1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 163



Only Krnovel

Episode 163

“… I don’t think this is the end. Can I look a little more?”

I made him one promise and nodded.

“If you look at the rest of the content, you will not be able to go abroad for any reason, including studying abroad, for the time being. Is that okay?”

Because it is such an important technology, if it were to leak overseas, competition between countries could collapse, so it was an inevitable measure.

You might think it’s a bit too much, but as expected from someone who knows the value of this technology, he immediately agrees.

“Of course. If this is really the technology I’m thinking of… I think it’s a natural course of action.”

“Okay, come this way.”

I went with him to a room a little further inside and showed him about 20 books on superconductor technology.

“How long will it take?”

“But if I were to just look through it, it would probably take half a day.”

“Okay, I’ll be outside the door, so if you need anything, just let my staff know.”

With that understanding, he immediately opened the remaining books one by one and began to concentrate.

‘Staying here will only cause trouble.’

I went out and told them that tomorrow would be a holiday for the entire National Technology Agency, and of course I cancelled all my plans for tomorrow as well.

“Mr. President, how about you go in, get some sleep, and come back tomorrow?”

The chief secretary speaks to me in a worried voice as I prepare to take a short nap on a small chair.

“It’s okay. The person I brought here in the middle of the night is working so hard, so how can I just go in and sleep comfortably? The chief secretary should go in and sleep for a bit.”

Director Oh shakes his head.

“No. Then I will also stay by your side.”

“Hehehe… Director Oh, you’re getting older now. You should take care of your health.”

He speaks with a slight smile.

“I’m still in better shape than the President. Don’t worry.”

“Oh, man… … .”

When I woke up from a nap in the chair, it was already 4 AM.

I quietly asked the staff outside the door.

“Is Professor Do Min-gu still reading?”

“Yes. I’ve been reading like a crazy person since I went to the bathroom a few hours ago.”

“Is that so?”

With that understanding, I went back to my chair and tried to sleep a little more, when Professor Do Min-gu came out of the door.

I looked at him with bloodshot eyes and asked in a worried voice.

“Professor Do Min-gu, are you okay? Shouldn’t you get some sleep?”

He spoke to me in a trembling voice.

“Yes, Mr. President. This is possible.”

“Yes? Is that possible? No way… … .”

He speaks with joy, as if he were a child.

“This technology is absolutely feasible! I don’t know which genius came up with this method, but it is definitely theoretically possible. This is a room-temperature, pressure superconductor technology that will change the world!”

To this extent, it was certain.

Professor Do Min-gu was someone I had been keeping an eye on for several years in case I could purchase superconductor technology.

He was not a person who became a professor because of his background or anything like that. He was someone who rose to the position of professor at Seoul National University at a relatively young age solely based on his own abilities.

At least in Korea, there is probably no one who knows more about superconductor technology than he does.

Professor Do Min-gu asked me with a look of genuine curiosity.

“Mr. President, who on earth created this technology? What kind of genius could come up with such technology… .”

From his perspective, he can’t help but wonder.

As a fellow researcher, it is only natural to wonder who the person who created this technology is.

But it was impossible to tell him the truth.

‘I guess I’ll have to be moderate.’

“You may not believe it, but the theory was discovered a few years ago in the house of an old professor who passed away. Although he had no surviving family, the state held a funeral for him because he had contributed greatly to the country, and even cleaned up the research lab he had been using. It is said that there was a paper in there that contained the contents of this theory.”

“Oh, I see. What kind of person are you to have such skills all by yourself… .”

I changed the subject before he could ask any more questions.

“Professor, how long would it take to commercialize this technology?”

When he heard my story, he changed a little from the little kid who was running around like a kid a little while ago.

Then he thinks for a moment and then answers.

“Hmm… I think that might take some time.”

“How much do you expect?”

He spreads out all his fingers.

“I think it will take about 10 years. In theory, it is perfect. However, since there are no samples, countless experiments are needed to see if this technology is actually applicable.”

‘I need a sample… … .’

I grabbed the doorknob of the hidden inner room and asked him.

“If you had a sample, how much could you shorten it?”

He thought for a moment with a slightly puzzled expression, then answered me.

“If we really have samples, I think three years would be enough.”

I opened the door to the room, which was locked from the inside, with a key and guided him into the room.

“Please come inside, Professor.”

“Ah, yes… … .”

He enters the room, a little nervous.

And inside the room there was an unknown machine and a magnet floating around.

And as soon as he saw the magnet, Professor Do Min-gu was so surprised that he almost fell backwards.

“Oh, Mr. President. Could this be… … .”

“This is believed to be a sample of a room-temperature, pressure superconductor that the old professor left behind.”

“… … .”

I asked him, who was blankly staring at the magnet floating in the sky as if he had witnessed a god.

“Professor, would you be willing to take the lead on this superconductor project by taking on the position of director of the Superconductivity Research Institute?”

He stops staring blankly at the magnet and looks at me.

Then he answers with eagle eyes.

“… I’ll take it. No, let me take it! I’ll definitely make it a success!”

I asked him back in a worried voice.

“There may be various restrictions on your future life. Since it is such an important technology, it will need to be protected and monitored. In your future life, your freedom and privacy may be violated to some extent. Is that really okay?”

He answered right away without a moment’s hesitation.

“Of course. If I were the president, I would probably lock people up and study this technology. I think surveillance is a lenient measure.”

I smiled broadly and shook his hand.

“I ask for your help in the future. Professor Do Min-gu, no, Director Do Min-gu.”

He answered with eyes full of determination that he would definitely do it.

“I will definitely do it, Mr. President.”

* * *

Starting the next day, the Superconductivity Research Institute was established, operating independently from the National Technology Agency.

To avoid public attention, the research institute decided to use a building in the suburbs of Gyeonggi Province that was formerly used by the National Intelligence Service.

A total of 30 people.

Each person was assigned a personal bodyguard to protect their safety and prevent information leaks.

When I first recruited people, they were hesitant when I told them I was going to provide personal security, but after seeing the actual superconductor technology samples, they all changed their tune.

If researchers participate in the study of this technology, they know better than anyone else how much their value will increase.

A week after the lab was created, I visited it.

The lab’s security was triple-layered and no one was allowed to enter except for researchers and those with government permission.

Inside the lab, they were busy with research without even knowing I was coming.

Perhaps because I came suddenly without prior notice, everyone was so absorbed in their research that they didn’t even realize I was coming.

I quietly called out to Professor Do Min-gu, who had been researching most passionately.

He looks at me with surprise, bows his head and greets me.

“Oh, Mr. President. How could you come here without saying anything?”

“If I talk to you for no reason, won’t it interfere with your research? Can I have a cup of coffee for a moment?”

“Oh, yes. I was planning to take a break anyway.”

I quietly went into the director’s office with him, so as not to disturb the other researchers.

Inside, he brews a cup of coffee and hands it to me.

I spoke while taking a sip of the coffee he handed me.

“It’s delicious, sir. What do you think? Do you think the research will go well?”

He also took a sip of his coffee and answered me.

“To be honest, it’s beyond my imagination.”

“Is this beyond your imagination?”

“Yes. This is the first time I’ve seen such perfect technology. In fact, when papers or books written in this way are actually applied, various problems tend to arise, but these don’t have any of those problems at all.”

He continues talking with a look of surprise on his face.

“To be honest, it feels like I’m encountering alien technology. I’ve had to reflect a lot on myself, not knowing that there are researchers of this level in Korea.”

‘That person doesn’t exist, so it’s natural that you don’t know… … .’

I thought about that and told him.

“Don’t worry about the budget. This project is the most important technology project among national technology projects. We will somehow squeeze out an unlimited budget.”

“Thank you. The employees who came were already surprised by the salary and other things. They said they never thought they would receive this much salary from a government agency.”

Not only Professor Do Min-gu, but all the researchers were brought in with the best treatment.

Of course, it was partly because all the researchers we brought were excellent people, but it also included the cost of having to endure the inconvenience of having to live with security for the next few years.

‘The moment this technology is commercialized, the cost of entering this research lab will be like a grain of sand on a white beach.’

I finished my coffee and asked him.

“Director Do Min-gu, so how long do you think this project will take?”

He thinks for a moment and then answers me.

“Three years… no, two years and six months is definitely possible.”

“Are you sure?”

He answered with a confident look.

“I’m sure. I’ll bet my entire research career on it.”

For researchers, it was a sure thing that they would put their entire research career on the line.

I finished the rest of my coffee and got up from my seat.

“I ask for your continued support. The future of the Republic of Korea depends on you and the researchers here.”

He speaks confidently, telling her not to worry.

“Don’t worry, Mr. President. I will do it.”

“Then I will believe it and go for it.”

There are only two years and six months left until South Korea becomes the world’s only superpower.