A few days later, Arlington, Texas.
The midday sun shone warmly over the vast field of the Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers. Inside a skybox overlooking the stadium, the room buzzed with people.
Even though the season had yet to begin, the crowd had gathered for one reason: today, the Texas Rangers were officially changing ownership.
Having flown in by private jet from New York the day before, Seok-won stood off to the side as Texas governor and Rangers co-owner George W. Bush signed his name onto the contract with a fountain pen.
It was the historic moment when ownership of the Rangers formally passed to its new proprietor.
Click! Click-click!
As soon as the signature was complete, reporters to the side erupted in a storm of camera shutters and flashing lights.
Governor Bush straightened up, a broad smile on his face, and extended his hand to Seok-won. His expression mixed a touch of regret with the satisfaction of selling the team at a price he found more than agreeable.
"I'm counting on you to take good care of the Rangers."
Tall and lean, Bush was born in 1946—old enough to be Seok-won's uncle—so Seok-won spoke to him with formal respect, while Bush, clearly liking him, spoke more familiarly in return.
Seok-won clasped his hand with a faint smile.
"When the Rangers make it to the World Series, I'll invite you to throw out the first pitch at the home opener. You must be there."
Though the Rangers had won their division several times, the franchise, founded in 1961, had never reached the World Series in its 38-year history.
Bush let out a booming laugh at the bold prediction.
"Ha ha ha! If that day ever comes, I'll drop everything and be there. Just call me."
"That's a promise."
With the mood warm and good-humored, the two men stood side by side as the assembled reporters began asking questions.
A bearded reporter stepped forward first, holding out his voice recorder.
"You've just acquired one hundred percent of the team's shares for an enormous $290 million. How do you plan to run the club from here?"
All eyes turned to Seok-won, who answered with composure.
"First, let me applaud Governor Bush and the investor group for the remarkable achievements of winning the division title in both '96 and last year."
He turned his head slightly and gave a light clap, prompting Bush to raise his hand with a smile.
"Broadly speaking, we'll continue the current philosophy—developing young talent and building a strong, well-grounded team."
"Is that all?"
"Of course not."
Seok-won deflected the reporter's question with practiced ease.
"Come now, I'm a Wall Street investor. Do you really think I'd sink this much money in without a clear vision?"
The room rippled with laughter.
Letting the amusement fade, Seok-won's tone grew serious as he addressed the crowd.
"If necessary, I'll invest boldly, without hesitation. I promise the fans that within three years this team will be lifting the World Series championship trophy."
Cheers erupted.
The moment the new owner publicly set the World Series as his goal, camera flashes exploded in a frenzy. Reporters who had shown up with modest expectations now realized they had stumbled into a major story. Eyes gleaming, they swarmed him with questions.
"Do you already have a specific plan for winning the Series?"
"The team keeps falling short in the Division Series. What's your take on that?"
"How do you reconcile building prospects with making aggressive, high-cost acquisitions?"
The barrage might have flustered someone else, but Seok-won fielded it all with a calm smile.
"With the young players we've carefully developed, and by filling the gaps with proven stars who can carry us beyond the Division Series, I'm confident not only in winning a championship but in building a dynasty."
His boldness set the press murmuring, and even Governor Bush, standing nearby, looked at him with open admiration.
More questions flew, but the interview had already gone over its allotted time. The Rangers staff politely ushered the reporters out of the skybox, leaving only Seok-won's aides behind.
Seok-won sat down across from Bush at a table overlooking the broad stretch of green field through the glass wall.
"Finally, some quiet."
Bush leaned back in the soft leather sofa, lifted his champagne glass, and let a smile curve his lips.
"As you told the press just now, I sincerely hope the Rangers will one day win the World Series and bring that trophy home to Arlington."
"We'll bring back the Commissioner's Trophy, I assure you."
"I look forward to the seasons ahead, then."
They touched glasses lightly, the clear ring of crystal echoing gently through the skybox.
After taking a sip of the fine French champagne, Seok-won set down his glass and offered a congratulatory nod to Bush.
"By the way, I never did congratulate you properly on your reelection as governor. Winning by such a wide margin was no small feat."
"Ha ha, thank you."
George W. Bush had first won office in 1994, defeating the sitting Democratic governor. In the most recent election last November, he secured reelection with an overwhelming 64 percent of the vote, crushing his opponent.
"I read that not only your base but also many Black and Hispanic voters—groups traditionally aligned with the Democrats—cast their ballots for you. It speaks volumes about how popular you've become here in Texas."
Bush smiled modestly, as though brushing off the compliment.
"With so much support behind me, I'll have to work even harder to repay the voters."
Seok-won leaned forward slightly, his tone warm but deliberate.
"While preparing for the Rangers acquisition, I learned how, during your first term, you fought through heavy opposition and resistance to deliver on your campaign promises. You reformed funding for public schools and overhauled the tax system. I was deeply impressed by that."
Pleased by the praise, Bush couldn't keep a small, proud smile from tugging at his lips.
"I believe that kind of hard work is exactly why the voters responded the way they did."
"All I can do is be grateful they recognized the effort and gave me the chance to serve again."
Seok-won shifted forward, lowering his voice as if confiding something.
"Washington doesn't need more politicians who only talk. It needs people like you—responsible, tireless, willing to shoulder the work. Frankly, I think you should be the next man in the White House."
Bush, who had been sitting with his shoulders high from the compliments, blinked in surprise at the sudden turn.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but the White House? That's absurd."
He chuckled, trying to brush it off as a joke, but Seok-won's expression stayed serious.
"President Clinton nearly got impeached over Zippergate, and even Speaker of the House Eric Savitz, who loudly condemned him, was later exposed for having a child out of wedlock. Both parties have been disgraced, and politicians are being condemned as hypocritical and morally corrupt."
Bush said nothing.
"Compared to them, you—an openly devout Christian with a clean personal life—stand out. Why should anyone in Washington be considered more worthy than you?"
It was true that Bush hadn't always lived this way. Born into a prominent political family, he had once been a reckless young man who loved parties and drink. In college he'd been arrested for drunk driving, lost his license, and paid a $150 fine. At one point, his alcoholism grew so severe that he collapsed and nearly died.
But after meeting his wife, he turned his life around. Through steady rehabilitation, he overcame alcohol abuse and abandoned his reckless lifestyle. The story of a man who strayed but redeemed himself, becoming a devout Christian, resonated deeply with the conservative heart of Texas and had fueled his political career.
'In some ways, his story reminds me of Barack Obama, ' Seok-won thought. 'Once lost to drugs, yet he overcame it and would go on to become the first Black president of the United States. Different upbringings, of course—one born into a political dynasty, the other raised by grandparents in mixed-race poverty—but the image of redemption is similar.'
Seok-won's voice softened again, almost like an offer of partnership.
"Even if you never run for president, I'd like to support you in your political career, however modestly I can."
Bush's eyes lit up. He straightened in his seat.
"You're talking about political funding, aren't you?"
"That's right."
"Elections run on money" was more than just a saying. In politics, nothing was more essential.
Even for someone like Bush, born into one of America's most prestigious political dynasties and an oil-rich family, the staggering costs of every campaign were always a burden.
So when Seok-won—the Wall Street titan and widely regarded as the richest man in the world—volunteered to be his financial backer, it was impossible not to feel grateful.
"If you're willing to do that, I can't thank you enough."
"The honor's mine. I'm glad to support someone like you, Governor."
Bush, delighted at securing such an unexpected but powerful ally, broke into a broad smile. Then, with a note of camaraderie, he asked:
"Ever been hog hunting?"
"I haven't had the chance yet, though I've heard Texas does it in a pretty wild way."
"They number in the millions, tearing up farmland and causing untold damage. To keep the population under control, the law allows us to hunt them year-round, no permits required."
"I see."
No wonder Texas was so closely tied to the image of hunters with rifles.
"If you've got the time, why don't you come out to my ranch sometime? We'll hunt them together."
"Just say the word, and I'll be there."
Bush burst out laughing, clearly pleased with the spirited reply.
"Ha! I'm already looking forward to it!"
He raised his champagne glass, clinked it against Seok-won's, and drank it down in one gulp.
Seok-won, meanwhile, took a measured sip, wearing a satisfied smile. He had secured a direct connection with the man destined to be the next President of the United States.
'I'll need to get in some shooting practice. The last thing I want is to embarrass myself at a hog hunt.'
Buying a Major League team for a staggering $290 million had been, on the surface, a natural way to connect with Bush. But when he thought of the influence that came with being close to the occupant of the White House, the investment seemed almost trivial.
'And with the value of Major League clubs bound to rise, it's a solid investment anyway.'
Besides, owning a franchise in one of America's most beloved and passionate sports meant far more than simply being another billionaire.
With that thought, Seok-won kept his glass raised, chatting warmly with Governor Bush as the two slipped into an easy, congenial rhythm of conversation.