko Dong-guk then turned his head to take in both PD Kim Jong-su and Ji-won at once.

These days, just seeing these two makes him feel full, even without eating. Jong-su, whose ratings used to yo-yo with each project, seems to have finally awakened, breaking his 10-year jinx.

Then there’s Ji-won. This kid’s a gem, too.

From the planning stage to the near-impossible casting of Han Se-gyu—and even the questionable casting of Lee Ji-yu—without Ji-won, could have been on such a successful path?

He thought Deputy Kim Dae-young had pushed off a problem child, but it felt like there was gold inside that jar.

And this kid has a strangely good instinct.

-”Director, PD Jong-su. Don’t worry. The game will change from episode 6.”

That’s what he said to PD Kim Jong-su and himself when they were internally anxious about the initial gap with .

Director Ko Dong-guk narrowed his eyes and asked, “Ji-won.”

“Yes?”

“How do you think things will go from here?”

“What do you mean?”

Director Ko Dong-guk pressed urgently. “The ratings, I mean the ratings! How do you think the dynamic between and will play out from now on?”

Ji-won turned his gaze to the set. The operating room was being prepared in full swing. It was the climax scene for episode 10. Watching the scene, Ji-won’s eyes lit up as he spoke.

“Director.”

“Yes?”

Then he answered with certainty, “Now, I think you can erase from your mind.”

Perhaps thanks to Director Ko Dong-guk’s constant smiles on set after Ji-won’s words, the energy on set was palpable. 

They were in the midst of creating a drama with an upward trend that seemed limitless. It would have been stranger if the atmosphere wasn’t good.

Ji-won took another look at the scene they were currently shooting—the moment that would be the edge of episode 10.

Ham In-joo performing surgery despite the slim chances of success. The patient was the chairman of the Gusan Foundation, the foundation to which both Daon Hospital and Gusan Hospital belonged.

Literally a heart re-transplant surgery for an ultra VVIP.

Actor Choi Jin-hyun, playing the role of Gusan Hospital Director Jo Gwang-il, spoke while watching from the second floor.

“The chances of surgical failure are overwhelmingly high. Add to that a live surgery… no matter how skilled you are, you won’t survive this time.”

As it’s a live surgery, even the slightest mistake would expose Ham In-joo’s error to the world. If that happens, Doctor Ham In-joo would never be able to hold a scalpel again.

Will Ham In-joo be able to successfully transplant the heart into the aged chairman’s body, breaking through the near-impossible odds?

Finally, Director Kim Jong-su’s voice rings out. “Action!”

Han Se-gyu, with a solemn look, meets the eyes of each team member one by one, then raises his hand.

“Scalpel.”

As the scalpel is placed in Ham In-joo’s hand, the atmosphere on set shifts.

Ji-won was certain. Ji-won, who had been skilled at predicting ratings since his past life, knew that from the moment this scene of episode 10 is broadcast, people would no longer be curious about the ratings of .

Because no one would consider it a competitor anymore.

* * *

The door of a shabby bar in front of the company opens, and Ji-won steps inside. A booming voice resonates from within.

“Well, look who it is! The talk of the town, ace Do Ji-won!”

Ji-won turns toward the voice and smiles brightly.

Jang Yun-ho from Production Team 1. Sung Do-hae from Production Team 1. Kim Seok-hoon from Production Team 2.

They were all Ji-won’s peers.

“Ace? What are you talking about?”

As Ji-won sits down, Kim Seok-hoon, sitting next to him, puts his arm around Ji-won’s shoulders and says, “Ji-won, congratulations! The rising trend of Ham In-joo’s ratings feels like watching my stock graph.”

Jang Yun-ho, sitting across, chimes in, “What are you talking about? Haven’t you deleted your stock app? Didn’t you say you got rid of it after getting wiped out last time?”

“…This time is different!”

Watching them, Ji-won can’t help but smile. Seeing his peers’ youthful faces after so long makes him nostalgic.

“Since I’ve been going straight to the set these days, we haven’t had a chance to run into each other. Is everything alright with you guys?”

Sung Do-hae replies curtly, “Everything’s a mess.”

As she says this, she fills Ji-won’s glass and adds, “Seok-hoon’s drama, where he got an assistant director position, , flopped spectacularly…”

Kim Seok-hoon silently empties his soju glass.

“Yun-ho’s debut project, the one-act play he was preparing, got scrapped.”

This time, Jang Yun-ho empties his soju glass. Kim Seok-hoon mindlessly refills Yun-ho’s glass.

Right around this time, things weren’t going well for everyone. It was during this period that Ji-won moved to the Management Planning Department, gradually growing distant from them. Ji-won looks at Sung Do-hae.

“Do-hae, how are things with you these days?”

“Me?” Sung Do-hae narrows her eyes. “This damn broadcasting station! I don’t know why I ever wanted to be a PD. If I could go back to my intern days, I’d talk myself out of it.”

“Interstellar?”

Sung Do-hae glares at Kim Seok-hoon, who had interjected. Ji-won quietly asks Jang Yun-ho, “What’s going on with Do-hae?”

“The scrapped debut project of mine—Do-hae was supposed to co-direct it.”

“Ah.”

Jang Yun-ho sighed.

“I started this job because I love dramas too, but honestly…”

A self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

“These days, I’m not even sure if I really like it anymore.”

Four years in.

It’s a phase that every company employee goes through at least once. Skilled enough to understand how the company operates, but… it’s a time when the initial passion has significantly waned.

Too dissatisfied with being an assistant director, yet afraid to debut as a director, he found himself stuck between the two roles.

Kim Seok-hoon agreed.

“When you’re working, dramas become your nemesis.”

Sung Do-hae muttered,

“Casting goes awry, the writer goes AWOL, the on-set staff don’t listen at all, and when filming is done, they want to add PPL…”

Her eyes suddenly gleamed.

“Don’t ever bring a knife to the broadcasting station, even as a prop. I might feel tempted to do a knife dance.”

Ji-won tilted his head.

“Isn’t that process the fun part? With each problem you solve, you’re getting closer to the drama you want to make.”

Suddenly, all three peers turned their heads toward Ji-won and exchanged glances.

“As expected, you’re not normal.”
“Come to think of it, you’re the weirdest of us all.”
“No wonder you seem to get along so well with PD Jong-su.”

Surprised by the sudden attack from his peers, Ji-won’s eyes widened.

“Why, what’s wrong with me?”

Perhaps criticism tastes best among peers? As they teased each other and chuckled, several rounds of drinks were poured.

Worrying about dying from overwork before debuting as a director, this wasn’t the PD life Ji-won had dreamed of, wishing someone would get rid of the Production Team 1 leader…

As they comfortably shared their worries, the empty soju bottles quickly piled up. Ji-won watched his peers fondly.

Then suddenly, a face he wanted to see came to mind.

“Um… does anyone know how Hyung-seok is doing?”

At the sudden mention of that name, his peers turned their heads toward Ji-won.

Kim Seok-hoon spoke up.

“Hyung-seok? Come to think of it… I’ve been so busy with work that I haven’t seen him since he quit. I miss you, Hyung-seok!”

In his past life, after nearly 20 years of grueling obscurity, his peer Park Hyung-seok finally won the Palme d’Or.

He quit in his third year, so it should be about a year after his resignation at this point.

Jang Yun-ho answered,

“I heard Hyung-seok joined a production company?”

Sung Do-hae shook her head.

“That production company went bankrupt last month. He’s probably helping out at his parents’ restaurant in his hometown now.”
“What?”

Ji-won jumped up from his seat, and Sung Do-hae looked at him quizzically.

“Why are you so surprised?”
“Ah, it’s just unexpected….”

As Ji-won sat back down, Sung Do-hae elaborated,

“Apparently, there were severe wage arrears at the production company…. In the end, he used up all his savings and went back to his hometown.”

Kim Seok-hoon, seemingly upset, pretended to cry.

“Oh, Hyung-seok… Hyung-seok, you should have waited a bit longer. Why did you have to quit….”

This was completely new information. Well, around this time, Ji-won had distanced himself from production work, including his peers, as if running away from lingering attachments he couldn’t cut off.

Ji-won asked Do-hae,

“Um…. Where did you say Hyung-seok’s hometown was?”
“I heard it was Daegu. Try contacting him. Hyung-seok especially liked you. He’ll be happy to hear from you.”

In Ji-won’s past life, he was the one who pulled Ji-won out when he was drifting without direction. He needed to meet him again.

“By the way.”

Kim Seok-hoon, the most well-connected among his peers, started speaking as if sharing a secret.

“Have you all heard? About Production Team 4.”

Jang Yun-ho picked up,

“Isn’t that just a rumor? Is Production Team 4 even possible?”
“No, I heard it directly from a senior in the planning team. They say the announcement will be made soon.”

Sung Do-hae chimed in,

“There have been rumors about preparations since last year…. It’s been a long time since Production Teams 1, 2, and 3 were established, right?”

Kim Seok-hoon added,

“They want to breathe new life into the relaxed Drama Department with this new team, under the initiative of President Jeon Nam-hoe.”

Ji-won asked,

“How are they planning to form the team?”

Sung Do-hae pointed at Ji-won.

“That part is completely secret.”

She immediately added,

“There are rumors about selecting members from each team, and others say they’ll bring in people entirely from outside… It’s all just baseless speculation.”

Jang Yun-ho interjected,

“Strangely, there’s no information leaking about this part. You’d think there would be some internal rumors by now.”
“Ji-won, what do you think? Why are you so quiet?”

Ji-won replied,

“What’s Production Team 4? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

Kim Seok-hoon and Jang Yun-ho put their arms around Ji-won’s shoulders from both sides.

“This guy only knows how to make dramas; he’s completely clueless about company news.”
“You’re still slow on Drama Department news, junior. Better step it up.”

Ji-won could only smile awkwardly at their playful teasing.

Production Team 4.

Of course, he knew it all too well—when it was formed, where it was formed, and how it was dissolved.

Then Jang Yun-ho sighed.

“Ah, I don’t care which team; I just want to make my directorial debut.”

He nervously bit his nails.

“Debut aside… what if I crash and burn with my first project?”

Sung Do-hae spoke as if it was no big deal,

“If you mess up on your debut, consider half the lid of your coffin closed.”

Seizing the opportunity, Kim Seok-hoon added,

“It’s not a big deal; you just have to lay low for a while. You saw how Senior Jong-su twiddled his thumbs for two years after his last project flopped, right?”
“Hey, that’s too harsh. Take that back.”

Jang Yun-ho flared up and grabbed Kim Seok-hoon’s collar. Sung Do-hae said bluntly,

“Why are you worrying unnecessarily already? You should first think about making it happen, whether it works out or not.”

At that moment, Kim Seok-hoon, who had freed himself from the collar grab, spoke up.

“You never know.”

The sudden change in his demeanor momentarily drew everyone’s attention.

“Maybe one day in the future, Ji-won will become JTVN’s star PD and brag about it? Like this.”

Then he suddenly stood up and shouted,

“Everyone! This guy is my peer. I’m friends with Do Ji-won!”

The eyes of everyone in the bar turned to their table. A pale-faced Jang Yun-ho hurriedly covered Kim Seok-hoon’s mouth.

“You crazy bastard. What are you doing, embarrassing us? If you’re drunk, just go to sleep quietly!”

Sung Do-hae added, as if on cue,

“This guy’s starting to lose it. Let’s call it a night.”

After putting the zigzagging Kim Seok-hoon in a taxi, they said their goodbyes, promising to meet again. Ji-won decided to walk a bit to sober up. While walking, he reflected on the conversations they had today.

“Production Team 4, huh.”

A faint breath escaped Ji-won’s lips. Certainly, when they started filming “Ham In-joo,” the weather was so cold that breath was visible in the air…. Now, the weather felt pleasantly cool, even refreshing.

Come to think of it, it felt like the weather had improved significantly. If so, it was time to move on to the next step. In his previous life, he had always been swept along, but this life had to be different.

He would create his own place to belong, in the newly established team that would bring a fresh wind to the Drama Department, in tune with the warm spring air.m