The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 144



Only Krnovel

Episode 144 cartel (3)

The long-awaited June has arrived.

The iPhone was released at the beginning of the second half of 2001.

As expectations were raised to the highest level at CES, there was an explosive response.

However, the scale of the explosion was unexpected.

Consumer electronics stores across the United States were crowded with people to purchase the iPhone, and there were even tourists from Europe, where the product had not yet been released, who came to the United States to purchase the iPhone.

The planning director reported all such situations to me.

I had to feel both happy and bitter.

“It was a huge hit in the U.S., but we can’t even release it in Korea.”

“The telecommunications cartel is strongly blocking the launch of the iPhone. “The reason we started the WIPI installation regulation a month early, which was scheduled for July, was entirely to keep the iPhone in check.”

I never thought the iPhone launch itself would be blocked.

It was a telecommunications cartel that lobbied the political world and the Korea Broadcasting Commission on a large scale.

Since even Samjin Electronics and CL Electronics have joined the lobby, it is only natural that the political world is moving.

There was a justification in the political world as well.

Protection of domestic products.

The justification was that if the iPhone was introduced, domestic mobile phone companies would suffer a huge blow, so they had to be blocked.

To be honest, it was a ridiculous justification.

Because the telecommunications cartel was supporting the rear, they were able to push hard, and eventually succeeded in preventing the launch of the iPhone in Korea.

“How many iPhones were brought into Korea?”

“The initial batch of 100,000 units arrived last week.”

100,000 was not a small number.

In particular, since the initial quantity was only 100,000 units, the longer the Korean launch was delayed, the more damage Apple and Taewo Group suffered.

“It’s a really funny situation to have something but not be able to sell it.”

“If the regulations are lifted, sales are possible right now. However, the telecommunications cartel is doing its best to block it, so it is unclear whether it will be possible to launch it within this year.”

He was the planning director full of worries.

On the other hand, I wasn’t too worried.

“Let’s wait a little longer. Things will change within this month at the latest. “If the iPhone creates a craze in the American market, wouldn’t Korean customers naturally demand the release of the iPhone?”

“The number of customers inquiring about the launch of the iPhone already exceeds thousands per day.”

In order to defeat the telecommunications cartel, we also needed a cartel.

It was also important to decide whose side the customer who purchased the mobile phone would take.

As the number of customers who want the iPhone to be released increases, the telecommunications cartel’s justification becomes weaker.

“The more the iPhone craze spreads, the more advantageous it becomes for us. So, at the Taewoo Group level, please do your best to promote the iPhone.”

“Taew Home Appliances Mart, which has already entered the U.S., is promoting the iPhone on a large scale.”

“Increase your promotional expenses. “Even if we leave it alone, a frenzy will occur, but we need to speed up the pace.”

***

The telecommunications cartel has met again.

It was a meeting in which telecommunications companies, Samjin, and CL Electronics, excluding Taewo Telecommunications, participated.

They gave a toast and looked cheerful.

“Thanks to WIPI, I look forward to the development of Korea’s telecommunications industry!”

“It’s all thanks to the chairman’s concern.”

They praised each other sincerely.

It’s good for electronics companies because they can maintain their cell phone sales by preventing the release of the iPhone.

In the case of telecommunication companies, it was good because they could extract more data charges by blocking wireless Internet.

And in the case of the Korea Broadcasting Commission, everyone was happy because they were able to receive support from the telecommunications cartel, so sincere compliments could be exchanged.

“Taewoo Group is in good shape. “Wouldn’t we soon come down from the top spot in the telecommunications industry?”

“It won’t be difficult if Samjin and CL Electronics help. “Please take good care of us starting with this new product.”

“Taewoo Communications plans to give a slight penalty. Still, we can’t stop the supply itself, so wouldn’t it be okay if we couldn’t use the name of the new product?”

“Just as Hong Gil-dong cannot call his father ‘father,’ Taewo Telecommunications should call his cell phone by its unique number instead of its name! “This is a very good method!”

Cell phones had various names.

The name of Samjin Electronics’ new product was Anical.

However, if Samjin Electronics did not allow the name Anyical, Taewo Communications had to promote it as SCH-480 instead of the name Anyical.

Although I couldn’t see it as such a big penalty.

It could cause great confusion to customers, and of course, it was a factor in Taewoo Communications’ market share falling.

In a mean and childish way.

However, the telecommunications cartel was a large group that did not care about what others thought.

That’s why I didn’t feel any shame even though I used mean and childish methods.

“By the way, you call the iPhone a smartphone? Will the trend of the times change from feature phones to smartphones?”

“People tend to prefer familiar devices. And why do you need a smartphone when you have a laptop? “At CL, we are not even thinking about the smartphone business.”

“It is said that the response in the United States is enthusiastic, but it is just an ember that will soon be extinguished. “You might like it at first because it’s novel, but eventually you’ll realize there’s no reason to pay the high price for an iPhone.”

It was a telecommunications cartel that was skeptical about entering the smartphone market.

In the case of electronics companies, they had no intention of abandoning feature phones, which already had a high global market share.

Telecommunications companies had an advantage with feature phones in order to maintain expensive data plans.

“I’ll give you a glass each.”

“Shall we shout out a toast for the first time in a while?”

“Do you have a good toast?”

“Shouldn’t we take care of Taewoo Group, who couldn’t attend today’s meeting?”

“That’s a really good idea.”

[Taewoo Group!]

[for!]

It was a telecommunications cartel that shouted a toast to the Taewo Group.

When a few more drinks were going around.

Vice-minister-level employees of the Korea Broadcasting Commission and head-level personnel from each company hurriedly entered the meeting place at the same time.

“The United States has activated Super Section 301.”

“What does that mean? “Are you saying that the United States activated Super Section 301 against Korea?”

“That’s right. We condemned the regulations blocking the release of the iPhone and invoked Super Section 301 against Korean mobile phone and automobile companies.”

Super 301 trillion.

It was a law that stipulated unlimited retaliation against countries that interfered with its interests.

If Super Article 301 is officially activated, Korean cell phones and cars will no longer be able to be sold in the United States.

The Korean economy was about to falter.

It was also something that made everyone in the telecommunications cartel think of the foreign exchange crisis at the same time.

***

That evening.

I toasted with David in Captain Kang’s office.

“thank you for your effort. “I thought it would take some time because President Bush had a negative stance on Super Section 301, but thanks to David’s efforts, it was activated today.”

“This was thanks to the popularity of the iPhone. Thanks to that, we were able to move the White House without difficulty.”

I gave a huge amount of donations to the Bush camp.

Even so, I couldn’t have caused something as big as Super 301 trillion on my own.

This was possible because each other’s interests coincided.

The United States naturally wanted the development of its own companies.

We wanted the iPhone to be released in Korea, so there was no conflict of interest at all.

“The Korean government must be very upset. “I was aiming to graduate early from the IMF, but suddenly I encountered an obstacle called Super 301.”

“I heard through the line that all high-ranking officials have been summoned to the Blue House. But I have one question. Why did you ask to include the mobile phone and automobile industries in Super Section 301? “Isn’t this a huge loss to Taewo Group, which owns an automobile company?”

“That’s how we can gather our allies.”

In order to deal with the telecommunications cartel, we also needed a cartel.

If the telecom cartel was created for mutual benefit, we should have come together to prevent losses.

What if automobile exports to the U.S. are blocked due to Super 301 trillion?

Naturally, the current car was bound to protest.

To deal with Samjin Electronics and CL Electronics, shouldn’t there be an alliance between Taewoo Group and Hyunjae Auto Group?

“For no reason, the current car just stayed still and got hit by a spark.”

“You’ve been hit by a spark, so you need someone to vent your anger on. “The telecommunications cartel that caused this incident is the perfect target for anger.”

“And there will also be a split in the telecom cartels. “Telecommunications companies will not lose money, but mobile phone companies will suffer a huge loss in sales if sales to the US are blocked, right?”

“How many cell phones will be sold in Korea’s small land mass? “If U.S. sales are blocked, sales will be cut in half.”

If the telecom cartel uses the Korea Broadcasting Commission.

All I had to do was use the White House to counterattack.

I didn’t want to make this choice either.

Because it was something that could have a huge impact on the Korean economy. But what made me like this was the telecommunications cartel.

“But wouldn’t the telecom cartel also strike back? Telecommunications cartels have the financial power to lobby on a large scale in American politics.”

“It might be possible in other cases. “But this matter is interfering with the interests of companies in their own country, so which politician would accept such lobbying?”

“If the telecom cartel doesn’t back down, we won’t be able to launch the iPhone.”

“Is that going to happen? If that happens, not only the United States but also its allies will stop importing Korean cell phones and cars. “It’s not that sales are cut in half, it’s that they are cut in half.”

Also called secondary boycott.

It was a method called third-party sanctions that made even countries allied with the United States follow Super Section 301.

It was an unthinkable method for other countries, but it was entirely possible for the United States.

“We need the power of public opinion to push the telecommunications cartel further. “We will join forces with Hyuncha and publish articles attacking the telecommunications cartel.”

“And try to stimulate foreign mobile phone companies that cannot enter Korea due to WIPI. “If they also issue a joint statement, the telecom cartel will have no choice.”

I was threatening the telecommunications cartel with the Korean economy as collateral.

If the telecommunications cartel tried to beat me, the Korean economy would collapse.

It was a fight I had no choice but to win. Why would you touch someone who is still like that?

***

The President’s Chief of Staff visited Kang Dae-ki, Chairman of the Korea Broadcasting Commission.

Although they were two people who were treated at the same ministerial level, the one who bowed his head was Chairman Kang Dae-gi.

Even at the same ministerial level, the chief of staff was second in power, and his voice was also the voice of the president.

“How are you doing your job, so you’re saying you’re going to invoke Super 301 in the U.S.? “Stop regulating WIPI or something right now.”

“WIPI is needed to protect domestic companies and provide convenience to customers.”

“Domestic company? Speak clearly. “It may be necessary for a few companies that are close to the Korea Broadcasting Commission.”

The secretary’s voice was full of anger.

Someone was going through all the hardships to graduate early from the IMF, but when an accident occurred in the wrong place, their anger exploded.