JK Card
JK Group Chairman's office.
Whenever the group advanced another step thanks to his grandson's plans, Chairman Kang would burst into hearty laughter and promise Min-ho anything he desired. Whether Min-ho sensed his grandfather's feelings or not, he merely smiled faintly each time, saying nothing. They assumed he must want something—and it wasn't a car, house, or money. It was the management rights to JK Card.
He had promised to pluck the moon from the sky, so he couldn't retract his words now. In the end, Chairman Kang had no choice but to grant his grandson's wish. Moon Sang-oh, factoring in Min-ho's meticulous brilliance, surmised this was a response born of precise calculation. No matter how he turned it over in his mind, he couldn't accept the situation. Cautiously, he offered his opinion.
"Chairman, forgive me, but I have one thing to say."
"I know it without you telling me... Still, one more head might spark a clever solution, so speak your mind."
"With the other grandsons to consider, putting Young Master Min-ho at JK Card could stir up trouble."
Chairman Kang, who had been reading the newspaper, removed his glasses and turned to Moon Sang-oh.
"How many are ahead of Min-ho?"
"Excluding the two children from the young miss's side, there are six in total above him."
"Plenty in number, but not a single one worth a damn. I'd hand over the whole truckload of them and never trade for our Min-ho."
Unlike the deeply worried Moon Sang-oh, Chairman Kang seemed utterly unconcerned, his face relaxed as he tossed in a joke.
"No matter how small the company, JK Card is still a clear affiliate. Elevating him to president would inevitably breed resentment elsewhere."
No one outdid Chairman Kang when it came to seeing the full board. This was a decision made after weighing every angle.
"That pitiful little JK Card... Remember Jeong Min-gil? The guy who fired off a couple rounds in Myeong-dong back in the day."
"The Jeong President who did big rebar business in Yongdu-dong?"
"That fool snapped it up out of greed, couldn't handle it, and dumped it on me for a song."
"I remember."
Chairman Kang lit his pipe and jotted down his grandsons' names in his notebook.
"Sang-hyuk, Gyu-hyuk... Those two got their chances and kicked them away themselves. Min-seong, my son's Jeong-won, Chang-hwan—they couldn't last a month as presidents before bolting..."
In truth, JK Card was an affiliate in name only. Its revenue was abysmal, with zero support from headquarters. It served merely as a testing ground for the royal family. Others tossed away the card even if handed to them, but Min-ho's eyes sparkled as he claimed it—stirring Chairman Kang's curiosity despite himself.
Moon Sang-oh knew all this, yet it was still hard to swallow.
"I know it's a dead-end post."
"We sent every last one there without fail. The problem was they all shunned it as a boondoggle. By rights, Min-ho's next in line."
Unlike major card companies, JK Card was the smallest outfit. Tucked in dingy Eulji-ro with just thirty employees. No president or VP in sight—just one division head running the show. They'd bought it cheap and tried dragging it along, but even Chairman Kang was at a loss. To make matters worse, affiliated merchants were dwindling, and operating profit barely skirted red ink. They were mulling shutdown when, in a stroke of genius, Min-ho shot up his hand.
For Chairman Kang, it was a no-lose deal. Testing Min-ho's chops with a throwaway card offered far more gain than loss.
"Do you think I accepted Min-ho's proposal without a thought?"
"No, sir. I spoke out of concern. My apologies if it displeased you."
"Enough of that between us. Your role is to keep me in check—I'm grateful for it."
"What worries me most is the young master's public exposure."
Taking JK Card meant Min-ho would inevitably show his face outside. That's what Moon Sang-oh fretted over.
Chairman Kang saw it differently. There was no hiding him anymore. With Athena thriving under Min-ho's lead, this opportunity was more than fair.
"Some things can't be hidden, no matter how you try. That boy Min-ho's like a needle in a pocket—it pokes through every time."
"So you'll approve all his requests as is?"
"Exactly. JK Card's mush anyway—good only for dog food. I planned to limp through the year and shut it down, but if Min-ho steps up like this, I'm the grateful one."
For Moon Sang-oh, who viewed Min-ho as the prime next-chairman candidate, worries multiplied. In his frustration, he let out a heavy sigh unbidden.
"What? Feeling stifled?"
"My apologies."
"Speak freely. What's eating you?"
Uncharacteristically fiddling with his coffee cup, Moon Sang-oh replied.
"JK Card's on life support. Even for the young master, saving it will be tough."
"You're looking several moves ahead, aren't you?"
"Yes. If it folds, the young master will carry the stain of failing to manage an affiliate."
"Needs a spotless record, yet heading into a dung heap?"
"Precisely. No need to mark his resume in red ink."
It was the one issue nagging even Chairman Kang, and Moon Sang-oh shared the deep concern.
"I've mulled it over as much as you. Failure means no one cares about the process—only the result."
"Everything else is fine. This is what sticks in my craw."
"Hand him candy because he's pretty, and if it rots his teeth, the bellybutton's bigger than the belly."
"Why not rescind this and wait for the next shot? Or let things quiet down and hand him JK Credit Info..."
Chairman Kang raised a hand to halt Moon Sang-oh, then smiled faintly.
"Anyone else, maybe. But when has Min-ho ever acted without thought?"
Moon Sang-oh rolled his eyes, recalling the past, then tilted his head.
"Not once, I dare say."
"Any failures?"
"None. Even the big ones—JK Telecom, Hwang Young-ho's Barcelona gold, Kim Dong-il's election—all looked impossible but ended in perfect success."
Fog shrouded the path, but Chairman Kang fixed his gaze on Min-ho alone. Reviving JK Card would rocket his standing in the group overnight. Convinced there was reason behind it, Chairman Kang tapped his temple with a finger.
"Neither you nor I can keep up with Min-ho's mind. Ask him, and he'll stonewall anyway. Surely he's got a masterstroke this time too."
"I trust the young master, but this feels like a gamble I can't shake."
"No need for hesitation. Tell him to fry it, boil it, whatever."
It grated, but it was Chairman Kang's order. Moon Sang-oh had no choice.
"Understood. I'll relay it that way."
***
On the way to Eulji-ro 3-ga and JK Card, Min-ho sat in the back seat, on the phone.
"Yes, Butler. Grandfather said that? Got it. I'll handle it."
As if he'd anticipated it, Min-ho smiled and ended the call. Choi Jong-hoon glanced at his mood via the rearview mirror.
"May I ask about the chairman's instructions?"
"Fry it, boil it, stew it—do as you like."
Choi let out a sigh like the earth was caving in.
"Earthquake before we even hit Eulji-ro. Why the heavy sighing?"
"Young master, it's too late to change now, but... I wish you'd consulted us first."
"Feeling slighted?"
"Can't deny it this time."
As the car hit a red light, Min-ho scrunched over to the passenger seat and broached the topic.
"I know. JK Card's basically a discard."
"Then why suddenly...?"
"I'm Chairman Kang Jin-gwang's grandson. If there's profit, we do it; if not, we make it."
"Even so, JK Card's beyond saving."
"It can be saved. Anyone else, maybe not—but me, yes."
Spotting something, Choi sighed again, slamming his forehead on the wheel in agony.
"Young master, that rundown five-story building ahead? That's JK Card."
"Better than I thought."
"No elevator. Smoking in the halls too."
"This lays the cornerstone for entering the group proper. Just a means to that end. Of course, it'll be a big gift for Grandfather too."
Min-ho could veer anywhere, but this time Choi truly thought no. After deep thought, he posed an odd question.
"Young master, did you see something?"
"I told you, I see nothing."
"Even if you deny it, I've decided to believe otherwise."
"You'll know everything later. Let's head up for now."
"Yes, sir."
They entered the jaundiced building. The stairs, sticky from god-knows-when cleaning, reeked of cigarettes and damp must.
"Young master, as I said, no elevator."
"Good exercise. Fifth floor, right?"
"Yes. Division Head Yu Se-ho is waiting."
Upon reaching the fifth floor, Min-ho could scarcely believe his eyes. Despite working hours, some employees clustered in groups, smoking. Spotting Min-ho and Choi, they didn't stub out—instead, they chatted louder.
—Saw the college comedy fest yesterday?
—Hilarious. That "Laugh and Fortune Comes" bit cracked me up.
—Yeah? When's the rerun? Gotta catch it.
A female employee meeting Choi's eyes gave him a quick once-over and blurted,
"Customer? Here for a card?"
Outraged, Choi nearly exploded, but Min-ho poked his side and shook his head, forcing a sigh instead.
"Here to see Division Head Yu Se-ho."
"The head? Go on in—he's there."
They entered. It was a disaster atop a catastrophe. One glance explained the "dead-end" label. The office resembled a war zone—filthy beyond belief, operations a haphazard mess with no system.
Choi lowered his voice.
"Young master, this really won't do."
"No choice for me. To grab a card company now, this is the only way. There he is."
Yu Se-ho, hanging up in a fluster, rushed over.
"Hello? Yu Se-ho, division head. Got word you were coming. This way, please."
Seated, Min-ho accepted a paper cup of coffee. Yu handed over his card with a booming greeting.
"Yu Se-ho. Honored to meet you."
Min-ho's gaze fixed on the employees.
"Is this how you've been operating?"
"Well... Headquarters gives zilch support, and we're mulling closure. Morale's shot, work's a mess as you see."
"At least realistic—some comfort."
"Exactly. What can we do? Scraping by like this."
"You know I'm taking over as president?"
"Yes. Vice Chairman Moon filled me in."
"Good. See those ten up front working hard?"
"Yes. Miss Kim, Miss Han..."
Min-ho didn't raise his voice without reason. Cutting off Yu, he issued orders.
"Everyone except those diligent ones up front—fired as of now. Office moves to Yeouido immediately."
"Pardon? Right now?"
"Tomorrow then?"
"Ah... No."
"We have all the gear we need—trash everything here. Hire 300 new staff... "
Min-ho scribbled an address on a notepad and handed it over.
"Address here. Don't wanna get cut? Move now."
Why run a card company Chairman Kang had abandoned? All the plans were already in Min-ho's head. The buildup to land the big fish had truly begun.