1953 Bare-handed Tycoon - Chapter 368



Only Noblemtl

368 – Newspaper Publishers Association

Under the government’s control, Korea’s six major daily newspapers were split into four-to-two markets.

The evening editions were handled by Dong-A, Kyunghyang, Seoul, and Daehan, while the morning editions were handled by Hankook and Chosun.

Newspaper owners have shown a need to jointly respond to changes in the newspaper market and have proposed forming a .

After receiving a call to attend the publishers’ association meeting, Kijo headed to the Chosun Hotel, which boasted an old-fashioned exterior.

The Chosun Hotel, built on the site of the former Hwanghudan, was a luxurious high-end hotel.

There was an octagonal pavilion next to the hotel building, which gave it a very classic, yet sophisticated and cozy atmosphere.

If the Bando Hotel, where the official language of the hotel was English and only accepted dollars, had the image of being a hotel for foreigners and commercial offices, the Chosun Hotel had a strong impression of being a hotel for the wealthy who wanted to enjoy fine dining and an aristocratic atmosphere.

Kijo went up to the lounge of the Chosun Hotel and greeted the presidents of the six major daily newspapers.

Kim Sang-man of the Dong-A Ilbo.

Bang Il-young of the Chosun Ilbo.

Lee Jun-goo of Kyunghyang Shinmun.

Oh Jong-sik of the Seoul Shinmun.

Kim Yeon-jun of The Daehan Ilbo.

The keynote speaker took a look at the five people who are dominating the Korean newspaper market.

The most notable ones were Kim Sang-man and Bang Il-young, who dominated the Korean media.

“Now that the new owner of the Hankook Ilbo has arrived, let’s have a serious talk.”

Bang Il-young of the Chosun Ilbo was the first to speak out.

It was a tone that was conscious of the tone that would become a rival in the morning newspaper market.

The first item on the agenda was who should be the president of the Newspaper Publishers Association.

There was an atmosphere of recommending Lee Jun-goo of Kyunghyang Shinmun as the association president.

It seemed that the president of Kyunghyang Shinmun, who was most at odds with the government, was the best person to protect the newspaper company’s interests against the government.

The keynote speech did not challenge that trend.

Lee Jun-goo declined the offer several times, but eventually accepted the position of association president.

The second agenda item was the issue of raising journalists’ salaries.

As the issue was raised, the Hankook Ilbo’s preemptive wage increase became a hot topic.

“The Hankook Ilbo suddenly raised wages significantly, putting other newspapers in trouble. Hehe.”

Bang Il-young looked at the keynote and smiled.

The rest of the newspaper presidents and publishers also laughed, but they didn’t look that pleased.

The keynote speaker was aware that newspapers had been lukewarm in their response to raising reporters’ salaries despite government policy.

Kim Sang-man of the Dong-A Ilbo, who is relatively well-off, showed a relaxed attitude.

“First, wouldn’t it be better to meet the government’s demands, but then raise the wages gradually over time? The Hankook Ilbo, which has already raised the wages, can’t do anything about it, and there may be newspapers that find it difficult to raise their reporters’ wages right now.”

The proposal, which also represented smaller newspapers that were not present at the meeting, to gradually raise wages over several years, was made.

Everyone was in favor of it.

“Then I think we should now set the number of pages published, subscription fees, and advertising fees. Since we will have to raise the wages of employees in the future, we will have to lower the number of pages published overall and raise subscription and advertising fees.”

Lee Jun-goo of Kyunghyang Shinmun, which does not have strong capital, said.

The publishers and publishers agreed to his proposal.

“Does the president of Hankook Ilbo agree?”

Kijo did not answer Bang Il-young’s question.

Then, five newspaper representatives took note of the keynote.

Kijo thought about it carefully and then asked.

“Are you suggesting that we turn the Newspaper Publishers Association into a cartel?”

Everyone’s expression was not good at the keynote speech.

Bang Il-young said.

“The Hankook Ilbo may be strong because it has the support of the Cheongsan Group, but the others are not like that. I hope you don’t just think about your own company, but think about all of the newspapers in the Republic of Korea.”

Bang Il-young spoke in a tone that seemed to rebuke the keynote speaker.

From the beginning, Kijo had no intention of participating in the newspaper companies’ collusion.

Because collusion between newspaper companies soon became meaningless.

The keynote speech was a straightforward objection.

“Collusion will be useless. What if a newspaper with a stronger backing than Cheongsan appears? Will you propose collusion to that newspaper as well?”

Everyone reacted with absurdity to the keynote speech.

It seemed that the entrepreneur Kijo would naturally agree to the increase in subscription and advertising fees.

“What, are foreign newspapers going to enter the Korean market? Will the New York Times create a Korean edition, or will Le Monde enter the Korean market?”

Everyone laughed at Bang Il-young’s words.

The keynote speaker also laughed.

They seemed to have no idea that Samsung would soon launch the JoongAng Ilbo and turn the newspaper market upside down with its massive capital.

They are turning the Korean newspaper market into hell by scouting mid-level reporters, offering prizes, and distributing free newspapers. Of course, from the perspective of newspaper owners.

The keynote speaker spoke with a smile on his face.

“I know that all the newspapers criticized the businessmen who had amassed their wealth illegally. But I don’t see the difference between what you are saying and the businessmen who colluded in sugar, flour, and cement.”

At the keynote speech, Kim Sang-man of the Dong-A Ilbo kept his mouth shut with an uncomfortable expression.

Although the Dong-A Ilbo had the luxury of being the number one newspaper, it was also the strongest newspaper in the world and had the consciousness of being the ‘eldest brother’ who took care of struggling newspapers.

Lee Jun-goo of Kyunghyang Shinmun, who became the association president, expressed his dissatisfaction.

“I don’t think it’s fair to compare newspapers to general corporations. Companies do this to increase profits, but newspapers with high public service are not simply trying to make money, but rather to survive and provide for the welfare of their employees.”

While agreeing with his words, Kijo wondered if newspapers were really public institutions.

While everyone else was saying that, these newspapers were colluding with those in power for their own benefit and were also interfering with various vested interests.

The keynote speech summarized his position.

“I believe that newspapers should compete autonomously. They can raise their advertising rates if they want to, and lower them if they want to. Even if they don’t collude, if each newspaper sets its advertising rates according to its influence, advertisers will make their own decisions.”

The keynote also said a word about subscription fees.

“If newspapers have a public nature, I think we shouldn’t touch subscription fees or the price of newspapers. That’s if we want to get even one more person to read the newspaper.”

As soon as Kijo finished speaking, Kim Sang-man turned away from Kijo.

Lee Jun-goo also looked at Kijo with a dissatisfied expression.

Bang Il-young spoke as if he was talking to himself, telling Kijo to listen.

“This is why corporations shouldn’t own newspapers….”

Compared to the three who actively expressed their discontent, the presidents of Seoul Shinmun and Daehan Ilbo were relatively calm.

The Seoul Shinmun did not have many readers because it was a government organ anyway, and its main source of income was government advertising and subscriptions from government agencies.

The Daehan Ilbo also had some leeway. It was a newspaper published by the Hanyang Foundation, a foundation of Hanyang University.

The Daehan Ilbo, which advocates neutrality, was the smallest of the six newspapers and had never intended to make a profit from publishing newspapers.

There was a brief silence, and then Kim Sang-man of the Dong-A Ilbo asked.

“CEO Lee Ki-jo, what is your purpose in running the newspaper company?”

The keynote speech revealed the operating purpose of the Hankook Ilbo.

“I am only running the company for a short time in place of former CEO Jang Gi-yeong. I have no long-term goals. All I want is for the Hankook Ilbo to run smoothly while I am in charge and for readers to look forward to receiving the Hankook Ilbo every morning.”

“You are a public figure, aren’t you?”

Kim Sang-man summarized it in one word.

The keynote was also acknowledged.

He was the publisher of the Dong-A Ilbo, which inherited Korea’s best newspaper and never lost its reputation.

Kim Sang-man was showing a different side from others.

He was the eldest son of Inchon Kim Seong-su.

What kind of person is his father, Inchon?

In 1919, he founded Gyeongseong Textile and promoted the promotion of domestic products. In 1920, he founded the Dong-A Ilbo, and in 1932, he took over Boseong College, the predecessor of Korea University.

Although there was a history of cooperation with Japan during the Japanese colonial period, it was understandable to the people at the time.

After liberation, he led the movement against trusteeship together with Kim Gu, Cho So-ang, and others. Although he was a large landowner, he actively cooperated with Syngman Rhee’s land reform, and although he suffered great losses, he actively cooperated in the normalization of the country. After the government was established, he also served as vice president.

However, when Syngman Rhee attempted to revise the Constitution and run for re-election by kidnapping and imprisoning members of the National Assembly in Busan during the Korean War, he stepped down from the position of Vice President.

Since then, he has participated in the Constitutional Protection Comrades Association, which opposed Syngman Rhee, and has done many things regardless of left or right, such as participating in the founding of the Democratic Party, the unified opposition party.

Perhaps because he was the eldest son of such a prestigious family, his every word carried weight.

Even now, his authority is so high that even Chairman Park cannot treat him carelessly.

This was because he was the owner of Korea’s best newspaper and Korea University, the most prestigious university in Korea.

Even the military government, which had adopted a policy of reducing the number of college students who were ‘living off’ after May 16, was the only one that left Korea University’s number untouched.

He harshly attacked Yonsei University, which was founded by foreigners, and also attacked Seoul National University. He was strict with Ewha Womans University and other private universities, but he could not do anything about Korea University, the nation’s leading university that led the April 19 Revolution.

Dong-A Ilbo – The general opinion was that he was keeping an eye on Kim Sang-man because his connections at Korea University were so strong.

The awe for the Dong-A Ilbo family was not limited to the military.

He was such an object of envy that tycoons and politicians lined up to marry his descendants to create a family line.

The keynote speaker spoke calmly to Kim Sang-man.

“Although it is a public newspaper, we intend to deliver accurate facts as a media outlet and run the company for the national interest.”

“You won’t be leaving the Newspaper Association, right? I hope you’ll join us, considering the status of the Hankook Ilbo.”

“Of course.”

Kijodo had no intention of leaving the Newspaper Publishers Association. But collusion was not in his nature.

“Then let’s do this. We will set a lower limit for both advertising and subscription fees. I hope that the Hankook Ilbo will keep to that lower limit.”

“When you say lower limit, do you mean maintaining the status quo?”

“It’s not up to me to decide. It has to be decided here and now. I hope that this president, as a member of the association, will follow the association’s decisions.”

No one dared to object to Kim Sang-man’s mediation.

Only Bang Il-young of the Chosun Ilbo was looking at the keynote speech with displeasure.

According to Kim Sang-man’s proposal, the lower limit of subscription fees was frozen at the current level, and the upper limit was doubled. The lower limit of advertising fees was increased by 10% from the current level, and the upper limit was set to be unlimited.

Once the main agenda was resolved, the atmosphere at the publishers’ association meeting became much more relaxed.

Everyone discussed current affairs in a chatty manner while enjoying French cuisine and wine, the pride of the Chosun Hotel.

“It seems like the military government has softened since Chairman Park’s visit to the United States. Even if they seize power with sharp guns, they will inevitably become dull to the power of the pen and culture as time goes by. They are also people. Won’t there come a day when they can have a candid conversation with us?”

Bang Il-young expressed the opinion that civilian power is stronger than the military government.

Lee Jun-gu of Kyunghyang Shinmun also strongly agreed with his words.

After eating French food, we each decided to have a beer to appease our thirst.

The menu at the Chosun Hotel featured Tuborg from Denmark, the best beer in Europe at the time and Heineken from the Netherlands, which were hard to find on the market.

Unlike the others, Kijo ordered a Joseon beer Crown from the waiter.

The waiter was momentarily taken aback by the trend of ordering beers that weren’t on the menu.

The waiter, who had said he understood, came back and said he had no Crown and only American Budweiser, so I decided to drink that.

By the time we finished our first glass of beer, Bang Il-young suggested a second round.

“Well, it’s difficult for us to gather in one place like this, so come and have a chat with me. I’ll treat you properly.”

Kim Sang-man gently rejected Bang Il-young’s proposal.

Kijo also decided not to go with him for the second time.

The rest of the people followed his suggestion with anticipation.

The keynote speech seemed to be that Kim Sang-man knew why he had rejected Bang Il-young’s offer.

Bang Il-young was strong in night culture, to the point that Chairman Park called him the ‘President of the Night.’

He was a man who had treated Chairman Park to a fairy tale several times, won his favor, and built a friendship with him. He boasted that he had given all the gisaengs in Seoul a hairdo.

Chairman Park also liked fairies and hung out with them a lot.

Kim Sang-man must have known his taste and rejected it.

Kim Sang-man asked Ki-jo, who was leaving the Chosun Hotel and walking home.

“You didn’t bring the car?”

“The house is close.”

“I’ll take you home. Let’s ride together.”

After being rejected several times, Kijo got into Kim Sang-man’s car.

Kim Sang-man said while heading to Gijo’s house.

“I heard that you were in special relationship with Chairman Park and also with President Jang Gi-yeong, and that you were in charge of the Hankook Ilbo. Still, I guess you could say it’s the pride of the Hankook Ilbo…”

“I think I know what he’s trying to say,” Kijo said with a smile.

“It will not become a second Seoul Shinmun.”

“Haha, that’s not it… .”

Kim Sang-man smiled slightly embarrassed and then changed the subject.

“I heard that you filled a page of the Hankook Ilbo with a novel and a poem. Do you plan to gather readers with a novel?”

“Yes, I plan to serialize five novels a day. It is the tradition of the Hankook Ilbo to give special favor to writers.”

The tradition of Jang Gi-yeong, who was an aspiring writer, favoring Kim Dong-ri and publishing his writings, and of publishing one poem in the newspaper every day, was expanded and continued.

We tried to increase the appeal of the Hankook Ilbo by providing novels of various tastes to readers who enjoy novels.

The idea was to serialize powerful popular novels such as historical novels, contemporary novels, romance novels, and martial arts novels, so that if a novel suited your taste, you would be forced to subscribe to the newspaper.

I thought it would be a good fit for the entertainment shortage of the 60s.

“That’s a good idea. There are too many political journals in Korea.”

*Political newspaper – A newspaper that mainly deals with political articles, editorials, and commentaries.

As we were traveling a short distance, the weather quickly became unsettled.

Kim Sang-man was seen looking around the alley, wondering if it was strange to see people living in a common residential area.

As the car stopped, Kijo got out and said hello.

“Then, have a safe trip. I’ll see you next time.”

“I had fun today.”

Kim Sang-man greeted Kijo and started the car.

The keynote speaker felt a bit uncomfortable hanging out with people belonging to the aristocratic class of South Korea.

Businessmen had a lot of money, but they were not respected as much as journalists.

People who had both wealth and fame were journalists.

As Kijo opened the front door and went inside the house, Yeong-eun was holding a kitten in the yard.

“Dad! A butterfly came into the house and started crying! Mom said I could raise it if you let me!”

Kijo saw a yellow kitten shivering in Yeong-eun’s arms.

“The butterfly is very pretty. Let’s raise it.”

When Kijo spoke, Yeong-eun jumped for joy.

Pilgrimage and his sons came out to greet Gijo, and Gijo went into the room with his family.

The smell of soybean paste stew lingered in the room, indicating that the family had just eaten.

The keynote was that the smell of the Korean food his family ate was better than the smell of the French food he ate at the Chosun Hotel.

When Young-eun couldn’t come into the room with the cat, Ki-jo told her to come in.

“Can I raise it in the cat room?”

“That’s fine. They say that in the old days, the king also liked cats and raised them in his room.”

“Really?”

The pilgrimage was amazing.

At that time, cats had to be raised outside, and many people kept cats on leashes like dogs.

Kijo looked at the cat that Yeong-eun was holding.

It was heartbreaking to see such a small, warm creature shivering.

“Dad, I’ll make a litter box for the cat. Cats know to do their business there if you make a litter box for them.”

“Wow! Even a child like this?”

Yeong-eun’s eyes widened.

“Yes. And the kitten’s eye color will change soon. Right now it’s black, but who knows if it’ll turn yellow or green.”

“Really?”

Yeong-eun was amazed.

Kijo spent the evening watching cats with Yeong-eun.

Being with my family was the reason why I returned to my roots and was the happiest time.