What could frontline police officers, who work diligently, have done wrong?
Instructions must have been given from above not to interfere in the labor issues of Woosung Enterprises. Even if they had investigated a hundred times, without the prosecution pressing charges, they couldn’t conduct a proper investigation.
I pointed to the camera on the rooftop.
“You know it’s still recording, right?”
If the sight of police standing idly while a criminal escapes in front of them gets out in the media, who knows what criticism they’ll face.
The commander, snapping out of it at my words, shouted, “Get him!”
The police quickly chased after the fleeing subcontractor and apprehended him. With his arms restrained, he twisted his body and shouted, “L-Let go! I’m innocent!”
I said to him, “What’s innocent about this? You almost killed someone by hitting them with the fire extinguisher you threw.”
Taek-gyu nodded, “That’s right. If someone commits a crime, they should be punished.”
He looked at me and yelled, “Who are you, meddling in others’ affairs?”
The subcontractors and even the police all turned their gaze towards me. By now, they must have realized. That I had planned this whole thing.
Taek-gyu, looking puzzled, said, “Why can’t they recognize you? Is your star power still lacking?”
“….”
It’s no longer surprising to be recognized at a glance just because you appeared on TV once.
“I’m Kang Jin-hoo.”
At first, there was no significant reaction. But soon, the surroundings began to buzz.
“Kang Jin-hoo? Where have I heard that name before?”
“Now, wait a minute, if you’re Kang Jin-hoo, that means you’re…….”
“The CEO of OTK Company!”
“Oh, right! I’ve seen you on TV before!”
As I revealed my name, everyone recognized me.
“Why on earth is the CEO of OTK Company here…?”
“The person who hit you with a fire extinguisher is like an uncle to me.”
The man’s face turned pale.
I continued speaking to him, who was clearly flustered.
“No matter what happens, there will be no settlement. I’ve already hired a law firm, and apart from criminal charges, we will also proceed with a civil lawsuit. Surgery costs, hospital bills, rehabilitation expenses, compensation for damages, you name it. We will seize all your assets, be it real estate or cars, to ensure not a penny is left. So, I suggest you hire the best lawyer you can find.”
With serious injuries like this, there is no way to avoid a prison sentence without a settlement. In a civil lawsuit, the compensation amount alone can reach billions.
How much can a hired thug really make from this?
The man is in his mid-thirties, lost all his assets due to his wrongdoing at a relatively young age, and now faces a prison sentence.
Perhaps understanding his situation now, he begged for forgiveness.
“I-I was wrong. Please spare me. I have a wife and children at home. What will happen to my family if I go to prison?”
“Even the person you almost killed has a family. They have incurred debt from surgeries and treatments, and even developed speech impairments due to the aftereffects. You must take responsibility for your actions.”
“I-I just did as I was told! I was following orders from above.”
“Is that so? Who gave those orders?”
He mumbled as he continued to speak.
“Whatever happens, the company said they would take care of it! That’s why I…”
A bald man behind him shouted, “Shut up, you little rat! Want to die?”
I approached the bald man. He, who had been knocked down by a blow from Manager Lee, was suddenly up on his feet.
Before anyone could stop me, I got close to his face.
“Are you guys paid to do this job?”
“What…?”
“If Woosung Enterprise and OTK Company fought with money, who do you think would win?
By the way, Woosung Enterprise’s market capitalization is less than 100 billion.
The bald man raised his fist.
“You little…”
“Look for a place to lie down and stretch your legs.”
I stared at him without moving from my spot. The bald man could only shake but couldn’t swing his fist.
He knew the power of money.
I looked around at the contractors and said, “We will analyze the videos to identify every single person who has wielded violence so far, and we will file criminal and civil lawsuits against all of them. Taekgyu added, “Because of that, we even signed a contract with the largest law firm called Rowun.”
Strictly speaking, it’s not the largest.
No matter what anyone says, it’s Jung and Kim because they are overwhelmingly in first place. But with Rowun, they can be considered third place.
Among the contractors, there were many young men who looked similar in age to me. Were they university students who followed seniors or graduates out into society?
They argued loudly.
“We just did as we were told!”
“The boss told us to do everything!”
“He said there wouldn’t be any problems!”
When you swung the clubs, you probably didn’t think that was a crime.
But once legal issues arise, the company will step back, saying, ‘We only instructed the removal of illegal facilities, we never ordered to hit anyone,’ shifting the responsibility to individuals.
It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing we can do.
Life is a battlefield.
***
Between the service workers who were dismantling makeshift tents and banners,
Chairman Hong Woosung and CEO Lee Se-yeop leisurely sipped their coffee. Shortly after, sounds of breaking and screaming echoed from outside.
“You don’t need to worry. It’ll be over soon.”
“Got it.”
On this particular day, Chairman Hong Woosung felt the coffee aroma especially good. It wasn’t long before the screams abruptly stopped, as if it were a lie.
CEO Lee Se-yeop chuckled.
“Oh my. I haven’t even finished my coffee, and it’s already over.”
He got up from his seat, looked out the window, then was astonished.
“What, what’s going on?”
The scene outside was entirely different from what they had expected.
All the workers were lying down, surrounded by men in black clothes.
Chairman Hong Woosung exclaimed in surprise.
“What on earth is happening? Who are these people?”
CEO Lee Se-yeop was equally taken aback.
Soon after, the police arrived. Before they could figure out what was happening, someone rushed into the office.
Vice President Yoo Sang-gi urgently said, “Chairman, something terrible has happened!”
“What’s going on?”
“OTK Company’s Kang Jinhoo brought Xcape employees with him.”
“What? Kang Jinhoo?”
It goes without saying that there’s no one in South Korea who doesn’t know the name Kang Jinhoo.
Chairman Hong Woosung, bewildered, exclaimed, “Why is Kang Jinhoo here?”
“It seems like you’ve taken the side of the labor union.”
“So, why on earth? What relation does Kang Jin-hoo have with those people?”
“Um, I’m not sure either. But more importantly, I just received a call from the prosecution saying that Kang Jin-hoo has delegated to a law firm to file a complaint against our company and Changju Consulting. And they have started coverage on this in the news…”
Dismantling the labor union is a clear violation of the law.
Yet, the reason nothing has happened so far is because the authorities who should act as judges have sided with Woosung Enterprise, and the media that should reveal the truth has remained silent.
But the situation changed with Kang Jin-hoo’s actions.
“What are you doing? Quickly contact Eunsung Motors!”
“Th-that’s…”
Vice President Yoo Sang-gi said with his eyes tightly shut.
“I just spoke with the head office director, and he said that Woosung Enterprise should handle the issue themselves. Eunsung Motors has nothing to do with this. Why are you asking about labor issues here?” He angrily hung up.
Chairman Hong Woo-sung was at a loss for words.
Eunsung Motors had been directing responses to the strikes and had facilitated the contract with Changju Consulting. But now they were claiming no involvement and withdrawing their support.
CEO Lee Se-yeop felt cold sweat running down his back. Even in legitimate enforcement processes, assaulting people is unacceptable. Let alone mobilizing thugs to disrupt the union’s actions, which is undoubtedly a crime.
Deciding to deal with the consequences later, he chose to leave for now.
As he tried to leave the chairman’s office, he suddenly found two young men in their twenties standing at the door. One of the young men reached out his hand.
“You’re here, CEO Lee Se-yeop.”
“You…?”
“I’m Kang Jin-hoo. Nice to meet you.”
Behind him were police officers.
“Are you CEO Lee Se-yeop? Some Changju Consulting staff claim that you gave them illegal instructions. We’ll have to go to the station together.”
***
The police took CEO Lee Se-yeop away, and I sat on the sofa with Taek-gyu.
“We’ve come this far, can we get a cup of coffee to drink?”
On the opposite side, a small-framed elderly man with white hair was sitting. This elderly man was Chairman Hong Woosung, who built Woosung Corporation with his bare hands.
He looked at me sharply and said, “Why are you interfering in other people’s family affairs?”
…Is this the old man’s perception?
Even if it is a company he created and workers he employed, it doesn’t mean he can do as he pleases.
I looked at a frame hanging on the wall. It had the words ‘Treat employees like family’ written on it.
“If you truly consider your employees as family, shouldn’t you act differently?”
Income inequality in Korea is not too severe. If you work and earn a wage, you can make ends meet. However, asset inequality is extremely serious, and the social safety net is not properly in place.
People without assets struggle as soon as their income stops. That’s why laws ensure the minimum conditions and rights of workers.
Chairman Hong Woosung raised his voice, “So you want us to ignore those who engage in illegal strikes?”
Workers can form labor unions and have the right to collective bargaining and collective action. Strikes are also a legally protected right of workers.
However, legal strikes seem unheard of in this country. Any strike is immediately labeled illegal.
Since Park Si-hyeong became president, emphasis shifted to strict measures over compromises, and the media followed suit.
That’s what business-friendly means.
“Do you know one employee committed suicide and several others were seriously injured?”
In response to my words, Chairman Hong Woosung chuckled, “It’s all self-inflicted.”
“Uncle Jong-soo hanged himself, and Uncle Seok-beom was seriously injured. But this old man felt no guilt at all.
He truly believes he has done nothing wrong.
‘What exactly do you want?’
I suppressed my rising anger.
‘You’ve been good at using the law and power to your advantage. I plan to use the money and position I have to do the exact same thing you did.’
Taek-gyu nodded beside me.
‘This guy’s got a ton of money.’
‘……’
‘Just be prepared.’
I stood up, watching Chairman Hong Woosung’s expression.
‘There’s nothing to worry about. I’m only going to do things by the law you so dearly loved. If you’ve done nothing wrong, then nothing will happen. But if that’s not the case, just think of it as getting what you deserve.'”
***
The breaking news article was posted on the internet under the title ‘The Full Story of the Union Destruction Incident at Woosung Corporation’.
Compared to mainstream media, internet news outlets have limited influence. Nevertheless, the breaking news has already gained popularity through PAS coverage.
Moreover, when it was revealed that Kang Jin-hoo had intervened in this matter, the interest of netizens exploded.
-Does it make sense that such a thing is happening in 21st century South Korea?
-Haha, getting a year in prison for accidentally spilling paint on asphalt while writing on a banner. Is this for real?
-Got 1 year and 6 months in prison for putting tape on a CCTV camera.
-Are these people out of their minds?
-Is the prosecution handing out sentences as a joke?
-How did those brains become prosecutors?
-This is the true class of the South Korean prosecution!
In response to the confusion, the prosecution released a statement explaining that they sentenced the individuals based on the continuous and collective destructive and insulting behavior of the union members as joint offenders, evaluating the seriousness and danger of the crimes.
-Hahaha, talking nonsense.
-Thank you. Lately, comedy shows aren’t funny anymore, but this was a good laugh.
-Those who rigorously enforce the law rushed their car at a contractor and treated them as a simple traffic accident?
-Shouldn’t they be arrested for attempted murder?
-They smashed two skulls with a fire extinguisher and didn’t investigate?
-So why did Kang Jin-hoo get involved in this?
Criticism erupted when it was revealed that while emphasizing strict law enforcement against unions, the prosecution had turned a blind eye to the illegal activities of Woosung Corporation and Changju Consulting.
The breaking news then went on to expose documents related to the union destruction at Woosung Corporation and instructions exchanged between Eunsung.
Eventually, pressured by public opinion, the prosecution decided to arrest the contractor who drove the car and the one who fatally struck skulls with a fire extinguisher and investigate all those implicated in assault charges. Additionally, they arrested and prosecuted Woosung Group’s Chairman Hong Woosung.
Violation of labor standards law, violation of minimum wage law, violation of labor union law, violation of dispatched workers protection law, and so on.
The list of charges was overflowing.
It was surprising why they hadn’t been arrested until now. It was revealed that despite the labor ministry’s labor inspector repeatedly submitting reports with recommendations for prosecution, the indifferent prosecutor kept sending it back for further investigation under the pretext of supplementary investigation.
Even Changju Consulting’s CEO, Lee Se-yeop, couldn’t avoid arrest. The subcontracted workers who were arrested testified to the CEO’s illegal orders in order to reduce their own guilt even slightly.
As the internet went crazy, mainstream media outlets had no choice but to start reporting on it.
Journalists flocked to the prosecutor’s office later.
“This case had been reported several times before, and there are no new pieces of evidence. Why are they only now making arrests?”
“Do you acknowledge the fact that the labor inspector’s report was ignored?”
“Is there really a collusion between Woosung Corporation and the prosecution?”
“Were there any instructions or pressure from higher-ups?”
“How is the investigation into Eunsung progressing?”
Despite the journalists’ questions, the prosecutor remained silent. They only stated that they conducted the investigation in accordance with established principles and procedures.
Now all eyes turned to Eunsung.
At first, Eunsung remained silent, but as the situation escalated, he explained that there were no instructions from the company and that it was a personal misconduct by the purchasing department head for stable procurement of parts. He also stated that they would take disciplinary action after confirming the facts.
The prosecution accepted Eunsung’s statement and decided to punish only the employees involved.
Even though they avoided legal responsibility, they couldn’t escape public criticism.
– So, who is PAS?
***
I went to the hospital with Taekgyu and my mother, carrying a bouquet of flowers.
Mr. Seokbeom was admitted to a university hospital in Gangnam for rehabilitation. I covered all the costs.
In the private room, there were Mr. Seokbeom, a middle-aged woman, a middle school boy, and a high school girl.
The middle-aged woman stood up and bowed her head when she saw us.
“Hello. It’s been a while. Please greet us too.”
The siblings also nodded.
“Hello.”
I remembered seeing them a long time ago at a company dinner. They have grown a lot.
Mr. Seokbeom smiled at me.
“Oh, you came, Jinhoo?”
Though still stuttering, his pronunciation had improved, and his expression was brighter than before.
My mother spoke to Mr. Seokbeom and his family.
“Don’t worry about the future. We will help you find a job when you’re discharged and arrange a place to live.”
The lady looked like she was about to cry.
“What should I say to express my gratitude to you, ma’am…”
“What are you saying? If Jinhoo’s father were here, he would have done the same thing.”
We contacted Mr. Jongsoo’s family who had passed away and plan to reach out to other employees.
It’s an empty house now. If a large sum of money suddenly appears, there is a high possibility of problems with relatives and people around us. They could be cheated, spend it all at once, or face other issues.
Therefore, for a certain period, we plan to provide money like a pension and help them find a job to become independent.
I entrusted this task to my mother. She seems to want to take care of them because they were father’s colleagues.
“You’ve been through a lot. I understand everything.”
[Sobbing]
The lady burst into tears that she had been holding back. The mother embraced her and comforted her.
“It’s okay now. Everything will be fine from now on.”
Mr. Seokbeom and the siblings all cried together, and before they knew it, the hospital room had turned into a sea of tears. However, there was one person who was crying the hardest.
Taekgyu was pouring out tears next to them.
“Sobbing!”
“…Why are you crying?”
