Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

“I was so amazed by the executives’ passion and insight. It’s not something you can learn overnight, but I could see that they have been in the field for a long time. I guess they deserve to be in an executive position in the company.”

“You think so?”

“They are amazing, but you are incredible as well, President Goo. You are leading those people. I was extremely impressed today by those executives and you—their leader.”

“Me… I am just trying to keep the balance between them.”

“By the way, Jong-Suk will have a hard time doing things to satisfy those knowledgeable executives. What did they say? My Machine program? Hahaha.”

“Are you having fun? Why don’t you introduce that program to the factory in China, so you can continuously have fun there?”

Min-Hyeok’s face suddenly hardened when Gun-Ho suggested him to start the My Machine program in China.

“Is there anything you want to talk to me about? Anything I can help with the factory in China?”

“I just need President Song in China, so I can visit S Group’s factories there with him. His presence will be very helpful in selling our products to S Group. If we could make a contract with S Group, our sales revenue will go up dramatically.”

“If you could get orders from S Group, can you handle the volume of the products they would order?”

“That’s… I am thinking of making a request to the research center here for our products in China. We don’t have enough workers there to handle it.”

“I will ask President Song to visit China as soon as we finalize things here.”

“I really appreciate it.”

“By the way, Professor Jien Wang is coming to Korea today.”

“To Korea?”

“Yes, Seoul National University is hosting a symposium, and Professor Wang will do a presentation there.”

“Is he coming here too?”

“He will, and we will play golf together, and Attorney Young-Jin Kim from Kim & Jeong Law Firm will join us.”

“Really?”

“When you have time, learn how to play golf. It’s useful to know. You will need it someday.”

“Actually, the president of the window manufacturing company asked me to play golf with him the other day, and I couldn’t because I don’t know how to play golf. I’ve never even touched golf clubs before.”

“I strongly recommend you to learn it. Take some lessons and pay for it with the company credit card.”

Secretary Hee-Jeong Park brought two cups of coffee to Gun-Ho’s office.

When are your parents moving to the new condo in Seoul?”

“They will move on the fifth of this month. We paid off the remaining balance yesterday.”

“They must be very happy.”

“Don’t get me started. We went to the new condo yesterday, and when my mom saw the empty condo, she was so excited. She kept asking me if it is really ours, and she even danced in the living room.”

“Haha. Really?”

“My mom didn’t even want to redo the wallpaper; she said it still looks really clean. But I insisted on doing the wallpaper and redoing the bathroom. I already selected the interior design company and scheduled for the work. My younger brother joined us to the condo after work, and he was so excited too.”

“Really?”

“My younger brother said that since our parents will live in a condo like that, he thinks he can find someone to marry more quickly.”

“I must have met your brother before, but I don’t really remember him.”

“He was not a very good student when he was in school. He studied in a community college and obtained a level-1 license as an electrician. He entered a good company though, and the company owner values him and recognizes his competence at work.”

“You said he is working for a company that is doing subcontracting work for Korea Electric Power Corporation, right?”

“Yeah. The company’s name is Ilsin Electricity. The company has been around for a long time, according to my brother. Do you know what my brother said about me?”

“What did he say?”

“He said, I became successful in my career because I have a good friend.”

“Haha. He is silly.”

“He said that just because I have a good friend, I was able to become a president of a company in China, and I could get married and live in a luxurious condo in China, and also, we could purchase a 30 pyung large condo in Incheon City. He said that he wouldn’t be able to do the same if it was him.”

“Haha. Your brother is funny.”

“Actually, what he said was all true. I do have a good friend. After the wedding in Incheon City, I am going to focus all my energy on making GH Parts Company in China grow. I was so worried about my parents, but now they are settled, and I am very happy.”

“Did those people from Dandong Economic Development Zone contact you again?”

“Yes, once. They were asking if I had a chance to discuss their suggestion with you. They invited us at Dandong Economic Development Zone.”

“You are going back to China today, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I’m taking the five o’clock flight.”

“Well, you’d better hurry up then. You should get ready. I guess you won’t be able to have lunch with our executives today before you leave.”

“Right. I am leaving, friend. I will talk to Jong-Suk downstairs before I head out.”

“Okay. Keep up the good work. I will see you at your wedding in Incheon after a month.”

It was five o’clock and Gun-Ho was getting ready to go home. Gun-Ho always tried to get off work at five to make other workers feel more comfortable. If he stayed late at work, other employees felt very uncomfortable leaving the work until Gun-Ho left for home.

Gun-Ho was heading to the parking lot when he saw Jong-Suk nearby the company restaurant. Jong-Suk looked exhausted.

“Bro, are you going home?”

“You look so tired.”

“I have to stay up late today. Why don’t you join me for dinner before going home?”

“You have so much work to do?”

“Yeah. I had to take care of that My Machine thing. I implemented the plan in detail with the production department’s managers and team leaders and placed the tags on every machine. It took a lot of time.”

“Really? You are doing fine.”

“Well, now I think it is a good program. The problem is whether we can maintain it as a system for a long time.”

“Okay, keep up the good work. You are the plant manager; you should be able to handle all sorts of situations.”

“My life became so exhausting after the previous plant manager retired.”

“Because you work so hard, people don’t talk bad behind your back like you are too young to be a plant manager or something.”

“That’s because you are behind my back, bro.”

“Oh, Min-Hyeok said he wanted to talk to you before he left for China. Did you have a chance to see him earlier?”

“Yes.”

“Did you guys talk about something fun?”

“Nah. He wanted to know more about the My Machine program. He made a note and observed us have a discussion about the program.”

“Really?”

“He said he wanted to apply the My Machine program to the factory in China too. He asked me to take some pictures of machine tags and our daily journal once we actually start the program.”

“Really?”

Gun-Ho didn’t say anything further and just smiled.

“Okay. Good work, Jong-Suk. I am going home now.”

“Okay. Safe drive, bro.”

Gun-Ho was watching TV in his home in Buldang Town, Cheonan City after work when he received a phone call from Jien Wang.

“Hey, Jien Wang. Are you at the Incheon International Airport?”

“No. I arrived earlier. I am in the dormitory at Seoul National University.”

“You sound like you already had a drink, huh?”

“Yeah. I had a few drinks with the professors here at Seoul National University.”

“You know Seoul National University is the top university in Korea, right? So those professors are the most intelligent and the most knowledgeable people in this country.”

“Intelligent my as*. They are not special at all. They are all the same.”

“Well, the professors at Seoul National University are one of the most respected people in Korea.”

“They are just scholars. Professors don’t make much money, and they don’t have any political power or anything like that.”

“Professors are not supposed to go after money or power.”

“They shouldn’t, right? But there are always people who do what they are not supposed to do whether in China or in Korea.”

“Haha. I think you drank too much, friend. Go to sleep. You are coming here the day after tomorrow, right? I’ve already made an arrangement for our golf appointment.”

“You said the golf course is close to your factory, right?”

“Yes, it is. It’s called Sangrok Country Club. I reserved for 27 holes for us. It is operated by the National Pension Service of Korea, and their green fee is not expensive at all.”

“Pension? Is it like Yanglao Jin in China?”

“That’s right.”

“Okay, Gun-Ho. Thank you. You are indeed my friend, and I am so proud of you.”