I Will Force Trials Upon You (2)
I had a drink with Lee Yunjung's father.
"Our Yunjung, you see... she's so stubborn, just like her mother. Once she gets absorbed in something, she never looks to the side..."
It was true.
Lee Yunjung even said she wanted to try selling strawberry mochi, insisting on working six days a week.
Even on her days off, she seemed to spend all her time developing desserts.
"As a father who sent his daughter far away, I have a lot of worries. So division director-nim, please look after her well. I think she might push herself too hard and fall sick. I'm also worried she might end up clashing with those around her."
"Yunjung-nim, causing conflict? There's no one more loved among all of Next Planet's employees than Yunjung-nim."
Lee Yunjung's father looked satisfied. But soon, increasing the wrinkles on his forehead, he continued.
"My wife didn't work at Sake Tsudo when she was in her twenties. To further expand Sake Tsudo, she said she had to absorb the strengths of other renowned dessert brands."
"She was truly devoted to developing Sake Tsudo."
"That's good, but... in the process, she went to France on her own for training. Working over 100 hours every week was just the norm. In any case, she was crazy about bread and desserts. Then she fell seriously ill and had to be hospitalized for a month... During that time, I looked after her, and that's how we fell for each other."
So that was the behind-the-scenes story in their marriage, despite the large age gap.
"My wife had many disputes with my father-in-law during the process of expanding Sake Tsudo. And together, they drove out all the previous leadership who had run Sake Tsudo with my father-in-law."
"Wasn't Sake Tsudo a brand that prized tradition? Why..."
"Until the previous generation, Sake Tsudo was only popular in this area. To put it nicely, it was a small but substantial store that valued tradition."
Now, Sake Tsudo was spread throughout all of Shizuoka.
The old Sake Tsudo would've been like a local Korean city with a few shops at most.
Today's Sake Tsudo had transformed into the most popular bread and dessert brand in the entire prefecture.
"My wife thought the previous generation, including my father-in-law, were obstacles to expansion and change. Looking at it now, my wife was right. But she got hurt a lot during that process, and even today, she doesn't talk to my father-in-law. I make sure to visit him and have a drink whenever I get the chance."
Just from this story, Lee Yunjung's mother sounded like an incredible person. No wonder I felt she was similar to the chairman-nim.
"Our Yunjung, you know... You can't hide blood. She feels competitive with her mom."
"Yunjung-nim really wasn't keen on bringing Sake Tsudo in."
"Objectively, her mom is much more capable than Yunjung. Yunjung knows this already, too."
"Yunjung-nim is still young. Her potential is wide open, don't you think?"
"You're right, division director-nim. That's the problem. I want her to enjoy her life, rise step by step at her own pace. But I don't think she will. She'll just make her life harder, get hurt... just like her mom did."
As someone who'd seen Lee Yunjung's mother and Yunjung up close, it was only natural he'd worry.
"I'm telling you this as her father, because I pity my daughter. Please praise her often. She pretends she doesn't care, but she's desperate for praise. And please look after her well."
When Lee Yunjung's father left for the restroom, Choi Hyena spoke.
"Division director-nim, I'm not sure I should say this..."
"What is it?"
"You yourself only work every day. You drive all the staff hard... Of course, they volunteered for it."
That stung.
"And since you took over at Next Planet, dozens of people have already been let go. Sure, they had it coming but..."
"So... what exactly are you getting at?"
"I'm just saying, is it right for him to ask someone like you to look after Yunjung? I think her father picked the wrong person to ask."
"Point taken."
"Don't you think if Yunjung stays around you, she'll become more and more like you? Or is that just my imagination? Mind you, I still like Yunjung that way. You know? Feels sort of like comrades uniting for a greater cause?"
"You're drunk..."
"Yes, since about 30 minutes ago."
Frankly, everything Choi Hyena said was true.
Not a word was wrong.
What kind of person am I, really... Hearing this family story, it was clear that Lee Yunjung had high potential to keep growing, as long as she didn't crash too hard and get seriously hurt.
If I wanted to collaborate with her for a long time, I needed to think seriously and from many angles about her growth.
And praise... How should I praise her?
Lee Yunjung's father returned.
"The treasure island of taste you mentioned earlier — you improvised that idea, didn't you?"
"I guess it showed, didn't it?"
"But it was persuasive. That's why my wife agreed in the end. If it was at all lacking, she would have told you to come back another time. The shortage of high-quality eateries is a limitation for Next Planet..."
He raised his glass.
"I know a tea expert. Shizuoka is famous for its green tea, after all."
Tea? This felt like unexpected good luck rolling in.
"That person won the top prize at the national new tea festival creative category just two years ago. He's still in his late twenties and, in fact, he's Korean — third generation Korean-Japanese."
***
I returned to Next Planet after the business trip. I went to meet executive vice president Kim Sangho to report what had happened in Japan.
I explained the treasure island of taste concept to him and shared the results with Sake Tsudo.
"Mr. Kim Sangyeop, a third-generation Korean-Japanese, wants to launch his own brand in Korea. Thanks to an acquaintance's influence, he's positive about opening a teahouse in Next Planet."
I'd met Mr. Kim Sangyeop in Japan, and he was consistently positive. Thank you, Lee Yunjung's father.
"Executive vice president-nim, I'll need a budget to get Sake Tsudo and achieve my goals..."
That was the problem.
He'd obviously object. In truth, this meeting was just a formality.
I'd have to figure out how to persuade him afterward.
"I understand. Submit an official proposal. I'll consider it positively under my authority — given that the proposal is well-crafted. Otherwise, I can't face the vice CEO."
Huh?
Did I hear that right?
I stared blankly at the executive vice president.
"Why? Is there more?"
"No, executive vice president-nim."
What was going on?
This wasn't like Kim.
Wasn't he always the first to push back against my ideas?
But he said that if the proposal was solid, he'd even persuade the vice CEO and back me.
Why would he help me?
He also said he'd review the proposal properly.
Kim Sangho, doing his job?
That's shocking.
"Executive vice president-nim, if I may, I have a question."
"Go ahead, feel free."
"How will you secure the budget?"
"You know as well as I do, Division Director Hyunmin-nim, that a lot of shops here have no intention of actually doing business. They're just collecting subsidies... If we just terminate the contracts with a few of those, shouldn't that be enough?"
Did I hear that right?
Why was the executive vice president saying something so reasonable?
I thought most of those shops had ties to the vice CEO's network.
Was this a trap?
Will he later blame me for being forced to terminate a few contracts?
It was plausible... But did I even have a choice?
For now, I'd just have to accept it and prepare my countermeasures in advance.
"Well, I'll be going."
"Yes, take care."
I left the executive vice president's office, but I felt uneasy.
"Take care" is generally meant as an encouragement.
But coming from him, it sounded more like, "I'll make sure you have a hard time."
The odd part was, there was no antagonism in his tone.
If anything, he sounded gentle.
Kim Sangho, gentle?
To me?
Was I losing my mind, or was he?
I returned to the Reform Division office.
"To increase autumn visitor numbers, I'm planning to add a new concept to Next Planet. The treasure island of taste."
I explained what had happened in Japan.
Then Kim Junho raised his hand.
"Division director-nim, the concept is good, but I don't understand one thing. Will bringing in a few decent stores really raise visitor numbers? Maybe it'll have a significant effect long-term, but isn't it impossible for autumn?"
Excellent. That's exactly the kind of questioning I wanted.
"Currently, about 800 people visit per day. In the fall, we need to raise that to 1,200 for it to surpass 1,300 next spring. So we need to have strategies in advance to match that."
"Of course, we should hold seasonal events in the autumn to boost visitor numbers, but..."
I shrugged.
"I have doubts whether that's possible with the Business Strategy Team in its current state."
"Ah... For now, we're short-staffed."
The Business Strategy Team was in chaos.
It seemed even the more capable staff sensed the crisis; perhaps they felt that if they kept working at Next Planet as it was, they'd end up as incompetents themselves, so they resigned.
The team was now half its original size.
"If Junho-nim can come up with another great idea like the 115km project, we'll have nothing to worry about. But even the best hitters in history can't hit a home run every at-bat."
"If not every time, a streak of home runs isn't impossible, so I'll give it my best."
I loved seeing such enthusiasm.
I glanced at Choi Hyena.
She nodded and began to speak.
"These are the results from the intention survey for customers who visited through the recruit promotion. Over 50% said they intended to revisit within six months."
Famous theme parks usually have high revisit rates.
Even at Korea's top two theme parks — people tend to visit two or three times if they've gone once.
But that's a different issue from planning to revisit in such a short period.
Most people don't visit the same theme park multiple times a year.
Actually getting them to come again is what really matters — but a revisit intention rate above 50% within six months was definitely abnormal.
The reason for this abnormal result:
"It's because there isn't just one friend going off to boot camp. When another friend gets sent, they want to go along again."
"Ah! I see. I never thought of that since I don't have many friends myself."
Kim Junho made us all somber. Noticing the mood, he quickly gave a big thumbs up with a bright expression.
I coughed and continued.
"We need to show customers on their second visit that Next Planet is changing for the better, so they'll come a third time too. In visitor surveys, one common complaint about Next Planet was the food."
Lee Yunjung's strawberry waffle, of course, had near five-star ratings. The food court was also popular for offering good food at low prices.
But the ratings for the other food outlets were abysmal — so the overall assessment of Next Planet's eateries was in the gutter.
There were complaints about lack of variety, too.
I looked at Lee Yunjung.
She responded with a smile.
"Yunjung-nim has done a great job up to now. But with visitors growing and considering repeat customers, we can't rely on just her performance anymore."
"I wish you would rely on me more. More, more! A lot!"
She puffed out her cheek, making a pouty face. It was a reaction that left me at a loss.
Of course, Choi Hyena was calling her cute.
"The first key to the treasure island of taste is obviously Yunjung-nim."
Lee Yunjung's face instantly brightened, like a Pomeranian welcoming its owner home.
"The second key is Sake Tsudo."
But immediately, her expression soured and her lips jutted out. Couldn't be helped.
"To bring in Sake Tsudo, we need to find shops good enough to satisfy its owner and have a recruitment plan ready."
Now her expression was full of fury.
I smiled at her, just like the smile she'd shown me earlier.
"I'd like you to take charge of this project, Yunjung-nim. Didn't you once say you wanted to help as a member of the Reform Division?"
"Me? This? Can I really do it?"
"Absolutely."
"But... Now that it's real, it's... it's scary."
Lee Yunjung showed her hands trembling. Choi Hyena immediately grabbed her hands.
"It's fine. I plan to assign back-up as well."
"That's a relief at least. Division director-nim, but why did you pick me?"
"Simply because I judged you were the best person for this job. No other reason."
After thinking for a while, Lee Yunjung spoke with a resolute look.
"Alright, I'll do it. Is Hyena-unni my backup?"
"No."
"Huh? Then who?"
"I am your backup."
"What? You, division director-nim? Aren't you supposed to be the main, and me the backup?"
"You'll be leading this."
"I do like you, but this is just waaaaay too much pressure. It's like a private ordering around a general."
She even made that analogy thanks to the recruit promotion.
"The reason I'm your backup is because I'm the best suited for that role."