Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

“Wouldn’t you have any problem manufacturing the same products once the Japanese engineer returns to his country?”

“That’s why Manager Park demonstrated the product manufacturing himself. He has the recipe and skills to produce it by himself. You just saw him doing it, right?”

“Does that mean he doesn’t need the Japanese engineer’s help at all to manufacture the products?”

“Manager Park can produce the products with his eyes closed by himself.”

The researchers from S Group took notes as they asked questions and had responses from Gun-Ho. Gun-Ho looked at their hands with which they were writing down something. Their hands that were holding a pen were pale like scholars who never had done labor work before in their entire lives. Gun-Ho then looked at Jong-Suk’s hands. Jong-Suk had used those hands in tightening screws, coating a machine with oil, etc. for seven to eight years. They were rough, and Gun-Ho was proud of Jong-Suk’s rough hands.

“Jong-Suk, I am so proud of you. I respect your life and experience in it.”

The researchers eventually left the factory, and Gun-Ho subsequently received the first order of the new products—50,000 of them from S Group. The product cost that the sales director brought to S Group the other day was approved by them without any problem.

The plant manager had to often step out of his office in Asan City because he had to be at the new factory in Jiksan Town. The new factory was almost completed, and his presence was required for electric work. A power transformer needed to be installed, and the overhead crane had to be completed, but Director Yoon was not very familiar with these kinds of works. His area of expertise was with the construction. On the other hand, the plant manager was an expert in the technology field. Director Yoon needed his advice in completing the factory.

“Manager Jong-Suk Park, take care of the production field while I am away.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The second production line conveyor belt sometimes moves strangely. Keep an eye on it. The belt number five often causes problems with screws.”

“Don’t worry about it, sir.”

“Please repair the cutting machine.”

“Why don’t you ask the maintenance team to repair it?”

“They don’t know much about it. I want you to repair it, Manager Park.”

“It’s easy. They just need to weld the parts.”

“They know. They are just not good at it. Please do it for me.”

“Sh*t. I am fu*king busy here too.”

“You are the next plant manager, Manager Park. You will have to take care of everything in the factory anyway once you become a plant manager.”

Gun-Ho overheard the conversation between Jong-Suk and the plant manager.

“Jong-Suk, please come to my office.”

Jong-Suk entered Gun-Ho’s office.

“Hey, you are a manager. Don’t use a cursing word like f*ck at work. Are you aware of how many workers you are currently managing?”

“I’m sorry, bro.”

“Go to Polytechnics College. Take their night classes.”

“A college?”

“Yes. Polytechnics College is located in Sinchang Town. Get an associate degree first from there. I will pay for your education.”

“I have tons of work to do even at night.”

“Just study there. You can study an Automated Facility there.”

“I can’t speak English.”

“You don’t have to speak English. They won’t ask you to talk with Americans.”

“I don’t know.”

“If you don’t finish your college degree, you will be working as a manager until you reach the age of retirement.”

“I always feel so sleepy whenever I try to read a book.”

“It should be different now from the time when you were in high school. You will feel easy since they will teach you something that you are working with already.”

“I need time to think about it.”

“You don’t have to think about it. Just go and study and get your degree. Start next semester.”

Jong-Suk walked out of Gun-Ho’s office while scratching his head.

Gun-Ho received a call from Jae-Sik.

“Hey, how is it going?”

“I am doing very well. Thank you. I like the OneRoomTel in Yeoksam Town where I am staying. It’s very close to work. Most of all, I love the work I do now. I think I am getting paid too much though.”

Gun-Ho already knew how much Jae-Sik was being paid, but he pretended that he didn’t.

“Really? How much do you get paid?”

“It’s 2.5 million won.”

“I guess President Jeong-Sook Shin highly valued you.”

“Well, it’s still too much.”

“Hey, Min-Hyeok. Do you know how much Jong-Suk is getting paid? He is making over 5 million won.”

“I can’t compare with him. He is a skilled worker.”

“You have skills, too. You have the skills of proofreading and editing.”

“Are they considered skills? I am truly grateful that I work for GH Media with a high salary and a room in a OneRoomTel. I feel sorry for you, too.”

“Don’t be. You just work hard. Don’t say that again.”

“Our office is relaxing right now. The books that President Shin made had a contract with an agency so we could publish, they are being translated right now. President Shin told us to do some market research until the translation is completed.”

“I see. The market research is probably necessary.”

“So, I am at the Youngpoong Bookstore now.”

“Okay. Keep up the good work.”

“I will be extremely busy starting next month once the translation is completed. I hope the books hit the jackpot.”

“I think it will.”

Gun-Ho received a call from the president of YS Tech.

“I heard you received the initial product order.”

“Yes, we did.”

“Shoot, then we have to start producing the aluminum rings right away.”

“Right. We don’t have much time.”

“We actually tried once, but the size wasn’t right. So we are making them again now.”

“Have you tried attaching the ring to the product?”

“We have. The ring we made at our first try didn’t really fit. That’s why we are producing it again. I just came back from the production field and kicked the workers’ shin.”

“I will send Mr. Sakata Ikuzo there after lunch today.”

“Oh, you can do that? Thank you so much.”

“Please have the workers ready by then.”

“Of course. We will be waiting for him.”

Gun-Ho headed to YS Tech with Mr. Sakata Ikuzo and the interpreter.

He became emotional when he saw the YS Tech building.

“When I came here for the first time to have a job interview, this factory looked so large. I remember it like it was yesterday.”

Gun-Ho walked up to the second floor and went to the president’s office to introduce Mr. Sakata Ikuzo to President Young-Sik Park.

Mr. Sakata Ikuzo examined the ring carefully that YS Tech manufactured.

“There seems to be a problem with the die casting mould.”

“That’s right. I agree with you.”

“Check the cooling water. Lower the temperature and place the rings in the cooling water earlier.”

The workers at YS Tech checked the controller of the coolant temperature.

“Lower the temperature, and you need to let them cool quickly. Let’s try again. Oh, the interlock transmitter seems to be not working properly.”

As Mr. Sakata Ikuzo instructed, they fixed the interlock transmitter and lower the cooling water temperature. The aluminum rings then came out beautifully.