Chapter 908: New Program (1)
Around this time before I regressed, PD Ban Sung-Gyu at KBC, one of the terrestrial networks, had also been planning a variety show with a similar concept. The show's title was Working Title: Our League.
They were both soccer variety shows, but God of Soccer was about forming a celebrity soccer team and having them challenge an amateur league, while Our League was about putting celebrities and agency staff together into teams by entertainment company and having them play in a full-scale league.
However, KBC's executives had been afraid people would say they had copied a cable variety show they considered beneath them. Because of that, the show didn't end up getting made until a year later.
But after Our League finally aired, the executives realized just how wrong that decision had been. It finished with a 21% viewership ratings and became an even bigger hit than God of Soccer.
So, in order to go up against God of Soccer, I immediately called Ban Sung-Gyu at KBC, the man planning that program. After a few rings, he picked up.
Whoooosh.
I could hear wind mixed into Ban Sung-Gyu's voice.
-Hey, Chief Jung.
"Do you happen to have a moment to talk?"
-I do, but not for long. Why?
"I heard you've been planning a soccer variety show lately. I was wondering if we could talk about it."
Winning a PD over was the bare minimum, so I asked in the most respectful tone I could manage.
Just then, a surprisingly delighted voice came back through the line.
-That proposal made it all the way to your ears, Chief Jung? Hahaha.
'Wait, why is he so happy? Is he maybe expecting a massive sponsorship deal like Project I.O.A?'
Whatever it was, the mood was already flowing smoothly from the start, so I answered just as cheerfully.
"Would it be possible for us to meet in person and talk, if it's not too much trouble?"
I was so caught up in the moment that I almost let the still-unannounced working title, Our League, slip out.
-Perfect. Then can you come to the soccer field at Jamwon Hangang Park right now?
Jamwon Hangang Park was near Apgujeong, so it wouldn't take long to get there.
"Right now?"
-Yeah. We've got an early morning soccer match coming up, but for some reason, two players suddenly dropped out today. Fill in for us, and I'll hear out your request. Better yet, bring one more guy and cover both spots!
Ban Sung-Gyu was apparently in the middle of an amateur morning soccer league, and two of his team members were missing. And if they couldn't play today because they were short on people, not only would they lose by forfeit but they wouldn't be allowed to play in the next league match either.
At first glance, I couldn't really understand why he seemed to care more about his soccer league than his actual show. Still, if I made a good impression on the PD, I would be able to get a lot more actors and cast members onto the program. In other words, this was an opportunity.
"I'll come with Tae-Poong."
-Tae-Poong too? That's perfect. Perfect!
'There's just...one very serious problem.'
"But, Mr. Ban. Well... I'm from development."
Ban Sung-Gyu laughed heartily as he answered.
-Hahaha. It's fine. I'll tell the other team people are coming, so head over right away!
Click.
The call ended all of a sudden.
'What was that?'
I knew from people around me just how seriously early morning soccer club members took their matches.
'But is this really okay? I'm seriously terrible.'
***
I arrived at the soccer field at Jamwon Hangang Park. One early morning soccer club team in red vests and another in blue vests had gathered on opposite sides. I spotted Ban Sung-Gyu wearing a blue vest and hurried over toward his team.
"Mr. Ban!"
Ban Sung-Gyu was forty this year and had played soccer until middle school. Maybe because of that, even the way he stretched in proper athletic gear looked anything but ordinary.
"Chief Jung!"
Ban Sung-Gyu raised his hand when he saw me. His voice was full of welcome.
As I gave a small bow and approached, Ban Sung-Gyu asked, "When's Tae-Poong getting here?"
"He left right away, so he should be here within five minutes."
"Okay!"
Ban Sung-Gyu rummaged through a pile of soccer gear, picked out a blue vest and a pair of soccer cleats in my size, 275 mm, and handed them to me.
"Alright then, just put on this blue vest and—"
Holding the vest and the cleats, I spoke sincerely. "Mr. Ban. I'm really terrible."
As a former boxer, my reflexes were extremely fast. However, I never played soccer or basketball at all during my school years. It was because my boxing coach had been worried about injuries and strictly forbade it. Since I had been part of an elite sports program, the boxing coach's words were absolute to me, so I had never once disobeyed him.
How I found out I was terrible at soccer even though I had never played was because of what happened before I regressed. At a company sports day, people said that since I used to be an athlete, my reflexes must be good, and they insisted I take the striker position.
That day, I thoroughly betrayed everyone's expectations. After blasting the ball like a home run over and over, I ended up with the nickname "national-team-level terrible" for quite a while.
And yet. Ban Sung-Gyu was saying the exact same thing as the people who had put me in the striker position before I regressed.
"Come on. Weren't you part of the national team reserve pool when you boxed? There's no way someone with a national-level physique is the same as a regular guy. I know how people say that stuff."
Ban Sung-Gyu even turned to the early morning soccer club members in their forties who were sitting nearby. "Isn't that right, guys?"
At his words, the men in their forties nodded.
"Yeah. Just looking at him, he's clearly in good shape. He'll be better than us. At least he'll be fast."
"I've never seen someone who calls themselves terrible actually be terrible. They all say that and then run around possessed by Maradona."
"Just having someone in their twenties show up is already a blessing. Look around. We're all in our forties!"
"Exactly. So don't worry and just push it in with the inside of your foot. PD Ban played until middle school, so his passes are incredible."
"Right. Our striker who didn't show up today is terrible too, but he's the league's top scorer. PD Ban just feeds him the ball. When the ball rolls in, you just tap it and it's a goal, so just stick your foot out."
Because I was the only one in my twenties and a former national-level athlete, everyone's expectations were rising. If that was the case, the only way to prevent an even bigger tragedy was to show them directly.
I looked at the smiling Ban Sung-Gyu and said, "Mr. Ban."
"Yeah?"
"Try passing to me once."
"Oh, to warm up? Sure."
With a grin, Ban Sung-Gyu scraped the ball under his foot, pulled it toward himself, and lightly kicked it. Being a former player, the ball rolled perfectly straight toward my feet.
Tick.
The fact that the ball made a tick instead of a solid thump meant I had hit it wrong. Even though I focused when I kicked it, the ball I struck didn't head toward Ban Sung-Gyu at all. It flew off in a completely random direction.
Rrrroll.
In that instant, the early morning soccer club members who had been smiling froze stiff. Ban Sung-Gyu's expression also hardened, clearly caught off guard. I never thought I would see the atmosphere suddenly turn awkward right before my eyes.
Flustered, Ban Sung-Gyu spoke to me. "Uh, C-Chief Jung. What's going on? Don't mess around."
"Why would I joke around in front of you, Mr. Ban? I've never played soccer."
"What? But everyone plays in the army—... ah... you're exempt."
"Yes. I'm exempt from military service. And back in school, my boxing coach strictly forbade it because of injury risks. So I've never kicked a ball before."
At that moment, worry filled everyone's faces. But soon, Ban Sung-Gyu forced an awkward smile and tried to shift the mood.
"I-it's fine. As long as we avoid a forfeit loss, that's good enough. Right?"
Just then, a large man in his fifties wearing the goalkeeper uniform, Park Sang-Byeok, also tried to lighten the mood. "R-right. Our defense is good, so you don't need to worry. Just follow their striker around."
"True. We're grateful you even came."
The men who had been stiff a moment ago started consoling me—if that was what it was—saying they were thankful I showed up at all.
Then Ban Sung-Gyu cautiously asked, "So... Can Tae-Poong play a bit?"
I nodded. "Tae-Poong can play. He even says that if he hadn't become an actor, he would've gone into soccer."
Ban Sung-Gyu's face immediately brightened. "Perfect. Then we'll put Tae-Poong as striker. Let's see, Chief Jung will... Oh! Wait!"
At that moment, Ban Sung-Gyu lightly flicked another ball on the ground up with the tip of his foot and caught it in his hand. I had just been admiring the impressive footwork when Ban Sung-Gyu smiled with the ball in his hand.
"Chief Jung! Block it!"
'Block what?'
At that moment, Ban Sung-Gyu quickly threw the ball to a spot about one meter to my left.
Whoosh.
Instinctively, I moved and caught the ball with both hands.
Thud.
Holding the ball, I tilted my head. "Why did you suddenly throw the—"
Right then, Ban Sung-Gyu let out a shout of admiration. "Yes! Just as I thought!"
At the same time, the forced smiles disappeared from the early morning soccer club members' faces, replaced with soft, springlike smiles and amazed exclamations.
"Whoa, you really caught that?"
"Spider hands. Total spider hands."
"Wow, is that what national-level reflexes look like?"
The atmosphere completely flipped from just moments earlier, and everyone started cheering.
Ban Sung-Gyu was also grinning brightly as he spoke to the club's goalkeeper. "Sang-Byeok hyung-nim. Why don't you play defense today instead of goalkeeper?"
The big man in his fifties stood up and took off his gloves. "If a national-level keeper showed up, of course I should step aside. Okay!"
The large man handed me the gloves and the goalkeeper uniform. "Put these gloves on, and change into this."
"Ah, okay."
All I had done was catch a single ball, yet hope was already spreading among the members of the early morning soccer club.
"Those Fire Youth guys are dead today!"
Their opponent today was a team of men in their forties who were former marines, supposedly the top-ranked team in Group B of the early morning soccer league.
Just then, Lee Tae-Poong and Lee Dae-Ho came running over, waving their hands. "Yoon-Ho hyung! Mr. Ban!"
Both early morning soccer teams jumped to their feet and burst into cheers. A true star was someone who drew attention everywhere they went, from people of every age and gender.
However, even Lee Tae-Poong didn't have time to properly greet anyone after arriving. He had to quickly change clothes and get ready to play. Once again, I was reminded that early morning soccer was basically war.
"Alright. Everyone, get ready."
At Ban Sung-Gyu's words, we walked onto the field. Now that it had come to this, we had to win somehow. Only then could we talk about the program in a good mood afterward.
'Spider Hands Jung Yoon-Ho.'
That was the title I needed to earn today.
***
Tweet.
The referee in a black uniform blew the whistle. As soon as the match began, the fierce attack of the 'Fire Youth' team—made up of former marines in their forties—started immediately.
"Hey! Press them!"
"Pass! Pass!"
At that moment, the members of Ban Sung-Gyu's 'Gentlemen' team all joined together to block the attack defensively. Contrary to my worry that we might concede a goal, Park Sang-Byeok—who had originally been the goalkeeper—was defending like a wall, stopping most of the attacks.
"Cut it off in the middle!"
"Okay!"
They had said the team's defense was solid, and they were right. For the first twenty minutes of the first half, we didn't allow a single shot from the opponent. However, once twenty minutes had passed, one of the opposing forwards, seemingly frustrated, took a long-distance shot.
Boom!
From more than thirty meters away, the ball flew quickly toward the left side of the goal.
Whoooosh!
For a moment I considered catching it with my hands like before, but the goalkeeper gloves were a little big. I was worried I might drop the ball if I tried to grab it.
At that moment, I made a decision. Instead of catching it, I would punch it away.
Clench.
Tightening my fist, I threw a powerful punch toward the incoming ball.
Thud.
A strong rebound traveled through my arm, and the ball that had been flying toward the goal suddenly lost its power and shot upward into the sky.
Then Park Sang-Byeok shouted energetically, "Nice punch!"
At that moment, I realized the real mission I had today.
'Not Spider Hands Jung Yoon-Ho.'
I needed to become Punch King Jung Yoon-Ho.
***
Tweet!
The referee blew the final whistle.
"Game over! Gentlemen vs Fire Youth. Gentlemen win, 1 to 0!"
Right then, Ban Sung-Gyu, Lee Tae-Poong, and the rest of the team members all ran toward me cheering.
"Chief Jung!!"
"Nice!"
"Great job!"
Thanks to Ban Sung-Gyu's perfect pass and Lee Tae-Poong's finish, we won by a single goal. Since I had personally stopped three goals myself, everyone surrounded me in celebration.
"If this guy had played soccer instead of boxing, we would've felt secure during the World Cup."
"Wow. That punch earlier was pure art, Chief Jung."
"Chief Jung, could you come out again next week?"
The unexpected flood of offers was enough to leave me completely overwhelmed.
I smiled awkwardly and said, "N-No, not really. We won because our defense was solid. And the goal from Mr. Ban and Tae-Poong was the decisive one."
Ban Sung-Gyu, drenched in sweat, broke into a pleased smile. "Come on. Tae-Poong and I only managed one goal between us. But you blocked three with those punches, Chief Jung. Today's win is thanks to you. There's no need to be modest."
Right then, as a talent agent, I said something that would put Ban Sung-Gyu in an even better mood.
"In that case, wouldn't the real victory today be thanks to your strategy in recruiting mercenaries like Tae-Poong and me?"
Ban Sung-Gyu burst out laughing. "So that's how it works? Hahaha."
As Ban Sung-Gyu laughed, the older members of the soccer club started chuckling as well.
"Yeah, PD Ban. It's all thanks to you."
"You better buy us a meal today!"
Ban Sung-Gyu clenched his fist and shouted, "Why not? Sauna and breakfast today—it's all on me. Let's go, everyone."
"Deal!"
The moment Ban Sung-Gyu shouted that, the referee called out from the center line. "Alright, line up!! Time to greet each other."
Ban Sung-Gyu cheerfully called out that we should greet the opposing team. "Okay!"
Since Ban Sung-Gyu was already in such a great mood, the conversation about producing the program would probably go smoothly from here.
***
After finishing at the sauna and eating hearty bowls of Naju gomtang[1] filled with meat, Ban Sung-Gyu and the rest of us moved to a nearby café.
When Lee Tae-Poong and I walked in, the perceptive café owner guided us to the table furthest inside.
Once we sat down, Ban Sung-Gyu asked with a bright smile, "You really worked hard today. Anyway, you asked if I was planning a soccer variety show, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"I am. But our executives are strongly against it. They're worried people will say we're copying God of Soccer."
Just like before I regressed, KBC's executives were reacting exactly the same way.
"But you're not the type to copy someone else's work. Your approach would be completely different, wouldn't it?"
"Of course it would! There aren't many PDs who know soccer better than I do. But what does that matter? The suits upstairs will just think it's all the same."
Field PDs often held more dissatisfaction toward broadcasting executives than people expected. After all, those executives had been away from the production floor for over a decade, which made them insensitive to trends. Nevertheless, since the higher-ups controlled the budget unless they were a star PD like Yang Se-Jong who directed God of Soccer, there wasn't much PDs could do.
However, I had a solution.
"I do have a good idea. Would you like to hear it?"
"What idea?"
"Instead of producing it internally at KBC, have an outside production company make it. Then you won't need to worry about getting production costs approved by the company. All you need is the broadcast slot."
Ban Sung-Gyu's face brightened instantly. "Perfect. There's actually an open slot for a variety show at KBC right now, so I could secure the schedule immediately! I've been around long enough to pull that off."
I knew KBC's President Oh Han-Guk quite well and had considered lobbying him, but thankfully that wouldn't be necessary.
"That's great."
"But do you have a production team to make a soccer variety show?"
"Not yet."
"Then how are you going to do it?"
"The drama production company Mirinae will create a variety team. If you give us a list of the staff you need, we'll hire them right away and form an outsourced production team."
"Wow, I like that. Then I'll pick out some of my juniors who are good at filming variety shows and send their names. But will Mirinae cover the production costs? Their funds must be tight right now because of KBC's Haze."
I grinned.
"Reverse Entertainment will cover the cost."
Before coming here, I had already called Kang Eun-Gi and secured an investment commitment. Since Working Title: Our League would involve teams formed by entertainment agencies anyway, Reverse Entertainment could use it as a promotional platform.
"That fits perfectly. My concept is to create teams by an entertainment agency and have them compete in a league. Reverse has some rising stars these days too, so that's great."
Just as expected, Our League matched exactly the concept I remembered from before I regressed.
At that moment, Ban Sung-Gyu fell into thought for a moment before speaking honestly. "Since you've gone this far, Chief Jung, I should be honest too. There's actually another issue we haven't solved yet."
The investors, outsourced production company, and broadcast slot were all settled.
'Yet there's still another problem?'
"What issue?" I asked.
"There's a fundamental problem with soccer variety shows themselves."
'A fundamental problem with soccer variety shows? What could that possibly be?'
1. Naju gomtang - a traditional Korean soup originating from Naju city, featuring a clear, savory broth made by simmering beef brisket, shank, and neck bones rather than just bones ☜
