Appointments Finalized
***
Kang Min-ho's residence. Min-ho and Lawyer Choi opened the front door and stepped inside.
Unlike the old days when musty air and darkness had greeted them, the aroma of food now tantalized their senses, whetting their appetites.
"Mrs. Shim, I'm home."
"Aigoo, you must be starving. Sit down quick—dinner's all ready."
"That delicious smell was wafting out even from the front gate."
"I made braised short ribs and soybean paste stew, just how you like them, young master. Go change and come out."
"Sure. Butler Moon should be here in about five minutes."
"I'll time it perfectly."
His grandfather had always pitied his grandson for eating out every meal. After scouring the entire country, he'd brought two skilled middle-aged women cooks to Seocho-dong. They received executive-level pay, generous bonuses, and even housing. Thanks to them, the dinner table now overflowed with delicacies every evening.
Min-ho changed clothes and came out, speaking to Mrs. Shim.
"Mrs. Shim, you can head home early today."
"Pardon? Is something wrong?"
"I've got some important business. I'll handle the cleanup myself."
Mrs. Shim hesitated for a long moment, looking troubled, before finally speaking.
"If the chairman finds out, it'll be hell to pay. If it's important talk, I'll wait outside the gate. That way, my heart's at ease."
"It's fine, Mrs. Shim. Washing dishes once won't wear your hands away."
"If you're asking so nicely, what choice do I have? I put fruit in the fridge—make sure to eat some after dinner."
"Got it. Thanks for all your hard work."
Mrs. Shim finished up and left for the day. Lawyer Choi, his face etched with worry, immediately asked,
"Young master, do you have a clear solution for this matter with the executives?"
"You're worried about what if things go wrong, right?"
"Yes. There are many who've been biding their time, loyally sticking it out. If the order gets shuffled, some noise is inevitable, I believe."
"Don't worry—just eat comfortably. Ah, Butler Moon's here right on time."
Min-ho opened the door, and Butler Moon entered with a fruit basket, bowing politely.
"Good evening. Moon Sang-oh at your service."
"Isn't it about time you treated me more casually?"
"No, sir. Thank you for inviting me."
"We've got braised short ribs. Come on in."
A moment later, the three began their meal. Only after Min-ho picked up his spoon did the other two take their chopsticks.
Min-ho passed a large piece of braised rib to Butler Moon's bowl and opened the conversation.
"Starting with heavy talk right away would ruin digestion, so let's confirm the simple matters first. Hwang Young-ho's contract is done—what about the rest?"
"As you instructed, Seo Taiji and Boys, Ryu Jae-seok, and Seo Kuk-jin—all contracts completed."
"How'd Grandfather react? He must not be thrilled about no-names, right?"
"Indeed. Still, he permitted it, saying there must be a reason for your choices."
Hwang Young-ho, the top sports star of the '90s. Seo Taiji and Boys, who would earn the title "President of Culture." And Seo Kuk-jin, whose every word became a trend. They were flawless as corporate models.
"But you're missing one key person. You haven't found her yet, have you?"
Butler Moon set down his spoon in a panic, as if guilty of a grave crime, and replied,
"Park Joo-mi, as you mentioned—she's currently being tracked down."
"The secretarial office has had plenty of time to find her."
"She's from the provinces, wandering auditions for talent tests. No pager, so no easy way to contact her."
"We need to sign her before another company snatches her."
"Understood. I'll find her for sure. And I..."
Butler Moon picked up a document and got to the main point.
"Here's the full JK Group executive roster, as you requested."
"First, the Seyoung Newspaper share status."
"As expected, share acquisition is complete—only the interim shareholders' meeting remains."
"In short, you're debating who to appoint as president, right?"
"Yes."
"Be more specific."
Chairman Kang's dilemma meant he wanted to put Min-ho in the Seyoung Newspaper presidency. But thrusting the youngest grandson into it out of nowhere would invite backlash—it was obvious.
"Including this administration, the chairman has faced heavy scrutiny over the years."
"I know. If Grandfather steps into the spotlight, other companies won't sit idle when their rice bowls shrink."
"They've bribed government and agencies to change policies and systems, checking JK Group."
"And the breakthrough was JK Telecom."
"Correct. It was so legitimate, no one could oppose it."
Min-ho nodded, having listened intently.
"He wants a president he can talk to in the Blue House, and to make that happen, he needs to set the board. Right?"
"Yes. He deems the four presidents—your other grandsons—unsuitable for a media presidency."
"To control public opinion and sway the presidency, he needs my brain. But putting me there would stir talk."
"That's precisely the chairman's concern."
JK Group was on an unprecedented growth path, but one problem loomed: its inseparable ties to politics. If a Blue House hostile to JK took power, the nightmares of the past would repeat in no time.
The Times was growing at a frightening pace. Add the nation's top paper, Seyoung Newspaper, under Min-ho's control, and he'd not only dominate opinion but shake the presidency itself.
Whether JK Group advanced another step or got trapped, unable to move—it all hinged on Min-ho.
***
After dinner, the discussion continued.
"Any guess why I asked for the executive list?"
Lawyer Choi and Butler Moon pondered deeply but drew a blank.
Lawyer Choi, flipping through the list, replied,
"Putting an executive in the presidency means they can't refuse any order, right?"
"That's a reason, sure. Butler Moon?"
"I agree with Lawyer Choi. Promoting an executive avoids any is-it-fair debates cleanly."
Min-ho scanned the list for a long while, then abruptly pointed to two names.
"Promote Executive Director Kim Si-hyeong to president, and put Director Mo Seok-un in the vice president spot."
Instead of a clever scheme, Min-ho named them at an odd timing. Lawyer Choi, not fully grasping the executives, didn't get it.
But Butler Moon understood instantly from that one phrase. Shocked, he dropped his fruit fork.
"Young master... you're planning to rule from behind the throne?"
"Now I see why Grandfather keeps you close. How'd you know?"
"Executive Director Kim and Director Mo have the highest loyalty to the chairman."
"Spot on. That's exactly it."
Min-ho smiled faintly and began explaining.
"This was decades ago—I'll fill in Lawyer Choi. Kim went bankrupt, got chased by creditors, and caught. What happened?"
"Back then, surviving was lucky."
"They didn't kill him but dragged him to Myeong-dong for grunt work. Barely fed, they called him 'Myeong-dong Beggar.'"
Precise details flowed from Min-ho's mouth. Butler Moon couldn't fathom it. Only Chairman Kang, himself, and a handful in the secretariat knew these histories. Min-ho knowing was near impossible.
"That mistreated beggar had incredible talent."
"What talent?"
"He calculates four-digit numbers mentally in three seconds—more accurately than a calculator."
"Then what?"
"Only Grandfather spotted it. Naturally, he paid off the debts and hired him."
Min-ho wasn't seeing trees—he saw the forest. Butler Moon, confirming Chairman Kang's praise of Min-ho's vision, couldn't hide his awe.
"Young master, how do you know this?"
"Isn't how we use it more important? Now, Director Mo."
Min-ho passed them fruit and continued.
"Director Mo graduated from Korea University. Raised hearing 'prodigy' from childhood in a rural town where the township was thirty ri away."
"Thirty ri is about twelve kilometers. Even fit adults take two full hours."
Min-ho nodded and went on.
"Bright and young, brimming with confidence, he challenged the bar exam—to prove a dragon could rise from a stream."
Lawyer Choi, hooked on the tale, asked with wide eyes,
"He failed, didn't he?"
"Life doesn't go as planned. Nine attempts, all flops. Sold the family cow, lost face with his parents."
Lawyer Choi, with bar exam experience, shook his head knowingly.
"Don't tell me... the path most choose..."
"Right. He climbed the Han River Bridge to end it all."
"And then?"
"Grandfather happened by. Curious by nature, he asked why. There on the bridge, soju in hand, Director Mo spilled his story and bawled."
At the worst moment, the best benefactor appeared. A bizarre twist of fate.
"Korea University grad, passed the first bar stage multiple times—Grandfather saw potential. Hired them both. Now they're executives."
Min-ho pointed at the list.
"What does Grandfather mean to these two? Company chairman? Life saver? More. He changed their lives."
Now grasping Min-ho's plan, Lawyer Choi said firmly,
"With two so loyal at the top, no worries."
"Exactly. Betraying Grandfather would be worse than death—for them."
Butler Moon, having heard it all, replied,
"They're renowned for top loyalty and tight lips. And in a pinch, the best to follow your orders."
"The grandsons eyeing that seat will go mute as clams. My cousins lack stories like this."
"It could also signal: be loyally steadfast like them."
Even the great Chairman Kang hadn't solved this. Min-ho had the perfect fix, as if waiting.
Butler Moon was amazed but baffled how Min-ho knew. Even as royal family, access was impossible.
"Forgive me asking again, young master—but how do you know?"
"When I was little, visiting Grandfather, they'd drop by sometimes. He'd call one 'Beggar' or the other 'Han River Bridge.'"
"True. He uses those nicknames privately now and then."
"That's how. Clear now?"
"You remember childhood chats so vividly?"
It predated Butler Moon's employment. Min-ho brushed it off coolly. Truth was, as former chief of staff in his past life, he knew the details.
"Grandfather's stories stick in my head oddly clear."
"This should satisfy him fully."
"One more thing. Keeping the name Seyoung Newspaper?"
"Not decided yet."
"Even family bends arms inward, but media needs objectivity. A full name change risks losing readers."
What if it became JK Newspaper? Soon branded JK mouthpiece. Plus, Seyoung held the top readership—nation's number one.
Needed naming balancing both.
"Got ideas for the name?"
"Keep 'Se' from world, add 'min' for people: Semin Newspaper. Sounds good."
"Similar to Seyoung, no JK affiliate vibe."
"Report it like this first."
"Understood. I'll relay as is."
But it didn't end there. Min-ho had anticipated even this. The report included a Seyoung Newspaper overhaul plan.
Butler Moon checked details, tongue-tied at Min-ho's meticulousness.
"Young master... you foresaw all this?"
Min-ho neither confirmed nor denied.
"Grandfather will love it."
"Got it. Heading out now."
Butler Moon rushed straight to Chairman Kang in Seongbuk-dong.