The next day.
I received a summons from Delphine Arnault early in the morning and visited the Korean branch of the Arnault family's company.
"You're the first visitor to our Korean branch, Vice Chairman. Please excuse the disarray—we're still getting settled."
"Not at all. I've visited many companies, but this is the first time I've seen a building decorated so beautifully. It's more stunning than a museum or an art center."
"Thank you for saying that. But more importantly, I have something to show you."
She wouldn't have called me over without a good reason.
I followed Delphine to the workspace where the designers were working.
"We've completed the initial draft of the product design. Our family's designers in France stayed up several nights working on it. I think you'll be pleased."
"I'll view it as if I'm appreciating a piece of art."
Delphine unveiled the product design that had been covered with a white cloth.
Just as I had said—it was a design that could be considered a work of art.
It was far too elegant to simply call it a refrigerator. If someone passed it by unknowingly, they'd never guess it was an appliance—it looked more like an artistic masterpiece.
"This is incredible! I've never seen such a classic and refined design in my life."
"Thank you for the compliment. Honestly, I don't like having appliances in my room. Their crude designs ruin the atmosphere."
"That's understandable—most appliances prioritize practicality over aesthetics."
"I designed this to blend harmoniously with the room and the overall home. Just like hanging a painting on the wall, I wanted a refrigerator that contributes to the ambiance."
It was the perfect product to match the image of a luxury brand.
Rather than disrupting the decor, the refrigerator actually enhanced the space. Its classic design elevated the ambiance of the entire home.
"I'm extremely satisfied. This collaboration with the Arnault family has truly been the right decision."
"I'm glad to hear that. Starting with the refrigerator, I plan to personally oversee the design of other home appliances placed in living spaces, like air conditioners and TVs."
"I really appreciate your proactive involvement in this collaboration."
"So, how about lunch on you, Vice Chairman? I haven't eaten yet, and I'm getting a bit hungry."
"I'll take you to the best restaurant in Seoul."
"It's not the same one we went to last time, is it? I'd prefer to try somewhere new."
"There's a place that offers a truly authentic Korean dining experience."
Together, we headed to a traditional Korean restaurant in Cheongdam-dong.
My secretary's office had already reserved the entire venue, allowing us to enjoy our meal in peace.
"You reserved the whole restaurant just for me?"
"I paid a little extra attention because I had to host an important guest."
"Please don't do this again. I can't stand quiet restaurant atmospheres."
A brief awkward silence passed between us.
Fortunately, the mood lightened once the food was served, and Delphine's expression brightened as she enjoyed the meal.
"Do you know why I dislike it when someone reserves an entire restaurant?"
"Is it tied to a bad memory, perhaps?"
"Every month, my father books out a restaurant so he can dine with the five of us—his children."
"That sounds like a heartfelt gesture. Isn't it just a cozy family dinner? Doesn't seem like a bad memory to me."
A father's desire to share a meal with his children.
From any angle, it didn't seem like something unpleasant.
But her next words explained why she disliked such occasions.
"On the surface, it's a family dinner. But in reality, it's a debate session for the succession race."
"You mean… you're competing to become the heir during those meals?"
"That's right. He throws out topics like which brand to acquire, how to restructure a label, or how to improve handbag quality, and makes us compete. That's why whenever I step into a quiet restaurant, my heart starts to race without even realizing it."
They say even a dog shouldn't be disturbed while eating.
And yet her family turned mealtime into a battlefield for succession.
Korean conglomerates can be ruthless—but it seems French conglomerates are no different when it comes to competition among heirs.
"Next time, I suppose I should book a really noisy restaurant."
"But I don't like places that are too noisy either. Please pick somewhere in the middle. Am I being too picky?"
"With criteria like that, I wouldn't call you picky at all."
We enjoyed wine with our meal.
Technically, the workday wasn't over, but a glass of wine seemed acceptable in the context of hosting an important guest.
After a few sips, Delphine spoke her mind without intending to.
"Vice Chairman Kim Min-jae, you're lucky. You don't have any siblings to compete with."
"Actually, I wish I did have siblings. Once my grandfather retires, I'll have to manage the entire Taewoo Group on my own—and that already gives me a headache. If I had brothers or sisters, I could share the burden."
"Do you really think that would work? No matter how closely related, even siblings turn into rivals when power is involved."
It was clear from her words just how much stress Delphine was under due to the succession race.
Like any other company, the Arnault family undoubtedly wanted to hand the reins over to their most capable child.
Delphine was doing her best to gain the approval of the family elders—and the process was clearly wearing her down.
"Still, Miss Delphine, you are recognized within the family, aren't you? I only know what I've read in the media, so I could be wrong, but I understand that you're the designated successor to the Arnault family."
"For now, yes. But once my younger siblings enter the management scene, the balance will shift."
"Why do you think that? Even if they do get involved, you've already produced tangible results. Wouldn't you still lead the way?"
"The elders in the family aren't too fond of the idea of a woman becoming the head of the family."
"I always thought France was one of the most progressive countries in the world, but maybe not in this regard."
It was a situation not so different from what could be seen in Korea.
Even in the case of CL Group, despite having a daughter, they adopted a male heir for the sake of succession.
I had assumed things like that only happened in Confucian countries, but apparently France wasn't much different.
"There's that, yes. But the bigger issue is that starting from my third sibling, we have different mothers."
"So there are factions within the family, then?"
"I wouldn't go so far as to call them factions, but... it's true that quite a few people want my third sibling to become the heir."
It was a very complicated situation.
And, if played right, one that could even benefit Taewoo Group strategically.
But for now, I had no reason to get involved—so I didn't plan to meddle too deeply.
"You'll do just fine, Miss Delphine. I can personally vouch for that."
"Thank you… even just hearing that means a lot."
It ended up being a deeper and more serious lunch conversation than I had expected.
Only after listening to Delphine vent for over two hours was I finally able to return to the office.
While Delphine and Kim Min-jae were enjoying a glass of wine with lunch…
Chairman Kim Tae-jung was in a shabby blowfish restaurant in Busan, sharing soju with Assemblyman Choi Jae-seok.
"I truly didn't expect you to request a meeting, Chairman Kim. I've heard you keep your distance from politicians. What brings you here?"
"Do you know why I keep my distance from politicians? Because they're all just waiting to feed off my money. But do they actually help Taewoo Group after taking that money? Not at all."
"If that's the reason you called for me, then I'm afraid you've come to the wrong person. I have no intention of taking corporate money or aligning myself with any company for political gain."
Kim Tae-jung's eyes gleamed.
When it came to reading people, Kim Tae-jung had an unmatched instinct. And with just a few words, he could tell Assemblyman Choi was the real deal.
"That kind of thinking is outdated, isn't it? That only worked during the military regimes."
"Then what exactly are you asking of me?"
"Fair competition. That's all I want. I just want to prevent other companies from colluding with politicians to unfairly check Taewoo Group. I have no desire to meddle in politics, nor do I want to use politics for gain."
Chairman Kim hadn't received the full details from Kim Min-jae.
And yet, he was conveying exactly what Min-jae would have wanted to say to Choi.
After spending so much time together, their ways of thinking had naturally aligned.
"You say you want nothing in return, but humans naturally pursue benefit. Once someone has a sword in their hand, they can't help but want to swing it. That's just human nature."
"Haha… And what would Taewoo Group gain from swinging a sword in a small country like Korea? We're competing on the global stage. I'd rather not waste time thinking about domestic politics."
"Korea may be small geographically, but there are plenty of lucrative ventures here that would interest Taewoo Group."
"Do you know how much Taewoo earns from exports each year? It surpassed our domestic revenue long ago."
Could Assemblyman Choi not be aware of Taewoo Group?
In Korean politics, it was impossible not to hear about Taewoo Group at some point.
Especially for regional politicians, being well-informed on big corporations was essential—whether for attracting factories or pushing redevelopment projects.
"I'm well aware of Taewoo Group's rising export figures. But isn't it also true that you're expanding your reach in the domestic market?"
"Then what choice do we have? We can't launch new products or services overseas only and exclude the Korean market, can we? People would accuse us of discriminating against the domestic market."
"Do you truly only wish to prevent Taewoo Group from receiving unfair treatment?"
"That is the one and only thing Vice Chairman Kim Min-jae and I hope for."
Assemblyman Choi Jae-seok accepted Chairman Kim Tae-jung's sincerity.
There was no reason for a titan of the Korean economy to seek out a regional politician like himself just to lie.
"Then what would you like me to do?"
"I'm planning to form a negotiation bloc. I've already recruited about 20 members, but to form a proper bloc, we'll need at least 50 politicians to run in the next general election, don't you think?"
"Are you asking me to become the focal point for gathering politicians?"
"There's no one else I see who could take on that role but you."
"There are many politicians in this country who are far more well-known than I am."
"What good is that? They're already entangled in webs of vested interests. I'd rather do nothing than work with people like that."
Chairman Kim Tae-jung had firsthand experience with the political world.
He had once been pushed as a presidential candidate himself, and had clearly witnessed the political retribution faced by Chairman Jang of Hyundai Group after his own presidential run.
"There are others, unaffiliated with special interests, who are more recognized than I am."
"Recognition is important, I won't deny that. But Taewoo Group can take care of that part. What I'm looking for is a politician who can focus solely on the development of the Korean economy."
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me. I'll do the kind of politics you're hoping for."
Assemblyman Choi bowed his head slightly.
Chairman Kim Tae-jung filled his glass with soju.