Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 239

Woo-jin felt a knot of excitement in his stomach as the car turned toward Icheon City Hall. This meeting was important. If it went well, his drama set could become something much bigger than just a filming location.

To become a ‘Tourism Special Zone,’ there are three main steps.

First, Icheon City suggests selecting ‘Tourism Special Zone Candidate Sites.’

At this stage, things can move forward without a strong foundation. The local government, like Icheon City, chooses a candidate site to promote it as a tourism special zone.

However, being a candidate site doesn’t automatically bring any government help.

To get real support, you need to reach the second stage: ‘preliminary designation of a tourism special zone.’

Reaching this stage means the important government people are serious about making the area a special tourism zone.

From this point, the province-level government promises support to develop the area properly.

Once this support is promised, the final zone designation is almost guaranteed.

Woo-jin was worried because the candidate site designation, unlike the preliminary designation, could be withdrawn by Icheon City at any time.

So, as soon as he heard Icheon City’s proposal from Secretary Oh, Woo-jin quickly set up a meeting with the Culture Department at Icheon City Hall.

With the Living Fair coming up, he wanted a quick decision without wasting time.

CEO Kang So-jeong had given him full power to negotiate everything about the drama, except for the money part. This showed how much she trusted him.

“Well, are we almost there?”

“Yeah, just a right turn at the main road,” Jin-tae replied.

Jin-tae was with Woo-jin today because Secretary Oh had work to do. But it didn’t matter, as Woo-jin had already discussed everything with Secretary Oh.

Unlike the crowded parking lots in Seoul, the one at Icheon City Hall stretched out like a giant empty field. Woo-jin felt a sense of calm as they parked, a welcome change from the city’s usual rush.

Woo-jin and Jin-tae parked near the entrance and walked into the building. They found the Culture Department, where Jo Yong-hyun, the Director, greeted them.

“Oh! Welcome! I’m Jo Yong-hyun, the Director of the Culture Department.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Seo Woo-jin, the CEO of WJ Studio.”

“I’m Director Kim Jin-tae.”

“Haha, it feels like meeting a celebrity to see someone I’ve only seen on TV!”

“A celebrity? Haha. I’m flattered.”

“Anyway, come this way. We’ve set up a conference room for you.”

Culture Director Jo Yong-hyun was a friendly man with a plump appearance, looking to be in his early 40s, a bit older than Jin-tae.

The conference room was small and functional, with a round table in the center polished to a shine. Sunlight streamed through the window, making dust motes dance in the air. On the table, glasses of iced coffee clinked gently, the ice cubes like tiny glaciers melting in the amber liquid.

The three men settled around the small round table. Director Jo gestured for them to take the iced coffees, his smile wide and welcoming. Woo-jin took a sip, the cold drink a refreshing contrast to the warm air outside. He could feel Jin-tae shifting slightly beside him, a sign of his own anticipation.

“Was the traffic bad on the way here?”

“Traffic was its usual charming self,” Jin-tae said with a wry smile, leaning back in his chair. “Seoul thinks everyone wants to be there at the same time.” Woo-jin chuckled. “Once you escape the city limits, though, it’s like breathing fresh air.”

First, Woo-jin and Director Jo chatted lightly over coffee. They had come for an important meeting, but it would have been strange to bring up business right away.

After about ten minutes of small talk, the main topic slowly emerged.

“I’ve already heard the story from Secretary Oh.”

“Oh, Secretary Oh said that CEO Seo accepted the proposal quite positively.”

“Of course. If it’s designated as a tourism special zone, it will greatly help the set and the drama.”

As the conversation began, the expressions of Woo-jin and Director Jo clearly changed. Their bright expressions with smiles were the same, but a serious atmosphere was definitely formed.

From Director Jo’s perspective, and from Woo-jin’s perspective, this deal was very important, so it was only natural.

Director Jo spoke again.

“As you’ve already heard from Secretary Oh, creating a tourism special zone is Icheon City’s long-cherished project.”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“So, when we heard that the drama set built in our city was CEO Seo’s work, we really thought, ‘This is it!’”

At the starting point of the negotiation, Director Jo began to tell his story first, and his stories were quite sincere.

“Actually, I don’t know much about architecture, so I can’t objectively judge how outstanding CEO Seo’s architecture is.”

Woo-jin nodded.

“Of course, that’s understandable.”

Director Jo continued.

“So, what I saw was CEO Seo’s recognition. I also enjoyed watching very much with my daughter… And it’s a fact that CEO Seo is an internationally recognized architect—facts that don’t require my subjective opinion or judgment.”

Woo-jin had a very interesting expression. Director Jo was another new character, unlike his first impression.

Woo-jin, who had sat at many negotiation tables, had experienced many types of working-level people. This was the first time he had encountered a type like Director Jo, who started negotiations by laying out all his cards.

“I also saw CEO Seo’s presentation video that became a recent issue. One of my employees told me about it.”

“I’m embarrassed.”

Director Jo talked about Woo-jin’s recognition, the production costs invested in the drama , and the upcoming International Living Fair in Seoul.

These were the possibilities and reasons for Woo-jin’s designed set to grow into a great tourist attraction, and Woo-jin thought that Director Jo’s approach wasn’t a bad strategy.

Director Jo had frankly talked about the charm of the that the city was feeling and had gained Woo-jin’s favor first. Gaining favor like this makes it easier to express regrets later.

After Director Jo’s story was somewhat settled, Woo-jin spoke again.

“Then what Icheon City wants most is, after all, the revitalization of the local economy through the designation of a tourism special zone?”

Director Jo nodded.

“That’s exactly right.”

Director Jo, who took a sip of coffee as if his throat was dry from talking, continued.

“So, we want to cooperate with CEO Seo as much as possible. I hope you think that the mention of ‘candidate site designation’ is also an expression of that will—a will to promise the maximum support within the possible range.”

Woo-jin smiled inwardly. He sensed something sharp in Director Jo’s words, like a hidden point he was trying to make.

‘Within the possible range…’

Woo-jin instinctively felt that the negotiation was starting now.

“Director.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Then, could I ask what that ‘support’ could include?”

“……!”

“We’ve also been thinking about various ways to cooperate more actively… but I can only tell you because I need to know how much support is possible in Icheon City.”

“Heh heh.”

Woo-jin, glancing at Director Jo with a slightly awkward expression, offered a bait.

“For example, we can promote the Icheon City tourism area development plan on the marketing flyer of the ……”

“……!!”

“During the drama airing period, we can temporarily open the set for free. After the airing, we can hold a fan signing event at this set.”

“Those are… definitely attractive stories.”

“Isn’t it?”

Director Jo nodded once again at Woo-jin’s question.

These stories that Woo-jin had just shared were things that he hadn’t even thought of proposing.

But Woo-jin’s story didn’t end there.

“But I haven’t even taken out the most important proposals yet.”

“The most important proposals?”

“Practical and definite proposals that the director would be most eager for.”

“Is that really true?”

Director Jo did not hide his surprise, and Woo-jin nodded.

“Yes, that’s why I’m asking the director specific stories about ‘support’.”

“Yes, Director.”

Silence filled the conference room, but it wasn’t negative. Director Jo was reorganizing his proposals, and Woo-jin was waiting.

After a moment, Director Jo spoke.

“First, I was going to support the change of use of the nearby forest where the set was built.”

“Oho.”

“We are going to open up the area through the change of use so that tourist facilities can enter the surrounding area.”

This surprised Woo-jin. Just listening to this first story, he could tell that Director Jo wasn’t just testing the waters.

The first proposal was more unconventional than Woo-jin had expected. The change of use was not a simple administrative procedure.

‘Even if only some of the surrounding forest land is changed in use… it’s true that it’s easier to attract tourist facilities.’

The biggest disadvantage of the site where Woo-jin built the set was that it was surrounded by forests, making it difficult for commercial facilities to enter. That’s why the land price was cheap despite being close to downtown Icheon and having good transportation.

So, this one proposal was a sufficiently unconventional deal. Moreover, Director Jo’s story didn’t end there.

“So, after this first step is in progress, I’m thinking of launching a housing site development plan.”

Housing site development means creating housing sites where buildings can be built, starting with the maintenance of public facilities such as road construction for large-scale land.

Of course, this housing site development was what had to be done first in order to be designated as a tourism special zone. The fact that the working-level person brought up this story first before any results of the drama or the Living Fair were visualized is important.

Director Jo Yong-hyun told me about various specific plans after that, and each of them was enough to meet the level that Woo-jin had expected.

Therefore, Woo-jin decided to show all the cards he had brought with him.

The proposals that Jo Yong-hyun presented were not something that he would do right away, because they were parts that would be implemented sequentially as each other’s proposals progressed one by one.

So, Woo-jin took out one of the most attractive cards he had brought to this place today and held it out in front of Director Jo Yong-hyun.

“Okay. Then, the one step that Icheon City can show us is the change of use of the nearby forest land, right?”

“That’s right.”

“If the city can really provide prior support to that extent……”

Woo-jin paused for a moment and then spoke in a subtle voice.

“I’ll try to promote the filming of a special at the Icheon City set, which is scheduled to air at the end of the month.”

Director Jo Yong-hyun’s eyes widened as big as marbles upon hearing this unexpected offer.