Landing in Your Inbox

84 - a day of rest

Wol-suk opened the card first. "Oh U-pil's birthday!"

"Oh my, of course we will be there!" Ok-geum pressed the card to her chest.

"You can count on it, Myeong-sun." Young-ae promised.

Myeong-sun smiled gratefully at her old friends, "Thank you, everyone."

March 21, 2021 7:14 PM
Maibaum Apartments, Seoul

HAN DAILY: "The family has been shaken by scandals lately. Bribery allegations, anti-labor practices, Chairman Yoon's health and questions on CEO Yoon Seri's parentage, how is the Yoon family doing?"

YOON SE-HYEONG: "Now that you've enumerated it that way, it seems a lot (both laugh). Every family has its own issues, and I suppose mine is put under a magnifying glass at present. But if you are thinking that a day in the office is filled with unpredictable chaos, you can't be further than the truth. Business runs normally at Queens Group and my family is on top of the situation."

HAN DAILY: "When you say 'on top of the situation', how do you mean it, Mr. Yoon Se-hyeong?"

SE-HYEONG: "Our lawyers are hard at work in disputing the evidence presented against my father. We have the support of the Chamber of Commerce. We believe we are wrongfully the target of a malicious revenge plot and we will stop at nothing to clear our father's name. Amidst this, my father is doing well and under close observation by his doctors. He is a fighter and he continues to be to this day. My brother is resolving the case with the union leader and I'm confident there will be a more than generous settlement. As for my sister...the news came to us by surprise. She is our one and only."

HAN DAILY: "But Ms. Yoon seems to insinuate that there is truth behind the rumor with her statement during her latest store opening."

SE-HYEONG: (adjusts his wire framed glasses) "Well, she had a point there. My sister has always been proud of her accomplishments. I think she is attesting to her skillset as the basis of her current positioning, rather than a birthright. I have no arguments there."

HAN DAILY: "Mr. Yoon, I know chaebol families are largely secretive and we hardly hear from your side how the family dynamics are. But I want to take this opportunity. The hospitalization and ongoing case of Chairman Yoon have led to speculations about succession. Take us behind the scenes, a peek underneath the curtain, if you would. How did the Yoon family take this? Do you and your siblings get along?"

SE-HYEONG: "Hmmm, I can say we aren't the closest of families but we are all united by our love and respect for our father, and mother. Should the eventuality happen, we will honor it as the will of our father. Of course, what the board thinks is another matter. I can't speak for my siblings but for myself, I can say that Queens Group is my life, was, is and will. I will continue to serve it earnestly and faithfully."

HAN DAILY: "I can really feel how passionate you are about the company, Mr. Yoon."

SE-HYEONG: "I honor the history. It's what my grandfather built, it's what my father enriched and I only mean to follow their legacy."

HAN DAILY: "Already spoken like a Chairman, Mr. Yoon"

Both laughed again.

"Give me that."

Seri snatched the remote control from the proffered hand and pointedly closed the television which vanished in a blink.

"That slimy scheming...jerk!" Seri threw the remote control and left it clattering on the low table. "Did you see what he did? He did this on purpose. He set this up. He waited while I lay down low and grabbed the opportunity to speak on behalf of the company like he was the heir presumptive, like we are one happy family. My father won't even allow us to talk to the media and this bastard just..."