Chapter 14 : Real Sword vs. Wooden Sword (3)
Real Sword vs. Wooden Sword (3)
"To carry out the recruit promotion, we plan to set up a photo zone, operate shuttle buses, and run SNS events and similar projects. Naturally, these things will require a lot of money."
This was a tense moment for me as well.
Because I could predict the reaction that would come next.
"We plan to completely abolish the senior citizen discount promotion and related projects in order to expand our financial resources."
Just a moment ago, maybe it wasn't exactly cordial, but I thought we were at least in the vicinity of friendliness.
With this one sentence, however, I turned everyone in the Marketing and PR Team into my enemies again.
Maybe the senior citizen discount promotion was their psychological shield. Perhaps thoughts like these played in their minds.
'I am working for the company.'
'Even if it's not a profit-making project, I am contributing to society, so I am a valuable presence in this company.'
It's not that I can't understand that sentiment.
But we need to change.
Team Leader Lee Jimyung immediately burst out in anger.
"Director Lee Hyunmin, I think you've now seriously crossed the line. No, not even a reduction? You're saying a complete abolition? Oh! So since seniors don't bring in money, you're going to toss them out. That's your mindset, isn't it? Is your 'reform' just code for inhumanity or something?"
"'Tossing out, inhumanity.' I'd appreciate it if you refrained from using unnecessarily emotional language. I simply stated that the most reliable source for raising funds is the senior citizen promotion."
When facing an emotional opponent, I respond with logic.
"You must know how much the senior citizen promotion means not just for Next Planet, but for our headquarters, Next Global. Next Global, a leader in social contribution—this is a point of pride for all of us. But abolishing it? That's not just an insult to us; do you mean to smear the Chairman's face as well?"
"This whole 'headquarters' mantra—I've heard enough. If you look at it strictly now, the equity relationship has been organized, and I believe we're no longer the headquarters either. And we are our own legal entity. A business, in other words. I'll acknowledge your pride, that's fine. But isn't it time we started making money? It's time to put money on the Chairman's face as well."
This was one of the main problems with the people at Next Planet.
They kept using the Chairman's image as a shield to hide behind.
It was also a result of the Chairman's laissez-faire approach. And because of his desire to revitalize his hometown.
I had written in a report before I came here—that the Chairman should have the courage to be disliked by the citizens of Nonsan.
"Hyena, please distribute the materials."
Choi Hyena handed out a thick bundle of documents.
Those documents contained data such as the percentage and number of visitors over 65 to Next Planet and the per-person sales contribution.
"To page 3, you'll find the estimated cost data for senior citizen promotions. In this matter, the Marketing and PR Team probably knows better than I do. Please check it over."
Their faces darkened.
"About 260 million won was spent on the promotion. That's not a small sum. And that figure doesn't even include the Marketing and PR Team staff's labor costs. Still, that much is understandable—we have to spend money to work, after all."
I put a shocking number up on the screen.
[-3.5 billion won]
Everyone fell silent.
"I think you all know what this number is. It's the net profit we made from senior citizens who visited Next Planet through the promotion. There's more detailed data from page 12, so please check that as well."
Whether old, middle-aged, or young, there are recruitment costs for attracting each customer.
But senior customers have their own peculiarities. There needs to be additional costs for care.
The materials included not only the costs spent on attracting senior customers, but also detailed data on labor costs for dealing with them, facility maintenance and repair, and depreciation expenses.
There is no way I could create such materials with my own abilities. Choi Hyena made almost all of it.
I looked at her for a moment.
Her posture and gaze remained steady.
It must be a symbol of trust she sent my way.
For a week, without a word of complaint, she stayed up nights helping me.
Working alongside a subordinate like that—isn't it a blessing for me?
Thank you.
This material was made with cooperation from the Finance Team.
I'm not sure if it's because Choi Hyena is close to Finance Team Leader Kang Sangsu, or because the Finance Team Leader wanted to help us anyway.
But I can't deny that the help from the Finance Team was significant.
I'll have to thank Kang Sangsu as well.
Enough sentimentality.
I fired on the Marketing and PR Team staff once more.
"You have managed to take 260 million won and generate an additional 3.5 billion won in losses—a miraculous act of alchemy. Oh! Was I being too harsh? Let me correct myself. You are philanthropists. If we were an organization like UNICEF, you would all be top employees."
Executive Vice President Kim jumped in to intervene.
"Let's move on; how to handle the senior promotion isn't the topic for immediate discussion. Which was it—Mon something, that promotion, or the recruit promotion—which is the better choice? Isn't that more important?"
I nodded.
I'd already said everything that needed saying. With a meeting record, this much is enough.
Now it's time for the true contest between myself and Team Leader Lee Jimyung.
Team Leader Lee Jimyung launched the opening salvo.
"The biggest advantage of the Talesmon promotion is that it targets family customers. On the other hand, the recruit promotion's target is people in their early twenties. That difference is clear. Young people's per-capita spending power is just so low. The same goes for loyalty to the theme park."
"I'd like you to consider that the numbers themselves might be different. There's a high chance we'll get group customers of over 10 at once. Plus, the great thing about younger customers is that hardly any additional care costs are needed."
For young children or seniors, additional costs are inevitable to ensure safety and convenience.
But for young adults? Those needs are virtually absent.
It was my turn to counterattack.
"The critical weakness of Nonsan and Next Planet is that there's nothing really enjoyable around the theme park. And the infrastructure's poor. Will families really come all the way out here for the trouble? You're someone with parenting experience, Team Leader, so you know well. When you have young children, what do parents consider first?"
"Talesmon is made by Next Global, a company that's never failed in the games sector. Isn't it likely to succeed? The story and content power of the IP is not to be underestimated. You, as someone from a gaming company, probably know that better than me."
"That's true. As someone from the games industry, let me say this: the success of a game and the success of its IP are not the same thing. In fact, it's no exaggeration to say that, outside of Battle Fire, Next Global hasn't achieved much with any other IP. Isn't that exactly why Next Planet ended up struggling? Because the theme park was made with Next Global's IP."
For a moment, Team Leader Lee Jimyung seemed unable to speak and reached for some water.
Now was my chance to strike.
"The instant we become reliant on the Talesmon IP again, we'll no longer be free of Next Global's interference. Headquarters will meddle in every promotion decision for the sake of their IP, with no regard for the essence of running a theme park. And yet, the full cost is still on us."
I met the eyes of the Marketing and PR Team staff.
Yeah, there are probably people here who would rather just do as they're told. But there should also be those who want to work proactively.
"I'm not saying we should sever ties or become adversaries with Next Global. If Talesmon is truly a great IP, of course we should use it. But now is not the time. Now is our moment to run promotions that make money for us, and it's a real opportunity."
Just as the Marketing and PR Team staff were visibly wavering,
suddenly, Executive Vice President Kim Sangho cut in.
This man—his timing is uncanny. He broke my momentum.
"I've listened closely to both sides. With the new Reform Division Director, we're having these kind of discussions now. It does seem like you're becoming a fresh spark for Next Planet."
What's with the sudden friendliness? That just makes me even more nervous.
"But at the end of the day, I think the decision we have to make here is obvious. We'd like to try all kinds of things, but realistically, we don't have that kind of leeway."
He glanced at me, raising one corner of his mouth. That was clearly a smirk.
"We have to choose the one with the highest chance of success, don't we? The Talesmon game is very likely to succeed. That doesn't necessarily mean the Talesmon promotion will succeed, but at the very least, the risk is relatively lower, right? In contrast, what about the recruit promotion? The risk is too high. So, Talesmon promotion is the better fit."
What kind of nonsensical logic is that?
Does he think I can't counter this? I'm fully prepared.
Just as I was about to speak—
"Wait."
A deep voice rang out through the meeting room.
Everyone turned to look at the source.
It was Division Director Oh Kang-il, who hadn't said a word until now, raising his hand.
"I'm a field guy, so I don't know much about management and that sort of thing. Which promotion has a higher chance of success or lower risk—I can't really tell. But I do know one thing. Who has the stronger will to bring in money."
He stared directly at the executive vice president.
With his big frame and the aura he naturally had, the executive vice president suddenly seemed at a loss.
"Executive Vice President, this meeting isn't going to be shared with all our employees later, is it? Can you take responsibility for what you said just now?"
"Well... uh... I can—I said it because I can, but, well, you have to remain flexible depending on the situation..."
"How long are you going to hide behind headquarters and the Chairman as your shields? That young Division Director is right. The company should be looking to make money. Honestly, Next Planet is in a serious crisis. As for me, I'm old enough to retire anytime. But the other employees aren't, are they?"
Now Division Director Oh Kang-il turned his firm gaze to me.
What was with this atmosphere? My own palms were starting to sweat now.
"You're going to cut down most of the senior staff working in the theme park, aren't you?"
"I never said that."
"No, you're just that kind of person."
I couldn't answer. Because it was true.
"The food stalls and souvenir shops in our theme park are all run by seniors from Nonsan City—everything's a bit outdated. And now you want to target young people as customers at the theme park. That makes sense. It hardly paints a picture of them mingling with the elderly."
He sighed heavily.
"I'm not going to fault Director Lee Hyunmin for wanting to cut down the older folks—Next Planet is in crisis, after all. But since I'm also getting old, it does weigh on my mind. At least give them other opportunities. I sincerely ask this of you."
"Yes, I'll make sure of it."
"That's all I have to say. But it sounds like someone from the Marketing and PR Team has something to add. Don't be afraid of the executive vice president—say whatever you want."
Was it because of his words that someone found courage?
A woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties raised her hand. It was Shin Miyoung, who was the first to clap for Kim Junho earlier.
"As the person who first proposed the Talesmon promotion, I'd like to say something."
Team Leader Lee Jimyung's expression suddenly darkened.
"To be honest, I believe the recruit promotion has a better chance of success. It'll cost much less, too. And I think it's time we started acting on our own, not just depending on headquarters."
She looked straight at me.
"I'm annoyed and upset that an idea like this didn't come from our own Marketing and PR Team, but we have to admit what's true, don't we?"
She stopped. I could see many emotions cross her face.
This statement effectively denied the identity and best-in-class teamwork the Marketing and PR Team prided themselves on.
"Director Lee Hyunmin is right. We need to change."
She was known as the most capable in the Marketing and PR Team, and after those words, the game was as good as over.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Nice, there were some push backs, but the opponent's defense was weak...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】