Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 220

220. The Fateful General Shareholders Meeting (2)

After the Prosecutor General declared war on crime, the news was filled with drug investigations every day.

Newspapers and broadcasters reported constantly.

-Large-scale drug smuggling involving Japan’s largest yakuza [Japanese organized crime syndicate] group has been uncovered.

-Prosecutors have discovered that Japanese drug dealers, in connection with Korean organized crime, have seized control of domestic drug distribution and are expanding their investigation.

-Prosecutors have obtained evidence that numerous high-ranking Japanese officials involved in the Lockheed scandal [a major political corruption scandal involving bribery by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation] are implicated and have requested a joint investigation from Japanese authorities…….

The public’s anger at the news was understandable.

Drugs, of all things, were involved.

It was natural that the public reacted so strongly.

“Seriously, what were the police and government doing while Japanese drug dealers were running rampant in the country?”

“The gangsters are the real problem. Japanese and Korean gangsters alike.”

“They need to be punished severely. Drugs are absolutely unacceptable!”

Fueled by public opinion, even leading figures from the opposition party condemned the former government.

“Are you telling me that this country’s borders were breached by drug smuggling organizations? How is that even possible?”

“Did the Park Jeong-hwan government really not know about this? If they didn’t know, it’s incompetence, and if they did, it’s treason!”

“What on earth was the customs office doing? Are the police blind? Didn’t they even grasp the situation?”

“We need a thorough investigation. There’s no guarantee that Korean officials aren’t connected to the drug route involving high-ranking Japanese officials.”

Calls for accountability grew louder.

Eventually, even President-elect Ahn Jeong-woo addressed the issue.

-Drug smuggling is unacceptable.

-I promise that no one will interfere with the investigation, and no one involved will be spared, no matter who they are.

-All those involved must be severely punished.

-We must win the war on crime.

People cheered.

“Good job! Take this opportunity to root out all those gangster bastards!”

“Prison is exactly where those gangsters belong.”

“Who can live in peace, afraid of those who spread drugs and start knife fights at the drop of a hat?”

The prosecution also actively began providing interim briefings on the drug investigation.

Then, the Prosecutor General himself took the microphone and delivered shocking news.

-The president of Cheongil Construction has been arrested on the spot at a drug smuggling site.

-We are focusing our investigation on whether this was an individual act or orchestrated at the Cheongil Group level.

The repercussions of this announcement were enormous.

Reports from informants began to pour in.

-I saw the new head of Cheongil Group going back and forth to Incheon Port and contacting known drug offenders.

-The young head of Cheongil has been hanging out with gangsters in Jongno [a district in Seoul] for a long time.

-I know that gangsters in Jongno are secretly distributing drugs on the market. Maybe Cheongil is involved…….

All of this was broadcast on television.

As a result, Cheongil Group’s public relations office was flooded with angry calls.

In front of the Cheongil Group headquarters, protesters amplified their voices through megaphones.

“Cheongil CEO, explain yourself!”

“Explain yourself!”

“If you can’t explain, resign!”

“Resign!”

Whack.

Secretary Jang drew the curtains in the chairman’s office on the 11th floor of the Cheongil Group headquarters.

Secretary Jang’s expression was very stiff.

“Are you sure that Cheongil Group and the chairman have nothing to do with drug distribution?”

“Are you a prosecutor? Are you interrogating me now?”

Han Il-kwon glared.

He threw the knife he was playing with at Secretary Jang.

Secretary Jang was startled and quickly dodged.

He almost got his head taken off.

Secretary Jang wiped away his cold sweat once again.

“It’s chaotic inside and outside Cheongil Group. We need some special measures.”

“What is the public relations office doing? Aren’t they working?”

“No matter how many press releases we put out at the group level saying it’s nonsense, no one believes it. You should rather…….”

“Can’t you see I’m on my way to the general shareholders meeting?”

Han Il-kwon put on his suit jacket.

Han Il-kwon frowned as he adjusted his cuffs.

“Cheongil Group and I, the president, are being attacked from the outside, and the old guard of Cheongil are taking the lead in pointing a knife at my throat?”

It’s outrageous.

I want to cut them all off.

However, firing general employees and executives were two very different things.

I ordered the audit team to investigate the executives, but they remained unmoved.

They’re just pretending to do it.

This was because the power of the loyalists who had devoted themselves to Cheongil for a long time was stronger than that of the newly appointed young president.

‘Damn it!’

That’s how today came to be.

It’s the extraordinary general shareholders meeting.

“Let’s go!”

Han Il-kwon headed to the general shareholders meeting room on the 9th floor.

* * *

Extraordinary General Shareholders Meeting Room.

The people who entered first were all whispering.

The protesters outside the window were creating a racket.

Worry washed over everyone with a sigh.

“I really hope Cheongil Group isn’t deeply involved in drug smuggling.”

“It’s well known that Chairman Han Il-kwon has been living a reckless life.”

“Even if he lived a reckless life, drugs are a step too far. I can’t believe he used Lee Moon-bok to smuggle…….”

I can’t see what’s ahead of us.

Isn’t the Cheongil stock price plummeting based on mere suspicion?

If Han Il-kwon is really involved in drug trafficking, the entire group will be destroyed.

‘Chairman Han Cheong-ho ruined his children’s prospects and caused this mess.’

‘It was proven long ago that Han Il-kwon wasn’t management material. He insisted on putting his own son in the position of president of the holding company…….’

‘The day Cheongil Group goes bankrupt is just around the corner.’

Even Cheongil’s executives didn’t trust Han Il-kwon.

Not just the executives.

Even his father, Han Cheong-ho, didn’t trust his son and had a history of removing him from the management line.

“Public opinion is fierce. Even President-elect Ahn Jeong-woo has stepped in.”

“I’m very worried that Cheongil will be dismantled completely.”

“Director Kim, what should we do about this?”

Cheongil’s executives flocked to Kim Bong-nam.

This was because he was the one who called for today’s extraordinary general shareholders meeting and was known as Cheongil’s most devoted loyalist.

“What should we do? We must hold the president of Cheongil Group directly responsible.”

“If you demand responsibility…….”

It was then.

The outside of the conference room was noisy.

The murmuring sound could be heard even inside the conference room.

The reason for the commotion was soon revealed.

“Chairman Kang Tae-soo of the Taeyang Group has arrived!”

The only people who can enter the general shareholders meeting are those who own shares in the group.

The people inside the conference room stared intently at the entrance.

They wondered if Chairman Kang Tae-soo of Taeyang Group would really enter the conference room.

* * *

While Tae-soo was having his identity checked by the staff at the entrance of the conference room,

Along with the murmuring of people, the narrow hallway parted like the Red Sea.

It was an unusual sight to see people lined up in the hallway pressed against the wall to make way.

“Who is this?”

That unlucky voice.

Tae-soo turned his head.

Han Il-kwon was walking over with Secretary Jang, swaggering.

The Red Sea was caused by Han Il-kwon.

“Are the guards controlling people like this? I’ve repeatedly told them not to let in just anyone, tsk tsk.”

“I guess you didn’t know.”

When it was decided to hold the general shareholders meeting, the list of shareholders would have already been released.

If he had only looked at that, he would have been able to confirm Tae-soo’s name.

Here was the president of a group who attended the general shareholders meeting without even checking the list of shareholders.

Tae-soo pointed his thumb over his shoulder.

“I came to attend the general shareholders meeting.”

“…You own Cheongil Group stock?”

“I wouldn’t miss the moment when you get kicked out of the president’s seat.”

They say the most enjoyable thing in the world is watching a fire and watching a fight.

Isn’t it a foregone conclusion that Han Il-kwon will be put on the chopping block and torn apart by Cheongil’s loyal dogs?

Tae-soo had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Tae-soo’s voice, filled with amusement, turned Han Il-kwon’s stomach upside down.

“Were you having a pipe dream?”

Han Il-kwon, who had already walked a few steps forward, glared.

“The company is controlled by the major shareholders. And I am the president and largest shareholder of Cheongil.”

It’s not for nothing that companies fight over shares.

Shares were power and strength.

Han Il-kwon and his family owned more than 50% of Cheongil Construction’s shares, which is Cheongil’s holding company.

Han Il-kwon had received power of attorney from his father and mother.

He had nothing to fear because he could exercise their voting rights by proxy with the power of attorney.

“So why don’t you stop having wishful thinking and just go back?”

“I can’t do that.”

Tae-soo, who had received his ID back, stared straight at Han Il-kwon.

This time, Tae-soo approached Han Il-kwon.

It was just one step forward, but the pressure was immense.

“Do you remember what your father said to me at the launching ceremony of Geumsan Shipbuilding & Marine?”

Han Il-kwon was also at the scene at the time.

When Han Cheong-ho was called by Park Jeong-hwan and came out after a private meeting.

Han Cheong-ho, filled with resentment, gritted his teeth at Tae-soo and said.

-You’ll end up with nothing, Kang Tae-soo.

That’s how Han Cheong-ho was deprived of Cheongil Oil Refinery, which was the crown jewel, right before his eyes.

There’s no way Han Il-kwon could forget his father’s resentful voice.

Tae-soo said the same thing to Han Il-kwon that he had said to Han Cheong-ho at the time.

“You won’t even have trash; I won’t allow it.”

“Kang Tae-soo, you won’t even have trash. I won’t allow it.”

Tae-soo said the same thing to Han Il-kwon that he had said to Han Cheong-ho at the time.

“What you have, what is as precious as your life, what you don’t want to lose. I’m going to take those things away.”

“No way.”

Han Il-kwon had no intention of letting anything be taken away easily.

“I’m different from my father.”

My father had no choice but to make such a decision while shedding tears of blood in order to maintain a good relationship with Park Jeong-hwan.

All he did was turn Cheongil Oil Refinery into an empty shell and hand it over.

Park Jeong-hwan would turn a blind eye to that much.

“I’d rather destroy my things with my own hands than have them taken away by someone else.”

However, Han Il-kwon hated his father’s way of doing things.

Tae-soo chuckled.

“Did I mention showing you around the prison and letting you live at the bottom?”

“That will never happen, even if I die and come back to life. I’m Han Il-kwon, the president of Cheongil Group.”

“How long do you think you can keep the position of president of Cheongil Group?”

Tae-soo said in Han Il-kwon’s ear.

“You will also be helplessly taken down by me.”

The decision will be made right here at the general shareholders meeting.

Tae-soo turned his back without regret.

He entered the general shareholders meeting hall with confident steps.

Han Il-kwon bit his lip as he looked at Tae-soo’s back.

‘Kang Tae-soo……!’

It will never be as that guy said.

This is Cheongil Group, and I, Han Il-kwon, am the owner of Cheongil Group.

Bang.

Han Il-kwon also opened the door forcefully with both hands.

The light that illuminated the general shareholders meeting hall poured down on Han Il-kwon.

Even the gazes of the people gathered all turned at once.

“Then shall we start the meeting?”

* * *

General Shareholders Meeting.

It refers to the highest decision-making body of a corporation.

A place where shareholders who own shares in the company gather and exercise voting rights in proportion to their shareholdings.

That means the more shares you have, the louder your voice is.

The meeting began with the issue of Lee Moon-bok, the president of Cheongil Construction, which was already a hot topic.

“Cheongil Construction President Lee Moon-bok has been arrested on the spot as a drug smuggling criminal.”

“As a result, not only Cheongil Construction but also the stock prices of all Cheongil Group affiliates are plummeting.”

“The entire group is already struggling due to the deficit caused by Cheongil Construction, and now you’re siphoning money from affiliates to create this mess?”

“How are you going to handle this? Answer me!”

Cheongil’s executives were also shareholders.

They were also the owners of nominee shares entrusted by Chairman Han Cheong-ho, and they were also the management team that supported Cheongil.

Cheongil Group’s pure-blooded loyalists rose up with one voice and pressured Han Il-kwon.

“Did you really not know that Lee Moon-bok was involved in drug smuggling?”

“Wasn’t Lee Moon-bok the person Chairman Han brought in and put in that position himself?”

“Answer me! Did you really not know? Can you be sure that the group is not involved?”

“Can you swear that even Chairman Han didn’t touch drugs? Did you do drugs while hanging out with gangsters, or did you not?”

“The future of Cheongil depends on your answer! Don’t lie and answer truthfully!”

Kim Bong-nam was at the forefront.

“Take responsibility! We cannot have someone like you as the president of the group!”

Kim Bong-nam strongly argued for the dismissal of Han Il-kwon as president.