Episode 152
The market share battle between Daehoo Electronics, Saseong, and MG wasn’t as intense or impactful as the underlying struggle.
These three companies’ domestic appliance sales accounted for only about 10% of their total revenue. Even a fierce competition within this 10% wouldn’t significantly impact their overall performance.
But it was a matter of pride.
These companies might be global players, prioritizing exports, but Korea was their home turf.
Saseong and MG’s pride had been wounded by losing market share to Daehoo Electronics, a company on the verge of collapse, and Daehoo Electronics needed visible results to demonstrate its recovery. That was the essence of this competition.
“It’s winding down,” I concluded, as the upward trend in market share, fueled by aggressive advertising, PR, and the trade-in program, began to lose momentum.
“Let’s restore the price of used appliances.”
We had already gained a significant market share, over 20%, so we had achieved our goal.
And Saseong and MG were establishing new overseas markets for used appliances. It was time to loosen the reins.
“Have Managing Director Im contact Saseong and MG, suggesting a reconciliation. He can say he persuaded me.”
It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to contact them directly, considering my previous remarks to the Saseong CEO, so it was better to approach them indirectly through Im Jong-geun.
He clicked his tongue, looking disappointed. “It’s a shame. We could have squeezed them for more…”
He was right, but it was becoming less efficient.
This was the perfect time to cash in, before Saseong and MG found new buyers and the upward trend reversed.
Knowing when to sell, even with some regret, was a crucial skill in business, just like in the stock market.
“This is the right time. Even if Saseong and MG find new buyers, the prices won’t be as low as ours. We still have a competitive edge, but it won’t last. It’s better to reconcile while we’re still ahead.”
He still looked disappointed but reluctantly agreed. “Alright, I’ll do it.”
It was his first taste of success after a year of hardship, so it was understandable that he felt some regret.
“But the company made a substantial profit, so let’s give out bonuses.”
Daehoo Electronics employees had been working day and night during the market share competition. They were already working hard to earn promotions, and I had been pushing them even harder on quality control. They deserved a reward.
“Give them 3 to 5 million won each, depending on their position.”
He smiled brightly. “Yes, sir!”
As things were winding down at Daehoo Electronics, there was some good news.
Maru and Lee Ju-hee from the research lab were getting married.
I was surprised. Maru had been pining for the ice queen Lee Ju-hee, and now they were getting married.
A bear and an ice queen.
I wasn’t sure if they were a good match.
Park Jong-bum and his wife were the first to greet me at the wedding venue.
“Chairman!”
“Director Park.”
He gestured towards his wife. “This is my wife.”
I had heard about her but had never met her before.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Park Sol.”
She said with a grateful expression, “I’ve heard so much about you from my husband, Chairman. Thank you so much.”
“It’s nothing.”
“No, you don’t understand. This man keeps talking about how he owes everything to you. He wouldn’t be where he is today without you. I’m still furious about how he was betrayed by his former company… Thanks to you, we have a nice house, a nice car, and he’s a managing director at Chunha Group now. He should be grateful and work hard for you. He should be working like a dog.”
He nudged her, embarrassed by her sudden outburst. “Why are you saying these things in front of the chairman?”
“I’m just expressing my gratitude.”
“You can just say ‘thank you.'”
I smiled at their bickering. It was amusing to see the usually sly and calculating Park Jong-bum flustered by his talkative wife.
“It’s nothing. I’ve also received a lot of help from Director Park. And I’m still receiving it.”
“That’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for him.”
“Honey, stop it! Do you think this is a neighborhood gossip session?”
He hurriedly covered her mouth. “A-anyway, Chairman, I’ll see you later.”
He dragged her away, and I headed towards the groom’s waiting room.
Usually, there was only a bride’s waiting room, but this was a high-end hotel wedding venue, so they had a separate room for the groom.
I received many greetings on the way.
“Chairman! Greetings!”
“Chairman, these are my family members.”
It was Maru’s wedding, my right-hand man and vice president of Chunha Trading, the de facto holding company of Chunha Group, although he didn’t have an official title at Daehoo. Many people were eager to make a good impression.
Daehoo employees, early Chunha Trading employees, subcontractors, business partners… I had tried to limit the number of guests, but there were still over a thousand people.
I finally arrived at the groom’s waiting room.
“Hey, groom.”
Maru, who was getting his makeup done, smiled brightly. “Hyung, you’re here.”
“You look happy. Excited?”
“Of course, my dream is coming true.”
Having grown up in an orphanage, his dream was to have a happy family.
“They say you’ll regret getting married.”
He said with an incredulous expression, “Is that something you say to the groom on his wedding day?”
“Kikik, congratulations.”
I gestured to the bodyguards standing behind me. “Bring it here.”
Two bodyguards wheeled in a cart with something covered in cloth.
“What is this?”
He unveiled the object, and the room was filled with a golden glow.
It was a golden calf, over 300kg of pure gold, worth 5 billion won.
I said with a satisfied expression, seeing everyone’s stunned faces, “You have plenty of money, so I wanted to give you a meaningful gift. What does gold symbolize? Immortality, isn’t it? May your happiness last forever.”
“Hyung…”
5 billion won wasn’t a significant amount for either of us, but the fact that it was gold was important.
He knew it came from my gold vault, the ultimate reserve, which I never touched. And 300kg was a significant amount.
My businesses were always high-risk, high-return.
I had taken many precautions, creating the Baek In-hwi persona and accumulating a vast fortune, and the gold vault was my last resort, to be used only in emergencies.
He knew the significance of this gift.
“Just take it. The crafting fee was expensive too, so don’t refuse.”
“…Thank you, hyung. If it weren’t for you…”
I slapped him on the back. “Just say ‘thank you.'”
“Ouch! Thank you. I’ll be happy.”
Even Maru, now a multi-billionaire, was moved by the gift. The other people in the room, from the bodyguards to the hotel staff, were stunned.
I could have given him the gift privately, but I had chosen to do it publicly to spread the word and create a positive story.
The chairman of Chunha Group gifting a 300kg golden calf to his subordinate at his wedding.
It was a way to show off my generosity and motivate my employees. And of course, I genuinely wanted to congratulate Maru.
I always aimed for maximum impact with minimum effort.
“Anyway, be happy. I need you to work hard. If you slack off because of marital problems, I’ll cut your salary.”
“You always have to…” He rubbed his back, which was still sore from my slap. “By the way, hyung…”
“What?”
“I’m getting married before you. Are you okay with that? I feel a bit bad.”
“Why would you feel bad? It’s natural for people to get married when they’re ready.”
“But I’m your younger brother.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m not in a hurry.”
I meant it.
I wasn’t interested in women. Money had always been my priority.
I wanted a child to continue my legacy, but I had no interest in romance.
And I didn’t want a strategic marriage with a powerful family either.
They might try to influence Chunha Group.
The best option was a marriage with an ordinary woman, but would an ordinary woman want to marry a chaebol chairman?
I wondered if I would ever get married.
I wanted a child, but I had no interest in romance, and I didn’t want a strategic marriage or a marriage with an ordinary person.
It meant I wasn’t going to get married.
“Don’t worry about me. Focus on your own life. I’ll figure something out.”
I could always adopt. Maybe I could find a promising child from the orphanage I was supporting.
I had practically given up on marriage, but an opportunity presented itself sooner than I expected.
“So… you’re saying…” I looked at the woman standing before me with a bewildered expression. “…that you’re Chairman Wang Qian’s daughter?”
She was tall and slender, with a sharp, arrogant face. She exuded confidence.
“Your Chinese is good.”
“Well, yes…”
“My father speaks highly of you, so I wanted to meet you.”
“Your father? Thank you.”
I had a good relationship with Chairman Wang, but I hadn’t expected his daughter to visit me.
‘She’s not bad-looking.’
I felt slightly offended by her scrutinizing gaze but decided to be patient, as I didn’t know her intentions.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Wang Jin-hee, 21 years old.”
21 years old?
She looked older, with her height and confident demeanor.
“Yes, nice to meet you. I’m Park Sol.”
An awkward silence followed.
I finally broke the silence. “Well, I had you brought to my office since you’re Chairman Wang’s daughter, but what brings you here? I’m not sure what this is about.”
“Nothing special. You’re at the top of my father’s list, so I was curious.”
“List?”
“Yes, list.” She looked around my office. “Your company is doing well, and my father said you’re not a pushover. You have a good image, especially the self-made man part. That’s a plus.”
“What list are you talking about?”
I couldn’t imagine what kind of list her father would have.
A blacklist? A client list? None of them seemed like a reason for his daughter to visit me.
“It’s a list of potential marriage partners. My father compiled a list of eligible men. About 15 of them. There are Chinese chaebol heirs, high-ranking officials, and even a foreigner, you, who received the highest rating.”
A list of potential marriage partners?
She had dropped a bombshell, and I stared at her, speechless. She smiled. “Why? Are you not interested?”
She turned around, showing off her figure. “I’m not bad-looking, and I’m much younger than you. And my father is the chairman of Haixin Group. You should be happy.”
“…Uh…”
“I like you. Let’s get married.”
What was with this woman?
She was too direct. I tried to calm myself. “Marriage isn’t something you decide so easily. We should be more careful. And we’ve only known each other for 30 minutes. This isn’t normal.”
She said calmly, “I’ve thought this through. I’ve observed your business dealings, the acquisition of Daehoo Electronics and Daehoo Energy, I even visited your department store. I’ve done my research on you, your business style, your personality… You’re the best candidate on the list, so I came here for a final confirmation.”
She smiled at my stunned expression. “You know that a normal relationship and marriage are impossible for people like us. If I have to marry someone within this circle, I’d rather choose myself. I don’t want to be like my older sister, who waited and ended up marrying someone chosen by my father.”
Annoyed by her one-sided conversation, I said curtly, “…Shouldn’t you give me some time to think? You might have investigated me, but I just learned about your existence.”
Her eyes widened. “Isn’t that a bit rude?”
“Rude…? You’re one to talk.”
She smiled. “You have a temper. I like that even more.”
She was definitely crazy.
“Anyway, let’s get married. I have a dream. My sister dreamed of a romantic relationship with an ordinary person, but I’m different. I want to be the sole successor of Haixin Group. I want to push aside my siblings and become the chairman. Why can’t a woman be the chairman? My father might be old-fashioned, but he values competence above all else. If I prove myself, I can become the successor. And you’re the perfect partner for that. My father approves of you, and since you’re self-made, there won’t be any pressure from your family. Marry me, and help me become the successor. Do you have a girlfriend? It doesn’t matter. You can keep seeing her. I’m a generous woman.”
I had been wrong.
She wasn’t crazy. She was ruthless.
A 21-year-old woman willing to use marriage as a tool to become the successor, pushing aside her siblings.
She was a dangerous woman.
“Don’t you think we’re a good match?”
But…
“…”
I smelled money.