1953 Bare-handed Tycoon - Chapter 413



Only Krnovel

413 – Hide and Seek

After returning home, Kijo looked into what issues had arisen in Korea while he was away.

First, the law that he pointed out to Chairman Park has been amended.

The law has been revised to allow the chairman of the Supreme Council to join a political party or social organization.

The law could be quickly amended because Speaker Park delayed the opening of the National Assembly and used the Supreme Council’s legislative power.

The second issue was the opening of the National Assembly.

The Supreme Council was to share legislative power with the National Assembly when Speaker Park opened the National Assembly.

This is only a temporary measure, and once a new president is elected, the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction will automatically disappear and the National Assembly will have full legislative power.

However, Speaker Park was delaying the opening of the National Assembly.

On the surface, it appeared that Speaker Park would not open the National Assembly, but the inside story was thought to be somewhat different.

I got the impression that the ruling and opposition parties were not reaching an agreement very well.

There were two major issues that the ruling and opposition parties had to agree on and deal with ahead of the opening of the National Assembly.

The law on impeachment of the president was revised and the date of the presidential election was confirmed.

It seemed like the ruling and opposition parties could easily agree on amending the impeachment law, but confirming the date of the presidential election would not have been the same.

It was only natural that the ruling party, which won a landslide victory in the general election, wanted to take advantage of this momentum and quickly hold the presidential election, while the opposition party, which suffered a crushing defeat, wanted to block the winds of the general election from blowing until the presidential election.

The keynote speaker did not contact the Blue House while trying to figure out the flow of events.

On the third day after returning home, I received a call from the Blue House.

-This is Lee Hu-rak.

“How have you been, Director of Public Relations?”

– Oh, how have you been? Mr. President, are you sick anywhere? Were you bitten by a malaria mosquito in Vietnam? … .

“There was nothing like that. I am healthy.”

-But why haven’t you come to the Blue House to report yet?

“Oh, I thought I didn’t need to go see you since the report had already been made through the Korean Embassy in Vietnam.”

-Is that so?

Kijo felt dissatisfied with Lee Hu-rak’s tone.

It was not clear whether the complaint was a replacement for Chairman Park’s complaint or Lee Hu-rak’s complaint.

-When will you come to the Blue House?

“I’ll go and report back later when I have time. I still have a lot of work to do.”

-Ah, when you have time… … .

Lee Hu-rak trailed off as if he was not pleased.

– So… you didn’t announce the Vietnam business to the press because you didn’t have time?

“I wanted to announce it when the first shovel was broken in the monthly payment and let the public know that the real project had begun.”

―Mr. President, this is really frustrating… The presidential election is just around the corner… … .

Lee Hu-rak expressed his dissatisfaction.

It seemed that the revolutionary government wanted to make it known quickly that it was also making efforts abroad to rebuild the economy.

“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t think about the presidential election.”

– That’s okay. We will spread the news about the contract for the road paving project in Cheongsan through the public relations office.

“Yes, I understand that.”

-When will you come to the Blue House?

“I will go on a business trip to the provinces and come back to see you.”

-Okay, I’ll pass it on to you.

Lee Hu-rak hung up the phone.

The tone of the speech felt like it was getting rougher and rougher.

It felt like he was more of a chief of staff than a public relations officer.

But, knowing that he would become Chairman Park’s chief of staff after the presidential election, the tone was like that.

The keynote speech was that Chairman Park had made an excuse to go on a business trip to the provinces through Lee Hu-rak, so he actually decided to go on a business trip to the provinces.

The keynote speaker who went to Busan inspected the Cheongsan plywood factory.

Cheongsan Plywood began exporting about 20% of its production in 1961.

Exports have increased sharply, with more than half of production now being sent overseas.

The keynote speaker knew that the export share of plywood would soar to the high 80% range by 1972.

In terms of export volume alone, it would have peaked in 1977, and in terms of export value, it would have reached its highest figure in 1979.

And it would decline rapidly, ending the era of mass exports around 1982, and dropping to less than 15% in 1985.

The plywood business was one that would quickly rise to prominence and then decline just as quickly.

The keynote speech was to check the stock of raw materials for Cheongsan plywood.

There was an ample supply of logs floating in the sea and logs being dragged ashore to dry.

Still, the keynote was that more inventory was needed.

Malaysia and Indonesia were about to engage in a military conflict.

The conflict was caused by the opposition of Indonesia, a neighboring country, to the establishment of the Federation of Malaysia, as two major log exporting countries were locked in a showdown on the island of Borneo.

If that happens, the price of logs will rise.

Cheongsan was importing logs from both countries, but since prices were expected to rise on both sides, it was necessary to secure more logs before the conflict broke out in September.

He instructed the factory manager to bring in additional logs from the Philippines.

“We will increase log imports by more than five times. Build storage facilities for logs around the factory.”

“Five times more?”

“Yes, I will buy the land around the factory. As soon as you buy the land, you must build a log storage facility.”

“Okay, sir.”

While I was looking around the plywood factory, an office worker came running out of the office and said to Kijo.

“Sir! We have a call from Seoul!”

Seeing the clerk who seemed like he was going to start a fight, Kijo hurried into the office and answered the phone.

“I changed the number. This is Lee Ki-jo, the CEO of Cheongsan Group.”

-This is Lee Hu-rak.

It was Lee Hu-rak’s call again.

“Hello, sir.”

-Yes, sir. It’s a bit urgent, so please prepare for it.

“What kind of contrast are you talking about?”

―The chairman said he was going to inspect the plywood factory, so please clean up the factory and put it in order.

“When are you coming for inspection?”

-It’s tomorrow. Prepare well.

“All right.”

Lee Hu-rak said what he wanted to say and hung up the phone.

Kijo looked at the factory manager.

The factory manager was already nervous when he heard the word ‘inspection’.

“Factory manager, let’s clean up the factory. The chairman of the Supreme Council is coming tomorrow.”

“Yes? Tomorrow, Chairman? Understood, Representative!”

The factory manager called his workers together and began to clear the factory as if it were a war zone.

Due to the nature of the plywood factory, sawdust would fly and pile up inside and outside the factory. Even though the sawdust was cleaned frequently to prevent fires, it would still settle here and there every day.

The factory manager gave orders to his employees, perhaps because he felt that the factory staff alone were not enough workers.

“Hey! This won’t do! Gather all your family and relatives! Take a truck out and bring in some of the neighbors!”

“And the neighbors too?”

When the employee asked, the plant manager shouted.

“I’ll give you the daily wage!”

“All right!”

A few workers drove a truck out of the factory.

Kijo also cleaned up the factory together with the factory workers.

The next day, the Chairman of the Supreme Council visited Cheongsan Plywood.

At 9 a.m., Chairman Park, wearing a military uniform and a coat, entered the factory.

The president and the factory manager were welcomed as representatives, and some employees came to the factory yard and stood in military-style in a line.

They started applauding when Chairman Park entered.

The plywood factory workers were all nervous about the unusual morning visit.

There was even an employee who came out wearing new clothes and oiling his hair because the chairman of the Supreme Council was coming.

Chairman Park asked as he saw about 50 employees clapping with cold expressions.

“Why are those people clapping?”

The factory manager answered.

“To congratulate the Chairman on his visit.”

“What? Are you just standing there clapping your hands and not doing anything because of me?”

“I will correct it.”

The quick-witted factory manager quickly dismissed his workers.

The employees ran to their work places in a panic.

“Let’s start from the factory.”

Chairman Park spoke while looking at the keynote speech.

The keynote speaker skipped the briefing prepared in the factory manager’s office and started the guidance right away.

Kijo showed Chairman Park, who seemed a little angry, around the factory.

Chairman Park would sometimes stop and look at the factory machinery or watch the workers at work.

The factory manager became tense whenever Chairman Park’s sharp gaze, wearing his officer’s hat pulled down low, turned toward the dirty area.

Chairman Park, who had made a tour of the factory, went out to the factory yard and asked Kijo.

“I don’t think plywood is the only thing you can do with wood. Don’t you have any plans to do anything else? Like making paper or furniture?”

It was a businesslike tone.

“The furniture is intended to be made of plywood using sawdust from plywood factories.”

“Plywood for furniture?”

The closer you are to Chairman Park, the more informal his speech is, and the more distant your relationship, the more formal his speech is.

But in public settings, I always used polite language.

“Yes, by mixing sawdust with adhesive and pressing it with a press, you can make furniture plywood.”

“Have you ever made anything?”

“Bring it and see.”

As Kijo instructed the factory manager, the manager brought in two types of plywood.

Chairman Park compared the two pieces of plywood and said:

“One has fine cross-sectional particles, and the other has coarse particles.”

“You saw it well. MDF is made by grinding sawdust further and making the particles finer, and PB, particle board, is made by molding particles coarser than sawdust.”

“What is the difference between the two?”

“MDF is made by mixing wax and resin through a pulping process that involves finely grinding sawdust, applying heat, and extracting wood fibers.”

“You said you were making pulp in the middle, so doesn’t that mean you can also make paper?”

“Yes, it is possible, although a little different.”

“Then, make paper too. Since we have to import paper, shouldn’t we try making something?”

“I will do that.”

Chairman Park, who finished his inspection faster than usual, was guided to the factory manager’s office by Kijo.

In the office, the plant manager began briefing Chairman Park.

After the briefing, Chairman Park asked a question.

“The export ratio is 50%, so can’t it be increased further?”

“In reality, it is 60%. 10% of the production is supplied to the US military in Korea and received in dollars.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if we increased it? We should try increasing it to 80~90%.”

“I will do that.”

It was going to happen naturally over time.

Chairman Park briefly finished his questioning and sent out those who were accompanying him.

I also spoke to Lee Hu-rak, who had been standing firm until the end.

“You go out too.”

“Yes, Mr. Chairman.”

After that, Lee Hu-rak went out.

Chairman Park pointed to the factory manager with his eyes.

“Factory manager, please go out.”

“Yes, sir.”

The factory manager also left, leaving only Kijo and Chairman Park in the office.

Chairman Park spoke to the keynote speaker sitting across from him on the sofa.

“Why don’t you go to the Blue House?”

“I’ve been a bit busy lately.”

When Kijo answered, Chairman Park asked.

“Who told you not to go to the Blue House often?”

“No, Mr. Chairman. I have never heard anything like that.”

The keynote was that he had no intention of selling anyone’s name.

Chairman Park took out a pack of cigarettes and put a cigarette in his mouth. When Kijo lit it, Chairman Park turned his gaze and blew out a puff of smoke.

“But why aren’t you coming… … .”

Kijo was suddenly moved by Chairman Park’s words.

There was loneliness in his words.

Kijo coughed once and spoke to Chairman Park.

“Whenever I visit the chairman, is there anything else I can ask him? Do this, do that. Do this. Don’t do that. Isn’t that all I can say?”

“Are you not here because you have nothing to ask of me now?”

As the keynote speaker paused for a moment to delay his answer, Chairman Park said:

“Before I went to Vietnam, I used to come to the bathroom so blatantly, but now I go in and come out of the bathroom differently. Why are people like that?”

The keynote was that telling the truth would do no good.

“Yes, I am not going now because I have nothing to do with the chairman. The chairman is now out of breath.”

“what?”

Chairman Park stared intently at the keynote speech.

As Kijo smiled, Chairman Park also smiled and said.

“Hey, you guy!”

Chairman Park tapped Kijo on the shoulder and lit a cigarette.

Kijo felt that Chairman Park and he were now on good terms with each other.

“Actually, I have been unable to come see you because I felt ashamed to ask you another favor.”

At the keynote speech, Chairman Park looked away and smiled.

He put the cigarette out of his mouth and said.

“Tell me. What would you like to ask for?”

“We need a pilot.”

“pilot?”

Chairman Park showed interest.

“I’m planning to start an airline in Vietnam, but I don’t have any pilots to fly transport planes. Please send a few Air Force pilots to Vietnam.”

Chairman Park’s expression darkened at the keynote speech.

The keynote speech made me think that something had happened to Chairman Park as well.