Chapter 499: Juyoung Hong (26)
At the Daesung Group at the ti.
“Damn it! Why did Arica decide to take action?”
Daesung had already bought a huge amount of crude oil in the futures market, and even rented an oil tanker by paying five tis the normal price.
In other words, the longer the situation of Saudi Arabia and Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz persisted, the better it was for Daesung, because they bet everything on the long-term status quo.
But the developnt unfolded in a completely different direction.
“Damn it! What are you doing with our ties with the Blue House? You should have found out about the US action! That’s why we have bribed the Blue House officials, right?”
“Well, I hear that even the Blue House was briefed about their visit belatedly. And they visited here all of a sudden.”
Chairman Junghan Kim could not control his anger despite Yu’s explanation.
If things went wrong, not only Daesung Oil Refinery, but also the Daesung Group might go bankrupt. They simply spent so much money securing the crude oil at hefty prices.
“Got it. By the way, why did the Arican bastards decline the Blue House’s escort offer?”
“Well…”
Bang!
“Damn it! Don’t you know anything? How can I do business in this situation?”
Chairman Kim slamd the desk hard when Director Yu replied hesitantly.
At that mont, Mansoo Kim, President of Daesung Oil Refinery, cautiously said, “I’m afraid to tell you this, but if our governnt imports crude oil from the United States, the prices of crude oil we have purchased in the futures market will drop drastically. Actually, the oil prices in the dostic oil market have already begun to fall. We have to sell them before the prices fall further. I think Japan will buy our oil.”
“How much do you think they will offer to buy it from us?”
“…”
President Kim could not answer Chairman Kim’s question because Japan would not buy crude oil from Daesung at high prices if they found out what was going on in the local oil market.
“If a huge amount of Arican crude oil begins to be unloaded here, our losses will increase trendously. The US suppliers are ExxonMobil and Chevron. If they join hands together, they can supply Korea with enough oil for several months within the next several days. Considering that, we need to minimize our losses now!”
President Kim appealed to him to take the second best out of the available worst options. Needless to say, ExxonMobil and Chevron were huge oil companies.
But Chairman Kim said, “It’s already late. We’ve rented oil tankers at a huge cost, and we will incur huge losses if we sell it now. I would rather bet on negotiations failing between the US delegates and their Korean partner.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
A heavy silence fell on the conference room of the Daesung Group.
***
Anybody who was engaged in economic activities or who was interested in the economy watched the morning TV news carefully. Even those driving cars or scooters watched it as well because of the oil prices that had almost doubled in two weeks.
When the US economic delegation stopped in front of a huge building in Seoul, everyone watching the TV news was shocked because it was not the Blue House or a hotel, but the Myongjin Group headquarters that they stopped at.
Besides, the Myongjin Group staff hurriedly ca out to greet them as soon as they arrived as if they had been waiting for their arrival.
After all, those watching the TV realized that it was the Myongjin Group that called not only the US Secretary of Comrce and the Deputy Secretary of the Interior, but also the leaders of the world’s top oil companies to Korea.
So there were quite a few people who were surprised.
“Man, it’s the Myongjin Group, not the Blue House?”
“Yeah, I’m surprised it’s Myongjin, not Mirae.”
“Did Myongjin have such a huge influence?”
“Of course, it is true that Myongjin is one of the top five conglorates in Korea, but the visitors are from the United States! Besides, even President William’s right-hand man, Thomas Tyler, has also co!”
The people were shocked that the Arican delegates naturally entered the Myongjin Group headquarters escorted by the Myongjin staff.
But so were even more shocked, naly, the Daesung and Kusan Group that had been competing with Myongjin for the second place in top business rankings.
Hanil Energy was also on alert.
“Do you still have strong ties with Myongjin Oil Refinery right?”
“Sure!”
“Contact them! Get an appointnt with them by all ans!”
“Understood!”
Maseok Caltex was on high alert too.
“Damn it! Those who requested to join hands with the Daesung Group, co step forward and prepare yourself to be fired!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Anyway, the oil refining industry had no choice but to plunge into shock.
***
At the Myongjin Group headquarters.
“Whew…”
Before welcoming the guests, Chairman Hong took a long, deep breath.
Actually, he had t foreign presidents and pri ministers when travelling abroad for business purposes, but he had never t the top officials of the world’s largest country. Besides, he could not help feeling excited because he could also et the leaders of ExxonMobil and Chevron, who he had never t before despite his huge efforts.
At that mont, the elevator door opened, and the top US officials appeared.
Chairman Hong stretched out his hand, then shook hands with them one by one.
“Welco! My na is Sangman Hong, and I’m the Myongjin Group’s chairman.”
He introduced himself to them in a humble manner.
“Nice to et you. I’m Harrison, the US Secretary of Comrce.”
“Nice to et you. I’m Walton, the Deputy Secretary of the Interior.”
“Nice to et you. I’m Thomas Tyler, Special Advisor to the White House.”
Chairman Hong had plenty of experience eting lots of people, including politicians and businessn, so he could imdiately figure out the other party’s feelings by checking their expressions.
From their expressions and attitude, he concluded that they were being cautious and polite in dealing with him.
To be honest, Chairman Hong was slightly shocked that they were being humble and polite because they could easily act arrogant as they were top US officials.
Nonetheless, they were very cautious and polite in their words and deeds.
And the top executives of the world’s leading oil companies were more or less the sa.
“Nice to et you. I’m Ian, Vice President of ExxonMobil.”
“Nice to et you. I’m Bakon, the General Manager of Chevron’s Asian Branches.”
With their famous brand as an oil refinery, ExxonMobil and Chevron were evaluated as more valuable than the Myongjin Group.
Of course, there was nothing like a master-servant relationship between them even if the two oil giants’ corporate value was bigger than Myongjin, but given the urgent situation Myongjin faced, Myongjin was obviously in a less advantageous position.
For securing crude oil was the top priority not only for Myongjin, but for Korea as a whole.
But Chairman Hong was even more surprised because of their humble attitude, but he didn’t express his feelings, of course.
He wasn’t stupid enough to ask why they were being so cautious.
Anyway, he escorted them, who were being unusually cautious and prudent, into the conference room.
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