The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 82



Only Krnovel

Episode 82 1997 (5)

August 1997.

A very welcome guest visited Korea.

Steve, who should have been busy preparing a new product, came to Korea without any contact.

It wasn’t that surprising.

Because the mobile phone division was still using Taewoo Electronics’ building.

Steve had to visit Korea to prepare a new product.

“I will make room for you. Have a good conversation.”

President Woo Seong-il vacated the president’s office.

Even though he became president, he still showed loyalty to me.

Well, I’m still sitting in the president’s chair.

“Steve! What happened without any contact? “I’m even more happy to see you in Korea.”

“I wanted to surprise Mr. Kim.”

“I was quite surprised. “I never dreamed that the real Steve would come to Korea at this point.”

“It’s still too early to be surprised. Voila!”

Steve took out a white box.

The moment I saw the box, I could guess what was inside.

“No way, already?”

“Open it. Because you will be surprised. “The name of the product is iPod.”

I opened the box carefully.

Exactly what I expected. There was an iPod that looked just like the one I had seen in my previous life.

“How did you make it already?”

“All of the development team for the world’s first MP3 player was sent to Apple, so of course we had to make it. “You’re not criticizing me because development is slow, right?”

No way!

Even though I helped behind the scenes, the iPod came out too quickly.

According to the original history, the product would not be released until 2000.

However, it was Steve who created the iPod three years early.

“It has 1GB of storage space. Is it enough to play 100 songs? “I really like the size too.”

“I was still concerned about storage space, so I wanted to use at least a 2GB hard disk, but the unit price was not right, so I had no choice but to choose 1GB.”

Because it was ahead of its time, it was inevitable that the storage capacity would be downgraded.

However, the ahead-of-its-time design and interface still remained.

I feel sorry for Digital Case, which developed the world’s first MP3 player.

It was a product with an incomparable design difference.

“Still, it’s really great. “I can’t believe you made the iPod so quickly!”

“It’s still too early to be surprised. “I have one more thing left to show you.”

Steve took out another box.

However, the appearance of the box was very familiar.

It was a packaging box for InnoPhone, which was a product of Taewoo Electronics until recently.

“Are you making the next version of Innophone? “I thought I put my cell phone on the back burner because I was focusing on my iPod.”

“It’s not much different from Innophone. “We just added one feature.”

I opened the box to check the next version of Innophone.

As Steve said, it was an Innophone that didn’t really look any different.

The only difference was that there was a hole on the side of the Innophone.

“Is this a phone that can play music?”

“That’s correct! “We plan to unveil the next version of InnoPhone at the German Consumer Electronics Fair to be held soon, and to unveil the iPod at CES next year.”

“congratulations! “I really congratulate you.”

“Aren’t you the one who should be congratulated, not me?”

Steve narrowed his eyes and pointed at me.

I didn’t know what it meant, so I opened my hands and Steve continued speaking.

“There’s a saying in Korea that says, ‘Talent is earned by bears, but money is made by the wrong people,’ right? That’s exactly the situation right now. The mobile phone division was handed over to Apple, but the patents were tightly held by Taewoo Electronics and the Technology Research Institute. “You should be congratulated since a significant portion of sales will be given as royalties.”

I did a little trick.

As Steve said, essential patent rights were not transferred to Apple.

It would have been a waste to just hand over the patent that Taewoo’s employees worked so hard to create to Apple.

And Taewo Group also held the patent rights because it needed a clear cash cow.

“So you don’t like it?”

“There’s no way I wouldn’t like it. Without you, there would have been no Innophone or iPod. “You can smile and give royalties.”

“Then I will gratefully accept it. As you know, the Korean economic situation is not good these days. “Every penny needs to make more dollars.”

“I also heard about Korea. “Thanks to the new InnoPhone and iPod, we’ll be saving a lot of dollars starting next year.”

Steve had great confidence.

Anyone could see that it was a product with a beautiful design and excellent functions, so it was worth overflowing with confidence.

But there was one thing he hadn’t even thought about yet.

“But what do you plan to do with the MP3 files?”

“I’m still worried about that. “I heard that a site that shares MP3 files illegally has emerged, but I think that if our product comes out, it will be like encouraging illegal sites.”

“Are you saying that an MP3 file sharing site has appeared?”

“Illegal sharing sites using the P2P system started becoming popular a few months ago.”

What happened?

It will be another year or two before the first P2P site comes into existence.

However, it was an illegal P2P site that had already appeared and started to become popular without my intention.

“Do you know the name of the P2P site?”

“They said it was Napster. There is a rumor that a P2P site was created inspired by the MP3 player unveiled at CES.”

I found out why the timing was brought forward.

It was all because of me.

Because I introduced the world’s first MP3 player sooner, P2P sites also appeared quickly.

“I don’t think P2P sites are that well-known yet.”

“It’s time for explosive growth.”

If a P2P site had become famous, there was no way I wouldn’t have known about it.

Because I owned one of the top three record companies in America.

If sales decreased due to the emergence of P2P sites, they would naturally contact me.

“The emergence of P2P sites has nothing bad for us.”

“Is it because MP3 files spread quickly? “It’s a good thing for us, the makers of MP3 players, but it could result in public criticism being directed at us.”

“Of course you can’t do that. So, I have a separate site that I created.”

I opened my laptop and accessed the MCA Records website.

I found a music site that was hidden like a tiny dot and entered it.

“Did you really create a music download site?”

“Since you are the first person to invest in MP3 players, shouldn’t you create a site like this?”

“A music site that has adopted an e-commerce system. “If I use this site, I can avoid public criticism.”

Who can say anything if you pay a fair price to purchase the music?

Of course, there were people who had something to say.

“But there is a high possibility that the record label will oppose it. “Can Steve help you with that?”

“It’s not easy to convince all the record labels.”

“MCA Records has already convinced me.”

“What does that mean?”

“I bought it. MCA Records belong to me.”

“How big of a picture have you drawn? “We have drawn a picture of a stable supply of music using MCA Records.”

This was the reason why I took all the shares of MCA Records that were dormant at Panasonic in Japan.

“And I hope that you, along with MCA Records, will file a complaint in addition to protesting against illegal music sharing sites.”

“Even if it’s okay to protest, does that mean you can file charges?”

“Wouldn’t that make people more interested in MP3 files?”

“It’s a kind of noise marketing.”

“When public interest explodes, MCA Records and Apple officially join hands to open a music streaming site. “If Apple products made it possible to download music only from this music site, wouldn’t they be praised rather than criticized by the public?”

Leading the way from lawlessness to lawfulness.

If packaged well with this image, the iPod could not have failed.

“It’s going to be very busy for a while. But you’re not going to take all of the music site’s profits, are you? “Shouldn’t we have to pay a price for exclusive use of Apple’s products?”

“You’re sharp. “I tried to sneak away.”

“I was fooled once, so wouldn’t I be a fool if I were fooled again?”

“For music downloaded from Apple products, we will split the net profit 7:3.”

“Surely there are three of us? It’s too little. “I should get at least a 4.”

“I bought the record label and created the music site, so you want to take 4?”

I was willing to give it a 5.

Nevertheless, it was the businessman’s instinct to pretend to dislike it.

“But I can’t give up. “I handed over all the profits from the software to you, so I guess I should get this much.”

“All right. Then let’s make it 6:4. Are you satisfied?”

“Honestly, it’s not enough, but I have no choice but to be satisfied. “Because it’s a picture you all drew.”

“thank you. Then please take charge of the American record company. “I will provide reliable support fire from the rear.”

“Don’t worry. I’m thinking of taking my iPod with me to the meeting with the record company. “When they see the iPod, they will think differently.”

The iPod’s design and features were revolutionary.

Even those who are ignorant of electronic devices will be able to predict that the MP3 market will become huge the moment they see the iPod.

* * *

National Federation of Korean Industries.

The organization called the Federation of Korean Industries was a gathering of large corporations in Korea.

This is a business group created by the founder of Samjin Group, which was created after feeling the need for an organization to represent corporate interests during the military regime.

Just last year, the heads of the top 20 business groups gathered at the Federation of Korean Industries meeting.

There were plenty of empty seats everywhere at this meeting.

Seeing that, KS Group Chairman Chae Jeong-han, who also serves as Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, sighed.

“It really breaks my heart. “How did the Korean economy end up like this?”

“Chairmen, I dare to tell you something. In this way, the company really took over. Please help.”

Kwon Ho-chang, Chairman of Kai Group, ranked 4th in the business world, made an eupso.

Since he was already on the verge of bankruptcy, he did not hesitate.

“Chairman Kwon. How can we help you? Our debt exceeds 5 trillion won, and our efforts are not enough. “This is something the government must do directly.”

“Chairman Kim Tae-joong, can’t you help me? I heard that Taewu Group is the only place in Korea that has an accumulation of foreign currency. Please help me.”

Chairman Kim Tae-joong turned his head.

I felt confident enough to take over Kai Group’s affiliates.

But I could barely bear it while thinking of my grandson.

However, not only the Kai Group but also the SS Group came forward asking for help.

“Our SS Group also needs help. I am selling my SS car. Aren’t you all interested in acquiring SS Motors? “We will sell it to Samjin Group or Taewo Group at a good price.”

“… … .”

No one opened their mouths.

Samjin Group, a latecomer to the automobile market, had its eyes set on Kai Motors and SS Motors.

However, the risk was too great to take over in a situation like today where large companies are collapsing.

The same was true for Chairman Kim Tae-joong.

He could barely close his mouth this time, remembering his grandson’s face.

While I kept my mouth shut, the Federation of Korean Industries meeting continued.

Before we knew it, there was talk of agenda items related to the election of next year’s president.

“I recommend Chairman Kim Tae-joong as the next Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries.”

“I agree.”

What are these guys thinking when they nominate me as chairman?

Although he didn’t say anything, it was Chairman Kim Tae-jung who was appointed as the Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries.

I couldn’t quite figure out whether I should like or hate the current situation.