Gradually Moving Forward (3)
I t with Division Director Lee Ji-young.
She welcod so brightly that I thought it would be possible to use the word "extrely" ten tis.
"It's a great feeling, not just that our External Business Division is supporting the Reform Division, but that we're contributing to the next stage of Next Planet's growth."
Thanks to Division Director Lee Ji-young's friendly attitude, our discussion proceeded quickly.
"It's unfortunate that the Your Touch thed zone fell through, but thank you for accepting the pop-up store and photospot ideas."
"Even if it's an idea from another division, if it's a good idea, of course we have to accept it for Next Planet's sake. But for this project, we must shift focus to the Your Touch song, not the animation."
"I understand, that's only realistic."
The rights to the Your Touch IP that we can use are only limited to the 115km song.
Division Director Lee Ji-young is a fan of the Your Touch animation and wants to utilize that IP, but that's not possible due to financial issues.
I tried contacting the animation's production company, but the licensing costs were simply too high.
Perhaps if we'd gotten that billion won from Nonsan City, it might have been possible.
"Even if July is too soon, can you prepare by mid-August?"
"It'll be tight... but since we've already set up so things with partner companies, we'll get it done sohow."
Division Director Lee Ji-young said she's always wanted to try using the Your Touch IP.
For that, she's been in touch with various companies from ti to ti and already established relationships.
As expected of a fan, she really is different.
That's certainly lucky. The 115km project will have no issues—or rather, it may prove more effective than I thought.
"If we start events related to Your Touch from the end of August, it'll carry the montum into September, when visitor numbers usually pick up. Thank you for the support from the External Business Division."
"Don't ntion it! We have to do our best for Next Planet."
"Since we've decided to release 115km's new song in winter, the related event should be scheduled for then..."
There's one problem—sumr is coming. Visitor numbers usually fall in sumr, with the extre heat and glaring sunlight.
Next Planet's average daily visitors will soon reach 1,000—this number was calculated using reservation preorders.
But it'll go down again once July arrives.
"Is there no way to prevent the drop in visitor numbers in July and August?"
"As you know, director Hyunmin... we've pretty much given up here."
Looking at last year, it says we held a "Water Bomb" event to cool people down—spraying water, that sort of thing... but the elderly folks who used Next Planet as a walking course just got annoyed.
So this year, the event was cancelled.
It makes sense—nobody cos here specifically for a water bomb event.
At this point, I beca curious about what the Strategic Project Planning Division was thinking.
So I visited Executive Vice President Kim Sangho.
I sat on the sofa in his office.
"What brings the busiest person at Next Planet to this humble office?"
What's with that tone? And no offer of a drink.
"The Reform Division has been stirring up everything here and there already—makes my headache worse, tsk!"
I had at least expected the bare minimum courtesy between us—why does he have to be so small-minded?
I'll just focus on my job.
"As sumr cos, visitor numbers will fall at Next Planet. In that situation, I'm curious to know what the Strategic Project Planning Division is preparing."
He looked troubled, hesitated, then finally stuck out his lips and grumbled.
"There isn't any budget. Nothing's really going to work, even if we try sothing new, so we decided to just get through this sumr as is."
What an impressive approach. Well, I guess it's better than wasting money on pointless efforts.
Still, can the head of a division really think like that?
"Is it because if visitor numbers go up, it'll look like I generated results for the chairman, and you just don't want that?"
There was silence for a mont. Then:
"It's not exactly that..."
"So that is at least one reason. If I say I'm going to spend budget on a sumr event, you'll interfere, right?"
"It is true that there's no budget..."
Haaa!
In the past, I'd have simply let it go out of respect for my senior—can't do that anymore.
I really have changed a lot.
"Still, you're an executive of the company. If I keep within reason, shouldn't you not just oppose everything by default?"
"What's so great about Director Hyunmin, anyway?"
"At the very least, you know my intentions are sincere when it cos to saving Next Planet. So then why act like this? Why so petty?"
He clamped his mouth shut—a surprising reaction. I expected him to snap and say I was being insolent for soone so young.
"Don't be too hard on . I once had a ti like Director Hyunmin. Full of energy and ambition, and motivated by the thought—it's my company, it's my work, and I took pride in what I did."
A tinge of loneliness crept into his voice.
"But as you get older, you can't help but lose so things."
I looked at him.
His hair is still full, and his face unlined. I could picture how he looked at my age.
No matter if he got promoted by playing politics and networking, he reached executive vice president—he must have had his period of burning with passion for the company, too.
For a mont, I felt sympathy.
But what matters most is what I need to achieve here.
"I'm not saying you have to find what you lost. But I will find so way within our limited resources to maintain visitor numbers in the sumr. So please don't just oppose for the sake of it."
"Find a way within limited resources... that's so like Director Hyunmin. Cool words—you're lucky to be able to talk like that."
"Does that an you'll help ?"
"That... I can't promise."
***
I returned to my office.
The key Reform Division staff gathered and started the eting.
Team Leader Shin Miyoung from Marketing & PR spoke up.
"The reality is, Next Planet has nothing special to promote just for sumr. It's the sa for Nonsan City itself."
Choi Hyena shook her head.
"Honestly, we should have prepared for this in advance—unfortunately, our situation didn't allow it."
She was right. Next Planet had many incidents and internal instability. We can't help it; looking back to bla the past is just a waste of ti.
Kim Junho spoke.
"When you think of sumr, you think of water bomb events, but that's out of the question. Or fireworks at night, but we're not open at night..."
"Junho-nim, why bring up things we know we can't do?"
"Just expressing my regrets."
"We have no money."
This was addressed by Choi Hyena, but for so reason, she made it sound like Kim Junho was being scolded.
Kim Junho's face fell. His entire mood changed because of Choi Hyena, making curious about their relationship.
I exchanged glances with Lee Yunjung—she seed to feel the sa.
Kim Junho quickly mustered his energy again and spoke.
"115km made a promise to . If we want, they'll do a mini concert at Next Planet. If we ask during the visitor downturn, I think it'll be a good card."
"Oh! Kim Junho, good! Good! Good!"
As Choi Hyena gave him a thumbs-up, Kim Junho's face lit up as if he had gotten the whole world.
Lee Yunjung and I nodded slightly at the sa mont.
I said:
"That's excellent. You secured sothing big on your own, Junho-nim. But the mini concert is just a one-ti thing. We should look for ways to build on that card."
Head Chef Kim Minhye raised her hand.
"I want to add so sumr-special nu items to the food court, like chilled soybean noodles or cold chicken noodle soup—would that be okay? It wouldn't need much extra funding."
Team Leader Shin Miyoung imdiately applauded.
"I'm in favor. Next Planet's food court has a great reputation. It may not be a ga changer, but it's a good move for exposure."
"Thank you for letting this old lady keep her dignity, team leader."
"But most of our visitors are in their early twenties, so could you tailor the nu more for that age group?"
"Understood. I'll try."
I nodded.
It doesn't have to be a huge card. If we stack up these small ones, they'll beco sothing bigger.
Lee Yunjung also raised her hand.
"I have sothing I'd like to try, too."
She took out a container from her bag—it looked like a lunch box. When she opened it:
"Strawberry mochis. Or, actually, with this shape, maybe we should call them mochi."
"Yes, director. The quality still isn't perfect, but I want to try selling these."
I tasted one of the tempting strawberry mochis—delicious. I'm sure it'll get a good response even now.
But it hasn't reached the level of a "wow! This is insane!" kind of item—like her strawberry waffle did.
Head Chef Kim Minhye said:
"My, my! How did our Yunjung make such tasty strawberry mochi with her cute little hands? I approve, director."
Endorsed by an expert.
If Yunjung improves the strawberry mochi a little more, it could definitely beco a strong product.
But there are still issues to resolve.
"Director, I also want to sell the premium strawberry waffle, and now also the strawberry mochi. For Next Planet's sake."
Yunjung's gaze was serious.
"Yunjung-nim, the process and tools for making strawberry mochi are completely different from the strawberry waffle, aren't they?"
"Yes... they are."
"I don't think it's possible for you to make and sell both strawberry waffles and mochi by yourself at once."
"That's why I thought of a way."
Impressive.
That she'd want new items was no surprise, but having solutions ready? She's catching off guard in a good way.
"I'm working five days a week now. To now on, I'll work six. I'll sell strawberry waffles for three days and strawberry mochi for the other three."
"So willing to work one more day—as a manager, I'm grateful. But what's the advantage?"
"You said it'd be good to maintain my 'Strawberry Waffle Fairy' image. It feels awkward saying that myself, but..."
Yunjung fanned her face as she continued.
"'Strawberry Waffle Fairy' will, of course, start to get old after a while. So why not add 'Strawberry Mochi Fairy' as my new character? It'll be sothing new and could bring extra appeal... What do you think? Is it not good?"
I looked at Choi Hyena. She had a better sense for this than I did.
Choi Hyena spoke right away.
"Keep the strawberry waffle stand near the main gate as usual, but hide the strawberry mochi stand at the very back of the the park—this way, visitors get a sense of contrast and discovery. Also, make the designs of the two stands and Yunjung's costus completely different. If Yunjung acts like a totally different person depending on the product, I think this could work."
Team Leader Shin Miyoung imdiately voiced agreent.
"Later on, you could even develop her into an all-round Strawberry Fairy character. That's a clear marketing point."
The two of them agreed. I think, used properly, this could be a strong promotional tool—just like the Strawberry Waffle Fairy's debut.
But I wasn't sure if it was right. Looking at Yunjung, I said:
"Honestly, I have reservations."
Yunjung moved close, holding her hands in front of her chest, giving pleading eyes.
"Why? Didn't you like the strawberry mochi? I can make it even better. If not, I'll relearn from my mom."
"The strawberry mochi tasted great."
"So what's the issue? Is 'Strawberry Mochi Fairy' just too much?"
"That's not it. 'Strawberry Mochi Fairy' will be cute, and the new charm will be appealing."
"Then...?"
Maybe I still see Yunjung as a student, despite her being an employee now.
"First, it'll be physically taxing. Usually, if you add a new task, you expect it to be two tasks, but I think it becos three or four."
"I've got good stamina! And I'm still in my early twenties, you know."
"But it'll be ntally demanding, too. If the popularity splits unevenly between the waffle and mochi, you'll probably be significantly stressed since you're personally responsible for both stands. It's not the sa as running one stand with two nu items."
"I can see that..."
Everyone nodded, probably because they've experienced sothing similar.
I saw Yunjung clench her fist tightly.
"But I want to try. I want to be the queen of strawberry desserts at Next Planet. Everything I'm doing now is part of that process for my future. So I can do it—for Next Planet, and for you, director."
I still couldn't decide.
Head Chef Kim Minhye gave my back an encouraging pat.
"I know why you're concerned, director. When soone under you tries to do too much, those above always get worried. But if our Yunjung is this determined, I bet she can handle it."
I looked Yunjung straight in the eye.
"If I judge it's becoming too much, you'll stop right away."
"Thank you, director. I'll do a really good job."
"I'm counting on you."
Yunjung bounced up and hugged the head chef, then ran to hug Choi Hyena.
I'm grateful to have such support all around.
I need to figure out a way to increase visitor numbers this sumr, no matter what.
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