To the Heart of the Defense Industry +15
In the end, I signed the contract.
Cho Yerin’s relentless drive had played a part, but to be honest, the house itself had been so hard to get out of my mind that I couldn’t bring myself to say no.
The rest went by in a flash, from settling the balance payment to moving in.
Thanks to the movers, who hauled everything with the speed of a military operation, I was able to step into my new house just three days after returning home.
Pangyo, Unjung-dong.
Six hundred sixty square meters of land, about 218 square meters of floor space.
I stood in the middle of the empty living room and looked out through the wide glass wall at the private garden beyond.
“This really is nice.”
For one thing, the air itself was different from that cramped officetel.
Maybe it was the smell of fresh wood, or the strange lift that came with all that open space, but the whole place made a person feel inexplicably restless in a good way.
It was a little too spacious for someone living alone, sure, but that was fine. I’d been through enough hell to earn this much, at least.
I could turn one room into a gym, soundproof another, and make myself a home theater. That would be perfect.
The thought of cracking open a beer on the weekend and watching a movie made the corners of my mouth twitch upward before I even realized it.
I was pushing around the boxes the movers had left behind when my phone on the table buzzed.
KakaoTalk -
[Executive Director Cho Yerin: Senior! Congratulations on the move! Can I come by for a housewarming? haha]
It was Cho Yerin.
I tossed off my gloves and typed back.
[Me: Huh? Oh, sure. Let’s set a day soon and have everyone come together with the team.]
[Executive Director Cho Yerin: lol I’ll just come today.]
[Me: Today? I haven’t even finished unpacking.]
[Executive Director Cho Yerin: Is there that much to unpack? You barely have any stuff, Senior. Just a few clothes and books, right?]
[Me: Well... I guess that’s true?]
I had nothing to say to that.
I’d always lived pretty minimally, so a few boxes of clothes and engineering books had really been the extent of my move.
[Executive Director Cho Yerin: I’ll bring food with me. Just something simple, a drink or two?]
Why was she being so proactive?
She’d always been tactful when she was a rookie, but now that she’d made executive director, she had zero hesitation left.
Still, if I thought about it, she was probably trying to look after me because I’d helped her out when things got rough in Saudi Arabia.
I was already exhausted from unpacking, and a cold beer sounded incredibly appealing.
[Me: All right. Be careful on your way over.]
I accepted without giving it much thought.
I had no idea that was the button that would detonate my peaceful evening.
*
7:00 p.m.
The sun was dipping low, and the garden lights were just beginning to come on one by one.
She should have been here by now.
As I looked out the window, a heavy engine note rolled in from the mouth of the alley, and I narrowed my brow.
Booooom—
Just from the sound, it had to be an expensive car.
Moments later, a hulking black sedan slid to a stop in front of our gate.
“...Huh?”
The winged emblem on the radiator grille.
A Bentley Flying Spur.
No, why was that parked in front of my house?
Wasn’t Cho Yerin supposed to drive a G80?
As I stood there in confusion, what came next was even more absurd.
Following behind the Bentley, a Genesis G90, a G80, and several Grangers rolled into the alley one after another, filling it like a line of Vienna sausages.
The quiet residential lane was transformed into a motor show in an instant.
Just something simple, a drink or two?
Cho Yerin’s message flashed through my head.
“What part of this is simple...?”
I shoved on my slippers in a hurry and headed out the front door.
The first thing to open was the Bentley’s rear door, and the familiar, boisterous laugh that followed practically rattled my eardrums.
“Hahaha! Baek Department Head! This is a fine house! Great location too. What a prime spot!”
“C-Chairman?!”
It was Chairman Cho Seunghyun.
I was so shocked I nearly stumbled backward.
“What brings you here without even calling ahead?”
“My daughter said she was coming for a housewarming, so how could I not come see it? If the company’s ace moved houses, I couldn’t exactly show up empty-handed, could I? So, are you getting some good rest?”
Behind the chairman, Cho Yerin stepped out looking as if all the color had drained from her face, and after her came the rest of the cars, from which key members of the Saudi team, including Manager Maeng and Department Head Song, poured out in a rush.
Judging by their expressions, they’d clearly been dragged here by force after the chairman casually tossed out the invitation.
And then, to make it worse, a truck marked Hanseo Hotel Catering pulled in at the back, and staff in chef uniforms started setting tables up in my garden.
“Why are you standing there in a daze? Come inside!”
In a matter of seconds, my yard had turned into Hanseo Defense’s company picnic ground.
As I led the dazed crowd around, I finally pulled Cho Yerin, who was lingering awkwardly, off to one side.
“No, Executive Director Cho. What the hell is going on here? I thought you said something simple.”
“I’m sorry, Senior...”
Cho Yerin clasped her hands together, her face pinched with apology.
“I really did only mean to bring some fried chicken and beer. But on the way home, Dad kept asking where I was going, and when I said I was heading to a housewarming, he suddenly called the chairman’s office and blew the whole thing up like this.”
“Haa...”
“I’m seriously sorry. I really didn’t think it would turn into this.”
Seeing how genuinely miserable she looked, I couldn’t even stay mad.
It wasn’t like I didn’t know the chairman’s bulldozer personality.
I let out a defeated sigh.
“Forget it. Since it’s already like this, we might as well enjoy it.”
*
“All right, cheers! To the future of Hanseo Defense!”
“Cheers!”
The party in the garden was louder and more enjoyable than I’d expected.
The smell of steaks grilling on the spot filled the yard, and at first Manager Maeng and Department Head Song had seemed awkward, but once the alcohol got going, they started boasting about how nice my place was and chattering away at full volume.
“Wow... I mean, really. Baek Department Head, you’ve made it.”
Manager Maeng, chewing on a steak, shook his head in amazement.
“Back when you were just a forever-manager in the design team, who’d have thought you’d grow this big and even have the chairman coming to your housewarming... You really never know what life will do, huh? I’m jealous, honestly.”
“I got lucky. Eat up. If you’re jealous, disinfect that with liquor.”
I laughed it off and topped off his empty glass.
As the room for banter widened and the mood reached its peak, Chairman Cho set down his wineglass and gave me a look.
“Baek Department Head, want to step out for some air for a minute?”
The moment had come.
I’d already guessed he hadn’t come just to eat.
I followed Chairman Cho up to the second-floor terrace, where the noise was blocked out.
Leaning on the railing, he drew in the night air and said casually, “Did you see the news about Malaysia? The response was blazing hot.”
“Yes. The timing was perfect.”
“The strategic planning office actually earned their keep for once. You know that report you sent from Saudi Arabia? The one saying the Chinese-made Type 92 was knocked out by poor maintenance. We quietly let that leak to the press over there.”
So the company had been setting the stage after all.
When I nodded, Chairman Cho’s expression turned serious.
“To be honest, we had almost given up on the Malaysian business. As you know, their doctrine and ours don’t really line up.”
“That’s true.”
I gave a bitter smile.
In the defense market, a good product didn’t automatically sell.
What mattered most was whether it fit the buyer’s doctrine, their actual needs and habits.
“We’re a country at a ceasefire. We always have to assume there could be a full-scale war with North Korea at any time. So we design for survivability first, not mobility, making sure the vehicle can take as many hits as possible and still keep going.”
“Exactly. But China and Malaysia are different.”
Chairman Cho nodded.
“China’s aiming for Taiwan, and Malaysia’s focused on moving between islands to clear out pirates or insurgents. What matters to them isn’t thick armor. It’s crossing water cleanly, striking fast, and getting out faster.”
“So rather than expensive, heavy Korean equipment, light and cheap Chinese gear would’ve been more attractive.”
“Exactly. That’s why our products were treated like overkill.”
Chairman Cho took a sip of wine.
“But a crack has opened.”
“...”
“Not long ago, during the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, Chinese armored vehicles kept breaking down and becoming unusable. And, crucially, thanks to you, the Saudi incident completely shattered their reliability this time around.”
Chairman Cho grinned and turned toward me.
“Even inside the Malaysian military, people have started asking whether something that dies the moment it gets hit is really worth trusting, and how they’re supposed to use equipment that can’t even be maintained properly. That’s proof they’re wavering.”
He gripped my shoulder tightly.
“Push into that opening for me.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Malaysia’s Defense Ministry wants to see the engineer who made the Saudi miracle with their own eyes. Go there and sell our stuff.”
Chairman Cho was adamant.
“If you need to tear open an amphibious armored vehicle and redesign it, do it. Modify it however you like. Don’t worry about budget or manpower. I’ll give you full authority.”
“...”
“Make the heavy thing lighter, while making it tougher. You’re the only one in this company who can solve that contradiction.”
Full authority.
For an engineer, there was no sweeter or heavier offer than that.
After all the frantic running around, I had gone all the way to Saudi Arabia to solve a problem, and only now had I finally made it home.
Under ordinary circumstances, I might have thought, another project? But this time, I found myself glancing around the house instead.
It was spacious, but there was barely anything in it.
No furniture, no decoration.
And right now, my wallet was already looking pretty thin, so filling it all in immediately wasn’t exactly realistic.
But if I pulled off this project Chairman Cho had just handed me, wouldn’t I get a pretty handsome bonus again?
With that money, I could turn this nearly empty house into something beautiful, designed exactly to my taste.
“Leave it to me, Chairman. I’ll do my best.”
*
After the private talk, I went back down to the garden.
Chairman Cho headed inside again, taking the lead on the whole drink-until-we-drop mood, and I stepped off to one corner of the yard to loosen my tie for a moment.
Overcoming differences in doctrine?
Easy to say, but a hell of a problem from an engineering standpoint.
A few methods came to mind immediately, but I didn’t think they’d actually solve the issue.
I’d need to get on-site, see the situation with my own eyes, and work through the specifics...
Just as I was thinking that, a sharp whiff of makgeolli drifted in from right beside me.
I turned my head and found Director Choi standing there with a wine glass in hand.
“Hey. Baek Department Head. I heard the chairman gave you full authority? About the Malaysia deal.”
“Yes. That’s how it turned out.”
“Haa... the fate of the ground systems business division is in your hands again. The amphibious systems team there’s been running on empty lately, so this is a headache, but I’m counting on you.”
Director Choi grinned and tapped his glass against mine.
“Who would’ve thought the old Baek Gunwoo, all awkward and clueless, would grow into such a sharp kid? Honestly, these days the only pleasure I get is watching you. I swear, I feel happy every time I see you. Keuheuheu.”
Then, all of a sudden, he hardened his expression and lowered his voice.
“The tech you’ll handle somehow on your own, sure... but honestly, that’s not what I’m worried about.”
“You mean the money?”
“Yeah. The Chinese threw in a package deal for this bid.”
Director Choi let out a long sigh.
“They said they’d take 30 percent of the armored vehicle payment not in cash, but in palm oil. On top of that, they’re offering ultra-low-interest loans through a Chinese state bank, so of course Malaysia’s thanking them for it.”
Palm oil...
It was one of those things that always came up in offset trade with Southeast Asia.
It was necessary, but for our company, which was effectively run as a defense contractor with only a few smaller side businesses, it was a massive headache.
I narrowed my eyes and rolled the empty glass between my fingers.
The other country didn’t have money, so they wanted barter. The rival country was dragging in state funds to dump prices.
From our side, it was an extremely annoying situation.
“If we take palm oil, processing it will be a nightmare again. I can already feel my hair falling out. And financial support has its limits...”
“On top of that, the Chinese are dumping hard with their subsidies, so we have to keep an eye on price too.”
“Exactly.”
Director Choi sighed softly.
A money-and-politics problem, right outside the engineer’s lane.
What was I supposed to do about that?
I was still turning it over in my head when a voice cut in like an unwelcome guest.
“I can handle the oil.”
I turned and saw Cho Yerin standing there with a wine glass.
She looked quite relaxed as she regarded Director Choi.
“Huh? You can handle it?”
“The chairman of Sehwa Foods is a friend of mine. You know him, right? There was a huge stir when the former chairman stepped down really fast because he wanted to give everything up, travel around, and live comfortably.”
“...That happened? Baek Department Head, do you know about this?”
“First I’ve heard of it.”
At our reactions, Cho Yerin made a face like she couldn’t believe how out of touch we were, then went on.
“Anyway, Sehwa Foods imports a ton of palm oil because of ramen. I just need to make one phone call. Then they can handle it directly by taking a small fee, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Well...”
Director Choi let out a hollow laugh.
I felt the same sense of awe.
Was this what the inner circle of diamond spoons looked like?
A chairman of another major conglomerate was her friend?
While we were still marveling at that, Cho Yerin kept going.
“And you know Malaysia is a place where royal influence matters more than the law, right? Rather than some gloomy middle-aged men trying to grease palms under the table, it’s much more effective if I go over there, have tea with the queens, and sponsor a charity event.”
“Hmm... that is true, come to think of it. You’re not just some Hanseo Defense employee, either. You’re the chairman’s daughter. That alone gives it a different weight.”
“It really does.”
She wasn’t wrong.
While we ground metal on dirt floors, Cho Yerin would be handling the royal family directly.
The division of labor was clean enough.
“You two just go and make the product perfect. I’ll handle the messy money calculations and the etiquette.”
She was so dependable I felt almost full just hearing it.
Director Choi laughed heartily and raised his glass.
“Now that’s a blessing from the heavens. Baek Department Head takes care of the tech, and Executive Director Cho sets the stage. Huh? That synergy’s going to be excellent.”
“Of course. Whose team do you think this is? Come on, let’s toast to it.”
“Baek Department Head, cheers!”
Director Choi and Cho Yerin both held their glasses out.
I smirked and clinked glasses with them both, then tipped the liquor back into my mouth.
*
The next morning.
The rooftop helipad at Hanseo Defense.
Du-du-du-du-du-du-!
The rotor noise slammed into my eardrums.
A VIP helicopter bearing the Hanseo Defense logo was kicking up fierce wind as it prepared for takeoff.
I clutched my tie so it wouldn’t flap all over the place and shouted, “Why do we need a helicopter just to go down to Changwon? KTX would get us there in no time!”
Cho Yerin, who had been walking ahead of me, adjusted her sunglasses and looked back over her shoulder.
She had a certain style to her as she brushed her hair back in the wind from the blades.
“Dad said it’d be a waste of time! Didn’t he say he was giving you full authority? I think he means we should save even the travel time and work with it.”
“The chairman’s scale is terrifying...”
Not even a first-class KTX seat, but a private helicopter.
What a pain.
I clicked my tongue and climbed aboard.
Inside, Director Choi was already seated, wearing a headset.
“There you are. Hop on already. I called the Changwon factory manager ahead of time. Told him to clear the line.”
“You work fast.”
The moment Cho Yerin and I sat down, the pilot gave us a thumbs-up, and the aircraft lifted smoothly into the air.
Below us, Seoul’s skyline began to shrink away like a toy.
Our destination was Changwon in Gyeongsangnam-do.
The heart of South Korea’s defense industry, and the location of Hanseo Defense’s main production base.
---