[Perfect success of the Ouranos launch!]
[Chairman Park Seok-won officially confirms "Successful launch of the Ouranos rocket"]
[Ouranos rocket flawlessly completes all flight procedures, including satellite separation!]
[A miracle achieved after two attempts by Korea's space launch vehicle!]
[South Korea proudly becomes the ninth member of the Space Club!]
[A challenge toward space that even the government could not accomplish—achieved by a private company]
[Chairman Park Seok-won's Blue Space opens a new era with the world's first private space company rocket launch]
[Chairman Park Seok-won declares that a third launch will be conducted within the year to place a real satellite—not a performance verification satellite—into Earth orbit]
[The relentless dedication of Chairman Park Seok-won and Blue Space researchers has ushered Korea into the space age.]
[Both ruling and opposition parties welcome the successful launch, pledge active support for space development]
↳Dreams★do come true
↳Wow... they actually pulled it off
↳Take your pants off and scream!!!
↳LOL why the hell are you taking your pants off
↳I can't believe our country successfully launched a space rocket... this isn't a dream, right
↳I thought it would fail again so I didn't go to the Jeju Space Center… missed a once-in-a-lifetime moment to brag about ㅠㅠ
↳I was on a family trip to Jeju and went to watch after hearing about the launch—honestly, it was spectacular
↳The person above is the real winner
↳So where do I buy Blue Space stock? I'm in a hurry
↳Since it's Chairman Park, won't the stock skyrocket like the rocket this time
↳Too bad, but you can't buy Blue Space stock
↳Why?
↳Because it's unlisted
↳ㅠㅠ
With the successful launch of Korea's first space rocket, the entire nation was, quite literally, turned upside down.
From a week before the launch, the three major terrestrial broadcasters and other media outlets had been building anticipation by visiting the Moseulpo Space Center on Jeju Island and reporting daily on the preparations. As if they had been waiting for this moment, they poured out breaking news reports, while citizens watching the launch live raised both arms high and erupted into cheers.
"Waaaah!"
"Did it really work? Did it actually succeed?!"
The same scenes unfolded in busy downtown districts, as well as at train stations and airports across the country.
People who had paused mid-step, holding their breath as they watched the screens, burst into unified cheers the moment the official announcement of success was made, embracing one another in excitement.
As the entire nation of South Korea was swept up in a festive atmosphere, CEO Choi Tae-ho and the employees of Blue Hole Space—who had written a new chapter in history by achieving the first-ever successful space rocket launch by a private company—finally cast off the heavy burden that had weighed on them since the failure of the first launch, and for the first time in a long while, were able to stretch out their legs and fall into a deep, restful sleep.
And the next day.
In the grand conference hall of the Federation of Korean Industries building in Yeouido, overlooking the city through floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a luncheon gathering was being held, attended by most of the nation's major corporate chairmen.
Appetizing dishes prepared personally by a renowned hotel chef were neatly arranged on round tables, while in one corner, musicians holding violins, a viola, and a cello played soft classical music.
Under gentle lighting, the corporate chairmen enjoyed their meals and engaged in casual conversation.
"Your second son has accomplished something remarkable again this time."
Kwon Seung-beom, chairman of HW Group, said this while looking at Chairman Park Tae-hong seated to his left.
Chairman Park Tae-hong, wearing a light sky-blue tie, suppressed the smile that was about to escape and casually replied as if it were nothing special.
"Are you referring to yesterday's successful rocket launch?"
Chairman Kwon Seung-beom nodded.
"Yes. To successfully launch a space rocket—and by a private company, not the government at that. Isn't that a historic achievement unprecedented not only in Korea but worldwide?"
At those words, Chairman Park Tae-hong's shoulders lifted slightly, though he concealed it outwardly and replied calmly,
"My second son has always been the type who never feared taking on new challenges, ever since he was young."
Sensing the subtle hint of pride, Chairman Kwon Seung-beom chuckled and chimed in.
"Ha ha, I thought as much. That must be why, instead of inheriting the family business, he ventured into the new field of finance and, at such a young age, became a world-class investor recognized even on Wall Street."
At that, Chairman Kwak Dong-hoon of Samsung Group, who was seated at the same table, naturally joined the conversation with a friendly demeanor.
"His investment skills are impressive enough to draw admiration, but what truly stands out is his spirit of adventure and decisiveness in boldly stepping into the challenging field of space development—something not easily undertaken. He's much younger than I am, yet worthy of respect."
With even Chairman Kwak Dong-hoon of Samsung Group—the top-ranked conglomerate—praising his second son's achievements and speaking so highly of him, the corners of Chairman Park Tae-hong's lips slowly curled upward.
Unable to hide his pride, as if he himself had accomplished the feat, he burst into hearty laughter.
"Ha ha ha! Chairman Kwak, didn't you also build Samsung Electronics from the ground up in what was once a semiconductor wasteland in Korea, growing it into a world-class semiconductor company that now stands shoulder to shoulder with Japanese firms that once seemed far out of reach?"
"Thank you for seeing it that way."
Chairman Kwak Dong-hoon met his gaze and smiled.
As they exchanged compliments back and forth, a warm and friendly atmosphere continued—but there was also someone sitting alone with a sullen expression, as if displeased by something.
It was none other than Chairman Ryu Kang-min of Lotte Group.
With his long, horse-like face and slender build, Chairman Ryu Kang-min spoke in a blunt, disgruntled tone.
"So what if they launched a rocket into space—does that make any money?"
With that single remark, the mood at the table instantly cooled.
Chairman Ryu Kang-min lifted his wine glass, took a sip, and then spoke while looking at Chairman Park Tae-hong across from him.
"I heard it cost trillions of won to build a launch site in Jeju and send that rocket up. Even after succeeding, they haven't actually made a single penny, have they? I really don't understand why they're doing something that makes absolutely no financial sense."
It was an openly dismissive tone, clearly belittling what Seok-won had achieved.
At a glance, it was obvious—he was acting out of spite, displeased at seeing Chairman Park Tae-hong, his fierce competitor in the department store business, basking in praise from other chairmen thanks to his second son.
If it had been anyone else, someone might have told him to stop, but Chairman Ryu Kang-min—born in 1922 and now 81 years old—was among the most senior figures in the business world, so no one could bring themselves to say anything, only exchanging awkward glances.
Even Chairman Kwak Dong-hoon of Samsung Group, the top-ranked conglomerate, found it difficult to speak casually to someone of Ryu Kang-min's generation.
"Isn't it all the more impressive that he pushed forward with such determination, investing enormous sums, and ultimately achieved his goal?"
He deliberately spoke in a light, joking manner in an attempt to ease the stiffened atmosphere, but the effort was in vain—Chairman Ryu Kang-min merely snorted and responded with sarcasm.
"A businessman should, above all, make money. If it were me, instead of building a space center on that land in Moseulpo, I would've built a luxurious hotel or resort and made a huge profit."
Now openly belittling Seok-won, Chairman Kwak Dong-hoon and Chairman Kwon Seung-beom, who were seated nearby, exchanged uneasy glances with Chairman Park Tae-hong, clearing their throats awkwardly.
As expected, Chairman Park Tae-hong's expression had stiffened.
Just as they worried that the two might raise their voices and clash in such a public setting, Chairman Park Tae-hong was the first to relax his expression.
Then, with a composed demeanor, he looked at Chairman Ryu Kang-min seated across from him and spoke.
"That's true—business is, after all, about making money."
At the unexpected response, Chairman Kwak Dong-hoon and Chairman Kwon Seung-beom showed brief signs of confusion.
Chairman Ryu Kang-min also furrowed his brow, staring at him as if to ask what he was up to.
Meeting the piercing gazes head-on, Chairman Park Tae-hong picked up his glass of water and continued calmly.
"But isn't it common sense that achieving results in business requires appropriate investment and time?"
"And just how do you expect to make money by launching rockets into space?"
Chairman Ryu Kang-min shot back with a disinterested expression.
"Of course, it may not generate profit right now—but who knows what the future holds."
Although he spoke that way, the truth was that even Chairman Park Tae-hong himself wasn't certain whether space development could actually turn a profit.
As he said this, he recalled a conversation he had once had with Seok-won, back when Seok-won first declared he would enter the space industry.
[You're saying space development will make money?]
[Yes. Right now, the cost of launching a single rocket into space is enormous, making it difficult to achieve profitability—but in the near future, no, in ten years, the situation will be different.]
[How could that possibly be?]
Chairman Park Tae-hong asked with a skeptical expression.
As if he had expected such a reaction, Seok-won smiled faintly and began to explain.
[If flexible private companies, rather than governments, take the lead in space development, they'll be able to operate far more efficiently and reduce costs. On top of that, if launch vehicles—currently used once and discarded—can be reused, launch costs could be lowered significantly.]
[Reuse rockets?]
Chairman Park Tae-hong asked again, his expression clearly showing disbelief, and Seok-won nodded.
[Yes.]
[Is that even possible?]
[It may be difficult with current technology, but I will make it happen.]
At such a dreamlike statement, Chairman Park Tae-hong let out an incredulous laugh.
But Seok-won paid no mind and continued speaking with confidence.
[If that happens, we'll be able to launch an enormous number of low-Earth orbit communication satellites into space, making ultra-high-speed internet accessible anywhere in the world. It will quite literally open up a whole new dimension of the communications business. And if we can send spacecraft to and from the Moon to mine valuable rare resources like helium-3, gold, platinum, nickel, and iridium, we could generate wealth beyond imagination.]
It sounded like something straight out of a science fiction novel, leaving Chairman Park Tae-hong at a loss for words.
But seeing how serious Seok-won was, he simply shook his head and let it pass.
Shaking off his thoughts, Chairman Park Tae-hong straightened his posture.
Although he himself believed it would be difficult to achieve, he couldn't just sit by and listen to his son being belittled.
"When the late Chairman Jung, who passed away two years ago, first founded Hyundai Heavy Industries, who could have imagined that South Korea would one day become a nation capable of building massive container ships and oil tankers weighing hundreds of thousands of tons?"
Then, he gestured toward Chairman Kwak Dong-hoon, who was seated right beside him.
"It's the same with Samsung Electronics. When they first entered the semiconductor business, the Japanese companies dominating the market scoffed, saying Korea would never be able to produce semiconductors. And yet now, haven't they pushed them aside and risen confidently to the top of the world?"
At that, Chairman Ryu Kang-min frowned.
"How is that the same thing?"
Chairman Park Tae-hong knew it was a stretch, but he pressed on without backing down.
"What's so different about it? Ah—perhaps Chairman Ryu, who focuses on businesses that make money comfortably, like food products such as gum and snacks, or distribution and real estate, might not fully understand that bold investment and risk-taking are sometimes necessary."
Mocking the image of a company that made easy money through domestic businesses without engaging in difficult manufacturing, Chairman Ryu Kang-min's face flushed red as if it might burst.
But Chairman Park Tae-hong didn't stop there.
"Last year, Lotte Group's total revenue didn't even reach 17 trillion won, did it? You're surely aware—since it was widely reported in the media—that my second son's privately managed Eldorado Fund earned tens of billions of dollars in profit from a single investment in Enron."
It had been extensively covered not only by overseas outlets like The Wall Street Journal but also by domestic media, so there was no way Chairman Ryu Kang-min wouldn't know.
With a faint smile at the corners of his lips, Chairman Park Tae-hong continued,
"If that much is pure profit—not even total revenue—then wouldn't it be more than enough to fund investments in space development?"
In short, it meant: if you're not even making more money than Seok-won, what right do you have to say so much?
"...!"
Chairman Ryu Kang-min's face twisted as he glared fiercely at Chairman Park Tae-hong.
But continuing the argument here would only make him look like an old man throwing a spiteful tantrum.
Seeing Chairman Park Tae-hong—who would normally have found it difficult even to exchange words like this—meeting his gaze without flinching, Chairman Ryu Kang-min's expression darkened even further.
"I have business to attend to, so I'll be leaving first."
Realizing that even the surrounding atmosphere was no longer in his favor, Chairman Ryu Kang-min abruptly stood up and left the venue.
After a brief silence fell over the room, Chairman Kwak Dong-hoon cleared his throat.
"...Ahem."
Chairman Kwak Dong-hoon, who had been quietly observing the exchange between the two, looked at Chairman Park Tae-hong with a renewed expression.
"It was uncomfortable to listen to him picking a fight for no reason, so you handled that well."
Chairman Kwon Seung-beom nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Not only your second son, but Daeheung Group has also been thriving lately in department stores and distribution, so it seems Chairman Ryu was just picking a fight out of spite."
In the past, even if he had been angry, the difference in stature would have forced him to endure it—but now, being able to say what he wanted left Chairman Park Tae-hong feeling relieved.
And the thought that all of this was thanks to Seok-won filled him with both reassurance and quiet satisfaction.