The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 142

142. Crisis and Opportunity (5)

Chairman Jung Woo-sun looked at his grandson, who still hadn’t completely lost his youthful appearance, and thought,

‘If he had grown up in Korea, he wouldn’t even be in university yet…’

He couldn’t quite believe Jung Hyun-woo’s success.

“Did you fly all the way here because of Chief Hong?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun assumed Jung Hyun-woo had taken a plane and rushed back to Korea out of concern for Chief Hong Won-ik.

“I also felt I was at fault for not explaining things properly to Grandfather.”

He wanted to visit in person and explain everything.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun slowly nodded.

“To think you’ve become richer than me… I still can’t believe it.”

The wealth Jung Hyun-woo revealed was only about 10% of what Forbes had estimated.

Even so, it was more than Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s actual wealth.

If Jung Hyun-woo had revealed all of his assets, Chairman Jung Woo-sun might have found it even harder to believe.

“American wealth is often inflated.”

“Inflated? Well, that’s also the power of the dollar.”

Unlike the yen.

At this time, the Korean won was incomparable to the dollar.

Jung Hyun-woo lowered his head slightly.

“I was just lucky.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun thought the word ‘lucky’ held some truth.

‘His research at university was a great success, so you could say he was lucky.’

But the rest couldn’t be solely attributed to luck.

“Wasn’t it your skill that made the research successful?”

If he didn’t have the skills, his research lab colleagues wouldn’t have supported Jung Hyun-woo.

‘What kind of country is America, really?’

America wasn’t a country that readily favored a young man from a small Asian country.

“I just happened to find a solution, so if you asked me to solve a similar problem again, I wouldn’t be able to.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun had heard Jung Hyun-woo say earlier that he had luckily found a solution.

“Whether it was by chance or not, the important thing is that you succeeded. And if you wish for another success, the heavens might get angry.”

He didn’t even expect a second success.

‘One big success is enough.’

In fact, Jung Hyun-woo had already surpassed Chairman Jung Woo-sun with just one success.

“So, what are you going to do in the future?”

“I’m thinking of staying in the United States.”

“What about Daewoon Electronics?”

“I’ll take over when I have enough experience.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun nodded.

“Ten years from now would be fine.”

Even ten years later, Jung Hyun-woo would still be under thirty. His greatest asset was time.

“Grandfather, please don’t be disappointed.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun raised his right hand.

“It’s okay. You suddenly achieved success in the United States, how can I blame you?”

“I wouldn’t have succeeded if it weren’t for Grandfather.”

“I helped you?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and replied.

“I wouldn’t have even thought about studying in the United States if it weren’t for Grandfather.”

“It was Chief Hong who suggested studying in the United States, not me. Be grateful to Chief Hong.”

It was Chief Hong Won-ik who suggested studying in the United States. It was Chairman Jung Woo-sun who paid the expenses.

“Grandfather.”

“It’s okay. Chief Hong will have learned something from this incident too.”

Jung Hyun-woo could tell that Chairman Jung Woo-sun still harbored some resentment.

‘That resentment can’t be washed away quickly.’

He thought time was the best remedy.

“I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to come to Korea often because of research and program development.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun shook his head.

“What are you talking about? You’ve achieved such success, how could you have time to come to Korea? Hyun-woo, you have to hold on tight to that success you’ve grabbed.”

He thought Jung Hyun-woo had encountered the luck of a lifetime.

‘My grandson is becoming richer than me. Even if I don’t see his face for a few years, what’s the big deal?’

Chairman Jung Woo-sun wanted to give him sincere advice rather than scolding or expressing disappointment.

“Hyun-woo, it’s harder to protect money than it is to earn it. Protect it firmly and use it wisely.”

Jung Hyun-woo bowed his head and accepted his words.

“I will keep your words in mind, Grandfather.”

There was no conflict or friction between the two. That was because it couldn’t be said that Jung Hyun-woo was wrong to hide his success.

“Hyun-woo.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“You don’t have to force yourself to come see my face. You have big things to do.”

How many young people would hear a conglomerate chairman say this?

Jung Hyun-woo was truly an exception.

“No, I will try to make time during my vacation.”

“I’m telling you not to do that. If you use your vacation for this old man, how will you make friends and how will you interact with the high-ranking officials in America?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun could see far ahead.

“Grandfather.”

“Listen to me.”

Jung Hyun-woo bowed his head once again.

“I understand.”

He let out a long sigh after leaving Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s room.

“Grandfather has a bigger vessel [capacity for understanding and generosity] than I thought.”

The old veteran who had endured a turbulent era was not to be underestimated.

* * *

1 PM.

The place Jung Hyun-woo came to for lunch was a famous cold noodle restaurant in Jongno, Seoul.

“We stood in line for quite a while, is it okay?”

The one who asked Jung Hyun-woo the question was Jung Min-young. He knew that Jung Hyun-woo was on a tight schedule.

‘We stood in line for 30 minutes when he doesn’t have much time; I wonder if his schedule is getting messed up.’

Jung Hyun-woo gestured that it was okay and answered his question.

“You can’t eat this kind of cold noodles in America.”

“Cold noodles in the middle of winter, I guess that’s like you?”

“Same answer, but in America, whether it’s summer or winter, this kind of cold noodles…”

Jung Min-young cut him off and said.

“Still, I think there would be some in LA’s Koreatown.”

“They do sell cold noodles in Koreatown as Uncle says, but it doesn’t taste the same.”

As Jung Hyun-woo said, the cold noodles here were rare even in Seoul.

“I guess so…”

He lifted the noodles with his chopsticks.

Slurp.

The cold noodles made his mouth feel not just cool but cold.

“Excellent.”

Jung Min-young smiled at Jung Hyun-woo’s evaluation.

“You’re definitely Korean.”

“Is that so?”

“You like Korean food so much, how do you live in America?”

“I have no choice.”

“Does American food suit your taste?”

Jung Min-young thought American food was too salty and greasy.

“I don’t eat it because it suits my taste.”

“You just eat to live?”

“Mostly, I guess?”

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t particularly think American food didn’t suit his taste.

‘Is it because I lived in Boston?’

If not, it could be that his taste buds changed in his second life.

“Thanks for making time.”

“It’s not difficult to meet Uncle.”

“But you said you don’t have much time this time?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and replied.

“I have to take a plane in the evening.”

“You’re leaving as soon as you arrive.”

“That’s what a one-night, two-day trip is like.”

Jung Hyun-woo kept moving his chopsticks.

“One more bowl here, please.”

Was it because he was in his prime?

He ordered a second bowl of ice-cold noodles.

“Korea is slowly heating up.”

“Are you talking about democratization?”

“Shh. Someone might hear.”

Jung Hyun-woo shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s okay if someone hears.”

Who could do anything to him, who was having a meal with the head of the National Security Planning Agency [South Korean intelligence agency]?

“Hyun-woo.”

“I’m not just saying that.”

Jung Min-young also knew that Jung Hyun-woo was a big shot. But he thought that he didn’t know much about the situation in Korea because he was in America.

‘It’s not like it can change if I scold him.’

He sighed inwardly and changed the subject.

“There’s a rumor going around in political circles.”

“Are you talking about the rumor that one group will collapse?”

“You’ve heard it too?”

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t hear the rumor; he knew the history.

‘The Kukje Group [a large South Korean conglomerate that was forcibly dismantled in 1985] will be dismantled soon.’

The reason why the Kukje Group was dismantled was learned through documentaries and gossip magazines.

‘I think they said it was because they were uncooperative with the regime.’

They were uncooperative in providing political funds because the company’s management situation was difficult.

‘If the company’s management is difficult, they could have broken through with more political funds…’

The Kukje Group seemed to have been doing ethical management too early in the 1980s.

‘You might call me an opportunist, but there’s a separate management style that fits the times.’

He thought that you shouldn’t go against the regime in the 1980s.

‘The best thing would be political-business collusion [close ties and cooperation between politicians and business leaders].’

Of course, political-business collusion was not the right path. But the fastest way to grow a company in the 1980s was political-business collusion.

“I don’t think it’s a baseless rumor.”

“Hmm, surely it’s not our Daewoon Group?”

“If the Daewoon Group was the target, I wouldn’t be leisurely eating cold noodles.”

Jung Min-young moved his chopsticks and nodded.

“I guess so. That’s true.”

Two attendants were sitting together at the table behind him.

The two were speaking in voices low enough that they couldn’t be heard.

“So, do you know which group it is?”

“I know it’s not us.”

“Hmm, can’t you tell me either?”

Jung Hyun-woo asked him in return.

“Chief Secretary Heo would know better than me, wouldn’t he?”

Jung Min-young’s father-in-law was Heo Moon-young, the Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs.

“My father-in-law doesn’t tell me everything.”

“Are you on bad terms?”

“It’s not like that. But…”

“You can’t rely on him too much?”

Jung Min-young slowly nodded.

“Those who climb the hill relying on their father-in-law’s power will fall together when their father-in-law falls.”

What he said was the truth.

“I can’t beat my big uncle [older paternal uncle] with ordinary methods.”

Chief Hong Won-ik faltered, and this side was hit hard.

‘It’s time for a gamble.’

Jung Min-young also knew that the situation was not easy. But there was no clear way.

“Next year will be the real test.”

“Was he called the Managing Director of Commerce?”

“Did you hear it from Chief Hong?”

“I heard some rumors.”

The person who told Jung Hyun-woo about Jung Min-young’s promotion was Choi Kyung-min.

‘There’s no reason to tell him about Secretary Choi’s work.’

Choi Kyung-min was one of his hidden cards.

“If I don’t achieve good results next year, I’ll be pushed back by my older brother.”

“Uncle, do you have a gamble in mind?”

“A gamble?”

“You don’t mean you don’t have one, do you?”

Jung Hyun-woo thought that Jung Min-seok couldn’t be caught up with just by working hard.

‘In Korea, the advantage of being the older brother is not just one step ahead. If the skills or achievements are similar, the older brother always wins.’

He thought that he had to be two or three steps ahead to beat Jung Min-seok and win the succession competition.

“I haven’t even become the Managing Director of Commerce yet; how can I think about a gamble?”

Jung Min-young thought that he could only talk about a gamble after he had adapted to Daewoon Corporation.

But Jung Hyun-woo’s thoughts were different.

“Uncle, you have to decide on a gamble before you sit in the Managing Director position.”

Jung Min-young raised his voice.

“I haven’t even decided on my work yet, and you’re saying I should decide on a gamble?”

“To win, you have to actively push forward with Uncle’s own initiatives.”

Not the work that is ordered from above, but find work that can become an achievement and push it forward.

Jung Hyun-woo’s advice was quite realistic.

“Hmm.”

Jung Min-young twirled his chopsticks.

‘Finding work that can become my achievement is important, but if I’m not careful, I could clash with the company.’

He had to fight as the Managing Director, not the president, of Daewoon Corporation. This was a more unfavorable environment than Jung Min-seok, who could command Daewoon Construction as the president of Daewoon Construction.

“Target Japan.”

Jung Min-young’s chopsticks stopped.

“Japan?”

“Expand exports to Japan.”

Jung Min-young narrowed his brows.

“There are already many stories that the boom in Japan is a bubble.”

If he focused on Japan and Japan suffered a recession, it would be irreversible.

‘The chairman’s seat would fly away just like that.’

If he tripped over his own feet, Jung Min-seok would take over as the chairman of the Daewoon Group without any effort.

“It’ll be okay for a while.”

Jung Min-young raised his voice.

“Are you sure?”

“It’s news from the United States, so it’ll be certain.”

Embarking on a game based on his nephew’s advice.

Some might say his actions themselves were reckless. But if that nephew was Jung Hyun-woo, the story was different.

‘It’s the words of Korea’s richest man, so I have no choice but to believe him.’

He nodded and said.

“I understand. When I become the Managing Director of Daewoon Corporation, I will greatly increase exports to Japan.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s advice continued.

“It would be good to secure a lot of yen as well.”

“Yen too?”

“Daewoon Corporation can’t ignore exchange gains either.”

Trading companies were important for import and export operations. And exchange rates had a big impact on these import and export operations.

“Increase the proportion of trade with Japan and secure a lot of yen. This is your advice.”

“I’m sorry that this is all the advice I can give.”

Jung Min-seok shook his head.

“No. This is enough. I have to take care of the rest myself.”

He didn’t want to just pick up the Daewoon Group chairman’s seat.

‘A seat given by others can be taken away by others at any time.’

Jung Min-young knew this simple truth.

“You must have been busy with company work; when did you prepare all this?”

Jung Hyun-woo put his chopsticks in the second bowl and replied.

“We’re also working with Japan.”

“Your company too?”

“We’re also sending employees on business trips to Tokyo.”

“Heh, it’s global.”

It was not strange for a company known in the United States to do this much.

“We may establish a Korean branch in the future.”

“Really?”

“Korea will become a developed country someday.”

Jung Hyun-woo remembered Korea becoming a developed country.

‘It wasn’t such a happy future, though.’

At this time, Koreans thought that if Korea became a developed country, everyone would live well.

But in reality, Korea, which became a developed country, was not like that. Absolute poverty was better than it is now, but relative poverty increased, and it became a country far from the word happiness.

‘Where did it go wrong?’

Jung Hyun-woo let out a long sigh inwardly while emptying the cold noodles.

‘Hoo… I don’t have time to think about that right now.’

Right now, it was already too much to secure a voice within the Daewoon Group and get Victoria Corporation on track.