Mutual Interview 2
“You could interpret it that way. But does that mean I’m better than my uncle just because of that?”
“There’s more. I have quite a few connections in Yeouido myself. Some of them say, ‘Jin Do-jun is the future of Miracle. If he takes full control, the Korean financial market might dance in his palm.’”
“Who’s spreading such nonsense?”
“You’re modest. Haha.”
Jang Do-hyung let out a hearty laugh.
“My connections aren’t limited to Yeouido. I have friends from my Yale days who are now on Wall Street. They say there’s a ‘Miracle Boy’ at Miracle Investment—a genius in investments, especially with a knack for spotting the true value of startups. A flawless investor… goes by the name ‘Howard Jin.’”
Jang stared at me with sparkling eyes and asked, “Isn’t the Miracle Boy you?”
“No, it’s not.”
I answered without hesitation, and he looked visibly taken aback.
”…”
“I am an investor in Miracle America. When I was young, CEO Oh Se-hyun invested the money from selling my family’s ranch in the U.S. It grew significantly. That’s probably why such rumors are circulating, but I’m no investment genius.”
“So, are you Howard Jin or not?”
“Could be, or maybe not. People at the U.S. headquarters sometimes call me Howard. That’s all there is to it. So don’t put me on a pedestal, and don’t think of partnering with me under the illusion that I’m some investment prodigy.”
“I haven’t made any decisions yet. I’m just relieved that you’re in charge of our financial division instead of the two vice-chairmen.”
“Then you’ll need to protect me. The two vice-chairmen are eagerly… no, blatantly trying to push me out and take over the financial subsidiaries.”
Jang Do-hyung seemed to finally grasp the full meaning of my earlier warning about threats and temptations.
“If I make the wrong choice, I’ll end up in the eye of the storm.”
“You’re already in it.”
“That’s my answer. Now, I’ll wait for the decision of the chooser.”
He’s a sharp man.
If he had decided not to walk the same path as me, I would have drawn my sword immediately. If he hadn’t left the door open for choice, we wouldn’t have talked for so long, nor would he have brought up my situation.
From the start, Jang Do-hyung had chosen me.
Now, I need to make him feel that he made the right choice.
“Design a plan to get a comprehensive view of our subsidiaries—life insurance, fire insurance, securities, and credit cards. When the company comes into my hands, we’ll execute it like lightning. Can you do that?”
“I heard the succession process will take a few more months. I’ll prepare.”
“I trust you’ll handle it excellently.”
“Director.”
“Yes?”
“I can’t pledge loyalty to a person. The reason I flattered President Yang Woo-chan was for my own advancement.”
A sudden suspicion crept in. Had he thoroughly investigated me? Had he heard somewhere that I believe precise transactions last longer and build more trust than loyalty?
“I understand. In two months, you’ll receive the same treatment as the highest-paid CEO of Sunyang Electronics, provided the plan you present is excellent.”
Jang’s mouth hung open, unable to even thank me.
“We’ll decide on the position later. I considered making a bold appointment initially, but I’ll decide after seeing the plan. Is that okay?”
“Of course. You’ve already made a groundbreaking offer. Thank you.”
“Save your thanks for when you’ve executed my instructions perfectly. It’s still undecided.”
I emphasized the word “instructions” deliberately, but Jang showed no sign of displeasure.
“Naturally. I don’t want rewards without results.”
Jang Do-hyung crushed his empty beer can and stood up.
“I have a lot to do, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Yes. Thank you for your time.”
We shook hands firmly.
“By the way, Director, I have one last question.”
“Yes, Director.”
“Aren’t you worried about working with someone as young as me?”
Jang tightened his grip on my hand and replied, “I believe in the miracle right in front of me. Haha.”
As the succession process neared its end, I was anxious but refrained from running to my grandfather.
How much of the group’s controlling shares would he grant me?
If he gave me exactly 20%, I wouldn’t ask for more.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Ugh… I’m probably the only crazy girl who thinks her boyfriend is cool for daydreaming at a celebration.”
“You’re crazier for saying that out loud. You should learn to keep some thoughts to yourself.”
“Being honest is my only strength. Why hide it?”
“You have another one. You’re pretty.”
“Even if I know it’s flattery, it feels good. Hehe.”
Seo Min-young smiled shyly and popped a piece of meat into her mouth.
“Now that the hard work is over, it’s time for even harder work, right?”
“Yeah. The first year at the Judicial Research and Training Institute is brutal. They say the bar exam is just the preliminaries, and the institute is the main event.”
“I’ll visit often.”
“I don’t expect much, but… I’ll trust you.”
Seeing her still bright demeanor made me feel a pang of guilt.
If I were just an ordinary rich kid in my twenties, I could have enjoyed a carefree youth with her. But I don’t have the luxury to think about such things.
Time flies by, and Sunyang’s corporate structure grows increasingly complex.
Right now, I’m here to celebrate Seo Min-young’s remarkable achievement of passing the bar exam while still in school, but my mind is filled with thoughts of share structures.
“By the way, isn’t there someone else who passed besides you?”
“Yeah, there are only two of us who passed while still in school this year. Me and Kim Ji-hoon. You know him?”
“Kim Ji-hoon? Who’s that?”
“You know, the guy who looks like a reservist.”
“Oh… right.”
I nodded, and Min-young chuckled lightly.
“But did you know Ji-hoon is younger than us?”
“Younger? A year younger than us?”
“Yeah. Isn’t that amazing?”
A guy who looks ten years older than me… It’s absurd. And what a sophisticated name he has. But he was one of those rare kids who went straight from being a child to an adult.
“What’s his career path? Prosecutor?”
“Probably.”
“And you’re aiming to be a judge, right?”
“Yeah. To get a position in the metropolitan area, I have to study like crazy and get good grades at the institute. Just thinking about it drives me nuts.”
Seeing Min-young sigh deeply, I thought I should cheer her up.
Isn’t today a happy day?
I handed her a prepared shopping bag.
“What’s this? A congratulatory gift?”
“Yeah. When you become a judge, carry this around. It’s a briefcase.”
She quickly rummaged through the bag.
“Wow… it’s beautiful…”
After examining the bag for a while, she started to stammer.
“Ermene… gildo? Zegna? How do you pronounce this?”
“Ermenegildo Zegna.”
“You know this stuff well. As expected of a chaebol.”
I smiled at her wide grin.
“I’m a department store shareholder, you know. I should know at least this much.”
How would I know such things? I asked my aunt to pick it out. She has the best eye, doesn’t she?
I handed her another small box.
“And what’s this?”
“The bag is for later, but you’ll need this soon.”
Min-young’s eyes sparkled as she opened the gift box.
“I’m giving it to you just in case. When you enter the institute, your parents will probably prepare one for you. Tell them you don’t need it.”
Min-young dangled two keys from her fingers and said, “I don’t have a driver’s license yet.”
“Get one before you start at the institute. You’ll need to drive between Ilsan and Seoul.”
“This looks like a master key.”
She held up another key.
“Yeah. I got an officetel near the institute. Don’t bother staying in the dorms. It’s a hassle, and there are too many guys around…”
“Are you worried?”
Not really, but isn’t it polite to play along today?
“Of course. Haven’t you looked in the mirror?”
“Shouldn’t you be more worried than me?”
“Don’t you know me? What do I have to worry about?”
She nodded, acknowledging that my life, shuttling between home and the office, is busier than most office workers.
“I told the department store staff your preferences. They’ve furnished it with everything you need, so you can move in anytime. Oh, and it’s a digital door lock, so reset the code.”
“I’ll set it to your birthday.”
“Can I just drop by unannounced? Hehe.”
“Be prepared if you do.”
“Prepared for what?”
“I might just pounce on you!”
Seo Min-young is… refreshingly honest.
Even the cold December wind didn’t feel harsh.
The tension wouldn’t leave my body, making me feel like I was radiating heat.
In front of me lay countless approval documents. Thick files stacked on top.
At the bottom of these documents was a signature line with my name, Jin Do-jun, keeping me on edge.
“Just stamp it, boy. Why are you scrutinizing it so closely?”
“Oh… yes.”
“Don’t worry about the numbers. The share structure is too complex to calculate at once. Once you stamp everything, I’ll let you know. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to stamp.”
“No, I will.”
I stamped my seal on the top few documents.
A kind of ceremony.
I handed my seal to the waiting staff member, who quietly left the study with the stack of documents and my seal in hand.
They would stamp those thick documents on my behalf.
“Aren’t you curious?”
Grandfather kept chuckling, watching me like a child eager to unwrap a present.
“I bundled four major financial companies with a few smaller subsidiaries. Threw in some group shares as a bonus.”
But how much exactly?
I suppressed the urge to shout, maintaining a calm expression as I waited.
“Your share in Sunyang Group is just ten percent.”
A mere 10%.
Grandfather didn’t miss the flash of disappointment that crossed my face.
“What? Is it not enough?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Look at you. Not ‘it’s enough,’ but ‘it’s fine’? Greedy, aren’t you…”
“Really, it’s enough.”
“Those subsidiaries hold the most assets in the group, you know that, right?”
What good is that? The controlling shares of Sunyang Group can’t be bought with money. They’re all held by unlisted companies.
“Didn’t you confidently say you’d build another Sunyang Group based on those subsidiaries and Miracle’s HW Group?”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
When I answered confidently, Grandfather got up and sat beside me.
“Dojun.”
“Yes.”
“You understand why I’m doing this, don’t you?”
Seeing the tender look in Grandfather’s eyes, any lingering resentment vanished.
“Yes, I understand.”
That precise ten percent.
It’s not enough for my uncles to risk a dangerous gamble to take my shares, yet too significant to ignore me.
It’s a number that invites them to treat me kindly, to draw me to their side.
I fully grasp Grandfather’s intention to keep me safe.
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
I held his wrinkled hands tightly.