The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 220



Only Krnovel

220. Time to choose (4)

The Korea-Russia Resources Cooperation Committee was held.

It has been reported in the media that this cooperation committee is not a meeting that only catches the wind like before, but a meeting that focuses on more specific and actionable projects.

As expected, the names of those who attended were amazing.

On the Russian side, people with real power, such as ministers and CEOs of energy companies, attended.

On the Korean side, in response, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, President of KEPCO, and Taejoong Kim, Chairman of Taewoong Group, attended the cooperation committee.

That’s how the cooperation committee started.

As with all meetings, the meeting began in a friendly atmosphere.

However, as soon as we got to the main topic, our interests clashed.

“Russia has approximately 80 billion barrels of oil and over 1,600 tons of natural gas! They say they will give a chance to a country like Korea that does not have underground resources, but why are they being so passive?”

“Rather than passively taking action, shouldn’t we have a more in-depth conversation and make a decision?”

“If things continue like this, development rights may be transferred to Japan or China!”

“I’m not saying I won’t participate in development! I will participate unconditionally, but don’t we need to discuss what scale we should start with?”

The Russian side came out strong.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy also tried to respond strongly, but Lee Sang-woo, CEO of Korea Electric Power Corporation, dissuaded the Minister.

This was because the future of KEPCO depended on it.

As the deficit was increasing every year, a new breakthrough had to be found, and the development of the Russian Far East region was sufficient to provide a breakthrough.

“Come on, come on! Let’s not fight too much and find a way to coexist. Is it really okay to behave in an indecent manner in front of the guests we had such a hard time serving?”

“What kind of clever plan does Chairman Kim Tae-joong have?”

Attention was focused on Chairman Kim Tae-joong.

Even though he was the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, he could not raise his voice to Chairman Kim Tae-jung.

Since he was a business giant who was once called the president’s mentor, he had to be polite.

“We can’t send away guests who have come a long way empty-handed, right? We need to give them a clear answer as to whether or not they will participate in the development of the Russian Far East.”

“KEPCO naturally plans to participate. Since this is a project that is not supported by KEPCO’s financial power alone, we are looking for ways to raise investment funds.”

“Taewoo Group will also participate. And Taewoo Group will take the lead in attracting money not only from Korean financial companies but also from Wall Street in the United States.”

“If Taewoo Group takes the lead, we will follow behind unconditionally!”

The Russian side is receiving the opinions of Chairman Kim Tae-jung and KEPCO President Lee Sang-woo through an interpreter.

As the content progressed positively, I smiled and joined the conversation.

“If you give us a confirmation, we will sign an MOU right now and establish a corporation or branch in Korea to enable smooth communication.”

“What do you think, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, as Russia is coming out so actively?”

“Hmm, the Korean government also wants to move in the direction of closer energy cooperation with Russia.”

The conversation continued as if riding a tailwind.

Russia actively appealed by opening up information on oil, natural gas, and minerals buried in the Far East.

It was something that made the Koreans’ mouths drop.

KEPCO President Lee Sang-koo even showed signs of rushing to Russia right away to develop the Far East region.

But the tailwind only ends here.

The Russian side imposed somewhat unreasonable conditions.

“There are a significant number of Russian energy companies that are setting up branches in Korea. In particular, Gazprom, a state-owned company, is planning to set up a branch in Korea. I hope they will set up a branch in Seoul to facilitate smooth communication.”

“Of course you should do that. KEPCO will actively look for a good location.”

“I heard that KEPCO will soon be relocated to the outskirts, and I would like to set up shop there.”

“Are you saying you plan to establish a branch at KEPCO’s headquarters? Nothing has been decided regarding the relocation of KEPCO’s headquarters.”

President Lee Sang-woo is taken aback by the sudden conditions.

Even after seeing that, the Russians continued talking.

“I’m definitely not asking for the land at a low price. I’ll give you twice the current price.”

“No matter what, there is nothing we can do about the site issue. We need permission from the government and the political circles and public opinion must accept the relocation before we can dispose of it.”

“Then how about doing it this way?”

Chairman Kim Tae-joong intervened with good timing.

Everyone focused on him, and Chairman Kim Tae-joong spoke carefully.

“The issue of relocating the KEPCO site is a problem that will be resolved by the political world, but it is also a problem that cannot be solved by just leaving it to be solved. Therefore, the KEPCO site will be sold to a Korean company through an auction, and the company that purchased the site will be owned by a Russian energy company. “Wouldn’t the worries be shortened if we created a draft to provide space for corporations or branches and handed it over to the political circles?”

“If the land is sold through auction bidding, the sales price will be higher, but isn’t there a precondition that KEPCO’s headquarters will be relocated? KEPCO has no intention of relocating to another region.”

If KEPCO were to relocate, there was a high possibility that it would move to a region other than Seoul.

Since the government as well as the political circles wanted equal regional development, they had to leave Seoul the moment the relocation was accomplished.

But who would want to leave Seoul?

Most of the employees working at KEPCO would have made their home in Seoul.

When it came to moving to a local area, the entire family had to choose between preparing to move or quitting the company.

Therefore, from the perspective of President Lee Sang-woo, he wanted to prevent the relocation of KEPCO’s headquarters.

“Uh huh! What is more important than national development? What if KEPCO must remain in Seoul for the country to develop? If not, wouldn’t we have to endure a little inconvenience?”

“Anyway, public opinion has not yet been formed, and KEPCO employees’ intentions have not yet been confirmed.”

“So why not check it out now!”

“How about looking for another site? KEPCO will help you find a place where you can rent the entire building.”

“Are you telling us to rent to energy companies that are the pride of Russia? I can’t help but think that this is disrespecting Russia.”

A Russian official who was listening quietly spoke strongly.

President Lee Sang-woo had to keep his mouth shut because his face was even red and he was expressing his hurt pride.

“First of all, let’s agree on energy development cooperation between Korea and Russia in a broad framework, and give credit to the political world for the KEPCO site issue. What do the Minister and CEO Lee Sang-woo think?”

“The government and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy agree.”

“……KEPCO will agree. However, we can never relocate without the support of public opinion.”

“The political world will take care of that issue. And once again, the development of the Republic of Korea is the most important. Think about what choice will help the country’s development in the grand scheme of things. If KEPCO comes out so passively, Taewo Group may also reexamine this project from the beginning. “There is no choice!”

Chairman Kim Tae-joong stood up first.

It was a rude action, but there was no one who could stop him.

President Lee Sang-woo had no choice but to look at Chairman Kim Tae-joong’s back with his head down, as if he were a criminal.

* * *

My grandfather returned to work with a stern expression on his face.

I quickly ran to the president’s office and asked about the situation.

“The meeting didn’t go as you wanted?”

“Aww, as I get older, it’s hard to move my facial muscles as I want. I think Guanwasa will come because I keep my poker face.”

An old man moves his mouth muscles around.

Then he smiled at me.

“Did you all act?”

“Shouldn’t we have to act like this to deceive the small-minded people? The Russian side was too hasty in asking for the KEPCO site, so we acted like we were serious and took control of the situation.”

“KEPCO says it will never relocate its headquarters, right?”

“Which company would want to leave Seoul? The same goes for KEPCO. Still, KEPCO is a public company, so if the political world wants it, shouldn’t it have to relocate?”

“Now it is the political world’s turn to move. I will meet with Representative Choi Jae-seok and talk about it.”

Equal development of the country.

Just emphasizing this was enough to convince Representative Choi Jae-seok.

It was Rep. Choi Jae-seok who promised to do anything unreasonable for national development, and through him, the National Economy Party, known as the core of the political world, was able to move forward.

“Even if we move the political circles, it may take several more years for the KEPCO site to be relocated. And to be honest, I doubt whether the energy cooperation project with Russia will be successful.”

“A business can be successful or it can be stranded, right? As long as KEPCO land is purchased in the process, the results of the business are not that important.”

“You damn bastard! Where did you learn such wicked behavior?”

I stared at my grandfather.

Who would I have learned this from?

“Before KEPCO relocates, we will first focus on securing the rights to the KEPCO site. We can move slowly, but wouldn’t we feel at ease if we make it our own land first?”

“It doesn’t end even if KEPCO sells the land. If a public bidding is held, won’t other companies also aim for the land?”

“How many companies can buy the KEPCO site? All you have to do is coordinate well in advance. And if coordination is not possible, you can just set a price that other companies can’t match.”

“Hey, talking to you shakes the economic concepts I’ve built up until now. Stop fluttering and go meet Representative Choi Jae-seok.”

Despite what he said, my grandfather was also greedy for the KEPCO site.

That is why he quickly met with Rep. Choi Jae-seok and wanted the KEPCO headquarters relocation to be addressed in earnest in the political world.

I have to do whatever my grandfather wants.

I quickly made an appointment with Rep. Jae-seok Choi, and with Captain Kang’s help, I was able to meet him in a quiet place before the sun set.

“How have you been?”

“I have been very busy and doing well. I think the issue of hosting a Korean campus for IIT will be possible as early as this year. Both the ruling party and the opposition party are responding positively, and public opinion is not that bad.”

“With all the attention being focused on the capital relocation issue, the issue of hosting IIT in Korea seems to be being quietly buried.”

The political world tended to focus on getting votes.

Of course, hosting IIT in Korea was not an easy matter to think about because it was an educational issue, but since I had done the preliminary work diligently, it was not a big problem.

“Yeouido is very noisy because of the capital relocation issue. The ruling party and the opposition party have no intention of compromising.”

“Once the Constitutional Court ruling comes out, we will have to look again at the compromise made by Representative Choi Jae-seok.”

“There is already quiet talk about re-discussing the compromise I made.”

“Could you please add one more thing to the compromise?”

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t the issue of relocating the capital ultimately for the sake of regional equal development? For equal regional development, wouldn’t it be better to relocate not only administrative ministries but also the headquarters of public enterprises such as KEPCO to the region?”

It was a perfect justification.

There was no need for the headquarters of a public enterprise to be in Seoul.

Even before the return, several public enterprises moved their headquarters to the region for this reason.

Therefore, Rep. Choi Jae-seok also nodded his head and agreed with my opinion.