Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 122

122. Newspaper Ad War (2)

Han Il-kwon spoke with urgency.

“Kang Tae-soo is trying to influence the bank.”

“What?”

That absolutely couldn’t happen with the bank.

Han Cheong-ho shot to his feet.

“Explain yourself!”

“He said he’s going to retaliate for everything we did to him. Blocking bank loans, demanding repayment of existing loans…”

“Hmph!”

Han Cheong-ho scoffed.

“That little punk can’t do that. It’s impossible unless the President [of the bank] intervenes.”

“He seemed confident he could influence the President.”

“…That can’t be.”

Kang Tae-soo influencing Park Jeong-hwan?

Han Cheong-ho’s eyes darted around the room.

He racked his brain.

The conclusion he reached was singular.

“He’s bluffing. If he had that kind of power, he would have used it already.”

Han Cheong-ho didn’t believe it for a second.

“Don’t be fooled by his nonsense, and do your job properly.”

Han Cheong-ho glared at Han Il-kwon.

“What were you doing going all the way there and not getting the land documents? You should have grabbed him by the collar instead of running back here like a coward!”

You incompetent fool.

* * *

Song Chang-joon, who had become the head secretary of the Taeyang Group, was extremely busy these days.

It had all started after the Dongbang Ilbo [a major newspaper] published a prominent article about Taeyang Apartments.

Following the large-scale newspaper advertisement, various media outlets and magazines lined up to request interviews.

“Chairman, this time the Joseok Ilbo [another major newspaper] wants to do an interview.”

“Chairman, the Hangang Ilbo…”

“Chairman, the Korean Economy Channel, a monthly economic magazine…”

“Chairman, the Hanmaeul Ilbo…”

Thanks to this media blitz, Tae-soo became a well-known figure, appearing in newspapers almost daily.

Articles about Taeyang Apartments poured out.

-The finest premium apartment! From 32 to 64 *pyeong* [a Korean unit of area, approximately 3.3 square meters]!

-This is not a hotel! It’s an apartment! Experience the service you used to get at hotels in Taeyang Apartments!

-The best single apartment complex in Korea!

-The center of education in Korea! A total of six schools and a community library! All within a 5-minute walk!

-An academy district will be built surrounding the apartment complex!

The effect of running a full two-page advertisement in the newspaper for the first time was tremendous.

It became necessary to set up a dedicated Taeyang Construction apartment promotion team.

Ring, ring.

“Yes, this is the Taeyang Construction Apartment Promotion Department.”

-When is the Taeyang Apartment scheduled to be completed? Are there any priority conditions for moving in?

Ring, ring.

“Yes, this is the Taeyang Construction Apartment Promotion Department.”

-I would like to move into the Taeyang Apartment shopping district.

Ring, ring.

-Is pre-sale possible for Taeyang Apartments?

Ring, ring.

-When is the lottery for the Taeyang Apartment sales rights?

Ring, ring.

Ring, ring.

The public relations department’s phone was ringing off the hook.

The public relations staff was exhausted from answering calls all day long.

Holluck, the head of the headquarters public relations office, watched this scene with a satisfied smile.

“Back in my day, orders for the molybdenum mine were pouring in, and there wasn’t even time to go to the bathroom.”

Holluck was the only one familiar with this kind of situation.

Therefore, Holluck was also the only one who could skillfully manage the situation.

“Okay, it’s lunchtime. Everyone, unplug the phone lines and let’s eat. We shouldn’t get indigestion, right?”

It was a method that had always been used in the molybdenum mine office.

* * *

Cheongil Group headquarters, chairman’s office.

Han Cheong-ho slammed the Dongbang Ilbo on the desk.

“The finest apartment? An apartment aimed at the middle class? What a joke!”

To run an advertisement using the entire two pages of the newspaper…

Secretary Park glanced at the newspaper that had fallen to the floor and said.

“It seems that people are very interested. Cheongil employees are also whispering about Taeyang Apartments.”

“Don’t these guys have anything else to do! Can’t you properly control the employees?”

His stomach was churning.

“He’s taking the project I had my eye on? Kang Tae-soo!”

He had heard that the basic construction of Taeyang Apartments was already finished.

It was unbelievable that the basic construction of approximately 85,000 *pyeong* [approximately 280,500 square meters] was completed so quickly.

“It’s an apartment where poor people will live, so they deliberately call it a middle-class apartment. If the name sounds good, they’ll mistakenly believe they’ve really become middle class.”

It’s all about instilling dreams and hopes.

To make them forget their miserable reality, even for a moment.

“Just watch. The middle class won’t even look at such an apartment.”

So Han Cheong-ho was confident.

“Kang Tae-soo will soon go bankrupt. Just watch. I’ll block his loans again.”

He made a promise to build the finest apartment.

So the amount of construction money needed will be enormous.

He’ll have to use plenty of high-quality materials.

So if I block the loans, that guy’s money will dry up.

“Middle-class apartment? Who would invest in a place that’s going to go bankrupt?”

That’s why even Jang Joon-yong of Geumsan said he would build small apartments.

* * *

Jang Joon-yong of Geumsan visited the Taeyang Apartment construction site.

Tae-soo welcomed the guest.

“What brings you here?”

“I was just passing by.”

Secretary Kim was dumbfounded.

‘The person who rushed here from Ulsan as soon as he saw the newspaper is just passing by? My ass!’

Jang Joon-yong smiled.

“Are you going to build a high-end apartment aimed at the middle class?”

“Yes, that’s what I intend to do.”

“How about starting safely with a small apartment? You’ve never done apartment sales before, have you?”

He hasn’t done apartment sales before.

Cheongil Group builds apartments every year across the country.

It’s the first time he’s climbed up from the bottom like this.

“You’re betting your life on a gamble right now, aren’t you? An all-in at that…”

Jang Joon-yong looks at Tae-soo with concern.

That was the reason he rushed all the way here from Ulsan.

“I’ll advise you just once, in the name of our alliance.”

Jang Joon-yong closed his eyes.

“If you make one mistake, everything you’ve built up will collapse like a sandcastle in an instant. I don’t know if you know Kim Woo-jin of Daewoon Construction.”

Why wouldn’t he know?

Even that Kim Woo-jin is in charge of the Jubail Industrial Port construction in Saudi Arabia.

As a member of the Taeyang Group.

“Kim Woo-jin of Daewoon Construction rose rapidly with fearsome momentum. With aggressive investments, bold bets, and successive successes, he quickly gained a foothold in the ranks of the *chaebols* [large, family-controlled industrial conglomerates]. Is he about 10 years older than you?”

To be exact, he is 13 years older than Tae-soo.

“He lost everything with just one mistake and left Korea. It will be difficult for him to get back on his feet.”

Jang Joon-yong was bitter.

“If he had continued to grow like that, he would have been a *chaebol* in the top five within 10 years. The President’s expectations were also very high, and I was also watching him, but that’s how this industry is.”

Many people crash and burn.

Because the economy takes a downturn, an unfortunate accident occurs, or they fall out of favor with the government.

There are many reasons.

But the result is the same: failure, bankruptcy, default, out.

“The future looks rosy to you, right? Because you’re young. Because you’ve succeeded.”

Jang Joon-yong was like that when he was young.

He succeeded by pushing forward with confidence and is now among the *chaebols*.

So Tae-soo’s big apartment investment seemed reckless.

“Success gained at a young age is a terrible teacher. Smart people mistakenly believe that they will never lose in life.”

Jang Joon-yong pointed to himself.

“I was like that too. I thought all that success was due to my ability. But look at my situation now. I run and prostrate myself when the President calls. I’m trying to hold on somehow.”

Jang Joon-yong sighed.

“An apartment where the middle class lives… I’ve never heard of it.”

Jang Joon-yong has been in this industry for a long time.

He has greatly grown Geumsan Construction by betting on construction and successfully completing major government-led projects.

So he’s more worried.

“Aren’t you clinging to advertisements and the media because you’re not confident?”

No.

That’s just a bonus.

The most important purpose is to provoke Han Cheong-ho.

Because Han Cheong-ho has to become impatient to take unreasonable measures.

“You have the ability. You’ll soon become a top *chaebol* even if you don’t rush like this. So won’t you reconsider this time?”

Tae-soo said quietly.

“Thank you for your concern. But there will be no turning back.”

Taeyang Apartment is a war that will be an important turning point.

Everything depends on this one shot.

Whether Tae-soo will stand tall as a veritable *chaebol*, or whether he will continue to struggle like this.

“Go slowly. You’re young, so you have plenty of time. This sale is too risky. People’s perceptions don’t change that easily. Take your time, step by step, safely…”

“Is that how the chairman became a *chaebol*? By only taking gradual and safe paths?”

“…….”

Jang Joon-yong was speechless.

Who becomes a *chaebol* while worrying about safety?

The people who become *chaebols* in this industry are the ones who have climbed up by only focusing on what makes money.

It is very natural that danger accompanies money-making activities.

“Still, this is too reckless. Isn’t the risk too great?”

“Recklessness and calculated risk are different.”

“Calculated risk…”

Jang Joon-yong nodded.

“You shouldn’t try to dissuade a man from his resolve carelessly.”

Instead, Jang Joon-yong asked something else.

“Won’t you be short of construction funds?”

A man’s pride comes from his pocket.

Jang Joon-yong didn’t want Tae-soo’s resolve to be broken because of a lack of funds.

“Didn’t Taeyang take on a big project this time?”

Jang Joon-yong immediately realized.

Tae-soo won a project worth a whopping $1 billion.

“Are you going to pour all the money you earn in Jubail into this project?”

“Yes.”

He jumped into Middle East construction to earn apartment construction funds.

Many things happened because he was trying to inflate oil prices on the back of the oil shock, but it was originally started to earn apartment construction funds.

“If an apartment sale of this scale fails, it will be difficult to recover. Are you confident?”

“Instead, if it succeeds, it’s on a scale that can put you in the top 10 *chaebols* at once.”

“…That’s right.”

A whopping 4,824 households will be built on approximately 85,000 *pyeong* [approximately 280,500 square meters] of land.

The money going into apartment construction will be an astronomical amount.

Therefore, if the sale is successful, the ranking in the business world will jump up in an instant.

“Isn’t it worth gambling on this scale? It’s not like we’re short of apartment construction funds.”

“…That’s true.”

“I won’t say much. I’ll show you with results.”

“Good!”

Jang Joon-yong clenched his fist even more enthusiastically.

“The opportunity has come! Then you have to jump in! Why be careful when you’re young? If the opportunity comes, you have to seize it!”

Wasn’t Jang Joon-yong just stopping him, saying it was dangerous?

But in an instant, the business world ranking was about to jump by several hundred steps.

Of course, the premise is ‘if it succeeds’.

“I guess I’m old. I was worried for nothing. You’re doing well on your own.”

Jang Joon-yong held out his hand to Tae-soo.

“Succeed wonderfully and rise to my level. I’m waiting for that day.”

“I won’t make you wait long.”

Tae-soo smiled.

“How about Geumsan running a large-scale advertisement in the newspaper this time?”

“Advertisement?”

It is the Apgujeong-dong Geumsan apartment, where the basic construction has not even been properly completed yet.

But an advertisement?

“I heard that Geumsan was going to build apartments for employee housing, but the scale increased due to the President’s opinion?”

“That’s right.”

“Instead, how about promoting Geumsan’s employee recruitment or employee benefits along with it?”

It’s tempting.

Even after the large-scale restructuring, there are signs that the economy is recovering slightly.

It’s a time when excellent talent is needed.

That’s why he’s building Geumsan apartments to use as employee housing.

“You can only properly enjoy the promotional effect when everyone is interested in the Gangnam apartment development, and you capitalize on that interest.”

Tae-soo set the stage.

These days, everyone at Geumsan is busy talking about Taeyang Apartments.

Knowing that, Jang Joon-yong smiled contentedly.

“Good idea.”

Jang Joon-yong’s head started spinning.