"Assistant Secretary, stop celebrating and come over here. We need to head to Jeonpo-dong immediately."
I called out to Assistant Secretary Yeom Won-chul, who was outside the ship cheering along with me.
"Jeonpo-dong, you say?"
I need to head to the Jindallae Ironworks and ring the bell.
The staff of Daese Shilup Construction Division, Busan branch, must be busy making containers, but I'll divert some of them to repair this ship.
They're the best welders in the country. With them, we can fix it within two months.
***
"Wow, so this is the famous Jeonpo-dong Ironworks Street. The bustling atmosphere really matches the place where the boss prepared to go to Vietnam."
"You know this place?"
"Of course, there's a famous story about someone ringing the Golden Bell here while offering an 80,000-won salary."
Assistant Secretary Yeom Won-chul was impressed, but I was even more amazed hearing his words.
Did I ring the Golden Bell?
So, that's how stories get exaggerated.
Anyway, the Jeonpo-dong street I visited after a long time wasn't the place I remembered.
The most noticeable change was that the road where cars used to run was completely blocked off and had turned into a path for forklifts.
The whole ironworks street had transformed into a production line of a major corporation.
"Daese Shilup Construction Division Partnership Association"
Strangely, there was a signboard like a traditional market banner promoting Daese Shilup at the entrance of the alley.
Many people were busily moving around.
The unique vitality seen when things are going well was evident among the bustling crowd.
It felt like seeing an industrial complex centered around ironworks.
"Excuse me."
I greeted as I approached the Jindallae Ironworks.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Woo."
My mother rushed out with a delighted look, bowing to me, and I was equally pleased to see her.
Her face, thin and smeared with soot, was as bright as an azalea flower. It was the appearance of my mother that I had longed to see.
"Mrs. Jindallae, how have you been?"
"Oh, yes, yes. I'm fine. But all I have is some cider I bought for the workers. I know you prefer cola."
"I'll drink it gladly."
Cola or cider, it's all the same.
The drink had a 21st-century feel to it.
"The street has changed a lot."
"Indeed. Thanks to Daese Shilup, those who returned from Vietnam have expanded Daese Construction in Busan, and it grew rapidly."
It seems the Daese Shilup Construction Division is now being called Daese Construction.
"Is business going well?"
"Absolutely. We're so busy making containers ordered by Daese Shilup that we're short-handed. In the next alley, they're making tons of plywood with timber from Jinhae. The whole of Busan is lively on payday in this area."
My mother proudly boasted about the alley with a shrug of her shoulders.
Indeed, the Jindallae Ironworks had grown much bigger and had more workers. It was as large as any factory.
As I looked around, I found something interesting.
The rusty bell I had rung was now painted gold.
It was polished so diligently that it really looked like a golden bell.
"Ha ha, what's this about?"
"This is the legendary Golden Bell."
Assistant Secretary Yeom was even more amused.
"People kept asking where the Golden Bell was, so we painted it gold. They say many became rich after hearing its sound, and some even come by just to ring it."
It seemed childish to me, but in the 60s, it was quite a cool story.
"Can I ring the bell one more time?"
"What? Ring it again? Absolutely! That means we'll become even richer."
My mother was delighted and even brought me a small hammer.
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
"Everyone, gather up. There's work to be done."
"Wow! Mr. Woo is here. Mr. Woo rang the Golden Bell!"
"Wow!"
"Everyone gather. Mr. Woo is here."
People from all directions recognized me and gathered around. Some were familiar faces from Vietnam, but there were also hundreds of new faces.
'Oh? Even university students are here.'
For some reason, there were students from the repair base as well. We had sent 20 of them abroad to study, some were assigned to Daese Chemical and Construction Division, and some started their own businesses, and it seemed that some of them had started their businesses here.
They must have thought of starting from subcontracting for Daese Shilup and growing their companies.
That's great. I needed people who really understood engines.
"Listen up!"
"Attention! Quiet down. The boss is speaking."
"There's a large ship docked at the Maritime University's practice port that needs repairing."
"Wow, we're fixing a ship! A ship!"
The people might not have known how difficult the task was, but they seemed to think it would bring money.
They immediately cheered.
Many of them had made caissons, and they probably shared stories about how much money those jobs made.
"We'll split the groups. Those confident in welding, stand to the right. Those with experience handling engines, stand to the left. Laborers who can clean off grease and move things, stand at the back."
"Come on, line up."
As soon as I finished speaking, people hurriedly formed lines.
"Hey, Kim, come over here. We need to weld together."
"Park! Why are you going there? You're on our team, our team!"
Those who had returned from Vietnam passed on their skills and formed teams as people were informed about the tasks.
"You all know, right? At Daese Shilup, you get paid for the work you do. We pay daily wages after each day's work, and if you take on more work, you get paid more."
"Got it. Piecework!"
"Wow! I'll make a fortune."
When I said we would pay piecework wages, everyone cheered. We'd have to work around the clock to repair the ship on time.
I might lose some sleep, too.
"Daily wages are provided, and lodging and meals are covered, so bring in skilled people from outside the area. Bring as many as you want. Understood?"
"Mr. Woo is so generous."
"Are you really going to pay daily wages?"
"A base daily wage of 500 won, with piecework options available, and 50% extra for night shifts. Take as much money from my pocket as your skills allow."
"Wow!"
The people were ecstatic.
They would soon find out that the rumors of making tens of thousands of won working with me were true.
"I'm going to buy a house."
"Jackpot! Finally seeing the light after waiting all this time."
"Let's go to the Maritime University!!!!"
"Wow!"
Hundreds of people poured out of the alley.
They grabbed welding tools, oxygen cutters, various equipment, and climbed onto trucks.
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
"Let's go!!!"
I was thrilled. Just ringing a bell once brought together hundreds of skilled workers.
It might only be possible in the 60s.
Help me get through this one time.
I'll usher in a true era of romance.
***
A few days later, at the Blue House.
"Mr. President, you called for me?"
"How's it going?"
President Park immediately questioned his chief secretary as he entered the office.
It was also a test to see if the chief secretary knew what the President considered the most important issue.
"Mr. Woo has secured a suitable ship."
"Secured a ship? Is that true?"
President Park closed the document in front of him. It was the document that had been troubling him for days.
It was the secret agreement containing Japan's demands regarding the Korea-Japan Fisheries Agreement, one of the Korea-Japan negotiations.
The so-called Peace Line, connecting Dokdo and Marado, was to be reduced to 12 nautical miles. In return, Japan would expedite the provision of grants and loans, and consider additional loans.
It was hard to fully trust Japan, who always had a history of deceit, but bringing in grants and loans quickly would certainly benefit the next presidential election.
"Yes. He plans to repair a training ship at the Korea Maritime University in Busan to cross the Pacific Ocean."
"Didn't they say that ship was unusable because it was bombed? Wasn't that the ship we gave up on using as a national ship?"
President Park remembered it from a long time ago because it had been a regrettable matter.
"Yes, that's correct. However, Mr. Woo brought an engine from Vietnam that perfectly matches that ship. He reports that it will be able to cross the Pacific Ocean with that engine."
"He said it can cross the Pacific Ocean."
"Frankly, I'm not sure if we should believe it. Whether it's a declaration of utmost effort to follow your will, or if it's truly possible..."
The chief secretary had a skeptical look.
"Do you mean it's hard to believe?"
"The Secretary's Office concluded that the most prudent course is to agree to Japan's demands in the current Korea-Japan negotiations, send a special envoy, and expedite the execution of grants and commercial loans."
"..."
The President gave no reply.
Until recently, he himself was a strong supporter of that opinion.
"What do you think? Haven't you experienced Mr. Woo Chansu as much as I have?"
President Park was conflicted.
Logically, signing the secret agreement now was the right choice, but seeing Woo Chansu struggle valiantly gave a glimmer of hope.
Hadn't he personally encouraged Woo Chansu to find a ship? And he had succeeded.
"Mr. President
, with all due respect, I am not a fortune teller."
"If you had to gamble, which side would you bet on? Tell me, your opinion."
The President waved the secret agreement in the air.
Woo Chansu or the secret agreement... which one to choose.
"With all due respect... combining the opinions of the Secretary's Office..."
"Your words are long today. I'll ask one last time. What is your opinion?"
The President asked with a stern expression.
"Mr. President, I want to ask what your thoughts were when you sent Mr. Woo Chansu to Wall Street in America."
"..."
President Park was at a loss for words at the chief secretary's surprising question. Never before had the chief secretary asked such a provocative question.
It meant that this case was that special.
"Do you want to know my mind? I'm asking for your thoughts! What do you think are Woo Chansu's chances of success?"
"Eighty to ninety percent chance of failure."
"Exactly. You think so too."
"What gamble has a 10% chance of success against Japan?"
"Right. A 10% chance against Japan... that's worth trying."
The President tore up the secret agreement with a stern expression.
It was the original document signed by the Japanese ambassador and the Japanese Prime Minister.
The secret negotiations had just been broken off.
"Hey, listen."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Announce it to the media. Say that only the basic agreement on the scale of grants and the claim rights against Japan has been reached in the Korea-Japan agreement, and all detailed items including the Korea-Japan Fisheries Agreement will be reviewed from scratch."
"Mr. President. If you announce that, it will be difficult to backtrack if things go wrong later..."
"Right. That's a consideration."
"Then, what should I instruct the media to say?"
"Be vague. Say that if our generation cannot reach an agreement, it should be left to the next generation. Don't use words like 'breakdown.'"
"... Yes, Mr. President."
President Park made a risky bet while maintaining a fine line.
If the gamble failed, his political life would be at risk, but if it succeeded, the rewards would be enormous.
It was an opportunity that was too good to give up.
Both Woo Chansu and South Korea had been given a chance.
****
Around the same time, at the Korea Maritime University in Busan.
Swish.
"Spray the emulsifier first and wipe off the grease."
"Yes, sir."
"Don't lose any parts. Tag each one and clean them."
"Yes, sir."
"Tag them right now! If you just pretend to listen, take your daily wage and leave!"
"Yikes! Understood."
I was directing those removing the grease from the bottom of the ship. The on-site supervisor must be at the dirtiest spot for the work to proceed properly.
The Daehan was undergoing a complete transformation.
Everyone worked together to remove rust and grease and carefully cleaned each part after dismantling it.
"Spray more sandblaster there. We need to remove the rust cleanly to weld."
"Yes, sir. We will spray once and repeat."
"Screw! Screw!! Watch out for the crane. Crane!!!"
"Get out, you crazy guy, get out."
The site of the Daehan was running like madness.
It seemed as if every welder, crane, welder, steel plate, forklift, oxygen cutter, sandblaster, and air compressor in the country was mobilized.
If not the entire country, all the skilled workers and resources around Busan were being utilized.
"Boss, come quickly. The generator engine test is ready."
An engineer ran up to me from somewhere.
"Already? Well, that's good. How's the main engine?"
"We haven't connected the engine cylinder to the crankshaft yet. We disassembled all the parts for cleaning, so we're still assembling."
"That makes sense. Let's head to the generator."
"Yes."
The university students who had obtained heavy equipment repair certifications at the training base were truly helpful.
Their experience in dismantling and assembling various engines led the technicians from Jeonpo-dong to tackle difficult tasks with ease.
Initially, the technicians looked down on them for being young, but their skills soon made them humble students, learning and working alongside them.
"Everyone shout! Safety! Safety! Safety!"
"Safety! Safety! Safety!"
"D-29 days!"
"D-29 days!"
"We will finish this. We will launch this ship!"
"We will launch this ship!"
Before heading below deck, we shouted our goals and safety slogans at the top of our lungs.
We repeated the same words constantly, so no one would forget our goals.
A day was hard and long, but the D-day approached incredibly fast.
Important tasks were always like that.