Gun-Ho went to GH Logistics in Siheung City. His sister and brother-in-law were in the office. A K7 was parked in front of their office building.
“Gun-Ho, you are here!”
“Hey, brother.”
“Haha. You two look good sitting in the office together.”
“Did you see the car parked outside? That’s the new car that we just bought. I drive that car these days when I meet with clients. I went to Paju City yesterday with that car.”
“How is the business in Paju City? Any changes?”
“It’s steady. We get the same volume of work there as it had always been, no increase or no decrease in the workload at all.”
“I see.”
“Oh, you know what? I just received a call from GH Mobile.”
“Who called you from GH Mobile?”
“It was the assistant manager from the general affairs department. He asked me to stop by their office.”
“They probably wanted to give you some work.”
“Don’t they have their own logistics department? I thought that they don’t outsource transportation work.”
Gun-Ho thought that GH Mobile might need help in transportation since they received a high volume of product orders from A Electronics lately. He didn’t show it to his brother-in-law though.
“Why don’t you go and talk with them? Who knows? You might get good news there.”
“Well, I don’t know. I don’t get involved in their daily operation, so I have no idea.”
Gun-Ho took out a bankbook and put it on the table in front of his sister and brother-in-law.
“This bank account has 5.3 billion won.”
“What? 5.3 billion won?”
“There was 6.5 billion won in the beginning. That was the sales proceeds of that land in Seonghwan Town. Then, we paid off the loan of 720 million won, and an additional 400 million won was spent by the previous president— Jae-Sik Moon— for converting the land use. Also, we paid for taxes and fees for flattening land and stuff. These expenses were recorded as Jae-Sik Moon’s temporary spending.”
“So, after those expenses, we are left with 5.3 billion won, huh?”
“That’s right.”
Gun-Ho continued to talk.
“Out of 5.3 billion won, make a withdrawal of 4.5 billion won, and send it to Antang City’s transportation company. It’s part of our investment funds in China. We previously sent them 50,000 dollars. Once we send 450,000 dollars to them tomorrow, our investment funds so far would be 500,000 dollars.”
“You are asking me to do this?”
“Yes. This investment is not made by me personally, but by the company— GH Logistics. And you should record it as such in GH Logistics’ books. Please make sure that you keep the fund transfer receipt. You will need to bring it to the tax accountant’s office later.”
“Hmm, really?”
“Since the amount of funds that we transfer to China is substantial, you must file a report with the foreign exchange authority. Sister, you have to do this yourself.”
“Me?”
“It’s a good opportunity for you to learn this sort of work. All these experiences will become part of your important asset, sister.”
“You’re right. There are tons of things that I need to learn. When I was studying for a certificate as a social worker, I thought that was all that I needed to study. But that was not true at all. When I visited GH Mobile last time and observed how they worked, I realized that I haven’t learned much in life so far.”
“Once you learn how to do it, it’s nothing. You can do it, sister.”
“Okay, I will try.”
Gun-Ho made a call to Jae-Sik Moon on the spot.
“Jae-Sik, how are you doing?”
“Oh, President Goo. I had a meeting today with our Chinese partners about the terminal project preparation.”
“What did you talk about during the meeting?”
“It was mostly about construction. We will need to pave the road and get the water service. The thing is that the residents in the area are complaining that it could weaken the water pressure in their homes. So we will have to spend some time persuading them.”
“It sounds familiar. That’s a common obstacle that we see in Korea too.”
“Yeah. I think we all have the same problem everywhere in the world.”
“So, do you think it will be resolved eventually?”
“It will, but it will cost us. We need to move a pole that is inside the terminal to somewhere else, and they are delaying the work because that takes money too. They said that they will do it once they receive more funds from Korea.”
“It sounds like they are using us— their Korean partner— as a shield for all the problems that they encounter.”
“Hahaha. It’s very possible that they will do that.”
“My sister will send the investment funds of 450,000 dollars tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yeah. When I sent 50,000 dollars last time, they couldn’t retrieve it on the same day, could they?”
“No. It took us two or three days to get the money. I’m not sure exactly how many days it took since the Chinese partner withdrew the money. Do you want me to ask them?”
“No, it won’t be necessary.”
“As to the 450,000 dollars that you would send tomorrow, can you give a call to the president of the transportation company here directly? I think they trust you more— Mr. President Goo, and they believe that you have the full authority for everything. I think that they want to hear it from you. My daily work these days here is arguing with them.”
“What are you arguing for?”
“Most of the topics are about the requests that I make, like that they should resolve the complaints made by the residents in the area, that they should get us the bus business license as soon as possible, and that they should change the ownership of the land that they invested to the joint venture’s name, etc.”
“I see. I will talk with President Runsheng Yan.”
“I feel relieved that you would send the funds soon. I appreciate that. It seems that their treatment toward me depends on whether the money would arrive soon or not. They are certainly more kind and friendly once the investment funds arrive.”
“Haha, really?”
After getting off the phone with Jae-Sik Moon, Gun-Ho made a call to President Runsheng Yan of the intercity bus terminal in Antang City right away. He was representing the Chinese partner’s interest in this joint venture business. President Runsheng Yan was listed as the chairman of the board.
“Mr. President Runsheng Yan? It’s me— Gun-Ho Goo— from Korea.”
“Oh, Mr. President Goo! When should I expect to receive 450,000 dollars?”
“I’m actually calling to let you know that we are sending that money tomorrow.”
“Is that right?”
“I originally intended to send it once we received the bus business license, but I decided to send it now. Once the funds arrive, you should issue us the bus license, and also you should change the ownership of the land to the joint venture company’s name.”
“I see what you mean. I will work with the relevant government office for it.”
Gun-Ho’s sister and brother-in-law were listening to the conversation between Gun-Ho and the Chinese business partner on the phone. Gun-Ho was surely speaking Chinese fluently.
After getting off the phone with President Runsheng Yan, Gun-Ho told his sister and brother-in-law, “I just let our Chinese business partner know that we are sending 450,000 dollars to them tomorrow.”
“Oh, you did?”
Gun-Ho thought, ‘Once the funds arrive, they will issue the bus business license. That’s not a problem at all. However, they will resist changing the ownership of the land to the joint venture’s name. I will see, but I’m pretty sure that they will use all sorts of tactics that they could think of to avoid it. I do expect to see various tactics that were introduced in the Chinese historical novel— Romance of the Three Kingdoms.’
