Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 17

17. Recruiting Talent (2)

Park Cheol-wan.

He was a real estate development expert who left his mark not only on Cheongil Construction but also on Korean history with his extraordinary eye for real estate and ambitious urban development plans.

‘Park Cheol-wan’s three greatest achievements would be Daechidong Cheongil Apartments, Cheongil Land, and Cheongil Steel Mill.’

Cheongil Group gained a brand image as a top-tier construction company thanks to the Daechidong Cheongil Apartments.

Furthermore, it secured a never-ending source of cash income through Cheongil Land.

Lastly, Cheongil Steel Mill.

Combined with the already existing Cheongil Heavy Industries, Cheongil Electronics, and Cheongil Chemical, it generated enormous industrial synergy.

It became the foundation for Cheongil Group to be reborn as Korea’s top comprehensive heavy chemical industrial conglomerate.

‘To think this man is a meritorious subject of Cheongil Group. I’ve only heard about him; this is my first time seeing him in person.’

Park Cheol-wan had already passed away when Tae-soo began to truly distinguish himself in Cheongil Group.

It was often said that if Park Cheol-wan hadn’t died in an unfortunate accident, he would have risen to become the key figure in Cheongil Group.

‘Could it be that he was also murdered, and it was disguised as an accident?’

It’s just a suspicion, but the possibility is high.

At first glance, he looks to be about the same age as Tae-soo.

Moreover, he’s the son of Park Tae-jong of Pohang Steel, Han Cheong-il’s nemesis.

Han Il-kwon wouldn’t have left him alone.

‘What is Park Cheol-wan like now? He probably hasn’t caught Han Cheong-ho’s eye yet.’

Tae-soo’s eyes are filled with curiosity as he looks at Park Cheol-wan.

He’s a talent among talents who greatly grew Cheongil Group through real estate.

He was curious to know what kind of thoughts this man harbored.

‘Why would he work at Cheongil Construction with a father who is the president of Pohang Steel?’

That was the first question that came to mind.

Brumm, clunk clunk.

A road that hasn’t been properly maintained yet.

The jeep kicks up dust as it drives along the rough road.

As the car rattled, the pile of books that had been carelessly thrown on the back seat collapsed.

Tae-soo picked up a few books that had fallen on the floor.

There was a perfect opening.

“You have a lot of books related to real estate.”

“Ah, it’s just a hobby.”

“You’re being modest. Aren’t these specialized books that are hard to find even in Japan?”

“Oh! How did you know that? No one has ever recognized that this book is a Japanese specialized book.”

He seemed happy that they were talking about a topic he liked.

Park Cheol-wan answered excitedly.

Tae-soo flipped through the pages and said in an admiring voice.

“This… it’s quite a lot of studying for just a hobby?”

“I’m embarrassed to say, but I read every real estate book that comes out. It’s quite a privileged hobby.”

“A father in steel, a son in real estate.”

Tae-soo smiled.

‘I know that Park Tae-jong doesn’t intend to pass on the steel industry to his son. Is there a separate reason?’

Park Tae-jong did not own a single share of Pohang Steel until the moment he died.

The same was true for himself and his family.

Considering that he rose to the ranks of a conglomerate with just the steel mill, it’s hard to believe logically.

So, he deliberately probed a little.

“If you’re going to inherit your father’s steel industry in the future, shouldn’t you be studying steel instead of real estate?”

Park Cheol-wan answered calmly.

“How could that be my share? It all belongs to the country and the people.”

“What if your father says he will pass it on to you?”

Park Cheol-wan shook his head.

“My father will return the steel mill to the nation and the people. He won’t pass it on to me, so that assumption is not correct.”

“How can you be so sure? A father’s heart is—”

“As his son, I know better than anyone what the steel mill means to my father. I think you don’t know what money he’s building the steel mill with.”

“I know. Wouldn’t you resent your father if President Park really did that? It’s unfair to raise it with such effort and then return it to the state.”

However, a completely different reaction came out than Tae-soo had expected.

“Resent? No, rather, I would be proud of my father.”

Park Cheol-wan was making a proud expression as if he was really imagining that scene.

“I have to go my own way. I can’t live on my father’s back when I’m an adult.”

“A conglomerate father’s back would be comfortable.”

“Hahaha, my father is a soldier by nature, so I think his back would be very hard. I’ll politely decline the piggyback ride.”

Park Cheol-wan said in a strong voice.

‘He’s a strong-willed person, unlike his appearance. He looks a lot like Park Tae-jong. Not bad?’

Tae-soo nodded.

“You have a firm dream.”

“Dreams are the privilege of the young. Is it a bit grandiose? Hahaha.”

“Not at all. I’ll support you, too.”

“T-thank you.”

‘It would be great if you could work hard to grow your dream and grow our Taeyang Construction like Cheongil Construction.’

He had ulterior motives.

He is Park Cheol-wan, the construction mastermind that Han Cheong-ho, who has a good eye for talent, recruited after visiting him three times.

Tae-soo also wanted him.

‘Let’s recruit him.’

He made up his mind.

Meanwhile, Park Cheol-wan scratched his eyebrow, his face flushed as if he was feeling awkward.

“When I say these things, everyone says I’m crazy, that I’m too comfortable. It’s the first time I’ve been supported.”

Of course.

His father is Park Tae-jong of Pohang Steel, the closest aide to the most powerful man of the time.

And what about the steel mill he’s building?

Everyone is anxious to pass on the company to their children, but he’s going a different path than his father?

Who would believe that? No one would look kindly on it.

“Is studying real estate that fun?”

“It’s fun. The more you look at it, the more interesting real estate is. Real estate is currently being treated cheaply, but as income levels rise, its value will be recognized more and more.”

“That’s right.”

Park Cheol-wan was delighted and began to chatter as the topic continued in his area of interest.

Unexpectedly, he had little wariness of people and was a pure person.

And he had a great passion for real estate.

“Oh, I took the wrong turn. I was so focused on talking about real estate rather than driving… I’m sorry. I’ll have to turn around.”

“Let’s take a break in the shade over there. I’d like to hear more.”

“Would that be alright?”

Screech.

Eventually, he parked the car on the side of the road and went into the shade.

“Hahaha, it’s the first time I’ve met someone who I can talk to so well about real estate; I’m so happy.”

Park Cheol-wan was very happy.

He seems to like talking enthusiastically about his favorite field.

It seemed like he was thirsty for this kind of conversation, as if he didn’t have anyone to share his opinions with.

Only Skinny was having a hard time.

‘What is this? The girls at the beach? Sashimi and soju [Korean distilled rice liquor]? It’s not a drinking party where we can talk to women. Oh, my head.’

Eventually, Skinny leaned his head against the tree trunk and closed his eyes tightly.

He keeps hearing sounds that he can’t understand at all.

Because it was hard to understand, Skinny fell asleep before he knew it.

“Seoul will continue to develop more and more in the future. Urban development plans are important accordingly, but I’m sad that everyone seems to overlook that point too much.”

“Indiscriminate development will only destroy the environment and eventually lower the quality of life for people.”

“The number of people abandoning farmland and entering Seoul in search of education and jobs is increasing every year. We will need to develop housing sites to accommodate the people who have come to the capital.”

“Where are the expected places to develop housing sites?”

“Gangnam.”

The more he talks, the more I like him.

Tae-soo was honestly surprised.

‘No wonder Han Cheong-ho was so anxious and made three visits. I really wish he would join our Taeyang Construction.’

Talent is always lacking, anywhere.

Tae-soo smiled as he looked at Park Cheol-wan, who was enthusiastically talking about real estate.

“I think so too. So, about that.”

Tae-soo carefully brought up the topic.

“Are you perhaps interested in developing Gangnam? I’m thinking of building apartments there.”

“Apartments?”

Park Cheol-wan looked back at Tae-soo in surprise.

“Did you just say you’re developing Gangnam, and building apartments there?”

“Yes, I’m thinking of building an apartment complex in the barren land of Daechidong.”

“Oh-!”

Gangnam development is what Tae-soo wants to jump into in the future.

The country will actively encourage development.

‘Cheongil Apartments, which were recognized as a top-tier apartment brand, I’m building them first this time.’

That was part of Tae-soo’s desired blueprint.

He found the talent here to plan and promote it more effectively.

“I will secure the site within two years and build the apartments within five years.”

“Have you made any specific plans?”

“Luxury apartments with large square footage. We will secure elevators and large parking lots, and surround the complex with the best school district and 14-lane Yeongdong-daero [a major boulevard in Seoul]. A large apartment complex catering to middle-class education. What do you think?”

He rattled off the construction projects and development plans that Park Cheol-wan had promoted when he joined Cheongil Construction in the past.

The more he did, the more Park Cheol-wan repeatedly admired him.

“Amazing. I’ve been vaguely drawing the things I’ve only been vaguely drawing so specifically!”

“Indeed, we were envisioning the same thing.”

“No wonder we got along so well. Really, I don’t know what to say about this feeling…”

Park Cheol-wan naturally thought of the word “soulmate.”

Like a friend who listens and recognizes the sound, he met someone who listens and recognizes his thoughts.

‘Was this how Baek-ah felt when he met his soulmate Jong Ja-gi, who listened to his geomungo [Korean zither] sound? Wow, I’ve never felt like this before.’

Park Cheol-wan’s eyes were full of favor as he looked at Tae-soo.

“Would you like to participate in real estate development with me?”

“M-me?”

Park Cheol-wan widened his eyes and asked back blankly.