Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Toast

The president asked.

“The reason invited as a state guest of the Saudi royal family.”

“Took charge of and completed Saudi’s road construction. In the meantime established one merit that is nothing special.”

“Merit?”

The president showed interest.

One of the words the president likes is precisely national prestige enhancement.

After the Korean War as the division happened money-making industries like factories and mines all remained in North Korea, and the Republic of Korea embraced only the ruined land and half-cut population.

When the president seized power through a military coup, Korea was receiving such mockery.

-A country poorer than Africa!

-A country that starves to death without US and Western aid!

-A country with per capita national income only 150 dollars!

The president gritted teeth and clung to economic growth.

But because such a poor country, had no choice but to become bloodshot pulling foreign aid and loans.

Where in this world easy eating others’ money.

That the same not for individuals but also for institutions or countries.

To borrow money had to put down pride and face.

-Even if receiving loans and aid dislike being seen as a humiliating and servile president!

The reason the president reacts very sensitively regarding national prestige enhancement and face.

The reason not forgiving bribery and corruption eradication revealed outwardly.

The reason clinging desperately to economic growth and shouting ‘export is the only way to live!’

The reason shouting anti-communism and armed spy weeding out and strengthening independent national defense.

Because didn’t want to be treated as the president of a weak country, poorest country, country without future, country without answer at world leader meetings.

“Wouldn’t have been an ordinary merit.”

The meaning can’t receive royal state guest treatment with a shoddy merit.

“Luckily caught the traitor.”

“Traitor?”

“Yes, there was a Saudi king assassination incident a few years ago?”

March 25, 1975.

The 3rd son of Ibn Saud the first king of Saudi, the 3rd king Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

He died from the sniping of nephew Faisal bin Musaid who had mental abnormality.

“First discovered the armed rebel forces scheduled to rise right after the king assassination and received recognition of the merit of weeding out the traitor.”

“What?”

The president raised eyebrows.

An expression of hearing an absurd sound.

That the same for me too.

‘What?’

Heard the sound from mother that father went to the Middle East and laid roads and did construction, but didn’t know established such a merit!

‘No, in the Taeseong Group report not even one line of such a record?’

In the Taeseong Group report the sentences written about father were not a few lines.

Just stopped at the level of ‘died young in an accident at a young age.’, ‘after the youngest son died Taeseong began walking the path of deterioration.’

‘Father, what on earth how did in Saudi?’

To the extent the past actions becoming curious.

That seems the same for everyone gathered in this room.

Even the president couldn’t hide the interested appearance and slightly leaned the body forward and concentrated on father’s words.

“In detail.”

“Sorry. Seems difficult to inform more than that.”

Father continued words calmly.

“If the shame like royal treason revealed externally disgrace spreads. Quietly covered and promised to keep silent.”

The president clicked the tongue small.

“At least should have brought even a medal?”

“Instead hung one debt on the Saudi royal family.”

Warmth instead of chill began circling on the president’s face.

“What trying to receive from Saudi?”

“Wouldn’t it be better His Excellency receives rather than Taeseong receives? If His Excellency wishes will gladly put out.”

“A patriotic youth.”

The president’s smile gradually deepened.

“What use the country snatching the merit an individual established. Just receive the heart.”

The president held out the alcohol cup with a cigarette inserted between fingers.

Trickle.

The Blue House security chief immediately ran and filled the president’s empty cup.

At the president’s gesture poured alcohol even into Mayor Gu’s cup, even into father’s cup.

The president lifted the alcohol cup.

“A merit regrettable to just pass over.”

“Yes, correct. Looking now the young friend raised the Republic of Korea’s status. Where a matter happier and prouder than this?”

Mayor Gu also lifted the alcohol cup and burst into hearty laughter.

“Moreover will offer that merit to the country. Will become a model of a patriotic youth. Hehehe.”

“Overpraise.”

“Toast.”

As soon as the president’s words fell simultaneously drank alcohol.

“This kind of thing national prestige enhancement.”

The president lightly clapped palms.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Ministers also joined and clapped.

Clap clap clap clap!

Father became a difficult expression and bent the waist to the president.

“Excessive.”

“Put away excessive modesty. A matter of raising the Republic of Korea’s national dignity and receiving recognition from a foreign royal family. Worthy of praise.”

“Thank you.”

The president leaned the back on the sofa with a contented expression.

“Taeseong’s future expected.”

The president gestured.

“Everyone sit and have one cup of alcohol.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

The ministers standing stuck to the wall immediately bent waists and answered.

“Know it’s thanks to this friend.”

The sound of giving one cup of alcohol each because mood good since father raised the Republic of Korea’s status.

Ministers each found their seats, and each circulated empty alcohol cups and filled each other’s alcohol cups.

“Receiving as many as three cups of alcohol from His Excellency.”

The Blue House security chief muttered small and looked down at father.

He slightly pulled up only one mouth corner, seemed like mocking father or seeming interested.

“How is the Middle East situation?”

Ah, the president’s business not all finished yet!

This time truly the last expected question I picked started.

What the president really curious wouldn’t be how father became a state guest of the Saudi royal family.

-What influence the Middle East situation will have on the Republic of Korea!

This precisely the real business the president called father to a private drinking seat.

‘Going back and forth this country that country in the Middle East and securing thick construction and constructing can’t help but form close relations with the local.’

Have to supply construction manpower and materials locally, have to meet low-level related officials and process work.

‘In seats where money comes and goes real information also comes and goes.’

What the president wants is local bottom information.

‘Can’t neglect looking at the Middle East situation. Because oil comes out from the Middle East.’

The reason I caught the sense from the part that the foreign ministry minister and Middle East side embassy people were called to the drinking seat.

“Currently the entire Middle East is very chaotic domestically and internationally.”

“Foreign Ministry.”

The called foreign ministry minister corrected posture stopping receiving the alcohol cup.

“Currently in the Middle East fostering national key industries with earned oil money, constructing social infrastructure and developing cities······.”

“Stop.”

The foreign ministry minister immediately closed the mouth and lowered the head.

“Your thought?”

“Think a situation not strange even if the 2nd oil shock occurs soon.”

The president’s expression changed.

Doing city development with oil money in the Middle East not the president’s interest, but Middle East-origin oil shock was the utmost interest.

“2nd oil shock?”

Because of the 1st oil shock that started in the Middle East a few years ago the whole world’s economy staggered.

Korea no exception.

‘At the time of the 1st oil shock Korea where labor-intensive light industry was the trend had less impact than advanced countries, but almost the heavy chemical industry fostering plan itself overturned.’

Heavy chemical industry fostering was the national policy the president ambitiously pushed.

But because of the bad news of oil shock the inflation rate that was only 3.2% in 1973 jumped to annual 25% level across 1974 and 75.

Naturally crying sounds came from here and there in the country.

The reason the president can’t help but sensitively accept the word 2nd oil shock.

“If the 2nd oil shock occurs the Republic of Korea will receive an extremely severe blow incomparable to the past oil shock. Because the proportion of heavy chemical industry greatly increased in just a few years and oil dependence became severe.”

Oil prices continuing to rise due to oil production cut policy.

The Republic of Korea currently experiencing that blow directly and suffering from the trap of high prices.

“In the Middle East especially Iran’s movements very concerning.”

The 2nd oil shock started from the Iranian Revolution and covered the whole world.

The reason I confidently pointed Iran and made the 3rd expected answer sheet.

“Foreign Ministry.”

“Iran currently in a state dissatisfaction with the Pahlavi dynasty reached the extreme. The rich-poor gap problem so extreme, like an explosive warehouse right before bursting.”

Iran due to the 1st oil shock per capita national income rapidly rose from 570 dollars to 2,300 dollars.

But national wealth concentrated only on the royal family and high-level forces.

The reason the Iranian Revolution occurred.

The fear of how the Islamic revolution that started in Iran will spread to the entire Middle East froze the world economy.

That precisely the 2nd oil shock.

“Your Excellency, if the 2nd oil shock not a problem to pass over carelessly.”

The Blue House chief of staff carefully opened the mouth.

“The possibility of oil shock occurring?”

“Very high.”

“In the Foreign Ministry’s view?”

“Agree. See as very high.”

The president stroked the chin.

“Ministry of Finance.”

“Considering the burden the national economy has to bear correct to prepare for bad news. Will carefully review when compiling this year’s budget.”

“Ministry of Commerce and Industry.”

“If oil shock bursts raw material prices will skyrocket. Anyway now Korea industry growing steeply. The more raw materials secured the better.”

The president looked back at the foreign ministry minister.

“A matter solvable on the Foreign Ministry line?”

“Impossible. Even if the US or UK takes the lead not easy. Because a matter that can be seen as internal interference in the Middle East.”

“Hmm.”

The president nodded.

“Assuming the 2nd oil shock occurs, if saying will receive the Saudi royal family’s debt as oil?”

The answer the Blue House chief of staff instead.

“Possible, but there will be limits. Oil the foundation of Saudi national wealth? No matter national relations between the Republic of Korea and Saudi······.”

“Not at the national relations level but at the private level. Assuming Taeseong creates an oil refining company?”

Eh?

At the president’s remark I ended up eyes becoming round.

‘That what I was aiming for?’

The dinosaur sale that came out on the market at the 2nd oil shock!

That precisely the state-owned enterprise Korea Oil Corporation.

As the US Gulf company that held 50% of Yugong’s shares couldn’t endure and probed the intention to withdraw, the government decides to privatize Korea Oil Corporation.

Made the proposal that if only money that can resolve Gulf company’s 50% shares will hand over Korea Oil Corporation.

The acquisition funds as much as 100 million dollars so the problem though.

This the reason I trying to establish an investment company, and the reason received the company acquisition memorandum from grandfather.

* * *

The president wanted to continue a deep conversation with the ministers regarding the 2nd oil shock, and father received the order to leave.

The Blue House security chief closed the door and said.

“Name what?”

“Taeseong Construction’s Cha Seong-jun.”

“Taeseong Construction Cha Seong-jun. Will remember.”

The Blue House security chief held out one card with golden light flashing flashing bursting.

“Receive. His Excellency permitted.”

“What is this?”

“Blue House New Year luncheon invitation.”

“Yes?”

“A seat discussing New Year plans together with company heads. Know as glory.”

A seat the father who only took charge of a construction company absolutely can’t mix in.

Thud.

Like that the door closed.

Father turned the back without lingering and came out of the Hyunmu Hotel bar.

“Seong-jun!”

Grandfather who was waiting at the emergency stairs saw father and brightened and ran.

“Why came out so late! Not severely reprimanded······ hmm?”

Grandfather opened eyes large.

“Surely received and drank alcohol?”

“Yes.”

“One cup?”

“Three cups.”

“What? As many as three cups?”

Grandfather was astonished.

“Ho, how such a matter······!”

Suddenly grandfather discovered the card father was holding.

“That invitation···, surely······!”

“Yes, Blue House New Year luncheon invitation.”

“What absurd······! Even among chaebol heads people who couldn’t receive that scattered and scattered!”

Grandfather shouted like a scream.

“No, what on earth how did inside that you brought such?”

“Don’t know. I just answered appropriately based on what written on the expected answer sheet.”

“Expected answer sheet?”

“That anonymous sponsor who said supporting Taeseong. Sent expected questions and answers that fall exactly as if entered and came out of His Excellency’s head.”

“What?”

Grandfather dropped the mouth open.

“Is that a possible matter?”

“Indeed. Feel like possessed by a ghost······.”

“As expected. Said not an ordinary figure.”

“Who on earth? Why helping us like this, I no matter how thinking don’t know the reason.”

Father tightly clenched the fist.

“Anyway have to ask Secretary Kim.”

“If Secretary Kim here······ hmm?”

Secretary Kim already fled and was gone.