My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 323

“But didn’t you hear anything from downstairs?”

“Hear what?”

“About them threatening to buy ad space?”

At those words, Bae Deok-gi glanced at Park Do-joon before shaking his head. Then, he pressed the intercom to preemptively shut down access through his secretary.

“I won’t be meeting anyone from now on, so don’t let anyone in.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Having drawn a firm line, Bae Deok-gi looked at Park Do-joon with a curious expression.

“How did you know? That’s extremely confidential.”

“It’s because Shinguk Broadcasting is in such a precarious position. Unlike other networks, it hasn’t found stable footing yet.”

Other comprehensive programming channels have somewhat established themselves, but even they are struggling to turn a profit.

“Moreover, I understand that Shinguk Broadcasting is currently experiencing significant losses.”

They prioritize hiring based on political affiliations rather than competence, leading to low viewership. And because of the low viewership, advertisers are staying away, which further exacerbates the deficit.

“The only way to turn things around is to invest a substantial amount of capital to refresh the atmosphere and attract talented individuals.”

In fact, Shinguk Broadcasting’s resurgence before my regression [time travel/reincarnation] followed exactly that path.

Suddenly, advertisements surged, and with the resulting revenue, they recruited a host of talented producers (PDs) from other networks, leading to a string of blockbuster hits.

“Shinguk Ilbo [Shinguk Daily News] doesn’t have that kind of money right now. So, where will they get it? As far as I know, securing a loan would be difficult for them.”

Shinguk Ilbo has reached its borrowing limit with banks due to the launch of Shinguk Broadcasting and years of financial losses.

“Is this because even a company is subject to profiling?”

“Companies are ultimately organizations created by people. If you understand human nature, the solutions become fairly obvious.”

Park Do-joon shrugged.

“The reason why famous military leaders in history turned the tide of war with ingenious strategies is because they were exceptional. It’s difficult for ordinary people to devise such brilliant plans.”

They are special, which is why they became historical military leaders.

“Couldn’t there be someone like that within Shinguk Ilbo?”

Park Do-joon scoffed.

“Unfortunately, such individuals rarely thrive in organizations where the existing power structure is so entrenched.”

“What? Why?”

“Because they challenge the established order.”

From the perspective of those in power, a person with exceptional talent is seen as a potential threat to their position. And unfortunately, few are willing to support or help such a person. Isn’t Park Do-joon facing that situation right now?

“If Zhuge Liang [famous strategist from the Three Kingdoms period] had served Cao Cao [powerful warlord] instead of Liu Bei [benevolent ruler], it would have been Zhuge Liang, not Xun Yu [Cao Cao’s strategist], who received the ’empty lunchbox’ [metaphor for being dismissed or sidelined]. This phenomenon is especially prevalent in powerful groups.”

And Shinguk Ilbo has long become a power group rather than a media company.

“And Shinguk Ilbo has grown accustomed to resolving issues through intimidation. Because it’s a media company.”

“Is it different from us?”

“Companies and media companies operate differently.”

Companies generally abhor scandals. Severe scandals can have a devastating impact on a company’s reputation and bottom line.

In fact, there are numerous cases of companies collapsing after being caught engaging in abuse of power.

“Because the media is what brings those issues to light.”

Therefore, media companies benefit from exposing scandals. The more scandals that surface, the more leverage they gain.

“So, companies naturally adopt a defensive posture, while media companies naturally take an offensive one.”

In reality, if Hyunsung Group and Shinguk Ilbo were to engage in an all-out war, it wouldn’t be a fair fight, but considering the potential fallout, Hyunsung Group would be forced to back down.

“Ultimately, the more you have to lose, the more disadvantageous a fight becomes.”

However, Shinguk Ilbo’s support base is rooted in a kind of ideological devotion, and even if Shinguk Ilbo is embroiled in a scandal, that devotion remains unwavering.

“Interesting.”

Chairman Bae Deok-gi smiled.

“Everyone else just advises avoiding conflict and maintaining good relations, but you’re the first person to analyze this situation so incisively.”

“The saying ‘a gem in a bag’ [talent cannot be hidden] didn’t originate without reason.”

“Is that self-praise?”

“To conduct profiling, you need a strong understanding of yourself. If you profile without self-confidence, you risk being consumed by the criminal’s mindset.”

Bae Deok-gi nodded.

“Okay, I admit it. I’m being threatened. Honestly, I’d love to screw them over, but I can’t risk a major conflict over a few advertising fees.”

If a fight erupts, they’ll cut off advertising from our side, and while Shinguk Ilbo would suffer a significant blow, Hyunsung Group would inevitably suffer even greater consequences.

“From my perspective, it’s ridiculous, but my subordinates are making a fuss about conceding to all their demands.”

“You don’t know the full story, Mr. Chairman.”

“Know what?”

“Isn’t Hyunsung Group the only target of these threats?”

“Other companies are likely facing similar pressure.”

“No, I mean, aren’t the directors and executive managing directors working under you also being targeted?”

“Hmm?”

“The suggestions to ‘compromise’ likely originated from them, right?”

Bae Deok-gi smiled bitterly. He hadn’t considered that aspect.

“I’m learning a lot today.”

“Then give me some information.”

“If you’re willing to take them down for me, I’d be happy to help. Shinguk Ilbo definitely operates as a silent money lender in various ways. They’ve traditionally been a major player in the shadowy private loan market.”

Of course, they don’t operate openly but work discreetly behind the scenes through so-called ‘big players’.

“They’re not just big players. One can safely assume that 40% of the individuals known as ‘big players’ in Jongno [district in Seoul] are actually affiliated with Shinguk Ilbo.”

The rest are either independent or connected to other organizations.

“Of course, we could expose that. But attacking Shinguk Ilbo with that information wouldn’t have much impact, would it?”

There’s no concrete evidence, and even if we expose it, Shinguk Ilbo would face criticism, but the overall impact would be limited.

Because private lending isn’t inherently illegal, as long as they adhere to the regulated interest rates.

“Private lending?”

“Yeah, it’s a gray area, right?”

“It’s not a gray area. There will definitely be illegal activities involved.”

It’s inevitable because private lending is a market that generates profit, but it’s also a market prone to losses.

Because most private loan recipients are people who lack funds. Would such individuals easily repay their debts? Unfortunately, no.

In reality, many people in the private loan market default on their payments.

“More people go bankrupt due to private lending than you might think.”

People might assume that a private lender who charges exorbitant interest rates would be immune to bankruptcy. But only those who resort to threats, violence, and blackmail, and even, in extreme cases, organ harvesting, survive.

If you’re not willing to resort to extreme measures to ensure repayment, the private lending business is practically impossible to sustain.

The reason loan sharks are often portrayed as engaging in heinous acts in movies, dramas, and novels is that, due to the nature of the business, a compassionate individual cannot succeed in that field.

“Externally, they use ‘big players’ as fronts, but that’s just a facade. Internally, they likely have a violent organization.”

“A violent organization?”

Chairman Bae Deok-gi was surprised, as he hadn’t considered that.

“Yes, private lending, especially large-scale private lending, cannot operate without violence from the outset. It’s a business that requires a willingness to commit murder if necessary.”

Bae Deok-gi looked troubled.

“Well, you probably don’t know the reality because you have no connection to the private loan market, Mr. Chairman.”

“Is it that bad?”

“It’s worse. Do you know why private loan companies prioritize women?”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s because women can be forced into prostitution if necessary. It’s difficult to exploit a man’s labor in a similar way. It’s not as profitable.”

On the other hand, forcing a woman into prostitution can generate money quickly and easily.

“And those private loan companies typically have close ties to bars that engage in prostitution.”

Has the industry changed, and is private lending now conducted cleanly? That’s what people who are ignorant of the reality say. Private lending cannot be operated cleanly by its very nature.

Especially private lending connected to the underworld. It was once an open secret that the Yakuza [Japanese organized crime syndicate] were a major source of funding for certain financial businesses in Korea. But at some point, those operations ceased in Korea, and they withdrew.

The media believes it’s because Korea’s maximum interest rate has decreased, making it less profitable, but the reality is more complex.

“In Japan, a massive crackdown on the Yakuza is underway. Even if that money were to return to Japan, the Japanese government would likely seize it.”

“Then?”

“The biggest reason they left Korea is that the government has imposed strict regulations on debt collection.”

In the past, they engaged in all sorts of activities to collect private loans. No, they did a lot of terrible things to extract even more than the original loan amount.

Threats were commonplace, as were assault, kidnapping, and even organ trafficking. Even if people repaid the money, they would be beaten and told that it was advance interest, and they still had to repay the principal.

It wasn’t uncommon for someone to borrow 2,000 but be forced to pay back 200 million.

“But the government abolished those practices.”

Prohibition of phone calls at night, prohibition of home visits, and prohibition of threats. Restrictions on contacting debtors more than twice a day, etc.

As a result, the recovery rate plummeted, and the Yakuza, who relied on selling people’s organs to recover debts, had no way to increase their recovery rate in Korea, so they left.

“But Korean organizations are different.”

Park Do-joon said, stroking his chin.

“There’s probably a violent organization operating under Shinguk Ilbo. No, there definitely is.”

Of course, they use private lenders, the so-called ‘big players,’ as a front, but force is not something they would entrust to them.

From a practical standpoint, force must be a tool to control them.

For example, if some crazy guy says, ‘This money is mine,’ legally, that money becomes the property of the private lender acting as the shield.

Because Korea does not recognize nominee accounts [accounts held in one person’s name on behalf of another]. If they give them force, it’s only natural that they will try to protect themselves with that force.