Return of the Genius PD

Silence hung thick in the director’s office.

Ko Dong-guk sat with his arms crossed, eyes narrowing as PD Kim Jong-su stood rigid, hands clasped behind his back. Their exchanged glances carried weight, though neither spoke.

Finally, Director Ko broke the tension.

“Hey, thickhead.”

Kim Jong-su’s eyebrows twitched.

“You promised 20% ratings with your own mouth, right?”

Kim Jong-su didn’t hesitate. “And you promised to bark in the station lobby if we hit 20%.”

Ko Dong-guk sighed deeply, his irritation evident. “If we hit good ratings, I’ll bark all you want. But more importantly, what do you know about Do Ji-won?”

“Ji-won?” Kim Jong-su repeated, raising a brow. “He’s the ace among the assistant directors. You know that already, Director.”

Ko Dong-guk shook his head, leaning forward. “I’m not talking about the surface-level stuff. I mean personal. Character flaws, or if he’s secretly nuts…”

“Ah!” Kim Jong-su perked up, as if remembering something crucial. “He looks like a celebrity, has a stellar personality, and it’s deeply annoying. Like, is this guy even human? He’s too perfect.”

Ko Dong-guk groaned. “I meant real issues, you idiot.”

Kim Jong-su paused, genuinely thinking this time. 

“Well… he’s obsessed with dramas.”

“Obsessed?” Ko Dong-guk echoed.

“Yeah, like me. Gives off that same vibe.”

Ko Dong-guk leaned back, visibly unimpressed. “He looks too clean-cut for that. I’m disappointed.”

“Huh? What’s disappointing about that?” Kim Jong-su asked, confused.

“You said he’s similar to you. I guess that means he doesn’t wash well either.”

“Come on, Director, you call that a joke?” Kim Jong-su rolled his eyes, then clarified, “But seriously, I think the kid’s promising. People like him usually pull off something big.”

“I thought the same,” Ko Dong-guk mused, “but now that you say he’s like you, I’ve lost some faith.”

Kim Jong-su frowned. “So why are we talking about Do Ji-won all of a sudden?”

Ko Dong-guk straightened in his chair. “I’m assigning him to the Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju team. Under you.”

“Whaaaat?” Kim Jong-su’s face twisted in shock.

“Why are you so surprised? You just said you thought well of him.”

Kim Jong-su’s expression turned grave. “Director, that was in terms of general experience. You know I’ve bet my life on this project.”

Four years.

A short time in some ways, long in others—but a period where there’s still more to learn than there is experience to shine.

Kim Jong-su already had a lineup of PDs with over ten years of experience in mind.

“You want me to work on a project with a big-headed rookie who’s only been here four years? No way! If it fails, the responsibility will all fall on me!”  

“Oh ho? Listen to this guy! It’s your responsibility if it fails? What can you possibly take responsibility for? It’s my responsibility!”

Kim Jong-su shot back.  

“You were already worried because it’s a rookie writer’s work! At the very least, we should have veteran staff!”  

“You little… Are you the president of this broadcasting station? You always want everything your way!”

But Kim Jong-su wasn’t backing down.  

“No, I’m serious. Please reconsider.”  

“Why don’t you just be the director then?”  

“I definitely will someday!”  

“You…!”

As Director Ko Dong-guk grasped his mouse, Kim Jong-su smirked.  

“We all know it’s a wireless mouse anyway…”  

Ko Dong-guk threw the mouse hard in response.  

“Whoa-?!”

Kim Jong-su ducked, covering his head with both hands. If he hadn’t, the mouse would’ve hit him square in the forehead.

“Director-!”  

Ko Dong-guk, triumphant, replied,  

“I knew this would happen, so I switched to a Bluetooth mouse long ago!”  

“Wow, I didn’t know you were this thorough!”  

“See? I knew this would happen—you climbing up, me getting angry!”  

“Your foresight is impressive, but why can’t you predict the ratings-?”  

“Because I have a treacherous minister(1) like you nearby!”

Director Ko spun his chair around, turning his back as he spoke.  

“Anyway, this is final! Do as you’re told—you’re an employee!”

Kim Jong-su went silent for a moment, those words cutting deeper than they appeared. Although Ko Dong-guk was acting authoritative, the Kim Jong-su he knew wasn’t like this. There had to be another reason behind his insistence.

“…I get it. For now.”

Despite their banter, Kim Jong-su truly respected and admired Ko Dong-guk.  

But still, he couldn’t help adding one last remark:  

“I’m not sure if we’ll work well together.”

As Kim Jong-su bowed his head and was about to leave the director’s office—

“PD-nim, hello!”

He suddenly ran into the troublemaker himself, Do Ji-won, standing in the corridor. Ji-won’s bright smile and cheery greeting, completely oblivious to the situation, felt particularly irritating at that moment.

“Hey, Do Ji-won. What’s your deal?”  

“Pardon?”  

“Why are you meddling in my project?”

Without waiting for a reply, Kim Jong-su walked past Ji-won with a frown etched on his face.

“Hmm.”

Ji-won, watching Kim Jong-su’s broad back as it disappeared down the hallway, let out a small hum of curiosity. Then, he turned back toward the director’s office.

-Knock, knock.

“Oh, come in,” Director Ko Dong-guk called out.

Ji-won entered and closed the door behind him.

“Did you run into Jong-su on the way?”  

“I saw him just outside.”  

“What did he say? Was he tense with you?”  

“He did say something…”

Director Ko sighed and massaged his temples.

“I put you on this team because Department Head Kim Dae-young asked me to, but the rest is up to you.”  

“Up to me?”  

“Yeah. Just like you buttered up Kim, you’ll need to do the same with the team. Win them over.”

Ji-won’s eyes gleamed at those words, a spark of excitement igniting within them.

Ji-won could see that his strategy of getting the project proposal to Director Ko Dong-guk through Department Head Kim Dae-young had worked as intended. He had anticipated that their close relationship, despite the surface banter, would carry him to his ultimate destination—Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju.

Assessing the situation, Ji-won asked brightly, “Director, does this mean I’m officially part of Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju?”

“Of course. Did you think you were part of the cafeteria staff?” Ko Dong-guk quipped.

“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”

“Doing your best is a given.” Director Ko let out a sigh and added, “Words aren’t necessary. Just prove it with results. And don’t take it personally, no matter what Jong-su says.”

There was a hint of affection in his eyes as he continued, “That guy even handed in his resignation saying he wanted to do this drama. You just ‘dropped’ into a project like that.”

Ji-won’s expression grew serious.

‘So, PD Jong-su pushed for it… saying he’d make sure my work made it into a drama…’

It’s never easy for an unproven rookie to edge out a well-known star writer, no matter how good the script is. After all, the quality of a script is subjective until the show actually airs.

That’s why…

Gratitude toward PD Kim Jong-su welled up inside him, along with a strong desire to repay that trust. And the certainty that he wouldn’t let him down.

“I’ll definitely make Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju a success with PD Jong-su,” Ji-won said with resolve.

“Just with words?” Ko Dong-guk retorted, then added playfully, “If you’re that confident, why not make a pledge? Jong-su said he’d bark in the lobby if we don’t hit 20% ratings. Loudly. Very powerfully. Woof woof.”

Director Ko looked at Ji-won with a teasing expression, as if to say, ‘Can you back that up?’

“You must have pushed that project proposal with that level of determination, right?”

The station lobby? Are you kidding? If I can get my drama on air, I’d bark even during a live broadcast.

Ji-won replied with a solemn expression. “That won’t happen, but—”

He raised his two front paws threateningly. With his delicate appearance, he resembled a Spitz.

“If such a situation arises, my howl will be the loudest!”

Director Ko Dong-guk chuckled at Ji-won’s exaggerated gesture and waved his hand dismissively. “Alright, I look forward to it in many ways. Pack your stuff and follow Jong-su around starting tomorrow.”

Ji-won’s eyes lit up. The stage was set.

Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju.

With the script I wrote. I’m producing it myself. This is the real start of my second life.

“Yes, I’ll put my life on the line for this.”

After Ji-won left, Director Ko Dong-guk, now alone again, stared intently at the project proposal. If he showed this proposal to Kim Jong-su, he would acknowledge Ji-won just as he had done.

However, that shouldn’t happen.

That’s not how teamwork is formed. Time is needed. Time for them to understand and harmonize with each other.

‘If Do Ji-won really has the potential reflected in this project proposal…’

He was confident that Kim Jong-su would recognize Ji-won’s qualities on his own.

* * *

The next day.

Ji-won, who had hurriedly packed his things that morning, headed straight to Production Team 2. PD Kim Jong-su was already at his desk, examining the script.

“PD Jong-su, good morning!”

Kim Jong-su replied in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the script. “Yeah, did you wrap up your work in Team 3 properly?”

“Yes. I tidied everything up neatly before coming.”

He then said indifferently, still looking at the script, “You can sit in any empty seat. Across from me is PD Lee Gun-woo. He’ll be the production PD for Ham In-ju, so get along well.”

PD Lee Gun-woo welcomed Ji-won with a smile. “Hey, it’s nice to see you here!” He extended his hand for a handshake. Ji-won grasped it with both of his hands.

“I look forward to working with you, PD Gun-woo.”

Kim Jong-su spoke again. “If you’re done with introductions, it’s time to work. Start by reading the script to get a feel for the atmosphere.”

“Yes, PD-nim!”

Ji-won immediately unpacked at his desk and printed out the file he had prepared. Then he neatly arranged and bound the printed stack of papers and handed it to Kim Jong-su.

“PD-nim, would you mind taking a look at this?”

Kim Jong-su, who had been focused on the script the entire time, looked at the printout Ji-won suddenly handed him, then at Ji-won’s face. “…What is this?”

However, there was something… His gaze wasn’t exactly friendly.

“It’s a work analysis and project proposal for Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju. I thought it might be helpful, so I put it together whenever I had spare time.”

Kim Jong-su tossed the printout onto his desk.

-Swish.

The printout, which seemed about to fall to the floor, stopped precariously at the edge of the desk. Finally, Kim Jong-su glared at Ji-won and asked in a low, almost growling voice, “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re a funny guy, aren’t you?” He asked again in a subdued tone. “Are you the director?”

(1) Treacherous Minister:

In Korean history, a “treacherous minister” typically refers to corrupt officials who misled the king for personal gain or power. This term carries strong negative connotations of disloyalty and self-interest.

In this context, Ko Dong-guk is jokingly comparing Kim Jong-su to a historical villain, suggesting that Kim’s opposition or difficulty is the reason for his own failures (like not predicting ratings accurately). It’s a colorful way of calling Kim troublesome while also hinting at their close, if contentious, working relationship.