Chapter 7

007 Land of Hope, Naju

I chose Deokjun not only because he was idle but also because I thought his vast general knowledge would be helpful.

After getting a topknot, Deokjun's life has been filled with all sorts of trials. At first, he boldly prepared for the judicial examination, but then, thinking that being a lawyer didn't suit him, he dreamed of becoming an accountant and studied the basics of accounting.

Then, not long after, he switched to tax accounting when he heard that tax accountants were more in demand. Now? He has given up on everything and is focused on leveling up in his own world.

There were also various certification studies in between, but it's too tedious to list them all. It was said that the phrase "Deokjun is the one who feeds the test prep book publishing industry" was widely known.

I needed Deokjun's thin but broad knowledge. After working at a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), I realized it clearly. SMEs were weak in information. The only information they had was rumors passed on by a few busybodies. Employees had no interest in laws or policies. This is the biggest reason why companies operate on a makeshift basis.

Companies with some money hire retired public servants or large company employees with high salaries. Their intention is to find a ready-made meal and have it served. However, what they do is something like, "I had a drink with Manager Kim yesterday, and he said it might be okay." Even that only lasts for 1-2 years.

Information is not something that can be obtained as easily as a sparrow bringing a fish from Gangnam. It requires finding useful information from numerous policies and social changes.

The ability to find such information is the exclusive domain of people like Deokjun, who are rich in general knowledge. When various pieces of knowledge merge, they can extract unexpected ideas from mundane press releases.

If you think it's an unrealistic idea and reality is harsh, just send him to the field and make him assemble something. We need someone to do odd jobs anyway. What's friendship, after all?

“Hey, Mr. Boss!”

Deokjun, who was only 20 minutes late, greeted me politely and asked about my well-being. Thanks to him, I missed the bus to Naju. Indeed, he is a friend. Damn...

“Thanks to you, I missed the bus to Naju. Let's take a first-class bus to Gwangju.”

“What about food? We won't have much time to rest at the rest stop.”

“Let's go quietly while eating walnut cookies.”

“Walnut cookies are good. Cool. But why all the fuss about setting up a factory?”

“What do you expect? I'm planning to set up a transformer factory.”

“Transformer? Do you mean Dorangseu?”

“Dorangseu. Ah, how outdated. What are you talking about? I mean the ones that go on utility poles, you know.”

In the past, every house had a Dorangseu. The 30-year-long project by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to upgrade the power supply meant that 110V and 220V products were mixed. Since transformers are called transformers, they were called Dorangseu in Japanese pronunciation. If you know this, Deokjun, you're really an old man now.

“Hold on. Naju... KEPCO moved to Naju, right? So you're setting up a factory there? Is KEPCO giving some benefits?”

At least so far, my judgment has been correct. Deokjun's brain, a product of the fusion of general knowledge, has deduced the connection between Naju and KEPCO.

“Right. They say there are various support measures. Isn't it good to have many support measures for startups?”

“Well, the support is just a bit of a discount on the land price and tax exemptions, right?”

“A bit? That's a huge benefit.”

“Anyway, who is that Mr. Chonju? What if you've picked the wrong person and end up buried in the mountains in your underwear? Rich people are scary.”

The side effects of the fusion of general knowledge are not insignificant.

“Ah, you crazy guy. He's the owner of a company I know, and he has some money. He wants to start a transformer company, and I've been blowing some wind into it.”

I started to tell a plausible lie. Believe it or not, I have to make you believe it. If I send a text saying I got the lottery numbers, I'll be treated like a crazy person. This is a secret between me and the text.

“No, how can that lady trust you with startup funds? If I were you, I'd believe you even if you said you made soybean paste with poop, but I can't believe this.”

“She's not a lady. He's a man.”

“Really?”

I don't know if he's a man or a woman. Let's not go into it further. It's time for the car to arrive.

Just the fact that we can have such a conversation in a crowded terminal makes my face burn. I'm embarrassed.

“Let's just say I won the lottery and got 20 billion won, and I'm setting up a factory with that money.”

“Hahaha. That sounds more plausible. But you're saying this guy won the lottery and is pretending not to know?”

“Calm down! The car is here. Get in, you crazy guy!”

The road to Naju, which might become a land of hope, was rugged.

Fortunately, Deokjun slept quietly on the bus. I could spend the 3-hour ride to Gwangju without embarrassment.

“Hey, wake up. We're here.”

“Ugh. First-class buses are good.”

Deokjun woke up with a scream and stretched, with a red bean grain from a walnut cookie stuck to his front tooth. There were no other passengers, so I wasn't embarrassed at all.

“Wow, this is the largest hair salon in the East, Yuso Hair!”

“What kind of fresh nonsense is that?”

“The Gwangju bus terminal is called Yousquare. Yousquare, hehe.”

“You spend all day glued to a computer, so you can say such a lame joke without hesitation. You'll be called an old man. Now, let's get some fresh air and live like a human. First, let's catch a taxi since we don't know how to get there.”

“Food!”

“Can't we just have walnut cookies?”

I was looking forward to the meal. I wanted to verify the urban legend that when you order a mixed rice dish in Jeolla-do, the table legs bend under the weight of the dishes. I'm curious, but the work comes first.

“Are you going to fill up on rest stop walnut cookies just because we're in Gwangju? That won't do. Since we're in the city of culture, Gwangju, we should have a small set meal!”

“Isn't the city of culture Jeonju?”

“Is it? Gwangju is also a city of culture... But that's not the point!”

“It's a bit awkward, so let's go to Naju first. Government employees leave when the clock strikes, so we need to do something before then.”

“Okay. Then we should have Naju ox bone soup in Naju.”

I was a bit worried. What if he keeps this up even after the company is established? That's why I put Deokjun on the recruitment list, but you never know with people.

Thanks to Deokjun's random comments, my mind worked faster, and various associations formed in my head. I expected this, but I was also worried if he could fit into the company. I have to trust my choice. I don't misjudge people.

“Welcome. Where would you like to go?”

“Do you know Naju Innovation Park? There's a support center there, and I want to go there.”

“Innovation Park? It's just a barren field. But if you say you want to go, we'll go.”

“It's a barren field? You don't know the Innovation Park Support Center?”

“How would I know if you ask a Gwangju taxi driver about Naju? I remember there was something there the last time I went. Let's go and see.”

The taxi driver's smile didn't hide the thought that he had caught a sucker. I remember he said the industrial complex wasn't fully developed yet... Maybe I was too excited after winning the lottery. Now is not the time for that. I need to focus!

“Why are you going to Naju, sir?”

“To set up a factory there.”

“A factory? It seems the young boss has made some money.”

I won the lottery twice! My mouth is tingling.

“Does anyone set up a factory with their own money? It's all bank loans.”

“Still, you look quite young, and that's not easy. You're impressive.”

“Thank you.”

I wish the taxi driver had more sense. I wish he could sense that I didn't want to continue the conversation and focus on driving. I didn't want to hear about his son working at Samguang Electronics or him driving just for exercise.

Talking about recent events with strangers is quite stressful. Since I don't know them, I have to be careful with every word, and I don't want to talk to strangers. The nosiness packaged as "Korean sentiment" is extremely uncomfortable. That's why I've avoided taxis unless it was unavoidable.

Of course! It's because I don't have money.

Fortunately, the taxi driver was perceptive. Thanks to him, I didn't have to strain my mouth and ears.

“Now we're in Naju. See that on the left? That's the KEPCO headquarters.”

“Oh, really? It's just a few buildings and apartments in the middle of a barren field?”

“During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, they said they would move public corporations to promote regional development. But Lee Myung-bak blocked it. Originally, there should have been many apartments here, but it's like this because it was blocked.”

I don't know if what the taxi driver said is true, but it seems the city will take at least 3-4 years to function properly. Anyway, this doesn't seem like a place to set up a factory. How can they expect me to set up a factory here?

“The Innovation Park you mentioned is not here. It's about 10 minutes further.”

After 10 more minutes, we arrived at a place even more barren than the Innovation City. Is this a desert? It is a desert.

“There's a building there. Shall we go see it?”

The old man's specialty came out. It's a strange sound, not a song or a chant, attached to an unknown melody. What a song-loving people.

“Here we are, sir. It's 47,000 won, but just give me 50,000 won.”

The meter was running fast, and it came out to a lot. But what is the driver saying? Is he a donkey?

“What? It's 47,000 won, so why 50,000 won?”

“Young boss, you lack sense. Since we're out of town, it's natural to charge more, and we have to go back empty. But I only added 3,000 won because I see you're working hard unlike the young people these days.”

“Oh, I see... Here's my card.”

“You don't have cash? Cash is good.”

I had to take out a 10,000 won bill to get out of the taxi.

“Man, I'm still sleepy. I would usually still be sleeping at this time.”

“Deokjun, let's have a cigarette and clear our heads. Okay?”

We had a satisfying cigarette in front of a temporary building that clearly looked like it was hastily built. The dust flying in the wind made me feel like my lung health was deteriorating, which was thrilling.

“Deokjun, let's go in and listen carefully without making unnecessary comments. Got it?”

“Hey, we were scammed by the taxi driver, and we can't be scammed here. I'm counting on you. If you start making nonsense, I'll shut you up.”

“That sounds even more worrying, worrying.”

We approached the entrance of the temporary building. It was a disaster.

“What's this? The door is locked.”

“It says to go to the main office for inquiries.”

“You idiot. You should have made an appointment before coming!”

“You're right. I don't know what I was thinking.”

Focus! I'm not a salaryman who just needs to survive a month to get a paycheck. If I don't focus and act foolishly, I'll lose a few billion won. I'll also ruin the lives of the employees who trusted me and followed me.

Ji-seong! Let's start anew!

“We don't have time. I checked, and the main office is across from Naju City Hall. Let's go quickly. I'm hungry too.”

A barren field with only dust flying. Of course, there wouldn't be any taxis. Since I usually avoid taxis, I don't know how to call one. This doesn't bode well for the future.

Bang. Bang.

A savior appears!

“Did you see the boss? I thought it didn't seem right here.”

I wanted to swear, but he was definitely a savior at the moment.

“Thanks. We should have gone to Naju City Hall.”

We drove back the way we came for about 20 minutes to finally reach our destination. The additional taxi fare was 13,000 won. I've spent 63,000 won just on taxi fares. Sir, you're having a good day. When you go home, make sure to buy a bowl of seolleongtang.