Return of the Genius PD

[Drama Department Production Team 4]

-Team Leader

Kim Jong-su (formerly Production Team 2)

-Team Members

Lee Geon-woo (formerly Production Team 2)

Do Ji-won (formerly Production Team 3)

Sung Do-hae (formerly Production Team 1)

Kim Chan-min (New hire)

Ji-won narrowed his eyes.

There were three personnel changes from Production Team 4 of his previous life. One was himself, and the other two were…

Kim Jong-su.

Sung Do-hae.

It was an unexpected outcome. Could their joining be related to Ji-won? Probably so, since there were no other variables besides himself.

Ji-won turned back to PD Kim Jong-su. “Did you know?”

PD Kim Jong-su gave an enigmatic smile. “I overheard something from the Director…”

Then he smiled, narrowing his eyes. “Seems there were quite a few last-minute changes, so honestly, I’m quite surprised too.”

Both Ji-won and PD Kim Jong-su’s phones rang simultaneously. It was a message from Director Ko Dong-guk.

[Production Team 4, come on up to the Director’s office.]

PD Kim Jong-su said with a smile. “Well, well, let’s go ask our questions there.”

* * *

There were already others in the Director’s office. A woman with sharp eyes matching her neat bob cut hair… And a young man with short hair who clearly looked like a new hire.

The woman looked at Ji-won as he entered. When their eyes met, they exchanged slight smiles.

It was Sung Do-hae, Ji-won’s peer.

Ji-won and Do-hae communicated silently through their eyes.

‘Did you know?’

‘Nope, I’m more surprised.’

Director Ko Dong-guk spoke. “Everyone’s seen the assignment notice, right?”

After they nodded, Director Ko introduced Kim Jong-su first. “First, PD Kim Jong-su – no, Team Leader Kim Jong-su, who’ll be taking charge of the team.”

Ji-won and Do-hae offered their congratulations.

“Congratulations, senior.”

“So you’ve finally shed your ping-pong man label.”

In the previous life…

Kim Jong-su ended his long PD career as just a team member. Due to his extreme ups and downs with each project, he wasn’t suited for the team leader role that required stable leadership.

Therefore, this team leader appointment must have been greatly influenced by breaking the ping-pong man jinx with .

Director Ko sighed. “To think I’d live to see Jong-su with ‘team leader’ attached to his name… feels like I’ve seen it all at our company.”

“You just have to say it like that… Just watch. I’m going all the way to Drama Director just to make you suffer.”

“Oh really? Why not aim for gym manager instead? That’s more realistic.”

Despite his words, deep affection showed in Director Ko’s eyes as he looked at PD Kim Jong-su.

Kim Jong-su said, “I learned a lot while working on In-ju this time. Actually…”

Then he added sheepishly, “I thought I had mastered making dramas? But I was wrong. These days, dramas feel new to me all over again.”

Director Ko spoke emotionally. “Jong-su, you…”

“It’s like having my eyes opened? The ping-pong man Kim Jong-su is gone now.”

What more needs to be said?

At those final words, Director Ko silently patted Kim Jong-su’s back. It must have felt like his problem child had finally found his own path.

After a moment of silence, Director Ko pointed to Kim Chan-min. “This is our new hire joining Production Team 4. Train him well.”

Kim Chan-min shouted with military-like discipline. “Hello! I’m Kim Chan-min, age 27, who absolutely loves dramas and wants to make them!”

New Drama Department hire Kim Chan-min.

In the previous life, he was a junior colleague who joined after Ji-won moved to Strategic Planning, so they didn’t have much interaction.

However,

If Ji-won were to evaluate what he knew about Kim Chan-min… He was born with one important talent that others couldn’t match with effort alone.

Do-hae greeted Kim Chan-min. “Hi, looks like you just graduated? What was your major?”

Kim Chan-min hastily blurted out his prepared response. “I was a sports scholarship student but transferred and graduated from Communications!”

“Sports scholarship? What sport?”

“I was a track athlete. 400-meter sprint. That’s in the past now, haha.”

PD Kim Jong-su said with a smile. “Right, it’s good to see such energy! But why the career change? You look fit enough for sports.”

His tan skin and long limbs, along with lean, athletic muscles, reminded one of a track athlete.

“I’ve only done sports since childhood so it’s a long story, but the main point is…”

Kim Chan-min’s eyes lit up. “People can change in an instant, right?”

Then he smiled awkwardly. Something caught Ji-won’s attention.

‘Look at this guy?’

Ji-won felt a strange sense of déjà vu hearing Kim Chan-min use the exact same words as himself.

Director Ko spoke again. “You’ve all probably heard the rumors, but Production Team 4 was created on the President’s orders.”

He continued in a low voice. “It’s more accurate to see us as a special unit than a regular team. That’s why we have fewer members compared to other teams.”

Then he made eye contact with each team member. “Don’t be bound by common sense! If you’re going to work the same way as before, there’s no reason for this team to exist.”

His voice carried firm resolve. “Experimental and progressive attempts. That’s what President Jeon Nam-hoe wants from Production Team 4. Think of yourselves as JTVN’s secret weapon. That’s all.”

After finishing, Director Ko looked at them. “Questions?”

Ji-won and Do-hae pointed at each other.

“Why is she on the same team?”

“He’s in Production Team 4 too?”

Ji-won and Do-hae looked at each other simultaneously.

Director Ko smirked. “Come to think of it, you two were in the same class?”

“Do-hae PD volunteered. She’ll be handling production rather than directing in Team 4.”

Ah. This was different from the previous life. There must have been some change in Do-hae’s mindset too. Ji-won made a mental note to ask her about it when he got the chance.

While Ji-won glanced at Do-hae, Director Ko continued. “Everyone roughly knows about , right?”

The new work by Writer Kyu-kyu, who became the talk of the drama world with . Rumors about their next work coming out before the previous buzz had even died down had already spread far and wide.

“The director for …”

Ji-won, Do-hae, and Chan-min looked at PD Kim Jong-su.

PD Kim Jong-su said bluntly. “Huh? It’s not me.”

As question marks appeared in the three people’s minds at those words, Director Ko said, “Ji-won will be the main director. Do-hae will support as production PD, and Chan-min as assistant director.”

A moment of silence fell in the director’s office.

Do-hae shouted first. “What?!”

Then she looked at PD Kim Jong-su. “Not you, PD Kim?”

PD Kim Jong-su scratched his head and answered. “I already have another project I’m preparing.”

Just then, PD Lee Geon-woo entered as the office door opened.

“Director, sorry I’m late! Senior, congratulations on becoming team leader. Hi, everyone.”

PD Lee Geon-woo greeted them with a grin. It was Lee Geon-woo, Kim Jong-su’s sidekick who had served as production PD for .

PD Kim Jong-su pointed at him. “I’m going to work on the project I’ve been preparing with him for a long time.”

‘Ah, that project.’

In the previous life, after failing with the competition entry… Kim Jong-su made a comeback with his odd-numbered work. 

That year, his acceptance speech at the awards ceremony, which seemed like he had achieved enlightenment, became a hot topic.

-“Human Phoenix Kim Jong-su will return to this stage with his next-next work.”

Ji-won pointed to himself. “But… am I really taking charge of ?”

He had laid the bait, but this was like finding a treasure island instead of just a big fish. Of course, Ji-won was already prepared to dig up the treasure.

Director Ko nodded. “It’s the President’s order. Jong-su and I agreed too.”

Then PD Kim Jong-su growled at Ji-won. “Hey, Do Ji-won. Going to chicken out? Your mom and dad already convinced the President you could do it!”

“…Mom?”

PD Kim Jong-su pointed at Director Ko. Director Ko glared sharply at Kim Jong-su.

An image formed in Ji-won’s mind.

PD Kim Jong-su putting on his shoes saying “I’m heading out,” while… Director Ko wearing an apron and holding a spatula, smiling warmly.

Director Ko said, “Hey, Ji-won, tell us right now. Are you confident or not? If you can’t do it, I’ll back off.”

Suddenly, Ji-won remembered his first visit to the director’s office. His feelings hadn’t changed from then to now.

“I’m Do Ji-won. How could I not be confident? I’ll definitely make a success.”

PD Kim Jong-su slapped Ji-won’s back with a ‘BANG’.

“That’s right, kid, how refreshing!”

Director Ko nodded. “Good. Then let’s hear your aspirations.”

Kim Jong-su and Ko Dong-guk smiled slyly at each other.

“Jong-su, what’s our Drama Department tradition?”

“Of course it’s the ratings pledge!”

Then they both turned to Ji-won simultaneously, like a pair of hyenas spotting prey.

“Ji-won, what ratings will you hit? Go on, tell us.”

“Got to keep the tradition going.”

“Don’t embarrass yourself.”

Ko Dong-guk and Kim Jong-su were really in sync at times like this. Ji-won frowned at their back-and-forth.

“A ratings pledge again? Hah… that was mentally exhausting last time.”

PD Kim Jong-su retorted. “That’s why we do it. So you won’t embarrass yourself at the company by falling short.”

“…Seeing how it got more embarrassing after achieving it, I think something’s gotten twisted here.”

“Hey! Are you going to nitpick everything?”

After thinking for a moment, Ji-won confidently held up two fingers.

“I’ll pledge 20%. If I exceed it… should I bark or something?”

Director Ko and PD Kim Jong-su made disappointed faces as if that was nothing.

“You’ve already done that. Shouldn’t you upgrade it?”

“Didn’t think you were so unimaginative, Ji-won. You’re going to make dramas like this?”

Ji-won’s brow twitched at their mockery.

“I wasn’t finished!”

Ji-won declared his resolve in a grave tone. “…I’ll bark on the red carpet at the end-of-year Baeksang Arts Awards. While making my entrance.”

Director Ko covered his mouth to stop from laughing. “Are you insane?”

PD Kim Jong-su nodded impressively. “Do Ji-won, you bastard, you think big. Your brother is proud of you.”

Ji-won’s eyes suddenly gleamed as he looked to the side. “Of course, together with the team members.”

Do-hae and Chan-min’s heads turned quickly.

“Why us?!”

“Why me?!”

Ji-won sent them a look of firm trust. “We’re a team, aren’t we?”

Do-hae’s eyes bulged. “You crazy bastard, if you want to die, die alone beautifully!”

PD Kim Jong-su said to Do-hae with a meaningful expression. “Do-hae, do you think Ji-won made the ratings pledge for Ham In-ju by himself?”

At those words, Do-hae’s face turned pale. Chan-min, not knowing what was going on, just blinked blankly.

Just then, Ji-won’s phone rang.

It was President Jeon Nam-hoe.

“Ah, hello, President. What brings you to…”

President Jeon Nam-hoe’s voice echoed softly through the speaker.

[Get up to my office right now.]