Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 141

141. The Start of the Deal (2)

The news that ‘Henry Royce, the head of Triumph, met with ‘Candidate Kim’ first!’ sent shockwaves through the Korean business world.

“Henry Royce is friends with Candidate Kim?”

“Yes, Chairman. The *Choguk Ilbo* [a fictional newspaper] reported that he was a sponsor of Candidate Kim during his exile in the United States.”

Jang Ho-gun’s face fell upon hearing Lee Soo-han’s report. Despite the financial crisis, he had assumed the ruling party would be re-elected due to regional sentiments and the red complex [fear of communism], so he only gave 20 billion won to the ruling party and 3 billion won to ‘Candidate Kim.’ This was a bolt from the blue!

“What do you think will happen if Candidate Kim is elected?”

“Considering the interview, it seems that if Candidate Kim is elected, Henry will make a large-scale investment.”

“Investment?”

“Triumph Capital alone manages $500 billion in assets. Moreover, given that the NIS [National Intelligence Service] informed us they couldn’t bug the underground study when Henry went to Candidate Kim’s private residence in Ilsan, it’s highly likely they discussed investment there.”

Jang Ho-gun sighed at Lee Soo-han’s report.

“And it has to be America…”

Even Shinseong Group, which was a rising star in Korea, couldn’t fight against Triumph Capital, which was at the heart of the American economy.

In the current situation, if they used dollars to sweep up all of Shinseong Group’s stocks and bonds and shake things up, it would be impossible to defend management control. Aren’t creditors scarier than shareholders?

After contemplating, Jang Ho-gun looked at Lee Soo-han with a determined gaze and asked,

“Should we switch now?”

Jang Ho-gun believed that Candidate Kim had a high chance of being elected. In the current situation, Henry Royce, who stays at the Goryeo Hotel, Henry Royce, who moves trillions of dollars on Wall Street, appeared as Candidate Kim’s supporter, so Candidate Kim’s election would become more likely. It seemed that attracting foreign investment would also be easier.

Jang Ho-gun was thinking of belatedly currying favor with Candidate Kim, who was likely to be elected, and aiming for that money. Even though he had raised $1.6 billion through the deal with Standard Capital to put out the urgent fire, the more money, the better, right?

“I think that’s the best option, Chairman. We need to send someone to the *Choguk Ilbo* to stop attacking Candidate Kim and tell Candidate Kim’s side that we will actively cooperate when the new administration is launched.”

Jang Ho-gun nodded, seeing Lee Soo-han answer quickly as if he had been waiting for it. If they couldn’t stop the *Choguk Ilbo*, which had been tearing apart the opposition party and Candidate Kim, it would be impossible to receive the dollars that Triumph might invest when Candidate Kim was elected, right?

“Okay. Tell the *Choguk Ilbo* to stop attacking Candidate Kim right away. If they still resist, tell them we’ll cut off all advertising fees.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Chaebols [large South Korean conglomerates] have a relationship of either grabbing or being grabbed by political power, but the media grabs political power, and chaebols grab the media.

Now was the time when political power was grabbing chaebols, so Jang Ho-gun had to grab his in-laws, the *Choguk Ilbo*, who were the media, in order to prevent the political power from grabbing him.

###

Just as Jang Ho-gun decided to switch sides, Taehyun Group was filled with laughter.

“Hahaha! That’s Candidate Kim for you! To reveal that he was friends with such a big shot now!”

Myung Jin-ho, who was sitting on the sofa in the chairman’s office, laughed heartily.

Hadn’t he been sponsoring ‘Candidate Kim’ since he became a sworn enemy of the ruling party after running in the last presidential election? It was exhilarating and satisfying that ‘Candidate Kim’ had dropped such a big event with the election not far away.

However, Myung Jin-ho was not a person who was content with the present, either in the past or now. He scratched the edge of his forehead with his index finger for a moment and said to the executives,

“Tell the *Hanyang Ilbo* [another fictional newspaper] to stop writing neutral articles about Candidate Kim and publish good articles. Tell them to write articles saying that Henry Royce or whatever that foreigner is called will invest when that person sits on the phoenix chair [becomes president]. Do you know why?”

There was no way they wouldn’t know. Shinseong would use the *Choguk Ilbo* just like they used the *Hanyang Ilbo*, right? Myung Seon-gu opened his mouth right away at his father’s instruction not to fall behind in the competition.

“All preparations are complete, Chairman. We have contacted the *Hanyang Ilbo* and decided to publish the article in tomorrow’s morning paper. We have adjusted the level appropriately, so the frame of interference in internal affairs will be weak.”

“That’s not all, Chairman. We also gave reporters at broadcasting stations money and ordered favorable reports, so it should be enough, haha.”

This time, the executives, including his children, answered confidently. They didn’t want to repeat the act of being criticized as much as they were during the Ado Motors acquisition, so they did more than Myung Jin-ho ordered, so they believed they wouldn’t be criticized at least.

As expected, Myung Jin-ho smiled contentedly after hearing the answer and laughed heartily.

“You’re all doing well on your own. Keep doing that in the future. And say hello to Candidate Kim.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

***

While several chaebols, including Shinseong and Taehyun, which were at the forefront of the business world, were trying to look good to Candidate Kim and Henry Royce, the ruling party was in a funeral home atmosphere.

“What happened?”

‘Candidate Lee,’ the ruling party’s candidate, asked with an anxious look, but the person in charge opened his mouth with a somber expression.

“That is… From tomorrow, he plans to tour traditional markets with Candidate Kim and explore the people’s livelihood or experience Korean culture. Also…”

“Damn it!”

Before the person in charge could finish the report, ‘Candidate Lee’ slammed his fist on the armrest of the sofa with a loud bang.

He met the opposition party candidate as soon as he started his schedule, but he would ignore himself, the ruling party candidate? Was that Henry Royce treating him like he didn’t exist?

“What grudge does he have against me!”

The upright mindset of his days as a judge had long been erased since entering Yeouido [Korean political district]. For the current Candidate Lee, winning the election was the most important task.

“What are the reporters saying?”

“As the situation is, they said that saving the economy should come first. They said that with your capabilities, you should be able to catch a sponsor like that American…”

“Are you even saying that right now!”

Candidate Lee got angry again before the aide could finish speaking. Those guys who only did reporter work with worse education than himself, who graduated from Seoul National University, were insulting him!

In this country’s physiology, the fact that the media was not moving meant that the chaebols were pulling strings behind the scenes. There would be no more support, whether it was articles or money.

Candidate Lee, who was panting, drank water and asked another aide.

“What happened to the work the Blue House [Korean equivalent to the White House] did in North Korea?”

“…North Korea said there would be no military provocation unless we gave them more than $1 billion.”

Candidate Lee’s face turned red as if it would explode when three consecutive bad cards came up. They were giving up economic sovereignty because they didn’t have dollars and borrowed money from foreigners, but they were asking for $1 billion?

“I’d rather buy fighter planes with that money and blow up the Jono Party (Korean Workers’ Party) headquarters! How much have they taken so far!”

Candidate Lee couldn’t control his anger and kept hitting the armrest of the sofa, but everything was over because even the communists had cut ties. In the chilling atmosphere, Candidate Lee and his aides only sighed as if the ground was sinking.

***

While the South Korean political and business world was trying to get into the eyes of Henry and Candidate Kim, Lee Dae-soo, who brought that Henry to Korea, was leisurely reading today’s *Choguk Ilbo* newspaper in his study in Samcheong-dong.

[Henry Royce, possibility of investing up to $5 billion if Candidate Kim is elected.

According to industry experts, Triumph Capital is known to have total assets under management of nearly $500 billion. Henry Royce is the chairman of the board of directors of Triumph Capital and the largest shareholder with a total of 27 percent of his own shares and 12 percent of friendly shares, and he recognized sufficient investment merit in the current Korea…]

“These guys are really going crazy, hahaha.”

Lee Dae-soo laughed heartily as he read the *Choguk Ilbo* article. Henry hadn’t said a single word, but they were writing novels on their own, weren’t they?

Lee Dae-soo was convinced that this article was a piece of trash made by the *Choguk Ilbo* at Jang Ho-gun’s order.

The ‘industry experts’ in the article were Shinseong Group, and the figure of ‘up to $5 billion’ was the amount Shinseong Group was expecting, wasn’t it? They wanted to eat all $5 billion themselves!

After that, Lee Dae-soo looked at other newspaper articles—no, trash that was worse than tabloids—and chuckled, then looked at the *Dongyang Ilbo* [another fictional newspaper] article that he had been saving.

[Henry Royce says he is looking forward to the possibility of Korea’s recovery.

Henry Royce, chairman of the board of directors of Triumph Capital, said that he was looking forward to the diligence and sincerity of Koreans, which is represented by the ‘Miracle on the Han River’ [South Korea’s rapid economic growth from the 1960s to 1990s], and that he would also lend a hand if he had the opportunity. Through this, it seems that Mr. Henry Royce can help our people overcome the financial crisis…]

Lee Dae-soo smiled with satisfaction at Jo Young-ran’s article, which was not blatant, not vulgar, and only added a moderate level of commentary based on facts.

“A reporter should write an article like this, huh.”

Lee Dae-soo, who had seen an article worthy of the name for the first time in a while, laughed heartily and made a phone call.

“Is that President Jo? This is Lee Dae-soo.”

[Yes, Elder. Did you sleep well all night?]

Lee Dae-soo chuckled at Jo Hyung-man’s greeting.

“I slept well thanks to you. I saw the *Dongyang Ilbo* article, and it was excellent. My eyes were cleansed after seeing your daughter’s article after seeing articles like sewage, huh.”

[Young-ran said she wanted to be a cub reporter and even took a leave of absence last semester, so I couldn’t beat her and let her do it, but I’m glad you like it, haha.]

“Hoo, that child has great courage. She’s more than enough to be our second grandson’s partner, huh.”

Lee Dae-soo didn’t spare his laughter at the fact that Jo Young-ran, his second grandson Lee Seong-moon’s girlfriend, also had her own courage. To become a member of this family, you have to have that much independence, right?

After taking a sip of tea, Lee Dae-soo said into the receiver.

“An article should be written plainly like your eldest daughter. If you’re going to write sensational articles, you should write novels or make tabloids, shouldn’t you? Hahaha.”

[That’s right. Isn’t there nothing more important to the media than conveying the truth, except for unavoidable circumstances?]

It was a slightly uncomfortable reality, but there were times when embellishment had to be done when it was unavoidable, and there were even things that shouldn’t be mentioned at all, right? Lee Dae-soo, who was laughing heartily, recognized that point and calmed down his laughter at Jo Hyung-man’s answer.

“That’s true, but we have to work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen. Anyway, tell your daughter I said she worked hard, huh.”

[Yes, Elder. I hope you have a pleasant day today.]

The deal between Haedong Group and *Dongyang Ilbo* ended in a good atmosphere. Now, Lee Dae-soo was just waiting to see if all the deals he had made for the presidential election would be the end or the beginning.

***

After that, Henry toured traditional markets with Candidate Kim, eating foods such as kimbap [seaweed rice rolls] and rice cakes together, or experiencing cultures such as pansori [Korean narrative song].

[It can’t be anything but unfortunate, Mr. Kim. The people have only been diligently engaged in their livelihoods…]

[We can’t help what has already happened, Mr. Royce. If we overcome this crisis, I think it’s important to work hard to prevent this from happening again in the future.]

[Of course, Mr. Kim. The diligence of Koreans is recognized even in New York. I believe you will be able to do it.]

Henry was actually curious about Korea, but he stuck with Candidate Kim throughout the day, completely blocking contact with other political and business figures. In the process, Henry occasionally took reporters with him and talked with Candidate Kim, showing his trust and expectations for Korea.

Regardless of their ideological inclinations, the reporters were busy writing down or filming the conversations between Henry and ‘Candidate Kim’ and sending them to newspapers or broadcasting stations to be broadcast on newspapers or television. Because of the chaebols who were their advertisers.

[If you want to receive more of our ads, report on the two of them properly! If a strange result comes out, let’s see what we’ll do!]

[Chief, think carefully. Even if you’ve risked your life for anti-communism all your life, you have to earn a living by bringing in even $1 more, so shouldn’t anyone bring in dollars?]

The chaebols were desperate to look good to Candidate Kim and Henry Royce behind him. If foreign investment was attracted, wouldn’t money be released for economic recovery, whether it was dollars or won [Korean currency]?

The chaebols, who said they would get even $1 more, coaxed, appeased, or squeezed the newspapers and broadcasting stations as advertisers. As a result, the media relentlessly broadcast the two of them to the point where the people were fed up with them.

The competing candidates could not stand by and watch this situation.

[If Candidate Kim becomes president, he will sell the country to foreigners, citizens! Is there only good faith in such a large investment!]

[Our people can stand on their own! No more foreign investment is an act of treason, citizens!]

Whoever it was, the competing candidates, including ‘Candidate Lee,’ were desperate to cut down Candidate Kim and Henry.

[The more dollars that come in from abroad, the faster we can get out of the IMF management system! If we get out of the IMF management system, we can regain our economic sovereignty that we lost! Let’s bring spring back to the stolen fields once again, citizens!]

Starting with the campaign speech shouted by the vice president of the New Politics Democratic Alliance as if spitting blood, Candidate Kim’s camp continued to hold rebuttal campaigns, and the heat of the election was rising without knowing the end.

And on December 19th at 5:30 PM.

I, my grandfather, and the Haedong Group executives had finished an early dinner at the first-floor restaurant and were sitting at the table in the study watching the exit poll broadcast.

“It’ll be okay, right, Grandpa?”

To be honest, I couldn’t guarantee what the result would be. In my past life, didn’t Candidate Kim barely win with a vote difference of less than 2 percent? I asked out of concern, and my grandfather waved his hand.

“Don’t worry, In-seok. Didn’t we, Candidate Kim, and Triumph in America all adjust the level appropriately? Isn’t that right, Chief Go?”

It seemed like my grandfather almost said in-law because he paused for a moment. Perhaps because the gap was short, Go Seung-ju didn’t pay much attention and nodded at my grandfather’s question.

“As the chairman said, Mr. Royce didn’t directly mention Candidate Kim’s election, so the frame of interference in internal affairs and the frame of treason put forward by the ruling party will be almost meaningless except for the ruling party’s turf.”

As Go Seung-ju said, Henry did not specifically mention the story about whether he would be elected or the amount of investment throughout the meeting with Candidate Kim.

All of that was the content that I and my grandfather emphasized the most in the scenario we presented to Henry and Candidate Kim. Thanks to the fact that the two of them fully understood and cooperated, the ruling party’s offensive was only weak.

“That’s not all, Chairman. Everyone was in a hurry for dollars, so the other groups shook the newspaper and broadcasting people by the collar and relentlessly released articles that were favorable to Candidate Kim, right?”

“That’s right, Chairman. I don’t know what will happen to the two parties’ turfs, but the media and the business world have turned around, so there may be changes in the Seoul metropolitan area or Chungcheong.”

As the other adults said, since the acquisition of information is still one-way, we could expect votes from the remaining neighborhoods except for Yeongnam and Honam, which are the turfs of the ruling and opposition parties.

While everyone was reassuring themselves that the scenario we designed would succeed, it was 6 o’clock, and the exit poll results were coming out on TV.

[As a result of the exit poll, Candidate ‘Lee XX’ number 1 recorded 38.4 percent, Candidate ‘Kim XX’ number 2 recorded 46.1 percent, and Candidate ‘Lee XX’ number 3 recorded 14.2 percent, and Candidate Kim XX is likely to be elected.]

The exit poll results on the broadcast came out favorably. I hope the vote count results match the exit poll results.