"Why are you so insistent on bringing me into your company? I'm just an insignificant secondhand trader."
"I highly value your ideas, Director Park."
Park Jong-bum remained silent.
"If I could judge a person's abilities based on a single idea like the donation box, finding talented people would be so easy. That's why I want to keep you close and observe."
"Do you think I'm capable?"
I smiled and said,
"I believe you have potential. That's why I want to invest in you."
"And you're offering me a position at a subsidiary?"
"Honestly, I don't recommend the subsidiary route. I would rather have you at the headquarters, exposed to various aspects of our business, so you can contribute to the company's growth. That's why I offered you the sales team leader position."
"Contribute to the company's growth? What's in it for me?"
I spread my arms and said in a firm voice,
"As much as you contribute."
"As much as I contribute?"
"I'm a greedy person. But I don't hesitate to share with my family. If you bring 10 units of profit to the company, you get at least 1 unit as your share."
Park Jong-bum said with a slightly sarcastic tone,
"Even if I ask for shares in Chunha Trading?"
"Of course, as long as you deliver the results."
Perhaps because my answer was so casual, Park Jong-bum was taken aback.
"You're giving away shares? Does that even make sense?"
"Why wouldn't it make sense? If an employee at a company with 10 billion won in assets comes up with a groundbreaking idea that could double the company's value, they deserve to be rewarded accordingly. I could give them 1 billion won in cash, or if they need shares to stay with the company, I could give them a portion."
"If you keep giving away shares like that, how will you maintain control of the company? In business, countless employees work on countless projects. Do you think it's feasible to give away shares every time a project is profitable?"
"It is feasible. And maintaining control is simple. I don't just give away shares for free. A contract with a clause that gives me the right of first refusal when they sell their shares is mandatory. And how often do you think projects that could double the company's value come along? As an extreme example, even if I gave away 1% each, I would still have 44% left after deducting Director Kim's shares and the shares I need to maintain control. That means 44 people would have the opportunity. But tell me, do you think it's realistic for a company with 10 billion won in assets to double its value 44 times? It would be worth quadrillions of won! And if someone actually achieved that, why wouldn't I give them what they deserve?"
This was my company management philosophy. To be honest, I was uneducated and ignorant.
I was just an uneducated laborer who had stumbled upon luck and opportunity. But to continue growing, I needed smart people.
But would those smart people be willing to work under me? I didn't believe it.
Wouldn't it be better to make them part of the company, create a sense of shared purpose, and align their interests with mine? That's what I came up with.
"That's a fallacy. Nothing in this world is a one-time event. An employee could double the company's value one year and quadruple it the next. Would you give them another 1% then? Conversely, you might give them 1% for doubling the value, and then the business could crash the next year. Would you ask for your shares back, saying their project failed?"
The discussion was getting heated, so I calmed Park Jong-bum down.
"Hold on, why are we debating this? I was just giving an example. Who actually runs a company like that? I was just emphasizing that I wouldn't mistreat those who contribute to my success."
The atmosphere calmed down, and Park Jong-bum started thinking.
"So you're saying I'll be rewarded based on my performance?"
"I guarantee it. But if there are no results, there's nothing for you either."
"Sigh, I don't even know what I'm capable of, but if you're willing to go this far… Alright, I'll give it a try. But I'll join as the sales team leader, not as a subsidiary CEO."
I clapped and said,
"Good decision. Welcome to Chunha Trading."
"Be prepared, I'm seriously aiming for shares in Chunha Trading."
"We'll see. Whether you earn them or remain a team leader forever."
Park Jong-bum quickly integrated into the company. Chunha Trading was a new company, only six months old, so there was no seniority system.
Besides me and Maru, all five office employees were assistant managers, and now they had their first team leader.
"We're starting to look like a real company."
I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment looking at the company I had built. I was happy. As I was about to start my day in a good mood, the phone rang.
"Who is it? Hello."
—Sol, it's Mom.
"Hi, Mom. What's up?"
—Well, your brother's engagement ceremony is set, and we were wondering if you could come.
"They haven't had the ceremony yet? Didn't he introduce his girlfriend at the end of last year?"
—Well, her family had some objections. But it's all settled now, so I'm calling to let you know. Can you come?
"When is it? I need to check my schedule."
—Let's see, it's Saturday, July 1st. Are you free?
"July 1st, Saturday… It's still a while away. I might be able to make it, but I won't know for sure until then."
—I understand. You're busy running a business. But you should visit home sometime. You didn't even come for New Year's.
I was too busy enjoying the thrill of making money from computers to visit my family during the New Year's holiday. I had some free time now, should I visit? I had earned a lot of money, it was time for some filial piety.
"I'm not sure about the engagement ceremony, but I'll visit this Saturday."
—Really? That's great! What do you want to eat, son?
"I'll buy some meat, let's have barbecue."
—You don't have to bring anything.
"Mom, my income is pretty decent now. Don't worry, I'll buy the meat. And is there anything you want?"
—No, no, I don't need anything. Just bring some meat. See you on Saturday, son.
"Okay, Mom. Bye. And Mom, please don't invite my brother on Saturday. If he's there, I'll just leave."
-…Alright.
She was planning to invite him, wasn't she?
My relationship with my brother was so bad that my mother sometimes lied to me, saying he wasn't home when I visited.
I understood that she wanted us to reconcile, and I knew it was my duty as a son to try, but I couldn't bring myself to face him.
"What does my family need?"
What they really needed was a new house. And I could afford it.
But my brother would need a place to live after he got married, and buying a house only for my parents could cause conflict between them.
The cleanest solution would be to buy them each a house, but I didn't want to spend a single penny on my brother.
"Cash is the best option, but if I give them cash, it'll all go to my brother. I'll buy a house under my name after he gets married and let them live there."
As I was racking my brain for a way to show filial piety without benefiting my brother, Maru opened the door and came in.
"What's up, Director Kim?"
Maru said with a dumbfounded expression,
"Hyung, remember I told you about that new junkyard opening in Ansan Industrial Complex?"
"Yeah, you did."
"It seems it's run by former gangsters. Three thugs are going around the complex, demanding scrap metal, non-ferrous metals, and waste paper. They're threatening companies, saying they'll regret it if they don't comply. Rumors are spreading."
"What? Gangsters? What's there to gain from a junkyard? Are they really gangsters? Or are they just pretending? What kind of gangster threatens companies for waste? It's so low."
"I know, right? All sorts of people are jumping in now that they hear it's profitable."
I laughed, thinking it was ridiculous.
"Come on, they can't be real gangsters. They're probably just some thugs pretending to be gangsters. I've heard of gangsters running room salons and nightclubs, but this is the first time I've heard of junkyard gangsters."
"I guess so?"
"Let's not worry about that and focus on picking out gifts for my family."
"What gifts? Are you going home?"
"Yeah, I should visit. It's been a while."
Maru looked at me enviously.
"I always envy you for having a family."
"What are you talking about? You have me. Aren't we family?"
"Ugh, stop it. That's creepy. How can you say that with a straight face?"
We joked around, and the thought of the "gangster junkyard" faded from my mind.