The Corporation Establishment Plan
When Chairman Jang summoned him to his office, Young-hoon assumed it was to continue the conversation they hadn't managed to finish two days ago.
Or perhaps to show off his office to him.
But the moment he spotted the two unfamiliar faces, he realized the chairman had called him here to introduce them — and a strong premonition washed over him that these two men would be entangled in his future more than he could imagine.
"Say your hellos. This is Kim Young-hoon — the man you'll be serving as your boss from now on."
Young-hoon started in surprise and shot a question back at Chairman Jang.
"What?! Your boss?"
"Well, it's about time we started pushing the business forward according to plan, isn't it? So, this fellow here will be in charge of the entertainment and cultural sectors, and that one will handle everything for the liquor factory, from the permits all the way through completion. Now, introduce yourselves to your boss."
"Good afternoon. I am Yoo Eui-hyun, as the Chairman mentioned. I've been assigned to oversee the culture and entertainment sector. I look forward to working with you."
"Good afternoon. I am Hwang Eun-seok, also as the Chairman mentioned. I will be handling the liquor-related business going forward. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Young-hoon found himself bowing back to the two men in a daze.
"Hello, I'm Kim Young-hoon. I have to admit, I have absolutely no idea what's going on here, but... I look forward to working with you all the same."
The moment the three introductions were done, Chairman Jang launched into his explanation as if he'd been waiting for exactly that.
"Young-hoon, there's no need to overthink this. After you left on Sunday, that old Choi and I agreed on a division of labor. I'll take charge of the culture, entertainment, and liquor businesses, and Choi will handle beverages and the commercial shopping complex. As for the elixir business, Choi and I will run it jointly."
"Chairman, nothing has been properly nailed down yet. Aren't you roasting beans over a lightning fire, as the saying goes?"
"Ha! You've got nothing to worry about. Just concern yourself with your own work — we'll handle the rest. Oh, and we've set up a separate office for you right next door to this room. Use it until you're ready to strike out on your own."
Then Chairman Jang turned to Executive Director Yoo and Executive Director Hwang, his voice turning firm.
"And as for the two of you — treat every instruction this man gives you as if it came from my own mouth, and serve him with everything you have."
Executive Director Yoo, the elder of the two, answered on their behalf.
"Understood, Chairman. Though... Chairman, what should we call Mr. Kim Young-hoon?"
"Hmm, good point. Let me think for a moment. President Kim? Representative Director Kim? Young-hoon, what do you think?"
"I honestly don't mind either way, but 'President Kim' makes me sound older than I am. I think 'Representative Director' suits me better."
"Really? Then Representative Director Kim it is, across the board. Ah — it must be about time for that old Choi to show up... Secretary Byun, make the call, would you? We'll settle the rest once he arrives. By the way... I hear Choi handed you a car yesterday?"
"Yes, sir. I got home from work yesterday and there it was in the parking lot."
"What kind?"
"I only saw it briefly, but I believe it was a Bentley?"
"What?! That's no car for a young man. Secretary Byun, there are cars young people drive these days, aren't there? Buy him one of those. A brand-new one, mind you. That old Choi is rolling in money — a used car? Please. It has to outclass his."
"Yes, Chairman. I'm looking into a Ferrari. It's more expensive than the Bentley."
"Perfect. Exactly right. What do I have over that old Choi if I can't even beat him at this? Of course mine has to be the better car. Have the purchase finalized by the end of the month."
Young-hoon could only watch, utterly flustered, as Chairman Jang burned his competitive spirit in the strangest of places.
The consideration the two chairmen were lavishing on him was beginning to feel like a burden heavier than he could carry.
"Chairman, the car from Chairman Choi is already far more than I deserve."
"He's him and I'm me. Don't you dare think about it."
Just then, the door swung wide open and Chairman Choi marched into the office — with two more middle-aged men in tow.
"Chairman Jang, welcome—"
Before Young-hoon could even finish the greeting, Chairman Choi roared.
"Hey, you old Jang! Who told you to set up Young-hoon's office here? I've got plenty of empty offices in my building too!"
"We settled that ages ago. Why are you kicking up a fuss again? You're loud. And introduce these gentlemen to our Representative Director Kim, will you?"
"Representative Director Kim? Hah, I like it. That's what we'll call him from now on. Gentlemen, greet Representative Director Kim. He's the man who'll be leading you from here on out."
"Good afternoon, Representative Director Kim. I am Kim Sang-ho. I've been assigned to the beverage sector. I look forward to working with you."
"Good afternoon, Representative Director Kim. I am Park Il-cheon. I'll be overseeing the construction and operation of the commercial shopping complex, laying a rock-solid foundation for this business. Place your trust in me!"
"A pleasure to meet you both. I'm Kim Young-hoon. I'll be counting on you going forward."
Thus came the moment when Young-hoon met the key executives who would one day carry his business down an unbroken road to success.
Of course, Chairman Jang and Chairman Choi had no intention of stepping back from their roles as his backers, either. Running a business armed with the absolute asset that was the elixir was a precious opportunity for the two old lions to feel their youthful fire burning again.
Once the round of introductions had wound down, Chairman Jang turned to the concrete matters at hand.
"The two of you — join forces with Executive Director Yoo and Executive Director Hwang here, and make sure you support Representative Director Kim well. This young man... no, pardon me — Representative Director Kim here is destined for great things. Follow him faithfully, and good days are guaranteed to come."
"Yes, sir! Understood, Chairman!"
All four men answered with a resounding roar.
"Also — floors 33 and 34 of this building have been cleared out. Expand your staffs and prepare so that work can begin the moment December arrives. We'll hold regular meetings every two weeks if at all possible, so when Representative Director Kim calls, you run to him even at midnight. Understood?"
"Understood, Chairman!"
"Good. Very good — I like the fire in your eyes. Now all of you, off to work."
The four executives bowed with crisp formality and filed out of the office.
Once Secretary Byun left to arrange the car as well, only the two chairmen and Young-hoon remained in the vast office.
Having weathered the storm, Young-hoon finally opened his mouth at ease.
"Chairmen, aren't you two rushing things a bit?"
"Representative Director Kim, you're a working man yourself, so you know better than anyone. As fast as all this looks, the truth is it's not fast at all. Take, for example, building a single wine factory and getting the first product to market — permits, construction, sourcing raw materials, test production... even at breakneck speed, you're looking at a full year. So we have to start now. Isn't that right, old Choi?"
"Old Jang's got it right. The work ahead is mountainous. We have to establish the corporation first — the paperwork alone, the due diligence... you'd need ten bodies to keep up."
"Well then, the most pressing matter is the incorporation itself. What shall we name it? Young-hoon, have you given it any thought?"
"I actually thought about it once before. What if we took the initials of my name and called it YH Co., Ltd.?"
Most people carry grand dreams about their future from childhood. Young-hoon's dream had been to become the chairman of a major corporation. And so, back then, he'd christened his imaginary company YH Co., Ltd. and privately celebrated all by himself.
"Yes, I like that. No need to get fancy with a name. Simple is best — nothing beats keeping it simple. And the shareholders?"
"For founding shareholders, how about me and the two of you, Chairmen?"
"Good, good. Representative Director: Kim Young-hoon. Choi and I serve as senior advisors. How does that sound?"
"Let's do it that way."
At this very moment, Young-hoon was roasting beans over a lightning fire with the two chairmen — everything moving at a pace that made his head spin.
Of course, incorporating the company wouldn't solve everything. The most critical matter was capital, and after that, manpower. Which meant the capital had to be settled first.
"How much should we set the capital at? I've earned quite a tidy sum selling the elixir."
"I have no desire to rob you of your pocket money, Representative Director Kim — keep your own earnings. As for the capital, Choi and I have already agreed: initial capital of 5 trillion won, with 90 percent equity to you, Representative Director Kim, and the remaining 10 percent split between us."
"What?! Five trillion? That's absurd. The entire capital would be filled with your money — how could I possibly walk away with 90 percent of the equity?"
"Oh, come now. We'll structure it as a loan from us to you, so there's nothing to worry about. We'll call the interest even at 5 percent of equity. Done and done?"
"Then by when am I supposed to repay it?"
"Eh, whenever you find yourself with money to spare."
"I'm deeply grateful, but I worry this whole thing has ballooned far beyond what it should be."
"That's our worry to carry. All you have to do, Representative Director Kim, is do your job properly. Without you, this business couldn't have started in the first place."
"Understood. Then I'll follow your guidance, Chairmen."
Chairman Choi, who had been listening quietly to the exchange between Young-hoon and Chairman Jang, suddenly spoke up as though something had just occurred to him.
"Representative Director Kim, once the elixir starts pulling in serious money, the tax authorities will come knocking — I'd put the odds at a hundred percent. So once the corporation is established, I'll attach a tax specialist to you. Do exactly what that person tells you. That's the only way you'll shave even a little off the tax bill."
"He's right. You must mind that part carefully. Aigoo, the tax code in this country is enough to wring a man dry."
Long after that, Young-hoon and the two chairmen talked late into the afternoon, hashing out the business in detail — and as the conversation unfolded, the broad strokes of the whole picture began to come into focus.
Before anyone noticed, the clock struck five. When Young-hoon began gathering his things, the two chairmen stared at him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I have to get back to the office. If I leave now, I should beat the traffic."
"Tch. And here I was thinking we'd have dinner together... That damn company — when are you going to quit?"
"I imagine I'll be resigning within the month."
"Do as you please. Then I suppose I'll go find myself a young sweetheart and get a proper evening match in. Old Jang, what about you?"
"Ji-hye's busy with the shop tonight... I'll just head home."
Having parted ways with the two chairmen, Young-hoon returned straight to the office, where every employee except Deputy General Manager Cho was already at their desks.
Just then, a KakaoTalk message arrived from Hye-in.
Past six o'clock, people began leaving the office one by one. Assistant Manager Park tried to coax him out for a drink, but Young-hoon pleaded a prior engagement and put it off until next time.
When he arrived at the recording studio, some ten people — the Five Girls members among them — swarmed out to greet him. Young-hoon returned each greeting in turn before making his way over to Producer Yoo Sung-hoon, who was already inside the booth.
"It's been a while, Producer. How have you been lately?"
"Ha! If only every day were like this one. Thanks to Five Girls, I'm full without even eating."
"That's good to hear. Is everything ready for the recording?"
"It is. Though today might take a little longer. The girls have been running to so many events lately that their practice has fallen behind — I doubt it'll go as smoothly as last time. I'd estimate four to five hours."
"Ah, I see. You girls! You should be practicing every spare moment. You're just wearing the Producer out for nothing."
"Oppa, what are you even saying? You have no idea what you're talking about. We've been practicing over two hours every single day after our events. I'm honestly a little hurt."
Faced with Hye-in's lightning-fast rebuttal, Young-hoon's tail curled between his legs instantly.
"Ah, sorry, sorry. My bad. Producer, shall we get started?"
Producer Yoo Sung-hoon smiled at the sight of the two bickering like family, and the recording began.
Just as Yoo had predicted, the session ran long. Pausing intermittently to spare the Five Girls members' stamina, the grueling march pressed on, and it was past midnight before the recording was finally complete.
From here on, everything depended on how quickly Yoo Sung-hoon could edit the tracks. The digital release had to happen by the end of November, but time-wise, there seemed to be plenty of room.
The recording had run so late that there was no chance to go out for food, and the girls looked thoroughly worn out besides — so everyone agreed to call it a night right there.
After all, tomorrow evening the whole staff, along with their families, would be gathering for dinner together. Parting ways tonight was, as luck would have it, exactly perfect.