There were several reasons why I chose Tesla as a running mate.
First, it was a company that had already proven the potential of electric vehicles before my return.
Second, I already owned 50% of Tesla’s shares.
Tesla and Taewoo Motors.
No matter who won, I would gain an overwhelming advantage.
The electric vehicle market was so vast that no single company could monopolize it, making
mutual growth possible.
How far along was Tesla?
Securing the support of the National Economic Party was essential for bringing IIT to Korea.
I continued speaking to convince Representative Choi Jae-seok.
“If that’s the concern, we can resolve it by increasing Taewoo Group’s public recruitment by more than 20% compared to last year. Also, if IIT graduates are hired through a special
recruitment process, they won’t be seen as direct competitors. And 20% of the students admitted to the IIT Korea campus will be guar...
The subprime mortgage crisis.
In 2007, it became the worst financial crisis that dragged the global economy into the abyss.
For such a financial crisis to happen, a combination of coincidences and inevitabilities had to overlap.
Even if the banks gave out reckless loans without screening, if the regulatory authorities had properly supervised, it could have been stopped early.
“Even if loans are given out under the names of dead people or dogs, the regulators ...
Twenty days had flown by.
And finally, the anticipated results of the Indian general election came in.
“The Indian National Congress has won a major victory in the election and has formed a coalition government, naming Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister!”
“Now it’s their turn to keep their promise.”
“We’ve already received confirmation, but the Indian National Congress seems to be waiting for the right timing.”
Timing was everything.
<...
After finishing the idea meeting with Cheon Min-jeong, I returned to the office.
The clock was already pointing to 1 a.m., and aside from a few extremely close districts, the
overall picture was starting to take shape.
“Vice President! The National Economic Party is projected to win in over 25 districts. That’s at least five more than what the exit polls suggested. And we have seven districts that are still too close to call.”
“If we’re really lucky, we m...
The long-awaited general election day had arrived.
It was already known that this would be the day the rankings among the progressive parties
would be flipped.
The President, along with a few members of the National Assembly, had left their party to form a new progressive party, which had even led to an impeachment.
Despite this, the original progressive party still held nearly 60 seats, while the new progressive party had barely secured even 50.
However, a...
The next day.
I told Vice Chairman Han about the negotiations with Vice Chairman Oh Yong-jae.
He scratched his head, looking like he had a lot to say.
“Something doesn’t sit right with you, does it?”
“To be honest, I just don’t understand. I know this is at Chairman Oh Hee-gun’s request, but I don’t see why we have to go this far. Samsung Group is the only real rival Taewoo Group has in Korea. Wouldn’t it be better for us to simply leave them alone?...
The next day.
Vice Chairman Oh Yongjae reached out, and we arranged to meet at the annex of a traditional Korean restaurant run by Captain Kang.
“This must be the famous annex. I’ve heard it’s a place only those close to Chairman Kim are invited to.”
“I don’t know why such rumors spread, but this restaurant has little to do with me.”
“Please don’t underestimate Samsung Group’s intelligence network. While it may not match Taewoo Group’s, ours is fa...
2025-09-02 16:34:04 +0000 UTC View PostAs the murmurs quieted down, Seok-won slowly scanned the audience before speaking in a firm, deliberate voice.
“First, you raised concerns about safety during rocket launches. The launch site is located more than 2.6 kilometers away from Moseulpo Port, which provides a safe distance. On top of that, the launchpad is built on reclaimed land along the coast, keeping it as far from residential areas as possible to minimize any risk. Furthermore, all launches will be directed southwest, a...
2025-09-02 12:30:03 +0000 UTC View PostA few days later, at Jeju International Airport.
Just yesterday, a fierce snowstorm had been raging, but now the sky was clear as if it had all been a lie. A Gulfstream IV private jet, painted in a two-tone of Norton Blue and Crystal White, landed and rolled to a stop at one side of the apron.
Moments later, the stairway lowered, and Seok-won appeared, wearing a cashmere coat, with Han Ji-sung at his side.
“We’ll wait here, then,” Andrea said with a bright smile. She h...
2025-09-01 14:13:59 +0000 UTC View PostThe next day.
From the early morning, the Financial Tower carried the tension of a battlefield on the verge of war.
People were gulping down coffee like rations before combat, and it wasn’t hard to spot a few slapping their own cheeks to stay sharp.
I watched the scene with some satisfaction as I made my way up to the office.
Soon after, Vice Chairman Han entered, carrying the results of yesterday’s strike.
“The Shanghai index fell more than 2%. Nearly one ...
2025-09-01 14:05:49 +0000 UTC View PostA week later.
I arrived in Denmark.
David, who had flown in ahead of me to lay the groundwork, greeted me warmly.
“Looks like you’ve done more than just sketch the outlines. You seem in excellent spirits.”
“You underestimate me, boss. I didn’t just sketch—I finished the painting, colors and all. All that’s left is for you to sign it, and the painting will be yours.”
“So the coloring’s complete, is it? I suppose once I meet the board, I’ll kn...
2025-09-01 14:05:40 +0000 UTC View PostWas this how a farmer felt?
From the field called Novo Nordisk, they had tended the crop called a new drug.
For years they had watered and fertilized it, waiting patiently, and now the time for harvest had finally come.
“Is it true Novo Nordisk plans to scrap the drug? I haven’t heard a word from David or from our staff dispatched to Denmark.”
“We confirmed it through the AI system inside Novo Nordisk. A report was registered in the system showing that most of ...
2025-08-31 12:36:04 +0000 UTC View PostTwo days ago, the inauguration and farewell ceremony was held with great pomp.
All of Taewoo Group’s executives attended, along with many executives from financial firms housed in the Finance Tower.
Yet the mood between the first half and the second half of the event was entirely different.
When Vice Chairman Park Mandeok stepped down from his roles as Taewoo Group’s Vice Chairman and head of the financial subsidiaries, the applause was thunderous.
It was proof of ...
2025-08-31 12:35:04 +0000 UTC View PostAs dawn broke, Chairman Park Tae-hong rose early, as was his habit, and stepped out of his bedroom in his indoor loungewear.
Hearing his footsteps echoing down the wide corridor toward the living room, the housemaid, Gunsan, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen and greeted him politely.
“Good morning, Chairman. You’re up early.”
“My throat feels a little dry. Bring me a glass of cold water.”
“Yes, sir.”
Chairman Park settled himself into his us...
2025-08-31 12:30:06 +0000 UTC View PostNovember 3rd, 1997
– Daehung Securities, Yeouido.
Inside the trading floor, around forty individual investors stood in small groups, their eyes fixed on the large electronic market board mounted on one wall.
Following the previous trading day’s rebound, nearly all stocks were surging again today, and the mood was visibly upbeat.
“Look over there! Saseong Electronics is on the move!”
“Hyunwoo Motors is up too. If S...
“So the MC Soft investment contract is completely finalized, then.”
In response to Seok-won’s question—who sat cross-legged in the central seat—Director Yoo Hyun-deok answered immediately.
“Yes, that’s correct. We’ve agreed to invest 3 billion won and take over 25% of the shares, and we’ve finished drafting the contract.”
“Good work.”
Leaning back against the sofa’s backrest, Seok-won barely suppressed a smile that was about to slip out.
October 30, 1997.
It was a late night, nearing midnight, yet the lights in the president’s office at the Blue House were still brightly lit.
Inside the spacious office, heavy with silence.
Seated on a vintage hardwood sofa was President Kim Sung-kyu, flanked by his close aides—Chief Presidential Secretary Koo Hyung-ki and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Jin-woo. All three wore grave expressions.
Having just set down the agreemen...
Daehung Venture Capital
As Choi Ho-geun entered the office, he noticed a group of employees gathered around, looking at something.
“What’s everyone doing?”
The employees turned to him and greeted him one by one.
“You’re here.”
“Welcome, sir.”
“Good morning!”
“Yeah, yeah. Good morning to you all.”
Returning the greetings with a casual wave, Choi Ho-geun took off his jacket and hung it on the coat r...
October 28, 1997, Government Complex 1, Gwanghwamun.
Choi Jin-woo, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, sat anxiously, tapping the armrest of the sofa with his fingertips as he stared at the phone resting on the side table.
He rolled up his shirt sleeves to check his wristwatch and muttered to himself,
“It should have been deposited by now… I don’t understand why there’s no contact.”
It was the day when the promised $10 billion...
October 27, 1997
— Daeheung Group Headquarters, Mapo
In the spacious chairman’s office, Chairman Park, the chairman, sat in the center of a leather sofa, flanked by his eldest son, Park Jin-hyung, president of Daeheung Textile, and Secretary Gil Sung-ho. They were engaged in conversation.
“What’s the exchange rate today?”
Chairman Park asked, resting his arm on the sofa, and Secretary Gil, meeting his gaze, answered imme...
Dobong-gu, Seoul.
[This is Chang-dong Station. The doors on the right will open. This stop is——]
Suddenly dropping temperatures made people bundle up in heavier clothes as they listened to the announcement and streamed out of the subway car.
It was the weekend, making the platform even more crowded, and among the throng was Jung Young-tae, a 51-year-old long-time assistant manager at Hyunwoo Construction.
Since the foreign exchange crisis hit a...
Seeing Seok-won's reaction, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Jin-woo quickly added,
“Of course, I’m not asking you to take on these deeply troubled merchant banks without any support.”
“Go on,” Seok-won said with a calm, cool gaze.
Choi leaned forward in his seat and continued,
“The three institutions we’d like you to acquire are Shinchang, Goryeo, and Gyeongnam.”
“All three were heavily exposed to large loans to major conglomerates that defaulted earlie...
Kabutocho, Chuo Ward, Tokyo, was one of the leading financial hubs not only in Japan but also globally.
True to its prestigious reputation, the area was densely packed with the Tokyo Stock Exchange at its center, surrounded by the headquarters of major commercial banks, securities firms, and Japanese branches of foreign financial institutions.
Each morning, the streets bustled with financiers dressed in luxury suits and ties, carrying briefcases in one hand...
Two days later, at the Government Complex Building No. 1 in Gwanghwamun.
Deputy Prime Minister Choi Jin-woo laid the report in his hands down on the reception table, unable to hide his surprise.
“Is this really true?”
Sitting on the sofa to his left, Vice Minister Shin Seung-gi met his gaze and replied,
“Yes, sir. I was just as shocked when I received the report.”
He had ordered an investigation into whether Park Seok-won could actually provide the p...
It was late, already past 10 p.m.
A black Equus sedan came to a stop in front of the entrance of the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong.
The aide sitting in the front seat got out first, scanned the surroundings, and opened the rear passenger door.
A middle-aged man stepped out, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and with neatly combed hair — it was Choi Jin-woo, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.
Lately, his face had noticeably thinned from severe stress, and stre...
October 20, 1997.
The stock market reopened after the weekend—and, as expected, it began with another drop.
The giant market boards were awash in a sea of blue, and financial stocks—especially banks and securities firms—were plunging even harder than other sectors.
It was the fallout from the announcement made just yesterday afternoon: foreign exchange operations of 12 merchant banks had been suspended, and they were issued restructuring orders.
...
In the customer hall of Daheung Securities, located in Yeouido, nearly a hundred individual investors stood or sat in small groups, staring helplessly at the massive market ticker that stretched across one wall.
“Unbelievable…”
“Damn it. It’s dropping again today.”
“They said everything would be fine once we got the IMF bailout. So why is the stock market still like this?!”
“How many days in a row has it been falling now?”
“Sigh…”
Caught completely off guard, CEO Choi Jung-yeol widened his eyes and asked again in disbelief.
“Wh… what did you just say?”
His flustered tone made it clear he was stunned, and Seok-won, smiling calmly, reiterated his proposal.
“I said we’re offering you 15% out of the 75% stake we now hold in Interplaza.”
“…Surely, you’re not joking with me, are you?”
Still struggling to process the offer, CEO Choi looked at him with a baffled expression...
October 13, 1997 – Government Complex Building No. 1, Gwanghwamun
The economic situation was so dire that the media labeled the anticipated IMF bailout announcement as “the second national humiliation.” Against this backdrop, Choi Jin-woo, newly appointed as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Finance and Economy, kept his inauguration brief and immediately convened a countermeasure meeting with senior officials.
The abrupt dismissal...