The Small President's Request
Gresham's Law.
"Hello? This is Yoo Jae-won."
Yoo Jae-won's voice instantly turned stiff. It was only natural—his opinion of Kim Young-chul had never been particularly favorable. During President Kim's administration, Kim Young-chul had another name: the Small President. The nickname came from the fact that he had built his own private organization, the Dongsoong-dong Team, and ruled as the most powerful figure behind the civilian government.
Interestingly, the Dongsoong-dong Team had begun in much the same way as Yoo Jae-won's own efforts. When President Kim was campaigning hard for the 14th presidential election, he created his own opinion research team. Naturally, they adopted the latest American techniques, which was why they gave the team a special name and treated it separately. After winning the presidency, Kim Young-chul did not disband the Dongsoong-dong Team. Instead, he converted it into a think tank for the civilian government. The idea was that the think tank would provide various advice before policy decisions were made. Though it held no official positions, it became a powerful back-channel influence over the government and the ruling party.
This was the complete opposite of Yoo Jae-won's own path—he had returned to the United States without hesitation after Jeon Myeong-heon became prime minister. It was no wonder Yoo Jae-won did not look kindly on him.
"Ah, hello? This is Kim Young-chul!"
Kim Young-chul's voice over the receiver sounded cheerful. After all, the civilian government was doing exceptionally well these days, so the world must have seemed full of promise.
"Yes, it's good to hear from you. I understand the second son of President Kim has something to say to me?"
From the greeting alone, Yoo Jae-won sensed that the conversation could drag on if he wasn't careful. He fired off a direct question to cut straight to the point.
"Haha, rather than calling me the president's son, I'd prefer you address me as the director of the Central Opinion Research Institute."
"Understood, Director."
"The reason I'm calling is to ask if we could meet briefly tonight. There's something important I need to discuss."
"Tonight? Hmm, could we discuss it over the phone instead? I've come to the East Coast, but I'm currently in New York, not Washington DC. I have some matters to attend to here and plan to head to Washington DC tomorrow."
Yoo Jae-won made his refusal clear. He had a strong premonition that meeting Kim Young-chul would lead to some burdensome request. That said, he wasn't giving Kim Young-chul an outright failing grade on his overall character. Looking at his entire life, Kim Young-chul had been intoxicated with power during his Small President days and caused all sorts of trouble, but after various ups and downs, he had changed significantly—for the better. However, because his reputation during the Small President era had been so poor, even his positive transformation hadn't raised his overall evaluation much.
"Ah, New York? I'm in New York right now too. Perfect timing."
Yoo Jae-won's usually reliable instincts had slightly misfired. He had assumed Kim Young-chul would be in Washington DC with his father and used New York as an excuse, but now it turned out he really was in New York. Still, it was possible Kim Young-chul was lying about being there. So Yoo Jae-won cast one final lure.
"Oh, is that so? Well, what a shame. My evening is already booked with prior engagements. How about we meet right now instead? I happen to have some time at the moment."
If Kim Young-chul was actually in Washington DC while claiming to be in New York, he wouldn't be able to accept.
"Oh! Excellent. I suggested meeting in the evening because I thought you'd be busy then, but if you're free now, that's even better. Let's meet right away. Where would you like to meet?"
"Ugh, he really must be in New York."
"I'm in Manhattan. Then let's meet in two hours at the café in the Park Hyatt New York Hotel at the southern end of Central Park."
"Understood. I'll see you there."
The call with Kim Young-chul ended once the time and place were set.
"Contact the Korean intelligence team and ask them to look into Kim Young-chul's recent activities. No need to go overboard—just surface-level information or rumors that are already circulating will suffice."
As he set down the receiver, Yoo Jae-won spoke to Kim Dae-seok. The Korean intelligence team's capabilities weren't yet advanced enough to conduct a thorough investigation of Kim Young-chul, the president's son. However, they could certainly gather industry trends and rumors. Moreover, Yeouido was a place where all sorts of gossip circulated, so he expected quick results.
"Yes, Chairman."
Kim Dae-seok immediately connected a modem to the car phone and sent a message to Korea via ID Talk. Since car phones were analog, they were extremely easy to tap. However, by connecting a modem and converting the data into encrypted digital signals, tapping became impossible.
"Message sent."
After receiving Kim Dae-seok's report, Yoo Jae-won and his entourage resumed their movement. Their original schedule in Manhattan was to inspect buildings they were considering purchasing.
"Then we'll be heading to Trump Tower now."
The destination was Trump Tower in Manhattan. It seemed today was a day for unexpected calls and meetings.
"It's an honor to meet the rising star of Silicon Valley, Chairman Yoo!"
When they arrived in front of Trump Tower and Yoo Jae-won stepped out of the car, someone greeted him enthusiastically. It was Donald Trump, the owner of Trump Tower.
"Good to see you. I'm Yoo Jae-won."
Yoo Jae-won shook the hand Trump extended. Among the three building candidates for ID Investment's headquarters, Trump Tower ranked last. It had too many floors, was a residential-commercial complex, and was expensive. Its structure was also awkward for use solely as an office building. However, its location was exceptional. Being right next to Central Park made it ideal for attracting people. Furthermore, the surrounding commercial district was lined with flagship stores of luxury brands like Gucci, Tiffany, and Louis Vuitton, making it top-tier.
Yoo Jae-won had only scheduled the visit as a casual look-around, but somehow Donald Trump, the owner of Trump Tower, had come out to greet him personally. At the sight of Trump, Yoo Jae-won looked as if he'd struck gold. After all, Trump was currently known only as a major real estate tycoon and the organizer of the Miss Universe pageant. But this man would later become the 45th President of the United States, the world's most powerful nation—an inspiring self-made success story.
In truth, when Yoo Jae-won had placed Trump Tower third on his list, he had held a faint hope. But after the on-site inspection, it had dropped to third place and he'd given up on that hope. That was from Yoo Jae-won's perspective, however. From Trump's current position, he was in a situation where he would grasp at any straw.
Trump had already gone bankrupt twice. His first bankruptcy came in 1991 with the Taj Mahal Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, leaving him with a billion dollars in debt. His second was with the Trump Plaza Hotel, carrying $550 million in liabilities. Despite racking up enormous debts and filing for bankruptcy twice, he remained afloat because he had meticulously separated his personal assets from his corporate assets and protected his own wealth. This had earned him the ire of investors and lost him the banks' trust. Among the assets he had managed to keep, the Manhattan Trump Building was the largest chunk. Even if he couldn't sell it outright, attracting ID Investment's headquarters to an empty floor would ease his cash flow, so he had no choice but to be proactive.
"This is quite a burden."
"There's no need to feel burdened. Just look at it as it is and make your judgment. Among the candidates, our Trump Tower will surely be the best."
As expected, Trump's confidence was unmatched.
"Understood. Please show me around."
Yoo Jae-won had some goodwill toward Trump, so he responded positively. After becoming President of the United States, Trump's unconventional actions had caused problems globally, but for Korea, the benefits had outweighed the drawbacks. With Yoo Jae-won's own appearance in this timeline, he couldn't guarantee Trump's future would unfold exactly the same, but the possibility of him still becoming President remained high. There was no harm in building a relationship.
One regret was that he didn't have a copy of The Art of the Deal, the book Trump had written, which Yoo Jae-won had occasionally flipped through. If he had it now, getting Trump's signature would have made a strong impression. It was a shame...
Just as Yoo Jae-won felt that regret, Kim Dae-seok signaled with his eyes. Remarkably, Kim Dae-seok was holding a copy of The Art of the Deal. As Yoo Jae-won's executive secretary, he had seen Trump's name on today's schedule and prepared it in advance.
"Just a moment."
Yoo Jae-won took the book from Kim Dae-seok and quickly stopped Trump, who had just turned to begin the tour.
"Could you sign this?"
He held out the book featuring Trump's youthful face on the cover.
"Oh! I didn't know you had this book, Chairman Yoo."
"I've read it thoroughly. It was quite helpful in getting me to where I am today."
"Good heavens! To think I was helpful to Chairman Yoo. This is the most surprising event of the year! If I hadn't gone bankrupt last year, this moment would have been the most surprising of my life!"
As expected, Trump's reaction was fiery. His way with words was excellent—he even brought up his own dark past while flattering Yoo Jae-won. He then pulled a fountain pen from his suit pocket and boldly signed the book. It was the same signature often seen on television news—sharp and sawtooth-like.
"But this feels good, yet somehow leaves me uneasy. If you've mastered this book, doesn't that mean my own capital has been completely depleted?"
"Oh, come now. The book was excellent, but how could it compare to a living person? Aren't you improving every single day?"
"Haha! If only that were true."
Yoo Jae-won and Trump exchanged pleasantries and began the tour of Manhattan's Trump Tower in good spirits. However, despite his courteous demeanor toward Trump, Yoo Jae-won's gaze as he inspected the tower was sharp. Personal connections were one thing, but business was business.
Two hours later.
After completing the building tours, Yoo Jae-won began moving toward the café at the Park Hyatt New York Hotel at the southern end of Central Park. He had inspected Trump Tower and the other two properties. His evaluation matched that of Vincent Greenhill, President of ID Investment. Trump Tower ranked third, while first place went to the 15-story building on Wall Street in southern Manhattan. It had been owned by a Japanese company and came on the market as Japan's economy struggled. Though it was the most expensive, it received the highest marks from ID Investment's executives and employees. Not only were the location and building excellent, but the symbolic significance of entering Wall Street, the heart of American finance, was significant, earning it high marks from Yoo Jae-won as well.
However, if he wanted to leverage his newly formed connection with Trump, Trump Tower might also be a viable choice. Even though it was a residential-commercial complex, it could be renovated. Moreover, its floor area was much larger than the Wall Street building, making it suitable for commercial use as well. In the end, with one more factor to consider, Yoo Jae-won decided to delay his decision. In any case, the actual transaction couldn't happen until after Android Corporation's listing. Building prices started in the hundreds of billions of won, and something like Trump Tower would exceed a trillion. Adding the simultaneous construction of new headquarters in San Francisco and Dogok-dong, Seoul, would require an enormous amount of capital to be injected at once. While ID Group had accumulated a fair amount of retained earnings, it was best to hold onto funds to respond to unexpected variables and pursue new investments. Android Corporation's listing review would conclude in spring or early summer of 1994, so the decision would be made then. Until then, it wouldn't hurt to meet with Trump occasionally to strengthen their relationship.
"Chairman, we've arrived at the Park Hyatt Hotel."
While Yoo Jae-won was weighing current cost-effectiveness against a powerful future connection, Kim Dae-seok called his attention. Looking up, he saw they were in front of the hotel entrance—the agreed meeting place with the Small President, Kim Young-chul.
When Yoo Jae-won got out, his staff began their security preparations. Kim Dae-seok stood right beside him, and the bodyguards, who usually kept some distance, moved closer. This time, four of them accompanied him instead of the usual two. Kim Young-chul wasn't likely to pose any threat by requesting this meeting, but Yoo Jae-won's firm belief was that he would allow no variables whatsoever when it came to his own safety. The present moment he enjoyed was a gift earned after overcoming hardships too immense to describe in words. He would never allow it to be ruined by carelessness.
It seemed Kim Young-chul had similar thoughts. He had unilaterally changed the meeting location. Yoo Jae-won had suggested the hotel café, and Kim Young-chul had agreed. But upon arriving at the hotel, he was told Kim Young-chul was waiting in a private meeting room instead. Yoo Jae-won had suggested the open café not merely for convenience, but because a crowded place was safer. Changing the location without consultation further lowered his already poor opinion of Kim Young-chul.
This wasn't all.
"You cannot enter."
The bodyguards in black suits guarding the entrance blocked Yoo Jae-won's bodyguards from following him into the private room. Upon closer inspection, they were agents from the Blue House Security Service. Though smaller in build than Greg and Fisher, they looked sturdy. As direct family members of the president, any threat to their safety could escalate into a national emergency. Therefore, it was natural for them to receive tight security from the Blue House Security Service wherever they went, and apparently America was no exception. However, their overbearing attitude immediately soured Yoo Jae-won's mood.
"These people are like extensions of myself. If they can't come with me, I won't enter. Please relay that to the person inside. Good day!"
He thought this was actually fortunate. Yoo Jae-won decided to treat it as a wasted trip and turned to leave. This time, it was the other side that panicked. After some hesitation, the man who appeared to be the senior agent quickly went inside. Yoo Jae-won paid no mind and walked briskly out of the hotel.
"Chairman! Please wait a moment!"
Unfortunately for them, Kim Young-chul's bodyguard was faster than Yoo Jae-won's Rolls-Royce returning from valet parking. He stammered an apology for his earlier rudeness and even pleaded to get Yoo Jae-won to turn back.
"Then let's meet in the café where we won't have to trouble the bodyguards. That was the original meeting place anyway."
Fortunately, Yoo Jae-won's second suggestion worked. After this minor commotion, Yoo Jae-won and Kim Young-chul were finally able to sit face-to-face in the Park Hyatt Hotel café.
Yoo Jae-won wondered what could be so important that Kim Young-chul had gone to such lengths. He had received an urgent report from the Korean intelligence team just minutes earlier, but it was disorganized and hadn't helped much in understanding Kim Young-chul's intentions.
It probably wasn't about money. Yoo Jae-won had coldly calculated that he was practically an adversary. He had strongly supported Jeon Myeong-heon during the presidential election, and when it seemed Jeon Myeong-heon wouldn't win, rumors had spread throughout Yeouido that they had made him prime minister instead—a consolation prize. Though they were currently in a coalition, there was subtle tension between President Kim, Prime Minister Jeon Myeong-heon, and between the Minja Party and the Tongil National Party. In this situation, Kim Young-chul trying to extract money from Yoo Jae-won would be tantamount to political suicide.
So he expected some kind of political favor in exchange.
"I have one request. Please forgive Jeon Jae-jun already."
Surprisingly, Kim Young-chul's words completely missed Yoo Jae-won's expectations.
Jeon Jae-jun? That was the man who had thoroughly disgusted Yoo Jae-won during the last election. Not only Yoo Jae-won but also Prime Minister Jeon Myeong-heon had been deeply disappointed, and it was said they had taken measures to keep him practically exiled in Jeju Island.
"Forgive him? I don't hold any particular grudge against him. If this is about the Jeju Island matter, it would be faster to speak with the Prime Minister directly."
"That's exactly it. You're the only person in the world who can move former Prime Minister Jeon's heart right now. And since you say you hold no grudge against Jeon Jae-jun, I'm asking for this favor."
Did Kim Young-chul have some connection with Jeon Jae-jun? Yoo Jae-won searched his memory but couldn't recall anything specific. Instead, he remembered that when Jeon Jae-jun had briefly fallen from grace while pursuing a political career, Kim Young-chul had provided support in Jeon Jae-jun's district. Still, the Small President was quite something. The age difference between Jeon Jae-jun and Kim Young-chul was considerable—Kim Young-chul was much younger. Yet he referred to Jeon Jae-jun so casually.
"Of course, I'm not asking for nothing in return. Naturally, I should help Chairman Yoo as well. For example, if it's something worthwhile like the class-action lawsuit for Japanese colonial victims that the ID Foundation is sponsoring, I'll actively support it."
Yoo Jae-won was intrigued by Kim Young-chul's words. After all, that was precisely why he had come all this way. The countless scales in Yoo Jae-won's mind began to shift rapidly.