The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 70

Became a Villain in a Chaebol Family – Meeting a Legend 04 –

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Two days before departure.

Jung Hyun-woo visited his parents’ graves. It had been years since he last visited their graves.

“I should have come every year······.”

As he sighed in regret, he heard footsteps crunching on the snow.

Crunch, crunch.

Soon, a clear voice rang out.

“So, you were here.”

The one who came to find him was Jung Min-young.

“Uncle?”

“I heard you were at your brother’s grave and rushed all the way here.”

After speaking to Jung Hyun-woo, Jung Min-young turned to Deputy Sung Hyung-jin.

“Could you give us some space?”

He wanted to talk to him alone.

“Of course.”

Deputy Sung Hyung-jin bowed his head in response and moved away from the two of them. Then, he muttered to himself.

“For Director Jung Min-young to come all the way here, what brought this on?”

He tilted his head, but decided to discard the complicated thoughts.

‘Whatever the reason, let’s not think about it. If I interfere in the affairs of a chaebol [conglomerate] family, I won’t last long at the company.’

He had a good education and came from a stable family, but he had no intention of joining anyone’s faction yet.

Chief Secretary Hong Won-ik knew that he was not aligned with any faction, so he assigned him to be Jung Hyun-woo’s personal secretary.

Jung Hyun-woo looked at the snow-covered mountains and fields and said to Jung Min-young.

“You came too quickly.”

Jung Min-young exhaled a white breath at his remark.

“Are you worried about Deputy Sung’s eyes?”

“It’s not that I’m worried, but if we meet twice in such a short period, won’t people start paying attention to us?”

Jung Min-young knew what Jung Hyun-woo was worried about.

“Hyung [older brother] probably won’t be able to pay attention.”

Vice President Jung Min-seok was not in a situation where he could pay attention to Jung Hyun-woo.

“Can you be sure?”

“A prince from Qatar has arrived.”

A prince from Qatar.

He couldn’t know exactly what position he held in Qatar.

All he could know was that he was a very important figure from the perspective of the Daewoon Group.

At this moment, Vice President Jung Min-seok and key executives of the group were welcoming him on behalf of Chairman Jung Woo-sun.

“If it’s Qatar, is it related to Daewoon Construction?”

“Yes, there is a project to build a power plant and an affiliated port in Qatar. The total project cost alone will be at least 200 million dollars.”

For the Daewoon Group, 200 million dollars was a large sum that could determine the rise and fall of the group.

“200 million dollars, that’s a big project, isn’t it?”

Jung Min-young licked his lips.

“Originally, this was my job.”

His position was Managing Director of Daewoon Construction. If the Qatari prince visited Korea for matters related to Daewoon Construction, he should have attended the meeting as a key figure.

However, Vice President Jung Min-seok excluded him from the meeting attendees. This was an obvious checkmate.

“Come to think of it, isn’t Grandfather on the Daewoon Corporation side?”

“He’s not meeting the prince as the Vice President of the Corporation.”

Vice President Jung Min-seok was meeting the Qatari prince on behalf of his father, Chairman Jung Woo-sun.

“It seems the momentum is still with Grandfather.”

“If this power plant bid is successful, the gap will widen further.”

Jung Min-young couldn’t help but feel impatient. In comparison, Jung Hyun-woo was calm.

“Uncle, the Qatar power plant bid is Daewoon Construction’s job, so Grandfather won’t score big points.”

“Even if he doesn’t score big points, if Hyung finalizes the deal on behalf of Father, the gap will widen.”

Jung Min-young looked anxious.

Jung Hyun-woo thought that he had rushed here without being careful of other people’s attention because of his anxiety.

‘I can’t do anything about the Daewoon Group’s affairs, but I know what to say in times like these.’

He wanted to lift Jung Min-young up.

“Uncle, is the government also paying attention to this project?”

It was a large project with 200 million dollars at stake. There was no way the government wouldn’t know about this. It was right to assume that they had intervened from the moment the Qatari prince boarded the plane.

“Of course.”

“Then you will have an opportunity too, Uncle.”

Jung Min-young raised his voice at Jung Hyun-woo’s words.

“I will have an opportunity?”

“Isn’t the government the same as the Blue House [South Korea’s presidential residence]?”

“Ah! You mean my father-in-law won’t just stand by.”

Jung Min-young’s father-in-law was about to enter the Blue House.

‘Since it’s a Daewoon Group matter, it would be natural to save face for his son-in-law.’

Jung Hyun-woo slightly raised his voice.

“Uncle, I don’t think you need to worry about the Qatari prince.”

Jung Min-young couldn’t believe that Jung Hyun-woo was not even twenty years old.

‘He even picks up on things I didn’t think of. Hyun-woo has aspects of a scholar or strategist from old tales.’

He nodded and changed the subject.

“The reason I came to see you today wasn’t just to talk about Hyung.”

Jung Hyun-woo received his words with a face that knew everything.

“I know. You want to continue that story from before, right?”

He knew that the negotiation with Jung Min-young was not completely over.

‘There needs to be a response to the business card he handed over.’

Previously, Jung Hyun-woo had requested something like his own business card from Jung Min-young.

“You have a face that expected everything.”

“Expectation? I’m just saying it because there was something I requested.”

Jung Min-young clicked his tongue at his words.

“Hmph, I can’t beat you with words.”

At some point, he had lost the initiative in the conversation to Jung Hyun-woo.

“So, what did you bring?”

Jung Min-young was confident in the card he had prepared.

“Your future.”

Jung Hyun-woo tilted his head at his answer.

“My future?”

“Yes, I have prepared your future.”

“My future. That’s a meaningful statement.”

“You think there’s something meaningful in my words? What about you?”

“Uncle.”

Jung Min-young put his hands on his hips and said.

“Hyun-woo, every man in Korea has to go to the military.”

It seemed that the card he had prepared was a military exemption.

“Not everyone has to go.”

In the 1980s, many children of the upper class were exempted from military service.

Jung Hyun-woo was pointing that out.

“They may not go under the pretext of illness. But even among the children of chaebol families, more people go than don’t.”

This was true.

Of course, more sons of lawyers, doctors, politicians, and chaebols went to the military than didn’t. It was just that the percentage of those who didn’t go was much higher than ordinary people.

“So, you’re saying you’ll exempt me from the military, which I absolutely have to go to?”

Jung Min-young replied.

“I don’t think you have the luxury of spending 33 months in the military.”

January 1984.

The service period for the Republic of Korea Army was 33 months, only 3 months short of 3 years.

Jung Hyun-woo slightly raised his voice.

“Is your father-in-law exempting me?”

In the 1980s, the influence of the Blue House was enough to get someone exempted from military service.

“No.”

“Then a military doctor······.”

Jung Hyun-woo stopped talking because he thought that saying he had even bribed a military doctor had crossed the line.

‘Tsk, I’ve become unnecessarily sensitive.’

Was it because he was a former non-commissioned officer?

He didn’t like the idea of being exempted from the military.

‘Either way, let’s not push it any further.’

There was no point in antagonizing Jung Min-young. He was willing to accept Jung Min-young’s proposal to some extent.

Soon, Jung Min-young said.

“Alternative service.”

An unexpected answer.

It seemed that Jung Min-young had decided to go in the direction of loopholes rather than illegal means.

“Alternative service?”

“You’ve probably heard of a master’s degree research personnel, right?”

Jung Hyun-woo, as an engineering major, knew the master’s degree research personnel system well.

‘Researcher. When he said alternative service, I expected it to some extent, but······. I can’t believe he brought it up right away.’

He nodded and said.

“Isn’t it a system that allows engineering scholars who have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree to spend their time as researchers instead of military service?”

Jung Min-young nodded and took his words.

“You know it well. As you said, master’s degree research personnel can replace military service with research in their field.”

Of course, in order to become a master’s degree research personnel, one had to first obtain a master’s degree.

“You’re saying that if I get a master’s degree, you’ll somehow get me into a research lab.”

“I think it’s a good system to complete military service legally.”

However, master’s degree research personnel did not only have advantages.

To list the disadvantages······.

First of all, the duration was the problem.

‘5 years is too long.’

Staying in Korea for 5 years could be a bigger blow than serving 33 months in the military. Moreover, Jung Hyun-woo could become a master’s degree research personnel without Jung Min-young’s help.

‘There won’t be many places that would refuse a MIT graduate.’

Considering these two things, Jung Min-young’s proposal was not attractive at all.

‘Surely he hasn’t failed to consider this, has he?’

If Jung Min-young hadn’t thought of what he had thought of, Jung Min-young would never be able to beat Jung Min-seok. Jung Hyun-woo didn’t want to think about such a result.

“Uncle, if I become a master’s degree research personnel, I have to stay in Korea for 5 years. Isn’t that a bit much?”

Jung Min-young raised his right index finger at his words.

“I thought about that part too and made a decision.”

Jung Hyun-woo breathed a sigh of relief at the answer that he had thought about that part.

‘Thank goodness.’

He raised his eyebrows and asked.

“You thought about that part too?”

Jung Min-young nodded and replied.

“Among national research institutions, there are many cases where they conduct joint research with overseas research institutions. In this case, researchers sometimes go on long-term business trips to overseas research labs.”

It was a story that he could stay in a research lab in the United States for a long time under the guise of joint research.

‘Hmm, this side is definitely 괜찮군 [gwaenchanhgun – decent].’

Jung Min-young’s card wasn’t great, but it showed traces of some effort.

“If I can go on a business trip to a US research lab······.”

“You can replace military service while staying in the United States.”

“You’ve put a lot of thought into me.”

Jung Min-young asked with a face that showed he was relieved.

“Is that an answer to your business card now?”

There was a slightly lacking feeling, but he decided to be satisfied here.

‘If I demand something stronger, it could lead to unexpected results.’

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and replied.

“I think it’s enough.”

“Enough, huh. It’s hard to get a good evaluation from you after all.”

Jung Hyun-woo said in a soft voice.

“Please think of it as me being stingy with points because I’m an engineering major.”

“Alright.”

Just as Jung Min-young was about to turn around, Jung Hyun-woo said.

“Uncle.”

At that moment, Jung Min-young stopped moving.

“Do you have something else to say?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded.

“This time, it’s a story about your future.”

Jung Min-young perked up his ears at the word future.

‘Hyun-woo is living with his father. He may have heard something from his father.’

He turned his body and lowered his voice.

“What did you hear from Father?”

Jung Hyun-woo narrowed the distance with him. This way, even if there were people around, they wouldn’t be able to hear their conversation.

“Make contact with the opposition party.”

Jung Min-young’s eyes widened.

“With the opposition party?”

In 1984, South Korea’s military regime was wielding overwhelming power. Conversely, the opposition party, which was confronting them, felt like a thatched house on the verge of collapse.

“It’s about planting seeds in advance.”

Jung Min-young narrowed his brow.

“How can I support the opposition party when my father-in-law is entering the Blue House?”

He thought it was right to get on a stronger line with the ruling party.

‘It would be better to strengthen ties with the Blue House.’

Jung Hyun-woo shook his head and said.

“Uncle, I’m not saying to support the opposition party.”

“If you’re not supporting the opposition party, then what?”

“I’m talking about making contact points in advance.”

Jung Min-young sighed deeply.

“Hoo······. Contact points. It seems you’ve heard something.”

He thought that Jung Hyun-woo had accidentally overheard a conversation between Chairman Jung Woo-sun and someone.

‘There seems to be some movement on the opposition party’s side. Perhaps there is a crack in the ruling party.’

Jung Min-young believed without a doubt that Jung Hyun-woo was on his side. So he wanted to interpret Jung Hyun-woo’s story in a way that was favorable to him.

“Uncle, it will definitely be helpful to have a line with the opposition party.”

The reason he told him to get a line with the opposition party was because of the democratization movement that would begin soon.

‘The opposition party will not win the next presidential election either. But the gap with the ruling party will definitely narrow. And after that, they will eventually drive the military forces out of politics.’

Jung Hyun-woo was telling him to get a line, looking several years ahead.

Jung Min-young asked him.

“Any side of the opposition party will do, right?”

At this time, the opposition party was not one. And Jung Hyun-woo had a party in mind.

“No. That’s not the case.”

Jung Min-young paused and asked.

“You’re saying I shouldn’t contact just any party?”

Jung Hyun-woo put strength in his voice and said.

“Uncle, please pay attention to the Busan side.”

“Busan?”

“Yes.”

In the 1980s, Busan was South Korea’s second-largest city and the central axis of the Southeast Economic Zone.

‘If it’s Busan, isn’t that where the Bu-Ma Democratic Protests started 5 years ago? If it’s an opposition party centered there······.’

There was only one.

“Alright. I’ll connect a line there.”

Jung Hyun-woo felt apprehensive at his words to connect a line.

“Uncle, don’t get too deeply involved. The center of South Korea is still in the ruling party.”

Jung Min-young chuckled and accepted his advice.

“I know that.”

He was a man who could control that much. No, it would be difficult if he couldn’t control even that much. His opponent was Vice President Jung Min-seok, who was famous for his poker face.

“Hyun-woo. Would it be better to go down together? Or should we go down separately?”

Jung Hyun-woo thought for about 2 seconds and then answered.

“I think it would be better to go down separately this time.”

“Alright. Then I’ll go down first.”

Jung Hyun-woo slightly bowed his head.

“Uncle, be careful on your way.”

Jung Min-young turned his body and raised his right hand.

“Come up carefully.”

He thought as he left his older brother’s grave.

‘Hyun-woo’s talent may not be able to be contained by the vessel called Daewoon Group.’

He thought that it wasn’t for nothing that he had been accepted into MIT.

After confirming that Jung Min-young had left far away, Jung Hyun-woo called Deputy Sung Hyung-jin.

“Deputy Sung!”

Deputy Sung Hyung-jin hurriedly ran to his call.

“Young Master, did you call?”

Jung Hyun-woo wanted to go back to Seoul right away. But he couldn’t move right away because he had to give Jung Min-young some time.

‘Now, what should I do?’

He could rest in the car for a while before leaving.

‘That’s a bit not good.’

He didn’t really like wasting time on the road.

‘Hmm, should I go somewhere far away?’

Jung Hyun-woo raised his voice as Deputy Sung Hyung-jin approached.

“Deputy Sung, did you say your hometown is Seoul?”

“No. It’s Busan.”

“Busan?”

“Is it strange?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded.

“For someone from Busan, you speak Seoul dialect too well.”

“That’s probably because I came up from Busan when I was five years old.”

“I see. Deputy Sung, would you like to go to Busan for the first time in a while?”

Deputy Sung Hyung-jin doubted his ears for a moment.

“Yes? Busan?”

“Why can’t we go?”

The place where Jung Hyun-woo’s parents’ graves were located was Yongin. It was a 4-hour one-way trip from Yongin to Busan.

“Young Master, the Chairman will be worried.”

“Then we can just inform the secretary’s office before we go.”

Deputy Sung Hyung-jin still thought it was too much.

“Young Master.”

“Did anyone tell me to come back by a certain time?”

“There’s no one like that, but······.”

“If we leave now, we can come back late in the evening.”

As Jung Hyun-woo said, if they hurried, they could return to Seoul around 10 or 11 p.m.

“I understand.”

Jung Hyun-woo’s trip to Busan.

This was related to the article in this morning’s newspaper.

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