1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 106



Only Krnovel

Episode 106

‘Haa, this won’t do… … .’

It’s tangled.

With the feeling of giving a preliminary evaluation, various good suggestions were made to China and Japan.

But I never thought that they would make such a suggestion in return.

‘10% of the resources coming from the 7th mine is not a small sum… … .’

It should be at least several times more than what I have suggested.

However, if we develop the 7th mining area without considering Japan, it will definitely cause problems when oil and natural gas are produced later.

That is why the development of the 7th mine had to begin only after completing all negotiations with neighboring countries.

I wanted to make another proposal to Japan so that Korea could monopolize all the resources, but I couldn’t show them that I was thinking about it for a long time.

If I were to make another suggestion here, they would surely notice that there is something in Block 7.

There was no way now.

Even if it meant suffering a small loss, we had to prevent the worst outcome.

‘If we say no here, even China may reject the offer we received. It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing we can do.’

I spoke to Prime Minister Hosokawa while controlling my expression as much as possible.

“Well, that’s fine, but I don’t understand why you’re insisting on it. The development of this 7th mine is not that important of an issue in this negotiation. But if Japan wants it that way, there’s nothing we can do. Let’s do it that way. Japan should receive 10% of the resources that come out of the development of 7th mine.”

“Yes, that’s good.”

Except for the Japanese Prime Minister, all the other secretaries had expressions on their faces that showed they did not understand the Prime Minister’s judgment.

Perhaps this seemed like Prime Minister Hosokawa’s arbitrary decision.

‘He is truly a smart person.’

Japan will not have to worry about resources for decades once Block 7 is developed, thanks to a prime minister with good judgment.

This is true for oil as well, but especially for natural gas, where even if we only receive 10%, it is an absurd amount.

In return for some economic benefits, they received the development rights to China’s 7 mining areas, and in return for 10% of the resources produced during the development of 7 mining areas, they received full rights to Japan’s 7 mining areas.

* * *

[Is Prime Minister Hosokawa a Korean spy? Worst diplomacy. A foolish decision to give up the second prize lottery ticket and receive an unscratched ticket in hopes of winning first prize. – Nishi Nihon Shimbun (西日本聞)]

[The 7th mine has already been proven useless after numerous investigations. Prime Minister Hosokawa’s approval rating plummets due to the worst diplomacy. China has benefited, but Japan has gained nothing. – Sankei Shimbun]

Unsurprisingly, the Hosokawa Cabinet’s approval ratings in Japan plummeted after the trilateral summit.

The approval rating, which had been consistently at 5, fell to 3, and rumors of the cabinet’s resignation began to circulate.

It is understandable that if he had received South Korea’s offer of economic assistance, it would have certainly provided a boost to the Japanese economy in many ways, but Prime Minister Hosokawa decided to accept a portion of the resources produced from the development of Block 7.

At this point, when we have no idea what will come out of there, it would be a natural criticism.

And this criticism was the same in Korea as well.

Now that the presidential election is over, it is normal for approval ratings to rise. However, the approval ratings for the government have been on a steep decline.

The reason, of course, was because of what was spread to China at the Korea-China-Japan summit.

It was only natural that there was discontent, as China was given so much economic benefit without any particular reason.

Like Japan, the Korean media also reported it using the term diplomatic disaster.

[This economic agreement with China is incomprehensible. A diplomatic disaster for the government. An incomprehensible agreement. The 7th mine was already revealed years ago to have no production value. A major diplomatic line change seems urgent. – Tongil Ilbo]

[The 7th light district is an illusion. The investment in the illusion that was given to China this time is too excessive. Fortunately, Japan is foolishly not accepting this offer and is dreaming of the illusion together. – Hansung Ilbo]

But all of this public opinion changed just one month later.

* * *

“Do you really think it will come out here?”

Baek Chan-soo, an employee of the 7th mine resource company, looks at the camera mounted on the drilling rig and asks the team leader.

Team leader Gu Seok-hyeon answers while drinking coffee.

“It’s stupid. I really respect President Kim Jong-guk, but this is the worst decision. The money will just go out and you won’t get anything.”

Team leader Gu Seok-hyeon is someone who has been in this field for a long time.

I was clearly attracted by the high salary, but in fact I was a little anxious.

He also knew about the 7th light district well.

It was clear that something was buried, but the industry consensus was that the quantity was small and it was not profitable.

Of course, the drilling technology and things like that were amazing.

Even to him, an industry veteran, it was clear that the drilling technology developed by the National Technology Agency was world-class.

But in the end, this drilling technology is only meaningful if resources are produced.

No matter how good the drilling technology was, it was meaningless if no resources were produced.

No matter how good your farming skills are, you can’t farm on concrete floors.

Drilling work continues at a location designated in advance by the headquarters.

It’s been almost a month already, but there’s been no news.

“Team Leader, is this really the right place? No matter how much I think about it, I can’t seem to get out of this place… … .”

Although Baek Chan-soo has a short career, he is an expert who majored in this field since college.

The area where we are digging now is an area where oil cannot come out even if it is supposed to.

The team leader sighs and answers.

“Ha, there’s nothing we can do. I told you to do it this way. Just do it. It was ordered from above, so what else can we do? Since it was ordered from above, we won’t suffer any loss even if it doesn’t come out.”

“Is that so… But this isn’t the place… … .”

Leaving Baek Chan-soo behind, Team Leader Seok Soo-hyun speaks.

“I’m going to get some sleep, so watch.”

“all right.”

So Team Leader Guseokhyun goes to sleep and quite some time passes.

3 a.m.

It was the time when people were most likely to fall asleep.

Baek Chan-soo was also nodding off from his boring work and looking at the monitor.

But at that moment, a loud noise comes from the monitor.

-Beep! Beep! Beep!

“What, what is it…!”

Baek Chan-soo was startled and came to his senses. When he looked at the monitor, an unbelievable sight was unfolding before his eyes.

Black oil was just flowing out endlessly.

Without further ado, Baek Chan-soo ran to the room where Team Leader Gu Seok-hyeon was sleeping and woke him up.

“Team Leader!!! Team Leader!!!”

Gu Seok-hyeon stands up with difficulty, aiming his body, and asks in an irritated voice.

“You crazy bastard. What the hell is going on at this hour of the morning… … .”

But Baek Chan-soo paid no attention and, still excited, shook Gu Seok-hyeon’s body and shouted.

“It’s coming out!! Come out!!!”

“What the hell is going on? Tell me what you’re talking about.”

Gu Seok-hyeon calms him down by putting on the glasses he had left next to him.

But Baek Chan-soo’s excitement still did not subside.

He shouted so loudly that everyone on board woke up.

“There’s oil coming out!!! And there’s no end to it!!!”

“What, what… …!!!”

The team leader runs to the monitor and checks it without even putting on his shoes.

And I was sure.

It really was oil.

Oil was actually coming out of the sea floor.

That too was being detected in an unfathomable amount.

“Oh, my gosh, was this really possible?”

Team Leader Guseokhyun stares blankly for a moment, as if he can’t believe this situation.

But then he comes to his senses for a moment and hurries to find his phone.

“Hey, wait, this isn’t the time for that, phone… …!”

While developing Block 7, if oil is found, the president told them to call the Blue House directly and gave them a number that would allow them to contact the Blue House directly.

Team Leader Guseok Hyun briefly clutches his surprised chest and calls the Blue House.

A moment later the phone rings and the call connects.

“Mr. President, this is Gu Seok-hyeon, the team leader of the 7th development team. I am calling you at this hour of the morning because I have something to report to you.”

* * *

January 23, 1999.

The new year had arrived, and the South Korea-U.S. summit in Seoul was just two days away.

“Is that so? Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

‘Phew… … ‘

As soon as I hung up the phone, I checked that there was nothing in the office and screamed.

“It was great!!!”

Although it was still 3 in the morning, I called the secretary who was outside and said:

“Secretary, tell everyone in the public relations office and the board of directors, including the president of the 7th Oil Corporation, to come to the Blue House.”

“Yes? Right now?”

The time now is 3:30 in the morning.

Even for the president, it was too early.

“Oh, no. You should call the reporters instead. I’ll have to talk to them myself.”

“Yes… … ? Reporters… … .”

“Haha, there’s going to be an important announcement, so tell the reporters who don’t show up that they’ll be at a loss.”

* * *

“No, shit! I should let you sleep… … .”

All the reporters gathered at the Blue House press room, half-asleep.

The time is 4:10.

Normally, we wouldn’t even bother to come at this hour, but we had to gather because the president himself was making an important announcement.

“What, it’s such an important announcement that you’re doing this.”

“Isn’t that what you’re saying, you’re going to cancel everything you did with China last time? That’s why your approval rating has dropped a lot recently.”

“It’s been a long time since President Kim’s approval rating was in the top 6.”

Before the president comes in, the reporters gossip among themselves about the president.

Since you called me at this hour of the morning, it might seem like a natural reaction.

“Oh, he’s coming in.”

But when the President enters the press room, everyone becomes quiet.

It is very rare for the president to announce something directly from the press office like this.

“Ah, ah… …! Can you hear me?”

I sat down on the podium, barely holding back my laughter.

Afterwards, I apologized to the reporters first.

“I’m sorry, reporters. I know you must be annoyed that I suddenly came out at this hour of the morning. I understand. It must have been hard for you all to come here at 4 in the morning. When you’re done, why don’t you have a meal with me before you go?”

Even with the suggestion that they eat together, the reporters’ expressions showed no sign of softening.

“Haha. Everyone seems tired, so I guess I should talk right away. Of course, it’s not something to hesitate about. However, if I say this now, everyone will probably go outside to call headquarters, so please take your turn and go out so that no accidents occur.”

Basically, regular phones do not work in the Blue House.

So, to get the article out there, you have to go out there.

That is why I gave you these words of advice.

“What is the story that makes you do that?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Even so, what else could there be besides China and that story… …”

I cleared my throat and spoke in a solemn voice in front of the roaring reporters.

“Citizens, I hope you will listen without being surprised. Korea has become an oil-producing country as of today, January 23rd.”

When the topic of oil producing countries comes up, the reporters become quiet for a moment as if they had been hit in the back of the head with a club.

And then, after a while, the reporters start asking each other questions, all excited.

“Mr. President! What are you talking about? An oil-producing country!”

“Could it be that oil has really started to come out of Block 7?”

“How much is buried? Is it profitable?”

I said to the reporters, calming them down.

“It would be best to hear the details from this person. He is Team Leader Gu Seok-hyeon of the 7th Block Oil Corporation, who is currently working on a drilling rig in the area.”

I called him and said,

“Team leader, can you hear me?”

“Yes, yes! I can hear you!”

“It seems like the reporters here have a lot to ask. Team Leader Gu Seok-hyeon would know better than I do, so I would like you to answer them directly.”

“all right.”

The secretary calms down the press room and takes questions from reporters one by one.

“This is Lee Gu-seong, a reporter for the Tongil Ilbo. The President said that Korea has become an oil-producing country. Does that mean that oil has started to come out of Block 7?”

Team leader Guseokhyun answers in a very excited voice.

“Yes, that’s right. As of 3 a.m. today, oil has started to come out.”

As soon as Team Leader Koo’s answer came out, several reporters went out to deliver the news to headquarters.

And among the remaining reporters, there wasn’t a single one with sleepy eyes like before.

Then, a reporter from Hansung Ilbo asks a question.

“This is Baek Jeon-gi from Hansung Ilbo. So, how much oil is currently coming out of Block 7?”

The team leader hesitated for a moment and then answered.

“I’m sorry, but that’s unpredictable.”

“Does that mean the quantity is smaller than expected?”

The team leader speaks firmly.

“That’s not it. The amount being detected now is so large that it’s impossible to estimate how much is buried underneath here.”

“Well, could you tell me roughly how much is buried?”

Team Leader Koo thought for a moment and then answered in a cautious voice.

“It’s a bit presumptuous to make such a prediction, but I think there are reserves larger than those of some of the oil-producing countries in the Middle East.”

The excitement doesn’t fade from the reporters’ faces.

They were reporters and citizens of the Republic of Korea.

I couldn’t help but get excited when I heard that the reserves in the producing countries were beyond imagination.

“Lastly, I’ll ask you one more question.”

Finally, a reporter from KBC asks:

“This is Ma Ho-gyun from KBC. How is the profitability? Is it economically valuable enough?”

Team leader Koo speaks with a voice full of confidence.

“Yes, of course. It is not less profitable than extracting crude oil from the Middle East. Honestly, even as we are talking about it now, we are so nervous that we don’t know how to say anything else. This is truly a revolution in the Republic of Korea!”

And when all the questions were over, the reporters seemed eager to leave without saying who would go first.

Because I had to quickly relay this great news to headquarters.

I looked at those reporters and asked.

“Are there any reporters who would like to have breakfast with me?”

No one answers.

Dining with the President was important, but right now I had to write the article faster.

If you’re writing such a great article, what’s the big deal about having dinner with the president?

“Haha. That’s too bad. I guess everyone is busy. Well, let’s eat later. Everyone, please go and take a look.”