12: Chapter 12 Interview Screening - Representative Kim Joins the Team

The next day, 9 AM.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Entertainment temporary office.

Qian Xu sat in front of the computer and opened the recruitment website.

The job posting published last night had already received 47 resumes.

He looked through them one by one.

The first one: Manager at a small entertainment company, three years of experience.

The second one: Planner at an advertising agency, five years of experience.

The third one: PD at a TV station, seven years of experience.

None of them were right.

He wasn't looking for an ordinary employee.

He needed a professional manager capable of leading T-ARA's comeback.

Someone who understands the Korean entertainment industry.

Has connections.

Has resources.

Has experience.

He continued scrolling down.

The 28th resume.

He stopped.

"Kim Min-jun, former Planning Department Director at SM Entertainment."

"15 years of experience."

"Participated in the planning of: Girls' Generation, EXO, Red Velvet debut projects."

"Reason for leaving: Philosophical differences with the company."

Qian Xu's eyes lit up.

He clicked on the detailed profile.

Kim Min-jun, 42 years old.

Master's degree in Business Administration from Seoul National University.

Worked at SM Entertainment for 12 years.

Worked his way up from the bottom to the Director of the Planning Department.

Left three years ago.

Hasn't found a job since.

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

He picked up his phone and dialed the number on the resume.

It rang three times.

"Hello, this is Kim Min-jun."

The voice was steady and powerful.

"Hello, Representative Kim."

"I am the legal representative of Yunmengze Entertainment, Qian Xu."

"I would like to invite you for an interview."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line.

"Yunmengze Entertainment?"

"Yes, a newly established company."

"We are currently building our team."

"I think you are a perfect fit."

Kim Min-jun laughed.

"Mr. Qian, do you know that I spent 12 years at SM Entertainment?"

"I know."

"Then do you know what my market value is now?"

"I don't."

"My starting annual salary is 500 million KRW."

"I won't consider anything lower than this figure."

Qian Xu also laughed.

"Representative Kim, let's meet and talk."

"3 PM, Cheongdam-dong cafe."

"Okay."

2:50 PM.

Cheongdam-dong, a high-end cafe.

Qian Xu arrived early.

He chose a seat by the window.

He was wearing a dark gray suit and a white shirt.

No tie.

At 3 PM sharp.

The door was pushed open.

A man in his forties walked in.

He was about 1.8 meters tall.

Wearing a black suit and a white shirt.

His hair was meticulously combed.

His gaze was sharp.

Kim Min-jun.

He scanned the cafe.

Seeing Qian Xu, he walked over.

"Mr. Qian?"

"Representative Kim, please sit."

The two shook hands.

After sitting down, Kim Min-jun spoke directly.

"Mr. Qian, what do you want me to do?"

"Be the CEO of Yunmengze Entertainment."

"In charge of the T-ARA comeback project."

Kim Min-jun raised an eyebrow.

"T-ARA?"

"Yes."

"That girl group that has been blacklisted for six years?"

"Yes."

"Do you know that they no longer have a market in Korea?"

"I know."

"Then why are you still investing?"

Qian Xu looked at him.

"Because they are worth it."

"Chinese fans have waited six years for them."

"I want to see them back on stage."

Kim Min-jun stared at him for five seconds.

"Mr. Qian, are you Chinese?"

"Yes."

"Opening an entertainment company in Korea?"

"Yes."

"Investing in a blacklisted girl group?"

"Yes."

Kim Min-jun laughed.

"You are very bold."

"I know."

"But do you know how difficult this is?"

"I know."

"The three major Korean TV stations will not give them opportunities to promote their songs."

"I know."

"The Korean media will not report on them."

"I know."

"The Korean public will not accept them."

"I know."

Kim Min-jun looked at him.

"Then why are you still doing this?"

Qian Xu picked up his coffee.

"Because I don't care about the Korean market."

"T-ARA's target is China."

"There are 5 million fans in China waiting for them."

"Korea blacklisted them?"

"Then we will go to China."

Kim Min-jun was silent.

He picked up his coffee and took a sip.

He put it down.

"Mr. Qian, do you know why I left SM?"

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to produce a girl group."

"SM wouldn't let me."

"They said girl groups were outdated."

"Boy groups are popular now."

Qian Xu looked at him.

"Then what kind of girl group do you want to produce?"

"One with talent."

"One that can sing and dance."

"Not one that relies on looks."

"T-ARA is exactly that kind of girl group."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Then are you willing to join?"

Kim Min-jun looked at him.

"What's the monthly salary?"

"25 million KRW."

Kim Min-jun was stunned for a moment.

"25 million?"

"Yes."

"You just said my market value was 500 million KRW."

"But that was when you were at SM."

"Yunmengze is just starting out."

"I can't offer that much."

"But if you do well."

"The year-end bonus will be calculated separately."

Kim Min-jun laughed.

"Mr. Qian, you are a good negotiator."

"Thank you."

"But I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"I want to bring my team."

"My assistant, planner, and executor."

"Five people in total."

"They all came out of SM with me."

"They are currently unemployed."

Qian Xu thought about it.

"That's fine."

"What are their monthly salaries?"

"An average of 15 million KRW."

"75 million in total."

"Plus my 25 million."

"100 million KRW per month."

Qian Xu nodded.

"That's fine."

"But I need to see results."

"What kind of results?"

"Within three months."

"The T-ARA comeback plan must be launched."

"Including new song production, MV shooting, and China tour preparations."

Kim Min-jun looked at him.

"Three months?"

"Yes."

"Can it be done?"

Kim Min-jun laughed.

"Yes."

"When I was at SM."

"I launched a girl group in three months."

"T-ARA has a foundation."

"No need to train from scratch."

"Three months is enough."

Qian Xu reached out his hand.

"Then it's a deal."

Kim Min-jun shook his hand.

"It's a deal."

They let go of each other's hands.

Kim Min-jun picked up his coffee.

"Mr. Qian, may I ask you a question?"

"Please go ahead."

"Why do you want to open an entertainment company in Korea?"

"You are Chinese."

"It's very difficult to survive in the Korean entertainment industry."

Qian Xu looked at him.

"Because I want to prove one thing."

"What thing?"

"That Chinese people can succeed in Korea."

"Koreans can make a fortune in China."

"Why can't Chinese people live prosperously in Korea?"

Kim Min-jun was stunned for a moment.

Then he laughed.

"Mr. Qian, you are very interesting."

"I've decided to work with you."

"I'll bring my team to report to the company tomorrow."

"Good."

The next day, 9 AM.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Entertainment temporary office.

Qian Xu had just arrived.

He saw five people standing at the door.

Kim Min-jun stood at the front.

Behind him were four young people.

Three men and one woman.

"Good morning, Mr. Qian."

"Good morning, Representative Kim."

Kim Min-jun stepped aside.

"Let me introduce them."

"This is Assistant Park, my right-hand person."

"This is Planner Lee, responsible for planning."

"This is Executor Choi, responsible for execution."

"This is Secretary Kim, responsible for administration."

The four people bowed in unison.

"Hello, President Qian!"

Qian Xu nodded.

"Welcome to Yunmengze."

He opened the office door.

"Come in and let's talk."

The six people walked into the office.

Qian Xu sat in the main seat.

Kim Min-jun sat opposite him.

The other four sat on the side.

"Representative Kim, tell me about your plan."

Kim Min-jun took a document out of his bag.

"This is the proposal I made last night."

"T-ARA comeback plan."

"Phase one: New song production."

"I contacted a producer I worked with during my time at SM."

"He is willing to write a song for T-ARA."

"Price: 300 million KRW per song."

"Includes arrangement, recording, and mixing."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Continue."

"Phase two: MV shooting."

"I contacted an MV director from my SM days."

"He is willing to take on this project."

"Price: 200 million KRW."

"Includes shooting, editing, and special effects."

"Phase three: China tour."

"I contacted a performance company in China."

"They are willing to undertake the T-ARA China tour."

"First stop: Shanghai."

"Venue: Mercedes-Benz Arena."

"Capacity: 18,000 people."

Qian Xu looked at him.

"Can it be completed within three months?"

"Yes."

"New song production: One month."

"MV shooting: Two weeks."

"China tour preparation: One and a half months."

"It adds up to exactly three months."

Qian Xu thought about it.

"What is the total budget?"

"New song: 300 million."

"MV: 200 million."

"China tour: 500 million."

"A total of 1 billion KRW."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Fine."

"Execute it starting tomorrow."

Kim Min-jun laughed.

"Okay."

After sending off Kim Min-jun's team.

Qian Xu stood by the window.

Looking at the street view of Apgujeong.

His phone rang.

It was a message from Ham Eun-jung.

"Mr. Qian, how did the interview go?"

Qian Xu replied.

"I found someone."

"Former Planning Department Director at SM Entertainment."

"Kim Min-jun."

"He is joining with his team."

Ham Eun-jung replied quickly.

"Kim Min-jun?"

"I know him."

"He did all the girl group planning during the SM era."

"He's willing to come?"

"Yes."

"Monthly salary of 25 million KRW."

"He agreed?"

"Yes."

"He also promised to launch the comeback plan within three months."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.

Then Ham Eun-jung sent a message.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"T-ARA finally has hope."

Qian Xu laughed.

"You're welcome."

"Representative Kim starts work tomorrow."

"You should meet up."

"Okay."

He hung up the phone.

Qian Xu looked out the window.

Spring in Seoul.

The sunshine was perfect.

He thought of the kimbap Jeon Bo-ram made last night.

Although it didn't taste good.

But it was very warm.

He thought of Ham Eun-jung's eyes.

That kind of expectation.

That kind of trust.

He laughed.

Three months later.

T-ARA will be back on stage.

That will be the true beginning.