Making Team Leader Park Seok-min (3)
"Team Leader, did you hear the news? You know, the Event & Performance Team's Team Leader Kim Cheol-jin. He's getting fired."
Next Planet was abuzz.
Team Leader Kim Cheol-jin was a member of the prestigious "sacred bone line" that everyone in Next Planet knew, starting from the vice CEO. And someone like that was getting fired?
It was something unthinkable until now.
"They say the Reform Division exposed it."
"Exposed what?"
"Team Leader Kim Cheol-jin's corruption. He apparently did a lot."
The rumor-mongers from each team managed to obtain even unofficial information and spread it to those around them.
"They're firing a team leader for just a couple of corruption cases? The company's already in chaos after overhauling the Marketing & PR Team not long ago. Is this even possible?"
"Looks like the Reform Division prepared thoroughly. I heard they made a gift set out of all the corruption and detonated it at once."
"The Reform Division's division director is quite the tough one. The Reform Division just beat out the vice CEO and executive vice president's line, didn't they?"
"Right. I bet the Event & Performance Team will probably be under the Reform Division for a while now."
Opinions within the company were divided.
For now, the forces that were displeased with Lee Hyunmin's presence remained unhappy with his moves.
"This is too much. No matter how you look at it, it's got to be the signal flare for a massive restructuring."
"Isn't this the typical pattern of a company going under? Always chanting 'performance, efficiency, profit' until the organization collapses. Ugh... should I start looking for another job?"
"I think they gave too much authority to a kid. I really hate seeing internal discipline break down. I'm really thinking of handing in my resignation."
Not only the Business Strategy Team, which was Lee Hyunmin's representative enemy faction, but also many others disliked him.
Even if he had shown some results, to them, Lee Hyunmin was just a parachute hire.
Still, no one handed in their resignation on the spot.
Because they all knew that no company would treat them as well as Next Planet did, considering their abilities.
There were now far more people openly supporting Lee Hyunmin's actions compared to before.
"This is refreshing. Honestly, I hated watching the 'sacred bone line' just look out for each other."
"Don't you feel like the company's really changing? The theme park's getting more visitors, it's way more vibrant, I love seeing it."
"I see division director Lee Hyunmin differently now. I thought he was just another parachute, but the recruit promotion and cafeteria issues... He seems to be a sincere guy. He's really competent, too."
This was a big change.
Up until recently, everyone had harbored doubts about every little thing Lee Hyunmin did.
But now, there were even people openly siding with him.
"I wonder how far the Reform Division will go."
"Me too. These days, among the female staff, division director Lee Hyunmin is gaining a ton of popularity."
It was said that Vice CEO Choi Younghoon threw a fit on the day Team Leader Kim Cheol-jin's dismissal was decided.
"What do you mean, you can't stop this? What are you all doing? At this rate, the chairman's going to start doubting my management abilities."
On the other hand, operations Division Director Oh Kang-il reportedly remained quiet.
"What's the point in worrying about that? Let's just focus on doing our job well."
The official announcement was made.
Team Leader Kim Cheol-jin of the Event & Performance Team was fired, and the company stated it would pursue litigation over the corruption he committed.
Usually, the Legal Audit Team tended to act passively for the sake of company stability, but this time, it was different.
Judging the corruption case to be too significant, they dug into it properly, and it turned out Kim Cheol-jin's corruption was several times greater than what the Reform Division had reported.
Therefore, not even the vice CEO could intervene.
The people at Next Planet started to watch the sacred bone line with even more suspicion.
For the time being, Park Seok-min would be acting team leader of the Event & Performance Team, and it was decided to move the team under the Reform Division.
Event & Performance Team's Acting Team Leader, Park Seok-min.
He found this situation chaotic.
'Is this really happening?'
A few days ago, Lee Hyunmin had told him. He would get him promoted to team leader within a week.
'Things are moving so fast...'
He realized that Lee Hyunmin must have already had the Kim Cheol-jin corruption exposé set up before meeting with him.
It was preposterous, but at the same time, impressive.
'Where did he get that fearless drive?'
He had to go meet Lee Hyunmin now.
Lee Hyunmin had kept his promise to him. While it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had roped him in with a scheme, a kept promise was a kept promise.
Now, it was time for him to answer.
The reality was, he was still in a position of power compared to Lee Hyunmin.
Currently, there was no replacement for him in the company, and he had never promised Lee Hyunmin that he would stay at Next Planet.
So he could stride into Lee Hyunmin's office, brimming with self-confidence.
But instead, he was anxious.
'What should I do?'
Someone tapped his shoulder.
It was his friend, HR team's Deputy Kang Dae-hyun.
"Hey, acting Team Leader of the Event & Performance Team."
"I'm not a team leader. Just acting team leader."
"You'll be team leader soon enough, so what's the difference."
"I haven't decided yet."
"Don't frown. You'll get wrinkles. We're both getting close to our mid-thirties; gotta keep it together. Want to grab a coffee?"
He didn't actually want to drink coffee. Maybe it was the pressure? Anyway, he wanted to shed this unknowable feeling.
So he followed Kang Dae-hyun.
They looked out over the theme park from the building rooftop.
Kang Dae-hyun spoke first.
"Coffee in the secret room tastes amazing."
"If you bought it from the same place, it'll taste the same, what are you talking about..."
"You really have zero sense of sentiment."
"Just say what you want to say."
"You say it's what I want to say, but it's really what you want to hear."
Park Seok-min didn't answer and kept drinking his coffee.
Normally, Kang Dae-hyun would talk and Park Seok-min usually listened.
Today, though, Park Seok-min couldn't handle the silence any longer.
"What's the right thing for me to do?"
"There's no right or wrong when it comes to choices in life. It's just the difference between regretting more or regretting less."
"How do I regret less?"
"Who knows? I have no idea."
"If you're only going to say useless things, why did you bring me here?"
Park Seok-min grumbled. This was completely unlike his usual self.
He began to spit out his thoughts.
"It's not even like I promised division director Lee Hyunmin anything. Logically, I should head to DiOni. Isn't that right? The team leader was just booted out, and honestly, that person was just getting in the division director's way, so he was bound to go anyway. So I don't have to feel thankful or return any favor. Don't you agree?"
"You sure talk a lot today, Park Seok-min."
"Just answer me."
Kang Dae-hyun pointed at the theme park with his finger.
"I decided to side with the division director because I wanted to keep seeing this view."
"So?"
"As part of the HR team, I sometimes interviewed people who left Next Planet some years after they were gone."
"They actually do that?"
"Some people made choices to quickly save money. Others made choices for their future careers. Some chose to save time towards their goals. Others just wanted to be happy."
Park Seok-min listened quietly.
Most of what Kang Dae-hyun usually told him was about meeting women. He wasn't this kind of serious person.
"Looking back after some years, almost none of them were truly satisfied with their choices back then. But do you know who was definitely satisfied?"
"Who?"
"Those who tried to find out what they truly wanted."
"Not those who actually found it?"
"I've never seen anyone like that."
"Why?"
"Because everyone's still searching."
Since he hadn't provided an answer, it was, for Park Seok-min, actually answer enough.
So Park Seok-min shoved his unfinished coffee at Kang Dae-hyun.
"You throw this away. I'm off to see the division director."
"You've made your decision, huh."
"I'm still in the process of making it."
Park Seok-min started walking toward Lee Hyunmin's office.
He rummaged through his memories.
Why did he love parades and performances so much? There were a lot of reasons. One of them came back to him.
Everyone who participates in parades and performances tries their hardest to make the audience happy.
He realized that's what he'd loved.
'I've made my decision. No more hesitation.'
He met Lee Hyunmin.
He spoke to him.
"I have a lot of things I want to do."
"I know."
"I trust you'll handle my salary and compensation appropriately. I'll trust you a hundred percent with that. But I just want you to promise me one thing: Please let me do everything I want to do."
"I'll trust you a hundred percent in return."
"And I have one more request."
"The previous thing wasn't a request?"
"That was a demand. What I'll say now is a request."
Lee Hyunmin stared at Park Seok-min's face in silence for a moment.
Park Seok-min had no idea what he was thinking.
This moment made him even more nervous than receiving the acceptance call from DiOni, which he had wished for so much.
"I'm rather curious how demands and requests are different."
"Please keep that unwavering spirit of wanting to change Next Planet. I'm putting my future on the line for that."
"I'll have to refuse that request."
Park Seok-min was startled by that unexpected answer.
But then came the next words.
"I said I dream of making this Korea's number one theme park. If I stay the same as I am now, I'll never reach that goal. So I'll keep changing for that goal."
"Oh..."
"Was that a satisfactory answer?"
Right, he thought, that's who this person is.
That's why he chose to stay with Next Planet instead of DiOni.
"Yes, I'm satisfied."
Park Seok-min waited for further words.
But Lee Hyunmin said nothing.
"Is that... it?"
"Yes, that's it."
At this, Park Seok-min found himself flustered again.
He had expected Lee Hyunmin to ask why he decided to stay, or what would be required of him moving forward, or what he'd need to achieve — something like that.
"You're not going to give me those, you know, 'requirements', like what I have to accomplish, what's expected, that sort of thing?"
"You made the choice to stay at Next Planet instead of going to DiOni. I'm sure you'll do fine. Oh! Should I start calling you Team Leader now?"
"No, that's not what I meant."
Lee Hyunmin smiled.
"I just realized I also have something to ask. Or is this a demand? Now I'm confused."
"What... what is it?"
"Let's go out for a company dinner."
"Huh? All of a sudden?"
Lee Hyunmin pointed somewhere with his finger. At the end of it was Choi Hyena, eyes sparkling.
"There's a staff member who insists we need a victory celebration."
***
At the company dinner were Choi Hyena, Park Seok-min, and Lee Yunjung.
Team Leader Shin Miyoung from the Marketing & PR Team couldn't make sudden plans like this since she had to take care of her children.
Kim Junho said he was too busy to show up. The second video for the recruit promotion was about to be released, and he was still not finished with it.
"Ugh... I really wanted to come, too. I'll definitely join next time."
Kim Junho came down to the lobby to see us off, then returned to his workplace.
Why did his departing figure look so lonely?
They had also asked HR team's Deputy Kang Dae-hyun to join.
"I'm not part of the Reform Division, and besides, I've got a date tonight."
He left in a flash.
Park Seok-min shook his head, frowning.
"He's got a womanizing streak."
"A player, huh."
"Enemy of all women."
"Well... it's his life."
We decided to have chicken and beer.
To the very start, Choi Hyena was in maximum gear.
"Alright! Raise your glasses, everyone! Our Reform Division not only secured another territory but also landed an outstanding talent! Let's toast to Division Director Lee Hyunmin taking one step closer to Next Planet domination — cheers!"
When it was just the two of us in the office, or when Kim Junho was present, I didn't mind comments like that.
But hearing them with a new member around made me feel embarrassed. I was really embarrassed by Choi Hyena's words and actions.
"Whew! Kim Cheol-jin's head flew off, and the look on Executive Vice President Kim's face was priceless. Too bad I didn't see the vice CEO's reaction. Anyway, we need to cut out all the salary thieves from the company!"
Choi Hyena had no self-restraint. Or perhaps, it would be more accurate to say, she had no intention of restraining herself.
Park Seok-min looked quite flustered.
"I thought Ms. Hyena gave off a very smart impression... but the real her is completely different."
"She is smart. Most of the time. Just think of her as a drunk tonight."
She just has her wild moments every now and then.
Lee Yunjung watched Choi Hyena with a bright smile.
"Oh! So this is what a company dinner is like. It's my first time. I was really looking forward to it. But seeing Hyena unni, it's basically the same atmosphere as a college mixer, just no drinking games."
No... it's really not.
I think I may have given Yunjung a big misunderstanding.
With a bit of a buzz, Lee Yunjung stuck out her lips in a pout.
"Division director, you're so mean. You did all this without including me. I'm on the same team, you know. You have to let me in next time. Don't leave me out."
There was no helping it.
I just... didn't want the still-young Lee Yunjung to see the dark side of the company so soon. To me, she still felt like a student.
Choi Hyena hugged Lee Yunjung tightly.
"Aw! Our Yunjung is so cute, throwing a tantrum! Ooh, ooh, you're still a baby. You don't need to know about bad things yet. Unni will take care of you."
Thankfully, Choi Hyena provided some damage control, albeit not intentionally.
Park Seok-min maintained his usual, perfectly composed self throughout the gathering. He had exactly two beers.
Choi Hyena made her dissatisfaction clear.
"Drink more! This is no fun."
"I'm sorry. Next time, I'll drink more. But I have rehearsal with the performers tomorrow. I'll need my body."
"Ah... fine, I'll accept that!"
It wasn't until after 11 p.m. that the party ended.
We all parted ways.
Since my destination was in the same direction as Lee Yunjung's, we walked together.
"Ms. Yunjung, I'm going to buy some snacks and drop them off with Junho. See you tomorrow."
"Oh? Right. Mr. Junho is still working late. Poor guy. Director, I'll come too."
So we bought some food and returned to the office.
"Huh?"
Yunjung and I saw a scene we'd never spotted before.
Perhaps exhausted, Kim Junho had dozed off with his head down on his desk.
Choi Hyena, who arrived before us, was draping a blanket over Junho's back.
Feeling like we shouldn't be caught, we quickly slipped out of the building.
"Director, wow! My heart's racing. When did Hyena unni and Junho oppa get that close... That's love, right? Isn't it?"
"I'm not sure if it's love yet, but at the very least, it's not a bad relationship."
Soon after, Choi Hyena also exited the building.
Lee Yunjung frowned.
"Hm... Still a bit ambiguous. She left so quickly, after all."
"Yeah. Maybe more like a nuna coming to take care of her tired younger brother?"
"I hope it's love. Anyway, I'm finding work here more and more fun."
"It's late, let's head home too."
"Yes!"
Whatever kind of feeling it was, it was nice to see colleagues looking out for each other.
Soon, the second video will drop, and the recruit promotion will go into full swing.
What surprises await at the company tomorrow? I can't help but wonder.
First, though, we'll be running hard to hit that daily average of 1,000 visitors.