Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 251

October 2012 was drawing to a close.

The autumn air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of fallen leaves. Woo-jin pulled on his thick coat and stepped out of his house, ready for work.

Since WJ Studio moved to the Seoul Forest WJ Tower, his walk to the office was now just five minutes. He didn’t even need his car anymore.

‘It’s really cold now,’ he thought.

It was seven in the morning when Woo-jin stepped out onto the street.

Even though it was early, the roads were full of cars. But the path beside Seoul Forest was quiet.

Woo-jin pulled his coat tighter and soon got to his office building.

“Good morning, CEO.”

“Good morning to you too, Team Leader. You’re here early.”

“Haha, it’s nothing, sir.”

The first person to say hello to Woo-jin was the leader of the WJ Building security team.

Now that they had a big office building, they had a team just for managing and protecting it.

Woo-jin quickly greeted some employees and then took the elevator to his office.

When he got to his office, Woo-jin turned on the radio, like he always did.

[Yes, next up is the news.]

[Last Monday, Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley of the United States were chosen to receive the 2012 Nobel Prize in Economics…]

Listening to the news every morning had become a habit for Woo-jin.

Even someone who knew the future couldn’t know everything happening now.

By using what he remembered from his past life, he could understand things even better.

[Next up, economic news.]

[The government said it will make it easier to borrow money next year to help the housing market.]

[The Bank of Korea also cut interest rates…]

[If interest rates stay low, people are expected to invest more…]

As he made coffee, Woo-jin listened to the news, paying close attention to the radio.

Economic news was very important for a company owner to hear.

[The new Minister of Economy and Finance, Minister Lim, said he wants to boost the economy, help people, and make the economy better by spending money and increasing the amount of money in circulation.]

Woo-jin took a sip of his coffee, looking interested.

‘Is this the start?’

Woo-jin was so interested in the news for a simple reason.

It was the beginning of helping the housing market.

Making it easier to borrow money to buy houses was like the starting gun for the housing boom that began in the mid-2010s.

‘It seems like things are happening the same way they did before I went back in time…’

Now, at the end of 2012, the housing market in Seoul, which had been very strong until 2007, was in a long period of decline.

Woo-jin had made a lot of money from real estate by using his knowledge of the future and taking advantage of special situations.

But houses in Seoul still cost less than before.

From 2013, the government kept saying, ‘We’ll make it easier to borrow money, so take out loans and buy houses.’

At the time, most people thought it was foolish to buy a house with a loan.

The longer the decline lasted, the more scared people were to buy a house.

‘I need to get ready. I’m not going to invest in apartments… but I need to make the company grow when the economy is good.’

The Woo-jin from his past life always felt bad that he was in his mid-20s in 2013.

Usually, people in their mid-20s can’t buy a house.

They’re not even that interested in it.

If he had bought a house back then, he would have been much better off. Many people besides Woo-jin must have thought that.

But the current Woo-jin didn’t want to buy apartments just because he knew that housing prices would rise in the future.

Actually, there was no reason for him to do that.

‘I should tell the employees to buy a house when the rules are relaxed. Especially Jin-tae, I’ve given him a big raise… he should buy a house now.’

Woo-jin knew that interest rates would stay very low for at least the next 10 years.

Low interest rates were the best for borrowing as much money as possible to invest.

During this time, Woo-jin’s main goal was to make WJ Studio a top company that could win huge projects.

Chunwoong Construction had become successful over many years just by building things.

But Woo-jin was sure that he could create his own success story in just 10 years by focusing on great design as well as building.

‘Anyway, 2012 is almost over. Time really flies…’

As Woo-jin thought this, a news story about something else started on the radio.

[Because the International Living Fair last summer was so successful, a special event is being planned overseas.]

[The architecture world overseas is very interested in the work of architect Seo Woo-jin, who has added a modern touch to traditional Korean architecture…]

As he heard the story about himself and WJ Studio on the radio, Woo-jin felt a little awkward.

‘News spreads quickly. The Milan Fair was only confirmed last week.’

Woo-jin turned off the radio, stretched, and sat down at his desk to start working.

He had to finish most of his work in the morning, so he didn’t have time to relax.

“Alright, let’s get started.”

Woo-jin was looking forward to something in the afternoon.

The team making was very busy early in the morning.

Today was the last day of filming for .

The director of photography, who was in charge of everything on set, had a lot to do and hadn’t slept well.

But even though he was tired, the director of photography was full of energy.

He was excited to finish the six-month journey.

“Can’t you all set up faster? If we don’t finish filming today, we’ll have to film another day!”

Filming had been difficult, but he was glad he got to film it.

The story, script, actors, and filming environment were better than any other he had worked on.

So, the director was confident that it would be good.

The videos they had were excellent and satisfied everyone.

‘There’s still a lot of work after filming, like adding computer graphics… but if I can finish filming today, I can relax.’

The director smiled as he watched the set being set up.

Today, the last day of filming, was at the set in Icheon.

The last filming didn’t have to be the last scene of the drama, but the director thought it was good to end at this set.

This set was a big part of and inspired him.

Also, the International Living Fair helped to create excitement for the drama.

‘It shouldn’t fail… but if it does, I’m in trouble.’

The director got up after seeing that the set was almost ready.

Before filming started, he quietly asked a staff member who was working on the equipment.

“Bongsik!”

“Yes, Director?”

“Oh, right,” the director said, tapping his forehead. “CEO So-jeong is coming today, isn’t she? For the party?”

“Yes!” Bongsik confirmed. “She said she’d be here for the last day.”

Just then, actress Seong Ha-young walked past and stopped, overhearing them.

“Actually, Director,” she said with a smile, “I think there’s another guest coming.”

The director looked confused. “Another guest? Who?”

Ha-young grinned. “CEO Seo Woo-jin.”

“Huh? CEO Seo?”

Ha-young shrugged and added.

“I guess he wanted to see the filming.”

“Really?”

“Well, CEO Seo designed this whole set, and he hasn’t seen the drama being filmed in a place he designed, right?”

“I guess so. I can see why he’d be curious.”

The director nodded.

Woo-jin had a reason to be interested in the filming because he designed the set.

But he was also an investor, so it was okay for him to come and watch.

Also, the director liked Woo-jin a lot because he had helped the drama so much.

But then, the director became curious and asked Seong Ha-young again.

“By the way, Ha-young, how did you hear about that before me? Who told you?”

Ha-young smiled and replied.

“Who else would I hear it from? I heard it from CEO Seo himself.”

The director’s eyes widened.

“What? CEO Seo? Are you two friends or something?”

Ha-young scratched her head.

“Well, I wouldn’t say we’re friends… but I went to that WJ Tower with Min-woo a while ago.”

“Ah, that trendy area of Seongsu-dong?”

“Yes. To see the building. CEO Seo invited us.”

“How was it?”

“Of course it was great. We passed by it a few times while filming, right?”

The director became interested.

“Ugh. What a waste. We should have filmed one or two scenes in that building.”

“If you come later, why don’t you ask the CEO?”

“What? We’re done filming, aren’t we?”

“You said you had some ideas for a bonus episode or two if the drama is a hit.”

The director’s eyes lit up when he heard about a bonus episode.

“Hmm. A bonus episode… And filming that at WJ Tower…”

Ha-young looked proud at the director’s reaction.

“My idea is good, right?”

“Good. Sounds good?”

But then, a staff member who had been listening quietly spoke up.

“But first, it has to be a hit…”

That was a bad thing for him to say, since he had to be with the director all day.

“Hey, Bongsik. Be more sensitive!”

Ha-young laughed at the director’s angry reaction.

“That’s right, Bongsik. Why are you spoiling the director’s good mood?”

“Well, I was just being realistic…”

In that warm atmosphere, the last filming of began.

The afternoon flew by in a flurry of activity.

Finally, as the sun began to dip in the sky, a black car pulled into the parking lot of the set.

It stopped in front of the bustling crew and the brightly lit set of .

The door opened.