Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Chapter 924: Dissolution of GH Development (1) – Part 1

It was almost the end of March. The weather was getting warmer as spring was around the corner.

GH Media’s President Jeong-Sook Shin called Gun-Ho to give him a report about the investment return that they received from Huanle Shiji Production Company in China, for their investment in the movie production. An amount of 17 billion won was received in GH Media’s business bank account.

Gun-Ho could hear President Shin’s excited voice over the phone.

“Mr. Chairman, now I can tell how immensely lucrative the movie industry could be. So, a successful movie can bring in this much revenue. It seems to be more lucrative than a publishing business.”

“The thing is that it’s not easy to be successful in the movie industry, and it is a very risky business. You have to be very careful with it.”

“Well, the money is in our business bank account now. I will keep it safe there. Haha.”

“Please do so.”

Since he collected his investment return, Gun-Ho wanted to inform that to Director Seukang Li in Shanghai City, China. He was the one who had connected Gun-Ho to this investment opportunity and who had also helped him throughout the process, after all.

“Wei, Ni Hao! Director Seukang Li?”

“Oh, Chairman Goo. It has been a while. How have you been?”

“I just received my investment return for the movie—Menghuan Yinghua. I wanted to say thank you for all of your help.”

“I actually received the report about it from Huanle Shiji Production Company as well. Congratulations.”

“I want to buy you a drink, friend. Maybe I will go on a trip to China in the near future.”

“Haha. Sounds great.”

Not just a drink, but Gun-Ho was indeed willing to offer even monetary support to Director Seukang Li to show his gratitude to him for everything that he had done for him. Even though Seukang Li was a high-ranked government officer in China, he was a government employee who was receiving a relatively not-so-great salary.

Gun-Ho was sitting on the sofa in his office in GH Building, Sinsa Town. He was actually waiting for the appraisal report on the building that he was sitting on. A moment later, someone knocked on his office’s door. Gun-Ho thought that it was Director Kang since he was expecting him. But surprisingly, it was Director Woon-Hak Sim.

“Huh? Director Sim? I didn’t know that you are in Korea.”

“I arrived here yesterday, sir.”

“Please have a seat. You have done a great job in China.”

Gun-Ho asked Secretary Yeon-Soo Oh to bring some tea to the office.

Director Woon-Hak Sim sat on the sofa in an acute polite position with his hands on his lap, and said, “Sir, I came here to ask you to help me produce a historical movie that I talked to you about last time. You won’t regret the decision to make an investment in this movie production. I’m sure that this movie will be a success. In fact, it has every factor that would make this movie successful; it’s trendy and appealing to Chinese people’s sentiment. Moreover, its scenario was written by the famous screenwriter—Ms. Ailing Feng. As you now know well, most movies with her scenario have been successful, including our last movie—Menghuan Yinghua.”

“Hmm.”

“The movie scenario is already completed. And, Menghuan Yinghua’s Director Yan Wu will participate in the movie production. The entire movie production team for Menghuan Yinghua will work with me. You can assume that the pre-production stage is already done. We can show the movie before this year ends.”

“I don’t know. I am a businessman in the manufacturing industry, and I’m not so interested in the movie production business.”

“Mr. Chairman, the title of the movie is Kang Wo Yingxiong (anti-Japanese hero). As China is currently experiencing conflicts with the U.S. and Japan, patriotism is still trendy in China. The government will also help promote a movie like that.”

“Hmm.”

Director Sim continued, “It’s a historical movie with Joseon Dynasty’s Admiral Sun-Sin Yi, Japan’s Konishi Yukinaga, and China’s Admiral Chen Lin in it, not to mention China’s Admiral Deng Zilong. Each of them—Sun-Sin Yi, Konishi Yukinaga, Chen Lin, and Deng Zilong—are greatly admired by their people in their countries, and they all have their own statutes in their countries as well. The movie will be posing questions such as ‘what really means a war between neighboring countries,’ and also ‘how much and what sort of damages and injuries would it cause to the country’s citizens and soldiers.’”

“I don’t know. I am not so intrigued by it.”

Director Woon-Hak Sim continued to make his sales pitch; this time, it was more vigorous and supposedly more effective, “Mr. Chairman, our lead female role will be played by Ms. Mori Aikko. In her previous movie—Menghuan Yinghua—she played the role of a geisha who betrayed her country for love, but in this movie—Wo Yingxiong (anti-Japanese hero)—she would sacrifice herself for her country—Japan.”

“Hmm.”

“In planning to produce this movie, Huanle Shiji Production Company’s President Baogang Chen and Director Yan Wu absolutely agreed on everything that this movie would offer, and Mr. Director Seukang Li also said that it would be great if a movie like this one is produced. Mr. Chairman, this movie’s success is guaranteed. We’ve spent 6 months planning this movie.”

“Well, I’m not sure. I am really not interested in making another investment in a movie production.”

As Gun-Ho seemed to be clearly unconvinced even after his strong sales pitch, Director Woon-Hak Sim stood up from his seat and then kneeled on the carpeted floor in front of Gun-Ho.

“Sir, please help me.”

As Director Woon-Hak Sim kneeled on the floor, Gun-Ho was startled.

“What... Please don’t do this.”

“Sir, Huanle Shiji Production Company wouldn’t totally take over this movie’s production this time, but I intend to establish a separate business entity for it. In other words, its revenues and expenses will be transparent. Please help me.”

Gun-Ho was perplexed as a man, who was more than 10 years older than him, kneeled on the floor before him.

“Please get up. It won’t resolve anything.”

It reminded Gun-Ho of his old self when he had kneeled on the floor in YS Tech’s president office years ago. He, at that time, touched the company’s money and begged for the company’s president’s forgiveness while kneeling on the floor with his head on the floor as well.

“You are a lot older than me, Director Sim. This makes me feel very uncomfortable. Alright, I will review your proposal.”

As Gun-Ho said that he would think about it, Director Sim got up and sat on the sofa.

Gun-Ho took some time to think about what Director Sim proposed with his eyes closed. After a while, as he opened his eyes, Gun-Ho said, “I want you to go back to China and open a separate investment company. And, try to find investors and get funding from them. If you are still short of production cost then, I will fill that gap by making an investment in your movie.”

“Thank you, sir. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.”

“But, I don’t want you to use the name of GH for your new investment company though. I don’t want to be continuously involved in that business.”

“Got it, sir.”

Later that day, the appraisal on GH Building finally came out.

GH Development’s Director Kang brought the appraisal to Gun-Ho’s office.

“How much is it?”

“Its value has increased a lot, sir. It is now worth 285 billion won. The assessed value of its land is high.”

“Hmm, is that right?”

Gun-Ho closely looked at the appraisal document.

After finishing his review of the document, Gun-Ho smiled and said, as he was crossing his legs, “You know President Song in GH Mobile, right, Mr. Director Kang?”

“I’ve seen him several times, but I haven’t really had a chance to actually talk with him.”

“I want you to take this appraisal to GH Mobile in Jiksan Town.”

“Me, sir?”

“Yes. I want you and President Song to get to know each other.”

“But, he is in the manufacturing industry. I don’t see any connections between him and me, sir.”

“I’m going to have GH Mobile acquire this building, like selling it to them.”