On the first day of the new year, Chairman Kim Tae-jung boarded a plane.
His destination? Hanoi, Vietnam—where he planned to inspect the newly built factory.
As always, Chief Secretary Kim accompanied him.
"Chief Kim, isn't my grandson remarkable?"
"I truly didn't expect him to ask to start from the factory."
"He understands that gaining diverse experience will prevent executives from looking down on him."
Taewoo Group functioned much like a monarchy.
Chairman Kim held absolute control over the company's core information and major decisions.
However, that didn't mean the executives lacked power.
To inherit the chairman's seat, one had to win their loyalty.
"With his credentials, he could have started in a core department without any issues. He graduated from Harvard, interned at a Wall Street investment firm—his qualifications surpass most employees."
"That may be true for regular staff, but Min-jae isn't just another employee—he's the future owner. And ownership isn't just about qualifications."
"That's what worries me. The young master seems… too kind."
"That worries me as well. He's grown up seeing only the good in life. I wonder if he'll adapt to the cutthroat nature of the corporate world."
Chairman Kim had no idea what kind of hell his grandson had endured.
To him, Min-jae was simply a bright, good-natured kid with a bit more talent than his peers.
"If he can endure the harsh factory life, it might toughen his heart."
"That's why I didn't stop him from going. But which factory did he choose?"
"It seems he's planning to go to the Changwon plant."
"Not the nearby Bupyeong plant? He's choosing a factory all the way in Changwon?"
"And not even the main plant. He's heading to a small parts production facility."
"A factory with fewer than 100 employees… He's truly aiming to start from the bottom."
Taewoo Motors operated several large manufacturing plants.
The Bupyeong plant mainly produced compact sedans, while the Changwon plant specialized in smaller vehicles.
Both relied on suppliers for most parts, but some components were produced in-house.
Unlike the high-profit assembly factories, these parts plants were smaller and existed more for supply chain stability than revenue generation.
"It's technically part of Taewoo Group, but it operates more like a small business. It's a suitable place for hands-on experience."
"Min-jae will figure things out on his own. Just don't let him stay there for too long."
"If the young master wishes, we'll have a position ready for him at the headquarters anytime."
"And don't overprotect him. He needs to struggle and blend in—that's how he'll truly become part of Taewoo Group."
***
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Kim Min-jae, and I'll be joining the Changwon Parts Factory. I look forward to working with you."
By mid-January, I officially joined Taewoo Group.
Although the company's hiring season for new employees typically began in February, such formalities didn't apply to the chairman's grandson.
And, of course, I wasn't starting as just a regular employee.
Instead, the factory manager and key executives lined up in his office, waiting for my arrival like soldiers preparing for inspection.
"Deputy Manager Kim Min-jae, welcome! We were surprised when we heard you would be stationed at our factory."
"Factory Manager Seo Woo-tae, I've heard a lot about you from my grandfather. He said you were one of the key figures in establishing the Changwon plant."
"The chairman said that? Haha, I don't know what to say."
The atmosphere in the office was undeniably awkward.
Technically, I was a deputy manager, but in reality, I was a 23-year-old rookie.
Yet, the executives were visibly uneasy, forcing polite smiles while watching my every move.
"My grandfather always emphasized the importance of understanding the field firsthand. He told me the Changwon Parts Factory is the best place to experience the reality of factory operations. I hope to learn a lot from you."
"If you need anything, you're always welcome in my office. But, to be honest, this feels a bit strange."
Factory Manager Seo hesitated.
He was trying to gauge whether he should continue using honorifics or speak more casually with me.
"You don't have to be so formal with me."
"Hmm… Then can I call you Deputy Manager Kim?"
"You can be even more casual if you'd like."
"Let's take it step by step. For now, we've prepared a spot for you in the production management team. We won't assign you any specific tasks for the first few days—just take your time getting to know the office staff and factory workers."
"I appreciate the consideration. But I'll try to find ways I can contribute."
"Haha, no need to push yourself. Just treat the factory like your home and settle in comfortably. Assistant Manager Yang will show you around. I'm sure it'll be easier for you to connect with a younger colleague rather than us old folks."
A man in his late twenties, Assistant Manager Yang, stepped forward.
I followed him out of the plant manager's office and closed the door behind me.
In that brief moment, I caught a glimpse of the executives' faces changing drastically.
Their expressions, which had been polite and accommodating just seconds ago, twisted into something else entirely.
And when I saw the detailed information floating next to their faces—
I immediately understood why.
***
Inside the Plant Manager's Office
The seven key executives left behind let out a collective sigh.
[Sigh… Why did this disaster have to hit our quiet factory?]
[It's not like a general is visiting, but we still had to mobilize the entire staff to clean up every corner of the plant last week.]
[How long do you think he'll stay? Won't he report everything to the chairman every single day?]
[Why our plant, of all places? Why not the bigger ones like Changwon Plant 1 or Bupyeong? This place is nothing more than a backwater workshop!]
Complaints poured out one after another.
It was the plant manager's job to calm them down.
"Don't worry too much. I think he's going to rotate through all the factories nationwide before heading to headquarters. At most, he'll be here three months. If we're lucky, he might leave next month."
"Are you sure there won't be any problems?"
"What can a 23-year-old possibly do? You think he'll inspect the ledgers? Audit the production line? He's just here to look around before moving on."
Every factory had its share of skeletons in the closet.
The Changwon Parts Factory was no exception, and some executives were nervous that the chairman's grandson might uncover them.
"Relax, everyone! Just keep doing what we've always done. Assistant Manager Yang is sticking to him like glue, so he won't have time to poke around too much. Besides, if we drown him in booze every night, he won't be able to think straight."
"In that case, I'll set up the drinking schedule. Tonight, it's with the General Affairs team. Tomorrow, the Molding team. Then the production floor. We'll have company dinners every night for a month straight."
"All expenses on me. Whether it's pork or beef, just make sure he eats and drinks until he's too stuffed to care about anything else."
The executives thought they had a solid plan.
But before they could even put it into action—
Kim Minjae was already making his move.
***
I walked through the factory with Assistant Manager Yang, who treated me with extreme courtesy.
After all, I was not only the chairman's grandson but also entered with the rank of Deputy General Manager.
"This is the production plant," he explained. "Compared to the finished car factories, it's definitely smaller in scale. We run metal stamping presses 24/7, so the noise level is quite intense."
"Yeah, it's really loud."
"If you don't wear proper ear protection, it can seriously damage your eardrums."
"And what's over there, next to the factory?"
"Ah! That's the scrapyard. It's where we pile up the leftover metal sheets after stamping them with the press machines."
Who would willingly want to go to a scrapyard?
And yet, I deliberately walked toward it—
Only to witness a large truck being loaded with scrap metal sheets.
"I assume these leftover sheets are sent to a scrap yard?"
"Yes, we have a contract with a scrap yard to dispose of them."
Assistant Manager Yang suddenly grabbed my arm, as if I had come to a place I shouldn't be.
One might think he was just trying to guide me away because the scrapyard was dangerous.
But I already knew exactly what was happening here.
Embezzlement.
Just because it's leftover metal doesn't mean it's worthless.
Unlike regular scrap metal, the panels used in automobiles sell for a high price.
Instead of properly accounting for these materials, the factory executives were pocketing money by selling them off at dirt-cheap prices.
Depending on how you looked at it, this was outright embezzlement.
I had long been aware of their fraudulent activities.
In my past life, the National Tax Service, police, and prosecutors had investigated these exact embezzlement cases down to the last detail.
It was eventually revealed that the Changwon Parts Factory alone had over ten different cases of corruption.
That's exactly why I chose to start my corporate life here.
The more rotten a place is, the more fun it is to wield the knife.
"The production floor has a lot of tough work. Is the disposal of scrap metal handled by the production department?"
"No, it's managed by the General Affairs team."
"That must be a lot of work for them. Which floor is their office on?"
"It's on the third floor. I'll take you there."
The layout of the factory was simple.
There was one office building, two press machine factories, and one small workshop for repairing molds.
The first floor of the office housed the production team, the second floor was for the engineering team, and the third floor contained the factory manager's office and the General Affairs team.
The General Affairs team was structured not only to handle accounting but also to act as the factory manager's secretarial staff.
"This is the General Affairs team. Let me introduce you to the department head first."
I shook hands with every member of the General Affairs team.
At the same time, I used my ability to check detailed information about them through their faces.
As expected.
Every single person had embezzlement-related records in their profile.
The degree varied depending on rank, but they were all involved in some form of corruption.
Particularly, Deputy Director Lee had participated in no less than eight different cases of embezzlement.
"Nice to meet you. We've actually arranged a company dinner with the General Affairs team today. I'd love for you to attend."
"Of course! We wouldn't miss it."
"Great. Tonight, it's on me. My grandfather always told me a man shouldn't be stingy. I'll cover everything with my card, so invite all the management staff."
"Wow, that's very generous of you! I'll make sure to bring everyone except those on duty."
"Book the most expensive restaurant in town. And stock up on plenty of drinks."
I boldly raised my voice, making sure everyone heard.
Then, after shaking hands with every management staff member in the factory, I quietly slipped out of the building and took out a large black cellphone, bigger than my palm.
"Start immediately. Keep it quiet. If we get caught, things will get messy."
After hanging up, I returned to the factory—
Forcing my facial muscles to fake innocence, I laughed and chatted with employees as if I knew nothing.
I kept up the act all the way until the company dinner.
"Let's drink till we drop tonight! Factory manager, let me pour you a drink!"
"Our Deputy Manager Kim sure knows how to socialize!"
Like a sworn brotherhood formed under a peach tree,
I sat among the factory manager and all the executives, laughing, pouring drinks, and enjoying a warm, lively evening together.