Free Web NovelHan Kyungyeong’s arrival in Korea was a perfect feast for the Korean press.
He had everything the media loved— a Korean immigrant who had made it big in the world’s financial capital, Wall Street. For a country whose national pride had been trampled by the IMF crisis, he was the perfect opportunity to restore that lost prestige.
Even before his arrival, newspapers were plastered with special features.
[Young Korean Investor Conquers Wall Street]
Headlines like that were everywhere.
Han Kyungyeong, however, was unprepared for what awaited him.
The moment he stepped out after clearing immigration, flashes exploded around him, so bright he could barely open his eyes.
“Mr. Han Kyungyeong! Please tell us the secret to your investment success!”
“What brings you to Korea?”
He blinked, overwhelmed, glancing around helplessly as questions rained down on him.
“Please say something to encourage the Korean people!”
“Are you here to invest in Korea?”
Han Kyungyeong hesitated, unsure what to say.
Then, cutting through the reporters, a group of men pushed their way forward.
“Mr. Han Kyungyeong? Please come with us.”
Without explaining, they tried to whisk him away. Han Kyungyeong frowned.
The reporters, recognizing who these men were, snapped photos even faster.
“Let’s go, Mr. Han Kyungyeong.”
When they persisted, Han Kyungyeong replied in English, his tone sharp.
“Who are you to order me around? Am I one of your subordinates?”
Not even officials from the U.S. Treasury had ever treated him like this. Now some unknown group was barking orders at him as if he worked for them. Naturally, he was annoyed.
Some of the reporters who understood English, and even a few in the group, stared at him in shock.
“So, who exactly are you?”
The man who seemed to be their leader finally answered in English.
“I am Hong Taesoo from the Blue House Secretariat. The President wishes to meet with you.”
Hong Taesoo assumed that now that he had introduced himself, Han Kyungyeong would fall in line.
But Han’s response shattered that expectation.
“Hahaha. Do I look like a South Korean citizen to you? I’m an American. If your President wants to meet me, he can make an appointment. I don’t care where you’re from, don’t give me orders like this.”
For a moment, the Blue House staff stared blankly at him.
Ignoring them, Han turned to the reporters and spoke in Korean.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m still jet-lagged and not feeling well. I’ll hold a proper press conference later. Thank you for understanding.”
But this was Korean media— they wouldn’t back down so easily.
“Just one question, please! Why did you come to Korea?”
“What are your thoughts on Korea’s current economic crisis?”
Unfazed by the persistent shouting, Han finally pointed at one reporter.
“I’ll answer just one question. Yes, you.”
The chosen reporter beamed, stepping forward proudly as every other journalist shot him envious looks.
“Please share your thoughts on Korea’s economy. We recently surrendered our economic sovereignty to the IMF. What do you think about that?”
“Hahaha, I said one question, but that’s two.”
Han chuckled, lightening the mood before answering.
“I believe Korea’s staggering economy can recover quickly. That’s why I came here, and yes, I plan to invest. I trust the strength of the Korean people. Haven’t we already witnessed the Miracle on the Han River?”
He gestured as he spoke, giving an inspiring, almost patriotic response.
“As for giving up economic sovereignty to the IMF— there was no choice. Their demands may be harsh, but opening capital markets is inevitable. You can’t grow in isolation. This crisis is an opportunity for both the government and the people to wake up.”
After saying that, Han tried to leave with his bodyguard.
But Hong Taesoo and his men blocked his way.
“The President asked to see you. If you refuse, life in Korea might become... uncomfortable.”
Hong’s voice dropped to a threatening whisper.
Han stared at him silently for a moment before bursting out laughing.
“Hahaha! Are you serious, Mr. Hong? Even Camdessus, whom you all bow to, has to book an appointment to meet me. Seems like the Korean government still doesn’t know how to act properly. Step aside before I file an official complaint with the U.S. government.”
And he said it in Korean, loud enough for every reporter to hear.
Everyone knew how much authority the Blue House Secretariat held, making the moment all the more shocking.
Hong’s face twisted with embarrassment and anger. He had never been treated like this in his career.
“Mr. Han Kyungyeong! Are you sure you want to go this far?” he snapped, raising his voice.
Han was about to reply when another group rushed over.
“Hello, James. We’re from the U.S. Embassy. Is there a problem?”
The embassy staff had come to escort Han Kyungyeong.
Han pointed at Hong Taesoo.
“These people are blocking my way.”
The embassy staff glanced at Hong, then smiled politely at Han.
“We’ll take care of it. You can leave now.”
“Thanks. I’ll leave it to you.”
Han walked out of the airport, leaving the stunned Blue House staff behind.
The embassy staff looked back at Hong with open disdain. freёweɓnovel.com
“You’re from the Blue House Secretariat? Under what authority are you harassing a U.S. citizen? We’ll be filing a formal complaint.”
“N-no, wait, that’s not—”
“James Han is an important figure in the U.S. Even as allies, this is disappointing.”
The staffer didn’t wait for a reply and turned on his heel. Hong could only watch helplessly.
That afternoon, Han Kyungyeong’s interview dominated the evening papers.
[Wall Street Legend Han Kyungyeong: “Korea’s Economy is Strong”]
[Han Kyungyeong Says Korea Will Recover Soon]
Not a single paper reported the clash with the Blue House.
Such was reality in Korea.
* * *
“Hahaha!”
I was secretly meeting Han Kyungyeong at his hotel.
Hearing about his airport incident, I couldn’t stop laughing.
“I was going to let it slide, but their attitude was unbearable.”
“The Blue House has always been like that. Authority first, common sense second.”
Han shook his head, still annoyed.
“I came here ready to offer some lip service, not to be treated like that. Not even in the U.S. do they act this way.”
“They see you as a Korean, that’s why.”
Choosing Han had been the right decision.
Being an American citizen was a massive advantage in Korea at this time.
If he had been Korean, the hyenas would have already torn into him.
“They’ll probably reach out again tonight.”
No doubt the National Intelligence Service was already watching us.
I didn’t care if my connection to Han became public— it would only help me. I just had to be careful when meeting Eva.
“If they invite you again, accept. When else will you get to visit the Blue House?”
“Ugh... I’d rather not think about it right now.”
True enough, Korean bureaucrats would never change.
Han’s influence was greater than they realized.
A “legend of Wall Street” and a “member of the Wall Street cartel”—those titles weren’t earned by just having money. They signified terrifying influence in the U.S.
“For now, Michael and the guards will stay with you, but Eric’s team will arrive soon. They’ll handle security after that.”
“You’re already setting up a Korean branch?”
“Of course. I need a trustworthy team. We can’t use Park Dongsu’s men as bodyguards, can we?”
“Hah, true.”
After some small talk, we got to business.
“You’ll use the New York branch’s funds to invest in stocks and companies. I’ll give you a list. The government will make a lot of demands.”
Han nodded, understanding the implication.
“What about the ghost companies?”
I hadn’t mentioned Eva to him until now, but it was time to explain.
“There’s someone named Eva who follows my instructions. But there’s no link between you two. No one will ever think you’re working together. She doesn’t even know you’re my ally— or that I own Dreamhigh Investment.”
I had no plans to tell Eva everything.
Han was different, though.
As I explained my strategy, Han listened quietly, nodding.
“You’ll keep good relations with the government while investing in companies. The IMF lifted foreign investment restrictions, so it’s a perfect chance.”
“So I’m the good cop, and this Eva person is the bad cop.”
“Exactly. Eva will act like a vulture, circling struggling companies. You’ll swoop in as the white knight, buying them after their debts are wiped clean.”
The plan was simple— Eva would create pressure, forcing companies to sell. Han would then acquire them cheaply, with Dreamhigh quietly buying up shares later. Once control was secured, we’d delist them—private companies faced fewer restrictions than public ones.
“I get it. That’s my role.”
“After your Blue House meeting, meet Progressive candidate Kim Hakgwon. His victory is in our best interest.”
I didn’t tell Han about the Cheongpunghoe.
“Do we really need to? A conservative victory wouldn’t hurt us, would it?”
“It might cause serious trouble.”
I didn’t elaborate, but Han, trusting me completely now, didn’t argue further.
As expected, the Blue House sent a polite invitation soon after.
Han visited and met the President in a private meeting, giving diplomatic, non-committal answers. The government turned it into headlines, of course.
A few days later, Han and I secretly met Progressive candidate Kim Hakgwon.
With less than a month left before the election, and no rise in his approval ratings, Kim desperately needed Han’s support.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Hakgwon.”
“Han Kyungyeong, sir.”
Even Han couldn’t act arrogant in front of such a political heavyweight.
After their introductions, Kim finally turned to me.
“So this is our first meeting. You’re Chairman Cheon’s grandson, right? I heard you’ve been helping our campaign quite a bit.”
“Yes, sir.”
Running for president drained every penny a party had. Legal campaign funds were reimbursed only if you won over 15% of the vote, but everyone knew elections cost far more than the legal limit.
Enormous amounts of money flowed into campaigns, and it was considered normal.
But most conglomerates only gave token donations to Kim while pouring real money into the conservatives.
My support had helped the campaign significantly, but to Kim, it probably still wasn’t enough.
‘Still, isn’t that expression a bit too obvious?’
Kim’s attitude toward Han and me was completely different.
“I didn’t know you were acquainted with Mr. Han. The Wall Street legend and the heir of Myeongdong’s future king...”
Kim practically ignored me, turning back to Han.
I held back a laugh.
This man still doesn’t get it.
< Return in Glory > End
