After wrapping up the negotiations, I returned to my office.
Vice Chairman Han was already waiting with an iced Americano in hand.
I downed it in one go, not stopping at the coffee itself but crunching the ice cubes between my teeth.
“Did the negotiations not go well, sir?â...
Russ, the chairman of Novo Nordisk, visited Korea.
Since the matter was related to Centurion rather than the Taewoo Group, we welcomed him at Centurion’s headquarters.
“It’s a pleasure to see you in Korea. If you had contacted me, I would have gone to Denmark myself. My apolog...
The reaction had been overwhelmingly strong since morning.
Not only the morning newspapers but also the morning news broadcasts, portal sites, and social media were filled with news about the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
“Chairman, Taewoo Entertainment’s stock h...
Electric vehicles were still an unfamiliar field.
Most consumers tended to stick with products they knew, and anything that deviated too much from existing specifications was often ignored.
But there were exceptions.
Loyal Apple customers, who loved novelty and innovation, we...
Ever since arriving in Korea, chaos had erupted.
Even though I returned quietly on a private jet, somehow an enormous crowd and a swarm of reporters were waiting outside the airport.
Captain Kang and the staff employed disruption tactics that could have been straight out of a covert...
The day to return to Korea was drawing near.
Before leaving, there were still matters to handle, so early in the morning I went to Amazon headquarters with President Han.
“President Han, aren’t you curious why I suddenly wanted to visit Amazon headquarters?”
“To check...
The economic crisis caused by the Lehman collapse was not limited to the United States.
Its effects were felt across Asia and even Europe, and every company was fighting desperately to secure cash liquidity.
In such circumstances, the power of money multiplied many times over.
A conference room at GM headquarters.
Finally, the ceremony for the acquisition of GM shares was taking place here.
Attending the event were myself, Dimon, the alliance with Warren Buffett, government officials, and the president of the United Auto Workers.
For media distribu...
The White House moved incredibly fast.
Less than two weeks after informing the Treasury Secretary of Taewoo Group’s intent to acquire GM, the automaker filed for bankruptcy protection.
“GM’s stock has really fallen into the cents range.”
“It’s still dropping. It m...
The heated debate dragged on for some time.
This was inevitable, as the Obama administration had appointed many politicians from the previous government, resulting in a clash of opinions.
There was only one person who could bring order to this situation—President Obama himself.
<... 2025-09-21 05:38:55 +0000 UTC View PostAfter the meeting with the Treasury Secretary-designate, we returned to the hotel.
In the car, Han quietly processed his thoughts, and it wasn’t until we entered the hotel that he spoke.
“Do you think the U.S. government will accept your conditions, Chairman? As Secretary Timoth...
I arrived at Gimpo Airport for my long-term assignment to the United States.
I didn’t go to Incheon, which has the most flight routes, because I would be taking a private jet.
“Everything is ready. You may board now,” said Captain Kang.
“The procedure really is fast. ...
Chairwoman Chu Young-hee of Hyunjin Shipping.
She was in an extremely precarious situation.
After Chairman Jo’s death, various parties were maneuvering to seize control, and Hyunjin Shipping’s financial difficulties were growing more severe by the day.
As a result, the me...
One week later.
David arrived in Korea.
We waited for him in Captain Kang’s office alongside President Han, and in David’s hands was the contract for the OLED core technology.
“Boss! You’re looking well. America is like a war zone, but it seems Korea is still a safe h...
Many corporate tycoons who had once dominated the business world in the 1990s were now gone.
Most had either passed away from old age or stepped down from their positions as heads of their companies.
Even within the Taewoo Group, my grandfather had retired this year, taking on the t...
By now, only one month remained in 2008.
It was the time to wrap up the year and wait for the new one, but in just the next two months, tremendous events awaited me.
Tonight, I had stayed up all night in the office with President Han, watching the results of the U.S. presidential el...
A quiet villa near Gyeonggi Province.
I had come here to meet Governor Choi Jaeseok of Gyeonggi.
“I’m sorry, Chairman Kim. I should have come up to Seoul, but I feel bad for making such a busy man come all the way to Gyeonggi,” he said.
“What are you apologizing for b...
A few days later.
President Han came to deliver a report on the currency swap.
“Chairman, David has been reaching out to political circles, and even Dimon has joined in. They’ve decided to negotiate directly with the White House. The House members are already on board, and it lo...
A quiet restaurant in Jongno.
It was a favorite spot of the Chief Presidential Secretary, who had invited me.
The place was empty, as if every other guest had been sent away. Even then, we were guided all the way to a private room at the far end.
“Chairman Kim, you’re here! ...
2025-09-21 05:37:17 +0000 UTC View PostThe exchange rate was climbing by the day.
What had been 900 won surged past 1,000 within a month, and another month later it was on the verge of hitting 1,400.
The happiest man in this situation was, of course, President Han Junghoon.
“Chairman! The exchange rate has final...
Shinhwa Bank, one of Korea’s top five financial institutions, had assets exceeding 200 trillion won. It was, in many ways, a financial kingdom.
The second-in-command of that kingdom, Deputy CEO Jeong Taesub, wielded enormous influence not just within Shinhwa Bank but across the entire Kor...
2025-09-21 05:36:56 +0000 UTC View PostThe next day.
I went to Captain Kang’s traditional Korean restaurant for lunch with Warren Buffett.
“I hope traditional Korean dishes suit your taste.”
“It’s a bit too much food for just two people. A hamburger or a piece of steak would have been enough, but you’ve p...
2025-09-21 05:36:52 +0000 UTC View PostWednesday.
Outside the bustling Taewoo Group headquarters.
I watched the scene from the window of my office while talking with the Chief of Planning.
“Everything seems well-prepared.”
“Yesterday morning, we released the information to all media outlets. News stories ...
2025-09-21 05:36:39 +0000 UTC View PostA quiet villa near Gyeonggi Province.
Captain Kang was personally supervising the staff, making sure the villa’s security was tight.
Since a meeting with Gyeonggi Governor and Assemblyman Choi Jae-seok was scheduled, security had to be tighter than usual.
“Congratulations on...
2025-09-21 05:36:35 +0000 UTC View PostThe meeting with Warren Buffett happened sooner than I had expected.
Of course, I had gone directly to Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, which made it possible to schedule the appointment quickly.
“Boss! This is the Berkshire Hathaway headquarters.”
“It’s a little different f...
2025-09-21 05:36:19 +0000 UTC View PostA Hawaiian traditional food restaurant.
The walls were lined with carvings and decorations symbolising Hawaii, and at the center of it all, Senator Obama was waiting for me without a single aide by his side.
“Thank you so much for inviting me. With the election so close, I know how ...
2025-09-21 05:36:07 +0000 UTC View PostBecoming chairman brought more than a few inconveniences.
When I was vice chairman, my grandfather was still around, so I could travel on business without worry.
Now I had to coordinate every schedule before I could even take a few days on a trip to the United States.
“Boss...
Crossing Mapo Bridge into Yeouido, one could see a skyscraper standing tall among the drab concrete buildings, its glass walls glowing golden in the morning sunrise.
It was none other than Seoul’s landmark, the 63 Building.
As a side note, the 63 Building, originally built as the he...
2025-09-20 14:58:16 +0000 UTC View PostA few days after the renegotiations with the shipping companies, I found myself facing yet another potential renegotiation.
“Novo Nordisk has sent their final notice. Along with a demand to renegotiate the Yugobin shares, they’ve filed a lawsuit.”
“Seems they’ve finally fo...
The size of a shipping company was determined by its carrying capacity.
Simply put, it referred to the total weight of cargo a company’s ships could transport, and more specifically, the available space in vessels ready for immediate operation.
Hyunjin Shipping and Hyundai Shipping ...
2025-09-20 14:48:43 +0000 UTC View Post