The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 153

153. Old Life in New York (2)

On the way to the New York airport.

Sarah changed lanes and asked,

“About what you told my uncle yesterday. Is that really possible?”

Looking at the Porsche 911 speeding ahead, Jung Hyun-woo replied,

“It’s not just possible, it’s something we have to make possible.”

“Charlie is serious.”

“If I wasn’t serious, I wouldn’t have brought it up.”

The other party was Bud Walton, the vice chairman of Walmart’s founder. Bringing up a half-baked story could have ruined the meal.

Sarah sighed briefly at his words.

“Haa… Charlie, the idea is good, but we haven’t even set up a team to work with Microsoft yet.”

She thought that Victoria Corporation didn’t have enough employees to achieve everything Jung Hyun-woo was thinking.

‘To realize Charlie’s dreams, we might need two or three more companies like Victoria Corporation.’

Jung Hyun-woo tilted his head at Sarah’s words that they hadn’t set up a team to work with Microsoft.

“Aren’t you always recruiting employees?”

Victoria Corporation was located in Boston, which was full of young IT prospects. Thanks to that, it was easier to recruit new employees than companies in other regions.

However, recruiting many talented prospects was difficult for both Victoria Corporation and Sarah.

“The number of people recruited through regular recruitment is limited.”

Talents in computer science or applied mathematics tended to flock out during graduation season.

“Hmm, then how about this?”

“How?”

“Right now, you’re only recruiting talent from the East Coast. Let’s recruit the Microsoft team from the West Coast.”

Sarah’s eyes widened at Jung Hyun-woo’s words.

“Recruit from the West Coast? Is that even possible?”

Jung Hyun-woo crossed his arms at her question.

“Come to think of it, establishing a West Coast headquarters wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Selecting talent from the West Coast turned into establishing a West Coast headquarters in just 20 seconds.

“Charlie, is it okay to change plans so drastically?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered with his arms crossed.

“They say a masterpiece is made in 3 minutes.”

“It’s too impromptu.”

“Is that so? But I think we also need talent from the West Coast, like Stanford or Caltech.”

Jung Hyun-woo had received help from West Coast IT talent when he founded Victoria Corporation.

‘Robert and the Activision people can also be said to be West Coast IT talent.’

As long as Silicon Valley was still standing strong, you couldn’t talk about IT without the West Coast.

“Stanford and Caltech, huh.”

“Should I call Laura?”

“My sister?”

“If we scout her as the head of the West Coast branch at this opportunity…”

Sarah cut off Jung Hyun-woo’s words.

“This suggestion is rejected.”

Jung Hyun-woo unfolded his arms and asked,

“Why is that?”

“Laura is a genius in research, but she’s not good at handling people.”

She was saying that she wasn’t suitable as a manager of the West Coast business headquarters.

“Hmm, then who would be good?”

“How about Smith?”

“Smith is a bit… that guy has complicated relationships with women.”

Sarah tilted her head as if she was surprised.

“Smith was that kind of person?”

“It’s something only the male employees know.”

“Andrei is essential here…”

“Let’s think about it slowly.”

Sarah said as she exited towards the airport.

“But we can’t be too late. The discussion with Microsoft is progressing quite a bit. We’re scheduled to visit Seattle next month.”

Redmond, Washington, where Microsoft is located, was only 16km away from Seattle, so it could be called a satellite city of Seattle.

“Is Sarah going herself?”

“I’m planning to go and wrap things up myself.”

Jung Hyun-woo groaned softly.

“Um, then we need to find the right person by next week at the latest.”

“If you’re going to entrust the Microsoft work to the West Coast headquarters, then you have to.”

“Sarah.”

“What?”

Jung Hyun-woo reached out his right hand, grabbed the handle on the roof, and said,

“I’ll finish it this week, so please send me a list of employees who can work with Microsoft by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Charlie, aren’t you rushing too much?”

“I need to hear from the people who are going to the West Coast headquarters.”

Jung Hyun-woo was planning to select people to go to the West Coast by considering the opinions of the employees.

‘The Activision people will probably like it.’

Many of the Activision people were from the West Coast.

* * *

February 4, 1985.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun called two people he could call confidants to the villa.

They took a short cigarette break before entering the villa.

“Director Hong, aren’t you being too cautious these days?”

The man who asked Director Hong Won-ik the question was Jang Woon-young, the vice chairman of Daewoon Group.

He had passed the position of president of Daewoon Construction to Jung Min-seok and was promoted to vice chairman, taking a seat on the board of directors.

“I’m being careful because of Hyun-woo.”

“That’s not your fault, is it?”

“No. It’s my fault.”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young exhaled cigarette smoke.

“Hoo… Why is that your fault? Wasn’t it Hyun-woo’s request? I would have granted it too.”

“Vice Chairman.”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young waved his left hand and said,

“No. It’s true. I’m not saying this to comfort you.”

He had never met Jung Hyun-woo, but he was friends with Jung Hyun-woo’s father, Jung Min-hyuk.

“How could I not grant the request of Min-hyuk’s son?”

He said that he had no choice but to grant Jung Hyun-woo’s request, even if it was for Jung Min-hyuk’s sake.

“But the Chairman won’t think so.”

“The Chairman is the Chairman.”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young took another puff of his cigarette. He was a heavy smoker, so he even smoked in his office. The only places he didn’t smoke were the conference room and Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s office.

“My friend, being too careful is the same as submitting your resignation.”

Director Hong Won-ik bowed his head at his advice.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young put out his cigarette and said,

“Let’s go in.”

As the two entered, a female employee from the secretary’s office came out and guided them.

“The Chairman is on the second floor.”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young and Director Hong Won-ik went up to the second floor via the stairs.

As they came up, Chairman Jung Woo-sun put down the newspaper he was reading.

“Have you come?”

The two sat on Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s left and right sides, respectively.

“It seems like it’s been a while since we’ve met at the villa.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun didn’t leave Seoul often. He only visited this villa once or twice a year.

“I wanted to talk in a place where the children wouldn’t notice.”

He meant that he wanted to talk to the two of them in a place where there were no people from Jung Min-seok and Jung Min-young’s side.

“You could have just called us to your home…”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun shook his head.

“It’s my house, but it’s not my house.”

He meant that there were too many eyes watching.

Unlike Director Hong Won-ik, Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young didn’t say much.

He looked out the window and raised his voice.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to meet in a place with good air like this sometimes?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun smiled at his words.

“You’ll be neutral, right?”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young turned his gaze to Chairman Jung Woo-sun and replied.

“If I don’t remain neutral, wouldn’t it become a bland fight?”

If the vice chairman of Daewoon Group gave his support, he would have no choice but to move ahead in the heir competition.

“Hehehe, if I told you not to remain neutral, who would you choose?”

It was a difficult question.

“Chairman.”

“Just tell me. I’m not someone who will decide on the successor based on your words, am I?”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young raised his right hand.

“Chairman, words have power.”

Words that are just spoken sometimes become reality.

“Still, pick just one person.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun showed his will to get an answer.

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young thought for a moment and answered the question.

“The Daewoon Group successor I’ve been thinking about is Hyun-woo.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun tilted his head to the side at the unexpected answer.

“Hyun-woo? You’re entrusting Daewoon Group to a child who just turned twenty?”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young smiled and replied.

“I didn’t say that I would entrust Daewoon Group to Hyun-woo right now.”

“Then?”

“If you gradually hand over Daewoon Group to Hyun-woo over the next 10 years, Daewoon Group will have no problems for the next 50 years.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun laughed softly at his answer.

“Hehehe, this fellow. Your flattery skills have improved.”

In order to hand over Daewoon Group to Jung Hyun-woo, he had to be active for another 10 years.

In other words, Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young was flattering Chairman Jung Woo-sun by saying that he could serve as chairman for another 10 years.

Director Hong Won-ik also knew the same hidden meaning.

‘Hyun-woo’s talent is amazing. But Hyun-woo will not return to Daewoon Group.’

He had heard Jung Hyun-woo say several times that he would return to Korea.

But he thought that the business in the United States had become too big for him to return to Korea.

“Director Hong, what do you think?”

Director Hong Won-ik put both hands on his knees at Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s question.

“Hyun-woo’s talent is outstanding, but I don’t know if he will try to come to Korea.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun changed the question.

“I’m not asking about Hyun-woo’s talent. I’m asking which of my two sons is better.”

Director Hong Won-ik bowed his head deeply.

“Chairman, how can I talk about that?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun pointed at him with his right hand and said,

“You’re retreating again.”

“Chairman.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun raised his right hand upwards.

“I understand. It seems that neither of you wants to talk about that.”

Director Hong Won-ik thought that they had been called to the villa to hear their evaluation of the two sons.

‘But I can’t take sides here.’

Taking sides now, when the heir competition has just begun, was a dangerous thing.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun said to the two of them,

“Okay. Then let’s talk about the recent activities of the two sons.”

There was no problem with talking about recent activities. However, they had to refrain from including opinions while talking about recent activities.

“Director Hong, tell me about Min-young’s side.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun seemed to see Director Hong Won-ik as being on Jung Min-young’s line.

“Chairman.”

“I want to hear about that side. I can’t ask Vice Chairman Jang about that, can I?”

Director Hong Won-ik tried to maintain neutrality as much as possible.

“Daewoon Corporation seems to be focusing on buying foreign currency recently.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s eyebrows twitched.

“Buying foreign currency?”

“It seems that they have spent more than 1 billion won this month alone.”

1 billion won meant that they had purchased more than 1 million dollars worth of foreign currency.

“What are they going to use so much dollars for?”

“They are collecting yen, not dollars.”

“Yen?”

“Yes.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk, I don’t know what he’s thinking. Vice Chairman Jang, what do you think?”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young shared his thoughts on his question.

“It seems that Min-young is trying to do business in Japan.”

“In Japan?”

“Isn’t the Japanese economy not doing well recently?”

“Why is he collecting yen if he’s bringing things to Japan to sell?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun thought it was an incomprehensible action.

“Chairman, couldn’t he be acquiring Japanese distributors or companies?”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young was looking at this matter from a broader perspective than Director Hong Won-ik.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun nodded at his question.

“Hmm, that could be.”

Acquiring a Japanese company and expanding business in Japan.

Considering the situation in 1985, it could be said to be a groundbreaking move.

“If he succeeds, he will be able to surpass Min-seok in an instant.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun slowly shook his head from side to side.

“But it won’t be easy. Japan is not such an easy country.”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young smiled and accepted his words.

“Of course it won’t be easy. Is the position of chairman of Daewoon Group an easy position?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun reached out his right hand towards him.

“Huh, this fellow.”

Director Hong Won-ik listened to the conversation between Chairman Jang Woon-young and Chairman Jung Woo-sun and thought.

‘Vice Chairman Jang is definitely relaxed.’

Vice Chairman of Daewoon Group.

The position that Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young was currently occupying was the position that Jung Hyun-woo had proposed to Director Hong Won-ik.

He thought that in order to rise to Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young’s position, he had to cultivate the same composure as him.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun asked him again.

“Director Hong, Min-young is like that, but what is Min-seok doing?”

Director Hong Won-ik straightened his posture and replied.

“It seems that Min-seok and Daewoon Construction are focusing on business in the Middle East.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun frowned at the words that they were focusing on the Middle East.

“Still?”

Negotiations for business in the Middle East had been ongoing since last year, but had not yet come to fruition.

Some in the government who had supported Daewoon Group were even complaining that the business had already fallen through.

“It seems that it is taking time because the business is so large.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun sighed deeply.

“Hoo… If we continue to be dragged along like that, we won’t be able to avoid this situation this year or next year.”

He wanted Jung Min-seok to make a big move like Jung Min-young.

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young intervened between the two and said,

“It seems that Min-seok is prioritizing not making mistakes.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun clicked his tongue at his words.

“Tsk tsk, if he’s the older brother, does that mean he’ll inherit my position if he just doesn’t make mistakes?”

“I guess he thinks it’s an advantageous situation.”

“In that case, even if Min-young fails, I’ll entrust the position to Min-young.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun hated men who cowered.

‘If you cower to avoid being taken away, you can never grow the company.’

It was still a time when offense was more necessary than defense.

“That doesn’t mean you should choose someone who makes reckless moves.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun raised his right hand at Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young’s advice.

“What’s as difficult as a reckless move is inaction. Let’s make the first month Min-young’s victory.”

Director Hong Won-ik raised his eyebrows at Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s words.

“Chairman, if you say the first month…”

“I’m going to evaluate the two of them here every month from now on.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun was planning to decide on the successor with the villa meeting.

“Chairman.”

“Why? Does it seem like we’re deciding in a secret room?”

“To be honest, it does.”

“Director Hong, this is how successor decisions are made.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun thought that it was impossible to hold a discussion for the selection of a successor in a large conference room where everyone was gathered.

‘Who would decide on their successor like that?’

Even current politicians, not kings of the Middle Ages or ancient times, decided on their successors in private spaces.

“Director Hong.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“I’ve talked about the two sons, so let’s talk about something pleasant.”

Something pleasant.

Director Hong Won-ik said with a troubled face.

“Chairman, I don’t have a talent for comedy.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha, this fellow… Who would want to listen to your comedy? Tell me about Hyun-woo.”

What he wanted to hear was his grandson’s achievements.

“You mean Hyun-woo’s story.”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young also turned his gaze to him.

“I want to hear it too. How is he doing? No, what kind of business is he doing?”

Director Hong Won-ik cleared his throat and answered.

“Victoria Corporation, which Hyun-woo founded, announced joint ventures with several companies at this CES [Consumer Electronics Show].”

“Joint ventures?”

“Mainly businesses related to the banking sector. The partners announced this time are JP Morgan, Bank of America, IBM, and Commodore.”

Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young paid attention to IBM.

“Isn’t IBM the world’s number one company in terms of market capitalization? I can only say it’s amazing.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun had a satisfied smile at Vice Chairman Jang Woon-young’s words.

“That kid is originally large-scale. Is there anything else?”

Director Hong Won-ik replied.

“It seems that Hyun-woo will soon list the company on NASDAQ [National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations].”

Victoria Corporation’s IPO was no longer a secret.