Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

After Manager Seo from the sales department left the office, Gun-Ho called for Director Chang-Ik Pyo from the product quality department, who was promoted this year.

“You did a great job in getting us the five-star quality certificate from Hyundai. I was told that you played a critical role there.”

“It was the result of our team effort, sir.”

“I was told that only 10% of the first vendor companies of Hyundai and Kia Auto—there are about 300 of them—obtained this five-star quality certificate.”

“That’s correct, sir.”

“The certificate that we obtained this time is the quality certificate. We will have to work harder to obtain the certificate for technology and delivery as well, so we could finally receive the grand five-star certificate.”

“Yes, sir. We will need help from the research center, the production department, and also the sales department to do so.”

“Once we obtain the grand five-star certificate, we might be able to participate in their development of a new model of a car. This is a project for you. I want you to take charge of it, and get us the grand five-star certificate. I will talk to President Song when he comes back from his trip that we need cooperation from other departments to achieve the goal.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hyundai and Kia are moving toward modularization in their manufacturing environment. We want to continue to work with them, and in order to do so, we need to aggressively accept their change and movement and then carry it out.”

“I will keep that in mind, sir.”

“If we have a chance, I want you to take a tour of other large companies overseas and learn their product quality system.”

“Yes, sir.”

Gun-Ho went down to the production site.

Even though Director Park was not there, the production site was working vigorously. The plant manager quickly came to Gun-Ho when he saw him, to greet him.

“The production site has been divided into two in managing, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, sir. The first production site focuses on extrusion and molding while the second production site primarily handles assembly work.”

“Hmm, I see.”

At the moment, the plant manager from the second production site joined them. When Gun-Ho was walking around the first and second production sites, he received a call from the Gangnam branch manager of the stock brokerage firm.

“I’d like to visit your company in Asan City today, sir. Are you available today?”

“I’m in Jiksan Town right now, but I will be in Asan City this afternoon. I will see you then.”

“Yes, sir. I will be there in the afternoon then.”

“Do you know how to get there?”

“I can use the GPS navigator.”

Gun-Ho was in the second production site.

The second production site included a storage for the completed products and semi-manufactured products that made the site look complex. The manager there ran toward Gun-Ho when he spotted him.

“We have products piled up in this location. We have to be extra careful with fire accidents.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We have a lot of production workers who are smoking, haven’t we?”

“Half of our male workers do smoke, sir. But, many of them smoke electronic cigarettes these days.”

“For our weekly electricity inspection, are we getting the service outside our company?”

“That’s correct, sir.”

“You need to keep up with the inspection date of the powder fire extinguishers and shake them from time to time, so they don’t get hardened.”

“We are doing it, sir.”

“Hmm, okay. Keep up the good work.”

Gun-Ho tapped the manager’s shoulder. While tapping his shoulder, Gun-Ho looked at his face. The manager looked about the same age as him.

‘Yeah, people about my age are in the manager position in a company. I wonder if Won-Chul Jo is now a manager; he is working for a large company. If I remember correctly, he was an assistant manager last time I saw him during the gathering.

By the way, how come they don’t get together anymore? If Won-Chul Jo or Byeong-Chul Hwang don’t call for our regular gathering, maybe I should do it. But, since Min-Hyeok Kim and Jae-Sik Moon are in China, I have no one who can do the actual job for the gathering. Should I give a call to Min-Ho Kang who is working for a civic organization? He can make a call to each of our high school friends and reserve a restaurant for me.’

Gun-Ho went to Dyeon Korea in Asan City that afternoon. The internal auditor entered Gun-Ho’s office to give a report.

“Director Kim is out of the office right now. He is meeting with a client. Director Yoon is also out of his office but on a business trip to India.”

“I was informed of it.”

Gun-Ho made an international call to Director Yoon in India.

“It’s Gun-Ho Goo.”

“Oh, sir. How are you?”

“How’s the trip? Are you doing well?”

“Yes, sir, I’m fine. I hired a Korean international student part-time right after I arrived here. He can speak Tamil. Also, I hired a local production worker who can speak a little bit of Korean.”

“Did you make the final payment for the factory?”

“Yes, we did, sir. We’ve already started repairing the factory. I think it will be done earlier than I thought. I guess I don’t have to stay here for a full month.”

“Is that right? Well, when the repair is almost done, just let me know, so we can ship the machines from here.”

“Yes, sir.”

After getting off the phone with Director Yoon in India, Gun-Ho looked at the internal auditor and said with a smile, “Director Yoon is doing fine there.”

The internal auditor smiled and said, “Director Yoon is truly an expert in the construction field even though he is not very good in other fields just like me.”

“Is that so?”

“GH Mobile’s President Song and Director Kim here are very knowledgeable and skillful in various fields but Director Yoon and I aren’t.”

“Haha. Everyone has their own way to handle things. I do heavily rely on you and Director Yoon in your area of expertise.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Gun-Ho took a sip of his water before continuing.

“Um, we will have a guest today. He is the branch manager of a brokerage company. You will be here, right?”

“Yes, sir. I will be in the office.”

“I want to introduce him to you and Accounting Manager Myeong-Sook Jo. I will let you know when he gets here.”

“Yes, sir. Is that about the registration with KOSDAQ? Are you going to let them handle the work?”

“I haven’t made my final decision yet, but that’s what I’m thinking about. I want you to talk with him and give me some advice.”

“Yes, sir.”

Gun-Ho felt bored in his office while waiting for the branch manager.

“Maybe I should call Min-Ho Kang.”

Gun-Ho made a call to Min-Ho Kang.

“Min-Ho Kang? It’s me, Gun-Ho Goo.”

“Oh, President Goo, it has been a while. To what do I owe the pleasure of the call?”

“Aren’t we getting together these days?”

“I don’t know. Won-Chul Jo had even made some sort of club or something to get together frequently, but I haven’t heard from him for a while. I guess that he is not in the mood to meet with friends to have fun.”

“Why is he feeling that way?”

“The last time I talked with him, he failed to promote within his company. He called himself an ‘assistant manager for 10,000 years.’”

“He will be promoted when his time comes. I guess it’s very competitive to get promoted, huh?”

“L Group has been in the business for a long time, and they have tons of people who are waiting for their promotions. Do you know anyone in the executive level inside L Group? I could see a lot of people from the level on your wedding day.”

“I don’t know anyone in L Group particularly. Even if I do, I don’t ask them for a personal favor because I find it rude.”