The Target Is Not Ilhyeon
Lee Gyeong-eun approached Kim Seong-ho holding a plastic cup whose outer surface had begun to bead with moisture.
“You were right about wrapping paper around the outside of the cup. That was a good call.”
She swept the dampness from the cup Seong-ho had accepted with her fingers as she spoke.
“Without a cup sleeve, all that moisture would’ve soaked right into people’s hands, wouldn’t it? Anyone holding one of these would have been thoroughly uncomfortable.”
She lifted the plastic cup, now protected by the sleeve that kept the condensation from reaching her skin.
“It would have been ideal if we could patent it, but they say it doesn’t qualify. If we could have secured a patent, we could have locked out any latecomers for certain.”
“Even without that, we can shut the latecomers out just fine.”
Seong-ho sipped the coffee she had handed him and watched the people filtering into the shop. Word that everything was free today had drawn passersby in as if by instinct. They collected their coffee and then scattered again, each returning to whatever errand had brought them past the storefront.
“Starting tomorrow the place will be packed. Tell the staff to stay even more vigilant. Keep the cleanliness obsessive, and make sure no drink takes longer than five minutes to come out.”
“We’re already on top of all that. And the music has to stay at just the right volume—neither too loud nor too soft.”
Gyeong-eun glanced around the shop, then back at her husband.
“My friends keep saying, ‘It’s not even a restaurant, just a drink place—why obsess over every little thing? Will it even make money…?’ But… it’ll do well, right?”
“I guarantee it will.”
Seong-ho took another sip and allowed a small smile to touch his lips.
“Ten years from now, the money this coffee franchise brings in might even surpass Ilhyeon Department Store’s sales.”
“What?”
Gyeong-eun looked at him as if she must have misheard.
Seong-ho drank again and continued.
“So stop second-guessing yourself and go on the offensive. Target the busy commercial districts where foot traffic is heaviest. Before long it’ll be pouring money into your lap.”
She could not tell whether he was merely encouraging her because this was her first project, or whether he meant every word. She was about to ask again when someone approached them.
“Congratulations on the opening.”
A man appeared holding an iced coffee of his own, raising the cup toward Gyeong-eun in greeting.
“At last, President Lee’s own special project is underway. If you make a success of this, your standing inside Ilhyeon will become considerably more secure.”
Gyeong-eun turned, frowning slightly at the stranger who had spoken.
“Do I know you?”
“How could I not know the youngest daughter of the Ilhyeon family?”
“I have no idea who you are… Who exactly are you?”
The fact that a man she did not recognize clearly knew her left her visibly displeased. She studied him with a tightened expression. The man simply smiled and looked at Seong-ho.
Seong-ho, who had remained silent, gave a short laugh and introduced him.
“Allow me to introduce you. This is Senior Secretary Jo Byeong-guk, Senior Secretary to the President for Economic Affairs.”
“Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs?”
Gyeong-eun shot Seong-ho a look that asked how on earth he knew someone of that rank.
Seong-ho glanced briefly at Jo Byeong-guk.
“I met him once when I visited the Blue House last time.”
He turned fully toward the senior secretary.
“What brings you here? Did you come because of me?”
Jo Byeong-guk pointed at the coffee with one finger.
“I wanted to see the Head of Restructuring Headquarters, but I couldn’t get a meeting. Then I heard you would be attending the opening ceremony today, so I hurried over. I wanted a word with you.”
“Shall we step inside and talk, then?”
Seong-ho nodded and indicated the coffee shop with a tilt of his chin.
“No.”
Jo Byeong-guk set the straw to his lips, took a sip, and shook his head.
“Far too many people in there.”
“Then…”
“If you wouldn’t mind, come with me to Hyoja-dong and we’ll talk there.”
“Hyoja-dong?”
Even under Seong-ho’s gaze, Jo Byeong-guk kept noisily sucking coffee through the straw. He drained nearly half the cup in one go, then looked at the remaining contents and spoke to Gyeong-eun.
“This is going to work, President Lee. With regular café coffee one sip and you’re done, but I’ve already had several and there’s still half left. You can nurse this for a long time.”
“Ah… yes. Thank you.”
Gyeong-eun answered politely and then looked at her husband. She understood perfectly well that “Hyoja-dong” meant the Blue House.
“Am I going alone?”
“Of course. Who else is here besides me and the Headquarters Head?”
Jo Byeong-guk noisily finished more of the coffee and bowed lightly to Gyeong-eun.
“I’ll see you again another time.”
With the greeting complete he turned and spoke to Seong-ho without waiting for a reply.
“Shall we?”
He started walking without even hearing Seong-ho’s answer. Seong-ho watched the senior secretary’s back for a moment, then offered Gyeong-eun a small smile that said he would be back soon, and followed.
Unlike the previous visit, no staff appeared to greet Kim Seong-ho. Because this call was unofficial, the interior of the Blue House was simply quiet.
Jo Byeong-guk stepped out of the car first, empty plastic cup still in hand, and watched Seong-ho climb out after him. Once he confirmed the Headquarters Head had arrived, the senior secretary turned and strode toward the main building.
Seong-ho fell into step beside him.
“I take it we’re not headed for the annex this time.”
“That’s right. Today you’ll be speaking in the main building, not the annex.”
“Don’t tell me…”
Seong-ho glanced once toward the annex and exhaled softly. He now understood exactly why Jo Byeong-guk had brought him here.
The senior secretary walked briskly into the main building and held out the empty plastic cup to the first staff member he saw.
“Take Headquarters Head Kim’s as well and throw them both away.”
“Yes, sir.”
Seong-ho handed over his own cup and followed Jo Byeong-guk up to the second floor where the presidential office was located. Outside the door he straightened his clothes and asked,
“You said you wanted to talk. Why bring me all the way here?”
“I don’t recall ever saying that I was the one who wanted to talk.”
Seong-ho let out a quiet laugh. Jo Byeong-guk smiled back at him, then opened the door and stepped inside.
“Your Excellency, I’ve brought him.”
At the report, President Kim Dae-sang rose from his seat.
“Welcome. I hear there was an event in Seodaemun-gu today?”
“Yes. A launch event for a new brand under Ilhyeon Department Store.”
“Ilhyeon Department Store…”
“The company my wife runs.”
“Ah…”
Kim Dae-sang arranged his features into a look of mild embarrassment, as though the detail had completely escaped him.
“You’re busy enough as it is. I hope I haven’t called you away for nothing.”
He glanced at Jo Byeong-guk, who immediately bowed his head.
“I should have checked more carefully. It was an oversight on my part. It won’t happen again.”
“Yes, see that it doesn’t. Just because we’re in a hurry doesn’t mean we can drag someone away from important work on a whim.”
“My apologies.”
Seong-ho watched the little performance in silence. He did not for a moment believe the President had been unaware. Kim Dae-sang had known full well and was simply distancing himself with the pretense of ignorance. Seong-ho observed the transparent maneuver without reaction.
After admonishing Jo Byeong-guk to be more careful in future, the President gestured Seong-ho toward the conference table.
“Since you’re already here, why don’t we talk for a bit?”
“Of course.”
Seong-ho nodded and moved to the table. Kim Dae-sang smiled, invited Jo Byeong-guk to sit as well, and took his own seat at a measured pace.
“So… have you given it some thought?”
The question came the instant he settled into the chair.
Seong-ho averted his gaze slightly and answered in a deliberately troubled tone.
“Well… the thing is…”
Both the President and the senior secretary kept their eyes fixed on him. Neither could begin to predict what he would say next.
After a brief hesitation Seong-ho lifted his head slowly.
“I did speak with the Chairman…”
“Oh! And what did the Chairman say?”
“He said we could help, but that we would lose far too much by doing so.”
“Lose? What on earth does Ilhyeon stand to lose?”
Jo Byeong-guk’s voice rose sharply. Kim Dae-sang frowned at him. Instantly realizing his mistake—remembering the earlier agreement that they would handle Seong-ho gently—the senior secretary turned and apologized at once.
“I’m sorry. I raised my voice for a moment.”
“Secretary Jo. Be careful. What kind of behavior is that in front of a guest?”
The President rebuked him and then tried to soothe Seong-ho.
“Please understand, Headquarters Head Kim. Given the present situation… well.”
He trailed off, shaking his head.
“As you know, things are far from easy. To be frank, the Republic of Korea is walking a tightrope. One misstep and we fall. The pressure of that situation must have made Secretary Jo’s voice louder than intended.”
“I understand. Being out in the field myself, I’m well aware the situation is anything but ordinary.”
When Seong-ho said he understood, the President’s expression eased.
“Citizens are turning in their gold to pay off the national debt. Little children are offering up the savings books they’ve barely managed to fill with their tiny hands. I could barely hold back tears watching them. In times like these, can corporations really afford to chase only their own profit? Ah—I’m not speaking of Ilhyeon, of course. I know full well how actively Ilhyeon has cooperated with government policy.”
Seong-ho allowed a faint smile. The way the President was coaxing and reassuring him, careful not to bruise his feelings, was almost pitiable. It showed just how desperate and difficult the government’s position had become.
Seong-ho decided it was time to ease the man’s mind.
“The Chairman also said that even if we lose a great deal, we ought to help when the President is trying to accomplish something important.”
“You’ll help?”
Kim Dae-sang’s face brightened. He felt as though Seong-ho were finally saying the words he had been waiting to hear. Still, a mere impression was not enough; he needed certainty. He shot Jo Byeong-guk a look. The senior secretary understood at once and asked the question for him.
“Then Ilhyeon will accept?”
Seong-ho met the President’s eyes squarely and spoke the words the man wanted to hear, clearly and without haste.
“Yes. We will accept the special tax audit. We will find a way to cover the two-hundred-billion-won fine.”
Bang!
Kim Dae-sang brought his palm down hard on the table the moment he heard what he had hoped for. Beaming, he pointed a finger at Seong-ho.
“Don’t worry. The target isn’t Ilhyeon—it’s the other four major groups that refuse to listen. We won’t make things difficult for you. Secretary Jo, take note: Ilhyeon’s operations must not be hindered in any way.”
He issued the instruction and then smiled broadly, confident that with Ilhyeon’s acceptance the plan could proceed exactly as intended.
“And don’t concern yourself about the two hundred billion either. Whatever fine you end up paying, we will make sure you are compensated in some other form.”
The President tried to reassure Seong-ho that the fine would be made good. But Seong-ho was not worried about two hundred billion. In his mind a plan was already taking shape that would turn that two hundred billion into several thousand billion in compensation.