This Is How I Became a Chaebol

107 : Water is more precious than oil

“There is someone here who will be in charge of the construction of the highway and the multi-purpose dam that His Excellency mentioned.”

“Wouldn’t it be good for President Woo to take charge of the multi-purpose dam? They say you go all the way to the Middle East to build waterways, isn’t it nothing more than a dam?”

Bae Hak-ryeol, the new Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, and Shin Bong-gyun, the new Finance Minister, made a mess.

You just have to listen in one ear and let it out in the other.

Even if it is a factory that creates added value like steel, there is no reason to turn our eyes to domestic construction, which is only built once, at this point in time when money is flowing in.

If there is time to spend on domestic construction, it is better to drill even one more export item. In this era, the dollar is an asset, and if inflation is reflected, it is equivalent to earning tens of percent more every year.

“this! I called you an actor after seeing it, and you’re talking nonsense! If you are in a high-ranking position dealing with the country’s barn, you should start thinking about earning dollars!”

“Ah… I’m sorry. dismissal.”

“Can’t differentiate between domestic and export companies? The trend is export power! Isn’t it effective to work only when you share the work that fits the company!”

Did the president have this strategic side?

The idea of the government distributing work was suffocating, but he was more sincere than anyone else about earning dollars.

“As the Minister of Commerce and Industry, I would like to say that in the second five-year economic development plan, the trend is to promote the shipbuilding industry in earnest.”

“As the 2nd Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry, I agree with the Minister. When Pohang Iron & Steel operates in earnest, a strategy is needed to maximize the added value of the steel industry by building large ships. Dae-se, who already has a shipyard, is the right person.”

“Haha, Minister Na Jung-ryeom and Assistant Minister Pyo Jae-gwan see the situation properly. It’s just the picture I want.”

The president expressed satisfaction with the words of the newly appointed officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Na Jeong-ryeom, Pyo Jae-gwan. He was also the best tech bureaucrat.

I wondered why the deputy minister had come to this place, but he was brought to talk about the shipbuilding industry.

Fortunately, the shipyard naturally came up as a topic without me taking it out myself.

“We will carefully consider expanding the shipyard. Thank you very much for your patience.”

“Yes, we will help too.”

Let’s finish at this point

Having to speak at length in front of the president will only put on shackles.Read at readwn

Just knowing that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is active in the shipbuilding industry is an income.

“President, I think going back to Jordan is an urgent priority.”

“Yes, the owner must win orders and come. If you need something, the state will guarantee it.”

“President, I would appreciate it if you could write a personal letter to the Jordanian royal family.”

The government of the Republic of Korea borrowed too many loans, so even the national guarantee fell short.

In a way, the fact that Korea has never declared a national bankruptcy is really good management.

“A personal letter?”

“Yes, we pay homage to the war deterrence of the Jordanian royal family! It looks like it will.”

“!!!!”

The president seemed to know exactly what I meant.

What the King of Jordan desperately needs now is the support of the international community to establish the authority of the royal family.

At this time, if the Republic of Korea sends a personal letter to support the Jordanian royal family, Jordan will more actively become a bridgehead for advancing into the Middle East.

“Owners, did you see it? I mean, this kind of operation is necessary! Watch and learn.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

The president wrote a close letter on the spot.

If this personal letter and an official document translated into diplomatic English by Blue House experts are brought along, the Jordanian royal family will use their own media to make headlines.

Okay, winning international orders is half politics.

***

Seongsu-dong factory,

Before leaving for Jordan, I had a busy day making all sorts of materials and making kabla samples.

“President Woo, are you very busy?”

“Old Man Hwang, welcome.”

After a long time, old man Hwang stopped by the office.

The clear face seems to be going well these days. Well, that’s how I see it.

“I brought the rice wine because it is ripe. Have a drink and work.”

“Sit. old man.”

Old Man Hwang tells us to work even after drinking.

If Sambok had been there, it would have been more harmonious, but both of them were good. I can talk to old man Hwang very well, and the alcohol and snacks made by his wife are of the highest quality.

He filled a bottle of soju with rice wine, wrapped it in Korean paper, wrapped it in golden-brown pollack and red pepper paste, and brought it.

“You said you went away again?”

“Yes, we should go to the kabla store developed by the old man.”

It was one of many reasons, but I wanted to say that.

“You are busy. Thank you.”

“Thank you. I’m grateful. You made Kavlar, so I’m going to sell it.”

I expressed my gratitude by refilling Mr. Hwang’s cup.

“The Ulsan plant, ships, and Pohang Steelworks said they didn’t use Japanese money. I am more grateful.”

Squeak.

Old Man Hwang filled my cup.

His expression became more calm than when he first met.

“They said they were American lawyers, and if you entrusted them to them, they said they would receive a lot of compensation from Japan. Is that something you did?”

“… It’s going to be a long fight, but it’s for the best.”

“President Woo, don’t worry about the price of alcohol in the future. Traumatized all in my name. i have a lot of money Even if I use it until I die, I will die without using it all.”

“ha ha ha.”

Old Man Hwang pays for alcohol for the rest of my life.

I am so happy.

“I think the decades-old congestion is only getting better these days.”

“If you feel relieved, would you like to start a new business?”

“done. What are you doing to earn more money at this age? Give my son more work.”

“It’s not a business that makes money, it’s a business that helps others make money.”

I have no money to spend on charity work.

However, even if you don’t have enough money in your financial situation, you still have to spend money on people.

Without talent development and technology development, companies cannot survive. For such a business, old man Hwang is perfect.

“A business that helps others make money?”

“Our staff brought all kinds of equipment and books from the US, so we’re going to build a lab with them.”

“laboratory?”

“Now that the Kablar factory is operating in Ulsan, there is no need to use the old man’s small polymerization furnace anymore. Please move the equipment and teach people.”

“What are you talking about? What does a fool like me teach people? There’s no way.”

Old Man Hwang is not a fool.

The very fact of synthesizing chemical fibers with a self-polymerization furnace has already exceeded the scope of ordinary people.

Even as a 21st century engineer, I am amazed.

If Hwang had been properly educated, he would have become a world-class scholar.

“Giving up on learning due to lack of money is a pain for the country. It’s not that we don’t have skills, it’s that we didn’t have anywhere to learn, right?”

“you…”

In contrast to Korea’s rapid industrialization, there was a serious lack of research institutes to support the industry.

If we invest in R&D from now on, the road to Korea in the 21st century will be much faster.

My people are at the forefront.

“Aren’t there many people with wills around you? Let’s try it. I will help too.”

“Where would you like to go?”

“There are some vacant lands in Apgujeong, Ulsan, Pohang, and Changwon. Anywhere is fine.”

“Changwon would be nice. Will there be nothing?”

“Yes, it is a good place to start something.”

It was not an easy decision to change residence in old age, but he chose Changwon.

I really intend to do it in earnest.

As expected, I thought it would work if I recommended it to Old Man Hwang.

It was just that I brought up the old man’s long-cherished business that he had dreamed of all his life.

“Where are the machines and books you said you brought from America? let me know.”

“I am in Busan. Take it anytime.”

At my words, old man Hwang nodded and refilled his glass.

“I’ll have to cancel my earlier appointment. I only pay for drinks when I eat with them.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha. Are you feeling a little sorry?”

“Heh heh heh. If you feel sorry for me, call me.”

Also money is good.

can you do what you want to do?

That’s why you make money.

Changwon will become the technology mecca of Korea.

***

A few days later, in Amman, Jordan.

“Ugh, the air here doesn’t seem to have any moisture at all.”

As soon as Sambok got off the plane, he started shouting.

I also suffered from the hot air of the Middle East and the acrid smell of sand.

I’d been through a few years in my previous life, but it was a place I could never get used to.

“Here, once in a while, you have to moisten a handkerchief with water and wipe your lips and nose. That way you won’t catch a cold.”

“What kind of cold is it here? I’m dying of heat.”

“Catch a cold and don’t regret it. I made it clear A single cold here is three months and ten days.”

Colds in the Middle East rarely get better.

It’s a cold that makes you crazy because you can’t sleep because of a cough at night. In the end, even nosebleeds drip.

The temperature difference between day and night is too severe here, and respiratory inflammation does not get better due to the sandstorm.

There is a reason why the natives here roll up a cloth like a mask.

“Hey, it’s a little better since you wet your nostrils. But, the smell of sand got worse.”

“That’s normal. Here, avoid sunlight and keep your mouth and nose moist as much as possible. Understand?”

He’s going to be held hostage, so you need to know the basics.

Of course, there is a high possibility that it is caught near the Dead Sea with good air, but it won’t hurt to let you know just in case.

“CS! I do.”

“Oh, David.”

David greeted us at the airport entrance.

“Come on, let’s go. VIPs await.”

David drove us back into the airport.

“David, you should head towards the exit.”

“No, this one is right.”

David entered the airport’s VIP passage.

As if it had already been discussed, the airport security officers did not intervene.

The reason was immediately clear.

The place we arrived at was the runway, and there was a line of people who, at first glance, looked like royal bodyguards.

“Mister, we will keep your luggage.”

“Yes, it is.”

Using our luggage as an excuse, we quickly searched our bodies, and when there was nothing wrong, we politely guided them to the front of the light aircraft.

“Haha, welcome. welcome.”

“Greetings. This is King Hussein I, King of Jordan.”

David hurriedly introduced himself.

Hussein I greeted us directly?

David got it right.

“Peace be with the royal family of Jordan! Daesae CEO, CS Woo.”

I politely greeted you.

I knew Hussein I was in his 30s, but he looked much younger than I thought.

“Peace be with the royal family of Jordan! This is Daese Executive Director, SB Lee.”

Sambok guy, he does well as he practiced.

King Hussein was a nobleman who occupied a special position as a window of dialogue between the West and Arab countries.

Having ascended the throne at the age of 17, he was very politically skilled, probably because of his birth itself, and received full support from the people throughout his tenure.

In Korea, he was the first Middle Eastern king to officially visit Korea in the early 1980s, and he was famous for his mild virtue to the extent that he personally piloted an airplane.

Even in the personal report David gave him, he was from Sandhurst, a British army company, and was tagged as a major customer in the defense industry.

“It’s really nice to see the inventor of Kablar in person.”

Obviously, David would have put more emphasis on canal construction, but as soon as he saw me, he started talking about the kabla.

“It was a strategic material used only by the US and Korea, but it is an honor to supply it to the Jordanian army.”

Did you want to hear this?

As long as the price is right, I will definitely deliver it.

“You haven’t even decided on military service, are you already running a business?”

“I heard that the Jordanian royal family takes national defense seriously. Honestly, aren’t the Jordanian forces the strongest in the Middle East to stand up to Israeli surprise attacks?”

“The strongest in the Middle East… hahaha.”

As the King of Jordan, that would be a good thing to hear.

I even came to pick you up like this, shouldn’t I be paying this much lip service?

“Our President said that he admires the bravery of the Jordanian army and actively supports the Jordanian royal family who are working to build peace even in difficult times. Here is a personal letter.”

I handed over the president’s personal letter.

Since it is an official national document, it is a highly praised document.

“Even the letter! I will read it slowly and carefully. Let’s move first.”

I boarded a light plane with King Hussein.

Had it been an official visit, he would have met government officials instead of King Hussein.

Although behind-the-scenes contact has the disadvantage of being an informal meeting where it is difficult to leave evidence, it is rather advantageous in that you can meet the decision maker directly.

If you don’t reach a contract, it’s a joke, but if you reach a contract, you can make a number of contracts, so this is better.

What’s more, the money in this game right now is not my money, it’s the American money that David is using.

For me, it’s a well-planned board in many ways.

‘Chansu, where are you going?’

‘Don’t be scared. We’re like diplomats now.’

We have brought a personal letter from the president, so we are safe. Okay.

‘Where are you going on a plane? Isn’t this the capital of Jordan?’

‘This man likes to fly an airplane. Just get on.’

Flying was King Hussein’s hobby.

And most of all, the way Jordan welcomes state guests is not to treat them in Amman, the capital, but to take them to the Dead Sea and treat them. There is no sand dust there.

“Control tower, come out. over.”

＜Yes, Your Highness.＞

“We’re leaving now, clear the runway. over.”

＜Yes, take off anytime.＞

How can you use the runway at an international airport?

No, since the king manipulates it, is it natural?

“Everyone fasten your seat belts. Let’s go!”

Boaaa!

It was a propeller light aircraft, but the output was no joke. Accelerating to such an extent that his head snapped backwards, he flew up into the sky at once.

“Hey, Mr. Wu.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When the plane stabilized, the king called me.

“Do you know where this is?”

“Isn’t it the Grand Canyon of the Middle East, the Arava Valley?”

“Haha, you know that well.”

“Of course. It is a land blessed by nature where you can create dozens or hundreds of large reservoirs by confining saltwater or freshwater. It will be a key area of the Great Waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Dead Sea.”

Creating a reservoir here was a long-cherished project of the Jordanian royal family.

As long as there is water, whether salty or freshwater, at least there is no sandstorm, so it turns into a place where people can live.

If seawater desalination can create freshwater lakes, large-scale grasslands will be created.

It is truly a land flowing with milk and honey.

“How come a businessman from Asia seems to have the same dream as me.”

“Everything will be Allah’s will, but perhaps the Jordanian royal family was commissioned to rule over water rather than oil. I think this land is proof of that.”

“……”

“Maybe we are also destined to build a reservoir here and become friends with Jordan. Everything is according to the will of Allah.”

“…as Allah wills…”

Did you really pray?

The plane stumbled for a moment.

“…water instead of oil…”

King Hussein spoke quietly to himself.

Even though he is a descendant of Muhammad and a legitimate son of the Hashim family, the best family in the Middle East, it will be the reason for ruling the land that does not produce a single drop of oil.