BRF Chapter 19
by lily plumThe entire broadcasting station, including the news headquarters, was in an uproar. The Current Affairs and Cultural Program department, which produces investigative reports, and the Entertainment department, which airs historical variety shows, were also frantically chasing the Goryeo Annals story.
“Have you been in contact with Director Cheon Sarang since that day?”
“No, sir.”
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Even though she hadn’t done anything wrong, Eunseong felt like she’d committed treason.
“The Cultural Heritage Administration, the National Museum of Korea, the National Archives OF Korea… they’re all preparing press releases stating they haven’t officially confirmed anything.”
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“That matches the information the Social Affairs department has gathered.”
At Eunseong’s reply, Director Lee frowned slightly and nodded several times. If the government agencies, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, weren’t involved, then they had to shift their focus to the private sectors.
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“Could it be the Seocheon Foundation?”
“Even if the chairperson of the Seocheon Foundation obtained the Goryeo Annals…”
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Director Lee stroked his rough chin and continued.
“They probably wouldn’t have passed the information to Seocheon Media. Chairperson Koo hates Director Cheon so much. She can’t stand the sight of a concubine’s child acting like a proper heir.”
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It was common knowledge that Koo Mihwa, Cheon Soo-an’s second wife and chairperson of the Seocheon Foundation, was Sarang’s stepmother. Their complicated family history and the subtle conflicts between the children of different mothers were also well known.
“But considering it from a company-wide perspective, wouldn’t it be more beneficial for Seocheon Media to broadcast anything related to the Seocheon Foundation?”
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“Someone might hate their stepchild enough to disregard company-wide benefits.”
Director Lee’s sideways glance, with one corner of his mouth lifted, wasn’t directed at her accusingly, yet Eunseong felt a pang of guilt.
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Perhaps she didn’t want to consider the possibility of someone resenting a child who wasn’t their own. So Eunseong wanted to believe that the Seocheon Foundation had acquired the Goryeo Annals, and Seocheon Media had planned the related broadcast.
But Director Lee was saying otherwise.
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“They’re worse than sworn enemies. If Chairperson Koo had obtained the Goryeo Annals, she probably would have given the scoop to another broadcasting company. Right now, she wants nothing more than to take down Cheon Sarang… But then again, Director Cheon isn’t reckless enough to fabricate a story and broadcast it.”
Director Cheon had proven her natural business acumen while managing Seocheon Media.
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Director Lee displayed articles related to the Goryeo Annals from a portal site on his office’s projector screen.
Cultural Heritage Administration: No confirmation of the Goryeo Annal’s existence. First report.
National Museum of Korea: If the existence of the Goryeo Annals is confirmed, we will be the first to acquire it. Breaking News.
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“The existence of the Goryeo Annals is a product of overactive imagination.” Interview with Historian [Name Redacted]
Most of the articles that were reported as breaking news had only headlines, and no content. The interviews with academics creating negative public opinion were all targeted against Seocheon Media.
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“With so many people eager to bring Director Cheon down, I don’t think Seocheon Media would have taken such a reckless gamble.”
She wasn’t close to Cheon Sarang, but she knew that an unreliable broadcast wouldn’t fit her pride.
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“Could you check with Director Cheon about where she obtained the information?”
“I’ll try my best.”
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Director Lee nodded silently, as if acknowledging her reporter’s tenacity.
“We will refrain from any speculative reporting until it’s confirmed. We will broadcast only officially released press materials, without any additions or omissions.”
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“Will General Manager Kim leave it at that?”
“It’s time we stopped chasing yamas1 and fabricating stories. The reporters at ABS shouldn’t be called giregi2, right?”
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Both General Manager Kim Hwanseok and News Director Lee Dongha were dedicated to ABS News. However, the two were distinctly different. While General Manager Kim was obsessed with news viewership ratings, Director Lee pursued truthful reporting.
The reporters followed Director Lee’s principles, but the broadcasting company’s management preferred General Manager Kim’s methods. That’s why the two, who joined the company at the same time, had different positions. Director Lee had been the top recruit that year, but now he was under General Manager Kim’s command.
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“Don’t worry about Kim Hwanseok, I’ll handle him.”
It was a moment to admire Director Lee once again for enabling independent reporting, rather than the kind that catered to the preferences of higher-ups.
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“Good work.”
Guaranteed independence goes hand in hand with responsibility. Independent actions without responsibility are nothing more than recklessness. For a journalist, reporting according to their own principles meant taking social responsibility for that reporting.
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Eunseong left the director’s office, feeling a heavy weight on her shoulders.
* * *
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A savory seafood and green pajeon (onion pancake) sizzling on a cast iron griddle and golbaengi muchim (sweet and sour spicy whelk salad) were placed on the table.
Sungchan stealthily lifted the edge of the pancake and placed some well-fermented kimchi underneath. The kimchi sizzled between the still-hot griddle and the pancake. He was clearly no stranger to this technique.
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“Let’s drink, first. It’s not like General Gwon Yul3 is going to show up with the Goryeo Annals right now.”
Han Jongpil, a reporter from the Economics department, whose face was flushed, exclaimed, holding up a brass bowl filled with cloudy makgeolli (Korean rice wine).
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“Ah, Reporter Han. General Gwon Yul was a Joseon Dynasty general.”
“Yeah, the Battle of Haengju! I know, I know.”
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At Sungchan’s correction, Reporter Han just shrugged and took a gulp of makgeolli.
“Who are some Goryeo Dynasty generals then?”
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Sungchan, prone to provoking others, taunted him.
“General Cheok Jungyeong, man! Do you think I wouldn’t know about Cheok Jungyeong, the greatest swordsman in our country’s history?”
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Reporter Han continued, pressing Sungchan.
“Do you know the name of the scholar-official who repelled the Jurchens alongside General Choe Jungyeong?”
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“Do I have to know that too?”
Sungchan stuffed a piece of well-cooked kimchi and pancake into his mouth.
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“You’re hopeless. How can you not know that? It’s a name you can’t forget once you hear it.”
“What’s the name?”
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Eunseong had heard of Choe Jungyeong, but she didn’t know the name of the scholar-official who fought alongside him.
“Wang Jaji.”4Eunseong, who was drinking makgeolli (Korean rice wine), almost spat out her drink. Taeyoon quickly pulled out a rough tissue and handed it to her, telling her to wipe her mouth.
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“He was a descendant of Wang Yu, a founding contributor of the Goryeo Dynasty. You know how people in the old days had different names when they were young and when they became adults? His childhood name is very special, too.”
“You mean his chomyeong (childhood name)?”
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Sungchan asked, refilling Reporter Han’s glass with makgeolli (Korean rice wine).
“Yeah, Wang Jaji’s childhood name was Wang Sojung5! And this guy was also a eunuch? Isn’t that amazing?”
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From a modern perspective, it was a rather awkward combination.
“Still, I heard eunuchs in Goryeo Dynasty weren’t castrated. He made significant contributions to the Jurchen conquest alongside General Cheok Jungyeong, but he doesn’t appear much in textbooks. Apparently, it’s because of his name. And you know what? In the Joseon Dynasty, a royal decree issued by the king’s mother or the queen was called ‘jaji’6.”
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Reporter Han was getting fired up, as if trying to prove his deep historical knowledge.
“For example, it’s like this! If someone said, ‘The Queen Dowager has issued a jaji!’ This means she had bestowed a benevolent decree.”
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No one could interrupt Reporter Han, who was speaking so earnestly. Sungchan encouraged him to continue, and Reporter Han started talking about the figures from the Joseon Dynasty with the name “Jaji.”
“Are you waiting for a call from someone?”
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Taeyoon lowered his voice and asked Eunseong, who was clutching her phone.
“Just… the usual. Nothing special.”
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Eunseong mumbled vaguely and drank half a glass of makgeolli (Korean rice wine). Her alcohol tolerance had increased since she started working as a reporter. Drinking sessions were sometimes an extension of her reporting, sometimes a place for lamenting, and sometimes a fierce debate arena. Currently, a historical discussion about “jaji” was in full swing.
“It doesn’t seem like the usual.”
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There was no point in announcing to everyone that she was waiting for a call from Director Cheon Sarang.
“I’m going to get some fresh air.”
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“I’ll go with you.”
“No, I need to use the restroom, too.”
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Eunseong stopped Taeyoon from following her and stepped out of the bar. The stairs were slippery, probably because the place was famous for its oily pancakes.
“Whoa!”
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As she descended the stairs, Eunseong’s foot slipped, causing her to lose her balance and stumble.
This was the problem with makgeolli (Korean rice wine). You don’t feel it while drinking, but the alcohol hits you as soon as you stand up. She hadn’t drunk enough to exceed her limit, but the stress must have made her tipsy quickly.
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As she reached out to grab the railing, her vision spun. The railing, which should have been within reach, felt too far away, and her upper body lurched forward.
Just as she had a premonition that she might tumble down the stairs, a man coming up the stairs from around the corner gently wrapped his arms around her waist. Thick, firm arms securely supported her stomach and back.
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“Got you.”
The man whispered softly. A sweet, slightly bitter chocolate scent wafted from him, a scent she felt she’d encountered somewhere before. Eunseong tilted her heavy head up to see the man’s face.
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“Oh?”
Eunseong pointed her index finger at his handsome face.
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“Mr. Jung Woojin?”
He frowned and glared at her.
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“How much have you been drinking?”
He was panting, trying to catch his breath. His sweet breath escaped from between his red lips and brushed against her cheek.
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“Were you… looking for me?”
She wanted to stand up straight, but her feet were dangling in the air. The man, supporting her with one arm, had a fierce expression on his face.
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“Yes.”
Whether it was the fear of falling down the stairs or because of the man in front of her, her heart pounded. He frowned deeply.
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“How did you know I was here?”
His long eyes narrowed beautifully, and his dark, deep pupils gleamed dangerously. This was the third time he had found her.
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Is this man a source who will bring me a scoop, or a stalker trying to prey on me?
Footnotes
- 야마 (yama) - Journalistic slang, originating from Japanese, referring to the main point or theme of a news story.
- 기레기 (giregi) - A derogatory term for reporters, combining "기자" (giza - reporter) and "쓰레기" (sseuregi - trash) aka trash reporter
- General Gwon Yul (권율, 1537-1599) was a prominent Korean military general during the Joseon Dynasty, known for his victories against the Japanese invasions.
- 왕자지 (Wang Jaji) is a humorous play on words. While it is a historical name, "자지 (jaji)" sounds very similar to 왕짜지 (wang jja-ji), which in modern Korean slang is a vulgar term for “penis.”
- 왕소중 (Wang Sojung) is another play on words. It sounds very similar to 왕소중이 (wang so-jung-i), which is a childish way of saying "my precious penis."
- Again, 자지 (jaji) is a slang term for "penis."