novelraw Chapter 83: First Button (1)
Chapter 83: First Button (1)
I quietly closed the restructuring scenario draft.
The texture of the paper touching my fingertips was not unfamiliar.
It was the result of countless refinements, revisions, and reviews.
Now, it was not just a plan, but had become a reality.
I turned on the tablet placed on the table.
A few notifications popped up along with the summary of the meeting that had just ended.
When I opened the notifications on the screen, one of them was an informal meeting schedule with a Korea Development Bank official.
The other was data on the external reaction to the first list of restructuring targets.
‘I told them to leave work early. They really do not listen.’
Even while I myself was not leaving work, I chided the employees, saying they would not go home early.Even while saying so, I did not feel bad inwardly.
They each prepared for tomorrow diligently.
The general manager-level personnel always remained in the company until the latest, and they sent the subordinates home early.
The words they said while doing so were that they worked as much as they were paid.
I shook my head as if I could not help it, stood up from my seat, and walked to the window.
It was a quiet night.
“Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering is not the end.”
My gaze moved from the window to the wall.
There was a whiteboard there.
I picked up a pen and began writing something down.
I wrote Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering largely and wrote the names of three companies below it.
-Daehan Precision Industry
-Daehan Merchant Marine Technology
-Daehan Machinery Research Institute
And below that, I wrote largely in red.
-Daehan Group
I emphasized it by drawing a large underline under ‘Daehan Group’.
I stared at the whiteboard for a long time with my arms crossed.
In the middle of that, the cell phone rang.
“Yes, this is Lim Hyunjun.”
-Representative, tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM. A request has come in from Manager Cho Minki’s side of the Corporate Restructuring Innovation Department at Korea Development Bank. The meeting place has been set at Taeseong Hotel.
I smiled faintly.
It was as I expected.
“They must have been quite in a hurry as well. Very well. Please proceed as it is.”
Choi Seo-jun’s voice became somewhat lower.
-Yes, but Representative, a contact has come from Chief Jeong Jin-woo. He says someone inside Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering is moving. It seems to be an attempt to block our plan in advance.
I looked into the tablet screen and checked the list of restructuring targets.
“That degree of movement is natural. They would not be able to stay in that position if they did nothing. It is a final struggle to survive.”
There was not a single trace of shaking in my voice.
“But it is already late. No matter what they do.”
After putting down the cell phone, I raised my head again and looked at the whiteboard hanging on the wall.
The government wanted restructuring, and the people's jobs were protected.
Taeseong will gain an opportunity, and the shipbuilding industry will develop further.
The ‘Daehan Group’ highlighted in red particularly caught my eye.
“I will peel off the layers one by one and make everything revealed thoroughly.”
I decided on the first goal.
***
The meeting room of Taeseong Hotel.
I arrived at Taeseong Hotel after preparing early.
Director Choi Seo-jun and General Manager Yu Hyeon-seok were already in their seats there.
This time, General Manager Yu Hyeon-seok was the working-level staff who would take charge of and proceed with the Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering restructuring consortium.
Beverages and snacks prepared in advance were placed on the table.
However, there was no one who laid a hand on them.
Like generals checking their weapons before a war, everyone was busy preparing for battle while quietly holding their breath.
When a bit of time had passed, Financial Director Choi Sang-gyu of Taeseong Heavy Industries arrived.
He seemed somewhat surprised to see my group sitting there having arrived early.
Because he had also arrived about 50 minutes early.
“You have come out early.”
“Good morning. Director Choi Sang-gyu.”
Choi Sang-gyu also sat quietly in his seat, had a brief conversation, and reviewed the materials he had brought.
Time flowed and flowed, and the air in the meeting room gradually hardened.
Choi Seo-jun, who had looked at the clock on the wall several times, muttered quietly.
“Is this not being too rude!”
“…….”
I checked the watch on my wrist with an expressionless face.
In fact, the promised time was 7:00 AM.
But now, more than 30 minutes have passed.
While everyone waited anxiously, someone finally opened the door and entered.
The figure who entered first was a tall man.
It was Manager Cho Minki of the Corporate Restructuring Innovation Department at Korea Development Bank.
The one following him was President Park Se-dong of Daehan Construction, whose graying hair was sparse here and there.
Both entered with a relaxed gait.
They were wearing smiles as if there were something pleasant between them.
Park Se-dong made a gesture as if to say he was sorry.
“Oh dear, I am sorry. It seems the traffic was a bit blocked.”
Cho Minki also laid out excuses.
“I was a bit late because I was having a cup of tea after a long time with President Park.”
Park Se-dong waved his hand.
His hand gesture looked exaggeratedly large.
“I for no reason took up his time. I am sorry. Our Manager Cho is like an older brother to me.”
At those words, Manager Cho Minki shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
That laughter echoed noisily inside the meeting room.
“Haha, as the President says so, it is embarrassing. Anyway, since it is an old connection, I sometimes lose track of time when talking like this.”
Even in that short conversation, I recognized the old friendship and rapport between the two.
And I also detected a strange sense of incongruity within it.
It was as if they were reading a pre-arranged script, so how could I not know.
I subtly sent a message to Chief Jeong Jin-woo with my cell phone.
[Chief Jeong, please look into Manager Cho Minki of Korea Development Bank.]
Immediately after sending the message, I tucked the cell phone into my pocket.
I also smiled while chiming in with them.
“Then shall we start in earnest.”
Director Choi Seo-jun took out the meeting materials he had prepared and handed them to them.
I expressed my opinion first.
“Today’s consultation topic will deal with working-level content for the restructuring consortium. Let us proceed in the order of organizing the existing management and then the consultation with the creditor group after the acquisition.”
However, Manager Cho Minki laughed lightly from the first sentence and cut my words off.
“I understand Representative Lim’s words well. But are you not being too hasty?”
I looked toward Manager Cho Minki.
“In what respect do you mean I am being hasty?”
“Well. Is the expression ‘organizing the existing management’ not premature in a state where the official acquisition has not even been completed yet?”
Cho Minki spoke while leisurely raising the glass placed in front of him.
“Is the personnel issue not a part that can be sufficiently discussed even after the acquisition?”
It was clear he was picking a fight on purpose.
I answered with a consistent expression without a single trace of being ruffled.
“Manager Cho, restructuring is a matter of setting plans before the acquisition. Is that not the basics?”
Cho Minki crossed his arms nonchalantly.
Usually, a person appears in a defensive attitude when taking such a posture.
“Haha, your words are a bit like that. But you see. For us, the trust of the creditor group is the priority. Even if we decide on the personnel for the organization among ourselves, the work will not proceed if the creditor group opposes it.”
This time, General Manager Yu Hyeon-seok stepped forward.
“If it is a person the creditor group would trust, they would not be a target for organization.”
Manager Cho Minki’s smile disappeared.
He immediately brought up another topic.
“Regarding that part about the full guarantee of employment succession. I know there is a promise with the government, but should we not also leave some room for realistic adjustment? I mean, how are we supposed to work.”
Choi Seo-jun opened his mouth.
His voice was gradually becoming loaded with emotion.
“That part is a matter for which consultations with the government have already ended. The government is considering job maintenance as the top priority.”
“Well. Should we not distinguish between the government’s policy and the situation on the ground.”
Cho Minki even tapped the table with his finger.
“To have such a lack of practical sense.”
Looking at the way he argued with every word, it was typical time-dragging and building up a justification.
I clearly read that flow.
I swallowed a light sip of water and said quietly.
“Is this the official position of the Korea Development Bank? If not, is it Manager Cho’s personal judgment?”
Cho Minki’s brows narrowed slightly.
“My judgment will soon be the judgment of the Korea Development Bank.”
“Is that so? Then it is a relief.”
I stood up from my seat and said.
“I have understood Manager Cho’s thoughts well. Since I have confirmed the official position of the Korea Development Bank, I shall deliver it to the President as it is. Now, let us go.”
Following me, Director Choi Seo-jun and General Manager Yu Hyeon-seok also stood up immediately.
A heavy tension filled the conference room.
Then, Manager Cho Minki showed a flustered appearance.
“Wait a moment, Representative Lim. Let us not do this.”
I lightly raised my hand and blocked his words.
“This place is a place for working-level consultations. However, if the official position of the Korea Development Bank side is like this, I judge that there is no need to waste time with any more meaningless conversation.”
I picked up the tablet, swiped my finger across it, and then placed it on the table with a thud.
On the screen, a video of the Korea Development Bank restructuring meeting presided over by the President was displayed as a still frame.
I lightly placed my finger on it.
“This is a summary of the contents that the Korea Development Bank promised to the government during the last meeting. You clearly stated that you would carry out a prompt restructuring on the premise of protecting the people's jobs.”
At those words, Cho Minki only moved his mouth wordlessly and looked at Park Se-dong.
Only then did Park Se-dong, who had only been watching silently, say with an awkward smile.
“Representative Lim, do not be so serious….”
“President Park!”
I turned my head and looked directly at him.
My tone was polite, but they were startled by the firm energy.
“Please remind yourselves that every single word you say in this place right now is being recorded as it is. Already, the government is moving together with Taeseong for the normalization of the shipbuilding industry as a whole. However, if this place is twisted by personal friendship, you, the Korea Development Bank and Daehan Construction sides, will have to handle the aftermath much more heavily than us.”
The corners of Park Se-dong’s mouth stiffened.
Cho Minki also could not continue his words and only lowered his head.
I continued my words slowly.
“If the Korea Development Bank wants to be the government’s partner for the reconstruction of the Republic of Korea’s shipbuilding industry, show a proper attitude.”
I spoke while looking around the meeting room one last time.
“Tomorrow morning, a meeting of representatives from relevant ministries and national policy banks presided over by Cheongwadae is scheduled. I plan to report the contents discussed today exactly as they are at that place.”
After finishing my words, I left the meeting room after showing courtesy.
Choi Seo-jun, Yu Hyeon-seok, and Choi Sang-gyu of Taeseong Heavy Industries followed behind.
Only silence flowed in the meeting room for a while.
Cho Minki, who later regained his senses, muttered lowly.
“…The young guy is no ordinary person.”
Park Se-dong coughed and rubbed his forehead.
“At this rate, there will be no place for us to stand. Brother, please try to settle it somehow.”
But Cho Minki’s head was already blank.
He had entered late on purpose with the intention of looking down on him for being young and swinging him this way and that.
But he ended up being completely helpless against that young guy.
And very severely at that.
While I moved my steps, a message sent by Chief Jeong Jin-woo arrived.
[Suspect circumstances captured among the joint investment cases of Cho Minki and Daehan Construction subsidiaries by Park Se-dong.]
The corners of my mouth rose wickedly.
Choi Seo-jun noticed that appearance and got goosebumps on his spine.
Among these people, the only one who had known me for a long time was Choi Seo-jun.
He knew that something happened when I made that kind of expression.