The conference room erupted with surprise at Seok-won's unexpected bombshell statement.
Not only the union representatives but also Executive Director Lee Kwang-ryeol seated beside him and the senior staff from Manyoung Machinery could not hide their astonished expressions, their eyes wide open.
Companies struggling due to the IMF crisis were all scrambling to survive by cutting costs and downsizing through restructuring. So hearing Seok-won promise employment succession, a five-year job guarantee, and even to pay last year's year-end bonuses that were previously withheld was understandably shocking.
Among those in the room, only Seok-won and the executives Yoon Ki-hoon and Yoo Hyun-seok, who had been briefed beforehand, appeared calm and composed.
Yoon Dong-hyun, the union chairman, was the first to regain his composure. Leaning forward, he eyed Seok-won suspiciously.
"Do you really mean you'll grant everything you just said?"
The question, posed for confirmation, drew curious looks not only from the union representatives but also from Executive Director Lee and the senior staff.
Though the intense gaze could have been uncomfortable, Seok-won replied calmly without any trace of hesitation.
"Would I make promises here that I can't keep?"
Yoon Dong-hyun nodded slightly, acknowledging that making false promises would only worsen the already strained labor-management relations, possibly to an irreparable point.
"Of course, it's not just a matter of handing it over freely."
The union representatives, now somewhat hopeful, exchanged cautious glances at what conditions Seok-won might impose.
Yoon Dong-hyun, expecting this, asked:
"What kind of conditions?"
Locking eyes with him, Seok-won answered,
"In exchange for guaranteeing employment, there will be no wage or labor negotiations for five years."
"...!"
"To overcome current difficulties and not just normalize the company but help it grow to the next level, this much is necessary."
Indeed, if the company could focus solely on management without the burden of labor disputes for five years, restoring it to the right track would be far easier. Executive Director Lee Kwang-ryeol nodded unknowingly while listening.
But Yoon Dong-hyun, clearly disagreeing, immediately took a stern tone.
"Isn't it too much to freeze wages for five years in return for job security?"
As Yoon Dong-hyun challenged first, the union representatives with him frowned and voiced their objections.
"Exactly."
"Not one or two years, but five is way too long."
"This isn't right."
Seok-won spoke in a low voice at the grumbling.
"Do you think my demands are excessive?"
As if waiting for this, Chairman Yoon Dong-hyun replied.
"Yes. If it's about three years, we could consider conceding."
At that moment, Seok-won wiped the smile off his face and spoke in a dry tone.
"I think you're seriously mistaken."
"...?"
"As I clearly said from the start, I am a businessman, not a social activist."
Though he didn't raise his voice, Seok-won's aura overwhelmed the room. Union representatives including Chairman Yoon, as well as the Manyoung Machinery executives beside them, unknowingly felt intimidated.
"I presented the best option for a win-win situation, but if you just refuse because you don't like it, then I have no choice. I'll have to choose another way."
"Are you threatening to sell the factory and lay off workers like the Rothschild fund?"
Yoon Dong-hyun snapped, deliberately raising his voice.
But Seok-won remained calm, his gaze steady and unwavering.
"That's one of the options. And it's not a threat—it's a warning, because if we really decide to do that, we will follow through."
Responding calmly with an emotionless face struck heavier on the minds of Chairman Yoon and the union reps than shouting would have.
"Everyone knows that labor-management relations are unstable because of past strike crackdowns involving public authority. Moreover, finished car manufacturers, whose production lines almost stopped due to parts delivery halts, must now doubt the reliability of Manyoung Machinery as a core partner."
Unable to refute such a precise criticism, Chairman Yoon and the union reps remained silent, as did Executive Director Lee Kwang-ryeol and other Manyoung Machinery executives, who quietly nodded in agreement.
"If I were a CEO of a finished car manufacturer, I would find another supplier to diversify the parts we get exclusively from Manyoung Machinery, as a risk management measure."
"...Strikes were an unavoidable action to protect our right to survive."
Chairman Yoon spoke defensively.
"I'm not blaming the strike, but I'm trying to explain why it's necessary, for the company's normalization, to have no wage or labor negotiations for five years."
Leaning back in his chair, Seok-won said this, and Chairman Yoon, about to respond, fell silent.
"No wage and labor negotiations for five years means at least a minimum guarantee that no strike will occur during that period, which would reassure the finished car manufacturers."
A few of the union representatives nodded in agreement after hearing this.
Seeing that, Seok-won calmly continued.
"And even without wage and labor negotiations, wages will be increased annually according to inflation for five years. On top of that, if sales and net profits grow, year-end bonuses of up to 400% will be paid."
The union representatives, who had been reluctantly considering accepting the situation because losing their jobs immediately would be worse than wage freezes, widened their eyes upon hearing Seok-won's words.
"A 400% bonus?!"
"It's not perfect, but if that's the case, it's not like wages are completely frozen, right?"
"That's right."
Until now, even when operating profits were high, year-end bonuses maxed out around 100–150%. So hearing that they might get up to 400%, more than double the usual, naturally caught their attention.
The union representatives' excitement stemmed from Manyoung Machinery's position as a crucial parts supplier. When Manyoung Machinery went on strike, domestic finished car manufacturers worried about production stoppages, as it was a profitable company with annual sales reaching hundreds of billions of won.
Therefore, even if sales remained at current levels, receiving significantly higher bonuses could fully offset the lack of wage negotiations.
"If you were going to do this, you should have told us earlier," said one union representative, whose hairline had slightly receded, with a much more favorable tone than before.
Seok-won pointed with a nod to the proposal on the conference table.
"It's all written in the proposal I handed out. You're the ones who jumped to conclusions about complete wage freezes and got upset without properly reading it."
"Hmm hmm."
"Ahem."
Embarrassed, the union reps coughed unnaturally or belatedly rifled through the proposal papers.
Chairman Yoon Dong-hyun also felt sheepish, realizing his prior prejudice that this would be like Chairman Lim Jong-myeong or the Rothschild fund sucking dry all the profits had been misplaced.
"I've shown all my cards. How do you intend to respond?"
Seok-won asked bluntly, raising both hands slightly while seated.
After whispering among themselves briefly, Chairman Yoon looked back at him.
"It seems like the best offer for now. I'll put it to a union vote to let all employees decide."
Even union representatives could not unilaterally decide such an important matter; putting it to a vote to confirm the employees' will was only natural.
"That's right. Then this seems to be the conclusion; let's end today's meeting here."
When Seok-won stood up, this time chairman Yoon and the union reps did not stiffly resist but stood up following him.
Yoon hesitated briefly when Seok-won first extended his hand but then shook it politely.
"I apologize for my rude behavior earlier."
With a softened expression, Seok-won smiled gently.
"I understand the tension in this unsettled situation, so I accept your apology."
He then shook hands one by one with the other union representatives before turning and leaving the conference room with the company officials.
Once the door closed, the balding union representative clicked his tongue.
"I thought he was just some rich chaebol heir, but even though he's young, he's no ordinary man."
"Right. To think he finished the negotiation in less than an hour with that kind of charisma."
"And the terms aren't one-sidedly unfavorable; they're actually advantageous."
"In these days when people are being fired left and right, at least there's no fear of getting laid off. And if we perform well, we can expect big bonuses. I'm satisfied with this."
As each person spoke up, the mood gradually became positive.
Although Chairman Yoon Dong-hyun didn't show it outwardly, he shared the same feelings with his colleagues.
Meanwhile, after leaving the conference room, Seok-won moved to the factory manager's office in the same building.
He asked the others to step outside temporarily and sat down on the sofa facing Executive Director Lee Kwang-ryeol alone.
After a female staff member served coffee and left, an awkward silence settled briefly.
Executive Director Lee, glancing cautiously at Seok-won's expression, spoke carefully first.
"As you saw, everyone had a tough stance, so I thought persuading the union would be difficult. But to finish the talk in under an hour, that was really impressive."
Seok-won replied nonchalantly.
"Rather than a troublesome tug-of-war, if you listen to what the employees want most and the company demands something commensurate in return, it's easier to progress through discussions."
Though it's easier said than done, seeing Seok-won demonstrate it directly left Executive Director Lee admiring once again.
"Certainly leadership and capacity are on a different level."
Remembering how Chairman Yoon Dong-hyun had been tough and prickly at first but ended up being led along helplessly throughout the negotiation, Lee murmured inwardly.
Seok-won took a sip of his coffee, then looked at Executive Director Lee and began the main topic.
"Setting that aside, unlike other executives who have left, you have a good reputation inside and outside the company. Also, among Manyoung Machinery's products, there's hardly any that hasn't passed through your hands. You've achieved excellent results in the development department so far."
"Thank you for your kind assessment."
Seok-won crossed one leg and spoke seriously.
"My goal is not just to normalize Manyoung Machinery but to make it the number one parts company in the country and a globally recognized automotive parts manufacturer."
"That would indeed be wonderful."
"To achieve that, investment in technology development to produce products with superior performance and quality compared to now is essential."
Executive Director Lee Kwang-ryeol nodded in agreement.
"That's why I want you, who knows the company well and has worked long in the development department, to take charge of the company. Will you do it?"
"Me? Are you serious?"
Lee looked surprised and asked again.
"Yes. The reason we didn't replace you while overhauling the existing management was exactly that."
Feeling both pleased and somewhat burdened, Lee hesitated.
"To be honest, I don't know if I can lead the company well."
But Seok-won shook his head and spoke with confidence.
"I'm sure you'll produce excellent results."
He spoke with confidence because, from his memories before returning to this life, he knew that among the two split companies of Manyoung Machinery, Lee had skillfully led the automotive parts manufacturer Manyoung Co., Ltd.
"We'll guarantee your term for six years. If you double sales and net profits within that period, we'll give you a one-billion-won incentive."
"...!"
Executive Director Lee's eyes widened so much that it looked like he might jump up from the sofa, stammering.
"Y-You said one billion won?"
"Yes."
Without hesitation, Lee responded firmly.
"I accept. No, please make me do it!"
Seok-won smiled knowingly at the expected reaction.