Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Gun-Ho was informed that the art gallery’s interior work in his building in Sinsa Town was completed. He headed to Seoul to see it. When he arrived at the building, President Jeong-Sook Shin was already at the site. The stairs leading down to the basement were built out of wood and it looked elegant. The business sign was placed on the spot where people could easily see from the main road.

“GH Gallery…”

The business sign was artistically designed but it clearly showed the name of the gallery, which was ‘GH Gallery’. President Jeong-Sook Shin took Gun-Ho to the inside of the gallery. When Gun-Ho entered the gallery, Director Kang turned on the lights.

“These are all indirect lighting. President Shin often came to the gallery during the renovation and gave us advice on the interior work.”

“It looks great. It seemed the interior design company did a very good job here. I do like the lighting and the layout of the interior, but the gallery hall seems a bit small.”

President Jeong-Sook Shin responded to Gun-Ho’s comment with a smile,

“It’s not a small space, sir, for an art gallery. This is twice larger than the Sotdae Art Gallery in Insa Town. Unless there are so many paintings to display, this is actually a good sized art gallery.”

“Oh, I heard that you have sold all of Mr. Ding Feng’s paintings already.”

“Actually, we have two paintings left. Those two paintings are hard to sell in Korea because of the cultural differences. However, the art exhibition itself was a big success. Mr. Ding Feng was very satisfied with how his art exhibition turned out.”

While Gun-Ho was having a conversation with President Jeong-Sook Shin, he received a call from Min-Hyeok Kim in China.

“President Goo? My father-in-law seems to be very happy. He is constantly bragging about his art exhibition in Korea to everyone he sees. He said that he made a bigger success in Korea than Japan or Hong Kong, with his art exhibition. He asked me to tell you that he appreciates you and President Shin’s help and he is really grateful.”

“Well, we made money with his art exhibition too.”

“He sent two of his paintings by mail for you and President Shin as a token of his appreciation. Those are a gift from him.”

“He didn’t have to, but I thank him for the paintings. I will hang it on the wall in my office of the building in Sinsa Town.”

Gun-Ho and President Shin followed Director Kang to the rooftop.

The rooftop was neatly cleaned, and new grass was growing there with other plants and trees. There were a small gazebo and wooden benches as well.

“Wow. The space looks totally different.”

President Shin seemed to be impressed.

“Do you see the empty space over there? That’s the space where we will build a small construction for business use.”

President Shin seemed to be excited about the space, and said,

“Sir, I think we can run a book café there. We can connect it with the art gallery in the basement. This rooftop space looks amazing. The office workers in this building can take a break here. It can be a nice place for the old ladies from Gangnam District to meet with their friends too.”

“Once I rent the spaces for the art gallery and the book café to GH Media, you will have to pay the rent on time. Are you confident that you can handle it?”

“Can we start with a low rent in the beginning? I want to give a try.”

“Sure. Director Kang, make a design request to the construction company and apply for the building permit. I will send Director Yoon from Dyeon Korea here; he is the expert in the construction field. He will be of great help. I believe, you and Director Yoon together will make a nice book café space in this rooftop.”

“Okay, sir.”

Gun-Ho made a phone call to Seukang Li to Shanghai.

“Mr. Ding Feng’s art exhibition in Korea was a success.”

“Really? Congratulations.”

“Do you know the art gallery which handled the Chinese young painters’ avant-garde art exhibition?”

“Of course, I do.”

“I will visit Shanghai soon with President Jeong-Sook Shin. Can you introduce the gallery to us?”

“Sure. It’s my job to promote Chinese artists’ art exhibitions abroad. Come quick.”

“Okay. I will be there next week.”

“I hope that GH Media expands its business to other fields like art, music, soap opera, and movie, not just publishing books.”

On Friday, Gun-Ho went to Japan. His passport became shabby with a lot of stamps from the immigration office, because of his frequent trips to Japan and China.

Once he arrived at the New Otani Hotel in Akasaka, Tokyo, he looked for the hotel manager.

“Hi. I made a reservation to use the small meeting room—Gekkyu.”

“Oh, hi. You reserved it for four houses of use, right?”

“Yes, I did. I’m not sure if I’m going to have a meal or not, but even though I decide not to have a meal, I will pay the basic cost for it.”

“Hai, Wakarimashita (I understood).”

Gekkyu was located on the 18th floor. It had the full view of the forest around Japan’s State Guest House. Once the sun went down, the lights on the streets and the surrounding buildings were turned on one by one. Gun-Ho looked out of the window while sitting on a chair in Gekkyu. Gun-Ho looked at his watch. The appointment time he gave to Seol-Bing was 6 pm and it was already twenty minutes past six. Gun-Ho thought Seong-Bing wouldn’t show up again. The hotel staff came into the room and filled up Gun-Ho’s empty glass with water. Gun-Ho ordered a glass of wine, and he continued to look out of the window while having the wine. It was dark outside, and he saw Seol-Bing’s reflection in the window.

‘Oh, my gosh. Did I see a ghost just now? Am I that desperate to see her?’

Gun-Ho continued to drink his wine while thinking it was just an image his desperate mind created. But he then felt like someone was standing behind him.

“Oh, Seol-Bing!”

Seol-Bing came into the room quietly and she was standing behind Gun-Ho. She was still wearing her dark sunglasses and she was wearing a coat.

“I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it. Thank you for coming. Please have a seat.”

Seol-Bing sat on a chair. She didn’t take off her sunglasses.

“Why did you want to see me?”

“Do you, by any chance, know of a Chinese production company called Huace Media?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I have a company named GH Media, and I am seriously reviewing the possibility of acquiring a Chinese entertainment company.”

Seol-Bing didn’t say a word but she was listening to Gun-Ho quietly.

“It’s not a Korean company but it is a Chinese company that I’m thinking of acquiring. If that company produces a movie, can you help us?”

“It’s not something I can decide. My agency makes a decision for all of my work.”

“Does your agency decide whether you can see someone or not?”

Seol-Bing smiled slightly.

“Would you like to have a glass of wine?”

“I’m good, but thank you.”

Even though Seol-Bing expressed her unwillingness of having a glass of wine, Gun-Ho ordered one more glass and filled up the glass with the wine.

“That’s all you wanted to ask me?”

Gun-Ho placed the glass of wine in front of Seol-Bing in response to her question. Seol-Bing didn’t even lay her eyes on the glass of wine and said,

“To be honest with you, it was really hard for me to come here to meet with you. I’m supposed to make a report to my agency about every single move I make.”