Chapter 294: A Calculated Move
by xennovel“My approach might seem like a bad move, but when dealing with dirty tricks, sometimes a bad move is the right way to play. Let’s stop being stingy with money. Is everything ready?”
“Yes. We’re preparing for the press conference after the Soonyang Construction creditor group’s official announcement. We were thinking in about two days. How does that sound?”
“That works. When they’re scrambling to bury the story, I’ll light a fire they can’t put out.”
Vice President Jang Do-hyung wore a dumbfounded expression.
“It’s more than just lighting a fire. We’ll plaster your name all over TV broadcasts at the end of the year and the beginning of next year. Where else in corporate history has a businessman voluntarily confessed to underpaying taxes and then paid an astronomical sum?”
“Most people diligently pay their taxes without evasion or shortcuts. It’s abnormal that the news would make a fuss about returning to normal.”
Jang Do-hyung slapped his knee.
“That’s good!”
“Huh?”
“Please make sure to say exactly that at the press conference. Haha.”
Oh, I almost forgot.
Telecommunication companies have started selling iPhones, and the full-fledged smartphone era is dawning.
Smartphones are the driving force behind the explosive growth of social media.
Someone once said that social media is a waste of life, but it’s another avenue for creating stars. And stars with a positive image sway public opinion.
Shall we start with this?
I called my father.
“Father, could you introduce me to a PI specialist?”
– PI? Why all of a sudden? Don’t tell me you’re planning something…?
PI stands for President Identity, and its origins were in politics, just like the meaning of the words. It refers to the activities of selecting characteristic elements of the president to appeal to the public, so that the public perceives the president positively.
PI, which was initially aimed at the highest leader of a country, has expanded its scope to include top executives of companies, heads of public institutions, and celebrities. Sharing one’s individuality and characteristics with others and communicating with them is essential for opinion leaders to create their own value.
Now, PI has expanded from President Identity to Personal Identity, which is activity focused on individual identity.
Wouldn’t it be useful to sway public opinion with a respected star CEO in the Korean business world?
I smiled and spoke to my surprised father.
“Yes. Why? Is it not allowed? Hehe.”
– What on earth are you thinking? Are you going to become a celebrity?
“Not a celebrity, but I do need to become a star. Do you know anyone good?”
– I’ll check around. It has to be the best in the industry, right?
“Yes. And as they’re the best, I’ll treat them accordingly.”
– I’ll send you a few people. Meet them yourself and decide.
“Thank you, Father.”
I need to increase my influence to the point where I can make someone a hero or a villain with a single word.
And before that, make my relatives villains first….
* * *
The two experts introduced by my father blinked at me after listening to my explanation.
“Why are you looking like that? Do you think it won’t help with image building?”
“Ah, no. It’s just so unexpected.”
“Y-yes, that’s right. It happened several years ago… And to spend 600 billion won….”
“Since I’m spending 600 billion won, I need to make a glamorous and elegant entrance, right? So that no one can hold back their praise. Are you not confident?”
“That’s not it at all.”
Everyone chimed in, vehemently denying it.
“Product quality… Ah, I’m sorry. It’s just industry jargon.”
“It’s fine, feel free to use industry terms.”
“Ah, yes. Anyway, Director Jin’s ‘quality’ is beyond comparison to ordinary people, and the imposing nature of the 600 billion won figure… And the morality of voluntarily paying taxes that didn’t even need to be paid. With these ingredients, we hardly need anyone from our industry.”
“That’s right. It’s a story that the media will have no choice but to make a big deal of. Even just listing the facts is a drama in itself. There’s almost nothing to add.”
I didn’t call them just to listen to their praise.
“I’m not meeting with you just for this one event. My goal is to build an image over a long period of time.”
“What kind of image are you specifically aiming for?”
“It’s simple. Limitless and unconditional trust, belief that even if I evaded over a trillion won in taxes or embezzled company funds, the general public would absolutely believe I wouldn’t do such a thing… That’s my target score.”
As the conversation took a completely different turn, the two experts looked bewildered.
It’s understandable, since I’m talking about tax evasion and embezzlement while voluntarily paying taxes.
“You said you’re the best in the industry, is it difficult?”
They can’t answer easily, knowing they have to dress a terrible villain in angel’s clothes.
“I’ve heard that even celebrities with drug problems, dirty drinking habits, and complicated relationships are portrayed as perfect individuals, thanks to your skills.”
One of the two carefully opened his mouth.
“There’s something essential for building a long-term image.”
“Tell me, don’t hesitate.”
“We need unconditional trust.”
“Trust, huh…”
“Yes. Following the expert’s direction precisely, even if it seems unnecessary or like a pointless endeavor, is quite difficult.”
“It’s even more so for successful people. They’ve succeeded in their own way, so they’re not very receptive to advice from others.”
I know what their worries mean. The arrogance of a third-generation chaebol, even worse than star celebrities. That might be the image they have of me.
“Let’s sign the contract.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll contract with both of you. Please discuss and send me the contract. It can include a clause stating that I will unconditionally follow your instructions. However, the contract period is one year. If I judge your performance to be lacking, it will end in one year.”
I handed my business card to them, who were still blinking.
“As soon as you sign the contract, start preparing a plan for how to handle the press conference.”
* * *
2010 began with an amplified crisis, suggesting that two of Korea’s major corporations might collapse.
Jin Dong-gi and Joo Min-shik, the parties responsible for the crisis, had engaged in some clever media play.
The bankruptcies of the two construction companies were hyped up as if a second IMF crisis was imminent. The media articles clearly favored the construction companies.
The articles always ended with the sentiment that government bailouts were desperately needed.
Due to the negative articles, the stock market also began to waver.
“Even rotten fish are still semi-valuable… They’re strong. Not easy to deal with.”
Chairman Lee Hak-jae couldn’t hide his uneasy expression.
“What is this? How many years have you spent with Grandfather to be showing such weakness?”
“It’s because I’ve spent time with the Chairman that I’m anxious. If they’ve stirred up public opinion this much, they can shake the government and the banks.”
“Are you saying they’re framing the bankruptcies of the two construction companies as the government’s responsibility?”
“Yes. They’re the face of the Korean construction industry. The government can’t be entirely free from responsibility.”
“I’m going to throw a counterpunch. Look forward to it.”
“A counterpunch?”
“Yes. I mentioned it before, didn’t I? That you’ll be appearing at the Prosecutor’s Office as a witness.”
“You!”
I smiled and waved my hand at him, who was shouting.
“Just walk in confidently and say one thing to the microphones thrust in your face by the reporters gathered at the Prosecutor’s Office.”
“…?”
“The uncomfortable truth that everyone knows but pretends not to… you’ll see its bare face… Something like that? And then have a cup of coffee with the Chief Prosecutor and come out.”
“Are you really going to reveal everything?”
“Of course not. We only need to reveal as much as necessary. Just enough for the average person to see our uncles as crooks.”
“There will be an impact, but it doesn’t seem like a strong enough counter to deliver a K.O.”
“There are follow-up attacks. Those are things we need to keep hidden from the world, so we’ll only tell the prosecution.”
“The vice-chairmen’s corruption is of little use. They won’t dig through the trash again.”
“Things change when it involves their son.”
“What? Son? Whose son are you talking about?”
“Jin Tae-joon, Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi’s eldest son. The finance director of Soonyang Construction. The 60 billion won he messed up. That should make Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi surrender.”
“Tae-joon?”
Chairman Lee Hak-jae’s mouth fell open at the unexpected name.
“Just like you’re surprised now, my second uncle will also be shocked. Especially since the prosecutor’s sword is pointing at him, and he won’t have time to clean it up, which will be even more frightening.”
“Is that 60 billion won a trap you set?”
“No. He was just blinded by money. Knowing that speculation, not investment, is gambling. Hehe.”
* * *
“Do I really need to put on powder?”
“Didn’t you say you’d follow instructions? Just bear with it.”
At first glance, it was an ordinary suit, but the silhouette was so well-tailored it was breathtaking. After an hour of hairstyling and makeup, I understood what ‘camera massage’ meant.
“Since you have a good base, it’s worth the effort. The press conference video will be aired not only on news programs but also on entertainment shows. The viewership ratings are much higher for those.”
“The content needs to be emphasized. Enough to make even housewives’ blood boil.”
“We’ve coordinated that with the company’s PR team. The world will be noisy with this news for a while.”
Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk knocked on the waiting room door with a nervous expression.
“Director, it’s time to go.”
The conference hall was packed with reporters. The media seemed to expect today’s press conference to be a huge scoop because of the bait I had already spread, and they were constantly snapping photos.
After a brief greeting, I began reading the prepared script.
“…I am ashamed of having turned a blind eye until now, but I couldn’t hide my shame forever. So, after a very strict and precise objective evaluation, I concluded that approximately 600 billion won in gift tax is justified.”
I looked up at the reporters’ reactions and saw the response I wanted.
“However, it is a contradiction for me, the recipient of the gift, to determine the tax amount. To calculate the exact amount, I have already submitted all the data to the National Tax Service, and I have also submitted the same data to the Prosecutor’s Financial Investigation Department to check for any illegal or unlawful aspects of the gifting process. Furthermore, I intend to appear at the Prosecutor’s Office as a witness as soon as this press conference ends.”
It’s time to wrap things up.
“Of course, I can guarantee that there were no illegal or unlawful activities in the gifting process. However, there were loopholes in the law that were exploited. This kind of loophole will greatly offend public sentiment. For this, I offer my deepest apologies.”
I bowed deeply, and questions from the reporters erupted.
Predictable questions and predictable answers went back and forth, and the question I was waiting for finally came near the end.
“The current vice-chairmen of the Soonyang Group also received inheritances around the same time as Mr. Jin Do-jun. Do you think there were also loopholes in that process?”
“I’ll just say that they received more than three times the group shares I did. I believe the vice-chairmen should answer that question.”
I had said what was necessary, so the press conference was over.
Ignoring the reporters’ continued questions, I left the conference hall and headed straight to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
Reporters were already gathered and waiting in front of the Prosecutor’s Office. I had already said everything I needed to say to the reporters, so I ignored the microphones being thrust in my face and didn’t stop walking as I entered the Prosecutor’s Office.
* * *
As I sat in the interrogation room and drank a glass of water, the door opened and a young prosecutor walked in.
He tossed the documents he was holding onto the desk and said.
“Long time no see. Is this your first time since graduation?”
“There are advantages to having an old face. You haven’t changed at all. Prosecutor Kim Ji-hoon. Hehe.”
“Hey! I told you that ‘old face’ is a forbidden word! You don’t want to piss off a prosecutor, do you?”
Kim Ji-hoon, who was my classmate, was biting his lip to hold back his laughter.