Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 473 Visiting Seoul
In late February, the chill of Seoul lingered. Above Incheon International Airport, leaden-gray clouds hung low, as if carrying some unusual weight, about to fall.

On the runway, a cold wind occasionally swept by, causing the flags beside the apron to flutter loudly.

A streamlined Bombardier Global 7500 private jet landed smoothly and taxied slowly to its exclusive VIP parking spot. This is the new ride of Asia's richest man.

On one side of the tarmac, five jet-black luxury cars waited silently. Their sharp lines and bulletproof-grade dark tint to the windows exuded an unassailable aura of authority.

Around the convoy, a dozen security personnel dressed in black suits and wearing communication devices were on high alert, their eyes scanning the surroundings like hawks, to prevent any accidents from happening.

The aircraft cabin door opened silently, the gangway connected smoothly, and Song Ci and Liu Shishi appeared at the cabin door.

Song Ci wore a dark gray cashmere coat hand-stitched by a top Italian tailor, looking handsome and with a calm and serene expression.

His deep, sharp gaze swept across the airport, revealing the powerful aura unique to Asia's richest man and the helmsman of a technology empire—a majesty honed from long years in a high position and managing a trillion-dollar business empire.

Liu Shishi was wrapped in a high-quality, off-white, knee-length overcoat, with a light cashmere scarf casually but just right covering her chin, and sunglasses that covered half of her pretty face added to her mystery.

She exudes a cool and aloof aura, showcasing the remarkable demeanor of the mistress of the Song family's business empire.

Tang Jun, Vice President of Devon Manufacturing, Zhang Heng, President of Qianqian Music under Tengda Group, and his entourage, including senior assistants, translators, public relations representatives, and bodyguards, followed behind the two in an orderly manner.

Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of the Samsung Group and president of Weibo Korea, who had been waiting there, immediately led her team to greet them.

Samsung's eldest princess wore a well-tailored off-white business suit with a heavy black cashmere coat over it, and her makeup was impeccable.

His demeanor exudes both the elegance of a chaebol heir and the competence of a professional manager.

Her presence itself represents the highest level of courtesy and importance that Samsung Group has shown to the Asia's richest couple during their trip.

"Chairman, Madam, welcome to Seoul." Lee Boo-jin bowed slightly, her fluent English ringing out with an air of elegance and poise.

With both respect and a just-right distance, "My father has been looking forward to your visit and attaches great importance to this meeting."

Song Ci extended her hand and gently shook hands with Lee Boo-jin, the pressure just right and the timing perfect.

His voice was calm and steady, yet carried immense weight: "President Li, thank you for coming to pick me up in person. Please convey my gratitude to Chairman Kensei; it's too kind of you."

Liu Shishi took off her sunglasses at the right moment, revealing a face with exquisite makeup and impeccable features.

She nodded and smiled, her eyes sparkling with elegance: "Miss Fu Zhen, it's been a long time." Her English was soft and pleasant, with a touch of authentic British accent.

The two had previously crossed paths at Paris Fashion Week, where they were joined by Delphine Arnault, the daughter of Europe's richest man. The interaction between these three top socialites from the East and West made headlines in the fashion world.

The greetings were brief and efficient, much like the rhythm of the top business world. There were no superfluous words; every glance and every word carried profound meaning.

Within a tight security perimeter formed by bodyguards and assistants from both sides, the group quickly boarded the waiting luxury car.

Like a dark current, the convoy smoothly and swiftly departed the airport, silently merging into the traffic heading towards downtown Seoul along a dedicated lane.

Outside the car window, the bleak winter scenery flashed by.

Inside the car, Song Ci leaned back in the seat, her gaze sweeping across the city skyline outside the window—a skyline that was both strange and familiar. Her eyes were calm, but her mind was racing as she pondered negotiation strategies.

Samsung Group, South Korea's largest conglomerate, has a powerful influence that permeates every corner of South Korean society.

From birth to death, almost every aspect of life for South Koreans is intertwined with this vast business empire. As the head of Samsung, Lee Kun-seok's power in South Korea is self-evident.

This was the first time dealing with this foreign tycoon who controlled the economic lifeline of a nation, so he could not afford to be negligent in the slightest and had to make careful plans.

The convoy silently drove into the private underground passage of the Shilla Hotel in Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, completely avoiding all public view.

The group took the elevator directly to the top-floor presidential suite area.

Inside the suite, Song Ci and Liu Shishi sat on the sofa chatting, discussing visiting famous tourist attractions in Seoul the next day.

Tang Yue, the captain of the bodyguard team, along with two assistants and armed with professional anti-eavesdropping and anti-surveillance equipment, conducted a thorough inspection of the more than 500-square-meter presidential suite and the adjacent conference room and secretary's room.

The device scans every corner, including lights, sockets, decorations, vents, and even the inside of furniture and all wiring connections.

Meanwhile, another team was inspecting fire safety exits, window strength, and emergency escape routes.

"Boss, the safety check is complete, everything is normal." Tang Yue stood with his hands clasped, reporting solemnly, his voice calm and even.

“Okay.” Song Ci asked again, “Is the surveillance barrier open?” Being in a foreign country is not like being at home. On someone else’s turf, you have to be careful in everything you do. Safety comes first.

"Don't worry, it's already open," Tang Yue quickly replied. He had installed the world's most advanced electronic shielding and security monitoring equipment in the suite.

Song Ci nodded slightly, took off her coat and handed it to her assistant, then stepped into the spacious living room. Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the cityscape of Seoul and the distant Namsan Tower were clearly visible.

Accompanied by a female assistant, Liu Shishi went to the master bedroom to rest and change clothes. She was going to accompany her husband to a welcome banquet that evening.

About half an hour later, in the suite's temporary study, Song Ci sat at the desk, while Zhang Heng sat upright opposite her.

"How is the contact with South Korean entertainment companies YG and JYP progressing?"

Zhang Heng immediately reported, "Chairman Song, we've already made initial contact. With SM Entertainment as a precedent, both YG and JYP have expressed a strong desire to cooperate."

JYP, in particular, has been actively expanding into the Chinese market in recent years and attaches great importance to the user base and operational capabilities of Qianqian Music.

YG, on the other hand, appreciates our innovative models in music promotion and the fan economy.

Song Ci tapped her fingertips lightly on the table and said in a deep voice, "Your core objective in coming to Seoul this time is to secure exclusive digital copyright licenses from YG and JYP, with a focus on the first release rights for new songs and the digitization of the old song library."

We can offer 120% of the market price, but the terms must be favorable to us, the authorization period must be long, and we must firmly hold the renewal priority.

If necessary, they can also promise to jointly promote their new group or jointly develop customized online variety shows for the Chinese market.

"Understood." Zhang Heng quickly jotted down the key points. "I'll schedule a meeting with JYP's CEO Park tomorrow morning."

“It’s not just about buying and selling copyrights,” Song Ci added, with a far-sighted vision. “We need to take advantage of the music copyright opportunity to find a way to enter the production chain of the South Korean entertainment industry.”

Data, traffic, and platform – these are our core strengths. Only by controlling the discourse that shapes the future entertainment ecosystem can we truly bind these three entertainment companies to Qianqian Music's ecosystem.

Digital music copyright is crucial to Tenda Group's future strategy in the global short video field, and he cannot afford to ignore it.

“Yes!” Zhang Heng knew the weight of his boss’s words. This was not only a commercial expansion for Qianqian Music, but also a key step in Tengda Group’s international content strategy.

The night falls and the lanterns come on.

Deep within the courtyard of the Shilla Hotel, in a guesthouse built in the style of a traditional Korean house yet incorporating modern luxury facilities, the lights are now shining brightly, exuding an undeniable majesty in its tranquility.

Security at the entrance has been raised to the highest level, and all vehicles and personnel entering and exiting must undergo several strict checks.

A high-profile, private dinner to welcome Asia's richest couple is being held here. The number of invitees is less than forty, but it includes top figures from South Korea's political and business circles.

Lee Kun-seok was unable to attend in person due to health reasons, and his eldest son, Lee Jae-yong, was away on a business trip in the United States. Samsung was represented by Lee Boo-jin, and almost all of the core members of his family were present.

Among them were powerful figures from the second and third generations of chaebols, including Chung Eui-sun, vice chairman of Hyundai Group; Koo Bon-jun, chief of staff of LG Group; and Choi Tae-won, special assistant to chairman of SK Group. In addition, there were several political figures and their wives and socialites who accompanied them.

The scene was filled with elegant attire, clinking glasses, and an atmosphere of power and wealth.

The deep voices of conversation switched between multiple languages, with English being the primary medium, occasionally interspersed with Korean or Chinese.

With his upright posture, Song Ci stood out as exceptionally young and sharp among the group of tycoon leaders who were either older or showing signs of weight gain.

Holding a glass of champagne, she moved effortlessly among the crowd, speaking fluent and authentic English.

During the conversation, he maintained the necessary courtesy to senior figures in the Korean business community while also taking the opportunity to discuss cutting-edge technology trends, global market changes, and potential cooperation opportunities, making him undoubtedly the absolute focus of the entire event.

Beside him, Liu Shishi was the most dazzling pearl.

She has now changed into a black velvet floor-length haute couture gown designed by a French designer, which perfectly accentuates her graceful figure and exudes luxury in every detail.

She was by no means a beautiful adornment dependent on her husband.

Sometimes she would speak softly in English with the wives of tycoons around her about art and charity; other times she would greet the tycoons from all walks of life who came forward to exchange pleasantries with an impeccable and perfectly measured smile.

Her composed and elegant demeanor perfectly embodied the role of the hostess, complementing the powerful aura of Song Dynasty poetry.

In a more relaxed area on the other side of the banquet hall, Zhang Heng, president of Qianqian Music, was also chatting happily with Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, Yang Hyun-suk of YG Entertainment, and Park Jin-young of JYP Entertainment.

"The global influence of K-Pop, especially its appeal to the younger generation, is truly amazing, thanks to the three presidents."

Zhang Heng raised his glass, his tone warm but his goal clear: "Qianqian Music has the largest library of legally licensed music, the most active paid user community, and the most accurate data algorithm recommendation system in China."

The future of music lies in in-depth operation and ecosystem integration. We very much hope to achieve this through copyright acquisition, joint chart ranking, and in-depth promotion of artists in the Chinese market.

We will even jointly invest in and produce an exclusive online concert, engaging in comprehensive and strategic cooperation with you all.

This is not just about importing, but about jointly creating value and exploring new streaming media markets in Asia and even globally.

Several entertainment giants were clearly very interested in this, and as the conversations deepened, the initial intention to cooperate and the level of subsequent contact were quietly finalized in the midst of their banter.

Beneath the surface of extreme luxury and apparent harmony, the atmosphere of the banquet was rife with undercurrents and probing maneuvers concerning enormous future interests.

Everyone knew perfectly well that this dinner was not just a simple high-profile reception, but also a crucial warm-up stage and information exchange platform.

The real showdown, which could significantly impact the overall situation, will officially begin after the banquet concludes, between Song Ci and the omnipresent but unseen leader of the Samsung empire.

After the banquet, Song Ci, accompanied by Lee Boo-jin, quietly drove to the Samsung family's private residence in Namsan, Seoul.

The convoy wound its way up the mountain road and finally entered a heavily guarded courtyard nestled among green trees.

Lee Boo-jin led Song Ci into the study, and the heavy soundproof door then quietly closed, completely isolating it from all outside noise.

This study combines traditional Korean style with modern technological convenience: the solid wood bookshelves reach from floor to ceiling and are neatly arranged with a large number of books.

The air is filled with the delicate fragrance of top-grade agarwood, creating a subtle interplay of stillness and movement with the dazzling and dynamic night view of Seoul outside the window.

Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-seok, who is over 70 years old, sat behind a large mahogany desk, looking somewhat aged.

But his gaze, though peering through his reading glasses, remained as sharp as an eagle's, carrying an unfathomable majesty forged through decades of ups and downs in the business world.

Tang Jun and his two core advisors were politely led to the outer room to wait, leaving only these two giants, who are capable of influencing the business and technology landscape of Asia and even the world, inside.

After pouring hot tea for the two of them, Lee Boo-jin quietly stepped aside and sat down, taking on the role of recording and supplementing the notes.

As the host, Li Jianxi spoke first. His voice was not loud, and it had the hoarseness typical of the elderly, but every word was clear and powerful.

"Chairman Song, Fu Zhen has conveyed in detail Devon Manufacturing's plans in the field of electronic waste circular economy, as well as its strong interest in KIST's new bio-metallurgical extraction technology."

His aged yet steady fingertips lightly tapped the brief report of a few pages on the table. "Using Samsung as a bridge to cooperate with KIST in development is indeed the safest and most efficient path at present."

Song Ci leaned forward slightly, his expression calm, and spoke eloquently: "President Li is wise."

I have always admired Samsung's profound expertise in high-precision manufacturing, new materials research and development, and the global semiconductor supply chain.

KIST's technology has great potential, but its industrialization faces bottlenecks.

If combined with Samsung's advanced filtration and separation patented technologies already used in semiconductor and display production, it will greatly accelerate the industrialization process of efficient, environmentally friendly, and economical recycling of rare and precious metals from electronic waste.

This is not only about profits, but also about the company's future green and sustainable development.

For Samsung, building a more stable, environmentally friendly, and low-risk supply chain system will have immediate strategic value.

Devon is willing to bear the main capital investment and market risks in the industrialization process, and promises to prioritize Samsung's future demand for recycled rare metals within the next three years.

(End of this chapter)