The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety was caught in a dilemma.
Not long ago, Hyun Si-woo, CEO of Luktic, had informed him that he had developed a hair-loss treatment.He also explained that the treatment was created using the existing Skin Regeneration Agent as its base and that he wished to apply for approval as a modified new drug.
However, after hearing the detailed explanation of the hair-loss treatment directly from CEO Hyun, several aspects made the Vice Minister hesitate to classify it as a modified new drug.
The first issue was that the mechanism of action of the hair-loss treatment appeared to be fundamentally different from that of the Skin Regeneration Agent.
Could restoring damaged skin and regenerating lost hair roots and follicles truly be considered the same mechanism?Moreover, the fact that applying the treatment to normal skin caused large amounts of body hair to grow suggested that the hair-loss treatment carried a level of risk far beyond that of the Skin Regeneration Agent.
The second issue was even more problematic.
The raw materials and composition of the Skin Regeneration Agent—the very base of this new treatment—had never been formally reported to the MFDS.
Approving a modified new drug manufactured from a base medicine whose production materials had not been fully disclosed to the regulatory authority was, to say the least, an extremely delicate matter.
Yet as the Vice Minister wrestled with these concerns, his gaze slowly drifted back toward the mirror.
The reflection staring back at him looked different from usual.
The thinning hair he had suffered from since his mid-fortieshad been completely restored.
It was nearly identical to the volume of hair he had in photos from his twenties and thirties.
The day after receiving a prototype application of the hair-loss treatment from CEO Hyun at Luktic's Seoul headquarters, hair had immediately begun growing densely across his scalp.
Without realizing it, the Vice Minister muttered to himself,
"…A medicine this good should be approved and released to the world as soon as possible.This is practically a blessing."
The moment he said it, he flinched.
He was a senior official of a regulatory agency, whose duty was to keep pharmaceutical companies in check—yet he had just spoken like an executive from an industry promotion agency.
"…Good grief, what am I even saying?Anyway, approval as a modified new drug…In the end, what matters most is how the President reacts once the Commissioner reports it."
***
"…That is the situation, Mr. President.How should we respond regarding the hair-loss treatment that Luktic has newly developed…?"
The MFDS Commissioner had recently received a report from the Vice Minister stating that Luktic had developed a hair-loss treatment and was preparing to apply for modified new drug approval.
That was why he was now at the presidential residence, reporting the matter directly.
After listening, the President spoke with a pleased expression.
"Ho ho.In fact, I heard about it directly from CEO Hyun Si-woo myself when we met at the last press conference announcing the new drug approvals.Please provide full support to CEO Hyun and Luktic once again."
"Yes, Mr. President."
However, as he answered and looked at the President, the Commissioner felt a subtle sense of discomfort.
The President's hair looked… different.
Noticing the Commissioner's gaze, the President laughed cheerfully.
"Ho ho, did you notice something different, Commissioner?Not long ago, CEO Hyun kindly provided me with a prototype of the hair-loss treatment.After becoming President, I've had many worries, and my hair had started thinning as well—but the moment I applied that medicine, the problem vanished as if by magic."
"…Ah—so you've already tried it, Mr. President?"
"Yes. There's no doubt it's an extraordinary new drug.How he continues to develop medicines like these… CEO Hyun is truly a blessing to this country. Ho ho."
Come to think of it, even the Vice Minister—who had visited the Commissioner recently—now had noticeably thicker hair.
At the time, it had seemed odd.Now the reason was obvious.
While the Commissioner was shocked by the hair-loss treatment's effectiveness, another desire quietly took root in his mind.
I'd like to receive that treatment too…
Unaware of the Commissioner's inner conflict, the President continued,
"You mentioned that Luktic plans to apply for approval through the modified new drug pathway, correct?"
"Yes, Mr. President."
"The Skin Regeneration Agent and Elixir have just begun to be distributed at frontline medical institutions.As you know, the response has been tremendous."
The President's expression brightened further.
"Please provide full support so that the hair-loss treatment can receive approval as quickly as possible.Not only will it improve public health and welfare, but it will also be exported overseas and contribute greatly to the national economy."
"Yes, Mr. President.We will mobilize all of the MFDS's capabilities to ensure that Luktic's hair-loss treatment completes the modified new drug approval process as quickly as possible."
As the Commissioner left the presidential office, a thought crossed his mind.
Both the President and the Vice Minister had received the prototype hair-loss treatment from Luktic.
So why hadn't he?
He, of all people, had worked the hardest to ensure Luktic's new drugs were approved swiftly.
Feeling oddly slighted, the Commissioner made a decision.
When I get back to the office today, I'll ask the Vice Minister how I can receive the hair-loss treatment from CEO Hyun.
***
[Luktic's New Drugs—Elixir and Skin Regeneration Agent—Begin Use in Medical Institutions Nationwide]
[Comments: 11,384]
rfmi**:**
I saw people online saying that even rare diseases with unknown causes start improving or get cured immediately after receiving Elixir. Is that real?
viae**:**
My mother suffered from an autoimmune disease for years. The moment she received Elixir, her complexion changed instantly. I honestly felt like I was watching magic. She was treated yesterday and declared cured today. I haven't seen her smile like that in years. I'm truly grateful to CEO Hyun Si-woo for developing such a medicine.
bisa**:**
My sister was badly burned on her face when boiling water spilled on her as a child. After applying the Skin Regeneration Agent, the scars were completely gone in just one day. She lived her whole life burdened by it. This morning she looked in the mirror and broke down crying. She kept saying how thankful she was to whoever developed this medicine.
vfdi**:**
Incredible. It makes me proud that a company capable of developing such groundbreaking drugs exists in Korea. I hope the government continues to fully support them.
***
[Two New Drugs Approved in Korea—Astonishing Effects Observed](Manhattan Times)
[Comments: 372,583]
Oh my God. Is that kind of efficacy really possible? This isn't fake news, is it?
It says the Korean regulatory authority officially approved them, so it doesn't seem like a lie.
Complete reconstruction of burn scars, treatment for rare diseases and even cancer—without side effects? These need to be imported immediately.
Agreed.Same here.
What is the FDA doing? Approve imports already!
Wait—Korea developed drugs this advanced?
Apparently a genius researcher emerged in Korea. He's the CEO of the company that developed them.
If this drug can treat my sibling, I'll fly to Korea myself if it's not approved in the U.S. soon.
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News that Luktic's new drugs had been approved in Korea spread rapidly across the globe, creating an enormous reaction.
That was only natural.
The Skin Regeneration Agent and Elixir could treat severe skin scarring and an astonishingly wide range of serious illnesses.
Through patients with severe conditions and their families—people who closely monitored global pharmaceutical developments—the rumors spread at lightning speed.
In the midst of this, Howard, Head of Overseas Product Planning at U.S. retail giant Target, finally pressed the detonator on the project he had poured his heart into.
The moment news of Luktic's drug approval began airing across U.S. media,Target stores nationwide began stocking Luktic products under Howard's orders, and online sales launched simultaneously.
At the same time, Target's marketing team initiated a massive nationwide campaign, emphasizing that products from Luktic, the company behind the world-shaking new drugs, could be purchased exclusively at Target.
Howard waited in extreme tension for the first day's sales data.
He was confident the products would sell—but the scale of the project had grown too large to wait calmly.
Because the Target Chairman had taken personal interest and ordered an expansion of the project, Target had imported hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Luktic products from the very start.
If sales underperformed, Target would be saddled with massive dead inventory—and Howard, as the project lead, could be held fully responsible.
In the U.S., getting fired was easy.
If a decision-maker told you to pack up and leave that afternoon, you'd be gone by lunchtime.
The pressure Howard felt was immense.
As dawn broke, sales data from retail stores and online servers nationwide was compiled and transmitted to headquarters.
Howard swallowed hard and refreshed the mainframe terminal.
By then, not only his team but even his superiors had gathered behind him, staring at the screen with tense expressions.
Tap—
The moment he pressed refresh, the previous day's nationwide sales figures appeared.
Two or three seconds of silence.
Then—cheers erupted as everyone understood what the numbers meant.
"Wow!"
"Yes—this is it!"
"Howard, congratulations! You really pulled off something huge!"
Only then did Howard let out a long breath of relief, finally smiling.
His strategy—to launch sales and promotion immediately after the approval news broke—had worked perfectly.
While Luktic's new drugs were becoming a cult-level topic online, Target's massive internet advertising had flooded users' screens.
People, curious about the company that developed such revolutionary drugs, flocked to Target's stores and website.
Add to that the word-of-mouth buzz about Luktic Cream, which had already been quietly spreading among younger generations on social media, and the effect multiplied.
On the very first day, nearly 10% of the initial imported inventory sold out.
Seeing the figure, a colleague said to Howard,
"Looks like we should hurry and place an additional order with Luktic. Haha."
Another colleague added with a grin,
"Congratulations, Howard. This is going to be your year."
Howard shook his head.
"Thanks, everyone—but this is only the beginning.Amazon and Walmart will definitely approach Luktic soon, offering better terms and asking for supply."
"That's true. Neither Amazon nor Walmart are easy opponents."
The United States—the jungle of capitalism.
And within it, the distribution industry was a battlefield of pure competition and ruthless survival.
Howard laughed lightly.
"Up until now, Target has usually held the upper hand in negotiations with suppliers.But when it comes to Luktic, I think we'll be the ones bowing our heads."
"…Yeah. Seems that way."
"Anyway, let's celebrate today.I've planned a party with the team tonight—make sure you and your team come."
"Is that so? Of course we'll be there. Haha.It's been a while since we really drank properly."
That day, Target's headquarters in Minnesota was filled with a festive atmosphere.
Soon after, the news reached Korea as well.
Reports flooded the media—Luktic's products were selling at an explosive pace in the United States.