Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

“It’s very convenient to discuss business with Dingding since she speaks English fluently. I can easily communicate with her through email in English and read her report. I think you picked the right person for the overseas president of Dyeon Korea’s company in China.”

“Haha, you think so?”

“According to her, the company in Yancheng City will place their product order around next week. That will make our monthly sales 70 tons.”

“Assuming the unit price is 4.5 million won per ton, how much would the annual sales revenue be if they sell 70 tons on a monthly basis?”

Mr. Adam Castler and the interpreter started doing the math.

“You don’t have to do the math. The monthly sales revenue would be 315 million won, and the annual sales revenue would then be 3.78 billion won.”

Mr. Adam Castler and Interpreter Myeong-Joon Chae were amazed by Gun-Ho’s quick mental calculation.

At that moment, Myeon-Joon Chae remembered what Director Kim had told him earlier when he submitted the expense approval form to Director Kim for the imported goods. He said, “Look, Mr. Myeong-Joon Chae! You got this wrong. Please correct it.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I will make the correction right away.”

“Do you know what would happen if you submit the form like this to the president? He used to work in an accounting department, and he is very quick and accurate with numbers. If you give him any documents with wrong numbers, I would be the one who would have to feel embarrassed as your supervisor. I will be teased that I must sign the form with my eyes closed. So, please be careful when you talk with Mr. President Gun-Ho Goo, especially when you have to talk about numbers.”

Myeong-Joon Chae realized at that moment what Director Kim meant earlier.

After Mr. Adam Castler and Myeong-Joon Chae left the office, Manager Hee-Yeol Yoo from the production department came into the president’s office. It was unusual to see him in the president’s office since he didn’t often come to Gun-Ho’s office. That day, he looked upset while entering the office.

“There is a compound pigment called AJ-252 which is the most frequently used pigment. They are imported goods. The thing is that the pigment seller company keeps increasing its price. Can we just import them on our own?”

“Don’t they have the exclusive distribution right in Korea, issued by the pigment manufacturer abroad?”

“It doesn’t look like that.”

“If so, yeah, why not? Let’s just import them directly from the manufacturer overseas.”

“We will have to import a high volume of them though. Will it be okay, sir?”

“A high volume? Can we maintain them fresh for a good amount of time? Will they be hardened if we keep them for too long?”

“We just need to shake them regularly to prevent the hardening.”

“How much are you thinking of importing?”

“The amount that is worth 1 million won would be good, sir.”

“1 million won? Okay. You have my approval, so please discuss it with the trading department for details.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Director Yoo seemed to be still upset when he left Gun-Ho’s office.

Gun-Ho couldn’t help but laugh.

“What made him that upset? I guess the pigment selling company wasn’t very cooperative with him.”

In the afternoon, Mr. Interpreter Lee came to Gun-Ho’s office with his luggage.

“Sir, I came here to report to you that I’m leaving for India as the overseas president of Dyeon Korea’s company in India.”

Gun-Ho stood up from his seat.

“It won’t be easy to work there.”

Gun-Ho extended his hand to him for a firm handshake.

“I do trust you, Mr. Overseas President Jong-Geun Lee.”

“I won’t disappoint you, sir.”

“Did you receive the funds that you need?”

“Yes, sir. All the foreign exchange has been completed as well.”

“Are you leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir. I’m taking the night flight tomorrow.”

“The purpose of your allocation to India is to generate the sales revenue for Dyeon Korea. However, you should keep in mind that your health has to come before everything else. I’ve lived in another country before, and I know by experience that maintaining good health is critical.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Gun-Ho grabbed Overseas President Jong-Geun Lee’s hand again and shook it.

A moment after Manager Jong-Geun Lee, who was appointed as the overseas president of the company in India, left the office, Gun-Ho received a call from China.

“This is President Runsheng Yan of the intercity bus terminal in Antang City.”

“Oh, hi. How are you? This is Gun-Ho Goo.”

“I wanted to thank you for your kindness when we visited Korea last time.”

“Don’t say that. I really had a great time when I visited China because of you.”

“I told the deputy mayor how warmly you welcomed us to Korea, and also that we visited your manufacturing company and how impressed we were with its size and cleanliness.”

“Haha, you did?”

“I realized why your company is generating the annual sales revenue of almost 100 million dollars.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, we will need to start our terminal construction anytime soon. We really would like to work with you, Mr. President Goo. Please join us and start our joint venture together. We can start by signing a letter of intent.”

“Let me review a few more things before giving you my decision.”

“We will issue you the right to run the transportation business right away. We are currently discussing doing a joint venture with another company from Hong Kong, but to be honest with you, we’d really want to work with you, sir.”

“Hong Kong is part of the People’s Republic of China. Wouldn’t it be easier and more convenient for you to work with them?”

“That is the reason why we don’t prefer to work with them. They would well try to intervene in managing the company, and it would create a very stressful situation for us. Our Yuangong (staff) have a very good impression about Korea. And my recent visit to Korea sort of confirmed that preexisting good impression. I told them how clean and beautiful Korea was.”

“Haha, really?”

“So, what do you think? Why don’t you visit us next week? We will give you the best condition to do a business here. Technically, I have the deputy mayor and the director of the transportation department above me. However, the actual players in this business are my intercity terminal company and your GH companies. If you could come and visit us next week, it will be great.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure.”

“To be honest with you, you wouldn’t get an opportunity with other big cities in other areas in China like the east coast or west area. They don’t do joint venture business with Korea for transportation. They have enough funds available for their business, and they are reluctant to bring foreign investment funds into their business. The project with Antang City is a very good opportunity for a Korean company.”

“Hmm, I see your point.”

“Please come to China with GH Logistics’ president next week. I believe that the co-venturer of this joint venture would be GH Logistics among other GH companies. So, please come with President Jae-Sik Moon of GH Logistics.”