New Experience
January 20, 1993. Bill Clinton's inauguration ceremony was held at the Capitol in Washington, DC. Though the temperature had dropped to -3 degrees Celsius, an enormous crowd had gathered to witness the presidential inauguration in person. Estimates placed the number at around 800,000, meaning nearly everyone in Washington, DC, had converged on the Capitol grounds.
Yoo Jae-won's seat at this inauguration was special.
"A VIP seat at the presidential inauguration—now that's impressive," Remington said proudly from inside the car as they made their way to the event. Chief of Staff Choi Kang-wook had finished the handover and taken a vacation back to Korea, and executive secretary Kim Dae-seok had also been given time off. That left Remington accompanying Jae-won for this trip.
"Well, it's really just a ten-million-dollar ticket," Jae-won replied with a hint of grumbling. After all, ID Group had contributed the single largest sum to Bill Clinton's political fundraising through Super PACs. Their standalone ten million dollars dwarfed the second-place donor by several times. Thanks to that, Jae-won's seat was on the Capitol stage itself, right beside President Clinton—and in the very front row.
"Oh come on, money alone doesn't get you a seat like that," Remington said. It was true. Standing on the same stage as the president meant being either a close confidant, a figure of national prominence, or a high-ranking diplomat sent as an official envoy from an allied nation. Of course, a congratulatory delegation had come from Korea as well, but their presence was overshadowed by America's closest allies, and their seating reflected that reality. Had Jae-won's reputation been any lesser, he would have been pushed several rows back. As Remington noted, simply writing a large check did not guarantee a front-row seat. This event, therefore, served as clear confirmation of just how highly the U.S. government regarded him.
In truth, Jae-won already enjoyed tremendous popularity and recognition among Americans. As his fame grew, so did the occasional criticism, yet aside from a few predictable exceptions, there was remarkably little negativity. Only a few years earlier, anyone wanting to use a computer had to purchase that clunky DOS for over a hundred dollars. Now, ID Group was supplying a far superior operating system at a price that was practically a giveaway. The social initiatives of the companies he had founded or acquired were equally outstanding. It was said that among top students in San Francisco and Los Angeles, there was hardly anyone who had not received an ID Group scholarship. On top of that, solving seven of the greatest mathematical problems had added the final flourish to his already stellar reputation. Even if his donation had been only half as large, the probability of securing a front-row seat would still have been high.
Before long, the car arrived at the VIP security checkpoint set up at the venue.
"Good luck, then," Remington said. From here, he and Jae-won had to part ways. Unfortunately, only Jae-won had received an invitation, so Remington remained in the car. He would not be waiting idly, however. He planned to network with other business leaders who had come for the inauguration.
Thus, footage of Bill Clinton's inauguration ceremony, attended by Yoo Jae-won, was broadcast around the world. Coincidentally, Jae-won's seat lay directly in line with the main camera filming Clinton's oath of office. No matter which moment of the swearing-in was shown, Jae-won's figure was always visible. Sitting there, however, Jae-won found it genuinely difficult to maintain a proper expression amid the cold and the tedium. For Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary, who now held the steering wheel of the world's most powerful nation, the moment must have felt like soaring through the heavens. To Jae-won, it was simply another event he had already experienced.
Even President Clinton's inaugural address, which Jae-won had most looked forward to, differed little from the version stored in his Memory Palace. The only new element was a single mention of revitalizing the economy through IT and the information superhighway. Jae-won had already changed so much that he had hoped for at least one reference to information and communications or the internet. The absence of anything fresh left him deeply disappointed.
His mood improved somewhat when he attended the reception following the inauguration, thanks to Vice President Al Gore. Before the presidential couple made their entrance, Al Gore personally looked after Jae-won with great care. Gore had always held a favorable view of him, and Jae-won had responded by sharing his vision for information and communications technology and making the largest donation. As a result, Jae-won was able to greet numerous VIPs at the White House reception while escorted by Al Gore. He exchanged pleasantries with diplomatic heavyweights as well as business leaders sympathetic to the Democratic Party. Naturally, everyone welcomed him. He was not only a potentially valuable business partner but also a figure whose unique presence and reputation made knowing him advantageous. Several guests even claimed to be fans, and Jae-won found himself signing a number of autographs.
While he was circulating through the reception hall, strengthening connections, an announcement rang out.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Bill Clinton, and Mrs. Hillary Clinton are entering."
The presidential couple, now in tuxedo and evening gown, made their entrance to sustained applause. It was only their first day in office, yet their presence was already commanding. Moreover, the White House reception had been extended only to those friendly to the Democrats and to Clinton, so the atmosphere was exceptionally warm. The couple greeted Al Gore first, followed by the ambassadors and other VIPs. Although America was reputed to be a free country, its attention to protocol and ceremony rivaled that of European royalty. Consequently, Jae-won had to wait until the business leaders' turn before he could speak with Clinton.
"Oh, Chairman Yoo! Thank you for coming."
"The honor is mine, Mr. President."
Jae-won deliberately addressed him as "Mr. President" at every opportunity, purely to please him. Clinton could not hide his delight each time the title was spoken.
"I hear you're investing three billion dollars in Comcast?"
"Come now, it's been Nextcomcast for quite some time."
"Ah, yes. Nextcomcast."
Hillary immediately corrected Clinton's slip. It was obvious from this brief exchange that Clinton could not hold his own against her. Perhaps that explained the endless scandals. Jae-won was tempted to advise him, now that he was in the White House, to keep his lower half in check. Yet he knew such words would fall on deaf ears and would only create unnecessary tension, so he remained silent.
"In any case, thanks to your massive investment, we will be able to pursue our information and communications policies aggressively. It would be absurd for America to fall behind Korea on the information superhighway project."
Hearing the emphasis on strengthening information and communications technology confirmed that this Washington trip had been a success.
"Still, it's a shame that the conservative administration is being extended after all your efforts."
The conversation had been going well until politics entered the picture. Clinton meant it as consolation, but the remark struck Jae-won painfully. He could at least take comfort in the fact that the Tongil National Party had not collapsed and that Jeon Myeong-heon had become prime minister, yet compared with actually winning the presidency, it was hardly a great achievement.
"Yes, it is disappointing. But it is the people's choice, so there is nothing to be done. Still, with President-elect Kim Young-sam, I doubt the Korea-U.S. alliance will be damaged."
"I hope so. That is how it should be."
Clinton was not expressing his own resolve but stating what President-elect Kim Young-sam ought to do. Given America's national power and international influence, it was only natural for Korea to align with the United States. Yet the remark left a sour taste in Jae-won's mouth. It only strengthened his determination. He would simply have to create a day when America followed Korea's lead. And because he could hasten that day through his own actions, Jae-won felt renewed energy.
A few days later, Jae-won was on his way to the university for the first time in a while. He intended to discuss the launch of the semiconductor division with Professor Chu Cheng and to propose a joint industry-academia research project on next-generation semiconductor processes. Most of the technology would come from Jae-won's own mind, so the collaboration was really an opportunity to give graduate students hands-on experience. He had no intention of exploiting high-level talent for free, of course. While the compensation would not match that of full-time employees, it would still be substantial. The idea had come from Lisa Su. Jae-won himself had not given it much thought; if he needed people for miscellaneous tasks, he had assumed he would simply hire regular staff. Lisa Su, however, had suggested that if he was going to hire anyone, he might as well bring in experts in the field. Jae-won agreed. Experts did not fall from the sky; everyone began as a novice and worked their way up. Thanks to that conversation, Jae-won found himself riding his electric bicycle to Stanford University once more.
"Hey, Big Boss! Hello!"
As he passed through the campus gate and headed toward the electrical engineering building, a bright voice called from behind. Turning, he saw Tiffany waving at him with a radiant smile. She looked exactly the same as before. She, too, was riding an identical bicycle. Though she wore a thick winter coat, the sparkling vitality that radiated from her like a jewel could not be concealed. Not only Jae-won but everyone else moving between lectures turned to look at her. Jae-won slowed his bicycle, and Tiffany soon pulled up beside him.
"Hello!"
"Hey! Long time no see!"
"How have you been?"
"Great! I've been having so much fun. Oh! I watched the inauguration! It was so strange seeing someone I know sitting right there."
The inauguration she referred to was, of course, Bill Clinton's.
"Actually, my dad was there too, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find him—I only saw you the whole time. Mom and I laughed so much. And when Dad came back, he kept bragging that he shook hands with you."
Jae-won tilted his head at Tiffany's words. Tiffany's father had been there? That was unexpected. In that case, they might even have met at the White House reception.
"Oh! I have to go this way. See you next time!"
Jae-won had wanted to ask more, but they reached a fork in the path and the conversation ended. Tiffany turned her handlebars without hesitation and waved. Though his curiosity remained unsatisfied, Jae-won promised himself he would ask later and picked up speed. A smile spread across his usually expressionless face.
As expected, the industry-academia collaboration proposed by ID Group to Stanford's Department of Electrical Engineering had generated tremendous enthusiasm. The fixed research and development hours—from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.—and compensation higher than typical internships were especially well received. The prospect of escaping the crushing burden of research projects that graduate students normally endured under their professors was an enormous draw. Hundreds of applicants had competed for only eight positions, creating an extraordinarily high acceptance rate. The response was so overwhelming that Jae-won briefly considered increasing the number of spots. However, the semiconductor division's laboratory was only one, and a small one at that. Expanding immediately was impractical. Still, the semiconductor division's work would not end with the completion of the copper interconnect process. Even if the scale was modest now, it would grow substantially later, so it was better to plan for the future.
By the end of January, the ID Technology semiconductor division was fully established. At its apex stood Dr. Lisa Su, supported by four semiconductor specialists recruited from Silicon Valley, eight Stanford electrical engineering graduate students and their professor through the industry-academia program, and Jae-won himself. The laboratory was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for semiconductor research. Every participant had signed a strict confidentiality agreement and a meticulously drafted contract. Particular emphasis had been placed on the distribution of research outcomes. Standard employment contracts typically assigned all rights to research results to the company. ID Group's contracts, however, included special provisions for those who contributed core ideas. If a discovery or achievement led to significant revenue growth, participants would receive not only bonuses but also royalties sharing a portion of the profits. ID Group would never repeat the injustice of rewarding monumental accomplishments—such as the development of high-brightness blue LEDs—with only a few million yen. While this approach might appear costly in the short term, it would ultimately become ID Group's greatest weapon in attracting genius talent. Until the technological singularity arrived, world-changing technologies would still be created by human hands. Nothing drew people more effectively than tangible rewards.
Time passed. The harsh winter gave way to spring, when fresh green shoots began to appear one by one. Koreans often boasted that their country enjoyed four distinct seasons, a claim Jae-won had heard until his ears ached, yet in reality he had only truly felt summer and winter. Living in San Francisco, however, he found the oceanic climate—with its average temperature around twenty degrees Celsius—quite agreeable. Winters were not particularly cold, and summers were not excessively hot. Although the seasons lacked sharp definition, the steady climate helped him maintain excellent condition. San Francisco's proximity to the Pacific brought frequent fog and rain, but since Jae-won spent most of his time indoors—at home, the office, or the laboratory—it posed no real inconvenience. Thanks to the favorable weather, his recent physical and mental state had been superb.
Despite the concerns of senior executives like Remington and Choi Kang-wook when the semiconductor division was launched, its progress toward its goals resembled a runaway locomotive. The team was racing to commercialize the copper interconnect process without requiring semiconductor manufacturers to overhaul their existing equipment, and they were overcoming every obstacle with remarkable speed. Naturally, the star performer was Jae-won himself. Several post-doctoral researchers—talented individuals aiming for faculty positions in electrical engineering—had joined through the Stanford collaboration, and even they were astonished by his abilities. How could he understand semiconductor characteristics better than they did and devise appropriate solutions so quickly? It was a level they would not have believed without witnessing it firsthand. Some who had spent over a decade specializing in a single subject even lamented that they had wasted their time. The semiconductor division, led by Jae-won and Lisa Su, was advancing at full speed.
Nor was the semiconductor division the only success story. ID Technology's new product release schedule was proceeding smoothly without delay. Android OS 2.0, the highly anticipated successor to the operating system that had generated so much excitement since the previous autumn, had been officially launched. Computer manufacturers, eager to use Android 2.0 as a new selling point, had placed advance orders exceeding one million copies. The consumer ADware version was released simultaneously. As a result, lines formed outside ID Flagship Stores and retail outlets carrying ID Group products, with people waiting from the previous day to receive the promotional copies. Only one million promotional units had been produced worldwide; once they were gone, production would not resume. Thereafter, only copies could be obtained. The limited-edition status of the promotional versions drove their secondhand prices skyward, creating an unusual phenomenon. The reception was overwhelmingly positive. The OS ran smoothly even on 486 computers, while on 586 machines it fully utilized the hardware's capabilities, delivering a noticeably comfortable working environment.
Of course, not all feedback was favorable. The functional gap between the Gaming Edition and the Enterprise Edition was considerable, and the Enterprise Edition's price had risen slightly. Jae-won, who understood that creating a product satisfying everyone was impossible, paid little attention to the criticism. What did catch his eye was Linux. It had been quite some time since he recommended Linux to Richard Stallman and others. He had nearly forgotten about it until, a few days after Android 2.0's release, Linux version 1.0 was made public. Jae-won downloaded and installed it. Compared with Android, it still lacked many features. However, the source code was 100 percent open, and it included a graphical interface that resembled the Ribbon Interface while carefully avoiding copyright issues. It was a far more advanced form than the original Linux 1.0 he remembered. The installation process, however, was entirely text-based and extremely unfriendly. A certain level of prior knowledge of Unix was required, making it difficult for beginners to approach. It would be interesting to see how Linux's future unfolded.
Several other events had also taken place. In Korea, President-elect Kim Young-sam's inauguration ceremony had been held, while candidate Kim Dae-jung chose to study abroad in the United Kingdom. Shortly after the inauguration, the cabinet was formed, and as promised, Jeon Myeong-heon was nominated as prime minister. The coalition between the ruling Democratic Liberal Party and the Tongil National Party secured a majority in the National Assembly, allowing immediate confirmation and appointment. On that day, Jae-won called to offer his congratulations and gave one piece of advice: let the president do as he wished. In the early days of his term, Kim Young-sam's governance deserved a score of ninety out of one hundred. His reforms and purges had been swift and decisive, driving his approval rating to unprecedented heights. Jae-won therefore urged Jeon Myeong-heon to support Kim Young-sam from behind the scenes so that he could ride the wave of popularity. Since Jeon Myeong-heon trusted Jae-won's words implicitly, he readily agreed.
Meanwhile, a ripple effect from Jeon Myeong-heon's move to the Prime Minister's Office reached Jae-won as well. Kim Dae-seok, who had returned from vacation, appeared with Oh Hyun-ji—formerly Jeon Myeong-heon's secretary—both offering shy greetings and presenting a wedding invitation. It turned out they had already completed the formal introductions with both families and were merely waiting to set a date. In fact, the wedding had been delayed. When Jeon Myeong-heon retired from Mirae Group, Oh Hyun-ji also lost her position, and they had planned to marry then. However, Jeon Myeong-heon's consecutive runs for National Assembly and the presidency had pushed the wedding back. Jae-won naturally offered his congratulations. After all, he had been the one who first connected the two. At the time, there had been a touch of mischief on his part, yet seeing how well things had turned out filled him with satisfaction.
Jae-won asked if there was anything he could do to help, but their wedding preparations were already complete. The most important factor in any real wedding was, of course, the wedding funds. Both had saved far more than the average working person thanks to salaries well above the norm, so they could easily afford a newlywed home in Silicon Valley. Oh Hyun-ji had decided to focus on supporting Kim Dae-seok so he could devote himself fully to his role as Jae-won's executive secretary.
"Don't do that. You should continue your studies instead."
Jae-won saw no need for such sacrifice. Since he would remain in San Francisco while attending Stanford, Kim Dae-seok would not need to adjust his schedule or perform demanding personal tasks. He was not a major-league player traveling constantly for away games. There was simply no reason for Oh Hyun-ji to devote herself solely to domestic support. On the contrary, Oh Hyun-ji was an exceptional talent. As Jeon Myeong-heon's secretary, she had traveled the world, was fluent in foreign languages, and excelled at paperwork. Ending her career because of marriage would be a loss both socially and for the company. Though the sudden suggestion caught her off guard and she could not accept immediately, Oh Hyun-ji looked intrigued. Kim Dae-seok, for his part, seemed content as long as they could enjoy their newlywed life. In the end, the matter would likely proceed according to Jae-won's proposal.
Time flowed on once more. On a warm, breezy day in mid-April, Jae-won picked up the phone in his study. After several rings, the call connected.
"Hello? This is Tiffany."
"Tiffany? It's me!"
"Ah! Jae-won!"
Jae-won felt a wave of relief at the lively sound of Tiffany's voice. This was not their first call, yet nearly a month had passed since their last conversation.
"It's been a while. What's up?"
"I was wondering if you have time next Saturday. If you're free, would you like to go somewhere with me?"
"Wow! Wow! Really? Next Saturday? I have all the time in the world! What is it?"
Jae-won could not understand Tiffany's intense reaction.
"That's great. The showcase date I mentioned before has finally been set for April 24th. I'd like to formally invite you."
The showcase was the technology presentation event he had promised AMD President Jerry the previous Christmas. Jae-won had originally expected it to take place in summer, but thanks to the participation of highly capable experts like Lisa Su, the copper interconnect technology had been completed far ahead of schedule. That was why April 24th had been chosen. Since Jae-won would be taking the stage as the main presenter for the first time in a long while, ID Group had begun preparations with full force.
"Tiffany?"
There was no response from the invited guest. During their previous call, the showcase had naturally come up in conversation. Tiffany had shown considerable interest at the time, so Jae-won had made sure to invite her first once the date was confirmed. Yet her reaction was not what he had anticipated.