Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

The two men turned their head when they heard Gun-Ho.

“Oh, Mr. Gun-Ho Goo.”

“Hi, how are you? Long time no see. How are you, Manager Gweon?”

Manager Gweon stood up and extended his hand to Gun-Ho for a handshake with a smile.

“I heard you went to China. Are you coming back for good?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How was China? If I remember correctly, you ran a Korean restaurant over there.”

“Right. I had a Korean restaurant and also invested some in real estate too.”

“Hmm… I’m not sure about the restaurant, but I believe you probably made some money from your real estate investment.”

“Huh? Oh, yes… a little…”

“Haha, you did? Have you thought of what you want to do in Korea?”

“I haven’ decided yet, but I am taking a course about auction.”

“He had done his investment in real estate in China, and now he wants to know about auction, right? Lieutenant Colonel Gweon?”

Manager Gweon jumped up once he heard Chairman Lee calling him Lieutenant Colonel.

“Uncle, oh no, Chairman Lee, stop calling me like that. People will believe you.”

“If you stayed in the military, you probably would have become a Lieutenant Colonel already.”

“I am discharged as a major. Stop it. You are embarrassing me.”

“Haha. Am I? By the way, Mr. Gun-Ho Goo, you came here later than your usual hour. Are you living somewhere far from here?”

“Oh, there was a protest going on and that caused heavy traffic. They are protesting against Four Major Rivers Project.”

“Four Major Rivers Project…”

Chairman Lee retrieved his fishing rod and attached new bait while mumbling.

“There will be people who make money from it.”

“I’m sorry?”

“No, nothing. I’m just talking to myself. What about your friend? Didn’t he come with you?”

“He couldn’t make it. He has been very busy at work lately.”

“That’s right. People who are employed can’t go fishing on weekdays like today.”

Chairman Lee pulled in a fish. There was a carp flapping.

“I like the feeling of pulling in a carp.”

Manager Gweon sitting next to Chairman Lee was pulling in a fish as well. The fish he pulled in looked weird like a catfish.

“Fish is biting today.”

Chairman Lee and Manager Gweon attached new bait.

Gun-Ho didn’t leave to his spot but stayed there because he wanted to learn from Chairman Lee, not about fishing, but about making money. Chairman Lee started talking.

“So, are you going to be a real estate investor while learning auction?”

“I don’t have enough seed money yet. I’m doing stock day trading right now.”

“Stocks? I don’t recommend it. You don’t know the other player’s card. You can’t even trust the rumors from Yeouido stock street. It’s very risky.”

“Haha, you are right. I’m losing right now. The good thing is I haven’t invested much in stocks yet. I just tried a little for fun.”

“I think I mentioned this to you earlier. If you can’t be sure, then do not invest your money in it. You don’t lose just money but you could risk your life.”

“Huh?”

“Manager Gweon here, he lost all he had by investing in stocks. After he was discharged from the military, he started stocks. He lost his home and his health was seriously impaired at the time.”

Manager Gweon scratched his head in embarrassment.

“He was lucky to have a wise wife who could save him, right?”

Manager Gweon nodded his head, implying his agreement with Chairman Lee.

“By the way, Chairman Lee. You mentioned earlier that there would be people who would make money right after I told you about the protest against Four Major Rivers Project. What did you mean by that?”

Chairman Lee turned his head to look at Gun-Ho and he smiled.

“How do I know for sure? I’m just speculating.”

“What sort of speculation?”

Manager Gweon seemed to be curious as well, and he looked at Chairman Lee’s face.

“Do you think Myung-Bak Lee will be elected?”

“I’ve heard he will be more likely elected.”

“If so, would he start the Four Major Rivers Project?”

“Umm… I think he would since it is his campaign promise.”

“If so, who would benefit the most from the project?”

“Well… hmm…”

“The answer is right there. If you can be certain that he would be elected.”

Gun-Ho felt like he has been hit on the head with a hammer. However, he was still skeptical.

“He might not be elected, right? There are a lot of variable factors that play in the election.”

“That’s the thing. The difference between a wise man and a stupid man is whether he could read the other player’s card.”

“Oh, I see.”

“A person who makes money knows how to grab an opportunity even during the confusing and depressing times. Even during a war or during the IMF crisis, there is someone who makes money while most people are going through a difficult time.”

It became quiet for a moment before Gun-Ho got up to leave.

“Thank you for your advice, Chairman Lee. I will go to my spot for fishing now.”

“When you try to catch fish, try to catch your mind as well. Haha”

“Thank you again.”

Gun-Ho learned another wisdom from Chairman Lee that day.

Once Gun-Ho came back home, he started thinking.

“When I decided to invest in QM Steel, I wasn’t sure about their business. I just like things I see on the chart and invested.”

The next day, an official announcement about QM Steel appeared. It said they decided to delist the company. In various stock discussion forums, people were blaming the president and management of QM Steel. Gun-Ho felt somewhat calm.

“Someone who had inside information raised the stock price right before the investigation, and then they abandoned it. I couldn’t possibly know that… because I am one of the little people.”

Gun-Ho smiled bitterly.

“This is the result of my thoughtlessness. I should have seen the real thing that drives the company, not the symptoms of it.”

A week was given to sell stocks of QM Steel. Even during this period, speculators tried everything they could to make money. The price kept going up and down by the manipulators.

“Some people still make money during this final sale period. Wow.”

Since Gun-Ho had no information at all, he just put his stocks at the current market price. He made 3,000,000 won after investing 30,000,000 won.

“There could be someone who would commit suicide if that person borrowed money to invest in QM Steel.”

Gun-Ho stopped monitoring stock charts and wanted to get some fresh air. He went to Gyeongridan Street in Itaewon to see his friend, Suk-Ho.

“Suk-Ho Lee! It has been a while. How are things going with you?”

“Oh, Gun-Ho. You came back from China. Let’s have a drink. Have a seat here.”

“Come over and join me.”

“How are you? Did you start something already?”

“Not yet. I’m just learning the real estate auction thing.”

“Really? Oh, do you remember Min-Ho Kang?”

“Min-Ho Kang? Oh, oh, I remember. He spoke English very well!”

“Right. He used to receive an award in an English oratorical contest. He is coming to the bar later today. Why don’t you meet him with me?”

“What is he doing?”

“After graduating from Chung-Ang University, he joined a civic organization.”

“A civil organization?”

“I think he is interested in politics.”

“Oh, really? He was very smart in high school. I knew he would do something brilliant.”

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< Five things needed in order to become rich, which was mentioned by Professor Wang in Chapter 67 >

1. Being born into a rich family.

2. Marrying someone who is rich.

3. Winning a lottery.

4. Starting a business.

5. Saving money.

Number 1 is not applicable to a person already born to a poor family.

Number 2 is hard to achieve.

The odds to win a lottery as Number 3 indicated is 1/1,000,000.

For Number 4, you need a good business item or money to start and maintain.

Number 5 is applicable to only the people with high salary occupations such as a medical doctor, a lawyer, an executive in a big company, a celebrity, etc.

Therefore, it’s extremely hard for a person born to a poor family to become rich. Poverty is inherited. However, there is always an exception. Sometimes, there is someone who was born to a poor family that becomes rich. Let’s hope for the best.