Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

The cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Those three workers of GH Mobile, who went to the U.S. to receive training from Lymondell Dyeon, finally came back. Every single worker in GH Mobile greeted them and they were happy to have them back after the long one month of their absence.

The three workers went to Gun-Ho’s office to give him a report.

“Welcome back. We missed you all.”

Gun-Ho had a handshake with each of the three workers and tapped their backs.

“Director Jong-Suk Park, you now look a bit like American. Did you add too much butter in your diet during your stay in the U.S.?”

Everyone in the office laughed.

After the three workers left the office, Director Dong-Chan Kim came in.

“Sir, two workers out of the three who just came back from the training in the U.S. are researchers. Please relocate them to Dyeon Korea.”

“We don’t even have any equipment in Dyeon Korea yet. What about we send them after we install the necessary equipment and machines there?”

“That sounds good, but even before we get the equipment, we have a preparation that we have to make, so I think it’s better to have them in Dyeon Korea once the building is completed.”

“Hmm. Okay then.”

“And what about Director Jong-Suk Park? The position of the plant manager with GH Mobile is vacant since our plant manager retired and took an advisory position. Director Jong-Suk Park had been temporarily filling the work. If we send him to Dyeon Korea, no one will be here to do the work.”

“Hmm. Director Park will stay here with GH Mobile then.”

“That sounds good, sir. Director Jong-Suk Park had an extensive work experience in the production field rather than in a research center, he is really good with machines and equipment.”

“Do you think so?”

“One of our extruding machines had a broken screw once, and Director Park dismantled the machine immediately and changed the screw. When I worked for Mulpasaneop, we usually requested a service to an outside company to do the repair like that.”

“Haha, really?”

“Even though Director Park stays with GH Mobile, I guess we can ask him to come to Dyeon Korea sometimes if we need his help there.”

“Of course.”

“Okay then, sir. I will be leaving for the factory in Asan City.”

Gun-Ho received a call from Min-Hyeok Kim; he said he would soon visit Korea for a few days.

“My parents purchased the condo in Hyundai HomeTown in Juan Town. Thanks to you. I applied for a loan to Kookmin Bank for the amount short to the purchasing price. The bank asked me to visit their office in Korea to sign the loan documents, so I will be coming to Korea tomorrow.”

“I see. Why don’t you stop by here in Jiksan Town? It has been a while since I saw you.”

“Sure. After I sign the loan documents, I will go to Jiksan Town right away. I can take the subway. Once I arrive at the Jiksan Station, I guess I can take a taxi to get to the factory, right?”

“Why don’t you just give me a call when you pass Osan Station, then I will leave to Jiksan Station to pick you up.”

“You shouldn’t drive to pick me up. You are the president. Just send someone.”

“A president is the person with the most flexible schedule. So I guess I am the right person to do the job.”

“Well, if you insist. I will see you tomorrow then.”

Gun-Ho was reading a cartoon book in his office after having a sauna when Director Jong-Suk Park entered the office. Director Park recently came back from the U.S. after receiving training from Lymondell Dyeon. Director Park was holding a small wrapped box.

“Bro, this is for you…”

“What is it?”

“It’s a handkerchief.”

“A handkerchief?”

“Since you have everything you need, I just bought you a handkerchief.”

“Thank you. I was actually going to get a handkerchief. I needed one. Did you get something for your girlfriend?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Did you buy her pricey cosmetics maybe?”

Jong-Suk didn’t say what he actually bought for her girlfriend, but he just smiled.

“Oh, you know what? Egnopak’s president’s son—Dong-Hwan Kim came here once with three bouncers or his bodyguards. I don’t know who they are, but you know what I mean.”

“Did you kick them out? He is cocky that he thinks he can just visit someone’s company just like that.”

“He actually came to apologize to me. I couldn’t kick him out.”

“If I was here, I would certainly have beaten him up before kicking him out.”

“One of the bouncers said that they were beaten up hard by you. One of them lost a few teeth.”

“I should have aimed their ribs to break, not their teeth.”

“By the way, I have been wondering if what you said is true. When we were attacked, you shouted that you used to be a gang member, and you say that again whenever you encounter those gangsters. Did you really involve yourself in that field?”

“Yes, bro. You probably don’t know because you were serving in the military at that time. I really had a very tough life back then.”

“Really?”

“I was arrested a few times and spent a few nights in the police station.”

“Did you also serve time in prison?”

“I did until one of my relatives got me released. He was a high ranked officer in the police.”

“Haha. That’s why you keep talking about those days whenever you have a chance.”

“I was actually very famous in the field in the Incheon City area.”

“Really?”

“You know, the bouncer— Tae-Young Im, he is now calling me big brother after I talked to him about a few of my friends in the field.”

“Really?”

“To be honest with you, I have only two persons I am scared of in this world.”

“Two persons? Who are they?”

“My father and you, Gun-Ho bro!”

“Me? What did I do? Do you think I’m going to bite you?”

“I don’t know. Sometimes you just scare me.”

“You are silly.”

“I gotta go now. I need to turn off the extruder switch.”

“Okay.”

Jong-Suk was walking toward the office door to leave when he saw a cartoon book placed on Gun-Ho’s desk.

“Haha. Isn’t it for a kid, Mr. President? Are you seriously reading a cartoon book?”

“Oh, this? It’s a cartoon series about world history. It has been published by GH Media. Jae-Sik Moon actually edited it.”

“Really? I will get one for myself to read.”

Gun-Ho flashed back to the day when he first saw Jong-Suk.

Gun-Ho was a fifth-grader at that time and he was on his way home from school. Jong-Suk was surrounded by several boys and he was being beaten up by them. They were in a neighbor’s town.

“Huh? I know him. That boy is from my town. Hey, you sons of b*tches!”

Gun-Ho ran toward the group of boys who were beating Jong-Suk and chased them out. When kids are little, the one-year age gap makes a huge difference in size of their bodies. Gun-Ho was two years older than Jong-Suk and he was about 1 foot taller than the boys at Jong-Suk’s age. The boys quickly ran away when they saw Gun-Ho who was taller than them running toward them.

Jong-Suk was crying. Jong-Suk was bleeding from his forehead. It seemed one of the boys hit Jong-Suk’s head with a stone or something.

“You are bleeding a lot. Let me get you home quickly!”