Chapter 87
Flight back to Korea.
Even after Chairman Park Ki-jun had been considerate and placed him in a spacious and comfortable business class seat, Professor Lee Chan-ho's questioning continued. The professor, who had deliberately switched seats to sit next to him, said,
"Soo-hyun, you have to tell me properly so I can deal with it."
'What are you going to do, Professor? That's Beethoven's song, and you won't believe me if I tell you.'
"That's… I just tried it once. It's nothing, Professor."
Professor Lee Chan-ho frowned.
'Is there a reason to hide it? Or is it just because he's embarrassed about the music he initially composed?'
"Soo-hyun, you're playing that song. Someone must have heard it, right?"
'Of course. It was Kirill who told Lee Chan-ho that.'
"Yes."
"Who heard it?"
"With Conductor Kirill and his grandfather, whose name I don't know, who played the oboe."
"That's two already."
'Two already? What does that mean?'
When Soo-hyun made a questioning expression, Professor Lee Chan-ho explained.
"Of course I believe that the world-famous orchestra conductor, Mr. Kirill, and the oboist will not have any bad intentions. But, you know, there aren't only good people in the world. What if, by any chance, someone else heard the piece?"
"Will that be a problem?"
The professor said with a feignedly serious face.
"What if someone had recorded that song? And if they had the ability to transcribe it into a score, they could take it from you."
Soo-hyun's eyes widened.
'Who would dare to steal Uncle Beethoven's music?'
"Stealing the song?" he said, startled.
"Yes, it's the worst-case scenario, but it can happen. You always have to be careful with your creations. There are many hyenas looking for you."
Soo-hyun became nervous. If it were his song, he wouldn't have been so flustered.
'But for someone to steal Mr. Beethoven's music! It's something that can't and shouldn't happen.'
"So what should I do?"
The professor breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, Soo-hyun seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation.
"You need to register your copyright. Of course, you must first register as a composer with the association."
"What is copyright?"
"It's a legal protection mechanism that allows the author to have rights over the work they have created."
Soo-hyun was worried. As much as the men insisted that he say it was his song, he was not the real owner. But you couldn't just open your eyes and have the song taken away.
"Can you help me?"
"Of course, that's the purpose of this conversation."
"Help."
"I understand."
The professor spoke to Ji-ye, who was sitting in the back seat with Junwoo.
"Ji-ye, as soon as you arrive in Korea, please prepare two business card-sized photos of Soo-hyun, a copy of his resident registration, a copy of his bankbook, and other forms. You'll find the forms on the Copyright Association's website."
Ji-ye, who had been pretending not to listen, immediately nodded. The professor looked back at Soo-hyun.
"I'll pay the application fee. You just have to submit a work report, which requires a score and a simple profile of the song. Let's work on it together."
"Yes, professor. Thank you."
"No, it's my job. Ha, what a shame. I can't listen to the music right now because I'm on a plane. Do you have a recording?"
"No, there isn't."
"Well, you need to attach a music file when you register, so let's record it when we get back. Before that, please prepare the score."
'The score is fine.'
The professor asked after seeing Soo-hyun rummage through his small bag and take out a notebook.
"What are you going to do?"
"I want to make a score."
The professor burst out laughing.
"Instead of handwritten scores, they should be digitally produced and printed."
"Ah, right."
As Soo-hyun quietly put his notebook away, the professor smiled and said.
"But please write it down first. You need the original to do the digital work."
The professor, who was looking at Soo-hyun quickly open his notebook and start writing music, closed his eyes.
'I'm relieved, although I still feel a little uneasy.'
After hearing Soo-hyun's song, Kirill seemed very surprised. Moreover, according to Professor Lech, Kirill even said about Soo-hyun's song, "It's like Beethoven's." Professor Lech also subtly asked me to quickly register the copyright and to be the first to tell him. Professor Lee Chan-ho closed his eyes, wishing that when he opened them, he would be in Korea. But, like all travelers, he fell asleep countless times and when he woke up, he was still on the plane.
The next morning in South Korea.
Chairman Park Ki-jun, who had arrived a day earlier, quickly answered the phone as soon as he saw Professor Lee Chan-ho's name on his cell phone.
"Oh, Professor! Are you here?" "Yes, sir. I just arrived at Incheon Airport."
The chairman looked at the time. It was just after nine in the morning.
"Thank you for your hard work. You must be tired. Did Soo-hyun and Junwoo return safely?" "Of course. But do you have time today?" "What's going on?" "[Soo-hyun composed the song.]"
Chairman Park Ki-jun was so surprised he almost dropped his phone. If the secretary next to him hadn't helped him up, he might have tripped over the overturned chair as he jumped up.
"Hello, Mr. Chairman. Are you all right?" the professor asked from the other end.
The chairman grabbed the phone.
"Oh, excuse me. Did I hear you correctly? Soo-hyun is composing? How old are you and you're already composing?"
"I was surprised too. But I definitely composed it, and I have the score in my hands right now."
The chairman's eyes trembled slightly. He knew he was a genius, but as a pianist, not a composer. His voice trembled, but he calmly asked for details.
"What about the form of the song? What's its level?"
"The piece is a piano solo. As for the level, can I say that Kirill of the Berlin Philharmonic would have admired it?"
He almost dropped the phone again.
'How far will Nam Soo-hyun go to surprise people?'
"Excuse me, how can I help you?" "Soo-hyun is a minor. He needs a guardian to register his copyright."
The chairman gestured to his secretary.
"Of course I remember. I'll be right there. Should I go to the copyright association?" "Ji-ye is now at Soo-hyun's dojo. I plan to rent a studio near the association to record. You can come to the studio."
The chairman said as he put on the shirt his secretary had given him.
"Okay, I'll be leaving soon, so when you find a studio, send me a message with the detailed address." "Yes, Mr. Chairman. I'm sorry to trouble you." "No, what could be more urgent? I'm leaving right now."
The chairman's mood seemed to improve.
'Kirill's rave reviews! I never imagined he had such composing skills.'
"What was your schedule today?" he asked his secretary. "At 11:00, a meeting. At 12:30, lunch with the Vice Minister of Culture, at 14:00, an inspection…" "The meeting with the Governor of the Bank of Korea has been postponed until 4:00 p.m., and all previous appointments have been canceled." "Yes? But lunch with the Vice Minister…" "Tell him he's eating tomorrow, I'm busy." "Understood, sir. Where should I take you?" "I'm going to Gangseo-gu."
The chairman, who received the address of the rented studio via text message in his car, bit his nails the whole time.
'I have traveled all over the world and met many important people. But this is the first time I feel that the road to meet someone is so long.'
The driver had to make an emergency stop because the chairman forced the car door open when he entered the parking lot. His assistant followed.
"What floor is the studio on?" the chairman asked. "It's the ninth floor."
He pressed the elevator button, but heard nothing. The chairman ran. While an employee at the information desk hesitated, his assistant took care of the situation.
"There's a student here today named Nam Soo-hyun, right?" "Nam Soo-hyun? Ah, that handsome boy?" "Yes, where are they?" "Studio A. It's the largest studio, and the one furthest inside." "Thank you."
The assistant quietly opened the door to Studio A. It was a mistake; the space was occupied only by the engineer and Professor Lee Chan-ho. Soo-hyun was behind a glass window in the soundproof booth. The professor pressed a button.
"Okay, Soo-hyun. Since it's your first time, don't stress and play comfortably. This is a recording, so if you make a mistake, you can repeat it. Okay?"
As Soo-hyun nodded and placed his hands on the keys, the engineer spoke:
"Take 1-1. Please start playing in 3 seconds."
The chairman entered the studio and saw a beautiful boy through the glass window. And soon, a piano performance as beautiful as the boy began to be heard.