The seminar room was instantly filled with fervor at the sudden appearance of the CEO.
JG Blockchain members cheered and applauded, some overjoyed and fidgety, others with expressions of awe and reverence.
Choi Nam-woo surveyed the seminar room and said, “I’m very pleased to meet you all. Welcome to JG Blockchain.”
Taek-gyu tried to lower his head, but his eyes met Choi Nam-woo’s before he could. Choi Nam-woo didn’t seem to recognize him at all and turned his gaze elsewhere.
Well, they had only briefly encountered each other in front of the house. It was such a chaotic situation back then, it’s natural he wouldn’t remember.
Unlike his appearance when he was being dragged out while shouting, he now looked full of confidence. His expression was assured, his back straight, and his chest puffed out.
He looked just like a successful young businessman.
‘Choi Nam-woo is the CEO of JG Blockchain? What on earth happened in the meantime?’
He felt like things were getting more and more interesting.
Min Ha-young said in a low voice, “Our CEO is really amazing.”
“What’s so amazing about him?”
“You’ll understand when you hear him speak.”
Just as she said, he should at least listen to what he had to say.
Choi Nam-woo spoke in a deep voice. “I believe everyone here is well aware of and interested in cryptocurrency. Some of you may have even invested and suffered significant losses. The crash we experienced at the beginning of the year was due to investors’ distrust in the intrinsic value of cryptocurrency. You’ve probably wondered at least once. What value does a coin itself really have? Can cryptocurrency truly replace the dollar or gold? This implies that even cryptocurrency cannot be guaranteed to have definite value.”
His voice grew louder. “However, Jeil Gold Coin, created with the latest blockchain technology, is different! If existing coins were invisible coins whose value couldn’t be seen, Jeil Gold Coin is a visible coin where you can directly see the value. It is also a real currency as well as a cryptocurrency. The reason is that the value of Jeil Gold Coin is linked to oil, the most important resource of the 21st century!”
People gasped and exclaimed in amazement, while Taek-gyu was utterly dumbfounded.
‘What the heck is he talking about?’
If cryptocurrency is a financial asset (though the definition varies by country), then oil is a representative tangible asset. But are these two related?
Data about Venezuela appeared on the screen.
Venezuela, once a wealthy nation in South America, has now become one of the poorest countries in the world. The biggest reason is the drop in oil prices, but dictatorship, corruption, populism, and excessive welfare spending were also problems.
Even with the national finances in crisis, they tried not to reduce fiscal spending, so they kept printing money, which led to hyperinflation exceeding 500% annually.
Like Germany after World War I, to buy a loaf of bread, you have to carry a mountain of banknotes, and even counting the banknotes one by one is impossible, so you have to weigh them on a scale.
“Venezuela is an oil-producing country with the world’s largest oil reserves, but it is currently facing great difficulties. The government is pushing for the sale of oil fields to overcome the financial crisis. Jeil Group, the parent company of JG Blockchain, has been granted exclusive exploration and mining rights for Venezuelan government-owned state oil fields.”
Subsequently, a video with photos of a vast oil field and interviews with related personnel began to play. The word ‘Jeil’ was prominently displayed on the clothes and hats of the researchers and workers. They all testified unanimously that the oil reserves were enormous.
“The estimated oil reserves in this oil field are worth 150 trillion won at current prices! When you buy Jeil Gold Coin, it is exactly the same as buying shares of the oil buried in this oil field. All the oil mined by Jeil Group will be sold overseas, and the transaction proceeds will be received only in Jeil Gold Coin, not in dollars.”
Generally, international oil transactions are almost entirely conducted in dollars. But what would happen if they traded in Jeil Gold Coin?
To purchase oil, you would first need to buy Jeil Gold Coin. This would naturally increase demand and trading volume, and the value of Jeil Gold Coin would rise.
‘This sounds familiar.’
Taek-gyu recalled a story he had heard from Kang Jin-hoo before. This was similar to the method used by John Law, who caused the Mississippi Bubble.
Choi Nam-woo displayed several articles on the screen.
[Venezuela, Extreme Economic Crisis]
[Is Venezuela Pushing for Sale of State-Owned Oil Fields Due to Worsening Finances?]
[Venezuelan Government to Issue National Cryptocurrency for the First Time]
[Petro Coin to Be Used Internationally Starting Next Month]
“As you can see, the Venezuelan government recently issued a cryptocurrency called Petro Coin and linked it to the dollar and oil. Jeil Gold Coin is linked to Petro Coin issued by the Venezuelan government, and in turn, linked to the dollar and oil, effectively giving it a status no different from a reserve currency.”
Regardless of whether it’s possible or not, to do this, they must first actually mine oil.
‘But to confirm if this is true, I’d have to go to Venezuela.’
Among the people here, who has acquaintances in Venezuela or can go there directly? Perhaps there are even people who don’t know where Venezuela is located.
In fact, some people were mistaking it for a Middle Eastern country when they heard the word ‘oil’.
Taek-gyu once again recalled what he had heard from Jin-hoo.
‘There are so many philanthropists in this world. Stock manipulators, planned real estate agents too. Stocks and real estate that will rise dozens or hundreds of times if left alone, they go to the trouble of making calls one by one, even hiring people, trying to sell them somehow. Selling something they could keep all to themselves to others at a cheap price, you can’t do that unless you’re pretty kind.’
It was exactly as he said.
Why would they hold lectures to sell coins for a few tens of won when they say it will be 10,000 won once listed and become a reserve currency in the future? If it’s that good, shouldn’t they keep it to themselves and stay quiet? Why are they so eagerly telling everyone else? Are they crazy?
‘It’s a scam after all.’
Choi Nam-woo confidently and boldly exclaimed, “The future is right before your eyes. Invest in Jeil Gold Coin right now!”
‘Surely there aren’t any black cows, soft cows, black yaks, black angus, black cranes who believe this, right?’
Thinking that, he looked around, and everyone was standing up and cheering with applause.
Clap clap clap!
Taek-gyu sighed inwardly as he watched the scene.
‘Hmm, there are so many suckers in the world.’
No wonder there are so many scammers.
By the way, Choi Nam-woo didn’t look like a scammer trying to deceive others at all. This could be one of two things.
He was either acting extremely well, or he genuinely believed it was real.
Which one could it be?
At that moment, someone cautiously asked a question. “I heard a rumor that the CEO is related to Kang Jin-hoo, is that true?”
Taek-gyu chuckled and muttered, “The fabrication is taking flight.”
He wondered when they would bring up Kang Jin-hoo’s name. Perhaps the person who asked the question was also part of the group.
Min Ha-young asked, “What are you talking about?”
“It’s nothing.”
The existing members seemed to already know about it. But those who came to this place for the first time were startled by those words.
“K-Kang Jin-hoo?”
“Could it be that Kang Jin-hoo?”
“Are you talking about the CEO of OTK Company?”
Choi Nam-woo put on a seemingly troubled expression. “This is a bit embarrassing. It’s supposed to be a secret that Kang Jin-hoo is my brother-in-law.”
Then a young man said, sounding puzzled, “Huh? Isn’t Kang Jin-hoo an only child?”
Murmurs arose from here and there.
“Hey, what is this?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it not that Kang Jin-hoo?”
Then Choi Nam-woo explained in detail. “I apologize. To be precise, OTK Company CEO Kang Jin-hoo is my cousin brother-in-law. He is the cousin of my wife, Kang Mi-young. I usually call him ‘brother-in-law’ in a friendly way, so misunderstandings arose.”
The newcomers still had expressions of disbelief.
“Well, it’s my fault for causing this misunderstanding, so I should clear it up. I’ll show you our family photos.”
As if prepared, he immediately took out his smartphone from his pocket and connected it to the projector.
The first photo that appeared was a wedding photo.
“This woman is my wife, Kang Mi-young. Doesn’t she look a bit like my brother-in-law?”
Following that, photos taken during holidays and family gatherings appeared. There were photos with Kang Mi-young and young Kang Jin-hoo in them. Photos from elementary, middle, and high school, as well as university.
“Since our brother-in-law is an only child, he treated my wife like a real older sister.”
People murmured in surprise. Although photo editing technology has advanced these days, these were photos that had never been made public anywhere.
Choi Nam-woo explained when each photo was taken and then said, “This story is a secret. If the fact that JG Blockchain is related to OTK Company is revealed, high-value investors will flock in, and you will no longer be able to purchase coins. What I want is not for a few rich people to become richer, but for countless ordinary people to become rich through Jeil Gold Coin.”
Kang Jin-hoo is the most famous figure in the global financial world. His name alone was as good as a guarantee in the financial sector.
Unlike Min Ha-young, who was clapping enthusiastically with an excited expression, Taek-gyu had a lukewarm expression.
‘Look at this guy scamming.’
Surprisingly, Choi Nam-woo’s words weren’t entirely false. Kang Mi-young really was Kang Jin-hoo’s cousin and they were close at one time. He just omitted the part about them cutting ties.
“Then, is CEO Kang Jin-hoo perhaps involved in the coin listing?”
“Did OTK Company also invest in Jeil Gold Coin?”
“Could it be that they are also involved in the Venezuelan oil field business…?”
Choi Nam-woo still said, as if troubled, “Jeil Gold Coin and Venezuelan oil field mining are businesses that are attracting worldwide attention. I hope you understand that it is difficult for me, as the CEO, to directly comment on those aspects. However, I will say just one thing. The largest shareholder of Bithumb, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in Korea and one of the top five in the world, is none other than OTK Company. That’s all.”
After the lecture ended, members rushed to ask for handshakes and autographs. Choi Nam-woo shook hands with each of them, signed autographs, and encouraged them.
“Let’s all get rich together. Fighting!”
“Thank you, CEO!”
“It’s an honor!”
“My life changed after learning about JG Blockchain.”
“I was despairing, calling myself a ‘dirt spoon’, but after meeting Jeil Gold Coin, I’m now dreaming of becoming rich.”
“I will believe in and follow you to the end, CEO.”
A young man in his 30s said with a bright expression, “Through my introduction, my parents, siblings, and all my relatives have invested in Jeil Gold Coin.”
Taek-gyu was speechless at those words.
‘No, if this guy is going to ruin himself, he should do it alone. What did his parents, siblings, and relatives do to deserve this?’
Before he knew it, it was Min Ha-young’s turn. “Jeil Gold Coin is a new dream and hope for me.”
“Let’s achieve our dream of becoming rich together.”
Taek-gyu also ended up shaking hands with him unintentionally. Choi Nam-woo held his hand and looked at Taek-gyu. He seemed to be waiting for him to say a word of resolve.
‘What should I say?’
Taek-gyu said whatever came to mind. “Why are you selling something this good so cheap? If it were me, I would sell it much more expensively.”
Surprisingly, Choi Nam-woo didn’t flinch at all and said, “That’s blockchain. A world connected by coins and coins, abandoning selfishness. That is the new future that JG Blockchain envisions.”
“Huh?”
Why is blockchain coming up here?
‘Does he even know what he’s talking about?’
The man next to him quickly said, “The next lecture is scheduled, CEO. You must be going now.”
Choi Nam-woo left the building and departed in a black Mercedes-Benz S-Class that was waiting.
After the seminar attended by the CEO ended, people who had been lukewarm or hesitant about membership sign-up until just now actively engaged in consultations.
People took out their cell phones and made calls here and there. Some immediately called banks to inquire about loans, and some talked to acquaintances.
Even from a distance, the name ‘Kang Jin-hoo’ kept popping up. The word that Jeil Gold Coin was deeply related to Kang Jin-hoo was probably spreading everywhere.
It is commonplace to scam people by selling the names of celebrities. Entertainers, politicians, entrepreneurs, and so on.
The problem is that even if it is revealed that there is no connection at all, their image is tarnished. In some cases, victims even gather in groups and demand compensation, making a huge fuss.
From the victims’ point of view, there is no way to get their money back, regardless of whether there is a connection or not.
Until now, it was just out of interest, but now that he knew they were scamming people by selling Kang Jin-hoo’s name, he couldn’t just stand by.
Taek-gyu crossed his arms and thought inwardly.
‘Is it my turn to step in?’
