201: Take a look and see (1)
The first round of negotiations between the creditors of Pharaoh Resort held at the Daeyoung Hotel and the consortium of Kangho and Daeyoung Group led by G Company has ended. The flashlights of reporters waiting outside the door exploded all at once as the people involved left the conference hall.
“How did the negotiations go?”
“I think there must have been an unreasonable request, would you not accept it in consideration of the public sentiment?”
Whether it was a question or pressure, words came out of the reporters’ mouths. One of the creditors’ representatives surrounded by them opened their mouths with a heavy expression.
“G Company has asked the creditors to reduce the debt.”
“How much is the reduction demand?”
“About half of the total amount.”
“People are very concerned about handing over domestic companies to foreign companies at low prices. Please tell me something about it.”
“Our creditors will approach with a cautious negotiating attitude in consideration of public sentiment.”
“There are experts who say that if a foreign company owns a domestic casino, the number of domestic gambling addicts will increase. What do you think?”
“Considering that as well . . .”
Questions that cleverly woven facts and conjectures poured in, and the representative of the creditors answered them as if they had prepared them in advance. Even though it was a place where Koreans were banned from entering in the first place, he even asked questions with concerns that people addicted to gambling would be mass produced.
The truth didn’t matter to them. In order to dispel the previous political scandal, this case needed to be inflated even more.
In addition, the government’s economic policy had to be driven toward failure. Someone even asked a question mixed with concerns (?) that it might go to the second IMF.
“If you look at the data released by G Company, it is said that there were a lot of funds from unknown sources in the amount of investment. Do you have anything to explain on this point?”
The reporters, who had been buzzing with one reporter’s question, became quiet in an instant. It was agreed that such questions would not be asked in advance.
Everyone looked at the questioner with their eyes, ‘What kind of bastard blows candles without notice?’ There, a man in a shabby mountaineering suit with a press permit was standing there with one hand raised.
“Excuse me, but what is the affiliation of the person who asked the question?”
“This is reporter Jeong Shi-hyeon of NYT’s Asian branch.”
“…why are you here in NYT?”
The creditor’s representative was speechless. I’ve been through a lot of press conferences, but this was the first time media like the NYT participated.
The reporters were equally perplexed. This was similar to how a foreign gambler intervened in a go-stop board played by domestic media.
“Isn’t that guy who was fired from the D-Ilbo?”
“Who is D Ilbo?”
“Oh, why are you there? The man who was cut off after he declared his conscience to oppress the media during the prewar regime…”
“ah! That asshole…. But out of the blue, what else is NYT?”
“Is that you know?”
Reporter Jeong continued to ask questions, regardless of the noise around him. The creditor’s representative expressed his uneasy feelings in his persistent coverage.
“I didn’t know such rumors were going around. I will not answer baseless questions. That is all. Please find other information in the article materials distributed. Then, I have my next schedule.
The interview time was much earlier than usual, but no one caught him. However, attention was focused on a new reporter, such as a newly emerged deceased.
“Senior, senior Jeong!”
“Howdy! Long time no see.”
After the Pharaoh Resort coverage was over, the reporters were scattered. Reporter Jung was also walking to the parking lot, contemplating how to get rid of the pointless coverage.
But with an urgent cry calling for him from behind, a familiar face ran out. He was a junior who served as the deputy chief of the D-Ilbo.
“Huh! You’re still walking fast. He disappeared so quickly that I was scolded for chasing him.”
“You are still weak. I feel more hungry than before. Are you comfortable with work these days?”
His hand, which had unintentionally pulled out a cigarette, stopped. It was underground, and the entire building was a non-smoking area.
“You haven’t quit smoking yet. I said 10 years ago that I would quit smoking.”
“Ah, the situation is the situation… Huh!”
He frowned as he put the pack of cigarettes back into his pocket. If he hadn’t smoked, he would have collapsed sooner because of his stomach.
“Are you back?”
“To the media.”
“Have I never left? You used to live your life as a paparazzi and pasting your mouth. Isn’t that the media?”
“Don’t you remember when you said you weren’t even a journalist in the past?”
“Did I? haha! I didn’t know it was going to be like this back then. When I took off my press card, the world was really scary. So how are you?”
Reporter Jung let out a self-helpful laugh. Then, he changed the subject a little.
“Hey, I’m just living my life like a giraffe. To feed the children… It’s embarrassing to see you senior…”
“Hey! Don’t say that. Even when I was immature, I cried out for the realization of justice and nabal. Because of that poor journalistic spirit, I couldn’t even do my best and got a divorce. I’d rather you be a hundred times better than me. Because I kept one.”
“Have you changed a lot?”
“How old is it? If people don’t change, they’re already dead. Huh!”
Years have made a person who was like a blade soft. However, the sharpness of the previous question was the same as before.
“When did you get into NYT?”
“This morning···.”
“I don’t know either. I feel like I’m possessed by some kind of goblin. He called in the morning from an unknown number and asked for an interview. He said he was the head of the NYT Asia bureau…”
“So?”
“Is it time for me to choose between cold and hot food? Once I went to the place to come. Then, as soon as I met him, he threw me a reporter’s pass and sent me a report here. Saying you passed… Huh!”
“What happened…?”
“I don’t know! Anyway, you can’t say you don’t like it, even though you’re paying for the coverage and subsidizing a used car. That’s why I came. That’s it.”
“Where is your company?”
“I don’t know, me too…”
“Yeah… did you say you had an interview?”
“Yeah, I saw it in a coffee shop.”
“…isn’t that a complete scammer?”
“Well···?”
“Nice to meet you. This is Geum-cheol Plat, the president of FNK.”
“yes! I’m George Lee, NYT Asia bureau chief. Just call me George.”
He was a clean-looking man who looked like he was in his late 30s. The two greeted each other for the first time.
President Baek, who officially received an investment of 100 billion won, excluding slush funds, went to see the building. Then I got a call from Brian.
Since the NYT Asia bureau chief came, he asked me to go see the building together. The final authority belonged to Cheol-woo, and I knew that it was Cheol-woo’s money anyway.
However, he couldn’t be honest with Brian, the investor on paper. He and he were the kind of person who had to live like a family anyway.
There was no such thing as a bastard playing in the entertainment industry and treating reporters rudely. Rather, he struggled to entice him to his side.
A well-bred journalist was not envious of ten marketing team members. So the white sandy welcomed him.
“How many people are there?”
“In Asia, there are no more than 30 people because it is mostly articles on the Internet.”
“Then one office would suffice.”
“Yeah, first what…”
“But he speaks our language very well. Are you a funny Korean?”
“Yes, I am two years old. I went to Seoul until middle school.”
“That’s fortunate. I was a little worried that it might not work.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. Because the staff are also Korean, and I plan to hire half of them again.”
The two had a short chat after making a common name. From the beginning, it felt good and we were satisfied with each other.
It was time to go outside after making that first impression. I got a call from Cheol-woo.
“Yes, you tell me.”
“Give me your address. Because Manager Huh will go there. Discuss with that person and decide on a building, and when you’re done, come to Geumryong’s office!”
Cheol-woo said only what he wanted to say and hung up. He was overflowing with people who wanted to follow him today.
“I have one more person to move with.”
“Then we will have to wait.”
“No, just tell us to come where we need to go. We have to hurry too. We have to visit at least three buildings today.”
“Are you very passionate?”
George Lee grinned, swiping his greasy all-back style with one hand. Looking at the suspenders on the inside of the shirt that was loose on the skinny body, I felt more like a printed article than a reporter.
“It’s not a house, but you go to see a building, right? How many times in your life would you do something like this? haha!”
“I heard it and it is.”
George Lee agreed. He was also very interested.
Cheol-woo opened the iron door and entered. This was Geumryong’s office.
A man stood in the office. He hadn’t come back involuntarily yet.
“Are you here, brother?”
“Yeah, haven’t you left for the island yet?”
“Yeah, eldest brother…, no, the president said he had a lot of work here, so he’s still…”
He looked into his eyes and answered. If Cheol-woo showed his uncomfortable feelings, there was no one to stop him here.
shudder! swish!
The inside door opened just in time. And Geumryong greeted him from inside the door.
“Are you here? Come in!”
“for a moment! Bulky, have the kids come up with some bags and boxes in my car.”
“yes! older brother.”
“ah! And I order at a Chinese restaurant. What I always ate…”
The hunk who received the order skillfully ordered the children to bring the goods. And I even ordered food over the phone right away.
“Have you not eaten yet?”
“yes! I lost my time because I was working part-time for a while.”
“What is a part-time job for a building owner and a business man, and what does he have to carry?”
“What are you going to ask me to find out if I bring it?”
“I’m just curious, why? What could be the reason that the guy who ate all the time, saying that even three meals a day was not enough, skipped a meal because he was busy? I’m curious to…”
“President! I brought tea.”
“Yes, Miss Kim. Put it on here and go to work.”
The lady who was watching the bookkeeper ran out of the office after running an errand for the car. At that time, Cheol-woo asked as if curious.
“You’re a girl I haven’t seen…?”
“I got a new one a few days ago. I heard that the girl I had before got pregnant because I had eye contact with a crazy guy. a! I have a lot of work to do, so it’s a pain in the ass. I’m so bubbly, I want to quit even the kid who was good at work.”
“So, did you hold on to the size?”
“Yeah, there’s no one I can trust and entrust with my work, so I’ll have to take that guy as well, huh. But what’s really going on here?”
Geumryong asked, holding a coffee cup on the table. These days, it seemed like I was living with a strong cup of coffee.
“You want to count some money?”
“money? Then you should have said it earlier. Kyungri, who has just left, is from Yeosang, so her money counts amazingly. Very mechanical, mechanical.”
“I’m not too young to have one anyway. And it’s more important to divide the old and new bills than counting the money.”
“How much cash do you have so much?”
“About 100 billion or so…?”
pooh! Cool, cool!
Geumryong spit out the coffee he was drinking through his nose. Then he coughed like he was going to die.
As if he knew that, Cheol-woo had already avoided the seat next to him. He then sips the cup of coffee in his hand.
The hot coffee came out of his nose, so Geumryong was in pain. But perhaps the surprise was bigger than the pain, so I asked the question before I could find stability.
“Wow, 100 billion? All with tongue… cash…?”
“Yeah, in cash…”
“…you met the inspiration Park!”
“yes! This is the second time we met.”
“her! It seems the time has come for that young man to go now, since I met you… Seriously, have you been eating it for a long time? Ttttttttt!”
As Geumryong spoke, he pulled out a bundle of tissues and wiped the table and sofa. It was a leather sofa, so it was fortunate that there were no stains left.
“Brother, things have come up.”
“Bring it in! Don’t throw it anywhere.”
Geumryong answered before Cheolwoo. His face was full of excitement with anticipation.