Chapter 171

Chapter 171

This Is It!

Like the president pondered for a moment when the Blue House security chief requested.

The president sank into thought without words at the central intelligence director’s request.

“Steel mill business rights? Sincere?”

“Of course.”

Clearly a request not willing.

The president didn’t cut and refuse saying no without room for reconsideration.

Instead tapped the table at a constant speed.

Tok. Tok. Tok. Tok.

The sound starting from the president’s fingertips rhythmic without breaking.

Because no one sitting in this seat could disturb the president’s thoughts.

Everyone even killed breath sounds.

“Steel industry often called the country’s core key industry producing the rice of industry?”

Steel industry occupies a quite important position in the national economy.

Because producing essential steel etc. for many industries including automobile, shipbuilding, machinery, construction, defense industry.

For the Republic of Korea to leap as a heavy industry country certainly receiving high-quality steel supply became important.

For that reason the president ambitiously pushed the establishment of Pohang Steel.

“Hmm, entrusting a steel mill to Taeseong······.”

“Your Excellency!”

There was a guy intervening in the president’s thoughts impiously.

The Blue House security chief.

“Not long since Pohang Steel completed. At most 4, 5 years?”

An appearance looking urgent.

Had to hurry to turn thoughts before the president makes a decision.

“Just building Pohang Steel took 120 billion. No capacity.”

The Blue House security chief’s intention obvious.

-Crushing the central intelligence director’s request.

-Clearly showing own influence above that.

Taeseong’s future not the Blue House security chief’s interest.

“Another steel mill establishment can be said premature still. Rather the time the government has to support without sparing until the existing Pohang Steel settles on the normal track.”

The Blue House security chief looked at the president with anxious eyes.

“Even in Incheon there are thick steel mills, steelworks called U-gwang Steel and Geumjo Steel.”

If the oldest root in the Republic of Korea’s steel history can pick Incheon.

Geumjo Steel established in 1938 during Japanese colonial period absorbed as state-owned enterprise after liberation and later privatized.

U-gwang Steel the Incheon Steel established with West German loans in 1964 sold to U-gwang 4 years ago due to management difficulties.

“Steel industry already saturated to this extent. Geumjo Steel and U-gwang Steel also continuously unable to avoid deficit?”

Geumjo Steel when state-owned enterprise managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under the name Korea Heavy Industry Corporation, but due to management difficulties 52.5% of government shares sold to private and privatized.

U-gwang Steel which was Incheon Steel also under Industrial Bank management due to management difficulties from technology problems then acquired by U-gwang.

“If even Taeseong mixes in the already bursting fight board becomes a mess. Please reconsider.”

When the president’s brow furrowed a bit deeper.

The central intelligence director opened the mouth with a blunt voice.

“Why did Your Excellency insist on making an integrated steel mill?”

Integrated steel mill means a steel mill equipped with all three processes of ironmaking, steelmaking, rolling.

In the 21st century Republic of Korea there were total 3 integrated steel mills.

Pohang Steel Mill, Gwangyang Steel Mill, Dangjin Steel Mill.

‘In this era integrated steel mill only one place, Pohang Steel.’

The president recognized steel industry necessary as basic industry when preparing the 2nd economic development 5-year plan.

“Your Excellency, the establishment of integrated steel mill had many obstacles from the start.”

The president nodded heavily.

“Headache in many directions.”

“Yes, at that time economic situation integrated steel mill establishment close to impossible.”

Publicly offered stocks for steel mill construction but only gathered 13 million won 0.4% of the target amount 3.3 billion won.

“Everyone criticized as reckless matter, advanced countries and international organizations sneered at this as show-off project.”

The World Bank concluded no profitability, and many domestic and foreign institutions and companies viewed steel mill construction skeptically.

“But the Republic of Korea that entered the early stage of industrialization in a situation self-production of steel indispensable, and Your Excellency ended up establishing the integrated steel mill at all costs.”

That precisely Pohang Steel.

“Your Excellency, the result proving. By Pohang Steel being born this country solidly laid the cornerstone of heavy industry. Literally success, that can be called great success.”

Pohang Steel the world’s only steel company that recorded profit in the first year of operating the blast furnace.

“With only one Pohang Steel extremely insufficient to cover all domestic steel demand. How about entrusting the second duty to Taeseong for this country’s heavy industry nurturing and development.”

The central intelligence director finished bluntly.

“Heard pulling as much as 1 billion dollars with Middle East construction. Even the second integrated steel mill establishment not a dream.”

Greed and ambition flashed in the president’s eyes.

The central intelligence director set fire to that desire.

“A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Republic of Korea to leap as a middle-income country. Then have to catch.”

The president’s head tilted toward the central intelligence director.

The meaning the weight of the heart’s scale tilted toward the central intelligence director.

As much as the mouth corners hanging on the president and central intelligence director’s mouths grandfather and father’s mouth corners also rose.

My mouth corner the same.

‘Steel mill business rights!’

Just in case opened the coin wallet under the table.

Took out blank paper and scribbled with the Montblanc fountain pen.

Steel mill business rights

Just wrote only this, already golden light flashing.

In the momentum wrote a few more characters.

Integrated steel mill

Golden light dazzlingly deepened.

There was something pointing.

Gwangyang Steel Mill

Whoosh!

Golden light burst like a bomb.

‘This is it! Gwangyang Steel Mill!’

The world’s largest scale steel mill.

Land as much as 6.3 million pyeong reaching 7 times Yeouido area!

‘Just close to Yeocheon too.’

If Ulsan industrial complex runs with Pohang Steel’s steel supply Yeocheon industrial complex grows relying on Gwangyang Steel Mill’s steel supply.

‘Coveted!’

The project that went to the next regime because the president blocked and absolutely didn’t give.

The century’s steel confrontation where Pohang Steel and Geumjo Steel fiercely competed and eventually Pohang Steel’s victory!

‘Windfall!’

Trying to reduce tax a bit ended up catching even the steel mill at once!

‘Moreover from Taeseong Construction’s position the best among best!’

Taeseong Construction stocks couldn’t avoid dirt cheap fate for several years.

Incompetent president ruined businesses one by one touching, capable executives joined sabotage.

But as father newly took office as Taeseong Construction president the story changed.

‘Securing subway line 2 construction, receiving lots of sponsorship funds and Taeseong Construction stocks rising largely, if even securing steel mill business rights here?’

Taeseong Construction’s stocks will soar to the sky repeating surge on surge.

Will become the golden opportunity for father with poor support base to largely overturn the board and surge.

Grandmother also covered the mouth with both hands with eyes sparkling as if not believing.

-I can cover the steel mill construction funds!

Eyes seeming to take out money envelopes confidently first.

I also tightly gripped the coin wallet.

‘If integrated steel mill business rights I also empty all pockets and help.’

Unscheduled luck!

‘Taeseong no steel. Not other things if Gwangyang Steel Mill have to roll up sleeves and jump in.’

Not integrated steel mill but small and medium steelworks quickly reach scale, production, efficiency limits and ten to one see deficit.

Because steel an industry where economies of scale apply.

“Your Excellency!”

From the Blue House security chief’s position urgently added words.

To press the central intelligence director.

“Taeseong Construction now in a situation overwhelming even doing subway line 2 construction.”

The Blue House security chief poured words quickly without even leisure to exhale.

“Subway line 2 also the national project Your Excellency most importantly decided. The matter Your Excellency ordered first priority to the Seoul mayor.”

A heated argument.

“This country’s young population crowding into Seoul one after another from all over the country. Subway line 2 will become the feet, the breath of young people commuting to work.”

Seoul city road traffic volume reaching saturation.

As Seoul’s population concentration phenomenon strengthens the commuting problem emerging largely.

Like that following the president’s meaning the former mayor took the lead and pushed subway line 2 construction.

“Put out the urgent fire with Pohang Steel once. Your Excellency, presidential election right in front.”

The central intelligence director and Blue House security chief opened mouths simultaneously.

“Your Excellency, integrated steel mill······!”

“Your Excellency, subway line 2······!”

“Stop.”

The president raised a hand.

Immediately the two closed mouths.

But sparks flew from the eyes looking at each other.

‘Already spread to pride and ranking fight after.’

If so no way to stop.

No choice but to break the opponent’s momentum and seize victory.

“Integrated steel mill and subway line 2? Both important national projects. No reason to discuss superiority so no need to argue uselessly.”

“Of course. Both enough.”

I opened the mouth pretending not knowing.

Adults astonished.

“Th, Jeong-hyeok!”

Everyone the sign of ‘dare to retort the president’s words!’ clear on faces.

Whether or not.

I shrugged shoulders.

“President, give to Taeseong. Integrated steel mill business rights.”

“Jeong-hyeok! Sorry, Your Excellency!”

Grandfather startled and looked back at me.

Father hurriedly lowered the head.

“Our kid still young and doesn’t know well. Please forgive.”

Yes, I now an eight-year-old child.

So will use the child’s privilege to the full today.

“Our dad good at construction. So can build both subway and steel mill.”

“Jeong-hyeok!”

“Is there a reason can’t entrust to our dad?”

I deliberately tilted the head.

“If no money maybe not know. Money there, why saying no?”

The opportunity of windfall came right in front.

Can’t see the appearance of vainly blowing watching idly.

“Ah, by any chance because not prepared? Then while doing subway construction prepare to build the steel mill together enough?”

Grandfather stealthily looked at the president’s reaction.

With an expression very anxious whether I touch the president’s mood with childish sound.

“Jeong-hyeok, this not such a simple matter as words.”

“Work simple. Only thoughts complex.”

“Integrated steel mill where something that can build in a snap like building a warehouse? From site selection to steel mill design of course technical limits and market pioneering······.”

“All only trivial problems?”

“······.”

I shrugged shoulders.

“In the world is there a problem not solved with money and time and technology and manpower?”

No way.

“Our Taeseong has money, has time, has technology, has manpower, what’s the problem?”

No problem.

So grandfather no choice but only moving lips as if mouth blocked.

Only if there is a problem only one.

-The president’s inner thoughts.

I looked straight at the problem president.

“Please trust and entrust Taeseong. Taeseong also will contribute to this country’s economic development with a patriotic heart together with Pohang Steel.”

The president silently looks into my eyes tightly.

A cold and heavy and sharp gaze.

I didn’t avoid.

The principle of not avoiding coming fights.

“Best result. Will prove with that.”

The bait the president threw when luring grandfather.

The president asserted only hoping the best result.

“Impudent little kid.”

“Rare opportunity, if throwing away shaking modesty unfair.”

The president tilted the head sideways.

“I absolutely hate nonsense. That no exception even child.”

“I never said nonsense.”

I also tilted the head sideways at the same angle.

“Tax also, steel mill business rights also. Heard carelessly?”

A strange light slightly rose in the president’s eyes.

Since decided to see the match can’t retreat.

“Established value-added tax?”

The Blue House security chief and central intelligence director simultaneously looked back at me.