The Chaebols Are Back

The investigation of Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol's house. 

"It is said that Lee Seong-su entered France."

Kim Hak-su, head secretary of Eunseong Group, was reported to Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol.

The Blue House Secretariat ordered Lee Sung-soo himself to report on time for safety.

That report by Lee Seong-su was passed on by someone to Kim Hak-su, head secretary and also one of Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol's most trusted people.

"france?"

"Yes, sir."

"why?"

Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol could not fathom why Lee Seong-su traveled to France.

"Lee Seong-su's moves are just like those of a daytime goblin."

"That is so."

"$500 million are entering the Blue House. In it are coming. $500 million."

Chairman Kim Byung-chul was thinking only of using part of the $500 million loan to fund Eunsung Electronics when it began its semiconductor business. He was also contemplating investing part of the government subsidies it received to develop the semiconductor industry in other ventures.

'The one who can convince the president is Lee Seong-su.'

Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol regarded Secretary Kim Hak-su with that in mind.

"Should I go to France?"

"yes?"

"If I believe that $500 million worth of loans is blind money, then other group chairman will also think likewise."

-----

Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol spoke in a way as if he was the first person to have picked it up.

Of course, if you can obtain some of the $500 million loan through public money, you need to convince the president, and initially, you need to convince Lee Sung-soo and pay an acceptable price for it.

* * *

Korean Embassy office in France.

"You must never feel that Korea is involved."

"You're doing an assassination job, but the target has to be safe?"

The leader of the Central Intelligence Agency special agent team questioned me with a scowl.

"Yes, that's correct, team leader."

"You're just trying to frighten me."

The leader of the special agent team is naturally polite to me.

"If he gets frightened, he will make up his mind to go to Korea."

Due to the fear, you may think that your exile life in France is risky.

"Is that really so?"

You must begin with little things and perform the deed only to the extent that others get the impression that Khomeini is going too far. The procedure can be done by human beings, but the outcome depends on Heaven's will."

The chest that was initially amazed at the growing up of something is amazed even upon seeing a lid of a pot.

"What are some instances?"

Do I need to force food into my mouth?

"It's easy. If a flowerpot drops suddenly from the roof at Khomeini's feet, initially it will be an accident, but afterwards it will be a fear."

"Oh, I understand what you're saying. I would be shocked again if I heard shots in the distance."

"Yes."

"If the old man peeks out the window and sees something glinting in the distance, he may think it's a sniper. I'll know what to do."

He is the chief of the special agent team of the Central Intelligence Agency who well understood my intention.

"Then I'll take my leave."

I need to go to Australia now.

And then from Australia to New Zealand and then to the Republic of Nauru.

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[The president's relatives eat all the food here.]

First, I recalled what Kim Gwang-pil, who was in the Republic of Nauru, told me through the international phone call.

[That goes without saying.] [I've gotten familiar with the eighth cousin of Nauru's president.] [Good job. Senior, let's take the eighth cousin of that in-law as a ladder to ascend to the president.]

"Special Advisor Lee Seong-su."

When I was about to head out, the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency's special agent group called me.

"why?"

"My name is Jo Gwang-hee."

"But?"

"I would like you to remember."

This is proof that my standing has improved significantly.

Whether or not the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency has an interest in me?

"Yes, after you go back home, we shall have dinner together. Provided Your Majesty will allow it, Your Majesty shall join you."

When I said this, the eyes of special agent team leader Jo Gwang-hee shook.

'In any case, I require people as well.'

I can't do it alone.

There are going to be over five firms that I'm going to build once I am back in Korea and convince the President.

* * *

An investigation of Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol's home.

"Australia this time?"

Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol stared at the airline ticket to France on his desk with an amazed face and glared at his chief secretary, Kim Hak-su, reporting.

"Yes, it's Australia."

"Hong Gil-dong, why do you find yourself in Australia at a moment's notice?"

As Kim Byeong-cheol explained, Lee Seong-su was preoccupied working for the Republic of Korea and himself.

"This is the Blue House that obtained a loan of 500 million dollars."

"so?"

"Won't Daehan Heavy Industries transform into Pohang Iron and Steel Company?"

"yes."

Pohang Iron and Steel Company is in the process of being built.

According to South Korean history, the first molten iron came out of the blast furnace on June 10, 1973.

"There is also a 500 million-dollar loan. Isn't it sent to Australia to obtain iron ore, the raw material for steel?"

"You entrusted that enormous mission to young Lee Seong-su?"

If that is not the case, then it cannot be explained. It was also the president who dispatched Lee Sung-soo to Iran and Special Envoy Lee Jae-gyu. Also, since they acquired 500 million dollars in funds, they might be thinking of increasing the scale of the POSCO."

The construction cost of the Pohang Iron and Steel Company was three times the cost of constructing the Gyeongbu Expressway.

"A large part of the $500 million will come into POSCO."

"That is likely."

"Is the president emphasizing POSCO because of the youngest?"

"yes?"

"He's a father too, so he'd want to leave it to you no matter what."

Secretary Kim Hak-su nodded upon hearing Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol's statement.

"No way, I have to go to Australia immediately."

"Mr. Chairman."

"Prepare immediately.

Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol stood up at once from his seat.

[If South Korea is to overtake North Korea's economic strength, it cannot do so in agriculture. It has to develop beyond light industry to a heavy industry society.]

Chairman Kim Byung-chul remembered what the president had told group leaders when he summoned them on New Year's Day.

I recalled at the time that Lee Sung-soo was standing quietly behind the president and the Blue House Chief of Staff.

'Lee Seong-su can be a goblin bat.'

Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol became more and more drawn to Lee Seong-su.

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* * *

The Blue House Presidential Office.

In the Blue House, the Prime Minister, the Home Affairs Minister, the Senior Economic Affairs Secretary, and the Bank of Korea Governor were in a meeting with the President.

Also occupying this seat was the Central Intelligence Agency director, who had no connection to the economic field.

"Out of $500 million, reserve $50 million."

Lee Sung-soo informed the president that one-tenth of the US deputy secretary's pay should be used to find talent for the future of the Republic of Korea.

"In a country with no resources, the only resource we have are smart students."

It was the start of a state-sponsored scholarship program.

"So where do you plan to spend the remaining $450 million?"

The Interior Minister inquired guardedly, glancing at the President.

"That's why I summoned you to talk about it. Just because I'm president doesn't mean I can use those valuable resources as I want."

"Yes, I see."

The Interior Secretary informed the President that he was aware, yet he could not express his view openly.

"This is not something to be decided immediately, so each economic ministry should debate it thoroughly and report back."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Prime Minister, who had remained silent, replied at once.

* * *

January 24, 1972, a Sydney luxury hotel, Australia.

Although I was working on my personal schedule, I had to report my location by international phone every time I moved around the country because the Blue House Secretariat and the Central Intelligence Agency wanted to check my location.

-Don't misunderstand.

The Chief of Staff to the President told me.

Anyway, just like the Iranian Prime Minister disclosed to me secretly, the oil producing nations decreed that they would increase the international oil price from $2 to $3 on January 20th.

Due to this, all nations could not suppress their astonishment.

But Korea is fine.

why?

Because if we merely secure the tankers, we can transport 12 million barrels to Korea directly.

[Give me one dollar per barrel, please.]

I recalled how I had issued a cheeky request to the Iranian Prime Minister.

[It will not be hard if you arrange the documents.]

Now, only tankers with large capacity must leave for Iran.

"There is no reason to misunderstand, right?"

-His Majesty is always interested in where you are, Seongsu, and is extremely concerned about your safety.

"I am always grateful."

-Oh, Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol has given effect to the telegram that you sent to His Excellency. He will call you in soon.

"All right."

-And now Special Envoy Lee Jae-gyu is holding a confidential meeting with His Excellency.

"Is there anything special?"

-I am flattering you so much that my mouth is watering. Hahaha!

That is likely it!

Of course it should be like that.

Because officially, all the credit has been attributed to Special Envoy Lee Jae-gyu.

-I'll instruct Chairman Kim Byeong-cheol to get in touch with you, Seong-su.

"yes."

I would have signed a six-month freight agreement with a Japanese shipping firm.

-By the way, you departed from France and traveled to Australia. Where are you heading now?

"I will travel to the Republic of Nauru through New Zealand."

-Why there?

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"The ruling party is still making a fuss about the fertilizer shortage."

-You're going to fix that?

"Yes, and we will make many foreign jobs in addition to it. Whoever makes money needs to make dollars, right?"

-I see······ Let's finish the conversation.

Somehow, the tone the chief secretary used while speaking to me changed entirely.

'What if it suddenly comes up?'

Enemies are sure to surface.

The one who came to mind at the same moment as that thought was Jeon Tank.

* * *

January 24, 1972, Oval Office, White House, United States.

"From 100 to 200 theaters?"

Nixon scowled.

"In Democratic areas, the number of theaters exhibiting the documentary about the Battle of Chosin Reservoir is growing. And with this, the number of theaters is growing, and the mood of the protests is becoming different in an odd manner."

"You mean it's going to be odd?"

President Nixon is a perfectionist.

So due to that perfectionist tendency, he commits fatal errors.

"Yes, I am in solidarity with the anti-war protests."

"The nature of the two protests is completely different."

"That's why it's a strange symptom."

"What is the reason?"

"Vietnam War anti-war protesters are invoking the brutality of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir to escalate the magnitude of anti-war protests, and Korean War veterans who maintain we must not forget the Battle of Chosin Reservoir are joining forces with the Democratic Party to denounce communists. Of course, it is still a storm in a teacup."

"A storm in a teacup can break a small teacup."

President Nixon started feeling nervous.

'What if I win re-election narrowly?'

Nixon was more and more worried that he may not become a great American president in history.

"Should I delay my trip to China?"

Nixon is merely considering re-election, which is quite natural.

"That won't do."

Kissinger, who remained silent, stepped out immediately.

"If China pursues an open policy, all issues related to it will be Your Excellency's accomplishments."

"That too."

"It's nearly February 10th.

"I have to go. I have to go to China for peace."

President Nixon was influenced by Lee Sung-soo's production of a film on the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.