I finished my visit to the detention center and returned to the company.
Taekgyu asked.
"Is the chairman doing well?"
"It seems you don't have to worry."
It goes without saying, but you don't worry about chaebols. Even if he's found guilty, he'll likely be pardoned after the administration changes, or at most, he'll serve a year or two before being paroled.
Should I call this judicial justice being alive, or special treatment for chaebols?
It's a problem that could be easily solved by simply following the law... but then it would have been difficult for Chairman Lim Jinyong to inherit the management rights.
In the end, all these problems arise from trying to pass on a successful company to one's children without paying taxes.
Some might think, "What's wrong with passing my company down to my child?" but that statement is flawed from the premise.
In foreign countries, it's commonplace for a founder to be kicked out by the board of directors or at a shareholders' meeting if they mismanage the company. Even if there's no particular fault, they might be dismissed to put someone in charge who seems like they could do a better job.
But strangely, only in Korea is firing a CEO treated like a sin. Is it because the hereditary succession of management rights is considered so natural?
"Then, if you have a child later, you won't pass down the management rights?"
"Of course not. Ellie agreed as well."
If I pass it down to my child, that child will pass it down to their child... It's not like we're going to keep passing down management rights for a thousand years.
"Well, I don't even know if I'll still be in management by then."
"Huh? Are you going to retire?"
"I will someday. I'm not going to manage the company until I'm in my coffin like the chairmen in our country."
The scale of OTK Company has already grown to an absurd size. Even though I'm trying not to interfere in the management of subsidiary companies and let them run on their own, the number of complex decisions I have to make is steadily increasing.
I'm managing well for now because I can see the future, but there's no telling what will happen later.
In a way, selecting a successor at the right time and stepping down might be more difficult than creating and growing a company.
***
As the calendar turned to November, one problem was solved, and another one arose.
First, the compensation for forced laborers, which had been the biggest point of contention in Korea-Japan relations, was confirmed. Following the South Korean government's proposal, Korean and Japanese companies contributed funds to pay compensation to the victims.
The exact ratio was not disclosed, but it was known that Korean companies that benefited from the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement would bear about 20%, and the Japanese companies that used forced labor would bear 80%.
This significant increase in the ratio was the result of negotiations in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively used my name.
When the compensation was paid, the survivors who had participated in the lawsuit at the time shed tears of joy and shouted "Manse!"
Taekgyu said.
"If they had just given it sooner, this would have been over quickly."
"Actually, the money was never the biggest issue from the start."
However, Japan had insisted that they could absolutely not pay in the name of 'compensation,' as their position was that everything was concluded with the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement. This time, they were forced to bend their stance.
Taekgyu asked.
"Was everything really settled with the Claims Agreement?"
"There's some room for interpretation on that."
It's hard for a document to contain every detail, and the interpretation of a single word can differ. So, Japan is interpreting it in a way that is advantageous to them.
"Wouldn't this have not happened if the agreement had been properly made from the beginning?"
"The situation was unavoidable back then."
At the time the Claims Agreement was signed, South Korea was one of the poorest countries, with its entire territory devastated by the Korean War. In contrast, Japan, even after its defeat, was still a powerful nation. The post-war economic revival had also begun, thanks to the boom from the Korean War.
In the end, the agreement was finalized as the interests of Korea, which needed money, and Japan, which wanted to conclude the reparations quickly, aligned.
The funny thing is that even this was the largest amount of compensation paid by an aggressor nation to a victim nation.
Among the colonial powers, it is unprecedented for one to have provided this much compensation to a former colony. This was, of course, because Japan was a defeated nation.
But to say this compensation was a one-sided loss for Japan would not be accurate either. For a country that receives reparations to achieve economic development, it needs to purchase various materials, parts, supplies, and machinery. As it happens, there is a country nearby that makes such things very well: Japan.
The compensation money flowed back into Japan's pockets, and as that country grew, the export market expanded as well.
Compared to the money Japan has earned through trade with South Korea over the years, the amount paid under the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement is next to nothing.
In a way, you could see it as a win-win for both sides.
In any case, as a long-standing issue was resolved, there was an atmosphere of relief in both countries.
Although compensation was made, Japan still did not offer a government-level apology. Furthermore, the issue of comfort women also remained unresolved.
The Japanese government, which had previously made all sorts of reckless remarks about historical issues, now completely avoided mentioning them.
When criticism arose that the Japanese government had kneeled on the issue of forced labor compensation, Japanese cabinet ministers once again paid their respects at the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals are enshrined.
Prime Minister Okazaki did not visit in person but sent an offering and announced his intention to visit at the beginning of the new year.
When the South Korean and Chinese governments protested this, the Japanese government pretended not to hear and did not respond at all.
***
Another problem arose in North Korea.
[(Breaking News) Chairman Kim orders demolition of South Korean facilities at Mount Kumgang!]
[North Korea to pursue independent development of Mount Kumgang after demolishing facilities]
[Order to "completely remove the shabby South Korean facilities that are unpleasant just to look at"]
[Criticism that the South-dependent Mount Kumgang development was due to the flawed policymaking of predecessors]
[North Korea officially sends a demolition request to the South Korean government and companies]
Mount Kumgang tourism is nothing short of a symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation. It was the only opportunity for South Koreans to set foot on North Korean soil. However, after a tourist was shot and killed, the Mount Kumgang tours were suspended, and the hotels and various facilities were frozen.
With the inauguration of the Heo Chang-min administration and the thawing of inter-Korean relations, expectations for the resumption of tourism had recently grown significantly, but suddenly, the North unilaterally notified of the facility demolition.
-See? This is classic North Korea.
-LOL Thoroughly implementing the Juche ideology in architecture, putting the nation first and the popular masses first LOL What a load of crap.
-Ahem! The Dear Leader has ordered that the capitalist corporate buildings built for profit be completely torn down, and in their place, modern, socialist service facilities that embody the demands and aspirations of the working masses be built by the power of the people, to comprehensively and intuitively show the essential difference between the two... What the hell is this nonsense?
-Are the people who still want inter-Korean economic cooperation after seeing this brainless or what?
-This is the reality of North Korea. They are worse than a band of thieves!
-Railways and gas pipelines? You've got to be kidding me.
-Just leave them be. Heo wants to give them everything anyway.
-But why is North Korea suddenly acting like this?
-Heh, I think I know.
-The Supreme Leader got slapped in Vladivostok and went to Mount Kumgang to vent his anger lol.
Taekgyu, who was reading the article, said to me.
"No matter how I look at it, don't you think this is because of you?"
"Huh?"
"Isn't it because you got on the Supreme Leader's nerves in Vladivostok, and now the sparks are flying all the way to Mount Kumgang? How can we proceed with the railway and gas pipeline construction as President Vysotsky and President Heo Chang-min wish? What if they later tell us to rip out the railway and gas pipelines too?"
"No way..."
"What do you mean, 'no way'? These guys are capable of tearing out all the steel from there and melting it down in backyard furnaces."
"..."
I couldn't say he was wrong.
Mount Kumgang tourism is an important source of foreign currency for North Korea and a successful model of economic cooperation. It's suspended now, but it could be resumed at any time depending on the situation.
Yet, for them to order its demolition shows that this is truly a country where common sense does not apply.
What kind of work can you do with a country like this?
Is inter-Korean economic cooperation really an impossible task?
As I was thinking that, my vision suddenly blurred and something appeared before my eyes. A moment later, when I came to my senses, I saw Taekgyu with his face right in front of mine.
"Ugh! Get away!"
"What is it this time?"
I stood up from my seat.
"I think I've thought of a good way."
Taekgyu blinked and said.
"Isn't that something your foresight told you, not something you thought of?"
"..."
It's the same thing.
***
With North Korea's unilateral notification to demolish the Mount Kumgang facilities, the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were once again in an uproar.
The Ministry of Unification held an emergency meeting chaired by the minister.
"It does not seem likely that they will attempt a forced demolition immediately."
"They have to be mindful of not only South Korea but also the international community."
"If they were to demolish it by force, which foreign company would build a factory in North Korea in the future?"
Even though they are located in North Korea, the buildings and other facilities are strictly South Korean assets. The North Korean side knows this, which is why they passed the buck of voluntary demolition to the South.
They were saying, "Since they are your assets, you take them back yourselves."
'Even if they wanted to demolish it by force, they probably don't have the money for it.'
The North's demolition notice was likely not sincere. It was simply an act to show 'this is how angry we are.'
You could see it as a form of brinkmanship. The problem with this tactic is that if it goes wrong, you could really fall off the cliff... but then again, North Korea has nothing more to lose in the current situation. This is why people with nothing to lose are the scariest in the world.
"What is their response to our request for working-level talks?"
"The North is refusing the talks. They have notified us that they want to exchange opinions in writing."
Minister of Unification Yoon Je-hoon asked, clicking his tongue inwardly.
'They plan to take the initiative by making us look like we're begging for talks from the very beginning.'
It was a method they had used many times before, so it was not surprising.
"Why do you think North Korea has suddenly come out like this?"
The meeting room suddenly fell silent at that question.
Everyone had one person in mind, but no one said the name out loud.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in a similar situation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Sung-chul clutched his head again.
'Seriously, why are they taking their anger out on us after getting beaten by Kang Jin-hoo?'
Diplomatic issues are the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but when the diplomatic partner is North Korea, it falls under the Ministry of Unification. Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs focused only on grasping the situation.
He was in contact with the National Intelligence Service and the South Korean Embassy in China when an aide approached and said.
"There's a phone call. I think you need to take it."
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Sung-chul shook his head.
"If it's not someone above me, tell them I'm busy now and I'll call back later."
"Uh, um..."
When the aide hesitated to answer, he looked up and asked.
"Is the person above me or below me?"
"Well, that is..."
Even including the legislative branch, there aren't many people above a minister in the executive branch. Yet the aide wore an expression that said, 'This is the most perplexing question I've ever been asked in my life.'
"Who is it?"
"It's CEO Kang Jin-hoo."
"..."
This was certainly something to hesitate over.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Sung-chul immediately took the call.
"Hello, CEO Kang Jin-hoo. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"
***
I met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Sung-chul.
"I could have visited you at the government complex."
"No, it's fine. There are too many eyes there. If it gets out to the press in the current situation, it could lead to groundless speculation."
Is that why he came in his personal car instead of a government vehicle, and came straight up the elevator from the underground parking garage instead of being dropped off at the lobby?
"Thank you for coming all this way despite your busy schedule."
"Not at all. If you asked to see me, I'm sure there's a good reason for it, isn't there?"
It sounded like he meant he wouldn't just sit by if I had called him for no good reason.
"I saw the news. What does the government believe is the cause?"
"This is a very difficult situation for us as well. As you know, we were planning to proceed with economic cooperation with North Korea through inter-Korean talks in Vladivostok, and among the topics of discussion was the resumption of Mount Kumgang tourism."
"So that's why Han Byung-sun, the president of Eunsung Kumgang, was there."
"Yes. But because the talks broke down, it seems the North was greatly disappointed, and because of that, we think they might be picking a fight over the Mount Kumgang facilities. There's also some talk that Chairman Kim's mood has soured significantly due to various matters..."
Taekgyu pointed at me.
"Just say it's because of him. I think so too."
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Sung-chul waved his hands.
"Ah, no, that's not it. However, although the North Korean side has not mentioned it directly, it seems they are hoping you would express some sort of apology or regret."
"Will things be resolved if I apologize?"
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Sung-chul gave a bitter smile.
"To be honest, I don't think so. It could end up with us just being dragged around."
"The government is planning to proceed with the railway and gas pipeline connection project linked to the Najin-Khasan project, correct?"
At my question, he sighed and revealed his inner thoughts.
"In the current situation, even I have doubts about whether it's possible."
I nodded.
"I would like to meet with a working-level official from the North to talk. Would that be possible?"