◈ That Bastard, Deputy Hong Ji-sam ◈
"As you all know, with this month's results, the rough team-by-team evaluations come to an end. There are still detailed assessments to come, but most of the teams are neck and neck on those anyway. The team rankings will be determined by revenue. Based on January through September, our team is narrowly holding first place, but the final standings will be decided by how we close out October's sales."
Deputy General Manager Cho took a breath before getting to the important part, then continued as if declaring that no objections would be tolerated.
"Therefore, this month's target is 6 billion won—120% of our quota. Manager Kim, hold a meeting with your team members about how you'll achieve it, and report back to me on how the additional 1 billion target is divided among them. And Deputy Hong, come see me when the meeting is over."
Having spewed out everything he had to say, Deputy GM Cho walked straight out of the conference room.
The man was genuinely impossible to like. The one silver lining, if you could call it that, was that he never let meetings run past thirty minutes—about his only virtue.
"You all heard the team leader. On top of our baseline revenue target of 5 billion, we need another 1 billion. Nobody finds hitting a sales target easy, I know, but since this month's numbers determine the team rankings, let's all give it our best. So—let's hear what additional target each of you can take on. Deputy Hong, you first."
"Manager Kim, the person with the most breathing room against his current sales target is Deputy Kim here. Have Deputy Kim take 50% of the additional target—500 million—and the four of us can split the remaining 500 million. Wouldn't that work?"
Young-hoon bristled at the words.
"Deputy Hong, my dealership network's sales target this month is 1 billion. As you well know, all of my dealerships except two are small operations, so the extra 500 million you're suggesting is simply impossible for me. And with only a week left in the month, demanding another 500 million on top of that is absurd. If you load 500 million onto me, I'd have to hit 150% of my target. So no—I can't accept your proposal."
Hong had disliked Young-hoon ever since transferring into Marketing Team 3 at the start of the year. Young-hoon was three years older than him, and his work was always crisp and clean, which made the dealership owners adore him—leaving Hong gnawed by envy. And to top it off, Young-hoon was taller and better-looking.
The only things Hong had going for him were joining the company a year earlier and being born into a wealthy family. That was why he tormented Young-hoon every chance he got. And today, watching Young-hoon dismantle his suggestion point by point only made the man more insufferable.
"Then who's supposed to do it? The other team members aren't struggling? And where'd you learn to talk back to your senior like that?"
"Deputy Hong, am I talking back right now? Can't I offer an opinion during a meeting?"
Manager Kim, who had been quietly listening to the two argue, decided this couldn't be left alone. Deputy Hong pulled nasty stunts even on a normal day, but today he was being unreasonably obstinate, and it was plain as day to everyone.
"Hey, Deputy Hong. Your attitude is a problem too. Deputy Hong may be your senior by a year at the company, but you know Deputy Kim is three years older than you. It'd be best if you both showed each other a bit of common courtesy."
"Oh, so what—you want me to believe being old counts for something when you join the company late?"
Young-hoon had been sitting quietly, but he'd hated Deputy Hong's habitual antics for long enough, and today's sheer arrogance was more than he could stomach. Even if it meant quitting the company, this brat needed to be taught a lesson.
"Hey, Hong Ji-sam. Deputy. What kind of rude little punk are you? You got out of the army by winning the parental lottery and joined a year early—what, does that make you a nobleman? Don't you have a older brother of your own? Is that how your parents raised you? You pathetic piece of work. Hey, punk! My little sister is older than you, you damn dog! Am I your little brother? Some kid younger than me going around popping off in informal speech at every turn. I'll quit this company over you. The moment I catch you outside, I'll kill you—so watch your back at night."
When Young-hoon came at him that hard, Hong froze for a moment, unable to say a word. Normally Young-hoon would swallow it all down, even when Hong needled him. But today's reaction was completely different—the rough language, the energy of it; one wrong move and it felt like he might actually get beaten senseless. Fear stirred inside him, but there was no backing down now. If he showed weakness here, office life would be over for him. Once you got looked down on even once, your authority was gone for good.
Fortunately, they weren't alone in the room, and an escape route presented itself.
"What did you say? Kim Young-hoon, you're one to talk—is age a rank now? This is a company. We live in an organization. No matter how old you are, if you joined later, you're the junior, and juniors had better treat their seniors properly. Kim Jin-man, new hire—take notes on what NOT to do! Right, Manager Kim?"
If he didn't get Manager Kim's support here, it was over. If Young-hoon landed even one blow, Hong would be admitting total defeat. He'd be lucky not to wet himself. A humiliation like that would render even his powerful connections useless. He could scheme his revenge in secret later—for now, he just had to survive the crisis.
"Well, Deputy Hong has a point there... but Deputy Kim has shown you proper senior courtesy all along, hasn't he? And just now, Deputy Hong, that was a slip of the tongue. 'Being old counts for something'—that's the kind of remark that would offend anyone who heard it. Deputy Kim, you didn't handle it well either. Deputy Hong may be younger, but he IS your senior. No matter how angry you get, you don't go calling your senior 'this punk' and 'that punk.' You're both at fault, so apologize to each other and let it go."
Young-hoon had no desire to quit his job over an ugly scene like this. For today, denting Hong's arrogance would have to be enough. So he offered a grudging apology.
"Deputy Hong, I apologize for snapping and swearing at you in informal speech. It was a momentary lapse."
"Deputy Kim, I'm accepting your apology today only because of Manager Kim. But next time, you won't get so much as a bone from me! That settles it, right, Manager Kim? I accepted, clearly."
"Come on, Deputy Hong, what is this... Ugh, fine, fine. Let's just leave it at that."
Manager Kim turned to Young-hoon with a look asking for understanding. Young-hoon, thinking there was no point in stirring things up again, gave a small nod.
"Right, let's wrap this up and get back to the sales targets. First of all, having Deputy Kim take 500 million of the additional target makes no sense. The dealerships under Deputy Kim are so small that even this month's 1 billion target is a stretch for him. The only reason he's got breathing room right now is that one bulk delivery deal came through this month—day to day, he's running tight as a drum."
So Manager Kim hadn't spent his years in the company for nothing—he had every moving piece mapped out, without Young-hoon having to say a word.
"So here's what we'll do. Of the additional target: I'll take 300 million, Deputy Hong 250 million, Deputy Kim and Deputy Park 200 million each, and our youngest, Jin-man, 50 million. That's 1 billion. I'll report it to the team leader just like that, so everyone knows the plan. And one last thing—if what happened in this room today leaks outside, I won't stand for it. Watch your mouths. Now, everyone back to work. Deputy Kim, stay a moment. I need to see you."
Unable to contain his fury, Deputy Hong stomped out and kicked the conference room door open on his way, while Deputy Park and new hire Kim Jin-man wore expressions of pure, quiet satisfaction.
A brief silence settled over the room once Manager Kim and Young-hoon were alone. Young-hoon tensed for a moment, but Manager Kim's face soon relaxed into something almost gratified.
"Good work, Deputy Kim. A brat like that needs to learn to respect his elders. That said, no matter how angry you get, going after a senior colleague isn't the smart play. You know what I mean?"
"Yes, I understand perfectly. I'm only sorry you had to witness such an ugly display, Manager Kim. But I did my own calculations before I went at Deputy Hong, so you don't need to worry too much."
"I know that, but what worries me is that little punk running straight to Deputy GM Cho and tattling his heart out. And if he does, Cho is going to bury your performance review six feet under."
"Manager Kim, I'm not worried about my performance review. Don't concern yourself with that part. I have plans of my own. Someday, when the time is right, I'll explain everything to you too. Until then, can't we just keep doing our jobs like always?"
"Whew... alright, fine. If you've got troubles, come talk to me anytime. Understood?"
"Yes. Thank you for looking out for me, Manager Kim."
Emerging from the conference room with Young-hoon, Manager Kim reported the team's divided sales targets to Deputy GM Cho, who wore an expression of general agreement.
Cho then summoned Deputy Hong to the conference room.
"Things got pretty loud in there earlier. What happened?"
"Nothing serious—Deputy Kim was just being insolent. That guy really gets under my skin. Can't we exile him to the provinces at the year-end personnel reshuffle? The old man acts like being older makes him somebody's superior, won't even treat me as his senior, and comes at me in informal speech... I'm so upset I could die."
"Shall I call him in and give him a proper scolding, then?"
"No need to go that far. Just have the team leader sink his performance review and ship him off to the provinces at year-end. That'd put my mind at ease."
"Then we'll do it Deputy Hong's way. On another note—put together a delivery approval request through Gyeongin Distribution. 1,500 units of the newest smartphone model at a 29.9% discount."
"What?! Team leader, isn't that discount far too steep?"
"Don't you worry about a thing, Deputy Hong. Just submit the delivery approval to me for sign-off. I've already cleared everything with Managing Director Kim. You do know he's a senior alumnus from our department—class of '89? And remember how much Gyeongin Distribution lost when we did that smartphone dump in Yongsan Electronics Market?"
"About 150 million, I'd say."
"So if we give them a 29.9% discount this time, roughly how much do you think they'll clear?"
"I'd estimate around 350 million won left over."
"Then out of that 350 million, we'll count the 150 million they lost as water under the bridge—still leaves 200 million. Have President Jung of Gyeongin Distribution prepare an envelope. About 100 million. And it absolutely cannot be a check. We're hosting Managing Director Kim for dinner tonight, so after we eat, we ride this all the way to the finish line."
"Team leader, even I know all that. What I don't understand is why the money envelope?"
"Of all the people holding our leash, who wields the most influence over promotions? Managing Director Kim, obviously. You have to dose the medicine well in advance. If President Jung of Gyeongin Distribution slips it over with a word of thanks for the generous discount, would Managing Director Kim fail to catch on? The man's been in the corporate world over twenty years. Best part is, we don't have to spend our own money on the promotion. Deputy Hong, your promotion is guaranteed anyway—but this is exactly the sort of time you use the dealerships. In exchange, not a word to anyone. President Jung of Gyeongin Distribution is discreet, and it's his initiative. Now—any problems hitting your sales target?"
"For me? What does that have to do with sales? I make manager next year, deputy general manager the year after, and within five years or so, managing director wouldn't be out of the question, would it? Get me to manager, and Mom handles everything after that. In any case, I'll make sure tonight's dinner with Managing Director Kim goes off without a hitch."
"President Hong of LK Chemical gave me strict instructions not to breathe a word to anyone until you make manager, so keep your head down and do your work quietly, Deputy Hong. You'll have that manager title soon enough. And what are alumni connections for, anyway? Someone pulling you from the front, pushing you from behind... everybody wins. Submit the delivery approval by this morning. I'll give Managing Director Kim a heads-up first. Then we'll head out together."
And so, in the conference room, a dark and treacherous scheme quietly took root.