Return of the Genius Photographer

Today, I went out early in the morning for the first time in a while.

It seemed to be school hours, as high school students in uniforms were heading to school.

Not too long ago, I was just another student in that line, walking the same path.

But now, I was heading in the exact opposite direction.

My steps felt light as I walked.

Was it because I was out alone for the first time in a while?

Even my heart felt refreshed as I moved.

Soon, I arrived at my destination.

“Welcome… Oh? Woojin, long time no see!”

I arrived at Jung Woong Studio after quite some time, and the receptionist, who was always in her usual spot, greeted me warmly.

Her bright and consistent demeanor melted away the slight awkwardness I’d felt.

“Hi, Miseon. It’s been a while. How have you been?”

I greeted her with a bright smile.

Having spent over two months abroad with Kangsan, and another month dealing with my father’s affairs, seeing her face after almost three months was a relief.

“Well, nothing changes for me. I’ve been here the whole time. How was it overseas? You look taller since I last saw you!”

“Really? I haven’t measured, so I wouldn’t know. Being overseas was amazing.”

I stood at the counter for a moment, chatting with her.

I planned to stick around, greet Jung Woong or the other studio members when they arrived, and catch up…

“But it seems like no one else is in yet?”

Perhaps because it was still early morning, not many people had arrived at the studio yet.

“Oh, everyone’s busy these days.”

“Busy? Is it for Jung Woong’s schedule?”

“No, I mean his apprentices.”

“Apprentices?”

Apprentices? Did he take on more apprentices while I was gone?

Curious, I asked Miseon, and she added an explanation.

“Oh… Jinsoo and Youngsoo recently became apprentices of Jung Woong. And Minsoo has been busy helping them.”

It seemed a lot had changed at the studio while I was away.

Well, of course, they wouldn’t have been idle all this time. Such changes were only natural.

“I had no idea. I should congratulate them. Do you think I’ll see them today?”

I looked around as I asked, but Miseon shook her head.

“No, they’re out on business trips, so they won’t be here today. And honestly, you don’t need to congratulate them.”

“Huh?”

What did she mean by that?

“They said the only reason they could become apprentices was because of you.”

Miseon explained with a smile.

“While working with you, it seems like Jung Woong’s perspective changed a lot. After his exhibition, he officially started teaching them, and now he even calls Jinsoo his apprentice.”

“Oh…”

“So Jinsoo talks about you a lot too. He says you’re his benefactor. I’m sure they all want to see you again.”

I nodded silently as I listened to Miseon.

If she was referring to the exhibition, she must mean Jung Woong’s solo exhibition.

Even though it happened some time ago, I could still vividly recall working with them like it was yesterday.

I hadn’t intended to help anyone in particular, but to think it had led to this…

Hearing that my actions had brought about positive changes for someone felt truly rewarding.

“Well, I’m sure I’ll run into them eventually. We’re all part of the same studio. In the meantime, could you pass along my congratulations if you see them?”

“Of course. In fact, the story I just told you was something Jinsoo specifically asked me to share if you stopped by.”

“Thank you, Miseon.”

I smiled as I replied.

One thing was certain: working with them had shown me just how passionate they were about photography.

I truly wished them all the best.

And hearing such good news right as I walked into the studio felt like a sign that today might turn out especially well.

“By any chance, is Photographer Jung also not coming here today?”

Wait—of all days, is this the one day when no one I know is around?

Realizing the possibility, I asked Miseon, and she turned to answer.

“No, he’ll be here. But he’ll be coming in a bit later. He said he’d arrive with Kangsan.”

Come to think of it, it’s about time Kangsan returned to Korea.

I had promised to reach out when he arrived, but I’d been so busy I completely forgot.

Would he give me an earful about it?

“Should I check what time they’ll be here? I’m sure Jung Woong will be happy to see you.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll be here anyway, so no need to call. Just let me know when they arrive.”

I didn’t mind waiting to say hello.

Though I came to see familiar faces, that wasn’t my only reason for coming here.

“I’ll be in my studio for now.”

With that, I ended my conversation with Miseon and headed to my studio workspace.

***

‘Alright, time to organize my future plans…’

As soon as I entered the studio, I turned on the computer and began drafting my plans.

The overseas schedule with Kangsan had concluded, and the big hurdle with my father’s affairs had been resolved.

Now, the priority was to decide on my next steps.

‘The first thing I need to focus on is the GED.’

The GED season was only a few months away.

Since I planned to study abroad in the United States, I needed to prepare for the American GED.

Although I wasn’t worried about English, it would be risky to tackle other subjects without adequate preparation.

‘Once the GED is over, I’ll also need to work on college applications.’

Dropping out of high school wasn’t exactly an impressive credential for admissions.

While I’d gained enough meaningful experience to compensate for it, presenting that to interviewers would require putting significant effort into my applications and portfolio.

Although there was still some time left, it wasn’t a situation where I could afford to be too relaxed.

‘Maybe I should stay in the U.S. until the application season.’

If I stayed in the U.S., I could not only focus on studying but also broaden my horizons in various ways.

It didn’t seem like a bad idea…

Click, click.

As I organized my plans, I checked my inbox.

There were plenty of requests piled up during my busy days.

Since I couldn’t take on all of them, I planned to politely decline everything except the most significant ones.

While skimming through the emails, I suddenly stopped.

“Huh?”

One particular email caught my eye.

[To: Photographer Nam Woojin]

It was sent by an organization called the Korean Photographers Association.

‘The association…?’

―Dear Mr. Nam Woojin,
First, we extend our congratulations on your successful participation in the Arles International Exhibition, which has elevated the nation’s prestige.

―Furthermore, the Korean Photographers Association, as an organization capable of offering the greatest support for your growth, wishes to propose a business model that may be beneficial to you.

‘Why does this sound so over the top?’

Ignoring the flowery and unnecessary phrasing, it seemed they wanted to sign a contract with me.

However, since I was already under contract with an agency, I had no reason to meet or collaborate with them.

Still, something about it bothered me.

“The association…”

I muttered to myself, as if trying to jog my memory.

The Korean Photographers Association, often shortened to KPA.

The name sounded oddly familiar, though I couldn’t quite place it.

‘I think I heard some bad rumors about them…’

Having been active abroad for so long, I couldn’t recall the details, but vague memories of negative stories about them lingered.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t retrieve anything more than a faint sense of unease.

‘Oh well, it’s not like I can remember everything from my past life…’

Even so, I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling.

It seemed wrong to ignore it outright…

‘Should I at least meet with them?’

Just as I was mulling it over—

Ding!

A sudden text message notification popped up.

―Woojin, Photographer Kangsan and Photographer Jung Woong just arrived.

The news I’d been waiting for had arrived.

Perfect timing.

While greeting them, I could ask if they knew anything about this.

Surely, if anyone knew, it would be them.

With that thought, I quickly stood up and headed off to meet the two artists.

***

“Good to see you! How’ve you been?”

“Hey, why didn’t you keep in touch?”

When I greeted Jung Woong and Kangsan in the studio, their reactions were strikingly different.

Their contrasting personalities made me chuckle. It was a wonder how they became friends despite being so different.

“I’ve been busy with some family matters, so I apologize for the late greeting. Have you both been well?”

“Of course! Come sit. I have so much to ask you.”

Especially since it had been a long time since I’d last seen Jung Woong after leaving for overseas, he seemed brimming with curiosity.

In Korea, he would’ve only heard about me through articles, so he must’ve been lacking detailed information—like the story behind the mysterious photo or how I came to take it.

For a photographer, there’s no better gossip than that.

Particularly since he saw me as a student of his, he must’ve been genuinely eager to hear about my achievements.

He briefly asked me about my travels with Kangsan, and I summarized the two-month trip and my time in Arles as succinctly as possible.

I told him about the salt flats in Turkey, where the ground turned into a mirror reflecting the sky.

I also mentioned nearly dying while photographing an inspired Kangsan amidst the volcanic activity at Mount Etna.

And, of course, I shared how those photos brought unexpected success at Arles.

Jung Woong listened intently, reacting with wide-eyed wonder like a child hearing a fairy tale. Then, his expression shifted to a proud smile, like a parent watching their child grow, and finally, he clapped with delight.

“Congratulations again on winning the grand prize at Arles. I heard about your trip from Kangsan, but I regret not being able to join you.”

“Thank you. I’d love to go with you someday if the opportunity arises.”

I bowed my head as he congratulated me. Then, he asked about my future plans.

“So, what’s next for you?”

“Well, I’m planning to focus on passing the GED and preparing college applications. I’ll probably stay in the U.S. for a while.”

“You should check with your agency about that. There might be some support available.”

As expected, he didn’t hold back his advice. He’d always been a great mentor.

Since I had something I wanted to ask, now seemed like the perfect time.

“Thank you. By the way, I got a message from the Korean Photographers Association today. Do you know anything about them?”

At that moment, the previously warm atmosphere instantly chilled.

“The association?”

“The Korean Photographers Association?”

Both Kangsan and Jung Woong asked simultaneously, their expressions suddenly serious.

When I nodded, Kangsan squinted and began to explain.

“That place is a graveyard.”

“Sorry?”

“They chew up talented young photographers and spit them out to suit their agenda.”

Clearly annoyed, Kangsan clicked his tongue.

“They slap the name ‘Korea’ on themselves to sound official and pretend they’re all about supporting photographers. But in reality, they’re a parasitic organization, exploiting artists under the guise of help.”

“Ah…”

I listened closely to Kangsan’s explanation, and it seemed my hazy memories were right. The association had a notorious reputation, issuing unnecessary certifications to create artificial barriers for photographers.

Under the prestigious-sounding name “Korean Photographers Association,” they exploited young, uninformed talents with unfair contracts. Worse yet, they had enough influence to form a cartel, silencing any criticism despite the widespread issues.

“Both Kangsan and I have clashed with them a few times. But why are you asking about them all of a sudden?”

Jung Woong chimed in, adding to the story.

I showed them the email I received—a message filled with grandiose language about wanting to work with me.

After reading it, both men sighed in exasperation.

“Unbelievable. They still haven’t changed, have they?”

“Tsk, as soon as you gain some fame, the pests start swarming.”

“Well, it’s better this way. You should get rid of them quickly so they don’t bother you again.”

“Exactly. Cut them off before it turns into a headache.”

The two of them exchanged glances and seemed to silently come to an agreement.

Then they turned to me with a serious tone.

“Woojin, it’d be best to meet with them and set things straight.”

“If you ignore it, they might keep pestering you or even pull something behind the scenes.”

“They’re probably aiming for some kind of ‘revenue share’ deal. But since you’re already under contract with an agency, it’s a non-starter. If you make that clear, they should back off.”

I quickly understood their point.

They wanted me to nip this in the bud before it escalated.

This was a perfect opportunity to address the uneasy feeling I’d had.

“Alright. I’ll set up a meeting.”

When I nodded and replied—

“Want us to come with you?”

“Need backup?”

Kangsan and Jung Woong offered, almost in unison.

“Just say the word. Actually, maybe I’ll bring a spoon just in case we need it.”

“If you’d like, we’ll be there. At least they won’t dare mess with you if we’re by your side.”

They were practically ready to leave right then and there.

These two were legends in the photography world, yet their concern for me was so personal and familiar.

It reminded me of something from my childhood—how my parents used to look whenever I went somewhere.

Jung Woong’s expression was like my mother’s, calm and supportive.

And Kangsan’s was like my father’s, protective and ready for action.

What’s with this nostalgic feeling?

Unable to hold back a chuckle, I answered them.

“Haha, no need. I’ll handle it myself.”