Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Gun-Ho asked for Director Yoon who supervised the demolition of the factory in Asan City.

“Let’s get the new factory started being built. Do you happen to know an architect who is working in the U.S.? We need to make a request to build our new factory.”

“I do know a few people in the field. A friend of mine who is junior to me is working in LA. Or, we can ask the architectural design company which I had previously worked with.”

“Then ask the person who is currently working in the U.S.”

“There are a lot of good architects in Korea too, who would do a great job of building our factory.”

“No, we need a person who is working in the U.S., and before they start designing the factory, they will have to visit Lymondell Dyeon in Seattle.”

“Lymondell Dyeon is the company that sent their personnel to investigate our factory last time, right?”

“Usually, big companies allow the public to have a tour of their factories. I want the architects who will build our factory to take a close look at Lymondell Dyeon’s factory in Seattle first and use their factory as the benchmark for designing our new factory. They will have to pay attention to Lymondell Dyeon’s factory’s production line’s length and width.”

“I understood what you meant, sir. I will contact the person in LA.”

“However, you will have to handle all the necessary things in Korea, such as getting approval from the government to build our factory.”

“Of course. I will handle them, sir.”

Gun-Ho made a phone call to Chairman Lee in Cheongdam Town.

“Sir, it’s me Gun-Ho Goo.”

“Hey, President Goo. I heard you are doing very well with your business these days.”

“Did Master Park already leave for his hometown—Goesan Town?”

“Yes, he did. He has been staying in his temple-like home and spending most of his time reading books.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“Even though he is in Goesan Town and is far away from Gangnam, Seoul, the middle-aged ladies from Gangnam come all the way to his home to bother him. These days, it doesn’t take long to travel from Seoul to Goesan, and Master Park can’t hide himself anywhere these days.”

“Haha, I see.”

“What made you call me today, President Goo?”

“I’d like to meet with President Park—the owner of the RiverStar building in Sinsa Town.”

“You want to meet with President Park?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You really want to buy that building?”

“If President Park is willing to sell his building, I do want to acquire that building, sir.”

“How come you are so obsessed with that building? It is not generating much profit.”

“I need a place to sit on when I go back to Seoul.”

“Hahahaha.”

“Why are you laughing, sir?”

“You sound just like me when I was at your age!”

“Really?”

“You are planning to put someone else in charge of the factories in Asan City and Jiksan Town, right?”

“I can’t hide anything from you, sir. I am not sure how it will turn out, but that’s my current intention.”

“Okay. I will introduce you to President Park, but you will have to keep in mind that he is a very experienced and cunning old man. You have to be careful when you deal with him.”

“Thank you, sir.”

It was getting chilly.

October passed by and November came around. Frost started forming on a car windshield in the morning.

Director Yoon entered Gun-Ho’s office to give a report.

“I talked to my architect friend in LA. He is willing to work on a design drawing for our new factory in Asan City.”

“Did he already visit Lymondell Dyeon’s factory in Seattle?”

“He did. He said he studied every corner of their factory. He even found the architectural design company which designed their factory in Seattle and consulted them.”

“Really?”

“He is coming to visit our factory next week.”

“When he comes here, please give him a thorough tour of our factory.”

“If we request a building design to a company or a person overseas, we need a formal request in writing with your signature on it. We will also need a translated document that is notarized, such as the company registration.”

“Okay.”

A moment after Director Yoon left Gun-Ho’s office, Gun-Ho received a phone call from Chairman Lee.

“President Goo, you asked me the other day that you want to meet with President Park who owns the RiverStar building, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

“I forgot about it for the past few days, and I just talked with him today.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him that there is a young man who’s going to eat him alive.”

“Huh?”

“Guess what he said.”

“What did he say?”

“He said that he is aware that he had reached the age to be eaten alive. He used to be an energetic and tough guy, but I guess he is getting old now.”

“I thank you for everything, sir. When can I meet him then?”

“Why don’t you go see him tomorrow? We never know if he would still be alive after a few days.”

“Haha. Don’t say that, sir. I will visit him tomorrow then.”

Gun-Ho made a phone call to the branch manager of the stockbroking company.

“I will need to withdraw some of my funds.”

“How much are you planning to withdraw?”

“About 40 billion won.”

“What? Did you say 40 billion won?”

“Yes. I will transfer the funds to a bank in Gangnam tomorrow. Please get the funds ready by then for me.”

“I was actually going to meet with you soon, sir. I have a very good investment product you might be interested in.”

“The funds will be used to acquire real estate. I just wanted to give you a heads up since it is a significant amount of money, and you might need time to prepare the amount.”

“President Goo, please help me out with my business too.”

“I will help you out next time, Mr. Branch Manager.”

Gun-Ho dialed the phone number that Chairman Lee gave to him.

A lady picked up the phone; she must be President Park’s secretary. She didn’t sound like a young lady though.

“May I talk to President Park, please?”

“May I tell him who is calling?”

“My name is Gun-Ho Goo. I am the president of GH Mobile in Cheonan City, Chungnam Province.”

“Please hold.”

After a while, an old man who had a clear and high-pitched voice picked up the phone.

“Who do you want to talk with?”

“I am President Gun-Ho Goo of GH Mobile.”

“Oh, you are the person whom Chairman Lee from Cheongdam Town talked to me about.”

“That’s right. I’d like to visit your office tomorrow if that’s okay with you?”

“Can you come by after 2 pm? I have an appointment with a Korean traditional medicine doctor in the morning to get acupuncture.”

“Sure, sir. I will be there after 2 pm tomorrow.”

“Do you know where I am located?”

“I know where it is, sir.”

“Come up to the 18th floor tomorrow. You will see an office with a sign, ‘Haseong Company.'”

“Yes, sir. I will see you tomorrow then.”

After getting off the phone with President Park—the owner of the RiverStar building—Gun-Ho thought about the conversation that he just had with President Park.

“Haseong Company? Haseong means river star if it’s written in Chinese character, right?”