Story of a Big Player from Gangnam - Chapter 310
Chapter 310: Joint Venture (4) – Part 1
President Jeong-Sook Shin from GH Media called Gun-Ho after she had visited the GH Building in Sinsa Town.
“So, what do you think?”
“I love the view from the rooftop. I could see the entire Sinsa Town and Apgujeong Town in Gangnam District. But I’m not sure if we can make a successful book café there.”
“Then what business do you think I should open there?”
“I think a small bar will do. But I don’t think it is a good idea to open a bar with GH’s name.”
“Maybe I should rent it out to someone, or just use it for a resting area for the tenants.”
“I am rather interested in the space in the first basement level.”
“The basement level? There used to be a sauna before they closed the business. It is now vacant.”
“That’s right. Your building occupies the basement from level two to level five as a parking space, and the first basement was used as a sauna before, and they opened it 24 hours.”
“That’s correct.”
“The 24-hour sauna was a trend for a while, and now it is no longer popular at all. That’s why the previous sauna business that used the basement space closed their doors. They had probably not been able to pay the rent with their low and reduced revenues.”
“What’s on your mind? What business do you think would be good to use in that space? I was told by Director Kang that someone had inquired about the rent price for that space the other day. He wanted to open a huge restaurant.”
“Well, I think opening a restaurant there is not a bad idea. But I was thinking about opening a year-round art gallery.”
“A year-round art gallery?”
“Yes. Once we redo the interior neatly and display arts, the building will start gaining a more luxurious and elegant image. Moreover, the building will draw more attention from the press and media since whenever we hold an art exhibition, they will write some articles about it. If things go well, the building can become a landmark of Sinsa Town.”
“Hmm.”
“However, you have to note that I am not a business person. I am just someone who loves books and who is selling books. It’s just an idea since you asked.”
“Well, I think that idea is certainly worth serious consideration. Let’s revisit that idea after Min-Hyeok’s wedding.”
“Okay, sir.”
Min-Hyeok’s wedding day came.
It was held in a wedding hall located in Ramada Songdo Hotel, Incheon City. Min-Hyeok was standing at the entrance along with his parents and greeting the guests.
There were tons of guests coming for Min-Hyeok’s wedding, maybe because they knew that Gun-Ho would come too. There were not many people on the bride’s side, but because of the bride’s exotic look, she drew enough attention from the guests.
“Look at her. The bride’s mother is wearing a traditional Chinese dress—qipao.”
“You’re right. The bride’s father looks like an artist. He has long hair pulled back in a ponytail. He also has a beard.”
“I heard the bride is Chinese. Pity for the groom. I heard that in China, men do all the kitchen chores like washing dishes and cooking food.”
The guests looked at the congratulatory flower wreaths that were standing along the wall near the entrance while talking about the bride and the groom.
There were so many of them and from so many people, such as GH Mobile’s president—Gun-Ho Goo; Dyeon Korea’s vice president—Adam Castler; GH Media’s president—Jeong-Sook Shin; Jinxi Construction Company’s president—Chinkkweo Seon from Kunshan City, China; the employees of GH Parts Company from Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, and other vendor and customer companies. There were more than twenty congratulatory flower wreaths.
Gun-Ho was standing behind the column in the lobby after having a handshake with the groom—Min-Hyeok. Gun-Ho brought Mr. Adam Castler with him, who expressed his interest in watching a Korean wedding. He came along with President Jang-Hwan Song, Director Dong-Chan Kim, and Director Jong-Suk Park.
“Did you see Gun-Ho Goo?”
“Where is he?”
Gun-Ho’s high school friends were looking for Gun-Ho. They wanted to use this occasion to get closer to Gun-Ho.
Jae-Sik Moon walked toward Gun-Ho.
“President Goo, are you joining us for a drink after the wedding?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“Maybe today is not a good day to get together because many of us live too far from here, Incheon City.”
“Did you tell everyone that we will have a drink after the wedding?”
“No, I didn’t yet.”
“We can get together later then. We can meet somewhere in Seoul.”
President Jeong-Sook Shin came to Gun-Ho as well. Gun-Ho asked her,
“Have you met Mr. Ding Feng?”
“No, I haven’t yet.”
“Then come with me. Let’s go and talk to Mr. Ding Feng. He probably feels lonely here. His relatives and friends are all in China and couldn’t attend the wedding in Korea today. Jae-Sik, why don’t you come with us, too?”
As Gun-Ho expected, when they walked to Mr. Ding Feng, he looked extremely happy to see them, who were not strangers to him like most of the guests there. Moreover, he could communicate with Gun-Ho in Chinese without any problem.
“Congratulations, sir.”
“Thank you so much for coming today. I know it was too much to ask you to come to the same wedding twice. Honey, come and meet President Goo. He is the one who our son-in-law is working with.”
Ding Feng’s wife was wearing a qipao. She offered her hand to Gun-Ho with a broad smile.
“Congratulations, ma’am.”
President Jeong-Sook Shin and the GH Media’s chief editor—Jae-Sik Moon—also shook hands with Ding Feng and his wife.
“President Jeong-Sook Shin wants to discuss something with you, sir. When are you leaving for China?”
“We are planning to have a tour in Seoul before we leave the country. We are going to Namsan Tower and Gyeongbug Palace tomorrow. We will then leave for China the following day.”
Gun-Ho interpreted what Mr. Ding Feng said for President Shin.
“Please tell him that I’d like to meet with him tomorrow at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. It’s located close to Gyeongbug Palace.”
When Gun-Ho interpreted for Mr. Ding Feng, he looked very intrigued by the museum that President Song selected for a place to meet with him.
“Oh, there is an art museum of modern and contemporary art there? I will definitely be there.”
Mr. Ding Feng, who was an artist, seemed to be extremely interested in seeing Korean arts.
The following day, Gun-Ho got up later than usual.
“I must have been tired after traveling to Incheon City for Min-Hyeok’s wedding.”
Gun-Ho looked at his watch. It was almost 9 am.
“I would have been more exhausted if I drove myself. It was a good decision to ride with Mr. Castler in the rental car.”
Gun-Ho headed to his GH Mobile office without having breakfast.
There were not many papers piled up at his desk, which were waiting for his review and signature. That was because most of his daily work were now handled by President Jang-Hwan Song. Even the fund transfer slips were already reviewed and signed by President Song. Gun-Ho just needed to review the daily fund flow statements.
“I think I should delegate this daily fund flow statement review to President Song as well.”
In order to let President Song take care of monitoring the daily fund flow, Gun-Ho had to hand over the OTP (One Time Password) card to him. Gun-Ho asked for President Song.
After a while, President Song came into Gun-Ho’s office. He was carrying something that was wrapped in some newspapers.
“What is that?”
“It’s the mold that Mr. Sakata Ikuzo made and sent to us from Japan.”
