Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

It was Friday which was Gun-Ho’s most favorite day in the entire week because Young-Eun would come home on Fridays. Gun-Ho and Young-Eun lived separately during the weekdays. They would meet on Friday evenings and spent the weekend together in Gun-Ho’s TowerPalace condo. This ‘weekend couple’ didn’t have to do anything special to have fun; they were just happy to see each other. Since Young-Eun was a medical doctor, she sometimes had to work a night shift on weekends, but her colleagues usually let her get away without a night shift because she was a newlywed.

That day, Gun-Ho was spending his Friday in his office on the 18th floor in GH Building reading newspapers and listening to music. He sent a text message to Young-Eun.

[Today is our happy rendezvous day. Do you want to go to Cheonggyesan Mountain tomorrow?]

Young-Eun replied.

[That sounds great. I need to do exercise to lose some weight anyway.]

Gun-Ho was thinking about what they would have for lunch tomorrow after mountain climbing when he received a call from Minister Jin-Woo Lee. He was the person who officiated Gun-Ho’s wedding.

“We don’t have a class today. What does he possibly want from me? He probably wants to ask me to do something for him.”

Gun-Ho picked up the phone wondering why he was calling him.

“Mr. Class Manager? It’s me, Mr. Class President.”

“Oh, hi. How are you? Mr. Minister?”

“I will be attending a meeting at Sejong City’s integrated government building tomorrow, and I will play golf at Emerson Country Club afterward.”

“Oh, I see.”

“The thing is that one of our golf members won’t be able to play with us. He said that something came up to take care of.”

“I see.”

“So, if you are available, would you join us to play golf? Your factory is not far from the country club. What do you think?”

Gun-Ho couldn’t give him an answer right away because he was in Seoul, not in Cheonan City. Moreover, he wanted to spend the full weekend with Young-Eun, but he didn’t want to bluntly refuse the minister’s offer.

“Well, I can use the time to take a deep rest. I will take a nap after taking a walk along Yangjae Riverside. Don’t worry about me, and go have fun.”

“I have to get up at 6 tomorrow morning. If you happen to wake up that early, please wake me up.”

“You should set the alarm. Don’t rely on me.”

Gun-Ho got up late the next morning.

He tried to get ready quickly by brushing his teeth, washing his face, and getting a shave. He had to leave without having breakfast.

“I’m leaving now. I will see you later.”

“Okay. Have fun.”

After a while, Gun-Ho came back home.

“Sh*t, I forgot my smartphone.”

When he finally went to his car at the condo’s parking lot, there was another car blocking his Land Rover. He had to push it to make an access.

When he entered the highway, he felt good though.

Fortunately, Gun-Ho didn’t arrive late at Emerson Country Club. Minister Jin-Woo Lee was there. Gun-Ho couldn’t recognize him at first because he was wearing a hat. He didn’t know that Minister Jin-Woo Lee was an overweight man until then. It didn’t show when he was wearing a business suit which was his usual outfit. He was with a lady who looked like she was in her 50s.

“Mr. Class President, you made it. Since you work around this area, I invited you to join us today. This is my wife.”

“Oh, hi. It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

Gun-Ho walked close to the lady and gave a 90-degree bow to her.

‘So, this lady is A Group’s president’s daughter!”

Gun-Ho noticed wrinkles in her neck, and he thought that no one would be able to stop the aging process.

“Honey, this is our class manager who got married the other day. He is running a company in this area.”

The lady smiled without saying a word. Even though she was from an extremely wealthy family, she didn’t look extravagant by wearing all sorts of expensive jewelry or anything like that.

“So, three of us will play today?”

“No. One more person is coming. Oh, he is over there.”

A man who looked like he was in his 50s was walking toward Gun-Ho’s party. He was in good shape and wearing gold metal frame glasses.

“Please meet the A Electronics’ CEO, CEO Park.”

‘A Electronics? The A Electronics? Oh, this guy is the CEO of A Electronics, I see. A Electronics is a large company that makes tens of trillion won per year.’

Gun-Ho gave a 90-degree to CEO Park as well.

“This country club has a great view.”

“Is this your first time here, President Goo?”

“Yes. I usually go to Sangrok Country Club in Cheonan City.”

“Oh, the one that is operated by the National Pension Service of Korea, huh?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Do you know why I chose this country club?”

“Isn’t it because it’s close to Sejong City?”

“That’s one of the reasons. I like how they designed the golf course, and also it feels cooler here.”