Chapter 163: The Arrival of the White Devil in Korea - (4)
"Hey, Soyeon. What nonsense are you spouting now? Do you even know who this person is?"
"Isn't this Kang Junhyuk from Japan's Pentagon Soft? I heard he led the development of Super Family while working at Mintendo, directed The Legend of Karin series, and was behind Laon, the portable device released by Pentagon."
Hmm, quite the succinct summary in three lines.
Sipping the coffee Soyeon handed me, I nodded slowly at her response.
"You seem to know a lot about me. Almost like there's no need for me to introduce myself..."
"Thank you."
Kim, our CEO, looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Her vibe seems different from usual. Soyeon, is this how you normally are?"
"If I came across as rude, I apologize, CEO. It's just that I felt a bit frustrated..."
This Soyeon, she was a modern woman ahead of her time.
In an era where female voices were particularly weak in the corporate world, she stood out from the administrative female employees who handled printing, copying, and the like.
But in that aspect, she strangely piqued my interest.
Yet, if there were any issues, sticking out like a sore thumb might invite unnecessary attention. So, I tried to smile as pleasantly as possible while looking at Soyeon.
Kim, the CEO, quickly opened his mouth, perhaps checking if I was offended.
"Junhyuk, he's a newcomer here, less than a year. Don't worry too much; he might not be familiar with the company yet. And Soyeon. It's not appropriate for regular employees to meddle in the company's management issues. Do you understand what I mean?"
"It's even more intriguing when the CEO says so. It's delightful that a newcomer of less than a year knows so much about me, right?"
"Oh, Junhyuk thinks that way? That's a relief."
"But, earlier, you mentioned Laon being too expensive to sell in Korea. Can I ask what makes you think so?"
At that moment, she hesitated, nibbling on her lower lip before replying.
"I'm really fine. If through Soyeon, I can understand Korea's situation accurately, we can attempt marketing strategies accordingly. So please, speak without restraint."
Perhaps gaining confidence from my words, Soyeon's face momentarily brightened from its stiff expression.
And then, she began to speak.
"Firstly, I believe Laon's consumer price doesn't match the income level of Koreans. In Japan, gaming culture is widespread from children to adults, but it's not the same in Korea. The age group that enjoys Laon in Korea is roughly from 10 to 20 years old, and even that range is decreasing. Besides, the perception of gaming content in Korea isn't as favorable."
Nodding at her words, I tapped my wristwatch with my finger, urging her to continue.
"Go on."
"Compared to Japan or the US, the average monthly salary of a Korean working adult fluctuates around 1 million won. In such circumstances, Laon alone accounts for about a fifth of a working adult's average monthly salary. Buying just one or two software titles would almost cost half of their monthly income. Parents with normal thinking wouldn't spend this much on a child's toy."
An impeccable market analysis without room for rebuttal. I applauded her words in admiration.
CEO Kim, too, stared blankly at Soyeon's sharp response.
"I was concerned about this when I came to Korea, and it aligns precisely. Forgive me, but how old are you?"
"I'm 24 this year. I graduated in business from K University."
"It's a waste to have someone like her just as an office assistant. Right, CEO Kim?"
"I was thinking the same. While I've been somehow managing the company with the help of Japan's Pentagon until now, I haven't learned much in this area..."
Since Laon's launch last year, whenever I reviewed the monthly sales reports coming from Korea, it was clear that CEO Kim's mindset didn't align with that of a typical company executive. Even if all the databases were handwritten in this era, the documents he showed me were too scattered, making accurate calculations challenging.
Placing the document I held on the table, I addressed CEO Kim.
"Sir, may I take Soyeon around while I'm here in Korea? She will undoubtedly be an asset to you."
"Huh? Oh, yes. Of course."
Great. Should we start working right away? But discussing business here might make her uncomfortable...
"Sir, could you arrange for a car?"
"Yes, I'll have one prepared."
"Soyeon, from today onwards, you'll be accompanying me. We'll excuse you from work right away, so pack your bag and come out."
"Yes, understood."
As we waited for her outside the main building, I saw Soyeon in a sleeveless blouse hurrying out.
"Let's get in first. We can talk while on the move."
Nodding at my words, she took the passenger seat.
Having obtained an international license before coming to Korea, driving wasn't an issue.
As I revved the engine, the car carrying us slid onto Gangnam Boulevard.
&
"Where are we headed to?"
The seat beside me occupied by a stranger for the first time today, Soyeon asked me with a nervous voice. And in response to her, I replied with a mischievous smile.
"To the hotel."
"Oh, really!?"
"I just want to drop off my luggage first. I've only been in Korea for about 2 hours."
"I see..."
Soyeon nodded, her eyes widening in surprise, like a startled rabbit.
"But can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Earlier in the CEO's office, you mentioned that Laon is too expensive for the Korean market, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
As the traffic light turned red at the intersection, I slowed down and stopped the car at the pedestrian crossing line.
"Console sales inherently don't yield much profit. In fact, they often run at a loss. I do want to align with Korea's income level, but I can't just reduce the price of the device without a plan. We need to prepare for reverse imports as well."
"Um, should I address you as Kang Junhyuk...?"
"Just call me Manager. That's my position at PENTAGON."
"Oh, okay. Manager. I think I understand what you're saying. But if things continue this way, it'll be hard for Laon to shine in the Korean market. By now, after a year of its release, haven't the components inside the device seen cost reduction due to mass production?"
Hmm, this person is quite extraordinary, aren't they? It's like looking at myself when I first joined Nintendo.
Is that why? Remembering my first interview with Mr. Kamauichi at Nintendo, I threw a similar question at her.
"SoYeon, if you don't mind me asking, do you know how many people are involved in the production of a single console, from the production line to the distribution channel?"
"Actually, the cost reduction effect doesn't immediately follow the decrease in component prices. Are you aware of how many personnel are involved in the entire process of creating a single console? More capital flows into labor costs than into the cost of parts. Even if prices of components decrease due to mass production over time, employee wages tend to increase."
Without a moment's hesitation, she immediately responded to my question.
"Manager, why keep the manufacturing facility in Japan, where labor costs are high? With the same amount of money, Korea could employ more people."
"!?"
"Korea has been experiencing economic growth since the early '90s, contrary to Japan's downturn. In this scenario, wouldn't it be more advantageous for PENTAGON to collaborate with Korean companies? Wouldn't that be more favorable?"
I felt a chill run down my arm at her clear-cut response.
Why hadn't I thought about this before?
Her succinct reply made me momentarily speechless. I looked at her with amazement.
Then it hit me.
Bam, bam! Bam!
The sudden honking snapped her out of her confusion.
"The traffic light."
"Oh, sorry."
Quickly shifting gears, I pressed the accelerator, and the car began moving.
Seoul's city center in 1992 had significantly more cars than when I arrived in '88.
Glancing at the side mirrors for a moment, I headed toward the Lotte Hotel in Jamsil, lost in thought.
From Soyeon's words, she was proposing Laon's OEM manufacturing approach in Korea. I hadn't paid much attention to business aspects due to Dragon Emblem and Psych Force, but her answer just now felt like a breakthrough.
'It seems there's a hidden dragon on Korean soil. And that too, a shining talent who's only 24.'
A while later, I parked the car at the entrance of the Lotte Hotel in Jamsil and handed the keys to the valet attendant.
"Should I wait here?"
"Wait in the lobby. I'll finish sorting out the luggage and come down soon."
"Okay, understood."
In the early '90s, coffee shops where one could sit and chat were scarce in Korea. At least high-class hotels like this one had business rooms equipped with coffee services.
Leaving Soyeon in the hotel lobby, I collected the key from the counter and went up to the room.
I wanted to have a comfortable conversation in the room, but inviting a stranger, especially a man, into the hotel room was improper. I also didn't want to create unnecessary misunderstandings when Yuki visits Korea next weekend.
I took out a set of clothes from my suitcase, hung them in the closet, and changed into comfortable jeans.
During this trip, I had two main tasks in Korea: increasing Laon's domestic distribution and meeting Mr. Lee Won-seung, the CEO of Somnori Soft, who developed Arc Tonisha's story.
The latter, meeting Somnori, was something I could handle at the office, but the former, the distribution issue, had been troubling me even during the flight. So meeting Soyeon was a stroke of luck for me.
'Conversations with young people can really get your brain working. Isn't that why they say, as you grow older, you should be around young people? Just like when I received praise from Mr. Kamauichi at Nintendo and was known as the White Devil at PENTAGON, now I'm here receiving a great suggestion.'
I chuckled and headed back to the lobby where she was waiting.
>
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