Spring Has Come, Part 3
They call them bodyguards or security personnel, but in reality, they’re not much different from salaried gangsters operating under the guise of legality.
Of course, they’re not actual gangsters. Most of them are former bodyguards or military personnel, but aside from their security duties, they engage in quite a bit of illegal activity.
Will there ever be a time when I have to instruct them to do something other than security work?
“Why are you so startled?”
“It’s just… there are so many of them.”
“Don’t even think about adding more if you think it’s not enough.”
The knowing smile on my grandfather’s face suggests the allure of the illegal is quite strong.
Isn’t there a saying that fists are closer than the law?
When a problem arises, a single word can resolve it discreetly and efficiently. With fifty well-trained men at your disposal, the temptation to use them must be immense.
“Mr. Woo will prioritize your orders from now on. He’ll be available 24/7, so contact him whenever you need.”
“Will he handle anything?”
“Yes, he’ll take care of whatever you want. But remember one thing: don’t give them tasks that would hurt their pride.”
“Like cleaning up after women, drunk driving, or hit-and-runs?”
“You don’t even go near those things, so what are you talking about? Even if you did, the strategy team handles that.”
I know, but the memories from the past came rushing back, so I just mentioned it.
“Honestly, I can’t even imagine what kind of tasks I’ll be assigning to Mr. Woo.”
“That’s good. If you never have to call Mr. Woo, it means everything’s going smoothly. But, Do-jun.”
“Yes?”
“What if you’re driving safely and some lunatic crashes into you from behind? What would you do?”
“I’d call the insurance company and report it to the police.”
“Exactly. Mr. Woo is like your insurance company.”
“So, he’ll make sure I don’t suffer any unfair losses.”
“Not just that. If used wisely, he can make someone else go mad with frustration.”
My grandfather chuckles as he says this, the epitome of a villain.
“But, Grandpa.”
“What? Still have questions?”
“How much can I trust Executive Director Woo Byung-jun?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, my grandfather replied.
“He’s the kind of person who would take your darkest secret to the grave. Does that answer your question?”
“Got it. I’ll make good use of him.”
“And there’s something you need to prepare for as well.”
“Yes, please tell me.”
“Since we’re splitting the group, we’ll need to divide the legal team too. What do you think? Should I send a few your way?”
The group’s legal team consists of people who received scholarships from my grandfather and later joined the group after abandoning their legal ethics. They’re nothing but money-grubbing opportunists.
I’ve never seen any of them with exceptional skills.
So, the legal team mainly handles internal matters, and when a big case arises, they end up outsourcing it to a large law firm.
Since they’re not my scholarship recipients, they’re more likely to be spies for my uncles. They’re more of a hindrance than a help.
“No, thank you. I graduated from the top law school in Korea. I’ll assemble my own legal team.”
“Alright, do as you see fit.”
My grandfather looked a bit surprised but didn’t say much.
“Alright then, off you go. You must have a lot to do…”
“No, I have plenty of time today. You’ve given me such a great graduation gift; it wouldn’t be polite to just take it and leave.”
“Really? Then how about a drink?”
“You should think about your health. I’ll have the car prepared.”
“You rascal. It’s your graduation today. We should at least have a celebratory drink, don’t you think?”
“Alright, just one glass of wine. Only one.”
But one glass turned into a bottle, and we ended up chatting until dawn before I headed home.
Vice President Jang Do-hyung presented three personnel cards.
They detailed the pasts of the candidates for the CEO positions of the securities, insurance, and card companies.
I started by examining the candidate for the card company.
“Everyone knows this company won’t last long. Do you think this person would want to take the CEO position?”
“That’s why we selected someone very carefully. This person can stabilize things when the atmosphere is chaotic.”
The way he glanced at me suggested he was hiding something.
Is this the network my grandfather mentioned?
“If we sell the card company, will they take him? The day the sale contract is signed, won’t he be out of a job? I doubt they’d accept him…”
“So, we promised him a position as Vice President of Sunyang Life after the sale. He accepted gladly, saying he’d work to maximize the company’s value until then.”
I could see the picture.
Vice President Jang Do-hyung likely chose someone close to him and offered the position as a favor. The final position as Vice President of Sunyang Life is a guaranteed promotion, isn’t it?
By making such appointments, he can demonstrate his power across the group, killing two birds with one stone.
Should I put a stop to this, as my grandfather suggested? It’s time to curb Jang Do-hyung’s enthusiasm.
“That’s not going to work.”
“What?”
“Executives need to understand clearly. They should always remember that the CEO position is the final stop. Moving from CEO of the card company to Vice President of Sunyang Life is essentially a promotion. In our company, Sunyang Life’s status is on par with Sunyang Electronics.”
“Director, if that’s the case, appointing someone as CEO of Sunyang Card is no different from firing them. They’ll all resign the moment they’re appointed.”
“That’s perfect.”
“What?”
“Appoint those we need to let go as CEOs. It’s convenient to receive their resignations without any hassle, isn’t it?”
Vice President Jang Do-hyung couldn’t hide his discomfort. His plan had been completely derailed.
“The CEO position at Sunyang Card is essentially a guillotine. After clearing out the executives who are a liability, you should oversee the sale, Vice President Jang.”
“Me?”
“Yes. The most urgent and important issue for us right now is the sale of the card company, isn’t it? Why? Are you not confident?”
“No, I’ll take care of it.”
Did that hit a nerve?
If he tries to be clever, I’ll make sure he faces setbacks like today. After a few more stings like this, being cautious will become second nature, and then I’ll let him loose.
“And about the candidate for Sunyang Securities CEO. Why did you choose a senior manager? There’s a vice president available.”
“Ah, that vice president has deep roots in Sunyang Trading. He must have a close relationship with Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki, don’t you think?”
“If we go by that logic, shouldn’t we clear out most of the executives? They’ve all spent time in subsidiaries managed by my uncles.”
”…”
“I’ve already made it clear that there will be no parachutes. Looking at his career, he’s led several successful projects. We shouldn’t insult someone with such achievements. He’s more than capable of running the securities company. Promote the vice president to CEO.”
“Yes, understood.”
Vice President Jang Do-hyung’s voice was subdued.
Have I tightened the reins enough?
When March arrived, bringing with it the warmth of spring, my brother Sang-jun finally left home. My mother was worried about him not finding a decent job, but my father didn’t seem concerned at all.
Instead, he was more focused on making my mother promise something.
“Don’t worry about a grown man. He’ll find a way to make a living. Just don’t send him money or anything like that. Promise me!”
But Sang-jun had already confided in me that he had found a job.
He was keeping it a secret from our parents because he was worried that if he told them, our father, who pretended to be indifferent, would investigate, and the same cycle would repeat.
“Have you found a place to live? I can help you get a studio apartment!”
“No need. I found a one-room villa near the company’s recording studio. It’s not bad.”
“How’s the company? Is it alright?”
“It’s a new company, so it’s a bit shaky. But the CEO knows music well. That’s why he hired me. He was really impressed that I studied producing and sound engineering in New York.”
“Knowing music and running a business are different things.”
“The direction is good. Instead of exploiting and discarding flashy idols, the goal is to nurture musicians who may not explode in popularity but have lasting appeal. It suits me.”
“Alright. I’m sure you made the right decision. By the way, what’s the company’s name?”
“Time Music. They said they named it that because they aim to create music that remains vibrant over time.”
“Okay. Just because you’ve moved out doesn’t mean you should stop calling. Let’s keep in touch.”
Sang-jun gave me a look of disbelief.
“You take care of yourself. How come when I call, your secretary answers? Do I need to schedule a call in advance?”
“Ah, sorry… That won’t happen again. I was just really busy then.”
“Sure, whatever. I’m off.”
After seeing my brother off, I returned home to find my father waiting with a question.
“When are you moving out?”
“Soon. The interior work is still ongoing. Once it’s done…”
“Interior work? Where did you get a place?”
“I bought a mixed-use building in Seocho-dong.”
“Is it one of those penthouses or something?”
“How did you know?”
“Really?”
My father looked at me with wide eyes, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“It’s not one of those ultra-luxurious penthouses over a hundred pyeong, is it? With a home bar and a Japanese-style mini garden… like something out of a drama?”
This time, I was the one surprised.
“Have you been investigating me? How do you know so accurately? Oh, there’s no bar. But part of the rooftop can be used as a yard, so I’m turning it into a garden…”
Now my mother joined in, her curiosity about the house overshadowing any sadness about her youngest moving out.
“How big is it? A hundred pyeong?”
“The house is about 120 pyeong, and the rooftop garden is 70 pyeong. Originally, there were four rooms, but we knocked them all down to create a studio, which took longer than expected. Some of the materials haven’t even arrived yet.”
“Are you talking about imported materials?”
“Yes. I plan to live here for a long time, so I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. I hired an American company for the interior and a Japanese contractor for the garden.”
My father’s face lit up. Without even asking how much it all cost, he suddenly clapped his hands together.
“That’s great. Just from hearing about it, it sounds like a luxurious, high-end studio, right?”
“Uh, yes. You could say that.”
“When will the construction be finished? Can I take a look?”
“Of course. I was planning to invite you and Mom over once it’s done. But why do you ask?”
A sense of unease began to creep in. My father’s expression wasn’t because he was happy about his son living in a nice house. He definitely had something else in mind.
“Ah… it’s nothing. It’s just that in dramas, there’s always a scene with a house like that. We film a lot of stories about chaebol heirs, you know. We could use your place from time to time. It’s not a set, so it would feel more authentic, and we’d save on building costs.”
I knew it. Something was definitely up.
“No, that’s not happening.”
“What?”
Ignoring my father’s gaze, I turned to my mother.
“I’ll give you the door lock code, so you can come by yourself.”
I just want to end a long day and enjoy some peace and comfort on my own.