When lunchtime came, the female employees’ lounge tucked into one corner of the Daehung Securities building in Yeouido buzzed with chatter.
Along the walls, metal lockers allowed them to store personal belongings, and the modest space had ...
2025-09-07 12:01:52 +0000 UTC
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[USD/JPY: 139.87 (▼1.54)]
A spacious office with thick carpets covering the floor.
Seok-won sat alone at a white, L-shaped desk positioned to catch the sunlight. He wore a crisp white dress shirt and a silk tie adorn...
2025-09-07 12:01:48 +0000 UTC
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Kremlin, Moscow – Conference Room
The high ceiling, adorned with gilded patterns, and the heavy oak panels lining the walls reflected the glory of the Russian Empire in all its splendor.
Around the long, polished mah...
2025-09-07 12:01:43 +0000 UTC
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Long Island, New York, LTCM Headquarters.
A heavy atmosphere filled the office as CEO Jacob Wisemann and Arthur Engoron, head of the arbitrage department, sat on the sofa.
“Contrary to our expectations, the Russian g...
2025-09-07 12:01:39 +0000 UTC
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Moscow, Russian Federation Government Headquarters.
“What did you say?”
Igor Korotchenko, Chief of Staff, furrowed his brows and straightened his upper body, making the employee standing at the desk shrink back ner...
2025-09-07 12:01:34 +0000 UTC
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The front door, lavishly decorated with expensive natural marble, opened silently. Seok-won stepped out of the luxury villa, accompanied by his assistant, Han Ji-sung.
He wore a perfectly tailored, custom-made suit that emphasized his frame,...
2025-09-07 12:01:29 +0000 UTC
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“This is Nasan Department Store, Nonhyeon branch.”
At the words of Son Jae-gyu, director of Midopa Department Store, Seok-won lifted his face behind his Ray-Ban sunglasses to look up.
The eight-story department store building stand...
2025-09-07 12:01:25 +0000 UTC
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“Did you just say you’re going to short Russian government bonds?”
Unlike Landon, who couldn’t hide his shock, Seok-won answered calmly.
“Yes.”
“It’s true that Russia’s situation hasn’t been great recently, bu...
2025-09-07 07:44:55 +0000 UTC
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As the eastern sky turned a deep red with the rising morning sun, dewdrops formed like jewels on the branches of garden trees where fresh green shoots were sprouting, catching the sunlight and sparkling brilliantly.
Amid the chirping of busy...
2025-09-07 07:44:53 +0000 UTC
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Seok-won sat on the sofa of his Tokyo penthouse, conversing with John Porter, the branch manager.
“Today the yen fell slightly to 128.10 against the dollar,” Seok-won said, setting down his teacup.
Porter, seated on the sofa to his...
2025-09-07 07:44:51 +0000 UTC
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Haneda International Airport, Tokyo, Japan.
A Gulfstream IV private jet, painted in a two-tone of Noter Blue and Crystal White, slowly taxied across the wide apron and came to a stop.
A moment later, the door opened, a...
2025-09-07 07:44:48 +0000 UTC
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The president’s office was decorated simply but with an understated elegance that reflected the owner’s taste.
Seok-won sat behind a large L-shaped desk, wearing a white dress shirt with a gold pin securing his silk tie.
As always,...
2025-09-07 07:44:46 +0000 UTC
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Yongsan, Ministry of National Defense Headquarters.
Inside the spacious office, behind a large desk, the South Korean flag and the Ministry of National Defense flag with a red background stood alongside a presidential portra...
2025-09-07 07:44:44 +0000 UTC
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On a small bunk in the dark cabin, Woo Ho-geun lay alone.
Squinting against the sunlight pouring through the round porthole, he turned his head this way and that before finally forcing his heavy eyelids open.
“Ugh… my head.”
<...
2025-09-07 07:44:41 +0000 UTC
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The Blue House was a remarkably closed-off space.
Of course, it was understandable—South Korea was still technically a nation at war. But the place looked more like a fortress than a residence.
A building cut off from the world.
<...
2025-09-07 06:04:03 +0000 UTC
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Just as I was getting used to the lavish décor of the chairman’s office, my phone rang.
It was a call from David.
“Boss! The acquisition of DHL’s U.S. freight transport division is complete.”
“It took a bit longer than...
2025-09-07 05:53:20 +0000 UTC
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I arrived at Captain Kang’s office before anyone else.
Until Captain Kang and Team Leader Han showed up, I quietly prepared a modest little party by myself.
Though “prepared” was a stretch—it was just a few cans of beer and my ...
2025-09-07 05:53:14 +0000 UTC
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I hadn’t stepped outside the hotel even once in the past week.
During that time, I thoroughly reviewed detailed profiles of numerous AIG employees. I was surprised to find that the company had far more outstanding talent than I had initial...
2025-09-07 05:53:05 +0000 UTC
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Captain Kang’s office.
After wrapping up the meeting with the Vice Minister of Finance and the President of KDB at the Korean-style restaurant, I headed to the office with Captain Kang.
“Are you telling me you sold an insurance cer...
2025-09-07 05:52:55 +0000 UTC
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While I was away on a business trip to the U.S., much had changed in Korea.
Taewoo Group continued its steady growth without any major disruptions, but the broader situation in Korea was different.
“Vice Chairman, the conservative bl...
2025-09-07 05:52:15 +0000 UTC
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The merger and acquisition process was finally complete.
The fruits I wanted to harvest hadn’t fully ripened yet, so I needed to give them more time. That gave me the perfect excuse to return to Korea.
I arrived at Incheon Airport wi...
2025-09-07 05:52:03 +0000 UTC
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Chairman’s Office, Citi Group
I had come at Dimon’s formal invitation.
The place had a chaotic atmosphere, likely due to the ongoing interior renovations.
"Looks like you're aiming for a vibe similar to that of a Fintech bank...
2025-09-07 05:51:52 +0000 UTC
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A price negotiation that felt like it would never end.
But then Dimon delivered the final blow that brought it all to a close.
“If SAVE Investment can’t acquire AIG, our fintech bank will immediately file an insurance claim for the...
2025-09-07 05:51:44 +0000 UTC
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A closed-door meeting was underway at the Federal Reserve headquarters.
President Bush wasn’t in attendance today, but that didn’t diminish the weight of the meeting.
In fact, it meant he had handed over full authority to the Fed a...
2025-09-07 05:51:32 +0000 UTC
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The world’s largest financial group, CITI Group.
Each of its executives held enormous influence.
Wherever they went in the world, just being a CITI Group executive guaranteed them top-tier treatment.
But in the boardroom, their...
2025-09-07 05:51:23 +0000 UTC
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A massive logistics warehouse.
In stark contrast, only a small number of employees.
And compared to the employees, a multitude of automated systems working nonstop.
Jeffrey proudly raised his voice as he showed me around the ware...
2025-09-07 05:51:14 +0000 UTC
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The subprime mortgage dish was nearly cooked.
Now it just needed to simmer, and while it did, I had other matters to take care of—starting with a visit to Apple's headquarters in California.
"Kim! I heard you were in the States som...
2025-09-07 05:51:06 +0000 UTC
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Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, D.C.
Since it was Saturday, most of the staff weren’t at work.
But outside the building, dozens of vans were standing by, and numerous security personnel were guarding the premises.
...
2025-09-07 05:50:59 +0000 UTC
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U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
Since I held honorary U.S. citizenship, I was able to enter the embassy after only a minimal set of procedures.
“Ambassador Chris, it’s been a while.”
“I sincerely apologize for summoning such a ...
2025-09-07 05:50:41 +0000 UTC
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Seok-won slipped off his shoes and stepped into the private room, guided by a female staff member through the sliding door that opened smoothly.
Seeing him, Choi Bok-rak—who had arrived earlier and was waiting—rose to his feet.
“...
2025-09-06 18:09:31 +0000 UTC
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