NOVEL NEXT 18
“Ah, I wonder what will rise today…”
For office worker Park Seok-hwan, the commute of over an hour was quite a ordeal.
Although his company was in Seoul, due to the exorbitant housing prices there, he had to find a home that matched his budget, eventually settling for a place in the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.
“The stock market hasn’t been very exciting lately…”
Park Seok-hwan had been investing in stocks for the past year, hoping for a better life. Whenever he heard people around him bragging about how much they’d made from stocks or what car they’d bought, he felt left out.
‘Am I the only one who’s too indifferent?’
He began to take an interest in stocks after seeing those around him profiting from them and their lives becoming more comfortable.
However, as a stock market newbie, he lacked information, and since he was investing only a portion of his salary, his seed money was small.
One day, while searching for information, he bought a stock recommended by a famous YouTuber and made a tidy profit. Since then, he couldn’t stay away from YouTube.
“Even YouTubers are being cautious these days.”
With the stock market performing poorly, even YouTubers were holding back on their recommendations.
Of course, he knew that studying was essential for stock investing, and he had bought and studied several investment books.
But apart from his commute time, he didn’t have much time to study, and YouTube was convenient for studying during his commute.
“Let’s see…”
As Park Seok-hwan habitually scrolled through the algorithm-recommended videos, an interesting one caught his eye.
“A mock investment competition?”
The video thumbnail was of such high quality that he clicked on it as if entranced, and from the start, he felt drawn into the video.
‘Securities firm employees are having a mock investment competition?’
Park Seok-hwan watched the video with growing interest. He knew that there were many YouTube contents similar to TV entertainment programs these days.
But it was surprising to see a famous domestic securities firm bringing in their own employees for a mock stock investment competition and editing it like an entertainment program.
[I’m keeping an eye on Yuseong Semiconductor.]
“Huh.”
Watching the video, Park Seok-hwan couldn’t help but chuckle.
The only participant introduced as a counter staff in the video mentioned Yuseong Semiconductor.
Even a stock market newbie like himself knew what was happening with semiconductor stocks right now…
‘Is he investing in some foreign stock market or what?’
[I’m focusing on Hanseong Shipbuilding.]
In the video, an employee who looked every bit like a securities firm worker mentioned Hanseong Shipbuilding.
“Of course, it’s shipbuilding stocks.”
With the recent boom in the shipbuilding industry, he had also included shipbuilding stocks in his portfolio. Thanks to those stocks, his returns weren’t in the negative.
Pleased that his judgment seemed correct, Park Seok-hwan smiled and continued watching the video.
[Not confident, are you?]
[Excuse me?]
[Hanseong Shipbuilding. You bought it after hearing me mention it, didn’t you?]
[Your self-consciousness is too strong.]
“Wow…”
The scenes playing out in the video were even rawer than those in TV audition programs.
“Why is this so entertaining? Is the next episode up yet?”
Park Seok-hwan scrolled down to hit the subscribe button and checked for other videos on the channel.
“Ah, episode 2 isn’t up yet…”
Licking his lips in disappointment, Park Seok-hwan copied the video link and logged into a stock community he frequented.
[Securities firms are doing this kind of thing these days. So entertaining youtu.be/6n1W…]
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“Sunbae! It’s huge!”
“Hey, calm down. I’ve seen it too.”
A week later, Lee Seong-hyun, an assistant manager in Yuseong Investment Securities’ PR team, shrugged his shoulders at his junior colleague who rushed towards him excitedly as soon as he arrived at work.
“How many new subscribers?”
“Two thousand!”
“Really? We barely managed to gather 10,000 subscribers over two years despite trying everything, and now we’ve gained 2,000 just from the first episode.”
“The reaction in stock communities is insane right now.”
“Is that so?”
Lee Seong-hyun moved his computer mouse to search for the mock investment competition on a popular stock community.
While it wasn’t exactly a hot topic, there were remnants of discussions that had briefly surged.
“On YouTube, the comments are all asking when the next episode will be up.”
“Let’s announce that episode 2 will be uploaded today.”
“I’ve already done that.”
“What else can we do…”
Lost in thought, Lee Seong-hyun snapped his fingers as he looked at his junior.
“Doesn’t episode 2 show that vice president’s expression when he looks at Yoon Dokyung?”
Lee Seong-hyun recalled the moment during the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) when Sim Ju-won looked sharply at Dokyung while questioning him.
“Yes, it does.”
“Cut that part short and upload it as a Short. Let’s make use of the Shorts feature we’ve been wondering how to utilize.”
As they say, make hay while the sun shines. Lee Seong-hyun didn’t want to miss this opportunity.
“Also, let’s run a YouTube channel subscription event on Facebook and Instagram with prizes.”
“Prizes?”
“Yes, make it a lottery and gather popular items from our previous events like iPads and such. Draft a proposal.”
“Will management approve it?”
His junior seemed worried, given that their social media events hadn’t performed well recently.
“We have results now, don’t we? Our subscribers have increased dramatically overnight. I’ll prepare the expense approval document. You just draft the proposal first.”
“Alright, I understand.”
As his junior bowed slightly and returned to his desk, Lee Seong-hyun grinned at his computer screen.
‘Finally, things seem to be looking up.’
Everyone had opposed this project, but he had pushed for it, and even the skeptical vice president had trusted his determination and left it to him.
He had thought it was his last chance, but the atmosphere was incredibly positive from the start.
“Sunbae.”
Just as Lee Seong-hyun was feeling pleased, another team member approached him with an urgent expression.
“What is it?”
“Remember you asked me to look into Yoon Dokyung-ssi during the MMI?”
“Ah… Oh! Yes, about what happened at that branch? What the vice president mentioned?”
“Yes, it turns out to be quite a big deal.”
The team member handed over a document, which Lee Seong-hyun quickly read through.
“What is this?”
Lee Seong-hyun looked at the team member with a bewildered expression.
“So, that fat finger incident from a while back, he knew about it in advance and recommended the stock to a client… isn’t that right?”
The document linked Dokyung’s name to a topic that had recently heated up the stock market.
Although their department wasn’t directly related to stocks, even PR team members working at a securities firm couldn’t have missed it. They had been creating card news about it for social media.
“Yes, that’s correct. The client made a significant profit from it.”
“Has this been cross-checked?”
“I’ve verified it with two employees from the Seongnam branch. Apparently, everyone at the branch knows about it now.”
Hearing his team member’s words, Lee Seong-hyun still seemed to be in disbelief, lost in thought.
“Come on, sunbae. He’s Vice President Sim Ju-won’s pick. Why are you hesitating? It’s true, I’m telling you…”
“Wait a minute.”
Lee Seong-hyun furrowed his brow, stopping his team member’s words, and after some thought, he spoke.
“Hey, if Yoon Dokyung wins… wouldn’t that be an amazing story?”
“What?”
“Of course, Yoon Dokyung would have to perform well to win, but imagine a branch counter staff beating all the headquarters employees and winning.”
At Lee Seong-hyun’s words, the team member who had been pondering opened his eyes wide.
“That would be huge on YouTube.”
“Exactly. I just realized why we’ve been struggling all this time.”
“What do you mean…”
“It’s about the people. The people in our videos. Where did we find someone like Yoon Dokyung who just oozes stories?”
Lee Seong-hyun felt like rushing to the office right now to hug Dokyung.
“Let’s go big on this. Go to the Seongnam branch. Interview the employees there, find out what Yoon Dokyung was like on a daily basis, get everything.”
“Are we going to spotlight Yoon Dokyung-ssi?”
“Yes, we’re focusing episode 3 on Yoon Dokyung’s story. Move quickly.”
Lee Seong-hyun, who had been just hoping to keep receiving his salary, was now enjoying this project itself.
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“It’s out already?”
-That’s what I’m saying. Ugh, that guy is so unpleasant.
Dokyung, on his way to Yuseong Investment Securities headquarters, smiled as he talked on the phone, receiving a welcome call after a long time.
“Choi Woojin-ssi, aren’t you getting too invested?”
-Dokyung-ssi, you really hit back well. That part where you said, ‘Your self-consciousness is too strong.’
“That was in the video too?”
He knew everything was being recorded on video in the office, but he didn’t expect such scenes to be included.
-You know what, everyone’s saying it’s more entertaining than those audition programs on cable TV. And the funniest thing is…
Dokyung focused on Choi Woojin’s excited voice coming through the phone.
-Yesterday, Branch Manager Ryu Tae-hwa asked me if Yuseong Semiconductor was really okay.
Choi Woojin conveyed this with laughter, and Dokyung couldn’t help but chuckle as well.
“The branch manager did?”
-Yeah. By the way, Dokyung-ssi, Yuseong Semiconductor is really okay, right?
“Yes, don’t worry.”
Everyone around him had been concerned about the Yuseong Semiconductor stock Dokyung was holding.
Since the start of the mock investment competition, Yuseong Semiconductor had been fluctuating, trapped at a certain price point.
-Alright, if Yoon Dokyung says it’s fine, then it must be. Everyone at the branch is rooting for you. Even the clients you used to deal with are asking about you.
“I’ll work hard.”
-Working hard isn’t enough. Make sure you come back as the winner.
“Yes, I understand.”
After ending the call with Choi Woojin, Dokyung felt a warmth in his heart knowing that everyone at the branch and even the clients were cheering for him.
“Oh, Dokyung-ssi. Welcome.”
“Good morning, Lee Yeon-ji sunbae.”
Dokyung sat down and checked the rankings up to the previous day.
[1st place Lee Chang-jae +9.53%]
.
.
[4th place Yoon Dokyung +4.82%]
[5th place Lee Yeon-ji +3.94%]
Five business days had passed since the start of the mock investment competition, and first-place Lee Chang-jae was surging ahead frighteningly.
He certainly had an eye for stocks that deserved recognition.
“Lee Yeon-ji sunbae, your return rate has improved a lot.”
Dokyung smiled as he spoke to Lee Yeon-ji sitting next to him.
“I know, right? Maybe it’s because I didn’t do anything… By the way, Dokyung-ssi, did you see the YouTube video that was uploaded?”
“I haven’t watched it.”
“Why not?”
At Lee Yeon-ji’s question, Dokyung pointed at the cameras installed throughout the room.
“If I watch it, I might become too conscious of those and act like a robot.”
“Oh, you worry too much… The person who should really be worried is over there.”
Following Lee Yeon-ji’s nod, Dokyung looked towards one side of the office where Lee Chang-jae was smiling and chatting, surrounded by other participants.
“The comments are full of praise for that guy. His head must be swelling.”
Lee Yeon-ji shook her head as if the sight irritated her, while Dokyung smiled and looked at his computer monitor.
“Are you holding today too, Dokyung-ssi?”
“Yes, it’s only been five business days. We need to observe a bit more.”
“I think I’ll just take it easy here too.”
Dokyung smiled gently at Lee Yeon-ji’s words. It was really helpful to have someone like Lee Yeon-ji in the same space.
Bzzt-
As Dokyung was preparing for today’s market, he reflexively checked his phone screen upon hearing the vibration.
[This is the VIP Service that always supports you.]
‘Huh…?’
Checking the screen, Dokyung couldn’t hide his surprise. The message had already given him a recommended stock last week, and Yuseong Semiconductor hadn’t shown any reaction yet.
[Your excellent insight has pleased us and everyone else!]
[As a reward, we have upgraded your membership level.]
‘My level has been upgraded?’
[Recommended stock: Yuseong Semiconductor]
[Stock to watch out for: Hanseong Shipbuilding]
[We are with you in your dreams.]
Dokyung’s eyes widened as he confirmed the message.