Chapter 3

 Episode 3: The Bubble (Part 1)

I spilled out the passbooks that were inside the paper bag.

The passbook that my grandfather gave me as an allowance, along with the one my parents left me, added up to approximately 22 billion won.

In my previous life, I didn't even know that my parents had left me money. I had never looked at my assets because I never needed money. And my parents, who suddenly passed away in an accident, couldn't even tell me that they had left me an inheritance.

The reason this money became known was due to the confiscation during the tax investigation. The people from the National Tax Service thoroughly investigated my assets, and they found the passbook my parents had left for me and confiscated it. The National Tax Service employees even kindly told me that the password for the passbook was my birthday.

"Is 22 billion won enough as the initial investment?"

"It's a larger amount than I expected. However, I'm worried because it's too big. If we invest 22 billion won in a Korean corporation, there's a high chance that the media and the government will become troublesome."

"Why not create a foreign corporation?"

"Well, that's true."

I guess they didn't expect to bring up the topic of a foreign corporation. Assistant Hwang Junghoon paused for a moment, catching his breath, and continued speaking.

"Taewoo Securities has several Hong Kong corporations that they used to use. It seems like we can use them for a few months as they are about to close."

"I'll talk to my grandfather about it. Oh, and keep in mind that my investment of 22 billion won is a secret."

"I understand. I won't disclose the amount of the investment even if Chairman asks."

"Then let's draft the contract. It's a contract that includes a confidentiality clause."

Thanks to my previous life, I didn't trust people. I knew how easily verbal promises could be broken, so I had prepared a contract.

The four securities company employees read the contract with bewildered eyes and then suddenly blinked their eyes.

"There's a clause that pays part of the investment returns as a bonus, but how much exactly is that?"

"It's 1 percent. If you earn 10 billion, it's a bonus of 100 million, and if you earn 100 billion, it's a bonus of 1 billion. Oh, and it's not 1 percent per person; the entire team splits 1 percent."

There was no reaction from them. I had struggled and finally included the bonus payment clause, but their attention was not on the bonus; it was on the consolation payment clause.

"This is the first time I've heard of a consolation payment clause in case of investment failure."

"If no profit is generated, I plan to offer 20 million won as consolation payment. However, the penalty for breaching the confidentiality clause is a bit high. Will you sign?"

The securities company employees hesitated for a moment. They looked at each other, and without a word, they all signed the contract. They probably thought that 20 million won was nothing for the amount of money I was investing in this chaebol 3rd generation investment game.

* * *

Chairman Kim Taejoong's office at Taewoo Group.

Chairman Kim Taejoong summoned Assistant Hwang Junghoon of Taewoo Securities into his office.

Assistant Hwang Junghoon, who had never been to the chairman's office before, was visibly tense upon arrival.

In contrast, Chairman Kim Taejoong resembled a parent listening to their child's mischief from a kindergarten teacher.

"So, my grandson is investing using the Hong Kong subsidiary?"

"There was a plan to close the Hong Kong subsidiary this year."

"Will it cause any trouble?"

"It's an entity unrelated to Taewoo Securities. We've taken over all bank accounts and related documents. This information is beyond Taewoo Securities' knowledge, so it won't be discovered by the media or government."

Only then did Chairman Kim Taejoong nod in satisfaction, his worries about his grandson's investment studies going public put to rest.

"So, where did he decide to invest?"

"I can't disclose that due to a confidentiality agreement."

"Did my grandson prepare the contract himself?"

"What I can tell you is that Master Taejoong is quite different from his peers. He already possesses extensive knowledge and a broad perspective. Of course..."

"I dislike those who stop talking in the middle of a serious conversation."

"That doesn't guarantee he'll be successful in investments."

"That's where you and the other employees can help, right?"

Chairman Kim Taejoong said with a smile, already satisfied with the idea that his grandson is exceptional compared to his peers. Whether the investment succeeds or fails is not important to him. He believed that as long as he gains something, even in failure, it's a worthwhile endeavor.

Part of the reason was that he didn't even consider the amount of the investment, 22 billion won. If Chairman Kim Taejoong had known the amount, he might have scrutinized it more closely, but thanks to Assistant Hwang Junghoon's cautious words, that didn't happen.

"I'll do my best to assist Master Minjae."

"And starting next month, you can return to Taewoo Securities whenever you want. Grandson's education is important, but isn't it more important for the company to run properly? I'll instruct a separate bonus for you all."

"Thank you. For now, we'll proceed with the first-phase investment and consider returning afterward."

"Don't make too much fuss about being with my grandson. He still has at least ten years left before inheriting the company. What's ten years, or even twenty? You can go now."

* * *

Hwang Junghoon, the team leader, finished his one-on-one with the chairman and returned to his office.

The office he entered was not the one he usually used. Taewoo Securities' president had allocated a separate, smaller office for Minjae's dedicated team.

"Team leader, you're here? I've prepared a portfolio; please take a look."

"Please don't call me 'team leader.' People will laugh if they hear that. Just call me Assistant Hwang Junghoon."

"But you're the head of our team, so you are our team leader. Anyway, please take a look at this data."

Sung Deokhwan, the employee, presented the data enthusiastically. He possessed exceptional research skills and had identified new investment opportunities.

"It's an insurance product."

"It seems there are quite a few people in the U.S. and Hong Kong financial sectors who view the Japanese economy as a bubble. That's why there are insurance products related to the Japanese Nikkei index."

"If the Nikkei index drops by 30%, it offers a 5 times compensation on the principal?"

"If it plummets by half, it provides a 10 times compensation. However, it's an insurance product, so the amount you can invest in one go is limited."

Certainly, the skills of the dedicated team members were outstanding. They discovered various products through various channels, and Hwang Junghoon, as the team leader, turned ideas like real estate and short selling of stocks into portfolios.

Creating the portfolio in an instant, he chuckled for a moment.

"I never thought I'd be writing a portfolio like this. It's hard to find stability in these products."

"But isn't it interesting? When will we get a chance to invest in something like this?"

"Well, after looking at stable products for so long, seeing these kinds of products is indeed intriguing."

These four individuals found enjoyment in their work. It felt entirely different from the routine corporate life that kept rolling like a hamster wheel. They were so eager to work like this for not just a month but several years that their faces were filled with smiles.

* * *

A few days later,

I called the dedicated team to my home office. Assistant Hwang Junghoon reported to me with various types of portfolios in his capacity as the team leader.

"All the portfolios have very low stability, with Option 1 being extremely conservative, and Option 3 being highly aggressive."

"What's the maximum potential return with Option 3?"

"For profit realization, the Nikkei index has to plummet by half. In return, it offers over 10 times the profit. However, since it's an insurance product, the amount you can invest at once is limited."

Assistant Hwang Junghoon was trembling as he spoke. However, I remained composed. The collapse of the Japanese economy was already a foregone conclusion.

"Proceed with Option 3, then. Anyway, no one besides us knows that we're investing 22 billion won. So, please ensure strict confidentiality."

"Ah, understood."

Now they would surely keep the secret themselves. Even if a third-generation chaebol loses the investment, they're still a third-generation chaebol. However, from the perspective of Taewoo Securities employees, being labeled as incompetent could lead to getting ousted from the company.

"I'll go see Grandfather. Please start the investment right away, and I'll receive the investment completion report next week."

The dedicated team was in despair. Would they still have these expressions after a month when the bubble burst? Leaving them behind, I walked briskly to Grandfather's study.

"Did our little puppy arrive? Give me a hug."

"You came early today."

I embraced Grandfather with overflowing love. I wanted to appear as mature as possible to everyone else, but Grandfather was an exception. All I had in my heart for him was the love I couldn't give in my past life.

"You've finished your investment studies?"

"Yes! I just finished and came up here."

"Your face tells me there's something you want to say."

Grandfather quickly sensed my state with a single glance. I pretended to hesitate for a moment, then spoke with difficulty.

"Grandfather, I want to take the GED."

"What? What are you talking about? Don't you want to go to school?"

"I don't want to waste time. I don't understand why I should spend three years in high school. If I take the GED, I can go to university next year. It's a two-year head start."

"Haha, Minjae, I know you're smart, but you still need to attend school properly. School is not just about studying; it's a place where you can gain various experiences, including social interactions."

Grandfather's words were true a hundred times over. But I had too little time left. I needed to join the company as soon as possible to prepare better, even if only for a few years.

"Human relationships, I'll learn them in society."

"Haha, you're quite impatient, my boy."

With a compassionate smile, Grandfather stroked my head, not knowing who was causing my impatience.

"Grandfather, I'm not joking. I want to graduate from college quickly and help you."

"Can you handle it, even though your middle school grades are excellent?"

Grandfather had paid a lot of attention to my education. From kindergarten, I had more than ten teachers, and in my previous life, I never lost the first place from elementary to high school.

And then, I got into a Korean university. I still vividly remembered how proud Grandfather was back then. Given all this, there was no reason for me to return to high school.

It was challenging to persuade with words alone. So, I needed to demonstrate it myself. Fortunately, Grandfather's study was piled with international newspapers.

"[Signs of the Soviet collapse are being observed everywhere. The government, facing a lack of funds, is unable to pay miners...]" I fluently read the English newspaper.

Not only that, I effortlessly read Japanese and Chinese newspapers too.

All of this was thanks to Grandfather. Due to his advocacy of globalization, I had struggled with language studies, and those memories remained vivid in my mind.

"Haha, our Minjae, you've studied very diligently."

"I want to show the results of my studies now."

"How can I compete with my grandson? Well then, I'll inform the secretary-general to prepare for the GED."

"Thank you. I won't disappoint you!"

Grandfather embraced me tightly and then looked serious for a moment.

"You will attend college properly, right?"

"Of course, Grandfather. I plan to aim for the top universities in the world, like Harvard or Stanford. You're advocating globalization, and I can't settle for anything less in Korea."

"Haha, when did our little puppy grow up so much? You're quite determined."

After showering Grandfather with affection, I left his study. Now more than ever, I needed to carefully consider my plan.

I was 17 years old now. If I passed the high school GED within a year, I would be 18. Then, studying at university for four years, I could graduate at the age of 22.

In five years, in 1995, I could join Taewoo Group. Three years before the Asian financial crisis hit, I could secure my position within the company. With the capital I was accumulating now, I could help save the group from external threats, and within the group, I could prevent its insolvency.

That was my path to safeguard the group and ensure its financial stability.

However, I can't fail the GED, can I? I may have boasted loudly in front of Grandfather, but it's not an option.

I quickly went back to my room and picked up a book. It wasn't a GED preparation book but a SAT study guide for American university admissions.