RR 20
[020] Too Much for Seed Money 2
“Chairman, under whose name is this land registered?”
“Whose? Do-jun’s, of course. Why? Are you worried about gift taxes?”
“Seeing your expression, Chairman, puts me at ease. Haha.”
“Hey! What’s a little tax compared to this? It’s a gift for my youngest grandson—do you think I’d try to cut corners on taxes?”
His face was filled with immense satisfaction.
It wasn’t just the joy of making over a hundred times the profit. It was the expression of someone who had discovered an extraordinary treasure.
Lee Hak-jae sensed that this incident would bring a significant shift in the Chairman’s mindset.
Sharp judgment, bold execution, diverse perspectives, groundbreaking ideas—these were the qualities of an exceptional leader.
But seeing such traits in a 12-year-old like Do-jun was rare. At most, one could only catch a glimpse of his potential.
What Chairman Jin was certain of in his young grandson was that he possessed an immense weapon: luck.
He had simply pointed at a spot on a map of the metropolitan area. The fact that this resulted in over a hundredfold profit could only be attributed to sheer luck.
No amount of skill or effort could surpass or defeat innate, extraordinary fortune.
“What are your plans now?”
“Plans for what?”
“If it’s confirmed as a new city development zone, there will be land compensation. If it’s the surrounding area, the land value will skyrocket…”
“That money belongs to Do-jun. I won’t take it back.”
“It’s not about taking it back, but shouldn’t that money be managed? It will be a significant asset for Do-jun in the future.”
“Me? Why me? He turned it into a hundred times its value in just a year. He’s far better than I am.”
Chairman Jin waved his hand dismissively, as if the idea was absurd.
“Then…?”
Surely, he wasn’t thinking of entrusting such a massive sum to a child?
Lee Hak-jae was utterly stunned.
“Let’s just give him the basics and leave him be. I want to see just how great his luck is.”
Lee Hak-jae, quick with numbers, had already done the math. The land compensation alone would amount to at least 16 billion won, possibly even over 20 billion.
That was nearly equivalent to the combined annual salaries of four thousand new college graduates.
Of course, it might not be a staggering amount for Chairman Jin. But even so, it was far too much to simply toss away just to test his grandson’s luck.
Did this mean he expected an equally extraordinary outcome?
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The New City Boom
On April 27, 1989, anyone with even a little spare cash rushed to Bundang and Ilsan without exception.
The government’s announcement of new city developments was no different from revealing a treasure map. It was only a matter of who would seize the opportunity first—land prices were bound to skyrocket, and the only question was how high they would go.
While the new city development sites were entirely subject to government compensation, the surrounding areas had limitless potential for appreciation. No one knew just how high prices would climb.
Landowners’ dissatisfaction over compensation erupted into collective protests, but in the end, settlements ranged from a minimum of 110,000 won to a maximum of 700,000 won per pyeong.
Secretary Lee Hak-jae handled the land transactions on behalf of the Chairman’s grandson.
Then, carrying a bankbook with a staggering sum, he visited Jin Yun-gi’s home.
“Yun-gi. It’s been a while.”
“Hyung-nim. What brings you here…?”
“What? You don’t look too happy to see me.”
Lee Hak-jae shook hands with Jin Yun-gi, maintaining his smile.
He was the only one in the family who addressed him as hyung-nim (older brother figure). Jin Yun-gi’s siblings treated him strictly as a subordinate.
He was the one Lee Hak-jae felt most attached to—and also the one he felt most sorry for.
“You’ve arrived, Chief Secretary?”
“As expected, your beauty remains as radiant as ever, sister-in-law.”
Lee Hak-jae offered a casual greeting and stopped her as she was about to leave after serving coffee.
“Please sit for a moment, sister-in-law. There’s something I need to discuss with both of you.”
As Lee Hak-jae’s smile faded, the two grew slightly tense.
“It’s about Do-jun. Nothing else.”
At the mention of their son’s name, their eyes widened. Lee Hak-jae quickly continued before their surprise could deepen.
“It’s good news, so there’s no need to worry.”
After reassuring them, he explained the ranch matter in detail—only to leave them even more astonished.
“What? 14 billion won? Good heavens! How could this be…?”
Jin Yun-gi was too stunned to speak, but his wife seemed more bewildered than surprised.
Well, expressions of shock and confusion often look similar, so Lee Hak-jae didn’t dwell on it.
When she had handed over the land documents to Chairman Jin’s secretary, she must have known the land was being sold—but she likely never imagined such an astronomical sum.
“This is compensation for 60,000 pyeong. There’s still 20,000 pyeong left, which will likely appreciate to around 10 billion won. We plan to sell that land when the time comes.”
Their eyes widened further.
“Anyway, the Chairman gifted the ranch lightheartedly, but since it turned into such an enormous sum, he’s extremely pleased.”
“Hyung-nim, what does Father say?”
“He said the money belongs to Do-jun, so he’s leaving it to him.”
“Does that make sense? He’s only in fifth grade! Entrusting such a huge amount to a child? Please tell him to take it back.”
“Dear.”
His wife quietly restrained Jin Yun-gi by grabbing his wrist.
Though she didn’t show it, Lee Hak-jae was inwardly surprised.
She was usually a composed woman who never drew attention to herself. For her to display even a hint of greed was unexpected.
“Why take it so seriously? Just deposit it in the bank. That’s all a child can do anyway.”
Lee Hak-jae understood Jin Yun-gi’s concerns. Hadn’t he seen countless lives ruined by money?
Then came an unexpected voice—Jin Yun-gi’s normally calm wife.
“Dear, this money might be all Do-jun ever gets. Father-in-law dotes on him now, but you know how unpredictable he is. We don’t know when Do-jun might fall out of favor.”
Lee Hak-jae saw the desperation in her expression. It wasn’t greed—it was the fear of missing what might be her child’s only safety net.
Jin Yun-gi had never once won an argument against his wife. This time was no different.
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The Seed Money and a Child’s Ambition
“Of course, for Do-jun, this is an unimaginable sum.”
This old man has the wrong idea.
Seeing me silently clutching the bankbook, blinking, he must think I don’t grasp the magnitude of the money. But the truth is, I’m calm because I already know what’s coming.
Well, objectively speaking…
How could a 12-year-old truly comprehend such an enormous sum?
“So, what happens to my ranch?”
My first question had to sound appropriately childlike.
“Unfortunately, we have to sell it. The government needs the land. The horses can be relocated to Jeju, or we can establish another ranch elsewhere.”
I was just starting to enjoy horseback riding… My time playing as a chaebol heir ends here.
With the seed money for the next phase secured, I’ll stop dabbling in real estate. I don’t have time to tie up funds in land and wait idly.
“What do you plan to do with that money?”
Lee Hak-jae pointed at the bankbook, but his eyes were filled with curiosity. However, I couldn’t reveal my plans just to satisfy him.
“They say money should be saved in the bank.”
Doesn’t that sound like something a child would say?
“Yes. Keep it in the bank until you’re an adult. Safely.”
The word “safely” carried an ominous weight.
It sounded like a veiled warning—that someone who seeks only safety and comfort could never lead Sunyang Group.
Currently, bank interest rates were as high as 10%.
With compound interest, the money would grow exponentially. It could double in no time. But I wasn’t foolish enough to settle for mere doubling.
Lee Hak-jae patted my head once before leaving.
Once his footsteps faded, I looked at the bankbook again.
14 billion won!
And even more was on the way. Thirty years from now, this money would easily exceed 100 billion won!
“Heh, heh…”
Suppressed laughter burst out, and I jumped on the bed like a madman.
I’d seen this kind of reaction in movies and always thought, No matter how happy you are, isn’t this too much? But now I understood—it was completely real.
It felt so good that I couldn’t stop bouncing, nearly breaking the bed.
“Gasp—!”
Suddenly, footsteps on the stairs.
I scrambled off the bed and dashed to my desk, opening a book and pretending to study. Just then, my parents walked in.
“Do-jun, can we talk?”
They were clearly going to bring up the money, and I wasn’t sure how to steer the conversation.
My parents were the only ones who could assist me in my long-term plans until I became an adult—or at least until I shed the label of being just a child.
But asking for their help wouldn’t be easy.
“Did Baek-bu-nim Hak-jae tell you?”
“Yes.”
I held out the bankbook, but my parents didn’t take it.
“What did you say you’d do?”
“I told him I’d save it in the bank.”
They both looked relieved. Perhaps they’d worried for nothing. What else could a child do but save money?
“For now…”
Their expressions shifted at those two words. For now?
“For now?”
“Why? Is there something you want to buy?”
“No. Mother buys me everything I need.”
“Then why ‘for now’?”
“Dear, let’s hear Do-jun out. What does he want?”
Father smiled and took Mother’s hand, reassuring her.
When they turned back to me, I smiled and spoke slowly.
“Father, Mother.”
Both stared intently.
“What… no, not what. What do you two want to do with this money?”
Seeing their shock—greater than I’d expected—I realized my mistake.
Had I been too hasty? Should I have revealed things gradually?
Excitement over the money might have made me rush.
I just wanted to know their thoughts…
Father stared at me sternly for a moment, then left without a word.
Mother sighed softly and squeezed my hand.
“Do-jun, Dad isn’t angry. He’s just surprised.”
He looked plenty angry to me.
And very surprised.
With nothing to say, I bowed my head slightly, and Mother stroked my back.
Silence lingered.
To ease the tension, I spoke first—I also had something I was curious about.
“Mother.”
“Yes?”
“By any chance… what happened to what I mentioned last time?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Ilsan, the new city…?”
The sudden surprise in her expression told me everything.
Ah-ha! She bought land.
Good. I don’t know how much she invested, but she’ll have a substantial emergency fund now.
For both men and women, financial security brings peace of mind. If this brightens Mother’s spirits, all the better.
“Oh… that? No, I wasn’t interested, so I forgot about it after hearing it in passing.”
“I see.”
A natural response—she wouldn’t discuss land purchases with a child.
Since subtle probing failed, I’d have to try another approach.
What should I do now?
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