Chapter 170: White House Announcement
Chapter 170: White House Announcement
[Next Japanese Prime Minister, Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida]
[Moderate Conservative PM Kishida Coordinates US Visit After Inauguration]
Korea and Japan placed great importance on meeting the US President whenever a new president or prime minister was elected.
It was a way to showcase close ties with their ally, the United States—a stark reminder of just how immense America's influence truly was.
“Friend, it's great seeing you so often.”
President Biden, who rarely managed even one meeting a year, had returned to San Francisco.
He must have been blown away by the $50 billion investment.
* * *
Lee Jong-yeop had come to America hoping to experience the big leagues.
He figured that gaining all sorts of experiences at a young age by Kim Shin's side meant his life couldn't possibly be a failure.
And those expectations were soaring over 100,000%, just like Dogecoin's explosive surge.
“Buy a mansion.”
“Yes, boss.”
He'd gotten hands-on experience purchasing high-end American real estate.
“Manage the executive secretariat.”
“Yes, sir.”
At the company, he'd taken over Earth Resource's executive secretariat.
Managing elite staff—grads from top US and European universities, with consulting firm experience and law degrees—proved incredibly challenging.
In the end, he sought advice from Oh Myeong-woo.
“Boss, what should I do?”
“Struggling to handle the American employees?”
“Yeah.”
“These folks aren't just smart. They've got huge ambitions.”
“Then that's even worse. They'll see right through me and walk all over me.”
“Just make sure they see you sticking close to Kim Shin all the time.”
“That'll be enough?”
“Absolutely. The person closest to the power holder wields the greatest power.”
Sure enough, once he showed up riding bikes to work with Kim Shin and tagging along on every business trip, the staff started falling in line.
No one ignored his orders anymore, and some even began showing genuine loyalty.
“How do you know all this stuff so well, boss?”
“Read some classic martial arts novels. They’ve got everything you need to know about human relationships.”
“…….”
Lee Jong-yeop was witnessing Earth Resource's meteoric growth from the front row.
*This is insane. How does every venture turn into such a massive success?*
He never said it out loud, but he was constantly floored inside.
Five hundred million subscribers, then six hundred million—no joke.
Success bred more success in a virtuous cycle.
The recent app store venture was just the tip of the iceberg. The real game-changer was the Pangea Project, linking all computers into one network.
*This company is nuts.*
And President Biden was dropping by every week.
“Jong-yeop, good to see you.”
The president even knew his name and greeted him first.
Kim Shin beckoned him over with a wave.
“Jong-yeop.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Coordinate with the White House folks on this investment. See if you can squeeze out anything extra beyond what's already public.”
“Me?”
I was speaking with senior White House officials at the very heart of the American administration.
There was no way he could say no.
“Who else am I gonna trust with it?”
“You're right. No one else.”
Back at Arcor, he'd earned a measly 300,000 won allowance for selling machines.
His salary was decently high, but incentives were skimpy.
The lack of fierce competition in eye surgery equipment played a part too.
And now here he was, meeting with White House officials.
His congressman father back in Korea was calling nonstop, to the point of annoyance.
―Father: Seeing you thrive like this is such a joy.
―Father: Out of my three sons, you're the one who's made it big.
Lee Jong-yeop was living the successful life, but he always approached new challenges with caution.
How much more would White House staff look down on him?
A blonde beauty in office attire extended her hand for a shake.
“I'm Paige Koda, Industrial Investment Coordinator.”
“I'm Lee Jong-yeop, head of the executive secretariat at Earth Resource.”
The moment Lee Jong-yeop took her hand, confidence surged through him.
Her warm gaze and friendly expression gave him confidence.
Things were off to a promising start for the day.
* * *
He'd conversed with President Biden late into the night.
They confirmed the $50 billion investment was real, and Biden was even more thrilled to hear it was for a semiconductor plant.
“So the $50 billion investment will proceed as discussed.”
“Yes, so I’d appreciate your cooperation in the meantime.”
“No issues on our end. The administration will actively seek out ways to assist.”
The subject was the semiconductor alliance being organized by the United States.
Semiconductors were the rice of modern civilization, essential across countless industries.
China imported over $400 billion worth of semiconductors annually.
The US was leveraging its equipment makers and tech edge to curb China's growth.
Building a factory in America was tantamount to fully joining the semiconductor alliance—how could they not be thrilled?
“So the company name will be Earth Semiconductor?”
“Probably Earth Electronics. We're planning a diverse range of products beyond just semiconductors.”
“I saw the news about your friend acquiring LK's smartphone division. Excellent news.”
Hearing Biden call him “friend” made his sincerity feel that much deeper.
There was nothing quite as reassuring as having a wealthy friend.
President Biden shook an empty beer bottle.
“Talking with a good friend like this makes me crave another round.”
“I'll grab a cold one from the fridge.”
The fridge was stocked with tasty beers.
*Better not hand him a Chingtta though.*
President Biden smiled and stood.
“Can't have you doing that. How about we step out for some fresh air and grab a drink on the street?”
“You're serious, Mr. President?”
San Francisco's streets weren't as safe as Korea's at midnight.
Of course, with Secret Service and his own security detail—over a hundred strong in total—safety wasn't a concern.
But reporters were swarming the area.
His home was always staked out by paparazzi, and today White House press corps had joined the fray.
If Biden was spotted boozing late at night, it'd be front-page everywhere.
“I just want a relaxed drink with a friend. I've got to head back to Washington tomorrow, but since my morning's free, how about just one?”
Biden knew the situation full well, yet he was insisting.
“Alright.”
They rode out in the president's car—the massive limo dubbed The Beast—to San Francisco's streets.
Escorted by police and Secret Service, they shared a beer with patrons at an old pub.
About forty minutes into the visit, his phone vibrated.
*Tap tap!*
A notification on Earth Messenger.
Biden had stepped away to the restroom, so he checked it.
―Vice President An Myeong-guk: What's going on over there?
―Kim Shin: Huh?
―Vice President An Myeong-guk: You really drinking beer with President Biden?
*News must be out already.*
In an era of real-time broadcasts on Earth Channel and YouTube, news traveled almost instantly.
―Kim Shin: Yeah.
―Vice President An Myeong-guk: Holy... Incredible. Korea's flipping out.
―Kim Shin: How so?
―Vice President An Myeong-guk: Watching live news on Earth Channel. Everyone's losing it—anchors, viewers. National pride's through the roof.
President Biden returned from the restroom.
It was late, so they couldn't linger. They traded lighthearted banter.
“You're heading to Korea soon, right friend?”
“Yeah, booked a flight for today.”
“Booked? A CEO like you could fly private.”
Money was no object, yet he hadn't splurged on a jet.
Private plane ownership was common in America.
*Doesn't this make me look like a cheapskate landlord driving a 15-year-old car?*
“Most of my business base is still in San Francisco for now. Buying a plane feels like it'd just mean more travel hassles.”
There was a Korean joke about buying an RV: double the happiness—once when you buy it, once when you sell it.
That was because it often turned into a white elephant.
President Biden chuckled.
“Less than two years since you started the business, so that makes sense. I keep forgetting amid all the astonishment. You'll be traveling a lot more soon—get yourself a private jet. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner would do nicely.”
A quick search showed a carbon-fiber fuselage, room for more than three hundred passengers, and enough range to fly from Seoul to New York.
Browsing specs felt just like shopping for a car.
Biden sipped his beer and joked.
“If I could, I'd lend you Air Force One to take to Korea.”
A joke only a US president could make.
* * *
The next day, articles exploded as expected.
[Biden Spotted Drinking Late in San Francisco]
[Biden and Kim Shin Share Beer at Old Pub]
The New York Times and Washington Post devoted major column inches, while Fox and CNN aired segments.
Despite being early in his term, Biden's approval ratings weren't great.
His age limited appeal to the young from the start, the economy tanked by COVID, and the Afghanistan withdrawal drew fire.
The stories dragged me in too, criticizing Biden for neglecting duties and chasing youth appeal by visiting San Francisco.
“Friend, until next time.”
“Yes, Mr. President. I'll come to you in Washington next.”
“Haha. Business talks are fine, but I'd love to meet at a resort for some downtime. Fishing at Camp David would be perfect.”
President Biden left with a smile.
The previous night's beer fiasco had stirred up plenty of buzz, but it was all by design.
*Politicians gonna politic.*
Biden's repeated San Francisco visits had generated headlines.
There was nothing quite as thrilling as building anticipation and then dropping the bombshell of a massive investment.
The announcement itself was left to Biden.
In exchange, Lee Jong-yeop had secured enormous benefits, including federal tax breaks.
*Guy pulled an all-nighter with White House staff and came back with a haul.*
That afternoon, the White House held an official press conference.
“I've personally hustled to attract investment to America, and I'm thrilled to announce this remarkable result to the public...”
In the White House briefing room, President Biden made the announcement himself.
“I'm pleased to inform you all that Earth Resource CEO Kim Shin has committed $50 billion in investments to the United States. While Earth Resource has poured funds into content and data centers, this marks direct investment in a factory producing electronics. My efforts and persuasion played a part, but this confirms America's formidable manufacturing edge.”
Enthusiasm and confidence shone on Biden's face.
*Broadcast like that, his ratings might jump a few points.*
[Breaking! Biden Announces Kim Shin's $50 Billion US Investment]
[Kim Shin Launches Electronics Firm, Commits $50 Billion]
[Kim Shin's Astronomical Investment]
Articles flooded the media.
“Boss, time to head to Korea.”
“Yeah. Let's go.”
He's timing the trip with Jo Soo-ah's vacation.
Originally planned a stealth visit to surprise everyone, but no such luck.
[Kim Shin Books Flight to Korea on August 13]
[Kim Shin Reserves Entire First Class, Massive Security Detail]
[Did Acquiring Defunct LK Smartphone Division Signal Korea Investment?]
Just booking the flight had sparked a ton of Korean media coverage.