Thud–
Along with the door closing, came the sound of breathing from the dead silent conference room. What happened? He seemed angry. Words of wonder about the situation a few seconds ago spread around like ink that fell into water. In the midst of the buzz filled commotion, only two people remained in deep silence with firm faces.
Tap. Tap. Tap.- The sound of fountain pen tapping on the table amidst the silence resembled the sound of iron bars. The man, who had watched the situation silently, looked towards the one left with cold eyes. Seo Youngwoo, who had pretended to be calm, flinched at the sharp gaze. The eyes looking at him were unexplainably dark and frigid, almost like he was angry.
Why? The faint question arose, but the gaze at him was so sharp that he felt cold to his fingertips without realizing it. Alarmed by the sunken atmosphere and silent attack on their junior, Team Leader Lee Jongseon and Deputy Min hurried busied themselves.
“When South Korea was going through its pro-democracy movement on May 18th,”
The languid voice flowed like a quiet river through the chaotic atmosphere of the office. Tap- Tap- After tapping paper with the fountain pen and putting it back in his pocket, Shin Kwonjoo propped his chin with a hand and stared at Seo Youngwoo, who was sitting far away. It was a line of sight that made it obvious who his words were directed to.
“People were brutally killed by a dictator’s public power in a certain city, but unfortunately there are not a lot of people who know this.”
Shin Kwonjoo, who had been tilting his head for a while, added a short word seeming to have belatedly remembered.
“Rather, there are many people who know the distorted version.”
Seo Youngwoo’s eyes narrowed slightly, trying to grasp his intentions. The other also smirked and blinked at his look. Seo Youngwoo’s face heated at the loud snicker that rang through his ears. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the attention Shin Kwonjoo had set on him, Seo Youngwoo met his gaze, unable to avoid it any longer.
“The media was tightly controlled, and journalists who tried to deliver the correct news would be fired or forced into the military like citizen militia. Due to that, the news about the same incident at home and abroad was completely different.”
It was quite funny. Him murmuring like he was speaking to himself. The stroking of his sharp chin was very slow, and it made the other just as nervous. He was not only a man with a prominent appearance, but also one with an air that overwhelmed others.
“But it was and still is impossible to completely block people’s eyes and ears. No matter how much you try to cover it, the truth will still be known. In the end, the brutality of the military’s indiscriminate killing of citizens was known to the world a few years later. This was thanks to photos secretly taken by foreign journalists, who were able to engage in independent activities and delivered them to the outside world.”
Shin Kwonjoo shrugged his shoulders, frowning excessively on his usually straight forehead. It was a subtle expression, neither smiling nor angry.
“Those reporters were all people with families, lovers and friends, Mr. Seo Youngwoo.”
“…!”
“And it’s something someone needs to do.”
When said person’s name was mentioned directly, everyone’s attention was moved to one direction. His face, which turned pale because he couldn’t turn red, hardened with shame.
“The civil wars that are happening in countries right now are not the same as what happened in Korea less than a hundred years ago. If the domestic media doesn’t play a proper role, there have always been people since our past history who would take on such a role.”
The man with his arms folded with a relaxed air leaned back slightly. His eyes glowed with pride. It was a coolness that had a flash of anger.
“If you have a lot to lose and are afraid of losing them, then you can choose not to. You could just stay in your room and protect them. No one is going to swear at you and force you to make a sacrifice. Nevertheless, making that choice meant accepting that they had something to lose, whether consciously or unconsciously. Then don’t you think you should respect that choice? As long as they’re not a kid you can’t control a person’s life and choice even if you’re family, friend, or a lover. There’s nothing as light and empty as verbal anger and criticism.”
There was a close boundary between informal and formal speech. However, Shin Kwonjoo seemed so fierce and cold that no one could mention it to him.
“What I’m saying is, Since Seo Youngwoo is such a wise person, he doesn’t need to go to places like that. And our stupid office reporter, who left the atmosphere cloudy after the situation a while ago, can do what he wants to. That’s all. I hope you understood what I mean?”
“…”
There was a silence in which one couldn’t even breathe recklessly. The face of the insulted party was so tense that it couldn’t be more wrinkled. Shin Kwonjoo gave a final shot, scanning him insincerely.
“Well, I’m sure you understand. It was funny to hear it from afar, so I stepped in. Please understand.”
Slowly, but with every word, the man who spoke with strength lifted himself up with one hand on the paper. The sound of the chair dragging back filled the desolate space.
“TnG, do you have anything else to say about the photo exhibition? We will cooperate as much as possible in our branch office. In the future, you can ask Kim Chaehwan, the editor-in-chief here, not me.”
After Shin Kwonjoo’s last words to end the situation, Lee Jongseon, Seo Youngwoo’s boss and team leader of TnG’s Culture and Arts Planning Team, quickly stood up, wiping away his cold sweat.
“No, there’s nothing else, but we’ll do our best to organize it well. Also, Seo Youngwoo is a recent member of our team and lacks a lot because he’s still an employee, Director Shin. He made a slip of tongue, but I don’t think that’s what he meant. He’s also passionate about this, so I hope you don’t misunderstand him.”
Hurry up and apologize. Lee Jongseon murmured quietly to Seo Youngwoo, shining dark eyes at him. The tendons on his forehead and gnarled teeth indicated how angry he was. Seo Youngwoo, who finally grasped the situation, lowered his head in a hurry.
“I’m sorry. Something similar happened to someone I know so I spoke maliciously without realizing.”
Shin Kwonjoo’s dim eyes curled thin. It was a clear sneer.
“Do you not know how to set a clear line between work and personal life? Have you never been a social worker? When you’re too passionate, it becomes an overstep of boundaries. It won’t discredit just me but the name of your boss and your company as well. I see you managed to run the Waiton photo exhibition in that spirit. Waiton seems to be quite generous. No filtering of any sort.”
“…”
“And I don’t think you need to apologize to me. You’re not a three-year-old, so I can’t tell you who or what to apologize for. Let’s get things done properly, Mr. Seo Youngwoo. I’m sure you know what I mean.”
His body, which had been completely hardened like a stone by the half-circular smile, trembled continuously. The atmosphere was like thin ice, stopping people from speaking. Sadness permeated into the eyes of those who saw Seo Youngwoo, who was unable to say a word. Kim Chaehwan, who couldn’t watch anymore, was about to step up.
“I’ll take my leave first. Gather up the materials. Please take care of the rest of the meeting, editor-in-chief.”
The man who finished saying what he had to, put his jacket on one arm and pointed to the materials on the table.
The tension that could cut through paper made Kim Chaehwan hurriedly nod his head and began to organize the materials. Shin Kwonjoo soon left the office with quick strides. Until the moment he opened the door, he did not look back on the TnG employees. It wasn’t until the sound of his heavy shoes that made them hold their breaths disappeared that they began to sigh one by one.
“…Are you out of your mind, Seo Youngwoo?”
At the suppressed anger that had finally burst out, Seo Youngwoo, who had been unable to get back to his senses, hurriedly blinked and opened his mouth to speak.
“I’m sorry, Team leader. I…”
“I don’t need an explanation. Just pack up the things.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Let’s talk outside.”
His gritted teeth and trembling cheeks made his emotional state obvious. At this rate, it was self-evident that his name would be omitted from the business makeup of the exhibition. The process and the procedure that led to the result were too bad to be what he wanted anyway. In addition, questions and criticism were clearly buried in all eyes towards him in the conference room. It was the worst in many ways.
Sighing deeply, Seo Youngwoo fell to his chair and buried his face in both hands. It was only then that realistic emotions began to rush in like waves, as things such as the current situation and his state of mind were recalled.
What in the world were you going on about?
He recalled Ha Joyoon’s pale looking complexion as he looked at him. His expressionless face seemed like that of a dead person and he felt his guilt pour out belatedly. He understood that it was already a difficult time for Ha Joyoon even if he hadn’t acted that way. He knew that he was rather an object of blame to that person. However, when Seo Youngwoo saw his face, he couldn’t control his emotions. Hate, resentment.
Unbearable love turns man into a monster. A dark, disgusting, stinking monster. When the monster button is pressed, humanity and conscience disappear in that moment, focusing solely on feelings and desires. He never knew a relationship that started off on a wrong foot would make him become such a hideous monster. He knew where it went wrong but didn’t have the courage to untie the twisted knot. It wasn’t exactly his, but he didn’t want to throw it away either.
A distant sense of guilt and remorse weighed on Seo Youngwoo’s shoulders for a long time until the place was cleared up and everyone involved had left the conference room.
Thud–
Along with the door closing, came the sound of breathing from the dead silent conference room. What happened? He seemed angry. Words of wonder about the situation a few seconds ago spread around like ink that fell into water. In the midst of the buzz filled commotion, only two people remained in deep silence with firm faces.
Tap. Tap. Tap.- The sound of fountain pen tapping on the table amidst the silence resembled the sound of iron bars. The man, who had watched the situation silently, looked towards the one left with cold eyes. Seo Youngwoo, who had pretended to be calm, flinched at the sharp gaze. The eyes looking at him were unexplainably dark and frigid, almost like he was angry.
Why? The faint question arose, but the gaze at him was so sharp that he felt cold to his fingertips without realizing it. Alarmed by the sunken atmosphere and silent attack on their junior, Team Leader Lee Jongseon and Deputy Min hurried busied themselves.
“When South Korea was going through its pro-democracy movement on May 18th,”
The languid voice flowed like a quiet river through the chaotic atmosphere of the office. Tap- Tap- After tapping paper with the fountain pen and putting it back in his pocket, Shin Kwonjoo propped his chin with a hand and stared at Seo Youngwoo, who was sitting far away. It was a line of sight that made it obvious who his words were directed to.
“People were brutally killed by a dictator’s public power in a certain city, but unfortunately there are not a lot of people who know this.”
Shin Kwonjoo, who had been tilting his head for a while, added a short word seeming to have belatedly remembered.
“Rather, there are many people who know the distorted version.”
Seo Youngwoo’s eyes narrowed slightly, trying to grasp his intentions. The other also smirked and blinked at his look. Seo Youngwoo’s face heated at the loud snicker that rang through his ears. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the attention Shin Kwonjoo had set on him, Seo Youngwoo met his gaze, unable to avoid it any longer.
“The media was tightly controlled, and journalists who tried to deliver the correct news would be fired or forced into the military like citizen militia. Due to that, the news about the same incident at home and abroad was completely different.”
It was quite funny. Him murmuring like he was speaking to himself. The stroking of his sharp chin was very slow, and it made the other just as nervous. He was not only a man with a prominent appearance, but also one with an air that overwhelmed others.
“But it was and still is impossible to completely block people’s eyes and ears. No matter how much you try to cover it, the truth will still be known. In the end, the brutality of the military’s indiscriminate killing of citizens was known to the world a few years later. This was thanks to photos secretly taken by foreign journalists, who were able to engage in independent activities and delivered them to the outside world.”
Shin Kwonjoo shrugged his shoulders, frowning excessively on his usually straight forehead. It was a subtle expression, neither smiling nor angry.
“Those reporters were all people with families, lovers and friends, Mr. Seo Youngwoo.”
“…!”
“And it’s something someone needs to do.”
When said person’s name was mentioned directly, everyone’s attention was moved to one direction. His face, which turned pale because he couldn’t turn red, hardened with shame.
“The civil wars that are happening in countries right now are not the same as what happened in Korea less than a hundred years ago. If the domestic media doesn’t play a proper role, there have always been people since our past history who would take on such a role.”
The man with his arms folded with a relaxed air leaned back slightly. His eyes glowed with pride. It was a coolness that had a flash of anger.
“If you have a lot to lose and are afraid of losing them, then you can choose not to. You could just stay in your room and protect them. No one is going to swear at you and force you to make a sacrifice. Nevertheless, making that choice meant accepting that they had something to lose, whether consciously or unconsciously. Then don’t you think you should respect that choice? As long as they’re not a kid you can’t control a person’s life and choice even if you’re family, friend, or a lover. There’s nothing as light and empty as verbal anger and criticism.”
There was a close boundary between informal and formal speech. However, Shin Kwonjoo seemed so fierce and cold that no one could mention it to him.
“What I’m saying is, Since Seo Youngwoo is such a wise person, he doesn’t need to go to places like that. And our stupid office reporter, who left the atmosphere cloudy after the situation a while ago, can do what he wants to. That’s all. I hope you understood what I mean?”
“…”
There was a silence in which one couldn’t even breathe recklessly. The face of the insulted party was so tense that it couldn’t be more wrinkled. Shin Kwonjoo gave a final shot, scanning him insincerely.
“Well, I’m sure you understand. It was funny to hear it from afar, so I stepped in. Please understand.”
Slowly, but with every word, the man who spoke with strength lifted himself up with one hand on the paper. The sound of the chair dragging back filled the desolate space.
“TnG, do you have anything else to say about the photo exhibition? We will cooperate as much as possible in our branch office. In the future, you can ask Kim Chaehwan, the editor-in-chief here, not me.”
After Shin Kwonjoo’s last words to end the situation, Lee Jongseon, Seo Youngwoo’s boss and team leader of TnG’s Culture and Arts Planning Team, quickly stood up, wiping away his cold sweat.
“No, there’s nothing else, but we’ll do our best to organize it well. Also, Seo Youngwoo is a recent member of our team and lacks a lot because he’s still an employee, Director Shin. He made a slip of tongue, but I don’t think that’s what he meant. He’s also passionate about this, so I hope you don’t misunderstand him.”
Hurry up and apologize. Lee Jongseon murmured quietly to Seo Youngwoo, shining dark eyes at him. The tendons on his forehead and gnarled teeth indicated how angry he was. Seo Youngwoo, who finally grasped the situation, lowered his head in a hurry.
“I’m sorry. Something similar happened to someone I know so I spoke maliciously without realizing.”
Shin Kwonjoo’s dim eyes curled thin. It was a clear sneer.
“Do you not know how to set a clear line between work and personal life? Have you never been a social worker? When you’re too passionate, it becomes an overstep of boundaries. It won’t discredit just me but the name of your boss and your company as well. I see you managed to run the Waiton photo exhibition in that spirit. Waiton seems to be quite generous. No filtering of any sort.”
“…”
“And I don’t think you need to apologize to me. You’re not a three-year-old, so I can’t tell you who or what to apologize for. Let’s get things done properly, Mr. Seo Youngwoo. I’m sure you know what I mean.”
His body, which had been completely hardened like a stone by the half-circular smile, trembled continuously. The atmosphere was like thin ice, stopping people from speaking. Sadness permeated into the eyes of those who saw Seo Youngwoo, who was unable to say a word. Kim Chaehwan, who couldn’t watch anymore, was about to step up.
“I’ll take my leave first. Gather up the materials. Please take care of the rest of the meeting, editor-in-chief.”
The man who finished saying what he had to, put his jacket on one arm and pointed to the materials on the table.
The tension that could cut through paper made Kim Chaehwan hurriedly nod his head and began to organize the materials. Shin Kwonjoo soon left the office with quick strides. Until the moment he opened the door, he did not look back on the TnG employees. It wasn’t until the sound of his heavy shoes that made them hold their breaths disappeared that they began to sigh one by one.
“…Are you out of your mind, Seo Youngwoo?”
At the suppressed anger that had finally burst out, Seo Youngwoo, who had been unable to get back to his senses, hurriedly blinked and opened his mouth to speak.
“I’m sorry, Team leader. I…”
“I don’t need an explanation. Just pack up the things.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Let’s talk outside.”
His gritted teeth and trembling cheeks made his emotional state obvious. At this rate, it was self-evident that his name would be omitted from the business makeup of the exhibition. The process and the procedure that led to the result were too bad to be what he wanted anyway. In addition, questions and criticism were clearly buried in all eyes towards him in the conference room. It was the worst in many ways.
Sighing deeply, Seo Youngwoo fell to his chair and buried his face in both hands. It was only then that realistic emotions began to rush in like waves, as things such as the current situation and his state of mind were recalled.
What in the world were you going on about?
He recalled Ha Joyoon’s pale looking complexion as he looked at him. His expressionless face seemed like that of a dead person and he felt his guilt pour out belatedly. He understood that it was already a difficult time for Ha Joyoon even if he hadn’t acted that way. He knew that he was rather an object of blame to that person. However, when Seo Youngwoo saw his face, he couldn’t control his emotions. Hate, resentment.
Unbearable love turns man into a monster. A dark, disgusting, stinking monster. When the monster button is pressed, humanity and conscience disappear in that moment, focusing solely on feelings and desires. He never knew a relationship that started off on a wrong foot would make him become such a hideous monster. He knew where it went wrong but didn’t have the courage to untie the twisted knot. It wasn’t exactly his, but he didn’t want to throw it away either.
A distant sense of guilt and remorse weighed on Seo Youngwoo’s shoulders for a long time until the place was cleared up and everyone involved had left the conference room.
