How to Make Money with Power (1)
"Weren't you planning to develop the surrounding area in a theme park-style format? And I thought the goal was to prevent shady businesses from moving in around the department store."
Choi Deok-bae's—no, Choi Chul-kyu's—guess was quite reasonable, but Yoon-gi's vision went a step further.
"What do you think is the biggest difference between someone with money and someone without?"
"The difference between someone with money and someone without...?"
As a capable talent, Choi Chul-kyu immediately grasped the underlying meaning in Yoon-gi's question.
"Someone without money can only scrape together enough to buy the land when investing in real estate, but someone with money can find out which land is going to be developed."
"Exactly. Of course, even those with money can be scammed and fail, but at the very least, they can make more stable investments than those without."
"But the department store we're building now wasn't built because you heard information about its development potential, was it? If not, did you get the information much earlier?"
Just as Choi Chul-kyu was about to click his tongue at his nephew's information-gathering skills, Yoon-gi shook his head with a smile.
"That's not it. I started buying the land during P's administration. Even for me, it's difficult to buy land while anticipating a change in government."
Most of it was a lie, but Choi Chul-kyu had no choice but to believe it. It was practically impossible for someone not even ten years old to contact JD and figure out which land would be developed. In truth, it was an investment only possible because Yoon-gi knew the future.
Strictly speaking, when it came to the Cheonggyecheon area, Yoon-gi wasn't actually profiting from future information. To profit from Cheonggyecheon, one would have to wait another twenty years for the restoration project compensation, which was peanuts compared to other ways of making money. Yoon-gi's plan was, in fact, one or even two steps ahead.
"Then that means you didn't invest by obtaining information about Cheonggyecheon... so there's a third way?"
"That's right. The third way isn't about being provided with information, but becoming the entity that creates the information."
"Ah!"
Choi Chul-kyu exclaimed, slapping his knee with his palm. Rather than being a middleman who receives information to invest, he would be the entity that leaks information to others. However, Choi Chul-kyu immediately fell into doubt.
"We may be close to JSD, but aren't we not at the stage where we can move him as we please? Are you thinking of investing heavily in JSD?"
At the sharp point, Yoon-gi smiled again.
"That's why there's a fourth and final stage."
"The fourth?"
"Yes. Putting the entity that creates the information into our grasp!"
As Yoon-gi clenched his right fist, Choi Chul-kyu felt as if he were being sucked into it, as if there were a black hole in his nephew's hand.
"You're going to put JSD in your grasp...?"
Yoon-gi nodded.
"Yes. If you keep the person who creates the information under your influence, you can do business very safely. Because you're in the same boat."
"But if you partner with someone in power, they can just seize everything, can't they? It's not for nothing that the business world gives bribes to politicians rather than forming partnerships."
Yoon-gi shook his head.
"That's because the power in the business world is based on money. But what if it's a businessman based on power?"
"Ah, come to think of it, you have General Colson and Captain Guster."
Choi Chul-kyu began to estimate what Yoon-gi's blueprint was in his head.
"Are you thinking of leasing land near the department store to JSD's aides so they can run businesses? As a sort of defense?"
"You guessed almost correctly."
At Yoon-gi's words, Choi Chul-kyu was actually puzzled.
"Almost?"
"Yes. I'm not thinking of simple businesses, but of operating 'mini department stores'."
"Mini department stores? What does that mean?"
It was something even Choi Chul-kyu couldn't imagine. That was because Yoon-gi was trying to introduce a convenience store system in the 80s. Of course, he didn't intend to run convenience stores. Yoon-gi's goal was, after all, profit creation through the monopoly of logistics.
"Think about it carefully. Who will be the standard for selecting the prices of the goods that will go into the department store we're building?"
"Wasn't it based on the US Forces Korea?"
"That's right. But that alone isn't enough."
"Not enough?"
"Even if you add up all the US soldiers and their families, it's only 40,000 people. Would we spend a massive amount of money to build a department store just to do business with a mere 40,000 people?"
"You really looked far ahead..."
Choi Chul-kyu admitted that even if he had competed with Yoon-gi based on ability, he would have lost. He had only thought about the purchasing power of the US military and nothing beyond that, but his nephew had pierced through the limitations of that purchasing power.
"I said it was a department store for the US military, but I didn't say it was exclusive to them. I plan to set the entry conditions for officers at field grade or higher, and for non-commissioned officers, a minimum of 20 years of service."
"You'll have to negotiate that well with JSD."
"It probably won't be a problem. If they accompany someone, lower ranks will be able to enter as well."
"But it doesn't seem like your goal is to do business targeting soldiers?"
Choi Chul-kyu had grasped the hidden meaning again.
"That's right. I'm going to sell luxury goods at the main department store. Luxury goods for the chaebols, that is. Of course, the sales strategy for these luxury goods has only an indirect relationship with the soldiers, so I'll explain that later..."
Yoon-gi intentionally created a moment of silence before continuing his explanation.
"The mini department stores will be the source of stable income. I plan to keep a one-grade difference in the value of the goods placed in the main department store versus the mini ones."
"Are you saying that if the main department store carries high-end and mainstream, the mini department stores will carry mainstream and entry-level?"
"Exactly. We'll be doing business targeting the commoners who can't enter the main department store. And one more thing."
"There's more?"
Yoon-gi wore a smile that looked, at a glance, quite wicked.
"Some of the mini department stores will be operated by influential retired military officers or their families. Buying goods there will mean forming a connection with that soldier."
"Ah! In other words, you're going to create a department store that acts like a salon...!"
"Perfect. That's why I built a connection with JSD."
Choi Chul-kyu copied the blueprint Yoon-gi had planned into his own mind. 'A main department store targeting US soldiers and chaebols, mini department stores targeting commoners, and even arrangements to ensure we don't make enemies with the power elite. It's an astonishing eye for business. How is such thinking even possible?'
Choi Chul-kyu was admiring it, but Yoon-gi's blueprint didn't end there.
'It would be too early to tell him more now.'
Yoon-gi's blueprint also included high-tech industries like electronics and chemicals, but those were things that still needed more time.
* * *
"Oh, so it wasn't that only US soldiers could enter that department store?"
Since JSD had also become well-acquainted with Choi Chul-kyu's department store while helping with matters related to Oh Jeong-su, the conversation flowed easily.
"Of course not. Should the US military be number one in South Korea? Naturally, our national military must be number one."
From the perspective of JSD, a soldier, there was no better thing to hear, so a smile spread across his lips.
"Even if it were a US military-exclusive department store, we wouldn't have had much to say, but I'm truly pleased to hear you have such thoughts."
"However, since the department store itself aims for 'high-end', I intend to set minimum conditions. That is why I asked to see you today."
"Me?"
It was December 1980. Choi Chul-kyu had come because JSD would become the Chief of the Presidential Security Service and the number two man in July of next year, 1981, but for JSD himself, it was still a somewhat vague story.
"Yes. Aren't you the most powerful person in the national military that I know, Colonel JSD? So, naturally, I had to discuss this with you."
"What power could I possibly have?"
Even as he said that, a smile remained on JSD's lips.
"It's my thought, but it seems you are on the verge of a promotion. Is my eye for these things wrong?"
At Choi Chul-kyu's somewhat frivolous but friendly words, JSD looked pleased yet slightly embarrassed.
"This is a secret, but in fact, it seems I will be moving to the position of Chief of the Presidential Security Service before long."
"What a joyous occasion... Congratulations!"
Watching Choi Chul-kyu rejoice as if it were his own business, JSD rubbed his nose and laughed.
"Is it really something to congratulate? Actually, as a soldier, I want to remain in the military, but the President's will is so firm... It's not a fact known to the public yet, but I'm telling you this specially, President Choi."
"I don't know what to do, you treat me so specially."
"Special treatment? I'm always receiving help from you regarding my son's education."
Seeming happy just thinking about his son's grades, a smile spread openly across JSD's face.
"That aside, what are the minimum conditions? I can't implement them unilaterally on my own, but if you tell me, I can talk to the higher-ups and see how I can help."
At JSD's favorable reaction, Choi Chul-kyu judged that he could slowly move on to the main point.
"It's nothing else, but I intend to set the criteria for national military personnel who can enter the department store at 20 years of service for non-commissioned officers and field grade or higher for officers. How does that sound?"
"Hmm... Company-grade officers and non-commissioned officers with less than 20 years of service will have complaints, but I don't think it's to the point where they can't be persuaded."
At JSD's reaction, Choi Chul-kyu immediately threw out a carrot.
"Of course, if they accompany a national military member who meets the criteria, they will be able to enter even if they don't meet the requirements themselves. How about that?"
JSD made a quick judgment.
'Ho... If that happens, it means a new weapon has been created for the higher-ups to wield over the lower-ups... There's no reason to refuse.'
JSD nodded immediately.
"Then I think it can be managed without any problems. Since field-grade officers can be identified by their rank insignia and non-commissioned officers by their service ribbons, they should basically enter in uniform. Otherwise, they would need to carry military identification."
"Yes, we plan to make that common for both the US military and the national military."
"Understood."
"And one more thing, I'm telling you this separately because I want to build an even closer relationship with you, Colonel JSD..."
Thinking it might be a story related to a personal business, JSD also listened intently to Choi Chul-kyu's words.
"In fact, all the land near Cheonggyecheon, including the department store, is the land of my nephew, Yoon-gi."
"Yes? Is that true?"
Watching JSD's surprised reaction, Choi Chul-kyu nodded.
"Yes, it's a story you'd know soon enough if you looked into it, so there's no reason to lie. And while the president of the department store is a man named Ryu Geun-tae, Yoon-gi holds 100 percent of the stock shares."
"By any chance, did Yoon-gi plan this entire business?"
Choi Chul-kyu shook his head immediately.
"Hey, how could that be? The basic plan is being directed by my father, including my older brother, Yoon-gi's father. It's just that we used this method to eliminate inheritance issues in preparation for when this business succeeds later."
"Then, President Choi, you are..."
JSD was about to use the term 'figurehead president' but realized it was rude and closed his mouth.
"I'm not a figurehead president. I'm also set to receive quite a bit. Anyway, the point of this is not that Yoon-gi is the owner of the land."
Choi Chul-kyu successfully managed to reasonably and vaguely gloss over the part that JSD would most suspect when he conducted a background check later.
"That is true. Then what is it you would like to say..."
Watching JSD, who was curious, Choi Chul-kyu added a sly smile.
"How about having the wives or siblings of your aides try running a business that doesn't require any rent?"
The devil's whisper burrowed into JSD's ears.