Chapter 1 : The Only Suitable Candidate (1)
The Only Suitable Candidate (1)
The company was bustling.
Admittedly, companies tend to get agitated over trivial issues, but it was undeniable that today was especially noisy.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder and spoke. It was a teammate.
"Hyunmin, did you see the announcement? Unbelievable."
"What's going on?"
"The chairman is at it again."
"Don't tell me it's the theme park project?"
"That's right. It's that theme park project."
I logged into the intranet to check the notice.
The content was simple.
It announced a recruitment for TF team members to revive the theme park business.
While it didn't specify the details, it did mention that the chosen candidates would be appropriately compensated.
Suddenly, the team leader stood up. He offered to buy everyone coffee—not with company funds, but out of his own pocket.
When the coffee arrived, the team leader, fuming, opened the conversation.
"I mean, does being the chairman mean he can do whatever he wants? Is the company his private property? This is what's wrong with Korea. We can't stop an organization from staggering due to one person's greed. If it's a game company, then they should focus on making games. Why a theme park?"
The team members chimed in support of the team leader.
"Seriously. I just don't get it either."
"Shouldn't we protest as a group? What does the union say?"
"They're probably already preparing for this."
"Well, it is a big deal. Why is the chairman like this? He's not old enough to be senile yet, is he?"
"Maybe all the stress is aging him quickly."
I didn't think this team was usually so united. But just for this matter, it seemed like everyone was of one mind.
In reality, the theme park business isn't entirely unrelated to a game company.
Famous theme parks utilize game IPs, and Japan's NinXdo runs their park exceptionally well.
It definitely isn't a thoughtless, sprawling expansion, but if there was an issue here—
It was that 'Next Global's' ambitious theme park project had produced astonishing results.
Since its founding, Next Global was a miracle company that made every game it released a success.
Thanks to that, its market cap exceeded 30 trillion won, making it Korea's number one game company and one of the most notable game companies in the world.
The chairman, using that success as a springboard, confidently declared the theme park venture as Next Global's next-generation cash cow.
They poured over 300 billion won into extensive construction.
Whenever Next Global does anything, it's always the best. They would never make a lacking theme park just because of a lack of money.
Back then, the chairman had said this memorable line.
He spent a huge sum to bring in a figure famous for theme parks in America to serve as the project's general manager.
Besides that, talent was recruited from both Korea and all over the world.
I recall the chairman also talked about how people with global expertise would create Korea's future.
The chairman, who dreamt of building Korea's DiXney and NinXdo, saw those efforts end up like this:
[Next Global Theme Park suffers annual deficits of over 30 billion won, with total accumulated losses already exceeding 200 billion won.]
[Have you ever seen a theme park with more staff than visitors?]
[Next Global chairman is fearless. Flexes 500 billion won.]
It failed so miserably that the chairman's forehead wrinkles doubled.
Because of that, bonuses and raises were cut, leading to the birth of a union at Next Global.
Thus, the company had its first-ever strike since it was founded. In fact, it made history as the first strike in the gaming industry.
The company's market cap, once 30 trillion won, was slashed to just 10 trillion, a third of what it was.
That's how enormous the impact of the theme park project was at Next Global.
After finishing work, I went home.
Taking a can of beer from the fridge, the first thing I started to do was—
[Super Theme Park Tycoon]
—play a game.
Whenever I have spare time at home, I play games about building theme parks.
I've played all the games centered on theme parks, along with games about building zoos or hotels—so much so that I'm sick of them.
My small studio apartment's display case is filled with theme park merchandise from overseas.
Every vacation, I visit theme parks abroad. Touring all the famous theme parks in the world is one of my bucket list items.
A week passed.
The theme park project was still a hot topic at the company.
Today, I was supposed to grab drinks with two colleagues, and even there, the theme park was brought up.
"I heard there isn't even one applicant. Is that true?"
Kim Jin-ho held up his glass for a toast. He's a programmer, the same age as me, and we're pretty close.
"Yeah. Zero applicants. The HR team is going crazy. The chairman even came down himself and told them to do whatever it takes to get applicants."
Min Ji-na, sitting next to me, answered.
She's three years younger than us and works in HR. She gives us inside information we wouldn't otherwise hear.
"I figured. Who'd apply for that? It's not just about getting a 1.5x salary."
"Exactly. If you go there, you can't even say you still work for Next Global. And plus, the job's out in the provinces."
The theme park project, initially run by Next Global directly, was transferred to its subsidiary, Next Planet, after a massive employee protest.
Then, the chairman personally bought Next Planet as his own asset.
I nodded and muttered,
"Yeah, the theme park business is so deep in the red, nobody knows when the company might disappear... only a crazy person would apply."
Kim Jin-ho chuckled.
"Everyone knows that—except for one person. Our chairman."
He then stepped out to take a call.
Left alone, Min Ji-na looked at me with meaningful eyes.
"Oppa, you're not actually considering it, are you?"
"Considering what?"
"You're a theme park superfan! You always complain to me about how you wish a studio would start making theme park games again. You still play theme park games after work, right? That last park you built was really pretty. Fit my taste."
I swallowed a mouthful of my drink. Even though it wasn't hard liquor, the bitterness lingered on my tongue.
I was moderately idealistic—which meant I was also moderately realistic.
After college, I dreamed of working for a theme park in Korea. But back then, unless it was one of the small regional parks, nowhere was hiring.
Some people did climb from part-time to full-time, but I didn't choose that path.
At the very least, I thought I should live up to some basic standard of security.
Starting as a part-timer made me anxious—when would I ever live the life I wanted?
You'd read in job reviews how some people learn foreign languages and boldly go overseas to work at a theme park.
But I didn't have that kind of courage.
I got lucky: Next Global was developing a theme park-themed game, and I used my interest in theme parks as a portfolio to land a job as a planner.
But, within half a year, the project was cancelled.
I took another sip of my drink. Then, what came out of my mouth was—
"It's not that I want to work in the theme park industry. I just like theme parks. Like, you don't have to work for a webtoon company just because you love webtoons."
It wasn't a lie. That's how most people are.
I started rambling unnecessarily.
"I just want a stable life and eventually get married. That means sticking with Next Global. These days, the company name and working in Seoul are crucial."
Yeah, my choice was the right one.
Then she gave a bewitching smile.
"That's what I really like about you, oppa."
"Which part? That I'm childish?"
"That's too pessimistic. I mean how lively you are. I always enjoy your stories about your theme park trips during your vacations."
"Doesn't everyone seem lively when talking about what they love?"
"No. It's a little different. Hmm... if I can change the subject for a second."
She took a sip as well, her smile still lingering.
"Your performance review in HR was always an A. But you've never gotten an S, right?"
At Next Global, performance grades were S, a, B, C, F—five stages in total. I had never dropped below an A, so I was considered an excellent employee.
"Why bring that up now?"
"Whenever I see evaluations, they always say the same thing. Like you never aim for S in your company life?"
"I'm just living according to today's trends—doing a decent job at work, then doing what I love after hours."
"There's nothing wrong with that, but it's a bit of a waste."
Not understanding, I looked at her face.
She turned her head, gaze fixed on her glass, and continued.
"I just think it wouldn't hurt, once in your life, to immerse yourself in what you truly want without worrying about calculations. Oppa, you actually have something like that."
Kim Jin-ho finished his call and returned, ending our conversation.
I went home.
Maybe it was the leftover buzz, but without even showering, I slumped in my chair, blankly staring at the theme park TF team posting.
Min Ji-na's earlier words kept echoing in my mind.
[Wouldn't it be okay to immerse yourself—just once in your life—in something you truly want, without calculating? Oppa, you have something like that.]
When she said that, and even now with the alcohol still in my system, my heart did feel fired up.
But I am an adult. I need to think about reality and not ruin my stable life.
I must make a mature, adult decision. I absolutely won't apply.
***
I am the dumbest guy in the world.
As soon as I got in, I thought about running to HR. Or maybe messaging Min Ji-na.
To cancel my application for the theme park TF team.
Why did I let my emotions get the better of me? I was drunk, that's why. It must have been the alcohol—there can be no other reason.
Ruining my stable life with my own hands makes no sense at all.
In the end, I messaged Min Ji-na. She replied:
[Min Ji-na: Follow your heart. Sometimes, that's the right answer.]
[Me: That'll give me a heart attack.]
[Min Ji-na: Sorry, oppa, but it's already too late. The chairman saw your application last night.]
Huh? What? No way.
[Min Ji-na: The chairman, checking for new applicants, kept refreshing the page around the clock.]
Why on earth would such a busy man do something so absurd?
[Min Ji-na: Just prepare yourself.]
[Me: Prepare for what?]
[Min Ji-na: To become the company's superstar.]
As I was about to ask what she meant—
Suddenly, a thunderous voice, roaring like a tiger, echoed out.
"You're Lee Hyunmin, aren't you?"
A burly man with a commanding presence and graying hair strode toward me.
It was the chairman.
He was already here? That fast?
The chairman patted my shoulder and said,
"Lee Hyunmin, Lee Hyunmin, Lee Hyunmin. Good name. And an even better impression."
He was looking at me with such warm eyes, it was almost uncomfortable.
"Well, I've heard you're the only talent in the company who can save the theme park. Now that I see you in person, I feel even better about it. I really think you'll pull it off."
Me? I'm really that much? Not just the only applicant?
At that moment, everyone in the office turned to look at me. Ah... so this is what it means to prepare to become the company's superstar?
Not knowing where to look in this overwhelming moment, I glanced at my monitor.
[Min Ji-na: I told the chairman you're the only person who can save the theme park. Didn't I do great?]
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Okay, first chapter, I like it already...
MC thinks he's rational, but he's a little bit emotional...
Parachute hires are employees that get hired or put to a high position without prior experience or proving their abilitis...
At least, that's my interpretation of it...
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