Fierce Gale
Yeouido, The Times. With just two days until the inaugural special edition, reporters buzzed around like bees preparing the issue. The lead story, as directed by Min-ho, was the Suseo housing site allocation scandal—one of South Korea's darkest chapters in real estate development. In 1991, the plan had been to build apartments there and sell them at low prices to those without homes. It would have gone smoothly if not for Suseo's prime location, a golden egg so tempting it made even the fattest pigs drool.
Dark forces hungry for the land lobbied the Ministry of Construction. Suddenly, the land allocation rights were switched. The prime plots went to powerful institutions and companies—what folks called cherry-picking—while the scraps ended up with Yeouido lawmakers straining their necks to shout for them. For ordinary citizens chasing the dream of homeownership, a house wasn't just a building; it was their future, their goal. If it came out that shadowy hands had snatched it away, the whole country would erupt in no time.
Reporters who had escaped the clutches of Namdo Group and joined The Times dug into the story like madmen, barely sleeping. The trail was scattered everywhere, bloodied and obvious, so nailing down evidence didn't take long. Within days, circumstantial proof started surfacing. The reporters compiled the info and reported to President Jo.
"President, here are the Ministry of Construction documents."
"Suseo site allocation records. Includes lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republic Parties."
"We've caught signs that Minister Kim Dae-geun took bribes."
Reviewing the gathered materials, President Jo Dong-uk couldn't hide his shock. He double-checked multiple times. It matched Min-ho's instructions to a T.
It's exactly what the boss described... How did he know all this without even seeing it?
He pondered long but had no answers. What mattered was that things were going according to plan. It meant the nuke was armed and ready.
"Good work, everyone. Dig for more, and Nam-hyun, head to the ministry and snag an interview with Minister Kim. Drop a hint."
"Got it. President, this won't get spiked, right?"
"Don't worry. Who'd kill a scoop like this?"
"I'd love to meet our guardian angel. Don't we at least deserve a face-to-face?"
"Cut it out. You'll find out later. Now go to the ministry."
"Yes, sir. Be back soon."
Jo neatly organized the files and headed to Min-ho's office for the report, knocking lightly.
"It's Jo Dong-uk, sir."
"Come in."
Min-ho was buried under a mountain of documents. He set down his pen, stretched, and stood.
"So much to do, so little time."
"Deadlines always bring the chaos. Here's the material on the Suseo housing site you asked for."
"Our reporters aren't half bad, huh?"
"They were leashed under Han Du-hak, trembling every day. Now that you've unleashed them, their eyes are on fire. Satisfied?"
"More than. It's excellent. Stick to the direction I set for the layout."
"Understood. And this is the special feature on JK Group Chairman Kang Jin-gwang, as requested."
Min-ho scanned the article on the chairman. It was essentially what he'd written himself, so he nodded approvingly.
"Perfect. That's plenty."
"Thank you. Sir, one thing—with a 40-page inaugural, we'll have too much ad space left. Any solution?"
"Don't sweat it. You have the finished articles, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Run a first print edition."
Grasping Min-ho's intent, Jo thought it over before speaking cautiously.
"You're not thinking of taking it straight to JK Group's Chairman Kang Jin-gwang, are you?"
A mere newspaper president showing up at a chaebol chairman's door with a single paper? Unheard of. And Min-ho was issuing orders like the ad deals were already signed.
"Of course. For ads, slot in JK Credit Info, Mutual Credit Info, Telecom, and Investment Trust—one from each. I'll handle the rest."
"Sir, we should prepare for the worst case."
"I'll take care of it. How's the provincial printing press coming?"
"Ready to print tomorrow. Machines and trucks are set."
"Good work."
As Jo left, Min-ho prepared to head out. Choi, the lawyer quietly reviewing work, jumped up in surprise.
"Young master, you're taking the first edition to the chairman yourself?"
"Yeah. Problem?"
"To get ads, sure, but if he refuses, what's Plan B?"
"I'm making an offer he can't refuse. Think I'd need a backup?"
"Understood. I'll prep the car."
Choi left first. Min-ho picked up the receiver.
"Moon Sang-oh speaking."
"Butler, I'm heading out now."
"The chairman has no afternoon schedule. Come to his office."
***
JK Group Headquarters. Choi parked in the HQ lot as usual, set the parking brake, and said,
"We're here, young master. I'll pop into legal, then wait in the car."
"No, come up with me."
"Pardon? I can't—without the chairman's orders, that's off-limits."
"Grandpa ordered it. You know that's not a suggestion—it's a command."
"He... summoned me?"
"No idea why. Let's go up. Better if we arrive together than me alone."
"Yes, sir. One moment."
Choi Jong-hoon had never met Chairman Kang Jin-gwang face-to-face. He always waited in the car even at Seongbuk-dong. Tense, he adjusted his rearview and fixed his tie.
"Your hands are shaking. Someone might think Grandpa's gonna eat you alive."
"First time for me. Just tidying up."
"You're fine."
"Yes, sir."
Min-ho and Choi took the elevator to the top floor. As the doors opened, secretaries bowed politely.
"Legal's Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon?"
"Yes."
"Pardon, and the gentleman beside you?"
"Lee Min-ho, employee at JK Credit Info."
"Thank you for confirming. This way, please."
The chairman usually met people at restaurants or Seongbuk-dong. Today was different—he'd summoned Min-ho to his HQ office. A clear sign of trust. And for some reason, Lawyer Choi too. Choi's heart pounded like a fresh-caught fish.
He steadied his breath, standing rigid. A secretary opened the door and announced softly,
"Legal's Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon and Lee Min-ho have arrived."
As Min-ho entered, the chairman's face lit up. He wanted to hug him but held back with secretaries present. Seated as usual, he ordered,
"Miss Kim, bring the jade dew tea."
"Yes, Chairman."
As the secretaries left and shut the door, the chairman spread his arms, grinning wide, and approached Min-ho.
"My boy, you've kept your old grandpa on pins and needles!"
A privilege only for grandsons: just the right touch of sass. Min-ho added a nasal whine.
"Been swamped. You mad?"
"As if! Just you coming is a blessing."
"Work keeps piling up no matter how I cut it. I'll visit more, Grandpa."
"Good lad, anytime."
Hugging his lucky grandson and patting his back, the chairman spotted Choi. Lawyer Choi bowed deeply.
"An honor to meet you. Legal Team, Choi Jong-hoon."
"First time seeing you up close, eh?"
"Yes, Chairman."
"Well? As vicious-looking as the rumors?"
"Not at all."
The chairman extended a hand for a shake.
"You've worked hard backing my grandson."
"No, sir. I've learned so much from the young master."
"Humble fellow. Sit."
The chairman's heart raced—half grandfatherly love, half excitement for his heir's next move. He knew Min-ho ran Athena, owner of The Times, but didn't mention it. Just gazed contentedly.
As secretaries set the tea and left, the chairman sipped and said,
"Finest green tea from Uji, Japan. Hope it suits my grandson's taste."
"Anything from you tastes great, Grandpa. This one's aroma is so fine, it's almost too good to drink."
"Still, seeing you so rarely—how's a grandpa supposed to sleep soundly?"
"I'll come more often. Oh, how's Telecom? Subscribers and all?"
"No need to ask—who wouldn't love a gift like that? The golden goose lays two eggs a day now."
Min-ho smiled slyly and got to the point.
"Plans for promotion?"
"News is pricey, kids' mags too weak. Got ideas?"
"You bet. All set."
Min-ho pulled out the first print of The Times.
"Ads in the paper?"
"That's part, but I've got a better gift. Take a look?"
The chairman examined the paper. The special edition's star was himself—a feature highlighting his human side, impossible without Min-ho's input.
Min-ho glanced up. The chairman beamed, satisfied.
"Heavens, whoever wrote this nailed it. Great photos too."
"Like it?"
"How could I not? I'd buy that reporter a meal myself."
Min-ho refolded the paper to show the front page clearly and handed it over. A nuke dropping on Korea in two days.
"These... fools messing with land again? Housing scandal... Markets'll be chaos for a while."
"Involves Minister Kim Dae-geun and top politico-business figures. Blows up the day after tomorrow."
"Quit twisting like a market hag—floor it straight."
Min-ho wet his throat with tea and began.
"People fear you, Grandpa. They're pulling every trick to keep JK from breaking the shell."
"Can't blame 'em—without regs, we'd balloon."
"A huge scandal's about to grab all eyes one way. Where do you look then?"
Min-ho pulled another paper. Front pages dominated by Han Du-hak: one on crumbling Namdo Group, another the brewing Suseo scandal.
Namdo was trapped, infighting nonstop. Once Suseo broke, the ministry and Yeouido would boil for ages. All attention one way—no eyes the other. Chairman Kang Jin-gwang? Free rein.
Min-ho unveiled the big picture and posed a loaded question.
"A tiger stands before Namdo Group, bleeding and limping. Everyone's looking away. Grandpa... what'll you do?"