The Chaebols Are Back

'The future Iran I saw.'

Women are meant to wear chadors and remain indoors, but in contemporary Iran, women wear skirts, join society, and even engage in economic endeavors.

Simply put, contemporary Iran is a more advanced society compared to the Iran of tomorrow.

In Iran, all segments of society are moving backwards due to one religion.

'Blind religion.'

It's as detrimental as blind faith.

And blindly believing people are easily misled by the instigation of someone.

Though you know that you are being deceived, you are being deceived once more.

If you reject that you are being deceived, then your blind belief itself will fall apart.

"I would like to say that. Of course, the practical reason is that Korea is poor, as Shahanshah has reported to his subjects."

Shahanshah?

It is king of kings.

'And there are a few more titles.'

If you consider, having too many titles indicates no substance.

The Iranian king has already lost everyone's trust.

In addition to that, the trust of Middle Eastern nations has been lost.

Why? Because Iran is the first pro-American nation in the Middle East to acknowledge Israel.

'Just right!'

If you were to choose the most pro-American nation in the Middle East, it would be Iran.

"so?"

The Korean President hopes that Shahanshah will be merciful to destitute Korea in the name of the great Allah."

From Korea to the US and then Iran, I always had the Quran, the holy book of Islam, with me.

I studied and restudied the Quran.

And what came across to me was that everything depends upon interpretation of the Quran.

Naturally, I am applying what I have studied from the Quran for the benefit of Korea.

"What is your name?"

"I'm Lee Seong-su."

"The young South Korean diplomat is too presumptuous in requesting crude oil cheaply."

Got caught.

"no."

"No? Even poor country diplomats feel proud?"

"I can agree only with a part of Shahanshah's words to me."

"Agree only with some of them?

Yes, the reason why the special envoy whom Shahanshah left in the hotel like a rotten date accompanied me to Iran was to purchase oil."

You don't have to be so modest now.

"Did I treat the envoy like a rotten date?

"Shahanshah, I am a Korean government diplomat, but actually, I am only the secretary of the special envoy of His Excellency the President. This is a diplomatic discourtesy which it is difficult to imagine the great Shahanshah, the ruler of Iran, committed."

How he sees himself is unimportant, but how others see him can't help but be significant for an absolute being.

"Hmm!"

The Iranian king, who is in a crouching position, groans the moment he is struck.

'Your reign will be over in seven years.'

Because he was overthrown by the Iranian Revolution and fled into exile.

"head of a department."

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The Shah of Iran called for his chief secretary, who did not say anything.

"Yes, Shahanshah."

"Bring the special envoy of the Korean President here respectfully."

"Yes, I know."

Special Envoy Lee Jae-gyu considered me as a useless person and was considering only keeping me at a hotel, but he's representing Korea and the president, so it is proper.

'and.'

You shouldn't let go as your foe a being that has a great potential to be your foe.

Or erase it all together.

You must make them collaborators.

"Is it okay now?"

"Inshallah."

During such times, all one has to do is smile and say "Inshallah."

And the reason that the Shah of Iran did so was not due to the Shah's politeness but because it was Allah's will, and therefore I did not need to be thankful.

"You said your name was Lee Seong-su, right? You said you only agreed with part of what I said?"

"The Korean government wishes to import long-term oil from Iran. Besides, it wishes to import oil at a price 10% higher than the current price, not lower than the current international price."

"A poor nation would purchase costly oil at a higher price than the international price? Hahaha!"

The King of Iran is smiling and questioning me with an expression of incredulity.

"Isn't that alright?"

There was a touch of arrogance in his eyes.

And the Shah of Iran, sensing the subtlety in my eyes, scowled at me.

If you stoop too low when you need to negotiate, the other party will have no other option but to disregard you.

Low-profile diplomacy is thus unfavorable to national interests.

* * *

The Blue House Presidential Office.

"Chairman Kim, will you put this into practice immediately?"

The president commanded Chairman Kim Byung-chul, but Chairman Kim Byung-chul interpreted it as an order. 

"Your Majesty, but six months why?"

Lee Seong-su wrote in the telegram that he needs to sign a six-month contract to transport crude oil from a Japanese shipping company at the current price.

"That's right. Hahaha, why did Seongsu command me to give it 6 months?

It was Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol who came to know from the words of the President that the mastermind behind this incident was Lee Seong-su.

'What if Seongsu is standing beside the eldest son?'

Chairman Kim Byung-chul suddenly realized that the eldest son who carries the family legacy may also carry on the family business. That is, Eunsung Group Chairman Kim Byung-chul still has not designated a successor.

"Your Majesty, I understand that it is presumptuous of me to speak."

"Is it related to Seongsu?"

By these words, the president learned why Lee Sung-soo had pushed for signing a shipping contract at the present price for a mere six months.

"Special Advisor Lee Sung-soo is not someone who will be a politician or government official."

"Yes, he informed me that he wanted to become an investor and businessman."

"Within six months, Lee Seong-su is going to set up a shipping company with Your Majesty on his back."

Chairman Kim Byung-chul uttered these words because he believed that if he spoke ill of Lee Seong-su, the president would lose trust in him.

'I need to accept the Holy Spirit.'

Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol grumbled to himself.

It might be presumptuous of you to say so, but Your Majesty's favorite Lee Seong-su is taking advantage of Your Majesty and the nation for his own purposes."

"Chairman Kim, Korea's export performance last year was 1 billion dollars."

The president suddenly spoke.

"yes?"

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"But, due to Seongsu's tactic, we agreed to get a 500 million-dollar loan from the United States for nothing. In case we turn this money into export performance funds, how much would it be?"

Even assuming export performance is 1 billion dollars, net profit will not be more than 200 million dollars.

Thus, the $500 million grant loan that Lee Sung-soo had been provided by the United States exceeded the export performance of over $3 billion.

"ah!"

"No matter what you say, you know that I want to give you more, Chairman Kim."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"It seems like you like Seongsu a lot."

"yes?"

"Chairman Kim likes Seongsu, so he does not say bad things about him. But Chairman Kim."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Seongsu is not a tool for people or companies to utilize. It must be a big tool for the country to utilize. Seongsu is now preparing a big rice cake for the Republic of Korea, so it is natural that he has the beans on his hands."

"dismissal!"

"People don't walk without gain. Communism has lost sight of this, and so it will surely die. Anyway, Chairman Kim, come forward at once."

"Yes, I understand, Your Majesty."

Chairman Kim Byung-chul was again able to feel how much he believed in Lee Seong-su through the words of the president.

* * *

In a hotel of the Republic of Nauru.

Kim Gwang-pil was meeting a close relative of the President of the Republic of Nauru at the direction of Lee Seong-su.

[You ride up from down there.] [How far do you ride up from down there?] [As far as to the President.]

"Did Korea exist in Far East Asia as a country?"

It would have made sense if any European nation spoke like this of Korea, but it was unthinkable for someone in the Republic of Nauru to disregard the existence of Korea.

'I also learned about Nauru a few days ago.'

Kim Gwang-pil was smiling, even though he was teasing her in his mind.

"Yes. It's a resource-less country with many people."

"but?"

"There are too many people, there are no jobs."

The people around the president's family members couldn't comprehend why Kim Gwang-pil was speaking like this to them.

[It's exporting human resources.] [And then?] [Right now, the whole economy of the Republic of Nauru depends on phosphate exports.] [So?] [The Republic of Nauru owns the phosphate of the Republic of Nauru, yet Australia is taking the actual profits.] [A bear?] [Yes, a bear that does tricks for Australia.] [Are you going to make that bear a bear that does tricks for you, Seongsu?] [Of course. If it wasn't for that, why would you go there, hyung?] [A bear that does tricks for you, not Korea?] [First, I need to become a conglomerate.] [That means Korea and its president are ultimately bears doing tricks for you.] [Mind your tongue, I warned you.] [Got it.] [Anyway, an Australian company appropriates over 90% of the profits from phosphate mines.] [So?] [It will pain your stomach.] [In that case, they're going to nationalize it sooner or later, right?] [I'm going to advance that.] [Do you have money?] [It's a bit short, but it'll be topped up soon.]

'I said I told you he's a good fellow, hahaha!'

Kim Gwang-pil believed that it was a good idea to defect after Lee Seong-su.

At least his woman won't have to worry about the word poverty any more.

"Can you introduce me to someone near the President?"

Kim Gwang-pil inquired respectfully and carefully transferred the bag with the dollars.

"Haha, let's do that. It's not that hard."

Anyway, Lee Seong-su's strategy was moving step by step.

But, there was one issue: Lee Sung-soo had not enough capital to buy the phosphate business rights buried in the Republic of Nauru.

* * *

The King of Iran's office.

"There is a reason why Iranian oil should be bought at a high price, isn't there?" 

The King of Iran told me:

'Here!'

Let's talk about the 4th Middle East War!

It will be hard to get good outcomes.

"The Korean government wants a stable long-term source of oil supply. To this end, it wishes to sign supply contracts with oil-producing nations which can sign long-term oil supply contracts."

"Long-term supply contract?"

Establishing a stable supply of oil is now indispensable in order to develop the economy properly.

"Today's world oil price is $2 per barrel. If Your Majesty will grant long-term oil supply to the Korean government up to 1980, I would like to purchase oil at 10% of today's oil price."

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"You'll give me a 10% raise? You think I'm a stupid camel."

The color that symbolized the Iranian King in my mind was transforming from light green to light orange.

"Me? How could that happen?"

He addressed the King of Iran and told him gravely.

"They are proposing to us that we peg supply prices up to 1980 at the lure of offering 10% above the prevailing oil price."

right.

It is some sort of three-point strategy.

'yes.'

We cannot execute an eight-year deal on the terms that the oil price would be raised by 10% from the existing price.

'But why 1980?'

The Iranian Revolution took place and was successful in 1979.

The Iranian king will at that time be overthrown and exiled.

And once I have completed my trip to Iran, I shall travel secretly to France.

'Leave room for negotiation.'

Iran's Shah, a Muslim without religion, would consider the money from oil exports, but only this religious man will consider religion, so he might be somewhat easier to work with.

That is why I request Your Majesty's mercy."

We are well aware that this contract of supply, which entails financial loss, cannot be fulfilled with the Iranian King's mercy alone.

"Don't you realize that's not enough? Oil is a scarce resource, so the longer we go on mining it, the more its price will shoot up. If we vacate 1980, we have 8 years remaining, but if we sell oil to Korea at the cost of 8 years back, the Iranians will say I'm a stupid camel."

"Isn't the gospel the means whereby all these things can be solved and the means whereby Allah has to move?"

Actually, he paved the way by attending the Muslim prayers at the airport so that he could utter this one word to the Iranian king.

"What does that mean?"