Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 179



Only Krnovel

#179 Are you not planning on filing a patent?

October 1951.

It has been less than a month since the long gunfire stopped in Asia.

Even after the war ended, mainland China was still in disarray, but it would become stable over time.

And now is the time for Korea to focus less on the outside and strengthen its internal stability.

In preparation for next year’s presidential election, Syngman Rhee’s Liberal Democratic Party had already put up its sign, and the Republican Party, which can be said to be the de facto ruling party, also opened its doors amid congratulations from all walks of life.

“Hehehe! I have become And the chairpersons and friends of a certain age will also not be interested.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“We are people of the past. “It is right to put new alcohol in new bottles, and that is desirable.”

“If that’s the case… … .”

While chatting with Kim Gu for the first time in a while, Lee Kang-cheol asked him if he would join a political party.

However, Kim Gu said that neither he nor the chairman, who was treated as an independent elder, would join the political party.

In short, I am no longer interested in real politics.

“But young people are still very interested. “It’s a bit ambiguous because of its status, but Yaksan also seems to be interested.”

“Ah, is Kim Won-bong that friend?”

“Yes, he came to me not long ago and said that it was a bit unfair for him to live alone like this and that he had interests in politics.”

“Well, Yaksan is young, in his early 50s now.”

“ha ha ha! You may say he was young in your time as president, but in our time, people in their 50s are considered elders. Anyway, the world has changed, so if you are young now, you are young. “For now, he said he plans to join the Republican Party.”

“This means that a big name will join our party.”

There are countless people whose life paths changed dramatically as history was rewritten by the expeditionary force, but the most representative person among them was Yaksan Kim Won-bong.

Kim Won-bong was a person who carried out the anti-Japanese armed struggle with a passion second to none until the Japanese colonial period, and whose achievements and status were also unrivaled.

However, in the chaos after liberation, they tried so hard to establish a nest in the south, but in the end, half of their own will, they went to the north and met a miserable end, and were not recognized by either the South or the North.

And the person who provided the biggest reason for that to happen was Noh Deok-sul, a vicious pro-Japanese police officer.

He suffered the humiliation of being arrested by Noh Deok-sul after being identified as the person behind the general strike in March 1947.

Although it was not clearly confirmed, it was even said that he was even slapped on the cheek by Noh Deok-sul, so it would not be difficult to guess how Kim Won-bong felt.

Even during the Japanese colonial period, he was so new that he never suffered such humiliation. However, in his liberated homeland, he was humiliated by Noh Deok-sul, a pro-Japanese police officer who was so vicious that he was put on the list of the worst evils of the anti-Japanese organization Uiyeoldan, which he led.

In any case, in this history, Noh Deok-sul, who would bring him humiliation, was captured by the expeditionary force and met a miserable end along with the torturer ghost Ha Pan-rak.

Moreover, there was no such thing as a chaotic political situation after liberation.

Therefore, Kim Won-bong was living a peaceful time as a big man in the Senate, and was very friendly to the current government.

In Kim Gyu-sik’s words, his temperament, which favored military force, seemed to fit well with the current government that was expanding by conquering Manchuria and defeating the Soviet Union with overwhelming force.

“During the provisional government period, we had quarreled with each other over various issues, but fundamentally, he is a person with ability and a great heart for the country and people. “I think your personality matches well with the President, so I hope you can treat me well.”

“I will do that.”

“Anyway, how is the Liberal Democratic Party doing?”

“Well, it looks like Mr. Woonam, Yun Chi-young, Jang Taek-sang, Jo Byeong-ok, etc. are all working hard.”

“Park Heon-young, I heard that person also joined?”

“Yes, they are working hard to get after us.”

“Tsk tsk! “I heard that friend was always a bit lost in history, but he got the street number wrong again this time.”

“ha ha ha! “Yes, that is true.”

“It’s a shame. No matter how much I shake it off, there’s no way anything will come out… … .”

“I guess so.”

“Brother Woonam, by the way, I don’t know why you’re acting like that because you didn’t just join the Senate and spend your later years comfortably. “If it were the position of Senate President, I would give it as much as I want.”

“Oh my! Don’t say things like that. I’m getting tired. And, it’s not that bad to have a big name like Mr. Woo-nam in the opposition party. “It clearly shows that our country is a democratic country.”

“Hehehe! Is that so?”

“That’s right. Oh, since you’re here, I’ve prepared dinner, so let’s eat it together. “My wife also wanted to meet you.”

“ha ha ha! Thank you.”

* * *

October 23rd.

It has already been seven and a half years since the expeditionary force recovered the Korean Peninsula, and the economy and industry of the Republic of Korea were developing at a dizzying rate.

At the time of restoration, the Korean peninsula was spared the battlefield and had the industrial base created by Japanese colonial rule, as well as enormous funds and supplies received from the United States from the beginning.

In addition, there was future technology, knowledge, and experience brought by the expeditionary force, and there were even enormous underground resources in the territories acquired from Manchuria and the Soviet Union, so there was no reason not to develop rapidly.

And today is the day when one of those fruits finally comes out into the world.

It is a commemorative day when the first domestic automobile is launched.

Although American jeeps, trucks, and buses have been assembled and produced under license for several years, today’s car is the first in which almost everything, including the engine, has been domestically produced.

“one! two! three!”

Clap clap clap!

As Lee Kang-cheol and other distinguished guests cut the ribbon, Segi Motors’ first domestically produced vehicle was launched with a flash of light.

However, the reaction was divided into two types.

“Oooh! “Great!”

People of this era raved about how great the car was.

“Uh, huh? “Is that Letona?”

This is the reaction of the expedition team members.

This is because the released car was almost similar to Retona.

“Hoo? “Is this similar to Letona?”

Lee Kang-cheol asked the CEO of Segi Motors with an interested expression.

“That’s right. “It was made based on Letona’s blueprint, so the exterior is almost similar.”

“Does this also come for military use?”

“Yes, the military jeep is scheduled to go into mass production starting next month.”

“The appearance is similar, but how is the performance?”

“It’s exactly about Letona. “The diesel engine horsepower is the same.”

“Oh oh! Is that possible? “It comes out a few decades ahead of time?”

“The Retona came out in 1995, and at that time, the level of our country’s automobile industry was a bit… … .”

“ah… … .”

“… … .”

In short, because Korea’s automobile industry was underdeveloped at the time, Retona’s performance was so-so, and it was not very difficult to develop a vehicle with that level of performance.

“Hmm, I see.”

“Yes, I didn’t think of Retona as the first domestically produced vehicle for nothing. Although it can be used for military purposes and road conditions have improved tremendously, unpaved roads are still common even if you go to rural areas. That’s why I chose the jeep shape. Moreover, it was not technically difficult. Of course, you can think of it as being far ahead of the existing Willys Jeep.”

“okay.”

“Yes, for now, we plan to produce several variations based on this Retona. “This vehicle is originally a 6-seater, but in the future, the body will be extended to produce a 7-seater or 9-seater.”

“It doesn’t seem that bad at first.”

It was definitely not a bad choice.

Lee Kang-cheol looked inside the car, saw the seat belt, and asked.

“It’s equipped with a three-point belt as standard?”

“Yes, it is. “Minister Kim Ho-jin has strongly requested that Min Soo-yong must wear a three-point seat belt.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Yes, all American vehicles we produce under license are also equipped with two-point belts. The Minister said that he plans to legislate mandatory seat belts within a few years. So, of course, it is installed from the time of production.”

“ha ha ha! As expected, you are our Minister-General. By the way, isn’t there a need for a patent or something for this? “A three-point belt.”

“The two-point meal is already out there. Although it is still 20 years before it is fully applied. The three-point belt, which is also used in modern times, was developed by Volvo’s Nielsen Bolin in 1958 and began to be applied to some Volvo vehicles in 1959. So you don’t have to worry about patent issues. “We have no intention of paying it either.”

“ah! “Are you not planning on filing a patent?”

“Yes, Volvo didn’t pay either.”

“is it so?”

“Yes, they said it was for people’s safety and did not pay it. “Other than seat belts, it was an unwritten rule that automobile safety technologies should not be patented unless they were very special.”

“oh! okay.”

“Anyway, application was a matter of perception. “Wearing seat belts is a huge hassle for people, whether in our future or now.”

“Hoo?”

“It was in 1968 that the United States enacted a federal law requiring seat belts. “It wasn’t until 1984 that passengers were required to wear seat belts.”

“Hey? “Is it really not that much?”

Come to think of it, Lee Kang-cheol himself seemed to have never worn a seat belt when he was young.

“If you think about it, humans are truly foolish beings. “Seat belts are responsible for saving our precious lives.”

“okay. Anyway, well done. So, what’s the next model? When will the passenger sedan be released?”

“The sedan should last another two years. “We are developing it based on the Pony and the first-generation Grandeur, but it has fallen behind in priority.”

“So, will another car model come out first?”

“Yes, the one and a quarter ton truck, commonly called the Three Quarter or Dodge, will be released early next year, followed by the two and a half ton truck.”

“Hmm, that takes priority.”

“And for commercial vehicles, buses and porters are given priority. Only after that will a passenger sedan come out. This is a request from the government. “The priorities right now are military buses, buses that can transport a large number of people, and commercial trucks.”

“Of course. Anyway, safety always comes first. Please make a sturdy car.”

“Of course, Mr. President.”

“You should also think about exports.”

“Yes, we build cars based on Hyundai’s older models, but these are very advanced cars for this era. I am sure it will be a great success.”

“ha ha ha! “That is a very welcome sound.”

There is no industry with as great an impact as the automobile industry.

Starting from related raw material companies, the number of employees themselves is enormous.

Lee Kang-cheol had no intention of making concessions in industries such as aviation, automobiles, and shipbuilding, even to the United States.

It will truly be the best food in Korea.