Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

While Chairman Lee continued talking, Manager Gweon stood up, poured water into a paper cup, and handed it to Chairman Lee.

“Oh, young men, I think I was told your names, or not.”

“I am Gun-Ho Goo.”

“My name is Jong-Suk Park.”

“Boogi is part of accountancy; there was a word for it…”

“Is it computerized accounting? When I went to the technical training institute the government had sponsored, I saw the course name, Computerized Accounting Level 2.”

Jong-Suk said, “That’s right; that’s it, computerized accounting. Gun-Ho, you should learn that.”

Chairman Lee said slapping his lap, “I heard about computerized accounting. Usually, females study it, hoping to get a job in bookkeeping, don’t they? I am not good with numbers. I am not even good at math.”

“You don’t have to be good at math as long as you know how to do addition and subtraction. You don’t have to be an expert, but you will have to understand accounting systems and know how to read financial statements. Those are essential skills you need to know in order to run a big company and be wealthy.”

“Ehi, thank you for saying that, but how can a man like me possibly run a big company? I was born poor. I barely make ends meet. I understand Samsung chairman Byung-Chul, Lee, and Hyundai Group chairman Joo-Young Jung studied accounting when they were young, but that was a long time ago. I will use your advice to cheer me up though.”

“That’s not it.” Chairman Lee shook his head again from side to side. “ShinWangJaeWang fate! I want to see how you, who was born poor, develop your life with your ShinWangJaeWang fate.”

“To be honest with you, my parents are living in an apartment barely paying their monthly rent. I didn’t go to a decent college, and I have no special skills or certificates I can show off. All I have is good physical health, so I work at a factory with a monthly salary of 1,800,000 won. Master Park from Gangnam philosophy hall and Chairman Lee seem to give young people false hope.”

“That’s not true.” Chairman Lee again shook his head “We will be fishing on the other side of the lake. Since we do lure fishing, we don’t want to disturb you and Manager Gweon’s bait fishing here.”

“Mr. Goo! People say a person born to a poor family cannot rise to the top anymore even though it happened in the past. They say we are living in an era where the economic ladder to climb up is broken for them, but I am intrigued by you and your fate, and I want to see how your life unfolds. Haha.”

“You have a fantastic day, Chairman Lee. We will be on the other side of the lake.”

“I hope you catch a bass the size of a forearm.”

Gun-Ho had given a lot of thought to it but still couldn’t decide. Gun-Ho received a call from Jong-Suk.

“Bro? Did you decide?”

“Not yet…”

“You haven’t yet? The learning card you have from the Career Center expires after a year. You have to take classes within a year if you want to learn for free!”

“Did you decide?”

“Decide? It has been a few days already since I started a welding skills course. With this welding certificate, if I don’t pass the police exam, I think I will try to go to Australia with a Working Holiday visa.”

Gun-Ho finally decided to learn forklift driving skills he could use at the factory right away. Team leaders at a factory should know how to drive a forklift truck and know welding skills.

It took around 2 weeks to complete forklift driving training if one had a Class 1 driver’s license. The education center issued certificates, so it was convenient. Also, the course was free.

“Is it a heavy equipment education center? Do you provide a course at night for forklift or excavator driving?”

“Of course. We do have night courses. Since it starts on the 15th, you should register now. Do you have a Class 1 driver’s license?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then come quick. Once this course is closed, there will be no more night course this month.”

“Where should I go?”

“We are located in Baekseok Town. I will text you the address. You will be able to find it using GPS navigator.”

“Will someone be there at night for registration?”

“Of course. You should hurry.”

Gun-Ho felt better thinking about learning forklift driving. He actually knew how to drive a forklift, but there was a huge difference between having a license and having none.

“Team leader Kim, Team leader Park, you jerks! You didn’t even let me touch the forklift. I will have a license soon. F*ckers!”

Gun-Ho picked up a free newspaper with a classified section on the way back home from a convenience store after buying cigarettes.

“There are several openings for workers who can drive a forklift. Once I get the certificate, maybe I should get one of these jobs; I don’t have to suffer at this factory. What? Bookkeeping position? Males are welcome?”

Gun-Ho gazed at the job advertisement.

“They do hire men for bookkeeping…”

Gun-Ho was immersed in thought with his arms folded.