Jean-Louis Breguet and Cha Hee-ju 2
Executive Director Han Se-gyeol was still bothered by the comments Jung Seung-hyun, President of Haesol Textile, had made about expected sales.
With Motion-X distributors already excited enough to place additional orders in advance, the forecast that sales might come in weaker than expected had made his stomach sink.
Of course, Seung-hyun was not an economics expert, so his remark that current market conditions were so poor that only the cheaper lines would sell was hard to take as hard evidence.
Still, Han Se-gyeol knew one thing very well.
There were times when an untrained outsider’s prediction ended up being uncannily right.
So while he kept turning Seung-hyun’s words over in his head, he realized that the face of the white man standing beside him and talking with him looked strangely familiar.
Then it clicked.
Wait. Jean-Louis Breguet?
Convinced that the man was Jean-Louis, the vice president of the importer Blanc des Vosges, Han Se-gyeol quickly sent President Jeong Man-sik a message.
Thinking he had done enough, Director Han was about to leave when he sent President Jeong one more message.
Han Se-gyeol suddenly became curious.
Could that prediction really come true?
If it did, what should they do?
He thought he should get back to the company at once and take another careful look at the brands they already had.
*
While Seung-hyun was talking with Jean-Louis about this and that, Kim I-su, the managing director, came over.
“Did you enjoy what you saw?”
“Yes. The clothes are all very pretty across the board.”
“Haha, thank you. I’m not just saying that because they’re ours; people have been praising the whole lineup for coming together well. That’s why we’re even more eager to see how it does. You’ve been standing for a while, so would you like to move now?”
“Ah... well...”
Seung-hyun was about to refuse since he was with Jean-Louis, but Director Kim hurriedly added, “President Jeong also said it would be best if Mr. Jean-Louis joined us. Would that be all right?”
He asked Jean-Louis directly.
Kim I-su, who had been startled just moments earlier when he heard the man’s identity from President Jeong, was greatly relieved that he had not been rude.
“I see no problem with that.”
And so the three of them moved to the banquet hall right next to the event space.
Executives from Hanil Global and the invited VIP guests were gathered in a separate VIP room, enjoying a simple dinner.
Seung-hyun found the luxurious banquet atmosphere unfamiliar and strangely out of place.
He had thought that because his father had run a business, he had lived a life that was not exactly lacking, but in the end it had only been a little better than an ordinary household’s.
It almost felt as though his life had been rewritten in just a few short months.
He had felt it before, when he went to meet the chairman of Loro Piana, and he felt it again now: something was pleasant and yet unfamiliar, to the point that it made him feel as if he were not himself.
When Jung Seung-hyun arrived with Jean-Louis Breguet, who had accompanied him, Han Se-gyeol and Kim I-su were already there to greet them.
After the brief introductions, Kim I-su opened the door, and inside was a private space arranged like a small lounge.
Dark brown tables and soft yellow lighting created a cozy atmosphere, and beyond the windows the glittering night view of Gangnam spread out in dazzling layers.
“Welcome.”
President Jeong Man-sik, who had been waiting, stood up to receive them.
“Hello. I’m Jung Seung-hyun from Haesol Textile.”
Seung-hyun greeted him politely first, and President Jeong extended his hand for a handshake.
“President Jung Seung-hyun... it’s a pleasure. And this must be your first time as well, Mr. Jean-Louis. I’m Jeong Man-sik of Hanil Global.”
“A pleasure. I never thought I’d come to Korea and end up meeting the president of Hanil Global.”
Jeong Man-sik answered with a bright smile.
“I had hoped to meet President Jung at least once, but I didn’t expect to see such an important guest along with him. When I heard someone connected to LVMH was coming as well, I couldn’t help but be glad. Now then, shall we begin with a toast?”
With a crisp clink, the wine glasses touched, and each person took a sip.
Under the rich lighting, Seung-hyun stole a sideways glance at Jean-Louis’s expression and saw that he seemed fairly satisfied with the hotel food.
After the atmosphere had warmed a little, Jeong Man-sik casually turned to Jean-Louis.
“May I ask what brought you to Korea?”
“I came to import Haesol Textile’s bedding.”
“Oh? That must be quite an important matter if the vice president came in person?”
Jean-Louis did not exactly deny it.
“You could say that.”
“Then President Jung here must be on the verge of becoming a chaebol.”
It came across not as sarcasm, but as genuine admiration and praise.
Perhaps because of that, Seung-hyun set down his glass and smiled carefully.
“It’s still early, but thanks to Mr. Jean-Louis, it looks like we’re off to a good start. Still, results are something you only know after they come in, so I’m not planning to get ahead of myself.”
“Haha, that’s a good attitude. By the way, may I ask one thing?”
Even though this was clearly a business setting, President Jeong did not show the slightest hint of disrespect toward Seung-hyun, who was almost young enough to be his son.
It was so far removed from the attitude one would expect from the president of a fashion company squeezing a subcontractor dry that it was hard to believe.
“Of course.”
“One of our executives, Director Han, happened to overhear you speaking with Mr. Jean-Louis earlier while looking around the showroom. He is not the kind of man who lacks manners, so he intended to pass by without intruding, but since the subject was Motion-X design, he couldn’t help but keep listening. For that, I apologize.”
At the question, asked in English out of consideration for Jean-Louis, Seung-hyun’s expression became awkward.
It felt as though he had been caught gossiping behind someone’s back.
“Not at all. That can happen.”
“It seems what President Jung said then has been troubling Director Han. You predicted that all of Motion-X’s premium lines would slow down because of the recession.”
“Hmm.”
Seung-hyun’s attitude, with little else to say, made it clear that he was not denying it.
“Then that’s basically the same as saying it’s directly tied to a drop in Aero Coolbreeze sales. If you were in my position, President Jung, what would you do? Would you stop additional production of Aero Coolbreeze, or would you wait and see how things develop for now?”
Seung-hyun bit his lip slightly at the difficult question.
But no one seemed willing to help him.
No, on the contrary, Jean-Louis was smiling as if he found the whole thing amusing and was looking straight at Seung-hyun’s face.
“Hah, this is troublesome...”
“I did ask a difficult question, didn’t I? But whatever answer President Jung gives, I won’t resent you for it. I’m simply curious about your judgment.”
There it was again: judgment.
That made things even more awkward, but Seung-hyun answered honestly.
“If I were you, I’d stop additional production.”
Most of the newly released items did not even reach an 80 percent marketability score.
If they kept weaving more and more fabric later on, it would only pile up as inventory, so stopping further production was the obvious choice.
He voiced his thoughts with unexpected firmness, and President Jeong looked slightly surprised.
Most people, in such a burdensome situation, would not dare state their prediction so confidently when nothing was certain.
Was that why?
President Jeong found himself liking this young president even more.
“I see. Thank you for your opinion.”
“Just forget about it. It’s not such a useful idea.”
“No, that’s not true. I’m not a genius. This is the kind of place where I need to hear what many people think.”
After saying that, President Jeong turned to Jean-Louis.
“By the way, Motion-X still hasn’t entered overseas markets, especially France. What do you think? It’s golf wear, yes, but the designs are varied, and the functional fabrics have established themselves to a certain extent...”
Seung-hyun realized why President Jeong had allowed Jean-Louis to attend this gathering.
Since the vice president of Blanc des Vosges was in Korea, he must have wanted to sound out the possibility of Motion-X entering France.
As Seung-hyun wondered what kind of reaction he would get, Jean-Louis said offhandedly, “Well. In France, young people aren’t especially passionate about golf. Sometimes a temporary craze comes around, but it’s nothing as explosive as in the United States or Korea.”
In other words, he was saying there did not seem to be much chance of success if they entered now.
Although President Jeong did not show his disappointment openly, he took a sip of wine and stated his view again.
“Our Motion-X has been growing every year. Even if France has a small golf population, I thought that with differentiated competitiveness, it might be possible to target a niche market.”
Jean-Louis nodded with an ambiguous expression.
“That’s true as well. But local distribution networks and brand recognition are extremely important. You’d need to invest a great deal of capital, time, and marketing money, and that’s not easy... haha, well, I’m not really in a position to say too much since I’m not a golf wear specialist. Still, rather than France, I’d aim for the United States.”
It was a lukewarm answer.
He was saying he was not all that interested.
A clearly awkward situation.
Even Seung-hyun ended up putting on an uncomfortable smile and lowering his head, focusing on his wine.
What was strange, though, was that President Jeong did not show any particular reaction.
Watching him nod as if he had not been pricked in the slightest, Seung-hyun smiled awkwardly again.
“He’s here.”
“Hmm?”
The VIP room door opened, and someone entered.
Maybe in her mid-twenties?
Seung-hyun looked at a woman who seemed about his age walking in with a click of high heels.
For a brief moment, he thought she was very beautiful, but that thought was quickly swallowed up by another: why was she here?
“Hello. I’m Cha Hee-ju from the Product Division at Mirae Department Store. Nice to meet you.”
Her appearance was rather sudden.
But then President Jeong Man-sik added an introduction of his own.
“She’s the chairman’s granddaughter. To be honest, the main reason for today’s meeting was my chance to see President Jung and talk with him, but this afternoon another reason was added. Miss Hee-ju here wanted to meet Mr. Jean-Louis.”
When Jean-Louis heard that a woman he had never met before had wanted to see him, his eyes widened.
“Oh? What would be the reason the granddaughter of a group chairman who owns a department store would want to meet me?”
She took a sip of water, then spoke with composure.
“I heard that Mr. Jean-Louis has deep ties with France’s top luxury department stores. When I heard you were in Korea, I thought I absolutely had to meet you.”
“Why?”
“I heard you’re very close with Davide Sozzi, the CEO of Promemoria in Italy.”
Seung-hyun, listening quietly beside them, was startled.
He had not known it before, but while working with Roche Bobois he had studied a number of European luxury furniture brands, and Promemoria was among them.
It was an Italian furniture company, a high-end brand built on the finest materials and craftsmanship.
A sofa could cost anywhere from thirty million won to well over one hundred million won.
He guessed they were probably hoping to bring in a brand not yet sold in Korea and generate results by targeting domestic affluent customers.
“So?”
“I’ve wanted to bring Promemoria into Korea for a long time. If you could introduce us, I think we’d be endlessly grateful. Is there anything you want? We can do anything we’re able to.”
With both hands clasped in front of her as she made her request, she looked so earnest that any man would have wanted to grant it, but Jean-Louis wore his characteristic indifferent expression.
“Hmm. I don’t really want anything... ah, and that friend Davide Sozzi doesn’t seem eager to expand the market either. He’s busy enough as it is.”
“We know that very well. But we really need Promemoria. Isn’t there any way?”
Jean-Louis shrugged, then suddenly turned to Seung-hyun in the next seat.
“Why are you looking at me?”
Jean-Louis said with a playful expression, “He’s not interested in much else, but he does have insomnia, so he’s sensitive about sleep. If you were to make special bedding just for Davide Sozzi, maybe he’d be willing to meet one person.”
Seung-hyun’s face twisted in frustration.
“You’re talking to me now? Bedding for one person? Come on, that’s ridiculous.”
But then...
“Please. It’s just one duvet. I’ll pay you whatever it costs.”
Cha Hee-ju was so anxious that she half rose from her seat, her hips lifting as she pleaded with Seung-hyun.
From Seung-hyun’s perspective, though, it was impossible to agree.
They were already up to their necks in work, and there was no spare capacity in the line to begin with; if they had to add a separate pattern and embroidery and then produce it, there was no end to the extra work involved.
“Sorry, but I can’t do it.”
Seung-hyun cut her off flatly even though he knew exactly who she was.
Jean-Louis looked as if he was about to laugh himself silly, grinning broadly at the exchange.
By contrast, Cha Hee-ju stared back blankly, about to say something...
“No, just one duvet...”
...before falling silent under President Jeong Man-sik’s hard expression.