Who Is the Carousel For? (1)
The scent of spring grew thick in the air.
The Reform Division was more vibrant than before.
Visitor numbers at Next Planet continued to climb.
Soon, the second promotional video for the recruit promotion was scheduled to be released.
The first video had been filled with malicious comments and negative reviews in the beginning, but over time, the story had reversed.
Perhaps because of this, there were more people looking forward to the second video than expected.
"Aigoo... I really just barely survived."
Shin Miyoung, the team leader of the Marketing & Promotion Team, said with a laugh.
She had by now completed most of the personnel makeup for the Marketing & Promotion Team.
"You've really worked hard."
"Oh, not at all. There's still a mountain of things to do, so I'll have to work even harder."
Lee Yunjung's strawberry waffle remained popular, and the new food court would be unveiled soon.
The cafeteria's popularity didn't even need to be mentioned.
Of course, with the senior citizen discount promotion ending soon, considerable backlash was expected and there were still many issues to be tackled, but for now, things could be evaluated as proceeding smoothly.
As always, Choi Hyena began her presentation.
"Thanks to the efforts of the Reform Division, it's projected that by the end of this year, Next Planet can reduce its deficit by at least 3 billion won."
Ah... a shiver of excitement ran down my spine.
This was the achievement we had accomplished. I had known it already, but seeing it as a concrete number made it feel different.
This was a result achieved in just two months.
Of course, considering Next Planet's annual deficit exceeded 30 billion won, there was still a long way to go.
But what we achieved was still significant.
"As we proceeded with the recruit promotion as a pre-opening, we discovered new data. I thought it was important enough that I couldn't help but bring it up as an agenda item."
A carousel appeared on the screen.
The carousel is the iconic ride of a theme park. When you think of a theme park, one of the first rides that comes to mind is the carousel.
If you look at pictures taken at theme parks in childhood, before you even started elementary school, you'd usually be on a carousel.
Because you couldn't get on the more thrilling rides due to height restrictions, it was the one ride you ended up riding.
I remember whining that the carousel was boring.
Perhaps the carousel is an attraction that contains a wide variety of emotions all at once—joy, anger, sadness.
"The main users of the carousel at Next Planet are children aged eight and below."
"What's the connection between the carousel and the recruit promotion?"
"The photospots haven't all been finished yet, so the data may change in the future. But currently, among customers in their early to mid twenties, the carousel is one of the most used photospots."
"Ah..."
That makes sense.
Take 'Charotte World', the country's second-largest theme park, for example. Its characteristic is that it's indoors.
Unlike 'Three Star World', which is ranked first, the carousel there is located near the entrance. This means every visitor sees and passes by the carousel.
At Charotte World, the carousel is famous as a place where couples take pictures.
There's even a "school uniform challenge," where people take photos in uniforms.
In contrast, both Three Star World and our Next Planet placed their carousels deeper inside the park.
"It isn't a big problem yet. But as visitor numbers increase, families and guests in their early twenties may end up clashing."
"Has there already been a case of this happening?"
"Three days ago, a group of about fifteen people blocked the way to take pictures and got into a fight with a customer who brought a small child. And aside from that..."
"So, if I understand correctly, young twenty-somethings using the carousel as a photospot end up interfering with families who want to actually ride the attraction?"
"Yes."
She had a point.
Choi Hyena deserved praise for recognizing issues even from limited data.
"The suggestion is that the identity of the carousel as a ride needs to be re-evaluated."
"The carousel has always been a nostalgic ride for children, but you're saying it now needs to transform into a sentimental spot for twenty-somethings?"
"Exactly. I don't know which direction is correct, but we have to decide."
I fell deep into thought.
I deliberately used the words "nostalgia" and "sentimentality," which contrast with each other, just as I had deliberately chosen to refer to the carousel both as an "attraction" and as a "spot."
"Who is the carousel for?"
Shin Miyoung, already catching on, showed no reaction.
In contrast, Kim Junho and Lee Yunjung exclaimed in realization.
At first glance, it might seem trivial, but it was a significant issue.
It was true that Next Planet's direction was still unclear. The reason was simple—it was impossible to set a clear theme at present.
Given that reality, whether we target young people in their twenties or focus on families would remain a continual debate.
To become the country's number one theme park, we would eventually have to embrace both.
But in doing so, we would need to plan in a way that prioritized one without causing the other to fall away.
Shin Miyoung adjusted her glasses and said,
"Isn't it obvious? The data already proves it. I think we need to redesign the carousel entirely as a photospot for young people in their twenties."
Choi Hyena immediately continued,
"I think the same as the team leader. Since it'll be in synergy with the recruit promotion. Of course, if we turn the carousel into a photospot, I do want to make a mini-carousel for the kids, though..."
Silence fell.
Everyone knew. There was no budget for new rides for the time being.
Kim Junho was quick to object.
"The carousel is the symbolic attraction. There aren't many rides children can get on in the first place... To take that away is to take away the good memories of Next Planet itself."
That wasn't wrong.
"And speaking of numbers—you mentioned the data, but could those results be simply because we haven't run any promotions focused on families?"
That was correct, too.
If we did a family-focused promotion, there was no denying that the carousel could become packed with children.
Lee Yunjung nodded vigorously and then showed a photo on her phone.
It was a charming little girl laughing while riding the carousel. Probably Lee Yunjung herself as a child.
"Honestly, I don't remember this. But just looking at the picture makes me happy. If I feel this happy, imagine how my parents felt? This isn't just an issue of a child's memory. It's about the happiness of a family."
I hadn't expected Lee Yunjung to speak so strongly.
The opinions were split—2:2. Just like last time... Yes, there would only be more of these situations going forward.
Data or emotion.
Isn't the essence of theme parks about content in the end?
The content industry can't judge everything by data, but sometimes emotions can be overwhelming.
But that didn't mean we could ignore the data.
"For now, I'll withhold a decision."
Everyone seemed surprised. Probably because it was the first time I'd acted this way.
"Before I make a decision, I intend to listen to as many opinions as I can. But I might make a decision that goes against your opinions. After I do, I ask that you follow it absolutely, even if it isn't what you believe."
Such principles were necessary.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
I had reason to be grateful for that.
***
After the meeting, I went to the Battle Fire base. I entered this secret space, where not just anyone could enter.
I looked out over the theme park's panorama.
No matter when I came here, it put me in a good mood.
I was enjoying the view, feeling healed, when—
"I've always wanted to come here. Thanks to you, division director, I get to visit."
I turned around.
A long-haired man approached with a relaxed expression.
It was Deputy Kang Dae-hyun in the HR team.
"Seok-min said no matter what, he couldn't bring me in here. He said I wasn't authorized; the guy's always been a stickler for rules."
He approached me like a friend, taking up a position beside me to look out over the park.
Deputy Kang Dae-hyun. I wanted to know more about this man.
Data tells a lot, but there's always something it misses.
My HR evaluations at Next Global were always A—never aiming for S. The chairman had seen right through why that was.
Meanwhile, Choi Hyena had gotten F for four years in a row. An impossible evaluation.
Digging deeper revealed why.
Kang Dae-hyun's personnel reviews ranged from B to S, all quite average. The only exceptions: one B in his first year, one S in his third.
That third year, Next Planet had a spike in HR problems. Probably, because of staff shortages, he ended up handling everything.
In other words, he had no choice but to work hard. So he got an S.
This guy... has something in common with me. Incomplete combustion.
Guys like this are interested only in topics they care about. Small talk or regular chitchat about work—none of that for them.
You just have to let them talk about Park Seok-min.
But what I really wanted now was to figure out who Kang Dae-hyun was as a person.
"Is Park Seok-min really that essential for Next Planet?"
He locked eyes with me for a moment. He was probably also trying to grasp my essence.
He spoke with a disguised smile, keeping any intentions or emotions hidden.
"Of course."
That tone, full of confidence.
Let's provoke him.
"Parades and performances aren't a critical issue right now because nothing major is wrong over there."
"Everything's running smoothly."
"Even if Next Planet provides support, I don't think the Event & Performance Team will take things so far that it draws in outside customers."
"So you mean the investment's priority gets pushed back?"
"Yes, exactly."
He shrugged, keeping that easy-going manner.
"Seok-min got a scout offer from DiOni, passed all the way to the final round. That alone proves he's the kind of rare talent you can't easily find in Korea."
"If he's that good, it's a waste for him to stay at Next Planet. In fact, if he goes to DiOni, he can learn so much and, when he comes back to Korea, contribute even more to the industry as a whole. For Next Planet, it'd be a shame, but for the entire sector, that's the better outcome."
He stared at me for a moment, pursed his lips, then sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
He was the kind of guy popular with the female staff.
I wondered what he would do next. So I pressed further.
"To keep Park Seok-min, you'd have to offer him something that could compete with going to DiOni. But really, there's nothing like that, is there? At the very least, you'd need to give him total control over parades and performances."
"You really know what you're talking about."
"So, how is that any different from saying you want to get rid of the Event & Performance Team team leader? I mean, that person almost lost their job recently because of the cafeteria incident. Now you'd create another shake-up just as destabilizing? That's too risky for me."
Kang Dae-hyun's eyes grew sharp. He silently gazed out at the park's panorama.
After a sip of coffee, he finally spoke.
"I have no company loyalty. I don't care that much about salary or promotion either. Honestly, my life's pleasure is leaving work on time and meeting beautiful women. Not that I welcome looking incompetent, of course."
A smile appeared on his lips.
This smile was genuine. Here and now? Why?
"I just like views like this at Next Planet. Seeing everyone having fun warms me inside. I want to see this scene every day. That's why I stay at Next Planet."
Now I understood his personnel evaluation.
His attitude toward the bumbling Next Planet executives made him think— How many more years can I enjoy this view?
Frankly, I just want to ask.
How many years do we have left at Next Planet?
"That's why I came here. To make sure you could stay at Next Planet until retirement."
"I'd really appreciate it if you did. The reason I'm interested in you, division director, is that I think you're the one who can really change this place."
"I'll have to live up to that expectation."
"I have one more hope, actually."
"What's that?"
"That you'll mark the final touch on the greatest park theme—and the person who'll do it is none other than Park Seok-min."
This man... I'd thought, given his stylish demeanor, that he just did his own thing at his own pace, ignoring those around him. But I was completely wrong.
Suddenly, his atmosphere shifted dramatically. The wind blowing past him felt like a sharp blade aimed at me.
"I've got material in my hands that could get the Event & Performance Team team leader dismissed."
What? I hadn't expected him to have kept a card like that hidden.
"The Event & Performance Team team leader is not just useless to you, but positively harmful."
"That's true."
"So I'll help you, division director, but you've got to keep Seok-min here. No matter what!"
He let out a deep sigh before continuing.
"My principles were always: just do your job, don't meddle in others' business, don't take unnecessary risks just because of emotions. That's how I live. Right now, I'm breaking my own rules."
My thoughts raced in confusion.
The still-unresolved carousel, office politics with the Event & Performance Team's team leader, the job of winning Park Seok-min over.
So many things I needed to do.
But what I needed to do right now—
"I'll make sure you're rewarded for breaking your own rules."