Chapter 17

The next day, the phone continued to ring incessantly from morning until late in the day. While Lee Sang-hoon had mentally prepared for the situation, the actual reality still evoked a sense of unease. Despite this, Kim Hee-yeol wasn't able to make the call, so Lee Jun-hwan reached out to Lee Sang-hoon instead.

"Don't worry and remember that the stock will continue to decline until tomorrow. Given the current circumstances, it's unavoidable."

"Are you okay? The lower limit was briefly lifted, but I regret having to sell at that point...I hope it doesn't make you uncomfortable for nothing."

"I understand. But in that case, you need to remain steadfast. The price will inevitably rebound to 25,000 won, so you have to trust and endure."

"But even if you tell me that, I can't help but feel unsettled. I'm just genuinely curious, why do you think it will rise to 25,000 won?"

"It's a figure that surfaced during my analysis of the charts. Reaching 25,000 won isn't far-fetched, so you can rely on it and hold on. After all, there's no way to sell it at the moment. I prefer to maintain a calm mindset."

"Okay. I feel uneasy when I see Heeyeol in this state too. I understand."

"I know. I understand because I experienced it a lot during the last Luho. But afterward, it was crucial to maintain composure. If you become shaken as well, it's unpredictable how it will affect him."

Once Lee Jun-hwan was calmed, Lee Sang-hoon prepared to purchase IC Ucalls. He felt it would have been preferable to use the funds in his father's account, but he quickly dispelled those thoughts. He reasoned that accessing borrowed collateral funds would be no different from Kim Hee-yeol's actions.

Lee Sang-hoon perused the IC Ucalls bulletin board on Romannet. With the stock hitting the lower limit for two consecutive days, the forum was filled with despairing sentiments.

"Why is this stock falling like this?"

"I made a mistake. I want to sell now."

"How did this happen to me? If anyone knows, please share."

"Are we facing another Luho?"

Lee Sang-hoon also browsed through a stock-related bulletin board that Kim Hee-yeol recommended. However, amidst stock-related discussions, there was a deluge of irrelevant or sensational content, making it challenging to extract useful information.

"This place feels like an asylum. Did you really find useful information here? You'd have better luck asking elderly market regulars in person."

Disheartened by the lack of valuable insights, Lee Sang-hoon left the bulletin board and headed to the library to ascertain if the book's contents had changed. Unfortunately, the information remained the same, prompting him to spend the rest of the day studying stocks.

The more he delved into stock analysis, the more he questioned whether this strategy would result in tangible gains. The more he pondered, the more he found himself unable to tolerate the self-control needed to pursue this path. He began to doubt whether success in stocks came from diligent study or was merely a matter of luck.

Nova 

"Is this really how it's going to unfold?"

Technical analysis suggested the need to track the chart, establish a resistance line, and identify one's own moving average, but I had my doubts about its effectiveness.

"If the book's recommendations are accurate, shouldn't the book's author be raking in the cash? But even if the author saw a financial setback, there would still be numerous readers of the book. Does that mean all of them are reaping significant profits?"

While it's commonly asserted that different individuals can glean diverse insights from the same book due to varying interpretations, the perspectives didn't seem to shift. If I learned about resistance and support lines from the book, it was apparent that I would be drawing them in similar locations. The fundamental query lay in whether the support and resistance I was seeking would yield the desired outcome.

However, technical analysis operated under the assumption that it might not be entirely accurate from the outset, so despite my reservations, I understood that to some extent. The more I delved into basic analysis, the more it appeared like a decaying hongsi (a traditional Korean snack) wrapped in a deceptively plausible exterior.

Calculating a company's profits, its cash reserves, the interest paid on borrowed funds, and other such metrics seemed empirical. However, the future trajectory of an industry appeared nebulous. How was I to predict and quantify that?

In recent times, the semiconductor sector was floundering, while Joseon Industries was flourishing, oblivious to the changing landscape. Who knows if the tables could turn in the next decade? If that were to happen, it wouldn't be far-fetched for it to surpass even PrimeNix, a company reputed as a national stock and treated like a stock market standard.

As Lee Sang-hoon closed the book, he pondered for a moment.

"It seems logical to engage in extensive study and reading such books. Maybe it's better to rely on practical application with a solid foundation of knowledge. I don't think simply perusing the book will yield the answers."

Recalling the advice given by the professor a few days earlier—a suggestion that simply presenting an employment certificate could resolve attendance concerns—Lee Sang-hoon reached a decision.

"In any case, I need to secure a job at a company and could potentially land a position at a stock-related firm. With that, I can gain hands-on experience and resolve my academic pursuits... That's the plan."

Determined, Lee Sang-hoon headed home with the book in hand, with the intent to craft his resume.

***

"Ugh, this is driving me nuts."

Lee Sang-hoon was at his wits' end. Since yesterday, he had been seeking suitable companies to apply to, but he was encountering numerous challenges.

There were plenty of companies worth considering. Primarily, there were numerous firms linked to stocks, such as securities companies, insurance firms, and investment advisory companies. However, the issue lay in the fact that there weren't any viable prospects for Lee Sang-hoon.

For companies that one might have recognized at some point, Lee Sang-hoon didn't meet the eligibility criteria to submit an application. For investment advisory companies with lesser requirements, a license was a prerequisite. This was the first time Lee Sang-hoon realized the necessity of a license to manage others' accounts. Even a brokerage salesperson at a securities company couldn't recommend stocks to customers without a license.

"It wasn't for nothing that my business-minded peers worked tirelessly to secure diplomas or passed the TOEIC before graduating. Without a license, there's no way forward with job applications. I didn't have a clue. What am I going to do about this?"

It turned out that it was feasible to join a company without a license. Some individuals obtained a license after being hired. However, since there were four primary licenses and three advanced licenses, there was something exceptional about those who joined without the same credentials, whether they possessed impressive grades or aced the TOEIC exam. In Lee Sang-hoon's case, his grades were average, and the TOEIC exam was uncharted territory.

Regretfully, Lee Sang-hoon pondered his lack of preparation. After graduating, he had believed that he could secure a job on his own, but upon writing job applications, he realized how challenging that would be. He regretted spending his time aimlessly in school.

"Seems like I have no other option but to prepare..."

It seemed improbable to land a role at a reputable securities firm without the necessary TOEIC transcript. In the case of an investment advisory company, a license related to discretionary investmentwas essential, which Lee Sang-hoon lacked both the time and resources to pursue. Furthermore, he had to secure a job at a company within the next two months.

"I was too complacent. Ugh. I thought I could easily slip into a job, but it's proving to be quite a challenge."

Lee Sang-hoon contemplated the IC Ucalls, which he had purchased for 17,000 won. According to the book's content, IC Ucalls, which hit the lower limit immediately after the market opened, broke out of the lower limit 10 minutes later, signaling a gradual recovery from the decline. Meanwhile, Lee Jun-hwan called, inquiring about organization, while Lee Sang-hoon, sipping coffee, observed the monitor.

"Should I just maintain this lifestyle?"

Back during the Luho period, Lee Sang-hoon had been anxious, but he wasn't too perturbed experiencing a similar situation again. He reckoned that hitting the 25,000 won mark would entail following a similar procedure. He mused that achieving rapid wealth wasn't feasible within a year if he simply adhered to the book's content.

"No, I can't entertain these futile thoughts. I can't predict what others are up to."

He couldn't rely solely on books for his entire life. Even if he succeeded nine times out of ten, he realized that losing the one time meant potentially losing everything. He had to hit a perfect ten. As such, mere reliance on books wouldn't suffice. He had to comprehend precisely what the book meant within the context of his foundational skills.

Furthermore, he had to prepare for the possibility that the book might become obsolete at some point. Presently, there were times when it was updated and times when it was not. He had to ready himself for the eventuality that it might suddenly cease being updated after running so smoothly.

Or the book might have become obsolete. Lee Sang-hoon had to be prepared because that was simply a human reality. He learned this lesson from observing his parents. His father had believed he would remain with one company until retirement, devoting his life to it and prioritizing work over family. Self-improvement was dismissed as mere tales confined to books because it was an idea he had never entertained. However, such unwavering dedication to work ultimately led to a downfall. Lee Sang-hoon witnessed his father's unfortunate spiral, culminating in a collapse due to his unwavering loyalty and trust in the company. This taught Lee Sang-hoon that despite relying on printed materials, he had to prepare under the assumption that outcomes could shift unpredictably. Since circumstances could change at any moment, he had to maintain a state of readiness to circumvent unwelcome surprises.

"Okay. I am determined to gain entry into a stock-related company without reservation. It's too risky to amass expertise solely with my own funds. After acquiring knowledge and experience at a stock-related company, I'll then consider investing my capital. First and foremost, this is the time for accumulating experience."

Even as Lee Sang-hoon resolved to explore new career opportunities, IC Ucalls continued to surge. Suddenly, it transitioned into a positive trajectory, surpassing the previous day's closing price. There still remained a gap between Lee Sang-hoon's 25,000 won target. It seemed unlikely that it would reach 25,000 won, even by the following day. Nevertheless, he was content with the pace of progress and saw no urgency in organizing. The book explicitly mentioned a value of 28,000 won and even indicated a major crash at 26,000 won. Consequently, the 25,000 won target didn't seem unattainable.

Subsequently, Lee Jun-hwan and Kim Hee-yeol sought Lee Sang-hoon's advice, probing whether they should sell or continue holding. Lee Sang-hoon reassured and steadied their nerves. He realized that if he had been alone, his resolve might have wavered. In a sudden surge, IC Ucalls spiked to 20,000 won, marking an almost 20% increase in just a few hours. It would have been easy to perceive this as satisfactory progress.

"Not yet. I must persevere. I simply cannot yield, even though Luho weathered through such adversities."

Lee Sang-hoon gritted his teeth and checked once more for any potential job openings.