Chapter 180: Movie Reactions Are Good
〈Why Did He Choose BMW and Mercedes Electric Cars?〉
〈Kim Shin, CEO, and Chief Secretary Lee Jong-yeop Visit Used Car Dealership in Person〉
〈Buys Electric Cars with Cash in One Go〉
Even trivial details about the reporters swarming the entrance to the Hannam-dong apartment complex became headlines.
It wasn't something to hide that he was interested in the electric vehicle industry anyway.
'Of course you'd buy a car outright with cash. You can't finance at a used car dealership.'
If he'd financed it, that would've been even bigger news.
―Seon Jae-yong, Vice Chairman: I met with DK Group's Chairman Choi Jong-won and LK Group's Chairman Gu Jin-mo. They were shocked to hear you're entering the electric car market.
DK Group and LK Group decided to join the Earth Car Project right after meeting with Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong.
―Seon Jae-yong, Vice Chairman: We all met together, and they're really enthusiastic about the Earth Car Project.
Battery and electrical-equipment companies were also joining the project.
They agreed to invest technology, manpower, and funds willingly to build a massive factory in the US.
―Seon Jae-yong, Vice Chairman: Isung Group also seems like they could collaborate in automotive electronics, wireless communications, and audio fields.
Isung Group was trying to get in on it somehow too.
Construction ends once a multi-trillion-won megastructure is completed, but automakers generate endless revenue.
〈Kim Shin, the Midas Touch〉
The front-page story in the famous US newspaper, the New York Times, was about me.
Articles detailed how I'd made money in stocks and coins, and my business successes.
The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, and Chicago Tribune also ran stories on me.
〈What Kind of Company Is Earth Resource?〉
〈Kim Shin's Unbelievable Success〉
I was already pretty well-known in the US. With daily front-page features in US papers lately, my fame had skyrocketed even more.
〈Kim Shin's $50 Billion US Investment in Electric Vehicles?〉
〈Texas Forms Business Support Team to Attract Kim Shin's Investment〉
Articles about the investments poured in.
〈Kim Shin Confirms Massive Tesla Short Position〉
〈Tesla Stock Wobbles After Twitter Acquisition; Kim Shin Top Beneficiary〉
〈Ex-Wife Han Chae-won Says She's Willing to Meet If Kim Shin Wants〉
〈'God of Investment' Starring Kim Shin Hits Theaters〉
A ton was happening every day—no time to get bored.
That weird article in the middle was probably just my imagination.
* * *
Chairman Jin Myeong-il of Mirae Motors Group held a meeting with his presidents.
"I heard a proposal for an electric vehicle joint venture this time."
The proposal he'd heard from Kim Shin. He announced to the presidents' meeting that he'd firmly rejected it.
"Does it make sense to hand over everything we've worked so hard on at Mirae Motors just for a small stake in a startup?"
"Absolutely not, Chairman."
It was President Oh Soon-il of Mirae Mobis speaking.
The other presidents nodded in agreement.
"Mirae Motors is the foundation of the Mirae Group. How glorious is our automotive history? We started as a car repair shop during the colonial era, pushed through the Korean War, and poured endless effort into developing our own vehicles."
The founder of Mirae Group, who built Korea's economic miracle. He'd risked bankruptcy to aggressively pursue the auto business.
―Even if I pour every penny I've earned in my life and fail, if I can lay a stepping stone for future generations to succeed in the auto industry, I have no regrets.
That's how they'd succeeded in independent auto development, leading the company to this day.
"Kim Shin's proposal is basically insulting our company's history from the roots."
"Right. He thinks Mirae Motors is a joke."
Chairman Jin Myeong-il was satisfied with Mirae Mobis's president's words but not at ease.
Having graduated from a San Francisco grad school in the US, he knew the world well.
'If we'd accepted Kim Shin's proposal, we could've made money...'
It could've even been a new leap forward.
Mirae Group wasn't the giant it once was in Korea anymore.
Inheritance, splits, bankruptcies—core companies had fragmented.
Jin Myeong-il said in a heavy voice.
"How Kim Shin plays this is the issue too. He won't back down easily."
"You mean he'll attack our group?"
His eldest son, Jin Tae-seop, who ran Mirae Construction, asked in surprise.
"Could be. The guy's got insane amounts of money."
It was Kim Shin, after all.
He could buy up Mirae Motors shares on the stock market and shake things up plenty.
"If we pool the Chairman's and affiliates' shares, it's currently 29.38%."
"The National Pension Service holds over 7%..."
"Foreign investors will side with Kim Shin."
"If he forces a takeover of Mirae Motors, it'll spark a diplomatic dispute with the US."
"Kim Shin's still Korean. Even if his main business is in the US."
They prepared countermeasures against Kim Shin's hostile takeover.
They'd been on guard because he had so much cash, but then the news came.
"LK and DK Group chairmen met with Isung Group's Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong."
"For what?"
"We'll look into it right away."
The report after investigation.
"Both groups are joining Kim Shin's electric car project."
"If Isung led it, that's the 1st, 2nd, and 4th largest conglomerates joining?"
Those were Korea’s largest conglomerate, its second largest, and its fourth largest.
Jin Myeong-il felt uneasy.
While other companies leaped forward, Mirae Motors could fall behind.
Especially risky if it was in electric vehicles.
'Should we have swallowed our pride and accepted?'
More news about the project seemed to arrive almost every day.
"Kim Shin made $4 billion from investments."
"Already?"
"Not already. $4 billion today alone."
"What?"
The amount Mirae Motors Group earned in six months—he made in one day.
* * *
At last, the release day for the film *God of Investment* arrived.
He'd decided in advance not to check the internet today.
Tap tap!
A message on Earth Messenger.
―Oh Myeong-woo: You probably know already.
―Kim Shin: Know what?
―Oh Myeong-woo: Earth Channel traffic is up 40% from usual.
―Kim Shin: Oh... Business is booming.
―Oh Myeong-woo: You bet. And the number one trending content in the US is *God of Investment*.
It was a "my god" moment.
He'd thought a documentary-style film might quietly fade away.
―Oh Myeong-woo: I'm not watching it, no way. Want the latest reviews though?
Blocked.
They were friends and business partners, but blocked today.
―Jin Yoo-kyung: Watching *God of Investment*.
The first message that morning came from Jin Yoo-kyung.
―Jin Yoo-kyung: How could someone grow up so cool in that environment? Total jackpot!
Blocked.
―Kim Sang-gi: Saw *God of Investment*. Super fun. Watching with our esports team staff.
Blocked.
―Jeong Beom-tae, Executive VP: The movie's getting a huge response!
Dream Art Rainbow's de facto CEO.
Even if offered president anytime, he declined, saying VP was plenty.
I could not block Executive Vice President Jeong Beom-tae.
―Jeong Beom-tae, Executive VP: Makes sense it's doing this well—it's your movie, sir.
―Kim Shin: Yes, thank you.
Soon afterward, another message arrived.
―President Biden: Good day. How's the weather in Korea? Watching *God of Investment*.
The next message came from the President of the United States.
I could not block him either.
―President Biden: Great movie. Didn't know much about my friend's past, but now I do.
―President Biden: Dreams, courage, talent, hope. It all makes sense how he achieved the American Dream.
―Kim Shin: The movie exaggerates some parts.
―President Biden: Haha, now I'm looking forward to parts 2 and 3. I'll post a review soon.
―Kim Shin: A review?
Curious what President Biden would write, then it appeared on the White House's Earth SNS account.
['God of Investment' isn't a get-rich-quick flick.
It's about one man fighting hard through life with relentless effort.
I hope all Americans see it.
―President Biden]
"......"
The movie's reception felt way hotter than expected.
Lee Jong-yeop chuckled.
"This is all your fault, bro."
"Mine?"
"Yeah. People worldwide are obsessed with rich folks."
It was a well-made social network movie, but starring a $100 million guy wouldn't have blown up.
Success came from basing it on the young billionaire who built the Facebook-killing SNS giant.
〈President Biden Personally Recommends *God of Investment*〉
〈*God of Investment* Breaks Earth Channel Records〉
〈*God of Investment* Tops Popularity Charts in 32 Countries〉
He peeked at the internet for Biden's review—total chaos.
The front pages of the major news outlets were filled with stories about *God of Investment*.
'Hoped it wouldn't do *this* well.'
Friends on his Earth SNS account were piling up by the million.
―Awesome movie. I'm Chinese, but felt that shared sentiment watching it.
―Korea produces another great film.
―Even greater as it's based on a true story.
Earth SNS brimmed with Chinese reviews and friend requests nonstop.
Relations with China weren't great, no official service, so mostly Hong Kong or Canadian nationals.
"Bro, this box office boom will boost Earth Channel subs, plus SNS and Messenger users."
"Yeah."
Staying in Korea, he felt Earth Channel's power more.
While gaming, working out, and running the company in the US, the business had grown massively.
"Bro, Ira Motors says they're open to partnering on electric vehicles."
"Ira Motors?"
Word of jumping into EVs spread, drawing calls from other automakers.
"They're even willing to sell the company if needed."
Korea's auto market was Mirae Motors' dominant monopoly.
A name he rarely heard lately, but in the early 2000s, they'd been hot with trendy SUVs for youth.
IMF crisis tanked the parent, then the acquirer went bust.
The company had endured strikes and repeated sales to Chinese and Indian owners.
In-house projects scrapped, tech shipped overseas.
Remaining value was minimal; Indian owners wanted out persistently.
"Hmm, Ira Motors gives me pause. Let's think it over."
Without Mirae Motors, Earth Car Project's success wasn't guaranteed.
Enjoying business planning and dates with Jo Soo-ah in Korea, three days passed.
〈Fed Halts 'Money Printing,' Starts 'Tightening'〉
〈Fed Begins Tapering. Keeps Zero Rates〉
Fed, calling inflation transitory, flipped: asset buys cut, tapering starts.
〈Post-Tapering Fallout: NYSE Plunges〉
〈Fed Rate Hike Pulled Forward?〉
〈US Treasury Yields Rise, Dow Drops Over 3%〉
Stocks tanked hard; shorts and put options raked in profits.
―Ellie: Today's gains hit $18.7 billion.
Markets were insane.
Rollercoaster dropping as wildly as it climbed.
'No losses even if stocks rally for a bit.'
But then a stock-shaking bombshell hit.
〈New COVID Variant Omicron Emerges〉
〈NYSE Crashes on South Africa Variant Fear〉
〈Worse Than Delta: Super-Strong COVID Variant Panic Spreads〉
〈Dow Drops Over 1,000 Points Right at Open, Losses Widen〉