After the Divorce, I Found a Thousand Bitcoins - Chapter 124

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Got Divorced and Found a Thousand Bitcoins Episode 124

The clash with the labor union was somewhat expected.

It was a natural phenomenon that occurred when large construction projects were underway.

So when he heard that the labor union was protesting at the Ulsan site, he wasn’t greatly surprised.

“What’s the scale of it?”

“About 10 union members have come to the construction site and are blocking the entrance. Thanks to them, heavy equipment can’t enter the site.”

Kang Hyeon’s expression crumpled upon receiving the report.

“What conditions do they want?”

“They want workers belonging to their union to fill at least 60 percent of the construction site.”

What labor unions always wanted was the deployment of union members to the site.

If that wasn’t achieved, they would resort to protests like now.

“How many members of the opposing union are currently included on our side?”

“The average is 20 percent composed of union members. This construction project will involve special construction methods, so experts or experienced workers are essential. KH Construction explains that it’s unreasonable to accommodate their demands.”

The Data Center and Research Institute had to be built perfectly from the beginning of construction.

Only then could problems be prevented in advance even if accidents occurred later.

The high ratio of experienced workers was due to this aspect.

But the labor union was ignoring this and asserting their demands.

“On top of that, they’re demanding that after completion, outsourcing should be given to companies operated by union members.”

“They’re crossing the line.”

Their claims were crossing the line.

It only looked like they were trying to engage in a power struggle.

“Reject everything. Enter into legal review to see if there are any illegal elements in their protest and officially send documents to the opposing union as well.”

“If we go into full-scale war, public opinion might turn bad.”

“But we can’t be dragged around either. Once we accept unreasonable conditions, they’ll present even more unreasonable conditions afterward.”

Kang Hyeon knew well how such people operated.

From the moment you bow your head once, they would act as if they had become the ones in power.

Knowing this, he had to be firm from the beginning.

“We have no intention of accommodating unreasonable demands.”

Park Sang-pil’s face crumpled at the contact from above.

-KH Group sent documents to the union side. Saying they can’t accept such conditions.

“Ha! Are you saying they’ve declared full-scale war now?”

-That’s about right. What are you thinking of doing?

“What do you mean what! We need to show those bastards the power of our union!”

-Right, it would be good to clearly show the difference in power from the start. KH Group seems like they’ll be doing various businesses in the future too.

“We need to firmly establish dominance from the beginning to make things easier going forward.”

-Right, so show them properly. What kind of place our union is.

“Understood. Just trust me!”

Park Sang-pil’s lips curved up after hanging up the phone.

“Hehe, just wait and see. We’ll properly show you what kind of guys we are.”

Since establishing KH Group, there had been no clashes with labor unions.

There were no unions within the group yet, and Life Plus, which was acquired externally, also had quiet unions, perhaps because it was acquired from the brink of collapse.

Therefore, this clash with the Korean Workers’ Union was effectively the first clash.

‘They say clashes with labor unions are essential when doing business in South Korea, but this is too severe.’

When they rejected their conditions, the Korean Workers’ Union even began using the media.

What was currently being shown on the news was exactly that.

[KH Group is rejecting our Korean Labor Union’s legitimate demands and is even trying to deploy robots to the site.]

The man who stood in front of the camera as the representative of the workers’ union was a man named Park Sang-pil.

He knew this from reports received through KH Construction.

‘That man is effectively the representative currently leading the protest.’

As the representative of the workers’ union, just looking at his appearance, you could feel he was a hardliner.

[KH Group is a selfish company that prioritizes corporate profits with robots rather than coexistence with workers!]

It was natural for companies to think about profits, so their words were wrong.

To call that selfish was absurd.

But the world didn’t work that way.

Large corporations create numerous jobs to support society and earn big money from it.

Society could only be maintained with this virtuous cycle structure.

If the absolute majority of workers couldn’t earn money, eventually large corporations wouldn’t be able to earn money either.

In a world without consumers, making products wouldn’t sell them anyway.

Because of this aspect, workers’ rights were also important.

But if they made unreasonable demands, the story would be different.

‘They’re trying to use their positions to gain more.’

Greed brings disaster and destroys balance.

Knowing this, he wasn’t accommodating their demands.

Perhaps because of this, they deployed media tactics, and ordinary people who watched the news began criticizing KH Group.

The previously good public opinion was gradually changing.

[KH Group deploying robots to the site, are they pioneers ahead of their time? Or managers who prioritize profits?]

The article’s title was somewhat sensationally written.

Because that’s what makes people click.

Thanks to this, the article’s view count rose rapidly and various people left their opinions in comments.

-Isn’t deploying robots to the site already crossing the line?

-They’re taking away all our jobs.

-They were wearing masks all along.

-KH, who pretended to care for workers, is ultimately the same as other companies.

There were those who added their voices to the union’s claims.

-Is it strange for companies to make profits?

-Deploying robots is the trend of the times.

-KH Group is doing well!

There were also those who supported KH Group.

As could be seen from the article, current society was one where various opinions clashed.

As if a small fragment of society had been transplanted, they continued their fierce confrontation.

The clash between KH Group and the labor union was being closely watched by other corporate executives and the government.

Lee Jae-seong was also included among them.

“How is the Ulsan site that KH Construction is building progressing?”

“They’re still in confrontation with the labor union. The Korean Labor Union has increased the number of protesters and is blocking heavy equipment trying to enter the site.”

“That level seems like it would be classified as illegal, right? Isn’t the government taking action?”

“They’re rotating the individuals conducting illegal protests, so even if they’re arrested, they’re immediately replaced with other personnel.”

“They used their heads well.”

The Korean Labor Union was an organization that had conducted various protests.

As a result, they had abundant know-how on how to conduct protests that would cause pain to companies.

Saseng had also suffered considerable damage from clashing with them before.

“I’m curious to see how Chairman Choi will handle this.”

“If this site situation is resolved well, we expect there will be progress in introducing robots to construction sites as well.”

“That’s right. Once the floodgates open, everything becomes easier from then on.”

From a business management perspective, deploying robots to construction sites was profitable.

Once the initial investment was made, only maintenance costs would be needed afterward.

The problem was that conflicts with existing workers were unavoidable.

Due to these issues, official introduction had been delayed in South Korea.

‘I wonder how this will turn out.’

Chairman Lee became even more curious about the Ulsan site.

One month into the protest.

Park Sang-pil visited the protest site after a long time.

The song “Iron Worker” could be heard from a distance.

‘A song that always makes my heart race.’

Park Sang-pil, a militant union member, felt his heart race every time he heard that song.

In fact, he was such a militant union member that he would always sing “Iron Worker” even when going to karaoke or hostess bars for entertainment.

‘Those bastards have no other choice. They’ll soon bow their heads and bring money anyway.’

The good thing about becoming a union executive was receiving entertainment from companies or getting substantial under-the-table money.

Especially large corporations sometimes spent enormous amounts.

KH Group was famous for having a lot of money, so there was expectation that he could earn more side income than elsewhere.

Screech!

As he stopped his car in front of the protesters and got out, union members rushed over.

“Branch manager! You’re here!”

“Yeah, that’s right. You’re all working hard. How are things today?”

“We turned back all the trucks trying to enter the site. Not a single one got past our protesters!”

“Hahaha! You’re doing well! Very good!”

While encouraging the protesters and looking around the protest site.

“Huh?”

Then one of the protesters looked in one direction with wide eyes.

“What? Did you see the chairman of KH Group?”

“No, that’s not it… Why is smoke rising from over there?”

“What? Smoke? The weather is so dry. Did someone start a fire?”

Park Sang-pil turned his head toward the direction the union member was pointing with a puzzled expression.

There was a mountain connected to the Nakdong Spine.

And thick black smoke was rising from that mountain.

“That… that…! It’s a forest fire!!”

A forest fire was occurring, burning the Nakdong Spine.

[The Korea Meteorological Administration has issued a nationwide dry weather advisory. Particularly in Gangwon Province, which is experiencing severe drought with no rain for 42 days, predictions continue to emerge that drinking water may become scarce.]

Kang Hyeon was traveling by car to visit KH Capital after a long time.

Listening to the news on the radio, Kang Hyeon looked out the window.

‘It has definitely become drier.’

Seoul was relatively okay, but various problems were occurring in rural areas due to the dry weather advisory.

Especially in Gangwon Province, predictions continued that drinking water and household water would be insufficient as drought conditions persisted.

Thanks to this, there was talk that Gangwon Province would limit the distribution of household water.

Then breaking news came through the radio.

[Breaking news. A forest fire that started at Tonggo Mountain in Uljin is rapidly spreading along the Nakdong Spine.

Fire helicopters dispatched from the Forest Aviation Management Office are working on suppression, but are reportedly facing difficulties.]

Kang Hyeon’s face hardened at the news of the forest fire.

He immediately picked up his phone and contacted the group.

“I heard a forest fire broke out in Uljin. Is there no impact on the construction site?”

-We’re currently investigating. The site manager is evacuating the workers.

“What about the forest fire situation?”

-We’ll investigate immediately and contact you.

“From now on, mobilize all communication networks and report the site situation as top priority.”

-Understood.

After hanging up, Kang Hyeon immediately turned the car around.

“Manager, let’s return to the group.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Kang Hyeon’s expression became more serious than ever.

Kim Su-gyeom, the Forest Service Director, entered the command center.

“How is the situation on site?”

“The Gyeongbuk Fire Department has currently deployed ground firefighting teams. However, the atmosphere is dry and there are many coniferous trees on Tonggo Mountain, making forest fire suppression difficult.”

“Contact all nearby fire stations and request support!”

“Understood.”

“If initial suppression fails, the fire will spread instantly along the Nakdong Spine! So we must suppress it in the early stages!”

“Yes!”

While discussing initial suppression, an urgent voice was heard.

“Em… Emergency situation! The forest fire has spread to Baekbyeong Mountain!!”

Baekbyeong Mountain was located on the same Nakdong Spine as Tonggo Mountain.

This meant one thing.

“The forest fire is spreading along the northern part of the Nakdong Spine!!”

The worst-case scenario was unfolding.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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