The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 72



Only Krnovel

Episode 72 Advance (1)

My grandfather accepted my offer without difficulty.

The persuasion to maximize sales without selling any more affiliates worked.

A few days passed like that.

A new position has been created in the group planning office.

A new position of general manager, who is treated like a president, was created above the chief of staff, who is treated as a vice president.

The position of Head of Planning was created for me.

After handing over all Taewoo Electronics work to Vice President Woo Seong-il, I went back to work at the group headquarters.

“Director, nice to meet you!”

Jaewon Ha, head of the planning department, was waiting for me at the main gate of the headquarters.

Although he was the planning director who bowed his head very politely, his power was by no means small.

The chief of staff was the actual second-in-command, and his right hand man was the head of the planning office.

“You don’t have to be too polite. “I can’t tell you how fortunate I am that the planning office accepted me.”

“Who would refuse the Headquarters Manager? “Not only the planning office but all affiliates are looking for you, no, the head of the division.”

“Who would like a guy who always causes accidents? Still, the planning office tries to avoid accidents as much as possible.”

“no. It’s okay to have an accident as many times as you want. “I will unconditionally follow whatever the director does.”

The planning director did not see me as a superior.

The chairman’s grandson. He is someone he must protect.

In the Middle Ages, would this be the attitude of a subject towards his lord’s grandson?

“Our staff will be waiting for you. “Please go up.”

“I will guide you.”

The planning office was a department called the flower of the group.

The planning office was where all major tasks such as management planning, strategic planning, and product planning were concentrated.

Therefore, it was located on the floor just below the president’s office, and the number of employees was significantly greater than that of other departments.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Minjae Kim, and I have been appointed as the head of the Planning Division. i look forward to.”

When I arrived at the planning office, I shook hands with the staff.

At the same time, I checked the detailed information of the employees and internally expressed admiration.

It was not for nothing that the planning office was said to be a shortcut to becoming an executive.

Of course, his academic background was also excellent.

It was staffed only with highly capable employees.

In addition to the basic ability to speak two languages, each person possessed at least one special ability.

“All project reports are ready. If you have any affiliates or projects you are interested in, please let us know at any time.”

After saying hello, I entered the headquarters manager’s office and the head of the planning department handed me a folder.

In it, the items of all projects currently in charge of the planning office were organized.

“I would like to receive a report regarding Taewoo Motors. Can I know the domestic and overseas sales volume, market share, sales, and net profit?”

“Can I report it to you right now? “I will prepare the document and report it to you later today.”

“I would be honored if the Planning Director spoke directly.”

I guess I need to get this sorted out in order to get the position of head of planning.

He was the head of the planning department who had all the projects in his head, and he began to explain what I said as if he was looking and reading it.

“We are in third place after Hyundai Motors and Kai Motors, but the gap is not that big. And Samjin Motors and SS Motors, which started production last year, are following suit. And with the Uzbekistan plant starting operations this year, we expect to increase sales in the European market.”

The planning director reported on Taewoo Motors for over 10 minutes.

After listening to the report, I was able to understand why my grandfather was so attached to Taewoo Motors.

And this was the reason why I didn’t touch Taewoo’s car.

Although the affiliate with the largest debt was Taewoo Motors, Taewoo Motors was clearly competitive.

Even before the regression, Taewoo Motors’ competitiveness was great.

In 1997, it surpassed Hyeonjae Motors and Kai Motors to achieve the No. 1 market share in Korea.

And in the United States, it was called the second Toyota and achieved high sales performance.

So what are you going to do?

In the end, it was unable to overcome the foreign exchange crisis and was sold to GM.

In order to avoid that situation this time, I explored several ways.

“The sales performance of our flagship car, the Cero, is poor.”

“It even won the world car competition, but was not selected because there was already a similar car. However, Nuvila, which will be released this year, has a bright future as it has a clear competitive edge with passenger cars of the same class.”

Taewoo Motors’ vehicle model was quite solid.

Of course, there were no vehicles made with in-house technology, and they were made through agreements with American or Japanese automobiles.

Even so, there were definitely a lot of outstanding points.

It was a time when an opportunity was needed to highlight the outstanding points.

“What is the status of entering China?”

“We established a joint venture with Hwacheon Motors Factory, a Chinese automobile company, and began production. “We are achieving good sales performance, and it is expected that we will soon surpass domestic sales.”

My grandfather put a lot of effort into entering the Chinese market.

This was because there was a belief that China would become the world’s No. 1 automobile consumption market, and there was confidence that Taewoo Motors would succeed in the Chinese market.

But my grandfather’s strategy was half right and half wrong.

Although creating a joint venture with a Chinese company was the wrong strategy.

It is not wrong to say that Taewoo Motors is popular in the Chinese market.

After the foreign exchange crisis.

Taewo was acquired by GM and entered China, where it gained sensational popularity.

This was possible because Taewoo Motors filled the small car models that GM was lacking.

Although it is said to have been acquired by GM, the Taewoo cars sold to China were made solely with Taewoo’s technology.

“They say they created a joint venture, but I heard that the Chinese company only receives parts from us and assembles them.”

“We import and produce assembled and semi-manufactured vehicles.”

“It would be difficult to say that we have properly entered the Chinese market in that way.”

“China has very strict regulations, so it is difficult to enter the Chinese market properly unless you build a car factory.”

Today’s China has implemented strong regulatory policies.

In order to revitalize the domestic market, the inflow of foreign capital was blocked, so it was difficult to export finished cars unless a joint venture was established and a car factory was built in China.

“I heard that there is a Taewoo Motors factory in Romania as well.”

“We established a joint venture with Rodae, a Romanian automobile company, in 1994, and we are starting production in March of this year with the goal of selling in Europe.”

My grandfather was really serious about globalization.

They were expanding overseas by establishing joint ventures in several countries where Korean companies did not operate, such as Romania and Uzbekistan.

“What if we use the Rodae factory to expand into China?”

“Are you saying we should make finished cars in Romania and export them to China?”

“I understand that regulations are not applied severely to countries from the communist bloc. “Romania was also a communist country, so wouldn’t it be possible to avoid regulations?”

“But the distance to travel is too long. Romania is located in Eastern Europe, so exporting to China requires traveling a distance of over 6,000 km. “There are significant shipping costs, so your belly button may become bigger than your stomach.”

I didn’t make this opinion for nothing.

After the foreign exchange crisis, Taewo Group suffered from financial pressure.

In order to secure some funds, they produced cars at their Romanian factory and sold them to China, and it achieved some good results.

“If we succeed in entering China, we can make a lot of sales even after deducting transportation costs.”

“But to enter China, Guanxi is essential. “Even if Romania is a communist country, it needs Guanxi to persuade the Chinese government.”

Guanxi has always been a problem in China.

In Korean, guanxi means relationship.

A relationship that was like a common destiny or a joint investor could be called Gwansi.

It took a lot of money and effort to make guanxi.

“I know someone who has already signed a contract with the Chinese government.”

“If we can use Guanxi, we can export finished cars to China through Romania.”

“Then let’s give it a try.”

“We will create and proceed with the project at the planning office stage. “It is a project that can be successful as long as the head of the department takes charge of the guanxi part.”

“I will report to the Chairman once the guanxi issue is resolved.”

“I will.”

The planning director looked at me with a happy face.

It was like the look my grandfather had when he looked at me.

It looked a little burdensome, so I quickly sent the planning manager out and called David.

“David, is there a high-ranking Chinese person with whom you have a guanxi relationship?”

[There are a few close Chinese people, but they are not high-ranking people.]

I tried poking around, but David had no ties to China.

“Then, I will ask George for a favor and try to establish a relationship with a high-ranking Chinese official.”

[I have heard that the Quantum Fund is close to China.]

Quantum Fund has had a deep relationship with China.

In particular, George had invested a lot in China and was forming a close relationship with high-ranking officials.

“Try to weave as high as you can.”

[I’m also an expert in that kind of thing. But is it okay to use lobbying funds as you wish?]

“When did I ever say that I spend a lot of money on lobbying? “Spend as much as you want.”

[okay! Then, let’s give it a try in China!]

With David’s friendliness, making Guanxi was no problem.

Moreover, if we receive help from George, who has already formed Guanxi, the time will be further shortened.

What if it’s still not enough? I have no choice but to step forward myself.

* * *

One month later.

I ended up having to fly to China.

David, with George’s help, succeeded in establishing a relationship with a high-ranking figure in China, but he was unable to reach an end.

“It’s a situation where the fish looks like it’s going to bite the bait. “I ate as much rice cake as I could, but the last bite wasn’t very exciting.”

“If you succeed in entering China, you will have to see each other often, so it is not a bad idea to get your face stamped in advance.”

“I didn’t want to get help from the real boss, but he’s a person whose true feelings are hard to understand.”

I headed to a famous restaurant in Shanghai with David.

The power of the customers we met today was so great that the entire restaurant, which could easily accommodate 100 people, was completely empty.

“Boss, here they come.”

David gave me a look.

I stood up and looked at today’s protagonist.

22nd in China’s hierarchy of power. An alternate member of the Chinese Politburo and the right-hand man of President Hyun.

“It is an honor to meet Zeng Hongqin Daye (Elder).”

“Ohh! “I heard you are a customer from Korea, and you are fluent in Chinese.”

Thanks to my past life memories, I was also fluent in Chinese.

Thanks to my grandfather who called for globalization, I studied English, Chinese, and Japanese, and I have not forgotten them to this day.

“I studied Chinese hard for today.”

“You are a very fine young man.”

While exchanging greetings, I checked Zeng Hongqin’s details.

And I found out one very useful piece of information.

[Special note: There is a hidden son.]