Chapter 2
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Starting a New Business. With Soccer.
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I returned home with my father.
The family and the maids greeted us politely, and then everyone had a word for me as they saw me.
"You're back?"
"Oh my, you came in together?"
"You really just went to watch soccer, bro?"
Various reactions—it made me chuckle seeing them all again like this.
My mother, Han Kyung-sook, who had been active in her hometown even in my previous life until her health declined at 83.
Next to her was my older brother, Lee Dae-chul, the eldest son of Daeyang Group, though there was a bit of an age gap.
He graduated from Kyungsung University's business school as an officer and had been running the company ordinarily, but since it wasn't working out, I'd been handling all the operations while he just held the chairman title.
And my younger sister, Lee Seol-ah.
The late baby girl whom Father adored immensely. She got into Seoul National University, and her boyfriend now is also from SNU's engineering school—they're a campus couple who'll marry later and achieve great things together.
It had been 15 years since I'd last seen the whole family gathered like this.
We all sat at the table prepared by the maids, and since the rule was never to talk business during meals, we ate quietly and finished.
And now, the real start began.
Time to be called to Father's study and lay out the story I'd kept in my heart.
"Alright, let's hear it."
"Father is the chairman of the 2002 World Cup Organizing Committee. And for the next four years ahead, for the group's future, it will succeed."
"Hoo—that was just because the regime sets up committees for big international events and forces businessmen into them. In return, we snag a few World Cup stadium construction contracts."
Yeah, that's exactly the kind of man he was.
"I'll hand that organizing committee chair to Jang Jun-mo of Hyeonkyung Heavy Industries anyway."
Jang Jun-mo, chairman of Hyeonkyung Heavy Industries under the top-ranked Hyeonkyung Group in the business world, currently also serving as president of the Korea Football Association.
"But after that, Daeyang Group's image spread even further. So, what I've planned this time is..."
"Get to the point."
"I want to acquire a European soccer team."
"Have you lost your mind?"
The reaction I'd expected.
With the massive IMF foreign exchange crisis right now, group restructuring as the top priority, and here I was talking about acquiring a European soccer team.
"Are you right in the head? In this situation, what soccer hooligan team? Even the domestic ones are being sold off—what, an overseas team?"
"In exchange, no matter what, I'll complete this restructuring plan faster than the government's deadline."
"You idiot, that's a given! Do you even know how insane it is to invest in soccer hooligans?"
He dismissed soccer culture entirely, even calling soccer people "hooligans" outright.
But I didn't back down. No, I couldn't.
I'd come back to this world to achieve that dream.
"It can generate real business profits. And it absolutely won't harm the company. On the contrary, it'll be major marketing for the group."
"You think that makes money? You studied in England and now think you're some hooligan James or John?"
"It's a profitable business. At least hear me out..."
"Shut it! Gobbling expensive food and spewing nonsense!"
The door opened amid the commotion, and Mother and my brother entered.
"Why are you yelling like that in front of the kids after a good meal?"
"Dae-chul, whatever's going on, apologize to Father first and come out."
My brother flinched at Father's booming voice and bowed his head saying he'd been wrong, but I couldn't back down here.
"Dae-chul, let's go."
"No, I haven't gotten a clear answer yet."
"This is what happens when you've been spoiled all this time!"
"Dear!"
Did they think his second son, born at forty, was going through some belated puberty?
But I was more sincere than anyone.
Father gripped the ashtray tightly, but Mother stopped him, so he lit a cigarette instead and kindled his rage.
"I don't even want to look at you—get out!"
"Yes, I'll go."
"Don't even think about staying home. Go watch your precious soccer hooligans play or whatever!"
"Dear!"
I packed my things and left the study just like that.
My younger sister tried to hold me back, and my brother told me to go apologize right away, but I just grabbed my wallet and left the house entirely.
"Hoo—"
"Lee Dae-hyun, are you crazy?"
"Bro, why are you suddenly like this? What did you even say to Dad?"
To my brother and Seol-ah's words, I pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"Business talk."
"But why's Dad so mad? And you're really leaving just because he told you to?"
"It's fine. I'll be at work tomorrow without issue."
"I overheard something about soccer hooligans—soccer, right? You pitched a soccer business?"
"Yeah."
"You bastard, all you talked about after England was soccer, and now in this climate..."
The family atmosphere was tense and bleak; they probably hoped I'd kneel and beg Father, but I had no intention of doing that.
"I'll bring restructuring materials tomorrow morning. See you at the office."
"Haa... You really..."
I hailed a taxi and headed to a hotel.
That night, in the room, I wrote furiously about family and company issues until several notebooks were filled and two pens ran out of ink.
The next day.
I arrived leisurely at the Daeyang Group headquarters in Mugyo-dong at 6 a.m., coffees in hand.
"With the IMF's harsh winds, protests were everywhere, red banners screaming 'Withdraw Layoffs' and 'Oppose Restructuring' plastered all over."
I passed those bitter banners around the Daeyang Group building and entered my office.
"Good morning."
"Director!"
The staff who'd arrived early in the Planning and Adjustment Office all stood and greeted me.
I handed out canned coffees to them, and as I went to sit at my desk, Manager Kim Sang-woo approached.
"Director, the Chairman said if you come in, go straight to the boardroom."
"Me?"
Kim fidgeted and whispered in my ear.
"The Chairman came himself 30 minutes ago and gave the order."
He's fully prepped for an execution.
Even better.
I took the notebook I'd brought and headed to the copy room.
"Director, let me do it."
A watchful staffer took the notebook, and I checked the board members and calculated copies.
"I'll be right back."
"Director, the Chairman is furious right now. Please keep that in mind."
"Yes, I know."
I strode confidently to the boardroom.
I'd prepared PPT materials too, so it'd be quick.
The meeting started, and I immediately launched the presentation.
"First, we'll sell off all financial businesses.
Daeyang Medcare Life was originally a joint venture with U.S. Medcare. We can sell our full stake to them and secure cash."
The executives' eyes widened.
"Also, our stakes in the five major banks—Joah, Commercial Central, Zeus, Hanseong, Seoul Central—we're liquidating all.
We'll keep only Daeyang Card in finance."
Financial head Jo Seong-han asked,
"So you're abandoning the financial business?"
"Yes. It's an industry where even No. 1 or 2 can't dominate. But we can sell high. That's how we'll wrap up finance."
I flipped to the next slide.
"We'll maintain distribution. Department stores, marts, logistics centers—all of them. In tough times for the country, food industries need aggressive expansion."
Some executives' expressions wavered.
In the past life, I'd sold them all off.
I wouldn't repeat that mistake this time.
"Heavy industry affiliates: massive restructuring.
For telecom—we're not selling our stake to Posco; we'll buy theirs instead and run it independently."
"Us running telecom? Three of the five are already out."
"That's why we secure it now."
An area only I, knowing the future, could be certain of.
The smartphone era, IT era.
Telecom networks become the nation's veins.
"Construction, trade, distribution—we'll consolidate into business units under a holding company."
The dying executives' faces gradually changed.
Shock → calculation → acceptance.
As the PPT ended, Father spoke for the first time.
"What do you all think?"
The executives chimed in one after another.
"Very clear plan."
"This framework should pass restructuring review."
"Just execute sales quickly, and it's solid."
After the meeting ended and everyone left,
Father called me.
"I was gonna smash an ashtray on your head if you babbled in the boardroom, but you talk pretty convincingly."
"Ahaha—you were saying such terrifying things."
"By December."
"!"
"If you fully shape the restructuring framework you pitched today by December, I'll consider that soccer team thing."
It worked.
I clenched my fist inwardly—'99, and I could head to England for a soccer team acquisition right away.
"If you get it, go do the work you prepared for."
"Thank you, Father."
Father was always strict, a tyrant who made everyone tremble with one outburst, but if you faced him head-on and pushed your conviction through, he'd think it over and yield.
Back then it hadn't worked, but later stories from group executives and Mother confirmed I should've done it sooner.
"Then, off to work."
"Mm."
I left the boardroom and headed straight for the emergency stairs.
On the way down, I sat by the public ashtray midway, lit a cigarette, and took a drag.
Tss—
"Hoo—"
This life had diverged from here.
"Halfway successful for now."
By now, the UK branch would be investigating per my orders, so upon return, Premier League club shopping begins.