Captain Kang's office.
I was clenching my fists tightly while watching the news.
Seeing this, Captain Kang brought a glass of warm water.
"They say the prosecution's investigation will be over soon. I heard that through the prosecution people on our side."
"The problem is that humiliating scene was broadcast on TV. The investigation will naturally end quickly. The company has 0% debt ratio; what benefit could co from accounting fraud?"
The news showed the grandfather entering the prosecution office for his investigation.
Usually, a chairman of a large corporation would be photographed in a wheelchair at the photo line, but the grandfather walked in with a dignified appearance.
He even held a brief press conference in front of the reporters.
"Practices that were not problematic in the past often beco issues today. Tae-woo Group is leading efforts to eliminate improper practices. While I think it is harsh to judge past issues by today's standards, I will answer sincerely and explain thoroughly."
Reporters from dia outlets friendly to rival companies threw teasing questions.
"Did you intentionally commit accounting fraud to boost the stock price?"
"Is Tae-woo Group's rise to number one in the business world due to accounting fraud?"
Despite the barrage of questions, the grandfather did not frown once and quietly entered the prosecution office.
"Hoo, I never want to see such a scene again. How is the case against Representative Yoon Hyun-gil progressing?"
"We succeeded in removing his right-hand man, Assistant Joo Kang-tae. The prosecution has already started a search and seizure, and many charges have been substantiated."
"Well done. Since we've suffered hardships, they should suffer too, right?"
"I honestly want to lock Representative Yoon up."
"We can't do that yet. We have to tighten the noose from all sides first, so they learn what it ans to ss with Tae-woo Group."
Representative Yoon Hyun-gil's power was being cut down one by one.
It started particularly with the network he had built during his five terms as a congressman.
"And for the next general election, Attorney Shin Young-seop has decided to run in Representative Yoon Hyun-gil's district."
"The mont a politician is rejected even in their own district, their political life is over."
"Attorney Shin Young-seop has enough recognition to win anywhere in the country."
The reason Representative Yoon could be elected for five terms was simple.
His district was so remote that no other politicians dared to run there.
That's why his recognition was low despite being a five-term congressman.
If there's no proper competitor, how can an issue arise?
But now things have changed. Attorney Shin Young-seop, who has nationwide recognition, has decided to run.
"Release so sensitive information about Representative Yoon to the opposition party."
"We'll release information that would make the party distance itself from Representative Yoon."
If he loses his assistant, his district, and even his party turns its back on him, the confidence of Representative Yoon, who sees himself as a presidential candidate, will crumble in an instant.
"Also, file charges against all companies connected to Representative Yoon."
"With materials sent from Russia, we can sufficiently prove the charges."
Since he was in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Representative Yoon had connections with construction companies.
The reason construction companies tried to cozy up to him was ultimately to gain benefits.
But if a mood ford that being close to him only causes losses, they would turn their backs imdiately.
"Tae-woo Construction will also cut ties with construction companies related to Representative Yoon."
"What if a construction company refuses to cut ties with Representative Yoon?"
"Then it's a chicken ga with us. We'll bid on all the projects they're trying to get and snatch the contracts. For us, it would only an so losses, but for small and dium-sized construction companies, it could destabilize the company."
In fact, I could have finished off Representative Yoon using just the evidence in my hands.
But wouldn't that be too boring if it ended so easily?
I wanted to decide whether to make him a slave or execute him after completely destroying him.
***
Representative Yoon's office.
It used to be filled with more than ten aides and staff mbers, but now only a single new employee who had joined less than six months ago remained.
"Representative Yoon, Taesan Construction called."
"What did they say?"
"...They swore at . So, I hung up."
I felt frustrated.
Hanging up because the other side swore at you?
If they were experienced aides, they would have sohow kept the conversation going to glean as much information as possible.
What could you expect from a newbie?
Given that all the seniors had left, I was just glad soone was holding the fort.
"You're doing well."
"And the party contacted us too. They said to resign before being referred to the ethics committee."
"Did the party say that? I made the party leader, and now they want to kick out?"
All elections require a lot of money.
The party leadership election was no exception, and Representative Yoon had made a mber who could make him a presidential candidate the party leader.
Just last month, he had received a grateful call.
But now that he wasn't needed, the party was telling him to leave on his own.
"Anything else happen?"
"I'm going to quit too. I thought a congressional office was a place to work for the national interest, but I didn't know it was a place to be verbally abused all day."
"Do you have job prospects? I can try to find sothing for you."
"No, it's fine. I passed Taewoo Construction's open recruitnt."
Could there be a better job than Tae-woo Group?
While briefly thinking that, Representative Yoon shuddered.
To think Tae-woo Group was so ruthless it even took away the youngest employee.
At this rate, they were going to take everything from him.
Thinking politically, to withstand the opponent's attack, you must strike back.
How should he attack Tae-woo Group? Should he hold another press conference?
"Well then, I will resign now."
How was he supposed to strike back?
He couldn't even hold onto the youngest employee and had to let them go.
The news of the last employee's resignation broke Representative Yoon's will to fight.
In a mont of deep loneliness,
knock, knock—soone knocked on the office door and entered.
"Senior, long ti no see."
"Isn't that Representative Kim Byung-tae! What brings you here without notice? Co in and have a seat."
Representative Yoon was as glad as if he had found an oasis in the desert.
A fellow alumnus and a congressman with a close bond to him had appeared.
He thought everyone had abandoned him, but his schoolmates had not yet.
"The car is fine. But what will you do now? The word is already spreading all over Yeouido about you."
"What story?"
"There's a rumor that even being photographed with you would an ruin."
"...Are you here under the orders of Tae-woo Group's ownership too?"
"Do you think I'm that kind of person? The orders ca from above."
The oasis was a mirage.
The school junior was not on his side but Tae-woo Group's.
"So what does the 'above' want to do about this?"
"Let the one who caused it settle it. Since you created this ss, you should clean it up yourself."
"What else can I do here? Suspicion against Tae-woo Group has already ceased."
"If you stop the suspicions, will the problem be solved? You should have stopped it before Chairman Kim Tae-jung stood in front of the prosecutor's photo line."
"Would you have go kneel and beg in front of Chairman Kim?"
"That choice is yours. Whether you kneel or commit seppuku, just resolve it quickly. The party is under great pressure, too."
Corporations and politicians had a symbiotic relationship.
Regardless of the ruling or opposition party, they needed corporate help to secure election funds.
Yoon Hyun-gil was not unaware of that, yet he attacked Tae-woo Group to gain advantage.
How would a politician be dragged around by a businessman?
He planned to use the businessman as an ATM while maintaining the upper hand.
A relationship where he could boast by throwing a few favorable bills as commissions.
But Tae-woo Group did not want such a relationship, and even the mbers of the party who had stood with him all turned their backs.
"Could it be that Tae-woo Group threatened to cut political donations? How could a politician be dragged around by a re business?"
"Are you speaking as if we're in a military regi? Corporations no longer give money to politicians without reason. It has to be a symbiotic relationship; you can't just demand unilaterally and expect compliance."
"So now you're lecturing ."
"I won't say more. Restore your relationship with Tae-woo Group. That's the only way this problem will be solved."
Bang! Representative Kim Byung-tae slamd the door and left.
Alone in the silent office, Representative Yoon Hyun-gil felt even deeper loneliness.
***
The next day.
I t Representative Yoon Hyun-gil, and as soon as he saw , he dropped to his knees.
"I'm sorry. My wrongful actions have caused Tae-woo Group severe damage. I have committed an unforgivable sin."
"Then you should have died. Why are you alive, bowing your head?"
I spoke my true feelings bluntly.
I could be this assertive because Captain Kang personally conducted a body search on Representative Yoon and confird he had no recording devices or anything similar.
It didn't end there.
Captain Kang had installed new equipnt imported from the U.S. near the restaurant to completely block any eavesdropping.
"If you tell to die, I really will. If dying ans I can atone, there is no reason not to give up my life. But I refrained because I was afraid my death might cause new problems for Tae-woo Group."
"You say you don't want to die with great difficulty."
"...Please spare . I will live as a slave to Tae-woo Group. I will be a loyal dog that barks when told and bites when ordered."
The situation I had wanted was finally coming true.
Representative Yoon Hyun-gil was volunteering to beco a slave himself.
But it was still too early. I was not naïve enough to believe the words of a five-term congressman.
Only after pushing him further into the abyss could I decide whether to use him as a dog or as a slave.
"Even if I wanted to use you as a dog, your past is too complicated. It's a wonder you're not in prison yet."
Thud! I tossed a sealed envelope in front of him.
It contained information received from the U.S., China, and Russia, full of Representative Yoon Hyun-gil's hidden scandals that no one knew about—not even the dia.
"H-How did you get this?"
"Getting this kind of information isn't difficult. Haven't you heard the rumor that Tae-woo Group's intelligence capability surpasses even the National Intelligence Service?"
Representative Yoon trembled like a frightened dog.
He clearly hadn't expected to have such material.
"But did Tae-woo Group really look that easy? To think you planned to attack them just to boost your recognition."
"Please, I will take responsibility alone. Spare my family. I beg you."
The docunts also contained information related to Representative Yoon's family.
Especially his son, who had committed various offenses from military exemption abuse to habitual assault and drunk driving.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Representative Yoon began banging his head on the floor.
Only after seeing his head break and blood flow did I start to consider how to use him.
TL/n -
Hyundai traces its roots back to 1946, when Chung Ju-yung (정주영), the son of a poor farr from Gangwon Province, founded the Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company in Seoul. At first, it was a small civil engineering firm, but the devastation of the Korean War (1950–53) opened massive demand for rebuilding. Hyundai took on major reconstruction projects, laying the foundation for its rise.
In the 1960s, as South Korea industrialized under President Park Chung-hee's economic developnt plans, Hyundai won large-scale governnt contracts for roads, ports, and infrastructure. This period was the beginning of Hyundai's close relationship with the state, which would remain central to its growth.
Rapid Diversification (1970s)
The 1970s were a period of explosive expansion. Chung Ju-yung pursued the vision of making Hyundai into a global industrial powerhouse.
1973 – Hyundai Heavy Industries was established and, almost from scratch, built the world's largest shipyard in Ulsan. Within a few years, Hyundai beca one of the leading shipbuilders worldwide.
1967–1975 – Hyundai Motor Company was founded (1967), and in 1975, it released Korea's first dostically produced car, the Pony, designed with help from Mitsubishi and Italdesign. This marked the birth of Korea's automobile industry.
1970s – Hyundai also expanded into steel, petrochemicals, and overseas construction, particularly in the Middle East, where it beca famous for quickly and cheaply delivering projects like ports, highways, and pipelines.
Global Expansion & Chaebol Peak (1980s–1990s)
By the 1980s, Hyundai was no longer just a construction company — it was a chaebol, a vast family-run conglorate.
Hyundai Motor beca Korea's leading automaker and began exporting cars to North Arica and Europe.
Hyundai Heavy Industries dominated shipbuilding.
Hyundai Electronics (later Hynix, now part of SK Hynix) entered the semiconductor industry.
Hyundai Group also expanded into finance, insurance, retail, and trading.
In the 1990s, Hyundai was one of the "Big Four" chaebols alongside Samsung, LG, and SK. Chung Ju-yung also made headlines in 1998 when he drove a herd of cattle across the Korean border into North Korea as a symbolic gesture of reconciliation. This laid the foundation for Hyundai Asan's later involvent in inter-Korean projects like the Mount Kumgang tourism project.
Asian Financial Crisis & Breakup (Late 1990s–2000s)
The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis was a turning point. Like many chaebols, Hyundai was heavily indebted and over-diversified. The South Korean governnt, under IMF restructuring demands, pressured Hyundai to streamline and shed non-core businesses.
In 1999, founder Chung Ju-yung stepped back from leadership, handing control to his sons.
Internal family feuds broke out, with different branches of the Chung family dividing Hyundai's businesses.
By the early 2000s, Hyundai Group had splintered into independent companies:
Hyundai Motor Group (automobiles, led by Chung Mong-koo)
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group (shipbuilding, heavy industries)
Hyundai Departnt Store Group (retail)
Hyundai Developnt Company (construction, real estate)
Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, and others
The "original" Hyundai Group, led by Chung Ju-yung's daughter-in-law Hyun Jeong-eun, was left with smaller businesses, mostly focused on inter-Korean ventures through Hyundai Asan.
Modern Era (2010s–2020s)
Today, the once-monolithic Hyundai Group exists mostly in na. The real powerhouses — Hyundai Motor Group and Hyundai Heavy Industries — are independent and global leaders in their industries.
Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai, Kia, Genesis) is now the world's third-largest automaker, competing with Toyota and Volkswagen.
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group remains a global leader in shipbuilding and engineering.
The smaller Hyundai Group (Hyundai Asan) continues to exist but has far less influence, focusing on logistics, tourism, and North Korea projects (though these have been mostly suspended in recent years due to political tensions).
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