Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

The next day, Gun-Ho returned to Korea with Attorney Young-Jin Kim.

As soon as he arrived in Korea, Gun-Ho headed straight to the construction field of his new factory in Jiksan Town, Cheonan City. Director Yoon and Jong-Suk were there already.

“Jong-Suk, I didn’t know you are here.”

“We were testing the extruding machines from Germany. We are producing our new product—AM083 Assembly—using this new machine.”

“So, how is it?”

“It’s really good. It’s fast too. Mr. Sakata Ikuzo adjusted the duration of the production time with this machine.”

Director Yoon who was standing quietly said,

“The factory is completed. Once you give us the date for the building dedication ceremony, we will prepare for it, sir. After the building dedication ceremony, we can move our factory from Asan City to here at any time. The plant manager said that any day would be good for the ceremony as long as there is no guest.”

“What does he mean by a day without a guest?”

“You know, when people move to a new place, they pick a date without a guest like a ghost guest.”

“You are an educated man who graduated from Seoul National University, Director Yoon. Do you believe in such superstition?”

“Haha. I don’t believe in that. However, there are people who believe in it and consider those things very important.”

“I see. I will let you know once I decide the exact date for the ceremony. I should pick a good day where we won’t have rain.”

“I guess that’s why people are trying to find a day without a guest.”

It was the day of meeting for GH Mobile directors and managers.

They usually get together in the morning every Monday, so Gun-Ho didn’t have to ask for it.

“When do we want to have a building dedication ceremony for our new factory in Jiksan Town?”

“Sir, why don’t you pick any good day for the ceremony when there is no guest? However, we want a Saturday for our moving day.”

“Why does it have to be on Saturday?”

“We don’t work on Saturdays and Sundays, so if we move to the new location on Saturday, it won’t affect our production line.”

“I will have to pay for those two days.”

“We don’t need everyone to be present for our moving. We just need a few essential workers. There are some agencies that professionally move factories too. Even though we use their service, we will still need essential workers present on the moving day since we will have to install our machines and equipment and make sure they work fine.”

“Who should we ask to attend the ceremony?”

“Let’s send out the invitation to our major customers and government officials in the area, and also anyone you want to ask to come, sir.”

After the meeting, Gun-Ho was sitting on his chair while looking at the calendar on the wall to determine a good day for the building dedication ceremony.

“A day without a guest? Sh*t, how in the world do I possibly know which day would have no ghost guest? Should I just pick any Wednesday or Thursday?”

Gun-Ho thought of picking the following Wednesday or Thursday, and then he decided not to.

“Maybe I shouldn’t just pick any day. Oh, maybe I should ask Chairman Lee about this.”

Gun-Ho made a call to Chairman Lee. It had been a while.

“Sir, it’s me, Gun-Ho Goo.”

“Oh, President Goo. To what do I owe the pleasure of the call?”

“How are you, sir?”

“I am well. How’s your business with the factory in Asan City?”

“It’s going well, sir. And the new factory in Jiksan Town is finally completed. We will have a building dedication ceremony next week. I’d like you to come to the ceremony, sir.”

“Oh, the factory is already fully constructed? It’s so fast. I believe I told you that I would come to your building dedication ceremony so I could stop by Onyang and have a hot spring bath there. I will, of course come. Let me see… which day would be good for the ceremony. We need to pick a day without a guest.”

“Which day would be a day without a guest?”

“I believe it’s Wednesday, but let’s ask Master Park to be sure. What was your date of birth, President Goo?”

Gun-Ho gave his date of birth to Chairman Lee while wondering why his date of birth was needed to pick the day.

Chairman Lee called Gun-Ho after about 30 minutes.

“I just talked with Master Park. He said 11 am on Wednesday would be good. You are a person who is supposed to use fire and soil, and Wednesday is the best day for you without a guest.”

“Fire and soil?”

Gun-Ho had no idea what Chairman Lee was talking about.

“I will attend the ceremony. I don’t have any prior engagement that day, anyway.”

“Yes, sir. I will see you on Wednesday then.”

After getting off the phone with Chairman Lee, Gun-Ho asked for general affairs manager.

“We will have the building dedication ceremony for the factory in Jiksan Town next Wednesday at 11 am. Please prepare our invitation letter that we can send out to the government officials in the area. Also, please help Director Yoon in preparing the ceremony.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We will have guests who are coming from somewhere far from Jiksan Town, so we want to serve some food for them. Oh, there seems to be an agency that can handle the preparation of food for a ceremony like ours; you can find one for us.”

“I know one good agency for it. They usually send a chef to a ceremony and prepare food in a buffet style.”

“Please send out the invitation letters to not only government officials but also to our major customers and vendors.”

“Yes, sir.”

Gun-Ho then picked up the interphone and talked to the plant manager as well.

“Our building dedication ceremony will be held on next Wednesday at 11 am. Once the ceremony ends, we will move our factory right away. Please be prepared for it.”

“Yes, sir. I was so waiting for our moving day. We have several problems with our current factory like a leaking roof.”

Gun-Ho then sent an email to President Jeong-Sook Shin at GH Media.

“I came across a good book during my business trip to the U.S., so I wanted to talk to you about it. A professor at the University of Washington—Professor Soo-Young Han—was reading that book, and he said it was an interesting book. The book’s title is ‘Tactics of two groups.’ It is being published in the U.S. Also, there is a book called ‘Business Model Design Compass.’ Attorney Young-Jin Kim from Kim & Jeong Law Firm was reading that book. I was thinking that maybe we should publish these two books in Korea. I’d like to hear what you think. I haven’t read these books; I have attached their pictures to this email. Please take a look at them and let me know what you think. Also, GH Mobile’s new factory in Jiksan Town has been completely constructed, and we will have a building dedication ceremony on this coming Wednesday at 11 am. I’d like you to come to the ceremony. One of our staff will pick you up at Jiksan Station.”

President Jeong-Sook Shin replied to Gun-Ho’s email right away.

“I will take a look at those two books that you recommended and will give you my opinion on it on the day of the building dedication ceremony.”