Chapter 119: The Naïve and the Lifelong Guest, Part 1
Imagining a life filled with hobbies brought an involuntary smile to my face.
Noticing my father’s scrutinizing gaze, I quickly shifted back to business.
“Movies are our starting point, as I mentioned. We’ll secure both free and paid movie channels. From there, we’ll gradually expand.”
“Cable TV, huh…”
My father had never considered this before, so he neither agreed nor disagreed.
“Father, it’s not a distant future where cable channels will encroach on the territory of broadcast networks. Just look at the U.S.”
Basic cable channels like USA, TNT, FX, MTV, and Syfy, along with premium channels like HBO, Showtime, and Starz, are thriving.
In the U.S., they not only rebroadcast network shows but also produce original series.
These series will start sweeping the Golden Globes and Emmys post-2000. The U.S. is where cable channels lead the entertainment sector.
“Well, do you think our country can become like the U.S.? Even with just the three major networks, there’s already an overflow of content.”
“We need to compete with unique programs and well-made dramas. Even if a restaurant is tucked away, customers will find it if it’s good. The key to the channel business is quality content, isn’t it?”
“In theory, yes, but…”
“The market is just beginning to open. Ultimately, theory is what we must rely on and follow.”
My father fell into deep thought.
Though he’s not the most perceptive, I’ve said enough for him to catch on to whom I’m referring.
Yet, his response was unexpected.
“Do-jun, there might be people who claim they can make your plan work, who boast they can do it. But most of them are con artists. This industry is full of them.”
“So, you’re saying there’s no suitable person?”
He nodded.
“Unless you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, even forming an organization is tough. You need someone who can endure for at least ten years, reducing losses. Anyone claiming to make a fortune from the start is also a con artist.”
What should I do?
He’s not a con artist, has a clear perspective, and rose to the top of the Chungmuro power rankings in ten years, yet he can’t see through his son’s intentions.
“It seems the only trustworthy person is the one I had in mind.”
“What? You already had someone in mind and still asked me?”
“Yes. No matter how much I think about it, there’s only one top candidate. I just wanted to see if you had someone else in mind.”
“Who is it? Is it someone I know? Surely, it’s not Oh Se-hyun?”
“Uncle Se-hyun is already overwhelmed with work. The person I have in mind studied management and economics properly in the UK, worked in the media field for ten years, and currently has a firm grip on Chungmuro.”
By now, he should have figured it out.
And he did.
His eyes widened, and he froze.
“I’m planning to invest heavily over the next ten years. I’ve already prepared for losses. I’m only thinking about the media empire we’ll complete in ten years. We’ll sow plenty now and start reaping in a decade. Oh, and DCN is preparing for a multiplex. We’ll start that once we acquire it.”
Producing quality content and securing spaces and channels to consume that content. The puzzle is simple, but it’s large.
And the simpler the picture, the harder the puzzle is to solve.
“Can I really do it?”
His expression and response were subtle.
He clearly has the desire, but is he hesitating due to fear of failure? Or is it the fear of losing his son’s, and a significant amount of, money?
I, too, am not entirely confident of success. My funds might not be enough to create a media group that dominates Korea.
Moreover, my father’s capabilities might not meet my expectations.
But what does it matter?
Money can be earned again, and failure will be another experience.
After all, the media empire isn’t my primary goal. This is for the joy of our family, something my uncles and cousins in the Sunyang family will never experience.
It’s enough for me to struggle alone in the fight for my grandfather’s inheritance.
I want my family to enjoy the thrill of conquering new territories.
In any case, I need to create motivation to boost my father’s lacking confidence.
“If you can’t do it, Father, then I’ll look for someone else. No matter what, no matter how much money it takes, I will start this plan.”
What father would stand by and watch his son get scammed by someone else?
“Do-jun, don’t rush. I need time to think. We need to see if there are people to join us, if talented individuals will participate. In media, creativity is more important than money.”
“Yes. Breaking ground in Sangam-dong is still a long way off. We’ll start once we acquire DCN, so take your time and think carefully.”
Seeing my father, his face flushed with excitement, I felt a sense of satisfaction. He looked like a young man brimming with more passion than me.
“Young-jun has been pulling funds from the subsidiaries.”
“I heard about that… Did he lose it all?”
“I’m sorry. I failed to teach him properly.”
Chairman Jin looked down at his eldest son, who had his head bowed, and sighed.
“Like father, like son, I suppose.”
Jin Young-ki felt humiliated, but Chairman Jin meant something entirely different.
“Isn’t it because you take after me that your son’s education is a mess?”
No matter how he phrased it, it was still a reprimand.
“But, you know, Young-jun isn’t obsessed with making money, is he? Why did he suddenly dive into real estate?”
When Jin Young-ki hesitated to answer, Chairman Jin continued.
“Do you think I stayed quiet because I didn’t know about that development area? I was cautious because it was the first project by Choi’s son-in-law, and I didn’t want unnecessary rumors. But why did Young-jun suddenly get involved?”
“The truth is, he got the development information first.”
“Really? Did Choi’s son-in-law tell him? Or was it Seo-yoon?”
Jin Young-ki had the same thought. It was clear his sister had coaxed Young-jun through Do-jun, and Choi’s son-in-law had double-crossed them.
That was the scenario he envisioned.
But he couldn’t admit to his father that he was outsmarted by his sister.
“No, it seems Do-jun happened to see the development plan… They were having a drink, and the topic came up. Young-jun used Do-jun’s words as a clue and investigated further.”
“Do-jun?”
Chairman Jin’s reaction was sharp, and Jin Young-ki realized his mistake.
It seemed like he was accusing his cherished grandson.
“It was probably just a passing comment. The root cause is Young-jun’s greed.”
As he hastily explained, Chairman Jin cleared his throat.
“What’s done is done. No point in dwelling on it. The future is what matters.”
“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry too much.”
Chairman Jin was skeptical of his eldest son’s confidence. He thought this might not be an easy issue to resolve.
“Young-ki.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to see my eldest son being outsmarted by his sister.”
When Jin Young-ki heard the very words he feared, he responded as if he had been waiting for them.
“I told you I’d handle it. It won’t happen.”
“Alright. You can go.”
Jin Young-ki left the study with a bright expression, relieved that it ended without much reprimand.
As soon as the door closed, Chairman Jin’s eyebrows twitched.
“What should I do? At his age, he still can’t sense who’s aiming an arrow at him. Good grief.”
As soon as the name Do-jun was mentioned, Chairman Jin knew who had crafted the scenario. It was surprising to see his grandson starting to show his claws.
And it made him uneasy.
If Do-jun had written the scenario, it was unlikely to end here. The climax hadn’t even arrived yet.
Chairman Jin felt uneasy because he didn’t know how this scenario would end.
“Brother, I mean, senior… Oh, Mayor.”
“Enough. Just call me brother. No need for formalities.”
The men visiting the Seoul Mayor’s office seemed a bit tense.
“So, did you find out anything?”
“Yes. As soon as you held the press conference, the prosecutor’s office was in a frenzy trying to identify the land buyers.”
“It was that bastard Jin Young-jun, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. As expected, the third generation of chaebols is different. It’s a complete sweep. Not under his personal name, but through two corporations where he’s the major shareholder.”
“And the source of the funds?”
“Of course, it’s Sunyang Group.”
Mayor Choi smiled with satisfaction.
“Got him, didn’t we?”
“But the prosecutor’s office is keeping it quiet. If they dig deeper, they could definitely charge him with embezzlement or breach of trust, but as soon as Sunyang’s name came up, they covered it up.”
“Those bastards are all Sunyang scholars. They have to repay the favor for the money they received.”
When the word “money” came up, the men looked uncomfortable.
“But brother, we also received money from Sunyang through you. We can’t expose it ourselves, can we?”
“I’ll do the exposing. You guys are just being dragged along. And don’t worry. My father-in-law would never blab about the money he gave. He’ll just cut off your funds. You know well that no one has ever gotten into trouble for taking Sunyang’s money.”
Even after reassurance, their expressions remained sour, likely due to the impending loss of funds.
“You fools! I’ll make up for it, so cheer up.”
“Thank you, brother.”
They scratched their heads awkwardly and bowed.
“This time, we’ll catch both. We’ll get Jin Young-jun and the one who covered for him. And you guys will take their place.”
“The one you’re referring to is the chief prosecutor. It’s tough. Maybe just end it with Jin Young-jun…”
“Do you think the Seoul Mayor is a pushover?”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“Listen carefully. When the mayor takes the mic, the media and broadcasters amplify his voice. Right now, the prosecution and the Ministry of Justice are aligned with the ruling party. I’m going to demand a thorough investigation and a special prosecutor, working closely with our opposition party. My nephew will hire a lawyer and dodge the embezzlement charges by claiming it was a business-related land purchase.”
“Then is there really a need to make a fuss…?”
“The goal is to remove the prosecution that’s been covering up and conducting sloppy investigations—essentially, to dismantle the ruling party’s influence. After the mayor’s term ends, the key is to build a foundation where the prosecution fully supports me in the next presidential election.”
“Oh…!”
“And that foundation is you guys, isn’t it? We need to firmly secure the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and the Central District Prosecutors’ Office under our control. Heh heh.”
“Are you aiming for the presidency?”
Hearing the rumors directly from Choi, the mayor’s former colleagues in the prosecution couldn’t hide their excitement.
He’s the closest anyone has come to being the first president from a prosecutorial background. It’s not an impossible feat.
“Yes. My first step towards the presidency is to step over my in-laws and clear out the prosecution. Just wait and see.”
“We’re looking forward to seeing when that first step will be.”
“Just wait. I’ll make my move next week.”
Mayor Choi leaned back comfortably in his chair.
He didn’t look like a son-in-law tiptoeing around his in-laws, but rather a confident prosecutor and a proud husband.