Cheat day

Praise (4)

After the fourth episode of “Korean Cuisine Praise,” support for each participant poured in.

On the WTV Korean Cuisine Praise bulletin board and social media, many people with similar stories encouraged the participants.

In contrast, negative sentiment towards Lee Chan-seok was growing, likely influenced by a sharp comment from Ham Seok-ho.

During the filming, I understood that they had to proceed with the recording, but it was surprising how much they edited the conversation to highlight the participants with stories.

I had always thought it was better to avoid creating controversies, but it seems that the show’s producer, Choi Young-moon, believed that Lee Chan-seok’s problematic remarks would boost the ratings.

In fact, this is something that would be unacceptable for a side dish shop.

I know the term “noise marketing,” but if a participant causes controversy in a personal broadcast, the video becomes unusable.

Even if it’s not my fault, just the presence of someone who caused a problem can lead to issues like downvotes, hate comments, and demands for explanations.

If there’s a personal connection with the problematic individual, the situation becomes even more awkward, while broadcasting stations can often remain relatively free from such issues.

Of course, having to pull an entire program can still be a significant burden for the broadcasting station.

The station, which has to cover production costs, usually has editors to handle such situations.

From the editor’s perspective, it’s a hassle to edit the completed video from scratch, but personal connections are not an issue when it comes to removing the problematic individual.

Due to prompt and clear responses, negative sentiment towards the broadcasting station also doesn’t last long.

By turning it into an issue, they might even expect a meaningful rise in viewership.

At least, Choi Young-moon, the producer, seems to have made that judgment.

Initially, I thought the only difference was in broadcasting regulations, but I realized that there are such differences between personal broadcasts and broadcasting stations.

***

└ I really dislike Lee Chan-seok.

└ Why is he so annoying?

└ Who does he think he is, acting all high and mighty?

└ Look at him getting scolded by Ham Seok-ho and flustered. If he’s going to act like that, he might as well keep his mouth shut.

└ I feel this way every time I watch a competition program; if you’re going to play the harsh critic role, you need to be an expert. But what does Lee Chan-seok have other than being Baek Seung-ho’s disciple?

└ Second place in the Paldo Jinmi competition.

└ He’s acting like an elite just because he’s Baek Seung-ho’s student. You can see he’s getting arrogant.

└ He got beaten by Park Jung-ah, who cooked with cheap ingredients while he used expensive ones, right?

└ Huh?

└ Isn’t this funny? Did he get all high and mighty using expensive ingredients and then got smacked down, so now he’s stubborn about judging?

└ Looks like he really has an inferiority complex about Park Jung-ah.

└ Shouldn’t he be showing his inferiority complex on a public broadcast? Especially since he was a participant in a competition program himself?

└ For real, reading people’s stories makes me furious. What did Yook Hye-rin and Lee Sang-ho do wrong?

└ I feel uncomfortable about Joo Ji-seung and Park Sung-chil winning the fourth round too. It looks like they won because of Lee Chan-seok.

└ It’s really a nuisance.

└ He should just step down.

└ Surprisingly, the side dish guy, who seemed insecure at first, judges better!

└ For real, lol.

└ The side dish guy speaks well. He really makes Lee Chan-seok shut up in the end.

└ He proved that even seemingly trivial ingredients can become delicious food. I liked how he explained it alongside Park Sung-chil.

└ He’s a guy who survives on his words; he’s like a packaging expert.

└ Wasn’t monkfish a fish people didn’t eat much before? It’s so delicious!

└ Your ancestors had no taste.

└ I’m just curious every time I see this kind of thing. I really wonder what it tastes like. Can’t they sell it?

└ I heard they’re going to commercialize it?

└ Isn’t that a perk for the winner?

└ It was originally, but Choi Eun-sam is selling spicy braised ribs now.

“Chan-yong,”

As I was checking the public sentiment about Korean Cuisine Praise, Muk-ji came in.

“Do you remember the 10 o’clock appointment?”

“Oh.”

Now that I think about it, today is the day of the CF shoot. Checking the time, I realized I had just over an hour until the appointment.

“Thank you. I totally forgot.”

“What are you looking at?”

“The reactions to Korean Cuisine Praise. It’s crazy now that the participants’ stories are revealed.”

Muk-ji nodded as she checked the comments.

“There was a reason we sent in the participants’ stories for yesterday’s broadcast.”

“Right? You see it too, don’t you?”

“Yes. They’re using Lee Chan-seok to generate sympathy for the participants and trying to make Ham Seok-ho and Park Jung-ah stand out, along with you. Very clever.”

Muk-ji considered Choi Young-moon to be skilled.

“It does feel like it’s unfolding as intended. I’m a bit scared, though.”

“What are you scared of?”

“I’m saying this to avoid misunderstandings, but I also dislike Lee Chan-seok. It’s true that he made a mistake.”

“Yeah.”

“However, what’s scary is how the broadcasting station uses situations like that. It means they can easily make small sacrifices for the sake of the program.”

“Isn’t prioritizing ratings or views the same for broadcasting stations and individual YouTubers?”

“Uh…”

Muk-ji tilted her head.

“I can’t do that kind of thing. But after hearing what you said, it seems that way.”

In reality, not all YouTubers are like me.

There are so many who are often classified as cyber bullies. They would trample on anyone for views, regardless of right or wrong.

The targets can include people like Lee Chan-seok, who actually made a mistake, or cases where the wrongdoing is exaggerated, and even those who are forced into situations despite having done nothing wrong.

***

“While I can’t say that Choi Young-moon’s response is entirely good, I believe Lee Chan-seok deserves criticism.”

Muk-ji expressed her thoughts.

I feel a sense of trust in her for always sharing her honest opinions.

And to repay that trust, I should accept and respect her thoughts as they are.

“That’s true. But I…”

“You can speak comfortably.”

And just as she was honest with me, I should be honest too.

“I think I’m scared because I could end up in a situation like that.”

Muk-ji nodded.

“That’s right. You can easily be used by someone, Chan-yong. Your value is high.”

The higher the recognition, the greater the possibility.

It’s hard to express how comforting it is to have someone who understands my feelings beside me.

“That means you have to be careful with your words and actions.”

I thought I had gotten better, but it seems I haven’t.

Once again, the pressure weighs down on me.

I worry that someone might get hurt by my words, or that I might come across as someone who troubled others.

“It’s okay,”

Muk-ji said.

“You’re not alone.”

I looked into her eyes.

Every time I meet Muk-ji’s earnest gaze, I feel relieved.

“That’s right. As long as I have you, it’s okay.”

“I don’t think just being by your side will be enough. I’ll be with you too.”

“Why are you doing that, Eun-ji?”

“If inappropriate subtitles are used in the side dish store videos, or if there are issues with images, music, or copyright, it will fall on you, Chan-yong.”

“Because I have to do the final check.”

“In reality, I don’t have time to check it all, so I’m completely leaving it to you. Still, it ends up being your responsibility. So I have to be even more careful.”

Nodding along, Muk-ji continued.

“It’ll be the same after we get married. The more famous you become, the more attention I’ll receive. People will observe how I treat others and whether I engage in morally questionable actions.”

“We both need to be careful.”

“Exactly.”

“… I’m sorry. Because of me.”

“Why is that because of you, Chan-yong?”

Muk-ji said, her expression serious.

“Bad things should not be done in the first place. Just because there are many eyes watching, it doesn’t mean we should be careful; we shouldn’t act just because we think no one is watching.”

“That’s true.”

Nodding my head, Muk-ji smiled softly.

“When we become a couple, we will think and act together on everything. I won’t regret the decisions we make together. I’ll think enough to avoid any regrets.”

Seeing her, so wise and lovely, made me smile.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because I’m happy.”

I hugged her, hoping to convey even a fraction of the feelings I couldn’t express in words.

“I’m at a loss for words and don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“I have to say this, though.”

Muk-ji patiently waited.

“Just being by my side gives me strength. Truly.”

After a while of holding her, she gently pushed me away.

“It’s late.”

***

After visiting the shop introduced by Ha-im, I found myself saying something I never expected.

“This is… me?”

“Do you like it?”

“It feels like I had plastic surgery. It’s unbelievable.”

I had no idea makeup could change a person’s appearance so drastically.

They said it takes two hours for hair styling and makeup, so I felt exhausted before it even started, but now I understand why celebrities like Ha-im come here.

“Thank you.”

I stepped outside and headed to the CF filming location.

I was able to meet the representatives from the product company, the director, and Ham Seok-ho.

“Next month?”

The product representative announced that Choi Eun-sam’s spicy braised ribs would be released next month.

I had heard that the recipe was simple and good for commercialization, but I didn’t expect it to be released this quickly.

“Then please wait a moment.”

After confirming the concept for today with the CF director, I reviewed the requirements with the product representative and waited while checking the prototypes.

The bright red, greasy appearance looked more appetizing than what Choi Eun-sam had made.

“Chan-yong, you can’t eat that!”

One of the staff shouted.

“Oh. Isn’t this for eating?”

“No, there’s something else you can eat! If you eat that, it’ll be a big problem!”

Now that I think about it, I had heard that for CF shoots, food undergoes various treatments to make it look more appealing.

It seems that some coloring has been added to this spicy braised ribs as well.

“Okay, Chan-yong. Relax and stand in front.”

I really want to try the quickly commercialized spicy braised ribs.

To do that, I came without having breakfast, and now I’m hungry.