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“I don’t know when or how you’ll use this contract, but wait until I’ve retired and moved abroad. I don’t want to end up in jail.”
Once the two left, Oh Se-hyun handed me the contract.
“This contract can’t be made public.”
“You sly devil. You already know that a bomb is most powerful when it’s in your hands?”
“No, I’m planning to give it to my grandfather.”
“What? Are you crazy? If you give it to him, Chairman Jin will have my neck.”
“Uncle, my grandfather isn’t interested in professional managers. He always holds the leash of the owner. This contract will be a switch to keep my aunt and uncle from getting any ideas.”
I needed to reassure the startled Oh Se-hyun that this wasn’t over yet.
“Once he’s sure my uncle can’t escape his grasp, he’ll allow him to run for mayor of Seoul.”
“Chairman Jin is really something. He doesn’t even trust his own children.”
“He doesn’t trust anyone, yet he makes others trust him. That’s how he got to where he is. He probably doesn’t trust me either.”
“Since we’re on the topic, let me ask you something.”
Oh Se-hyun straightened up on the sofa, his expression turning serious.
“17.7%. That’s the controlling stake you have in Sunyang Group. You’ll need at least 80% to become the owner of the chairman’s office. Even then, it would be less than 10% of the entire group’s shares. How much do you think Chairman Jin will pass on to you?”
“In his head, everything! In his heart, nothing.”
“What?”
“My grandfather knows there’s no one better suited to run Sunyang Group than me. But his nature is to think only of himself. He doesn’t want to give anything to anyone. If he could, he’d take Sunyang Group to the grave with him.”
“I’m not asking about his greed. I’m asking what you realistically think.”
“I don’t know. When reason and emotion clash, reason doesn’t always win.”
“You don’t know?”
“Yes. But it doesn’t matter. I’ve decided to consider whatever shares my grandfather leaves me as a bonus.”
A bonus that would be quite substantial.
A grandson who doesn’t covet but is exceptionally capable.
The only blood relative who seems uninterested in what he’s given.
I believe this is the way to receive the most generous bonus.
“Anyway, this contract will play a big role.”
Phase one is complete. Time to move on to phase two.
“Uncle, out of the 3.2 billion dollars, there’s 1 billion from Sunyang and 2.2 billion left, right?”
Oh Se-hyun’s eyes changed.
“Why? Are you planning to use it?”
“We should exchange it when it’s valuable. Anyway, after that, what happens to Miracle America’s operating funds?”
“There’ll be about 400 to 500 million dollars left. Not much of it is your money. It’s mostly from general investors.”
“So even if I withdraw all my money, Miracle America still has work to do, right?”
“Of course. They’re capable. They’re not just sitting around. Though if you pull out all your money, it might shock them a bit. But what are you planning to do with that money?”
“It’s precious dollars, so it should be used wisely. Right after the presidential election.”
“What?”
“The regime will definitely change, so I’m planning to give it as a gift for the election victory.”
It’s amusing to see my uncle’s surprised expression, just like now.
“What are you thinking? Stop pretending to be a chaebol!”
“That’s your job, Uncle.”
“Hey!”
“Don’t be too surprised. It’s not as big a deal as you think.”
I decided to end the fun of watching Oh Se-hyun’s various expressions and get down to business.
“Uncle, what’s the point of building a Media City if no one moves there?”
“Immigrants?”
“Yes. We need to attract companies with a name that suits Media City. Like a broadcasting station, for example.”
Oh Se-hyun must feel like pulling his hair out. The more I talk, the more absurd it sounds.
“Hey! A broadcasting station? Do you know how big that is?”
“There are terrestrial channels, but there are also cable channels. We need to take it step by step.”
The mention of cable seems to calm him a bit. The scale of cable broadcasting varies greatly, so there’s potential.
“The DMC project isn’t bad from a government perspective. Building new infrastructure not only creates jobs but also boosts the economy. It sounds like a plausible project for the new government.”
“But are you really going to hand over 2.2 billion dollars just like that? That’s crazy.”
“Why would I give my money to the government? I’m asking them to exchange dollars.”
“Oh…!”
Seeing the exclamation escape his lips, it seems he’s pieced together the puzzle.
“Then the Seoul city land…”
“Yes. It’s all part of a package deal. An investment firm bringing in 2.2 billion dollars to dollar-starved Korea to invest in a massive broadcasting-media infrastructure. They’ll welcome it with open arms.”
“If the government and Seoul city join hands on this project… we might even secure government funding.”
“If that happens, it would be ideal.”
Oh Se-hyun stared at me silently for a while.
“Are you your grandfather’s clone? How did you come up with this? Regardless of the feasibility, the scale is impressive.”
“No, it’s all out of filial piety.”
“What nonsense? Filial piety?”
“I’m planning to turn the DMC into a massive media empire and give it to my father.”
Now, Oh Se-hyun’s surprised expression is getting old.
“You studied together, so you know, right? My father has excellent managerial skills. You can see it from how he runs the film company.”
“So, you prepared this for Yoon-ki?”
“Yes. Film, broadcasting content production, cable broadcasting. Even internet business. As the son of Chairman Jin and my father, he should have at least this much to his name.”
Whether it’s the scale that surprises him or envy for having such a son, he can’t seem to close his mouth.
“And Miracle America has strong ties with major film companies, right? If we connect them well, a global media company might emerge.”
“Where’s Yoon-ki now? I need to meet him and buy him a drink.”
Oh Se-hyun’s expression was one of envy.
“Before that, refine the DMC business plan. Make sure it’s detailed and thorough. It should make the government nod in agreement.”
“Right. I’ll involve not just our staff but other experts too. It needs to be jaw-dropping. For Yoon-ki’s sake as well.”
Will this man be able to retire in five years?
Judging by his expression, it seems unlikely.
The bigger the scale, the more his passion seems to ignite.
“So, you managed to get this?”
“Yes.”
My grandfather took off his glasses after carefully reading the contract.
“With this, even if your uncle becomes the mayor of Seoul, he won’t be able to defy me. The moment it’s made public, his political career will be over, and he’ll face legal consequences.”
“All you want is a few plots of public land?”
“The rest is for you, Grandfather. When we were drafting the contract, I realized my aunt is quite something.”
“Your aunt?”
“Yes. She quickly grasped the value of the public land. She said not to even dream of getting all the land in exchange for some election funds. Haha.”
My grandfather chuckled softly.
“Then should I take it all and give you a bit?”
“No, making money by building apartments isn’t my style.”
He did say “take it all.” That’s it! He’s given his approval.
“But Do-jun, this seems a bit reckless… Even if Mr. Choi runs for election, there’s no guarantee he’ll win.”
“His chances of winning have increased now. Since you’re thinking positively about it, Grandfather.”
“Anyway… I can’t keep up with your cunning. Haha.”
I feel a bit sorry for whoever will face my uncle. Sunyang Group’s information team will dig up their past, and any dirt will be splashed across all the media, leaving them defenseless.
“Alright. Since my grandson has spent such a large sum to secure the mayor of Seoul for me, I can’t just sit back. I’ll lend a hand during the mayoral election.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
As I bowed my head in gratitude, I almost let out a curse.
“Secured the mayor of Seoul for me.”
Isn’t it shameless to claim the results of his grandson’s efforts as his own?
I’m more worried about my uncle than the person who might lose the election.
It’s obvious he’ll become my grandfather’s puppet once he’s in the mayor’s seat.
My thoughts must have shown on my face because my grandfather laughed and said,
“Look at this kid. You seem a bit disappointed.”
“No, not at all.”
“Don’t be disappointed. I’ll give you a gift too. If there’s anything you want, just say it.”
I hesitated a bit.
I should ask after the election…
But maybe it doesn’t matter since he can predict the outcome.
“The day after tomorrow is the election. What do you think the result will be?”
“Why are you suddenly asking about the election?”
In times like this, it’s best to strike first.
“I think the opposition will win. Won’t the regime change?”
“If the third candidate withdraws, the ruling party will win by a landslide.”
“Are you expecting that?”
“No. Haha.”
My grandfather burst into laughter, finding the election amusing.
“The opposition will win narrowly. The third candidate will take quite a few votes.”
This election showed just how strong the conservative force is in Korea.
Despite ruining the country’s economy, the ruling party still garners strong support unless the votes are split. It means there are always overwhelmingly many who vote for number one.
“Then who will be the second-in-command in the next regime?”
“Since they’ve joined hands with JP, it will be JP.”
I’m not looking for an obvious answer. In the past, I was in my twenties, dismissing politics as trash, so I have no information.
“No. I’m thinking of starting a new business, and I need someone who can really pull the strings to get the necessary permits.”
“What? A new business? What’s it about?”
Grandfather’s curiosity was piqued.
“It’s a secret. It’s not fully planned yet. But I want to secure some promises during the transition after the election.”
“A secret?”
“For now. If I talk too soon and it falls apart, I’d be embarrassed.”
“A business that needs political backing… It must be quite significant.”
Grandfather’s eyes changed. What was he thinking?
“Be careful. When politicians get involved, things get complicated. Their interests are far more tangled than ours. They don’t help because they expect something in return. They expect you to pay them just to not mess things up.”
Was he giving advice?
Or perhaps…
“I’ll consult you once I have a solid plan. Please judge it then. If you advise against it, I’ll stop.”
Is this the answer Grandfather wanted?
“It’s your money and your venture. Why seek permission? Even if you fail, it’ll be a valuable lesson.”
I still couldn’t decipher the emotions hidden in his gaze and words.
The morning of December 19th.
Every channel announced that Kim Dae-jung, candidate number 2 from the National Congress for New Politics, had become president, joining forces with JP’s United Liberal Democrats and even Park Tae-joon from the Democratic Liberal Party.
Candidate number 3, who would later earn the nickname “Phoenix,” garnered nearly five million votes, disrupting candidate number 1’s momentum, but the margin of victory was a mere four hundred thousand votes.
Without Phoenix’s independent run, DJ would never have become president.
I felt relieved that the outcome I expected hadn’t changed and headed to school.
The dean had insisted that I at least take the exams, hinting that even as a grandson of the Sunyang Group, I wouldn’t escape academic probation if I skipped finals.
The atmosphere at school was somber.
Many seniors were directly hit by the IMF crisis.