Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

The following day, Gun-Ho went to work in GH Building, Sinsa Town.

He had his morning coffee while reading an economic newspaper as usual. When it was around 10 am, he sat at the desk and turned on his computer. He then opened the stock trading application.

Dyeon Korea’s stock price increased a lot.

“Well, the things that we discussed during the executive meeting yesterday seemed to be spread out already. There were seven people in the meeting, and everyone who is paying attention to our stock seems to know about the stock split already, such as the person, who is in charge of stock matters, the staff in the accounting team, the certified legal consultant’s office, and the stock brokerage company.”

It was actually what Gun-Ho intended when he purposefully talked about the stock split during the executive meeting yesterday. Gun-Ho didn’t have to so openly discuss about that matter during the meeting, but he could have just proceeded with it privately only with the internal auditor. Since it was a joint venture company, he would have to let Mr. Adam Castler know about it at most. However, Gun-Ho wanted the news to be spread out widely because he had his 200,000 shares using Seung-Hee sister’s stock account. The stock price increased by 7.5% already.

Gun-Ho logged into the stock discussion forum on Naver.com, and he entered into the Dyeon Korea forum.

“What’s going on with Dyeon Korea? Stock manipulators started playing with it?”

“Oh my, its chart is erected red this morning.”

“Hey, guys. They are talking about their stock split. It’s time to buy their shares now.”

“The one above, you as*hole, if you are spreading a rumor that is not true, I will kick your as*.”

“I asked their staff earlier who is in charge of stock. She said she doesn’t have any information that is available officially for investors, but she confirmed that it is true that the company talked about a stock split. So, something is going on for sure.”

“You know what? I just received a message from my investing club. They said it is very possible that Dyeon Korea would split their stock.”

After reading the stock discussion forum, Gun-Ho smiled, and he logged out of the forum. And, it suddenly came to his memory what Chairman Lee from Cheongdam Town had told him.

[You should stay away from investing in the stock market. You shouldn’t play a game where you can’t figure out the other player’s cards.]

“He is absolutely right. The small individual investors recklessly invest in the stock market without knowing the other party’s cards.”

Gun-Ho leaned back on the sofa and had his cup of coffee that was already cooled down. At that moment, he received a call from Director Woon-Hak Sim.

“It’s Director Woon-Hak Sim in China, sir.”

“Oh, Director Sim. You are in the post-production period, aren’t you?”

“That’s correct, sir. We are in the process of editing right now. And, for now, we will be working with the movie distributor—Yang Guang Pictures. It’s not a large top 1 or 2 movie distributor like Ying Lian Media or Bona Pictures, but it is within top 10 in China.”

“Hmm, is that right?”

“In China, the top 15 movie distributors dominate the Chinese film market—90% of them—for the movies that were produced domestically.”

“Really?”

“It was Director Seukang Li who helped us have business with Yang Guang Pictures.”

“Oh, really? I hope it goes well.”

“My expectation is high as well, sir, because China’s cinema market is huge.”

“How large is it?”

“The movie market is huge because the country is huge with high population density. The box office revenue in Korea amounts to around 2 trillion won, and it’s exceeding 10 trillion won in China. The box office revenue from domestically produced films alone in China is more than 5 trillion won.”

“That’s enormous.”

“And, sir, I have to visit Korea next week.”

“Is it for your personal reasons?”

“No, it’s not about my family or anything like that, but it’s about editing. I need to get help from BM Entertainment.”

“Sure. Please do what you have to do.”

“I will stop by your office, sir, while I’m in Korea. I need to see GH Media’s President Jeong-Sook Shin anyway.”

“Sounds good.”

In the evening, Gun-Ho headed to Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. He wanted to visit Egnopak’s president’s mother’s funeral.

“Chan-Ho, you will have to get off work very late today since I need to go to Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.”

“That’s my job, sir. And, I get paid for those extra hours too.”

“Hmm, is that right?”

“I keep up with my timesheet and submit it to GH Mobile’s general affairs manager on a regular basis.”

“Really?”

“I’m even supposed to bring it to the general affairs manager on time.”

“Haha, I see.”

When he arrived at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, tons of flower wreaths came into Gun-Ho’s view. Of course, Egnopak’s president had a wide social network. Most of them were from business owners of large companies, ministers from the government, and congressmen. Gun-Ho could see the flower wreath that he had sent under Dyeon Korea’s name and also GH Mobile’s President Song’s among them.

Gun-Ho placed a cluster of chrysanthemums on the altar and made a full bow on the floor to the decedent’s family. After finishing the traditional way to show his condolence, Egnopak’s president greeted Gun-Ho delightedly.

“Oh, President Goo, thank you for coming.”

“My condolences to you and your family for your loss, sir.”

“President Song visited here yesterday, and Dyeon Korea’s Director Kim just left as well. He was with an American man… Adam something. I do appreciate that people from GH companies came for me. Thank you.”

Egnopak’s president then introduced a man who was standing next to him; he looked like he was in his 50s. Gun-Ho could see a resemblance between Egnopak’s president and that man. He looked like a gangster member just like Egnopak’s president.

“It’s my brother.”

Next to Egnopak’s president’s brother, his problematic son was standing. Gun-Ho greeted him as well.

“It has been a while.”

Egnopak’s president’s problematic son was wearing a black suit with a black tie. He politely greeted Gun-Ho.

After seeing the decedent’s family, Gun-Ho went to the area where all the visitors gathered, by himself. He looked around to see if Dyeon Korea’s Director Kim was still there. At that moment, someone raised his hand and waved at Gun-Ho, and gestured to come and join him. Surprisingly, it was A Group’s CEO Park from its department of planning and coordination.

“You came, sir?”

“Of course. I had to give Egonopak’s president my condolences. Please join and have a seat with me.”

Gun-Ho sat at the table facing A Group’s CEO Park.

“I didn’t know you know Egnopak’s president. Are you close to him?”

“No, not really, but we’ve met a few times before. I actually came here today on behalf of Minister Jin-Woo Lee, I mean Congressman Jin-Woo Lee. Congressman Jin-Woo Lee wanted to come, but he is trying not to draw any attention from the media for personal matters.”

“I guess Congressman Jin-Woo Lee and Egnopak’s president are close.”

“They are. Egnopak’s president also sent ‘that’ to his political party, and he appreciated him for it.”

‘Hmm, Egnopak’s president seems to have contributed some money to Gongmyeong Party as well.’

Gun-Ho opened a bottle of soju and said, “Please let me fill up your glass with soju.”

“Thank you. I will fill up your glass with liquor too.”

A Group’s CEO Park then introduced the man who was sitting next to him.

“Oh, I want you to meet this person. He is the secretary-general of Gongmyeong Party.”

“Oh, really? I’m Gun-Ho Goo. Nice to meet you.”

When Gun-Ho handed his business card to the secretary-general person, he seemed to be surprised.

“Oh, you are GH Group’s President Goo. I’ve heard a lot about you, sir. GH Mobile’s President Jang-Hwan Song is a friend of mine from college.”

“Oh, is that right?”

“The Gongmyeong Party appreciate your contribution to our party, sir”

He was talking about the 100 million won that Gun-Ho had contributed to Gongmyeong Party when Congressman Jin-Woo Lee was running for Congress during the by-election.