Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

It was Friday which was Gun-Ho’s most favorite day in the entire week because Young-Eun would come home on Fridays. Gun-Ho and Young-Eun lived separately during the weekdays. They would meet on Friday evenings and spent the weekend together in Gun-Ho’s TowerPalace condo. This ‘weekend couple’ didn’t have to do anything special to have fun; they were just happy to see each other. Since Young-Eun was a medical doctor, she sometimes had to work a night shift on weekends, but her colleagues usually let her get away without a night shift because she was a newlywed.

That day, Gun-Ho was spending his Friday in his office on the 18th floor in GH Building reading newspapers and listening to music. He sent a text message to Young-Eun.

[Today is our happy rendezvous day. Do you want to go to Cheonggyesan Mountain tomorrow?]

Young-Eun replied.

[That sounds great. I need to do exercise to lose some weight anyway.]

Gun-Ho was thinking about what they would have for lunch tomorrow after mountain climbing when he received a call from Minister Jin-Woo Lee. He was the person who officiated Gun-Ho’s wedding.

“We don’t have a class today. What does he possibly want from me? He probably wants to ask me to do something for him.”

Gun-Ho picked up the phone wondering why he was calling him.

“Mr. Class Manager? It’s me, Mr. Class President.”

“Oh, hi. How are you? Mr. Minister?”

“I will be attending a meeting at Sejong City’s integrated government building tomorrow, and I will play golf at Emerson Country Club afterward.”

“Oh, I see.”

“The thing is that one of our golf members won’t be able to play with us. He said that something came up to take care of.”

“I see.”

“So, if you are available, would you join us to play golf? Your factory is not far from the country club. What do you think?”

Gun-Ho couldn’t give him an answer right away because he was in Seoul, not in Cheonan City. Moreover, he wanted to spend the full weekend with Young-Eun, but he didn’t want to bluntly refuse the minister’s offer.

“I’m not a good golf player. I just started learning how to play. I’m sure that I’m not at the level to play with you and other ministers. I don’t want to ruin your Saturday.”

“No, no. Other members are all beginners as well. I’m the only one who is a long time golf player.”

“But still, I don’t think I’m at the same level to hang out with you and other ministers considering age and all that…”

“There is a young man in our group too. You are too humble. We don’t aggressively compete with each other while playing golf. We do stroke play, and whoever loses needs to buy lunch; that’s all. Let’s just play together tomorrow and enjoy the nice weather. I will see you at 9 am then.”

“Umm, oh…”

‘F*ck! This guy didn’t even bother finding out what I wanted and just hung up the phone after telling me what he wanted. Does he think I work for him or something? I guess he has been spoiled at work in the government. Hmmm. Well, he spent his precious time officiating my wedding after all. I can’t just say no to him.

Anyway, I guess I have to leave home at least at 7 am tomorrow morning in order to get there by 9 am. I’ve never been to Sejong City and that country club nearby. I think I’d better leave at 7 am, so I can have enough time to find it. Maybe I should leave even earlier than that so I can be there when they tee up. I will need to get a locker number at the front desk, and they will assign a caddie to me. Then do I have to leave at 6 am? Sh*t. It’s really hard to get up early in the morning.’

That evening, Young-Eun came home. As always, Young-Eun stopped by a supermarket to do grocery shopping. She brought lots of vegetables and other food. She looked tired.

“You look tired today.”

“Yeah. I was very busy at work. There were so many patients.”

“I already cooked rice. We just need to prepare some dishes. If you are so tired, I can cook.”

“No, it’s okay. I will do that.”

While having dinner together, Gun-Ho told Young-Eun that he would have to take a rain check.

“I don’t think we can go to Cheonggyesan Mountain tomorrow. I’m sorry.”

“Why not?”

“You remember Mr. Minister Jin-Soo Lee, right? He officiated our wedding.”

“Something happened to him?”

“He asked me to play golf with him tomorrow. The country club is in Sejong City.”

“Really?”

“He thinks my company is very close to it. I just couldn’t say no to him since he came to our wedding to officiate it.”

“I think you should go.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s good for you to hang out with people like him. It’s a good opportunity to expand your social network, don’t you think?’

“We’ve planned to go mountain climbing for a while, and we couldn’t make it last weekend because you had a night shift. And this weekend, this happened.”

“Well, I can use the time to take a deep rest. I will take a nap after taking a walk along Yangjae Riverside. Don’t worry about me, and go have fun.”

“I have to get up at 6 tomorrow morning. If you happen to wake up that early, please wake me up.”

“You should set the alarm. Don’t rely on me.”

Gun-Ho got up late the next morning.

He tried to get ready quickly by brushing his teeth, washing his face, and getting a shave. He had to leave without having breakfast.

“I’m leaving now. I will see you later.”

“Okay. Have fun.”

After a while, Gun-Ho came back home.

“Sh*t, I forgot my smartphone.”

When he finally went to his car at the condo’s parking lot, there was another car blocking his Land Rover. He had to push it to make an access.

When he entered the highway, he felt good though.

Fortunately, Gun-Ho didn’t arrive late at Emerson Country Club. Minister Jin-Woo Lee was there. Gun-Ho couldn’t recognize him at first because he was wearing a hat. He didn’t know that Minister Jin-Woo Lee was an overweight man until then. It didn’t show when he was wearing a business suit which was his usual outfit. He was with a lady who looked like she was in her 50s.

“Mr. Class President, you made it. Since you work around this area, I invited you to join us today. This is my wife.”

“Oh, hi. It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

Gun-Ho walked close to the lady and gave a 90-degree bow to her.

‘So, this lady is A Group’s president’s daughter!”

Gun-Ho noticed wrinkles in her neck, and he thought that no one would be able to stop the aging process.

“Honey, this is our class manager who got married the other day. He is running a company in this area.”

The lady smiled without saying a word. Even though she was from an extremely wealthy family, she didn’t look extravagant by wearing all sorts of expensive jewelry or anything like that.

“So, three of us will play today?”

“No. One more person is coming. Oh, he is over there.”

A man who looked like he was in his 50s was walking toward Gun-Ho’s party. He was in good shape and wearing gold metal frame glasses.

“Please meet the A Electronics’ CEO, CEO Park.”

‘A Electronics? The A Electronics? Oh, this guy is the CEO of A Electronics, I see. A Electronics is a large company that makes tens of trillion won per year.’

Gun-Ho gave a 90-degree to CEO Park as well.

“This country club has a great view.”

“Is this your first time here, President Goo?”

“Yes. I usually go to Sangrok Country Club in Cheonan City.”

“Oh, the one that is operated by the National Pension Service of Korea, huh?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Do you know why I chose this country club?”

“Isn’t it because it’s close to Sejong City?”

“That’s one of the reasons. I like how they designed the golf course, and also it feels cooler here.”