Securing Evidence 1
“I heard the kids messed up. I’m sorry, Director.”
“It wasn’t planned; it happened suddenly, so it must have been hard to handle. And… it was abroad, wasn’t it? There were language barriers too. Don’t worry too much.”
Seeing the stern expression on Executive Director Woo Byung-jun’s face made me feel even more uneasy.
“It’s not a big deal, so leave it to Manager Moon.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Now, shall we take a look at what I’ve messed up in the past, what misdeeds I’ve committed?”
Even though I knew it was nothing, my palms were sweaty.
Woo Byung-jun smiled slightly and pulled out a small notebook from his pocket.
“Director, you really are quite boring.”
I guess that means there’s nothing special?
“Your cousins caused quite a stir during their teenage years, but you were dedicated… no, focused solely on your studies.”
“Sounds like you’re saying nothing came up because I was focused on work during college.”
“Don’t be too sure of yourself.”
Woo Byung-jun flipped through the notebook with a sly smile.
“Tracking hidden accounts is impossible at the moment. All domestic accounts are open, and there are no accounts under false names. I must say, you’re quite wealthy.”
Oh, is he smiling? Would he have smiled like that if he had found hidden accounts?
“I don’t have any money hidden under false names. It’s all legitimately earned, so there’s nothing to hide.”
“Is that so? I find Miracle Investment in the U.S. quite suspicious, but it’s beyond my capacity to track, so I gave up.”
“Really? It’s the U.S. If you’re caught with financial misconduct, you’ll rot in prison for life. There’s no dirty money.”
“Then it must be legitimate money. The question of how much remains, but… anyway, there’s no vulnerable spot typical of Korean chaebols. I don’t think there’s anything that could be used against you.”
“So, does that mean there are other things that could be used against me?”
“There are some slightly unethical things, but nothing that could be used as leverage. Either you’ve hidden it well, or you’ve lived a restrained life from the start…”
“Which do you think it is, Executive Director Woo?”
“Probably the former? It’s quite difficult for a young man in his twenties with overflowing wealth to restrain his instincts.”
“I have a girlfriend, you know that, right?”
“Are you talking about the future judge who’s currently enduring a grueling schedule at the Judicial Research and Training Institute?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t it hard to meet even once a month? It’s almost strange to confidently call her your girlfriend.”
A peculiar smile played on Woo Byung-jun’s lips as he replied.
“Did you find something? You mentioned slightly unethical things?”
“Behind the Gangnam Sangnok Hall, there’s a place called Maui, a ten-pro establishment.”
“Haha!”
Laughter is the best way to hide embarrassment.
“You found that out? Impressive.”
“I was determined.”
“Pardon?”
“I wondered if it was possible to have nothing at all. Even after grilling the staff, they couldn’t find anything. So I changed my approach.”
“How?”
“I followed the person who spends the most time with you.”
“CEO Oh Se-hyun?”
Woo Byung-jun nodded with a smile.
“That’s his regular spot. He always uses it for entertaining.”
“So, you were sure I’d have a secret indulgence and investigated until it was revealed.”
“Exactly. I thought CEO Oh Se-hyun was the only one who could guide you in that direction. And I was right. You discreetly enjoyed it once or twice a month.”
“And that’s not enough to be used against me?”
“No. The dust I found is just this much. I assure you, no one else could find more.”
The purpose of this was not to find and cover up my weaknesses. It was to see if there was anything my uncle could use to counterattack when I found his weaknesses.
Now it’s clear there can be no counterattack.
And another thing, it was to assess Executive Director Woo Byung-jun’s capabilities… though it’s a bit ambiguous.
Finding the place called Maui is surprising, but not exceptional.
“Then let’s move on to the next task.”
“I’ve already started. I’m investigating three key figures who worked in the management support division at Sunyang Construction at that time.”
“Use what I’ve found as a reference. Focus on those who were in charge in December 1997 and January 1998.”
Executive Director Woo Byung-jun’s eyes gleamed.
“How did you know?”
“There were traces in the accounts. That’s how I found out.”
“From Malaysia, perhaps?”
“Yes.”
“I see. So it wasn’t a vacation after all.”
“It was a vacation. Finding out was just a bonus.”
Woo Byung-jun put the notebook back in his pocket and stood up.
“I’ll give you the first report in ten days. If there are any gaps, I might need more time.”
“There’s no rush, so don’t hurry too much.”
“It’s best to handle it quickly and accurately. I’ll make sure not to miss the core by rushing.”
I already know the outcome.
They embezzled company funds worth billions. All that’s left is to secure evidence… or rather, a witness who will bring the evidence.
When should I use Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki’s weakness?
Exactly ten days later, I sat across from Executive Director Woo Byung-jun in a Yeouido officetel.
The documents Woo handed me had two names listed.
Executive Director Lim Jong-yoon.
Manager Jung Kyu-hwan.
“During the IMF crisis, many were laid off, but these two were promoted. From director to executive director, from team leader to manager.”
“I see. It’s common sense to clean out the support departments during tough times…”
Production and sales are the two pillars of manufacturing, so they’re the last to be reorganized, but the support departments like management, finance, and general affairs are the first to face layoffs during a crisis.
Yet, in the midst of the IMF crisis, a director and a team leader from the overflowing support department were promoted? Especially Lim Jong-yoon, who jumped two levels from director to executive director.
It means he either had immense trust or accomplished something very difficult.
“There was no one else notable besides these two.”
“Did anything come up?”
“The construction field is always a mix of sand and cement, isn’t it? Just dusting off these two could build a house.”
Woo Byung-jun flipped through a few pages of the file.
“Executive Director Lim is running a manpower company. He supplies day laborers to Sunyang Construction’s apartment sites…”
“He must have inflated the number of workers.”
“Isn’t that a classic embezzlement method? But this guy went overboard. His brother is the company president, and they’re raking in tens of billions annually.”
Not just billions, but tens of billions?
This couldn’t happen without my uncle’s approval.
“Then it’s safe to say it’s a slush fund channel for Sunyang Construction?”
“Yes, but when the cake is big, there’s a lot of crumbs, isn’t there?”
“So he’s siphoning off a lot without my uncle knowing.”
“Yes. Up to three or four billion a year, the vice chairman might turn a blind eye. But last year, he pocketed ten billion.”
Ten billion? That’s beyond turning a blind eye.
There’s an unspoken rule in companies.
A manager getting a meal or a drink is overlooked.
A department head receiving a holiday gift set is expected.
An executive getting a golf outing is routine.
But that’s the limit.
Executive Director Lim embezzling this much isn’t because he trusts Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki’s favor, but because he trusts his own knowledge of the vice chairman’s misdeeds. He believes they won’t easily get rid of someone who knows their secrets.
He’s a foolish man.
He doesn’t know how ruthless and terrifying our family can be.
“Executive Director Lim is as good as finished. Good. What about Manager Jung Kyu-hwan?”
“This guy’s life changed so drastically, there’s a joke that he found a treasure chest full of gold bars.”
“A so-called life reversal?”
The lottery hasn’t even started yet. It begins next year, right? So he didn’t hit the jackpot with a lottery.
“Yes. It changed from 1998. He sent his wife and kids to the U.S., and the kids attend prestigious private schools in Boston. Most ‘goose fathers’ sell their apartments and move into officetels, but Manager Jung moved to a mixed-use complex. He even changed his car.”
“Looks like the vice chairman gave him a hefty reward.”
“Indeed.”
“It seems like hush money for something shady he did.”
The problem is, even if he did something shady, it can’t be used as leverage. It was under my uncle’s orders, after all.
“So, what’s Manager Jung’s dirt?”
“Even if you come into a large sum, it’s wise not to change your lifestyle. But this guy was so extravagant that even his colleagues were gossiping. Naturally, he got into bigger trouble.”
Executive Director Woo clicked his tongue in disdain and handed me a photo tucked between the documents.
“A female employee on the same floor.”
“An affair?”
“Yes. The first thing he did after sending his wife and kids away was to seduce a pretty female employee. Expensive jewelry gifts, fancy dinners at hotel restaurants, an imported mid-sized sedan. And his rapid promotion proved his abilities. To a young person just starting their career, everything must have seemed impressive.”
“This is quite damaging.”
“Yes. If his wife finds out, it’s divorce, and since the fault lies with the man’s infidelity, half his assets would be gone, along with child support. It’s a more terrifying weakness than embezzlement.”
Executive Director Woo glanced at me cautiously.
“Is this not enough for you?”
“No, it’s more than enough. You’ve done well.”
“Not at all. So, what do you plan to do with this pile of dirt?”
“I’ll just sweep the dust under the bed and pretend I didn’t see it. But I’ll collect the price first.”
Woo Byung-jun began to look at me with concern.
“If you’re planning to meet them directly and threaten them, you should leave it to me…”
“Threats? That’s risky for me too. I’m just making an offer. You know that famous line from The Godfather, right?”
“An offer you can’t refuse.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s just wordplay. In the movie, that offer was a threat.”
“I’m different. I’ll make them an offer that ignites their desires, and they’ll jump at it. They’ll be grateful I didn’t use their weaknesses against them and see me as a benefactor.”
“Can you tell me what this offer is?”
“It’s simple. These two have already tasted money. They can’t stop now. I’m planning to give them a generous helping of that delicious money.”
After a moment of contemplation, Woo Byung-jun spoke cautiously.
“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but let me offer some advice. Don’t try to fulfill their desires to get what you want. Let them be so afraid that they give you what you need. Fear is a stronger force than desire.”
What kind of path has this person walked until now?
Is this his method?
Using fear as a weapon to get what you want isn’t something just anyone can do.
“Money bows to even greater money. You can’t satisfy all their desires.”
“Mr. Woo.”
“Yes?”
“Fear can be overcome, but desire cannot. These two will destroy themselves because of their desires anyway. I’ll get what I want with money, and they’ll just speed up their own downfall because of it.”
Woo Byung-jun, lost in thought again, finally smiled.
“It reminds me of Aesop’s fable. In the end, it’s the sun that makes the traveler take off his coat, right?”
“That’s right. But this story’s a bit different. It’s not just about taking off a coat; it’s about stripping away their comfortable lives.”
As he smiled, I found myself smiling back.
Have I gotten a little closer to him today?