When lunchtime came, the female employees’ lounge tucked into one corner of the Daehung Securities building in Yeouido buzzed with chatter.
Along the walls, metal lockers allowed them to store personal belongings, and the modest space had nothing more than a cloth-covered sofa and a table...
2025-09-07 12:01:52 +0000 UTC View Post[USD/JPY: 139.87 (▼1.54)]
A spacious office with thick carpets covering the floor.
Seok-won sat alone at a white, L-shaped desk positioned to catch the sunlight. He wore a crisp white dress shirt and a silk tie adorned with the Gucci logo.
His gaze was fixed o...
2025-09-07 12:01:48 +0000 UTC View PostKremlin, Moscow – Conference Room
The high ceiling, adorned with gilded patterns, and the heavy oak panels lining the walls reflected the glory of the Russian Empire in all its splendor.
Around the long, polished mahogany table sat President Ivanov at the center, fl...
2025-09-07 12:01:43 +0000 UTC View PostLong Island, New York, LTCM Headquarters.
A heavy atmosphere filled the office as CEO Jacob Wisemann and Arthur Engoron, head of the arbitrage department, sat on the sofa.
“Contrary to our expectations, the Russian government bond spread has widened further, resulti...
2025-09-07 12:01:39 +0000 UTC View PostMoscow, Russian Federation Government Headquarters.
“What did you say?”
Igor Korotchenko, Chief of Staff, furrowed his brows and straightened his upper body, making the employee standing at the desk shrink back nervously.
Just over thirty, Korotchenko was fa...
2025-09-07 12:01:34 +0000 UTC View PostThe front door, lavishly decorated with expensive natural marble, opened silently. Seok-won stepped out of the luxury villa, accompanied by his assistant, Han Ji-sung.
He wore a perfectly tailored, custom-made suit that emphasized his frame, every line precise and impeccable, his stride exu...
2025-09-07 12:01:29 +0000 UTC View Post“This is Nasan Department Store, Nonhyeon branch.”
At the words of Son Jae-gyu, director of Midopa Department Store, Seok-won lifted his face behind his Ray-Ban sunglasses to look up.
The eight-story department store building standing before him had a respectable appearance.
“Did you just say you’re going to short Russian government bonds?”
Unlike Landon, who couldn’t hide his shock, Seok-won answered calmly.
“Yes.”
“It’s true that Russia’s situation hasn’t been great recently, but considering that, bond prices have already falle...
2025-09-07 07:44:55 +0000 UTC View PostAs the eastern sky turned a deep red with the rising morning sun, dewdrops formed like jewels on the branches of garden trees where fresh green shoots were sprouting, catching the sunlight and sparkling brilliantly.
Amid the chirping of busy little sparrows, Chairman Park Tae-hong rose earl...
2025-09-07 07:44:53 +0000 UTC View PostSeok-won sat on the sofa of his Tokyo penthouse, conversing with John Porter, the branch manager.
“Today the yen fell slightly to 128.10 against the dollar,” Seok-won said, setting down his teacup.
Porter, seated on the sofa to his left, responded immediately.
“The Japanes...
2025-09-07 07:44:51 +0000 UTC View PostHaneda International Airport, Tokyo, Japan.
A Gulfstream IV private jet, painted in a two-tone of Noter Blue and Crystal White, slowly taxied across the wide apron and came to a stop.
A moment later, the door opened, and Seok-won emerged, wearing a cashmere coat and R...
2025-09-07 07:44:48 +0000 UTC View PostThe president’s office was decorated simply but with an understated elegance that reflected the owner’s taste.
Seok-won sat behind a large L-shaped desk, wearing a white dress shirt with a gold pin securing his silk tie.
As always, the desk was covered with monitors displaying a t...
2025-09-07 07:44:46 +0000 UTC View PostYongsan, Ministry of National Defense Headquarters.
Inside the spacious office, behind a large desk, the South Korean flag and the Ministry of National Defense flag with a red background stood alongside a presidential portrait mounted on the wall.
Minister Ahn Yong-gu...
2025-09-07 07:44:44 +0000 UTC View PostOn a small bunk in the dark cabin, Woo Ho-geun lay alone.
Squinting against the sunlight pouring through the round porthole, he turned his head this way and that before finally forcing his heavy eyelids open.
“Ugh… my head.”
Clutching his skull with one hand, he pushed him...
2025-09-07 07:44:41 +0000 UTC View PostThe Blue House was a remarkably closed-off space.
Of course, it was understandable—South Korea was still technically a nation at war. But the place looked more like a fortress than a residence.
A building cut off from the world.
Anyone visiting the Blue House for the first tim...
2025-09-07 06:04:03 +0000 UTC View PostJust as I was getting used to the lavish décor of the chairman’s office, my phone rang.
It was a call from David.
“Boss! The acquisition of DHL’s U.S. freight transport division is complete.”
“It took a bit longer than I expected.”
“You said it wasn’t urge...
2025-09-07 05:53:20 +0000 UTC View PostI arrived at Captain Kang’s office before anyone else.
Until Captain Kang and Team Leader Han showed up, I quietly prepared a modest little party by myself.
Though “prepared” was a stretch—it was just a few cans of beer and my favorite snack.
“Sir! I’ve finally made ...
2025-09-07 05:53:14 +0000 UTC View PostI hadn’t stepped outside the hotel even once in the past week.
During that time, I thoroughly reviewed detailed profiles of numerous AIG employees. I was surprised to find that the company had far more outstanding talent than I had initially expected.
I sent the list I compiled over...
2025-09-07 05:53:05 +0000 UTC View PostCaptain Kang’s office.
After wrapping up the meeting with the Vice Minister of Finance and the President of KDB at the Korean-style restaurant, I headed to the office with Captain Kang.
“Are you telling me you sold an insurance certificate worth over 100 trillion won for just 25 t...
2025-09-07 05:52:55 +0000 UTC View PostWhile I was away on a business trip to the U.S., much had changed in Korea.
Taewoo Group continued its steady growth without any major disruptions, but the broader situation in Korea was different.
“Vice Chairman, the conservative bloc has won the presidential election.”
“...
2025-09-07 05:52:15 +0000 UTC View PostThe merger and acquisition process was finally complete.
The fruits I wanted to harvest hadn’t fully ripened yet, so I needed to give them more time. That gave me the perfect excuse to return to Korea.
I arrived at Incheon Airport with the Director of Planning.
A crowd of doze...
2025-09-07 05:52:03 +0000 UTC View PostChairman’s Office, Citi Group
I had come at Dimon’s formal invitation.
The place had a chaotic atmosphere, likely due to the ongoing interior renovations.
"Looks like you're aiming for a vibe similar to that of a Fintech bank."
"To change the rotten old atmosphere, you...
2025-09-07 05:51:52 +0000 UTC View PostA price negotiation that felt like it would never end.
But then Dimon delivered the final blow that brought it all to a close.
“If SAVE Investment can’t acquire AIG, our fintech bank will immediately file an insurance claim for the policies we hold with AIG.”
“Hm… Unde...
2025-09-07 05:51:44 +0000 UTC View PostA closed-door meeting was underway at the Federal Reserve headquarters.
President Bush wasn’t in attendance today, but that didn’t diminish the weight of the meeting.
In fact, it meant he had handed over full authority to the Fed and the Treasury.
It was a clear signal: he w...
2025-09-07 05:51:32 +0000 UTC View PostThe world’s largest financial group, CITI Group.
Each of its executives held enormous influence.
Wherever they went in the world, just being a CITI Group executive guaranteed them top-tier treatment.
But in the boardroom, their demeanor was meek — like lambs before a beast.<...
2025-09-07 05:51:23 +0000 UTC View PostA massive logistics warehouse.
In stark contrast, only a small number of employees.
And compared to the employees, a multitude of automated systems working nonstop.
Jeffrey proudly raised his voice as he showed me around the warehouse.
“What do you think? It’s not full...
2025-09-07 05:51:14 +0000 UTC View PostThe subprime mortgage dish was nearly cooked.
Now it just needed to simmer, and while it did, I had other matters to take care of—starting with a visit to Apple's headquarters in California.
"Kim! I heard you were in the States some time ago. What took you so long to come by?"
...
Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, D.C.
Since it was Saturday, most of the staff weren’t at work.
But outside the building, dozens of vans were standing by, and numerous security personnel were guarding the premises.
To enter the building, I had to go through doz...
U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
Since I held honorary U.S. citizenship, I was able to enter the embassy after only a minimal set of procedures.
“Ambassador Chris, it’s been a while.”
“I sincerely apologize for summoning such a busy person to the embassy. But the matter is so u...
Seok-won slipped off his shoes and stepped into the private room, guided by a female staff member through the sliding door that opened smoothly.
Seeing him, Choi Bok-rak—who had arrived earlier and was waiting—rose to his feet.
“You arrived before me. I’m sorry for being late,...
2025-09-06 18:09:31 +0000 UTC View Post