Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

As Gun-Ho instructed, Director Yoon started demolishing the existing factory in Jiksan Town.

One day, Gun-Ho came to the factory to see the progress of his new factory. When Gun-Ho arrived at the factory, Director Yoon quickly came out of the container office to greet Gun-Ho.

“You shouldn’t come here, sir. During the demolition, it’s not safe for you to be here, not to mention the dust it creates.”

Despite Director Yoon’s warning, Gun-Ho wanted to see the construction field, and he went there again a few days later.

“Huh? The factory is gone.”

There was nothing on the land.

“The design drawing for the new factory is complete. The factory is divided into three sections. Two of them will be used for production. It will have a high ceiling over 5 meters high”

“Hmm.”

“The management will be located on the second floor, and the company cafeteria will be on the first floor underneath the management office.”

“Hmm.”

“There will be a pine tree planted in front of the management office as part of the landscaping. A power transformer will be located above the management office. A waste disposal site will be placed behind the production department.”

“Hmm.”

“We also made a pond outside the back door. We will landscape that area with natural stones and water plants.”

“Why are we putting the pond outside the back door? We should place it in front of the management department so we all can enjoy the pond view, shouldn’t we?”

“Haha. The pond is placed there for the purpose of water quality certification.”

“We need to get a certification?”

“We will let our industrial wastewater flow into the pond. Since we will have fish in the pond, it will show that our wastewater is treated to the level safe enough for fish to live in.”

“Hmm.”

“If you approve the plan, please sign on the first page of the design drawing. I will then have the construction get started right away.”

Gun-Ho signed on the paper vigorously in front of several people.

Gun-Ho received a call from his sister.

“Gun-Ho, how are you? I know you are very busy running your business. I just wanted to let you know that next Saturday is our father’s 70th birthday. I know I am not a good cook, but I want to invite some relatives to our house and have a birthday party for our father.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t realize his 70th birthday is coming this quick. Thank you, sister, for letting me know and for taking care of it.”

“So come home to Incheon City on Saturday, okay? I don’t even remember your face anymore.”

“Of course. I don’t go to work on Saturday anyway. I will be there. I guess I can pay for our parents’ travel expenses so they can go on a trip to celebrate father’s 70th birthday.”

“That sounds great.”

Gun-Ho gave a call to his office in Seoul—GH Development. Ms. Ji-Young Jeong picked up the phone.

“Oh, sir!”

“How have you been?”

“It’s going well here… Since Manager Kang posted our advertisements on blogs about our OneRoomTels, the vacancy rate has reduced a lot.”

“Really? Haha.”

“When are you coming back to Seoul, sir? We miss you.”

“I am actually calling today to ask you to do something for me. My parents will go on a trip to Europe; my father will turn 70 in a few days. So can you find a cruise travel package for my parents to Europe? They can depart two weeks after next Saturday.”

“Yes, sir. I will find a good one to Europe in that time frame.”

Since Manager Kang and Ms. Ji-Young Jeong didn’t have much work at the office, whenever Gun-Ho asked them to do something, they got so excited. Just a moment later after getting off the phone with Ms. Ji-Young Jeong, she called Gun-Ho.

“I talked to a travel agency.”

Ji-Young gave the departure date and price to Gun-Ho for the cruise travel to Europe.

“Looks good. Please get two tickets for that trip. We have enough money in our company account to pay for the tickets, right?”

“Yes, all the rents from OneRoomTels are accumulating in our business bank account.”

“Once you get the tickets, please mail it to me at Asan City by express mail.”

“Yes, sir.”

There was a meeting held by the city at Onyang Hotel. It was for the business owners and presidents.

“If you are building a cleanroom for your factory, Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center will provide a support fund. Also, for those of you who are trying to get an international certification for advanced technology or get a patent, our city has a support program.”

Gun-Ho was listening to the presentation of a staff from the city while dozing off. He, then, received a call from an unknown number. He didn’t answer the phone because it probably would be a spam call.

When he was on his way to the bathroom during his break time, he received a call again.

“The caller is calling from a cell phone. Who is this?”

He answered the phone this time,

“Hello?”

The caller took a moment before beginning to talk. He sounded gloomy and depressed.

“Gun-Ho? It’s me, Jae-Sik Moon.”

He was that guy who swindled 100,000 won out of Gun-Ho. He deceived Gun-Ho that he needed that money to make a high school alumni directory book. Gun-Ho didn’t ask him about it.

“Oh, Jae-Sik Moon? What’s up?”

“I’m sorry, Gun-Ho. I shouldn’t have done that to you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Jae-Sik let out a deep sigh before he continued to talk,

“I know our classmates from high school must have been talking about me by now.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“I couldn’t make the alumni directory book I told you about the other day. I was actually going to make it, but I couldn’t because of my situation. I hope you understand.”

“Really? If you say so, then okay.”

Jae-Sik Moon let out another deep sigh.

“What’s wrong with you? You used to be really talented when we were in high school. You were the best in the literature club in high school.”

“As a matter of fact, I am a person with a bad credit score, and I can’t find a job. So, I was wondering if you have any residential manager position available in one of your OneRoomTels. I’ve heard that you have several of them.”

“A residential manager position?”

“Yes. I just need a place to stay. I know I shouldn’t ask you for another favor after the alumni directory book incident. I heard you are doing very well among our high school friends. I am just so desperate right now, so I am calling you to ask if you could help me. I’ve been thinking a lot and hesitated to call you…”

“Are you studying for the government exam right now?”

“No, I don’t. I just have no place to go.”

Gun-Ho could hear Jae-Sik sobbing over the phone. Gun-Ho had mixed feelings.

“I heard you worked in a delivery company.”

“Right. I used to work there before I get fired because I made some mistakes there. And then, I started selling stuff and eventually went broke. I got divorced as well.”

Jae-Sik seemed to become emotional as he was telling his life story, and he sounded like he would start crying anytime soon.