The Overly Competent Junior Employee

[I think it’s a bit overvalued.]

Two people sat in the Seonjin Securities VIP Center Director’s office, staring at a screen.

[Among the Tae-Jo-I-Bang-Won currently leading the market, I believe secondary battery-related stocks carry the most risk.]

“Isn’t this targeting Lee Sunbae?”

The Center Director snorted and pointed at the screen.

A few days ago, Seonjin Securities’ Personal Asset Management Division had independently planned a new piece of content for their YouTube channel.

That plan was to have Lee Donghyuk, a star PB known for leading the industry, appear on YouTube.

Usually, Lee Donghyuk managed high-net-worth individuals and minimized contact with ordinary investors. However, even regular investors were well aware of his influence.

Whenever he appeared on YouTube channels or recommended sectors or stocks that would lead the market through media interviews, the stock prices tended to rise as a result.

As soon as Lee Donghyuk’s YouTube channel appearance was promoted, it caught the attention of many people. On the day of the broadcast, it attracted over 10,000 live viewers, and the separately edited and uploaded video recorded 100,000 views, demonstrating his influence.

“Well, let’s watch a bit more.”

At the Center Director’s words, Lee Donghyuk focused on the video playing on the screen.

A few hours after his appearance was promoted on social media, as if they had been waiting, similar promotion appeared on Yuseong Investment Securities’ social media.

At first, he thought they were targeting him, but upon calm reflection, it was physically impossible given the timing.

While the Center Director and Division Head still insisted that Yuseong was targeting their plan, Lee Donghyuk didn’t think so.

[In the case of secondary batteries, it’s a sector that has led the market for the past three years. Of course, I think it’s a very good sector with a bright future, but…]

Lee Donghyuk closely observed the Yuseong PB appearing on the screen.

He was a PB whose name was becoming known in the industry.

“Isn’t he from a teller background?”

Lee Donghyuk nodded at the Center Director’s question.

“Yes. I heard he won Yuseong’s internal mock investment competition and became a PB. I’ve heard some people talk about this guy, and he seems to have good instincts.”

“Even so, he’s just a fledgling from a teller background who’s only been at Yuseong Leaders Center for a year. They must have sent him out to target you, Lee-sunbae.”

The Center Director had been insisting that Yuseong had put a junior PB on their YouTube channel to embarrass Lee Donghyuk himself.

Since the broadcasts were on the same day with similar concepts, the two videos would inevitably be compared, and Lee Donghyuk himself would have to win that comparison just to break even.

But since the opponent was junior, he would be praised even if he tied or beat Lee Donghyuk, and even if his predictions were wrong, it would be a wash.

[The stock prices have risen too much. Most companies in the secondary battery sector have PERs exceeding 40. This means the stock prices are too high compared to their earnings.]

“He’s showing his amateur side.”

The Center Director continued to pour out harsh words towards the Yuseong PB on the screen, clearly displeased about something.

“Talking about PER and calling it overvalued, isn’t that what people who think the secondary battery sector will fall always say?”

The Center Director was saying that the Yuseong PB on the screen was talking like a common secondary battery bear in the market.

[The past few drops in the secondary battery sector came from articles at the level of rumors. The fact that there were several big drops even with uncertain articles means investors lack confidence…]

Lee Donghyuk watched the video intently, then turned it off as if he had seen all he needed to. He began to speak to the Center Director.

“He’s certainly an interesting guy.”

“Right? Since they hurriedly put this together to copy our plan…”

“No, I mean he’s intriguing.”

The Center Director looked at Lee Donghyuk with a puzzled expression at his words.

“Of course he had to answer about secondary batteries when the announcer asked. And his answer wasn’t necessarily wrong.”

“So it’s not wrong, but to say such things in the current situation…”

“Yes, I think that guy gave a textbook answer too.”

Lee Donghyuk thought Dokyung’s answer wasn’t wrong.

The secondary battery sector was currently priced based on momentum. As Dokyung said, this meant the stock prices were built on investors’ expectations rather than the companies’ fundamentals.

“As that guy said, even small noise could cause investors’ sentiments to flow in an unfavorable direction.”

“But you viewed secondary batteries positively.”

“Because there’s no sign of small noise coming. No.”

Lee Donghyuk looked at the Center Director with eyes full of conviction.

“Even if small noise comes, there’s enough good news to drown it out.”

Recently, with aggressive investment from the electric vehicle industry, money was flowing into companies making batteries, as well as small-scale companies making materials, parts, and equipment.

With money pouring in, stocks were naturally rising, becoming overvalued.

“Anyway, it’s not that that guy is wrong. It’s probably best to say it’s just a difference in investment philosophy.”

“You seem favorable towards that guy.”

“Yes. If he can recommend a company like Hi-On on broadcast, he seems to have a good eye.”

Lee Donghyuk continued speaking while looking at the paused screen.

“Hi-On’s technology is a company that everyone should know about. But it had the drawback of not getting many orders because its main products were so expensive.”

“That’s right.”

“But now that they’ve found a stable pipeline, their sales will naturally trend upward for the next few years. Maybe in a year, it could rise about twice as much as it is now.”

“Would that be easy?”

“A position at the center will be open soon, right?”

Lee Donghyuk didn’t answer the Center Director’s question and brought up a different topic.

“Oh, since Kim Jongho is moving to Taesan.”

A PB from Seonjin Securities’ VIP Center was about to transfer to Taesan Securities, the industry leader.

“Have you found a replacement?”

“Well, I’m considering it. Where should we promote from…”

“How about external recruitment?”

“External? Why, do you have someone in… Wait, you don’t mean?”

As the Center Director asked back as if he had caught on to something, Lee Donghyuk smiled instead of answering.

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

“Wow, people are praising Dokyung-ssi so much.”

Meanwhile, Dokyung was having lunch with his team members. Usually, at least one person was absent due to client meetings during lunch, but today everyone was present for the first time in a while.

“Me too. I wondered when a good company like Hi-On would get its time to shine, and since Dokyung-ssi recommended it, many clients have been asking about it.”

Of course, the view count for Yuseong Securities’ YouTube video featuring Dokyung wasn’t particularly high. However, it was becoming an issue as screenshots were uploaded to stock communities with titles like .

“You saw that, right? The wrist battle?”

Dokyung furrowed his brow at his senior colleague’s question.

“That’s too harsh. A wrist battle?”

“Hahaha, ‘I bet my neck that secondary batteries are not it. Die if you’re scared.'”

The senior employee spoke to Dokyung, acting out with exaggerated gestures and tone.

Ever since a protagonist in a movie left the famous line, “I bet my neck. Die if you’re scared,” the wrist had become a sort of meme.

It was perhaps an inevitable setup, with Dokyung commenting on the risks of the secondary battery-related stocks recommended by Lee Donghyuk.

The loser would have their neck cut off, or something like that…

“I just expressed my opinion, but everyone seems to be viewing it too dramatically.”

“But wasn’t that your intention?”

Team Leader Seo Jeonghwan asked, looking at Dokyung.

“Yes, I intended it. But I didn’t expect the talk to grow this big.”

“Well, if it was intentional, isn’t it better to be talked about like this than to be quietly overlooked? The reactions aren’t bad either.”

The team members nodded at Seo Jeonghwan’s words.

In reality, the side that should be scared now wasn’t them, but the opponent.

“That’s right. As the Team Leader said, it’s good that it turned out like this. This morning, a client I manage called and asked about Hi-On.”

“Oh, yes. My client too.”

Han Dahyun spoke in agreement with the senior’s words.

“They asked about Hi-On, so I showed them the materials Dokyung-ssi prepared and explained. They said they’d think about it for now… but the stock price rose 4% today.”

Of course, it couldn’t be attributed entirely to Dokyung’s influence, but as the video spread here and there, talk began to circulate that Hi-On was an undervalued stock.

Whether due to this influence or not, as soon as the market opened today, the stock price began to rise and was currently up about 4% from the previous day.

“It’s risen quite a lot for a temporary increase, but it will rise more.”

As talk of the stock price came up, Dokyung spoke to everyone with eyes full of conviction.

“Personally, I think Hi-On will benefit the most from solar-related developments in Korea.”

“To that extent?”

“Yes.”

As Dokyung showed confidence, everyone nodded with interest.

“Anyway, let’s end this talk today. Since they’re not reacting separately either, it seems we should just do our job.”

Seo Jeonghwan ordered the team members to keep quiet, worried that Dokyung might feel burdened. Dokyung smiled, bowed his head in gratitude, and continued eating.

Bzzt-

While they were eating, Dokyung’s phone vibrated.

Reflexively checking the screen, Dokyung tilted his head at an unfamiliar number.

“I’ll take this call for a moment.”

After excusing himself to his team members, Dokyung stepped outside and pressed the answer button.

“This is Yoon Dokyung.”

-…….

Dokyung, who had greeted casually, furrowed his brow at the self-introduction coming from the other end of the line.

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

“You must have been surprised that I suddenly asked to meet.”

At a café in Teheran Valley.

Dokyung had come here right after work to meet his appointment.

“Yes. I didn’t expect you to call me directly, nor did I think you’d request a meeting like this.”

Dokyung spoke to Lee Donghyuk from Seonjin Securities sitting across from him, and Lee Donghyuk smirked.

“Were you afraid I’d confront you?”

“Ah, it’s not that…”

“If I were Yoon Dokyung-ssi, I would have been surprised too. But well, we’re not on such bad terms that we can’t meet, right?”

The problem was that they weren’t on terms to sit face-to-face and have a conversation either…

Dokyung nodded, thinking he hadn’t done anything wrong and wondering what the issue could be.

“That’s right.”

“There are about two things I’d like to ask.”

“You mean to ask me?”

When Dokyung asked, Lee Donghyuk nodded.

“It seems you don’t view Mirae Chemical, which I recommended, favorably.”

“Ah, I think Mirae Chemical is an undervalued stock even among secondary batteries. It’s not that I view it unfavorably, but the secondary battery sector…”

“Hahaha, I’m not trying to confront you, so you don’t need to speak like that. I’m just asking because I wonder if you might be seeing a view that I haven’t considered.”

Dokyung hesitated for a moment at Lee Donghyuk’s question before speaking.

“Did you perhaps watch the video I was in?”

“It would be a lie if I said I didn’t, right? That’s why I came to meet Dokyung-ssi.”

“In the broadcast, while talking about Hi-On’s strengths, I mentioned that they’re building a factory in the U.S. Conversely, that issue is a weakness for the secondary battery sector.”

“Deglobalization?”

“Yes. If the U.S. government’s stance is onshoring… the secondary battery sector doesn’t have any significant factories in the U.S. yet…”

Of course, Mirae Chemical, which Lee Donghyuk had recommended, had announced plans to build a production plant in the U.S., but it would take quite some time until completion.

Dokyung’s thought was that in international affairs that can change overnight, who knows what might happen in the meantime, and he believed it wasn’t right to invest in uncertainty.

“That point is correct. Mirae Chemical’s main customers are all automakers in the U.S.”

Lee Donghyuk nodded as if agreeing.

“After talking with you, I understand why you made such an argument… and furthermore, I’m glad you seem smarter than the rumors suggest.”

Saying this, Lee Donghyuk took out a document envelope from his bag and placed it on the table.

Then, smiling, he opened his mouth towards Dokyung.

“Dokyung-ssi, have you ever thought about changing companies?”