Caught in the Act 3
“Manager, there’s a whole crew from the broadcasting station here, claiming they have an appointment. Is that true?”
Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-seok looked at me with surprise, holding his phone.
“Was that today?”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, right. Just let them do what they want.”
The three of us in the car on the way to work didn’t say it out loud, but I could tell they were curious why a TV crew had shown up in droves.
Especially Kim Yoon-seok, sitting next to me, seemed flustered. As my assistant, he should have been in the loop, but he wasn’t.
“It’s nothing major. My father asked me for a favor, so I couldn’t refuse. It’ll just be a quick interview.”
But when I got to my office on the 24th floor of the Sunyang headquarters, it was packed with people.
This was clearly more than a simple interview. Being a variety show, there were four cameras set up.
The young staff, who had only seen such executive offices in dramas, were gawking around in awe.
Of course, it was their first time seeing a third-generation chaebol, so they started whispering about me.
“Nice to meet you.”
The PD, looking a bit nervous, handed me his business card with a bright smile.
“You’ll look great on camera. This is going to turn out well, ha ha.”
“Oh, well, since we’re doing this, let’s make it good.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll make it look fantastic.”
While they set up the lights and cameras, they started doing my makeup.
Thanks to my father, I was getting makeup applied for the first time.
A pretty female reporter, with makeup that seemed two or three times thicker than mine, gave me a shy smile and a nod.
She looked familiar, but I couldn’t place her. It seemed they cast a lesser-known celebrity, probably because the cable network wasn’t that big yet.
“Shall we start?”
With the PD’s cue, the cameras started rolling.
The interview, which was supposed to take three or four hours, wrapped up in less than an hour.
The broadcasting crew packed up and left, looking quite displeased.
“Are you sure this is okay? You said it was a favor for your father.”
Assistant Manager Kim looked just as displeased as the crew.
“Did it seem that bad to you, too, Kim?”
“Yes. Even to someone like me, who doesn’t know much about broadcasting, it was obvious they were trying hard to promote Sunyang Group.”
“Looks like I’ll be hearing from my father about this…”
Sure enough, about two hours after the crew left, my phone rang loudly.
― Hey! What was that interview today?
My father’s voice boomed through the phone.
“What do you mean?”
― Are you a PR employee for Sunyang Group now?
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about…”
I feigned ignorance.
― I just saw the footage. Every other sentence was about Sunyang Group, Sunyang Life, Sunyang Securities… I can’t believe it. You even introduced our fund products? Are you trying to sell something?
“Well, actually…”
― Enough! I should’ve known something was up when you said there was no need to review the pre-interview questions. Is this a commercial or what?
“The thing is, the interview started veering too much into personal questions.”
― Whatever. We’ll talk after editing. It’s obvious there won’t be enough footage, so be prepared. We might have to reshoot!
After the call, Kim Yoon-seok looked at me with concern.
“He seemed really upset. Are you sure it’s okay?”
“It’s fine. My father was just putting on a show because the PD was whining. That PD is probably going to get fired.”
Kim’s eyes widened at my nonchalant response.
“What?”
“You never know what might happen at work, right? A leader should be able to navigate through challenges. If I started saying things contrary to the PD’s script, they should’ve adjusted on the spot. They gave up because it wasn’t going their way. That’s not leadership.”
A dozen staff members moved around and ended up with nothing. It shows that my father’s broadcasting station hasn’t yet attracted top-tier talent.
My father works with the best production teams in Korea, making films with top actors. I can guess who he’s more upset with—me or the PD.
But there was something I hadn’t anticipated.
My father’s quick thinking, honed over more than a decade in the unpredictable world of film production.
About an hour after the call ended, my father called again.
― We salvaged six minutes, kid.
“That’s enough for a teaser trailer, isn’t it?”
As expected, my father had returned to his usual cheerful self, replacing the fiery tone from earlier.
― A teaser? We should’ve gotten 20 minutes. We need 14 more!
“You’re not suggesting another interview, are you?”
― Are you crazy? I know exactly what you’re thinking. We’ll fill the rest with someone else’s interview. It’s already arranged. The crew is on their way, haha.
His sly laughter made me suspicious.
“Who did you get? Someone I know?”
― Oh, it’ll be a hit. A new judge assigned to the Seoul Central District Court, who passed the bar exam while still in school with outstanding training scores.
Wait, what? No way.
“Dad!”
I shouted in surprise, but he continued, barely holding back his laughter.
― A beauty everyone will agree on, especially lucky to have a third-generation chaebol as a boyfriend. She’ll be more of a sensation than you. Her name’s Seo Min-young, right?
“The court won’t allow it! How can a sitting judge appear on a variety show?”
― Do you underestimate me? Kid, are you ignoring me? If you’re a third-generation chaebol, I’m second-generation. Do I look like I don’t have connections? Even the chief judge asked me to promote the judiciary as approachable to the public. The production team is thrilled. Couples always draw viewers, haha.
I never imagined my father would pull a fast one on me like this.
“I saw the broadcast. Wow! Our nephew has a face made for TV. The celebrity aura was just… amazing! And your girlfriend, the judge? Everyone’s saying you two chose the wrong careers.”
“I’m already embarrassed from all the teasing lately, Uncle. Do you have to join in? Should I just leave?”
As I jokingly stood up, Chairman Joo Kwang-sik of Daehyun Group grabbed my wrist.
“Where do you think you’re going? You have to save me first.”
We exchanged jokes, but Chairman Joo’s face showed he was deeply troubled. He looked like he hadn’t slept well, his face as dry as a withered leaf.
“Is recovery difficult? Couldn’t you get a bailout?”
“I don’t have a wealthy nephew, do I? The financial sector is all looking out for themselves, and the name Daehyun doesn’t carry weight anymore.”
“Isn’t it because your brothers blocked it?”
“That’s a big part of it. Our eldest brother wouldn’t miss this chance.”
Rumors were already circulating in the business world that Chairman Joo Tae-sik of Daehyun Motors was trying to oust his siblings.
“But how did you foresee it, nephew?”
“Foresee what?”
“The credit card crisis. You sold the company, and I bought it. It’s clear whose decision was right.”
“It wasn’t foresight, just a matter of preference.”
I feigned ignorance, but his suspicious gaze didn’t waver.
“I heard you had all sorts of fun. Your two uncles got hit hard, didn’t they?”
“No, I just secured the bonds. The fun was had by Miracle.”
“Wasn’t that your doing? The way things turned out?”
“No, I just mediated.”
Chairman Joo’s eyes sparkled for a moment.
“Could you mediate once more?”
I could almost hear his desperate plea. I pressed my lips together, studying his expression.
How cornered was he? The closer he was to the edge, the better the terms I could negotiate.
“Well, Miracle already acquired Sunyang Card, so they have nothing to lose. Plus, investing heavily in the card business again isn’t an easy decision. CEO Oh Se-hyun is more about solidifying the foundation than expanding. He’s a professional manager for an investment firm, so the investors’ interests come first.”
“Investors are all about the output. If the stock price is sure to rise, they’ll buy endlessly, right?”
“That’s true. But everything about Daehyun Card is uncertain. It’s incredibly unstable.”
“But the input is low, so it could be a good deal. Just cover the debts.”
“Just the debts?”
That was indeed a good deal. The value of Daehyun Card when the economy recovers wouldn’t be included in the acquisition price.
“Yes. We poured a lot of affiliate money into Daehyun Card. If you just cover that, I might be able to breathe.”
“How much is that affiliate debt?”
“That’s not something you need to know, is it? I want to tell CEO Oh Se-hyun directly. It’s a matter of pride not to show all my cards to my nephew.”
Oops, I need to be careful with my words.
On the surface, I’m not the owner of Miracle. I’m just supposed to be a mediator.
“Still, I need a rough figure to even bring it up, don’t I? Just asking for a meeting isn’t that hard, is it? Who would refuse a cup of tea with Chairman Joo Kwang-sik of Daehyun Group?”
“Is that so? But it’s always easier when someone you know makes the introduction.”
He suddenly seemed flustered.
Was that really such a surprising suggestion?
I scrutinized his expression and eyes again. It seemed like he was hiding something.
“Alright, I understand. I’ll convey your wishes to Mr. Oh. But I suspect he’ll want to verify the debt amount first. If it’s not within a reasonable range, he won’t even consider meeting. Why bother with a face-to-face if the deal’s doomed to fail anyway?”
“I promise you, there won’t be any awkward moments with Mr. Oh. Haha.”
His face brightens again.
This guy definitely has something else up his sleeve.
“I’ve checked with the Blue House and the relevant departments. They’re favorable.”
Vice President Jang Do-hyung opened the file, looking puzzled.
“Does that mean there won’t be any direct intervention like a forced order?”
“Yes. Daehyeon Card has already submitted a self-restructuring plan and is diligently following it. They’re not just cleaning up delinquent accounts; they’re also tightening their screening process, so new memberships aren’t what they used to be.”
“What about their financial situation?”
“They haven’t settled their debts with the financial sector yet. No one knows about any funding from their affiliates. It seems like it’s only been discussed among the top executives.”
“Or maybe there’s no such thing at all…”
“Sorry?”
“Nothing. Good work. Oh, and keep digging. We need to know everything about Daehyeon Card.”
“Understood. But, sir, if the conditions are right, are you considering acquiring Daehyeon Card?”
“What do you think, Vice President?”
“It feels like taking on a heap of trouble, to be honest.”
“Yes, let’s make a careful decision.”
Something’s fishy. It’s clear they’re not in a position to swallow their pride and come begging to me.
As my doubts lingered, I ignored Chairman Joo Gwang-sik’s request. I didn’t schedule a meeting with Oh Se-hyun, nor did I reach out.
The longer my suspicions remain, the more anxious Chairman Joo will become.
That way, when we meet again, there won’t be any difference in how we view each other.