—Since I designed the Buy Korea fund at the very start and ran it together with Ilhyeon Securities for a long time, I think perhaps I understand the current situation better than anyone.

—Indeed. Silla Future Asset ran the Buy Korea fund together with Ilhyeon Securities. Is your having stepped out of the fund's management also connected to the current situation?

—I couldn't say it's unconnected.

Representative Chung-seop Jo lifted the water glass before him for a moment to wet his lips, then slowly opened his mouth.

—Fund investors, or those who took part in the market, will all remember it. That at one time there was a great deal of discontent because the fund's returns were poor compared to market returns, KOSDAQ returns especially.

The anchor nodded at Chung-seop's words and answered,

—I remember it precisely. Our own program held a debate on that very subject. We discussed whether it was right for the fund to aim for safety, or whether it was all right to be a bit bolder for returns.

—Yes. At that time, President Seong-ho Kim, who was then the president of Ilhyeon Securities, judged that KOSDAQ was climbing to a dangerous degree, and decided to pull the money invested in KOSDAQ and concentrate investment in KOSPI — and among those, in stocks that had been confirmed safe. And…

—President Seong-ho Kim stepped down from the president's chair.

The anchor spoke in a voice tinged with bitterness.

—At that time, many people thought that was the right call. Most thought a fund that couldn't keep up with market returns wasn't worth investing in. But after time passed, we came to understand how dangerous the situation was then. And we came to understand that your choice and President Seong-ho Kim's choice were right. Let me take this occasion to apologize on behalf of the many fund investors. We didn't understand properly.

When the anchor apologized, Chung-seop hurriedly waved a hand and shook his head.

—No. There's no need to apologize to me. Because I thought the same way as well.

—You were the same, Representative Jo? Then…