Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Gun-Ho said to Director Seukang Li that he should take off now.

Seukang Li asked Gun-Ho, “Are you heading to the hotel already? Are you feeling tired?”

“No, I’m actually going back to Korea now. I’m heading to the airport now. I have things that I have to take care of today.”

“Really? I was going to ask you to have dinner with me. Well, I guess we should do it next time.”

“Yeah, we can have dinner later. And, I’m hoping that you would help the movie production company in distributing the movie.”

“Don’t worry about it. I already talked with the president of Yang Guang Pictures. The movie seems to be very well made. I really enjoyed watching it during the movie preview. I’m sure the movie will succeed.”

“Thank you. As a matter of fact, if you were not here to help it, I wouldn’t have made my investment in this movie production at all.”

“Haha. Is that right?”

When Gun-Ho was getting ready to leave, Director Seukang Li seemed to be ready to walk out of the event hall with him.

Gun-Ho said, “You can stay here.”

“I forgot to tell you this. I received a call from the deputy mayor of Antang City in Guizhou Province— Lixian Zhang. You know that he is a friend of mine, right? He told me that there would be some adjustments soon on Antang City’s joint venture company for the terminal project.”

“What does he mean by some adjustments?”

“He said that since two partners of the joint venture are claiming two different things, it would be difficult for the joint venture to go on. They probably will continue the terminal project on their own without a partner.”

“Is that right? That would be possible. Maybe that’s what should be done since the partners don’t seem to be able to reach an agreement. Since the building is almost done, they will be able to take out a loan using Ji Cheng Gao even if the terminal is not completely constructed.”

“Maybe.”

“The issue now is whether the two partners will be able to keep the intercity bus business.”

“President Goo, I believe you can continue to run the intercity bus business. The Korean partner has invested 3 million something dollars for the purpose of the terminal project so far. The Chinese partner doesn’t have money to give that amount back to the Korea partner. That fund is already spent in building the terminal.”

“According to their letter, I won’t be able to continue the bus business if I don’t send the second investment fund for the terminal project.”

“Haha. I don’t think that will happen. They are just saying it for now. I believe that before this year ends, they will suggest having a board meeting.”

“You think so?”

“They must want to settle the problem with you. They will probably come up with some sorts of solutions about it, and make a suggestion to you. You will see.”

“Okay. I will wait and see what they would say.”

As Gun-Ho and Director Li walked out of the event hall while having a conversation, Huanle Shiji Production Company’s President Baogang Chen and the movie director— Director Yan Wu— followed them out.

“Are you heading to the airport, sir?”

Gun-Ho replied, “Yes, I am. You have done a great job. I enjoyed the movie.”

“Thank you, sir. The movie preview seems to be successful. We didn’t actually expect to see Mori Aikko dancing during the movie preview. I’m sure that the reporters will cover her unexpected dance performance with a great interest. I’m pretty positive that the movie preview is successful.”

“I agree with you.”

“The president of our movie distributor— Yan Guang Pictures— attended the movie preview today, and he told me that the movie would be successful.”

“Please make Mori Aikko’s stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible, with her accommodations and all that.”

“Don’t worry about it, sir. We will do our best.”

Gun-Ho had a handshake with them before heading out to the airport with Director Sim.

Gun-Ho had his lunch in the flight while flying to Seoul, and he arrived at the Incheon International Airport later that day. He then canceled the international data roaming service in his cell phone and checked the stock market. Dyeon Korea’s stock price was about 5,600 won. Its trading volume was very low. Gun-Ho sent a text message to SH Investment Partners’ President Geun-Soo Son.

[You can buy the stock at a little higher price— 5,800 won.]

His reply arrived right away.

[It’s okay, sir. It seems that we don’t have to raise our price limit yet. I am buying it with a limit buy order at 5,600 won.]

At that moment, someone approached Gun-Ho and said, “Sir, I’m here.”

It was Chan-Ho Eom. He was smiling.

Gun-Ho got into his Bentley and continued to monitor the stock market with his smartphone again. He then noticed that there was a missed call from Jong-Suk Park. He made a call to President Jong-Suk Park in his car.

“President Park? You came back to Korea from your trip to Japan, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I arrived in Cheonan City. I’m in my office at GH Machines already.”

“How did it go with Isehara Machines?”

“They seemed to be satisfied with the sample products that we had brought to them. They confirmed that they would do the business with us as long as we could provide the same products at the same price as Miura Machines had provided them at.”

“Do you think we can provide the products to them for the same price?”

“It’s giving me a bit of headache actually. The purchasing department of Isehara Machines in Japan is saying that they have to pay for the import tariff to Yokohama for the products that we would provide them with. So, they are asking to lower the price that I suggested to them by 4 %. Sh*t.”

“Really? Are we still going to make some profits by the deal?”

“We will, but it won’t be much, which upsets me. Isehara Machines’ trading department stated that they didn’t have to pay for the import tariff when they bring products from countries such as the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam. But, they are subject to pay for the import tariff when they import things from developed countries like Korea.”

“Really?”

“The thing is that even though Taiwan is a developed country, they don’t have to pay for the import tariff when they bring items from it.”

“How come?”

“I think that Japan is encouraging business with Taiwan. People say that Taiwanese people are very amicable with Japanese people.”

“Hmm, really? Well, so, the import tariff in Japan is 4%, huh?”

“It’s not exactly 4%, but it’s 3.9% to be accurate for nonmetal products. They are just saying 4% to be convenient.”

“Nonmetal products? GH Machines manufacture camshafts and valves. Those are not nonmetal, aren’t they?”

“They are nonmetal.”

” ‘Nonmetal products’ mean that they are not made of metal, doesn’t it?”

“Oh, no, that’s not what it means. It means different types of metal products.”

“How different do you mean?”

“They are still metal products, but they are made of imperfect metal. Those metals are easily oxidized. Most of the metal products that we commonly use in our daily life are this type of metal. As you know, they rust as time goes by.”

“Hmm, really? Well, whatever it is, if you accept a 4% price discount, you might have to assume some financial loss.”

“Nothing much I can do about it, I guess. The good thing is that if we start providing Isehara Machines with our products, we will gain a good reputation in the industry. I was told that it is commonly known in the industry that it’s really hard to make a business deal with Isehara Machines.”

“You visited their factory too, right? Do they have a large factory?”

“They have a huge factory. I believe that they have more than 3,000 workers.”

“Is that right? It is indeed a huge company then.”