RR 34
[034] Mine 1.
When I went out to the garden to get the newspaper, I ran into my father in a suit.
“Oh? Dad. Where are you going?”
“Ah, it’s opening today. I’m going to the theater to check the situation and then come back.”
I laughed watching my father’s back as he hurried out, like an office worker who had missed his commute.
My father, who had never really worked in his life, was belatedly putting his full effort into work, and today he would be evaluated.
The theater wouldn’t open that early in the morning, but he must have thought it was better to wait in front of the theater than to loiter at home.
I completely understood that feeling.
Sitting in the living room, after reading all three newspapers, I felt that something was seriously wrong.
This was planned. All newspapers attacking Ajin Motors?
Since the morning papers started it, it was obvious that tonight’s TV news would inflate the story even more. If this happened two or three more times, an official investigation would begin, and the media would sharply jab at Ajin Motors even more…
Why now?
I didn’t remember anything from ’91.
However, the shockwave of the foreign exchange crisis, which began in ’97, hit Ajin Motors, and after ’98, Daehyun swallowed Ajin.
Could it be that such a future had cracked? Had something started to change?
Or was it just a periodic attack on corporations? Was it simply part of the government’s efforts to tame businesses?
I folded the newspaper and approached my mother, who was preparing breakfast.
“Mom. When are we going to Grandpa’s house?”
“Tomorrow. Why?”
“Then can I go alone first?”
My mother’s hands, which were preparing breakfast, stopped.
“Why? Is something wrong? Did Grandpa ask you to come first?”
“No. It’s just that once I go to middle school, I won’t be able to visit him often.”
“Pffft, really?”
My mother chuckled lightly and shook her head slightly.
“Alright. Eat breakfast and go first. Make Grandpa happy.”
“Okay. Oh, Mom, aren’t you going to the theater? It’s opening day today.”
“What if the theater is empty with no audience? I’m too nervous to go.”
I couldn’t tell her to go without worry.
I had no information about my father’s movie. It might be too old to remember, or it might be a movie that never existed in the first place.
I had only given him an opportunity, and how he would live the rest of his life was his choice. Just observing without interfering was also one of my pleasures.
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The Desert Storm in Chairman Jin’s Study
“Oh, our Do-jun. You’re growing so much every time I see you. Good, good. Haha.”
He no longer picked me up. No, he couldn’t. I was growing much faster than he was aging.
“My dear, Grandfather has work to do. Will you be alone for a little while?”
“Yes. I’ll be in the living room.”
The uneasy feeling kept growing.
The article that broke right before the holiday, and the many people gathered in the study. Just by looking at the neatly arranged shoes at the entrance, there were almost ten people.
Grandfather wasn’t so harsh as to keep people tied up right before a holiday. There was also no reason for them to gather in the study just to watch someone else’s misfortune from afar.
Could what was supposed to happen seven years later be happening now?
What conversations were taking place in that study right now?
I waited anxiously.
Contrary to Do-jun’s expectations, the study was abuzz with a spectacle.
Not the spectacle of a neighbor’s misfortune, but the spectacle of another country’s misfortune, with the flamboyant name Operation Desert Storm.
On January 17th, the war began as a multinational force led by the U.S. military unleashed Tomahawk missiles on Iraq, aiming to drive out Iraq, which had invaded Kuwait last year.
While devastating the equipment and command system of the 600,000-strong Iraqi army and causing 70,000 casualties, the U.S. military only lost 294 personnel. Among them, 145 died in accidents, 149 were actual combat casualties, and 35 of those were victims of friendly fire.
Unlike the U.S. military, which suffered so few casualties, the Iraqi army’s death toll was estimated at around 20,000, and including the wounded and prisoners, it reached 70,000.
Rumors began to circulate that Iraq was withdrawing from Kuwait in the face of overwhelming firepower, and the war was nearing its end.
“When is this going to end?”
“They say it won’t be more than a week. I hear the U.S. and U.K. are already discussing post-war reconstruction projects.”
“What about our country? What’s the government saying? Is there any possibility of us getting involved?”
Chairman Jin’s furrowed brow already showed that he had given up hope.
“The Middle East branch and European subsidiaries are moving quickly, but government-level involvement in reconstruction projects seems difficult.”
“Then we’ll have to align ourselves well. That way, we can at least build a toilet in the desert and get a few drops of oil. Don’t you think?”
This was an instruction to secure reconstruction projects and oil from the Middle East boom. The presidents of the construction and refining companies looked at the chairman and bowed their heads.
“We will do our best.”
“Can I trust you?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
He clearly didn’t find them very trustworthy, but he didn’t want to say anything harsh before the holiday. He quickly moved on to the next agenda item.
“You all saw the newspaper today, right? That’s the Scud missile. We’ll be concentrating firepower and pouring more into it, then sending in the occupation forces. Are you ready?”
They all replied in low voices, with grim faces. The acquisition of Ajin Motors was Sunyang Group’s biggest project this year.
“Occupation forces” referred to funds. After gathering as much capital as possible, they would swiftly acquire shares under nominee names once the chairman gave the signal.
Once a certain amount was secured, and the government provided overt or covert support, they would proceed with the M&A like lightning.
Of course, it had to be finished quickly, like Operation Desert Storm.
“You may all leave. Go to your hometowns, perform ancestral rites, give your children pocket money, and rest well.”
Everyone stood up and bowed to the chairman.
“Happy New Year and please stay healthy, Chairman.”
They seemed ready to perform a deep bow, but it was fortunate the space was small.
In the study, after everyone had left, only Lee Hak-jae and Vice Chairman Jin Yeong-gi remained, putting their heads together.
“How much have you gathered?”
“We’ve acquired 7.4%. We’ve spread it around Myeongdong under nominee names, so no one will notice.”
As Lee Hak-jae spoke cautiously, Jin Yeong-gi handed him a few reports.
“This is the production line adjustment plan.”
“The core of it?”
“We’ve decided to move towards selling the truck line.”
Chairman Jin carelessly flipped through the report, then tossed it onto the desk.
“Are you confident?”
“Yes?”
“I mean about Ajin. Are you confident you can put it in your pocket?”
Jin Yeong-gi nodded without the slightest hesitation. Anyway, saying it’s impossible or that he’s not confident would only make him look foolish.
“As you said, Chairman, it’s the best way to achieve second place in the industry. After acquiring Ajin, I will aim for first place domestically.”
He wasn’t entirely convinced by his son’s bold claims, but what could he do? He was his eldest son, destined to inherit most of what he owned.
“Then from now on, you take charge. Consult well with Chief Lee and acquire Ajin within this year. If you succeed, I will give you all of the automobile shares.”
Jin Yeong-gi looked at Chairman Jin with an incredulous expression.
Sunyang Motors’ shares were mostly held by the holding company anyway. Giving him the automobile shares meant transferring the holding company’s shares intact, which was no different from handing over the entire group.
Lee Hak-jae was equally startled.
To decide on succession so suddenly!
“Why? You don’t want it? Or are you not confident?”
“Ah, no. Father! Thank you!”
Chairman Jin stood up abruptly and gave a bitter smile as he watched Jin Yeong-gi bowing repeatedly.
“You may leave too. Don’t make mistakes and take good care of things. Don’t come early tomorrow; just come on Lunar New Year morning, perform the ancestral rites, and leave. You have no time to spare.”
“Yes, Father.”
As soon as Jin Yeong-gi left, Lee Hak-jae spoke.
“That’s a huge New Year’s allowance.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“It’s no different from making a full announcement about the group’s succession, isn’t it?”
“What?”
Chairman Jin’s eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Isn’t it?”
“I said I’d give him only the automobiles, not Sunyang.”
Now it was Lee Hak-jae’s turn to be speechless.
“If I just transfer about half of the automobile shares held by the affiliates, defending management rights won’t be a problem. That’s all I meant. Of course, even just the automobiles are a big allowance.”
“Oh, the Vice Chairman will be very disappointed, then, won’t he?”
“Did he really take it that way?”
“Yes. I thought so too.”
“Puhahaha!”
Chairman Jin laughed, even hitting the desk.
“Goodness… Now that Yeong-gi, he’ll be charging in with fire in his eyes.”
Lee Hak-jae breathed a sigh of relief at Chairman Jin’s laughter. The succession issue, which would be the most important decision in Sunyang Group’s history, needed to be handled more carefully.
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A Realization
“Grandpa, are you working even during the holidays?”
“What can I do? I have a lot of work. But it’s all done now.”
As I entered the study, Grandpa was tidying up the newspapers on his desk. Seeing the Ajin Motors article, it was clear that Ajin must have been the topic of today’s meeting.
“But my eldest uncle seemed to be in a good mood. He was laughing as he left…”
“Really? It must be because it’s the holiday.”
Judging by his slight smirk, something was definitely up.
I couldn’t miss the opportunity to look at the newspaper. I needed to act as if I was just asking because it caught my eye, and check the Ajin Motors article.
“Grandpa.”
“Yes?”
“I have a question.”
“Yes, tell me.”
“The one in the newspaper…”
But I couldn’t finish my question. Because the title of the thick report lying under the newspaper caught my eye.
「The Necessity of Restructuring the Domestic Automotive Industry and Government Support Measures」
Damn it.
So, the mastermind behind all this was Grandpa!
What on earth was going on?
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Ajin Motors Under Siege
Despite the upcoming holiday, Song Hyun-chang, the president of Ajin Motors, could not leave his office.
All major daily newspapers had criticized his management style as dictatorial, and some even questioned his ethics, mentioning embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds.
Because of these articles, the stock price had already hit its lower limit today.
He wanted to sue for defamation right now, but he had to avoid squabbling with the media.
All sorts of thoughts swirled in his head, but there was only one thing he had to do now.
It had to end here. He absolutely had to prevent it from escalating further.
President Song Hyun-chang continuously made phone calls.
But the media outlets insisted that the articles were based solely on tips, and the Blue House disengaged, saying they would not interfere with the press.
His subordinates also kept reporting, but all news was negative.
Someone had started an attack, but the enemy’s identity was shrouded in fog, and the reason for the attack was unclear.
The identifiable enemies were Daehyun, Woosung, Sunyang, and overseas automotive companies. There were certainly some companies that wanted to enter Korea using Ajin as a stepping stone.
All of them were much larger than Ajin Motors, with overwhelmingly superior financial power, making them difficult opponents.
Even in mid-winter, his body was so hot it was hard to bear.
Just as he was about to call his secretary to turn off the heater, the intercom rang.
“Chairman. You have a visitor.”
“Send them away! I said I’m not meeting outsiders today!”
“But…”
As the secretary’s troubled voice came through the intercom, the chairman’s office door burst open.
The secretarial staff was holding the arm of a man in a jumper who had opened the door and entered.
“Th-This… What the hell. What is this, a neighborhood hangout? Is this a place where just anyone can walk in? What are you guys doing? Get him out now!”
It was a moment so infuriating that vulgar curses burst out.
“President Song. Don’t you remember me? It’s Jo Dae-ho.”
“Who? Jo…? President Jo?”
Song Hyun-chang remembered Jo Dae-ho in a suit.
Wasn’t he the president of Sunyang Motors?
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