Chapter 65: The Reason Eyes Aren’t on the Back of the Head

Park Jin-hyuk was forcibly dragged into the monthly executive meeting of the major affiliate company presidents.

“Since last month, the continued production of PitaFlu has led to a 700% increase in DS Biologics’ sales compared to the same period last year. This upward trend is steady, so it’s expected that annual sales will easily reach 400 billion won.”

Kyung Dae-yong was at the front, reporting matters related to DS Pharmaceuticals to Park Joon-man.

Park Jin-hyuk sat in his seat, spinning his pen, silently watching Kyung Dae-yong’s presentation.

“It seems the demand for PitaFlu keeps rising—are there any problems with supply?”

At Park Joon-man’s question, Kyung Dae-yong briefly glanced at Park Jin-hyuk.

Park Jin-hyuk understood why Kyung Dae-yong had turned to him.

Kyung Dae-yong was seeking permission to answer Park Joon-man’s question, and at his silent nod, Kyung Dae-yong began to speak.

“For now, there are no supply issues. However, Rojas keeps requesting us to increase production volume. And from our side as well, we thought it would be a waste to miss this opportunity, so we’ve been looking for solutions. As a result… until the expansion of Biologics’ second plant is complete, we plan to repurpose part of DS Pharmaceuticals’ production facilities to focus on PitaFlu production.”

“You’re shifting DS Pharmaceuticals’ production facilities toward PitaFlu?”

After speaking, Park Joon-man turned to look at Park Jin-hyuk.

Given Kyung Dae-yong’s earlier behavior, it was clear whose idea this plan had been.

Park Jin-hyuk, receiving everyone’s focused gaze, sat up straight and replied.

“We came up with this plan as a way to increase production when DS Biologics’ production capacity hit its limit. Fortunately, DS Pharmaceuticals has spare production facilities… Plus, since Biologics needs to produce Novo’s new drug, some production lines should be left available.”

“In this situation, you’re still planning to produce Novo’s new drug as well? Isn’t that pushing it too far?”

“The clinical phase 3 trials have been completed without issue. We’ve received FDA approval for test production, and soon, FDA staff will visit Biologics to review the facilities and assess test production. In this situation, it wouldn’t make sense for DS Pharmaceuticals to claim it’s too full with PitaFlu to produce Novo’s new drug.”

“Is there any reason you have to go that far? With Biologics already running at full capacity just from PitaFlu, I doubt you have the luxury of assigning lines to Novo.”

Park Jin-hyuk stared directly at Park Joon-man without a word.

Though neither spoke aloud, countless conversations were exchanged through their eyes.

Park Jin-hyuk couldn’t shake off the sticky feeling from Park Joon-man’s unreadable behavior.

He was obviously asking because he wanted to hear, but this wasn’t just any setting to answer.

Nor were the listeners ordinary people.

It felt as if, even knowing what Park Jin-hyuk’s answer would be, Park Joon-man was intentionally forcing him to answer here so others could hear.

After breaking eye contact, Park Jin-hyuk looked around at the presidents seated at the table and spoke.

“PitaFlu is just a processed product with an Asian sales license. But Novo’s new drug is different. From raw material to production and sales, it’s a product that Biologics and DS Pharmaceuticals can control completely. If it’s easy to achieve 400 billion won in annual sales with PitaFlu, then with Novo’s new drug, a trillion won is possible. The operating profit will show an even bigger difference.”

“If it’s that much of a jackpot, we need to prepare. There won’t be a problem with the FDA production approval, right?”

“We’ve received word that their visit to check production is just a formality. There shouldn’t be any problems.”

“Good. Biologics is growing by the day. Seems like it was the right call not to sell. Who could have known Biologics would turn into a goose that lays golden eggs? Thanks to that, DS Pharmaceuticals’ valuation is going up every day. The stock price has risen a lot too, hasn’t it?”

Park Joon-man turned to Kyung Dae-yong as he asked.

With a smile brimming on his face, Kyung Dae-yong answered, as if waiting for this moment.

“In the past three months, it’s risen about 300%. This rise is purely thanks to news that DS Pharmaceuticals holds shares in Biologics, even though Biologics itself isn’t listed.”

“Right. Then it’s about time we consider listing. President Kyung, start preparing for Biologics’ listing review. We need to strike while the iron’s hot.”

Until recently, Park Joon-man had tried to sell Biologics, but now he was the one suggesting listing.

“Yes. I’ll look into it right away. Since KOSDAQ’s listing requirements are easier than KOSPI’s, we’ll list on KOSDAQ first, and later consider transferring to KOSPI, or even listing through a merger or backdoor listing.”

“Good, do that. If we go public now through a public offering, we’ll be able to raise a lot of capital. Don’t miss the timing.”

Satisfied, Park Joon-man called up DS Construction, the next to present.

Hyun Yi-soo stepped forward and began to explain DS Construction’s achievements.

“DS Construction has achieved 500% growth in operating profit compared to the same period last year. Streamlining bad businesses has been a big help, and the new construction project in Qatar receives payment in advance, resulting in a significant improvement in operating profit.”

With both DS Pharmaceuticals and DS Construction reporting strong results, attention naturally shifted to Park Jin-hyuk.

Everyone knew that the achievements of both companies were thanks not to Hyun Yi-soo or Kyung Dae-yong, but to Park Jin-hyuk.

Hyun Yi-soo began to talk about DS Construction’s expanding overseas ventures, made possible by the improved performance.

“There are limits to growing the business solely through domestic construction. So, starting this year, DS Construction will focus its main business on overseas operations. I may ask for various forms of cooperation from each affiliate, so I ask for your support.”

“If DS Construction does well, it benefits the group. How could we not help? Don’t worry.”

“That’s right. Every time Construction presents at these monthly meetings, the results are impressive. It’s reassuring just to see. Chairman, wouldn’t you agree?”

The other presidents chimed in with Hyun Yi-soo’s words, smiling at Park Joon-man.

But instead of responding, Park Joon-man gazed at Hyun Yi-soo and asked a question.

“To run overseas operations, our own sales force won’t be enough. Have you prepared measures for that?”

“You’re correct, Chairman. With only DS Construction’s sales force, expansion will be difficult. That’s why we’re planning to take things step by step by joining consortia.”

“Consortia? Are you referring to Dongjeong Industries?”

As he spoke, Park Joon-man glanced at Park Jin-hyuk.

He seemed to be trying to see if Park Jin-hyuk had prompted Hyun Yi-soo.

But Park Jin-hyuk, without any change in expression, simply looked at Hyun Yi-soo.

“We’re not only considering Dongjeong Industries. We plan to participate in any consortium that can benefit us.”

“Is that so? Good. With expansion in mind, DS Construction must be doing much better.”

“It’s all thanks to Executive Director Park’s excellent restructuring.”

Hyun Yi-soo did not forget to mention Park Jin-hyuk’s accomplishments.

It was a subtle reminder that even though Park Jin-hyuk’s current position wasn’t in DS Construction, he was still connected.

That way, all of DS Construction’s achievements would naturally be attributed to Park Jin-hyuk.

Nodding at Hyun Yi-soo’s words, Park Joon-man looked around and spoke.

“Good. Now that even DS Construction has moved beyond normalization to expansion, I can expect good results this year. And DS Biologics, which set a goal of 60% plant operation in the first half, has already surpassed 100% operation and is even outsourcing work—what a delight.”

Park Joon-man smiled warmly at Park Jin-hyuk.

But Park Jin-hyuk found it hard to simply accept his smile at face value.

Anyone could see it was for show, and the person it was meant for was sitting right across from him.

Park Soo-man and Park Kyung-man looked at Park Jin-hyuk with scowling faces.

After finishing his remarks, Park Joon-man subtly shifted his gaze to check Park Soo-man’s expression.

Then he stood up and said,

“Executive Director Park, stop by my office for a moment before you go.”

When Park Joon-man left the meeting room, Park Jin-hyuk leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment.

It was clear why Park Joon-man was acting this way, and Park Jin-hyuk hesitated about whether to dance to his tune or not.

While he was still considering, Hyun Yi-soo and Kyung Dae-yong approached.

“Executive Director. Should I have been more definite when I mentioned Dongjeong Industries?”

“No, that’s fine. We have no intention of relying on Dongjeong Industries anyway, but it’s good for others to think there’s a possibility. That way, they’ll have one more scenario to prepare for.”

“Understood. Then I’ll keep dropping hints as we proceed.”

Kyung Dae-yong waited for Hyun Yi-soo to finish before turning to Park Jin-hyuk.

“You told me not to bring up the new drug development, so I didn’t—but wouldn’t it have been good to mention it?”

“No. We’re just beginning preparations for new drug development, so there’s no need to bring it up first. The results we have now are more than enough.”

Park Jin-hyuk and Kyung Dae-yong began preparing for the time after PitaFlu’s success and Novo’s new drug production.

Having normalized Biologics, they now aimed for the next leap with DS Pharmaceuticals.

They intended to go beyond their previous focus on health supplements and return to the core of being a pharmaceutical company.

That was why Park Jin-hyuk was focusing on new drug development.

“Since we lack our own know-how in technology development, let’s look for it externally. If you find any promising candidates, President Kyung, select a few and show them to me first.”

“Yes, understood.”

Park Jin-hyuk wasn’t looking to boost in-house technology for new drug development.

To achieve rapid results, he turned his attention outside, seeking places like Novo that had technology but lacked capital.

PitaFlu, Novo’s new drug production, and the biosimilar for Truxima—waiting only for the formality of clinical trials.

DS Pharmaceuticals had firmly laid its foundation.

And with Pfizer, who was eager to wait and watch the mass production of PitaFlu, the company had gained a comfortable cash reserve.

If they used that capital to acquire companies with technology, the technology would immediately become DS Pharmaceuticals’ own.

He planned to use his own eyes to find such companies.

As Kyung Dae-yong and Park Jin-hyuk were conversing, Hyun Yi-soo gave Park Jin-hyuk a bittersweet smile.

“Executive Director, aren’t you the least bit regretful?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t the Chairman just ask you to prepare for Biologics’ listing? And here you’re discussing new drug development for DS Pharmaceuticals. Those drugs will end up being produced by Biologics… If only we had invested in Biologics as planned, I can’t help but wonder if we’d be making huge profits by now.”

“Don’t think of it that way. Even if we’d invested in Biologics, we wouldn’t have been able to keep it. And investing in Novo wasn’t a bad choice at all. In fact, I think Novo was the better option.”

There was no sign of regret on Park Jin-hyuk’s face.

As he said, he didn’t seem to regret not investing in Biologics.

“Do you know why people’s eyes aren’t on the back of their heads? Someone said it’s because we shouldn’t look back. I have no intention of looking back. There’s a mountain of work ahead—who has time for regrets?”

Park Jin-hyuk smiled, patted Hyun Yi-soo’s shoulder, and stood up.

“The Chairman called, so I’d better go. Let’s all focus on our own tasks and do them well.”

With those words, Park Jin-hyuk strode toward the chairman’s office.

From one side, Park Soo-man and Park Kyung-man watched and spoke to each other.

“Hyung, how long are you going to keep looking at Sang-hyuk?”

“I’m frustrated too.”

“With Hanseong cornered, it seems sister-in-law doesn’t have the energy to pay attention elsewhere. I heard rumors that Hanseong is negotiating sentencing with the prosecutors in exchange for giving up the duty-free business license.”

“If they give up the duty-free license, that means the bidding will open again, and Cheongwoo will be the most likely candidate.”

“In the end, things may turn out exactly as big brother wants. If that happens, we’ll have done nothing but look at Sang-hyuk and end up empty-handed.”

“That can’t happen. Absolutely not.”

Listening to Park Kyung-man’s words, Park Soo-man shook his head repeatedly.

“If we keep relying on sister-in-law, Jin-hyuk’s growth is frighteningly fast. You’ve seen it yourself, haven’t you? Although he’s only an executive at DS Pharmaceuticals, President Kyung actually takes orders from Jin-hyuk. And what about President Hyun? He praises Jin-hyuk for DS Construction’s success. DS Pharmaceuticals and Construction are both in his hands. If this continues, the succession of the group will shift to Jin-hyuk before long. And then, we might end up as old men in the back room before our time.”

Still in their lively early fifties, Park Soo-man and Park Kyung-man had no intention of retiring just yet.

Besides, if they retired, they’d have to give up control of their affiliate companies as well.

That was the last thing Park Soo-man wanted, and finally, he made up his mind.

“Alright. Let’s do it. There’s no difference between dying while doing nothing and dying trying something.”

Park Soo-man clenched his fist so tightly it nearly broke.