Corporate Villain
Copyright© 2025 by K.W
Chapter 17
Daeyoung Corporation, European Regional Office.
After the storm-like personnel issue, the European Regional Office had barely regained peace when another significant disturbance arose.
“Do you know about this issue, Director?”
It was because of a phone call from the Spanish Madrid overseas branch.
Choi Jang-ho, the manager in conversation with the Madrid branch manager, felt a cold sweat running down his spine.
The Andalusian olive farm had colluded, firing a warning shot for renegotiation.
The initial planning of this project was five years ago, but the exclusive contract to solely purchase the entire production for five years was signed four years ago.
Executive Director Yoon Taesik, upon his arrival as the head of the department, had first issued a work directive to check and proceed with the extension of this exclusive contract.
The Madrid branch, holding 12 percent of the entire dealing turnover of Daeyoung Corporation’s trading division in Europe.
Within that, the Andalusian olive farm-related business was a crucial sector.
Though there was still a year left until the renegotiation, no one knew when or how the capricious and quick-witted Spanish farm owners would change their current stance, just as Director Yoon Taesik had predicted.
“Are you saying they want to raise the price to 4.5 euros per liter, which is 30 percent more than what we’re currently guaranteeing?”
-For the past four years, with war and whatnot, the wage increase rate was tremendous, especially during the coronavirus period, the additional costs incurred to forcibly meet the shipping quantity were also significant on their side.
Such frustrating talk.
Manager Choi Jang-ho would have yelled at the Madrid branch manager for making such nonsensical claims if he weren’t his senior.
“Considering all that, wasn’t the contract initially set at 3.3 euros per liter? It’s hard to predict exactly, but our Daeyoung Economic Research Institute had calculated the five-year inflation rate, wage increase rate, and even drafted a proposal in the form of a report for them.”
-So what they’re saying is that’s rubbish. Based on that, we gave them the five-year exclusive shipping contract. When entering a new contract, it’s only natural that those figures should rise accordingly.
“Then ask them what they think about the times they couldn’t meet the shipment quota within the deadline due to their own circumstances, and how we never imposed a penalty for it.”
– Hey, Chief Choi. This isn’t something to get emotional about. We still have a year left. We should negotiate slowly, not go in there looking for a fight, right?
“Director.”
– Yes, I’m listening.
“If our headquarters hadn’t checked on this matter in advance, what would you have done later?”
The exact offer of 4.5 euros is on the table.
As the branch manager said, there’s still a year left, so there’s plenty of room for negotiation. However, it was clear that the front-line commander, not the main base, shouldn’t be so relaxed.
Perhaps because it’s not his own money, he might just be thinking that as long as he safely completes his appointed time as branch manager and returns to Korea, it’s fine. Even if he raises the margin base to 4.5 euros, all that matters is a successful renegotiation.
Chief Choi Jang-ho.
Just being a nice guy isn’t enough to hold the position of chief in Daeyoung Mulsan, the country’s leading trading company, and in the European division, which, along with the overseas construction department, forms one of the two pillars.
Although he’s been outmaneuvered by the political schemer Park Je-dong and lost all his teeth, it doesn’t mean he’s lost the wolf’s temperament.
Especially now, as the office atmosphere has been transformed in an instant by the new head, his presence is being newly established.
Although the opponent is a senior colleague, and the branch manager holds the executive title, Chief Choi Jang-ho oversees all overseas branches related to the European division and the entire office at the headquarters.
Such sharp criticism from him would surely make the branch manager tense.
That’s the power of the headquarters.
– That part is ... Yes, I understand. That part is indeed our oversight.
Just then.
Head Yoon Tae-sik entered the European division office.
“The head has arrived. I’ll contact you again in a little while.”
Chief Choi Jang-ho quickly ended the call and hurried towards Head Yoon Tae-sik.
“Have you arrived?”
“Did you receive the call from the Madrid branch manager?”
“Yes, I just received it.”
Expressionless.
It’s impossible to predict the head’s mood.
Head Yoon Tae-sik, who had briskly walked into the center of the office, stood in front of the round meeting table and said to the Spanish team.
“Could someone bring me the Andalusian grand map?”
The eyes of the current employees of the European division, especially those who had never worked with the ace businessman Yoon Tae-sik, began to shine sharply.
The grand map, much wider than the upper half of the round table.
It was Deputy Manager Oh Ji-won who spread it out on the table.
“Director.”
“Yes, Executive Director.”
Executive Director Yoon Tae-sik stepped back and gave an order to Director Choi Jang-ho.
It was a very concise yet vital directive.
“Director, first connect with the financial risk team and request a calculation of the final excess amount we have to shoulder when the margin base for olive oil is raised from 3.3 to 4.5 euros.”
“Yes.”
“And the re-contracting issue from the Andalusian farm, please pass that along to the other branches as well.”
“Yes.”
“After you’ve passed that on, pull out a list of projects that each branch is holding that need to be re-contracted within six months, and prepare for a video conference tomorrow morning with you, me, and all the branch managers.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
There was nothing rough about the work of Yoon Tae-sik, who had even earned the wings of an executive director.
Although a junior at the company, he was an existence that always kept him on his toes and stimulated him with his clean and perfect work capability.
That existence was now Vice Director Oh Ji-won, who felt like a distant wall.
“Is it from here to here?”
Vice Director Oh Ji-won, who had been lost in thought, quickly gathered herself and stepped towards the map at Executive Director Yoon’s question.
“What are you referring to?”
Executive Director Yoon Tae-sik turned his head slightly towards Vice Director Oh Ji-won.
One corner of the executive director’s mouth was lifted.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.