You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 176

“Where shall I take you?”

“Please go to Gwanghwamun Station.”

I deliberately hailed a taxi around the time , featuring Jo Bong-joon, was being broadcast.

About 30 minutes was allocated to Antrozol Alpha on News Now.

I was grateful that they allocated a quarter of the broadcast time on a show that covers various news, but as someone with a lot to say, it felt a bit limiting.

Jo Bong-joon took the script I had painstakingly written until yesterday, and since he’s naturally a good speaker and loves the spotlight, I trusted he’d do well without getting nervous.

Since he’s the first guest, Jo Bong-joon will probably appear in about 10 minutes.

[Management, Choo Hye-min’s News Now. We will begin now.]

As expected, the familiar jingle flowed from the car radio.

Perhaps because it was the number one show in its time slot, the channel was naturally tuned to MBS radio without me even needing to tell the driver.

[Myunghwa Pharmaceutical’s ambitious arthritis treatment, Antrozol Alpha, recently received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the production line…]

“Driver.”

“Yes?”

The driver, who had been silently driving towards Gwanghwamun, responded to my voice.

“Have you heard about Myunghwa Pharmaceutical’s Antrozol Alpha?”

“No, this is the first time I’m hearing about it.”

[…However, controversy has arisen due to concerns that it increases the possibility of cardiovascular diseases. Myunghwa Pharmaceutical has responded by stating that there is no problem because it contains a component that suppresses these side effects, Hyizolam.]

“So, this medicine came out as an arthritis treatment, but it has side effects that make your heart hurt?”

The driver, who was listening to the DJ’s story on the radio, asked me.

“It seems so.”

“What’s this about Hyi-something, saying there’s no problem because of that?”

“I wonder.”

[This issue first surfaced due to an article contributed by a medical journalist from a certain media outlet. And there is someone who has been investigating this for a long time after encountering the issue through that article. Those who are interested in stocks have probably heard the name. We have with us, Apollo, Mr. Jo Bong-joon.]

Following the energetic introduction, Jo Bong-joon’s voice soon filled the car.

[Hello. I am Jo Bong-joon, a stock investment expert active under the name Apollo.]

His voice was somewhat nervous, but thankfully, he wasn’t trembling.

He summarized the information that we had repeatedly discussed online and explained the public’s reaction to it in an easy-to-understand manner.

He was good with words, so the DJs laughed from time to time, and even said he was so good at speaking that he should try being a broadcaster.

I had only seen him in private settings, so I didn’t know how he spoke in official settings, but I realized it while listening to this radio broadcast.

The internet broadcast with Choi Jong-hyun will definitely be a success.

[-So, Mr. Jo Bong-joon, are you saying that Myunghwa Pharmaceutical already knew about the side effects that could arise from the two ingredients? And also, that the reliability of the research results that Hyizolam suppresses those side effects is questionable?

-Of course. If they didn’t know, they wouldn’t be taking this kind of attitude.

-Then what do you think is the reason?

-Currently, Wooshin Group’s chronic problem is a lack of funds. Everyone probably remembers the Koh Yoon-sung case, the son of Chairman Koh Sang-joon, a while ago. It was a truly appalling incident.

-Ah, the issue involving assault of employees, attempted rape of a nurse, and even drug use.

-It was truly a total mess. However, there was a problem that was slightly less known because it was overshadowed by that incident. That is, Wooshin Moolsan had been withholding wages from construction workers.

-Yes.

-That is also one of the ways of showing that Wooshin Group is experiencing financial difficulties. In fact, this isn’t just a problem for Wooshin Group. These days, all companies are generally suffering from financial difficulties.

-So, Mr. Jo Bong-joon, are you saying that the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical incident is related to this?

-Of course. Myunghwa Pharmaceutical has already been listed with Antrozol, and this Antrozol Alpha approval has shown unstoppable momentum. Even though Myunghwa Pharmaceutical doesn’t have a long history, it is already among the pharmaceutical companies with high market capitalization.

-So?

-There is a lot of speculation that they are trying to launch Antrozol Alpha to make a successful start, appeal to investors, and attempt a rights offering [issuing new shares to existing shareholders]… Of course, there are many pharmaceutical companies that contribute to public health and the promotion of human health, but after all, companies are basically groups that pursue profits, right? Myunghwa Pharmaceutical should be seen as a group that places more value on the latter. Because they are trying to cover up a potentially problematic drug in a rough and ready manner and push for its release.]

Of course, it’s just rampant speculation among the three of us, not in the industry, but let’s move on.

The taxi driver clicked his tongue as he listened to Jo Bong-joon’s relentless words.

“Crazy bastards. Are they saying that people with arthritis can die as long as they make money?”

The taxi driver muttered to himself, then coughed, perhaps aware of my presence.

“Isn’t that right, sir? No, if what that man says is true, and the, uh, that institution that did the research was found to have done fraudulent research, huh? Then, of course, they should suspect that there is a problem with the research they commissioned, shouldn’t they?”

“That’s right.”

“But these guys, they’re looking down on us, thinking we’re ignorant and uneducated, and they’re thinking that if they just gloss over it like this, it’ll pass! People our age vaguely think that American research institutions are better than ours.”

“And arthritis patients are mostly distributed among middle-aged and older people of the driver’s age.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Because parents are having a hard time, when they see medicine like that, it costs millions of won for one injection. They feel sorry and apologetic to their children, but they’re going to die right away, so they say sorry, sorry, and ask for the injection. If there are such serious side effects in such medicine, that won’t do.”

While the driver was complaining, News Now was also preparing to end the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical topic.

[-Mr. Jo Bong-joon, thank you so much for your words today. Thanks to you, it was a time to more clearly understand the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical issue. However, it should be clarified that Mr. Jo Bong-joon’s remarks are Mr. Jo Bong-joon’s personal opinion and have nothing to do with our MBS [broadcasting station].

-Oh, of course. But I just hope that more in-depth investigations will be conducted and broadcast as truth, not personal opinions.

-Haha. You said that you will continue to investigate in the future, do you have any directions in mind?

-There is a reporter who has been investigating with me since I first encountered this issue. We are preparing a broadcast together.

-Ah, by broadcast, do you mean a TV broadcasting station?

-Ah, no. Haha. Do I have that much experience? It’s a great honor to be on News Now today. That’s not it, I’m just preparing a small internet broadcast. Haha.]

Good, the promotion was perfect.

[Then, we’ll listen to the advertisement and move on to the next segment.]

“Please drop me off here.”

“There’s still a bit left to Gwanghwamun Station?”

“Ah, the meeting place is near here.”

The reason I deliberately took a taxi at this time was to gauge the direct reaction of middle-aged and older people.

Choi Jong-hyun is in charge of checking the reaction online, and that is the reaction of the internet-savvy crowd, so I didn’t want to rely solely on that.

Of course, I only saw the reaction of this one driver, but I definitely felt that the radio appearance was effective.

Even with my minimal input, the taxi driver had no difficulty understanding the issue just by listening to the content broadcast on the radio, and he was also angry.

Well, there will be many people who will get angry, saying that they are slandering Wooshin Group with unconfirmed nonsense.

* * *

[This is Apollo. (Writer: Apollo)

How have you, stock genome [online investment community members], been?

I heard that the stock genome regen [online forum] exploded when I appeared on lol [laughing out loud]

I’m so embarrassed.

Anyway, I have transformed from a stock investor in a room to a fighter who reveals the truth about Myunghwa Pharmaceutical.

Therefore, I will do one promotion.

I started a broadcast about Myunghwa Pharmaceutical with a close reporter.

The link is below, and it starts at 6 pm today.

Come a lot lol [laughing out loud]

For reference, the chat window is still open.

You don’t have to shoot balloon [donate money], so don’t feel burdened.]

While preparing for the broadcast, I rented a small office in Seocho-dong.

I bought a desk that was neat and tidy, and put up a sign with the broadcast title.

I also printed out plausible microphones and cue cards.

I told Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon, who were ‘room workers’ [working from home], to shave, and then pushed them into the beauty salon from the morning.

I had them trim their hair and tidy their eyebrows.

I didn’t intend to do it like a regular TV broadcast, and I set the concept as a friendly uncle’s chat, but it is true that credibility plummets if it is too messy.

“Hello!”

“Oh, Director Kim! Welcome.”

And what is important in internet broadcasting is the cameraman and editor.

I decided to upload broadcast clips to all video sites that I could mobilize, including X-tube, X-eumpot, and X-bbang.com [parody of popular video sharing sites].

And for those who have difficulty watching videos, I plan to extract the sound source and upload it to X-cast [parody of podcasting platforms].

And the one chosen as the editor was none other than,

“Hello, lawyer?”

“It’s been a while, Mr. Kim Jung-woo.”

Choi Jong-hyun’s junior, Kim Jung-woo.

“There are 5 minutes left until the broadcast. Why are you so late, Jung-woo?”

“I’m sorry, the car was jammed. Haha.”

“How many people are in this room right now?”

“About 600 people? Wow, that’s a lot.”

[Pollon Bong-joon: When will Bong-joon come out?

Apolloㅉㅉ [internet slang for disapproval]: I came in because I’m curious about what nonsense he’ll say lol [laughing out loud]

My Stock Paper: Bong-joon, you bastard, give me back the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical stock. I lost 10 million won, you bastard ㅠㅠㅠㅠ [crying emojis]]

Um, it’s active after all.

I don’t think I need to worry much about viewership.

If it’s this much now, a little more will come in from 6 o’clock.

“Wait a minute. I have a phone call.”

Jo Bong-joon, who was checking his cell phone while waiting for the broadcast time, went outside the camera for a while.

Choi Jong-hyun checked the cue cards, and Kim Jung-woo checked the camera connection.

“It’s 6 o’clock now? Tell Bong-joon to come in quickly!”

[凸Myunghwa Pharmaceutical凸 [aggressive internet symbol]: When does the broadcast start? It’s 6:01 nowㅡㅡ [internet slang for dissatisfaction]

Parsongsong Egg Tak [nonsense phrase]: Are you going to broadcast within today?

I love Apollo Hyung [term of endearment]: Shut up and wait. Apollo Hyung must be busy]

As soon as it was 6 o’clock, the number of people increased rapidly and the chat started to explode.

“Tell Bong-joon to come in quickly!”

“Let’s start the broadcast with the reporter first.”

“Me alone?”

“We can’t break the time promise from the first broadcast.”

“Okay, okay. Ahem.”

Choi Jong-hyun coughed and tapped the cue card on the table.

And at the same time as Kim Jung-woo’s signal, the broadcast started.

[凸Myunghwa Pharmaceutical凸 [aggressive internet symbol]: Is that person Bong-joon? Bong-joon is older than I thought]

“Hello. I am Choi Jong-hyun, a reporter who will be broadcasting with Jo Bong-joon. Actually, this is not the start we prepared… Jo Bong-joon said he got an urgent call and went out. Thank you for waiting a moment.”

[Anger Control Disorder: Apollo, you bastard, come quickly!!!!!!!!!!]

Choi Jong-hyun calmly read the chat window and started warming up.

And then, suddenly, the studio door opened and Jo Bong-joon shouted loudly.

“Wow, damn it! Hyung [older brother/male friend]! Myunghwa Pharmaceutical sued me! The registered mail just came! Ha, you bastards. Hahaha!”

[Mosquito Repellent: Is that Jo Bong-joon’s voice? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ [row of laughing characters]

凸Myunghwa Pharmaceutical凸 [aggressive internet symbol]: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ [row of laughing characters]

Pollon Bong-joon: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ [row of laughing characters]]

Um, it seems like the broadcast is going to be a hit.