Chapter 157: Give and Take 5
“Not sure if you know, but I’m launching an entertainment channel in August. We’ll be showing movies and dramas, but also running entertainment news programs like celebrity gossip shows. Our first big story? A series on the scandalous lives of third-generation chaebols. Starring Young-jun and Kyung-jun. Imagine the ratings if both brothers appear together…”
Jin Yoon-ki paused, tapping his fingers thoughtfully.
”…I guarantee it’ll beat the hourglass drama.”
“Ky… Kyung-jun? Why him?”
Jin Young-ki couldn’t hide his shock at hearing his youngest son’s name. He’d been thinking about what position to offer him once he finished his studies abroad.
“You didn’t know? That kid’s shacking up in LA. With a Hong Kong actress named Jong Joo-in. She’s older, by the way.”
The LA branch had reported nothing unusual. Just that his grades were average and he was staying out of trouble.
Living with someone? And a Hong Kong actress at that?
Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki felt a tension building at the back of his neck.
“I hired thirty journalists for this entertainment channel. All seasoned paparazzi. They dug this up in just a month. Imagine what they’ll find with deeper investigation… Can you handle it, brother?”
The deliberate emphasis in Jin Yoon-ki’s voice made the threat even more menacing.
“Are you threatening me right now?”
Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki gritted his teeth, glaring, but Jin Yoon-ki remained unfazed.
“A fight over inheritance? Fine. I’m not saying don’t fight. In the old days, it was like conquering a country. How could you not fight? But don’t drag the kids into it. And don’t let it leak outside. Our father is still watching over us.”
With that, Jin Yoon-ki stood up.
“Save the family drama for a live broadcast after our father passes. And let me warn you again, if our Do-jun ends up eating soup at the prosecutor’s office again, all thirty journalists will be on your tail.”
As his youngest brother slammed the door on his way out, Jin Young-ki recalled something he’d long forgotten.
That even the seemingly mild-mannered youngest shared the same blood as him.
And another realization hit him.
“You! Is what he said true?”
He didn’t need an answer. The ashen face of his son was answer enough.
“You idiot!”
Smack—!
Unable to hold back, his hand flew up.
Leaving his son rubbing his stinging cheek, Jin Young-ki angrily picked up the phone.
“Get the secretariat, strategy office, audit office… Oh! And the head of management support. Everyone!”
Jin Young-jun could only watch his father slam the phone down, too terrified to even think of asking for forgiveness.
His father’s rage was that palpable.
Within five minutes, the door opened and people flooded in.
They took one look at the scene in the vice chairman’s office and instantly understood.
Seeing the son with his head hung low, they all wore expressions that said, “That brat’s done it again.”
“Strategy!”
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
“Listen carefully. From now on, assign two people to him. One reporter, one guard. Someone strong! Monitor him 24/7 and don’t let him go anywhere but home and the office. If he tries to slip away, break his legs if you have to. If he even steps into a café, the entire strategy office is fired. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Get out.”
The head of strategy quickly exited as soon as Jin Young-ki finished speaking.
“Audit office!”
“Yes.”
“Find every penny that brat’s spent since last year… no, since the year before. Don’t miss a single thing, even if it’s just a pack of gum. Especially if there’s any large cash spending, uncover it. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
The head of the audit office fled before he could be told to leave.
“Director Kang.”
The head of management support stood at attention when called.
“Freeze all of Young-jun’s cards. Lock his accounts, and find any hidden slush funds. If even a dime comes out of his pocket, you’re fired. Bring me his salary account. And what’s it called? Online transactions? Block all of those too. Understand?”
“You’re saying to stop him from spending any money?”
“Exactly. He can eat at home or in the company cafeteria. Even the rice he eats is a waste. Damn it.”
The last remaining secretary was almost eager to hear what severe order would come next. Such harsh measures were unprecedented.
“Go to the electronics division and relay my message clearly. Jin Young-jun is no longer my son. He’s just an employee. If he doesn’t perform or show his capabilities, feel free to send him to the Suwon factory. Got it?”
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
Jin Young-ki shouted at his son.
“Hey! What’s that girl’s name?”
“What? Uh… Kyung-hee. Lee Kyung-hee.”
He barely managed to say the name before lowering his head again.
“You heard that? She’s supposedly an actress. Dig up everything on her and her management company.”
“Do you mean investigate, or…?”
The secretary cautiously asked, and Jin Young-ki raised his voice again.
“Dig up and bury them! The girl’s a druggie, and the agency head’s a gangster. You’ll find something. Make sure they rot in jail for a few years. Got it?”
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
“Take him out and throw him to the electronics division.”
In the now-empty room, Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki could do nothing but sigh repeatedly.
Once his sighs subsided, he picked up the phone.
“Transfer the LA branch manager to somewhere like Africa immediately. What? How should I know which country in Africa? Just send him to some backwater place!”
His anger flared up again, but he still had one more thing to handle.
“Drag Kyung-jun back here by the scruff of his neck. Put him on a plane today, no matter what. Make sure he doesn’t slip away at the airport!”
Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki was determined to deal with his two sons.
“Jin Young-ki? The one from Sunyang?”
“Yes.”
Prosecutor Bae Jae-hwan of the Criminal Division paused, his glass of soju halfway to his lips, at the name mentioned by Prosecutor Lee Kang-sik.
“Are you out of your mind? Why? Are you trying to stir up trouble before you get sent to the provinces? Of all people, why him?”
“I’ve already got the ingredients. Take a look at this.”
“What’s this?”
Bae Jae-hwan opened the file Lee Kang-sik handed him.
“What company is this?”
“It’s Jin Young-ki’s piggy bank. They use it for internal transactions and as a slush fund channel. The overseas branch is a perfect offshore company.”
“Off… what?”
“An offshore company, a typical setup in a tax haven.”
“You show-off! Just call it a shell company!”
“Anyway, that’s the list of companies. With clear targets, the investigation will be straightforward.”
“Then? Was it hard before? Didn’t you investigate because the materials were lacking? You couldn’t because there were too many covering it up! There are people you can touch and those you can’t. Don’t you know that?”
“We just need to investigate. They’ll handle the rest. What do you think?”
“Don’t throw around ‘we’ so lightly.”
Bae Jae-hwan tossed the file aside.
“Tell me why you’re doing this nonsense. What’s going on?”
“I was going to tell you anyway.”
Prosecutor Lee Kang-sik recounted his conversation with Jin Do-jun in detail, adding some embellishments to ensure he conveyed the certainty of a promising future.
“I promised at least five billion. Just one year as a lawyer, and you’ll hit the jackpot.”
“This guy’s got his head in the clouds. Have you lost it? Who in their right mind would pay such a fortune just for a little investigation and promise a future?”
“You say that because you don’t know chaebols. Honestly, I just realized. They support each other, pulling strings and all… It’s all to keep these money sources within their circle.”
Prosecutors who cover up chaebol-related cases, destroy evidence, and even use extreme measures like deferred prosecution to protect them.
If they make a mistake, they risk not only losing their prosecutor’s badge but also their lawyer’s license. Yet they don’t hesitate because they’re promised tens of billions in annual salary and a move to the legal team of a major chaebol corporation.
“Let’s be honest, sir. Isn’t chief prosecutor the end for us? Even if we’re lucky, it’s deputy chief prosecutor. Has anyone from the non-mainstream ever risen above chief prosecutor? Our last stop is opening a practice in our hometown, isn’t it?”
“So? Are you suggesting we use a college senior as a sponsor for our retirement plan? You’ve lost your mind.”
“Just meet him. You’ll change your mind once you do. He’s young, but he’s no ordinary kid. And if you say no, I’ll just quietly settle down in Cheongju.”
Prosecutor Bae Jae-hwan silently drank, considering Lee Kang-sik’s earnest gaze.
“How many are there?”
“There are about five or six in the Southern District Prosecutors’ Office. If you include Gyeonggi Province, the number increases.”
“300, 50, and the rest. Is that right?”
Hearing the exact ratio, Prosecutor Bae Jae-hwan seemed a bit surprised but remembered which side I was on.
“That’s right. The high-ranking positions in the prosecution and judiciary are filled with 300 from Seoul National University, 50 from Korea University, and a few others. You know it well.”
“My seniors proudly told me when I was a freshman. Without a hint of shame.”
“What’s there to be ashamed of? We’re alumni…”
“People who aren’t worth a damn sell their family, their seniors, and their alma mater. Those who believe in themselves don’t talk about such things.”
Director Bae Jae-hwan’s expression shifted slightly. As a rare third-generation chaebol, I must have seemed a bit refreshing to him.
“If you’re looking to make connections in the prosecution, you might want to start with the mainstream. Is there any bond stronger in Korea than university alumni? If you set your mind to it, Mr. Jin Do-jun, you could easily build relationships.”
“When you say the mainstream of the prosecution, you mean those so-called political prosecutors, right? They look after their alumni because of money, nothing else. When the time comes, you can just buy them off. There’s no need to rush.”
“Is it because there are people wealthier than you pulling their strings? Like Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki, for instance?”
“Exactly. Once they realize I’m on par with the Vice Chairman, they’ll naturally gravitate towards me.”
“So, you’re starting with the non-mainstream for now?”
This guy, really?
He doesn’t know who’s who or what’s what yet. Whether it’s testing the waters or tasting the dish, I’m always first.
“Director Bae.”
“Yes.”
“Even my grandfather, the chairman of Sunyang, doesn’t promise a future to a prosecutor just for conducting an investigation. The prosecutor has to use their power to protect him to earn a rosy future. As you might have heard from Prosecutor Lee Kang-sik, I promised a future just for finding some evidence I needed.”
”…”
When I lay it all out, Director Bae is left speechless, like a mute who swallowed honey.
“Isn’t this a bargain? Walking into this office means you’re here to sell, and I’ve offered a generous price. Let’s settle the deal. You call them professionals, right? Then let’s conduct this transaction professionally.”
I don’t need someone pretending to be a prosecutor. I need someone who’s a thorough businessman. A true businessman never turns their back on a profitable client.