The Overly Competent Junior Employee

[Markets dominated by themes tend to change quite rapidly.]

Dokyung was reading the message that had arrived earlier that day after returning home from work. Recently, the market had been dominated by defense industry companies.

[Identifying risks when everyone else is only seeing the positive aspects is what experts should do in such markets.]

[That’s the way to separate the wheat from the chaff, and Yoon Dokyung-ssi has accomplished this sufficiently.]

Dokyung had been looking at various companies, focusing only on their good points, and thus couldn’t arrive at an answer.

However, Han Dahyun’s advice had redirected Dokyung’s perspective, and the message confirmed that this was the correct approach.

Han Dahyun’s remark about having a colleague to learn from applied to him as well.

“Coffee Club… I should go.”

Dokyung chuckled as he recalled the Coffee Club that Han Dahyun had mentioned before.

[November 12, 2021, COEX in Samsung-dong, Seoul.]

[A reward for Yoon Dokyung-ssi’s colleague, and possibly for Yoon Dokyung-ssi himself, will be given. You will be welcomed at the venue.]

[We will always cheer for you by your side. This is the VIP Service.]

This was why he was still pondering over the message even after coming home.

“If only there was just one or two colleagues.”

Han Dahyun who helped resolve this issue, Team Leader Seo Jeonghwan, or the other two team members?

“Assistant Manager Woojin or Assistant Manager Yeonji… It could even be Branch Manager Ryu Tae-hwa.”

It always made him think like this while giving rewards.

Of course, the date mentioned in the message was tomorrow, so he would naturally find out if he went, but there was an anxiety about what if he failed to notice the reward?

“Hmm… Maybe I should check what’s happening at COEX first.”

Dokyung moved his computer mouse and started searching for the event schedule at COEX.

“Oh?”

After checking the event schedule on the website, Dokyung smiled, the corners of his mouth curling upwards.

He felt like he knew who the colleague mentioned in the message might be.

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“Dokyung-ssi, don’t we need to pre-register to enter here?”

The next day, Dokyung was at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam, with Han Dahyun. Han Dahyun looked at Dokyung with a seemingly worried expression as she asked.

“I’ve registered.”

“You registered?”

Han Dahyun looked at Dokyung with a puzzled expression.

Of course, Dokyung hadn’t registered directly either. The pre-registration had closed more than a month ago.

“Yes, I’ve registered.”

“Did you register as an attendee? I heard that doesn’t allow access to important event halls.”

Han Dahyun spoke to Dokyung as if disappointed.

“I was going to, but when I heard that without proper credentials, you can only access event halls open to the general public, I just gave up.”

“Let’s go and see together first.”

Dokyung said this and walked ahead, while Han Dahyun followed with a skeptical expression.

“Hello.”

Dokyung greeted the staff at the reception desk near the entrance of the event hall with a smile.

“Welcome. Only registered participants can enter the event hall. Have you registered?”

“Yes.”

“If you could tell me your name and the last four digits of your phone number, I’ll check for you.”

“Yoon Dokyung, 6664.”

As Dokyung said this, the staff member checked and then smiled, handing over two visitor badges.

“We sincerely welcome your VIP visit. Please make sure to wear the badge around your neck. If you need anything inside the event hall, please find our staff.”

At the staff member’s words, Han Dahyun looked at Dokyung with a surprised expression.

“Dahyun-ssi?”

“Y-yes?”

“Here’s your badge.”

After receiving the badge, Han Dahyun quickly followed Dokyung as he entered the event hall first.

“How did you get a VIP invitation?”

“An acquaintance arranged it for me.”

“I heard VIP credentials are hard to come by…”

Han Dahyun, who had been asking curiously beside him, couldn’t close her mouth at the sight that unfolded as soon as they entered the event hall.

Today, an event called ‘Next Round Seoul’, where all startups in Korea gather, was being held here.

Hosted by a national bank and various organizations, not only startups but also domestic and global investment banks and major Korean companies, totaling over 300 entities, were participating, with more than 100 seminars scheduled to be held.

“You said you wanted to go to the Coffee Club, right?”

“What?”

“It’s a bit of a big cafe… but let’s think of it as coming to the Coffee Club.”

Han Dahyun still had a bewildered expression.

“Where should we go first?”

At Dokyung’s words, Han Dahyun gathered her wits and looked at him. Then, opening an event booklet she had somehow picked up, she spoke.

“The seminar I wanted to see the most starts at 10 o’clock, so let’s see…”

“We have an hour left.”

“Then let’s look around the startups for an hour.”

Han Dahyun said this and walked ahead, and Dokyung followed her.

“Not only Yuseong Venture Investment, our group’s affiliate, but also all major Korean companies and almost all global VCs (Venture Capital companies) are participating in Next Round Seoul.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Of course, global investment banks like MG and GS are participating too.”

It was like a large-scale startup promotional event hosted by the government. It was a space where startups could introduce their businesses to investment bank representatives and potentially lead to direct investments.

Dokyung thought Han Dahyun would naturally like this place, and as expected, she seemed excited.

“But how did you get the VIP…”

“An acquaintance asked if I was interested in this place. I mentioned that I had received help from you, Dahyun-ssi, so I asked them to invite us.”

“Ah, I see. As I told you earlier, Dokyung-ssi, general participants can only walk around this exhibition hall. Seminars and forums can only be entered by investors, startups, major companies, and government officials.”

Dokyung nodded at Han Dahyun’s words. That’s why she seemed surprised when she saw the VIP pass.

“Anyway, this is great. Thanks to you, Dokyung-ssi, we got to come here.”

Han Dahyun began curiously examining the startup booths and listening to explanations from the staff.

Dokyung also learned beside Han Dahyun, observing what kind of questions she asked the startup representatives and what aspects she focused on.

Indeed, Han Dahyun showed her experience working in corporate investment at headquarters, analyzing quite meticulously.

It was proving very helpful from Dokyung’s perspective as well.

“Thank you for kindly answering my many questions.”

Han Dahyun finished her questions and greeted the startup representative.

“Ah, before you go, would you like to try this?”

The startup representative stopped Dokyung and Han Dahyun and guided them to a roulette wheel at one side of the booth.

“If you spin this, we’ll give you some prepared gifts.”

“Oh, that sounds fun.”

Han Dahyun smiled and spun the roulette under the employee’s guidance.

The roulette, which had been spinning for a while, stopped on the word ‘miss’, and the employee handed Han Dahyun a pen set.

“Unfortunately, it’s a miss. Instead, as a participation prize, here’s a pen with our company logo.”

“Well, it’s good to get something. Dokyung-ssi, you should try too.”

Dokyung, who had been watching with seeming disinterest, nodded at Han Dahyun’s words and spun the roulette. A moment later, when the spinning roulette stopped, Dokyung, Han Dahyun, and even the employee looked at each other with surprised expressions.

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“Wow, how many of these do we have?”

An hour later, Dokyung and Han Dahyun were moving to attend a seminar on a different floor, their hands full of various items.

It was the result of Dokyung’s ‘small fortune’ activating.

“Well, you kept telling me to continue, Dahyun-ssi.”

Dokyung and Han Dahyun participated in the prepared events at every booth they visited, as if they had become a two-person prize hunting team, and Dokyung kept winning prizes.

“I’m just amazed. How do you win every time you spin?”

“I told you, I’m lucky.”

Han Dahyun burst out laughing at Dokyung’s words.

Although the purpose had been somewhat inverted, she thought it was good that they came out today.

“We got to look at startup trends, witness Dokyung-ssi’s luck, and get lots of prizes. I think it was a good decision to come out today.”

Dokyung nodded at Han Dahyun’s words.

“That’s good. I’ve been feeling sorry for always receiving help.”

“Don’t feel sorry. As I said, colleagues help each other and learn from each other.”

The two continued their conversation as they entered the seminar venue.

“You wanted to come here, right?”

The two found suitable seats and sat down, and Dokyung looked at Han Dahyun as he asked.

“Yes. I was curious about how global investment banks like MG invest in startups.”

The venue they had found was bustling with preparations for a seminar by MG, a giant global investment bank operating on the world stage.

From a startup’s perspective, investment from these so-called ‘whales’ was crucial, and hearing about what aspects giant investment banks like MG focus on when investing was an invaluable opportunity.

Of course, it was also helpful information for people working in the securities industry like Dokyung and Han Dahyun.

As the seminar began shortly after, the two focused more intently than ever.

“I’m glad we came today.”

As the seminar ended, the two exchanged words while leaving the venue.

When Han Dahyun said this, Dokyung nodded and spoke.

“I think so too. Learning how they operate in the field definitely broadens our investment perspective.”

Dokyung understood why the message had described this as a reward for himself and his colleague.

There weren’t many opportunities to hear lectures on what world-class investment banks look for when selecting companies.

And it was a chance to hear a lecture from the chief strategist visiting from headquarters.

“I think we had a good time thanks to you, Dahyun-ssi.”

“Why thanks to me? You prepared the VIP pass, and we got all these spoils thanks to you, Dokyung-ssi.”

Han Dahyun smiled and held up the event prizes in both hands.

“Let’s go. Since I got a good opportunity thanks to you, I’ll treat you to lunch.”

“Then I won’t refuse and will gladly follow.”

“Dokyung-ssi, you brought your car, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. I thought you might, so I didn’t bring mine. Let’s move in your car…”

“Hey! Han Dahyun!”

Just as the two were about to move after deciding this, a voice calling Han Dahyun was heard from behind, and they both turned their heads in the direction of the voice.

“Sunbae!”

Recognizing the owner of the voice calling her, Han Dahyun smiled and approached him.

“Hey, Han Dahyun. How have you been?”

“How about you, sunbae? I heard you moved to venture investment.”

“I heard you moved to the WM Division too? You used to say analyzing startups was your calling, but now you’ve become a PB.”

The man said this and then looked at Dokyung, and Han Dahyun smiled as she introduced him.

“This is Yoon Dokyung-ssi from the Leaders Center. He’s my colleague.”

“Ah, I see.”

The man smiled and extended his hand towards Dokyung.

“I’m Oh Jae-seok, Chief Team Leader of the Venture Investment Division at Yuseong Venture Investment.”

“I’m Yoon Dokyung.”

Dokyung bowed his head and shook Oh Jae-seok’s extended hand, and Oh Jae-seok smiled as he looked at Dokyung.