Chapter 115: 115
Gun-Ho, Attorney Kim, and Amiel started drinking at the restaurant & bar—Pine in Hannam Town . Their room door was opened and three beautiful young ladies in their 20s entered the room . They were wearing a traditional Korean dress .
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"Oh, wonderful!"
"This guy looks so happy to see the young ladies . "
"Who wouldn't?"
Another young lady entered the room . She was carrying a Geomungo* . She was the same girl who had joined Gun-Ho's party when he had come to the bar with Chairman Lee . She seemed to recognize Gun-Ho as well; she nodded her head to Gun-Ho .
Richard Amiel from Lymondell Dyeon craned his neck to get a better view of the girl with a musical instrument .
She started playing music; it was beautiful .
Gun-Ho couldn't tell which music she was playing, but it was touching his heart . It sounded sad and also fantastical .
Amiel was listening to the music with his eyes closed . Knowing Amiel couldn't see what Gun-Ho was doing, Gun-Ho looked at Amiel's business card again closely .
His business card said that he was the president of the exclusive distributor in Japan for Lymondell Dyeon and the president of a subsidiary company in Asia . The other side of the business card was written in Japanese .
"So, their products in Korea were from Japan?"
Gun-Ho was thinking about it when Attorney Kim tapped his arm .
"Why aren't you drinking, President Goo? These pretty ladies poured liquor in your glass already . "
"Sure . I'll drink . "
When the lady finished playing the Geomungo, Amiel clapped loudly and shouted 'wonderful . '
The lady sitting next to Amiel told him to drink one more glass of liquor in English . Amiel seemed to be satisfied with the fact that he could communicate with the lady in English . He started talking with the lady .
Amiel also talked with the ladies who were sitting next to Gun-Ho and who was sitting next to Attorney Kim . They all could speak English, and they all talked in English except Gun-Ho .
Gun-Ho couldn't say anything in English, so he just sat there and kept drinking .
"I'm the only one here who can't speak English . It's embarrassing . "
"Oh, you look upset, sir . You just keep drinking without saying anything . "
The lady sitting next to Gun-Ho put a crab meat into Gun-Ho's mouth .
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Gun-Ho asked Attorney Kim to drink one more glass of liquor .
"Hey, Attorney Kim . Tell your friend that I used to work in a plastic factory and the factory used the products made by Lymondell Dyeon . "
Attorney Kim told Amiel that Gun-Ho used to work in a big company where they used the Lymondell Dyeon products and he was now about to start a joint venture with the Chinese provincial government . He added that Gun-Ho and the Chinese government already signed the letter of intent . Attorney Kim seemed to exaggerate a bit, Gun-Ho thought .
"Oh, really?"
Amiel's eyes widened and he took out Gun-Ho's business card from his pocket and looked at it again .
"It's a real estate development company . "
"Yeah . This company is known to be a company without debt . "
"Really?"
Amiel looked at Gun-Ho with his arms crossed .
Attorney Kim tried to add fun to the conversation .
"Hey, President Goo . Tell Amiel that you want to operate an exclusive distribution agency of Lymondell Dyeon for the Korean Market . "
Attorney Kim didn't wait for Gun-Ho's response and asked Amiel right away .
Amiel seemed to think about it .
Gun-Ho said while giving a glass of liquor to Attorney Kim .
"That's not my intention . "
"Then what? This could be your opportunity . Lymondell Dyeon doesn't give the exclusive distribution right to just anyone . "
"There should be a company that imports Lymondell Dyeon products from the distribution agency in Japan . That's not what I want . "
"What do you want then?"
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"I want to produce their products in Korea . "
"What? You want to manufacture their products here?"
"I understand that they won't share critical technology with us, but I guess I can still operate a chemical plant that produces chemical compounds . "
When Attorney Kim tried to interpret what Gun-Ho said to Amiel, Gun-Ho stopped him .
"Don't . If they want to open a plant in Korea, they would select the one that already has experience and ability to do it . "
"What do you mean by ability?"
"A company that already has a factory to produce chemical compounds, for example . "
"I see . "
While Gun-Ho and Attorney Kim talked to each other, fortunately, Amiel was also busy in talking with the lady sitting next to him .
"Could you elaborate on the production of chemical compounds?"
"I meant that we could bring basic materials from Lymondell Dyeon and process them . For example, we add plasticizer, filler, or pigments to the materials and produce the final products . "
"In order to do that, you will need the right equipment and plant, I see . "
"Right . "
"Hmm . "
"However, if you open a factory like that in Korea, you won't succeed . "
"Why is that?"
"Because the Korean market is too small . You have to target China and Asia market to succeed . "
"Oh, I see . "
Gun-Ho went on while pouring liquor in Attorney Kim's glass .
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"Do you know what I really want to do? I used to work in a factory . I was a factory worker in a small factory . "
"Hmm . "
"The reason why I run a real estate development company, invest in the stock market, and participate in a joint venture with China to build an industrial park is because I want to open a huge international manufacturing company in the future . "
"Hmm . "
"I will acquire a manufacturing company someday . When I do that, please set up a meeting again with Amiel for me . "
"If you open a sizable manufacturing company, you will have several thousands of employees . Wouldn't it hard to manage them?"
"I don't want to manage the company or employees . I will hire a CEO to do the job and I want to sit back and control the company behind the scene . "
"Hmm . "
"I believe a chemical plant has to be operated by someone who studied chemicals, and a construction company needs to be run by someone who studied civil engineering or architecture . That is a necessary setting in order to maintain a good quality of products or services . I just want to let them do their job and sit back while watching them working and encourage them . I don't mean to be a big player in a private loan market or anything like that . I want to be a big player who controls big companies behind the scene . "
"Just like Howard Hughes—the reclusive billionaire?"
"Well, I'm not sure if I can be as successful as he was . "
"I do admire you, Gun-Ho and I respect you . I'm sure you will be the number one big player in Gangnam someday . Let's drink to it . "
The night grew late at the secret bar .
The bar was filled with the melody of Gayageum and the sound of people's laughing . They all had a good time .
It was time to call it a night . Amiel held Gun-Ho's hand and said,
"Can you meet me sometimes? I want to get to know you and be friends with you . It seems that we can be good friends . You seem to know a lot about the chemical field in addition to the real estate . "
"Sure . Let's be friends . "
"Come visit me in Tokyo . There are secret bars like this in Tokyo as well . They do play music and dance . "
Attorney Kim clapped and said,
"That sounds great . You two seem to get along fine . "
The three men walked out of the bar while staggering . I guess I will have to call for a designated paid driver again .
Gun-Ho went to work the next morning . His head hurt .
It seemed that he drank too much last night .
Gun-Ho walked out of his office after reviewing and signing the daily report . After he ate a blowfish hangover soup, he went to a sauna . While sitting in a sauna, he thought of a lot of things .
"I currently have 10 billion won worth of Kumho Chemical stock . Should I buy more?"
Gun-Ho closed his eyes while enjoying the relaxing feeling in the sauna .
"After I set aside 1 . 5 billion won for the joint venture from the amount of 8 billion won of the sales proceeds of the land in Gangdong District, I have 6 . 5 billion won in my bank account . Should I invest all of them in the Kumho Chemical stock?"
Gun-Ho splashed warm water on his body .
"When there was a sign that the two owner brothers of Kumho Asiana Group were about to fight each other over the company, many people speculated that the company's stock price would go up . Little people in the stock market started purchasing their stock accordingly, just like honey bees that are gathered around flowers . However, after two months when they realized the stock's price didn't go up much, many little people sold their stock . "
Gun-Ho made his decision .
"I have 6 . 5 billion won in my bank account . I will use 5 billion out of it and invest all in the Kumho chemical . "
When Gun-Ho came back to his office, he purchased more stock of Kumho chemical with his 5 billion won .
"Okay, I have now 15 billion won worth of the Kumho Chemical stock . Maybe I can become the major shareholder of Kumho Chemical . "
Gun-Ho decided to give enough time to the stock and enjoy running his business while waiting for the stock price to increase .
"Two brothers will not easily reconcile . "
Gun-Ho smiled .
Note*
Geomungo – A traditional musical instrument of Korea