Chapter 43: Book 2 Chapter 4-1 Rise of Korea!: Technological Revolution

July 12th, 2018 11:00

Seoul Kangnam-ku Postech Headquarters.

Postech, the fourth-largest company for steel manufacturing in 2014, was deep into a financial crisis after the 2015 Pyeong Yang terrorist bombing put Korea under the threat of war and plummeted into 11th place. However, they introduced new high-strength steel that was 1.5 times stronger from the standard in March of 2018. With this, their sales rose rapidly to reach second place worldwide in the second quarter of that year.

The world economic experts claimed that at this rate in the fourth quarter, the corporation could reach first place. The manufacturing quantity was 153.6 million tons, which was 4 times the production quantity Postech had from their prime in 2014 of 4.2million tons.

5 months ago, the X-6 lab of the 17th Fighter Wing underground research facility discovered a manufacturing formula during its research that could create high-strength steel surpassing the power of the standard by 1.5 times. They notified the Ministry of Next-generation Technology of their discovery, which then chose to focus on the steel industry as their first step in economic recovery. The ministry had called in the 20 largest KOSPI corporations and 100 small to middle-sized corporation executives for a meeting for technological cooperation.

The main goal of the cooperation meeting was to connect all those who worked in the steel industry. The lower branch of the industry was no exception; workers from junkyards to large businesses were called so the economy could be revived from the citizen level.

1. Ensure that 70% of the high-strength steel manufacturing formula will be owned by the government.

2. Provide the formula for free to corporations complying with the following standards:

-50% of the profits from manufacturing would go to the Korean government treasury.

-Increase the contract costs by 20% with the lower-level companies and form a new contract, and have the process be audited by the Ministry of Next-generation Technology.

-Fixing prices and other forms of abuse of power towards the lower-level corporation will be punished under law and removed from selection for this program if discovered.

3. Have lower-level corporations middle-sized companies raise the purchasing prices from personal businesses (junkyards) by 20% in current market value and maintain it during this time.

4. Junkyards to increase the purchasing price from individuals by 30% of the current market value and maintain it during this time.

This first stage of their economic recovery policy resulted in Postech at the top. Hyunjin, Dong-young, and Korean workers reached the top 20 steel manufacturers worldwide, while other corporations reached the top 100 all in the second quarter.

Domestic steel manufacturing corporations also responded by improving employment policies to rehire retirees and family members who lost their jobs from the economic crisis. Because this became the driving force to revitalize the bear market economy, the Korean economy appeared to be gradually recovering.

* * *

July 14th, 2018 14:00

Seoul Jung-ku Secret Bureau of Corruption Investigation Corruption Investigation department conference room.

“We will now begin the briefing regarding the Korean electricity power corporation’s stockholdings of which foreign shareholders own 33%.”

Manager Jang Soo-Hyun from the second corruption investigation department stood on the podium, pointed to the data on the screen, and began his explanation.

“Three foreign companies currently hold 33% of the stocks from the electricity power corporation. 3% of it is owned by an investment firm in the U.S named Road company, 5% is held by an Australian investment firm Peritz Pacific, and the remaining 25% is owned by an investment firm named Roadycall. Out of these three, Rhodeycall owns the most significant amount appearing as a sort of paper company investment firm based in the Cayman Islands. The second corruption investigation department has investigated this corporation for 5 months and identified its executive as Rhodey Lee, otherwise known by his Korean name Lee Chul-Joon. He is a Korean-American who immigrated to the U.S 15 years ago. The problem is that we confirmed there is a true owner of Rhodeycall corporations, so please take a look at the path the funds go through.”

Manager Jang Soo-Hyun pointed to the various graphs and figures displaying the pathway the money moved with a laser pointer, then continued his explanation.

“We were tracking the dividends that were transferred to Rhodeycall’s account when we found information regarding an account from Korea. The account holder was Lee Myung-bon, a Korean and Rhodey Lee’s cousin.”

A moment later the screen showed Lee Myung-bon and his father Lee Bok-duk’s photo, along with his many deeds as a Japanese Imperial loyalist.

“Please take a look at the screen. Lee Myung-bon’s father Lee Bok-duk was…”

The Secret Bureau of Corruption Investigation was investigating Lee Bok-duk because of a request they received from the Investigation Bureau of Traitorous Individuals under the Prime Minister’s office last December.

Lee Bok-duk inherited the status of Baron from his grandfather Lee Gyu-jun in March 1931 and received a grant of 150 won each month from the happiness creation organization until August of 1945.

He entered Kyung-bok middle school in 1933 but quit in 1937, and graduated from Japan’s Tokyo Hosei University majoring in the preliminary section from 1937 to1940, then studied economics from 1940 to 1942). In December 1942, he founded the people’s cooperative organization and connected Japan’s various corporations with Korean citizens under the guise of dispatch service to force manual labor; he made his fortune through exploiting people.

Having registered Lee Jyun-gyu and Lee Bok-duk in the list of individuals for financial confiscation, The Investigation Bureau of Traitorous Individuals was investigating their financial details. This occurred when they noticed that Lee Myung-bon, Lee Bok-duk’s eldest son, had his property moved to overseas and requested an official investigation. Therefore, the second Secret Bureau of Corruption Investigation department took on the role and began searching for the source of Lee Myung-bon’s wealth. The investigation found that three years ago, Lee Myung-bon had invested in his cousin, an American resident, Rhodey Lee’s company. That company, now known as Rhodeycall, owned a quarter of the Korean electricity power corporation.

“The investigation to confiscate the property of Lee Myung-bon is being conducted jointly under the Investigation Bureau of Traitorous Individuals, Ministry of Next-generation Technology, and our Secret Bureau of Corruption Investigation.”

“Outstanding work, Manager Jang. Since the Director is very pleased with your work and interested in your investigation, may we confiscate all the property of that traitorous Japanese Imperialist bastard?”

“Of course, sir. There is one more thing.”

“Please continue.”

“After the Pyeong Yang terrorist bombing, the stock value of Korean electricity power corporation was dropping rapidly. To mitigate their losses, the company broke its regulation for the shares being able to be sold up to 10% by selling 25% of their stocks. This was when Rhodeycall bought out 25% of the shares sold.”

“What’s so suspicious about that?”

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Director Ahn Kyung-hoon seemed to also have noticed something was off and showed his interest by leaning forward.

“The one who ordered the shares to be sold was the former government’s Senior Secretary to the President’s Affairs: Oh Man-han.”

“Ex Senior Secretary Oh Man-han?”

“Yes, Oh Man-han and Lee Myung-bon are in-laws.”

“It’s all clear to me now. Whether it be a Japanese Imperial loyalist or corrupt traitor, I will give you my full support to screw over these bastards, so give it all you got. Those who betrayed the people to live a lavish life should receive a more severe punishment than any other individual.”

“I will make sure to bring him in.”

* * *

July 15th, 2018 16:00

Jeonnam Naju-si Korea electricity power corporation Yoo Gi-tae’s office.

“Executive director, do you think that the ‘plasma-whatever’ generator technology really exists in our country?”

Director Oh Jin-ho, who came by the Naju headquarters to attend the executives meeting, visited Yoo Gi-tae’s executive’s office to discuss the plasma superprotonic generator that the Ministry of Next-generation Technology spoke of.

“How would I know?”

“Executive Director, wouldn’t you agree that even the U.S was not able to build a nuclear fusion power plant, let alone the new plasma superprotonic generator? It’s not like we are in some sci-fi movie; I find it all hard to believe.

“I agree with you, but if it was a lie, then why would they tell us?”

Director Ahn Kang-ho, who was quietly sipping tea, joined the conversation.

“I think they are trying to screw us over from selling the shares to foreign investors during the previous government’s rule. Don’t you agree?”

Executive director Yoo Gi-tae, who was relaxing comfortably on the soft sofa with his head back, suddenly stood and yelled in anger, “Director Ahn! Don’t speak of such nonsense!”

“I am sorry, executive director, sir.”

“Did we want to sell the shares to foreign nations? We only did it as part of the higher-ups’ orders.”

“Executive Director, Director Ahn could be right.”

“What? You think so too?”

“Please listen. After the Pyeong Yang terrorist bombing happened in 2015, the stock value plummeted. The higher-ups ordered us to sell 25% of the shares to foreign investors, correct? When you think about it, each share was only four dollars, but now it is at sixty. It has risen in value by 15 times.”

“So what?”

“That Secret Bureau of Corruption Investigation or whatever it’s called is causing a ruckus. They’re devoted to investigating various corruption scandals, arresting suspects, and confiscating their properties without any exceptions.”

Director Oh Jin-ho, who was rambling on like a machine gun continuously being fired, saw Executive director Yoo Gi-tae’s intimidating face and closed his mouth. Oblivious to Director Oh Jin-ho’s actions, Director Ahn Kang-ho subconsciously slurred a few words.

“That investment firm Rhodeycall that bought the shares are close with Executive director Yoo…”

Director Ahn Kang-ho, who spoke without thinking, finally saw Executive director Yoo Gi-tae’s face and stopped speaking.

“You guys shouldn’t speak of such foolish things so easily, understand?”

Executive director Yoo Gi-tae’s face was red as he glared at the two men and warned them, “If you go blabbering about things like that anywhere else, I’ll eject you out of the company. Have I made myself clear?”

In response to Executive director Yoo Gi-tae’s words, Director Ahn Kang-ho and Oh Jin-ho both began to bow their heads as if they had committed a heinous crime.

“Executive director, why would we speak of such things outside the company? No need to worry, sir.”

“We are not children. No need to be concerned.”

Despite Director Ahn Kang-ho and Oh Jin-ho’s words, Executive director Yoo Gi-tae’s expression remained stiff.

After a while, Director Oh Jin-ho had stepped out of the office to head back to Seoul when he felt something was suspicious about the Executive director’s Yoo Gi-tae’s exaggerated reaction. Immersed in the thought, he headed to the underground parking lot.

‘Something seems off… maybe I can get more information if I keep investigating Executive director Yoo. I should try to coax some more information out of Director Ahn,’ he thought.

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