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K-Producer C2 Industry difference
🕑 Added 2024-07-29 02:58:19 +0000 UTCSunlight filtered through the heavy curtains of Byul-ho's bedroom, casting a soft glow on his contemplative face. He sat up in bed, feeling the lingering effects of his cold, but his mind was clear and focused.
"Seon-woo," he called out, his voice slightly hoarse.
The butler appeared at the doorway, concern etched on his weathered features. "Yes, young master?"
"I'm feeling better, but..." Byul-ho paused, feigning a cough. "Could you call the school and ask for a leave of absence? Say it's due to my cold."
Seon-woo's brow furrowed in confusion. "Are you sure, young master? You seem to be recovering well."
Byul-ho nodded, trying to look as pitiful as possible. "I just need a few more days. Please, Seon-woo."
The butler hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Very well. I suppose after everything you've been through, a few days of rest won't hurt."
As Seon-woo left to make the call, Byul-ho felt a twinge of guilt for the deception. But the memories of his other life urged him forward. He had work to do.
***
Meanwhile, at Daewon Foreign Language High School, the usual morning chatter filled the air as students filed into their classroom. As the bell rang, signaling the start of homeroom, eyes darted to Byul-ho's empty seat.
"Looks like the fallen prince is too scared to show his face," sneered a boy near the back.
A girl with perfectly coiffed hair rolled her eyes. "Probably couldn't afford the bus fare," she quipped, eliciting snickers from those around her.
Their teacher, Mrs. Park, cleared her throat loudly, silencing the room. "I've just received word that Jeon Byul-ho will be absent for a few days due to illness," she announced, her tone clipped. "He's caught a bad cold."
A collective snort rippled through the classroom.
"A cold? Yeah, right," muttered one student.
"More like a case of wounded pride," another added under their breath.
Mrs. Park's eyes narrowed. "That's enough," she said sharply. "Now, let's begin our lesson."
As she turned to the blackboard, the students exchanged knowing glances. To them, Byul-ho's absence was just another sign of his fall from grace, another reason to mock the boy they once revered.
***
Byul-ho sat at his desk, his fingers typing on the keyboard as he delved deep into the current state of the entertainment industry.
His eyes darted back and forth, absorbing information at a rapid pace.
"Interesting," he muttered to himself, leaning back in his chair. "The industry is so... simple compared to what I remember. No streaming wars, no global K-pop phenomenon yet."
He clicked through various articles and industry reports, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"TVXQ, Big Bang, Wonder Girls... they're all just getting started," Byul-ho mused, a small smile playing on his lips. "And BTS doesn't even exist yet. The possibilities are endless."
He pulled up information on music production techniques, noting the differences from what he remembered in his past life.
"The sound is so different. Less layered, less polished," he observed. "If I could introduce some of those future production techniques now..."
Byul-ho's eyes lit up as he began to see the potential. He grabbed a notebook and started jotting down ideas.
"Social media is in its infancy. MySpace is still a thing, but there's no Twitter, no Instagram," he said to himself, tapping his pen against his chin. "If I could leverage these platforms early, before anyone else..."
He paused, considering the challenges ahead.
"But how do I explain knowing all this? I can't exactly tell people I'm from the future," Byul-ho chuckled wryly. "I'll need to be careful, introduce these ideas gradually."
He turned his attention to the current structure of entertainment companies.
"The training system isn't as intense yet. That could be an advantage," he mused. "I could create a more humane system, focus on talent development rather than just churning out idols."
Byul-ho leaned back in his chair, his eyes widening as he scrolled through the current chart rankings.
"Wait a minute," he muttered, leaning closer to the screen. "Crystal Cascade? Velvet Serenade? I've never heard of these groups before."
He quickly pulled up more information on these unfamiliar names.
"Velvet Serenade, a five-member girl group... debuted in 2006... currently topping the charts with their hit 'Moonlight Whisper'," Byul-ho read aloud, his brow furrowed in confusion. "And Crystal Cascade, a seven-member boy band... formed in 2007... their single 'Electric Dream' is breaking sales records?"
He sat back, raising an eyebrows. "How is this possible? These groups were huge in 2008, but they didn't exist in my other life. The techniques they're using are pretty standard for this era, but somehow they're outperforming even the groups I remember being popular."
Byul-ho began to pace his room, his mind racing. "This changes things. The industry landscape is different here. These groups are dominating the market in ways I didn't anticipate."
He returned to his computer, furiously taking notes on Crystal Cascade and Velvet Serenade - their styles, their marketing strategies, their public personas.
"I need to understand what makes them tick," Byul-ho said to himself. "What sets them apart in this world? And more importantly, how can I use this knowledge to my advantage?"
As he delved deeper into this unexpected twist in the music scene, Byul-ho realized that his future knowledge, while still valuable, might not be as straightforward to apply as he'd initially thought. The presence of these wildly popular groups that didn't exist in his other life added a new layer of complexity to his plans.
"This is going to be more challenging than I thought," he mused, a determined glint in his eye. "But it also makes things more interesting. I'll need to be even more innovative to stand out in this crowded field."
***
Byul-ho gathered the papers from his desk, his mind racing with possibilities. He made his way to his father's study, a room he had avoided since the tragic accident. Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the heavy wooden door.
The study was exactly as his father had left it. Byul-ho's eyes scanned the bookshelves until they landed on a leather-bound address book. He flipped through it until he found the name he was looking for: Park Ji-won.
"Uncle Ji-won," Byul-ho murmured, memories flooding back. He recalled the man's kind smile, the way he and Byul-ho's father would share a drink - a privilege reserved only for Ji-won among his father's business associates.
Clutching the contact information, Byul-ho stepped out of the study and called for his butler. "Seon-woo, could you come here for a moment?"
The elderly butler appeared promptly. "Yes, young master?"
"I need to know exactly how much money I have access to," Byul-ho said, his voice steady. "I'm planning to start a business."
Seon-woo's eyes widened slightly. "A business, young master? May I ask what kind?"
"An entertainment company," Byul-ho replied, watching his butler's reaction carefully. "I want to continue my father's legacy, but in my own way."
Seon-woo's brow furrowed with concern. "Young master, while I admire your ambition, I must advise caution. The entertainment industry is notoriously difficult and unpredictable. Perhaps it would be wise to finish your education first?"
Byul-ho smiled, appreciating his butler's concern. "I understand your worry, Seon-woo. But I've given this a lot of thought. Can you tell me about the funds?"
Seon-woo hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. Your father left you a substantial inheritance. After setting aside funds for your education and living expenses, you have approximately 5 billion won at your disposal."
Byul-ho's eyes widened. It was more than he had expected, but he knew starting an entertainment company would require significant investment.
"Thank you, Seon-woo," he said. "I promise I'll be careful. But this is something I need to do."
As Seon-woo left the room, concern still etched on his face, Byul-ho turned his attention back to Park Ji-won's contact information. He took a deep breath, picked up his phone, and began to dial. It was time to set his plans in motion.
Byul-ho scribbled calculations on his paper, converting the inheritance amount to different currencies and time periods.
"5 billion won in 2008... that's about $4.7 million US dollars," he muttered to himself. "And in 2024 terms from my other life, accounting for inflation and exchange rate changes, it would be roughly equivalent to $6.2 million."
He leaned back, considering the figures. It was a substantial amount, but he knew starting an entertainment company from scratch would require careful budgeting and strategic investments.
Byul-ho's thoughts turned to his father's company, Starlight Entertainment. He sighed heavily, remembering why he couldn't simply take over the existing business.
In the weeks following his parents' deaths, Starlight Entertainment had spiraled into chaos. Without his father's leadership and industry connections, the company had quickly lost its footing. Major artists had terminated their contracts, citing uncertainty about the company's future. Investors had pulled out, fearing financial instability.
Moreover, the board of directors, in a panicked attempt to salvage what they could, had made a series of disastrous decisions. They had sold off valuable assets at a fraction of their worth and entered into unfavorable contracts with predatory competitors. By the time Byul-ho had emerged from his initial grief, Starlight Entertainment was little more than a shell of its former self, burdened with debt and tarnished reputation.
"Starting fresh is the only way," Byul-ho said to himself, his jaw set with determination. "Starlight Entertainment is beyond saving, but its legacy... that's something I can build upon."
He looked at Park Ji-won's contact information again. This connection to his father's past could be the key to his future.
