The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 205



Only Krnovel

Episode 205 Shock and Awe (4)

Lithium Triangle.

More than 50% of the world’s lithium reserves were located here.

Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

However, it was a time when there was not yet much interest in the lithium triangle.

In particular, the method of collecting from salt lakes such as the Uyuni Salt Desert was very inefficient due to the large amount of impurities.

However, the moment when the era of smartphones and electric vehicles arrives.

The amount of lithium used will increase exponentially, and even if efficiency is low, it will become economically feasible.

And as lithium extraction technology developed, efficiency was also expected to increase.

“As the Vice Chairman said, we are in the process of negotiating with lithium production sites in Central and South American countries, including the Uyuni Desert. “We have secured mining rights for some deposits, and can acquire business jurisdiction for more than 10 additional deposits within this month.”

“How long is business jurisdiction?”

“We will conduct exploration and development for 7 years and have production rights for 20 years.”

“20 years is a little short. Even if you spend more money, try extending the period to at least 30 years and up to 50 years.”

20 years was too short.

20 years from now, smartphones and electric cars will be everywhere.

Lithium prices will begin to skyrocket in earnest, and the lithium mining business rights will have to be handed over to Central and South American countries.

We can’t do all the exploration and development and then hand it over to a strict guy.

So, even if I had to spend more money and extend the period, I could get greater benefits.

“The period can be extended, but the price of the business license becomes too high. Even now, over 2 trillion won has been spent.”

“Is that all you wrote? You can use all of Taewoo Electronics, Taewoo Communications, and Taewoo Motors’ in-house reserves, so secure the lithium mining business rights. “At least 30 years.”

Taewoo Group’s internal reserves were overflowing.

Among Korean companies, a lot of internal reserves were used for dividends and stock purchases.

Because there was a lot of money being made, the company’s reserves accumulated every year, and it now holds more than 30 trillion won in reserves.

However, it could never be considered a large amount.

Because the internal reserves were funds to prepare for the group’s future.

It was a fund for when an economic crisis such as the foreign exchange crisis occurred again, and if the company’s reserves ran out, the group might have to operate with debt as before the foreign exchange crisis.

“Vice Chairman, if the company’s reserves are used to purchase a mine, the stock price is likely to fall. Mine development is ultimately a gamble. “Shareholders will not be happy if the money meant for the group’s future is invested excessively in gambling.”

“Because we don’t know the value of lithium, we call it gambling. Lithium is not a gamble but closer to a bonanza. “Wouldn’t it be foolish to not dig up a gold mine when you know there is gold buried there?”

“I understand, Vice President. We are currently purchasing business rights for various raw material mines as well as lithium mines. All in-house reserves may be used to secure mining business rights. “This is a country-level amount, not a company-level amount.”

Right now, it is a business that is losing money.

And it may take more than 10 years to see profits.

However, it is a business that can make more than 10 times more in just 10 years, so how could you not invest in it?

In fact, it was nice not to see much profit from raw materials.

This was an investment to prevent Taewoo Group’s growth from being blocked due to raw material supply and demand issues.

“The reserves will continue to accumulate every quarter, so shareholders will not be too worried. Rather, please focus on securing more raw material mining concessions by consulting with the Korean government and South American government negotiating teams. “I will take full responsibility!”

“I will. And for the first time in a long time, Taewoo Trading Company is becoming more active. “The scale of our business this quarter is the combined scale of our business over the past 10 years, so everyone is working all night long.”

“In the future, Taewo Trading Company will become a core affiliate of Taewo Group. So please take care of your pride.”

My boss was the best employer even during the foreign exchange crisis.

However, these days, the popularity of bosses has waned, and the pride of bosses with high qualifications has been cracked.

Isn’t pride ultimately about money and promotion?

As Taewo’s business division increases, the number of promotion positions increases.

And if the bonus was generous, the bosses would regain their pride and work hard.

“We will pay the same performance bonus as Taewoo Electronics.”

“And Wall Street investment companies will also invest in raw material mines equal to the amount invested by Taewo Group, so don’t worry too much.”

“It will truly be a project to secure raw material mines that can only be achieved at a national level.”

20 trillion from Taewoo Group and 20 trillion from SAVE Investment Company.

Investing as much as 40 trillion won a year in raw material mines was difficult even for most countries.

But this was just the beginning.

The plan was to increase the investment amount every year and secure raw material mines in various countries.

***

A president whose powers were suspended by the National Assembly.

And the first argument was held on March 30th.

Although many supporters protested in front of the Constitutional Court, the president did not appear at the public hearing for the impeachment trial.

This issue once again caused a fierce stir in the political world.

All attention in Yeouido and the public was focused on the impeachment trial.

Meanwhile, we received some very good news.

“The Korea-Chile FTA has gone into effect!”

“It’s barely even covered in the news.”

“We are very fortunate because there was a lot of opposition. And the government has decided to actively help us.”

“We need to achieve FTA results, but how pretty will it look if we brought the results on our own?”

“It is said that the Prime Minister is personally taking care of the mining business rights issue. And he is said to be making phone calls to Central and South American governments, including Chile.”

The Prime Minister is acting as President.

He was, after all, a politician, and he needed results for the next presidential election or his next move.

He was very active because he believed that the achievements that occurred while the president was away could be left as his legacy.

“That’s a good thing.”

“ah! And a person named Lisa from the United States contacted me saying she would visit Korea tomorrow.”

“It’s finally coming!”

I jumped up from my seat.

I couldn’t sit still when I heard the news that Lisa, the director I had been waiting for, was finally coming to Korea.

“Taewoo Electronics, Taewoo Semiconductor, and Taewoo IT. Start checking everything. “Make it the best environment, even if it means staying up all night.”

“Who is Lisa that you react so overly?”

“He is the person who will sit as president of Taewoo Electronics in the future. He is also a talented person who can take charge of overall management of semiconductors.”

“In that case, I will go directly to the affiliates and start managing them.”

The position of CEO of Taewoo Electronics could not be left vacant for long.

The previous president, Woo Seong-il, had moved to the current position of president of Taewoo Distribution, and the vacant position had to be filled with a capable person as soon as possible.

What if Lisa refuses the position of CEO of Taewoo Electronics?

Since I had to supervise and manage Taewoo Electronics while looking for the right person again, I had to hold on to her at all costs.

***

next day.

I personally went to meet Lisa at the hotel she was staying at.

The most important thing in recruiting talent was sincerity, and what could be more sincere than me, the vice president, coming to meet them at the front of the hotel?

“welcome to Korea!”

“The vice president came out to meet us in person. “I thought I’d have to go to work to see him.”

“Of course I have to step forward myself. A precious guest has come to visit, hasn’t he? How did you like the Korean hotel?”

“I was able to rest comfortably thanks to the convenience provided by Taewoo Group.”

“We will serve you comfortably, even to Taewoo Electronics.”

I opened the car door myself.

Lisa was a little embarrassed by the excessive consideration, but I really wanted to take her to Taewoo Electronics.

“This is Taewoo Electronics. You can comfortably look around and even try operating it.”

“There are quite a lot of products that I haven’t seen before.”

Taewoo Electronics Development Department.

It was a secure area where only a few people except the research team could enter.

The door to the development office was opened wide to recruit her.

As a semiconductor expert, Lisa took a close look at the product.

I spent over two hours in the development room to see if there were any products I liked.

“Taewoo Electronics’ technological capabilities are considerable. “I understand why Apple and the Arnor family collaborated with Taewoo Electronics.”

“I’m glad you liked it. However, it is also a product that still has many shortcomings. “I hope Director Lisa will fill in the gaps.”

“I won’t comment just yet. “I will tell you after looking at Taewo Semiconductor and IT.”

Lisa remained silent.

Since I was thinking this carefully, I did not continue talking and guided her to Taewo Semiconductor.

“You can see as much as you want.”

“Then I’ll look back for a moment.”

At Taewo Semiconductor, she looked around the factory without saying a word.

I subtly pushed Vice President Wei closer to her.

Since he was also from Taiwan and a semiconductor expert, I thought the conversation would be good.

However, she only briefly exchanged greetings and did not communicate separately with Vice President Wei.

“Now only Taewo IT remains. “I’ll tell you after watching Taewoo IT.”

“Then I will guide you.”

Although it was long past meal time.

No one brought up the meal first.

Even in the moving car, the serious atmosphere continued without any conversation.

“This is Taewo IT. “Unlike Taewoo Electronics or Semiconductor, this is an office with a free atmosphere.”

“The building and atmosphere are reminiscent of Silicon Valley.”

“Most developers can communicate in English, so feel free to browse around.”

“Then I’ll look around by myself for a while.”

She smiled and chatted with the developers.

We also talked about ongoing projects.

We also discussed the future direction and the interconnectedness between semiconductor development and IT technology development.

She came back after talking for a while.

However, she was smiling the entire time she was talking to the developers, but the moment she turned her head, the smile disappeared from her mouth.

“Hmm, Taewo Group is definitely a good company, but it’s not that attractive to me. “It seems very different from the direction I am pursuing, and people’s thoughts are so rigid that I don’t think they will follow my lead.”

“Are you saying you will refuse the position of president of Taewoo Electronics?”

“maybe… … “I think so.”

Should we lose the right person like this?

I quickly checked her details and peculiarities, but I could not see any way to catch her.

That moment! A spark of hope came to me.

Cheon Min-jeong, who can be seen as the actual person in charge of Taewoo IT, was approaching us.

“While the vice president was on a business trip overseas, he came up with many ideas. In particular, he came up with many ideas related to artificial intelligence algorithms. What kind of idea is this… … .”

Am I the only one who sees Cheon Min-jeong?

Even though Lisa was next to me, I poured out ideas without any hesitation.

I didn’t really stop her, but just listened to Lisa and her ideas.