Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 228

Woo-jin was happy and ready to go back to the office. But then he stopped. Im Joong-woo’s story was unexpected.

“An architect association? Why are you suddenly talking about that?”

Im Joong-woo had been building his company for decades, so it was natural for him to be connected to the Architect Association, a group that most design companies join. Dajin Construction focused on construction, so it often worked with design firms in the association.

Woo-jin was puzzled why the association was mentioned during the discussion about the ‘Seongsu Strategic Redevelopment Zone Integrated Design Competition,’ the big design competition for Seongsu, a part of the city they wanted to rebuild.

“Besides, connections… Something about this feels wrong. Like they are hiding something.”

Woo-jin had to ask. He felt something important in Im Joong-woo’s story.

“Our WJ Studio isn’t part of the association, Mr. Im. We don’t have any connection with them.”

“Haha, I see.”

“Why do you ask? Can I ask you the same thing?”

Im Joong-woo nodded slowly and gestured to the driver outside the car, signaling him to return to his seat. He knew his conversation with Woo-jin would be longer.

“I never thought I’d get involved like this when I first met you, CEO Seo…”

Woo-jin listened carefully to Im Joong-woo’s meaningful story.

“About the design competition… maybe it’s not worth putting too much effort into it.”

Woo-jin had vaguely expected the story Im Joong-woo told him. From the moment the official document restricting foreign design firms was issued, he suspected some powerful groups were interfering.

“You know the industry well, so you probably know this. Except for special cases like your studio, CEO Seo, almost all big architecture firms are part of the association,”

“I suppose so. Joining the association means a solid base and easier work.”

“That’s right. Unless you’re as resourceful as you, CEO Seo, you have to join the association.”

Im Joong-woo explained the association simply, starting with how it works and who its members are. Woo-jin already knew some of this. In his past life, he had worked with design firms in the association many times.

“Some design firms I deal with are in this association. One is run by a close friend,”

“I see.”

“So, what I’m telling you now comes from that friend. Please keep it a secret,”

“Of course. I will, Mr. Im.”

Im Joong-woo knew more than Woo-jin.

“The Architect Association is tightly connected from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to the government,”

“That’s right. They control the design of almost all big public projects,”

“In other words, it’s like a secret agreement. They work together to control things and stop others from competing fairly,”

“Didn’t you already know that?”

“Yes, but hearing the details makes it feel real. Haha.”

“Now that I’ve explained the structure, let me tell you about the strategic maintenance zone design competition,”

“Thank you, Mr. Im. I’m listening.”

Im Joong-woo said he recently had drinks with a friend who runs a design firm in the Architect Association. This friend runs a major design firm and often works with Joong-woo. He had planned to enter the Seongsu Strategic Redevelopment Zone competition.

“If you’re preparing, you know that even design firms with average skills can’t try this competition,”

“I suppose so.”

“As soon as my friend saw the announcement, he started preparing. Since only a few firms can handle it, he thought he had a good chance of winning,”

“Your friend must run a big office.”

“That’s right. It’s called Oseong Design Firm. It’s one of the best in the industry,”

“I’ve heard of it.”

Woo-jin knew about Oseong Design Firm, which Im Joong-woo’s friend ran. He had worked with them in his past life, so it was easier to understand Im Joong-woo’s story.

“But just as he finished setting up the team, he got a call from the association president,”

“Who’s the president now?”

“Architect Kwon Joo-yeol,”

“Ah…”

“Do you know him?” Im Joong-woo asked.

“Only by reputation,” Woo-jin replied. “Isn’t he connected to the famous Architect Park Moon-joo?”

Im Joong-woo nodded, impressed. “So, you know the industry well. Well, President Kwon called my friend and told him not to enter the competition.”

“Just like that?”

“That’s how it is. If the association has already decided who they want to win, other firms in the association can’t participate,”

“Ha…”

“It’s their unspoken rule. The funny thing is, other offices are grateful for the call. Setting up a team for a competition that’s already decided is a complete waste of time and effort, so they avoid it,”

“So, your friend also…”

“Haha. He complained a bit at the bar because it was a big deal, but he doesn’t blame the association,”

“How can he not complain?”

“His turn will come,”

“Ah…”

“President Kwon Joo-yeol takes care of his people first, but he takes care of all the offices in the association,”

“I see.”

“If he loses what people in the association think of him, he’ll lose his position,”

“If he can influence the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the government, doesn’t he ignore what people think?”

“Not really. His power comes from being the President of the Architect Association,”

“Aha.”

“His connections will remain, but his power will decrease.”

Woo-jin wasn’t angry or upset; he was interested.

“This dirty game is on my board?”

If Woo-jin were an ordinary design firm starting from scratch, he might be angry. It’s frustrating for passionate people to face a limit they can’t overcome.

Woo-jin was interested because he felt confident. They might think this competition is their game, but it was in Woo-jin’s hands.

“It would be hard if I didn’t know, but now that I know everything, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Woo-jin was similar to the association because he also used his resources to set up the game. But unlike the association, Woo-jin wanted fair competition. He was confident he could win, but if another firm had a better design, he would give up the rights.

The best design being chosen was good for Seoul and Seongsu-dong. It was good for Woo-jin, who was investing in Seongsu-dong. But the Architect Association, as he learned from Joong-woo, didn’t care about these values.

They weren’t pursuing the development of Seoul or Seongsu-dong. They didn’t even want to create a great space for the people in the strategic maintenance zone or the citizens of Seoul. The association only cared about money, and fairness didn’t matter.

Woo-jin thought about how to clean up this dirty game. He didn’t want to change the unfair competition in the industry. He just wanted to make those unfairly profiting feel helpless and frustrated.

“My connections aren’t strong enough to beat the association yet, but I can beat them in the Seongsu Strategic Redevelopment Zone design competition.”

He might make the association an enemy, but he didn’t care. Woo-jin had enough recognition and was building connections overseas, where the association had no power.

Woo-jin was enjoying the situation. He wanted to see how the president of the association, who controlled the industry, would feel if he lost in terms of skills and resources.

When Joong-woo finished his story…

“So, maybe you should just stop working on this project?”

“Are you saying I have no chance of winning, no matter how good my design is?”

“That’s right. Preparing for a competition takes a lot of effort, doesn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Especially a competition this big…”

Woo-jin shook his head and smiled.

“I appreciate your advice, even though we just met.”

“Hmm…?”

“But I’m not going to drop this project.”

“Haha! You have the spirit of youth! I almost forgot you were so young, CEO Seo. Now I really see it! Haha!”

Woo-jin didn’t say anything more to Im Joong-woo. He thought he was trustworthy, but it was too soon to say he was on Woo-jin’s side. But Woo-jin was determined.

He would show Im Joong-woo and Kwon Joo-yeol, the president of the association, that their world might be wrong.