Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 202

202. 58th. Because I Can Handle It (2)

Myeong Seon-woo’s jaw dropped as he reviewed the entire business plan.

“You, you…”

I shrugged, watching Myeong Seon-woo stammer.

“Triumph Capital was brought in by contacting Chairman Henry Royce, whom you [President Kim] connected through interpretation with Representative Seon Hae-cheol’s connections. Chase Manhattan has a relationship with Haedong Group’s loan transactions, and Standard [Capital] from the IT bubble collapse. Haedong Group is my family, and Standard trusts me.”

Connections are only valuable when they can be leveraged to achieve my goals. Perhaps it was the strength of my reliable network that prompted Myeong Seon-woo’s exclamation.

“Hmph… so that’s why Father told you to recruit you as a consultant.”

“You might be disappointed that the Gaeseong Industrial Complex [a special economic zone in North Korea] stake returning to Taehyun Group is small, but Taehyun Construction will secure a significant portion of various construction projects, such as civil engineering, so it will be sufficient for Taehyun Group’s resurgence. Is that acceptable to you?”

I was concerned he might complain about the small stake, but Myeong Seon-woo waved his hand dismissively.

“No. This is enough for Father to be satisfied. We’ll have to seek other opportunities elsewhere, not in North Korea.”

Listening to him, it seemed Myeong Seon-woo was aware that Myeong Jin-ho didn’t have much time left. Did he want to fulfill his longing for his hometown to some extent while Myeong Jin-ho was still alive?

“I’ll give all the credit for this project to Chairman Myeong Seon-woo, provided you faithfully accept my advice in the future.”

Myeong Seon-woo pondered for a moment before extending his hand.

“Alright. I look forward to working with you.”

I smiled as I shook hands with Myeong Seon-woo.

‘With this, there will be several Taehyuns.’

I don’t know about before, but I like the current Taehyun Group very much.

So, I hope there will be several Taehyun Groups. Forever.

***

After sending Lee Seong-min back, Myeong Seon-woo entered the VVIP room of Taehyun Hospital in Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul].

“Did it go well?”

“Yes, Father.”

Myeong Jin-ho, lying on the sickbed, wore a bitter expression as he saw his son’s strained face.

“Don’t be too discouraged. Who knew the IT bubble would burst? But there are still companies left, so do your best.”

“That’s not it, Father. There’s something I want to show you.”

Myeong Seon-woo handed Myeong Jin-ho the North Korea business plan he had received from someone young enough to be his child. Myeong Jin-ho’s eyes widened as he looked at the documents, and then he looked at his son.

“Seon-woo?”

“Lee Seong-min, that friend, has helped with Father’s long-cherished project. Haven’t you always wanted to build cars in North Korean territory?”

Among Myeong Jin-ho’s children, Myeong Seon-woo, though born of a different mother, respected and loved his father the most. He wanted to fulfill his father’s long-held dream of building cars in North Korean territory while he was still alive.

However, he had considered it an impossible dream due to Myeong Seon-gu’s separation, and resentment had been building up, but that resentment was resolved today. By someone young enough to be his son.

“Although our stake is small and only involves assembly plants, Lee Seong-min wants to give me credit for this project, on the condition that I accept his advice in the future.”

As the successor of Taehyun Group, which had once been at the top of the business world, his pride might have been wounded, but for the sake of his father, who was facing the end of his life, Myeong Seon-woo was willing to set aside that pride. Myeong Jin-ho looked at his son with teary eyes.

“Thank you, Seon-woo. You’ve given this father a reason to live.”

Myeong Jin-ho, who had been feeling the futility of life while watching his siblings and children fall apart, now had a reason to live. He felt that he had to see cars being made in his hometown, even if it was in a company that was essentially someone else’s, before he could die in peace.

***

Some time later.

Myeong Seon-woo, Seon Hae-cheol, and Oh Hyeon-mo were seated at a table on the stage in the Grand Ballroom of the Korea Hotel.

“We will now conclude the Taehyun Electronics acquisition agreement. Representatives, please sign.”

As soon as the moderator’s announcement ended, the three began signing their respective names without hesitation. Only after signing three times each did the three stand up.

“We hereby announce that the Taehyun Electronics acquisition agreement has been concluded.”

After the signing ceremony, Myeong Seon-woo walked towards me, who was standing in the corner of the Grand Ballroom.

“Thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing, Chairman. It was a good deal for us too…”

Before I could finish speaking, Myeong Seon-woo shook his head.

“It’s not about acquiring Taehyun Electronics, it’s about the North Korea project. Father said it’s too early to give up on life. He said he needs to see the cars being made before he can go, haha.”

Looking at Myeong Seon-woo laughing brightly, he seemed to be the only filial son among Myeong Jin-ho’s sons. Weren’t Myeong Seon-gu and the other sons all snakes trying to fill their own bellies?

‘Should I push forward a little faster?’

If I wanted to, I could immediately install the ‘Tico’ [a small car model] assembly line secured while absorbing Daewoo Motors and start production in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. While I was contemplating, Oh Hyeon-mo also approached me.

“It seems Chairman Myeong also has something to discuss with Director Lee.”

“Director Lee helped me fulfill my father’s wish, so I have to express my gratitude. I’ll give you a proper thank you later, Director Lee.”

Myeong Seon-woo patted me on the shoulder and left.

“What’s up, Seong-min?”

“That’s…”

As I told him about the plan to promote the North Korea project, such as a semiconductor factory to handle low-yield wafer recycling processes under the name of Standard Capital, an exclamation escaped Oh Hyeon-mo’s lips.

“Hoo, that sounds good. If we can recycle low-yield wafers, there’s no loss. If we even manufacture compact cars in the North, we can increase margins, so it’ll be a good business, haha.”

Unlike Oh Hyeon-mo, who was laughing heartily, I carefully examined his expression.

“Are you alright with this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Investing in North Korea.”

“Isn’t it a way to support the government’s North Korea initiative? If even the big shots in the US are investing, safety will be guaranteed.”

It seemed my uncle couldn’t hide his business acumen. He’s the chairman of GK Group, so how could he not be… Oh Hyeon-mo, unable to conceal his satisfaction, soon looked at me and asked.

“But… are you really going to use your own money to acquire Taehyun Electronics’ non-memory semiconductor business, as well as the mobile phone and computer businesses?”

“Is it because the business overlaps with my maternal family?”

I was also concerned about that, but my uncle shook his head.

“No. If you acquire it, won’t it save Taehyun Electronics, or rather GSMC [Global Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation], faster? I feel bad that my maternal family is making our nephew waste his pocket money.”

Nevertheless, Oh Hyeon-mo was more of an uncle to me than the chairman of GK Group. I smiled as I looked at Oh Hyeon-mo.

“Don’t worry, Uncle. I have plenty of money. I also have a plan to acquire that company and turn it around.”

So, don’t feel sorry. Just help me later. Just once.

I didn’t voice those words, but the way Oh Hyeon-mo looked at me suggested he would help me whenever I needed it.

***

That evening.

Myeong Seon-woo requested a private meeting with President Kim regarding the North Korea project. After entering the Blue House [the presidential residence] through a secret passage, Myeong Seon-woo handed President Kim the North Korea project plan in the underground bunker.

“Chairman Myeong?”

President Kim, who was reviewing the documents, looked at Myeong Seon-woo with wide eyes. Myeong Seon-woo met President Kim’s gaze with a determined expression.

“I’m going to cut off all the branches and dig directly into the trunk this time, Mr. President.”

“That’s not it. The government requested Haedong Group to participate in the North Korea project, but they declined. How did Chairman Myeong…?”

The North Korea project that President Kim was examining was filled with unbelievable elements.

If two major figures from the US business world established a bank in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and invested in the factory that Haedong Group would build, even Kim Jong-il [the leader of North Korea at the time], known for his unpredictable behavior, wouldn’t dare to provoke the South, right?

‘There’s no way Chairman Myeong could have conceived of something on this scale.’

President Kim, reaching that conclusion, looked at Myeong Seon-woo with a stern expression and asked.

“Who came up with this plan? I won’t reveal it to anyone, so tell me honestly.”

“…Director Lee Seong-min of Standard Capital developed this plan through extensive efforts.”

President Kim nodded slightly at Myeong Seon-woo’s confession, delivered with some hesitation.

‘This country is very fortunate. He’s a remarkable individual.’

President Kim, with a gentle smile, said to Myeong Seon-woo.

“Chairman Myeong, you’ve worked hard as well. You had to relinquish Taehyun Electronics because of my misjudgment, but join forces with Haedong and rebuild Taehyun once again.”

After offering several more words of encouragement, President Kim dismissed Myeong Seon-woo and remained in the underground bunker, picking up the phone.

###

“Honey, you have a call.”

I was playing with Hyun-bin after returning home when I received the phone that Jang Ha-yeon brought me.

“Yes, Lee Seong-min…”

[It’s the President. I think I made a wise decision entrusting our Director Lee with the interpretation, haha.]

“Pre…”

Receiving a call from the President in the middle of the night, I realized who I was with and cut off the word that was about to slip out.

“What’s wrong, honey? What’s ‘Pre’?”

“There’s a fire in the bamboo forest?”

“Bamboo forest?”

“The bamboo forest on our family’s property in Damyang [a city known for its bamboo]. Grandpa harvests organic bamboo shoots there every spring. This is a serious matter.”

I told an absurd lie, quickly changed my clothes, grabbed another phone, and went down to the underground garage.

“I apologize, Mr. President. I was with my wife and child, so…”

[No worries. But it’s best to establish an alibi first, haha.]

“I’ll take care of it immediately, Mr. President.”

I took the phone away from my ear and called my grandfather with the other phone.

[Hey, you fool. Why did you have to burn down the entire Damyang bamboo forest? Don’t you know that your grandfather walks through that forest every spring and harvests bamboo shoots?]

Did I want to do that? Who wouldn’t be flustered by a sudden call from the President?

“I’m sorry, Grandpa. Please tell Chief Butler Joo to start a fire there.”

[Ugh… Alright. I’ll tell the others to coordinate their stories too, eh.]

I, who had suddenly become an arson instructor(?), ignored my grandfather’s grumbling and picked up the phone I was using to speak with the President.

“It’s all taken care of, Mr. President.”

[Haha, I’ve suddenly turned Director Lee into an arson instructor. I’ll instruct my subordinates to handle the cover-up appropriately.]

“Thank you, Mr. President. But what’s the matter all of a sudden…?”

[I heard about the North Korea project from Chairman Myeong. You devised it?]

I was briefly surprised by the President’s direct question, but I composed myself and spoke.

“Yes. I prepared it because I didn’t want to create even a single blemish on the Sunshine Policy [South Korea’s policy of engagement with North Korea].”

‘I didn’t intend it, but the efforts of Hyun Seong-bae, Jin Nam-gi, and Seong Young-dong, who are expanding their influence, will also be thwarted.’

The North Korea remittance scandal provides an opportunity for the Hyun-Jin-Seong political trio within the current ruling party to increase their power.

When the next president takes office, they will attempt to remove the current president’s loyalists, and when public opinion turns against them, they will place all the blame on the person who will become the next president, right?

‘It’s beneficial because it eliminates three pests while saving an innocent person, hehe.’

As I realized that I was altering history as a returnee, I heard the President’s voice.

[Thank you. So, I’d like you to come to the Blue House tomorrow evening. I want to share a drink with you, haha.]

I even get to drink with the President… I feel like I’m experiencing all sorts of things in this life.

***

The next evening.

I asked the President for a significant favor(?): I wanted to bring Seon Hae-cheol, Park Tae-jin, and Claire with me. Fortunately, the President readily agreed, and the six of us, including Michael and Ryan, were provided with a table of snacks in the underground bunker of the Blue House via a secret passage.

“I’m very pleased to meet the Empress of Wall Street, haha. Here! Have a drink.”

“It’s an honor, Mr. President.”

Claire smiled slightly and politely received the drink that President Kim poured with both hands.

“Our Representative Seon should take good care of Ms. Lawrence. Isn’t that right?”

“Of course, Mr. President. Haha.”

“I heard that Executive Director Park will be promoted to vice president next year. I understand that Executive Director Park’s dedication was instrumental in Director Lee’s success, so please continue to support Director Lee in the future.”

“Thank you, Mr. President. I will do my best.”

The President, who showered Seon Hae-cheol and Park Tae-jin with blessings and drinks, filled my glass and spoke.

“I believe our Director Lee is a tremendous asset to this country, because he has such reliable comrades by his side.”

“You flatter me, Mr. President. May I pour you one this time?”

“Oh, please do. I have no reason to refuse a drink from our Director Lee, haha.”

President Kim’s face seemed brighter than usual today. Was it because the path to his lifelong dream project was paved with success?

President Kim, receiving the drink, raised his glass.

“Let’s forgo any slogans and simply say ‘Cheers.’ Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

We shouted cheers cheerfully and emptied our glasses with proper etiquette. After a few rounds, President Kim spoke with a slightly more relaxed demeanor.

“…Every day has been a struggle. The number of unemployed people is rising, companies are going bankrupt… and even my children are causing trouble, so my heart is constantly troubled.”

Among the presidents of Korea, no one has endured as much public and private hardship as this man. The four of us simply listened to President Kim’s lament with solemn expressions.

“But thanks to you, I was able to navigate this crisis more easily. Chase Manhattan also purchased government bonds on favorable terms, so we will be able to exit the IMF management system in August.”

As President Kim mentioned, Korea’s foreign exchange crisis management system is scheduled to end in August 2000, a year earlier than in actual history. Considering the dollars that I and we have invested in this country, it would be surprising if it didn’t end early.

President Kim, with a much lighter expression, looked at us and spoke.

“So, I want to give each of you a gift. I’ll grant you anything that’s not unreasonable, so Director Lee, feel free to speak first.”

‘A gift…’

Among the things that the President can offer within reasonable bounds, there was only one thing he could do for me.

‘Eliminating anyone who threatens my interests.’

After this year, Haedong Group will be divided into affiliates.

Among them, I will inherit 50 percent of the shares of Haedong Corporation’s main trading division, logistics and distribution division, GK Metals, GK Communications, and Central Square, as well as all shares of petrochemical affiliates, including Haedong Oil, and shares of the financial sector.

If a young man becomes the owner of a conglomerate that is one of the top in the business world, there will be those who will see him as an easy target and try to exploit him. Among them, I have to eliminate the individual who will later occupy the Blue House and threaten my interests.

‘It’s altering history, but it doesn’t matter. Because I can handle it.’

I am now capable enough to manage the altered future. I steeled my resolve and spoke, looking at the President.