Once dollars came in from the IMF, South Korea showed signs of catching its breath.

The won/dollar exchange rate, which had once approached 2,000 won, moved toward downward stabilization, and a South Korea that had seemed on the verge of declaring a moratorium at any moment announced that it was still alive.

But being alive didn't mean it had fully recovered.

It was merely enduring a grueling stretch with barely a breath left in it.

The employment cold-snap cut loose even those who still had jobs, and households, beyond merely crumbling, had to worry about survival.

Market interest rates shot well past 15 percent, and even at that there was scarcely anywhere left to borrow.

Even Myeongdong's private-lending market had long since shuttered, and the dollar dealers of Namdaemun were just as short on dollars.

Companies found even bond issuance difficult, let alone loans, and individuals were selling the rice bowls in their homes to buy a single day's rice—the impact on daily life only grew more severe.

Even in such circumstances, the Ilhyeon Group alone stood firm in place, propping up South Korea's economy.

[Twenty-two, including Restructuring Headquarters Head Seong-ho Kim, newly join the Ilhyeon Group's presidential ranks]

[Ilhyeon Group to hold next year's first-half and second-half open recruitment as planned]

[Recruitment scale, first and second half combined, at roughly 20,000—expected to kindle a spark in the job market]

[Ilhyeon Group's investment for next year confirmed at 4 trillion won, including Ilhyeon Electronics' 2 trillion]

[Ilhyeon Group…]

[Ilhyeon Group…]

Amid a country awash in nothing but bad news, the Ilhyeon Group alone delivered hopeful tidings.

In an atmosphere too bleak to embarrassing call it a year's end, people awaited only the Ilhyeon Group's news and looked ahead to the coming year with expectation.

But within the Ilhyeon family, there was someone awaiting different news.

"It can't be. It isn't. There's no way."

Trembling with anxiety, unable to sit still, Mun-jong kept circling round and round the office, muttering to himself.

Seated on the sofa, Seong-ho watched him quietly, sipping the coffee set before him.

Rrring.

Just then the office…