You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 194

You’ve Been Defended – Episode 194

Around 10 PM, the broadcast’s closing time, I received a call from Jin Hye-kyung.

It was as if she had been monitoring our broadcast in real-time; the timing was impeccable.

She wanted to meet that day and hoped to see Jo Bong-joon and Choi Jong-hyun as well.

So, here I am…

“Attorney Cha, I’m really disappointed.”

Jin Hye-kyung grumbled, closing the door as soon as she entered the room.

“You said you’d even fabricate data if necessary and wouldn’t premiere it on Jo Bong-joon’s broadcast. How could you reveal such a huge scoop on an internet broadcast? News 9 would have been better in terms of buzz and everything.”

“To be precise, I didn’t answer when you asked if I wouldn’t premiere it on Jo Bong-joon’s broadcast.”

“…….”

She glared at me and drank her water.

Then, she turned her gaze to the two men who were watching her with curiosity.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was so upset with the attorney that I didn’t greet you first. Jo Bong-joon, Choi Jong-hyun. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Jin Hye-kyung. You look much better in person.”

“Oh, you’re much more beautiful in person, Anchor Jin. You’re really a beauty.”

Jo Bong-joon grinned, taking Jin Hye-kyung’s outstretched hand and shaking it.

Choi Jong-hyun also greeted Jin Hye-kyung briefly.

“Compliments about my beauty are nice, but compliments as an anchor are even better, Mr. Jo Bong-joon.”

“Ah, I see. I made a mistake. I just like people with outstanding appearances, whether they’re men or women, so I unintentionally said something rude.”

“Hmm, I saw the broadcast earlier, and you threatened the attorney not to appear on the show again? Haha.”

Jin Hye-kyung narrowed her eyes and joked, causing Jo Bong-joon to clear his throat.

“Ah, you saw all that. Oh, dear. This is embarrassing, really.”

“Shall we order food first and continue talking? I asked to meet you today to make a request, so I’ll pay. The course here is neat. How about the A course?”

The A course was 150,000 won [approximately $120 USD] per person.

When Choi Jong-hyun seemed burdened, Jin Hye-kyung shook her head.

“I’d be more sorry if I only asked for something this small. Then, let’s order the A course for everyone.”

I was a little dumbfounded watching Choi Jong-hyun.

I always bought the meals, and he never refused, even when I bought expensive meals, and ate them deliciously.

Not long after we placed our order, the courses began to come out one by one.

Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon were busy filling their stomachs, which had been emptied by laughing and talking excitedly on the broadcast that day.

As they were finishing the main course, Choi Jong-hyun opened his mouth.

“But Anchor Jin, what do you want to ask of us?”

“Ah, I wanted to ask you to appear on the news. We thought reporter Choi Jong-hyun would be suitable, but what do you two think?”

“You mean me, not Bong-joon?”

“It’s better for hyung [older brother or respected male figure] to go. I’m being sued, and even if I managed to cover it up on the radio, I have a bit of a B-grade sensibility to appear on the main news. Hyung was a reporter for Iljung Daily, after all. He’s also famous there. Plus, hyung planned our broadcast.”

Jo Bong-joon said coolly, patting his full stomach.

Choi Jong-hyun seemed to ponder for a moment after hearing his words, then turned his head towards me.

“What about Attorney Cha?”

In fact, Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon were disappointed that I was barely involved in this case.

However, it was burdensome for me to step forward as the main figure in this matter for various reasons.

I had already provoked Wooshin several times, and I had even been investigated by the prosecution recently because of Wooshin.

If it became known that I had directly led the Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals case, it was clear that there would be an absurd public opinion claiming that all of this was a plot for revenge.

This case, although my personal feelings of losing my father due to Antrozol Alpha played a significant role, was ultimately started to save people.

So, I didn’t want to create a situation where things became complicated just for my own desire for fame.

Of course, I’m grateful that they recognize my contribution in this harsh world where everyone pushes their own achievements forward.

“You two are the ones who directly brought this issue to the public and fought. I just helped. And I’ve already appeared on the show once for Jung Young-joon’s case, so if I go out again, there’s a possibility that my image will become fixed.”

All media have certain tendencies.

Unfortunately, South Korea is a country where two ideologies coexist and conflict, based on one axis.

I think News 9, which I chose, has some neutrality, but even so, it’s not completely neutral.

It’s not a good thing for me to keep appearing on News 9 and create a biased image.

“That’s right. And there’s one more condition. The evidence has already been revealed on the internet broadcast you two are running, and it’s been reported in various places, but… you haven’t handed over the original evidence anywhere yet, have you?”

“No.”

“I’d like you to give us exclusive broadcasting rights.”

“Anchor Jin, has it been decided how you’ll handle this case?”

“The outline has been set, but we can reflect your opinions if you have any. In fact, you three created and covered all of this, and we’re just in a position to write it down.”

It was somewhat surprising that the main news anchor had put down her pride in News 9.

In the future I was in, there were cases where one-person media had more impact than media produced by broadcasting stations, but that doesn’t happen often now.

Until now, the reason why internet broadcasts were shown on television was mostly to point out how harmful the emerging content of internet broadcasts was to teenagers.

Usually, people who run internet broadcasts were treated as ‘secondary avenues chosen by people who couldn’t cross the threshold of broadcasting stations to survive on their own.’

Of course, it’s a good thing.

I planned the internet broadcast for the impact of the future, but if it’s already this much, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens later.

“First of all, I hope we can get phone interviews with officials from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety [MFDS] and Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals. And of course, I’d like to hear the opinions of experts on this case. We’ve been looking up papers, but the truth is, we lack expertise. I’d like to have a device that can support that.”

At Choi Jong-hyun’s words, Jo Bong-joon nodded silently.

It was our weakness.

Of course, the medical expert reporter who Choi Jong-hyun initially contacted to ignite this case is also continuously writing articles.

However, there were some experts who, due to Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals’ influence, gave the opinion that there was nothing wrong with Antrozol Alpha.

On the other hand, we had not recruited any other experts to proceed with the case.

Yoo Min-hyuk, the developer himself, helped us, but that was all he could do.

“Okay. In fact, the moment the conversation between the president of Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals and Yoo Min-hyuk was leaked, we judged that it was already over, even if there was a 0.0001% chance that Antrozol Alpha was okay. So, we set the reporting direction in that direction. Ah, that doesn’t mean we’re reporting to ride the tide even though we don’t agree with the three of you. We also have the same questions as the three of you. You don’t have to doubt this point.”

“I don’t doubt it. But there is not even a 0.0001% chance that there is no problem with Antrozol Alpha. It is a 100% problematic drug.”

“Attorney Cha, you seem unusually certain for Attorney Cha?”

Jin Hye-kyung said with a smile.

I took a sip of water instead of answering.

I know because I experienced it directly.

That drug is poison.

There is no chance that it is not poison.

“It’ll be a little tight, but we’re planning to cover the Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals case intensively tonight, ah. It’s past 12, so it’s today. We’ve created a separate corner. I’d like reporter Choi Jong-hyun to come out there. Can you prepare?”

“Of course.”

“Okay. I’ll send you the questionnaire by morning.”

“I understand.”

“Wow, Jong-hyun hyung was sad that he left Iljung Daily and became a third-rate journalist, but he’s even appearing on TV. That’s great. Our broadcast will be promoted, right?”

In response to Jo Bong-joon’s question, Jin Hye-kyung answered instead of Choi Jong-hyun.

“Of course, it will be promoted. We’ll also show the internet broadcast screen as a reference screen.”

* * *

“Attorney, did you see it?”

I was a little late for work because I had a meeting until late about today’s news appearance.

Oh Secretary and Kang Min-jae, who were sitting around the table talking, turned their heads towards me as soon as I entered the office.

“See what?”

“The press conference that Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals held just now.”

“Wasn’t the press conference at 2 o’clock?”

“It was moved up.”

Kang Min-jae turned the laptop screen towards me.

I already knew that Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals was planning to hold an emergency press conference early in the morning.

But I didn’t know they would hold the press conference while I was coming to the office.

[As a result of confirming the data from the Hyizolam research results released by former research team leader Yoo Min-hyuk, it is not manipulated. However, after former research team leader Yoo Min-hyuk resigned, we requested research again, and as a result, we received research results that Hyizolam suppresses the side effects of Apilataylene and Lopetamine.

In addition, we clarify that the recorded data released by former research team leader Yoo Min-hyuk is clearly manipulated. We have never paid research institutions in the US to manipulate clinical records. In addition, we clearly state that Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals has never passed the MFDS [Ministry of Food and Drug Safety] approval standards through illegal means.]

“Aren’t they crazy?”

Kang Min-jae shouted.

But I wasn’t surprised.

It was an expected scenario.

The data released on yesterday’s broadcast was such critical evidence, and if they didn’t deny it, Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals would become an evil company trying to make money at the cost of people’s lives.

“With this, an investigation will be inevitable. Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals has officially held a press conference, and the MFDS has been mentioned.”

“Will the investigation be conducted by the prosecution?”

“Probably.”

“…What should we do?”

Kang Min-jae clenched and unclenched his fists as if he was anxious.

“No, this is actually a good thing.”

“…Yes? How is this a good thing? It’s hard-earned evidence, and depending on how the prosecution investigation proceeds, that evidence may be judged to be manipulated.”

Kang Min-jae is right.

However, now that the question of whether a deal with the MFDS actually existed has come to the surface, another method has emerged.

“Instead, we can turn this fight into a fight between the MFDS and Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals.”