Chapter 62

Chapter 62

TL: KSD

The Korean publishing market is doomed.

It has been doomed for a while now.

But,

Japanese people read a lot of books,

And Koreans dont read books.

-So, no matter how you think about it, our downfall is because of you guys!

is a thought.

Anyone working in the Korean publishing industry might have thought this at least once.

EP 5-A Love Story

This is not because all those working in the publishing industry think inferior Koreans have less desire to read than the noble Imperial subjects, its not that this thought doesnt exist at all.

Its more of a grumble.

Its the last struggle of humans facing an unavoidable disaster, the dark humor spat out by those enduring a life filled with pain.

Its similar to how fans of a certain baseball team say, Our team always loses because this rotten world is to blame.

Of course, not everyone suddenly talks about the educational level of Koreans being the reason their industry is doomed.

However, the publishing industry just so happens to have Japan next door.

Doing the same job, on one side theres a 5-star hotel restaurant, and on our side, a hole-in-the-wall.

To elaborate on this comparison is even more cruel.

In Korea, the top-performing publisher doesnt even come close to making 50 billion won in annual sales,

While in Japan, there are multiple giant publishing houses with annual sales exceeding 1 trillion won.

So, publishers exceeding 100 billion won in sales are numerous.

To break down these numbers further is even more brutal.

A minor player over there easily crushes the big boss in our neighborhood,

With single publishers roaming around, matching or even surpassing the sales of major Korean corporations,

And there are consumers who buy the massive amount of books these monsters produce.

Japan.

Even more terrifying, the moment you lift the veil, you find that Japans Top 3 publishers are dominated by a single family

-Keeyaaaah!

Its truly cosmic horror.

So, it cant be helped.

Korean publishing industry workers facing an insurmountable cosmic terror and going mad, screaming This, this, all this is because Koreans dont read books! is their last thrashing to maintain their ego.

Fixed book price policy, bookstore distribution rate, royalty rates, marketing, genre diversification, bringing all sorts of things to innovate and challenge Japan, but the moment they witness the immense scale and consumers of the Japanese publishing market, their legs give out, and their hands and feet tremble.

Of course, Japan experienced a reading boom around the 1910s, and thereafter, the government led the effort in distributing libraries, building a reading culture for nearly 100 years.

So, to catch up to such a climate overnight is practically wishing to have your life handed to you on a silver platter, but still, if youre Korean, shouldnt you at least try to beat Japan?

Thus, the ego that insists we must beat Japan clashes with the reality that Japan is unbeatable even in death, driving those in the Korean publishing industry slowly mad

The scale of the publishing markets in Korea and Japan is vastly different to that degree.

The vested interests cartel in the Japanese publishing industry is incredibly solid.

So, Lim Yang-wook had to seek out connections from his old days at Baekhak Publishing, rub palms together, mix drinks, bow deeply with his smooth head.

And only after a proper bow in front of the high-ranking official from that publisher was he barely able to secure a chance at entering the Japanese market.

And it all fell apart in an instant.

The office of Baekhak Entertainments Publishing Management Department was filled with silence.

None of the employees, ignorant about publishing, didnt know how to behave after their boss went through hell to secure an international buyer contract only for it to fall through for nothing. If they didnt know, they would have been fired.

In the midst of all employees maintaining silence and watching Lim Yang-wooks mood.

Heh. Hehe.

Lim Yang-wook laughed.

Hehheh, Hehehe, Huhuhu, Hehehe.

Department Head Lim Yang-wook smiled kindly and instructed the employees to relax.

Why is everyone like this? Days like this happen sometimes. Dont be too stiff. Wont the sun rise again tomorrow? Isnt it first-class to not lose your smile even in times like these? Huh? Right?

With a silly smile, Lim Yang-wook went into the break room and gulped down hot coffee as if it were plain water.

Laughter could still be heard from the break room.

Heh, Hehheh, Hehehe, Uhhehehehe.

Baek Seol suddenly recalled an anecdote she had heard on the internet about Western missionaries in the late Joseon period.

Whether its true or not, it seems like the right saying.

A Korean smiling broadly is not a good sign

* * *

Novelist Seo Woon-pil is a generous and peaceful person who loves serene nature.New novel chapters are published on

Critic Seo Woon-pil is ruthlessly strict, jabbing at juniors and seniors alike without discrimination.

And Munye magazine CEO Seo Woon-pil is a skilled politician who has successfully walked the tightrope for decades, confronting the terrifying military regime when necessary and bowing when appropriate.

Thus, he was well aware that even if Koreans start making a fuss about something, it never lasts more than a week.

This time was no exception.

The nationwide criticism calling him a cruel and narrow-minded old fool for not awarding a literary prize to a deserving writer didnt last a week.

Politicians who misspeak, heinous serial killers, celebrities caught in romantic scandals, overseas accidents involving loss of life, billionaires who suspiciously love cryptocurrencies, etc.

In a world full of countless things that can enthuse the public, whether positively or negatively, its hard for any issue to dominate Korean public opinion for more than a week.

Thus, Seo Woon-pil knows that in the long run, its more beneficial to have the favor of a specific minority than an undefined majority.

The public that criticized him will forget what happened in a week, but the literary magazine workers he protected will remember his grace forever.

Seo Woon-pil, that old man, at least he knows how to take care of his people.

The human Seo Woon-pil, who believes he has played many roles in this countrys tumultuous history and has made significant contributions.

The glory enjoyed by human Seo Woon-pil made the heart of novelist Seo Woon-pil weary, instilling arrogance that took the readers praise and admiration for granted.

But Moon In.

This boy is not just any ordinary reader.

This boy is the future of Korean literature, a genius leading the next generation. If one were to name an era after someone in the literary world, Moonin would be fitting for the next era. (TL: Moon In/Mun In means literati)

The child whom Seo Woon-pil, recognized as Koreas best novelist, whom Gu Hak-jun cherishes like a beloved disciple, and whom Park Chang-woon, with whom he has a decades-long relationship, has such high expectations that he would lunge at him in anger.

This child talked about him.

Studied him, read his novels, and was influenced by his literature.

This soothed the unease in the heart of old man Seo Woon-pil, whose days are numbered.

What you have done was not meaningless.

Your life was not so light to be forgotten without significance.

Your literature has become the soil for the next generation

Ah.

At that moment.

Seo Woon-pil was utterly moved.

His wrinkled hand moved on its own to stroke the boys head.

Looking down at Moon In, Seo Woon-pil smiled quietly, filled with a sense of apology.

Thank you.

The boy, slightly uncomfortable with the sudden touch, pulled his head back a bit but still nodded lightly with a hint of shyness.

Yes.

Such a lovely child couldnt have concocted such a sinister scheme.

-Why not give it a try?

The noise marketing caused by exposing the practice of debut fees. Such cunning trickery must have been instigated by someone named Lim Yang-wook or whatever.

Wasnt it obvious? Yet, blinded by stubbornness, he had troubled an innocent child. Never before had he felt such a disgraceful old fool.

Seo Woon-pil gathered his courage to speak. Pushing aside the hardened pride of being someones superior for decades, his voice struggled up from deep within his throat.

Im sorry, kid. Ive made a big mistake. I have no face to show you as an adult. Can you forgive this old man?

Ah, no, its okay. I was at fault too

How is it your fault! You just did what the publishing house told you to do!

-If you buy one literary award, its a shortcut, but if you buy sixteen, its art.

Everyone knows the practice of debut fees is wrong. But it was also for everyones livelihood.

The old hands at the publishing house surely knew what would happen if this were exposed.

Seo Woon-pil wanted to see who the cowardly and wicked editor was that put all the blame on this young and lovely child and hid behind him.

It was easy to find him. The public enemy of the literary world was famously bald.

The suited man sweating and avoiding eye contact over there must be, without doubt, the archenemy Lim Yang-wook.

Seo Woon-pil strode over to Lim Yang-wook.

Are you the person called Lim Yang-wook?

Then Lim Yang-wook folded up like a flip phone.

Im sorry! Elder!

It was an unexpected response.

While Seo Woon-pil hesitated for a moment, Lim Yang-wook apologized with sincere intensity.

No, the fervor was so strong it was more like he was forcefully slamming an apology.

I should have come to apologize sooner, but I was ashamed and kept putting it off, causing trouble for many people!

Well, you didnt have to go that far.

Im really sorry, Elder!

Cough! Dont embarrass an old man like this and lift your head! Whats this nonsense among people involved in the literary world?

Do you forgive me?

Seo Woon-pil patted Lim Yang-wooks shoulder kindly.

Whats there to forgive? Arent we all in the same literary circle? We should be able to criticize and question each other to make a better literary world. Isnt that how progress is made?

Elder!

Seo Woon-pil listened to Lim Yang-wooks effusive praise with a pleased smile.

This Lim Yang-wook fellow, rumored to be a crazy person in the publishing world, turned out to be quite decent after meeting him.

Of course, those who left Baekhak Publishing wouldnt speak well of him.

It seemed like he was being ostracized, but it appeared he could be turned into an ally if taken under wing.

And an hour later.

Seo Woon-pil changed his mind.

* * *

This guys a nutcase.

Seo Woon-pil wanted to storm out right then and there.

But he couldnt get up, oddly persuaded by the lunatics somewhat compelling argument.

So, what youre saying is

In a private room of a Japanese restaurant near Baekhak Arts Middle School.

As Seo Woon-pil and Lim Yang-wook sat facing each other.

Seo Woon-pils fingers, beginning to tremble slightly, pointed accusingly at the smiling face of Lim Yang-wook.

Attack Japan?

Yes!

*****

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