Chapter 357: Section Chief Yoon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 357: Section Chief Yoon
A light breeze was beginning to blow through Uju Global.
To some, it was a favorable tailwind encountered while navigating the vast, open sea.
To others, it was a merciless, bloody gale.
A storm of many meanings was about to break.
“…I’m so damn tired.”
I, the one closest to the eye of that storm, was currently slumped over my desk, sucking on a red ginseng stick.
Did you know? These days, convenience stores sell red ginseng sticks individually. If you ever feel like your body is giving out, buy one and try it.
“Ahem, Woo-jin?”
At the sound of a voice calling me from the side, I barely turned my head. Employee Kim was watching me warily as he asked tentatively, “Would you like some coffee?”
“Employee Kim, why are you using formal language with me?”
“Pardon?”
“And what’s with the ‘Woo-jin’ part? Who calls me that?”
“I’m sorry, Young Master!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
It just got worse.
“Just call me Woo-jin. Or speak casually if you want to be more comfortable.”
“No, that’s a bit…”
“I’m telling you, people will think it’s weird. To everyone else, I’m just a somewhat handsome office assistant.”
“…”
“Employee Kim?”
“Ahem, yes! You’re right!”
If the silence goes on too long, I start getting the wrong idea.
“Th-then… Woo-jin, would you like some coffee?”
“I’ll go get it. You focus on your work, Employee Kim.”
I was actually craving coffee because I was tired. After taking orders from the rest of the team, I headed down to the cafe. Usually, the standard rule is to settle for the mix coffee in the breakroom, but today I felt like I needed a real hit of caffeine, so I bought it from the cafe.
For the record, Section Chief Yoon gave me his card.
“Here you go.”
I handed the coffees to the team members one by one. After finishing, I was about to sit down at my desk when Section Chief Yoon cleared his throat and called out to me.
“Woo-jin?”
“Yes, Section Chief.”
In an instant, everyone’s eyes were on us. It seemed they hadn't expected the Section Chief to be the one to call me first.
“Are you… going out for field work today?”
“No, I’m skipping class today.”
“Pfft.”
Laughter erupted from around us. Hearing me talk about "skipping class" must have reminded them of their own college days.
“Wow, I used to skip class all the time if I drank the night before.”
“I almost got an F back then because my boyfriend kept begging me not to go.”
“I still went to all my lectures, though.”
A sudden bloom of college nostalgia interrupted the workday. Section Chief Yoon cleared his throat again, steering the conversation back.
“Right. Then come into the meeting with me today.”
“Yes, sir.”
The employees were shocked once again. They could overlook him speaking to me, but involving me in a meeting was a different matter entirely.
“S-Section Chief? Wasn't this meeting supposed to be for team leaders from other departments?”
When Assistant Manager Oh asked tentatively, Section Chief Yoon gave a small nod.
“That’s right. He just needs to go and set up the PPT and take the meeting minutes.”
“Isn't taking minutes a bit much for him?”
“He just has to follow the template. It’s not that hard.”
“I’ll do whatever you ask, sir.”
When I replied with a smile, Assistant Manager Oh couldn't say anything more.
Section Chief Yoon was making his move.
With a physique smaller than most, angular glasses, a slight slouch, and wrinkles, he was a man who, in many ways, couldn't help but go unnoticed.
However, in the end, everyone would find themselves forced to pay attention to Section Chief Yoon’s every step.
* * *
The Team Leaders' Meeting.
It was a monthly occurrence where each leader gave a brief end-of-month settlement report to the Department Head. Originally, the team leaders reported individually, but recently, as inter-departmental cooperation increased, they had begun meeting like this to report.
There was nothing particularly difficult about it.
If you worked honestly, you reported honestly. If results were lacking, getting scolded was just part of the job for a salaryman.
I figured it wouldn't be much different from usual.
But when I entered the conference room…
“Hello, my name is Kim Woo-jin.”
The moment they saw the Young Master in his red suit, it felt like they’d been punched in the gut.
He was currently the hottest topic in Uju Global. In particular, the anecdote about him calling the Chairman directly in front of the Executive Director was already common knowledge among those in the loop.
That Section Chief Yoon?
Is he trying to pick a side?
But why the youngest son?
Section Chief Yoon was already famous within the company. A fool who knew nothing but work. For such a man to bring a member of the owner’s family—not even an assistant manager—to a team leaders' meeting?
No one could deny the uneasy atmosphere in the room.
The Department Head, who was to receive the final reports, entered.
“Oh?”
He, too, let out a short exclamation of surprise, but he sat down without letting it show further.
The meeting began as the Department Head took his seat. The team leaders gave brief reports on this month’s tasks and next month’s plans.
However, the atmosphere was far from light.
Kim Woo-jin was taking the minutes. Every time he tapped the keys, a chill ran down the back of their necks.
Logically, taking minutes was a normal task. Yet, strangely, it made them reflect on themselves: Did I just say something inappropriate? Did I use a word that might be offensive?
The reports continued, feeling more like they were being graded, until it was the Digital Marketing Team’s turn.
They always had similar content and lackluster results. However, today was different. While the performance report itself was dull, they had prepared a separate PPT for their projected projects for the month.
“A PPT?”
The Department Head’s brow furrowed. He thought it was out of nowhere, but his mouth snapped shut when he saw who was setting it up and flipping the slides.
Why is he wearing such a conspicuous suit?
Even if he wanted to ignore him, he simply couldn't.
“I will begin.”
November Digital Marketing Plans.
The PPT Section Chief Yoon had created was clean. He didn't use long, rambling text; instead, he used photos and graphs to detail the expected investment resources and the resulting profits for their upcoming projects.
The logic supporting it was incredibly solid.
“…”
Even Kim Woo-jin, who was watching, was learning something.
Impressive.
I felt like I was beginning to understand what it meant to be truly good at one's job. People often think of "logic" as something used in arguments or debates, but…
You build logic in your work too, just like Section Chief Yoon.
Why is it being done this way? Why will it yield these results? The solid logic, calculated thoroughly with data, supported the presentation like an impregnable fortress.
If so…
Why had the Digital Marketing Team failed to produce results until now? That could be attributed to the nature of the department.
“Wait a moment, Section Chief Yoon. Why did you include the Sales Department’s China export case? That’s our job.”
“Ah, if I may… you mentioned the electronics side earlier, and I’m not sure if there’s a need for us to do that together.”
“Isn't digital marketing basically the PR office’s territory anyway? To be honest, it feels like you’re just trying to hitch a ride on work that’s already finished.”
The team leaders poured out their complaints, sensing an opening.
Marketing, in the end, is about improving relationships with customers and satisfying consumer needs. To put it another way: they can’t do anything on their own. No matter how good you are at selling, it means nothing if there’s no product.
The reason the Digital Marketing Team was sidelined is simple. Uju Group’s prestige is too high.
People seek out luxury goods even without promotion. Because it’s a major conglomerate, Uju Global is always at the top of every client’s list.
It’s a battle for results. They don’t understand why they should share the fruits of their hard work with the marketing team.
Normally, Section Chief Yoon would have backed down here. Since he had to collaborate with these team leaders to get work done, he would have retreated if they all said he wasn't needed.
“Hmm.”
The light from the projector seemed to make Section Chief Yoon’s glasses flash. Then, even though he had the remote himself, he pointedly…
“Woo-jin, go back a few slides. To the section regarding profit margins.”
By calling my name, he reminded everyone once again who was in the room.
“Yes, Section Chief.”
Furthermore, by demonstrating a clear hierarchy, he implied that the relationship between the two was solid.
The graph from earlier reappeared. It showed the projected profit margins if this project proceeded. Having pulled data from similar past cases, the logic was beyond reproach.
“Look at this. If we provide support for this case, the profit margin increases further.”
He must have stayed up all night preparing these materials, considering how little time he had.
“These are the minimum estimates. If the Digital Marketing Team handles customer management, complaints, and communication, the burden on the sales team will decrease. Depending on individual ability, the profits could increase even more than this.”
Section Chief Yoon answered as if he had anticipated these questions dozens of times. He must have run hundreds of simulations in his head.
“What is the problem? The sales team can continue doing exactly what they’ve been doing. Only our workload increases.”
His back, held straight and proud, was like a baby's breath flower blooming after a long time.
“If you have doubts about the data I’ve prepared, or if there are errors, please point them out. I will accept them and make corrections.”
His decisiveness made the team leaders shrink back even more. They knew that they, who had just started looking at the PPT, couldn't find a flaw in content that Section Chief Yoon had reviewed, re-reviewed, and checked yet again.
“Whew, Section Chief Yoon.”
In the end, it was the Department Head who stepped forward. He tapped the table and glared at Section Chief Yoon.
“I know. I get it. But listen. Is our work made up of just data? Can we work by only following logic?”
“…I’m not sure I follow your meaning.”
At the Department Head’s words, Section Chief Yoon’s back immediately slumped again. Seeing this, smiles touched the team leaders' lips, and their shoulders relaxed. They must have thought he’d tucked his tail the moment the Department Head spoke.
Is that how it looks to you?
I really wanted to ask them. Did it really look like he was tucking his tail?
To me, he looks like a hook.
A fishing hook that made itself into bait to catch a big fish.
“Look at that. The frozen chicken export to China. Do you have any idea how hard this team worked to make that happen?”
“That’s right. Some of our people even got sick from all the drinking. Do you know how many bottles of liquor we had to open to keep the buyers happy?”
“And the electronics distribution! Even the Executive Director himself stepped in to make those connections and secure the lines.”
The Department Head’s point was simple.
We worked so hard. Why are you jumping in now to split the credit? What did you even do? You’re just trying to cut in on a finished meal without any professional courtesy, and you’ll probably brag about how well you did once the profits come in.
“Section Chief Yoon, let’s not steal the achievements of those who put in the effort.”
The Department Head was trying to persuade him gently. Suddenly, Section Chief Yoon and the Digital Marketing Team were being painted as people who only eat the strawberries off a cake someone else bought.
However…
“Department Head, this is for the benefit of the company. If we can gain more profit here, there is no reason to stop.”
“Section Chief Yoon.”
“Why are we here? Aren't we the people who bring profit to the company and get paid for it?”
“Section Chief Yoon! Are you going to be this inflexible?! The company is a place where people live, too! Do you really want to split the share of those who worked so hard?!”
“Yes! I must! Because that is the direction that pursues more profit for the company!”
“Section Chief Yoon!”
The conference table shook violently. It was the signal that the bait had been taken.
A small cough.
“Ahem.”
A sip of water from the side.
Gulp.
And then, silence.
“…”
That was all I did. That was truly it. It was enough to make my presence felt.
As the old saying goes, people will even badmouth the King when he’s not around. What does it matter if you curse someone when they aren't there? Who would complain if salarymen prioritized their own performance and incentives over the company’s profit?
But.
Right here.
The "King" was present.
The youngest son, whom Chairman Kim cherished the most in the Uju Group.
The moment I rested my chin on my hand and let out a small smirk…
“It is for the benefit of the company, Department Head.”
Section Chief Yoon declared clearly once again.
The benefit of the company.
The phrase Section Chief Yoon kept emphasizing. Those incredibly obvious and textbook words now ensnared everyone. Suddenly, if they protested here, they would become people who denied the company’s profit.
Just as they had tried to make Section Chief Yoon out to be someone without professional courtesy.
A brief silence followed.
“If there is nothing more to say, I will assume we are proceeding as planned.”
Silence again. There was no answer.
“Thank you.”
Section Chief Yoon finished his report.
* * *
“Do you have time today?”
On the way back to the department after the report, Section Chief Yoon asked me.
“Is there something you need help with?”
“No, let’s just have a drink. Come to think of it, I don’t think we’ve had a welcome party for you yet.”
“Ugh, I have a morning lecture tomorrow.”
Despite my words, I nodded with a smile. It was a great day; we should at least have a small gathering.
“Are we using the corporate card? That’s technically my money.”
When I cracked a joke, Section Chief Yoon let out a chuckle and patted my shoulder.
“I’m using my own money. That’s why we can only afford pork belly.”
“I love pork belly. I’ll have to tell my girlfriend I’ll be late today.”
“You have a girlfriend?”
“Of course.”
“…Is she pretty?”
“You’re curious about that too?”
I was going to show him a photo, but I honestly didn't know whose photo I should show. However, the Section Chief didn't seem to actually intend to look at a photo; he just laughed and patted my back.
“Don’t get into trouble. That’s advice from someone with experience.”
“Did you get into trouble and end up getting married, sir?”
That was unexpected. He looked like such a straight-laced student type.
“Thanks to that, I have a daughter about your age now.”
“Can you tell me more? I’m really curious.”
“Later, after work.”
Looking at Section Chief Yoon’s back, which seemed a layer more relaxed, a small laugh escaped me.
“It’s a promise.”
A person with talent cannot endure being ignored. Section Chief Yoon was exactly that kind of person.
It wasn't until I sat back down at my desk that I realized the conversation we just had was the very reason Section Chief Yoon had been able to endure until now.