Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Chapter 815: Miura Machines in Japan - Part 2

Gun-Ho was talking with Jong-Suk Park at GH Machines.

Gun-Ho asked Jong-Suk, "Do you have any funding problems with the company?"

"It's manageable. We already paid GH Mobile for those 5 twin screws."

"Is it 100 million won?"

"Yeah. I received 300 million won from Dyeon Korea for those two machines that we just built and sent to them, and I sent 100 million won back to them for the twin screws. I have 200 million won left, and it should be enough to run the company for now."

"I see. Well, let's have a cup of coffee in your office, and we can talk more."

"Sounds good."

The office manager lady who was handling accounting work there brought two cups of coffee for Gun-Ho and Jong-Suk. If he remembered correctly, Gun-Ho had his coffee in a paper cup the last time when he visited Jong-Suk's office, but this time, she brought coffee in a ceramic coffee mug.

"Bro, I'm being treated exceptionally well by my parents-in-law these days."

"They didn't treat you well before?"

"I'm saying… You know, I made money by selling Dyeon Korea shares, and I bought land in Pyeongtaek City for 500 million won with some of those funds. Once my mother-in-law found out about it, she started treating me differently."

"How differently?"

"I'm like her precious son-in-law now. She even bought me some restorative herbal medicine."

"I guess she thought you needed it. You probably look like you need help with your stamina."

"What are you talking about? I have a lot of stamina, bro."

"Why would your mother-in-law send you restorative herbal medicine if not for your stamina?"

"My parents-in-law said that I'm in an important position in the company and that I have to stay healthy. That's why they bought a box of restorative herbal medicine."

"Hmm, is that right?"

"My wife told me that her parents are so proud of me and talked about me a lot to their friends. Well, I own a 30 pyung large condo in Purgio Condo Community, and I have land in Pyeongtaek City as well. Moreover, I'm running my own business. I totally understand why they are proud of a son-in-law like me."

"Yeah, I think so. I would feel proud if I have a family member like you as well."

"I'm feeling pressured for one thing though."

"What pressure?"

"As you know, my parents and my wife's parents love to have more grandchildren. They are giving me pressure to have one more child with my wife. My parents and parents-in-law tell me to have a son, whenever they see me."

"Have one more child then. What's the problem with it?"

"Man, it's not easy to raise a child. My wife and I got our hands full already with our kid. If we have one more child, my wife will have to quit her job and stay home as a full-time mom."

"Your parents or her parents can help you with taking care of your children, can't they?"

"Well, they said they would, but we can't completely rely on them in raising our children, don't you think? Our child is our responsibility."

"If I were you, I would have one more child since they want it so desperately."

"I don't know."

"And, President Park, Mr. Sakata Ikuzo in Japan wants to see you."

"Mr. Sakata Ikuzo? Umm, hmmm, I can't go on a trip to Japan now. I have tons of work to take care of here. The company needs me here, especially at this time."

"He is not asking you to come to see him for fun. He made a proposition asking if we want to acquire a factory."

"A factory? I just opened my own factory here. I'm busy enough with one. I don't think I can handle one more factory business. Moreover, he is talking about a factory in Japan, right? It will probably cost a tremendous amount of money to acquire it. Are you willing to make an investment there too?"

"One of Mr. Sakata Ikuzo's friends owns a company called Miura Machines."

"What's the nature of the business of that company?"

"It seems that they make things like a camshaft and valve."

"That sort of work requires certain high technology."

"The owner president of that company is willing to give us the technology. He is not selling us the land and building of the factory, but he wants to sell the company's machines and manufacturing technology."

"I wonder why he wants to sell that sort of business. And why does he want to sell it to someone in Korea?"

"I was told that there is no one who would take over the company."

"I see."

"It seems that Japan has the same problem as Korea. Young people are reluctant to take hard physical labor jobs. I was told that the owner president's children don't want to work in that business either. Moreover, all of the current workers in that factory are 60 years old or above. They just can't find someone who can continuously run the business."

"Hmm."

"Since they are not selling real property like the factory building and the land that the factory is sitting on, it shouldn't cost much for us in acquiring the business. He is suggesting that you and I come to see him and review the possibility. You would understand their technology, so you can assess the value of the business for me."

"Hmm."

"What do you think? Are you interested?"

"Hmm."

"Stop saying 'hmm', and give me an answer. Didn't you point out the other day that I say 'hmm' too often?"

"Now I totally understand why you had to say 'hmm' that often. I can't think of anything but 'hmm' when I need time to think before giving an answer because I can't make a decision right away sometimes."

"Then think about it."

"Well, if it was Mr. Sakata Ikuzo who made the recommendation, that should be probably because the technology that the company has is too great to abandon. It's a shame to let the technology go to waste just because they couldn't find a proper successor. I'm sure their technology must be a highly advanced one."

"You think so?"

"In addition, acquiring their technology and machines only without their factory building and land makes the offer more attractive."

"So, are you saying that you are willing to visit him in Japan with me?"

"I'm not sure… I can't go right now though. I want to finish building and shipping 8 machines to Dyeon Korea first. I will then have some time to think about other stuff. It will be around mid-month…"

"No problem. Let's go to Japan in the middle of this month then. It will be fun. If we don't like the business, we can turn down the offer."

"There is one more thing that we need to consider. Even if we could beautifully carve out camshafts and valves, if we can't find clients who need those parts, it could be a problem."

"Clients?"

"That sort of product goes to an auto manufacturing company or their first vendor companies. GH Machines is a small company with about 10 workers, and we can't be a vendor company for those large companies. To be a vendor company of an auto manufacturing company or a first vendor company, you have to fulfill certain requirements to pass their inspection such as a certain level of labor and equipment."

"That makes sense."

"Moreover, we need certifications such as ISO 16949 or SQ."

"That can be a problem."

"There is a way to make it work though. We might be able to supply those large client companies with the products if we do that through GH Mobile. GH Mobile has systems and labor good enough to pass their inspection."

"That's a good idea."

"That wouldn't be easy either though. The people who would come to inspect the production facility might not be content with what GH Mobile has either. GH Mobile could be considered not big enough in their eyes."

"Well, as you just said, if we can't find markets, it's pointless to have their allegedly great technology."

"An ideal situation would be to keep the current clients in Japan…"

"Once we go on a trip to Japan later this month, we will have to check that possibility first."

Gun-Ho and Jong-Suk Park was lost in thought with their arms crossed simultaneously.