Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Gun-Ho received a call from Min-Hyeok. He wanted to thank Gun-Ho again for coming to China to congratulate him on his wedding.

“Thank you, friend, for coming to my wedding. The money you gifted me is a lot. Thank you so much.”

“Don’t mention it. It was not much at all.”

“I didn’t expect to see Jae-Sik coming to my wedding. I do really appreciate it. Also, I was surprised when I saw Seukang Li and Jien Wang.”

“I knew you didn’t have many friends in China, so I called them all to come and join me in congratulating on your wedding.”

“I actually expected to not see any friends at my wedding in China. But because of you, I suddenly had six friends at my wedding. I was so happy.”

“Haha.”

“And you know what? When my father-in-law saw Seukang Li coming to my wedding, he was impressed by my social connections.”

“How come? Does he know Seukang Li?”

“My father-in-law is an artist. I told you about it before, right? He is not a very well-known painter, but he made enough money by selling his artwork to support his daughters who are studying in the U.S.”

“Really?”

“Seukang Li is the director of the bureau of cultural affairs, radio broadcasting, film, television, and arts. I think they know each other; you know, the artists and the director of that bureau. When I told my father-in-law that Seukang Li is one of my friends, he seemed to be surprised.”

“Haha. Really? I guess I’ll get one of your father-in-law’s paintings someday.”

“He sometimes has his own art exhibition. You can come then. To be honest with you, I’ve never been to his art exhibition before.”

“Did you buy a home to start a family?”

“Yes, I did.”

“I think you told me that before. You said you were going to buy a condo that was about 150 million Korean won.”

“Yes, it’s a condo located close to our factory in Suzhou City. It is one of the luxurious condos in the area. My wife, Dingding loves it. Fang Di Chan (Real estate) agency also told me that I could expect its price to go up.”

“How large is it?”

“It’s 84㎡. It’s about 25 pyung in Korea. The name of the condo complex is Chiwonhwawon. If you say you are living in Chiwonhwawon, people will automatically think you are wealthy. It has three bedrooms, enough room to have guests sometimes. My parents-in-law spent the night with us yesterday.”

“Did your wife find a job there?”

“Yes, she did. The international school here offered her a job right away.”

“That’s really good. Your wife is really pretty.”

“Not really. She looks really pretty when you see her from 20 meters away. I call her the ’20 meter beauty.’ If you get a closer look at her, you would know what I’m talking about.”

“Haha. What are you talking about? Your wife is pretty regardless of how far you are looking at her from.”

“Haha. Thank you for saying that.”

“How much did you borrow money from the bank when you bought your home?”

“It’s 100 million won.”

“The monthly payment for the interest should be high.”

“Since we are both working, I guess we can handle it.”

“Let’s do this. If you spend too much on paying for the loan interest, that will slow you down in moving forward with your life. I will lend you 100 million won without interest, and once you get your stock option at the end of the year, you can pay me back.”

“No no, Gun-Ho. I don’t want to impose.”

“Just do it. I am insisting.”

“How about we do this?”

“What are you suggesting?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot if I can ask you for a favor…”

“Just spit it out, man.”

“I have actually been agonizing over this…”

“What?”

“I will have another wedding in Korea next month. It will be held in Incheon City.”

“Of course. That’s where your parents are.”

“And my bride wanted to visit my home there. My home in Juan Town in Incheon City is an old and small townhouse with only two bedrooms. The entrance to the townhouse complex is not very clean, and the building is more than 20 years old. It would be really embarrassing if my wife sees it.”

“Hmm.”

“When my father was still working as a bus driver, he had two big car accidents. At that time we had to spend a substantial amount of money from our savings to handle the situation, so our family couldn’t save enough money to find a better home. My parents are living there with a security deposit of 85 million won. If you could lend me 100 million won, I think I can help my parents buy a new home. For my home in China, I’ve already borrowed money from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. I think I can handle the payment here.”

“So, you are saying that your parents can buy a home with their security deposit of 85 million won and the 100 million won I would lend you.”

“Right. As you know well, there is a nice condo complex close to Juan Station. It’s the Hyundai HomeTown Condo. It’s my mom’s dream to live there.”

“Isn’t it expensive?”

“I can get a 30 pyung large condo there for 250 million won if I find an urgent sale property.”

“Then you are still short of 65 million won.”

“So, I think I can borrow that amount from a bank in Incheon. My father and my younger brother can make the payment for that loan. My father is making 1 million per month by driving a school bus, and my younger brother just got a job.”

“Where is your brother working?”

“The company’s name is Ilsin Electricity. They are doing subcontracting work at the Korea Electric Power Corporation. He has a level-1 license as an electrician.”

“Okay. I will lend you 100 million won.”

“Thank you and I’m sorry, Gun-Ho. I’ve been asking you so many favors. If you send the money and I get it from here in China, it’s going to be complicated for me to bring it to Korea, right? I have to make a report to the government too.”

“Don’t worry about it. I will prepare it in Korea. I will send 100 million won to your bank account in Korea. But remember that you should pay me back at the end of this year.”

“Thank you. I really really appreciate it. I don’t think I will ever be able to forget how you have helped me with my life. I will then tell my mom to put the townhome on the market. You are saving my whole family, Gun-Ho. Thank you so much.”

“Don’t say that. It’s not free, you know? I’m just lending you money for a short period of time. The president of GH Parts Company shouldn’t spend his precious time agonizing over a house matter.”

Lymondell Dyeon sent a fax from Seattle to GH Mobile. It said that Mr. Adam Castler who would join Dyeon Korea as a vice president would arrive within two days. When Gun-Ho was reading the fax, he received a call from the GH Development’s secretary—Ms. Yeon-Soo Oh from Seoul.

“Sir, I just received a call from Ms. Angelina Rein from Dyeon.”

“Was it about Mr. Adam Caster coming here soon?”

“You knew about this already, sir?”

“You will have to go to the airport to greet him, Ms. Yeon-Soo Oh, the day after tomorrow.”

“By myself, sir? I don’t even have a car to pick him up.”

“Let me see… Who should I send there with you? Oh, go with Director Kang. Let me talk to him now.”

After a while, Director Kang picked up the phone.

“It’s me, sir.”

“The vice president of Dyeon Korea is arriving here the day after tomorrow. He is an American.”

“Oh, really?”

“I want you to go to Incheon International Airport to greet him. Will you be available the day after tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir. We have the new accounting manager and Ms. Ji-Young Jeong here. They can take care of things around here during my absence.”

“You will need someone who can speak English fluently. Bring Secretary Yeon-Soo Oh with you. Once you pick up the vice president from the airport, bring him here to our factory in Jiksan Town.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I am asking you this because your Grandeur looks good.”

“Haha. It’s a used car, sir.”