He is Already a Tycoon at a Young Age! - Chapter 86



Only Noblemtl

#086

“Yes, that’s the taste of soju. And the best thing about soju is that it’s cheap and you get drunk quickly.”

That’s why soju is called the common people’s drink.

“That’s an old story. In the future, people will drink just to get drunk. They will drink to have fun. So, we need to lower the alcohol content of soju and increase the number of consumers.”

The drinking culture in South Korea is still one of eat-and-die.

“You judged women as soju consumers.”

“Yes, so I would like to develop a soju with a lower alcohol content.”

Despite my opposition, Jang Moon-ho, head of the development department, is carefully writing down the meeting contents in his notebook.

“Then we need to develop a new brand. We need to maintain the tradition while also launching a new brand that will create a new drinking culture.”

“That’s a good idea. I wish there was a drink that I could drink until dawn without getting a headache or a hangover.”

“There is no alcohol that you can drink until dawn without getting a headache or a hangover. But the word dawn has a refreshing feeling, so how about the name of the new soju brand being ‘Like the dawn’?”

I nodded at Manager Jang Moon-ho’s words.

“That’s great, the name of the new soju brand that Taean Soju will be launching is now ‘Like the Dawn.’”

“And the largest shareholder.”

“Yes, sir.”

“If you’ve already targeted women as your main consumers, it might be a good idea to open a flavored soju brand.”

“Soju with added flavor?”

“Yes, since women like refreshing things, it would be good to develop lemon soju by adding lemon flavor, and since the main reason women dislike soju is the bitter taste, it would be good to launch cucumber soju by adding cucumber flavor. Of course, it would have to be developed as a separate brand from the low-alcohol soju brand ‘Like Dawn.’”

When I asked him to come up with ideas for new product development, Manager Jang Moon-ho told me all his thoughts like a fish in water.

“Okay. Then how about we keep that brand among ourselves?”

“Just us?”

“Yes, people like to feel a sense of belonging. If women drink together, they will drink something like lemon soju instead of strong soju, and then they will say, ‘Since we are together, let’s drink lemon soju.’ And if they are with a lover, they will drink lemon soju again to be considerate of the lover who can’t drink well. After starting off refreshingly like that, they move on to ‘Like the Dawn.’”

Jang Moon-ho, head of the development department, smiled at my words.

“That sounds like a good idea.”

Now, Taean Soju has launched two new brands.

‘of course.’

I know lemon soju is a hit and then disappears.

“And finally, I have a suggestion for our largest shareholder.”

“What is it?”

“I wish we could develop a highball.”

“Highball?”

“Yes, a highball is a type of cocktail.”

I know that too.

“Usually, you fill a glass with ice, add a certain amount of whiskey, and then pour in some soda water. It’s currently quite popular in Japan. So I want to make a highball like a canned drink. I want to release it in the Japanese market along with the development.”

“Entering the Japanese mainstream market?”

“I am making this suggestion because our largest shareholder said he would grow Taean Soju into a global liquor company.”

“I think it’s a good idea. If you want to catch a tiger, you have to go into the tiger’s den. In that sense, let’s develop a highball product and bring it to the Japanese archipelago.”

And Pacific Investment Corporation is planning to attempt a hostile takeover of a Japanese beer company to expand Taean Soju.

‘If I could just get my hands on Sapporo and Asahi.’

It will be possible to create economies of scale led by Taean Soju.

“thank you.”

“Let’s start developing new products right away.”

After the meeting ended and I got up from my seat, the chief secretary’s cell phone rang loudly.

Ring ring, ring ring!

Daughter!

After the secretary of Pacific Investment Corporation walked away a little way, I answered the phone and his expression changed to a somewhat surprised expression.

“Okay, I’ll notify the CEO first.”

Stop!

After the chief secretary said that, he hung up the phone and came to me.

“I will pick you up by car.”

If there was something to report here, the chief secretary would have called me first and reported on the person. But no.

Well then, that means we can’t tell you who’s calling here.

‘The Blue House?’

The current Blue House VIP needs to resolve the issue caused by his son as quickly as possible. If so, it will be the issue related to the sale of Seungbo Steel.

“Yeah.”

* * *

Inside a moving car.

“The Blue House’s chief economic secretary said he would meet with you.”

As soon as I got in the car, the chief secretary spoke to me.

“It must be a problem with the Seungbojecheol plant.”

I plan to take over Seungbo Steel.

“I guess so.”

“We should at least meet up. Say we’ll meet in a week. I’m not in a hurry.”

“Yes, I understand.”

No matter how interested I am in Seungbo Steel and how willing I am to acquire it, it is something I should not touch unless a significant portion of Seungbo Steel’s 4 trillion won in bad debt is forgiven.

‘Daehyun Group is also interested.’

If it were the original history, Daehyun Group would take over Seungbo Steel. So, in order to change that original history, we have no choice but to compete with Daehyun Group.

* * *

The next day, at James’ office at Pacific Investment Corporation in the United States.

“How much money is invested in futures related to the Thai Baht crash?”

Ji-sung was instructed by James, the head of an American investment firm, to invest in the Thai Baht crash and then invest in futures related to the Indonesian Rupiah crash. If Ji-sung succeeded in this exchange rate investment, his capital could increase several times.

“We currently have $5 billion invested in futures related to the Thai baht crash.”

The manager in charge of investing in the Thai baht crash reported to James.

“The boss said that if the Thai baht crashes, the Indonesian rupiah will crash right after. He said that the financial crisis that will hit Southeast Asia will move north like a typhoon, hit Taiwan, and collapse the Hong Kong economy before avoiding Japan and landing in South Korea. So the final destination of this investment is South Korea.”

Everyone nodded in agreement with James’ analysis.

“If the investment in futures related to the plunge in the Thai baht is successful, the expected profit would be around 25 billion dollars.”

“Five times the profit?”

“I also invest in gift indexes.”

James nodded at the reporter’s report.

“The person in charge will report back to you regarding derivatives and futures index investments related to the Indonesian rupiah crash.”

When James heard what the manager in charge of the Thai baht crash had to say, he immediately recognized the Southeast Asian manager.

“Are you from Indonesia?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Can patriotism possibly play a role in the financial and foreign exchange crisis that is looming over Indonesia?”

“Over patriotism, Pacific Investment Corporation’s profits are the priority, and the performance bonus I receive from those profits is the priority. Currently, 3 billion dollars have been invested in investments related to the plunge of the Indonesian rupiah. If the Thai baht plunges, foreign capital invested in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, will probably feel fear and withdraw their capital investments.”

This will happen like a domino effect.

“I guess so.”

“Of course, Thailand and Indonesia, which have little industrial base, are different, but their capital defense capacity is still weak. Accordingly, the rupiah will crash significantly. The expected return is around 300%.”

“Then, if the investment is successful, it will be $9 billion.”

“Yes, if you reinvest the profits from your investment in the Thai Baht crash into the Indonesian Rupiah crash, your investment returns will be even greater.”

“Fifty percent of the proceeds from the Thai baht crash will be reinvested in Thailand. The boss will meet with the Thai financial authorities and act as a white knight.”

In short, Ji-seong intends to give Thailand the disease and give it the cure.

[Boss, Thailand has no industrial base. It is safe to say that the only industry it has is tourism.]

When Ji-sung told James that he would reinvest the profits from the Thai baht crash into Thai industry, Ji-sung had a different opinion than James.

[James, Thailand has traditionally been world-class in food production, including rice. It can do three crops a year. Because the Mekong River flows through it.]

[That’s true.]

[And Thailand has been actively pursuing industrialization since the 1960s. It is probably the wealthiest country in Southeast Asia, except for Brunei. Of course, Thai people will continue to be poor.]

The term “rich country” does not mean an absolute standard, but rather a relative standard, meaning that it is a country with a good economic situation among Southeast Asian countries.

[That would be the case. The gap between rich and poor in Thailand is so severe.]

[Yes, because the Thai economy is dominated by the Chinese or the Chinese people. Anyway, agriculture accounts for about 10% of the Thai economy’s GDP, and about 40% of the total population is engaged in agriculture. So, if the Thai economy collapses, the US Pacific Investment Corporation can start building large-scale farms.]

[Did you say giant farm?]

[Yes, Thailand’s main crop is rice, and it is currently the world’s largest rice exporter. Of course, it is competing with Vietnam.]

[As far as I know, the major rice exporting countries are Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The boss’s investment plan excludes only Vietnam. If he plans to build a large farm in Thailand, then Indonesia would be the same.]

[Bingo~]

‘Establishing large-scale farms in Thailand and Indonesia.’

James came up with a plan of wisdom.

[I plan to establish a large farm and take root in the Thai financial industry. I also plan to focus on the tourism business. Of course, the same goes for Indonesia. The difference between Thailand and Indonesia is that I plan to conduct oil field development projects in Indonesia. In fact, if the financial crisis had not hit Southeast Asia, I would have had to do it with my own capital, but I am lucky because I can invest with the profits from foreign exchange-related investments, hahaha!]

Anyway, Ji-seong had instructed James to make investments related to exchange rates after informing him that he would make the most of the financial crisis that was about to hit Southeast Asia.

“Did you say white knight?”

“It may be a bit cruel to put it this way, but I think the boss thinks of Thailand and Indonesia as financial capital colonies. They say the era of imperialism is over, but the boss and I are convinced that financial capital imperialism will continue.”

“ah!”

“Fifty percent of the investment profits generated in the two countries will be reinvested and will be used to establish large-scale farming corporations in the two countries as a priority. We will also make real estate investments.”

Of course, for this to happen, foreign investment restrictions in Thailand and Indonesia had to be lifted.

“With that knowledge, find an area to establish a large farm corporation and check out the area for real estate investment.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Hamilton.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hamilton was head of the corporate hunting department at Pacific Investment Corporation in the United States.

“We are analyzing Japanese and American motorcycle companies and preparing to acquire them.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jisung also plans to dominate the Southeast Asian motorcycle industry.