Chapter 40
“Well, you see…”
Park Yoonho found himself stumbling as he tried to achieve a graceful ending, only to be caught up in complications.
Standing in front of the office, Park Yoonho couldn’t even raise his head, fidgeting with guilt.
“The main director insisted that it had to be me… Our show is being outsourced too.”
“Is that so? Then, is that a good thing?”
What Doyun had overlooked was the fact that even entertainment programs were now being outsourced by broadcasting companies. This had tied Park Yoonho to an outsourced production company as well.
“Well, my salary will increase, and I’ll gain experience. They said they’d give me a shot as an assistant director.”
What was the right thing to say in this situation?
Should he warn Yoonho that the path he’s chosen would be filled with thorns? Would that make him change his mind?
‘But Yoonho always wanted to be a director, not just a producer.’
Park Yoonho wouldn’t give up on the opportunity to become an assistant director.
‘Even if I forced him to give it up, he’d only end up with regrets.’
Who knows how much bigger the hole in Yoonho’s heart would grow over the path he hadn’t taken?
That’s why Doyun couldn’t stop him.
He wanted to support his friend’s decision, and if it turned out to be a dead end, he’d be there to offer a sturdy foundation for Yoonho to return to.
And so, he said:
“That’s great.”
Hearing Doyun’s calm response, Park Yoonho looked like he was dying of guilt.
“You must’ve had a hard time without hiring a junior PD because of me. How did you manage?”
“What do you mean, how? I’ll curse your name while hiring someone else.”
Park Yoonho scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“I really thought hard about this. I wanted to learn so much from you, so I worked hard…”
“You already know everything. What could you possibly learn?”
To ease Yoonho’s mind, Doyun patted him on the shoulder and added:
“It’s hard to sever ties, especially for someone like you who’s full of affection. Anyway, congratulations on becoming an assistant director.”
Doyun glanced at his watch and told Yoonho:
“I’d ask you to treat me to a meal, but I’ve got a meeting tonight with a sponsor.”
“Ah, is that so? Then I guess I can’t complain. Sorry for taking your time without notice, Doyun.”
“Why so formal all of a sudden, you fool?”
When Doyun teased him, Park Yoonho chuckled and replied:
“Look who’s talking, you weirdo.”
Park Yoonho hurriedly grabbed his bag and stood up. Since Doyun also needed to head back to the office, they left the coffee shop together.
“See you soon.”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s meet often.”
Doyun smiled warmly at Yoonho.
***
“…It’s nice to meet you. I’m Kim Doyun.”
Cosmetan’s CEO, Do Jeongsoo, looked far younger than his sixties, with remarkably clear and healthy skin.
Running a cosmetics company didn’t stop there for him; he appeared to be deeply invested in research, personally testing various formulas on his own skin.
“I’m Do Jeongsoo, CEO of Cosmetan.”
With a friendly smile, Do Jeongsoo offered his hand for a handshake. Judging by the calluses on his hand, he wasn’t merely giving orders from behind a desk; he was hands-on with chemical materials and production.
‘That explains the rough texture.’
In the future, Cosmetan would expand its business into body care and even detergents. This likely meant he was already researching detergents at this stage.
Likewise, when they shook hands, Do Jeongsoo appeared surprised at the strength in Doyun’s grip.
Doyun’s hands were large and rugged from years of helping his mother with various menial tasks, as well as taking on tough jobs to cover living expenses.
Their handshake revealed a shared understanding of the hardships each had faced in their lives.
A mutual trust naturally formed between two individuals who had worked hard and fought through challenges. Perhaps that was why Doyun felt at ease delving into the main topic even before the meal arrived.
“I’ve outlined the potential exposure time and settings for Cosmetan products in our drama.”
Handing over the prepared documents, Doyun continued:
“Of course, the exact duration of product placement will be finalized in consultation with the writer, Han Jiseon.”
“……”
“But I assure you, Cosmetan will receive at least as much exposure time as proposed.”
Do Jeongsoo reviewed the file and nodded in satisfaction.
“You’re very meticulous in your work.”
“I try to keep my promises. And here’s something else I prepared, thinking it might be of help.”
Doyun handed over another file, which had nothing to do with the drama.
“What is this?”
Do Jeongsoo’s expression reflected his confusion. After all, the file had no direct connection to the drama.
“These are product container designs. All made of glass.”
“Why are you giving me this?”
Doyun internally whispered to himself.
‘Think of it as goodwill.’
Cosmetan was a subcontractor producing cosmetics for major corporations.
Using state-of-the-art automated factories, they would mix raw materials to manufacture cosmetics upon receiving orders.
In reality, the production cost for cosmetics made by Cosmetan was less than ten thousand won.
However, large corporations that purchased these products would market them with flashy advertisements, selling them at multiple times the original cost.
It was a structure where one party produced while another sold.
Do Jeongsoo had decided to eliminate the inflated prices of cosmetics by blending better ingredients and directly selling the products himself.
He set competitive prices and supplied them through his own brand stores.
The marketing concept of “cosmetics you can try and choose yourself” garnered explosive responses, leading Cosmetan to grow rapidly.
Major corporations, viewing this as a threat, cut off production orders and refused to pay for previously delivered products under false pretenses of defects.
Despite this being a clear violation of the law, the major corporations’ deliberate efforts to crush Cosmetan pushed the small-to-medium enterprise to the brink of bankruptcy.
‘Back then, what the major corporations latched onto was the cosmetics containers.’
They falsely claimed that harmful substances from cheap plastic containers were leaching into the product.
This led to significant damage to Cosmetan’s reputation.
The company’s stock price plummeted, and they were forced to consider closing down.
In his desperate attempts to survive, Do Jeongsoo sought out drama production companies, pleading for sponsorship opportunities.
He argued that seeing actresses use Cosmetan products on screen would reassure consumers.
‘That’s when he met me.’
In his past life, Do Jeongsoo had approached Doyun, who knew little about cosmetics, and passionately explained how he had devoted his life to creating quality products.
But at the end of the day, Doyun was just a drama producer with no knowledge of the cosmetics industry.
However, the sponsorship conditions proposed by Do Jeongsoo were far less demanding than those of large cosmetic corporations.
‘Three scenes of reapplying lipstick, five scenes of dabbing compact powder. A total screen time of 15 minutes across the drama. It wasn’t as excessively detailed.’
Unlike major corporations that demanded intrusive product placements, Do Jeongsoo’s request for modest exposure didn’t disrupt the flow of the drama.
‘The sponsorship fee was similar anyway.’
Doyun proceeded to sign a contract with Do Jeongsoo. Soon after, other drama production companies also partnered with him.
Cosmetan products appeared naturally on dressing tables in the lead characters’ rooms.
Its storefronts were seen in the background as protagonists walked down the street.
Without explicit scenes of actors applying the products or uttering lines like, “Doesn’t your skin look so hydrated?”, the brand still gained publicity.
Exposure in high-quality dramas left a positive impression of the products in viewers’ minds.
This helped dispel the preconceived notion that products packaged in plastic containers were inferior.
In the meantime, Cosmetan fought lawsuits to prove their products were safe. It took three years to achieve this result.
‘Afterward, they thrived, selling products not only in China but globally.’
Looking into Do Jeongsoo’s eyes, Doyun spoke.
“I believe the most powerful marketing strategy Cosmetan can adopt right now is defense.”
“It sounds like you’re saying our cosmetics containers might become an issue.”
Reflecting on Doyun’s words, Do Jeongsoo flipped through the file containing the container designs.
“It’s possible someone might try to target Cosmetan’s plastic containers. Claims like, ‘The oil components in cosmetics dissolve toxic substances in the plastic,’ might deceive some people.”
Do Jeongsoo’s expression grew serious as he looked up at Doyun.
“That does make sense.”
“I understand there’s a price difference of around 2,000 won between plastic and glass containers. Of course, using glass containers might seem less eco-friendly.”
“…Plastic is no exception in that regard.”
Although aware of Do Jeongsoo’s efforts to reduce production costs, Doyun believed that even adding 2,000 won to the price would not affect its competitiveness.
‘If the price increase was 20,000 won, that’d be a problem.’
Knowing about the potential future challenges, Doyun couldn’t simply take the sponsorship money and turn a blind eye.
The decision, however, rested with the company’s CEO, Do Jeongsoo.
Having said all he needed to, Doyun lifted his teacup.
“Please consider it. It’s just my suggestion, after all.”
“No, not at all. I’ve learned something valuable today. The best marketing strategy is defense! That’s truly excellent advice.”
“My hope is for mutual growth. I also wish for the companies supporting drama productions to have their products recognized in broader markets.”
When A Summer’s Cantabile becomes a massive hit in Japan and Southeast Asia, Doyun envisioned Cosmetan products selling like hotcakes.
He hoped to accelerate the day when K-dramas would pave the way for K-beauty to dominate global markets.
One more thing.
“I look forward to working with Cosmetan on future drama productions as well.”
He intended to cultivate relationships established during A Summer’s Cantabile.
Whether individuals or corporations, having more allies was always beneficial.
Of course, not everyone could fully grasp the depth of Doyun’s intentions.
But judging by the increasingly serious look on Do Jeongsoo’s face, he seemed to sense that Doyun was working on a larger vision.
“I’ll increase the sponsorship by an additional 20 million won.”
The sponsorship fee doubled just from a container design suggestion. While it wasn’t the outcome Doyun had been striving for, there was no reason to decline.
As the planning producer, Doyun managed the budget.
A larger budget meant he could enhance the drama’s quality.
“Thank you. I’ll discuss with Han Jiseon to ensure the products receive more screen time.”
“I didn’t expect that much! At this rate, I should be the one thanking you.”
With the original 20 million won sponsorship and the additional 20 million won, the total now amounted to 40 million won.
Despite this increase, Do Jeongsoo looked as though he had gained tens or hundreds of billions in profit.
In truth, he would indeed earn billions in the future.
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment