28. They didn’t seem to forget.
Smart!
“Yes, how may I help you?”
I knocked on the door of the professor’s office and was greeted by a pretty assistant.
The professor’s office was not very small, probably because he was a former Supreme Court Justice.
“They say it’s steel, but I have an appointment with the professor.”
“Oh, are you Alex Kang at 2:00 p.m.?”
“Yes, I’m Alex Kang.”
“Would you mind waiting a moment, my professor is on the phone?”
“Yes, of course.”
“What kind of tea would you like?”
“Cool!”
“Cool?”
“Cold water will do.”
“Ho-ho-ho! Oh, and by the way, I just ran out of juice, didn’t I scare you?”
“Hmph!”
Am I getting old?
I’m only thirty-two years old, and the assistant, who looked to be in her mid-twenties, was not cute at all.
hahahaha, so it was a downward spiral after I’d hooked up with that hottie.
From nob le mt l. co m
Jennifer’s friends came over and hung out and gave me a few signals, but strangely enough, I was only s*xually attracted to them, not interested in dating them.
I was a little embarrassed to ask for a relationship, and I was afraid of being bitten by a flowering snake, since they knew my financial status, so I just stayed friends.
Anyway, this is the problem.
If I have too much money, I’m going to start off with the suspicion that all women are attracted to my money rather than to me as a person.
Damn!
I had a great relationship with Yeon-joo, and we got along perfectly.
I suddenly remembered our hot night together and felt my blood rush to my magnificent preciousness.
God, what an asshole to come to the welfare foundation to talk about this—.
“Sir, the professor is off the phone.”
“Yes—.”
Great timing.
“Sir, the professor is waiting for you?”
“…”
Who doesn’t know that?
Because I can’t stand up right now, right?
I hastily pull out my phone, shaking like I’m about to wake up, and barely manage to calm myself down enough to get to my feet.
“Hi, it’s Steeled, Professor.”
“Oh, nice to meet you, you’re the Alex Kang Dongchul told me about?”
Professor Jang stood up and greeted me, and at first glance, he seemed like a man whose charisma was no joke.
I heard that he had just completed his six-year term as a Supreme Court judge, or Supreme Court justice, and he was so tough.
He had the air of someone you could stick with a needle and not expect a drop of blood to come out.
At least his eyes were smiling.
By the way, who is Dongchul?
“My, I’m Alex Kang, but this is Korea, so please call me Kang-sik.”
“hahahaha! I heard you have a big business in the US, so I’ll call you Mr. Kang.”
“Yes, you can call me whatever you like, but who is Dong-Cheol?”
“Oh, Dong-Cheol didn’t tell me his Korean name. My uncle’s nephew, Jeffrey Jang’s Korean name is Dong-Cheol Jang.”
“Pooh!”
Dong-Cheol Jang?
That’s a weird first name.
Or is it a good thing his last name is Jang?
If it were Mr. Kim, it would have been Geum Dong Chul.
I guess that’s why he was so tight-lipped when I asked him for his Korean name.
“hehehe! Dongchul didn’t really like his Korean name, so just pretend you don’t know it.”
“hahahahaha! Okay.”
Anyway, Dongchul’s name softened the mood.
“So, according to Dongchul, what good things do you want to do?”
“It’s not that I want to, but I’ve already started somehow.”
I explained at a moderate level what was involved in Yang Hye-won’s work.
“Ohhhhh, you’re doing such a good thing, hahahahaha!”
“Well, I’m embarrassed to say, it’s just a facade.”
“Well, is there anything I can do to help, it doesn’t sound like you particularly need me?”
“I’m trying to get some serious work done.”
“What do you mean, full-fledged? It looks like a million bucks right now.”
“Well, I stopped by this new nursery, and I saw the most vulnerable part.”
“What part are you talking about?”
“First of all, from infants to children under the age of 18, the environment varies depending on the so-called facility, but somehow they were able to live a minimal life. Basically, the country and local governments take care of their food and livelihood, but it’s a very poor level.”
It is indeed minimal.
Although Korea has improved a lot in welfare for the elderly and disabled, he said that it has remained almost the same for children.
As a result, cases such as covering expenses, which are relatively poorly supported, become quite difficult without private sponsorship.
Therefore, it is better to pay for school uniforms when they enter junior high school.
Anyway, as long as you’re in a facility, you can at least make a decent living.
“Hmm, I see.”
“Well, the problem is that when you turn 18, you become a ‘ward of the state’, which basically means that when you graduate from high school, you have to leave. You get a lump sum of about 5 million won, a monthly payment for three years, and if you’re lucky, some kind of Dedim passbook or something, and if you do well, you might get another 10 million won.”
“Ha, I knew about that. No, it’s not a matter of knowing, it’s a matter of turning a blind eye.”
“No, Professor, this is ridiculous. How do you expect kids who aren’t even twenty years old to live with that kind of money? Can’t you even get miso stew at a restaurant for 5,000 won these days? Even a basic vegetable kimbap with ramen noodles costs almost 5,000 won. Isn’t that too much?”
Ai, Mr. Lee. I’m getting hot under the collar.
“I totally agree with you. It’s very shameful.”
“I really didn’t know, but I thought we were a country that could make ends meet, and I thought there would be at least some kind of a plan. It’s a shame.”
Honestly, even if I had known before I won the US Lotto, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it because my nose is a stone.
“Heh heh, but where does it come from that you, a young man, would think such a thing? This old man is a real embarrassment. This is a man who was treated like a minister by the Supreme Court.”
“Wow, a Supreme Court justice was ministerial?”
“…”
I was in awe of the fact that I really didn’t know, but Prof. Jang seemed to have heard it with a bang and looked slightly embarrassed.
“I’m sorry about that. I was just admiring it because I really didn’t know, so please don’t take it the wrong way.”
“Humph, by the way, what are you going to do about it? I’d like the government to come up with a plan for terminated children, but it won’t happen right away just because I or anyone else asks for it, and even if it does, it will take a long time.”
“I know that, but we can’t just sit back and suck our fingers while 2,500 kids are being thrown out into a defenseless and callous society every year, can we?”
“Well?”
“I’m going to do what I can, and realistically, I can’t watch over all those kids.”
“That’s true.”
“But I can at least start, right? I’m going to start with the children in Eunpyeong, Seoul, where I used to live, and Geumcheon, where I used to work. If I take it one step at a time, maybe one day I’ll be able to protect more children, and maybe the government will pay attention.”
“Excellent, you really make me feel ashamed of myself!”
Prof. Zhang was genuinely moved by my words, and his face slightly rose.
“You’re being flattering.”
“Yes, what can I do for such a great work? If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it, and since I’m still in good shape, I’ll go and volunteer to clean up.”
“Thank you so much. First of all, the nursery school I have a relationship with has moved next to the military base in Parkdal-dong, and the environment there is surprisingly good.”
“No, it’s next to a military base, but is the environment good?”
“Because there is a company affiliated with the Ministry of National Defense there?”
“A company? A company affiliated with the Ministry of Defense—. Ah! That company? hahahahaha, that’s right. It was next to the Supreme Court in Seocho-dong, where I was working, but they moved there, right?” “Yes, so it’s not a regular military base, so the environment is not bad.”
“But why?”
“Because there’s less opposition from the residents.”
“That’s right, I see. Ha! They even made a law to prevent opposition.”
Huh?
There was such a law?
“What? Is there such a law?”
“Yes, there is. Article 6, paragraph 1 of the Social Welfare Work Act states that no one shall interfere with the establishment of a social welfare facility without good reason! “
“Ah, but then what, the mayors of local governments will interfere with them?”
“So, Article 2 says that the mayor, county governor, and mayor’s office shall not take measures to delay or restrict the installation of social welfare facilities without good reason. However, the law is far away, and the complaint is closer, not the fist.”
“Huh—.”
I’m at a loss for words.
“So what?”
“Well, we have a big piece of land next to our nursery school. I put my first shovel in—. Anyway, I want to start a support project for aged-out children on that land, and I want to build a residential facility for them so that they can be properly prepared to go out into the world.”
“That’s great, but what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that it’s Department of Defense land.”
“Ho-ho? Really? That’s great, that’s great!”
“What? What’s good about it?”
“hahahahaha! The social welfare corporation is state-owned in order to install related facilities. They have priority over shared property and can request to sell or lease it. Child welfare facilities can even be leased for free.”
“Ohhhhh! Such a good law?”
“There are a lot of good laws, it’s just that people don’t know them or use them or misuse them.”
Professor Jang Young-dong said with a bitter expression.
Of course, as a former Supreme Court justice, it must be painful to hear.
“I see.”
“Then my job is to rip that land off from the Ministry of Defense as cheaply as possible, right?”
“hahahahaha, that’s right. The cheaper we can buy it, the more kids will be protected.”
“Well, that’s the first time in a long time that I’ve heard of you, okay, I’ll let the world know that this Jang Young-dong isn’t dead!”
“Thank you so much!”
I felt very lucky to have met this gentleman.
No, was I lucky to have met Jeffrey?
“Is there anything else I can do?”
“There is.”
“What is it?”
“A welfare corporation?”
“It’s called a social welfare corporation.”
“Oh, right. I’m going to set up a social welfare corporation and do it right. It’s going to be 100% funded by me, and I’m going to start with 20 billion won and add more every year.”
“Oh, that much money?”
“That’s just for now. Next year, I’ll be putting up at least 50 billion.”
Believer.
“Well, my dad will do the footwork, and he’ll do the actual management and disbursement of the money. He’s the kind of guy who never sees a problem, so I think it’s a good fit.”
“But?”
“You’ve worked for big companies, and you’ve been in business for a long time, so I’m sure you’ll do a good job, but you’re too much of a gentleman for me to leave you in charge. Also, I don’t want to limit the social service corporation to children who are aging out of care, because in a few years, we’ll be helping more people who the state can’t take care of.”
“Hmmm, great, so?”
“Well, I think it should be headed by someone of reputation and ability, Professor!”
“What?”
“Would you be willing to serve as the representative of our social work firm?”
“What? President? I mean, how can you trust me?”
“You’re a former Supreme Court justice, and I trust you more than anything.”
“…”
Professor Jang was so surprised that he was speechless for a moment.
“Heh—.”
“Are you in any trouble? You will be paid a salary commensurate with your position, so if that’s the case—.”
“Ah! I’m sorry.”
“In my position, I could do it without taking a dime. But the head of a social welfare corporation has to be a full-time job, so the bottom line is that I have to quit my teaching job.”
“Oh, no—.”
This is a lost cause.
I’m nervous because my dad is such a big fan, and I’m trying to make it look like the two of them are being dragged along.
“Hmmm—.”
“So you’re an advisor?”
“No! I’m a professor, and there are plenty of things I could do without, but this isn’t one of them, is it? I’d love to do it if you’d give me the chance!”
“Ohhh! Thank you, thank you so much, hahahahaha!”
“You know I appreciate it, hahahahaha!”
And that settles it.
Thank goodness, thank goodness.
Tiri-ri-ri-ring! Tiri-ri-ri-ring!
“Huh?”
“Oh, it looks like you’ve got a call. Are you there?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just that I put it on silent and it came in—.”
“hahahahaha, no, please feel free to answer.”
“Excuse me, then.”
I don’t recognize the number.
“Yes, it’s Steel Sik.”
– Yes, Mr. Steele?
“Yes, I am?”
– Hello, I’m Gapchun Cho, team leader of Korean Air’s customer response team.
“Yes? By the way?”
– Well, first of all, I would like to sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to you on the last flight, and thank you for your cooperation in helping the flight attendants.
“Oh, yeah. Well, that’s fine, we’ll just forget about it, so please don’t bother me anymore, and then—.”
– No, sir! Mr. President!
“Oh, why, I have a customer right now.”
– You know, it’s—. I’m sorry, you’ve decided to forget about it, but it looks like they haven’t.
“What do you mean, over there?”
– “I’m very sorry, sir, but the passenger you subdued has filed a lawsuit against our company, our crew, and you.
“What? A lawsuit? What lawsuit?”
– You’re being charged with assault.
“What! That doesn’t make any sense! No, Korean Air, what is this? I helped you, and now you’re suing me? I don’t know, so don’t involve me, do it yourself!”
– “Mr. CEO, this is not a simple case! They have entrusted the case to Sejeong Law Firm, one of the top four law firms in Korea, to form a defense team! You shouldn’t take this lightly!
“What? Sejeong Law Firm? A defense team?”
Wow, this is ridiculous!
Professor Jang Young-dong looked at me with wide eyes.