Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Gun-Ho received a call from Jae-Sik Moon.

“The landowner next door decided to sell the farmland to us for 900 million won. I’m heading to the realtor’s office right now to make the sales and purchase contract.”

“Hmm, really? He finally made the decision, huh? You have enough funds to make the contract, right? I will transfer 900 million won tomorrow since the bank is already closed today.”

“The landowner will take care of the permit to buy farmland for us.”

“Really? That’s nice.”

“It’s March already. I think it’s a good season to condition the soil and improve the soil quality. Well, I guess I don’t have to be hearing that old man’s complaints anymore. I’ve stressed a lot whenever he complained about oils leaking into his land.”

“Since we currently have 1,000 pyung for the business, once we add the land next door, the entire land would total 2,500 pyung.”

“Once we combine those two parcels, it would look great with the widened roadside. I think we can do some actual farming there. Well, I’m kidding.”

“Once you pay for the land, start the process for the land use change.”

“Okay.”

“How’s the business doing?”

“We are doing container shipping work for the customs agency which Dyeon Korea has been working with. Because of this new addition to our current workload, our revenue is on the rise. Since we are managing several trucks, we see several minor fender-benders, no surprise there; it’s understandable. The good thing is that we haven’t had any personal injuries. The snow season is over. I feel so relieved. Snow is a huge hindrance to a transportation business.”

“It’s good to hear that you spent your first winter season without having any personal injuries.”

“I will let you know once the land purchase transaction is completed.”

“Okay.”

Gun-Ho sent the formal gift for the bride to Young-Eun’s father’s home in Sillim Town. He decided to omit some Korean traditional wedding procedures since Young-Eun’s mother was not present, and he was not a young groom. Young-Eun liked it better that way.

Once she received the gift, Young-Eun sent cash to Gun-Ho’s parents’ home as part of the Korean traditional wedding procedure. Gun-Ho’s mother said while looking at the cash, “We won’t accept this much. We just need to get dress suits for your father, myself, and your sister’s couple. We won’t get anything for your aunt. She didn’t give us anything when her son— Jae-Woong married anyway.”

Gun-Ho’s mother returned half of the cash back to Young-Eun.

Gun-Ho was thinking who he would ask to officiate his wedding.

“Who should I ask? I really wanted Chairman Lee from Cheongdam Town to officiate my wedding.”

Gun-Ho already went to see Chairman Lee to ask him to officiate his wedding, but he refused to do so. His reasoning was,

“I’m not qualified to officiate anyone’s wedding. I used to work as a hard money lender. The people who still remember my past would laugh at me and probably laugh at you as well. They wouldn’t approve your choice of having me officiate your wedding.”

“I don’t care about others, sir. I truly admire you.”

“I’ve never done it before. Weddings are a sacred ceremony. You need to find someone who everyone approves and admires, and ask him to officiate your wedding.”

Since Gun-Ho didn’t graduate from a normal 4-year college in Korea, he didn’t have any college professor to ask for it. He wouldn’t be able to ask a pastor to do so since he was an atheist.

‘Maybe I can marry without an officiator. I can ask Min-Hyeok Kim or Jae-Sik Moon to lead the wedding ceremony. Many people marry without an officiator these days. Or, maybe I should ask Young-Eun to ask one of her professors from her school— Medical School of Seoul National University. Well, I don’t want her to think that I’m not even capable of finding an appropriate officiator like I don’t have a good social network or anything like that.’

Gun-Ho kept trying to find a solution. Getting married was not an easy process. It seemed to require constant problem solving, one after another. Gun-Ho’s parents wouldn’t know anyone either.

“Well, maybe I should ask the class president of the Advanced Center for Administrative Development. Can an incumbent minister preside a wedding?”

It was the day when Gun-Ho had a class at the Advanced Center for Administrative Development. Gun-Ho waited for the class president at the parking lot.

When he saw the class president— Mr. Jin-Woo Lee getting off his black Genesis, he called him.

“Mr. Class President!”

“Oh, Mr. Class Manager?!”

“I have something to ask you.”

“Me?”

“Well, I’m getting married on March 18th.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know you were still single.”

“I have a favor to ask you, sir. I was wondering if you could preside over my wedding.”

“Me? I usually don’t officiate a wedding.”

“If you could, I would really appreciate it. I insist.”

“I might have a prior engagement to play golf on March 18th.”

“After the wedding, I will take you to a nice golf field. I sometimes go to Japan or China to have a round of golf.”

Gun-Ho and the class president started walking toward the classroom while continuing talking.

“What kind of business did you say you were running?”

“It’s a manufacturing company for automobile parts.”

“What’s the sales revenue?”

“We made about 80 billion won last year.”

“Hmm, really?”

“If you like golfing, I know several nice country clubs in Japan and China to show you.”

“I’ve been to Japan several times, but not to China.”

“There are wonderful golf fields in China where you can enjoy the ocean view while playing golf, or in a mountain with snow.”

“Haha, really?”

“If you happen to go to China, I can show you around. I actually graduated from college in China.”

“Oh, really? Then you probably can speak Chinese.”

“Of course, I can.”

“You said your wedding will be on March 18th? Where is the wedding venue?”

“It’s in the Hilton Hotel across the street from Seoul Station.”

“Oh, I know that place. I go there sometimes. I am often invited to a breakfast seminar there as a speaker. Well, I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t for you. I will do it. It’s not your second wedding, is it?”

“Hahaha. No, sir. It’s my very first wedding.”

Gun-Ho, who didn’t even graduate college in Korea and who used to work as a factory worker, finally found someone who would preside over his wedding. Gun-Ho felt relieved and let out a deep sigh.

It was Sunday. Gun-Ho went to Starbucks in Daehakro to meet Young-Eun. Young-Eun seemed to lose some weight. She was probably stressed a lot as well because of the upcoming wedding.

“It’s stressful, isn’t it? You lost some weight.”

“You too, oppa.”

“Let’s eat something very nutritious today.”

“Let’s go eat pork belly. There is a restaurant in Myeongryoon Town, which provides indefinite refills.”

“A meat restaurant that offers indefinite refills usually doesn’t have high-quality meat. Let’s go to a restaurant that uses only Korean pork.”

“I know one. It’s close to the traditional market around Hansung University. I’ve been there once with my friends.”

Gun-Ho followed Young-Eun to a restaurant. It was located at the entrance of a traditional Korean market. It looked old and shabby. They had a sign hanging on the wall, which clearly said ‘Korean pork only.’

“Haha. Mr. President, do you think you can eat here?”

“I do like a restaurant like this one.”

Gun-Ho ordered a bottle of soju along with pork dishes.

“You brought your car today. Don’t you need to drive?”

“I want to drink today. I can call a paid designated driver.”

“Do you have a number to call them?”

“It’s right here.”

Gun-Ho pointed to a note attached to the wall. It had a number for a paid designated driver.