NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor

While Yeon-woo and the theater troupe members were still staying in Jeju Island, Chairman Seo Tae-kwang departed for the Philippines.

He was originally scheduled to attend the ‘Defense Industry Conference’ in Manila, but Chairman Seo Tae-kwang made an appearance at the ‘Korea-ASEAN Cultural Content Industry Forum’ held during the same period.

Since Lee Han Group was a typical Korean conglomerate that had expanded into various fields in addition to the defense industry, it wasn’t unusual for them to appear at forums in other sectors.

Still, it was an unexpected move, so reporters flocked to him, and Chairman Seo Tae-kwang smiled as he gave interviews.

– Well, isn’t our country a content powerhouse these days? Even Baekbeom Kim Gu said, ‘The only thing I endlessly want to possess is the power of high culture,’ so it would be good for our group to join the trend, wouldn’t it?

The theater troupe members went out again today, as if there was so much to see, while Yeon-woo was watching Chairman Seo Tae-kwang on the news from the suite room TV.

At that moment, his smartphone rang.

“Ah, Hae-woon.”

– Team leader, how did you manage to move Chairman Seo Tae-kwang? He’s really going all out.

In fact, Han Hae-woon had been skeptical until he finished organizing Chairman Seo Tae-kwang’s schedule and handed it over.

Although Lee Han Group was in a position to be at odds with Baek Sol, there was no guarantee they would help, and it was questionable whether Chairman Seo even knew about Baek Sol’s existence, so he was doubtful it would be of any help.

But Yeon-woo shook his head and said he had a card to play to ask for a personal favor unrelated to Baek Sol, and had prepared the operation.

Since he intended to speak with Chairman Seo Tae-kwang purely in the name of ‘Ryu Yeon-woo,’ Yeon-woo wouldn’t have contacted Chairman Seo if he had to bring up Baek Sol.

“Of course, even if Chairman Seo Tae-kwang hadn’t stepped in, we could have dealt a sufficient blow.”

– It would have been a half-success. The bigger we make this, the more damage those guys will take.

Yeon-woo nodded at Han Hae-woon’s words.

– By the way, how did you manage to move a big shot like Seo Tae-kwang?

“Well, he said he liked my eyes.”

– …Pardon? Your eyes?

“It’s just one of those things.”

Meanwhile, reporters kept producing articles about Chairman Seo Tae-kwang’s moves.

– [Financial News] Is Lee Han Group Showing Ambition in the Content Industry?

– [Blue Economy Newspaper] Has Lee Han Group Been Pressured by the Government’s Media-Content Industry Innovation Plan?

– [Hansae Daily] Lee Han Group Chairman Seo Tae-kwang: ‘Content Industry is Korea’s Future Food’

– [News Tomorrow] As Major Companies Rush to Enter the Culture Industry, Lee Han Group Also Fires Starting Gun…

And rumors began to spread among industry insiders.

– Lee Han Group is going to acquire LN Media and take the lead in pioneering the overseas content market.

LN Media, the party in question, couldn’t help but hear this story that spread with the tail of insider information.

James Choi, sitting in the CEO’s office of LN Media, bowed his head and answered the phone.

His body trembled at the iron-mixed voice heard from the other end of the receiver.

– Check the facts once. Where did this story come from?

“Yes! According to the rumors I’ve heard, it’s said to be information that came directly from Lee Han Group’s future strategy team.

– Right. Crisis and opportunity always come together. Think of it as you, James Choi, having caught an opportunity.

The person on the call wasn’t the agent ‘Gold’ who usually gave him orders.

James Choi, who had been directly connected to a higher-up after being told that the agent was injured during an operation, bowed his head deeply.

“Yes! I will handle it with certainty.”

Click-.

As soon as the last words were spoken, the call ended, and James Choi’s eyes lit up.

‘If I do well here, I might even enter the inner circle of this cartel.’

It was none other than Lee Han Group.

A conglomerate ranked among the top five in Korea’s business world.

If Lee Han Group was actually trying to acquire LN Media and the entertainment companies under it, it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

James Choi started analyzing LN Media’s past data day and night to catch Baek Sol’s eye.

He was more desperate than when he was active as a corporate raider in the United States.

Then he discovered a document.

– Lee Han Technology Advertising Contract Report

“Ryu Yeon-woo’s advertising contract with Lee Han Technology… Why is the unit price set so high? It’s an absurd amount considering Ryu Yeon-woo’s value at that time.”

While looking for more related materials, James Choi picked up his smartphone and called CEO Byun Hak-gyu of Plus Ten Entertainment.

– Oh, Sir Choi. I forgot to give you a congratulatory call. Haha.

“CEO Byun. As comrades in the same boat, shouldn’t we meet and have a drink?”

– Ah, of course we should.

“First, I called you today because I have something to ask. You’re quite experienced in this industry, CEO Byun.”

James Choi explained the current situation and Ryu Yeon-woo’s contract unit price to Byun Hak-gyu.

Byun Hak-gyu replied as if it was nothing special.

– That’s common in our industry. Probably the pay given to Ryu Yeon-woo was recorded separately, and Kim Joo-seong pocketed the rest of the money in between. With that amount of money, there’s a possibility of some kind of backdoor deal.

“Double bookkeeping, I see.”

Since it was a method of embezzlement that Byun Hak-gyu had always practiced, he explained the method in detail.

James Choi nodded as he listened to the explanation.

“I see, I see. Next time, I’ll treat you to a hefty drink. Yes, yes. Take care.”

James Choi’s eyes gleamed as he hung up the phone.

Why wouldn’t Kim Joo-seong give up his shares even when offered a good price?

Why would the Chinese mafia show interest in a Korean entertainment company as if there was something to gain?

And why did Lee Han Group pay such an absurd amount to a rookie actor?

It felt like all the puzzles in his head were coming together in an instant.

‘That bastard Kim Joo-seong. He was planning to sell the company to Lee Han Group with a premium added after the stock price rose following the earnings surprise. The contracts had already been exchanged under the table.’

And what if Baek Sol intervened in the middle and usurped management control without knowing about that contract?

As James Choi reached this conclusion, he became consumed by the thought.

Meanwhile, Yeon-woo and the agents, who were eavesdropping on the conversation between Plus Ten CEO Byun Hak-gyu and James Choi through a hacking chip they had planted while filming the YouTube variety show ‘Fan Search’, realized that the target had taken the bait.

Yeon-woo smirked as he thought of James Choi.

‘He must be caught in the curse of knowledge by now.’

According to Elizabeth Newton’s 1990 study from Stanford University, when you alone know certain information, it’s easy to mistakenly assume that others know it too.

This is called the curse of knowledge.

If I tap my fingers to the rhythm while singing the national anthem in my head, I might mistakenly think that others can guess it’s the national anthem just by hearing the rhythm.

Since I’m singing the melody of the national anthem in my head, I mistakenly think that more information is being conveyed to the other person.

Similarly, as soon as James Choi learned the inside information, he began to suspect all trends in the stock market.

Sitting in front of his computer and looking through documents, James Choi smiled slyly.

‘Even though it’s already surpassed the target price, institutions and high-value investors aren’t selling the LN shares they’ve accumulated. These bastards all know it too. That the rumors spreading throughout the industry are true.’

Of course, that wasn’t the case.

They were simply following suit and buying because LN Media kept increasing its in-house stock holdings, thinking there must be even bigger good news coming.

James Choi, caught in the curse of knowledge, began to grow more certain.

‘Lee Han Group is definitely trying to acquire LN.’

Filled with confidence, he reported to his superiors, and orders came down to accept if an offer to acquire LN for a large sum came in.

Meanwhile, on the morning of the day they were returning to Seoul after finishing their dream-like vacation in Jeju Island.

Yeon-woo sent a message to Han Hae-woon.

– Execute the final stage now.

– Han Hae-woon: Understood.

At the time Yeon-woo was boarding the plane with the members.

Terrence Williams’ corporate company ‘Terrence Investment’ conveyed its intention to sell 11 percent of its shares to LN Media.

And James Choi, who was desperate, immediately accepted the proposal, and a representative hired by Han Hae-woon visited LN Media to adjust the details.

“Our employer wishes to sell at 43,000 won per share.”

With the continued mixed market conditions, most small investors had left, and LN Media’s stock price was currently maintaining around 29,000 won.

“What do you mean you’re going to sell a stock worth 29,000 won for 43,000 won? That doesn’t make any sense.”

James Choi objected to the idea of adding a premium, as it’s generally common to apply a discount rate when conducting block deals between companies.

Terrence’s representative, who had been staring at James Choi’s face, smirked.

“Director James Choi. The rumor that Lee Han Group will acquire LN is widespread even on Wall Street across the ocean. It’s not just something people here know. If Lee Han Group acquires it, isn’t it obvious that it will become a unicorn?”

A unicorn company refers to a company with a market capitalization of over 1 trillion won.

If LN Media, with a total of 21 million issued shares, becomes a unicorn company, it means the stock price would surpass at least 47,000 won.

James Choi chewed his lips heavily.

As the man in front of him said, if Lee Han Group was going to acquire it anyway, it would be profitable no matter at what price they bought it.

“But still, a premium of nearly 50 percent…”

“Isn’t this quite common when well-known investment firms on Wall Street conduct block deals? If you don’t intend to buy, I’ll get up now. From our perspective, wouldn’t it be more profitable to just wait and throw it into the market?”

If they acquired 11 percent, Baek Sol’s total stake would slightly exceed 50 percent, so they could negotiate from a stronger position and profit from the difference when selling to Lee Han Group.

“…Alright. Let’s make the deal.”

===

**

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Before the block deal transaction notice between LN Media and Terrence Investment was posted, Yeon-woo made a preemptive move.

– [Movie Fact] Ryu Yeon-woo, whose contract is nearing its end, has no intention of renewing with LN. Is a big free agent coming? By Reporter Oh Seung-hwan

World star Ryu Yeon-woo, whose contract with LN Entertainment expires this year, told our newspaper in an interview that he has no intention of renewing his contract with the agency.

Actor Ryu Yeon-woo expressed his stance to leave his comfortable nest and take on new challenges.

While expressing his ambition to continue his acting activities, attention is focused on his next move, including his next project…

After the article was published, the internet was abuzz with the emergence of a historic free agent.

– Wow, crazy, which agency is going to snatch Ryu Yeon-woo? He’s going to get an enormous signing bonus

– But isn’t it wrong to leave the agency that nurtured him from when he was unknown?

└ What nonsense, do you know how much money Ryu Yeon-woo has made for LN Entertainment?

└ Yeon-woo never had an unknown period to begin with 🙂

LN Media’s stock price continued to show mixed trends, caught between the announcement of buying back treasury shares at a premium and the news of Ryu Yeon-woo’s failed contract renewal.

At that time, Yeon-woo was looking around Mokhwa Building with Han Hae-woon.

Not the fifth floor used by the agents, but the floors below.

“As expected, you have quite the aesthetic sense? It’s well decorated.”

“Didn’t I tell you? I have quite a good sense.”

At the entrance of the company using three floors of Mokhwa Building from the second to the fourth floor, the company name was prominently displayed.

「New Star Media」

Yeon-woo stood in the office of the agency he would start anew with, examining every corner.

“Fill each floor with the best furniture. We have a lot of money, you know.”

“Yes, of course. Thanks to catching a sucker, we’ve secured quite a bit.”

Yeon-woo and Han Hae-woon looked at each other and grinned.

The operation started with loan funds secured by mortgaging the building and laundered funds from Yeon-woo’s ‘White Blood’ secondary earnings.

Even after deducting transaction taxes and loan repayments, the funds had more than doubled.

But the losses Baek Sol would bear would be several times greater than that.

After all, a vertically falling stock price awaited Baek Sol, who had scraped up all the volume from small investors.

And the day of reckoning approached.

– [Official Report] Chairman Seo Tae-kwang on his way back to Korea says, ‘Lee Han Group’s entry into the media industry is a false rumor.’ He merely quoted Baekbeom Kim Gu’s words to liven up the atmosphere at the Content Industry Forum.

Sitting in an office with a classic interior, fiddling with the nameplate bearing the title of CEO, James Choi couldn’t believe his eyes as he stared at the monitor.

“What, what the hell is this nonsense!? How can inside information that came from Lee Han Group’s Future Strategy Team be a false rumor!”

As institutions confirmed the reality of the rumor, they began to dump their LN Media holdings all at once, and on LN’s stock price graph, even though winter hadn’t passed yet, a harsh seasonal rain began to fall.