“I have enough authority to cast the participants myself. Of course, there might be some opposition, but I can push it through if I’m firm. I’ve built this program up for five years, after all.”
He paused for a moment, his expression turning serious.
“As you know, we can’t broadcast a show that directly attacks Park Jungnam. Management wouldn’t allow that.”
“Then…”
“Instead, there will be an opportunity for you to be verified, President Jeong. You’ll be speaking through your skills.”
“This might be an awkward question, but… why are you helping me?”
Kim Tae-hyun gave a bitter smile.
“It’s not just because of my history with Park Jungnam.”
“Then is there another reason…?”
“I’m just someone who thinks the world sucks when people like Park Jungnam succeed.”
He tapped the table with his finger.
“And… to be honest, a seasoned broadcaster like me can’t ignore the ratings. Haven’t you seen how every station is trying to get you on their shows right now to boost their viewership?”
“Ah… yes.”
“I’m giving you an opportunity, and you’re helping me with the ratings. It’s a win-win for both of us.”
Kim Tae-hyun’s choice involved a realistic calculation.
If that was the case, I didn’t need to feel unconditionally guilty.
Furthermore, this was one of the three major networks that people actually trusted. It was a current affairs program, not a variety, entertainment, or cooking show.
I didn’t see a better option than this.
“However, there is one condition.”
“A condition?”
Kim Tae-hyun spoke with a solemn look.
“Before we confirm your appearance, we have to show the viewers the verification process in some way. That’s the only way to avoid backlash later. You need to know that before we start.”
“In what way?”
“I’ll coordinate with the higher-ups regarding the casting and think about how to structure the verification process. I have a project currently in the planning stages, so it will move quickly.”
“I understand. I’ll wait for your call.”
After my meeting with Kim Tae-hyun ended, I talked privately with Park Seong-ho for a moment.
As we sat in a corner of the restaurant drinking coffee, I asked him a question.
“But Chef, with your reputation, wouldn’t you be able to speak out against Park Jungnam?”
“Well… President Jeong, I’ll be honest with you. I have too many things to protect.”
Park Seong-ho gave a bitter laugh.
“It took me a very long time to climb back up here from the bottom. Surviving day by day, building things up bit by bit… that’s how I got to my current position.”
Park Seong-ho paused and looked out the window.
“And now, I’m responsible for the livelihoods of my employees and their families. The restaurant staff, my partners in Busan… when I think about it, there are so many people whose bread and butter depends on my decisions.”
At his words, the faces of my father, Minjae, and Manager Park flashed through my mind.
“So, I don’t want to do anything that could shatter all of this just for one man’s revenge or feelings. That would be too irresponsible.”
“Yes… I fully understand.”
“To be honest… part of me wishes you would stop here, President Jeong.”
I could feel the sincerity in Park Seong-ho’s words.
“But I also know that Park Jungnam won’t leave you alone now that you’ve come this far. Things have already crossed the line.”
He let out a sigh and continued.
“So now, I can only hope that you succeed. That would be the best outcome for both me and you.”
Park Seong-ho reached across the table and lightly patted my arm.
“I meant it when I said I would help from behind the scenes. It’s just that I can’t stand at the front and fight with you. Please understand the difference.”
Everyone has things they must protect.
And for those things, some fight, while others remain silent.
I couldn’t say Park Seong-ho’s choice was wrong. Considering the things he had painstakingly built over fifteen years and the numerous responsibilities on his shoulders, it might even be the wiser judgment.
Park Seong-ho chose the path of enduring to protect, while I chose the path of fighting to protect.
It wasn’t a matter of right or wrong, but simply a difference in method.
“I understand, Chef.”
Park Seong-ho looked relieved at my response.
My attendance at the first meeting ended like that.
***
My father called me early in the morning.
“Junho, Mega Meat is already preparing to pull out.”
“Already?”
“Yeah, they’re already taking meat out of the display cases. There’s even a truck here.”
I hurried toward Branch One.
It was true. At the Ga-yeong-dong branch of Mega Meat, the cleanup was already in full swing.
‘I thought it would take at least a few days.’
But Mega Meat was moving fast. The employees were emptying the display cases in an orderly fashion, organizing packaging materials and boxes. They wouldn’t be moving this quickly unless it was a direct order from the CEO himself.
I suddenly wondered what Park Jungnam was thinking.
‘He surely has his own calculations. He isn’t the type to just admit defeat and retreat.’
Just then, I locked eyes with Manager Kim Jin-soo as he stepped out of the Mega Meat store from a distance.
It was only for a brief moment, but his gaze lingered on my face. It was easy to feel his resentment. From the way he kept his lips tightly pressed together, his suppressed anger was clearly conveyed.
I had no particular feelings toward him.
As an employee, his only sin was being loyal to his company. He had merely followed his superior’s orders and tried to achieve sales goals. It was only natural for him to hate me. For Kim Jin-soo, this situation was a matter of his livelihood.
Still, what could I do?
He was just fulfilling his role, and I was doing the same.
They were merely scapegoats. However, I didn’t have the power to save even the scapegoats. I had things of my own to protect, and that alone was overwhelming.
Manager Kim Jin-soo turned his head and went back into the store. I felt a sense of loneliness from his departing figure, but I had no choice but to turn away as well.
***
That same afternoon, I received a call from PD Kim Tae-hyun.
“President Jeong, I’ve received approval for the matter we discussed the other day.”
“Already?”
“Yes, I told you I could do it. The reaction was better than I expected. They particularly liked the concept of the project.”
There was excitement in Kim Tae-hyun’s voice.
“What kind of content will it be?”
“The title is ‘The Truth of Mixed Meat—Even Experts Are Deceived.’ Recently, many companies have been caught mixing meats, right? But the media and authorities just keep telling consumers to distinguish them carefully when buying.”
“That’s true. It’s very irresponsible.”
“So, we’ve prepared an experiment. We want to show how difficult this distinction is and that even experts in this field can’t tell them apart properly.”
“Then, who will be appearing?”
“We plan to gather five people for the test: a thirty-year veteran wholesaler, a food columnist, a professor of livestock science, a rancher… and you, President Jeong.”
“In what way?”
“It’s simple. We’ll lay out several sets of meat, and you have to guess which ones are mixed. Of course, we’ll prepare them to a level where consumers wouldn’t be able to tell at all.”
“Hmm… it won’t be easy if they’re mixed.”
I spoke words I didn’t truly mean.
“Even the experts will probably get many wrong. That’s how we drive home the message that ‘it’s not just the consumers’ fault.'”
“It sounds like a good plan.”
“The intention is to show that it’s a difficult task even for experts, but if you happen to get more right than the others, you’ll naturally have your skills recognized… It’s killing two birds with one stone.”
Kim Tae-hyun seemed to think I was just a bit better than the other participants. Considering the level of the test he had prepared, he likely expected me to have a slightly higher accuracy rate than the other experts.
“When do you plan to film?”
“This Thursday. We’ll record in the studio, starting at 10:00 AM and finishing before 3:00 PM, including lunch. We’ll also have a few audience members.”
“Sounds good.”
Kim Tae-hyun paused before adding, “Ah, and if I only tell you the details in advance, it would be a biased broadcast. So, I’m explaining the project concept and testing methods the same way to everyone else who agreed to appear. These are people who are willing to risk the embarrassment of getting the answers wrong.”
“I see.”
“I’m letting everyone know that the testing scenes will be broadcast without editing, so you don’t need to feel guilty about receiving special treatment.”
“Actually, that makes me feel better since there’s less pressure.”
“Well, that’s a relief then. You were actually the last one to be contacted. I’ve been reaching out to the others since yesterday.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, the wholesaler already agreed, and the livestock science professor gave a resounding yes. The rancher hesitated for a bit but eventually said okay.”
Kim Tae-hyun sounded satisfied.
“Only the food columnist is still adjusting his schedule, but I think it’ll be fine.”
“So everyone is under the same conditions.”
“Exactly. That’s the only way to be fair. Trust is the most important thing in broadcasting.”
I could feel the sincerity in his words. It seemed he didn’t just want to do it for the ratings; he truly wanted to make a meaningful program.
“Then, I’ll see you on Thursday.”
“Yes, let’s make a great show.”
***
Thursday, 9:30 AM.
I stepped out of my car in front of the broadcasting station’s main entrance. It was a larger building than I had expected. When I entered the lobby, a reception employee greeted me kindly.
“You’re President Jung Junho, right? The recording location is on the fifth floor.”
As I took the elevator to the fifth floor, a bit of tension rose within me. In the year 2157, situations like this were routine, but my current body and mind felt different.
At the end of the hallway, Kim Tae-hyun raised his hand in greeting.
“President Jeong, you’re here early.”
“Hello, PD Kim.”
“Almost everyone else is here. Why don’t you exchange brief greetings and do a rehearsal?”
He led me to the waiting room. When he opened the door, four people were already sitting there.
“Alright, let me introduce you. This is President Jung Junho.”
I was introduced to them one by one. President Kim, a wholesaler of thirty years; Teacher Lee, a food columnist; Professor Park, a professor of livestock science; and President Choi, a rancher.
They were all older men, and they looked at me with inquisitive eyes. It was likely because I looked so young.
“You’re the one I saw in the video. You look even younger in person. How long has it been since you started your butcher shop?” President Kim asked.
I was flustered for a moment. It hadn’t even been a year, so how should I answer?
“Well… it hasn’t been long since I started running it myself, but I’ve watched my father do it since I was a child.”
I blurred the details vaguely.
“Ah, so you took over the family business. No wonder…”
Fortunately, President Kim understood on his own.
“Yes, that’s… how it is.”
Professor Park also showed interest in me.
“Then your eye for meat must have naturally developed since you were young.”
“I learned a lot from my father. This and that…”
I had no choice but to keep answering vaguely. I couldn’t exactly say I was unemployed until recently.
Teacher Lee said with a smile, “It’s rare for young people to take over the family business these days. That’s impressive.”
“Thank you.”
Kim Tae-hyun cut in at the perfect time.
“Then, let’s go to the studio and do a quick rehearsal. We need to check the camera positions too.”
***
The studio was more compact than I expected. A long table was placed in the center, and five sets of beef were neatly prepared on it. Each set only had a label—A, B, C, D, or E—and no other information. Kim Tae-hyun led the participants to the front of the table.
“It’s simple. You just have to find the fake Hanwoo among these five sets.”
I approached the table and looked at the meat closely. Each set included four or five different cuts, such as ribeye, tenderloin, ribs, and even meat for bulgogi. It was structured like the Hanwoo sets sold in department stores.
“There are several cuts in one set,” Professor Park noted.
“Yes, we made it as close to a real-life sales situation as possible. Usually, when you buy a Hanwoo gift set, it comes out like this.”
Everyone nodded at Kim Tae-hyun’s explanation. Teacher Lee wore a worried expression.
“This is going to be really difficult. Each cut has different characteristics, so judging them all at once…”
“Exactly. That’s why it becomes a more realistic test.”
President Choi pointed at one set and said, “Looking at the color alone… well, they all look similar.”
Kim Tae-hyun clapped his hands.
“Alright, let’s stop the rehearsal here. Don’t worry, the meat for the actual filming is prepared separately. We’ll do a camera test and then start the main recording.”
Everyone’s tension was palpable.
When the time came, about a dozen audience members entered for the verification. The cameramen finished their final checks, and the lights brightened. Kim Tae-hyun appeared, having changed into a suit. Perhaps because of the broadcast attire, he looked even more professional.
“Alright, let’s begin. Cue!”
When the staff gave the signal, Kim Tae-hyun smiled toward the camera.
“Hello, viewers. I’m Kim Tae-hyun of ‘Dangerous Table.'”
Memories of broadcasting in the future began to surface. However, this time I was a participant, not a host.
“Recently, news stories about mixed meat and fake Hanwoo sales have been making headlines every day. But how are the government and authorities responding? They just repeat the words, ‘Consumers should be careful and distinguish it themselves,’ and ‘Check thoroughly before purchasing.'”
Sharpened edges were buried in Kim Tae-hyun’s voice.
“Is this really fair? Is it right to dump all the responsibility onto general consumers who lack specialized knowledge? Today, we will conduct an experiment to see if even the experts in this field can easily tell the difference.”
Kim Tae-hyun looked toward us and said, “Today, we have invited five experts from various fields: a wholesaler president with thirty years of experience, a food columnist, a livestock science professor, a rancher, and a butcher shop president.”
The camera panned to us one by one. I smiled naturally—not too awkwardly, but not too confidently either.
“There is a fake among the five Hanwoo sets prepared here. Will the experts be able to find what consumers find absolutely impossible to distinguish?”
Tension began to hang over the studio.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.