Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 35

35. Using the President to Set the Stage (3)

Chief of Staff Kim Hwan stood right beside Jang Jun-yong.

Kim Hwan gave Tae-soo a subtle smile and whispered something in Jang Jun-yong’s ear.

Jang Jun-yong glanced at Tae-soo and raised his hand.

“Who do we have here? Someone who should be in Gangwon-do, I see. Hahaha, anyway, good to see you.”

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Kang Tae-soo.”

“I am Jang Jun-yong from Geumsan.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. I received the gift you sent. Thank you very much.”

Jang Jun-yong nodded.

“I hear the hardest person to meet these days is a molybdenum mine owner. Hahaha, have you made quite a bit of money?”

“I’ve earned a little, thanks to you.”

Thud.

Just then, someone slammed a car door shut in a fit of pique.

It was Han Cheong-ho, the head of Cheongil Group.

Han Cheong-ho stretched out his fingers.

“It’s been five days. You missed a good opportunity.”

Han Cheong-ho had made an absurd proposal and threat, giving Tae-soo five days to respond.

“I thought you were smart. I’m very disappointed.”

Han Cheong-ho turned his back and followed Park Tae-jong and Park Jeong-hwan.

Jang Jun-yong watched Han Cheong-ho’s retreating back and said,

“I have to follow the President, so I’ll see you later.”

“Understood.”

Jang Jun-yong also followed Han Cheong-ho towards the steel mill.

Tae-soo remained in front of the Pohang Steel office, watching them walk away.

‘Park Jeong-hwan brought Chairman Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan and Han Cheong-ho of Cheongil to Pohang. Is it really because of the Saudi construction project?’

There’s no need to mention Han Cheong-ho of Cheongil, who is entangled with Samwon Construction.

Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan has a history of attracting oil money by securing ship orders from Middle Eastern tycoons to raise funds for the construction of the Geumsan Shipyard.

Is that why?

‘President Park Jeong-hwan is really determined to come down to Pohang.’

Tae-soo grinned.

* * *

Pohang Steel President’s Office.

Important figures gathered.

President Park Jeong-hwan sat at the head of the table, with Chief of Security Cha Gi-beom standing beside him.

Park Tae-jong and Jang Jun-yong, the head of Geumsan Group, sat to Park Jeong-hwan’s right.

Chief of Staff Kim Jeong-rim and Han Cheong-ho of Cheongil took their places to Park Jeong-hwan’s left.

It was as if they were dividing into two teams.

Park Jeong-hwan said to Park Tae-jong,

“Have the person you mentioned come in.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Park Tae-jong jumped up, opened the president’s office door, and went out.

Shortly after, Tae-soo entered behind Park Tae-jong.

“My name is Kang Tae-soo. Pleased to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you. Please, have a seat.”

Tae-soo bowed and sat in the lowest seat on Park Tae-jong’s side.

It was a seat facing Han Cheong-ho.

Park Tae-jong chuckled and introduced Tae-soo.

“This friend is the president of the construction company building the school. You all saw it earlier, didn’t you?”

“Yes, it’s quite well-built. I even met the vice president at the site. He was very young, wasn’t he? Is he your younger brother?”

Park Jeong-hwan smiled mischievously, and Park Tae-jong smiled awkwardly.

“Your Excellency, the vice president you met earlier is actually my son.”

“Oh, really? That young man was your son?”

“Yes.”

“Look at this. Tae-jong, you’re introducing your son to me like this?”

Park Jeong-hwan laughed loudly and looked at Han Cheong-ho.

“Chairman Han, you saw him too, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Didn’t you say you were going to recruit him into Cheongil Construction as soon as you saw him? Hahaha.”

In fact, Han Cheong-ho had openly coveted Park Cheol-wan as soon as he saw him.

“I didn’t know that young man was President Park’s son. If I had known, how could I have offered him a position at Cheongil Construction?”

“But it’s true that you made him an offer. Were you that impressed?”

“…”

It was a question with a predetermined answer.

Han Cheong-ho had no choice but to answer.

Park Jeong-hwan was greatly pleased.

“Hahaha, look at this. Han Cheong-ho of Cheongil is the best in Korea when it comes to recognizing talent. If Chairman Han vouches for him, there’s no need to say more. Park Tae-jong, your son is outstanding. Hahaha.”

“I apologize. Kang Tae-soo, this friend snatched my son away.”

“Hahaha, now I see he has a remarkable eye for talent. I wonder if he can succeed Chairman Han of Cheongil in the future.”

Park Jeong-hwan looked at Park Tae-jong with a teasing expression.

“Tell me honestly. Is that friend a figurehead, and your son is actually the president?”

“No. Is there any need to do that?”

“Well, there are eyes watching. Isn’t that so?”

“If I wanted to do something for my son, I would have asked Your Excellency to hand over Pohang Steel. Of course, that will never happen.”

Park Jeong-hwan turned his gaze to Tae-soo.

“Kang Tae-soo, was it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Why did you insist on making Tae-jong’s son the vice president? Are you trying to use his son as a hostage to shake Park Tae-jong?”

Park Jeong-hwan frowned slightly.

“He actually stirred up Park Tae-jong and made him stand before me, so it’s not entirely wrong. You’re a despicable fellow.”

Tae-soo smiled.

“Apart from President Park Tae-jong, his son, Park Cheol-wan, is truly a remarkable talent. He is someone who will make a significant mark on the construction industry in Korea.”

“Really?”

“How could I not be tempted when I met such a person? I was afraid someone else would take him, so I immediately recruited him.”

“Really? Hmm.”

He was a talent that Han Cheong-ho coveted at first sight.

However, suspicion still filled Park Jeong-hwan’s eyes.

Park Jeong-hwan had become very suspicious since gaining power.

Seeing this, Han Cheong-ho subtly nudged Kim Jeong-rim, who was sitting next to him.

“Hmm?”

Kim Jeong-rim turned around, and Han Cheong-ho nodded.

Kim Jeong-rim carefully opened her mouth.

“Your Excellency, do you remember the molybdenum mine I mentioned before?”

“Molybdenum mine?”

“I heard that an individual is monopolizing a national strategic mineral to satisfy his personal greed. Do you remember the story that he is interfering with companies, going against Your Excellency’s policy of fostering heavy and chemical industries?”

“I remember. How could I forget such a despicable act?”

“Due to the suspension of molybdenum exports, companies are in a state of emergency. The export volume of large corporations will decrease significantly, which will have a significant impact on the current account deficit.”

“Current account deficit? Is the situation that serious?”

“That’s right, Your Excellency. It’s all because some unscrupulous person monopolized molybdenum. Isn’t it an act that only a traitor would do?”

Kim Jeong-rim pointed at Tae-soo.

“And that man is the owner of the molybdenum mine!”

“What?”

Knots of anger appeared in Park Jeong-hwan’s eyes as he looked at Tae-soo.

“Are you saying that you are harming the country by satisfying your personal greed with the nation’s strategic reserve resources?”

At that moment, Park Tae-jong intervened.

“Chief Kim, is the current account of Korea currently in a deficit or a surplus? Let’s get the facts straight first.”

“Not right now, but in the next quarter, or after that…”

“That’s a hypothesis. It sounds absurd to hear from the side. I wonder how many products contain molybdenum in the export items and what percentage of molybdenum is used. Is it all molybdenum’s fault?”

Kim Jeong-rim closed her mouth.

However, President Park Jeong-hwan was already glaring at Tae-soo with angry eyes.

Park Tae-jong turned to Park Jeong-hwan.

“Your Excellency, do you remember the request I made before? Someone developed an abandoned mine from the Japanese colonial era and conveyed a request to voluntarily donate it to the country in the future.”

Park Jeong-hwan did not release the anger in his eyes as he looked at Tae-soo and replied.

“Yes, there was such a thing.”

“The mine owner at that time is this young man, Kang Tae-soo.”

“No, are you saying that the mine at that time was a molybdenum mine?”

Park Jeong-hwan turned to Park Tae-jong.

“Tae-jong, why did you leave out such an important matter in your report?”

“Your Excellency said that you had to go into a meeting urgently and told me to only say the main points briefly, so that’s why. The important thing was the intention to voluntarily donate the mine, so I quickly reported only the main points.”

“Hmm. This is, of all things…”

Of all things, how could that abandoned mine be a molybdenum mine?

President Park Jeong-hwan knew better than anyone how thoroughly the Japanese bastards had dug it up during the Japanese colonial era [referring to the period of Japanese colonial rule in Korea, 1910-1945].

So, because it was an abandoned mine from the Japanese colonial era, he thought it was insignificant and readily granted a 10-year exclusive mining right.

Park Tae-jong said.

“I brought up that story in mid-August, already five months ago. It was long before the molybdenum issue broke out.”

“I think so. Yes, that’s definitely right.”

Park Jeong-hwan nodded.

It was only now that he realized that the mine was a molybdenum mine.

“Your Excellency misunderstood.”

“Hmm.”

The anger had disappeared from his eyes as he looked at Tae-soo.

Park Jeong-hwan looked at Tae-soo and laughed loudly.

“Hahaha, I can’t blame you for this. Since I promised it myself, I have no intention of going back on my word. You can continue to take care of the mine. I won’t mention it anymore.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s all your fortune and a reward for your patriotism. You were lucky.”

As President Park Jeong-hwan laughed and said he would wrap up the mine issue, Han Cheong-ho’s expression changed.

Kim Jeong-rim, who was watching the situation next to him, quickly opened her mouth.

“Your Excellency, what is all this? It’s not just any mineral, it’s a national strategic mineral, molybdenum. It’s an important resource that individuals should not own.”

“Enough.”

Park Jeong-hwan raised his hand.

His expression was firm.

“It’s already something I’ve approved. For 10 years, no one should interfere with what this person mines from the mine.”

“Really for 10 years…”

“Yes.”

“Does that mean…”

Everyone paid attention to Tae-soo.

‘Did he already use his connections to the President to guarantee his 10-year mining rights? He’s a very resourceful person.’

‘He’s a remarkable young man in many ways. He anticipated the future and handled things meticulously.’

‘Interesting.’

Park Jeong-hwan nodded.

“I personally granted this person a 10-year exclusive mining right in the past. Also, the molybdenum mine will be returned to the country after 10 years.”

“Hmm.”

Han Cheong-ho groaned softly.

He clenched both fists and glared fiercely at Tae-soo.

Seeing that, Park Tae-jong and Jang Jun-yong simultaneously had the same thought.

‘Han Cheong-ho had already been aiming for the molybdenum mine and throwing money around. Serves him right.’

Kim Jeong-rim felt like she was sitting on pins and needles because she had received money [likely a bribe].

“Um, Your Excellency.”

She was about to ask Park Jeong-hwan again in a difficult voice, but Park Jeong-hwan raised his hand and stopped her.

“Enough. Everyone should know that, and don’t mention any more complaints about this in the future.”

“Yes.”

Kim Jeong-rim had no choice but to back down.

Han Cheong-ho glared at Tae-soo with eyes full of venom.

Seeing that, Park Tae-jong changed the subject.

“Your Excellency, I’ve been hearing strange noises from the Middle East. How have you decided to handle it?”

Park Jeong-hwan’s expression changed to serious.

The molybdenum mine was no longer on his mind.

“That’s why I came down to Pohang because of that issue. I deliberately called Geumsan and Cheongil together as well.”

“I see.”

Park Tae-jong admired quietly in his mind.

‘Kang Tae-soo, that friend was definitely right. Indeed, Your Excellency came down because of something related to the Middle East.’

Isn’t it truly amazing?

How could a young friend foresee the future like this?

Park Jeong-hwan frowned.

“The Saudi royal family sent me a letter of protest. Of course, it’s an unofficial protest, but now that things have come to this, I can’t ignore it.”

Everyone paid attention to Park Jeong-hwan.

“Saudi Arabia is a rare Middle Eastern country that has established diplomatic relations with South Korea and is currently a powerhouse in the Middle East that produces a lot of oil. I have no intention of overlooking this issue.”

Gulp.

Everyone swallowed hard, tense.

Finally, Park Jeong-hwan drew his sword.