ALL NOVEL 66
“If I had to choose, I’d go with Hyunpung.”
Two days later, Dokyung was having a meal with Choi Woojin after a long time. As usual, their conversation primarily revolved around stocks.
“Everyone seems to be mentioning Hyunpung.”
“It’s stable, isn’t it? When I think of Korean defense companies, Hyunpung is the only one that comes to mind.”
Dokyung nodded at Choi Woojin’s words. He had been contemplating for the past few days and asking people around him for opinions, and everyone unanimously mentioned Hyunpung, the stable defense industry company.
“By the way, the Leaders Center seems really intense. To think they evaluate you based on something like that.”
“Isn’t it interesting?”
“What is?”
“I find it fascinating that they hold these internal presentations.”
At Dokyung’s words, Choi Woojin shook his head as if nauseated and spoke.
“You might approach it purely for fun, Dokyung-ssi, but how do you think your team leader feels?”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, there’s no real reward, and it’s not like doing well in this improves your performance. As a team leader, being told to do something like this must be quite unpleasant.”
Dokyung fell into thought at Choi Woojin’s words. It was an issue he had never considered before.
“You know, as you go through your career, feelings become quite important.”
Dokyung listened quietly to Choi Woojin’s words.
“I might not care if my performance is lower than other employees if we’re not competing.”
“……”
“But how do you think I’d feel if they use something unrelated to performance to create competition and evaluate us?”
After pondering Choi Woojin’s words for a moment, Dokyung spoke up.
“But don’t you think it’s not entirely unrelated?”
Choi Woojin looked at Dokyung as if encouraging him to continue.
“Our job is to distinguish the wheat from the chaff on behalf of our clients. As they say, you can tell a lot from just one thing. If we can’t properly discern even in these small competitions, how can we recommend good stocks to our clients?”
“Hmm… You might be right, Dokyung-ssi. But from a motivational standpoint, that’s not the point.”
Dokyung felt he could understand what Choi Woojin was trying to say. Ultimately, it meant that some people don’t want to waste time on tasks unrelated to actual practice.
“I understand what you’re saying. But I think we just need to win this too.”
“Haha, I really wonder what Dokyung-ssi would have done if you hadn’t joined a securities firm.”
Choi Woojin looked at Dokyung as if he had met a true oddball.
He liked stocks too, but since it became his job, he hadn’t been able to look at the stock market comfortably for even a single day.
But Dokyung, despite it being his job, still seemed to enjoy stocks for what they were.
“You’re right. In fact, it all works out if you win. Even if that team leader acts disinterested, he’d be happy if you choose a good stock and win, right?”
“Yes, that’s what I think too. I like this job, and I like this approach. It’s not that I like competition…”
“You just enjoy analyzing stocks.”
Dokyung nodded at Choi Woojin’s words.
“So, which one do you favor?”
“I…”
Dokyung then spent a long time talking to Choi Woojin about the stock he had chosen, and Choi Woojin listened seriously, occasionally pointing out aspects Dokyung might have missed.
“Thank you for today. I always seem to be receiving help from you, Assistant Manager Woojin.”
“No, not at all. Talking about it today made me interested in the stock you mentioned. I’ll study it more when I get home and maybe recommend it to clients.”
Dokyung smiled and nodded at Choi Woojin’s words.
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The next day, despite it being lunchtime, Dokyung was sitting in the center’s break room, organizing data on his laptop instead of going out.
“Dokyung-ssi, have you decided yet?”
Dokyung turned his head at the voice, and saw his colleague Han Dahyun entering the break room.
Dokyung frowned and shook his head.
“Not yet. I’m still conflicted.”
“What’s troubling you? Let’s talk about it together.”
Han Dahyun sat across from Dokyung and placed a small paper bag on the table.
“It’s a sandwich. I bought it to eat together.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Dokyung smiled and bowed his head. He had planned to skip lunch, but thanks to Han Dahyun’s unexpected kindness, he could have a light meal.
“This is what having a good colleague is about. At headquarters, I had peers to talk to about various things, but since becoming a PB, we move individually, so there aren’t many chances for that.”
Dokyung looked at Han Dahyun as he accepted the sandwich she handed him.
“That’s why I was glad to meet you on our first day here. We have a colleague to look out for each other when things get tough.”
“Can I really be of help? Wouldn’t the seniors be…”
“No. When I talk to the higher-ups, they help but then give strange evaluations later. Like saying I work hard but I’m not very good… I don’t like those kinds of assessments.”
“So you trust me?”
“Half and half? I trust you but I’m still watching you a bit?”
Dokyung chuckled at Han Dahyun’s words.
“Haha, is it okay to be that honest?”
“Of course. I believe that since Dokyung-ssi is more capable than me, at least you won’t be jealous or envious of me. Come on! This is what having a good colleague is about. Tell me what’s troubling you.”
Dokyung thought for a moment before looking at Han Dahyun and speaking.
“I’ve almost finished my research.”
“What? How much?”
Han Dahyun asked Dokyung with a surprised expression. It hadn’t been long since the team leader had given this assignment, yet he was saying his research was almost complete.
“About… nine companies…”
“As far as I know, the number of defense companies listed on KOSPI and KOSDAQ is…”
“About 14.”
“And you’ve researched nine in such a short time?”
“Ah, I had been researching some of them bit by bit before, so actually…”
Dokyung’s words trailed off as he met Han Dahyun’s exasperated expression.
“If you’ve done so well, what’s troubling you?”
“They all seem good. I can understand why the Center Director chose defense companies as the presentation topic. The outlook for all of them is bright this year.”
“So it’s hard to choose just one from among them.”
“Yes. That’s what’s difficult.”
Dokyung liked all the companies. But even after pondering for the past few days, no company particularly stood out to him.
“I went with Hyunpung.”
Han Dahyun mentioned the company she had prepared. It was the company most people Dokyung had asked considered the most promising defense company this year.
“May I ask why?”
“It felt the least burdensome. Since it’s the leading stock.”
Dokyung nodded at Han Dahyun’s words.
He had considered it too. As the leading stock, it was expected to rise more as the defense industry sector performed well.
“Do you think Hyunpung isn’t good, Dokyung-ssi?”
“No, I had the same thought as you, Dahyun-ssi, and I still do. But… something feels a bit off.”
“We get that feeling sometimes.”
“Yes. But I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.”
“How about thinking about it simply?”
“Simply?”
As Dokyung asked curiously, Han Dahyun nodded and began to speak.
“Instead of considering everything, why don’t we exclude what might hinder stock price growth? I was originally going to choose Ihwa Defense, but as you know, their order backlog is quite low.”
Defense companies didn’t have many customers.
Their business potential was divided based on how much the government purchased from them, how much they could introduce domestically, and how much they could sell overseas.
The amount of weapons that had been ordered but not yet delivered was called the order backlog.
In other words, unless Ihwa Defense secured new weapon sales, their future income would be low as their deliveries were coming to an end.
“So why don’t you try eliminating some too, Dokyung-ssi? You know what they say, right? In the stock market, those who are good at subtracting rather than adding are the masters.”
As Han Dahyun said this while looking at Dokyung, he already seemed to be lost in thought over her words.
His concentration was intimidating as always.
Han Dahyun quietly observed Dokyung as he focused, and soon he looked up at her with a smile, as if he had finished contemplating.
“Dahyun-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“I feel like I keep receiving help from you. Thank you. I feel like something’s cleared up in my head.”
Saying this, Dokyung stood up and left the break room, and Han Dahyun smiled, not displeased by this familiar scene.
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“Is this the first time for the newbies?”
Five days later, all employees were gathered in the conference room within the center.
Those at the assistant manager level and above were seated at the round table in the center, while newcomers like Dokyung were seated in chairs lined up against the wall.
As the Team 2 leader entered the conference room, the newcomers stood up and bowed.
“Yes, it’s our first time.”
“Don’t be too nervous. You’re here to learn and get a feel for things by watching your seniors present.”
Dokyung was seeing the Team 2 leader for the first time, and he was a person whose confidence oozed from his actions and tone.
“Yoon Dokyung-ssi?”
The Team 2 leader sat down and looked back, searching for Dokyung, who stood up and bowed.
“Hello.”
“I heard I asked for you to be sent to me, did you know?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked the Center Director to send you to me, but he sent you to Team 3. What a shame.”
“Ah… I see.”
Dokyung looked at Seo Jeonghwan as he answered, but Seo Jeonghwan was looking at his documents, seemingly uninterested in this conversation.
“Let’s have a meal together sometime later. We should chat a bit since a famous person has arrived.”
“Yes, understood.”
As Dokyung bowed, the Team 2 leader smiled approvingly before straightening his posture, and the new employees’ gazes turned to Dokyung.
Dokyung focused on the documents on his lap, avoiding the glances from the Team 2 employees.
“I apologize. I’m the last to arrive again today.”
As the Center Director entered the conference room, everyone stood up and bowed.
“Please, everyone sit down. I’m sorry for being late.”
Center Director Ha Min-jae apologized again, sat down, and looked at everyone.
“How did the performance of the stocks presented by each team last time turn out?”
“Our Team 2 had the highest performance again this time.”
“Was it Future Communications that Team 2 presented?”
“That’s correct.”
The Team 2 leader spoke to the Center Director with his shoulders raised high.
“Team 2 has been performing the best so far. Can we expect good things today as well?”
“Of course.”
“I always feel good when I look at Team 2. It seems you work hard on whatever I instruct.”
“We understand your intentions well, Center Director. We thought you were telling us to study to avoid falling into complacency.”
Ha Min-jae smiled at the Team 2 leader’s words.
Some might say it was excessive flattery, but he thought this was how salespeople should be.
“Well, Team 2 has worked hard, so here’s my card. Use it well and return it to me.”
“Haha, we’ll spend less this time and return it to you.”
The Center Director smiled, not displeased by the Team 2 leader’s banter.
“Let’s begin right away.”
As the Center Director said this, the lights in the conference room dimmed, and Team 1 began presenting their prepared stock.
Everyone focused on the presentation, and Dokyung also concentrated on the presentations prepared by other teams while taking notes.
Clap clap clap-
“Team 2’s presentation is good this time as well.”
As Team 2’s presentation ended, Ha Min-jae nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Next is Team 3.”
At Center Director Ha Min-jae’s words, Dokyung took a deep breath and stood up.
Two days ago, Dokyung’s presentation was unanimously chosen in the team’s internal presentation. It was the result of his deliberation over the past few days, and all team members, including Team Leader Seo Jeonghwan, had voted for the material Dokyung had prepared.
Han Dahyun, sitting next to him, clenched her fist as if to cheer him on.
“Fighting.”
Dokyung smiled and nodded at Han Dahyun’s encouragement.
“Huh? What’s this? Team 3 is sending a newbie?”
The Team 2 leader spoke in surprise, and at those words, the Center Director looked at Dokyung with interest.
“In our internal team presentation, everyone voted for the material prepared by Yoon Dokyung-ssi.”
As Seo Jeonghwan said this, the Team 2 leader snickered and then looked at Seo Jeonghwan with an incredulous expression.
“Team Leader Seo, are you really trying to make other teams look…”
As the Team 2 leader was about to speak with emotion in his voice, Center Director Ha Min-jae raised his hand to stop him.
“Since it was decided within the team, I think it’s not too late to comment after watching the presentation.”
At Ha Min-jae’s words, the Team 2 leader, who looked like he was about to lose his temper, tightly closed his mouth and bowed his head.
“Yoon Dokyung-ssi, please begin.”
As the Center Director gave the signal to start, Dokyung displayed his prepared material on the screen.
“The topic of my presentation is…”
Dokyung looked at everyone with an expression brimming with confidence.
“Creating a means to maintain the balance of power. E-On Works.”
At Dokyung’s confident voice, everyone began to focus.