Chapter 195: A Country Good for Business
Prime Minister An Hee-sang's live broadcast.
Viewership on Earth Channel skyrocketed, pushing it into the algorithm's recommendations.
[Prime Minister An Hee-sang has come to meet CEO Kim Shin!]
Kim Shin was at the center of the buzz.
He occasionally posted videos on SNS and Earth Channel, but plenty of people were curious about his latest whereabouts.
―Gotta watch this.
―Skipping class to tune in.
―Prime Minister? Is this guy really our country's PM? His looks are rough.
―He looks bad enough on his own, but next to Bro Kim Shin, he’s a total mess.
―But why’d the PM fly all the way to San Francisco?
The moment he entered Earth Resource’s conference room to meet Kim Shin.
Viewers from the US, Japan, Europe, and China started pouring in.
The Korean title auto-translated to match each user’s settings, and Kim Shin’s face was on the thumbnail.
―It’s CEO Kim Shin.
―This live?
―Looks like a Korean politician meeting CEO Kim Shin.
―Gotta turn on subtitles and check it out.
Viewership climbed from hundreds of thousands into the millions.
* * *
The subject was Prime Minister An Hee-sang’s proposal.
He did want to build an Earth Factory in Korea.
He’d only given up due to harsh realities.
An flustered Prime Minister An asked.
“Hmm? The merits of attracting an Earth Factory to Korea? Are you asking for special favors?”
“The US offers cheap land for factories, covers road and sewage connections, provides tax breaks, and financial support. Is Korea willing to match that?”
It wouldn’t cover the hundreds of billions in investment, but it beat nothing.
“To give benefits to companies, I’d need to consult the National Assembly. The opposition could block it, and there’s the issue of fairness with other firms.”
“I’ll take that as reluctance for direct support. Honestly, disappointing.”
Of course it’d be tough.
Korea couldn’t ram through something like the US CHIPS Act for semiconductors.
The same went for EV subsidies.
After thirty-plus years in Korea, how could he not know?
“You’re probably aware, but the US semiconductor law was made to boost industry and tech supremacy. It pours $280 billion into the sector, supporting facilities and R&D, with a 25% tax credit for factories built in the US.”
That’s why any semiconductor firm had no choice but to build there.
Prime Minister An’s face went blank.
―His expression says he had no clue.
―The scale of US investment is insane.
―No wonder companies are flocking to America.
―Weird, though. Even if Korea’s economy is under 10% of the US’s, shouldn’t we at least offer 5% support?
―We don’t have the cash.
―Why?
―Too busy skimming everywhere.
He snuck a peek at the tablet held by Prime Minister An’s aide.
Viewer reactions weren’t bad.
It seemed that a rational discussion was finally getting through to him.
“China’s dumping money into semiconductor dominance too, aiming for 70% self-sufficiency by 2025. Factor in local governments, and it’s hard to even tally the investment...”
“CEO Kim Shin, isn’t comparing Korea directly to the US or China a stretch?”
“Taiwan’s investing, the EU’s passing a European Semiconductor Act and raising funds. But Korea? Nothing.”
“......”
―Getting schooled with facts. This is it.
―Thought he was whining for perks at first, but turns out Korea’s been demanding sacrifices. ㅠㅠ
―He left Incheon Airport all confident, vowing to lure Earth Factory to Korea. Now he’s just taking a lecture.
―Who the hell sent this guy?
―He sent himself.
He’d done a few broadcasts, so he could chat while skimming viewer comments.
Even so, I had to focus on the prime minister.
“I’m worried. Even without Earth Factory support, shouldn’t you care about Korea’s semiconductor industry?”
“Of course our government’s making efforts.”
“Ah, sure.”
Polite to let it slide, but...
Prime Minister An sounded so half-hearted, he had to ask.
“But what efforts?”
“......”
No answer, as expected.
Might brush it off, so hit again.
“If you tell me what efforts the government’s making for semiconductors, it’d be key info for Earth Factory’s potential Korea entry.”
“I... can’t recall right now. Let’s not get into details.”
An’s face flushed beet red.
Less embarrassed with himself, more humiliated by the situation—or pissed at him.
―Can’t even explain properly, yet has the gall to demand an Earth Factory?
―My face is burning.
―Classic Korean politician: no knowledge, no expertise, all authority complex.
―Viewership hit 10 million. Overseas folks’ll be shocked.
―Everyone, this is Korea’s Prime Minister.
―People who think Korean politicians just fight don’t get politics. After a brawl in the Assembly, they’re brothers in a Yeouido sauna.
Anyway, Prime Minister An had come all the way to America.
Unclear if he represented the nation or people, but time for a serious talk on Earth Factory in Korea.
“Prime Minister. EVs and semiconductors—Earth Factory in Korea would step on Mirae Motors Group and Isung Group’s turf. Considered their stance?”
“We can negotiate amicably going forward.”
“No firm plans, then. Mirae Motors and Isung Electronics are building in the US and China too. You know Mirae hasn’t built in Korea for twenty years?”
“Well...”
“Export giants need local factories in big markets to sell smoothly.”
Buy America meant factories for subsidies.
China had long forced it for its massive domestic market.
China had demanded more than jobs; it had also sought to acquire corporate technology.
That’s how Chinese firms surged competitively.
“If Earth Factory in Korea hurts export markets, can you offer strong diplomatic backing?”
“......”
Even when Mirae Motors hit US/China export snags, Korea’s government barely stepped up.
―This convo’s so depressing.
―Rumors Kim Shin Bro clashed with the government over biotech too. Was it like this?
―Bro Kim Shin, what battles have you fought?
―I’d get it if you took US citizenship.
―Felt bad watching you build in the US... Korea can’t keep you.
―Foreigners seeing this’ll be stunned. After K-pop, K-games, K-movies, An Hee-sang gives ’em the spicy K-politician taste.
Prime Minister An stalled, eyes drifting to chat. His face lit up in shock.
It was the first time I realized how negative the public perception had become.
Still, stay calm, rational, logical.
“Off topic, but Korea’s birth rate’s plummeting dangerously. Saw it halved in six years.”
“Isn’t that because business owners keep building factories abroad, killing jobs?”
An pounced like it was his chance, but it didn’t land.
Earth Resource was founded in the US; Dream Art Rainbow and Biolife earned dollars abroad for Korea.
“Government and private debt’s exploding riskily, birth rate’s the world’s lowest, housing prices sky-high. Bottom line: Korea’s not ideal for Earth Factory.”
He wanted to build in Korea, but global conditions and lack of support made it impossible.
An’s face reddened as he asked.
“So, no Earth Factory in Korea?”
He’d seriously pondered it when deciding on the US.
Conclusion was always the same.
“Earth Factory’s going in the US. We’ll expand if needed. But we’ll hire lots of talented Koreans.”
“Offering jobs?”
“Yes. Help Koreans go global.”
He silently praised himself for not snapping at the politician.
Pretty much said his piece cleanly.
But it bruised An’s ego.
“I’m the Prime Minister, came to America myself, and you won’t budge? Disrespecting the PM?”
“Did I invite you?”
“What?”
I had slipped up.
Absurdity made him retort off the cuff.
I rarely made mistakes with other people, but politicians always seemed to bring them out of me.
An’s face said he was properly pissed now.
He said.
“One bit of advice. Chase only your greed, and Koreans won’t like you forever.”
“Hmm...”
Sounded like a threat.
Times had changed, honestly.
In the ’80s or ’90s, one wrong word could tank a company.
Companies still had to fear tax audits and prosecutors.
Wait, still true now?
Biolife and Dream Art Rainbow in Korea paid taxes, followed laws—no issues.
“First off, I think I’m doing well in Korea. Biolife donated 80 billion for rare disease kids this year, 200 billion to a cancer center for pediatric patients, 250 billion to single-mom facilities, 30 billion to an education foundation for veterans’ descendants...”
There had also been dozens of smaller donations worth billions of won each.
He’d lived poor, received much kindness.
Rich now, he donated hard to help those like his old self.
“Several times what other firms give. Before worrying Koreans hate me, maybe politicians stop getting hate first?”
“What? Bashing politicians and government elected by the people?”
Politicians always invoked the people when cornered.
“Yeah, bashing. Why, when criticized, don’t politicians improve—instead blame the people? If you care about them, why politics like that? TV shows politicians raging, nitpicking, insulting rivals, taking bribes—nothing else.”
“Hey, CEO Kim.”
I could feel my temper rising.
PM or not, say what needs saying. Or stew forever.
“Earth Factory’s a tens-of-trillions project. You show up sans proper plan expecting me to bite?”
“You should at least consider it seriously when I speak.”
“Already did deeply. Decided no. US makes laws to lure Earth Factory—Korea? What efforts?”
“We make our own efforts. You’re in the US, so you don’t know.”
“Don’t. And isn’t it government’s job to inform for investment? Stop blaming outside—look inward. Extorting ‘sponsorships,’ dragging CEOs to hearings for scoldings? Decent?”
Former LK Chairman suffered that in the Assembly.
I remembered seeing lawmakers on television berating a victim of extortion.
“Make Korea business-friendly. Then Earth Factory comes anytime.”
“No Earth Factory in Korea, then.”
“If business-friendly, it will.”
“I’ll take that as refusal.”