Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Gun-Ho took a round at Mr. Sakata Ikuzo’s art exhibition. A dragonfly and a butterfly were sitting on the grass. There were tens of dragonflies and butterflies sitting on a tree branch as well; Gun-Ho indeed couldn’t tell whether they were real or wood-carved figures.

“The painter—Solgeo—painted a huge pine tree on the wall at the Hwangryong Temple during Later Silla. And, there is a story that a bird tried to sit on that tree painted on the wall thinking that it was a real tree, and ended up hitting itself against the wall. I guess Mr. Sakata Ikuzo’s dragonfly and butterfly would create the same effect once we put them outside. These will certainly attract the birds that are looking for food.”

There were more than dragonflies and butterflies. Gun-Ho saw all kinds of insects and animals including a cricket, a grasshopper, a frog, and small birds. Gun-Ho couldn’t close his mouth because they look incredibly real. When Gun-Ho finished his round and came to the entrance door, President Shin laughed and said, “How was it?”

“It’s unbelievable.”

“Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda read a review of this art exhibition in a newspaper. It said Mr. Sakata Ikuzo had the hand of God.”

“I agree with whoever wrote that review.”

“We do think so too.”

“Oh, Mr. Sakata Ikuzo will be here. We will have lunch with him. If you want to discuss any business with him, this is your chance to do so.”

“Okay, sir.”

Mr. Sakata Ikuzo arrived. He was wearing a white fedora hat. He was skinny, and he looked stubborn with his firmly closed small lips. President Shin whispered into Gun-Ho’s ear in a low voice, “He definitely looks like a master artisan who would focus on only one thing. He looks so stubborn.”

“Mr. Sakata Ikuzo.”

“Thank you for coming, Mr. President Goo.”

Mr. Sakata Ikuzo and Gun-Ho had a handshake.

“This is President Jeong-Sook Shin. She is running an art gallery in Korea.”

“Oh, hello. Pleasure to meet you.”

President Shin and Mr. Sakata Ikuzo had a handshake.

“This is Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda. He used to work as a correspondent for a newspaper. Now he is working with GH Media as a freelance journalist.”

“Hajimemashite (Nice to meet you).”

“Oh, you are Japanese.”

“It’s almost lunchtime. Shall we go for lunch?”

“I know a very good restaurant around here—Minatomirai. They use only organic ingredients for their dishes. Let’s have lunch there.”

Gun-Ho’s party followed Mr. Sakata Ikuzo to a restaurant. They indeed offered various dishes with organic vegetables only.

During lunch, Gun-Ho said, “I really enjoyed your artworks, Mr. Sakata Ikuzo. They were incredible.”

President Shin and Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda agreed with Gun-Ho enthusiastically.

“I was shocked by looking at your art pieces, sir.”

“As a newspaper commented, you have a divine skill.”

“I’m so flattered. I didn’t get any formal education about the arts. I just carved things as I pleased. I’m so glad that you enjoyed my artworks.”

“Do you have any plans for another art exhibition in another city?”

“Yes. I will have one in Osaka City and another one in Nagoya City.”

“We’d like to host your art exhibition in Korea. I guess we will have to wait until the one in Nagoya City is complete.”

“I guess so. If I have a chance to have an art exhibition in Korea, that would have to be after mid-August.”

“Why don’t we make a contract today about the exhibition in Korea since we are all here anyway?”

“I greatly appreciate your interest in my wood-carved figures. I am actually an engineer who carves a mold. Wood carving was just my hobby.”

At that moment, Gun-Ho chipped in to elaborate on Mr. Sakata Ikuzo’s specifications.

“Mr. Sakata Ikuzo is the world-renowned engineer in carving a mold. His brother is actually a Nobel Prize winner in physics, and he is a professor of engineering at Tokyo University.

“Oh, really? I guess your family has the gene for being a world-renowned engineer.”

That day, Mr. Sakata Ikuzo signed the contract for having an art exhibition in Korea with President Shin.

President Shin and Yoshitake Matsuda wanted to meet with the director of Yokohama art gallery and also the director of Tokyo art director before returning to Korea. President Shin said she wanted to work with art galleries in Japan for future art exhibitions in GH Art Gallery in Korea, rather than working with an individual artist, from now on. Gun-Ho came back to Korea after lunch since it was pointless staying in Tokyo where Mori Aikko was not present.

Gun-ho received a call from Dyeon Korea’s Mr. Adam Castler.

“I’ve received documents from Dingding’s sales company. The company acquisition form requires both you and me to sign the contract. Please come and sign the contract.”

“Did you finish verifying all those documents?”

“Yes, I did. I didn’t see any anomalies. And, after signing the contract, I need to go visit the sales company for inspection. I can leave tomorrow.”

“Of course, you probably need to see the storage space in person. You will have to verify the size of the land. I will leave now for Dyeon Korea.”

Gun-Ho called for Chan-Ho Eum.

“Hey, we need to go to Asan City today.”

“I thought we were supposed to go to the building in Sinsa Town today.”

“I need to take care of something in Dyeon Korea.”

“Okay, sir. I will be waiting for you at the entrance.”

Whenever Chan-Ho parked at the entrance of Gun-Ho’s condo building, the security guard always came out from his office and opened the building door for Gun-Ho. And, other residents, who were passing by, often glanced at Gun-Ho. As Gun-Ho got into his Bentley, the security guard gave a military salute to him.

When Gun-Ho’s Bentley entered an expressway, Gun-Ho said, “Chan-Ho, I guess we will have to eat on the way, maybe at the rest area.”

“No problem, sir. Rest areas offer various dishes these days. They even have a buffet restaurant.”

When they were passing by Giheung District after passing a tollgate, Chan-Ho said while looking at Gun-Ho through the rear-view mirror, “Sir, while you were away in Tokyo, I’ve met Tae-Young bro.”

“Oh, you did? How is he doing these days?”

“He is experiencing some struggles, but he is doing fine overall. When I gave him the liquor from China, that you asked me to give to him, he looked so excited.”

“Really?”

“He asked everyone from his security company to come and had dinner together in a Chinese restaurant along with the liquor.”

“Haha, you did?”

“That Chinese restaurant owner told Tae-Young bro that that bottle of liquor cost at least 250,000 won in Korea. Tae-Young bro became even more excited.”

“Haha, really?”

“Also, I gave the cigarettes to him that you bought for us. He shared them with the workers of his company stating that it’s a gift from Chan-Ho from his trip to China.”

“Hmm, so Tae-Young didn’t take them for himself, but he shared them with his workers.”

“He does care about his workers. He always put his workers before himself.”

“Hmm, he is good.”

“I also told them about all kinds of food I had in China like snake meat. When I talked about Shanghai and the area where China’s ethnic minorities are living, they all were so jealous of me.”

“Hmm, really?’

“I also talked to them about lunch with the chief of police in Asan City before your trip to Japan, and I told them that you seem to be close with the chief of police and also the Assistant Commissioner. Guess what Tae-Young bro said.”

“What did he say?”

“He said that I should know that I have the best boss.”