Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 307

307

“…….”

Kim Myung-soon ultimately couldn’t voice her thoughts. No matter how much she considered it, she couldn’t believe it was possible.

Who was Park Young-jin?

It had only been a month ago. He had practically begged her to lower the rent by even just ten thousand won because he was struggling so much. The answer he received then was that it couldn’t be done due to fairness with the surrounding commercial district.

He said that if he lowered it for her alone when other stores weren’t getting discounts, he would be resented by other landlords. But the funny thing was that the other landlords were saying the same thing.

What did that mean?

Ultimately, it meant that the landlords had colluded with each other. So, no matter how difficult it was, even considering readjusting the rent was out of the question.

As Kim Myung-soon stood silently, Park Young-jin spoke again.

“Noona [older sister or female friend], my arm is about to fall off. Please take this money.”

“Oh? Okay, sure…….”

Kim Myung-soon answered verbally, but her feet remained rooted at the entrance. That’s how much she couldn’t understand the current situation.

Thump.

Watching her, Park Young-jin stood up and strode towards Kim Myung-soon, grabbing her hand firmly.

“Why are you being so unlike yourself, Noona? Come over here and let’s talk.”

“Oh? It’s not that, it’s just that I don’t understand this situation.”

“I understand. I’ll explain it to you slowly, so come this way.”

Only then did Kim Myung-soon allow herself to be led by Park Young-jin back to the sofa.

As soon as she sat down, Kim Myung-soon asked,

“Mr. Park, what does this money mean?”

“I won’t make it long. From now on, I’ll only take 50,000 won [approximately $40 USD] for the monthly rent. That’s exactly 50% of what it is now.”

“What? Is that for real?”

“Yes, it is. Actually, I was just discussing that issue with this friend until a little while ago. And this friend said something like this.”

As Park Young-jin finished speaking, Kim Myung-soon glanced at Hyun-sung before immediately speaking up.

“What did he say?”

“He said that the last spark to revive our neighborhood’s commercial district is the rent.”

“The last spark?”

“Yes, so…….”

Park Young-jin began to explain in detail to Kim Myung-soon what he had discussed with Hyun-sung so far.

First, he talked about Hyun-sung running a business despite being a student, the story of him appearing on TV, why he came here, then how he finished analyzing the commercial district with just the key money [a large, often non-refundable, upfront payment to secure a lease] and rent, and finally, how landlords need to step up and readjust the rent to revive this neighborhood’s commercial district, leaving nothing out.

Throughout Park Young-jin’s explanation, Kim Myung-soon repeatedly turned to look at Hyun-sung, tilting her head in disbelief. She seemed to not believe Park Young-jin’s words.

And finally, as Park Young-jin’s explanation came to an end, Kim Myung-soon looked at Hyun-sung and immediately asked,

“Is everything Mr. Park said true?”

“It just happened that way…….”

“Huh! I guess it’s true. By the way, you’re running a ramen shop while going to school?”

“Yes.”

“How’s business?”

“So-so…….”

It was then.

Shin Mi-sook, who had been quiet until now, opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for it, even before Hyun-sung could finish speaking.

“It averages over 100,000 won [approximately $80 USD] a day.”

“What? Over 100,000 won on average?”

Kim Myung-soon couldn’t believe her ears. She clearly said it was a ramen shop. But 100,000 won? That didn’t make sense.

Then Shin Mi-sook spoke again.

“In our neighborhood, if you don’t know CEO Kim, you’re a spy.”

“Is it that popular?”

“During students’ dismissal time, you usually have to wait 30 to 40 minutes to eat ramen. Sometimes, you have to wait over an hour.”

“No, what kind of ramen makes people wait for an hour?”

Kim Myung-soon couldn’t understand. It’s just ramen anyway. But waiting an hour to eat that ramen didn’t make sense.

Then Shin Mi-sook continued.

“It’s Ssin Ramen.”

“Ssin Ramen? That’s commonly found in supermarkets, but people wait an hour to eat that?”

“It’s not just plain Ssin Ramen. People who haven’t tasted our CEO’s ramen will never know the flavor. The secret to that flavor is in the sauce that our CEO makes himself.”

“Sauce?”

“Yes, the spicy flavor is key, but that spicy flavor isn’t just a simple spicy flavor. There’s a final sweet taste that brings out that flavor, and that’s the secret to this sauce. I even went to the CEO’s shop every day for fifteen days to try to figure out the taste, but I failed in the end. So, I eventually gave up and asked the CEO for a franchise.”

It was then.

Park Young-jin, who had been listening to the conversation from the side, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Franchise?”

“Yes, of course, the CEO hasn’t given a definite answer on how he will operate that part yet, but I’m sure I’ll receive the CEO’s help. That’s why I brought him here.”

“This is really amazing. Of course, I was surprised in many ways since CEO Kim started talking, but I didn’t know it would be this much. This changes things.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Shin Mi-sook stared intently at Park Young-jin.

Then Park Young-jin immediately continued.

“I honestly thought CEO Shin was thinking of a small snack bar. That’s why I showed you the small snack shop at the three-way intersection. But after listening to you now, I don’t think that would be enough. What do you think?”

“The store issue is entrusted to our CEO Kim. I’m just going to work hard as our CEO tells me to. So, you can discuss that issue with our CEO.”

“Ah, is that so? Then I’ll discuss that issue with CEO Kim later. Anyway, what are you planning to do, Noona?”

Park Young-jin turned his gaze back to Kim Myung-soon.

Then Kim Myung-soon immediately continued.

“What is there to think about?”

“Does that mean……?”

“I have to keep the business going. Mr. Park even lowered the rent by 50%, so I have to work even harder, right? By the way, are you going to be okay?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“The other landlords. Is it okay for Mr. Park to lower the rent like this alone? What did you tell me last month? You said you couldn’t lower it by even ten thousand won because of fairness with other stores. But if you suddenly lower it by 50,000 won like this, will the other landlords stay still?”

Park Young-jin could fully understand what Kim Myung-soon was worried about.

Kim Myung-soon’s words were true.

Of course, it wasn’t a written agreement, but there was a principle that had been followed like an unwritten rule. That was the promise about the rent.

Raising the rent was up to each individual to raise as much as they saw fit, but lowering it, on the other hand, was in principle not allowed.

The reason was that if one person lowered it, the impact would spread throughout the entire commercial district. That’s why, until now, there had been times when the rent was raised, but never lowered by even one won.

What Kim Myung-soon is worried about now is this part.

Park Young-jin looked at Kim Myung-soon and opened his mouth.

“I’m trying to revive the last spark.”

“The last spark?”

“Yes, the last spark that CEO Kim was talking about. He says there’s still hope, so I’m going to try to face it head-on.”

“Won’t it be difficult?”

“Of course, it will be difficult. The landlords’ backlash won’t be easy. But if we stay like this, we’ll all perish together. We can’t just close our eyes forever, can we?”

As Park Young-jin finished speaking, Kim Myung-soon turned towards Hyun-sung.

“You said you’re CEO Kim?”

“Yes? Ah, yes…….”

“Thank you.”

“…….”

Hyun-sung slightly lowered his head instead of answering.

Then Kim Myung-soon continued.

“Actually, I had given up. I thought there was no more hope. But thanks to you, I can dream of hope again.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s not true. Who is the person who changed Mr. Park’s mind here? It’s you, isn’t it?”

“That’s…….”

Hyun-sung had nothing special to say.

As Hyun-sung remained silent, Kim Myung-soon spoke again.

“What can we do?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Of course, I don’t know what conclusion the landlords will come to, but our tenants can’t just stand still, can we?”

“Does that mean…….”

“I think our tenants should do something to revive our commercial district. Don’t you think so?”

“Ah, yes.”

That’s right.

Perhaps the tenants are more important. Because the people who actually run the businesses are the tenants.

Kim Myung-soon spoke again.

“Teach us.”

“How could I…….”

“No, you’re qualified enough. Even though you came to this neighborhood for the first time today, you immediately grasped what the problem is with this commercial district. Not only that, but you also immediately suggested a solution that the landlords should step up and readjust the rent. Am I wrong?”

“That’s…….”

As Hyun-sung couldn’t answer properly, Kim Myung-soon spoke again.

“Instead of that, please speak comfortably. In your eyes, you must have seen what our tenants need to do. Honestly, we’re stuck in a rut and don’t even know what we should be doing now. So, please wake us up.”

That’s right. When people stay in one place for a long time, their words and actions become rigid. We call that hardened habit inertia.

Kim Myung-soon is now talking about the psychology of being stuck in that inertia and fearing change. The best way to break that is through external shock.

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung looked at Kim Myung-soon and opened his mouth.

“CEO, I know it’s presumptuous, but I…….”

“Student!”

Before Hyun-sung could finish speaking, Kim Myung-soon called out to Hyun-sung.

“Yes.”

“I have a quick temper, so I hate those polite words. Don’t waste valuable time with those words and just tell us what our tenants can do for our commercial district. I’ll do whatever I can, starting with me.”

Hyun-sung was momentarily taken aback, but he could immediately tell what kind of person Kim Myung-soon was.

So, his judgment was quick.

“I understand. I’ll start with the most basic things. First of all, start cleaning. The first thing I noticed when I came to this neighborhood today was that it was dirty. Not only the sidewalks where people walk, but also in front of the stores, it was so dirty that I don’t know when they were last cleaned.”

“I admit it. Everyone lacks motivation, so…….”

“That’s not acceptable for any reason. Isn’t that the most basic thing?”

“I understand. I’ll take responsibility for solving that part. And what’s next?”

Kim Myung-soon looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

Then Hyun-sung’s words continued again.

“Signs and window tinting. They’re cracked, peeling, and some stores even have signs so damaged that you can’t even tell what the store name is.”

“You’re sharp as always.”

“No, it’s not just visible to me, but everyone who comes for the first time will see it. And the CEOs here all know it too. They’re just pretending not to notice.”

“Well, that’s true. Our store is a mess to begin with. And at night, these stores are dark. There are hardly any stores with their signs lit up, so how could it not be? Listening to you, our tenants have more than one or two problems.”

Kim Myung-soon nodded and sighed as if she was pathetic.

Then Hyun-sung spoke again.

“But there’s no need to blame yourself too much. It’s not anyone’s fault, but rather an inevitable phenomenon that has appeared as the commercial district has shifted. The important thing is the future. There’s still a chance. We can get up again from now on. Of course, to do that, we need motivation. That’s why the landlords need to move first.”

“I’ll leave that issue to Mr. Park here, and I’ll have to replace the sign and window tinting with the 50,000 won I got back tomorrow.”

“That won’t work.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Kim Myung-soon stared blankly at Hyun-sung as if she didn’t know what he was talking about.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“You can’t move individually.”

“Not individually…….”

“You have to move together. That way, the cost will be at least 20% less. And the design must be unified.”

It was then.

Park Young-jin stood up from his seat and began to walk towards Hyun-sung.