Chapter 30: You Never Know What the Future Holds

“Wow… they really did this on purpose.”

“Right?”

“There’s significant legal liability here.”

Tae-hun started typing on his laptop.

“First, it could be defamation. They mentioned ‘neighboring butcher shops,’ but didn’t you say yours is the only one in this alley?”

“Yes, just us. The others are all inside the market.”

“Then, you can practically be identified. I looked up precedents… here it is. Supreme Court 2003-do-6036. Even if a name isn’t explicitly called, if anyone can recognize the target, defamation is established.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and there’s an even bigger issue.”

Tae-hun explained passionately.

“It’s a violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. They slandered a competitor without basis to foster distrust. This is a textbook case.”

Father nodded repeatedly from the side.

“I’ve been in business for thirty years, and this is the first time I’ve been attacked like this. I was so angry.”

“Of course you are. I would be too.”

“Lunch is here!”

Black bean noodles were delivered, but Tae-hun didn’t stop explaining.

“You can also hit them with the Labeling and Advertising Act. Saying ‘We don’t fake our origin’ implies… a nuance that other shops do.”

“Hey, hey. Talk while you eat.”

Min-jae mixed the noodles for Tae-hun and handed them over.

“Ah, thanks. I got a bit excited… But it’s suspicious that Mega Meat is acting like this.”

“Why?”

“When a large corporation attacks a small alley shop like this, it can also be an issue under the Fair Trade Act.”

“Don’t they know that? A big company must have a legal team.”

Tae-hun sighed and put down his chopsticks.

“That’s exactly the problem. They do it knowing.”

“Knowing…?”

“Do you know what big corporations are after?”

Tae-hun’s expression turned serious.

“It’s the litigation costs. For a small shop to hire a lawyer, it costs at least a few million won. If you include retainers and contingency fees, it can easily exceed ten million won.”

Min-jae asked with a shocked face, “What? It’s that expensive?”

“Yeah. I’m here because I’m your friend and I want to gain experience, but usually, lawyers charge more for lawsuits against big companies.”

“…”

Tae-hun practically inhaled a mouthful of noodles and wiped his mouth.

“And then there’s the battle against time. The first trial of a civil suit takes eight months on average. If it goes to an appeals court, a year and a half. If it reaches the Supreme Court, it can take three years.”

Father spoke worriedly, “Oh, three years…”

“You have to keep the business running for those three years. Meanwhile, Mega Meat continues to operate and take your customers. In the end, even if you win the lawsuit, the shop might be in worse shape.”

“Winning is losing, then.”

Min-jae looked shocked.

“Also, the legal burden of proof is important. To prove defamation or business interference, you need evidence, which isn’t easy for an individual to gather. On the other hand, the corporate legal team prepares everything.”

I asked, “So Mega Meat calculated all of this…?”

“Probably. They think a small shop won’t be able to sue anyway.”

A heavy silence fell. Father stood up.

“No matter how urgent it is, let’s have a cup of coffee. Calmly…”

Father took out packets of instant coffee from the back shelf. Steam rose from the old electric kettle.

“You’ll have some coffee, too, Lawyer?”

“Yes, I’d like that. Thank you.”

***

Coffee time ended.

Tae-hun looked at our banner photo.

[Free 100g of pork belly to anyone who brings a same-day Mega Meat pork belly receipt!!]

“You made this, sir?”

Tae-hun went back into consultation mode. Then, Min-jae suddenly nudged his arm.

“Hey, why ‘sir’? Call him Big Brother.”

“Big Brother?”

Tae-hun looked puzzled. I waved it off with a laugh.

“Hey, Min-jae. Why Big Brother?”

“Then, may I call you Big Brother?”

I shook my head.

“No, you don’t have to. We just met today…”

“Actually, I felt a bit awkward too. I’ll just call you Big Brother. Min-jae and I are like real brothers, so you’re like an older brother to me too.”

“Ah… well, if you’re really okay with it?”

“Yes, this is more comfortable for me.”

Min-jae said proudly, “Yeah, that’s better. Anyway, is this banner of ours okay?”

“It doesn’t look like much of a problem.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s hard for Mega Meat to sue over this. Because…”

Tae-hun explained while looking at me.

“First, it’s not trademark infringement. Simply mentioning the name Mega Meat is within legal bounds. It’s like a comparative advertisement.”

“Aha…”

“Second, Mega Meat started the fight first. The courts view such initial provocations as significant. For you, Big Brother, the legality of the response action is established.”

“What’s that? Like self-defense?”

“Legally different, but the meaning is similar. To be honest, if Mega Meat sues you, they might end up getting counter-attacked.”

Tae-hun suddenly became serious.

“But Big Brother, are you really going to sue?”

“I have to.”

“I think you should too. Things like this need to be addressed clearly.”

“How much will it cost?”

When Father asked worriedly, Tae-hun scratched his head.

“Well… our firm is small, so the fees aren’t that high. Plus, since you’re Min-jae’s friend, I’ll give you an even bigger discount.”

“Hey, you need to make a living too.”

Min-jae worried for his friend while looking at me.

“It’s fine. Gaining experience with cases like this is important. A lawsuit against a big corporation looks good for my portfolio.”

“Tae-hun, don’t do that,” I cut in.

“Pardon?”

“Charge what you’re supposed to. That’s better for everyone.”

“No, Big Brother. I’m really okay…”

“It’s not okay. You’re pouring your time and effort into this as a lawyer; you shouldn’t do it for free. When I sell meat, I don’t give it away for free just because someone is a friend.”

Father nodded.

“Jun-ho is right. If we pay properly, we can make demands confidently, and you can work with a sense of responsibility.”

“Still…”

“Tae-hun, he’s right.”

Min-jae added.

“Only if you get paid properly can we feel comfortable asking for things. How can we put you to work if we feel sorry for you?”

Tae-hun thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Understood. Then, I’ll only give you a twenty percent discount on the standard fee. This is a level I occasionally do for personal reasons anyway…”

I looked at Father’s expression. When our eyes met, he nodded.

“Great. Let’s do that.”

Tae-hun took out a business card.

[Justice Law Firm / Lawyer Kim Tae-hun]

“Wow, the name of the law firm is Justice?”

“It’s very direct, right? No sense of style. Our managing partner named it.”

Tae-hun laughed sheepishly.

“First, we need to gather evidence. Photos of Mega Meat’s banners, witness statements, and data on declining sales are all necessary.”

“Got it.”

“And if Mega Meat does anything else, record it all. If the pattern repeats, it becomes even more advantageous for us.”

Tae-hun stood up.

“I’ll organize everything and draft the complaint.”

“Hey, thanks, man.”

Min-jae grabbed Tae-hun in a hug.

“For what? We’re friends. And Big Brother, don’t lose heart. In this situation, the law is on your side.”

Tae-hun grabbed his bag and headed for the door. Just then, Father suddenly got up and went to the refrigerator.

“Wait a moment, Tae-hun.”

“Yes?”

Father brought out an insulated box. It made a heavy thud.

“Take this with you.”

“Huh? What is this?”

“It’s Korean beef sirloin. Grade 1++.”

Tae-hun waved his hands.

“No! I can’t accept this!”

“Normally, we should have gone to your office for a consultation, but a busy lawyer came all the way here in person.”

Father shoved the box into Tae-hun’s hands.

“I’m giving this to you because I’m truly grateful.”

“But… earlier, Big Brother said he doesn’t give away meat for free even to friends…”

Tae-hun looked at me apologetically. Father burst out laughing.

“This isn’t free. It’s a bribe.”

“Pardon?”

“A bribe to ask you to take good care of our case.”

Father winked.

“I’m joking. This is from the heart, so don’t feel burdened.”

“Take it, take it. The beef from our shop is a work of art.”

Min-jae pushed Tae-hun toward the door.

“Thank you. I’ll work hard.”

Tae-hun looked back as he stepped out.

“But you’re really brave. It’s because of people like you that our country’s butcher industry is maintained—”

“Hey, shut it. Don’t be dramatic and just go.”

At Min-jae’s words, Tae-hun hurriedly left the shop.

***

Hidden Gem Butchery.

As soon as I returned, I called Brotherly Clean Farm. The battle had begun, so now I needed strategic details.

“Mr. Shim Young-soo, hello. This is Jung Jun-ho.”

“Oh, Mr. Jung! Is everything all right?”

“Yes, I’m doing well, thanks to you. Sales both online and offline have increased significantly thanks to your meat.”

“Really? That’s great to hear! We’ve also been in a good mood lately because the order volume has increased thanks to you.”

Shim Young-soo’s voice grew even brighter. Generally, it’s best to ask for favors when the other person is in a good mood.

“Actually, I’m calling to ask for a favor.”

“Yes, anything.”

“I’d like to introduce your farm when I sell meat to customers. Would that be all right?”

“Introduce the farm?”

“Yes, these days, customers are very curious about which farm the pork comes from and how they were raised.”

I explained in detail.

“So, I want to explain to customers what kind of place Brotherly Clean Farm is, what kind of feed you use, and how it’s managed.”

“Ah, of course, that’s great!”

Shim Young-soo answered immediately without a moment’s hesitation.

“I should be the one thanking you. You’re saying you’ll promote our farm.”

“Are you really okay with it? Is there anything that needs to be kept secret for operational reasons…?”

“Oh, not at all. I’m raising them with a clear conscience. In fact, I wish more people knew about it.”

He was even more proactive than I expected. Then, I added the details.

“Please let them know that we use non-GMO feed and that we rarely use antibiotics. There are many people these days who consider those things important.”

The main ingredients of pig feed are corn and soybeans, but most of what’s on the market are genetically modified organisms. They’re designed to withstand herbicides or modified so that bugs don’t flock to them. They’re cheap and have high yields, so feed companies love them.

The non-GMO feed Shim Young-soo uses is twenty to thirty percent more expensive. The sad part is that consumers have almost no way of knowing about these efforts.

Had I ever seen a label saying a pig was raised on non-GMO feed when buying meat? No. I only saw the information that it was domestic pork.

From a farm owner’s perspective, like Shim Young-soo, it was quite disappointing. Most of the time, the meat was sold at the same price as pigs raised on regular feed, both just carrying the domestic label.

Talking about antibiotics makes things even more complicated. Since 2011, Korea has banned mixing growth-promoting antibiotics into feed. However, antibiotics used for treatment when a pig is sick are still allowed.

The problem is that antibiotics are still frequently used as a preventive measure under the guise of treatment. They require a veterinarian’s prescription, but… well, is management at the actual sites really that easy? That’s why a farm that can boast about rarely using antibiotics, like Shim Young-soo’s, is even more precious.

“Thank you. Then, could I use photos of the farm, the pigs being raised, and the feed bags?”

“Of course. Use as many photos as you want. Oh, and our barns are kept very clean, so you can show those too.”

“Ah, that will be a huge help. Then, when you have time, could I go take some proper photos of the farm?”

“Certainly, come by anytime. Just call me in advance and I’ll personally guide you. Oh, and if you need our farm operation logs or things like that, I can show them to you.”

Willing to show the operation logs… That took more courage than showing a diary to one’s mother. Min-jae, who was listening to the call, gave a thumbs-up and mouthed, ‘This is huge.’

“Wow, thank you so much, sir. Then, I’ll visit this weekend.”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

After hanging up with Shim Young-soo, I took a business card out of my wallet and fell into deep thought.

In the end, I made the call. The distributor I had met last time when I went to the farm. It was Mr. Yoon.

I had almost thrown his card away, thinking I would never have to contact him. I had spoken too soon.

‘You never know what the future holds.’

“Hello?”

“Mr. Yoon? This is Jung Jun-ho. We met at Shim Young-soo’s farm…”

A moment of silence followed.

“Who? Ah… wait, Jung Jun-ho?”

The voice sounded as if he were searching his memory.

“Yes, that’s right. At Brotherly Clean Farm back then…”

“Aha! The idealist boss!”