Cheat day

Baekban Debate

“Team leader, have you seen this video?”

Established in 2017 and now growing with the backing of a large corporation, Kim Seo-jin, an assistant manager at the MCN (Multi-Channel Network) and management company Hongdangmu, showed a smartphone.

“Baek Woo-jin’s place.”

Team Leader Oh Hyung-man recognized YouTuber Baek Woo-jin, who has secured one million subscribers.

Recently, he had become so famous that there was hardly anyone in the industry who didn’t know him, even appearing on public broadcasts.

“Baekban Debate?” “Is this a debate show?”

Baek Woo-jin, since it’s for side dishes, it’s a white rice debate, and they were discussing which food is tastier. Here, mul naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon.

Team Leader Oh Hyung-man furrowed his eyebrows.

At this point, with all sorts of ingenious items pouring in, I wondered if a debate on which is tastier, mul naengmyeon or bibim naengmyeon, would catch on in the market.

However, the view count did not lie.

The video uploaded yesterday had recorded 370,000 views. We could fully expect to reach a million views.

“Who is Banchan-yong?”

I’m a mukbang YouTuber. Recently, it has been experiencing rapid growth.

Assistant Manager Kim Seo-jin accessed the ‘Banchan Store’ channel and showed the latest video.

“As you can see, there are about 140,000 subscribers, but the views per video are unbelievably high.” And in just one month, it increased by nearly 60,000 again.

Just securing over 100,000 subscribers is enough to prove marketability.

The surge in subscribers, which increased by over 60,000 in just one month, garnered even more attention.

“Looks like it’s almost a joint stream.” The porter, the Heart Sutra, and Ugenius. It’s strange that the views aren’t showing up.

“That’s true, but videos featuring just me also get good views.” I’ve only seen the edited videos, but the storytelling is great too.

“If you edit well, it can look like that.”

“Manager, this person is definitely it.”

“Are you saying we should catch it early because it seems like it will grow?”

“Yes.”

Hongdangmu Entertainment was a company that handled various tasks such as broadcast contact, ad placement, and event hosting in exchange for sharing a portion of the revenue with influencers like YouTubers, streamers, and SNS stars.

While it is important to recruit YouTubers who already have a significant influence, securing individuals with growth potential holds even greater value.

“Yes.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it.” The thumbnail turned out pretty well.

The team leader pointed to the video of Banchan-yong and Chajichan exercising.

It was a scene where Banchanyong was squatting with a strained face.

“네. The intro was good too.

“I was the original editor.”

Team Leader Oh Hyung-man and Deputy Kim Seo-jin turned their heads.

A woman with slightly sunken cheeks and bony neck and wrists was looking at the monitor with a tired expression.

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“Does Assistant Manager Eunji know this person too?”

“I know.”

“Really?” How?

“We were monitoring it because we saw a possibility.”

“That’s great.” If you know broadcasting well, the conversation will go smoothly, making the contract easier to finalize. “Meet with Assistant Manager Eunji too.”

When Deputy Manager Eunji looked at the team leader with a blank expression, Kim Seojin smiled to ease the awkwardness.

“It’s okay to do it alone.” You can take your time.

Assistant Manager Eunji turned her head and glared at Kim Seojin.

“I sent the email yesterday.”

“Yes?”

“I have already contacted the side dish store.”

Wow. As expected of our Assistant Manager Eunji. “Do one thing really well.”

Team Leader Oh Hyung-man laughed heartily, while Deputy Kim Seo-jin tried hard to hide his disappointment.

Please provide the text you would like to have translated.

Saturday, December 31.

I stayed up all night finishing the editing and headed to Seoul Station early in the morning.

Even though it was early in the morning, the inside of the station was crowded, but fortunately, the KTX to my hometown was relatively empty.

After settling in, I turned on the broadcast on my smartphone.

After waiting a moment, about 100 people connected right away. Each and every one of them are familiar old subscribers.

I’m just grateful that you come in even at such early hours.

At this time?

Where is it?

Whoa, it’s a night party.

Didn’t you say you couldn’t do the broadcast today?

I took the train to go to my hometown. I posted the announcement, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do the broadcast properly today, so I just turned it on briefly to let you know.

Since I’ve overworked myself for the past month, I’m planning to spend today quietly with my mother to recover both physically and mentally.

It’s the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, after all.

You look tired.

Where is your hometown?

When will you be back?

Didn’t you say we were going to recite the Heart Sutra and have a joint prayer on Saturday?

That’s right. Today is the day I’m supposed to hang out with Ji-seung, but since it’s the end of the year, I decided to spend time with my family and see him tomorrow. I’m tired because I couldn’t sleep while editing. 어우. I’m dying. My hometown is Donghae City, Gangwon Province. 맞아. The place where Mangsang Beach is located.

A viewer posted a chat saying they were glad to eat hometown food after a long time.

“Right.” Ah, I want to eat doenjang jjigae. When I go to Donghae, the first thing I eat is doenjang jjigae.

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Mom’s doenjang jjigae is great.

When I really live in a different place and then go home, I don’t need anything else, kimchi stew and soybean paste stew are the best.

Right. When I eat outside food, I miss home-cooked meals.

I want to eat mom’s cooking too.

“Mom grows her own vegetables, so they taste super healthy and even delicious.” You all should try it too.

Do you farm?

If it’s vegetables you grew yourself, that’s all that needs to be said.

What’s good to eat in Gangwon-do?

There are a lot of delicious things, right? Seoul people don’t know it well, but when you mention makguksu, everyone thinks of bibim makguksu, right? That’s fake. The real deal is mul naengmyeon.

Even though it’s winter, you must definitely try mul-naengmyeon when you go to the East Sea.

It’s a traditional yet diverse dish that’s hard to find in Seoul.

“There’s also the dumpling.” It’s called gamjaongsim, and it’s made by grinding potatoes and forming them into balls, and it’s super chewy. The texture is interesting.

Besides that, I also like gondre rice, jang kalguksu, and mul dak galbi.

The stay is only for a day, but there are so many foods I want to eat.

“And naengmyeon too.” It’s not Gangwon-do food, but there’s a place in Donghae that makes really delicious naengmyeon. The other day, I talked about cold noodles with Woojin, and since I’m going to Donghae, I thought I’d stop by there.

There are plenty of delicious naengmyeon places in Seoul, but since I’m heading down to the East Sea, I plan to stop by and film a naengmyeon video as well.

The train started to move.

If you talk too much, it will disturb the other passengers, so wrap it up quickly and turn off the broadcast.

I sent a message to my mother saying I was leaving, and she replied right away.

Is there anything you want to eat?7:03 AM

It’s doenjang jjigae.

Cold noodles too

7:03 AM {Let’s eat together}

Yeah. Come back safely.7:04 AM

With my headphones on, as I played Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 1 performed by Daniel Barenboim, my eyelids grew heavy.

Please provide the text you would like to have translated.

“Mom, I’m here.”

As soon as I opened the door, I greeted loudly.

“Who is this?” It’s Chan-yong, right?

The owner of Restaurant I in Pyeongneung-dong, Donghae City, saw me and warmly welcomed me.

“How have you been?” Please pack two doenjangs.

I greeted you and looked around the store, but the lights are off.

As far as I remember, it was always bustling with people, but there are none now, maybe because I came right when the store opened.

On the table in the corner, they had piled up plastic containers, and I wonder what happened while I was away.

“Maybe it’s because it’s early, but it’s quite empty.”

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“I haven’t been doing hall business lately.” “Only delivery and takeout.”

“Why?”

“Getting older is tough.” Right now, we’re only taking orders for exactly 50 servings. “Do you want me to make miso stew?”

Your skills are still as sharp as ever, right?

The boss smiled instead of answering and then went into the kitchen.

While I was browsing through YouTube, time flew by quickly.

It’s really neat, so you must have switched to delivery a long time ago.

“Radish salad is on the house.”

“Oh, thank you.” I’ll eat well. “May you receive a lot of blessings.”

“Okay.” Yeah.

I walked home carrying the takeout food. Originally, it’s a warm neighborhood in winter and cool in summer, but today it’s so mild that I’m sweating a little.

After walking for about 5 minutes and arriving home, the smell of doenjang jjigae hit me immediately as I opened the door.

“Mother~”

“Did Chanyong come?”

My mother, who came out while drying her hands, had a delighted expression at first, but then her face quickly hardened.

“What is that?”

“Doenjang jjigae.”

Did you buy it? Where?

“I restaurant.” Did you make some doenjang jjigae?

I should have told you clearly that I was going to take it to go instead of vaguely suggesting we eat together.

“Okay.” Mom made it all for you, so why would you go buy more?

The doenjang jjigae my mother makes is good for the body but doesn’t taste good.

The restaurant’s doenjang jjigae can’t be said to be delicious, as it is made with homegrown vegetables and plenty of seasoning.

“I did it because I was worried it would be hard for you, Mom.” If you keep piling up household chores just because your son is here, it feels wrong, doesn’t it?

Even I think it’s a perfect response.

Mother also sighs and scolds, but with a slight smile.

“I bought this for no reason.” My mother’s doenjang jjigae is much tastier. What should I do? I can’t even throw it away.

“Why would you throw it away?” You bought a lot. How many servings is this?

Two servings, please. It’s not long.

I spread out the takeout food on the table.

I washed my hands and then helped set the table.

When I mixed the store-bought doenjang jjigae with the doenjang my mother made herself, the quantity increased tremendously.

“I will eat well.”

“Eat a lot.”

Taking a spoonful of doenjang jjigae really makes me feel like I’ve come home.

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The healthy yet rich flavor of the doenjang my mother made herself, combined with the seasonings from I Restaurant, evokes a sense of nostalgia.

My mother’s skills are still as good as ever.

As for rolled omelette, my mother’s is much tastier than the one at I Restaurant.

“Ugh.” Just say it. You can’t even eat properly, can you?

“Still, somehow, I manage to eat.” Also learning. There’s that cooking YouTuber called Jiseung, right? Working together.”

“Yeah.”

“I decided to take cooking lessons from him once a week.”

“Last time, you made Andong-style bibimbap for me, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” Study hard and eat well. Did you finish all the side dishes I sent last time?

“There’s still a long way to go.” Don’t send too much. I can’t eat it all.

“How can you not even eat that much?”

“Sometimes you tell me to lose some weight.” “Now you can’t even eat that much?”

Mother smiled softly.

“Don’t worry.” Because you’re taking good care of your body.

My mother is staring at me intently.

When you found out that your young son had developed diabetes, you were greatly surprised, and it seems you still worry about him.

“You’ve lost some weight in your face.”

“How much I exercise and how much I pay attention to what I eat.” These days, I’m learning exercise from Ji-chan.

“Mom saw it too.”

“That’s how much it is because it’s edited for the broadcast, but originally it’s much more.” I upload a video once a week, but in reality, I do it every other day.

“I should at least make some side dishes for Jichan.”

“Hmm.” That’s not okay.

“Thank you for getting my son to exercise.”

I almost said, “It tastes bad.”

That guy really pays a lot of attention to his diet. I eat nothing but greens and chicken breast every day.

“How can you live without the joy of eating?”

“Exactly.” I have to do the same, so you don’t need to send me any side dishes. “Mom, aren’t you eating?”

“Mom, did you have breakfast?”

It’s already 11 o’clock, so it’s closer to lunch than breakfast.

“Oh, I’m planning to start doing YouTube seriously.”

“Is it going well?”

“I think this month will be fine.” The number of views has increased a lot, and the response is pretty good too.

When taking on a new challenge, it’s natural to have many worries.

More than that worry, unexpected variables will arise, and the firm resolve you have built can easily crumble.

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However, if you don’t do anything just because you’re worried about the future, there will be no change.

I just want to eat delicious food, communicate with people, and live my life to the fullest.

“You must have thought it through well.” “Just don’t get hurt.”

My mother smiled.

When I was young, they used to express various concerns, but now that I’ve actually quit my job, they always trust and support my choices.

Instead of empty talk like “Will that work out? Isn’t it tough? I hear that industry is struggling these days.”

You believe that I have thought it through thoroughly and still made my choice.

Please provide the text you would like to have translated.

Saturday.

Baek Woo-jin, who had been repeatedly defeated in the debate with the side dish department, was extremely irritated.

Even with a tight schedule, I was continuing to gather materials for next Thursday’s Baekban Debate.

“Woojin.”

PD Lee Ji-hye of Ugenius opened the door to the CEO’s office and entered.

“I’m busy.”

“What are you doing?”

“Preparing for the debate.”

Baek Woo-jin answered nonchalantly while writing something in his notebook.

Since the PD came on a weekend, not even a weekday, they must have brought work with them, but I didn’t want to be disturbed right now.

“……Okay.”

When PD Lee Ji-hye was about to leave the room willingly, Baek Woo-jin lifted his head.

“What is it?”

“What?”

“Weren’t you supposed to be working?”

You said you were busy. You’re preparing for the Baekban Debate, right? Keep going.”

Baek Woo-jin sighed at PD Lee Ji-hye’s nonchalant attitude.

“What is it?” I told you to just rest at home on Saturday. What time is it?

Baek Woo-jin checked the time.

7 PM. Saturday was almost over.

“Are you not leaving work?”

Baek Woo-jin got up and headed towards the sofa.

“Who do you think is making me work even on weekends?”

Producer Lee Ji-hye glared at Baek Woo-jin.

She, who was my college peer and is now my business partner, was working over the weekend, sacrificing her time to check the preparation and editing status of the Ugenius content for next week.

“You’re doing it because you like it.” I’m busy. What’s going on?

“Keep preparing for the Baekban Debate.”

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“So, you didn’t come here just to say that, right?”

“That’s right.” I came to say that.

Baek Woo-jin tilted his head.

Producer Lee Ji-hye took out her smartphone and showed it to Baek Woo-jin.

“What is it?”

“The response was good.”

Baek Woo-jin picked up Lee Ji-hye’s smartphone.

On the YouTube channel “Banchan Store” by Banchan Yong, there were two videos uploaded yesterday and today, and they were both about “Baekban Debate.”

The view count for the ‘Mul Naengmyeon vs Bibim Naengmyeon’ episode was 480,000, while the ‘Chocolate vs Candy’ episode recorded a whopping 710,000 views.

Especially, the “Chocolate vs. Candy” episode uploaded at 6 AM this morning had been viewed 710,000 times in just 13 hours since it was posted.

“That’s ridiculous.”

Baek Woo-jin went in and out of the side dish store several times to check.

A video that garnered 710,000 views in just 13 hours was rare even for the Ugenius channel, which has over a million subscribers.

“It spread to the community too.” “I was against it when you asked to block off my schedule every Thursday, but I think it’s better to keep it going.”

Producer Lee Ji-hye could not understand why Baek Woo-jin would take an entire day off each week just for side dishes.

Although he was a benefactor, Baek Woo-jin was so busy that his schedule was filled with TV appearances, lectures, U-Genius, and commercials for the entire month.

I thought that giving up an entire day just because we were close would be too much of a burden for Baek Woo-jin.

Surely, I judged that way.

After observing the atmosphere yesterday and today, it seemed that continuing the Baekban Debate would be more beneficial for Baek Woo-jin than appearing elsewhere.

“Then, take care.”

Even after PD Lee Ji-hye took her smartphone and went outside, Baek Woo-jin was still dumbfounded.

“……Awesome.”