Looking at President Yoon Ki-hoon, who appeared puzzled, Seok-won spoke calmly.
"A few months ago, through the Asset Management Division, we invested in domestic defense stocks. With the recent clash in the West Sea, their prices surged, and we realized a profit."
"Was that so?"
The Asset Management Division reported directly to the chairman's office and was managed personally by Seok-won.
As a result, President Yoon Ki-hoon had no knowledge of where or how much was being invested. Hearing this for the first time, he couldn't hide his surprise.
"The stock prices were at rock bottom, and I believed that domestic defense companies could benefit from the United States' ongoing war on terror, so I made the investment. But due to an entirely unexpected event, the share prices ended up soaring."
Not wanting to invite unnecessary suspicion, Seok-won offered a plausible explanation in advance.
President Yoon Ki-hoon responded with an admiring expression.
"Luck may have played a part, but without preparation beforehand, you wouldn't have been able to seize it. That's truly remarkable."
Relieved that there was no sign of doubt, Seok-won rested his elbows on the sofa and interlaced his fingers as he spoke.
"We haven't fully locked in the gains yet, but once the position is completely liquidated, the profit should exceed 100 billion won."
At the figure, President Yoon Ki-hoon's eyes widened.
"That much? Just how much did the stock price rise…?"
"With the tense atmosphere between the North and the South, prices are still trending upward even now. It looks like we'll easily surpass a 40 percent return."
"Heh…"
President Yoon Ki-hoon let out an involuntary laugh, his mouth still agape.
He, too, invested in stocks personally as a form of financial management, but more often than not he found himself in the red rather than turning a profit.
Yet somehow, every time the Asset Management Division under Seok-won's control made a move, it brought in enormous gains like this. It was so astonishing that it left him feeling almost deflated.
'Back when I didn't know any better, I assumed other securities firms and asset management companies were making returns like this as well.'
But after learning that even achieving an average annual return of 10 percent would place a firm at the top of the industry—and that even maintaining such returns consistently was no easy feat—he once again realized just how extraordinary Seok-won truly was.
'Come to think of it, there's no need to look far. Just the investment performance of the venture companies the chairman personally selected shows that he sees things differently.'
Although it ultimately collapsed with the bursting of the dot-com bubble, Goldbank—which had invested 1 billion won and exited by selling its entire stake for a staggering 435 billion won, recording an astonishing return of 43,400 percent—was still spoken of in the industry as a legend.
And that wasn't all. Seum Technology, Daum Communication, and even MC Soft—whose online game Linearo had become a mega hit—had each struck the jackpot without exception.
As a result, within the domestic venture capital industry, Seok-won was nicknamed "the Midas touch." If word spread that Bluehole Venture Investment had put money into a company, others would follow suit without hesitation.
'That's why Bluehole Venture Investment became the first place young startup founders turn to when launching a business.'
It wasn't limited to Korea. Venture companies from China, Japan, and across Asia lined up and knocked on the door, hoping to secure investment.
President Yoon Ki-hoon looked at Seok-won with eyes filled with respect. In just a few short years, Seok-won had completely transformed the company's standing.
"It wasn't intentional, but since we earned a profit from the West Sea clash in which navy personnel were seriously harmed, I believe it's only right that we give some of it back."
After a brief moment of thought, President Yoon nodded.
"From a corporate image standpoint, that doesn't seem like a bad idea either. How exactly are you planning to provide support?"
Seok-won immediately laid out the plan he had already thought through.
"First, I intend to provide a lump-sum consolation payment of 50 million won to each of the navy personnel injured in the recent West Sea clash."
With around twenty injured, the total would amount to roughly 1 billion won—not an overwhelming sum.
But what followed caused President Yoon Ki-hoon's eyes to widen.
"In addition, regardless of whether they were injured or not, I'm considering granting all navy personnel who took part in the clash an honorary stipend of 500,000 won per person, paid monthly for life."
"You mean 500,000 won per person… for life?"
"That's right. I'm also thinking of including those who participated in the 1999 Battle of Yeonpyeong, so they can receive support as well."
President Yoon Ki-hoon leaned forward, his mouth slightly agape and his expression flustered.
"If we do that, not only will the number of beneficiaries increase, but since it's not a one-time payment, providing that amount every month would require substantial funds."
It was a natural reaction. Delivering a one-time consolation payment was one thing; committing to a fixed monthly stipend for life was on an entirely different scale.
But Seok-won spoke firmly, as if he had already made up his mind.
"That's why I'm considering establishing a separate foundation to take charge of this."
President Yoon Ki-hoon glanced at Seok-won and replied with concern in his voice.
"I understand your devotion to the country, Chairman, but is it really necessary for you to go this far?"
In his view, this was something the state should be responsible for—not a burden an individual ought to shoulder.
Seok-won responded in a subdued tone.
"Of course, some might think I'm overstepping."
"I-I didn't mean it that way."
President Yoon hurriedly waved his hands in denial.
"Since the state isn't fulfilling what it rightfully should, shouldn't someone step up?"
"…What do you mean by that?"
President Yoon blinked, unable to grasp his meaning at once.
"You're aware that, under the Veterans' Benefits Act, veterans who participated in war receive a participation allowance."
"Of course."
"It's only proper that the government and future generations show respect and provide due treatment to those who fought and sacrificed their lives for the nation."
At that, Seok-won's expression hardened slightly.
"Do you know how much the government actually provides as a veterans' participation allowance?"
"..."
Having never really thought about it before, President Yoon Ki-hoon was unable to respond right away.
"It's only 50,000 won."
"...!"
"That amount—50,000 won per month—is granted only to recipients of military merit medals aged 65 or older who served in the Korean War or the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, bereaved children of those who were killed in action during the Korean War receive an allowance of 250,000 won."
Seok-won continued, his expression tinged with bitterness.
"It's an absurdly small amount. And the reality is that countless other veterans don't even receive that from the state."
Hearing something he had never imagined, President Yoon Ki-hoon looked visibly shaken.
"I understand that, in the past, the country was struggling just to survive and didn't have the means to properly care for its veterans. But now—after achieving the Miracle on the Han River, overcoming the IMF crisis, and standing at the threshold of developed-nation status—it makes no sense that we still fail to properly honor and support those who sacrificed for the country."
Seok-won met President Yoon's gaze as he listened in silence.
"If people know this is the reality, who would willingly step forward and risk their lives for the nation? That's why I intend to step in myself and provide the compensation these veterans rightfully deserve."
Seok-won had seen far too many veterans of the Korean War and the Vietnam War—men the state had failed to properly care for—spending their old age collecting cardboard for scraps or living out lonely twilight years.
'The veterans of the Yeonpyeong naval battle were no different.'
Of course, a few years later, public attention on the treatment of veterans led to increased stipends and broader eligibility. But even then, it remained far from sufficient.
Recalling the frequent news reports of veterans struggling with poverty, dying alone, or being arrested for stealing food, Seok-won spoke.
"I've learned that many of the sailors who took part in the previous Battle of Yeonpyeong were not even designated as national meritorious persons."
President Yoon Ki-hoon looked startled and asked again,
"Is that really true?"
"I confirmed it directly with the Veterans Affairs office."
"But why…?"
It was something that defied common sense, and President Yoon's expression reflected his disbelief.
"They say that since they weren't physically injured, they cannot be recognized as national meritorious persons under the current law."
Seok-won rested his chin on his hand as he spoke.
"It has been medically established that those who endure life-and-death combat can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder—ongoing pain and anxiety caused by the shock of battle. But there is no provision in the law addressing that."
"Even so, if they participated in combat, they should be recognized as national meritorious persons. How can that be possible?"
President Yoon Ki-hoon protested, visibly indignant.
For Korean men, military service was mandatory, which made it impossible to view the issue as someone else's problem.
"That's why, since the state isn't doing it, I want to step forward myself to protect their honor—and to compensate them for their sacrifice and courage."
"I understand."
President Yoon Ki-hoon did not voice further opposition. Instead, he raised a practical concern.
"To provide the amount you mentioned on a monthly basis would require substantial funding. How much are you considering contributing as the foundation's endowment?"
"I'm thinking of allocating all the profits we'll earn from this investment in defense stocks."
"All of it?"
Seok-won nodded without hesitation.
"As I said earlier, since these profits were made because of the recent clash in the West Sea, I believe it's only right to use them for the veterans."
"That may be true, but…"
The sum was simply too large, and President Yoon Ki-hoon let his words trail off.
Seeing that, Seok-won smiled as if it were nothing and continued.
"Even if we do that, there's no need to feel any regret. When the stock market crashed recently, we made low-priced purchases and are now earning far greater profits than we did from the defense stock investments."
President Yoon recalled how, just days earlier, Seok-won had made headlines by pouring more than 1 trillion won into the plunging market and turning it around. Only then did his expression relax.
"So there was that as well."
Having confirmed that Seok-won's resolve to establish a foundation for the veterans was firm, President Yoon raised no further objections.
"Understood. Then I'll assemble a separate team and begin the procedures to establish the foundation."
"First, let's deliver the consolation payments to the injured personnel currently receiving treatment at military hospitals."
"Yes, I'll take care of it."
After responding, President Yoon Ki-hoon asked, sounding curious,
"Have you given any thought to what we should name the foundation?"
"How about the Honor Foundation?"
"Honor—as in the English word for dignity and respect?"
"That's right. I thought it would reflect a place dedicated to repaying the courage and devotion of our veterans. What do you think?"
"The Honor Foundation… It truly sounds like a perfect fit."
President Yoon Ki-hoon nodded at once.
"Then I'll prepare a detailed plan as quickly as possible and report back to you."
"Very well."
After discussing a few more matters, President Yoon rose from his seat and left the office.
Left alone, Seok-won stood up from the sofa and walked toward the large floor-to-ceiling window that covered one side of the wall.
Olympic-daero was still packed with cars, and beyond it, the deep blue waters of the Han River stretched into view.
"We'll take the first step like this—and steadily grow the foundation from here."
He intended not only to help those who had taken part in the First and Second Battles of Yeonpyeong, but also veterans of the Korean War and the Vietnam War—as well as soldiers, firefighters, and police officers who had lost their lives or been injured for various reasons, along with their families.
With both hands in his trouser pockets, Seok-won murmured in a calm voice.
"As one who has earned great wealth, giving back to society for the sake of others—that is the true meaning of noblesse oblige."