Chapter 189: Earth Factory
The dinner with Jo Soo-ah's younger sister proceeded in a warm and lively atmosphere.
"Is it really true that you started Earth Resource because of Biolife?"
"That's how it was."
"That's a total jackpot. You're in the US just gaming at home?"
"I was messing around with friends. I like games, and there wasn't much else to do."
With my girlfriend's little sister being a fan of mine, no awkward situations arose.
The only downside was that I felt sorry toward Jo Soo-ah for being a divorcee, and it weighed on me a bit around her family.
"While in college, I read Han Chae-won's book with my friends! My god, that bitch... you must have had it really rough."
My girlfriend's little sister trash-talking my ex-wife like that.
"You're job hunting, right?"
"I've been managing my GPA and got my certifications, so now it's time to look for work."
Jo Soo-yeon had a pretty face and a bubbly personality.
She was just stepping into society, which piqued my curiosity.
"What kind of company are you aiming for?"
As someone with plenty of work experience, I figured I could offer some advice, so I tossed out the question.
"Hmm, somewhere I can keep developing myself steadily. A free, flat work culture? No messages after hours, no running errands in the office! And just work for what they pay you. Gotta protect work-life balance, so no overtime or weekend shifts."
"......"
How many companies like that even existed in Korea?
At Earth Resource, developers worked like zombies, and office staff pulled all-nighters like it was routine.
In Silicon Valley, mentioning work-life balance in an interview got you rejected on the spot.
There was no need to crush a college kid's dreams and hopes just yet.
"Ahem. So, where are you planning to send applications?"
"Dream Art Rainbow!"
"Really?"
"It's the top company job seekers want."
The grueling hours in film and drama industries.
Dream Art Rainbow would probably work new hires to the bone too.
'Experiencing how tough the real world is will be a good lesson.'
* * *
The massive hit from Earth Car's box office storm was causing chaos at Mirae Motors.
"Earth Car's production scale looks like it'll be set at over a million units."
"In the EV space, a million units is a huge production volume."
While marveling at Earth Car's popularity, they were the ones who had to build the factory making it.
"The Chairman guaranteed it could be done in two and a half years?"
"Yes. He boldly declared it in front of the other Chairmen."
"What does the Chairman know about operations..."
"It's the tradition of Mirae Group's executives to insist it can be done no matter what within the deadline."
The operations team sighed.
The two-and-a-half-year timeline to build the US factory in Georgia for Mirae Motors was feasible because preparations were well underway.
Since they were adding production of their recently launched EV in the US, there weren't many trial-and-error hurdles.
Earth Car required brand-new vehicle production lines and would adopt a slew of cutting-edge methods.
"We need to complete the factory site as fast as possible..."
"Production equipment should be installed and tested simultaneously in nearby areas, then moved in at the end."
"The gigapress. Mirae Motors has been researching it, but it's not perfect yet."
"We'll refine the tech on-site over the two and a half years and get it done right."
Mirae Motors Group and Mirae Construction's ops teams didn't think it impossible.
Moving faster than competitors was Mirae Group's tradition.
"The Chairman's watching closely. Media's paying attention, so we need to send our elite squad."
"That team will be pulling all-nighters on-site for two years."
"We did it in the Middle East; America's not so bad..."
* * *
The next day, I got a call from Lee Jong-yeop in the US.
―Lee Jong-yeop: The 787 Dreamliner—the White House connected us with a canceled order.
―Kim Shin: Yeah?
―Lee Jong-yeop: Some Middle Eastern tycoon ordered it, but with oil prices dropping, they backed out.
―Lee Jong-yeop: Word is it has a conference room, bathtub, even a theater inside.
―Kim Shin: Bathtub?
―Lee Jong-yeop: Yeah, a massive gold-plated tub. Should we redo the interior normally?
Living extravagantly on purpose felt burdensome, but if someone else ordered it, enjoying it as-is seemed fine.
I was curious about soaking in a hot bath while crossing the Pacific on the plane and crashing out.
―Kim Shin: No need to bother changing it. Just take it as-is.
―Lee Jong-yeop: Got it, sir.
The private jet couldn't be acquired immediately due to final testing and finishing work.
So I flew from Incheon Airport on a Korean airline to Texas.
When I landed at Dallas International, Lee Jong-yeop, Isung Group, and Mirae Group staff were all there to greet me.
"The Austin area looks ideal for the Earth Factory site."
"In what way?"
"Isung Electronics had it as a candidate for a semiconductor fab, so prelim work's already done. Shortens construction time, and the Texas Governor promised fiscal aid, power plant land, 12 years of tax breaks, etc. Incentives cash out to over $10 billion."
The Biden administration's Buy American push.
Build in the US, and they support you aggressively.
"The Texas Governor was shocked by Earth Car's order volume."
"Yeah. I was too."
SUV and pickup orders each topped 500,000.
Full-size pickups barely sell elsewhere, but in the US, they're the bestseller.
We settled on a factory for 1.3 million units annually to start.
"Here's the rough factory construction plan."
Mirae Motors brought detailed site blueprints.
42 million square meters total, with 31 buildings including labs and dorms.
The floor plan didn't convey the scale, but the map marking nearby cities showed it was an entire massive factory zone.
"You're doing this in two and a half years?"
"Infra like surrounding roads starts right after land acquisition. Everything, including factory equipment, by the deadline."
Mirae Motors Group sent their top construction elite to the US.
Business Team Leader Lee Myeong-ho grinned.
"Initially sized for 350,000 units, so I had a plan in mind. 1.3 million? This'll be fun."
"No worries on timeline?"
"Tight, but throw in enough gear and manpower—what can't we do?"
"Still, two and a half years."
"A day's 24 hours. Work day and night, doubles the time."
Business Team Leader Lee Myeong-ho from construction gave off a familiar vibe.
The confidence and passion only geniuses like Eddie exuded.
"Let me know if you need anything."
"Haha, if you insist, maybe send some food for the crew now and then."
"Will do."
Earth Resource staff felt like my people.
They could quit and jump ship anytime, but while working, they were my responsibility.
Mirae Motors and construction folks weren't, but since they were building the factory, I should take care of them.
"Jong-yeop."
"Yes, bro. Send a ton of good eats to the site?"
Lee Jong-yeop had gotten quick on the uptake.
"Of course. Talk to Korean and US spots for regular hearty Korean meals."
* * *
Time flew by.
[Omicron Fears Fade, Fed Morphs into Inflation Fighter]
[Fed Eyes at Least 3 Rate Hikes Next Year]
With the money party over, the NYSE steadily declined.
―Ellie: Returns at 80% now. Wall Street's buzzing about your gains daily—you know that?
I checked my portfolio on my phone every day.
I had invested $150 billion and made a fortune in less than half a year.
[Kim Shin Proves True Midas Touch]
[Kim Shin, Richer Than Elon Musk After 2 Years of Investing]
[US Retail Investors Following Kim Shin Score Over 100% Returns]
Media tracked my returns faithfully.
US retail investors were bolder with derivatives than me, so higher yields.
Tons of them got rich in Korea too.
―Ellie: Market's tanking hard—could rebound soon. How about closing positions and chilling?
Shorting and puts were risky plays.
I knew the gambler's rule: take profits and walk.
Fed and US gov pumped insane cash, driving markets to all-time highs.
No money meant losing principal pressure, but now I saw clearly.
―Kim Shin: Holding steady.
―Ellie: Okay, got it.
Earth Car funding went smoothly too.
Named the industrial complex Earth Factory, announced to media.
[Earth Factory Set for Austin, Texas]
[Earth Factory Breaks Ground Right After Land Purchase]
[US Industry Views 2.5-Year Completion as Unrealistic]
[Earth Car Buyers Willing to Wait 4 Years]
[Earth Car Pre-Orders Top 2 Million]
Earth Car deposits hit $6 billion.
We bought the site, began the groundwork, and arranged the financing.
'Gotta borrow from banks.'
I used to think of loans as something associated only with library books.
Doing data center builds at Earth Resource, we'd borrowed plenty.
―Ellie: Wells Fargo offers $30 billion at 2.5% for 4 years.
―Kim Shin: Yeah?
―Ellie: Citi: $23 billion at 2.3% for 5 years.
―Kim Shin: Low rates.
―Ellie: Rate hikes next year'll make 'em pricier.
―Ellie: Rest from JPMorgan, similar rates.
Earth Factory build pegged at over $70 billion.
Expansions later won't cost as much, but starting Earth Car lines from scratch.
US finance was optimistic, lining up loans.
Plus heavy admin support.
'Doing business without touching my cash.'
Business on OPM.
[Isung Group Starts Auto Battery, Parts Plants in Austin, Texas]
[DK Innovation Locks $5B for Austin Battery Plant]
[LK Electronics Pushes New Plant in Austin, Texas]
[Korean Firms Announce High-Tech Plants in Austin One After Another]
[High-Tech Talent Floods to Austin]
Korean companies announced Austin plants in waves.
350k units? Import Korean parts fine. 1.3M? Big volume.
Plus expansions to 2M, 3M anytime.
―President Biden: Visiting Austin this weekend.
―Kim Shin: Pardon?
―President Biden: Touring my friend’s Earth Factory, checking support needs.
―President Biden: Short speech and presser planned.
I had planned to relax at the mansion in San Francisco.
With the President coming, I had to head back to Texas.
I flew on the new 787, took a bath during the flight, and arrived in Texas.
"An auto plant making Earth Cars will rise here."
"That's right."
Guided President Biden and press around the site.
Roadwork and earthmoving underway, but the sheer scale awed even me, the company head.