Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 305

Winter of 2015.

After some quiet time, an article about WJ Studio came out.

[Seo Woo-jin Returns. What’s Next for WJ Studio in 2016?]

Even though Woo-jin and WJ Studio hadn’t made any particular moves, a reporter sought them out to write an article about Woo-jin’s return after a year off.

The article even shot straight to the headlines.

[For the past year, CEO Seo Woo-jin traveled and saw buildings around the world. Now, he is back at WJ Tower, even more excited than before.]

[“I will show you an even better version of myself. You can look forward to it,” CEO Seo Woo-jin said with a bright smile, appearing more confident than ever before.]

…omitted…

[With the recent completion of projects in the city, like the Seongsu area project, WJ Studio and CEO Seo Woo-jin’s skills are once again highly regarded in the industry.]

[The reason why designer Seo Woo-jin and WJ Studio’s moves in 2016 are drawing attention.]

In Korea, Woo-jin is a celebrity who gets a lot of public attention.

Therefore, even if he didn’t deliberately try to be in the spotlight, Woo-jin’s actions were bound to be noticed.

The reaction to the article wasn’t as strong as when Woo-jin was actively in the media, but many people still remembered him.

└ Woo-jin’s article is out.

└ Where has he been?

└ He took a year off last year. A sabbatical, I think?

└ Seeing the article, it seems like he’s preparing something.

└ Ah, I want to join WJ Studio.

└ They have a job posting now. My friend is joining this time.

└ No way. The interview date hasn’t even been set yet.

└ Must have joined in a dream, haha.

But this article was just the beginning.

As Woo-jin started to move, big news kept coming out. As a result, many articles about WJ Studio were published.

[‘JK Financial Group’ Finally Enters Yeouido!]

[Will Seo Woo-jin Design the New Headquarters of JK Korea Branch?]

[Will Architect Seo Woo-jin’s Work Be Built on Yeouido International Finance Road?]

This time, the WJ Studio marketing team, under Woo-jin’s direction, gave their full support.

[The Largest Complex Shopping Center in History, ‘AT Complex Mall,’ Attracts Investment in Madrid, the Capital of Spain.]

[AT Group Chairman Javier Directly Hires Architect Seo Woo-jin to Design!]

[Athletic Club Fan Javier, Captivated by the Majesty of the Newly Built San Mamés Stadium…….]

[Spanish Architect Mateo Villa and Korean Architect Seo Woo-jin Selected as Joint Designers of AT Madrid Complex Mall!]

They made the news even bigger by sharing unconfirmed internal data with reporters.

[Collaboration Between Jeun Motors and WJ Studio?]

[The Developer is Jeun Motors, the Constructor is Jeun Construction. Who is the Architect Designing Jeun Group’s Special Project ?]

[The Best Premium Residential Space for Car Enthusiasts. Talking About .]

[Jeun Motors’ Star Designer Colton Taylor. “Honored to Work with the Best Architectural Designer Seo Woo-jin”]

[Jeun Motors President 000, “Jeun Orient Residence Will Be Another Landmark Symbolizing Busan.”]

And the result…….

└ Wow, insane……! Seo Woo-jin is truly world-class?

└ You’re just finding that out now?

The public’s interest in WJ Studio started to grow fiercely again.

└ No, honestly, I don’t really get the conference thing.

└ Agreed.

└ But a huge complex mall in the middle of Madrid is amazing.

However, this strong attention on WJ Studio was not just a marketing plan to increase brand value.

In the first half of 2016, the WJ Studio executives had a clear goal.

“So, you’re saying your company is worth more than 30 billion won?”

“That’s right. It would be much more if you include retained earnings.”

“Your profits are very good, and your company is very stable… It’s even better than expected!”

“Haha, thank you.”

“At this level, the requirements are more than met. The financial statements are clean.”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about, Director. Let’s proceed by the first half of next year.”

That was WJ Studio’s stock market listing.

It was a big step towards becoming a larger global company.

[Annual Highest Sales of 235 Billion Won, Operating Profit of 37.9 Billion Won. South Korea’s Largest Comprehensive Architectural Firm WJ Studio, About to Be Listed?]

[WJ Studio Ahead of Listing. Overseas Investment Presentation Held in New York City!]

[Seo Woo-jin’s WJ Studio Expected to List Early Next Year… IPO Market is Getting Excited]

And all these things were going smoothly as Woo-jin had planned.

The projects were going well, and the stock market listing was also progressing without any problems.

Because they had been planning the listing since the company started to grow, all preparations went smoothly.

“Jin-tae, hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“How’s the atmosphere in the new design teams?”

“Atmosphere, you say……?”

“I mean, are the projects going well? I can’t pay as much attention as I used to.”

Because of all this, the atmosphere within the company was brighter and more lively than ever.

“Haha. Well, everyone is motivated.”

“Really?”

“The more successful the project, the better it is for everyone.”

“Well, isn’t that too textbook?”

“Stock options, I mean.”

“Ah.”

“Everyone checks the articles as soon as they get to work these days, you know?”

Since there aren’t many chances for employees to directly experience the company’s growth as much as the listing, everyone is very motivated.

In this way, the end of the year passed and 2016 arrived, and Woo-jin celebrated his sixth New Year after his return.

As the cold winter passed and the warm spring breeze began to blow…….

[WJ Studio Submits the Papers to Become a Public Company. Expected to List by March at the Latest]

[When WJ Studio Offered Shares, So Many People Wanted to Buy Them! It Was the Highest Demand in the Industry!]

Amidst the interest of countless people, WJ Studio successfully listed on the stock market.

[WJ Studio’s Stock Price Soars for a Week After Listing!]

[Designer? Businessman? Seo Woo-jin, a 20-Year-Old Youth Who Instantly Became Very Rich From Stocks with the Listing of WJ Studio.]

[LTK Investment Ventures, “WJ Studio is the Most Promising Company in the Industry.”]

WJ Studio, which was very busy with the stock market listing at the start of the year, was having its best year ever in 2016.

All the projects they had started in 2015 were going well, and because of that, the company’s value was continuously rising.

In particular, the investment company of LTK Group, the developer of the Magok MICE complex, also bought some of WJ Studio’s shares at a high price.

They bought a 10 percent stake in WJ Studio’s total shares for more than 100 billion won.

The industry paid attention to the fact that LTK, a world-renowned private equity fund, had invested a large sum in WJ Studio, rather than the amount itself.

The fact that a globally recognized and large financial company had invested such a large sum was proof that WJ Studio had now become a truly global company.

Although it had been the case for several years, many talented people studying architectural design applied to WJ Studio.

WJ Studio’s only luxury housing brand, , had become a brand known for the upper class, and WJ Studio’s business team was creating various business plans to promote this brand overseas.

Thanks to Woo-jin and WJ Studio’s success, brands such as , which were known for Woo-jin’s design, also became popular.

Kang Seok-jung, the founder of , had become a successful businessman, and Seok-ho, who was watching him, grumbled whenever he had a chance.

Before the brand ‘Seo Woo-jin’ grew, when WJ Studio was just starting out, he was envious of his friend who had met Woo-jin by chance.

Even Seok-jung had a stake in WJ Studio, because he had invested a lot of money when WJ Studio was growing.

“Ugh, if only I had come to Korea a year earlier…….”

“If you had come a year earlier, what? Do you think you could have met Woo-jin?”

“Hehe, Seok-ho, hyung, you should decide on the gallery site soon.”

“I was planning to contact you anyway.”

“Oh, is it decided?”

“It was decided a long time ago. The site purchase wasn’t finished, so it was dragging on.”

“Then when will you give me the design request?”

“I’ll send you the request form within this month.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Don’t…… ask for too much.”

“Yes?”

“I mean the design fee.”

“Haha.”

“This is something you promised three years ago, right?”

“Well, that’s right.”

“So, please consider our past relationship…….”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Where are you trying to get something for free?”

“Hahaha.”

It wasn’t just that benefited from Woo-jin.

Soo-ha and Jae-yeop, who were his oldest friends, and Ria also made a lot of money thanks to Woo-jin.

Especially before WJ Studio went public, Jae-yeop, who had sold even the building he owned and invested billions of won, was very happy.

The money he had invested had almost increased five times in just half a year.

“I really thought this oppa was crazy back then…….”

“I know. We were fools. Right, Soo-ha, unni.”

“Hehehe. That’s why they say life is a gamble. You ignorant masses.”

“No, Jae-yeop, oppa.”

“Why?”

“How did you think of investing that much?”

“Hey, Im Soo-ha. Think about it carefully.”

“About what?”

“Has Woo-jin ever messed up anything he’s done so far?”

“Um……. I don’t think so……?”

“I actually realized something when you guys were buying that Cheongdam Seonyeong.”

“Yeah?”

“First of all, you have to follow Seo Woo-jin without asking any questions.”

“…….”

“I’ve just realized this simple truth.”

“If Woo-jin commits fraud, oppa will lose all his fortune.”

“Um……. Wouldn’t that be unavoidable?”

“…….”

“What, are you pretending you’re not?”

“Actually, it’s true.”

“Me too…….”

Around the time May passed and it became summer, Woo-jin was invited to an international design conference in the United States.

After LTK invested a large sum, WJ Studio started to become known overseas.

Slowly, the international architecture industry began to recognize the architect Seo Woo-jin.

Woo-jin’s special background and young age were also good news for foreign media.

Although it was hard to become as famous as in Korea, the fact that there was a young designer who had such a special story was enough to get the industry’s attention.

Of course, that didn’t mean that Woo-jin was as recognized as a world-class architect as Bruno or Mateo.

WJ Studio still needed to build its portfolio.

So, in the fall of 2016, Woo-jin announced his next goal, which he had been planning for a long time: to design the tallest and most beautiful building in Seoul and show it to people all over the world.