Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Chapter 392: Art Exhibition with Original Paintings (2) – Part 1

GH Media’s President Jeong-Sook Shin came.

“I heard that you’ve achieved another success with the cartoon exhibition of Japanese original cartoon paintings.”

“It is successful, but selling an expensive painting would have brought more profits than hosting this cartoon exhibition. Hahaha.”

“But it was very effective marketing since so many students rush into our gallery.”

“Those kids are just noisy.”

“They will soon become our precious customers.”

“Those little customers are from Gangnam District, and they seem to have no problem buying a painting for 200,000 or 300,000 won.”

“Their parents wouldn’t mind them spending the money to buy a cartoon painting. It’s not wrongdoing, is it?”

“I heard them talking about the paintings and the cartoonists. They seem to know much more than us about cartoons.”

“That means Japanese cartoons are very popular among those students.”

“They read original Japanese cartoon books even though they are not translated into Korean. That’s amazing.”

“Even though it won’t bring a fortune, I am so glad that your exhibition is again successful this time.”

“Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda suggested another exhibition with items that are used for a costume play, but I turned it down.”

“What is a costume play? I think I heard the word before.”

“Children dress like a cartoon character and a place is decorated as a scene in a cartoon book. They can’t wear outfits like that on normal days, but once there is an event for it, people go there in those ridiculous outfits. It seems that Hakyeoul Seoul Trade Exhibition Center is hosting an event like that right now.”

“If it’s that popular, why did you reject the suggestion?”

“We are an art gallery. I thought that hosting that sort of event could diminish our gallery’s class or reputation.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m thinking of hosting a sculpture exhibition next time.”

“Is that so?”

“Oh, and I will have dinner with Artist Choi’s niece—Doctor Eun-Young Kim this Friday. Why don’t you join us, sir? We will meet at the Daehak-Ro area.”

“I don’t want to interrupt your cozy gathering.”

“No, you won’t, sir. Since she invited us for dinner last time, I wanted to treat her.”

“How is Ms. Young-Eun Kim person related to Artist Choi?”

“Young-Eun is Artist Choi’s older sister’s daughter.”

“I see.”

“Ever since her mom died, she thought of Artist Choi like her mom.”

“How did her mother pass away?”

“When Young-Eun was in high school, her mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I went to her funeral.”

“I see.”

“She grew up really well. I’m so proud of her. I remember her crying so hard and so sad at the funeral. She is now a medical doctor.”

“Her father must live by himself.”

“Right. He is living in Sillim Town. He had used to work as a teacher in an elementary school before he retired. By the way, sir, you sound like an investigator today. Hahaha.”

“Huh? Umm…”

Gun-Ho stammered.

“Well, I guess I’d better go to the gallery downstairs. I’m sorry that I take Secretary Yeon-Soo Oh to the gallery too often.”

“No problem. She doesn’t have much work here now anyway.”

Jeong-Sook Shin walked toward the door and then turned around and said, “I think Artist Choi likes you a lot, sir.”

“I’m sorry?”

Gun-Ho blushed.

Artist Choi was hoping that her niece would marry Gun-Ho even though her niece was not interested in marrying anyone. She was persuading her niece over the phone.

“Young-Eun, you don’t want to miss your golden time for marriage. Look at me. I missed my time and I live alone and I’m pathetic. You have always told me that you wanted to have a center for cancer research. You won’t be able to save enough money by working in a hospital to do so. If you marry a man who has a wealthy family, maybe it’s possible; however, it’s not easy to find that sort of man who wants to marry you. It’s not like they would welcome any woman to their family, just because she is a medical doctor. Moreover, say you found a man like that. Do you think you can be happy as part of their family? The chances are that you would feel suffocated in their family.

But, the Gun-Ho Goo person is a self-made successful man. He is in control of his wealth and who to marry and how to manage the marriage. He is a good-looking man, and he is gentle with good manners. I don’t want to focus on money, but I was told that he owns a huge building in Gangnam District, and he has several companies that he is running right now. You know that President Jeong-Sook Shin is very picky when it comes to a man. She spoke highly of him. Who knows? He might build a nice hospital for you.

I know you are making decent money by working in a hospital; however, as I said before, you can’t make enough to build a hospital. As you know, many doctors filed for bankruptcy after they opened their own hospitals with a loan. You don’t hear much but I heard many of them became a person with bad credit. You know what that means, right? You also should remember the news about a doctor who had a high-ranking government official father. He opened his own hospital and then later he committed suicide when he faced acute financial difficulties in running his business.

President Gun-Ho Goo didn’t graduate from Seoul National University as you did, but he went to a university in China. He seemed to have many friends in China, who are a college professor, a deputy mayor, etc. You don’t have to be too proud about your college. Many graduates from Seoul National University don’t make enough money to provide for his family. President Gun-Ho Goo is not just a businessman, but he is someone who can enjoy arts. On the first day of my art exhibition, he came and bought a piece of my artworks. At that time, I wondered who that gentleman was, and it turned out that he was the man who Jeong-Sook Shin talked to me about. Are you listening, Eun-Young? Oh, you are busy right now? Okay, I will talk to you later.”

Artist Choi was trying whatever she could to talk her niece into dating Gun-Ho, but she was not sure if she was successful.

Gun-Ho stopped by GH Logistics in Seonghwan Town that afternoon. There were several heavy equipments parked in the yard, and a few truck drivers were seen. It looked like the company was running fine. Jae-Sik Moon looked better that day compared to other days when he had swollen lips in fatigue. He seemed to gain some weight too.

“Hey, you are here, President Goo.”

“I saw several trucks and heavy equipment in the yard.”

“Right. We have now twenty seven vehicles. I bought one more truck for the Paju location since we received more work for transporting books. People recognize our company as a big company now.”

“Really? So there must be three trucks in the Paju location.”

“Dyeon Korea’s Director Yoon asked one more truck too.”

“Did you start the work that Director Yoon connected you to?”

“Yes. I already sent five 25-dump trucks.”

“What is that truck over there for?”

“That’s the special freight truck customized to transport artworks.”