Chapter 3: The World of 2007 – A Land of Opportunity

I sat on the worn-out mattress, staring at the cracked ceiling. My body still felt unfamiliar, but my mind was sharp—the mind of a 35-year-old finance worker trapped in the body of a 17-year-old high school dropout.

For the past hour, I had been processing everything. The funeral, the slum-like conditions, the miserable amount of money I had left—78,000 KRW (around $80).

It was a harsh starting point, but unlike before, this time, I had an advantage.

I knew the future.

I could see the world shifting, industries rising and collapsing. And I wasn't going to waste this second life struggling for survival.

I was going to make money—insane amounts of money.

Enough to never struggle again. Enough to enjoy life, travel, and live like a king.

But before that, I needed to understand my world—the Korea of 2007.

🔹 The Korea of 2007: A Nation on the Rise

South Korea in 2007 was a land of rapid change.

The country had transformed from a war-torn state in the 1950s into one of the world's most technologically advanced nations. In just a few decades, Korea became an economic powerhouse, led by its chaebols—large family-owned business conglomerates that dominated the market.

If I wanted to become rich, I needed to understand these industries.

🔹 The Dominant Chaebols in 2007

In Korea, money = power, and that power rested in the hands of chaebols (재벌). These massive corporations controlled everything—electronics, finance, automobiles, construction, entertainment, and even retail.

1. Samsung (삼성) – The Undisputed KingBy 2007, Samsung Electronics was one of the most powerful tech companies in the world.It was competing fiercely against Nokia in mobile phones.Samsung was investing heavily in LCD TVs, semiconductors, and home appliances.In a few years, Samsung's Galaxy smartphones would rise to dominate the market.

(If I could invest in Samsung stocks before the smartphone boom, I'd make millions.)

2. Hyundai (현대) – The Giant of Automobiles & ConstructionHyundai Motors was one of the fastest-growing car brands, slowly gaining respect worldwide.Hyundai Construction played a huge role in South Korea's infrastructure projects.The company was investing in eco-friendly cars, something that would explode in the 2010s.

(Korea's automobile industry was growing. Maybe I should enter the car business?)

3. LG (엘지) – The Tech RivalLG Electronics was competing against Samsung in home appliances, TVs, and mobile phones.The company was still successful but would later fall behind in the smartphone race.

(I could predict LG's failures and make strategic investments to benefit from it.)

4. Lotte (롯데) – The Retail & Food EmpireLotte controlled department stores, supermarkets, cinemas, and even theme parks.The food division was one of Korea's largest, with instant noodles, snacks, and confectionery brands dominating the market.

(Retail was always a safe business. Maybe I should invest in convenience stores or food brands?)

5. SK Group – The Rising Telecom & Energy GiantSK Telecom (SKT) was Korea's leading mobile carrier, owning most of the mobile network.SK Energy was expanding into oil and gas investments.

(Telecom and internet industries were only going to grow. Investing in SKT would be a smart move.)

🔹 The State of Technology in 2007

The world was rapidly entering the digital age, but some technologies were still in their early stages.

1. The Mobile Phone Era (Pre-Smartphone Days)Nokia dominated the global mobile phone market, but Apple's iPhone was about to change everything.Korea had advanced flip phones and slide phones from brands like Samsung and LG.People still used keypad texting—smartphones were NOT common yet.

(In just a few years, smartphones would take over. I needed to prepare for that.)

2. The Internet BoomKorea had the world's fastest internet even in 2007.Naver and Daum were the top search engines—Google wasn't dominant in Korea yet.Cyworld (싸이월드), a social networking site, was the Facebook of Korea.

(I could create a better social media platform before Facebook and Instagram dominate!)

3. The Gaming IndustryOnline PC games were huge. StarCraft was still a national obsession.Nexon and NCSoft were the biggest game companies.Console gaming wasn't big in Korea yet—PC Bangs (gaming cafes) dominated.

(Gaming was profitable. Maybe I should invest in game companies?)

🔹 The Entertainment Industry: K-Pop & Hallyu Wave

By 2007, K-pop was on the rise, but it hadn't exploded worldwide yet.

Big Bang, Super Junior, and SNSD (Girls' Generation) were the new generation of idols.SM, JYP, and YG Entertainment were the biggest agencies.Korean dramas were gaining popularity overseas, setting the stage for the global Hallyu Wave.

(If I had money, I could invest in entertainment companies early or even start my own!)

🔹 The 2008 Financial Crisis: A Golden Opportunity

I knew something no one else in 2007 did—the global financial crisis was only months away.

Stock markets would crash.Real estate prices would drop.Banks and corporations would collapse.

The rich would panic. The poor would suffer. But those who knew how to invest during the crisis would become billionaires.

(I had to figure out a way to make money quickly, so I could invest before the crash.)

🔹 My Goals in This Life

I clenched my fists.

In my past life, I had worked tirelessly for others—for companies that barely cared about me. I never lived, never enjoyed my youth, never tasted true success.

Not this time.

✔ I would make money—more than I ever dreamed of.✔ I would enjoy life—luxury, travel, women, everything I missed out on.✔ I would build an empire—one that no one could take from me.

No more struggling.No more suffering.This time, I would live on my own terms.

I smirked.

Let's get to work.