Chapter 1

Prologue

@U

"Chairman!"

"Father!"

Is this how it feels.

Death.

I could feel that my time was running out.

My body was more comfortable than I had expected.

Was it because of the drugs?

"Chairman… Chairman!"

My consciousness was still clear, but I had no strength left to move my body.

"Sniff… Chairman…."

"Stop making a fuss… don’t be afraid."

The only parts of my body that responded to my will were my eyes, mouth, and left index finger.

"Listen… Ge. Taesan."

"Yes, Chairman. Ah, I'm here. Jang Taesan is here…."

"Have everyone… leave the room except you."

I had everyone, including my family and staff, leave the room, leaving only my old friend, Jang Taesan.

"Yes, Chairman. Everyone has left."

Hearing the voice of this friend, who was crying and hoarse, I felt a slight sense of relief that my life wasn't entirely wasted.

This relief was undoubtedly a precious gift to reflect on as I made my way to the afterlife.

"At this point, what’s with the formalities. Taesan. You… have worked hard by my side all these years."

"No, no."

"Taesan."

"Yes, Chairman."

"Call me… more casually. Like old times."

"…"

"Go on."

My old friend, holding my left index finger, which still had some sensation, said:

"Right, my friend. Junggil."

"I’ve had a good life… enjoying it to the fullest."

"Sniff… Sniff…."

"I haven’t been blessed, unable to fully enjoy my life… leaving behind too much for you and my inadequate children… and now I’m leaving in such a hurry."

Seventy-nine.

I spent my entire life focused on building my world, but in the end, I never truly lived in it.

Pancreatic cancer, stage four.

I had the tenacity and will to control everything else, but I couldn’t control the cancer cells spreading in my body.

The moments of my life flashed before me.

During the war, I was separated from my family and came down to South Korea with only my uncle.

Thinking that I could return tomorrow, or see my parents next month, or that things would improve next year, 40 years passed.

I worked in a logging camp in Jirisan to get a bowl of corn porridge, and at 20, I learned the fabric business at a clothing store in Hapdangpo, opening my own store within two years.

When the store was doing well, I met my current wife through my uncle’s introduction and got married.

My in-laws, a prominent family in the Hapdangpo area, had lost all their young men during the war, and as their first son-in-law, I was able to quickly expand my business with their full support and my wife’s help.

An opportunity to supply food to U.S. military bases came, which became the starting point for the current JaeKyung Group, originally JaeKyung Trading.

Using the capital from JaeKyung Trading, I acquired a bus company that ran between Hapdangpo and Jinmun three times a day, which had only two old buses.

I was 30 at the time.

The Jinmun Bridge, which was actually called a bridge, was not a proper bridge. Following the advice of a senior from my in-laws, who told me to acquire the bus company when I had the means, the road construction was confirmed the following year.

Large commercial areas began to develop in Jinmun, and the bus service, which initially ran three times a day, increased to five, seven, and eleven times as the population grew, laying the foundation for JaeKyung Tourism.

JaeKyung Tourism expanded into taxis and shipping, and by the time I was 40, I had the ambition to make JaeKyung Tourism the center of the aviation industry.

To realize this ambition, I had to be chosen by the government.

The authoritarian regime, which was pushing for economic development, could only give special favors to companies that invested in construction.

I instinctively knew that I had to turn these special favors into privileges.

I used the cash generated by JaeKyung Trading, now renamed JaeKyung Food, and JaeKyung Tourism to invest in the newly established JaeKyung Construction, which built over 20,000 units of public housing over eight years at the government's request.

The construction opportunities soon led to the Middle East construction boom, which enabled the groupization of JaeKyung.

"Mr. Son, Chairman."

"Yes, Sir."

"Do you know why I asked to meet you outside the official residence?"

"No, Sir."

"I need your help, so I arranged this meeting."

1981.

Exactly 10 years ago.

The regime at the time, which had been struggling to feed the nation with corn porridge and even worse, was now planning to host the Olympics and was personally meeting with business leaders to ask for their support.

"Mr. Jung has promised to lead the planning and execution of everything. If Mr. Son can show some goodwill and help the country, I would be grateful. What do you think, Mr. Son?"

"Goodwill alone is not enough."

"…?"

"I am truly grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the country, Sir. JaeKyung will show not just goodwill but genuine commitment."

Mr. Jung, who was over 10 years my senior and from the same northern region, introduced me to the regime.

I had the responsibility to cross that bridge without making any mistakes.

"JaeKyung will invest in aviation."

"Aviation?"

"Yes, Sir. The current facilities are inadequate for preparing for a major international event like the Olympics. This inadequacy should not affect the selection of the host city."

"Hmm…."

"Time is running out. Regardless of whether the Olympics are hosted, JaeKyung will focus on securing and expanding air routes to and from Korea. Is that acceptable?"

"Mr. Jung certainly has a good eye for people. He didn’t use the term 'young entrepreneur who keeps him on his toes' lightly."

"What do you mean…?"

"He said that while you haven’t yet made a significant impact, you are a competitor who keeps him on his toes. If you were of the same generation as Mr. Jung, he would be competing with you, not Mr. Jung."

"…"

"Let’s do it. Regardless of the Olympics, expanding and securing air routes is essential for the future. I’ll assign this task to my appointee."

With government support, JaeKyung Group planned the country's first private airline but first used the special favors to secure the new airport construction permit and then focused all the group's liquidity on construction, successfully securing a loan of 200 billion won from the financial sector of Japan, which was competing with Korea for the Olympics.

This was the moment JaeKyung Group leaped to 11th place in the domestic business ranking.

After that, I acquired Sehan Textiles, which was struggling with management issues, and renamed it JaeKyung Textiles, expanding into fashion, accessories, and fabric imports.

Over the next 10 years, JaeKyung Group rose to 6th place in the domestic business ranking.

All the successes I achieved over the years were possible because my old friend, Jang Taesan, stood firmly by my side whenever I faced decisions that felt like gambles and difficult judgments.

"Taesan."

I called out to my friend, barely holding on to my fading consciousness.

"Right, I’m listening. It’s tough, but you can speak softly. Just speak softly. I’ll understand, like always."

Jang Taesan was indeed my lifelong companion.

He understood me perfectly, no matter how poorly I spoke.

"My children… lack the experience to lead JaeKyung."

"I understand. I understand what you mean."

"Take care of my children… as if they were your own."

"I will. I promise."

"I’m asking you as if you were my brother."

A spicy smell began to tickle my nose.

It was spicy, but it was also very comforting.

I soon realized that this smell was to ease the pain of death.

The face I wanted to see before closing my eyes was undoubtedly my wife.

The face I wanted to have by my side before closing my eyes was undoubtedly my children.

The person I wanted to hold one last time before closing my eyes was my grandson, Jungyeop.

But the person to whom I had to deliver my final words was Jang Taesan, and this was the last task I had to complete as chairman before closing my eyes.

"Junggil. Junggil! Chairman! Ch, Chairman!"

* * *

So, this world really exists….

I arrived at a very strange place that transcended the concept of space.

A place where I couldn’t determine direction or even be sure if it was real.

There was only brightness.

This brightness was pure, and I couldn’t find myself in it.

I was clearly seeing this space.

But in this infinite brightness, I couldn’t find any trace of my physical body.

I couldn’t tell if what I was seeing was through my physical eyes or if I was just communicating with this strange world through my soul.

I couldn’t walk.

Because my physical body was gone.

But I could feel it.

This space, which transcended all concepts, was slowly moving forward, centered around me.

"Shin Hong-gi has the ball. Go, Jung Yun."

What? What is this?

I couldn’t determine the direction of the sound.

"Instead, in such a situation, he moves to the outside… Oh! Hong Myung-bo! He moves to the right again! Se Jung-won! Se Jung-won! Shot! Yes, it’s a goal! Goal! Yes, it’s Se Jung-won. 45 minutes, second half 45 minutes! It’s a truly dramatic goal. 2-2! Korea, ranked 41st in FIFA, has scored a dramatic equalizer against Spain, ranked 5th in the world, in the second half 45 minutes!"

Football?

But where is this sound coming from?!

"Yes, in the wake of today’s worst collapse accident, rescue workers have been working hard to save as many people as possible around the Seongsu Bridge, but citizens have criticized the authorities for arriving too late. Reporter Kim Dong-won has flown over the accident site in a helicopter."

The Seongsu Bridge collapsed?

How could this happen….

But more importantly, why am I hearing this?

What is this? Why is this happening?

"The 8mm videotape, which captured the scene of the Sambo Department Store collapse exactly 7 minutes after it happened, was released today."

Now it’s the Sambo Department Store?

An infinite world of brightness, where I couldn’t see anything and couldn’t be sure if it was real.

It felt as if this world, which had no substance, was tied to a point and was being pushed forward, like a wave.

"Despite facing serious financial difficulties, Hanbo Steel finally collapsed today. The collapse of Hanbo Steel, which was on the verge of completing the world’s fifth-largest steel plant, is a significant blow to our economy, which is already suffering from a recession."

Even in death, I’m having dreams.

Hanbo Steel is collapsing?

What a boring dream.

"The 26th-ranked Sammi Group has finally collapsed due to financial difficulties."

"Samlip Food, which can be said to be the history of baking in our country, has finally collapsed due to financial difficulties."

"The 8th-ranked Kia Group has been designated as a target for a bankruptcy prevention agreement."

"Sambo Development and Sambo Corporation have been finally declared bankrupt."

"Finally, the composite stock price index has fallen below 500."

"Haitai Group has finally filed for bankruptcy."

"The won has exceeded 1,000 won to the dollar for the first time in history."

What, what is this?

Why is this happening?

Why are these unbelievable sounds reaching me?

"The government has finally decided to apply for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Korea, once a model of economic success, has finally acknowledged its de facto national bankruptcy."

The International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

"The first financial institution to go bankrupt is Koryo Securities. The myth of 'too big to fail' has been shattered."

"Following Koryo Securities yesterday, Hanra Group, the 12th-ranked conglomerate, has gone bankrupt today. This is expected to lead to restructuring in the automotive industry, starting with Daewoo Group’s acquisition of SsangYong Motor."

"Today, Dongseo Securities has been finally declared bankrupt."