The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 170

Shock Wave (3)

In July 1985, Victoria Corporation encountered an unexpected obstacle.

Jeong Hyun-woo’s voice rose upon hearing the unexpected news.

“A strike, you say?”

Robert confirmed his question.

“Not that they’ve started striking yet. But the situation isn’t good.”

Robert was in charge of the AS (After Service) division, responsible for the installation and maintenance of Victoria Corporation’s services. They provided services in conjunction with G-Shop.

However, problems began to surface in the spring, snowballing into a potential strike by summer.

“Are you negotiating?”

Robert sighed.

“Haa… The negotiations have broken down.”

For Jeong Hyun-woo, an AS division strike was unbelievable.

‘We’re providing decent salaries, so why a strike?’

Sarah knew the strike’s cause, at least partially.

“Maybe City Bank is the problem.”

Jeong Hyun-woo turned, his voice rising again.

“City Bank is the problem?”

“The workload exploded in March because of City Bank’s City Service [a specific service provided to City Bank customers].”

Jeong Hyun-woo considered that expected.

“So, didn’t we hire more people?”

Sarah’s voice was dry as she answered.

“We hired more people, but they don’t all become skilled workers overnight.”

She meant that new employees needed time to develop their skills.

“So, you’re saying that even though we hired more people, the existing service technicians are doing most of the work?”

Sarah nodded.

“Bingo. City Service had a shorter installation period than American Service or JP Service. Naturally, experienced technicians could handle more volume than new recruits. On top of that, there isn’t a significant salary difference between new employees and existing technicians, so dissatisfaction is bound to build.”

It would be odd if dissatisfaction *didn’t* build when they were doing more work for the same pay.

Jeong Hyun-woo turned to Robert.

“Robert, is Sarah correct?”

Robert nodded slowly.

“That’s right.”

Jeong Hyun-woo figured that if he knew the cause, the solution would be easier.

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be worth negotiating with the AS technicians?”

Robert’s response was lukewarm.

“That’s… there’s another problem.”

“More to it?”

“Actually, this part isn’t easy to solve.”

Jeong Hyun-woo raised his eyebrows.

“What kind of problem are we talking about?”

Robert lowered his voice.

“The AS union is dissatisfied that only Victoria headquarters employees received stock options.”

They felt excluded from the recent IPO (Initial Public Offering).

Jeong Hyun-woo tilted his head.

“Weren’t stock options distributed equally to all employees?”

He’d instructed that 1% of his shares be distributed evenly across Victoria Corporation.

“That’s…”

Robert dragged out his words, uncharacteristically.

Jeong Hyun-woo’s face hardened.

“You’re saying it wasn’t properly distributed.”

Robert finally lowered his head.

“I’m sorry. I was too busy with the corporate acquisition negotiations to pay attention.”

Jeong Hyun-woo asked firmly.

“So, how far *were* the stock options provided?”

Robert swallowed hard.

“It seems they were only delivered to G-Shop managers.”

Only then did Jeong Hyun-woo fully understand the AS technicians’ strike.

‘They were working overtime for the same wages as new recruits, so their morale must have plummeted. If only G-Shop managers, essentially internal staff, received stock options, they were bound to explode.’

He thought their anger was justified. The problem was how to quell it.

“The problem is serious.”

Robert’s voice dropped.

“I don’t think it’s an easy problem to solve.”

Jeong Hyun-woo closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

“Hoo… It’s strange there haven’t been major problems until now.”

He clasped his hands together.

Knock. Knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Anne opened the door.

“Charlie, there’s a call from Korea.”

“From Korea?”

Anne knew Jeong Hyun-woo, Robert, and Sarah were in a meeting. For her to interrupt with a call, it had to be important.

“I’ll take the call.”

Robert and Sarah nodded.

“Okay.”

“Go ahead.”

Jeong Hyun-woo left the conference room for the president’s office. He sensed a heavier atmosphere than usual.

‘Do the employees know too?’

He sighed inwardly.

‘A strike. An obstacle I didn’t expect at all.’

Jeong Hyun-woo returned to his office and answered the phone.

“I’ve switched the phone.”

A deep voice came through the receiver.

“Hyun-woo, do you have some time?”

The caller was Chief Secretary Heo Mun-yeong [a high-ranking political aide].

“Yes, I can talk.”

A call from the Blue House [the South Korean presidential residence] was never welcome, then or now.

“Thank you for visiting the President last time.”

Chief Secretary Heo Mun-yeong had a habit of avoiding the point.

“I thought it was my duty.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Jeong Hyun-woo couldn’t afford small talk; the situation was too urgent.

‘I have no choice.’

He decided to be direct.

“Chief Secretary Heo, I have an important guest arriving soon, so could you tell me the reason for your call?”

Chief Secretary Heo Mun-yeong’s voice sharpened slightly at the mention of a guest.

“Oh, is that so? I wasn’t aware.”

Jeong Hyun-woo decided to risk his displeasure.

‘Because of the situation.’

He couldn’t always be the perfect, polite young man.

Chief Secretary Heo Mun-yeong revealed the reason for his call.

“It’s nothing much. I heard from Samjung Group [a large South Korean conglomerate] that you’re visiting Korea.”

Jeong Hyun-woo was scheduled to visit Korea to sign an investment agreement with Samjung Group, specifically Samjung Electronics.

‘They didn’t hear it from Samjung Group; they found out through other channels.’

1985 was different from the 2020s.

The Blue House held immense power over Korean companies.

“You must have a request for me during my visit.”

They wouldn’t have called without one.

‘That’s how it is here.’

It was rare for someone in power to offer goodwill without expecting something in return.

“The President would like to meet with you.”

Jeong Hyun-woo swallowed hard.

‘An invitation from the seat of power?’

In 1985, the president and the Blue House, backed by the military, wielded immense influence.

‘But it won’t last long.’

At most, two years.

Jeong Hyun-woo saw no need to get closer to the Blue House than necessary.

‘We need to think about the next government, or even the one after that.’

He wanted to distance himself from the current regime.

“I am deeply honored by the President’s invitation.”

Deeply honored.

It might seem old-fashioned, but it was the right tone for the Blue House in the 1980s.

“But I don’t think I can visit Korea this year.”

Chief Secretary Heo Mun-yeong raised his eyebrows.

“Hyun-woo, you can’t visit Korea? Has something happened?”

Jeong Hyun-woo lowered his voice.

“A large-scale strike has broken out at the company.”

“A strike, you say?”

“Yes.”

In Korea, strikes could be resolved with government intervention, but Jeong Hyun-woo was in the United States.

Chief Secretary Heo Mun-yeong knew that.

“If it were Korea, we could have intervened, but things are more difficult now.”

“I’m sorry. If things go wrong, the company could collapse. I don’t think I can visit this time. Please explain the situation to the President.”

Jeong Hyun-woo used the strike as a pretext to distance himself from the Blue House.

‘It’s not good to be associated with a sinking ship.’

Chief Secretary Heo Mun-yeong nodded at the cancellation.

“I understand. I will explain it to the President myself. And… I hope this matter is resolved quickly.”

This wasn’t just lip service.

To the Blue House, Jeong Hyun-woo was a valuable asset.

If Jeong Hyun-woo and Victoria Corporation collapsed due to the strike, they would lose that asset.

“Chief Secretary Heo, thank you for your concern.”

“Let’s meet and talk next time.”

“Okay.”

Jeong Hyun-woo hung up and sighed.

“Hoo… It’s dangerous to be dragged to the Blue House at a time like this.”

He shook his head and walked back to the conference room.

The emergency wasn’t over; it was just beginning.

* * *

On the way home.

Sarah was driving again.

The drizzling rain narrowed visibility.

“Charlie.”

Jeong Hyun-woo knew what Sarah would say.

“You’re going to tell me not to blame Robert, right?”

Sarah nodded.

“He’s been overworked lately.”

Robert had more responsibilities than Jeong Hyun-woo or Sarah. He was planning and operating the G-Shop game distribution chain and managing the AS division with thousands of employees.

He also handled corporate mergers and acquisitions, European market expansion, and partner company management.

It was a situation where even two heads and four hands wouldn’t be enough.

“I know Robert has a lot of work. But the AS technicians don’t think so.”

The AS technicians were demanding more than double their wages. No company but Victoria Corporation could even consider such a demand.

The unreasonable demands stemmed from dissatisfaction with Victoria Corporation’s management, specifically Robert.

Sarah asked cautiously.

“Are you going to fire Robert?”

If Robert left, Victoria Corporation would be severely impacted.

‘We must prevent that at all costs.’

She intended to soothe Jeong Hyun-woo.

Jeong Hyun-woo answered.

“I can’t do that.”

Sarah was relieved.

“Then you’ll adjust his workload?”

Jeong Hyun-woo looked out the window.

“Maybe that’s what will happen.”

“So, who will negotiate with the union?”

After Robert, it would be Sarah. But the union didn’t want Sarah either.

She was diligent and frugal, but to the union members, she was just a wealthy heiress.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

The best option would be for Jeong Hyun-woo to step in himself, but he had no leverage to appease the angry union members.

‘Besides, if I step up, they’ll make even more demands.’

He needed to send someone else.

“Should I go?”

Jeong Hyun-woo shook his head, repeating his earlier reasons for her not to get involved.

Sarah’s face fell.

“Am I still just a princess?”

Jeong Hyun-woo kept his gaze fixed outside.

“If you’re a princess, then I’m a prince.”

He wasn’t suitable for the negotiation either.

“This is… more difficult than I thought.”

The AS technicians’ strike was different from the problems they’d faced so far.

“Sarah.”

“Why?”

“Stop the car.”

“What?”

Jeong Hyun-woo pointed to a truck parked on the right.

“Park behind that truck.”

Sarah’s eyes widened at the logo on the truck.

“That’s our company’s vehicle.”

The truck had the Victoria Corporation logo. The owner worked in the AS division.

“Charlie, it’s dangerous.”

Jeong Hyun-woo shook his head.

“What’s dangerous about meeting our employees?”

“Still…”

Sarah knew how employees on the verge of a strike felt about the company owner.

‘Even optimistically, this won’t go well.’

She frowned.

“Sarah, stop!”

Jeong Hyun-woo’s raised voice forced her to stop.

“How…”

Before she could ask what he was doing, Jeong Hyun-woo opened the door and got out.

Sarah sighed and followed with an umbrella.

“Hoo… Charlie, you should use an umbrella.”

Jeong Hyun-woo was already talking to an AS technician in a raincoat.

‘I can’t stop him.’

Jeong Hyun-woo asked the technician.

“Excuse me, how long does it take to get City Service installed at my house?”

The technician shrugged.

“The service center knows that. We just do the installation.”

“Still, do you know if the schedule is delayed?”

“Not at all.”

“Don’t other technicians know?”

The technician shook his head.

“Maybe it’s the same for everyone? We just handle the work we’re assigned each day.”

Jeong Hyun-woo clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘Tsk, is information not being shared with the AS center?’

If the relationship between the AS center and the technicians was too hierarchical, a gap would widen.

‘Our AS center is rooted in G-Shop, which handles game distribution, so if a gap widens, it will be even harder to bridge.’

Jeong Hyun-woo asked again.

“It seems like the relationship with the AS center isn’t very good?”

The technician replied.

“It’s not just not good; it’s the worst.”

Jeong Hyun-woo sighed.

“Hoo… Then it won’t be easy.”

The technician smiled bitterly.

“Of course, it’s not easy. And… it seems like the CEO is finally trying to listen to our voices.”

Jeong Hyun-woo’s eyes widened.

“H, how…”

“If you ask how I knew, I can answer like this. If a black-haired man in Boston is asking about Victoria Corporation’s AS in the rain, who else would it be but our company’s boss?”

Jeong Hyun-woo lowered his eyebrows and replied.

“I guess so.”

The technician loaded his tools into the truck.

“CEO, listen to the stories of many people before acting.”

Listen to many stories first.

Jeong Hyun-woo couldn’t help but agree.