Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

The chief officer of the research center recommended an engineer with his Ph.D. from the Technical University of Munich in Germany as his successor at GH Mobile.

Gun-Ho wanted to know more about that person.

"Where is he working right now?"

"He is working in a research center in Pangyo City. It's a research center in a small company."

"Given the fact that you are recommending him as your successor, he must be very good and competent. Why is he working in a small company research center then?"

The chief officer let out a slight sigh.

"He received his Ph.D. in Munich. As you know, the German automobile industry produces the most competitive cars in the world, like Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen… They are all German companies. After getting his Ph.D. degree, he started his career at the BMW research center. He was being paid a significant amount of salary."

"Then what happened?"

"He missed his home country, and he received a job offer from one of the Korean big auto companies—G Auto."

"He should be doing good there too."

"He was sort of bullied by other workers who were jealous of what he had achieved, and they were highly territorial too. Moreover, G Auto's company culture didn't suit him. So he moved to a small company's research center, and he is currently working there; however, the work environment including necessary research equipment doesn't seem to fully support his research. He is now over 50, and it's not easy for him to move to another better company."

"Our company is probably no better than the one he is currently working for right now. And we don't pay much."

"He once came and visited me here and took a look around the research center. He said he couldn't compare it with the one in a big company, but it is certainly better than the one in Pangyo City, where he is working at."

"Hmm."

"He was a promising young man when he was at the Technical University of Munich in Germany. The diesel engine was invented by an engineer who studied at Munich, Germany. Munich is a city which is recognized for its highly developed automotive industry."

"Okay. Let's find out more about him then. Please have him send his resume to us."

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, I have something that I want to discuss with you, Mr. Chief Officer of the research center."

"Okay."

"Director Yoon is working on the demolition of our factory in Asan City. Once the joint venture business with Dyeon is confirmed, we will build a new factory there, and it will be used to process raw materials for urethane-related products."

"I had a rough idea about it."

"After you retire your current position at the end of this year, I'd like you to work at that factory in Asan City as a company advisor maybe for a year or so."

"Really? That sounds great."

The chief officer of the research center gave a bright smile.

Gun-Ho visited the factory in Asan City where the building was being torn down.

Director Yoon was supervising the construction site with his safety helmet on his head. The site was filled with dust.

"I am sorry, Director Yoon. I seemed to place you in a construction site all the time."

"It's my job, sir."

"You used to lead a large project in a construction site overseas, and I am sorry that I put you in a place where a small factory is being demolished."

"No problem. I feel so good when I think of building a marvelous factory at this very site after everything gets cleared out. People who are working on a construction site like me feel rewarded when we think of a new building that will be constructed."

"Right. We will have a new, highly advanced factory here for our joint venture business. Once you are done with the demolishing work, come back to the office in Jiksan Town."

"Yes, sir."

"Lymondell Dyeon will send their personnel here soon, and we will show them the land only."

"Oh, really?"

A food delivery truck arrived at the construction site; it was from a restaurant nearby.

"Oh, it's your lunchtime."

"Why don't you join us, sir?"

"Haha. I have a lunch appointment in Onyang City. Enjoy your lunch."

A 1-ton truck that was modified for a food delivery business was loaded with large plastic containers with food inside. They started unloading those plastic boxes.

Gun-Ho attended a meeting held for business owners, which was sponsored by Chungnam Province's business council committee. Since it only allowed business owners to attend—no vice president, no director, or anyone but business owners—there were only 7 people who attended the meeting. They were owners of small or medium-sized companies, and most of them had a loud voice and looked tough. They were at least 10 or 20 years older than Gun-Ho.

"President Goo, you don't play golf at all?"

"No, I don't often play it."

The business owners in the meeting talked about golf from the start of the meeting. They sometimes talked about female workers in their companies and their romantic relationship with those female employees.

Gun-Ho was wondering whether anyone here had ever been accused of sexual harassment.

There was a female business owner in her 50s at the meeting, and she left the meeting early saying that she had another appointment.

Those business owners also talked about how they kicked their workers' shin while they were reprimanding the workers.

Gun-Ho was thinking,

'They seem to be on a serious power trip.'

Gun-Ho left the meeting after having his meal.

Gun-Ho was dozing off while taking a hot spring bath in Onyang City when he received a text message. It was written in English.

"Oppa, how have you been doing? Are you busy these days? You haven't talked to me for a while."

It was from Mori Aikko.

Gun-Ho quickly replied to it,

"Are you in Tokyo right now?"

"Yes. I am in the condo in Daikanyama, Shibuya. I am off until this weekend."

"I will be busy all this week. I can go to Tokyo next week."

"I won't be in Tokyo next week. I have to go to Arashiyama Park, Kyoto for a photoshoot next week."

"Is it for a pictorial book?"

"Not really…"

They both took some time before continuing to talk. They sometimes took a long pause to refer to a dictionary through their smartphones when they saw an English word they could not understand.

"I have been invited by the professional photographer association of Kyoto for a photoshoot. More than 100 professional photographers will be there."

"You will probably wear Kimonos, right?"

"Right, I will have the photoshoot on Togetsu-kyo Bridge; I will be holding a Wa-ritsu (a traditional Japanese oil-paper umbrella)."

"You will be so pretty."

"Haha. Thank you, Oppa. Arigato Gozaimashita."

Gun-Ho pictured Mori Aikko in vibrant colored Kimonos with a traditional Japanese oil-Paper umbrella in her hand. She would look extremely gorgeous.

"The day after tomorrow is Saturday, right? I will be at the condo in Daikanyama, Shibuya on Saturday afternoon."

"I will be waiting for you."

In the afternoon that day, Gun-Ho went back to his office in Jiksan Town.

When Gun-Ho entered the company, the office staff stood up to greet him.

"Is everything fine here?"

"Yes, sir. Everything is going well as usual."

Gun-Ho entered his office and made a phone call to China to Min-Hyeok Kim.

"Did you make the second payment for the storage building that we are buying at the entrance of Suzhou Industrial Park? If I remember correctly, today is the payment day."

"Yes. I just made the second payment. President Goo, can we talk later? I am on my way to the Council of People's Commissars in this area."