A week later,
Yeom Won-chul Assistant Vice Minister and I returned after completing the administrative procedures, and the engineers immediately requested a meeting.
"You need a meeting?"
"Yes, sir. We need to adjust the personnel."
"Personnel adjustment, meaning you need more people sent to Bechtel?"
I had planned to send 10 engineers to Bechtel for the power plant project.
Even if the generator turbine technology was difficult, our engineers could sufficiently learn the peripheral technologies.
"That's not it. We want to send 10 of the engineers who were to be sent to the San Diego shipyard for the repair of Daese No. 1 to Suyiseon Man instead."
"There are marine engineering students over there. Why would engineers want to go there? It would be a much more valuable experience to learn ship repair at the shipyard."
"There's a rumor that prominent chiefs are providing on-site education at Suyiseon Man. We can't miss such an opportunity. We want to properly become chief engineers, at least 10 of us."
"Hmm? Prominent chiefs?"
Curious, I turned my head towards Captain Yoon Sang-soo.
"Captain Smith has called in six comrades. They are passionately teaching our students, saying it's much more fun than growing old aimlessly."
"Really? Six of them?"
"Yes, they are currently teaching the marine engineering students machine operation and troubleshooting. I think it would be better for our engineers to learn formally."
"That's a good idea."
The old man, an extra master, seemed to have significant influence among retired soldiers.
"Most of them have worked in the transport fleet, so they know the practical work inside out. Honestly, even I am impressed by them."
If Captain Yoon thinks so highly, then Captain Smith must have brought the best of the best.
Indeed, anyone called by an extra master wouldn't be ordinary. It's like hitting the jackpot.
"Captain Yoon, please recruit all of them. Offer them advisory positions at the Daese Shipping Portland branch and negotiate their salaries as well."
"Thank you. I will handle it."
"They will be a great asset to Daese Shipping. Once the chief engineer training is done, please also arrange logistics-related education. They would have a lot to teach about the entire shipping industry."
"I will do that."
"Wow! Are we allowed to receive training as well?"
The engineers listening in cheered.
"You can't object to those wanting to learn. Just know it's unfair if you leave Daese Shipping after the training, okay?"
"Where would a Korean go other than Daese Shipping! Haha."
Somehow, it felt like quality manpower was pouring in as soon as Daese Shipping was established.
It was an immense stroke of luck not to dismiss that old drunkard.
"Alright, to sum it up, 10 to Bechtel, 10 to the San Diego shipyard, and the rest to Suyiseon Man, correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
The engineers lined up in three teams.
They seemed to have decided their paths based on their tendencies. Coincidentally, there were exactly 30 engineers, which was perfect.
"We would like to divide the skilled workers into three teams as well."
The skilled workers, perhaps stimulated, also divided into three teams.
With a total of 40 people, there were more applicants for the San Diego shipyard.
"Good. I'm pleased to see you all stepping up."
The eyes of my employees were changing.
They had seen Japan as a model of an advanced country until now, but coming to America, they were seeing a bigger world.
History was changing in real time.
"Engineers, I have one request. Is that okay?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"You are not just learning technology; you are bringing it back. Design, rules, optimal processes, equipment, materials—everything will be scattered around. Listen, memorize, observe, copy, by any means necessary, bring it back. They won't easily share their know-how. You must bring it back! Absolutely!"
"!!!!!"
"Do you understand?"
"Yes!!!"
They all shouted loudly, understanding my intention.
"The same goes for the skilled workers. If anyone says that skills are beneath technology, tell them to shut up. Understand?"
"Yes!"
Technology leads skills, and the implementation of technology is through skills. The disdain for such skills led to the decline of precision in industrial sites. This is the primary reason why the machinery industry did not flourish even in the 21st century.
The machinery industry is the foundation and the flower of industry, with a significant impact on post-war industries and being a pollution-free advanced manufacturing industry.
"Remember, tools, equipment operation, yield management, defect white paper, line layout, material management—all these are treasures. Don't just observe; you must internalize and bring them back. Manuals, tools, discarded parts, and equipment, load them all onto the ship. Got it?"
"Yes!"
"Your voices are too soft. Don't worry about the money, just load everything. Understood?"
"Yes!!!"
"Everyone shout together. We will become rich!"
"We will become rich!"
"We will become the best!"
"We will become the best!"
They knew how significant this opportunity was.
At most, it would be two months, and if you count the time to return to Korea, about three months. A thoroughly dried sponge absorbs knowledge at an unimaginable speed.
"Assistant Vice Minister, it seems like we're the only ones going back to Korea right away."
"I expected as much from the start. These people wouldn't miss such an opportunity. And aren't you planning to leave some people in Portland?"
"Now that you mention it, yes."
"Hahaha."
It seemed like 100% of them would become Daese Shipping employees, so we should leave some to set up the branch.
Unexpectedly, we established the first American branch in Portland.
"Shall we go? The president has given the order."
"Wow!"
Those who had flocked to request the meeting dispersed like the ebb tide.
They were proactive people from the start, so this decision was natural.
They crossed the Pacific at the risk of their lives, so they should be allowed to drink their fill of American water.
Using the Daese Shipping Portland branch, we should continue the American training program.
If we hire Captain Smith's colleagues as advisors, high-quality American training will be possible.
"There are only two of us; should we take a plane?"
"That sounds great."
Yeom Won-chul Assistant Vice Minister patted his bag filled with documents, pleased. It was filled with the contract for a total of 300 million dollars in loans, and I heard he even slept with it.
I considered stopping by New York, but it seemed unnecessary.
It had only been a few days since I delivered the Gold Skin, and when you turned on the TV, it was filled with actors wearing Gold Skin on various shows.
It was as if you were behind the trend if you weren't wearing Gold Skin.
Phil Knight began advertising the Nike brand prominently, riding the Gold Skin boom.
In history, he was already a man who achieved great success through brand marketing, so there was no need for me to add more.
My job was to return to Korea and produce more products.
Before more products with the Nike brand appeared, it was necessary to hire legal and management experts.
'There's a mountain of work to do.'
Everything seemed to come down to people.
Let's go back to Korea.
***
At a similar time in New York,
In the office of the chairman of the Korea Society.
Bang.
"Van Flint!"
"What brings you here, Nancy? The busiest person in America, visiting me again in just a few days."
"What is going on? How did Daese Shipping formally join the Pacific Shipping Alliance?"
Nancy threw a pile of documents onto Van Flint's desk.
"What's the problem? It's according to the contract you signed. Daese Shipping now has seven ships. They have a basic fleet, so they can join officially."
"This is too much. At least you should have bought one of our cargo ships."
"Then sell it at half price. I'll tell CS to buy one whenever they gather enough money."
"If we sell at half price, there are plenty of customers. Anyway, what's your relationship with them that you are so generous?"
"Why? They are interesting. When you get old, having fun becomes the first goal in life. Most things become dull."
"Ugh, is that really your answer?"
Even as Nancy glared sharply, Van Flint just laughed.
No matter how much she pressured, he wouldn't buy the ship.
"Fine, I'll give up the ship. Instead, since you seem to have found an extra master captain, assign them the cargo without mercy and tell them to take charge of logistics."
"He's good at his job, so don't worry."
"I'll make sure they don't have time to sleep."
Nancy waved her finger wildly and left.
She came to complain but left without achieving anything as Van Flint ignored her.
'By the way, Frederick Smith... why is he still in America?'
Van Flint found out that Smith was still in America while dealing with Chansu's ship.
Given his contributions in the Greek Civil War and the Korean War, he was offered a new identity instead of a medal, allowing him to live his remaining years in England or Switzerland.
Why didn't he touch his secret account?
"In that sense, CS seems to be incredibly lucky."
Van Flint buried the documents deep in his desk. Once an S-class talent, but now seemingly erased, and now he seemed to belong to CS.
He was sent to fetch a ship but brought back a treasure chest instead.
***
The next day,
I flew back to Korea.
With many layovers, it took more than 20 hours, but I felt very light-hearted.
I could somewhat understand the feeling of ancient generals returning in triumph after winning a war.
'Tonight, let's have
a drink with Sam-bok...'
"What?"
Wow!
"Long live the Republic of Korea!"
"Long live the loan acquisition team!"
"Long live the loan acquisition team!"
To my disbelief, there was an enormous welcoming crowd at Gimpo Airport.
A large banner fluttered at the front, saying, '(Congratulations) Achieving a 300 million dollar overseas loan (Celebration)'.
When did I ever go out to acquire a loan?
I went out to prevent a national default and resolve short-term foreign debts. I guess they couldn't write 'National Default Prevention Team' on the banner?
"What is going on, Assistant Vice Minister?"
"What do you mean? I reported it in advance. I briefly informed them of our success through telex. Look, the TV cameras are out too. Wave to them."
'Damn...'
When I reported to the President, I should have told him to inform the media later.
Do they not understand embargoes? Do they not know what an embargo is?
Being on TV meant being used in the President's politics.
I didn't plan to align with the President, but this made me one of his close associates regardless of my intentions. It was dangerous.
I had to remain a conglomerate ten or twenty years later.
I had to live proudly as a global rich man under the bright sky. Not as a conglomerate in collusion with a dictator.
"The overseas loan acquisition team has just arrived at the airport. The team succeeded in securing a loan of 300 million dollars, close to 65% of our annual budget, and drew agreements for technology transfer from various advanced companies. Moreover, as a sign of strengthening the Korea-US alliance, they received six large ships, which is a historic achievement for Korea."
The reporter, excitedly shouting into the camera, was echoed by the cheering crowd.
"Furthermore, the timely introduction of large-scale loans has given the Korean government an advantageous position in the Korea-Japan agreement, allowing negotiations in a manner Korea desires, which is of great significance. From a diplomatic perspective, this is also a great achievement."
The reporter spoke as if he were a government spokesperson.
"Assistant Vice Minister, you didn't leak which sector the American companies would invest in to the media, did you?"
"Oh, don't be so modest. That's an amazing achievement in itself. It should be shared immediately. In such difficult times, how happy would the people be? It's like rain during a drought. Ulsan will become the best city."
"Good grief..."
'This is insane...'
I was so shocked that I wanted to hit the back of Assistant Vice Minister Yeom Won-chul's head.
Before even securing the factory site, he announced Ulsan as the location.
The real estate in Ulsan would be upside down now.
There's a world of difference between "might become" and "confirmed to become" an industrial complex.
To prevent the scourge of real estate speculation, you must get the first button right.
The trigger for the rampant real estate speculation in our country was the development of the Ulsan petrochemical complex.
The land price jumped 120 times.
Assistant Vice Minister Yeom had no idea how explosive that information was.
I glared at him, but he was busy waving to the welcoming crowd.
Oh, dear...
I intended to avoid visiting the Blue House and just report the progress through the chief secretary or Assistant Vice Minister Yeom... complete disaster.
Now I had to report directly to the President and have a private meeting.
If we spend the money meant for building factories and equipment on land, it will be a disaster.
I didn't go through all that trouble to fatten the pockets of real estate speculators.
Sure enough, there was an official car waiting amidst the welcoming crowd, and Blue House staff were clearing the way.
They were giving me a look, urging me to get in the car quickly.
Yes, this is Korea.
"The President is waiting."
"It would be inappropriate to meet the President like this. I need to shower and change..."
"We have prepared a suit and shirt for you. Today's medal ceremony will be filmed by Dae-han News, so you must attend."
"... Dae-han News..."
"Wait! A medal ceremony?"
I was dizzy at the thought of appearing in a black-and-white film, but Assistant Vice Minister Yeom was thrilled.
"Yes. Assistant Vice Minister Yeom will receive the Dongbaek Medal, and President Woo Chansu will receive the Moran Medal."
"What an honor. I'm touched."
This can't happen. If I receive a medal, I'll be branded as a conglomerate who cooperated with a dictatorship.
"There seems to be some mistake. I shouldn't be receiving a medal. It was Assistant Vice Minister Yeom's effort, so please take back my medal."
"You are too modest. According to Assistant Vice Minister Yeom's report, you tripled the original 100 million dollar loan. Don't worry, the secretariat will ensure that insignificant companies don't take advantage."
The idea of preventing insignificant companies from taking advantage was scarier.
It meant the Blue House would distribute the Ulsan petrochemical complex project to specific companies.
Political funding issues were inevitable.
'I'm crazy. I was planning to return to Korea, have pork belly and soju with Sam-bok, and brag about my achievements...'
I felt pathetic for momentarily forgetting about Korea in the 60s.
Do I have to fight the President now?
I went through all that trouble to borrow money, but I can't let it flow to the wrong places.