The Era of Ordinary People 3
In 1980, the government initiated a plan to expand gas supply to promote the use of premium household fuels, leading to the emergence of numerous private city gas companies, particularly in the metropolitan and major urban areas. The city gas industry officially began on October 31, 1986, when a ship carrying 57,300 tons of LNG arrived at the Pyeongtaek terminal for the first time.
Household energy sources were rapidly shifting from coal briquettes and oil to natural gas. The Soviet Union, a resource giant, supplied 30% of Europe’s natural gas. Their infamous diplomatic tactic was to threaten to shut off the gas valves, a threat that was alarmingly effective. If the Soviets closed the gas valves, Europe would be plunged into cold and darkness.
The Soviet government controlled Gazprom, the state-owned enterprise responsible for the production, distribution, and sale of the country’s natural gas. Gazprom’s board was predominantly composed of high-ranking Russian government officials. If Sunyang could secure exclusive rights to import Soviet natural gas and supply it to private city gas companies, it would be akin to holding the keys to the Soviet gas valves. Such a monopoly would yield enormous profits.
Sunyang had long set its sights on objectives aligned with the current government’s northern policy.
“Yes, handle that matter as you see fit… But more importantly, Hak-jae.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“What do you think?”
The chairman subtly gestured towards a private room.
“Are you referring to Do-jun?”
When Chairman Jin nodded, Secretary General Lee Hak-jae smiled faintly.
“He’s promising.”
“Just promising?”
“I’ll reserve judgment for ten years. Even the most promising seedling can be uprooted by a single storm.”
“Are you talking about Do-jun’s father?”
Chairman Jin recalled a promising seedling that had been uprooted and blown away.
“Indeed, Yoon-gi changed after studying in England. He was quite capable.”
His voice was tinged with regret. Yet, Secretary General Lee Hak-jae, one of the few who could speak candidly to Chairman Jin, offered an even harsher opinion.
“Do-jun was born to an artistically inclined father and an actress mother. He might have the greatest potential for sudden change.”
“Do-jun’s mother is just a beauty. She became an actress because of her looks, not because she has an entertainer’s spirit.”
He wanted to ask on what basis the chairman made such judgments but held back. The chairman’s keen eye for people might be right.
Secretary General Lee Hak-jae shifted the conversation back to Do-jun.
“However, I can understand your fondness for him. He’s exceptionally bright.”
“It’s a pity. He’s too young. If he were the eldest grandson, it would be reassuring.”
The chairman’s voice was filled with palpable regret.
“Isn’t it enough if you stay healthy for a long time?”
“How many cousins does Do-jun have above him? Plus, there are three uncles and a great-aunt. It’s too much.”
His light sigh and shaking head spoke of the realistic challenges. No amount of money could hasten time.
“If he continues to grow as he is now, couldn’t he be entrusted with a few subsidiaries? If he grows the company significantly, wouldn’t that be a blessing?”
“If I hand over a few, my children won’t sit idly by. They’ll pounce like wolves and tear it apart.”
Would wolves just watch a cute puppy with a tasty piece of meat? With no father to protect the puppy, the outcome was obvious.
Knowing the nature of Chairman Jin’s three sons and only daughter, Lee Hak-jae realized his thoughts were futile.
“What about you?”
“Sorry? What do you mean…?”
“If Do-jun remains brilliant in ten years, whose side will you take? Young-jun, the eldest grandson, or Do-jun?”
Secretary General Lee Hak-jae clearly understood Chairman Jin’s intentions. He wanted to ensure his youngest grandson had enough to inherit and had chosen him as the young grandson’s protector.
“Whoever it is, I’ll stand by the Sunyang Group Chairman.”
Lee Hak-jae smiled, and Chairman Jin chuckled.
He liked this attitude.
He acted according to his own will, which aligned perfectly with the chairman’s, appearing as loyalty to others.
“Even if the chairman who succeeds me is less intelligent than you, could you serve him as you do me?”
“Even Zhuge Liang of Shu served an inept emperor with loyalty.”
“Because he was inept. He placed a puppet in front and ruled as emperor himself.”
“That’s harsh. You’re undermining Zhuge Liang’s loyalty. Haha.”
Lee Hak-jae laughed, but Chairman Jin did not.
His words revealed his sincerity.
Lee Hak-jae quickly stopped laughing and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry, Chairman.”
“For what?”
“I didn’t realize you thought so highly of Do-jun.”
Unable to meet the cold, unyielding gaze of Chairman Jin, Lee Hak-jae kept his head bowed.
“If Do-jun grows into a capable person, look after him. If I separate a few companies for him, my children will try to take them. Just prevent that.”
“I will remember.”
Only then did Chairman Jin’s stern face soften into a smile.
“So don’t die before me! Cut back on smoking and drinking, and take some vacations.”
“Accompanying you on overseas trips is as good as a vacation.”
Lee Hak-jae couldn’t shake off his tension.
He couldn’t rid himself of the anxiety that today’s mistake would haunt him.
On May 5, 1988, when a girl with the rather long name Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born into a single-parent family in Tottenham, North London, Chairman Jin Yang-cheol went on a picnic to Seoul Land, which hadn’t even opened yet, surrounded by all his relatives and staff.
How he managed it was a mystery, but Seoul Land’s official opening was still a week away.
Despite the chaos of last-minute preparations, numerous staff were on standby for the Jin family.
There were only 25 of us, but when combined with Sunyang Group’s staff and Seoul Land’s employees, there were over a hundred people.
I confirmed once more. They were truly selfish. Even my parents, who were the most humane among the family, seemed unaware of their own selfishness.
Most of the group staff likely had families and children. Judging by their ages, many were probably eagerly anticipating Children’s Day with their families.
Did any of them ever consider how those staff members felt?
Only I understood their feelings.
Though they were watching the every move of the chairman’s family, their minds were filled with thoughts of their children spending the day with just their mothers.
The guilt they felt towards their families and the hurt their children experienced.
In exchange, we were enjoying ourselves like this.
Seeing this absurdity with my own eyes, I couldn’t pretend to be happy.
“Do-jun, you don’t seem to be having much fun.”
Someone approached me with a smile.
Who was it?
He looked familiar.
“I work with your grandfather.”
“Are you a company president?”
“What? Haha. What should I do? I’m not a president yet. I’m the secretary general. It’s a much lower position.”
Secretary General? Could it be him?
“May I ask your name…?”
“Oh! You’re polite. You even know how to use the word ‘name.’ Right, since I know your name, you should know mine. I’m Lee Hak-jae, the secretary general of the group. Your father calls me ‘hyung,’ so you should call me ‘uncle.’ Don’t use my name. Haha.”
I stopped my slow steps.
He was the one Chairman Jin treated more like an eldest son than his actual eldest, Jin Young-gi.
Though his title was secretary general, his rank was equivalent to a president, and he was known to be a level above the presidents of Sunyang’s core electronics and automotive divisions.
In any matter, if Lee Hak-jae opposed it, Chairman Jin would automatically reject it. Even if Chairman Jin approved something, if Lee Hak-jae had a two or three-hour private meeting with him, the chairman would retract his approval, such was his influence.
When the second-generation succession structure was finalized, meaning when Jin Young-gi became chairman, Lee Hak-jae resigned and retired, so I knew little about him.
Rumors were divided.
The first was a heartwarming story that Jin Young-gi tried to keep him, but he declined even the position of group advisor, saying it was natural for people of the old era to step down when the world changed.
The second was quite different.
As soon as Jin Young-gi became chairman, he investigated Lee Hak-jae’s background. When Lee Hak-jae refused to hand over the enormous amount of nominee shares he held for Chairman Jin Yang-cheol, Jin Young-gi planned to expose his corruption.
But Lee Hak-jae was no pushover.
He claimed to have enough evidence of the Jin family’s illegal activities to set Sunyang Group on fire, forcing Jin Young-gi to surrender.
Whether Lee Hak-jae held nominee shares would remain a mystery forever, and the official announcement was that he retired with a hefty severance package.
This legendary figure was telling me to call him uncle.
“Yes, Uncle.”
I emphasized each syllable as I called him uncle.
No matter what, I needed to make this man a strong ally.
“But aren’t you going on any rides? Even the adults seem to be enjoying them.”
I saw not only my cousins but also adults gathered around the rides where Lee Hak-jae pointed.
“Can’t you see the other adults who aren’t enjoying themselves, Uncle?”
“Other adults? Who?”
Without a word, I raised my hand toward the spot Lee Hak-jae had pointed out.
Lee Hak-jae furrowed his brow, staring at the place for a long moment before turning his gaze back to me.
“Who? There’s no one there.”
As expected…
He’s already part of another world.
People who don’t belong to his world simply don’t register in his vision. As a perfect butler, he’s elevated himself to the status of a master, keeping servants and workers beneath him.
“I’m talking about the workers. Can’t you see them?”
For a moment, Lee Hak-jae’s eyes widened.
I felt a flutter of anxiety.
How would he interpret my words?