Chapter 19 (1/2)

It would be a mistake to say that,  if he considered me to be a sympathetic person because keeping a level head is critical when it comes to company management.

“Hmm… you mean, those staffs?” asked Hak-jae

“Because of us, they couldn’t be with their children today,” I said.

I could feel his sharp glance. He looked at me for a time and then said.

“They are doing their job, whether it’s children’s day or not,”

“They will hate us,” I said.

He gave me that sharp glance again.

“Do-jun,”

“Yes, uncle,”

“If someone hates you, then do like your grandfather does,”

He continued, “Change hate into fear,”

His words exploded like fireworks in my head.

d.a.m.n, He sure as h.e.l.l is a butler while I still can’t break the servant spirit.

Butlers would put productivity improvement, sales maximization and customer satisfaction before all the pigs.h.i.+t; sympathizing with servants.

There is something different between chairmen and CEOs.

CEOs fatten their companies up while chairmen make war for an extension of territory.

And in the territory, servants should do what their masters say.

He reached a hand up to stroke my hair behind my ear, and I looked up at him, eyebrows raised.

I wanted to find out more about him but Sang-ju suddenly appeared at my side, took my hand and pulled me away from Hak-jae.

After the trip to Seoul Land, all the family members dropped with fatigue. So did I. With mental fatigue.

But the next day, when I saw my own pasture, all trace of the fatigue flew away.

I felt a tremor of joy and excitement coursing through my body as I saw the wide open green fields where horses ran joyfully.

Now I had homework to do - I should learn to ride a horse.

At the end of the year, my horse-riding skills improved substantially.

1988 was a great year.

The const.i.tution of the 6th republic began to take effect, and president Roh who had been chosen by direct election took office.

The b.l.o.o.d.y 8-year Iran–Iraq war ended.

President Roh launched the July 7 Declaration calling for improved relations with North Korea.

Cho Yong-pil’s 10th alb.u.m was released while Metallica’s 4th alb.u.m ‘... And Justice For All’ hit stores.

The Olympic Games improved South Korea’s image as a developed, stable country.

The opposition party was created in 38 years, and the government auditing system was reformed in 16 years.

A special committee was established to uncover the corruption of the 5th Republic, and a hearing was held in the National a.s.sembly for the first time since the beginning of the Const.i.tution.

Some famous people such as politicians, business circles and journalists attended and were televised live, which led to a national popular topic that was comparable to the Olympics, and among the members of the National a.s.sembly, the future president became the star of the hearing.

Then in November, the former president Jeon Doo-hwan left Seoul for internal exile at a Buddhist temple after apologizing to the nation for abuses of power during his rule and surrendering his personal a.s.sets to the state.