After stopping his laughter, Park Jinhyuk picked up the documents on his desk and handed them to Jin Kim.
Jin Kim took the documents and checked what Park Jinhyuk had given him.
It was the executive performance evaluation forms that had been handed over earlier when he entered the president’s office.
Jin Kim received the evaluation forms again but, not knowing why Park Jinhyuk was giving them back, simply looked at Park Jinhyuk in silence.
Park Jinhyuk smiled at Jin Kim and spoke.
“Let’s do it this way. If I evaluate the executives after looking at these evaluation forms, I might end up judging them with preconceived notions. So, I’ll assess them through interviews without knowing anything in advance. Then, we’ll cross-check the data the headquarters has collected with my evaluation and decide who should be let go. Don’t you think that would be more accurate?”
Just a moment ago, Vice President Hyeon and Jin Kim had thought that the executive interviews were merely a formality, and that it might actually become an occasion to demand loyalty.
They suspected that Park Jinhyuk might use the evaluation forms in the meeting to demand loyalty from the executives.
However, when Park Jinhyuk returned the evaluation forms and sincerely proceeded with the assessment, Jin Kim looked as if he’d been struck on the back of the head, wearing a dazed expression.
“It’s not that I don’t trust your efforts and judgment. It’s just that I trust my own eyes a little more. I pride myself on being second to none at evaluating people.”
Even as Park Jinhyuk spoke, Jin Kim still couldn’t answer. Park Jinhyuk clasped his hands, rested his chin on them, and stared at Jin Kim.
“Were you worried that the interviews with the executives would turn into some kind of loyalty oath?”
Jin Kim tried hard to hide his surprise at Park Jinhyuk’s direct words, but his dry lips betrayed that Park Jinhyuk had hit the mark.
Park Jinhyuk looked at Jin Kim’s expression and laughed inwardly.
‘So my guess was right.’
Park Jinhyuk had spent his student days abroad in comfort, then lived a dissipated life after returning to Korea.
But the one inside, Yoo Jeonggeol, had entered society at Park Jinhyuk’s current age, spending over ten years on the powerless side, struggling to read the minds of those in power.
Even a school dog can recite poems after three years; Yoo Jeonggeol, who now resided in Park Jinhyuk’s body, had been reading people’s thoughts for over a decade.
He might not be a shaman, but he considered himself to be close.
Park Jinhyuk reflected as he ate, having seen their disgruntled faces on his way out.
He came to a conclusion and handed the evaluation forms back to Jin Kim.
If the evaluation forms were free of personal bias, he was confident that the value he saw in the executives would not differ much from the assessments in the forms.
“Then let’s get started right away. Go down and send up the executives one by one.”
“Yes, understood.”
Jin Kim, holding the returned evaluation forms, bowed to Park Jinhyuk and left the president’s office.
After that, he went to the 21st floor, where headquarters was located, and instructed the executives to head up to the 22nd floor president’s office in turn, before heading toward where Gwak Seokgi was.
“What’s up? Did you eat something bad? You look like you just got punched in the face.”
Seeing Jin Kim still looking stunned, Gwak Seokgi threw out a casual remark.
Though it was meant as a joke, Jin Kim nodded in response.
“I did get punched.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Hey, that guy up there. What’s his deal?”
“Why? Did he pick a fight with you for no reason?”
Jin Kim shook his head at Hong Myeongjin, who was speaking with a frown.
“No, it’s just… something feels off.”
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind. We’ll know soon enough. Is the Vice President inside?”
“He’s inside.”
“Okay.”
Jin Kim thought there was no need to tell the others what had just happened.
But at least Vice President Hyeon Isu needed to know.
Jin Kim knocked carefully, then went in and relayed everything that had happened with Park Jinhyuk to Isu Hyeon.
Isu Hyeon listened with arms crossed, frowning as he heard Jin Kim’s story.
When Jin Kim finished, Isu Hyeon lowered his head as if deep in thought.
Jin Kim spoke cautiously to him.
“Vice President Hyeon, what do you think?”
“How far along is the second round of performance evaluations?”
“We’ve finished collecting the reputational data. Now we’re analyzing the reliability of the information, and that’s almost done too.”
“Can you speed things up?”
“Yes. But how fast do you need the results?”
“Can you produce a preliminary result before the final values are confirmed?”
Jin Kim squinted, realizing through the conversation what Isu Hyeon intended to do.
After thinking for a moment, he nodded.
“Yes, it should be possible. Once the evaluation results come down from upstairs, I’ll compare them and report immediately.”
“Good. And by the way…”
Isu Hyeon stroked his chin.
Then, as if something came to mind, he pointed at Jin Kim and quietly gave an order.
“Check if Executive Director Park is running any personal lines of communication, aside from us. If not, see if the Chairman or anyone from Pyeongchang-dong is making a move.”
“Do you think Executive Director Park already knows something?”
“Otherwise, could he be acting so confidently? Or is he so sharp that he can see through people at a glance? I can’t help but think the Chairman settled the personnel issues during restructuring and sent Executive Director Park down as part of that plan.”
“If it was decided beforehand, couldn’t he have just instructed you directly?”
“He might have secretly told only Executive Director Park, to empower him for the succession.”
“Wasn’t he excluded?”
“Who said that? That Executive Director Park was excluded from succession…”
“It’s just… That’s what people are saying, and even on the company bulletin boards and in anonymous rumors… Frankly, most believe the second son has the upper hand now.”
At Jin Kim’s words, Isu Hyeon shook his head.
He too had heard that.
And he’d confirmed it through Oh Seoyoung.
That Oh Seoyoung, the nominal mother, wanted to put the second son in the Chairman’s seat…
But he was not blind or dull.
The current Park Jinhyuk was not someone who would be pushed aside easily.
“For now, it’s just a hunch, so don’t cause a fuss—just look into it quietly. And as I said, wrap up the personnel evaluations quickly. We have to compare them with the ones coming down from above.”
“Yes, understood. I’ll proceed immediately.”
Isu Hyeon looked away from Jin Kim, who bowed and left, deep in thought.
‘Director Oh and Executive Director Park… What on earth is going on?’
He had thought that coming to DS Construction and handling the restructuring would be simple, but now it felt like the most uncomfortable position in DS Group.
By the time Park Jinhyuk finished his tea, the executives of DS Construction began entering the office one by one.
Even before he spoke with them, Park Jinhyuk could tell at a glance whether they were useful or just dead weight.
The numbers floating above their heads revealed their worth.
‘Life sure is easy, isn’t it?’
Seating the executives, Park Jinhyuk passed the time with small talk about the weather and last night’s drama.
He knew from experience that any other topic would be pointless; he had no intention of listening to stories that could muddy his judgment of their value.
Anyone who rose to an executive position likely excelled at presenting themselves.
If their real value was 10, they would use flashy words and actions to make it look like 100 or even 200. It was obvious.
Having once made a living by inflating his own value, Park Jinhyuk knew better than anyone what they were thinking.
That was why he didn’t bother listening.
“So you mean, according to you, the female lead and the male lead both know how they feel about each other?”
“Yes, that’s right. You can tell by the expressions on screen, can’t you?”
“Oh~. Is that so? I thought they didn’t know yet…”
Glancing at the clock, Park Jinhyuk was surprised.
“Oh my, look at the time. This was a productive conversation. I’ll keep your opinions in mind, Director Kim.”
After chatting about dramas for ten minutes and saying it was a productive meeting, Director Kim looked bewildered.
At that moment, Secretary Jang came in, bowed, and approached the executive.
“It’s time to wrap up, Director Kim. The next person is waiting.”
Through the door, executives could be seen sitting quietly, waiting for their turn.
Those who had spoken for exactly ten minutes left the office with the same look on their faces.
“Hey, Director Kim, what did you talk about in there?”
The others waiting outside tried to glean information by questioning those who went in first.
But no one coming out gave a straight answer.
‘Is it certain I’m getting fired? Why did he only ask meaningless questions?’
They weren’t new hires but veterans with pride.
Unable to admit they had only talked about dramas, they simply shook their heads and walked out of the office.
“Executive Lee, it’s your turn.”
Executive Lee, waiting nervously outside, again failed to get any information and trudged into the president’s office, which now felt like a slaughterhouse.
“Hello. It’s an honor to meet you.”
As soon as he entered, Executive Lee bowed at a 90-degree angle.
It was such a forceful greeting, he thought he hadn’t even spoken this loudly when he first arrived at his military unit.
“Everyone comes in so energetic—I can’t help but feel pleased. Please, have a seat.”
At Park Jinhyuk’s words, Executive Lee straightened up, gave a strange smile, and walked slowly to the chair opposite the desk.
Park Jinhyuk quietly looked at the number above Executive Lee’s head and wrote down his name and the number on a notepad.
[Domestic Sales Team Executive Lee – 50 million]
“Cutting it close.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your number is borderline.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s nothing.”
Park Jinhyuk stared at the 50 million over Executive Lee’s head for a moment, then smiled and looked at him.
Executive Lee, unsure how to respond, sat restlessly in his seat.
He had skipped lunch and prepared thoroughly on sales issues and future plans for domestic sales.
He had even practiced with his subordinates.
Yet, seeing Park Jinhyuk, he couldn’t stop his heart from pounding.
Though he looked barely old enough to be his nephew, his birth as the Chairman’s eldest son, his post as head of restructuring, and his boldness in firing the CEO right away were overwhelming.
Seeing Executive Lee already sweating, Park Jinhyuk smiled and spoke.
“Did you watch the Premier League yesterday?”
“Excuse me?”
“Who do you think will win this time? Liverpool seems like a strong candidate, right?”
“Uh?”
“Competitions are only fun when there’s some suspense, but when one team takes off early, it kind of takes the excitement out. Director Kim said it’s still mid-season and we should wait and see, but what do you think?”
“Uh…?”
As Park Jinhyuk spoke, he pushed the notepad aside.
On it were the names and numbers of the executives who had come in so far.
While Executive Lee fumbled for a response, Park Jinhyuk asked a few more questions, but again, Executive Lee couldn’t give proper answers.
Thus, his allotted ten minutes passed meaninglessly.
Eventually, Secretary Jang came in to announce the end of the interview and led Executive Lee out.
“Phew, even this is exhausting. Secretary Jang, from now on, let’s cut it down to five minutes each. Come in exactly at five minutes and take them out.”
“Yes, understood.”
He thought ten minutes per person would be fine, but after seeing five people, it felt too long.
Feeling it a waste to drag out what could be done in ten seconds for ten minutes, Park Jinhyuk shortened the interview time.
After finishing the interviews with all DS Construction’s executives, Park Jinhyuk wrote down the executives’ names on A4 paper, marking them with stars, triangles, and circles to organize his thoughts.
He handed the sheet to Secretary Jang.
“Please give this to Team Leader Jin Kim downstairs. Those with stars must be let go, those with triangles should be reviewed and let go if necessary, and those with circles should absolutely be kept. Make sure to pass that on.”
“Yes, understood.”
Secretary Jang took the sheet, hastily marked with names and symbols, and delivered it to Team Leader Jin Kim on the floor below.
Though Jin Kim had an idea of how things had gone upstairs, he hadn’t expected Park Jinhyuk’s opinion to come down so quickly.
He rushed to finish the secondary analysis of the executives, then took both the headquarters’ collected data and Park Jinhyuk’s marked sheet to Deputy Director Hyeon Isu’s restructuring office.