Free Web NovelEven though Jungwoo’s semiconductor division had grown immensely, it still couldn’t surpass Ilseong Electronics in scale.
Technologically, they had caught up—but Ilseong still had superior infrastructure and factories.
Because of the ongoing price war, Ilseong Electronics had turned into a money sink. Still, with the Ilseong Group’s strength, they could have lasted several more years.
But I’d made sure they wouldn’t.
Even then, I never imagined Seo Jaehun would actually consider selling Ilseong Electronics itself.
I thought he’d sell off minor subsidiaries first—but he’d defied all expectations.
It was laughable, really. Seo Yonggeon had devoted his life to building up Ilseong Electronics, and now his son was about to sell it off.
“If Secretary Lee Seokmin is personally moving, then it’s almost certain.”
“Yes. If he’s leaving Chairman Seo Yonggeon’s bedside in this condition, that means it’s a matter of life and death for the group.”
I frowned. Toshiba, of all companies... They weren’t exactly stable either.
“Does Toshiba even have the money for an acquisition?”
“The Japanese government might step in. They could try to avenge the humiliation of when we bought one of their semiconductor firms by acquiring Ilseong instead.”
“...Surely not.”
It hadn’t been long since Japan’s economy had stumbled—they wouldn’t risk such a reckless move.
But then again, this was Japan. Nothing was too strange for them.
“Under no circumstances can Ilseong’s semiconductor division fall into Japanese hands.”
“Yes, we’ll discuss countermeasures.”
The Korean government would never sit idly by and let that happen either.
“I’ll handle talks with the government myself.”
We’d dig deeper into Ilseong Group soon enough. My mind was cluttered, but I shifted the topic to the reason I’d called them today.
“Anyway, that can wait. I asked you here for something else. I’d like Jungwoo Trading to send food and medical supplies to Afghanistan.”
“To Afghanistan?”
“Yes. Around two million dollars’ worth of food and two million in medical supplies. I’ll handle payment personally.”
A troubled expression crossed Kim Byungwoo’s face.
“Ah... that won’t be easy. Sending goods there, I mean. We’ll have to discuss details with Jungwoo Trading first.”
“The Taliban are still active as guerrillas, but if we send through Pakistan, it should be fine. It’s humanitarian aid, so Pakistan has no grounds to block it.”
“Understood. I’ll issue the order. But since it’s an Islamic country, we’ll need halal-certified food. I’m not sure if there are any factories in Korea that have that certification.”
Muslims wouldn’t touch anything that wasn’t halal.
It was well-known that they followed dietary laws strictly, so Kim’s concern wasn’t baseless.
“There aren’t any domestic producers?”
“I’ll need to check. There aren’t that many Muslims in Korea, so I doubt any company bothered to get certified.”
“I didn’t consider that. Sorry for the trouble, but have Jungwoo Trading look into it. If it’s difficult domestically, source from abroad.”
“I’ll make sure that’s done.”
“Good. Let me know as soon as preparations begin.”
Jungwoo Group had started as a trading company, and its global network of employees was still its strongest weapon.
They were born merchants—people who could sell sand in a desert. They’d find a way.
“This will just be the start. Tell Jungwoo Trading to be ready for ongoing business with Afghanistan.”
Just then, a knock came at the study door. Chief Ma opened it and said,
“Boss, Chairman Lee Sanggeun has arrived.”
“Has he? Let him in.”
Chief Ma stepped aside, and Lee Sanggeun entered.
“You called for me, sir?”
He bowed deeply. It had been a while since I last saw him, and his sharp edge had mellowed a bit.
“It’s been some time. We can catch up later—please, sit.”
Lee walked over and sat across from Chairman Kim.
“I’ve heard you’re managing Gukseong Construction steadily. I knew you’d handle it well.”
“I’m doing my best to live up to your trust, sir.”
After Gukseong Construction merged with Jungwoo Construction, he’d split it off as an independent subsidiary specializing in construction—and done so successfully.
He was far too capable a man to remain a gangster.
Kim was quick to praise him.
“He says it modestly, but Chairman Lee is truly talented. The Jungwoo Construction staff were anxious at first about merging with a smaller firm, but now they’re satisfied. I’ve received many positive reports.”
I smiled faintly. Kim had opposed the idea at first—hearing him talk like this was amusing.
“Really?”
“Yes. Now I see why you entrusted him with construction.”
Even as they spoke about him, Lee remained calm. That composure made me smile again.
“Chairman Lee is competent. It all depends on where you use that ability. Watching over Gukseong Construction convinced me you belong out of the underworld. I did worry that Gukseong might swallow Jungwoo Construction whole, but if the staff are happy, that’s good news.”
“Talent aside, he probably managed it because of who he is. People in construction are tougher than any gangster. Especially those who’ve risen to executive rank—they’ve spent decades in the field.”
Kim spoke with real affection for his employees. That was why they respected him.
“Men who keep working through desert sandstorms just to meet deadlines—they’re built of iron. For Chairman Lee to unite such people shows his skill.”
“Come to think of it, Jungwoo’s builders also worked in the Middle East, didn’t they?”
“Yes. Back then, every construction firm in Korea had to earn foreign currency there.”
Perfect timing—since we’d soon be building in the Middle East again.
I turned to Lee.
“By the end of this year, we’ll need to enter Afghanistan to build schools and hospitals.”
“Afghanistan? Isn’t that still a war zone?”
“They’ve declared the war over, but guerrillas remain active. Still, it’s something that must be done.”
Lee didn’t hesitate. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
“Understood. I’ll gather volunteers and prepare.”
“Send skilled workers from Korea, and hire locals for basic labor.”
“Yes. I’ll discuss details with the executives and assemble the teams.”
His decisive answer made me smile.
“Schools and hospitals are only the beginning. Afghanistan’s social infrastructure is in ruins—there’s plenty to build. After war always comes a construction boom. This is just the start. When the Iraq War ends, we’ll move there next.”
At the word “Iraq,” both Kim and Lee’s eyes widened.
Kim spoke first.
“Iraq? But the war isn’t even over yet.”
“The U.S. will win soon—it’s only a matter of time. By the end of this year, they’ll declare victory and put Hussein on trial. That’s when reconstruction begins—oil fields, schools, hospitals, airports, everything.”
The two men looked stunned that I was already talking about Iraq’s reconstruction.
“I’ve already spoken with the U.S. government about it.”
“Is... is that true?”
I shrugged, as if to say, why would I lie to my own people?
“Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq is profitable. Afghanistan’s an untapped gold mine—but Iraq? That’s a field already full of gold.”
Iraq ranked among the top five in global oil reserves. Unlike Afghanistan, its value was already proven.
A land soaked in black gold.
“Of course, this is top secret. Not a word leaks out. I’m telling you only so you can start planning. This won’t be a project Jungwoo Construction can handle alone. It’ll require the whole Jungwoo Group—and we’ll even share a portion with Hyunhwa Group.”
Both men stared blankly, still trying to process my words.
I clapped my hands lightly to break the daze.
“I’ll brief you once we have concrete details. Any questions?”
Neither Kim nor Lee answered—they just kept staring.
“If you plan to ask later, don’t bother. I won’t answer. Let’s move on.”
It wasn’t time yet to mention Afghanistan’s resource development rights.
Even if I did, it wasn’t something we could start right away. A national-level project like that would need to go through Governor Yun Changho first.
I wasn’t about to hand that achievement to Kim Hakkwon.
After collecting my thoughts, I changed the subject.
“Chairman Kim, you’ve finalized the main sponsorship contract, right? With Leeds United?”
Jungwoo Group was set to take over as Leeds United’s main sponsor—the previous long-term deal had expired.
From now on, the Jungwoo Group logo would be emblazoned across the club’s chest.
“Yes, but there was a lot of internal opposition. Some questioned whether spending ten billion won per year on a football club was justifiable—especially with a ten-year contract.”
“In a few years, you’ll understand why I did this. Being the main sponsor of a Premier League club brings massive publicity.”
He didn’t openly object in front of me, but doubt lingered on his face.
“Jungwoo’s name is known in Eastern Europe, but not in Western Europe.”
“That’s true, but...”
“When fans wear jerseys with our logo, they become walking advertisements. That’s the point.”
Korean conglomerates still didn’t grasp how powerful sports sponsorships could be.
They’d learn soon enough how cheap and effective this kind of brand exposure really was.
I didn’t bother convincing him further—time would prove it.
“Have I ever let you down before, Chairman Kim? Trust me. You’ll see why Daehyun Group fought so hard to sponsor the World Cup when it starts.”
“Ah, right—the Korea–Japan World Cup starts next month.”
Daehyun Group’s reputation with FIFA was excellent.
And this World Cup had propelled Song Youngjoo’s son, Song Chanhyuk, into the spotlight as a strong presidential contender.
As head of the Football Association, he’d shifted from corporate politics to real politics.
He was an independent member of parliament, but this was his lucky year.
Just for supporting Korean football, his approval ratings had skyrocketed.
The thought made me chuckle.
“Well, since we’re wrapping up, shall we make a bet?”
“A bet?”
“Yes. How far do you think our national team will go? If you guess right, I’ll give you a big gift.”
It was said playfully, but knowing what my “gifts” could mean, Kim answered quickly.
“Since it’s held in Korea, maybe one win? But making it to the Round of 16 seems unlikely.”
At that time, Korea had never won a single World Cup match.
His prediction was what most people believed—the nation’s only hope was to win once.
I nodded and turned to Lee.
“What about you, Chairman Lee?”
“The teams in our group aren’t easy. The U.S., Poland, and Portugal... I think even one win will be difficult.”
Both expected Korea to be eliminated early.
I smiled brightly.
“I’ve heard your thoughts. But I’m betting on Korea making the semifinals.”
“Pardon? The semifinals?”
They both blurted it out together, stunned. freeweɓnovel.cøm
I spoke again, clearly and firmly.
“Yes. I’m betting on the Korean national team reaching the semifinals.”
