Chapter 149: Grandma’s Request

After meeting Kim Byung-woo, Han Gyeong-yeong swiftly announced Kim’s appointment as the chairman of Jungwoo Group. Dream High Investment would retain ownership but leave all management responsibilities to Kim Byung-woo.

Han Gyeong-yeong’s statement was welcomed with open arms, not just in the Blue House but also within the political realm.

No matter how friendly he might seem to investors in Korea, the fact remains that he is still foreign capital.

A few days later, it was the day of Kim Byung-woo’s inauguration ceremony.

Kim Byung-woo briefly wrapped up the ceremony by discussing the path Jungwoo Group would take and his own ambitions.

That day, I headed to Busan to meet my grandmother.

“Grandma!”

As I opened the door and called out, Grandma rushed out from the kitchen. The inviting aroma of food filled the house, possibly a result of her cooking since dawn.

The house, which I hadn’t visited in a while, felt as comfortable as always.

After we ate, I grabbed a slice of the apple Grandma brought over on a tray and started peeling it myself.

“How’s work?”

“Work’s just the same. It’s always chaotic.”

“And how’s my son-in-law?”

“His health keeps deteriorating.”

“What can we do? Mu-hyeok, take good care of him, okay?”

“Sure.”

Grandma held out a piece of apple on her fork.

I took the apple slice, chewing as I asked, “Are you doing okay, Grandma?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“If I don’t worry about you, then who will?”

As we talked about how we’ve been through the time apart, Grandma cautiously brought something up.

“Um… Mu-hyeok.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you remember the Grandma I used to sell things with at the market?”

“Who?”

“You know, Grandma Soonja. She used to buy you all sorts of snacks when you were little.”

It had been so long that the memory didn’t immediately come to mind.

“I’m not sure. Which one?”

“Well…”

Grandma hesitated to continue.

“What’s going on? Why did you stop talking?”

“It’s just that Soonja’s granddaughter apparently got involved with drugs or something like that. Can’t believe it; she was such a nice girl…”

“Have you asked Hyeon-seong’s father about it?”

“I did ask. But other than Seong-hee’s statement, there’s no evidence. She’s in jail right now. I visited her recently, and she isn’t well.”

“I’ll look into it for you.”

“I just thought I might have brought this up for no reason since you have a lot on your plate.”

“I’ll be in Busan for a few more days.”

I asked Grandma for more details, but she said she didn’t know much either.

I planned to speak with Hyeon-seong’s father and arranged to meet him at a nearby barbecue restaurant.

“Hey, who’s that? Is that Mu-hyeok?!”

“Sir, you came!”

“Haha, have a seat. No need to stand up like that!”

As Hyeon-seong’s father entered the barbecue restaurant, he shouted and made his way to the table.

“Ajumma! Bring me a glass!”

The lady who brought over the soju glasses greeted him with a smile.

“Ah, it’s Manager Park!”

“Are the flies bothering you while you’re working? If they are, let me know right away!”

Hyeon-seong’s father, who was promoted to Investigation Division Head last year after advancing to Senior Officer, had grown a bit round due to spending less time on the field.

“Here, have a drink!”

“Yes, sir!”

“So, what about Grandma Soonja?”

“She doesn’t know the details.”

As Hyeon-seong’s father poured the drinks, he let out a deep sigh.

“I know Seong-hee, but this is a little complex. She got caught trying to bring drugs into the country at the airport. Seong-hee said she was asked to do it while on a trip to Taiwan, but… there’s no evidence besides her statement, so she’s kind of stuck in there.”

“Taiwan?”

“Right. She got caught at Gimpo Airport, which is under our jurisdiction, so we couldn’t avoid it. I wonder if Grandma Soonja and Mu-hyeok’s Grandma would have gone up there. But the amount was just too big. She brought in five kilograms, hidden in a green tea set. I can’t believe she made it through the Taiwan airport without getting caught.”

Seong-hee’s father looked exasperated, pouring himself another shot and downing it in one go.

If she really did bring in five kilograms of meth, they would surely face serious charges.

The memory of a recent news story flashed through my mind.

“Is there a domestic organization involved?”

“I can’t say. Seong-hee knows nothing. Apparently, if she brings it back safely, she’ll get a reward or something… Can’t tell if she’s naive or just stupid.”

“Have they had a trial already?”

“Yeah, but she’s still in jail.”

“What about a lawyer?”

“Does Grandma Soonja have any money? Seong-hee struggled to raise her alone. They say there’s a public defender, but who knows if those guys are even reliable?”

Hyeon-seong’s father clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

It seemed that he had been worrying about this issue for some time.

“Grandma Soonja is just looking after Seong-hee. It’s a big deal. I can’t do anything for them right now. I did mention it to Myeong-su.”

“I’ll definitely look into this for you.”

At my words, Hyeon-seong’s father nodded.

As the pork belly sizzled and we drank soju together, we chatted about this and that.

“Did you tell Myeong-su to get involved in politics?”

“Yeah.”

“What could he bring to politics? He’s nothing but trouble!”

“You and Myeong-su’s father are too dismissive of him.”

“Dismissing him? Look at how politicians behave. Is that something to be afraid of?”

“He will do well. I’ll help him out.”

“Myeong-su’s dad seems like he’s worried a lot.”

“Myeong-su’s father?”

“It’s probably because operating a nightclub isn’t just about lawful activity, right? So he must be concerned that he might become a stumbling block in Myeong-su’s path. Parents think alike, don’t they?”

It was as if I could sense the fatherly worry without him saying it outright.

“I’ll catch up with him sometime.”

“Sure. You’re not facing any issues, right?”

“No, I’m good.”

“Right from childhood, you’ve been one to figure things out on your own. It was Myeong-su and Hyeon-seong who were the troublemakers. I often wonder what would happen if you weren’t around to help those guys out.”

After dropping off the drunken Hyeon-seong’s father, I headed home.

“Manager, please contact Geukseong and ask where they’re distributing drugs domestically. They must have a grasp on it.”

“Understood.”

After spending a few days in Busan with Grandma, I returned to Seoul.

There was a lot to do.

“Currently, drug distribution in Korea is tightly controlled by the Taiwanese organized crime syndicate, the Zhuiluan Gang, while Japan runs things in Busan.”

“What about Geukseong?”

“They say they don’t get involved in distribution due to orders from the boss. However, they won’t intervene in drug-related activities happening in their venues as that would hurt business.”

I nodded slowly.

I had expected something along these lines.

“Bring President Lee in here.”

“Understood.”

Two hours later, Lee Sang-geun arrived at the Myeong-dong office.

“Boss, you called for me.”

“Welcome.”

Lee Sang-geun now bore a striking resemblance to the man I once knew.

His face was sharp, like a finely honed knife, typical of an organization’s boss.

“Looks like you’ve settled in quite well.”

“Thanks to you.”

The business that started with Geukseong Construction had aggressively expanded under the leadership of Park Dong-su, the first boss, merging with other companies.

After Lee Sang-geun took over as the second-generation head, the company grew even more during the financial crisis.

Now, they had formalized most of their dealings, reaching the stage where they could be considered a midsize firm, even if they weren’t a large corporation.

While they claimed to be engaging in legitimate businesses like construction, distribution, and entertainment, the reality was they were deeply involved in illegal activities.

“Are there any complaints internally?”

“Thanks to careful distribution, there are no major disputes.”

“That’s a relief. I called you here because I have a question. How many foreign crime organizations are currently operating in the country?”

“Chinese, Taiwanese, Philippine, and Vietnamese groups have come in.”

“How large are they?”

Lee Sang-geun paused for a moment, then answered after some thought.

“In Guro and Incheon, there are Chinese gangs, while in Dongdaemun, it’s the Taiwanese. Filipinos and Vietnamese have settled in the southern part of Gyeonggi Province.”

“Any trouble?”

“Not really. There hasn’t been significant overlap with us. The Chinese in Incheon have a bit of tension with us, but that’s about it. Other than that, we don’t have any contact with them.”

No overlap in business?

If that’s the case, does that mean foreign groups are solely reliant on drug distribution?

“So how do they turn a profit?”

“They sell to their own nationals or receive a portion from salaries. They also run entertainment venues, but these aren’t on a large scale, so they don’t interfere with us in that area. Still, the primary income comes from drug trafficking.”

The thought of them exploiting their fellow countrymen working abroad made my brow furrow involuntarily.

Seeing the change in my expression, Lee Sang-geun’s face tensed.

“They’re truly scum.”

“I apologize.”

“Ah, I’m not talking to you. I received reports about the Zhuiluan Gang, right? They seem to be a significant player.”

“Yes, they are among the top organized crime groups in Taiwan. As far as I know, that’s the only Taiwanese organization operating in Korea.”

That explains the unpleasant feel to it.

“Have they approached you?”

“When Dong-su was still around, they did try. They wanted to collaborate on drug distribution. However, the boss was against it, so we refused. There hasn’t been any contact since then.”

“Do you have their contact details?”

“I know them.”

“Can I meet them?”

At that, Lee Sang-geun’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“Is this a direct order from you, Boss?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“I’m not sure why, but I don’t think it would be worthwhile to meet anyone. There aren’t any significant figures among the members that have arrived in Korea.”

“Really?”

If there isn’t anyone in charge, then there’s no reason to meet with them.

“Then please check with the Korean contacts about the recent drug smuggling incident at Gimpo Airport. Demand to see who will take responsibility. If they insist on negotiation, that can be resolved through force, right?”

“Sure. Generally, the Taiwanese don’t have a substantial presence here and are working alongside Koreans. Their numbers aren’t huge, maybe around 50 people?”

A smaller scale than I had anticipated.

“And you’re telling me they’re holding down drug trafficking with that amount?”

“Yes. They don’t keep the profits to themselves. They have secondary distributors to share the gains with.”

“The Chinese gangs, right?”

“Yes. The Chinese do have a significant influence. There are multiple organizations, not just one.”

It seems strange that guys from two nations with bad relations could work well together in crime.

“Isn’t it unusual for them to be getting along while warring on the national level?”

“Fighting in Korea would incur more losses than benefits. Since the Taiwanese are operating here, they’re letting the Chinese handle the distribution of drugs within the country, while I’ve discovered the Yakuza are transferring the drugs brought in from Taiwan to Japan through Busan.”

“Haven’t the Yakuza withdrawn?”

“Most of them have. They’re just working with the Zhuiluan Gang to bring drugs to Japan, so their role is minimal.”

“Hmm… I see. Let’s get this all sorted swiftly and see to the matters we’ve been assigned. I appreciate your assistance.”

“No problem. I look forward to our next meeting.”

This could turn out to be more interesting than I first thought.

“Manager, please ask Lee Chan-jong about the Taiwanese mafia, and see if you can find any details on the Zhuiluan Gang. National Intelligence Service must have some information as well.”

“Understood, Boss.”

It wasn’t difficult to get Cho Seong-hee released on probation as Grandma requested.

However, I planned to use this opportunity to investigate foreign crime organizations that had entered the country.