The Most Comfortable Service Industry in the World (1)
March 2, 1982, 10:00 AM. YK Department Store finally held its grand opening.
“Congratulations! You are our first customer!”
The very first customer of YK Department Store. It wasn't an American soldier, but a South Korean Army major who happened to be off-duty. A photo was taken of him wearing a flower lei around his neck, holding a bouquet in his left hand, and a 300,000 won gift certificate in his right. Watching that scene, Choi Deok-bae muttered to himself.
Hearing his words, Yoon-gi chuckled inwardly and nodded. ‘I think so too. There must have been so many people who wanted to be the first customer, and yet it ended up being a major, the lowest rank among the entry criteria. He’s probably going to have to do a lot of kneeling before his superiors.’
After the major and a few dozen other customers entered the main store, the stream of ‘soldier’ customers suddenly stopped. It was only natural, as this was the time when both American and Korean soldiers were busy with their daily duties. The time when soldier customers would pour in would be roughly after 6:00 PM. Of course, even now, a crowd of people was clamoring in front of the main store, begging to be let in, but seeing the soldiers guarding the entrance, they didn't dare force their way in and could be seen scattering toward the mini department store instead.
‘I suppose that’s how it is, right?’
‘How could that be? You’re underestimating people’s cunning too much.’
‘Just wait a little longer.’
When it hit 10:30 AM, three well-dressed women in their 40s appeared at the main entrance, accompanied by an American soldier. “We can go in, right?” Because the American soldier’s ID was verified, the three of them were able to enter the department store without any trouble, and the people watching them began to stomp their feet in envy.
Those without connections to soldiers headed toward the mini department store, while those with connections began to enter the main department store with pride. It was clear that there would be a difference in their purchasing power. However, because so many customers had come for the grand opening, the ‘YK Department Store Commercial Area,’ which could be called the territory of the mini department store, was flooded with people like a rising tide.
Because he had built a favorable relationship with newspaper reporters, positive articles about YK Department Store appeared in the corners of newspapers whenever there was a lull, and thanks to Yoon-gi promoting YK Department Store products through schools, the items began to sell like hotcakes.
‘It’s fine. I received a large dividend.’
Microsoft’s 1981 revenue was $35 million. Since Yoon-gi held about 80 percent of Microsoft’s stock, he received a dividend of about $1.7 million. That was a little under 5 billion won by 2010s value standards. However, this money, which arrived at the perfect time, was a tremendous help in hiring additional staff for the main department store.
‘Anyway, we don’t need that many people at the main store during the day. Team B, which starts work at 3:00 PM, is the true elite force of YK Department Store.’
Although there was a curfew in this era, there were actually places where curfew regulations were officially loose. Thanks to YK Department Store being designated as such a zone, both shoppers and workers could enjoy shopping comfortably until late at night.
Despite Choi Deok-bae’s words, Yoon-gi’s expression didn't change. In fact, Yoon-gi’s current expression was one of pure joy, as if his mouth were about to split open. It was only natural, as he was seeing his plans actually succeed with his own eyes.
‘I should go.’
The ostensible president of the department store was Ryu Geun-tae, anyway. Currently, Ryu Geun-tae was running around busily welcoming dignitaries from all walks of life who had come to celebrate the grand opening of the department store.
‘I’m looking forward to after school.’
Yoon-gi began his late commute to school with a joyful heart.
“Aigoo, Brigadier General Colson!”
At the department store entrance, Ryu Geun-tae shook hands with Brigadier General Colson and let the students behind him pass through with a free pass.
“Is business going well?”
“The main store really comes alive from 6:00 PM. But it’s incredible just moving the extra stock to the mini department store side. It would have been a disaster if we hadn't built the large warehouse zone nearby.”
Near the YK Department Store commercial area, a warehouse zone had been built to encompass all the logistics of the area. Currently, trucks were constantly coming and going, and at the same time, the sales revenue piling up in the main store’s safe was beyond imagination. Bringing in new logistics meant returning with cold hard cash.
“I’m glad to hear business is good. Anyway, these are my grandson and his friends, so please take good care of them.”
“Hey, of course I must serve them well. Just shop comfortably and leave when you’re done.”
“Does it matter if they leave separately?”
“Of course not.”
At Ryu Geun-tae’s words, Brigadier General Colson turned around and looked at the dozens of students who had followed Yoon-gi.
“Shop comfortably and leave whenever you want. You have my permission.”
[Thank you!]
The children, cheering with joy, gathered around Yoon-gi again, and Yoon-gi began to walk slowly through the interior of YK Department Store with them.
“Wow, it really feels like I’m in a foreign country.”
At Jin-su’s words, a classmate asked with a face full of curiosity.
“Hey, Jin-su. Have you ever been abroad?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“What, you sounded like you had been there and were telling us about it.”
“Hey, do you have to go there to know? Just looking at it, it looks like a foreign country, doesn't it?”
“I guess that’s true.”
Perhaps lacking the time to fight, the friends began to wander around the department store, and after a while, they became so engrossed in looking around that they started to scatter. Since there was so much to see, it was frustrating to stick together.
Thanks to this, Yoon-gi was able to walk around with only Won-hee and Jin-su.
“Wow……, so this is Yoon-gi’s department store…….”
Once he confirmed that the other friends had completely drifted away, Won-hee’s first words were pure admiration.
“Isn't it amazing?”
“Why are you answering!”
At Jin-su’s smug look, Won-hee growled at him, and Jin-su snapped back at Won-hee.
“I’m just proud to have a friend like this. Why?”
“Aigoo…….”
Even though they were now in their second year of middle school, the relationship between Won-hee and Jin-su hadn't changed at all. If you think about it in a different way, it meant that even after having these kinds of conversations 365 days a year, their relationship never soured.
“Isn't it amazing?”
This time, it was Yoon-gi’s turn to speak.
[[Yeah, it’s really amazing.]]
Putting one arm around each of their shoulders as they nodded without complaint, Yoon-gi said, “So study hard. If you two study hard and graduate from Seoul National University, I’ll take responsibility and get you a good job. You know where that good job is, right?”
“It’s here, right?”
At Jin-su’s words, Yoon-gi shook his head.
“I have to build a place much better than this.”
Hearing this, Jin-su had a look that said ‘as expected,’ and Won-hee also clenched his fists, determined to study hard.
“By the way, there are so many customers. This is the first time I’ve seen this many foreigners.”
The time was 6:20 PM. True to the main store’s policy of being a ‘department store for American soldiers,’ the store was currently packed with a huge number of American soldiers. Moreover, they hadn't come alone but had brought their families or local girlfriends, so the amount they spent was several times higher than if they had come alone.
“Wow, I guess this is what it feels like to suck up money with a vacuum cleaner.”
At Jin-su’s very appropriate expression, Yoon-gi and Won-hee both laughed, and thanks to that, the three of them began to enjoy looking around the department store.
And a moment later, the three of them witnessed one of the world’s three great spectacles. They say the most fun things to watch in the world are floods, fires, and fights. Since there was no way a flood would happen in a department store, and even with so many people, a fire wouldn't be large, the only thing left was to watch a fight.
“Why on earth are you saying you can’t give me a discount!”
A sharp yet massive volume of a woman’s voice rang out, loud enough to echo through the entire floor. It was a level of volume that could easily be embarrassing. However, the store clerk maintained a polite attitude and said in a gentle voice.
“I apologize, but this department store has a fixed-price policy. Therefore, unless there is a special sale event, discounts are not possible.”
“No, I’m buying something this expensive, and you can’t even give me a little discount? Do you really have any intention of doing business here?”
Next to the woman was her soldier husband, wearing a single Mugunghwa (Hibiscus) rank insignia, and he was sweating bullets trying to stop his wife somehow.
“Honey, you can’t do this here…….”
“What do you mean I can’t! I’m a customer!”
The woman’s voice, which had remained loud despite her husband’s earnest request, stopped not long after.
“Major Park, isn't your wife being a bit too loud?”
When a one-star general suddenly appeared next to Major Park with a very uncomfortable expression, Major Park made a face as if he had lost his country, with tears welling up in his eyes. Only then did his wife, who had been steaming, realize the situation and look around. The place was full of Mugunghwa insignias. There were hardly any single Mugunghwas, and most had two or three, and with stars shining like the Milky Way, Major Park’s wife fainted on the spot.
“Honey!”
“Tsk tsk, come find me at work tomorrow. You know where I work at the Army Headquarters, right?”
Major Park’s ordeal didn't end there.
“After you stop by there, come see me too.”
“Well, come to me after you finish there.”
“Ah, then I’ll come after that.”
Superiors ranging from three Mugunghwas to two stars all requested visits, and thanks to that, Major Park had to leave the department store crying while carrying his wife on his back.
“I guess there will never be any ‘Jin-sang’ (entitled customers) in this department store…….”
At Jin-su’s words, Won-hee agreed with all his heart for once and nodded.
“I think you’re right. It was so loud here that everyone probably missed it, but over there, when an American soldier was making a fuss about why it was so expensive, Yoon-gi’s maternal grandfather grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him somewhere.”
“Wow……, a service industry without entitled customers.”
“Hey, they say even a village dog can recite poetry after three years, and our Jin-su has become much smarter, hasn't he? You even know how to use words like that.”
“Do you want to die?”
After sending Jin-su and Won-hee, who were bickering again, home at 9:00 PM, Yoon-gi headed to the 7th floor of the department store for his final goal of the day. The 7th floor of YK Department Store. Yoon-gi quietly entered the place where only VIPs were allowed to enter.