NOVEL NEXT 83
“Dokyung-ssi, good morning.”
“Good morning. Did you have a nice holiday?”
Dokyung, having returned to his daily routine after the Lunar New Year break, was exchanging greetings with Han Dahyun as she entered the office.
“The holiday was fine, but I just didn’t want to come to work today…”
“I feel the same way.”
“Really?”
Han Dahyun asked, surprised by Dokyung’s response. For someone who was always the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave, known for nothing but work, to say he didn’t want to come to work…
Occasionally, observing Dokyung made one realize what a workaholic truly was.
“Of course. After having fun, I found I enjoyed not working.”
Han Dahyun chuckled at Dokyung’s words as she took her seat.
“Now that the holiday is over, the fiscal year-end is approaching.”
At Han Dahyun’s words, the smile that had been on Dokyung’s face began to fade. The fiscal year-end in the securities industry was a moment when everything was decided.
According to the Capital Markets Act enforcement rules, securities firms could designate either December or March of the following year as their fiscal year-end.
Most securities firms listed on the stock market had set December as their fiscal year-end, but Dokyung’s company, Yuseong Investment Securities, had designated March of the following year as the previous year’s fiscal year-end.
“Our fiscal year-end changes to December from this year, right?”
“Yes, it was decided at the shareholders’ meeting last November. We’ll have two fiscal year-ends this year. March and December.”
Dokyung answered Han Dahyun’s question and glanced at the calendar.
The desk calendar provided by the company had the March fiscal year-end marked.
From the company’s perspective, the fiscal year-end was a crucial test where their sales and operating profits were compared to other securities firms.
For employees like Dokyung, the fiscal year-end was the time when performance bonuses were paid based on the previous year’s results.
“I hope we can catch up to Seonjin this year…”
Han Dahyun muttered to herself. Dokyung’s company, Yuseong Investment Securities, had been striving tirelessly to catch up with Seonjin Securities, which was in second place.
They had been clashing with Seonjin behind the scenes in everything from client acquisition to launching products aimed at each other.
It was a fierce battle between the pursuer and the pursued.
“And there’s the 1 trillion club,” Dokyung added, as if responding to Han Dahyun’s comment. Last year, Yuseong Investment Securities had narrowly missed joining the 1 trillion won operating profit club.
They needed to join the 1 trillion club at least to catch up with Taesan or Seonjin.
“We couldn’t do it even during the securities boom the year before last. Is it possible with last year’s sales?”
“Well, I just hope we achieve something.”
Han Dahyun chuckled at Dokyung’s words.
“You’re right. I hope we achieve something too. I just hope there’s nothing that dampens the company’s mood.”
As the two were chatting, other team members began arriving one by one. When Team Leader Seo Jeonghwan arrived, they held a meeting and then began their official work day.
Bzzt-
While Dokyung was in the midst of work, his phone vibrated. He reflexively checked the screen and saw a familiar number he hadn’t seen in a while.
Dokyung carefully stood up from his seat and left the office.
“Hello?”
-Oh, Dokyung-ssi! It’s been a while.
A voice that seemed glad to hear from Dokyung came through the receiver.
“Have you been well, Assistant Manager?”
-Of course. Thanks to you, I’m now a Manager.
“Ah! Really? Congratulations!”
Dokyung offered sincere congratulations as he entered an empty conference room.
The person on the other end of the line was Lee Seonghyun from the PR team, whom Dokyung had met during Yuseong Investment Securities’ mock investment competition.
At the time, he had planned the competition and uploaded it to YouTube, greatly increasing the subscriber count of Yuseong Investment Securities’ YouTube channel and gaining recognition from the company.
-Come on, I should be the one thanking you. I got promoted to manager thanks to you. We had a great actor to draw everyone in on the stage we set.
Not just Yuseong Investment Securities, but all securities firms had ambitiously prepared YouTube channels that weren’t performing as well as expected, leading to talks of downsizing.
Amidst this, Lee Seonghyun had pulled out the mock investment competition as a last gamble, and thanks to Dokyung’s impressive performance as a participant, he had gained recognition from the company.
“I graciously accept your praise, but I merely played on the stage you set, Manager.”
Laughter could be heard through the receiver at Dokyung’s words.
-Oh my, Dokyung-ssi, you’re truly a natural-born PB. If you talk like this in front of clients, they’ll all love you. Anyway, enough with the pleasantries. Do you have some time, Dokyung-ssi?
“Time?”
-Yes, the effect of our YouTube channel is starting to wear off, and we need someone new. A star needs to appear at this moment.
Dokyung began to ponder at Lee Seonghyun’s words. After the series of events on the YouTube channel, he had been thinking he should refrain from appearing on YouTube for a while.
“Well…”
-Is it because of your clash with Professor Jo Hyun-seok on ‘Men Who Read Stocks’?
“…Yes, I’m a bit cautious.”
-But you didn’t do anything wrong, Dokyung-ssi.
“Still, when these things catch people’s attention, the outcome is never good. They might think I’m showing off.”
A contemplative “Hmm…” could be heard through the receiver at Dokyung’s words.
“I don’t think you need to worry too much about that. We’re not planning a debate format like ‘Men Who Read Stocks.’ You won’t have an opponent.”
Lee Seonghyun continued, as if determined to get Dokyung to appear somehow.
-I know what you’re worried about. You’re concerned that clients might view it negatively, right?
Lee Seonghyun had accurately pinpointed Dokyung’s thoughts.
In truth, part of Dokyung’s hesitation was the fear that clients might view it unfavorably.
They might think he wasn’t focusing on asset management and was spending too much time on YouTube channels.
-But you don’t need to worry too much about that. I asked other PBs, and they said high-net-worth individuals actually like it when star PBs appear on YouTube often. They feel proud, saying things like, ‘I’ve entrusted my investments to that person.’
“Even if that’s the case… I’m actually investing with clients’ money, so it feels a bit off to go out and talk about it.”
There was one more thing: if he went on the YouTube channel, he’d have to recommend stocks or sectors, but Dokyung was actually investing in these stocks.
Most of his clients’ portfolios consisted of stocks that Dokyung had studied and believed were good.
Going on YouTube and saying, “I think this stock looks good,” while actually investing in it was not only a violation of company regulations but also potentially illegal.
-Oh…
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line as if Lee Seonghyun was taken aback by Dokyung’s words. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he spoke up.
-Then how about this? The ‘Tae-Jo-I-Bang-Won’ sectors are hot right now, aren’t they?
‘Tae-Jo-I-Bang-Won’ referred to the sectors currently leading the domestic stock market.
It was an acronym for Solar, Shipbuilding, Secondary Battery, Defense, and Nuclear Power-related stocks.
-How about picking a fresh company from one of these sectors?
Lee Seonghyun persisted, seemingly determined to get Dokyung to appear on the YouTube channel.
-Of course, I know how difficult it is for someone with your personality to pick a new company, but I’d really appreciate it if you could help just this once. I’ll make it worth your while, I promise.
Seeing how earnestly the other party was asking, Dokyung reluctantly opened his mouth.
“I’ll report to my superiors first and let you know.”
-So you’re positive about it, right?
“Yes.”
-Ah, thank you so much. We’ll start preparing on our end and share the project file with you.
“Alright, I understand. Yes, yes, take care.”
After ending the call, Dokyung sighed and fell into contemplation.
“Since I’ve agreed to do it, I want to do it properly, but which of the Tae-Jo-I-Bang-Won sectors should I choose…”
Bzzt-
As he was deep in thought, his smartwatch began to vibrate. Looking at the screen, Dokyung let out a wry chuckle with an enigmatic expression.
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“We lost Ko Eunha to Yuseong, and now there are articles saying Yuseong’s operating profit might reach 1 trillion won this year.”
In the meeting room of Seonjin Securities’ Personal Asset Management Division.
The division had been in low spirits recently after losing several clients they had put considerable effort into to Yuseong in quick succession.
“Are we sure Ko Eunha chose Yuseong?”
At the division head’s question, an executive who had been hanging his head nodded.
“We haven’t confirmed it with Yuseong directly, but when we checked with Taesan, they said they lost her too. Ko Eunha’s side informed us that they had contracted with another securities firm, so…”
Seonjin Securities was a securities firm belonging to the Seonjin Financial Group.
It was a group that did everything related to finance, including banking, securities, insurance, and savings banks. Their commercial bank, Seonjin Bank, had been ranked first for over a decade.
However, the securities arm, one of the group’s two main pillars, had been playing second fiddle to Taesan for years.
It was bad enough trying to catch up to first-place Taesan, but now Yuseong Investment Securities, which they had looked down upon, was surging up fiercely and breathing down their necks.
“Do you think it’s because Yuseong is doing well?”
At the division head’s question, everyone in the meeting room kept their mouths shut.
They knew it wasn’t a question seeking an answer.
“I think it’s not that Yuseong is doing well, but that we’ve been standing still.”
The division head furrowed his brow and looked at the executives seated in the meeting room.
“Do you all know which division should be the most anxious in our company right now?”
“……”
“It’s us. Our Personal Asset Management Division.”
The division head’s voice began to rise.
“Who’s Yuseong’s new president? Sim Ju-won. What’s the first thing he did after becoming president? Strengthening Yuseong’s WM Division, right?”
“……”
“Isn’t this blatantly saying they’re going to overtake us in personal asset management and in overall securities firm rankings? If by any chance Yuseong rises to second place, we’ll be the ones taking the fall within the company.”
The division head spoke while looking at the executives who were silently listening to his words.
“You know how conservative the group people are, right? The moment we give up second place, they’ll make a scapegoat out of someone and send them packing. And there’s a high chance that someone will be me.”
“……”
“What? Are you all quiet because you think it’s not about you?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
“Then let’s talk about countermeasures.”
At the division head’s demand for solutions, everyone kept their mouths shut, as if nothing suddenly came to mind.
“Nothing? This is why we’re…”
“Um, Division Head.”
At that moment, the Seonjin Securities VIP Center Director, who was sitting at the far end, spoke up.
“Oh, Director Kim, do you have an idea?”
“How about letting regular customers experience the services we provide at our VIP Center?”
“What? That won’t work. The high-net-worth individuals will feel slighted…”
“No, I’m not suggesting that regular branches provide the same service. I mean we should indirectly show what kind of services we provide at the VIP Center.”
“Indirectly?”
The division head focused on the center director’s words, seeming intrigued.
“Yes, we use the YouTube channel.”
“Go on.”
“To attract new clients, the most important thing is to showcase our PBs’ skills. There’s one simple and unchanging truth at times like this.”
“Returns.”
“That’s right. We send out the ace of the VIP Center to pick and recommend stocks that will rise in the short term, showing that all Seonjin Securities’ PBs are this outstanding.”
The division head nodded at the center director’s words. It seemed better to show such performance in real-time through YouTube, which retail investors could easily access, rather than sending out press releases about PB Center returns or how much profit they made this time.
“Not bad. By ace, you mean that Lee Donghyuk guy?”
“Yes, I’ll talk to Senior Manager Lee about it. If the head office could handle the planning…”
“Alright, let’s do that. PR Team Leader.”
“Yes, Division Head.”
“Work on a plan in conjunction with the VIP Center.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The PR team leader nodded and took notes at the division head’s words.
“Everyone heard that, right? Let’s come up with plans that will intuitively make people see us and seek us out. YouTube is just the beginning, so give it your full support.”
“Yes! Understood.”
“The start is crucial!”
The division head spoke as if giving a warning and then left the meeting room. The executives who had been present let out long sighs, as if they could finally breathe.