Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 183

The one who called Woojin was none other than Min Jooyoung, the CEO of Bellostones.

Back when WJ Studio was just starting out, Woojin took on the model house project for Cheonwoong Construction.

Min Jooyoung, CEO of a new materials company, had helped supply the finest Rosso Lepanto marble.

Since then, she and Bellostones had maintained a close relationship with WJ Studio.

WJ Studio was taking on more and more interior design projects, and quite a few of them required premium imported materials.

Each time, they collaborated with Bellostones to import and use premium marble and wood.

But despite their continued collaboration, it had been a very long time since Woojin had actually met Min Jooyoung in person.

Bellostones’ headquarters were in Incheon, and just like WJ Studio, Bellostones was also growing bigger and bigger.

They worked together often, but Ms. Min rarely came to Seoul.

Seeing her face-to-face like this hadn’t happened in almost half a year.

“Wow, Ms. Min! What brings you here?”

“Hehe, am I not allowed to come?”

Woojin was very familiar with Jooyoung’s voice, as they spoke on the phone at least once a week.

“Haha, you know that’s not what I meant. I’m just happy to see your face suddenly, considering how busy you are.”

“Really? Well, I’m definitely happy to see you too, Woojin! It feels like ages.”

After a brief conversation with Min Jooyoung, Woojin headed to a nearby café instead of getting back in the car. He gestured for Ms. Min to follow, and they strolled together towards the inviting glow of a small café just down the street.

Woojin’s smile was genuine. He was always happy to see Ms. Min. But beneath the pleasantries, a spark of curiosity ignited. *Why Seoul? Why now?* he wondered.

And Min Jooyoung did not disappoint his expectations.

They stepped into the small café, leaving behind the tree-lined quiet of Seoul Forest Road. Inside, the warm, rich smell of coffee filled the air, a comforting aroma that mixed with the sweet scent of cheesecake.

It was a small café, filled with vintage charm. Soft jazz music played quietly, and the warm light from lamps cast long shadows on the wooden tables. The air smelled of old books and freshly ground coffee.

CEO Min was still as vibrant and energetic as he remembered.

“I had a pretty important meeting in Yongsan today. Since I was in Seoul, I thought I’d come all the way here to see CEO Seo after a long time. I should have come earlier… but I got stuck in traffic and it’s already past seven.”

“You should have called me in advance. I would have waited for you at the office.”

“Hehe, I figured you’d be in the office anyway, since you’re always working late.”

The two took sips of their coffee, exchanging simple greetings.

But it wasn’t long before the topic of conversation inevitably turned to business.

“By the way, Ms. Min, what was that important meeting you had in Yongsan?”

As Woojin brought it up, Min Jooyoung replied with a smile.

“I knew you’d be curious.”

“Wasn’t that the main point from the start?”

“You always catch on quickly.”

Jooyoung took a bite of cheesecake and continued.

“Are you aware that the Living Fair is held at COEX every year, CEO Seo?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Our company has been exhibiting there since last year, and things went pretty well at this year’s exhibition.”

The Living Fair that Min Jooyoung was talking about was the Seoul Living Design Fair, held every year at COEX in Samseong-dong, a large convention center in Seoul.

From interior design companies to material handling companies like Min Jooyoung’s Bellostones, and even furniture companies that design various pieces of furniture, the Living Fair was a place where companies in all fields related to housing (Living) exhibited their products and technologies.

Therefore, it was an event that Woojin was also interested in.

‘I was planning to participate with WJ Studio starting in 2012.’

So, from the moment Min Jooyoung started talking, Woojin was slowly becoming intrigued.

“How did things go well?”

At Woojin’s question, Jooyoung smiled pleasantly and opened her mouth.

“This is actually me bragging.”

“Haha, you can brag as much as you want. I’m sure you’ll buy me coffee for the bragging rights.”

“Hehe, of course.”

Jooyoung paused for a moment before continuing.

“This time, we collaborated with a furniture company called Inart to showcase premium furniture next to our material exhibition booth.”

Woojin’s eyes sparkled.

“And?”

“The response from overseas buyers was amazing.”

Woojin waited quietly for her to continue, and Min Jooyoung spoke again in a proud voice.

“All the furniture on display was sold, and we’ve received a huge number of additional orders.”

Woojin now looked surprised.

The fact that all the furniture exhibited at the Living Fair had been sold was already a huge achievement, but to say that additional orders were piling up meant it was a smash hit.

Moreover, if they were premium furniture made from the finest materials handled by Min Jooyoung, not cheap DIY furniture, they would cost at least several million won or more.

The fact that all those items had been sold off might have been an unprecedented level of success.

‘Inart is a place that designs modern and clean furniture well. But I remember it wasn’t this good…’

Woojin, who knew Inart’s furniture to some extent, sensed that more than half of this success was due to Min Jooyoung’s ability.

The designs of the furniture that Inart had released in the past might have been clean and sophisticated, but they lacked something special.

So Woojin couldn’t help but click his tongue in admiration.

‘As expected, Ms. Min is amazing.’

But Min Jooyoung’s story didn’t end there.

“Hehe, I’m a little embarrassed to be bragging so much, but the real news is coming.”

“I’m listening with great interest, CEO. Please continue.”

At Woojin’s pleasant reaction, Min Jooyoung’s voice became even more excited.

“Our booth was so successful that the organizers heard about it.”

“The organizers… you mean the Seoul Design Foundation?”

“Yes, that’s right. You know it well.”

“So?”

Woojin couldn’t help but know the Seoul Design Foundation well.

That was where Woojin had made his debut as a designer, as the host of the SPDC contest.

“Today’s meeting was with the chairman. The Seoul Design Foundation is planning a big Living Fair, and it looks like it will be held at COEX around the summer of 2012.”

Woojin asked in an interesting voice.

“The Living Fair is usually in the fall, so does that mean they’re holding the fair twice next year?”

“That’s right. The fair that’s usually held every year will be held in the fall as usual, and the fair that will open in the summer will be a huge international event. There will be a big K-POP-related performance exhibition at COEX around that time… It seems that the Design Foundation wants to create synergy in a situation where international attention is focused.”

Despite the fact that the story had progressed quite a bit, Woojin still couldn’t accurately predict what Min Jooyoung was trying to say.

‘What does that fair have to do with me?’

But as if she had read Woojin’s mind, Min Jooyoung immediately got to the point.

“Anyway, the chairman said that the main booth will be set up in two large parts… and they’re going to give one of these two places to our Bellostones.”

“……!”

“But this fair is focused on spatial design, so they said that you can’t decorate the booth with just furniture.”

The moment he heard this, Woojin could guess why she had come all the way to Seongsu-dong in one breath.

‘Is she trying to suggest a collaboration with me?’

And that guess was very accurate.

“They’re going to give us a space that’s 1/3 the size of the East Booth as a concept booth that fits the theme. So we need one more company to do the spatial design in a really amazing way……”

Min Jooyoung, who trailed off a bit, looked at Woojin with a smiling face.

“The first face that came to my mind was CEO Seo’s.”

Woojin smiled back.

“Haha, I’m so honored, I don’t know what to do.”

Min Jooyoung continued in a subtle voice.

“How about it? Would you like to do it together?”

The moment her story ended, Woojin’s mind began to spin rapidly.

‘The International Living Fair next summer… There’s no way it would be bad to participate, but if I’m going to do it, it’s an event that I have to do properly…’

From WJ Studio’s schedule to Woojin’s personal schedule, there were many things to consider, so he couldn’t answer right away.

But as Woojin was thinking about this, he suddenly had a fun idea and asked Jooyoung again.

“Ms. Min.”

“Yes?”

“Can you tell me what that ‘theme’ is?”

At Woojin’s question, Min Jooyoung answered casually.

“Since the host organization is a public institution, it seems like any theme that can raise Korea’s awareness internationally is fine.”

“Is that so?”

“But I can’t decide on my own. Once it’s decided, the entire East Booth will have to match the design concept with a similar color.”

“Then Ms. Min will have to make a proposal and have a meeting with the Design Foundation?”

“I think it will proceed in that way.”

The moment he heard this story, Woojin felt like several puzzle pieces were coming together.

“Content that can raise Korea’s awareness……”

“So I’ve been thinking about a traditional architectural concept. It doesn’t really fit with our company’s color as a material import company… but creating a traditional feel with materials imported from overseas would be a meaningful project.”

“You’re right. A project that extracts Korean designs using exotic materials might fit the concept of this exhibition even better.”

Min Jooyoung, who heard Woojin’s positive answer, looked even more excited.

She was one of the people who had watched how WJ Studio had grown over the past year.

That’s why she wanted to do this project with Woojin.

‘If CEO Seo takes on the spatial design, a really plausible work might be born.’

And at that moment when Jooyoung was thinking this, Woojin had already made up his mind and was thinking one step further.

“Then Ms. Min.”

“Yes?”

“How about we add ‘content’ to this project?”

Min Jooyoung, who had a puzzled expression at Woojin’s unexpected story.

“Content, you mean……”

Woojin, who took a sip of warm coffee, continued in a subtle expression.

“As a result, the theme that the organizers want seems to be in line with the word ‘Korean Wave’.”

The one person that Woojin has in mind right now was CEO Kang Sojeong of KSJ Entertainment.