[030] Investing in Learning and Mastery 3.
“Only half? What about the rest?”
“I’ll let you know when the time comes. Grandpa will probably tell you.”
“Ah, I see. There’s still some unopened information left. Haha.”
Behind his hearty laughter, his mind was working quickly.
Investing using insider information from Sunyang Group. Quick, profitable ventures. With a large seed fund, the profits would be substantial.
As Oh Se-hyun left with a glint in his eye, I let out a long sigh.
It’s exhausting to keep up appearances.
I have no intention of making money off Chairman Jin’s information.
Touching Sunyang before I come of age requires extreme caution. It’s foolish to provoke unnecessary suspicion.
Besides, I’m not a stockbroker, nor have I ever set foot on Wall Street. My future knowledge is limited to snippets from newspaper articles.
I only remember a few companies that are good investments, but there’s one sure investment that will create an undefeated legend over the next 30 years.
Movies.
I know most of the films from Hollywood that have made enormous profits.
Next year, the box office will be dominated by films like Ghost, Edward Scissorhands, Home Alone, and Total Recall. It’s too late to get involved in production, but my father’s film company can import them.
An investment in films that never fails.
With this alone, I’ll be known as the Midas of Hollywood.
“Thank you for making time, Mr. Lee.”
“No, I wanted to meet you too.”
Lee Hak-jae came running without hesitation when Oh Se-hyun called. He had many questions.
“I thought I should inform you about handling Do-jun’s assets.”
“Assets? PowerShares is managing Do-jun’s assets, so what are you disposing of?”
“I’m talking about land, not money.”
“Land? You mean the land in Bundang?”
“Yes. He wants to sell it.”
“Why? There’s no need to rush.”
Lee Hak-jae’s eyebrows twitched. Oh Se-hyun could read what that expression meant.
“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t encourage him. It’s Do-jun’s decision. I advised him that land prices are still rising, but he’s firm.”
“You’re just following what a kid says? You’re not much of a fund manager, are you? Shouldn’t you guide him in the right direction?”
“Mr. Lee.”
Oh Se-hyun stared intently at Lee Hak-jae, who still harbored doubts.
“The final decision is, of course, up to the investor. We only offer opinions.”
“Look here! Do-jun is just a…”
“Just a 12-year-old? Do you really think that?”
“What?”
“Isn’t it a bit of a stretch to see him as just a 12-year-old kid? Isn’t he sharp enough to outsmart most adults?”
Oh Se-hyun waved his hand slightly as he watched Lee Hak-jae’s frowning face.
“This isn’t what I came to discuss. If you want to change Do-jun’s mind, talk to him directly. If he changes his mind, of course, the land won’t be sold.”
“Then what do you want to talk about?”
“I wanted to see if Sunyang Group is interested in buying that land. What do you think?”
“What?”
“In fact, if you hint to the developers, they’ll swarm like bees. But since it was a gift from his grandfather, I’d like to return it to Sunyang Group, even if it’s at a lower price.”
“Is that Do-jun’s idea too?”
“No, that’s my idea. I don’t want Chairman Jin to be disappointed if it’s sold to the wrong place.”
“Let’s hold off on that for now. I’ll discuss it with the chairman and get back to you.”
Lee Hak-jae put down his teacup and asked the question he’d been holding back.
“By the way, why did you go to Texas?”
“Oh, how did you know about that? Impressive.”
“Never mind the flattery. Why did you go? Did you buy oil or something?”
“As I mentioned, it’s confidential. I invested in a few companies, and I can only tell you that it’s a pretty good investment.”
“This is frustrating…”
Lee Hak-jae frowned.
“Are you trying to raise your value, Mr. Oh?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you holding Do-jun, who has the chairman’s special attention, as a hostage, waiting for the right moment to use him to sneak into our Sunyang Group?”
For a moment, Oh Se-hyun was at a loss for words, his expression blank.
“Foreign investment firms often get kicked out after one mistake, so it’s understandable to want a solid insurance policy by holding onto Do-jun. Isn’t that right?”
“Hmm… Is that how you see it? I see. Sunyang Group views people that way. If you pay them what they think they’re worth, they become Sunyang’s dogs.”
“You’re mistaken. That’s not how it is.”
“Isn’t it? It seems right to me.”
“Sunyang buys people for twice what they think they’re worth. For you, we’ll pay three times. How much? What’s your price?”
“Twenty billion.”
The number came out without hesitation—twenty billion.
Lee Hak-jae swallowed the words that almost escaped his lips with extreme patience.
The words he swallowed were “crazy bastard.”
Claiming that the value of 200 apartments in Korea is your worth would naturally earn you the label of a madman.
“That’s an outrageous claim, but let’s hear your reasoning. As someone who handles money, your valuation should be accurate.”
“Betraying someone who entrusted me with ten billion should be worth at least double, don’t you think?”
Lee Hak-jae let out a short sigh.
He had poked once and ended up being treated as someone who reduces people to monetary value.
“This wasn’t meant to be a fight… but talking to you somehow gets under my skin.”
“Do you not know why?”
Lee Hak-jae shrugged without answering.
“Because I’m not submissive in front of the great Mr. Lee Hak-jae of Sunyang Group.”
For a brief moment, Lee Hak-jae blinked before bursting into laughter.
“Haha. This is embarrassing. You’re right. That’s probably it.”
Lee Hak-jae finished his tea and stood up.
“Alright. Keep taking good care of Do-jun, as you are now. Stay loyal. Your value of twenty billion might multiply several times over.”
Oh Se-hyun’s eyes sparkled, and Lee Hak-jae smiled knowingly.
“You’re quick-witted, so I’m sure you understand what I mean. Let’s have a drink next time.”
Left alone, Oh Se-hyun watched Lee Hak-jae’s retreating figure with a gentle smile.
“Let’s see if you still have that smile when my bank balance is hundreds of times your worth.”
“Father! Are you really sending a fresh graduate to Germany?”
“Grandfather, I want to continue studying a bit more.”
From the start of the new year in 1990, Chairman Jin’s eldest son and grandson were breaking out in cold sweats.
“Studying, when you haven’t done it until now? My grandson, you know how to make this old man laugh, haha.”
Jin Young-jun’s face turned red, and he closed his mouth, bowing his head.
“Father, Young-jun has matured. He’s been diligently learning about management…”
Vice Chairman Jin Young-gi tried to make excuses for his son, but he closed his mouth under Chairman Jin’s sharp gaze.
“Management lessons? What better lesson is there than this? All of Europe will be in turmoil. Making urgent decisions in the midst of that change will open your eyes. Isn’t that right?”
Chairman Jin looked around at the key figures in the study, seeking agreement, and they all nodded, of course.
“Everything’s ready, so leave next week. Off you go.”
As Jin Young-jun reluctantly left the study, Chairman Jin issued a warning to his grandson’s retreating back.
“Stay holed up at home for a week. If you cause any trouble running around with girls, your nest will be in the African branch, not Germany.”
Jin Young-jun turned pale, bowed his head, and left.
Chairman Jin turned his attention back to the group of executives.
“The new year has dawned, but I’m so regretful that 1989 has ended that I wish I could turn back the clock… How about you?”
Chairman Jin scanned the room, his gaze stopping on someone. The others sighed in relief, knowing they weren’t the target, but Jo Dae-ho, the president of Sunyang Motors, felt his heart race under Chairman Jin’s scrutiny.
“I’m sorry, Chairman.”
He stood up abruptly and bowed his head, but Chairman Jin just waved a hand.
“Sit down. You haven’t committed a capital offense.”
As Jo Dae-ho awkwardly settled back into his chair, Chairman Jin continued, his fingers interlocked.
“I can’t sleep unless anything bearing the Sunyang name is number one. But Jo Dae-ho.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“When we started Sunyang Motors, what did I say? Let’s aim for second place. Do you remember?”
“Of course, Chairman.”
“But what was last year’s performance ranking?”
When Jo Dae-ho hesitated, unable to answer, Chairman Jin slammed the long table.
“Suddenly playing dumb? Speak up!”
“Th-third place.”
Jo stood up again, stiff as a board.
“Can you sleep? Does the new year paint a hopeful future for you?”
“I’m sorry, Chairman.”
Jo remained bent over, unable to move.
Chairman Jin turned his gaze to Lee Hak-jae, who was sitting closest.
“Mr. Lee.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Which subsidiary has the smallest number of employees?”
At this, Jo Dae-ho’s body trembled. This was the moment his fate would change.
“Sunyang Packaging.”
“Packaging? When did we start that?”
“Oh, it’s a subsidiary of Sunyang Corporation. We used to outsource, but the volume increased, so we absorbed it.”
“Absorbed? So, the current president isn’t from Sunyang?”
“No.”
“Then fire that guy… How many employees are there?”
“Six hundred.”
Six hundred employees, Pyeongtaek.
These words flashed through President Jo Dae-ho’s mind. The title of president sounded grand, but it was a position with less power than a department head at Sunyang Motors.
As the head of a packaging plant, he’d have to deal with Sunyang Corporation’s mid-level managers.
It was no different from being told to resign.
“Jo Dae-ho.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Starting tomorrow, report to the packaging plant. Reflect on your actions while inhaling the smell of glue.”
The word “reflect” sounded almost like a blessing. Was this a chance for a comeback? Or just false hope?
As President Jo tried to sit down with a grim expression, Chairman Jin shouted.
“What do you think you’re doing? How dare a mere packaging plant president sit down?”
Sweating profusely, Jo Dae-ho hurriedly left the study. Being kicked out of the study meant there was zero chance of returning.
“Vice Chairman.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Jin Young-ki was startled by his father’s call. He hadn’t expected the fallout to reach him!
“Take over the automotive division. I’ll give you two years. Make it the second-best within that time. The numbers align perfectly.”
“Ch-chairman, I’m already overseeing several subsidiaries, so I don’t have the capacity… Please reconsider.”
“Ah, right. Our vice chairman is so busy managing all those subsidiaries.”
The tone was ominous. Jin Young-ki regretted his futile resistance.
“How many are you managing?”
“N-nineteen.”
“Is that so? Then let’s do this.”
The subsidiary presidents gathered in the study dared not look at Chairman Jin’s face, but their ears were wide open.
What if the vice chairman’s subsidiaries were reduced?
What if their company was included?
It would mean more direct meetings with Chairman Jin, bypassing the vice chairman. It was another opportunity to solidify their positions.
But Chairman Jin’s next words dashed those hopes. He offered no new opportunities and only made things more difficult for the vice chairman.
“Would you rather manage twenty, or just one?”
Everyone knew the “one” referred to the automotive division.