There were several reasons why I chose Tesla as a running mate.
First, it was a company that had already proven the potential of electric vehicles before my return.
Second, I already owned 50% of Tesla’s shares.
Tesla and Taewoo Motors.
No matter who won, I would...
Securing the support of the National Economic Party was essential for bringing IIT to Korea.
I continued speaking to convince Representative Choi Jae-seok.
“If that’s the concern, we can resolve it by increasing Taewoo Group’s public recruitment by more than 20% compared to ...
The subprime mortgage crisis.
In 2007, it became the worst financial crisis that dragged the global economy into the abyss.
For such a financial crisis to happen, a combination of coincidences and inevitabilities had to overlap.
Even if the banks gave out reckless loans wi...
Twenty days had flown by.
And finally, the anticipated results of the Indian general election came in.
“The Indian National Congress has won a major victory in the election and has formed a coalition government, naming Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister!”
“Now it’s t...
After finishing the idea meeting with Cheon Min-jeong, I returned to the office.
The clock was already pointing to 1 a.m., and aside from a few extremely close districts, the
overall picture was starting to take shape.
“Vice President! The National Economic Party is projecte...
The long-awaited general election day had arrived.
It was already known that this would be the day the rankings among the progressive parties
would be flipped.
The President, along with a few members of the National Assembly, had left their party to form a new progressive part...
The next day.
I told Vice Chairman Han about the negotiations with Vice Chairman Oh Yong-jae.
He scratched his head, looking like he had a lot to say.
“Something doesn’t sit right with you, does it?”
“To be honest, I just don’t understand. I know this is at C...
The next day.
Vice Chairman Oh Yongjae reached out, and we arranged to meet at the annex of a traditional Korean restaurant run by Captain Kang.
“This must be the famous annex. I’ve heard it’s a place only those close to Chairman Kim are invited to.”
“I don’t know wh...
2025-09-02 16:34:04 +0000 UTC View PostAs the murmurs quieted down, Seok-won slowly scanned the audience before speaking in a firm, deliberate voice.
“First, you raised concerns about safety during rocket launches. The launch site is located more than 2.6 kilometers away from Moseulpo Port, which provides a safe distance. On t...
2025-09-02 12:30:03 +0000 UTC View PostA few days later, at Jeju International Airport.
Just yesterday, a fierce snowstorm had been raging, but now the sky was clear as if it had all been a lie. A Gulfstream IV private jet, painted in a two-tone of Norton Blue and Crystal White, landed and rolled to a stop at one side of the apr...
2025-09-01 14:13:59 +0000 UTC View PostThe next day.
From the early morning, the Financial Tower carried the tension of a battlefield on the verge of war.
People were gulping down coffee like rations before combat, and it wasn’t hard to spot a few slapping their own cheeks to stay sharp.
I watched the scene with so...
2025-09-01 14:05:49 +0000 UTC View PostA week later.
I arrived in Denmark.
David, who had flown in ahead of me to lay the groundwork, greeted me warmly.
“Looks like you’ve done more than just sketch the outlines. You seem in excellent spirits.”
“You underestimate me, boss. I didn’t just sketch—I fin...
2025-09-01 14:05:40 +0000 UTC View PostWas this how a farmer felt?
From the field called Novo Nordisk, they had tended the crop called a new drug.
For years they had watered and fertilized it, waiting patiently, and now the time for harvest had finally come.
“Is it true Novo Nordisk plans to scrap the drug? I haven...
2025-08-31 12:36:04 +0000 UTC View PostTwo days ago, the inauguration and farewell ceremony was held with great pomp.
All of Taewoo Group’s executives attended, along with many executives from financial firms housed in the Finance Tower.
Yet the mood between the first half and the second half of the event was entirely di...
2025-08-31 12:35:04 +0000 UTC View PostAs dawn broke, Chairman Park Tae-hong rose early, as was his habit, and stepped out of his bedroom in his indoor loungewear.
Hearing his footsteps echoing down the wide corridor toward the living room, the housemaid, Gunsan, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen and greeted him politely...
2025-08-31 12:30:06 +0000 UTC View PostNovember 3rd, 1997
– Daehung Securities, Yeouido.
Inside the trading floor, around forty individual investors stood in small groups, their eyes fixed on the large electronic market board mounted on one wall.
Following the previous trading ...
“So the MC Soft investment contract is completely finalized, then.”
In response to Seok-won’s question—who sat cross-legged in the central seat—Director Yoo Hyun-deok answered immediately.
“Yes, that’s correct. We’ve agreed to invest 3 billion won and take over 25% o...
October 30, 1997.
It was a late night, nearing midnight, yet the lights in the president’s office at the Blue House were still brightly lit.
Inside the spacious office, heavy with silence.
Seated on a vintage hardwood sofa was President Kim Sung-kyu, flanke...
Daehung Venture Capital
As Choi Ho-geun entered the office, he noticed a group of employees gathered around, looking at something.
“What’s everyone doing?”
The employees turned to him and greeted him one by one.
“You’re here.”
“Wel...
October 28, 1997, Government Complex 1, Gwanghwamun.
Choi Jin-woo, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, sat anxiously, tapping the armrest of the sofa with his fingertips as he stared at the phone resting on the side table.
He rolled up his shirt sleeves ...
October 27, 1997
— Daeheung Group Headquarters, Mapo
In the spacious chairman’s office, Chairman Park, the chairman, sat in the center of a leather sofa, flanked by his eldest son, Park Jin-hyung, president of Daeheung Textile, and Secretary Gi...
Dobong-gu, Seoul.
[This is Chang-dong Station. The doors on the right will open. This stop is——]
Suddenly dropping temperatures made people bundle up in heavier clothes as they listened to the announcement and streamed out of the subway car.
It was the we...
Seeing Seok-won's reaction, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Jin-woo quickly added,
“Of course, I’m not asking you to take on these deeply troubled merchant banks without any support.”
“Go on,” Seok-won said with a calm, cool gaze.
Choi leaned forward in his seat and continue...
Kabutocho, Chuo Ward, Tokyo, was one of the leading financial hubs not only in Japan but also globally.
True to its prestigious reputation, the area was densely packed with the Tokyo Stock Exchange at its center, surrounded by the headquarters of major commercial bank...
Two days later, at the Government Complex Building No. 1 in Gwanghwamun.
Deputy Prime Minister Choi Jin-woo laid the report in his hands down on the reception table, unable to hide his surprise.
“Is this really true?”
Sitting on the sofa to his left, Vice Minister Shin Se...
It was late, already past 10 p.m.
A black Equus sedan came to a stop in front of the entrance of the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong.
The aide sitting in the front seat got out first, scanned the surroundings, and opened the rear passenger door.
A middle-aged man stepped out, wear...
October 20, 1997.
The stock market reopened after the weekend—and, as expected, it began with another drop.
The giant market boards were awash in a sea of blue, and financial stocks—especially banks and securities firms—were plunging even harder than other sec...
In the customer hall of Daheung Securities, located in Yeouido, nearly a hundred individual investors stood or sat in small groups, staring helplessly at the massive market ticker that stretched across one wall.
“Unbelievable…”
“Damn it. It’s dropping again today.”
Caught completely off guard, CEO Choi Jung-yeol widened his eyes and asked again in disbelief.
“Wh… what did you just say?”
His flustered tone made it clear he was stunned, and Seok-won, smiling calmly, reiterated his proposal.
“I said we’re offering you 15% out of ...
October 13, 1997 – Government Complex Building No. 1, Gwanghwamun
The economic situation was so dire that the media labeled the anticipated IMF bailout announcement as “the second national humiliation.” Against this backdrop, Choi Jin-woo, newly appointed as Deputy P...