The very next day, several newspapers began publishing in-depth reports on DS Group.
With the end of the year approaching, most companies were presenting their projected annual performances. These articles provided a deep analysis of DS Group, which showed exceptionally remarkable results compared to its peers.
While most companies had suffered a major downturn over the past year due to the aftermath of the Paris Flu that began late last year, the reports sought to analyze why DS Group alone had performed so well. Following these articles, related stories began appearing on television as well.
“You wove the story together well with the Paris Flu. Good job,” Jinhyuk Park said while sitting on the living room sofa, watching the television.
Sitting beside him, Junwoo Kim responded with a pleased smile at Jinhyuk’s praise.
“I thought it was better for the newspapers to be blatant, while the television side should focus on metaphors rather than being so explicit.”
It was a special broadcast commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Paris Flu’s discovery in Europe. It was a two-part documentary detailing how the virus started and how it took the world by storm.
The first half focused on how people ignored it, thinking it was nothing, which allowed it to spread. It moved on to how it crossed borders, devastated Europe, and decimated the United States. Then, the story transitioned to its spread within the country, highlighting how DS Pharmaceutical stepped in to produce Pitaflu and stop the Paris Flu in its tracks.
—…The domestic production of Pitaflu could be seen as a blessing from heaven. Furthermore, the Asian distribution rights held by DS Pharmaceutical played a crucial role in ensuring the domestic supply was prioritized. At the center of all this, it is said that Jinhyuk Park, then the Executive Director of DS Pharmaceutical, led everything.
As the narrative naturally shifted, the spotlight began to fall on Jinhyuk Park.
The story started with how he secured the production rights for Pitaflu. It built up the atmosphere by detailing how, while Pitaflu production was struggling elsewhere, he concentrated all available lines on the drug to handle nearly 70% of the global supply. It even went into details that only an insider would know—such as how he had first offered the distribution rights to the government, only to be ignored by the former minister.
The latter part of the two-part documentary was entirely filled with DS Pharmaceutical’s achievements and the story of Jinhyuk Park, who stood at the center of it all.
Watching the broadcast with Jinhyuk, Junwoo Kim began to explain the upcoming plans.
“Starting with this broadcast, specials on the Paris Flu will continue across various networks. Since it was such a massive event, broadcasting companies are scrambling to cover the story. In addition to the documentary we are watching, there are debate panels and news special segments prepared. I have made arrangements so that your name, Executive Director, will be mentioned constantly. Furthermore, on the economic channels, they plan to explicitly discuss the performance and stock price trends of DS Pharmaceutical and DS Construction.”
Jinhyuk nodded as he listened to Junwoo.
“I suppose my negative press didn’t make it to the broadcasters. Seeing as you’ve spoken with all three major networks.”
“Yes. We didn’t give much weight to the stories from the union. Of course, it appeared in the short news snippets, but that was just because it was a trending issue. When I approached them, it seemed they also sensed that something was off.”
“Broadcasters are certainly more cunning. They don’t just swallow anything.”
Jinhyuk turned off the TV and looked at Junwoo.
Seeing him still giving reports at home even after working hours made Jinhyuk feel a bit sympathetic. Jinhyuk straightened his posture and tossed a question toward Junwoo.
“Are you dissatisfied with your salary by any chance?”
“Pardon? Why would you suddenly say that…?”
“Because you’re doing extra work right now. It worries me. Didn’t I tell you before? Loyalty comes from money. If you ever feel like the work you’re doing is worth more than the money you’re receiving, don’t hesitate to tell me immediately. I may not care about others, but I will make sure Secretary Kim never has to think about money while working for me.”
“Executive Director. The salary I receive now is already more than enough.”
“No. You might feel it’s enough now, but later, even that might feel insufficient. This won’t do. Since I’ve already thought of it, I should give you a raise.”
Jinhyuk decided on Junwoo’s salary increase right then and there. It was a decision made after seeing him follow his superior all the way home to report on the progress of their work.
“Executive Director. It’s really fine.”
“No. It makes me uncomfortable. I’m giving you a raise because I’m uncomfortable, so don’t tell me it’s fine.”
“Executive Director. I already receive more money than others my age.”
“Don’t talk to me about people your age or those in similar positions. If you set your comparison group there, you’ll end up working like them too. Secretary Kim, you will have a lot of work to do in the future. What happens if I pay you based on the standards of your peers? I don’t want Secretary Kim calculating his pay in his head during his break.”
“Still, it’s too much.”
“It might be too much for you, Secretary Kim. But from my perspective, I don’t mind giving that much. It’s an amount I won’t even feel the difference of.”
To Junwoo, who kept declining out of politeness, Jinhyuk poured out money as if he wanted to dump a basket of cash over the man’s head. He intended to give him so much that he would be overwhelmed and unable to think straight.
Only then would Jinhyuk feel no hesitation when giving him orders. And the person receiving those orders would surely accept them as a matter of course. This was the kind of relationship Jinhyuk wanted.
“If you feel burdened by receiving too much money, you just have to work according to that amount. Don’t set your standards by your peers or those of a similar rank. You just need to set the standard to the money.”
To Junwoo, who still felt the burden despite Jinhyuk’s words, Jinhyuk gave an order with a smile.
“Good. Then I’ll give you an order without feeling guilty. I’d like to meet the union leader.”
“The union leader? At a time like this?”
“Yes. I’d like to meet him quietly at a time like this, without anyone else knowing. And who should handle that? You should do it. Shouldn’t you? In that case, should you be paid a lot or a little? Others don’t do this kind of work, so should I pay you the same as them, or should I pay you more?”
Only then did Junwoo understand Jinhyuk’s point and bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
“There’s nothing to be thankful for. Haven’t I been emphasizing this? I’m buying loyalty with money. Secretary Kim, you aren’t my family or my friend. Is there any other string connecting you and me besides money? And honestly, isn’t this an era where both family and friends crumble before money? I’m trying to make that string strong, so just focus the burden on the money. Understood?”
“Yes. I will work even harder.”
“Good. Work that hard. Then I’ll give you even more money to put more pressure on you.”
The world Jinhyuk experienced was one where money could do everything. Jinhyuk was someone who believed that even happiness could be bought with money.
He thought that people who believed happiness and love couldn’t be bought simply hadn’t poured enough money into them. He believed that trust resided in money, and relationships continued because money existed.
Jinhyuk believed that money was what solidified his relationship with Junwoo Kim, and he sought to use money to remove any hesitation in giving orders. And it was effective.
Arranging a meeting with the union leader was no easy task. Especially since both the one criticizing and the one being criticized were people currently in the spotlight. Bringing such people into the same space without anyone knowing involved both difficulty and risk.
The other party might not want it, and there was no telling how people would react if they were seen meeting. However, Junwoo Kim accomplished this difficult and dangerous task.
When he followed Junwoo to a tavern located in a quiet alley, Jinhyuk looked around and spoke.
“How did you find a place like this?”
It wasn’t a market, but an area crowded with small detached houses. Even in the evening, no people could be seen around the tavern tucked between the tightly packed houses.
If a tavern operating in such a place were successful, it would have been closed down due to complaints about the noise. The fact that it hadn’t suggested that there were no customers. It was located in such an odd place that one had to wonder why it had even opened there if it had no business.
“It took some effort, but I am glad to have found a satisfactory location.”
“Yes. Here, we can avoid the eyes of others.”
When he opened the iron door and stepped inside with a satisfied smile, a man with a bushy beard was sitting at a round aluminum table, watching Jinhyuk enter.
Since he was someone Jinhyuk had seen several times on television, Jinhyuk approached him without hesitation and held out his hand.
“Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Jinhyuk Park.”
The man, sitting on a round stool without a backrest, looked up at Jinhyuk and spoke.
“We aren’t exactly in a position to be acting so friendly, are we? Just sit down.”
At the man’s words, Jinhyuk nodded and took a seat. The man looked back and forth between the seated Jinhyuk and Junwoo Kim, who stood behind him.
“Do you people really have to act like this even in a tavern? If you’re going to sit, sit. If you’re going to wait outside, go outside. It’s quite an eyesore.”
Jinhyuk laughed at the man’s words and said to Junwoo.
“Wait outside for a moment.”
Junwoo Kim bowed to Jinhyuk and cautiously stepped outside.
The man let out a scoff as he watched the silhouettes of Junwoo and the attendants guarding the door to prevent others from entering.
“Is that really necessary? Preventing others from even coming here. Don’t you think that’s too much of a nuisance?”
“I checked, and it seems only three or four tables worth of customers come here a day. They’re all regulars. But as it happens, this place is closed today. The regulars would obviously know it’s a holiday, so they wouldn’t come. And I paid the owner a fee for opening on a day off.”
At Jinhyuk’s words, the man pointed toward where Junwoo was.
“If you’re so confident, then what is that?”
Jinhyuk followed his finger, looked at the sight of Junwoo’s back, and said, “I’m saying we’ve prepared thoroughly. But things don’t always work out just because our side is prepared.”
“Does that mean you don’t trust me?”
“Our relationship isn’t exactly one where we can talk about trust, is it?”
“What in the…”
The man’s face turned red at Jinhyuk’s remark. He felt it was rude for Jinhyuk to tell his conversation partner that there was no trust between them before they had even started talking.
However, Jinhyuk didn’t seem to care what kind of reaction Union Leader Park Ho-yeon showed. Jinhyuk picked up his chopsticks, tore off a piece of the freshly served green onion pancake, dipped it in soy sauce, and popped it into his mouth. With his mouth full, he simply waited for Park Ho-yeon to speak.
After looking angry for a moment, Park Ho-yeon suppressed his rage, pressed his lips together, and looked at Jinhyuk.
“Why did you want to see me in a place like this? As you said, Executive Director, it doesn’t seem like we’re in a position to be chatting in such a place.”
Jinhyuk looked at Park Ho-yeon with a relaxed demeanor. Then, he checked the value floating above the man’s head.
‘7 million won?’
He had wanted to meet him just in case. Although the man had been launching a barrage of criticism against him for days, Jinhyuk was prepared to take him under his wing if he possessed a high value. Even if it was a union that had been privatized by Suman Park, Jinhyuk had intended to give him a chance.
However, the value visible to his eyes told him that doing so would be meaningless.
“I wanted to see you because I was curious about the reason why you attack me so relentlessly every day.”
“I’m sure you know the reason.”
“I really don’t. It’s not like our DS Telecom is the only one where the owner’s family participates in management. Most corporations are under the influence of the owner’s family, aren’t they? So why do you only oppose it so fiercely at DS Telecom?”
“Even if it’s been that way until now, we can’t let it continue in the future. I’m stepping up to create a fairer society.”
Jinhyuk silently nodded at Park Ho-yeon’s words.
Park Ho-yeon had expected Jinhyuk to react in one of two ways. He thought Jinhyuk would either try to win him over to persuade him, or get angry and try to intimidate him.
However, Jinhyuk’s reaction was different from what Park Ho-yeon had anticipated. With an expression as if he understood, he sat there, poured a glass of soju, and downed it. Park Ho-yeon gradually began to look flustered by Jinhyuk’s completely unexpected reaction.
“I believe the owner should step back and leave the company to professional managers. I believe that is the path for the 5,000 families of DS Telecom.”
“By 5,000, are you only referring to the union members? As far as I know, the number of employees at DS Telecom is a little over 8,000… Are you perhaps thinking that only the union members are family?”
At Jinhyuk’s words, Park Ho-yeon was momentarily flustered and couldn’t answer properly. Jinhyuk looked at him, downed another drink, and stood up from his seat.
“Well, I have no intention of listening to you, Leader. It seems our thoughts are different, so I think we should end this conversation.”
Without saying anything more, Jinhyuk turned around and walked out.
Junwoo Kim, who had expected the conversation to go on much longer, was surprised to see Jinhyuk come out so quickly.
“Executive Director. How are you out so early?”
“I just wanted to see his face just in case, but he’s a completely useless person.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”
“It means we can just let him do whatever he wants. We just need to push him aside as we originally planned.”
Junwoo Kim looked at Jinhyuk’s back as he walked away, having judged what kind of person his opponent was and ending the conversation after only a few words. Then, Junwoo turned his head to look at Park Ho-yeon, who was sitting with a dazed expression after the meeting ended before they could even have a proper discussion.
Not knowing what was going on, Junwoo Kim hurried after Jinhyuk.