Chapter 10 : The First Step of the Reform Division (1)
The First Step of the Reform Division (1)
This can't go on!
Kim Junho, the youngest employee in the Marketing & PR Team, with three years of experience.
He despaired at the team leader's remark.
"Let's not run any new promotions. Just extend what we've been doing so far. We're getting pretty good results with it anyway, so there's really no need for changes."
No.
That's absolutely not right.
The team leader's decision would only increase the deficit of the theme park.
'The team leader just doesn't want to bother.'
The strategy of the Marketing & PR Team hadn't changed in three years.
Of course, Kim Junho knew well why the team leader made that choice.
Given Next Planet's realities, it was hardly an exaggeration to say there weren't any other cards to play.
Originally, Next Planet's marketing and PR strategies targeted residents of the metropolitan area and foreigners—mainly people in their late teens to early thirties, with emphasis on Chinese and Japanese visitors.
So they had run electronic billboard ads in key cities like Gangnam, Hongdae, Suwon, and Pangyo, and even set up booths in Incheon Airport for advertising.
At the time, thanks to the globally successful game IP 'Battle Fire', they determined those attempts had a good chance of succeeding.
Unfortunately, all of them failed. Actually, calling it a failure seemed too mild; it would be more accurate to say everything flopped disastrously.
[What's there to see in Nonsan, why would you go all the way out there?]
[Go to Nonsan just for Battle Fire?]
That was the majority response.
It takes over two hours to get to Nonsan from Seoul. Was Next Planet really worth spending a total of five hours round-trip to visit?
On top of that, nonsan severely lacked entertainment or infrastructure.
So, as if it was bound to happen, Next Planet became a sinking ship on the verge of going under.
Next Planet eventually altered its marketing and PR strategies to a local-friendly policy targeting people living in Nonsan and nearby areas. You couldn't exactly say that was a bad call, given the circumstances.
It was patterned after the policy of 'W World,' a theme park in Daegu, one of the largest parks outside the metropolitan area.
The problem was, nonsan was no Daegu in terms of population.
The biggest city near Nonsan was Daejeon, but Daejeon has about a million fewer people than Daegu.
And no matter how boring Daejeon might be, people there had no reason to go all the way to Nonsan just for fun. They'd sooner head to Seoul.
So even the local-friendly policy was meaningless.
"Everyone agrees, right?"
"Yes, old ways are the best ways."
"I think continuing as is will be more than enough."
"Alright then, let's go eat."
The meeting ended with barely any discussion, as usual. Ever since he joined, meetings always went this way.
The team members were excitedly debating lunch menu choices.
"Junho, why do you look like that? Are you feeling sick?"
Only Kim Junho stared at the meeting materials with a pained expression.
'Ah... Everyone is a good person, but this can't go on. Our theme park will definitely go under at this rate. Things need to change, but everyone...'
He couldn't taste the lunch at all, even though the place was famous for its beef tripe soup.
He approached a co-worker he could comfortably talk to, as they weren't far apart in age, and carefully asked,
"Hyung, isn't the senior citizen discount policy a problem? The deficit is already increasing as it is..."
"Junho, what's the problem? Our Chairman is rich. Plus, we're doing a good thing for the elderly. Look at it from a public benefit standpoint. Why do you always worry so much?"
"Well... that's true..."
He had much more to say, but his aversion to conflict made him stop.
His gaze landed on the seniors using the theme park as a walking trail.
Could a theme park with only seniors possibly have a future?
"That new division director, by the way."
Back at the office, he overheard the team members' conversation.
"He brought that weird girl from the Business Strategy Division under him."
"Right? I heard that girl is notorious for wrecking team morale."
"Someone with no proper experience just showing up from somewhere... I wonder what they're even trying to do."
Then the team leader laughed brightly and said,
"Don't worry about it. Whoever the new division director is, or whatever they're trying to do—it's not our concern. We just need to keep doing our work well, the way we always have. Aren't we the ideal team, after all? We're cohesive, and everyone does their job well."
"That's right, team leader."
Everyone laughed and kept up a harmonious atmosphere.
But Kim Junho couldn't bring himself to smile.
'The new division director... I wonder if that person is different.'
He'd heard rumors about the Business Strategy Division's regular meetings.
A team member who'd attended evaluated:
[Reform is great, and passion is good, but how should I put it? The person just seemed too sharp. Not really the type that suits our theme park. Plus, that person's an outsider parachuted in. There's that resistance. But I gotta say, they seemed well-studied. There was sincerity when talking about the park's theme.]
***
"In order for the division director to reform the theme park, they'll eventually have to swallow up the Business Strategy Division. To do that, they'll need to go up against the vice CEO and the executive vice president, but the problem is, the division director has no power base. No real authority either."
Choi Hyena was diligently explaining her three-part stratagem for the theme park.
The essence was: until my influence grows, I should stay friendly with the Operations Division while building up the power to go up against the vice CEO and executive vice president, who held real control over the park.
Thanks to this presentation, I was able to pick up on the characteristics, relationships, and power structures in the divisions and teams—things I could not have learned right away by myself.
Clearly excited, Choi Hyena sped up her tempo.
"The Operations Division's division director has no interest in the theme park's political strife. Think of him as a real, authentic engineer type—very respected by everyone. So you should stay friendly with him..."
Her scheming began in earnest, telling me who to seek alliance with.
Eventually, she started listing the problems and weaknesses of each team in detail, with prepared materials to boot.
Choi Hyena was seriously hyped. She probably wanted to take on the role of a strategist...
I couldn't help but ask, thinking she was quite the interesting person:
"Hyena, what do you actually want to do here?"
"Me? Didn't you tell me to become team leader?"
"No, not as a title—I mean purely from a work perspective."
Her eyes flashed for a moment. She curled up one corner of her mouth.
"I want to help you bring true reform to the theme park."
"That word choice sounds a bit ominous."
"My goal is to root out every single incompetent person who does nothing but play politics and doesn't do their real work. Coldly and thoroughly. Like exterminating cockroaches."
How should I answer that?
"Hyena, you seem to have an aptitude for tyranny."
"True reform always comes with some blood."
"That sounds more like a revolution..."
"Isn't reform and revolution basically the same thing? Both mean changing the status quo."
"That's true, but still..."
It was clear that a culture of complacency existed at Next Planet. They would need stimulus if I wanted to wake them up.
But as far as I was concerned, there was a huge difference between reform and revolution.
Of course, Choi Hyena probably had her own grudges from her time at Next Planet—that might be why she wanted to rampage with a sword.
But if I also acted like that?
"If I start swinging a sword, everyone will just think I'm here for restructuring."
"Ah..."
"Besides, executioners usually don't last long."
Even C-level execs like the CEO or CFO brought in for restructuring typically lasted at most two or three years before they left, willingly or not.
Why? Because firing people builds up too much resentment internally.
You can't be liked by everyone, but it's also bad to earn too many enemies.
"So, you're saying you need to produce tangible results that Next Planet people can recognize?"
"Exactly. And in that sense, the weaknesses you listed for each team have been very helpful."
"If we solve problems like a consultant, we'll be fine."
"But here's the catch... If I, with no field experience, try to butt in forcefully, I'll only build resentment. Naturally, there won't be much cooperation."
"So the key is to get someone to voluntarily ask us for help. That's the answer, isn't it?"
She frowned.
I probably looked the same.
Who would ever ask an outsider in the theme park for help?
She sighed.
"Just one person would be enough. If just one person asks for help, after that it'll get easier."
She was right.
Just make a single hole in the dam—then you can't stop the rush of water, and soon the dam will burst.
"We can't rely on miracles. Let's keep brainstorming."
"Right. Miracles are like buying lottery tickets. Sure, someone wins, but not me."
"That's why I don't buy lottery tickets, either."
Just then, I got a message.
[Kim Junho: Hello, division director. My name is Kim Junho from the Marketing & PR Team. Sorry to contact you so abruptly. I have a lot on my mind regarding our team. There are some matters I'd like to discuss—would you have some time?]
I rubbed my eyes, thinking I must be seeing things. But no, I wasn't mistaken.
"This is surprising..."
"Why, division director?"
"I think we just won the lottery."
"... What do you mean?"
She hurried over and checked the message on my phone.
"Oh...wha...really. Was it supposed to be this easy to win the lottery? Maybe I should buy a ticket on my way home..."
"I wouldn't know—I've never won."
"Di...division director, let's go see Kim Junho right now. ASAP."
She was more urgent than I was.
I told Kim Junho he could come visit my office anytime.
I could have gone to him, but that would only have made things awkward for Kim Junho.
This way, he could come here without the other team members knowing.
"Why's he not here yet? When's he coming? What's taking him so long?"
I looked at Choi Hyena incredulously.
She was biting her thumbnail and her leg was shaking.
"It's only been twenty minutes. Relax."
"In twenty minutes, it's more than enough time to get from there to here."
"You took more than a day to make up your mind..."
She seemed a bit embarrassed and stopped speaking.
Honestly, I was just as nervous.
What if, despite saying he'd come, Kim Junho didn't show up after all? That possibility made my heart beat even faster.
Of course—after all, just coming here was a huge burden.
Another ten minutes passed. Then, unable to wait any longer, Choi Hyena jumped up from the sofa and shouted,
"Hurry up and come already!"
Right then, there was a knock at the door—knock, knock.
When I said come in, a young man with closely cropped hair and tanned skin, looking innocent, stepped inside.
Then Choi Hyena said,
"Oh my! You're Kim Junho, right? You got here quick. Please, have a seat."
She sure switched attitudes fast.
Once again, I looked at her in disbelief.
She avoided my gaze and went off to get coffee.
I could see that Kim Junho, who sat across from me, was anxiously fidgeting. His tanned face had turned pale with worry.
"Division director, please, save Next Planet."
He bowed so deeply his head almost touched the table.
"Next Planet is precious to me. My dream is to work here all my life."
Choi Hyena, who was bringing coffee, stared at him awkwardly.
I, too, found his passion overwhelming.
You want to spend your whole life at Next Planet? He looked to be only in his mid-twenties, and this is how he thought?
Maybe I was biased against today's twenty-somethings, but still, this didn't seem very typical.
The chairman had told me to 'go crazy for once'...but it looked like someone crazy had already rolled in here.
For now, I tried to calm Kim Junho down.
He started to tell his story, and it turned out his background was unusual.
Despite being only 27, he already had five years of experience—all at Next Planet.
He joined right after his military service. But he hadn't started in marketing—he was originally in facilities maintenance.
"I'm embarrassed to say this, but I wanted to bring as many visitors to Next Planet as I could, with my own strength. So while working, I got a bachelor's in business administration from an online university."
Generally, marketing positions require at least a bachelor's degree.
Kim Junho had studied on his own, in his free time, just for Next Planet. No one told him to do it.
I asked, curious,
"Why did you do that?"
"I love Next Planet so much, I'm willing to burn my entire heart for it."
Choi Hyena's expression contorted—she genuinely looked uncomfortable.
I'd never met someone who claimed to love the company like that, except for founder-level people.
Sure, executives sometimes say they love the company, but not for real.
"My parents passed away early, so I was raised by my grandmother. During middle and high school, I often blamed my parents for my difficult life. I'm ashamed thinking about it now..."
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. If I'd been in your situation, I would have resented them too."
"It might sound strange, but I'd never once been to a theme park until right before high school. Then, one day, I had occasion to visit Next Planet."
Now the story was getting interesting.
Even Choi Hyena was clearly focused now.
"Because I had no one to go with, I rode the Ferris wheel alone. It was such a sad moment. I realized I was always alone. As the sun set, I suddenly saw the park in all its glory—families everywhere, looking so happy. I suddenly burst into tears. And when I got off, a staff member handed me a can of coffee with a word of encouragement."
Suddenly, he clenched his fist and spoke in a louder voice.
"At that moment, I decided what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to create more of those happy scenes—the ones that consoled me—here at Next Planet. That's how I came to dream of being a lifelong companion to Next Planet."
Who knew this would go from tearjerker to hot-blooded passion story.
"But now, the Next Planet I love is dying, and it makes me so sad."
"It seems like it was dying even back then... The only thing left now is to issue the time of death."
Choi Hyena pouted, and when I looked at her disapprovingly,
"Sorry. My mouth gets me in trouble."
She clamped her lips with her hand.
"Please, division director, save Next Planet!"
Kim Junho once again bowed so deep his forehead nearly touched the table.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
I like Hyena's Tyranical Reform Strategy...
And also, Junho's passion and backstory is heartwarming...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】