Debt Collection (2) – The Malignant Debtor So Pan-sik
So Pan-sik was a malignant debtor. A master finisher with exceptional handiwork skills, he was well-known in the industry. Clients lined up for him, and jobs were always overflowing. Naturally, his business started to expand.
Once he had established a solid position in the field, So Pan-sik made a choice no one could have imagined. He took out loans from financial institutions for business capital and borrowed money from friends and acquaintances under the guise of real estate investments. Then, he transferred all his assets in his name to family members and under false names before vanishing like he had never existed. It was a meticulously planned default.
JK Mutual Savings Bank wasn't the only one who never got their money back from him. The number of victims, including his employees, was beyond counting. Creditors abandoned their livelihoods and scoured the country for him. They finally tracked him down to a single-family home in Myeonmok-dong.
"Give me my money, you scamming bastard!"
"Hey, boss, why are you like this? I got no money."
They grabbed him by the collar and threatened him, but he shook them off with brazen defiance. Legal action followed, but since he'd already siphoned everything into family and proxy names, not a single thousand-won bill could be recovered. So Pan-sik's thick skin grew even tougher, like it had been welded shut. He wouldn't even open the door anymore, and he'd sprinkle salt at creditors like Oh Deputy, muttering that their faces brought bad luck.
In his previous life, Min-ho had been no different. He'd endured salt showers and beatings with sticks countless times. To extract money from debtors like this, you always had to go one step further. That's why he prepared more thoroughly and thought harder than they did. Min-ho's perfectionism, quick judgment, and execution were born from such experiences.
So Pan-sik was an obvious target, but with no other options, creditors had always let him slip away right in front of them. Now, Min-ho finally had the chance to confront the man who had always left a nagging doubt in his mind. It was the perfect opportunity to correct that first mistake and erase a blemish from his life.
This time, I won't fall for it.
Min-ho smirked, hiding the awl in his pocket. He was the spear that could pierce any shield. So Pan-sik was the shield that could block any spear. Min-ho had to get the money. So Pan-sik would never pay up. A tense standoff unfolded across the slightly ajar front door.
The door, which seemed impregnable like an iron fortress, swung open easily thanks to Min-ho's ploy of free milk and newspapers.
"JK Credit Info, Lee Min-ho."
So Pan-sik checked Min-ho's business card.
"I got nothin' to say to you people."
He startled and strained to slam the door shut, but it was futile. Gripping the door with both hands and pulling with all his might, So Pan-sik said,
"You're a sharp one, kid. Must come with youth."
"I'm here for the money, not compliments."
"Let go if you know what's good for you."
"Won't let go even if you curse me out. Why else would I come all this way?"
Unlike the relaxed, smiling Min-ho, So Pan-sik gritted his teeth and summoned every ounce of strength from his nursing days. But he was nearly seventy. He couldn't match the power of a twenty-something who could chew cement. Pretending to be at ease with a forced grin, his thin, aged arms trembled visibly.
"If you don't let go, I'll call the cops!"
Min-ho peeked inside and replied with a leisurely smile.
"Phone's pretty far away. Maybe if your arm stretches to three meters."
"Enough, kid. Before we both sweat it out at the station."
"You mean trespassing? Even the police couldn't argue this. Don't waste your strength—spare me a moment."
So Pan-sik, drained of strength to pull the door, finally exhaled the breath he'd been holding and released his grip. Sweating profusely, he glared at Oh Deputy.
"He knows damn well I got no money."
"I know that too, sir. Just here for the formal verification."
"What, tormenting an old man like me to squeeze blood from a stone?"
"You'll find out soon enough. It won't take long. Shall we keep standing here?"
Outmatched in strength and words, So Pan-sik threw open the door in resignation, desperate to end it.
"Fine, you stubborn bull. Come in and see for yourself."
"Depends on who's looking."
"Even if you wash your eyes, there's nothin' to take."
"Is that so?"
After the tussle, Oh Deputy and Min-ho entered the house. It was about 15 pyeong—a cramped living room and two tiny bedrooms, nothing more. Of course, this house too had long been transferred to his sham-divorced wife's name.
Min-ho headed straight for the small room. A blanket lay on the floor, with clothes piled like mountains in the corner. Nothing worth seizing. Oh Deputy sighed as they moved to the living room.
An old cathode-ray TV sat there, so broken you had to smack it to change channels. So Pan-sik was right. No assets to seize—not even decent furnishings.
Normally, even the toughest creditors would give up and turn away. So Pan-sik's arrogant demeanor, the messy house, his unfocused eyes—Oh Deputy sighed and muttered bitterly.
"What'd I tell you? This shameless bastard's got nothin'."
"You're right, Deputy. On the surface."
"Got some bite to your words, huh? See anythin' worth money?"
"Yeah, to my eyes. This place looks like a gold mine."
"This ain't the time for jokes. Let's wrap up and go."
Min-ho flashed a meaningful smile at So Pan-sik, whose gut protruded sloppily and face twisted in his usual sneer. Dressed in baggy white sweatpants, hands behind his back, So Pan-sik clucked his tongue.
"Kid, you can't trust folks like that? Tsk tsk."
"As you say, no furnishings to speak of."
"I'd pay if I had it. Business tanked, as you see—times are tough."
"Tough times, yet a pretty spacious house."
"Friend lent it to me temporarily."
"Lucky friend. Registry says it's your divorced wife's."
Hit where it hurt, So Pan-sik coughed awkwardly and averted his eyes.
"That enough now?"
"No, a few more things to check."
Unlike other creditors who poked around half-heartedly and sighed, Min-ho pulled out documents and plopped down in the cramped living room.
"We suspect you've hidden assets."
"All rumors. Who spreads such nonsense? Tsk, end of days."
"What do you think about this?"
"Ridiculous."
"It's clear your assets went to your wife and two daughters."
"Do I look like that kinda guy? As you see, I'm barely scraping by meals."
At So Pan-sik's shameless responses, Min-ho eyed his protruding gut.
"For someone worried about meals... Anyway, let's continue."
To confirm facts, Min-ho pressed on.
"You ran Daehan Finishing, borrowed 80 million from JK Mutual Savings Bank five years ago. Paid principal and interest at first, then defaulted. Now it's 120 million including principal. Correct?"
"Probably. You bankers live by numbers—can't be wrong."
"No current income?"
"Look at me, this old. Who hires me for manual labor? Living off kids' pocket money."
"Got it."
So Pan-sik spouted ridiculous lies without a hint of guilt or remorse on his face. Min-ho's questions grew uncomfortable. To end it, he stood casually.
"That should do it."
So Pan-sik prepared to see him out—or rather, kick him out fast. But Min-ho didn't budge.
"More questions. Why stand?"
"You checked everything, kid. Go. What else you want with me?"
"Can't leave after all this trouble. I'll stay a bit."
"Sit there all day, nothin' comes out. If you wanna be stubborn, be my guest."
So Pan-sik couldn't dream Min-ho would shatter everything he had. Min-ho eyed him with contempt.
So Pan-sik lit a cigarette and stepped outside. Oh Deputy let out a long sigh. Meaningless questions, perfunctory answers—endless repetition. Fed up with So Pan-sik's antics, he shook his head.
"Told you, that brazen guy's got nothin', no matter how hard you shake."
"If nothin's there, we shake till dust flies."
"I see your effort. I'll tell the boss. Let's go—campin' here solves nothin'."
Unlike the resigned Oh Deputy, Min-ho kicked off his real plan.
"Deputy, stay here a sec."
"What? What're you on about?"
"Jam the front door open and wait."
At Min-ho's renewed twenty questions, Oh Deputy asked frustratedly,
"You plannin' to drag him to the alley and beat him?"
"You know that won't solve it."
"Then what? Just squat here?"
"Nah."
Min-ho turned to the bathroom and said,
"Didn't bring jeans to California."
"Can you explain properly for once?"
"Wait 20 minutes. I'll show you somethin' fun. You won't believe your eyes."
"What the hell now?"
"Deputy, I'll be right back."
Ignoring Oh Deputy's wail, Min-ho left So Pan-sik's house. He hurried straight to the hardware store.