New Employee Kim Chul-soo

Chapter 22

“What’s this?”

Yoon Jin-sook asked while looking at the mail Kim Chul-soo had brought out.

Kim Chul-soo, who was eating Korean melons and watching TV in the living room with Young-soo, said,

“It’s for a health checkup.”

“Health checkup?”

“Mom, you’re not getting any younger. You should get one every year.”

“Why should we do something like this in our situation? It’s just a waste of money.”

“Hey! Just take it if your son is offering. You need to stay healthy so I can make a lot of money and show my filial piety later. And you need to see your grandchildren.”

Young-soo backed up Chul-soo’s words.

“Mom, it’ll take me some time.”

With both her sons saying that, Yoon Jin-sook had nothing more to say.

“But, isn’t it scary if I get this and find out I’m sick?”

“It’s better to find out early and get treated early. It’s scarier to have a disease you don’t know about.”

“Okay. Thank you! My son.”

“It’s in two weeks.”

“Okay. Okay. Thanks to my son, Mom is living the good life.”

Yoon Jin-sook nodded with a happy expression.

Young-soo looked at Chul-soo and asked,

“Hyeong, what about me?”

“You’re young, you punk. You’ll be fine no matter what, so don’t expect anything.”

“Wow…… that hurts.”

It’s All About Me

Managing Director Yoo Young-sik left his office after finishing his work.

“Managing Director Yoo-nim.”

He turned around at the voice behind him to see Deputy General Manager Park Joon-hyung waiting.

“Deputy General Manager Park, what brings you here?”

“There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

The fact that he was waiting without going through his secretary meant this was an unofficial meeting.

He was someone who moved as President Yoo Ji-hoon’s hands and feet, so he couldn’t be ignored easily.

“Is that so? Let’s talk over dinner.”

The two went to a nearby Japanese restaurant, ordered a plate of sashimi, and lightly exchanged drinks.

“What is it that you wanted to see me about?”

“It’s about Team Leader Ahn Jeong-gyu’s promotion being confirmed in this personnel review season.”

“Ah? Team Leader Ahn. He works well. He deserves the promotion.”

Managing Director Yoo Young-sik nodded and answered casually.

“However, Team Leader Ahn Jeong-gyu is aligned with Senior Managing Director Choi Young-joon.”

Of course, Managing Director Yoo Young-sik knew that as well.

“So what’s the point you’re trying to make?”

“If Senior Managing Director Choi Young-joon continues to hold his position like this, it will be difficult for Managing Director Yoo-nim to get promoted as well.”

At Deputy General Manager Park Joon-hyung’s words, Managing Director Yoo Young-sik took a sip of his drink with an unchanged expression.

Managing Director Yoo Young-sik was one of the few people who became an executive solely based on his skills, without any connections.

Two years ago, there was talk of his promotion to Senior Managing Director, but Choi Young-joon had snatched that position.

He was someone who knew nothing about the general trading business, so Yoo Young-sik thought he would leave after a year or two to receive management training at another company, but he was still holding onto that position.

“Hmm. What’s the problem with that? He’s the Chairman’s son, so he’s certainly qualified for the position.”

“But if Team Leader Ahn Jeong-gyu is promoted to Deputy General Manager, the next step is to become an executive. If Team Leader Ahn Jeong-gyu, who has only ever been in the sales team, becomes an executive, he will likely take over Managing Director Yoo-nim’s position. Senior Managing Director Choi Young-joon will try to support Team Leader Ahn, his own man.”

“Hmm.”

A company is a living organism whose ultimate goal is survival.

Survival is the ultimate goal for employees and executives alike.

Park Joon-hyung believed that no one could be free from this, and as expected, a dark shadow appeared on Managing Director Yoo Young-sik’s face.

With the deadwood at the top not moving out, the only way for Managing Director Yoo Young-sik, who had no connections, to survive was to cut down the sprouts that were trying to rise from below.

Park Joon-hyung watched Managing Director Yoo Young-sik’s expression and poured more alcohol into his empty glass.

‘Ahn Jeong-gyu. You brought this upon yourself.’

******

Kim Chul-soo, who arrived at the company at 7 a.m. every day to exercise, was listening to a French conversation lecture on his MP3 player while working out.

He didn’t even know someone was approaching him.

Shin Byung-hoon, intrigued by the young employee muttering in French at the gym in the early morning, approached him.

“Who are you?”

At the polite voice, Kim Chul-soo took out his earphones, turned off the treadmill, and quickly turned his head.

Upon seeing Shin Byung-hoon, Kim Chul-soo stared blankly as if he had seen someone he missed, then quickly bowed.

“Good morning, Vice President-nim! I’m Kim Chul-soo, an employee from Sales Team 5.”

Shin Byung-hoon tilted his head, seeing Kim Chul-soo greet him and immediately address him as Vice President.

This was his first time entering this building as Vice President after being transferred from another affiliate.

But for a young employee, who had no chance of interacting with him, to greet him with such a welcoming expression……

“Oh, okay. But you seem to know me. Have we met somewhere before?”

Kim Chul-soo smiled wryly to himself and quickly thought.

“I saw the personnel announcement posted on the intranet yesterday and looked you up.”

Usually, employees rarely bothered to look up the new Vice President.

This was because they had no reason to interact with him unless they were executives or team leaders.

That’s why, even in his previous company, there were often employees who didn’t recognize him as Vice President.

Shin Byung-hoon looked at Kim Chul-soo once again and nodded.

“You come in early to exercise, familiarize yourself with the new Vice President…… you’re a diligent young man. What was your name again?”

“I’m Kim Chul-soo, an employee from Sales Team 5.”

“Yes. Employee Kim Chul-soo. I apologize for interrupting your workout. I was just looking around the company where I’ll be working.”

Hearing this, Kim Chul-soo’s eyes sparkled as he said,

“If you need it, would it be alright if I showed you around?”

Shin Byung-hoon was quite pleased with Kim Chul-soo’s proactive attitude.

“Is that alright?”

“Of course, Vice President-nim. If you walk around the building with me, you’ll never get lost again.”

Shin Byung-hoon chuckled and nodded.

Kim Chul-soo quickly went to change his clothes after briefly washing off his sweat.

‘Han-Young Corporation. The first impression is not bad.’

******

The business plan for the popcorn machine, created by Kim Chul-soo, received final approval from the Finance, Legal, and Risk Management teams and was passed on to the Head of the Sales Division for approval.

If the Head of the Sales Division approved it, it would be the first time in Han-Young Corporation’s history that a new employee would be in charge of a solo project in such a short time after joining the company.

Right before that record was about to be set.

“No. What do you mean? Transfer it to Sales Team 3? Team Leader Ahn Jeong-gyu handled everything from finding the buyer to creating this. He did the business plan, financial analysis, risk management table, and all the necessary documents himself and received approval from the Finance, Legal, and Risk Management teams. To transfer it now! This is too much, isn’t it?”

When Ahn Jeong-gyu strongly protested, Managing Director Yoo Young-sik closed his mouth, and instead, Deputy General Manager Yang Chun-sik of Sales Team 3, which focused on machinery and electronics, jumped up and pointed at Ahn Jeong-gyu, shouting.

“Hey, Team Leader Ahn! How dare you speak to the Head of the Sales Division like that? What do you guys, who only deal with corn powder, know about handling machinery! Why are you handling machinery? If there was a deal like this, you should have passed it to us before proceeding!”

However, Ahn Jeong-gyu ignored Yang Chun-sik and appealed to Managing Director Yoo Young-sik.

“According to the company manual, the division of tasks is only formal. There is no procedural problem with our Team 5 taking charge. Head of the Sales Division-nim!”

Yang Chun-sik walked towards Ahn Jeong-gyu’s seat and shouted.

“This punk! You’ve gone too far. Do you think this is your home? How dare you shout here!”

“Stop it!”

Managing Director Yoo Young-sik slammed his hand on the desk and shouted, silencing both the agitated Yang Chun-sik and Ahn Jeong-gyu.

“This is a deal that needs to be continuously managed for five years, and it also has the potential for new business expansion, so it’s too much for a new employee to handle. And if there’s a problem with the machine, can a new employee handle all the risks?”

“That’s……”

As Ahn Jeong-gyu was about to speak, Managing Director Yoo cut him off.

“Considering the after-sales risks, it’s right for Sales Team 3, which frequently deals with machinery, to take over. Understand that, and don’t bring up this matter again.”

After the meeting, Ahn Jeong-gyu entered the office, clenching his teeth to suppress his frustration.

Manager Pyo Il-soo, Assistant Manager Lee Jun-hak, and Employee Kim Chul-soo were gathered in the office, ready to celebrate with cheers, but seeing Team Leader Ahn Jeong-gyu’s expression, they immediately switched gears.

“Did something bad happen?”

Manager Pyo Il-soo asked cautiously, and instead of answering, Ahn Jeong-gyu slammed his fist on the desk.

Then, he closed his eyes, let out a deep sigh, and opened his tightly closed mouth.

“Kim Chul-soo.”

The moment Kim Chul-soo heard Ahn Jeong-gyu’s low voice, he roughly guessed how things had gone.

“The popcorn machine has been transferred to Team 3. Just know that.”

At Ahn Jeong-gyu’s words, Kim Chul-soo answered calmly.

“Yes. I understand, Team Leader-nim.”

Lee Jun-hak, who knew how much Kim Chul-soo had struggled for a week to work on this project, sighed deeply, patted his shoulder, and sat down.

Manager Pyo Il-soo also sighed, shaking his head.

“Don’t be too upset. It’s something you experience often in company life.”

“Yes. I’m fine, Manager Pyo-nim.”

Kim Chul-soo smiled as if he really was fine.

“This kid…… his mental strength is……”

Pyo Il-soo walked over to Team Leader Ahn Jeong-gyu.

“Team Leader-nim, let’s get some fresh air.”

At those words, Ahn Jeong-gyu jumped up, and Lee Jun-hak, after observing the situation, followed them.

In sports, coaches often tell their players:

━Fouls that the referee doesn’t see are also part of the game.

In a game where victory and defeat are at stake, all sorts of fouls exist, and in a company where survival is key, stealing credit happens in all kinds of ways.

Stealing ideas is child’s play.

When people experience this, they often become discouraged, quit their jobs, or lose interest in company life.

Above all, it’s a fatal blow to passionate new employees who are unaware of office politics.

But everyone does it to survive.

Kim Chul-soo chuckled as he watched his team members leave in a group.

It seemed like they were giving him some personal time to cope with the situation.

However, Kim Chul-soo was not disappointed or despairing as they thought, and he had no intention of letting this project be taken away.

******

The three men went up to the rooftop and leaned against the railing, cigarettes dangling from their lips.

“Head of the Sales Division-nim, this time it’s a bit strange. He’s not the kind of person to do this.”

Assistant Manager Lee Jun-hak, seemingly frustrated, lit Ahn Jeong-gyu’s cigarette as he spoke.

“I’m worried that Chul-soo might be hurt. Didn’t Jo In-hyeok leave the company after experiencing something similar?”

Manager Pyo also spoke quietly in a subdued voice, as if he felt suffocated.

Ahn Jeong-gyu took a long drag of his cigarette without answering.

‘If you can’t handle it, you’re incompetent.’

Judging from the Park Joon-hyung spy incident, Kim Chul-soo wasn’t the type to be easily hurt and leave the company.

And no matter how much he thought about it, Managing Director Yoo’s decision was strange.

‘Something’s going on.’

The three smoked their cigarettes in silence for a while.

Then, Lee Jun-hak spoke.

“Could it be that he’s trying to keep you in check, Team Leader-nim?”

Ahn Jeong-gyu looked at Lee Jun-hak at those words.

“If the results of this project were added, our team would have achieved the highest performance among the sales teams. And you would be promoted, Team Leader-nim. But Managing Director Yoo Young-sik is stuck as Head of the Sales Division because he doesn’t have any connections.”

The moment he heard Lee Jun-hak’s words, Ahn Jeong-gyu’s frustration cleared up.

Manager Pyo, who had little interest in office politics, was still smoking with a sullen face.

‘That’s right! That explains it. But why today? He hasn’t been like this for the past three years.’

There must have been something that changed Managing Director Yoo Young-sik’s mind.

And Park Joon-hyung kept appearing in Ahn Jeong-gyu’s mind.

Ahn Jeong-gyu took a long drag of his cigarette and looked down from the rooftop, saying,

“Assistant Manager Lee.”

“Yes, Team Leader-nim.”

“When are you planning to choose a side?”

Manager Pyo Il-soo’s eyes widened as he looked at the two.