Episode 52. Investment (5)
At Kang Dae-oh’s unexpected harsh criticism, the young participant showed great embarrassment.
And for good reason. Before appearing on In Future, Kang Dae-oh had shown his face to viewers through various broadcast programs.
Each time, Kang Dae-oh always showed consideration for others and a gentle demeanor.
Viewers also highly regarded Kang Dae-oh for his polite and gentlemanly behavior.
However, when he decided to join In Future, Kang Dae-oh had already made up his mind that this time, it would be best to shed this image of himself.
As mentioned before, a single piece of advice from Kang Dae-oh could be the turning point that changes the lives of the program’s participants for better or for worse.
Therefore, Kang Dae-oh decided to judge the business items brought by the applicants more objectively and dispassionately.
This was because he knew better than anyone that it was, in fact, the best path for them.
Kang Yeyoung, who had known from the start that her father would be so firm, showed a reaction of complete understanding rather than embarrassment.
“CEO Kang Dae-oh. Could you please explain in more detail so that Participant #1 can understand?”
At his daughter’s request, Kang Dae-oh nodded and picked up the microphone he had put down.
“Grinding the beans yourself, roasting them. And then making your own coffee. I think the concept itself isn’t bad. However, machines like coffee makers are already widely available. And a cafe is a place where people come to relax for a while while drinking coffee, or to work or study. Making coffee yourself here seems a bit unreasonable.”
And there was one bigger drawback than these.
“One experience is enough. But would customers want to visit the same store two or three times consecutively just for that experience? Of course, individual thoughts may differ. But I don’t see it that way.”
There is a very high risk that customers’ visits will be a one-time thing.
Participant #1 offered his own rebuttal to this.
“For customers who don’t want the experience, we could just serve coffee like a regular cafe, but…”
“Then wouldn’t the uniqueness of the item Participant #1 conceived disappear? There’s an intention to differentiate from other stores with the element of ‘being able to make coffee yourself,’ but if you nullify that yourself, the cafe’s unique characteristic will also disappear.”
“……”
“That is my opinion.”
Although he emphasized it was his personal opinion once more.
It was such a convincing argument that Participant #1 could not say anything more.
Perhaps because Participant #1 had received such sharp criticism from Kang Dae-oh right from the start.
The expression of Participant #2, next in line, began to be tinged with even more tension than before.
Kang Dae-oh, who had been observing the participants’ changing expressions, called for a time-out.
“PD-nim.”
“Yes, CEO-nim.”
“Could we take a short break? I really need to use the restroom.”
In fact, he had no intention of going to the restroom at all.
However, for the sake of the participants, Kang Dae-oh decided to sacrifice himself as their representative.
Since the participants had now been informed that the evaluators would each present their opinions in this manner.
They seemed to need some time to prepare and get ready mentally.
Kwak PD nodded and picked up the megaphone.
“We will resume filming immediately after a 10-minute break.”
“Yes, understood!”
After a 10-minute break for reorganization, filming resumed.
Perhaps thanks to the short breathing room, the participants’ expressions seemed a little better than before.
Kang Dae-oh swallowed a small laugh internally.
‘My sacrifice was worth it.’
On the one hand, there was also an apology, wondering if he had spoken too harshly.
Nevertheless, as Kang Dae-oh had already mentioned at the production presentation, for the participants, and perhaps for prospective entrepreneurs who might be watching the broadcast.
He reaffirmed his decision to point out the facts dispassionately.
The important thing was to control himself so that his resolve would not weaken.
Otherwise, Kang Dae-oh’s resolve could quickly crumble.
This wasn’t just about Kang Dae-oh.
Other regular cast members participating as evaluators also shared Kang Dae-oh’s mindset.
However, when pointing out the shortcomings of the startup items proposed by the participants.
They all agreed to simultaneously provide reasonable grounds that the participants could understand.
Because if the receiving party doesn’t understand, the advice can no longer properly serve its role as advice.
“Next, Participant #2, please come forward.”
“Yes, yes!”
A young woman, similar in age to the previous participant who had introduced her item for a brief two minutes, stepped forward two or three paces.
Her face was filled with tension.
“Um, I’ve brought a beauty item.”
At the mention of ‘beauty,’ the gaze shifted towards Oh Myung-woon.
Oh Myung-woon looked at her with great interest.
“Yes, please speak.”
“Um… what I brought is this, actually?”
The woman who had actually brought the product she made herself.
People tilted their heads, looking at the item wrapped in thin packaging.
“What is that…?”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
“At first glance, it looks like mask packaging.”
Everyone was curious about the contents.
Then, Oh Myung-woon resolved the evaluators’ curiosity.
“It’s a pack.”
“A pack?”
“Yes, look.”
Oh Myung-woon gestured towards the woman.
A mask pack appeared from the packaging she held in her hand.
It was the moment Oh Myung-woon’s prediction was proven correct.
“How did you know?”
“I can tell at a glance.”
It was fair to say that Oh Myung-woon had mastered almost all related fields, not just hair, but also skin care and other beauty aspects.
This was because he, like Kang Dae-oh, had no intention of settling and resting on his laurels in just one specific field.
Business, after all, only shows its vision when expanded into various branches.
In fact, his Five Star Hair Studio was also actively pursuing various beauty businesses.
Perhaps that’s why Oh Myung-woon showed interest in the mask pack the woman claimed to have developed herself.
“Eco-friendliness is trendy these days, isn’t it? So I also thought about how I could integrate it well this time… and this is the result. This mask pack has received vegan certification thanks to not using any animal-derived ingredients. Furthermore, because it’s made with ingredients close to paper material without chemical processing, if you just discard it on the soil, it will naturally decompose on its own.”
“Oh…”
“That’s amazing.”
Exclamations of admiration flowed among the evaluators.
Eco-friendliness was a field receiving much attention even from evaluators who ran large businesses.
Things like abnormal climate. As these have become major social issues recently, it’s the current trend for large corporations to take the lead in promoting eco-friendliness.
The government is also actively encouraging matters related to this.
Both the concept and the disposal method. The item itself looked very promising.
After the short two minutes passed, Kang Yeyoung asked the evaluators for their impressions.
“CEO Oh Myung-woon, I think you showed the most interest. What do you think?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Oh Myung-woon nodded, immediately admitting that Kang Yeyoung’s guess was true.
“It was quite interesting. While there are many eco-friendly beauty brands, it seemed like it would still take some time for truly proper eco-friendly products to emerge. But the mask pack Participant #2 brought… honestly, I was a bit surprised. Of course, there are still various certification procedures remaining. And while we’d have to examine how efficient and effective it is compared to other mask packs, personally, it was quite impressive.”
Although the atmosphere had momentarily dampened due to the harsh criticism towards Participant #1.
Thanks to Participant #2, the atmosphere was somewhat alleviated.
Kang Dae-oh picked up the microphone and jokingly asked Oh Myung-woon.
“If CEO Oh Myung-woon gives such generous praise, what would that make me, who was just nagging?”
People laughed heartily at Kang Dae-oh’s words.
Oh Myung-woon also laughed and accepted his words.
“You have to say good things are good; you can’t say they’re not good.”
“That’s true.”
Thanks to the chemistry between the two friends, a big wave of laughter bloomed in the studio.
Although it was said jokingly.
Kang Dae-oh secretly envied Oh Myung-woon.
He also wished that someone would come forward with a promising item like Participant #2’s in his own field.
As Group 1’s turn continued, the final participant of the first group finally appeared.
“I am Choi Bok-hyun. Please take good care of me.”
It was Choi Bok-hyun’s turn, a senior participant who had drawn attention from his very appearance.
The evaluators were not holding high expectations for Choi Bok-hyun.
And for good reason, as people tend to have less creativity than younger individuals as they age.
Moreover, he had mentioned that he participated because he had nothing else to do after retirement.
His expectations would naturally be low for that reason.
Nevertheless.
‘Somehow, I have a good feeling about this?’
Strangely, Kang Dae-oh kept having expectations for Choi Bok-hyun, even though he hadn’t heard the explanation yet.
He didn’t know why.
It was just a hunch.
Whether this hunch was real or merely a misconception.
He would find out now.
Choi Bok-hyun, holding the microphone, cleared his throat after a short cough.
“Shall I begin?”
Kang Yeyoung nodded broadly.
“Yes. Once you start speaking, the clock on the display will automatically begin.”
“Understood. Then…”
Choi Bok-hyun finally began his explanation.
“What I’ve prepared is actually related to cafes.”
It was Kang Dae-oh’s field.
“Aren’t many cafes opening in Korea these days? Back in my day, they were called dabang… Anyway, for people my age, it’s a bit difficult to sit there and spend time like young people. We feel like we’re being watched. And especially things like kiosks can be a big barrier.”
These were all relatable points for seniors.
Kang Dae-oh, especially, being someone who directly operates a cafe, could deeply empathize with what Choi Bok-hyun was saying.
It took 1 minute for him to explain how he came up with the business item.
Now, with the remaining 1 minute, he had to capture the evaluators’ hearts.
Would it really be possible?
In this situation where everyone was doubtful.
The elderly man launched a fierce counterattack.
“I’m thinking of creating a senior cafe for the elderly.”
