The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 222

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, Jung Hyun-woo knew that even a single misstep could cause everything to fall apart.

‘This plan wasn’t prepared long in advance.’

The attack on Daewoon Construction was more of an improvisation. It lacked thoroughness, and the connections between the parties weren’t solid.

If even one of the Indonesian or Malaysian companies turned their back, he and Jung Min-young could face a backlash.

‘If that happens, it would be like helping Jung Min-seok.’

He hoped that wouldn’t happen, but in this world, anything could occur.

Only God knew when and how the winds would change.

“Chairman, it’s time to leave.”

Jung Hyun-woo put down the newspaper upon hearing Luna’s words.

“Understood.”

Today, he intended to finalize a contract in Gangnam. As he stood up, Luna brought him his suit.

“The car is waiting on the first floor.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded lightly and put on his suit. Then, he went down to the first floor with his entourage.

30 minutes later.

The vehicle carrying Jung Hyun-woo and his party crossed the Han River and arrived in Gangnam.

In 1986, Gangnam was under construction everywhere.

Jung Hyun-woo passed through Samseong-dong and saw the Trade Center building, which was in the middle of its framework construction.

‘The Trade Center was built around this time.’

The official name of the Samseong-dong Trade Center building was the Korea World Trade Center. And in 1986, it had the slightly outdated name of Trade Hall.

To add, the Trade Tower, which was the centerpiece of the Korea World Trade Center in Samseong-dong, was the second tallest building in Korea and the fourth tallest in Asia when it was completed.

“We’ll be there soon.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at the driver’s signal.

“Understood.”

5 minutes later.

Jung Hyun-woo arrived at the meeting place. As his car stopped, people in black suits and glasses surrounded the vehicle, and reporters flocked from all directions.

“Chairman Jung, just a word!”

“Do you think investing in Korea is patriotic?”

“Chairman Jung, do you have any plans for further investments in Korea?”

Jung Hyun-woo’s arrival had been a secret until now, but it was no longer a secret as of this morning.

This happened immediately after a call between Jung Hyun-woo and Chairman Shin Young-jin.

‘I need to send a signal to Victoria Corporation’s investors as well.’

Officially, his visit to Korea this time was for the investment in Samjung Electronics.

“The interview will be held in the official interview room.”

Jung Hyun-woo entered the hotel under the protection of his bodyguards.

The reporters chased after him and his entourage, taking pictures.

Click. Click. Click.

Luna followed closely and said,

“The press coverage is intense.”

Jung Hyun-woo responded as he walked,

“It’s because I entered the country as if I fell from the sky.”

If he had announced his arrival, this scene would have started at Gimpo Airport.

‘That would be a bit troublesome.’

Jung Hyun-woo wanted to be in the spotlight only when necessary.

2 hours ago.

Namsan Hyatt Hotel.

Jung Hyun-woo received a call from Geum Tae-joon, the head of the National Security Planning Agency (NSPA).

“Hyun-woo, are you sure about this?”

He was talking about lifting the media ban that Jung Hyun-woo had requested.

“I promised Chairman Shin, and I think it’s time to satisfy the curiosity of many people.”

The promise with Chairman Shin was understandable, but he couldn’t help but question the mention of the public’s curiosity.

“The public’s curiosity?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered his question.

“Director, there’s a world-class wealthy man in Korea, and what is he going to do for our country? Is he perhaps planning to leave our country? What will he do at this Olympics? Wouldn’t people ask these questions at least once?”

Geum Tae-joon, the head of the NSPA, nodded after hearing his answer.

“Well, I can’t say that there aren’t many people who think that way. But if your visit to Korea becomes known, someone might try to harm you.”

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t think there would be any particular threat to his safety.

“Isn’t that the same situation as the heads of conglomerates [large business groups]?”

He wasn’t too worried about security.

The 1980s in Korea was a police state, so the security was quite good. Therefore, a small number of bodyguards was sufficient.

‘Hmm, if he’s worried about something that’s not a concern, does that mean he wants something?’

He lowered his voice slightly and asked,

“Director, could the NSPA support today’s event?”

Geum Tae-joon’s voice brightened at Jung Hyun-woo’s question.

“Today’s event?”

“There will be a lot of reporters.”

“In that case, someone might try to commit an act of terror in the chaotic situation.”

Cold War era.

Terrorism wasn’t just related to religion.

There had been several instances of terrorism against key figures in the opposing camp.

Jung Hyun-woo put a slight emphasis on his voice.

“I’ll be in your debt, NSPA.”

What Geum Tae-joon wanted was to create a debt with him.

His voice became even brighter when the word “debt” came out.

“Hahaha, a debt? Between you and me?”

Jung Hyun-woo realized that his voice had brightened, and he knew he had guessed correctly.

‘Hmph, he’s trying to take credit for everything.’

Geum Tae-joon was not incompetent, but he couldn’t be said to have a large capacity.

‘He’s a greedy person.’

He thought he should prepare more gifts for his next visit to Korea.

‘Of course, on the condition that he keeps his position as the head of the NSPA.’

Next year, the Korean political scene would be plunged into chaos.

“I’m just grateful that you say so, Director.”

Geum Tae-joon smiled with satisfaction and said,

“I’ll send agents from here to today’s event venue.”

The National Security Planning Agency controlled all information in Korea, so they didn’t ask about the event venue or time. They already knew everything.

Jung Hyun-woo listened to his words and expressed his gratitude politely.

“Thank you so much, Director.”

“Hahaha, isn’t helping Hyun-woo patriotic?”

Geum Tae-joon hung up the phone with a cheerful laugh.

Click.

Jung Hyun-woo put down the receiver and sighed deeply.

“Hoo… it’s not easy.”

And his murmur was so small that even the person next to him couldn’t hear it.

This was because there might be a wiretap installed in his room.

‘You can’t let your guard down for a moment in Korea.’

The phone rang the moment he narrowed his brows.

Ring. Ring.

Jung Hyun-woo hung up the phone and picked up the receiver again in less than a minute.

“This is Jung Hyun-woo.”

“Hyun-woo, it’s me.”

The person who called him was Jung Min-young.

“Uncle, is there any change?”

“My brother just left the country.”

Jung Min-seok had been waiting at the airport all night and left for Singapore early in the morning.

Jung Hyun-woo clicked his tongue inwardly upon hearing about his departure.

‘Tsk, I can’t block everything until the next day.’

Even a world-class wealthy man couldn’t control airports or air routes.

Jung Min-young asked him,

“Hyun-woo, should I leave the country as well?”

Jung Hyun-woo shook his head at his question.

“No. There’s no need for you to go, Uncle.”

“Then…”

“I told you yesterday. You just need to do your job, Uncle.”

It was his job to keep Daewoon Construction in check.

Jung Min-young’s voice lowered.

“Hyun-woo, I guess we can’t end it with this, can we?”

He wanted to end the succession battle with Jung Min-seok’s downfall. But Jung Hyun-woo knew that the succession battle wouldn’t end just with Jung Min-seok’s downfall.

“Uncle, what Grandpa wants isn’t to achieve something great. He wants to see you steadily moving forward.”

Jung Min-young knew it too, but it was difficult to move forward steadily.

‘I’m not a genius like you, Hyun-woo.’

If someone with ordinary talent started a big business, they might slip instead of moving forward. That’s why Jung Min-young was reluctant to start a new business.

“Okay. I’ll try my best.”

Click.

Jung Min-young hung up the phone and narrowed his brows.

“Can I do it?”

It wasn’t a matter of ‘Can I do it?’ but a matter of having to do it no matter what. If he couldn’t, he would never be able to become the chairman of the Daewoon Group.

“It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff.”

He was in the position of vice president, but in reality, he was no different from the president.

Daewoon Corporation’s president, Lee Moo-ho, was taking a step back, and all new businesses were his responsibility.

‘The most dangerous time is when everything looks good.’

In 1986, Daewoon Corporation was making huge profits due to the Three Lows (low oil prices, low interest rates, and low dollar value).

But if they recklessly expanded their business believing only in these profits, they could face danger as soon as the Three Lows ended.

‘How long will the Three Lows last?’

If you think positively, you could see it lasting for more than 3 years. Conversely, if you think negatively, it could end as early as next year.

‘3 years, I have to think it will last 3 years.’

If he didn’t think this way, he wouldn’t be able to move forward even one step.

Beep.

The intercom sound woke him from his reverie.

“Secretary Ha, what’s going on?”

The secretary answered Jung Min-young’s question.

“The Chairman is calling for you.”

Jung Min-young felt a chill down his spine.

‘Does Father know about what Hyun-woo and I did?’

If it became known that he and his nephew had pressured Daewoon Construction to drive out his brother, the succession battle would be over.

Gulp.

Jung Min-young swallowed hard and stood up.

* * *

Singapore.

When Jung Min-seok’s plane landed on the runway, the ground was already wet.

“Wasn’t the rainy season over?”

The rainy season in Southeast Asia lasted from late spring to early autumn.

In other words, it was almost the rainy season now.

Swish.

The rain falling on the runway was something that was not easily seen in Korea.

“President, this way.”

The person guiding him was the head of Daewoon Construction’s Singapore branch.

“Hmm, what’s going on?”

“The bank’s attitude suddenly turned cold.”

“Turned cold?”

“It seems they heard some rumors.”

Jung Min-seok thought that if rumors were the problem, he could solve them sufficiently.

‘Perhaps they found out about the problems in Malaysia and Indonesia in Singapore.’

One problem often didn’t end with just one problem.

Jung Min-seok thought this was one of those cases.

‘If the problem that started in Malaysia spread to Indonesia, and then it spread to Singapore, it’s somewhat understandable.’

He asked the branch manager,

“Have you made an appointment for a meeting?”

“I’ve arranged for you to meet as soon as you arrive.”

“That’s good.”

It was lunchtime in Singapore.

The branch manager asked Jung Min-seok,

“How would you like to have your meal?”

Jung Min-seok replied coldly,

“Isn’t the meal not the problem?”

His voice was slightly sharp.

“I understand. Then we’ll go straight to the bank.”

Daewoon Construction’s main trading bank in Southeast Asia was DBS (Development Bank of Singapore).

“Let’s do that.”

The vehicle carrying Jung Min-seok headed to Marina Bay through the rain.

1 hour later.

Jung Min-seok arrived at the DBS headquarters through the heavy rain. When he arrived, a DBS employee came out to greet him.

“The Deputy General Manager is waiting for you.”

A working-level employee, not an executive, came out to meet him from DBS.

Jung Min-seok was slightly displeased, but now was not the time to be picky.

“Let’s go up.”

The meeting with DBS was held in the conference room on the 3rd floor.

Jung Min-seok greeted a young man who seemed much younger than him.

“I’m Jung Min-seok from Daewoon Construction.”

The young man reached out his hand to him and said,

“I’m Woon Chen.”

Jung Min-seok could tell that he was Chinese.

‘Singapore is a country founded by Chinese.’

Not only the economy of Singapore, but also the power and military power were all held by the Chinese.

“I heard that DBS refused to extend the loan.”

Jung Min-seok immediately got to the point as soon as he sat down. This meant that he was that urgent.

“It’s not a refusal, but a postponement.”

Postponed the loan extension.

Jung Min-seok thought it was a play on words, but he didn’t get angry right away.

“What’s the reason?”

“There are a few things that need to be checked.”

Jung Min-seok narrowed his brows and asked again.

“Is it because of the sites in Indonesia and Malaysia?”

Woon Chen did not deny his question.

“If there is a problem at the site, construction may be suspended.”

“The problems at the site will be resolved soon. That’s why I flew directly from Korea.”

Woon Chen responded to his words in a soft voice.

“I understand that Daewoon Construction’s will to resolve this issue is strong. But wouldn’t you need money for a practical solution?”

Jung Min-seok answered his question.

“We have secured $2 million in cash by issuing corporate bonds. We can solve this year’s payment with this.”

Woon Chen tilted his head to the side.

“Wouldn’t $2 million be a little short?”

“It would be short if this was all our company’s funds. But we are also earning money from other sources.”

He would solve the problem by adding $2 million to the money coming in every month.

“Okay. We will extend the loan as soon as the problems at the site are resolved.”

DBS Bank did not pressure Daewoon Construction and took a soft stance.

Jung Min-seok was able to breathe a sigh of relief at DBS’s soft attitude.

‘Hoo… I’ve put out the fire in Singapore for now.’

He finished the meeting with DBS and came outside.

The head of the Singapore branch asked with a bright face,

“I think you can have a meal now.”

He thought that he had relieved a heavy burden because the work in Singapore had been handled well.

However, Jung Min-seok was not.

He still had two problems to solve.

“There’s no time to eat leisurely.”

“Yes?”

“I’m going straight to the airport.”

As soon as Jung Min-seok got in the car, he demanded to go to the airport.

“Are we going straight to the airport?”

“I’m going to Malaysia.”

Jung Min-seok’s next goal was the site in Malaysia. The vehicle he was in sped through the rain towards the airport.

* * *

The signing of the contract between Jung Hyun-woo and Chairman Shin Young-jin took place in front of numerous reporters.

Click. Click. Click.

The camera shutters moved incessantly as Jung Hyun-woo picked up the pen.

“It’s done.”

Chairman Shin Young-jin picked up the pen after he finished signing.

“It’s my turn this time.”

Chairman Shin Young-jin finished signing with quick movements.

Click.

As he put down the pen, Jung Hyun-woo approached and reached out his hand.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Chairman Shin Young-jin responded to his words in a soft voice.

“You’re the one who worked hard, not me. The future of Samjung Electronics has been decided with this.”

He decided to make semiconductors the future focus, not home appliances such as TVs and washing machines.

“Samjung Electronics will do well.”

In 1986, the semiconductor market was not very good. American and Japanese semiconductor companies were facing each other with dumping offensives, and international demand was not increasing as much as their supply.

Chairman Shin Young-jin grabbed Jung Hyun-woo’s hand and said,

“If they don’t do well, they’ll all go bankrupt.”

He wanted to bet the company’s fate on this semiconductor factory.

“Let’s give the reporters a chance to take pictures.”

At Jung Hyun-woo’s words, Chairman Shin Young-jin smiled and posed.

Click. Click. Click.

The reporters’ shutter sounds were deafening.

Soon, the head of the Samjung Group’s secretary office approached and said to the two,

“Let’s go to the interview room.”

It was when Chairman Shin Young-jin and Jung Hyun-woo nodded and began to move that Choi Kyung-min ran to them in a hurry.

“Young Master!”

Because he ran so fast, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) agents regarded him as a dangerous person and blocked him.

“Stop!”

Choi Kyung-min was suddenly caught by them.

Jung Hyun-woo saw him being caught and raised his voice slightly.

“It’s okay! He’s one of my secretaries.”

At his cry, the NSPA agents released Choi Kyung-min.

Choi Kyung-min hurriedly approached Jung Hyun-woo. Then, he took a breath and said,

“Young Master, there’s been an accident in Singapore.”

Jung Hyun-woo narrowed his brows and asked,

“An accident?”

He was worried that someone had revealed his plan.