Free Web NovelHS Venture Capital completed its corporate registration and released a recruitment notice.
Perhaps due to the lingering effects of the IMF crisis, even though it was a newly established company, more people applied than expected.
“I’ll help only until the interviews.”
“Sure.”
To keep up appearances, both I and Han Kyungyeong sat in as interviewers, keeping each session to about three minutes per person and moving through them quickly.
Even so, one applicant stood out.
“Hello. I’m Kang Mijin.”
When she first entered the interview room, she was startled to see Han Kyungyeong—just like everyone else.
But unlike the others who were amazed or gazed at him with admiration, Kang Mijin stiffened her expression and pretended not to be surprised.
“Ms. Kang Mijin, based on your resume and cover letter, it seems you could apply to major firms like Ilseong or Daehyeon. May I ask why you applied to our company?”
“I’ve been interested in investment since university. I was hoping to join a securities firm, and when I saw the posting from HS, I decided to apply.”
“Have you applied to other companies?”
She hesitated slightly before answering.
“I was rejected at the final interview stage for all of them.”
“Could you tell us why?”
“It’s because of my father.”
Kang Mijin, who had been confident throughout the interview, faltered at the mention of her family.
She bit her lip for a moment, then turned the question around.
“Don’t you already know?”
“Pardon?”
“Companies like Daehyeon and Ilseong had already investigated the applicants’ personal histories by the time of the final interview. I was rejected before I even had the chance to speak.”
So that’s why she had that look when she saw Kyungyeong.
At that moment, Hyunseong spoke.
“If you’re willing to tell us, we’ll listen without bias. Of course, if it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to. And you won’t be penalized for telling us.”
Then, with a slightly resigned expression, Kang Mijin opened up about her father.
Once I heard it, I understood why companies like Ilseong and Daehyeon would drop someone as qualified as her in an instant. Even I felt a twinge of prejudice.
But Hyunseong didn’t seem bothered. He kept listening. The interview had already gone past five minutes.
When she finally finished, Hyunseong nodded and calmly said,
“That must’ve been difficult.”
To live in South Korea as the child of a murderer... that’s something no outsider could ever truly understand.
“But your parents’ crimes are not your own, Ms. Kang.”
“······.”
“Thank you for your time. We’ll notify you about the results by text.”
Kang Mijin stood and bowed.
Her face already looked like someone who’d been rejected.
Once all the interviews were over, we gathered to decide on the final hires.
“What do you think?”
“Personally, I think this Kang Mijin person is the best candidate. And this person who worked at the securities firm...”
It seemed Kyungyeong had the same impression I did.
There wasn’t a single flaw in Kang Mijin’s interview. It was hard to believe she was a fresh graduate.
“You know you’ll be working with them, so your opinion matters most. Even if we offer advice, the decision’s yours.”
Hyunseong nodded.
I had no intention of helping him using future knowledge.
This was the first time since sports that he’d taken initiative on something.
I wanted to see how he’d grow.
“Got it. Thanks, Mr. Han.”
After much discussion, Hyunseong selected two experienced employees and two rookies.
“The last one... is Kang Mijin.”
“You sure? You can’t ignore prejudice. Rumors will spread among staff immediately. Trust is everything in an investment firm.”
“But we should hire her. I said I wouldn’t reject someone just because of that.”
He was firm enough that I didn’t feel the need to say anything more.
“Alright. You’re the one who’ll be working with them. Let them know they passed.”
“Thanks.”
“No need to thank me. Just do your best. I won’t be helping anymore.”
Kyungyeong and I left the office together.
“You think it’ll be alright?”
“Kang Mijin? Honestly, if it weren’t for Kang Seokho, I’d want her for our company. How does a daughter like that come from a guy like him? You never know with life.”
Kang Seokho was South Korea’s first confirmed psychopath and an infamous serial killer who remained in the media spotlight for years.
Apparently, to his daughter, he’d been a kind and ordinary father.
To reporters, a clueless ten-year-old girl must’ve looked like the perfect prey.
Even so, the strength with which she grew up seemed to have left a good impression on Hyunseong.
“She really is talented, but...”
Kyungyeong patted me on the shoulder.
“You always go soft when it comes to people around you. Let it go. He’ll figure it out.”
“Maybe...”
* * *
The first day employees reported to work at HS Venture Capital.
Park Hyunseong had arrived early and was waiting to greet them.
“Welcome. Congratulations on your first day.”
The staff greeted one another and took their assigned roles.
The two experienced hires became department head and team leader, while the rookies worked under them as associates.
Kang Mijin was assigned to secretarial duties.
“If anyone has questions, feel free to ask.”
One of the employees raised a hand.
“What is your relationship with James Han?”
All the others looked at Hyunseong expectantly. They were clearly wondering the same.
“Hmm... he’s not connected to the company. He took time out of his busy schedule to help with interviews as a personal favor.”
The employee who asked the question looked slightly disappointed.
Hyunseong smiled gently and asked,
“Are you disappointed that Mr. Han isn’t officially involved?”
“No, sir.”
They said that, but their expressions were clearly deflated.
Only Kang Mijin remained expressionless.
“No more questions?”
“What are we supposed to do now?”
The question came from the eldest member—someone who’d worked at Dongyang Securities for over twenty years.
“It’s simple. Find investment opportunities. Look for people or companies with great ideas but no capital.”
The department head seemed to understand immediately and didn’t ask further.
“Once you bring them to me, I’ll make the decisions. Don’t worry about making mistakes—just bring me as many prospects as possible.”
The first meeting ended, and everyone returned to their desks.
Hyunseong took Kang Mijin into the CEO’s office.
“Sir.”
Before he could say anything, Kang Mijin spoke first.
“I’d like to know why you hired me.”
“Isn’t the reason the same as always? I hired you because I thought you’d do a good job.”
“But...”
“Like I said during the interview, Mr. Kang Seokho is Mr. Kang Seokho, and you are you. I’m not hiring him. I’m hiring you.”
He handed her a file folder from his desk.
“So please don’t let me down. I’ve got a lot to learn. I’m going to need your help with a lot of things. For now, please look into these companies.”
Kang Mijin took the file, hesitated, then bowed.
“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
* * *
Finally, Taesan Financial received approval from the financial authorities.
Taesan Financial became the holding company, with Taesan Bank under it.
“Eva, good job.”
“Sorry I’m late.”
“It’s fine. It’s not like you were stalling.”
This was the moment the name ‘Taesan’ made its mark in Korean history.
“So Baek Seongjin’s the president of Taesan Bank?”
“Yeah. Ever since then, he hasn’t changed his mind.”
“You must’ve judged him well. The chairman position at Taesan Financial is still vacant, right?”
“Yeah, but the government is giving us pushback.”
“Those bastards, seriously.”
“They’re also demanding that we go public as ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) fast as possible.”
In other words, they were trying to exert control.
I couldn’t help but scoff.
“They’ve suffered so much from state-controlled finance, but they still can’t let go of that old mindset. Stall them as long as possible. Even if we go public, it’ll be in the U.S.”
“Got it.”
“What about acquisitions of other banks or securities firms?”
The government was aggressively consolidating the banking sector.
The wave of bankruptcies among corporations led to bad debts, and eventually, many banks were shut down.
“Since the boss gave the order, we’re in talks to acquire. At best, maybe two banks and two securities firms.”
“That’s it?”
“From the government’s perspective, they have to keep us from getting too big.”
We’d have to pause the bank acquisitions for now.
Time was on our side anyway.
In the end, the government would have no choice but to come to Taesan Financial.
“For now, let’s focus on expanding Taesan Bank.”
“Baek Seongjin will do a good job.”
“Transfer all the financial company shares held by Future Investment over here. We’ll also transfer everything from Dreamhigh.”
Due to financial holding laws, even Dreamhigh and Future Investment couldn’t hold more than 4% of bank stocks.
That’s why we had to route the acquisitions through Peregrine in Hong Kong.
“You’re still in touch with Han Kyungyeong, right?”
“Yeah. He was really shocked when he found out Dreamhigh belonged to you.”
We’d once visited him together while Eva was still hospitalized.
“You two are extremely important to me. Work well together, okay? You get what I mean?”
Right then, Han Kyungyeong walked in.
“This building’s really pretty.”
We made the Future Building the headquarters of Taesan Financial. The first floor was now Taesan Bank’s main branch.
“Jealous?”
“No, just saying it’s pretty. Good to see you again, Eva.”
He waved at Eva.
“Hi, James.”
“See? Eva’s only cold to me.”
Grumbling playfully, Kyungyeong took a seat.
“Kim Byungwoo, the Vice President. Shouldn’t we meet him before the chairman inauguration?”
“When is it?”
“The first of next month.”
Once the company sale wrapped up, Kyungyeong made Kim Byungwoo’s promotion to chairman official.
“Set up a meeting after I’m back from Russia.”
“Okay. Oh, and did you hear Lee Chanjong stepped down?”
“Yeah, heard the news. Didn’t expect it.”
Kyungyeong shrugged.
“Who knows? Maybe he got caught working with us, or maybe it’s just part of a cabinet shuffle. But it’s strange—he wasn’t reassigned to another post...”
Lee Chanjong had been incredibly helpful as Director of the NIS.
“Bring him in as head of Black Bear’s Korean branch.”
“You think Kim Hakgwon will just sit back? That’s basically declaring we’re linked.”
Kyungyeong gave me a confused look, and I met it calmly.
“He probably already knows. Otherwise, there’s no way he’d ditch a long-time political partner so suddenly.”
“Alright. I’ll ask.”
“Tell Lee Chanjong to turn Black Bear Korea into a second NIS. He can pull it off.”
Both Kyungyeong and Eva reacted with visible shock. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
“Make it like the NIS?”
“Information is power. We’re not a government agency, so there will be limits, but since he was NIS Director, he can get us partway there.”
“The government won’t just let it slide.”
“As long as it’s not illegal, they don’t have grounds to interfere. And Black Bear’s headquartered in the U.S., right?”
In these circumstances, even Kim Hakgwon wasn’t foolish enough to pick a fight with a foreign corporation.
“He’s starting to lose his grip anyway.”
His administration had been desperately traveling to Japan, China, and Switzerland trying to secure currency swap deals.
They must’ve been determined to avoid ever getting dragged down by me or another IMF crisis again.
In the end, they succeeded in currency swaps with China and Malaysia, and negotiations with Japan were nearly complete.
“Well, it was all predictable.”
How long they’d keep obeying me was the real question.
“I’m going to make Yoon Changho president. And after that, I’ll fill the political world with people I control.”
If they couldn’t be used, they’d have to be removed.
