The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 220

220. The Miracle on the Han River (4)

John Pierre’s voice was agitated.

“Charlie, this is risky.”

Unlike him, Jung Hyun-woo was calmly composed.

“Is investing in a promising company a risky endeavor?”

John Pierre raised his voice, seemingly frustrated.

“Charlie, even if it’s a promising company, you invest when you have *yeoyu* [余裕 – extra capacity].”

There was no *yeoyu* [extra capacity].

It wasn’t a situation that a wealthy man like Jung Hyun-woo was accustomed to. However, John Pierre’s concern wasn’t entirely without merit.

According to John Pierre’s calculations, the moment $100 million was withdrawn from the account, Jung Hyun-woo’s cash reserves for the following month could drop to $15 million.

$15 million.

A large sum, equivalent to the 10-year salary of a star player who could be selected for the NBA or Major League All-Star team.

However, the situation was slightly different for a wealthy man like Jung Hyun-woo.

“Aren’t all the loans being made through the corporation?”

John Pierre countered his words.

“If the investment corporation becomes risky, won’t you have to cover it with Charlie’s money?”

Victoria Fund had already taken out loans to the limit, making additional loans difficult.

Therefore, if an unexpected variable occurred, Jung Hyun-woo would have no choice but to resolve it with his own money.

“The chances of Victoria Fund becoming risky are very slim.”

In fact, it was safe to say it was zero.

‘Because Japan’s bubble won’t collapse until the Olympics are over.’

As long as the history Jung Hyun-woo knew didn’t change, Victoria Fund faced no significant risk until 1990.

Of course, John Pierre, who didn’t know this, had no choice but to oppose Jung Hyun-woo’s investment.

“I acknowledge that Samjung Electronics has great potential. But now is not the time to invest.”

John Pierre thought that investing in Japan alone was enough.

“I’ve already made a promise.”

“Charlie.”

“It’s a promise I made with someone I’ve known for a long time.”

John Pierre narrowed his brow and raised his voice.

“Charlie, are you really going to do this?”

“John, don’t worry too much. I always have reserves.”

There were reserves.

That meant he had spare funds.

“Are you saying you have money I don’t know about?”

Jung Hyun-woo sighed lightly and replied.

“In the worst-case scenario, I can sell my shares in Victoria Corporation. And I can also take out a loan using the shares as collateral.”

He had previously overcome a crisis in the same way during the short selling.

Of course, John Pierre also had something to say.

“Haven’t you already paid off the money you borrowed using Victoria Corporation shares as collateral?”

“I’ve paid off some of it, and since the stock price has risen significantly, wouldn’t the borrowing capacity have increased even more?”

John Pierre bit his lip as if he hadn’t thought of that.

‘Since the value of Victoria Corporation’s shares has increased, he can borrow more money.’

He unfolded his narrowed brow and said.

“Are you really going to move Victoria Corporation’s shares?”

“I will if it’s the worst-case scenario.”

John Pierre momentarily lost his justification for blocking his investment.

“Okay. Then call me at the promised time. I’ll transfer the cash to your account.”

Jung Hyun-woo said in a soft voice.

“I’m grateful that John is genuinely worried about me.”

Rather than getting angry at John Pierre’s opposition, he expressed his gratitude.

John Pierre’s heart tingled at his soft voice.

“Charlie…….”

“I mean it. I always trust John.”

Being trusted by someone.

That was quite a pleasant thing.

“My role is to guide Charlie on the right path.”

“John is a navigator in the investment world.”

John Pierre liked the saying that he was a navigator in the investment world.

“Then, is Charlie the captain?”

“Wouldn’t you say?”

The two men’s conversation started fiercely and ended warmly.

Click.

As he hung up the phone, Luna, who had been waiting next to him, said.

“There are only 10 minutes left until the appointment time.”

Jung Hyun-woo checked his watch and nodded.

“I’ll inevitably be late.”

He hurriedly left the hotel.

* * *

The place Jung Hyun-woo arrived at was Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s residence. He wanted to meet his grandfather, Chairman Jung Woo-sun, today.

“The Chairman is waiting on the second floor.”

Jung Hyun-woo lightly raised his right hand at the butler’s guidance.

“I’m a bit late.”

“The Chairman has been waiting for an hour.”

Jung Hyun-woo was only about 20 minutes late. However, Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s wait had already been going on for over an hour.

“I understand.”

Jung Hyun-woo headed to the second floor with energetic steps. As he went up to the second floor, a servant who recognized him raised his voice.

“Chairman, Hyun-woo has arrived.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun opened the door himself and came outside.

“Hyun-woo, you’re here.”

He already knew Jung Hyun-woo had arrived from the sound of Jung Hyun-woo’s energetic footsteps.

“Grandfather.”

“Come inside quickly.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun looked older than he had a few years ago.

“Here’s a gift.”

The gift Jung Hyun-woo handed over was prepared by Sera.

“What, this kind of thing…….”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun entrusted Jung Hyun-woo’s gift to a servant and led him to the study.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s study was the same as before.

‘There’s no computer here.’

Jung Hyun-woo knew that Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s time ended before the advent of the internet.

‘Grandfather’s time is running out.’

As he sat down, Chairman Jung Woo-sun smiled.

“Is work going well in America?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun had been hearing about Jung Hyun-woo through Director Hong Won-ik from time to time.

“I’ve established an investment fund.”

“A fund? Is it okay for companies to run banks in America?”

In South Korea, general companies could not own banks due to the separation of banking and commerce laws.

“Funds aren’t banks.”

“Hmm.”

To Chairman Jung Woo-sun, funds were actually an unfamiliar concept.

“Think of it as a large real estate agency.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun chuckled at Jung Hyun-woo’s explanation.

“If it’s real estate, it’s real estate. What’s a real estate agency?”

He thought it was an unusual choice of words for someone who had studied in America.

“Even if I live in America, my hometown is here.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun slowly nodded at his answer.

“Yes, your hometown is here. People shouldn’t forget their hometown.”

“I’m always mindful of that.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun felt both proud and sad whenever he met Jung Hyun-woo.

‘He’s become a much richer man than his father, let alone this grandfather.’

A moment later.

A servant came inside with tea.

Clatter. Clatter.

As she put down the tea and left, the conversation resumed.

“What about the military service?”

Even in the 1980s, university students could postpone their military service until they graduated.

“I received an exemption.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun raised his eyebrows as if he hadn’t been informed.

“You received an exemption from military service? Are you sick somewhere?”

Jung Hyun-woo lightly shook his head from side to side and replied.

“It’s not that, but someone I know pulled some strings.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun let out a long sigh.

“Hoo……. It seems you know more people than this grandfather.”

Even for a *chaebol* [conglomerate] chairman in the 1980s, some preparation was needed for a military service exemption.

“I don’t know many people here.”

“Then, you’re saying you know someone powerful.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun looked relieved.

“I wanted to go if possible.”

“To the military?”

“I was curious about what the young people protecting the country were doing.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun groaned softly at Jung Hyun-woo’s words.

“Hmm, the military is a dangerous place.”

The reason he disliked the military was because two of his younger siblings had lost their lives in the military.

Of course, his two siblings had died in action during wartime, not peacetime.

“I know. But aren’t I also a young man born in South Korea?”

“Hahaha, you.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun thought that Jung Hyun-woo didn’t know much about war or the military because he was young.

‘Besides, he spent his school days in America, so that’s even more likely.’

He hoped that Jung Hyun-woo, at least, would stay away from the military.

“But it’s become distant from my wishes.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun said, lifting his teacup.

“Don’t even go near the military.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded without refuting any further.

“I understand.”

He thought he had served in the military in both his past and present lives.

‘I’ve been in the military for quite a while.’

The two men’s conversation ranged from personal matters to the Olympics.

“Isn’t the government asking you to put out money?”

“I’ve already put it out.”

“Huh! Those guys are always like that.”

Jung Hyun-woo said in a soft voice.

“The situation is a bit different this time.”

“The Olympics or other events are all the same. We’re always the ones getting our money taken away.”

“I think we should give back to society to some extent since we’ve made a lot of money.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun clicked his tongue briefly.

“Tsk tsk, giving back to society should mean it goes to people in need. Half of the money we put out will go into those guys’ pockets.”

Jung Hyun-woo received his words with a bright face.

“Still, wouldn’t half of it go to people in need?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun didn’t lower his voice.

“It’s fortunate if half of that half goes in. The remaining money is eaten up by the lower guys.”

He was a businessman who had lived through the era of political-economic collusion.

Was that why?

He mostly viewed government-led events or projects negatively.

Of course, that didn’t mean he didn’t put money into government-led projects or events.

He knew that if he was stingy with the money he put out, he would be disliked by the regime like the International Group.

“The Daewoon Group also put out money, right?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun frowned and replied.

“It’s not a penny or two.”

He seemed quite bitter.

“Instead, Daewoon Construction wouldn’t have won the construction projects?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun let out a long sigh at his question.

“They gave us a pittance.”

It was true that the number of sections or buildings that Daewoon Construction had won was small.

However, this was not because the regime disliked the Daewoon Group.

Daewoon Construction had been focusing on overseas markets, including the Middle East, even before Jung Min-seok became president.

Thanks to that, the domestic market had no choice but to be handed over to Samjung Construction or Daehyun Construction.

“That’s a shame.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun clicked his tongue again when Daewoon Construction was mentioned.

“My sons are all inferior to you.”

It was not easy to become like Jung Hyun-woo because he was a global rich man.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun, of course, knew that fact as well. The reason he said they were inferior to Jung Hyun-woo was because his two sons were not showing any outstanding qualities.

“My uncles are also working hard.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun leaned back on the chair.

“You’re only saying good things today.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen my grandfather.”

“There’s a saying that chairmen these days say when they gather: that their children are putting their grandchildren forward to get even a penny more.”

The penny mentioned here did not literally mean a penny, but a large chunk like one affiliate or 1% stake.

“Are my uncles like that too?”

As Jung Hyun-woo slightly raised his voice, Chairman Jung Woo-sun raised his right hand.

“Those two wouldn’t have time to do that.”

“Are they busy with something?”

“I’ve given those two a homework assignment.”

Jung Hyun-woo, of course, knew what that homework assignment was. And the reason he came to Korea was also because of that homework assignment.

“It seems like a difficult assignment.”

“It’s not difficult. Instead, you have to beat your opponent.”

Jung Hyun-woo said as if blurting it out.

“Are you choosing the one who wins between the two uncles?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun waved his right hand at his question.

“That’s not it.”

Jung Hyun-woo couldn’t help but be surprised at his answer.

‘He’s not choosing the one who wins.’

He, of course, and the entire Daewoon Group leadership knew that the one who won the successor competition would inherit the position of Daewoon Group chairman.

‘Isn’t that why they’re competing so fiercely?’

Jung Hyun-woo fell into confusion after hearing Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s true feelings.

“If not the one who wins, are you saying you’re choosing the one who loses?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun wore a gentle smile.

“Where is there winning and losing in managing a group? This grandfather is just looking for the person who is more suitable for the Daewoon Group.”

Finding the person who is more suitable for the Daewoon Group.

This meant that he would be looking at the process or attitude of solving problems that arise while managing affiliates.

‘Hoo……. Everyone was deceived.’

Chairman Jung Woo-sun, as a person who had built a large corporation from scratch, clearly had extraordinary qualities.

“Who seems better now?”

“They’re both the same.”

They’re both the same.

Jung Hyun-woo thought they shouldn’t both be the same.

‘Daewoon Corporation is having its best performance this year. But if he says they’re the same…….’

He was thinking that Jung Min-young didn’t have a big influence on Daewoon Corporation’s performance.

‘This is a big deal.’

The successor competition was flowing in an unexpected direction.

“The older one is obsessed with great success and doesn’t know what’s important, and the younger one is satisfied with small successes and is complacent without moving forward.”

Jung Hyun-woo realized what Chairman Jung Woo-sun wanted from Jung Min-young.

‘Grandfather wants boldness and an enterprising spirit.’

If what he wanted from the first was stability, it seemed he was hoping for a spirit of challenge from the second.

“You’re saying they each have their strengths and weaknesses.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun sighed briefly.

“If your father were here, there would be no need for this worry.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s father, Jung Min-hyuk, was the eldest son of the Daewoon Group and the son who had inherited the most outstanding talent.

“I’ve learned that CEOs must look at reality.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun smiled gently.

“Yes, you’re also a president who runs a company.”

However, he thought that the company Jung Hyun-woo ran and the Daewoon Group were different in many ways.

‘This isn’t a matter of which is right and which is wrong, it’s the difference between Korea and America. That’s exactly what it is.’

Chairman Jung Woo-sun asked Jung Hyun-woo.

“Are you no longer interested in the Daewoon Group?”

Jung Hyun-woo replied.

“As I said before, I’m thinking of developing Daewoon Electronics from here.”

“They haven’t developed it much while you were gone. Is it still okay?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun had tried to develop Daewoon Electronics, but Daehyun Electronics and Samjung Electronics’ market dominance was too great to do anything about it.

“It’s okay.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun thought.

‘He’s running a company in America, so he probably doesn’t know how much market dominance Daehyun or Samjung have in South Korea.’

Of course, Chairman Jung Woo-sun also didn’t know exactly how great Jung Hyun-woo’s company was in America.

“Then that’s a relief.”

Jung Hyun-woo lowered his voice and said.

“Grandfather. Can I proceed with a joint project between Daewoon Electronics and Samjung Electronics?”

This was the biggest reason he came to see Chairman Jung Woo-sun today.

“You’re doing a joint venture with Samjung Electronics?”

“We’re not establishing a company through a joint venture, but we’re going to produce a few small items together.”

This was one of the things that had been agreed upon with Chairman Shin Young-jin earlier.

“Hmm, would Samjung want that?”

“I’ve already talked to Chairman Shin.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun was greatly surprised to hear that Jung Hyun-woo had already spoken with Chairman Shin Young-jin of the Samjung Group.

“You’ve finished talking with Chairman Shin?”

“Yes.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun adjusted his glasses and said.

“Amazing. Amazing.”

He thought as he looked at Jung Hyun-woo.

‘He just looks like an ordinary college student when you see him……. But when you listen to what he says, there are many times when you’re surprised.’

Chairman Jung Woo-sun said.

“If an agreement has already been reached, there’s no reason for me not to allow it.”

The best electronics company in South Korea was Samjung Electronics. He had no reason to refuse collaboration with Samjung Electronics.

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

As Jung Hyun-woo got up from his seat and bowed, Chairman Jung Woo-sun smiled.

“Hahaha, you…….”

He couldn’t have been prouder of his successful grandson.