Genius Grandson of the Loan Shark King

Do you really think so?

"Welcome, Prime Minister Koizumi."

"Nice to meet you. Chairman Jang Song-taek."

Jang Song-thaek invited the entire world's media to the North Korea-Japan summit held in Pyongyang, an unusual move.

The public meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and was broadcast by media around the world.

The closed-door meeting that followed after all the reporters were sent away was conducted in a more serious manner than the public meeting.

Jang Song-thaek and Prime Minister Koizumi sat face to face alone, without any close associates.

"Haha. Isn't this a historic moment? North Korea and Japan stepping aside from the past and moving forward together toward the future."

A smile spread across Prime Minister Koizumi's face.

"Leaving the past behind and moving toward the future. That's a good point. If Japan truly reflects on its past."

"······Isn't this something we've already agreed on?"

"That's something the lower-level staff should take care of. How about the two of us talking frankly? Let's take off our masks and have a sincere conversation."

When Jang Song-taek smiled faintly, Koizumi wiggled his eyebrows.

"What are you talking about?"

"Why do you want to establish diplomatic relations with us while paying compensation?"

"What does it matter?"

"Didn't you say we should move forward together toward the future? Without faith, it would be impossible."

Koizumi kept his mouth shut. But Jang Song-taek continued speaking regardless.

"If you don't like it, there's nothing you can do about it, but no matter how much I think about it, I can't understand it. In the past, didn't we maintain a hostile symbiotic relationship? Because of that, both countries consolidated their internal power. Oh, of course, Prime Minister Koizumi didn't do that."

Japan has often used the South and the North in domestic politics.

When I mentioned that part, Koizumi frowned and said:

"I am not an extremist."

"Is that so? To be honest, I am a nationalist. If I could use Japan to strengthen my power, I would do it."

Koizumi furrowed his brows at Jang Song-taek's tone of voice, which said there was nothing to regret.

"But instead, I am doing my best to revive the Republic's economy. And the compensation money that will be the pocket money is absolutely necessary, so I am holding these talks to improve relations with Japan. As I was doing that, I suddenly wondered. Can you tell me what Japan gains from these talks and normalization of diplomatic relations?"

Koizumi hesitated for a moment in response to Jang Song-taek's question, because he had no idea what this man was trying to do.

But that was only for a moment. Koizumi answered calmly.

"Because inter-Korean relations have been restored. The international community's perception of North Korea has begun to change, and East Asia is shaking as a result. However, I didn't like the fact that Japan had no place there."

Jang Song-taek nodded.

"I understand Japan's position. But, haven't we been at odds for too long to trust each other?"

"Can't we slowly improve our relationship from now on? We are willing to provide economic support separately from the settlement money. Since the State Council Chairman said that economic development is his top priority, there is no better proposal than this."

"It sounds like you want to get involved in the Republic's business."

Koizumi paid no attention to Jang Song-taek's sharp criticism.

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"Among the countries close to North Korea, there is no country with as much capital as our Japan. If we join hands, it will be of great help to both of us."

"Are you telling me to break my promise to President Kim Moo-hyeok and join hands with Japan? I see no reason to choose Japan over the man who has already put his trust in me."

"I'm not saying that you should abandon President Kim Moo-hyeok. I've also received a lot of help from him. But aside from that, aren't there many projects that the two countries can do together?"

Jang Song-thaek and Koizumi continued to talk for a long time, but they never revealed their true feelings to each other.

* * *

While the North Korea-Japan summit was making a big noise in the world, I was meeting a man.

"I've heard a lot about you, CEO. I heard you were the first person to be appointed CEO through internal promotion at Korea Telecom."

"Haha. It just so happened that way."

"And I heard that you are my senior. I heard that you graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Korea University."

The slightly wary look in his eyes eased at the mention of Korea University.

"Oh, really? Now that I think about it, I think I've heard of it. The top student admitted to the Law School at Korea University is Kim Moo-hyeok."

While we were exchanging greetings, the waiters came in carrying the food we ordered.

After the employees left, we continued to eat and chat about various things.

"You continued to work at Korea Telecom even after privatization was completed. I heard that you were receiving a lot of offers from other places."

Korea Telecom was a company that successfully went from being a public corporation to being privatized, starting with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.

The CEO of Nam Joong-sik, who is in front of me, also started out as a bureaucrat and rose to become the CEO of the privatized Korea Mobile Telecommunications.

Before being appointed as CEO, he was a capable person who was responsible for the company's finances as an executive director and chief financial officer at the parent company, Korea Telecom.

"I spent most of my youth with Korea Telecom. There's no reason for me to go anywhere else."

He did not hide his love for Korea Telecom.

"Your relationship with KS Telecom isn't good, is it?"

In 2002, when the privatization of Korea Telecom was completed, ironically, KS Telecom became the largest shareholder of Korea Telecom.

Nam Joong-sik was one of the internal figures who strongly criticized KS Telecom for that matter.

He joined hands with the government and completely eliminated KS Telecom's influence in Korea Telecom by exchanging the shares held by Korea Telecom and KS Telecom.

KS Telecom tried to scout him, as he was taking the lead in the work as the finance director.

But what he said when he received the scouting offer from KS Telecom left a deep impression on me.

'KS Telecom is not on my resume.'

Nam Joong-sik hated KS Telecom.

No, I guess it would be more accurate to say I hate it.

During the privatization process of Korea Telecom, privatization was delayed due to KS Telecom's connections with the government, so he couldn't help but like it.

"It's neither good nor bad. It's just that they are competitors, so it's hard to maintain a good relationship."

"Can you really call them competitors? Their mobile market share is more than double."

Nam Joong-sik stopped using his chopsticks, looked straight at me, and asked.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm talking about reality. If we continue like this, we'll continue to be the number two player in the mobile communications industry."

"Isn't that something you don't know yet?"

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As far as I know, Korea Telecom has never beaten KS Telecom in decades.

"Do you really think so?"

"······."

I smiled at Nam Joong-sik, who couldn't answer right away.

"It seems like you know very well that you will never win, sir."

"There is no such thing as absolute. Even if it isn't me, someone else will make it happen."

I nodded and put down my chopsticks.

Then he took a sip of tea, wiped his lips, and continued speaking.

"I guess so. But what does that mean? It only makes sense if you win with your own hands."

"I am just laying the foundation for the privatized Korea Telecom. The rest should be left to future generations."

"Are you serious? If so, then our meeting today seems meaningless."

Nam Joong-sik stared at me intently. I didn't avoid his gaze.

"I think the president is a greedy person. He is not the type of person who will be satisfied with this."

"······."

I smiled at him, who seemed to have a lot on his mind, and rang the bell next to me to call an employee.

The waiters who had cleared the tables came back out after putting on the makgeolli and pajeon that had been ordered in advance.

"I heard you like makgeolli. Let's have a drink and talk frankly."

Nam Joong-sik didn't say anything and just looked back and forth between the alcohol and me.

It seemed as if he was trying to guess why I was saying this.

"Do you remember the old lady's house in front of Korea University?"

"How could I forget? I lived there when I was in college."

I poured makgeolli into a silver makgeolli glass and held it out in front of him.

"Let's have a drink first."

As they clinked their glasses in the air, the liquor that had been clinking slightly overflowed.

After emptying the glass in one go, I tore the pajeon and put it in my mouth.

"How does it taste?"

"It seems okay."

"How does it compare to what you used to eat at grandma's house?"

"Hmm. I think the food I ate at grandma's house tasted better."

"Isn't it strange? The price is more than ten times that of the makgeolli I just drank."

"Is that so?"

After a few glasses were passed around, Nam Joong-sik's guard seemed to have eased somewhat.

But he still seemed to be putting up a wall. They say he has a personality that doesn't trust people easily, and it seemed to be true.

"You know about the iPhone, right?"

Nam Joong-sik nodded.

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"I know. What would you do if you didn't know that while working in this industry?"

"Apple wants to release the iPhone in the US and Korea at the same time."

"Is that true? Why Korea?"

"It's a little embarrassing to say this, but he said it was because of me."

Nam Joong-sik just opened his eyes wide and smiled.

I added a little more because I felt it needed more explanation.

"I have a personal relationship with Steve Jobs. Thanks to him, I was able to obtain exclusive distribution rights for the iPhone in Korea, China, and Japan. That's why I asked to meet with CEO Nam Joong-sik today."

"Hmm. Isn't the iPhone GSM?"

"There is also a 3G version. It hasn't been released yet. Among Korean telecommunications companies, isn't Korea Telecom the first to provide 3G service?"

"Does that mean you'll sign an exclusive contract with us?"

I nodded slightly at Namjoongsik's question.

"That's right. I would like to sign an exclusive contract with Korea Telecom."

Nam Joong-sik's eyes widened. He picked up the glass in front of him and drank it all in one go.

"But I still don't understand. Why would they insist on signing a contract with us instead of KS Telecom?"

"To be honest, I already met with KS Telecom. They rejected me. Well, I guess I'm full."

"······That's understandable. It's a market that KS Telecom led."

"As far as I know, even Korea Telecom doesn't like iPhones."

Nam Joong-sik nodded with a gloomy face.

"It's not something we can just enjoy. Even just knowing it is not good for the telecommunications company."

"Sir, do you really think so?"

The Nam Joong-sik I know is someone who tried everything to bring the iPhone into the country.

In the end, he was unable to bring the iPhone into the country before leaving office, but thanks to his efforts, Korea Telecom was able to exclusively distribute the iPhone in the country in his previous life.

"In the US, the iPhone will also be distributed exclusively by AT&T, the number two carrier, rather than Verizon."

It was a fact that was not yet known to the outside world.

"Is that true?"

"Yes. We haven't signed the contract yet, but we've already reached an agreement. It will be announced soon. Apple's policy is to designate one carrier per country and provide exclusive supply for several years."

"But KS Telecom rejected it?"

"Yes. They said they couldn't accept Apple's demands."

"What on earth are the conditions······."

In a tone that was filled with curiosity and impatience, I placed the documents I had prepared on the table.

"Read this. These are Apple's requirements."

Nam Joong-sik hurriedly picked up the document and read it. With a stern face, he carefully examined the conditions Apple had put forth.

After a while, Nam Joong-sik put down the documents and let out a deep sigh.

"I understand why KS Telecom rejected it."

There were three main conditions that Apple demanded from Korea.

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To maintain exclusivity, they will sell a million units per year.

We will expand and maintain Wi-Fi infrastructure nationwide.

10% of the monthly usage fee will be paid to Apple.

"If Korea Telecom does not accept it, we will negotiate with Goldstar Telecom. If they also reject it, we will not release it in Korea."

Nam Joong-sik swallowed his breath as he spoke firmly.

"Isn't there a strong fortress being built and blocking the area from above, and Geumseong Telecom is attacking from below? This will be an opportunity for Korea Telecom."

"Will the iPhone be successful? Isn't public opinion in the country not so good?"

"If you see it in person, you won't be able to say such things."

I looked at him tilting his head in surprise at my words and took my iPhone out of my pocket.

"This is a completely different device than anything that has been released before. It will change people's lives."

"Isn't that an iPhone? How on earth do you do that?"

"I got a gift from Steve Jobs."

"Can I see it for myself?"

I nodded and handed him the iPhone.

He took it with slightly trembling hands and looked at the iPhone for a long time.

"It's definitely pretty. The screen is big too."

"Times will change. And it is important to dominate that market more than anyone else. That is the only way to steal customers from KS Telecom. Even now, isn't Korea Telecom less competitive than KS Telecom in the terminal market?"

Nam Joong-sik nodded and handed me the iPhone again.

"That's true. But would the government really allow a monopoly?"

"I'll take care of that."

"And······. A million is too many. The smartphone market is not that big yet."

Nam Joong-sik pointed out one by one the problems that would arise when the iPhone was released.

"The devices that have been released so far as smartphones are embarrassing to call them smartphones. They are so crude that they are difficult for the general public to use. But the iPhone is not like that. I think it is possible to sell more than a million units."

It was an iPhone that came out several years before I remembered it, and it was even better.

If there had been no interference from the government and the Korea Communications Commission, it would have been a sure hit.

I had a long conversation with Namjoongsik about introducing exclusive food.

< Do you really think so? > End

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