The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 145



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Episode 145 Cartel (4)

The chief secretary exploded with anger.

The telecommunications cartel was still strong, and today they were having a drink in a friendly atmosphere.

“The Chairman is having a hard time. “Please try a little harder.”

“What is there to suffer? Just listen with one ear and let it go.”

“thank you. We ask for your continued support. “I’m just sorry that you have to go through so much trouble even after you step down from your position as chairman.”

“Hehe, it’s definitely something we have to do for the future of the Korean telecommunications industry.”

The presidential term lasts at most five years.

The term of office of the chairman of the Korea Broadcasting Commission is shorter, three years.

What he meant was that the telecommunications cartel would take responsibility for his life after that.

Even if you move to each company as an honorary advisor for 3 years, you will have a stable income for at least 10 years, so how could you refuse?

The price of hearing one curse word will make your life easier for 10 years.

So, I was able to endure the fact that the chief secretary came and cursed me.

“Anyway, I heard that the President’s Chief of Staff is very hot-tempered. Chairman, your ears will be noisy for a while.”

“There are only a few years left in this administration’s term. There is talk that it will be a lame duck next year, so wouldn’t it be okay to just wait a few more months? “Hehehe.”

“The president’s approval rating has also fallen significantly. Even in the second half of this year, the power of the president will not be the same as before.”

The presidential system of the Republic of Korea possessed imperial power.

It was possible to enjoy such power because of the support of the people.

If the approval rating fell below 30%, the foundation of power was bound to be shaken.

If the 20% line was broken, it didn’t matter if the Blue House’s voice was ignored.

“I’m more concerned about Super Section 301. “If Super Section 301 is officially activated in the United States, won’t the problem become bigger?”

“If you think about the foreign exchange crisis, you will understand. At that time, Super 301 was activated in the automobile industry, but didn’t it eventually disappear? “You can think of it as having pulled out the Super 301 trillion card just to scare them.”

“So you don’t know?”

“Hmm, only the chairman should know. We’ve already sent a lobbyist. “You can rest assured that the medicine will be distributed evenly throughout the White House and political circles.”

“As expected, you have thought of a solution. “Then I’ll just be cursed hard!”

There was a reason to laugh and chat and enjoy drinking.

The telecommunications cartel was in constant communication with American politicians.

In addition, they were confident that the Super 301 Section issue would be resolved sooner or later as they had invested a huge amount of lobbying funds.

“Then shall we shout out a toast today? Taewoo Group!”

“for!”

It was a telecommunications cartel confident of victory.

They enjoyed drinking again today, shouting toasts mocking the Taewo Group.

***

It was Chairman Kyung-jun Jang of Hyunjae Motors, whom I see often these days.

As soon as he took out the Super 301 trillion card in the US, he contacted me, and I had dinner with him today.

“I don’t know why the spark suddenly jumped to the automobile industry. “Why does our automobile industry have to suffer this humiliation because of problems in the telecommunications industry?”

“Isn’t the automobile industry easy? I feel like dying too. “Samjin Electronics and CL Electronics produce mobile phones, but Taewoo Electronics withdrew its mobile phone division a long time ago.”

For now, I remained ignorant.

I had to keep people from knowing that I had caused the Super Article 301 issue, but I was able to attract Chairman Jang Kyung-jun as an ally.

“Whew, but the United States really won’t officially invoke Super Section 301, right? “Currently, we are even considering filing a WTO complaint.”

“The United States is showing that it is possible to withdraw from the WTO. “If the problem becomes serious, no one knows how the situation will change.”

“They say that the Blue House also received an order to ease WIPI regulations, but why is there no movement?”

“You don’t know much about telecommunications cartels. “They had enough power to override even the president’s voice.”

“Well, it’s only natural that the four top 10 companies in the business world have joined forces.”

There were three companies in the top five in the business world.

So am I not doing this to form an alliance with the current car?

“Shouldn’t the automobile industry join forces to deal with the telecommunications cartel?”

“We are trying to create an atmosphere by using media outlets that are close to us.”

“Taewoo Group is also trying to publish an article attacking the telecommunications cartel.”

As expected, the hands and feet fit together well.

There are limits to the Taewoo Group’s ability to play media alone, but if Hyunjae Group also works together, public opinion could be sufficiently influenced.

“Hmm, how about scaring the IMF that they could come back with Super 301 trillion?”

“That’s a very good idea. Additionally, we plan to bring to the forefront the issue of data rates in the telecommunications industry. “Wouldn’t it be effective if we let people know how much stronger the Korean telecommunications industry has become compared to other countries?”

“The media alone is not enough. Let’s move to the political world. “I will call all the politicians who are close to the current car group.”

“We will mobilize all the politicians who can move this time.”

Although Taewoo Group is ranked No. 1 in the business world.

Previously, Hyunjae Group was firmly maintaining its No. 1 position in the business world.

Therefore, many politicians maintained close relationships with the Hyunjae Group, and if they could be mobilized for this fight, they could see the effect of gaining a thousand soldiers and ten thousand horses.

***

After a strategy meeting with Chairman Jang Kyung-jun.

I returned to Taewoo Group’s headquarters and held a detailed strategy meeting with the planning office staff.

“The number of customers who want the iPhone to be released must increase 10 times compared to now for their voices to be heard all the way to Yeouido.”

“iPhone sales in the U.S. are breaking new records every day. Thanks to this, the number of calls to Taewoo Electronics stores inquiring about the launch of the iPhone has increased several times.”

“That alone is not enough. How many Koreans travel to and from the United States? So, I need to create an opportunity to try out the iPhone in Korea.”

“There is no way because release in Korea is prohibited.”

Although the launch of the iPhone in Korea was blocked due to the telecommunications cartel.

It was not necessary to sell iPhones so that customers would have the opportunity to use them.

“Display iPhones at all Taewoo Electronics stores. “Some of the initial quantity will be used as exhibition products.”

“It’s a very clever trick. Although its release has been banned, exhibitions have not been banned, so we will display the iPhone at home appliance stores right now. However, if we use the initial quantity as an exhibition product, we will have to bear all the costs.”

“Of course we have to bear that kind of cost burden. “You can make more money once it’s released, so think of the exhibition as a promotional expense.”

“We will proceed to display the iPhone in stores nationwide by tomorrow.”

It was said that seeing is better than knowing.

Hearing something a hundred times is worse than seeing it once.

If you could see and touch the iPhone in person at a home appliance store, it was natural that demand would surge.

“And we need to target students who are sensitive to trends. Set up iPhone promotion halls at major universities across the country.”

“Wireless Internet is required to set up a promotional center.”

“Then, please install wireless internet at the university.”

“It is too expensive a task.”

“Anyway, when the iPhone is released, wireless Internet problems are bound to arise. There is no harm in building a wireless Internet infrastructure now.”

Currently, Korea has a better high-speed Internet network than any other country.

However, in the case of wireless Internet, it may be an unfamiliar concept because it has not yet become popular.

Therefore, universities had to install wireless Internet and make students aware of the convenience of wireless Internet.

“We will establish promotional centers starting from famous universities across the country and gradually expand them.”

“Go as fast as you can. “Only when the number of customers who want the iPhone increases will we be able to accelerate the launch of the iPhone by at least a day.”

“We will deploy all members of the planning department.”

One by one, operations were implemented to put pressure on the telecommunications cartels.

There were still several operations I had planned.

In particular, the operation to attack the inside rather than the outside has not even begun yet.

***

Apple’s Vice President Tony visited Korea.

He was in charge of all purchasing tasks, and transactions with Korean companies such as semiconductors and LCD panels were also part of his job.

Samjin Electronics and CL Electronics moved simultaneously to entertain him.

Tony wanted to meet the Samjin Electronics representative and the CL Electronics representative at the same time, which was unusual.

“I heard that two companies are blocking the launch of the iPhone in Korea. “The iPhone imports a lot of semiconductors from Samjin Electronics and also uses LCDs from CL Electronics, so I don’t understand why they are implementing such a policy.”

“… … .”

These were the people in charge who had nothing to say.

Their positions were executive level, so they weren’t people who would be taken advantage of, but since there was a conflict of interest with the client, there was no way to explain it.

“Do you think of Apple as a competitor rather than a customer? If so, we have no choice but to revise our parts procurement plan. “We have no choice but to exclude Samjin Electronics and CL Electronics as semiconductor and LCD companies.”

“Isn’t there already a contract in place? “You cannot unilaterally terminate the contract.”

“Are you saying that now? I think they’re thinking of filing a lawsuit if we break the contract. Please give it a try. There is no reason to avoid lawsuits with companies that keep their customers in check. “Let’s fight it in an American court!”

Those in charge did not want the situation to escalate like this.

Apple itself was not scary, but if the lawsuit escalated, there was a high possibility that it would take action in the United States.

“We are absolutely not trying to keep Apple in check. “It is just being delayed because the situation in Korea is not right.”

“Then that’s a relief. We plan to sign a new contract for parts for 3 million units. And the second and third contracts must also proceed. However, if this problem is not resolved, I will have to leave for Japan to sign a parts contract. Please take that into consideration.”

The people in charge had their eyes wide open when they heard that there were 3 million units.

Although I heard that the iPhone was extremely popular in the United States, I did not expect that 3 million additional units would be produced.

Mobile division guys!

Why do they cause problems and I have to fix them!

The person in charge of Samjin Electronics was an executive in the semiconductor division.

This incident took place in the mobile division and had nothing to do with him.

The CL Electronics representative was also the same.

He was part of the LCD division and had nothing to do with the telecommunications cartel.

“We will do our best to resolve this issue amicably.”

“There will have to be a conclusion quickly. If the Korean launch does not proceed within this month, we will not only terminate the contract but also sign a new contract with a Japanese company for the entire product. “With a company that doesn’t compete with its customers.”

Samjin Electronics and CL Electronics also had factions.

This incident became the starting point of a war between factions.