Outskirts of Los Angeles, USA.
Under the blazing sun typical of the dry desert climate, a red, old-model Chevrolet Camaro cruised down a quiet road in the middle of the day.
Edmund Cho, dressed in a white T-shirt with a piercing in one eyebrow, pressed his hand to his nose and inhaled a line of cocaine.
The drug hit instantly, sharpening every nerve in his body.
Rubbing his nose with his other hand, Edmund turned his head toward the Hispanic man at...
Chu Min-jeong was a highly guarded person.
Except for the moment I first entered the restaurant, she showed no change in expression. Even after shaking hands, she quickly withdrew her hand and hid it under the table.
Unkempt hair.
A face devoid of makeup.
Dark circles shadowing her eyes.
It was an appearance that didn’t suit a 21-year-old at all.
But considering the employees at Taewoo IT, it wasn’t an unfamiliar sight.
They were the type of people...
During the financial crisis, Taewoo Group sold off many of its subsidiaries.
Notably, large-scale divisions such as shipbuilding, credit cards, and mobile phones were among them.
Some of these eventually returned to the group, but overall, they had been working to downsize.
However, once the crisis ended, they embarked on a series of large-scale mergers and acquisitions.
This led to the acquisition of major businesses such as battery and semiconductor manufacturing...
Lee Soo-Hyun fell into deep thought.
If a new competitor emerged, the entire plan to sell Foreign Exchange Bank would need to be revised.
And if Lone Star truly lost its eligibility, every agreement he had made with them would become void.
"It seems you've thought it over enough. Have you made up your mind?"
"What exactly do you need me to do? And what would I be getting in return…?"
"Of course, we’ll take care of you. A direct monetary reward might rais...
Thanks to the iPad and iPhone S, the audience was more than satisfied.
With their expectations already met, they watched the next product unveiling with a sense of ease.
[The final product we’d like to introduce today is a TV. You might be wondering—Apple making a TV? If it were just a regular TV, that would indeed be surprising. But this isn’t just any TV; this is a smart TV. Just as the iPhone revolutionized the mobile market, Apple TV is set to redefine television!]
...
In any organization, whistleblowing was the most uncomfortable situation to deal with.
Especially in the strictly hierarchical world of government officials, whistleblowing was considered nothing short of betrayal.
Because of this, several government ministries—deeply entrenched in their own cartels—maintained an iron grip on internal discipline.
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) was no exception. As a regulatory body that oversaw the economy, it was particularl...
Lee Young-soo, the CEO of Hanyoung Tech, couldn’t believe his sudden streak of good luck.
“What’s going on? Everything is going so smoothly.”
After losing the bid, he had suffered a series of setbacks against Chunha Trading.
His investor, Mr. Han, was also losing patience, and Lee Young-soo was starting to feel the pressure. Then, unexpectedly, a lifeline appeared.
It all started when he started receiving shredded semiconductor waste from Kim In-ha.
...
“I have a good eye for people. You’re impressive, CEO Park.” Chairman Wang Qian of Haixin Group said with a smile. “You’ve already secured three months’ worth of supply in just one month.”
Just one month after we started siphoning off defective semiconductors, we had supplied half of Haixin Group’s order, earning me another invitation to his grand mansion.
“You’re too kind,” I said modestly, and he laughed heartily.
“That’s impressive, but what...
Sa-seong (Samsung) Electronics Headquarters, Taepyeong-ro, Seoul.
An Byeong-seok, president of Digital Wave, and Deputy General Manager Yoon Nam-ho entered the spacious lobby, lined with artificial marble.
Although they had visited several times before, the sheer presence of the conglomerate, which was vying with Hyunwoo (Hyundai) Group for the top spot in the business world, made them feel somewhat overwhelmed and intimidated just by stepping into the lobby.
"Hey, President Park."
Accompanied by a lady in a beautifully arranged hanbok, Executive Director Woo Chun-il entered the private room of the Ojinam restaurant. With a smile on his face, he greeted Seok-won, who had been waiting.
Seok-won rose from his seat and slightly bowed his head. As he did, Woo Chun-il extended his hand towards him.
"It’s been such a long time since we last met."
"I should have visited more often, I’m sorry."
Grasping Seok-won’s ...
The new year of 2002 had arrived.
A year of unending celebrations.
With both the World Cup and the presidential election taking place in South Korea, it was set to be an exceptionally heated year.
Of course, not everyone would be celebrating.
But for Taewoo Group to come out smiling, we had to be on the winning side.
"Vice Chairman, here’s the 2002 strategy report.
It includes the business plans for all subsidiaries, as well as analyses of domestic and ...
CL Card falls into Taewoo Group’s hands
Taewoo Card had returned home—bringing CL Card as its "wife."
Yet, Park Man-deok, CEO of Taewoo Securities, didn't look pleased.
"The scale of CL Card's card bonds is beyond imagination. Once we factor in the hidden liabilities, the total surpasses 2 trillion won.
The real issue is the card bonds themselves.
No bank is willing to accept them, and credit rating agencies have downgraded their ratings across the board."
Only a few days remained in 2001.
In my previous life, the credit card crisis occurred between 2002 and 2004.
However, in this life, since I had sold Taewoo Card to CL Card, the timing had been pushed forward.
With Dimon's and Myeongdong's operations happening simultaneously, the crisis was accelerating even faster.
“Vice Chairman! CL Card's cash advance services have been completely suspended!”<...
After finishing all the contracts, I took a brief break.
The planning director personally brewed a warm cup of tea and brought it to me.
"This is bellflower root tea. I prepared it because you've been speaking a lot today, and it's good for your throat."
"Thank you. My throat was feeling a little scratchy—I'll enjoy it."
While I soothed my throat with the tea, the planning director stood quietly by, waiting.
"Is there something you'd like to say?"
"...
Quantum Fund Headquarters, 7th Avenue, Manhattan, New York.
In a spacious office overlooking the towering skyscrapers of Wall Street, George Soros and Rodney, the CIO, sat across from each other on a sofa.
“…The Southeast Asian currency crisis has been manipulated by a few wealthy elites and the Western media who do not wish to see Southeast Asia prosper. The key forces behind this crisis are hedge funds led by Quantum Fund, whose wealth has been built by im...
The next day.
In the large conference hall of the Japan Securities Dealers Association in Tokyo, a crowd of reporters had gathered.
Today’s press conference was set to address the major issue that had recently erupted — the massive losses from option contracts.
When President Yamakawa entered through the side door, accompanied by the presidents of Nikko, Daiwa, and Yamaichi Securities, flashes from cameras went off relentlessly.
With a faint look of discomfort,...
Once the conversation ended, Seok-won stood up first and left the study.
President Park Jin-hyung watched the door close, then turned to Chairman Park Tae-hong—who was already lighting his third cigarette—and spoke with a face full of concern.
“Are you really planning to entrust the reserved funds you converted into dollars to Seok-won?”
While Park Jin-hyung looked serious, Chairman Park leaned back comfortably on the soft sofa, unfazed.
“Worried I might ...
A few days later.
It was the day of the month when the entire family gathered at the main house, so Seok-won made his way to the mansion in Hannam-dong.
At the wide dining table, Chairman Park Tae-hong sat at the head seat. On either side were his eldest son, President Park Jin-hyung and his wife, Madam Jo, and Seok-won himself. Together, they enjoyed a generous meal, engaging in pleasant conversation.
Wearing a light gray vest, Chairman Park spooned up some soup and said...
Steve was like a god in the IT industry.
Especially after the iPhone became a huge success, more people began to praise him, and CEO Im Jaebeom was no different.
"Do you really think I resemble Steve?"
"You seem doubtful. Then I'll make you believe it."
I took out my phone and called Steve.
Calling without an appointment was rude, but between Steve and me, it was entirely possible.
[What’s the matter at this hour? If you're calling be...
Like any negotiation, the terms always depended on how desperate one side was.
So...
Would Samsung Electronics really be incapable of producing smartphones without Taewoo's patents?
The answer was half true, half false.
With our patents, they could manufacture smartphones without any issues.
But even without permission, they could still produce and release the devices —
they'd just have to brace themselves for a legal battle.
Patent lawsuits coul...
I didn't hand over the credit card company to the CL Group for no reason.
It was merely a temporary measure to protect Taewoo Group from the madness of the credit card crisis.
"The credit card companies will soon collapse simultaneously. Especially CL Card, which is engaged in a cutthroat competition with Samsung Card, will suffer the greatest damage."
"CL Card is currently the number one company in the credit card industry. Moreover, with the solid backing of the CL Grou...
“Did you say three hundred thousand units?”
Unlike the two men who couldn’t hide their confusion, Seok-won responded calmly.
“That’s right.”
“That’s six times more than what we originally planned. Can we really sell that many...?”
President Ahn Byung-seok trailed off, uncertainty in his voice. Across from him, Executive Director Yoon Ki-hoon leaned forward with a serious expression and raised his objection.
“If we go with that figure, the...
While the Japanese stock market was gripped by fear and panic from the shock of the Big 4 securities firms, the atmosphere at Daehung Investment's Asset Management Department was the exact opposite — cheers erupted as stock prices nosedived.
[Nomura Securities: 967.2 (−171.6)]
[Daiwa Securities: 491.6 (−76.3)]
[Nikko Securities: 479.8 (−98.1)]
[Yamaichi Securities: 384.9 (−98.4)]
"Woohoo!"
...
Negotiating with the President (3)
At Han Cheong-ho’s words, Park Jung-hwan put down his pen.
"Exactly. You, of all people, should know how much effort I’ve put into fostering the heavy industry sector. And yet, you've let things turn into this mess."
"Your Excellency, please give me just one more chance. Cheongil Refinery cannot end like this."
Han Cheong-ho continued,
"Oil isn't only found in the Middle East. There’s the U.S., the So...
Negotiating with the President (2)
President’s Office, Chomyung Bank, Jongno
Choi Moo-ryong frowned at Han Cheong-ho’s visit.
“What brings you all the way here?”
“Cheongil Refinery is in trouble. I need your help.”
“I can barely keep my own head above water. I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
Han Cheong-ho hid his displeasure.
Right now, he was the one in need.
He needed Choi Moo-ryong’...
Negotiating with the President (1)
Tae-soo was startled to see a man dressed in hanbok standing before him.
"What brings you all the way here?"
"Just running an errand."
The man continued to feign loyalty to Jang Mal-dong, keeping up his act.
Tae-soo played along without hesitation.
"Well, you’ve come at the perfect time. I was just wondering about the situation in Korea."
A favor for a favor. Kindness is met with kindness, h...
Taewoo IT had been posting tremendous quarterly results, and what had once started as a department with fewer than 100 employees had now grown into a team of over 1,000 experts.
“There are quite a few empty desks.”
“A lot of staff are currently dispatched to various projects, so only about 70% of the employees are in the office right now. However, the employees sent to game companies will be returning soon, so we can proceed with all proj...
President Woo Sung-il was as efficient as ever.
That was exactly why I had kept him in his position at the head of Taewoo Electronics.
It hadn't been more than a few hours since I mentioned wanting to meet Cyworld's CEO, Seo Kwang-soo — yet here he was, already seated in the vice-chairman's office.
“Welcome. You must have been surprised by the sudden invitation.”
“Not at all. It's an honor to be called by the vice-chairman of Taewoo Group.”
It had ...
I arrived in Korea a little later than planned.
The morning sun was just rising, and I headed straight to the office.
I was dying to rest, but there was no time for that as the emergency situation was still ongoing.
“Vice Chairman! The Chairman arrived in Korea yesterday. He is waiting in the Chairman’s office now.”
“The Chairman returned from Vietnam?”
“He entered Korea on the day you departed for the U.S.”
It was clear how critical the...
Yamakawa Hiroshi, the president of Nomura Securities, woke up early in the morning as usual.
Raising his upper body, Yamakawa reached out beside his bed, removed the cover from a glass of water, and gulped it down to soothe his parched throat.
Glancing at the clock, he saw that it had just passed 6 a.m.
Although he had slept his usual amount, the recent stress weighed heavily on him, making his body feel like lead.
He recalled the report he received yesterday from ...