Chapter 405

Humans have the ability to learn.



As something happened at the last hearing, the Liberal National Party thoroughly prepared for this economic hearing. First, it succeeded sufficiently in that it emphasized the economic situation of the government as much as possible.

Now the remaining opponent is Jinhu Kang.

The Liberal People’s Party planned to highlight the fact that the supplementary budget was concentrated in Saemangeum, stimulate a sense of deprivation in other regions, and raise opposition to the maximum extent possible.

I devised a scenario and prepared countermeasures accordingly, but something completely unexpected happened.

“Now many people are concerned about the environmental destruction of Saemangeum, a clean area… … .”

Before the question from Rep. Lee Cheol-seung of the Liberty Korea Party, which had Nam-gu in Pohang as the constituency, was finished, Jin-hoo Kang bowed his head.

“Thank you to the workers in Pohang.”

Rep. Lee Cheol-seung shouted at the sudden sound.

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

Kang Jin-hoo smiled and said with a clear stream.

“Pohang is a city of steel and machinery industry where POSCO is located. In the development of Saemangeum, we plan to place an order for steel materials in the Pohang Steel Industrial Complex first. Once the development begins, the factories in Pohang will be running 24 hours a day, so I would like to thank the workers who will have to work overtime and overtime in the first place.”

Rep. Cheol-seung Lee, hearing those words, immediately covered the materials he had prepared.

“i See. Okay.”

This was just the beginning.

Daegu Dalseong-gap Cho Jae-hoon, a member of the Liberal People’s Party.

“Daegu Technopolis plays the most important role in the Korean robot industry. As robots are the most important industry that will lead the era of the 4th industrial revolution, we will make a robot belt by linking Saemangeum and Daegu, and we will spare no effort to provide support to make Daegu the mecca of the robot industry in the future.”

“Hmm, I look forward to it.”

Uljin-gun Nam Yong-seok, a member of the Liberty Korea Party.

“Uljin has the largest nuclear power plant in Korea. The TWR Research Center to be established in Saemangeum will work with the Nuclear Headquarters to strengthen the safety of nuclear power plants and further increase investment in related facilities.”

“Oh, yes. TWR is important.”

Rep. Lee Han-chul of the Liberal People’s Party of Ulsan.

“Ulsan is the center of Korea’s manufacturing industry, with both shipbuilding and automobiles developing. Eunsung Motor Group will increase investment in the Ulsan Automobile Plant and develop parts makers.”

“I beg you, please.”

Tongyeong Kim Seong-gyu, a member of the Liberal People’s Party.

“Tongyeong has the natural beauty of the peninsula and the island. It also has various tourist resources. However, due to the lack of accessibility, there are fewer foreign tourists than Koreans. So, we are planning a way to link foreign tourists coming to Saemangeum with the tourism industry in Gyeongnam, including Tongyeong. What do you think, Assemblyman?”

“Um, I think that’s a great idea.”

Kang Jin-hoo persuaded lawmakers in such a way as to resolve local complaints.

As the same situation was repeated, the questioning lawmakers showed childlike eyes expecting Santa’s gift instead of aggressive eyes.

Words can be true or false, depending on who says them. If someone else had said it, I would have dismissed it as nonsense that could not be realized, but it is a different story with Kang Jin-hoo.

Even so, the amount of money that can be moved with a single word is hundreds of trillions of won.

To lawmakers concerned about population outflow and industrial hollowing out, Kang Jin-hoo said as if he promised.

“The factory in Saemangeum is a high-tech industry, and it will never take away manufacturing factories in other areas. The most important thing in developing Saemangeum is cooperation with surrounding areas. By fostering new industries, we will promote shared growth with the existing manufacturing industry, and strengthen linkages in tourism and service sectors. In addition, we will attract foreign financial companies to Saemangeum so that local SMEs can easily raise funds, and we will raise funds to support the growth of manufacturing and tourism services in each region.”

Members of Gangwon-do, Chungcheong-do, Gyeongsang-do, Daegu-si, Busan-si, and Ulsan-si as their constituencies, all nodded their heads eagerly without asking questions.

* * *

I don’t really care about it, but the power of parliamentarians is considerable.

Most importantly, symbolism. The 300 members of the National Assembly represent 50 million people. Therefore, each member of the National Assembly represents 170,000 people. Well, that doesn’t mean that the hearts of lawmakers and the people of the people are the same.

Rep. Yeonsu Yeon, who has Yeongjong-do, Incheon as her constituency. He served as the mayor of Incheon in the past, and he has a history of leading various development plans in Incheon since his mayor days.

Rep. Yeonsoo Yeon-soo said bluntly.

“We need to develop Eight City first, not Saemangeum. We have to immediately invest KRW 300 trillion to create a landfill in Yeongjongdo. Do you have any plans for OTK Company to invest here for the development of Incheon City?”

It was so absurd that I was speechless for a moment.

“Is that still going on?”

“of course! Eight City is the future of Incheon and Yeongjongdo!”

When Dubai was building a new city, the media wrote articles praising it as a “miracle of the desert”, and politicians at the time raised their voices saying that we should do civil engineering like Dubai.

Local governments were impressed by this and set out to develop new towns. At this time, all kinds of new city plans were poured out.

Global City, Sky City, Tomorrow City, Design City, Robot City, Creative Economy City, etc.

Among them, the highlight is the Eight City development plan. If all the new town development plans in the country are combined, it cannot reach this one.

It is a big and beautiful plan to create a city of about 80 square kilometers in the shape of the number 8 by reclaiming the vicinity of Yongyudo and Muuido in the south of Yeongjongdo.

The reason why we chose the 8 shape is probably because we were considering attracting Chinese capital. It’s the Chinese favorite number.

Anyway, if all went according to plan, it would have been recorded as the largest construction project since Dangun. But why hasn’t it been done yet?

Because, of course, it was an absurd plan.

Eight City’s estimated cost of development is KRW 317 trillion!

This was equivalent to the national annual budget at the time. With this money, it would be more than enough to develop all the new towns in the country, and even dozens of skyscrapers could be built.

“We need to develop Eight City first. Why does Saemangeum New Town do it, but not Eight City?”

“… … Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

Incheon is overflowing with areas that need to be developed, such as Yeongjongdo, Songdo, and Cheongna. Is it reasonable to pour hundreds of trillions of won into reclaiming the sea when existing land cannot be developed due to insufficient budget?

What kind of madman came up with this plan?

If Taek-gyu had been here, Sim City would have scolded him for not doing that.

You will know that you are unrealistic. Still, is this here to show the constituency voters that ‘I’m working so hard’?

“I hope you will positively review the development of 8 City, which is Yeongjongdo’s long-awaited project.”

Rep. Yeonsoo Yeon-su emphasized the development of 8 City several more times and then handed over the microphone. This time, it is the turn of Representative Baek Chang-ju.

“We were running a theme park project in our city. After signing an MOU, we planned to create the world’s best theme park city that combines theme parks and residential complexes, but the first shovel has yet to come out!”

It is a great plan to attract a theme park and build an apartment next to it. By the way, the MOU was signed 10 years ago, and there are still a lot of talk about it.

I nodded.

“You can proceed as planned. Didn’t I stop you from doing that?”

“You said that you would like to host both Disneyland and Universal Studios in Saemangeum? So who will come to our city theme park? Both size and recognition are incomparable.”

“Competition is natural in a market economy. Senator, can’t we not create a theme park for the constituency?”

“So what I’m saying is, let’s hand over Disneyland to our city. I heard that Universal Studios is also coming to Saemangeum. Universal Studios in Saemangeum, Disneyland in our city. How nice would it be to have one like this in the eyes of the people?”

I asked absurdly.

“Does Disneyland want to go there?”

Rep. Baek Chang-ju said in a soft voice.

“That’s it, can’t CEO Kang Jin-hoo persuade him well?”

“… … .”

Why should I?

Developing Saemangeum has little to no harm to metropolitan cities or local cities. This is because there is no overlap between industries in the first place.

On the other hand, the story is different in Seoul and the metropolitan area. If Saemangeum development proceeds, there will be no reason for large corporations to invest in the metropolitan area despite high land costs, various regulations, and opposition from residents.

In fact, after announcing the Saemangeum development plan, companies put their investment plans in the capital area on hold, and the 3rd new town plan was put on hold.

That’s why lawmakers with constituencies in the metropolitan area demanded this and that with the intention of getting anything.

Also, once they start to spread, it seems to be a tree that gives generously. What the hell do you want so much from me?

Instead of refusing, I said ‘positive review’ or ‘I’ll discuss it’.

When the offensive of the lawmakers was noticeably weakened, the Liberal People’s Party leadership took the initiative to change the order of the questions to see if it was possible.

If it was a practice game up until now, it can be said that it is a main game from now on.

This time, the representative is Yeo Hwan-soo, a member of the Liberal People’s Party. He is in his 70s and is considered one of the elders in the Liberal People’s Party.

He pulled out the materials he had prepared.

“The Saemangeum Development Administration and OTK Company have decided to form the Saemangeum Development Corporation together, which is clearly a political and economic alliance, and it is a preference for large corporations.”

“What’s the problem with the government and corporations working together to develop a new city?”

“It’s a public company, isn’t it, OTK Company takes most of the shares?”

“The stake in OTK Company is limited to 49 percent, and the majority of the stake is held by the Saemangeum Development Administration.”

Rep. Yeo Hwan-soo raised her eyes and strongly questioned.

“Then what do you do? It is a public development only in words, but the actual development initiative is taken by the OTK Company.”

“We plan to develop it in close cooperation with the government.”

“Don’t keep talking! It’s true that the development initiative lies with OTK Company! right or not? That’s right, isn’t it? Just answer ‘yes or no’!”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

“Don’t lie… … Huh? What did you say now?”

“I said ‘yes’. It is correct that the development of Saemangeum is led by OTK Company.”

“Oh no, what?”

I didn’t know how to admit it, so Rep. Yeo Hwan-soo was seriously embarrassed.

I spoke calmly.

“The development of Saemangeum has been pursued by the government so far, but the current state of being sluggish is that the landfill has not been properly developed. However, if OTK Company promotes it, the first phase of development can be completed within three years.”(Read more @ wuxiax.com)

Rep. Yeo Hwan-soo frowned slightly.

“Well, good. Then, if the plan is not carried out as planned within three years, will you give up your stake and step down as the CEO of OTK Company?”

I tilted my head.

“Do I have to do that?”

At my words, he shouted as if he had caught a good pod.

“Then you said you were going to do something you couldn’t do? This is deceiving and deceiving the people! Apologize to the people right now!”

Very excited.

It looked unsightly, so I accepted it right away.

“good. Then, when I finish the first phase of development within three years, you promise to the people here that you will step down from your office and retire from politics.”

At my words, Rep. Yeo Hwan-soo put on an expression saying, ‘Did you hear me wrong?’

“Gee, what did you say now?”

I said it like it was natural.

“You know that last time, even in a disaster situation when a fire broke out in a residential and commercial building in the district, he got caught playing golf with businessmen and even apologized. Both parties have to bet to bet, why am I the only one playing? I’ll take a seat, too, so please take your seat. If you are confident, try it, if you are afraid… … No, if you’re not confident, would you quit?

Rep. Yeo Hwan-soo jumped up to see if the lid was open and shouted.

“What? What if you’re scared? Good! Bet! let’s do it! Walk to the legislature! How dare you look at a member of parliament!”

I really like to bet.

Some lawmakers curled up next to each other, and some members shouted together. Rep. Ma Sang-tae, who was in charge of the hearing, shouted, knocking on the table.

“What is this doing in the hearing room now? CEO Kang Jin-hoo bowed his head and apologized immediately! It is an insult to the people to do this to a member of the parliament elected by the people!”

I said calmly.

“To do this to me is also an insult to the workers.”

Assemblyman Ma Sang-tae shouted.

“what? What does this have to do with workers!?”

I shrugged.

“Oddly enough, the members of the National Assembly will provoke the public when they think they have been insulted, so I followed suit. Just as there are lawmakers because of the people, there are businessmen because there are workers, right?”

“… … .”

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