CH68

We headed to Incheon Airport by car.

"What time did they say they would arrive?" I asked.

Taekgyu answered my question, "2:30."

Today, Hyunjoo and Ellie were scheduled to come to Korea with the employees who would be working at the Golden Gate Korea branch. That's why we were going to pick them up.

When we arrived at Incheon Airport and parked, an unexpected sight unfolded as we entered the immigration area.

There were reporters from various media outlets crowding the area, from KBC, MBS, and SBC to cable channels, and even international reporters like CNN and NHN.

They had set up a photo line and even positioned security guards.

Taekgyu also looked puzzled, unable to understand what was happening.

"Did a Hollywood star come to Korea?" I wondered, not really interested in celebrity news.

As we waited, the immigration doors opened, and foreign travelers carrying their luggage emerged.

Following them was a woman in her early thirties, wearing a black high-waisted skirt, a white blouse, and glasses, who seemed to be accompanied by colleagues.

It was Hyunjoo.

Just as I was about to wave at her, cameras suddenly started flashing in Hyunjoo's direction.

Click, click! The shutters went off incessantly.

Hyunjoo tried to escape with the staff to leave the immigration area, but reporters surrounded her completely.

"What's going on?" Taekgyu exclaimed in surprise.

"Did something happen to our sister?"

"I can't believe it."

Could that really be Hyunjoo?

But unless something major happened, the media wouldn't swarm like this.

Blocked by reporters and unable to move forward, Hyunjoo reluctantly stopped walking. Soon, a dozen microphones with broadcasting station logos were thrust towards her.

"What do you think about becoming the first Korean to be the Golden Gate branch manager?"

"Could you please share your thoughts?"

"Do you have any investment plans in Korea?"

"As the Korean branch manager, how do you view the future of the Korean market?"

Dozens of questions were thrown at once. These were not just questions for Oh Hyun-joo personally but for the Golden Gate Korea branch manager.

I looked at Taek-gyu in confusion.

"Hyun-joo is the branch manager? Did you know?"

Taek-gyu appeared even more shocked than me.

"No. What are you saying? A branch manager! Our sister is the branch manager!"

I muttered while watching Hyun-joo, who was answering the journalists' questions.

"Has there ever been a female branch manager at Golden Gate before?"

It was a soliloquy, but surprisingly, an answer came from behind.

(TL/n - soliloquy = the act of talking to oneself)

"Jessica is the first woman to become a branch manager."

Turning around, I saw a foreign woman with short brown hair and a suit standing there.

When did she arrive?

"Ellie!"

"Shh."

Ellie put her finger to her lips and hid behind me. It was a gesture mindful of the journalists. Fortunately, all the journalists were captivated by Hyun-joo.

Ellie smiled and said, "It's been a long time. I missed you."

It's the first time since Brexit.

I asked her, "What happened?"

"It's as you see. Jessica has become the Korea branch manager."

I thought she might get a promotion when I heard she was coming to the Korea branch. But becoming the branch manager! I never expected that.

Taek-gyu blinked and asked, "Is this such a big deal?"

"Of course."

Being a branch manager at Golden Gate is considered a higher position than the CEO of most major securities firms in the country.

Now I finally understand the situation.

Golden Gate entering Korea directly is already surprising, but it's even more astonishing that a Korean woman in her early 30s has taken the position of branch manager.

This would surely attract the attention of reporters from all broadcasting stations. Tonight's news will probably feature Hyunjoo Noona's face.

"Noona… Oops!"

I interrupted Taekgyu, who was about to shout while waving his hand. Pretending not to know anyone here would likely prevent us from being dragged into the spotlight.

We stood behind as if we were strangers, watching the interview scene.

Even though it was an unexpected situation, Hyunjoo noona calmly responded to the reporters' questions without any signs of flusters.

"As the first female branch manager, how much consideration will you give to the ratio of female hires?"

Hyunjoo noona replied succinctly, "Hiring will be done according to regulations, and we will choose people based on their abilities regardless of gender."

"It's known that there are gender discrimination issues within Golden Gate; do you plan to give more opportunities to female financiers?"

The reporters continued to press with questions.

Answering each one would take all night. The security guards blocked the reporters, and Hyunjoo noona walked out with her staff through the gap.

Outside the immigration gate, a vehicle was waiting, and as soon as Hyunjoo noona got in, the car departed.

The remaining reporters started looking for other subjects to cover. The Golden Gate staff who hadn't left the immigration gate yet became their targets.

"Could you please share your thoughts on Director Oh Hyunjoo?"

"Do you have any information about the future plans of the Korean branch?"

I told Ellie, "Let's go quickly."

As we were about to leave, Ellie naturally came to my right side and linked arms with me. It felt soft and warm.

Seeing my surprise, she winked and said, "The journalists are watching from behind."

Walking like this, no one would suspect us of being Golden Gate employees. Disguised as lovers, we crossed the street and headed towards the parking lot. Only when we reached the front of the car did Ellie unlink our arms.

"…"

Did we really need to go this far?

"It seems like no one knew from the beginning that we were Golden Gate employees."

***

Between Yeoksam Station and Seolleung Station on Tehran Road, there are two 38-story buildings completely covered in blue glass exteriors. Both buildings were purchased by Chase Southwell of Golden Gate Asia during the IMF crisis at discount prices and were newly constructed with the surrounding land. The building on the right is set to become the Korean branch office. Outside the building, broadcasting vehicles and camera crews were crowded, while private security guards controlled access around the building and at the entrance to the underground parking lot.

As we tried to drive in that direction, a security guard blocked our path.

"Unauthorized individuals are not allowed entry."

Ellie took out her ID from her pocket and handed it to me, and I showed it to the security guard.

"We are Golden Gate employees."

The security guard checked the ID and opened the barrier. After parking in the underground parking lot and going up to the lobby, an employee was waiting.

"I've informed the branch manager about your arrival. He will be here shortly to guide you in."

It seemed we had arrived first.

We took the elevator straight to the top floor, the 38th floor. While the interior construction was still in progress throughout the building, the branch manager's office was already completed. The walls, furniture, and appliances were all new.

Taekgyu looked around and remarked, "This place is really nice."

There were office and reception areas in the spacious room, with a bedroom, shower room, and dressing room further inside.

Is this the warm consideration of the company urging us to keep working instead of leaving work? Just then, Hyunjoo entered the room looking exhausted, unlike before.

She collapsed onto the sofa.

"It's been a while. Have you been well?" Taekgyu asked.

"When did you become the branch manager? Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Hyunjoo expressed a hint of regret.

"I'm sorry. I was planning to tell you in person today, but I didn't realize the media would catch on first."

Nevertheless, it was something worth celebrating.

"Congratulations."

"Congrats, not bad at all. It's all thanks to you."

"Thanks to me?"

Hyunjoo smirked.

"If it weren't for OTK Company and K Company, there would be no establishment of a branch in Korea, and I wouldn't have become a branch manager."

I was quite surprised by her words.

"Really, Golden Gate entered Korea because of OTK Company?"

In response to my question, Hyunjoo nodded.

"About half of it, I suppose. The cash holdings of K Company alone are more than what the branch can handle. Moreover, we need to consider the future IPO."

The companies we hold stakes in are growing day by day. Soon, one by one, they will be listed on the stock exchange.

The securities firm handling the IPO can attract clients and collect fees.

While the companies owned by OTK Company will likely be listed in overseas markets, those owned by K Company will mostly be listed on KOSDAQ. From Golden Gate's perspective, they wouldn't want to miss out on either.

Hyunjoo lit a cigarette.

"You know that the entire financial industry has its eyes on OTK Company after Brexit, right?

"Yes."

There have been fluctuations in its name before, but this time it's on a different level.

A whopping 30 billion dollars. It's the amount equivalent to a year's worth of net profit for Seosung Electronics earned in just one month in the foreign exchange market!

"How long do you plan to keep hiding it?"

Following Sangyeop, even Hyunjoo was exposed in the media.

To find out the owner of OTK Company, you need to examine the corporate registry stored in Delaware.

However, while OTK Company was pouring money into the foreign exchange market, K Company was investing in the derivatives market. The markets were different, but the investment methods were almost the same.

Currently, OTK Company owns 98% of K Company's shares, and both companies trade through Golden Gate.

Ultimately, if you explore Golden Gate and K Company, our names, mine and Taekgyu's, will inevitably be mentioned. Moreover, there are already several people who know our true identities.

"It's only a matter of time before it's revealed, but not yet."

South Korea is a democratic republic, as stated in the constitution, which does not recognize any social special classes.

However, in reality, special classes definitely do exist.

After the Korean War, the conglomerates that emerged went on to accumulate wealth, operate businesses, and dominate Korean society.

"What would happen if my true identity were revealed?"

Currently, OTK Company's assets exceed the market capitalization of most domestic conglomerate groups. However, despite the amount of money they hold, their influence in Korea has been minimal.

Korea has formed solid cartels among the political sector, conglomerates, media, etc., intertwined with connections and collaborations.

The strength of their influence is easily observed by looking at the stock exchange.

How many companies unrelated to conglomerates are within the top 20 market capitalizations on the KOSPI?

In contrast, in the United States, startups like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and even in China with Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu have risen to the top of the market capitalization ranking.

Could it be that while Korean entrepreneurs are idling, conglomerates are working too hard, leading to these results?

It is not to deny the role of conglomerates in the development of South Korea. Conglomerates like Samsung Electronics and Eunsung Cars have actively contributed to economic growth in the global market.

However, beneath this lies the side effect of preventing the growth of new companies alongside domestic market monopolies and conglomerate subsidiaries.

In such a scenario, because of having money… no, because of having money, the likelihood of becoming a target is high. We, not part of the cartel, will constantly face restraint.

In the process of making money, we haven't done anything worthy of legal repercussions. However, once caught, it's the law.

Even during the L6 Crisis, when there was no substantial evidence, the Financial Services Commission didn't investigate due to vague suspicions, right?

Laws can be changed or created at will. What was legal until yesterday may become illegal today. Such things happen frequently.

Ellie, startled by what I said, asked, "So, what should I do?"

"If I join that cartel, the problem will be solved."

By funding politicians, and building connections with conglomerates, media, and networks, you can stand alongside industrial conglomerates as an emerging financial conglomerate.

Hyunjoo said, "Another straightforward way is through marriage."

I nodded. "That's a good idea."

Finding a method as certain and secure as marriage may be difficult. With my status, wouldn't even the top five conglomerates gladly accept me into their family?

"Marriage? Jinhoo, you're still so young."

At Ellie's words, Hyunjoo casually replied, "What does age have to do with a strategic marriage?"

The concept of love marriage is a relatively recent development, less than a hundred years old. Before that, marriage was a contract between families. Even now, marriages in chaebol families remain similar.

I chuckled.

"Do you know what Eunsung Group, second in the chaebol hierarchy, did to our family?"

I had no desire to get involved in marriage, let alone enter into a cartel.

Eunsung Group had stolen the technology my father painstakingly developed and destroyed the company he dedicated his life in an instant.

Unable to overcome that shock, my father passed away.

Once my true identity is revealed, everything that happened to our family will come to light.

If they find out I'm his son, how will Eunsung Group react? Will they apologize to me, or will they try to destroy me?

Hyunjoo asked, "What will you do?"

"I have to become an untouchable figure."

The old me would never have dreamed of going up against a chaebol group. But the situation has changed significantly.

Taekgyu inquired, "Is it possible?"

Looking out over the vast city spread out beneath my feet, I said, "I'll know once I try."