NOVEL NEXT 13
“Yoon Dokyung…”
Branch Manager Ryu Tae-hwa, having returned to his office, was reading through Dokyung’s personnel file.
“A four-year national university in the provinces, business major.”
Yuseong Investment Securities was known in the industry for its emphasis on academic background.
In fact, it was difficult to break into the financial sector without graduating from a prestigious university in Seoul.
Especially these days, the openings had become even smaller, and they rarely hired anyone other than graduates from the so-called SKY universities.
What salespeople needed was connections, and for PBs just starting in the industry, the best sales targets were connections bound by academic background.
“He interviewed for a PB position… but received a counter-offer for the operations team.”
Another peculiar point was that he had initially interviewed for a PB position.
Of course, he wasn’t the talent Yuseong was looking for, so he failed to get hired as a PB.
However, through some unknown feat, he received a counter-offer from the company and had been working at this Seongnam branch for two years.
“His certifications…”
Ryu Tae-hwa’s voice trailed off in surprise as he reached the section listing his certifications.
Perhaps because he had prepared to be a PB, there were investment specialist certifications that regular operations team employees didn’t have.
But what surprised Ryu Tae-hwa was that Dokyung not only had the essential certifications required in the securities industry but also difficult certifications where there were more failed candidates than successful ones.
Knock knock-
As he was reading through the personnel file with interest, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
As Ryu Tae-hwa spoke, the door opened and Dokyung entered the room.
“Branch Manager, you called for me?”
“Have a seat over there.”
Ryu Tae-hwa gestured as he said this, then got up from his seat and went to the refrigerator at the side of the room to take out a drink, approaching Dokyung.
“Thank you.”
Dokyung received the drink with both hands from Ryu Tae-hwa and slightly bowed his head.
“I saw earlier that the counter seemed busy.”
“Yes. It was an interesting and fun experience.”
“I heard they were customers coming to open retirement pension accounts? How many did you do?”
“Exactly thirty-two.”
When Dokyung mentioned the number of accounts opened today, Ryu Tae-hwa raised his eyebrows in surprise and nodded.
“It must have been tough, dealing with so many customers. Good job.”
“Not at all. Others helped me.”
“I heard the customers insisted on you. Are you saying you shared the performance?”
“I didn’t share the performance, I just did as much work as I could handle.”
Dokyung had tried his best to persuade the customers insisting on him to go to other counters.
The customers initially refused, but with Dokyung’s continued persuasion, they went to other counters to open accounts.
At Dokyung’s words, Ryu Tae-hwa looked at him as if he were a truly unusual person.
In the financial world, performance was money.
Rather, it was a place where even colleagues sitting next to each other competed, including the counter staff sitting before him now.
“Interesting. You’ve worked hard, but I think I need to know the reason.”
Ryu Tae-hwa continued speaking, looking at Dokyung with a stern expression.
“What happened?”
It was something Dokyung had prepared for when the customer who received his stock recommendation brought in numerous employees, but when Ryu Tae-hwa asked with a stern expression, it felt like his breath was caught in his throat.
However, Dokyung was confident because his actions weren’t intended to harm anyone.
“Actually…”
Dokyung explained to Ryu Tae-hwa everything that had happened with the customer without a shred of falsehood, and Ryu Tae-hwa’s expression changed moment by moment as he listened to the story.
“So, you made a judgment based on circumstances.”
“That’s right. All circumstances pointed to an order mistake.”
“But it could have been wrong.”
Ryu Tae-hwa continued speaking, looking at Dokyung.
“Of course, your judgment was excellent, Yoon Dokyung-ssi. No, it was perfect. Because it actually was an order mistake.”
“…”
“But the result could have been different. I’m not saying this to diminish your achievement.”
“I understand.”
Dokyung could tell.
Ryu Tae-hwa was now pointing out that customers could have suffered losses due to Dokyung’s choice.
“Let’s imagine for a moment that your judgment was wrong, and it wasn’t an order mistake but actual sell volume. Then the customers would have borne that loss entirely.”
Ryu Tae-hwa thought about how ridiculous he must look to the employee sitting in front of him, saying this.
In the securities industry where he and the subordinate employee before him worked, they always said things like this:
‘We only helped with investment; the actual investment was the customer’s decision.’
It was an irresponsible and cowardly statement.
They shouldn’t say such things to customers who invested based on reports issued by securities firms or recommendations from PBs or securities firm employees, or to customers who were angry at the securities firm for losing money because of that choice.
Even if it was hypocritical, they should have cried together in front of them and considered ways to recover the losses.
‘That’s why I might not fit in with the securities industry.’
Ryu Tae-hwa had always thought so. Perhaps his personality wasn’t suited for this securities world.
A place where the company’s profit comes first, and you have to secure your own profit based on that.
He thought the subordinate employee sitting in front of him would say something no different from that.
“If that judgment had been wrong and the customer had suffered a loss, how did you plan to deal with it, Yoon Dokyung-ssi?”
There was only a cold chill on Ryu Tae-hwa’s face.
“If you’re going to say it was just the customer’s decision…”
“Excuse me for interrupting, Branch Manager.”
Dokyung cut off Ryu Tae-hwa’s words and continued speaking.
“It’s unpleasant to think about, but if my judgment had been wrong, I would have apologized to the customer and looked for ways to mitigate the loss.”
“How?”
Ryu Tae-hwa was surprised by Dokyung’s answer.
Honestly, Dokyung had given the answer he most wanted to hear, but he still had doubts.
“How could a mere operations team employee find ways to mitigate the loss?”
“I have always worked hard at my position, doing my job.”
Dokyung continued speaking, looking at Ryu Tae-hwa with a stern expression.
“Every time customers came, I tried to remember everything about how they invest, what stocks they prefer.”
“…”
“It’s the same with this customer. If the customer’s investment tendency had differed from my judgment, I wouldn’t have recommended the investment.”
“…What kind of style are you talking about?”
“The customer always tells me they’re going to invest for the medium to long term and asks me to execute stock orders. But a month later, they come to the counter to sell, saying the long-term investment stock is boring.”
At Dokyung’s words, Ryu Tae-hwa could no longer hide his surprise.
Even though online stock trading has developed recently, allowing people to invest in stocks without visiting branches, many people still came to branch counters.
The employee sitting in front of him was talking as if he had memorized the tendencies of all the customers who came to see him.
“And I personally judged the customer’s investment tendency. This customer can wait for one month.”
Dokyung had been dealing with the old man for two years.
The old man said he would trust Dokyung, but Dokyung had also figured out everything about the old man.
“Even if Misung Technology’s stock price drop hadn’t been a trading mistake, it would have recovered fully within a month.”
“Why?”
“Because all foreign institutional counters except MG were giving buy signals.”
In fact, during that short time, almost all foreign institutions had picked up the volume sold by MG and the volume dumped by individuals and institutions when the price dropped sharply.
“Misung Technology has a dividend yield of 4%. The price in the early 20,000 won range must have looked very attractive to them.”
“…”
“Furthermore, Misung Technology has world-class customers like Future Electronics and Yuseong Semiconductor. Four months later, Future Electronics’ new process line will be completed.”
“Don’t tell me…”
“Yes, there’s no company in Korea with better technology in back-end process equipment than Misung Technology. I expected an additional supply contract disclosure to come out soon.”
It was excellent.
No, it was a perfect answer that made Ryu Tae-hwa himself want to buy Misung Technology stock if he were this employee’s customer.
“And this morning, news about the supply came out, and Misung Technology’s stock price rose again.”
In fact, an exclusive report came out saying that Misung Technology would supply test products to Future Electronics’ new semiconductor process line.
Although nothing was definitively confirmed yet, the stock price rose again, and the market accepted it as fact.
“I understand well what you’re worried about, Branch Manager. I also understand that you don’t trust my abilities.”
Dokyung continued speaking, looking at Ryu Tae-hwa, who wore a surprised expression.
“I have a favorite saying. ‘If I believe I’m right, I’ll take it to the ends of the earth until it’s proven that I’m right.’“
“Is that Peter Brown?”
“That’s right. I make numerous assumptions until I believe I’m right. The top priority is whether the customer matches the investment tendency I judge. And because it’s a conviction I reached by constantly doubting my judgment, I’m confident.”
Dokyung took a breath and looked at Ryu Tae-hwa.
“But I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“Are you saying you won’t make recommendations anymore?”
“No. I’m saying I’ll think more carefully and watch for a long time to see if the customer is right for this investment.”
The counter employee sitting in front of him was saying, just like the quote he liked, that he wasn’t wrong.
Ryu Tae-hwa looked at Dokyung for a moment and then nodded.
“I’ll be watching. You may go now.”
At Ryu Tae-hwa’s words, Dokyung stood up, bowed his head in greeting, and left the branch manager’s office.
Tap tap tap-
Long after Dokyung had left, Ryu Tae-hwa sat in his chair, deep in thought. Only the steady sound of his fingers tapping on the sofa armrest echoed through the room.
“Interesting.”
Ryu Tae-hwa, seeming to be in a good mood, got up from his seat and picked up the mobile phone on his desk, searching for a familiar number.
Then, after staring at the number for a moment, he pressed the call button.
“Vice President, this is Ryu Tae-hwa. It’s been a while since I greeted you.”
Ryu Tae-hwa continued speaking to the person on the other end of the line with a stern expression.
“I saw the company’s announcement about expanding the size of the WM Division. Yes, yes, actually, there’s an employee who I think might be good for a position change to PB. Yes, at the branch.”
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“Dokyung-ssi!”
The next day, morning.
As Dokyung was entering the branch’s main entrance, he turned around at the voice calling him, and Choi Woojin was running up, out of breath.
“How come you didn’t turn around even once when I called you like that?”
Choi Woojin caught his breath, panting, and Dokyung showed him the wireless earphone case in his hand.
“I’m sorry. I listen to the news on my way to work…”
“Geez, what were you so busy with yesterday that you left work early?”
“It wasn’t me who was busy, it seemed like you were really busy, Assistant Manager. I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye.”
The two began to enter the building where the branch was located, side by side.
“No, I was busy thanks to Dokyung-ssi. I wanted to buy you dinner.”
When Dokyung said that Misung Technology seemed like an order mistake, Choi Woojin investigated related matters and then called his clients to advise that it would be good to buy Misung Technology stock now.
Of course, not all clients bought Misung’s stock, but most of the clients who followed Choi Woojin’s words made big profits and entrusted more funds to Choi Woojin.
“Thank you. I had previously advised a client to include Misung Technology in their portfolio.”
Dokyung listened quietly to Choi Woojin’s words.
“But that client called me that day and said, ‘I bought this on your recommendation, what is this?’ I understood their upset feelings, but it felt so unkind. And I felt my self-esteem drop, wondering if my insight was this poor.”
Although he hadn’t experienced it himself, Dokyung understood Choi Woojin’s feelings.
And he understood the customer’s feelings too.
“And when I called the client to ask if they wanted to buy more after you said it seemed like a fat finger error, I still can’t forget the client’s voice treating me like I was crazy.”
Choi Woojin spoke in detail as if he wanted Dokyung to share those emotions from that time.
“I kept trying to persuade them, and the client bought a bit more. And as soon as it was revealed to be an order mistake, the client apologized to me, saying they were sorry.”
Choi Woojin’s client was also an impressive person.
Anyone would have understood that it was something they could say out of hurt feelings.
But that client acknowledged that Choi Woojin’s judgment wasn’t wrong and apologized for what they had said.
“That’s because you always deal with clients sincerely, Assistant Manager. Your sincerity must have gotten through.”
“No, it’s thanks to you, Dokyung-ssi.”
“I’m not so sure. You didn’t just blindly believe me when I said it was an order mistake. You investigated and came to your own conclusion, Assistant Manager Choi Woojin.”
“Being too modest is also a problem, Dokyung-ssi. I was completely lost that day, and if you hadn’t told me, I would have been blaming myself until MG made their announcement. That’s why I’m thanking you.”
At Choi Woojin’s words, Dokyung smiled and bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
“Alright, I’ll treat you to dinner tonight. Let’s make sure to have dinner together before going home.”
“Yes, have a good day.”
Dokyung greeted Choi Woojin and they each headed to their own spaces.
“Good morning.”
“Oh, Dokyung-ssi, welcome.”
Dokyung greeted his senior colleague sitting next to him and put his bag down at his seat.
“I’ll go change my clothes and be right back.”
“No, no. Dokyung-ssi.”
As Dokyung was about to head to the changing room to change into his uniform, his senior colleague stopped him.
“The branch manager said to come to his office as soon as you arrive.”
“The Branch Manager?”
“Yes, hurry and go.”
“Thank you.”
Dokyung bowed his head in greeting and headed towards the branch manager’s office.
“I wonder what the problem is this time…”
He recalled his conversation with Ryu Tae-hwa that day. After finishing the conversation and coming out, he felt relieved, but he kept worrying if he had overstepped his bounds.
Knock knock knock-
Standing in front of the branch manager’s office, Dokyung took a deep breath, knocked, and then opened the door to the branch manager’s office.
“Branch Manager, you called for me?”
“Ah, Yoon Dokyung-ssi. Good morning.”
Ryu Tae-hwa greeted Dokyung like that and got up from his seat, approaching him.
Then he handed Dokyung a piece of paper.
“This, I’m not sure if you’re interested, but if you are, I’ll recommend you to headquarters.”
At Ryu Tae-hwa’s words, Dokyung received the document with a puzzled expression and began reading it, and soon his eyes widened.