Buuuuung.
A minivan quickly raced up the highway surrounded by mountains.
Inside the car were RBS, a well-known cable channel PD, Choi Seung Hyeon, and AD Park Tae Jeong from the broadcasting industry in South Korea.
While driving, Tae Jeong asked Seung Hyeon.
“This filming location is in Gyeonggi-do Jeungsi, right? Even though it’s Gyeonggi-do, it feels quite far.”
“It seems like a completely remote valley.”
“How did you find out?”
“How else? Brother Yeolsang must have asked someone.”
Seung Hyeon replied.
At that moment, Seung Hyeon’s phone vibrated loudly.
[Yeolsang CP-nim]
The caller’s name was precisely displayed on the screen.
“Even a tiger will come if you say the right thing.”
Seung Hyeon muttered quietly and answered the phone.
“Brother!”
[Hey, I told you to address me properly.]
As soon as he heard Seung Hyeon’s voice, CP Yeolsang cut in.
“Ah, what’s up? I’m on my way to Taeyoung-eup.”
[Filming? Taeyoung-eup in Jeungsi? I told you, didn’t I?]
“Yes. But is there anything to shoot there? It’s a completely unfamiliar neighborhood to me.”
[If it’s completely unfamiliar, there should be plenty to shoot. It’s literally a remote countryside village.]
“Are there any tourist attractions?”
[None. Just think of them as people living buried in nature. There are even villages with less than 10 residents.]
“Uh-”
[Didn’t you know that your show is about shooting such things?]
“That’s why the ratings aren’t good. Please give us a chance to do something else.”
[This guy… Hey. It’s the seventh pilot program you’ve messed up so far. If you fail this time, I can’t cover for you anymore.]
“I know. That’s what we said last week when we were drinking.”
[Yeah, this guy, really.]
“But if it’s a complete mess, there’s nothing to film. The viewership ratings are already at the bottom, so if there’s a good restaurant, I’d like to film food or do commercials.”
[You have to create that yourself.]
“Sigh. Alright. I’ll give it a try.”
[Alright. Contact me if anything comes up.]
“Understood.”
After ending the call, Seung Hyeon sighed deeply.
“What did the CP say?”
Tae Jeong asked.
“What did he say? He basically told me to extract essence even from a dried squid. Ugh.”
Seung Hyeon shook his head and glanced at the tablet PC.
On the screen were the map and geographical information of Taeyoung-eup in Jeungsi, Gyeonggi-do.
***
In fact, Seung Hyeon was the director of a mega-hit ghost story talk show in the past.
It was the first program he planned after becoming a PD.
“Ghostism” resurrected the struggling RBS broadcasting station, creating a massive sensation.
However, conducting paranormal stories based on real events led to legal disputes with actual individuals involved.
Some even targeted the program for settlements, filing forced lawsuits as it gained fame.
Despite these challenges, RBS tried to support “Ghostism,” which had become a flagship program.
However, things started to unravel after rejecting a certain tip.
Late at night, heading to the underground parking lot to leave work, Seung Hyeon spotted a hunched-over elderly woman.
The elderly woman, dressed in a very worn hanbok, stared at Seung Hyeon for a while before slowly approaching.
“Who are you?”
Seung Hyeon asked cautiously.
A very nauseating smell accompanied something peculiar vibrating in the air.
“Are you the person making the TV program called [Ghostism]?”
“Why do you ask? Who are you?”
“I, I want to share something.”
The elderly woman staggered closer and handed him a photo.
It was a simple landscape picture of a field.
When Seung Hyeon raised an eyebrow, the elderly woman spoke.
“My son is in this field. Can you bring him out for me?”
Hearing her words, Seung Hyeon stared at the photo intently.
Whether due to the intense nauseating smell or something else, he didn’t sense anything peculiar.
“I’m sorry. If you want to share something, please send an email to our website’s bulletin board or the email address we use after the broadcast.”
Politely declining, Seung Hyeon turned away.
Suddenly-
The elderly woman grabbed Seung Hyeon’s arm.
“Please find my son, he’s pitiful. Huh? Help me a bit. Huh?”
Despite looking well over 80, the elderly woman had surprisingly strong arms, enough to make Seung Hyeon’s arm ache.
“I’m sorry. Haha.”
Seung Hyeon politely refused with a forced smile.
Accidentally pushing the elderly woman away, he winced and quickly pulled his arm back.
The elderly woman stepped back, glaring at Seung Hyeon.
Awkwardly scratching his head, Seung Hyeon gave a slight bow before jumping into his car.
“Wretched person! Wretched person! You have that ‘ability,’ but you won’t help a poor soul! Huh?”
Beyond the closed car window, the elderly woman’s shouts were heard.
Seung Hyeon started the engine, pretending not to hear, and hurriedly drove away.
Since then, the elderly woman’s presence was not seen.
The story she mentioned, the tip, was not received through any channel.
In Seung Hyeon’s memory, this was the turning point.
The beginning of everything going wrong.
Not only did the ratings hit rock bottom, but the broadcasting station also signaled it was increasingly difficult to handle legal disputes.
Then, an incident occurred where a staff member tripped and died during filming, rumors of ghosts spread, leading to the cancellation of the program.
However, judging Seung Hyeon’s directing abilities, RBS entrusted him with the next program immediately.
It was a local current affairs talk show called [PD’s Eyes].
The problem was creating a current affairs program on a cable channel with consistently low average viewership – people simply weren’t tuning in.
Eventually, the program was canceled after just five episodes.
The next program was [Joyful World].
A program that explored lifestyle information or visited popular restaurants, but it couldn’t surpass the dominance of major broadcasting stations.
This program also faced cancellation after only three episodes.
The last pilot program was [Success Path: Entrepreneurs].
It featured in-depth coverage of successful individuals in business, with a renowned freelance announcer, but a past bullying controversy involving the regular announcer led to the program disintegrating.
The bold choice of a high-profile host, coupled with the sudden departure due to the scandal, left RBS without the resources to continue the program.
Casting a new host was not feasible in the current circumstances.
Eventually, the program was canceled, significantly limiting Seun Hyeon’s standing within RBS.
After three failures, Seung Hyeon received a call from CP Yeolsang.
He was sure it wouldn’t be something good.
“Phew.”
He sighed deeply, dropping his head.
Thud.
Then, as the office door opened, CP Yeolsang, with his graying hair, entered.
He glanced up and down at Seung Hyeon before taking a seat.
“Ha. It’s driving me crazy. Do you know Park PD from our Culture Department?”
Irritably, CP Yeolsang asked.
“Park PD? Park Hye-na PD?”
“Yeah. Ah, she took maternity leave, acted like it was a big deal, and suddenly switched to another broadcasting station. She even handed over the program plans.”
“Why did she suddenly do that? Did she have a fight with the director?”
“How would I know? Anyway, she was in charge of a program, and now they’re looking for a PD to take over. Can you do it?”
“What kind of program is it?”
“It’s called ‘[Beautiful Landscapes]’ It focuses on showing hometown landscapes. Nothing special, just a few resident interviews, some panoramas of daily life. It should be landscape-oriented and calm.”
“You want me to take that on?”
“Yeah. Is there a problem?”
“Ah. I’ve dealt with ghost stories and current affairs interview programs. How can I handle such a serene program? I’m not suited for it.”
Seung Hyeon responded quickly in a subdued tone.
“Hey. If you get kicked out even after your last pilot program, how many chances do you think you’ll have left?”
“Three… chances.”
“Do you know how much I got scolded by the director after you went through all three pilot programs?”
“The director scolded you?”
“Yeah. If someone messes up all three pilots in a row, wouldn’t you get scolded? Oh, goodness. Even the last one had a massive production budget. What if you waste that?”
“That wasn’t my fault. The announcer I brought in for the last one had a bullying controversy, and the production got canceled because of it.”
“That’s why I say luck plays a role, luck. Ugh, damn it. Shouldn’t I have been dragged to the director’s office and scolded for this mishmash?”
“I’m sorry. Well, yes. I’m sorry.”
“This guy seems to live without tension in his entire life.”
CP Yeolsang looked at Seung Hyeon and sighed.
Seung Hyeon’s slightly grumbling tone with a lack of highs and lows seemed displeasing.
“So, what should I do?”
“Ha. There’s no need for a long talk. Since the director is watching, either take on ‘[Beautiful Landscapes]’ or go help Seok PD in the Entertainment Department. He’s planning something for the upcoming reorganization.”
CP Yeolsang turned his head abruptly as he spoke.
“Help Seok PD? Are you asking me to assist with directing? Acting as an assistant director?”
“Why? Don’t want to?”
“I dislike that even more. Moreover, I’ve been in the Culture Department for several years. How can I suddenly move to the Entertainment Department?”
“If not, you could be put on standby immediately. Don’t nitpick between hot and cold rice and say ‘Thank you’ – just take it.”
“Brother, we’ve known each other for a long time. Please cut me some slack.”
“We’ve known each other for a long time, and I’m covering for you now.”
“Brother!”
“Yes, my dear! Stop repeating the same thing and go back to take over or receive the handover for ‘[Beautiful Landscapes].'”
“Ah.”
Seung Hyeon sighed frustratingly.
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
CP Yeolsang remarked.
Seung Hyeon stood his ground, enduring without leaving.
Then, with a frown, CP Yeolsang questioned.
“Do I need to throw something for you to leave?”
Before the sentence finished, Seung Hyeon swiftly exited the office.
“Ah, that sullen blockhead. He has a sense of humor and good judgment, but looking at him, it seems like he’s unlucky.”
CP Yeolsang muttered as he looked at the closed door.
***
And that’s how Seung Hyeon ended up in charge of [Beautiful Landscapes].
Despite that, due to the planner only submitting the proposal and resigning, proper staffing was not fulfilled. So, Seung Hyeon ended up going around alone with Tae Jeong, who had worked together during ‘Ghostism.’
So far, they had aired a total of six episodes, and the viewership ratings were remarkably low. While there wasn’t the same pressure as before, given that it wasn’t airing during a prime time slot, it didn’t ease Seung Hyeon’s concerns. And in the back of his mind, there was an anxiety that the program might disappear next month during the upcoming reorganization.
“We’re here.”
Tae Jeong said as he parked the car.
“Ah, really.”
Seung Hyeon glanced away from the tablet PC and looked outside the car window.
In the meantime, Tae Jeong got out of the car and stretched, almost slouching.
The vast reservoir in front of them, surrounded by reed fields.
Wildflowers blooming along the one-lane road and the roadside.
It was a very peaceful scene.
“You look more like a photographer than someone from the Culture Department’s documentary team.”
Tae Jeong muttered quietly, looking at the beautiful scenery, then finally lit the cigarette he had been holding back.
Seung Hyeon, too, got out of the passenger seat and took a deep breath.
“Hey, don’t smoke! You know I’m sensitive to it.”
Seung Hyeon frowned.
With that, Tae Jeong gestured understanding and took a few steps back.
Tae Jeong was well aware that Seung Hyeon possessed a very ‘sensitive ability.’
Choi Seung Hyeon PD.
He excelled in every sense – sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing – surpassing others.
Whether capturing fleeting moments invisible to others’ eyes or sensing sounds and smells from different frequency ranges, he seemed almost magical.
It was not just about heightened senses; it was more akin to something extraordinary.
While he couldn’t perform feats like fortune-telling or foreseeing the future, he could keenly catch things that shouldn’t exist in reality.
This ability made him adept at finding intriguing material even during ‘Ghostism.’
During on-site investigations or reviewing photos from the mentioned locations, if he sensed an unsettling smell or heard something that shouldn’t be there, a ghost was inevitably involved.
Once the broadcast was done, real events or rumors related to those places would quickly circulate on the internet.
Thanks to this, Seung Hyeon’s broadcasts rarely faced manipulation controversies for a ghost-themed show.
Seung Hyeon referred to this ability as ‘traces of ghosts.’
The issue was that it couldn’t be openly expressed anywhere since it lacked scientific validation.
“If we go a bit further here, the busiest area of Taeyoung-eup will appear. Beyond that hill is the town center.”
Tae Jeong pointed to a distant place.
It seemed quite distant to walk, but by car, it would be a quick journey.
“Let’s shoot whatever catches our eye.”
Seung Hyeon headed towards the trunk as he spoke.
Capturing as much footage as possible was the foundation of video production, ensuring a variety of sources.
Tae Jeong nodded and retrieved camera bags and various equipment from the back seat.
“Capture the path leading to the town. Smoothly transition with flowers and zoom out towards the reservoir.”
“Yes, yes.”
They dove straight into filming.
It wasn’t a scene capturing dynamism.
It focused on the quiet and peaceful aspects of nature – flowers and grass swaying in the wind, a distant reservoir, mountains, a blue sky, and clouds.
The emphasis was on portraying serene and tranquil nature.
They filmed the entrance to the town and the reservoir from various angles, frequently reviewing the footage.
At that moment, while deeply engrossed in filming, Tae Jeong raised his head with a curious expression.
“But, Senior, doesn’t this place feel a bit eerie for no reason?”
“You’re right. There’s a subtle smell.”
Seung Hyeon nodded.
A strange scent, reminiscent of the metallic tang of blood mixed with the burning of styrofoam, filled the air.
It was the smell of a ghost.
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