Chapter 134

Chapter 134

The Premise Is Wrong from the Start? (1)

Kim Dae-sik walked back and forth quickly crossing the chairman’s office.

To organize thoughts.

“Why is the U-gwang Construction bribe ledger held in such a kid’s hand?”

A matter of flabbergasted and nose blocked.

The secretary said hardened.

“A big matter. Currently helpless. No confidence covering so many eyes and ears.”

“I also know!”

“Who are the people written in the U-gwang Construction bribe ledger? Political world high-ranking figures!”

Administration high-ranking officials and political world’s thick politicians.

There even journalists of course military generals and central intelligence agents entangled matter.

“If the list is revealed, the great people written in the ledger won’t stay still. How bearing that aftermath?”

“Damn!”

“Anyway a time particularly sensitive to bribery and lobbying because of Koreagate.”

Koreagate.

The fact that Korean lobbyists received instigation from the Korean government and did illegal lobbying to the US Congress as part of political maneuvering was reported through the US Washington Post.

Due to that the relationship between the US administration and the Korean government greatly worsened.

“The US government that suffered humiliation is aiming a bow toward the Korean government and president situation.”

“I also know.”

“If the U-gwang Construction bribe ledger is revealed, the government’s corruption will become a hot potato and rise on the cutting board.”

“Know! I know! Why wouldn’t I know that!”

“Perhaps the reason the reporters and politicians gathered with eyes reddened like that is because of that bribe ledger······.”

“This damn! If not that, no way would run wild so recklessly ignoring U-gwang’s face!”

Kim Dae-sik nervously pulled down the necktie.

Yet the panting breath sound didn’t easily calm.

“Have to block somehow. If that list is revealed, no way to avoid His Excellency’s anger.”

“So called to the conference room! What do you think is the reason accepted the labor-management negotiation?”

Bang!

Kim Dae-sik couldn’t endure and struck the window frame.

The fist trembled.

“Why did that damn ledger suddenly pop out here?”

Going crazy.

“Said a ledger couldn’t find even overturning the central intelligence? Failed trying to erase even setting fire to the Guro-dong shantytown!”

Wasn’t it known that the person secretly supporting Taeseong has the U-gwang Construction bribe ledger?

Heard because the bribe ledger leaked outside, U-gwang openly received side eyes from political world and media high-ranking figures at the year-end night.

“How is that held in a kid’s palm? Why, now, for what purpose?”

The reason Kim Dae-sik busily paced the chairman’s office from earlier.

“Where was U-gwang’s union holding protests one or two days? The reason the bribe ledger that didn’t even show a nose then suddenly appears certainly there.”

Kim Dae-sik’s eyes narrowed.

“If a reason that has to show borrowing a snot-nosed kid’s hand who can’t distinguish heaven and earth······ Damn, don’t know! Not even guessing.”

Kim Dae-sik swept his hair with a rough hand.

“Who is driving the matter like this? Is this really all a matter that happened by chance? No. No way.”

With hair largely disheveled Kim Dae-sik panted.

“A matter of U-gwang business world ranking 9th collapsing in an instant. Does it make sense that started because of one mere U-gwang Construction bribe ledger?”

Hard to believe.

Didn’t want to believe.

So resentful.

“What on earth was the younger uncle thinking starting the matter like this! If only didn’t touch others’ safe! If only didn’t make the bribe ledger!”

Was the money U-gwang Construction President Kim coaxed Taeseong Construction President Cha and tore 2 billion?

“Because of at best 2 billion U-gwang such humiliation······! Damn!”

2 billion of this era was large money of at least 60 billion or more in the 21st century.

So politicians also ran out barefoot and received prostrating saying good.

Not even dreaming that would become the leash tightening own breathing!

That was the same for U-gwang.

“Damn, how to erase that?”

Kim Dae-sik ground his teeth.

“Somehow if not cleaning up now, seems will shed blood tears because of that damn ledger from now on too.”

Headache.

“Father said that ledger seems already reported up to the Blue House.”

That Kim Dae-sik also agreed.

“If not that, father wouldn’t have stepped down from the head position so obediently.”

So harder to believe.

“If a board designed so meticulously that even father suffered helplessly······ whose skill on earth?”

Feeling of becoming a butterfly caught in a spider web.

Feeling of becoming a scorpion fallen into a sand swamp.

Feeling of becoming an ant fallen into an ant hell.

“No matter how looking, not ordinary skill. Never heard or seen a trap designed so persistently and sophisticatedly to this extent.”

Step step step step.

Nervous steps.

“Did such an amazing person exist in the Republic of Korea to this extent?”

Kim Dae-sik shook his head.

“No. If there was such a big shot, would have stood out long before. Such silently dark numbers······ huu.”

The inside burns and the throat burns.

“Then even more terrible. Scary scheming.”

Kim Dae-sik walked even faster.

To roll the head even faster.

“More important than that now is how to solve the current problem U-gwang is facing, what the enemy hopes from U-gwang.”

Step step step step.

“Let’s think. Until now the times reporters flipped eyes and gathered and tore U-gwang, ruling and opposition politicians joined and ran wild only once.”

The steps stopped abruptly.

“······Exactly when the Blue House pressured father to resign from the head position.”

Goosebumps rose riding the spine.

“If revealed that U-gwang is the owner of the bribe ledger? If decisive evidence comes out?”

Swallowed dry saliva with a gulp.

“If that fact rides newspapers and broadcasts, angry politicians bite and hang saying will catch U-gwang’s ankle······.”

Kim Dae-sik covered the mouth area with a trembling hand.

“Fuck, this do I also have to put down the head position and step back?”

Then what happens to U-gwang?

U-gwang has only himself as son.

If father, not a great person who would hand the head position to the daughter.

Then······.

“A blood wind will blow so much that U-gwang turns upside down. A matter of going crazy and jumping.”

Kim Dae-sik couldn’t help but do a dry face wash with a trembling hand.

“Surely really His Excellency aiming this······.”

The Blue House new year luncheon time floated up.

The president clearly warned.

-Said just save. Seems seeing me lightly.

-Don’t misunderstand. Even if completely collapsing from business world ranking 1st to 9th, no matter of the Republic of Korea collapsing.

-Don’t do dog sound and bark.

Kim Dae-sik seemed the eyes in front becoming dark.

-To do the role of a trumpeter, have to have broadcast stations and newspapers, so will leave that.

When the president decided to piece U-gwang’s affiliates and hand over to Taeseong.

In any part there was no U-gwang’s opinion.

-Why? Don’t like?

-Woof woof!

The talk ended like that.

“Damn!”

Kim Dae-sik swallowed the boiling resentment rising from deep in the stomach.

Resentful.

Humiliating.

“If this doesn’t stop at a warning, and ends up drawn to a situation where His Excellency has to step forward, really will scatter?”

As expected no other method besides prostrating?

So Kim Dae-sik bit his lips until blood came out.

“A negotiation that could only lose from the beginning.”

Teeth grinding and bones cold.

Anger surging and eye corners stinging.

“But won’t run away! A dog that tucks the tail and runs away has only death!”

Kim Dae-sik bit his teeth and endured.

“Even if giving limbs, wearing a leash, barking like a dog! Will survive somehow and return this humiliation!”

Kim Dae-sik turned his back.

“Secretary Park, please bring father.”

Secretary Park hesitated.

“The honorary chairman expressed the meaning of concentrating only on U-gwang Foundation matters stepping down from the management front line while resigning from the head position······.”

“Don’t say residual words and contact the summons! Because a matter where U-gwang’s future is at stake! Quickly!”

“······Yes. Understood.”

* * *

U-gwang Group headquarters conference room.

A negotiation table was prepared so both sides’ opinions could be probed.

I also sat in the very end seat included in the negotiation representative group.

Yu Jong-tae clicked his tongue.

“Iya, U-gwang is really stingy. How not even putting out one tangerine one barley tea as snack?”

But the people who were protesting until now meeting the cold wind in midwinter didn’t care at all.

“Finally sitting at the labor-management agreement table.”

“Ignored like dogs for nearly two months. Already tomorrow the deceased 49th day memorial.”

Instead busy being moved hugging each other with very flushed expressions.

“Whether should say fortunate that showing intention to negotiate properly even now. Will necessarily receive the damage compensation money somehow!”

“People died because set fire to the factory deliberately because of the management rights fight! But compensation money only 300,000 won?”

“Will receive more than this even as gangster money! Even if seeing people’s lives lightly, there is a limit!”

They didn’t wear the red vests written ‘U-gwang Union’.

The red band wrapped on the head also only the character ‘unity’ overlocked not ‘U-gwang’.

“The hardships until now floating like a revolving lantern. A continuous series of arduous struggles.”

“If not Taeseong Construction president’s help······. Ending up receiving only help from Taeseong until the end.”

“Hospital treatment also so, living support money also so, of course employment succession even union activity supported······.”

“Thank you. How to repay this grace.”

“So more no face, only sorry for no shame.”

They bowed their heads toward us sitting in the front row.

“Even though the factory closed and caused enormous hindrance to workplace operation because of us······. Really thank you for helping until the end like this.”

“No need for such words.”

“As much as trusted and supported us, will necessarily win in this negotiation today somehow!”

“Have to. Let’s cleanly solve the colleagues’ problem, and return to the workplace again.”

“Yes!”

Everyone gripped both fists firming will and determination.

“There, actually one of the reasons the negotiation with the company side repeatedly broke down······.”

“Because got entangled in the negotiation group’s scheming.”

“Yes. People like us who simply labor couldn’t even be nerve war opponents let alone word fights from the beginning.”

Since word fights don’t work, spreads to body fights, police dispatched, enduring with evil and guts not sparing group sit-ins.

Like that ended up degenerating into radical protests.

“Don’t worry. If negotiation, we are also people who do so much until sick of it.”

“As expected experts! So this is why executives, executives!”

Bang!

The conference room door opened.

People wearing high-class suits and expensive leather shoes entered lining up.

They were U-gwang Group headquarters executives.

Step. Step. Step. Step.

What walked in the front leading the executives was U-gwang Group next head Kim Dae-sik.

We also stood up from the seats matching him.

Kim Dae-sik held out a hand first.

“Long time no see, President Shim.”

“Greeting late. Congratulations on becoming chairman.”

Both sides’ representatives shook hands.

Kim Dae-sik glared at President Shim with cold eyes.

“Strange. Why is Taeseong Chemicals President Shim sitting as the representative of U-gwang union?”

A nerve war for seizing the initiative held before sitting at the negotiation table.

The psychological war laid to proceed the negotiation favorably started.

“This overstepping authority?”

“What overstepping authority? Strictly came out to this seat receiving the delegation of the group bargaining right representative? Heard of the three labor rights?”

The right to organize, the right to bargain collectively, the right to act collectively that workers possess were all legitimate rights the law permits to protect workers’ rights and interests.

“Funny. Didn’t know President Shim wouldn’t even know the meaning of the word union.”

“I also can be said a worker strictly?”

“Honestly shouldn’t President Shim represent the company side position rather than a worker?”

“A salaried president. Receiving salary and working, if not a worker what?”

Sparks seemed to fly in the air in the gazes looking at each other.

Kim Dae-sik openly grimaced the mouth area and smiled.

“What is the intention doing this? Not even U-gwang Group affiliated, with what qualification came out to the negotiation table representing U-gwang’s union.”

“Seems the premise is wrong from the start. Who said these are U-gwang’s union?”

“······Yes?”

An unexpected blow that flew while sharply confronting!

Kim Dae-sik made a dumbfounded sound.

“No, dragging U-gwang’s union and sitting in this seat with the representative qualification of group bargaining and now coming······.”

“So. Seems forgot that even employment succession was included when U-gwang Chemicals was acquired?”

“Then these people now······?”

“Not U-gwang’s union but Taeseong’s union?”

President Shim shrugged his shoulders.

The more so Kim Dae-sik spat a hollow laugh.

“No, then why is Taeseong’s union charging into U-gwang Group headquarters and acting crazy?”

“Well Taeseong is one family! Because uniting greatly not turning away from the injustice Taeseong’s family is experiencing?”

Kim Dae-sik bit his teeth.

“Then the meaning that the labor-management agreement opening itself is impossible from the beginning!”

“So said the premise is wrong from the start? Who said came charging as labor-management negotiation?”

President Shim stuck out his belly.

“We came to negotiate damage compensation!”

The U-gwang Group executives couldn’t hide the flustered appearance as a group.

But Kim Dae-sik was glaring at me as if to kill.

If pointing, couldn’t take eyes off the black cover document file I was holding?

‘Seems noticed that it’s a negotiation that can only lose?’

Quite a gentleman whose head rolls!

This perhaps words will communicate better than thought?