Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Right after Gun-Ho got off the phone with Jae-Sik Moon, he received another call from President Jeong-Sook Shin.

“Sir, this is Jeong-Sook Shin. I’ve heard that President Min-Hyeok Kim is having a wedding in Korea soon.”

“That’s right. What about it?”

“So, his father-in-law and mother-in-law will come to Korea to attend the wedding, right?”

“Of course. Why don’t you come to the wedding too?”

“Absolutely. I will be there. I just want to talk to his father-in-law who is a painter.”

“Mr. Ding Feng? Why do you want to see him?”

“I am thinking of having his solo art exhibition in Korea. I am talking about the art exhibition of the master of northern school literati paintings—Mr. Ding Feng with GH Media’s name.”

“His solo art exhibition? That could make money?”

“I believe so, and that’s why I am suggesting this to you, sir. Mr. Ding Feng’s paintings are so great that people will like them a lot. You paid 550,000 won for his painting yourself too. We can have his solo art exhibition in Korea, and we sell his painting about the same size for 1,500,000 won. That could be a very lucrative business. I believe we can at least cover the rent for the venue and the fees we charge.”

“I was told that the oriental paintings are not so popular these days. Do you really think people will pay that much for his paintings?”

“It is true that we will have to take some risk. But that’s how we make money in business, isn’t it?”

“Haha. You sound more businessman than I am who is currently running an actual business. Well, I will support you on this. Do what you have to do.”

“Thank you, sir. I think it’s better that you talk to President Min-Hyeok Kim about this first. So he is aware that I want to have his father-in-law’s art exhibition in Korea.”

“No problem. I will do that.”

After getting off the phone with President Shin, Gun-Ho grumbled about President Shin’s art exhibition idea.

“I doubt it will be lucrative at all. She is trying to do all those work for small money. Say, we bring his paintings, about 30 of them, and we sell each for 1,500,000 won. Assuming we could sell all of the 30 paintings, we would make only 45 million won. We will have to give half of the sales revenue to the painter, and we are bearing the rent for the exhibition venue and marketing cost. We won’t be left with much in the end. Hmm. It’s a waste of our labor and time. Let me think about how I can turn this into a lucrative business… Maybe I can make some connection with Seukang Li.”

Gun-Ho made a phone call to Min-Hyeok Kim first.

“Hey, President Shin of GH Media wants to meet with your father-in-law after your wedding.”

“President Jeong-Sook Shin? For what?”

“She wants to have Mr. Ding Feng’s art exhibition in Korea with his oriental paintings.”

“Really? I will talk to my father-in-law.”

“Can we tell him that Seukang Li recommended this to us?”

“Well, why not? By the way, the international book exhibition in Shanghai is a success. I read a newspaper article about it and it says that so many young people came to the book exhibition to get the pamphlet for the performance to be held at the sports complex.”

“Really? That’s good to know.”

“Young people are so crazy about the Korean top star—Seol-Bing—and Chinese top star—Ye Long. They both will do the performance there. The news about the performance is everywhere on the Internet.”

“If it’s a sports complex, it can accommodate a vast number of people, right?”

“I believe they can accommodate more than 10,000 people. The ticket for that kind of performance is very expensive too. If they could get 10,000 people, how much money would they make? Wow. Moreover, it’s not a one-day performance, right? They will do it for a few days.”

“Hmmm. The entertainment business can be highly lucrative.”

“Oh, and there is a news article about President Jeong-Sook Shin in the Shanghai newspaper. I made a newspaper clipping.”

“Really? What does it say about her?”

“Let me read this for you.”

“Yeah. Read it to me.”

“Shanghai’s international book exhibition had a grand opening at the People’s Park exhibition hall. Twenty-six national and international publishing companies participated in it. The book exhibition had drawn a lot of attention from people even before it opened its door to the public. The book exhibition was successful even from the opening day by making sales contracts. The French publishing company—Nantes purchased publication right of a children’s storybook, and the Italian publishing company—Verona purchased a novel. Additionally, a Korean publishing company—GH Media made a contract for its publishing right of history books.

GH Media’s president—Ms. Jeong-Sook Shin stated that she was certain that the Chinese history books will be very popular in Korea because of the close historical relationship between the two countries: China and Korea. GH Media purchased three Chinese history books.”

“Haha. As far as I know, President Shin didn’t even talk to any journalist while we were in Shanghai. I can’t believe they just made up things like that and put it in the newspaper.”

“Do you want me to go on reading it further?”

“Nah. That’s enough.”

“Well, then, I will talk to my father-in-law about his art exhibition and will let you know.”

Gun-Ho then made a call to Seukang Li.

“Hey, I heard so many people came to the book exhibition.”

“That’s right. I was so worried that we wouldn’t have enough traffic there. But you can say it was a success. I do appreciate you, President Goo. Distributing the performance pamphlet at the book exhibition was an excellent idea.”

“You’re very welcome, friend. It’s actually a return of your hard work.”

“So many young people came. I didn’t know Korean celebrities are so popular among Chinese youths. It helped our sales too. Chinese cartoon books and romance books were sold substantially.”

“Those books’ publishing companies must be very happy.”

“Of course.”

“Oh, you know what? After visiting the book exhibition, we went to see Mr. Ding Feng’s art exhibition that was being held around the same area. He was having an art exhibition with his oriental paintings.”

“Oh, he did? I do like his paintings. My father knows him personally. I believe I have his painting at home. Oh, isn’t he President Min-Hyeok’s father-in-law?”

“That’s right. You must have seen him at Min-Hyeok’s wedding. By the way, President Shin of GH Media really likes his paintings, and she wants to have his solo art exhibition in Korea.”

“Really?”

“We could get connected with the painter this way because of you, Seukang Li. If it wasn’t for your book exhibition, I wouldn’t have visited his art exhibition.”

“If Mr. Ding Feng’s art exhibition succeeds in Korea, can you let me know? Since I am in charge of the art field in Shanghai, I’d really like to know how it goes.”

“Sure, will do.”

“If his art exhibition is successful, I want to try an art exhibition of Chinese young painters with their modern paintings.”

“Really? That sounds really good too.”

“And also, if Mr. Ding Feng’s art exhibition is confirmed to be held in Korea, please let me know. I will inform the press here that the famous Korean publishing company which participated in our international book exhibition will hold a solo art exhibition in Korea with the Chinese painter—Mr. Ding Feng. And also saying that they discovered Mr. Ding Feng’s fascinating paintings when they visited his exhibition in Shanghai after visiting our book exhibition.”

“Sounds good. I will let you know.”

After getting off the phone with Seukang Li, Gun-Ho was thinking,

‘If we do an art exhibition with Chinese young painters’ modern paintings, that can turn into a lucrative business in Korea. Is President Jeong-Sook Shin aiming it? Because she knows that I have a personal and close relationship with Director Li of the bureau of cultural affairs and arts in Shanghai. If so, she is a very smart businesswoman. Oh, that’s right. I was told that she worked as a curator in an art museum when she was in her 30s.”