Regardless of my mood, the car drove into the Blue House. I was only given a moment to change my clothes before entering the main building.
"Come on in. You've worked hard."
"Yes, Mr. President."
Pop. Pop. Pop.
The President himself welcomed me, hung a medal around my neck, and gave me a bouquet of flowers. Professional photographers and news directors were bustling around.
I couldn't even hear the long-winded speech about the merits of the Moran Medal I was awarded.
The fact that the President himself was stepping up meant that many people, including him, had decided to take credit for this matter.
After nearly an hour of pomp and circumstance, the President dismissed everyone, wanting to speak to me alone.
"You handled this well. Beyond expectations. The U.S. government has taken a neutral stance on the Japan-Korea agreement, and American lawyers have flocked in to gather data on civilian damages. You handled that, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did."
The President looked satisfied with my answer.
"Thanks to you, the maritime territorial issue is also in our favor. We can firmly claim the waters around Dokdo and Marado as our territory. Ha ha."
"I am very pleased as a citizen to have contributed to Korea, even if it's a small help."
History had changed for the better, and that was worth celebrating.
More importantly, the Dokdo issue was a card Japan used to provoke us constantly.
Just erasing that political card was significant.
"With the Japan-Korea agreement and the loan, the country has benefited, so it should repay you. Tell me, what do you want? I'll grant it."
The President asked me like a genie from a lamp to state my wish.
"Mr. President, please completely reassess the site selection for the Ulsan Petrochemical Complex."
"What? Reassess it completely?"
In the original history, the Ulsan Petrochemical Complex land price went from 5 won per pyeong to 600 won, more than a hundredfold increase.
The real estate speculation myth I heard when I was young mostly related to Ulsan.
Being close to Busan, it had been exaggerated for over ten years as it passed through many people's mouths.
Stories ranged from a waiter working at the Ulsan Hotel finding it odd that high-ranking people were coming and going, eavesdropping on conversations, and buying land to become a rich man, to someone buying land in a spot pointed out by their deceased father in a dream, which turned out to be the Ulsan complex, to a cabbage seller buying land wholesale during kimchi season and becoming rich.
Each story was slightly different, but the common theme was becoming rich overnight.
When I was young, I envied those lucky people, but as I got older and realized those stories were about real estate speculators mocking hardworking people, I felt truly miserable.
I also found myself grinding away at work to buy a single house.
"If we borrow a loan only to spend more on land compensation than facility investment, the result will inevitably be shoddy construction. We can't let the money meant for industrial development go to corrupt officials and speculators."
"In a capitalist country, it's natural for land prices to rise. You know that."
"Are you defending speculators? Are you saying the Blue House is creating slush funds through the Ulsan complex?"
What was the point of talking? In the original history, creating the Ulsan complex was crucial for the economy and also for political funding for the 1967 presidential election.
Later, when building Pohang Steel, the military regime mercilessly demolished villages but paid the full price for the land in Ulsan, which had risen 120 times.
Pohang Steel began construction right after the election, so there was no need for massive political funds.
Furthermore, fearing land price spikes like in Ulsan whenever a new industrial complex was established, the government began regulating land prices and development rights in the early 1970s through the Industrial Base Development Promotion Act.
In other words, the Ulsan complex was an extremely bad precedent.
"I'm not used to your confrontational way of speaking. Aren't you afraid of me? Huh?"
Of course, I'm scared. The government has the power over life and death.
But I also know that its influence is powerful because it's feared.
It's only possible to suggest a complete reassessment of the Ulsan Petrochemical Complex because of you.
"I am afraid. That's why I can't lie in my report. If things proceed like this, we will never attract large-scale foreign investment again. If we have to spend a billion dollars on land before even building the factory, who will come to our country?"
"Are you threatening me right now?"
The President pounded on the desk.
Still unsatisfied, he pointed at me with a trembling finger.
"It's not a threat, just stating the facts. If the news that we promised free factory sites in exchange for loans reaches the U.S., all the projects will be canceled. This will ruin our country. Mr. President!"
"What? Free factory sites? Did you make such an important contract condition on your own?"
"What else could I do? You told me to do my best in America. Whether I starve to death because I couldn't bring in dollars, become a beggar by leaning on Japan, or get dragged to the KCIA and half-killed, it's all the same to me."
"Woo! Chan! Soo!"
The President, who usually called me by the title "mister," pronounced my name clearly.
He was so furious that he shook his fist instead of his finger.
I had to hurry. Before he got more agitated, I needed to convey my sincerity.
I'm not your enemy.
I just don't want to see the money I worked hard to earn being pocketed by some undeserving guy.
"Leave it to me. I will handle it well without tarnishing your reputation. Those trying to profit at the expense of the country's future are the real enemies."
"Handle it well?"
The President responded to my words.
I couldn't miss this moment. I had to present an alternative.
"Yes! I will do it properly. Political funds can be resolved by reducing corporate taxes by a few percent. Mr. President."
For him, the best solution was to maintain the justification of national development while securing clean election funds.
Money from construction corruption or diverted corporate taxes is political funds all the same.
The difference is that to create 10 billion won in political funds, real estate corruption must reach 100 billion won, but using state-owned enterprises' corporate taxes only requires diverting exactly 10 billion won.
That amount can be handled as rebates or miscellaneous expenses in the accounts.
"It's a hundred times better for the whole nation to suffer less by reducing the profits of state-owned enterprises slightly. This will be a decision that will go down in history."
"Go down in history?"
Once again, the President's tone softened.
As expected, he had an insatiable desire for power.
Such a power-hungry leader couldn't overlook the mention of going down in history.
"At least no one will say that real estate speculation started from this government."
"... You always end up saying something unpleasant. Always!"
The threat worked.
He was irritated, but his voice no longer had the sharpness it did earlier.
As I tried to catch my breath, the President suddenly turned his chair around, showing me his back.
Didn't want to see my face?
No, he didn't want to show me his expression.
"What justification will you use? If you overturn the complex plan now, not only the opposition but even the ruling party won't stay quiet."
"On the podium, you should ask if we want a society where those who work hard are fools. There will be far more votes expressing anger than cheers for the rising land prices in Ulsan."
"!!!!"
The chair, which had been turned to show his back, moved slightly.
It must be a viable election strategy.
He would get the political funds while maintaining the justification of creating a fair society. Killing two birds with one stone.
Damn, I even felt conflicted about telling him this.
After a long while, the chair that had turned its back on me slowly came back.
"Mister, I think it's better to do it this way."
The President personally wrote an appointment letter: "Appointment letter. Name Woo Chansu. Appointed as Special Advisor to the Ulsan Petrochemical Complex Promotion Committee."
No cabinet meeting was necessary for this appointment.
It was unimaginable if it weren't the 1960s.
"Tha... thank you."
"Pick any staff you need from the Secretariat or the Ministry of Commerce."
"Yes, Mr. President."
Absolutely no public officials should be involved.
If the plan to screw over speculators leaks, it's all over.
'I need to find someone to work with...'
Finding the right person can wait a bit. For now, surviving today is exhausting enough.
"Go! Do well."
"Yes, Mr. President."
I need to devise a fundamental plan to keep a distance from this military regime after this.
If this kind of thing happens a few more times, my neck will be on the line no matter how beneficial I am to the country.
For now, I need a buffer person to insert in the middle.
Someone in a similar position to me, with thick skin, who won't be hated... who could it be?
'Let's just go home for now.'
***
Daese Shilup in Seongsu-dong.
The place I could call home was the Seongsu-dong factory.
My nominal home was just a place to sleep.
"Hey!! Sambok!"
"Hey, Chansu!"
"Wow, the boss is here!"
"Welcome back safely."
"Hail the loan negotiation team!!!!"
When I entered the factory, Sambok and the staff welcomed me. This was my home.
"Hey, at the airport, we waved so hard but you just
got in the car and left."
"Man, where the hell have you been?"
"We were under the banner waving the Korean flag so hard but you didn't see us?"
"There were so many people there, why did you stand there?"
"We thought we'd be on TV. Anyway, how was the food at the Blue House? You must have had a 3 billion-dollar meal."
"The food? It'd give you indigestion. Let's have some meat and soju."
"Wow, boss. Is it a company dinner today?"
When I started joking with Sambok after a long time, the staff's eyes sparkled.
Not only the office staff, but even the line workers peeked out from the windows with sparkling eyes.
"Boss, you're stylish!"
"Boss, can we drink beer?"
They seemed really eager for a company dinner.
"Ha ha, in the U.S., Gold Skin was a huge hit. So what should we do?"
"Wow, we should celebrate!"
"Correct! We should eat and drink. Today, all the drinks and snacks in Seongsu-dong are ours. Daese Shilup staff, stop work immediately! Charge!!!"
"Wow! Awesome!"
When I told them to stop work, cheers erupted.
The office staff were the first to drop their documents and run out, and the line workers also started wrapping up, leaving only a few for the shift. I could give the shift workers separate dinner money later.
Tonight, Seongsu-dong was going to be a party.
Honestly, even just wearing Daese Shilup work clothes in Seongsu-dong was enough to get credit.
Because I generously paid for staff dinners and sometimes like today, I paid for an unlimited company dinner.
Whenever Daese Shilup employees stormed in, they were always warmly welcomed.
**
Sizzle.
After a long time, I grilled pork belly, green onion pancakes, kimchi, tofu, and all sorts of things and kept pouring soju.
Even the acrid smoke from the charcoal was welcoming.
"So, what happened?"
"What do you mean what happened? I oiled the engine to cool it down, and sewed the splitting ship with chains."
"Wow, you've become quite the boaster after spending some time in the U.S."
Sambok smirked with a slightly slurred tongue.
"What boasting? It's true. And thanks to the flares you stocked up, we lit up the stormy night and got out."
The flares Sambok had stocked up were really useful.
"Wow, it gets better and better. Did you throw the flares and say, 'Storm, stop!' and the waves calmed down? You could be a cult leader."
"It's true! There were a hundred witnesses!"
"Okay, okay. Then we have to acknowledge it."
"It's true! I'm not joking."
"Who's saying otherwise? You worked hard. Eat up."
Sambok handed me a lettuce wrap, repeating "you worked hard." I admit, even I found it hard to believe.
"Fine. Now tell me about you. I've been away for over a month. Any problems at the factory?"
I asked, pouring soju down my throat.
The sentimental feeling from cheap synthetic ethanol couldn't be compared to Jack and Coke.
"What problems? Wake up, wash up, go to work, produce fabrics, ship out the goods, answer calls, make calls, go home, wash up, eat late-night snacks, and sleep, only to repeat the same the next day. It's an endless cycle."
Ha, here was a true industrial soldier of the '60s.
"Wow, that's why your eyes are so dark. I swore to promote you if I survived the Pacific, but you wouldn't like that, huh?"
"If you promote me one more time, it's over for both of us. I'm struggling enough as it is."
It seemed impossible to give Sambok more responsibilities. Hwang Hyesung Sajangnim was also a reliable person more suited as a technician than a manager...
In this case, bringing in high-ranking officials was even more far-fetched.
Finding an untainted high-ranking official in the '60s was like picking stars from the sky.
"Alright, I got it. If we've managed this far without issues, let's keep it that way."
"Actually, there was something."
Sambok, with a full mouth of lettuce wrap, suddenly remembered.
"Something happened? What?"
"Our company products almost became smuggled goods. It eventually blew over though."
"What? Smuggled goods?"
I was shocked, but Sambok waved it off as no big deal.
"It's nothing serious. We filled the first subcontract with Gold Skin. So, Politech went to the second subcontract, releasing some of the volume into the domestic market."
"And how does that relate to smuggling?"
"They sold that volume disguised as Japanese smuggled goods. Because there are still people who pay more for Japanese products than domestic ones."
"Wow, that's quite a trick. How did they disguise our products as Japanese?"
Honestly, our products would be of better quality than Japanese ones, so they must have sold well once disguised.
I stayed away from the domestic market to avoid unnecessary competition and price-cutting.
Exporting allowed for fair prices with plenty of buyers.
"He was a real trickster. He loaded our goods onto a ship, took a round trip near Busan Port, and then pretended to have smuggled them from Japan."
"What? How is that smuggling?"
"That's what I'm saying. Isn't it amazing? After selling them off, he got caught, and do you know what he said?"
"What did he say?"
"He said it wasn't smuggling because he didn't leave coastal waters. So, he only got fined. What a guy."
It seemed I found a suitable person in Ulsan.
My face was already somewhat known, so it was difficult for me to act directly.
I needed someone from the shadows, and he was perfect.
He must be struggling now without business, so he would likely cooperate well with my plans.