Chapter 196: The Rich Man's Hobby
The conversation video between Kim Shin and Prime Minister An Hee-sang that went up on Earth Channel became a massive sensation in Korea.
―Got bored and watched it... holy shit...
―Not a single person in our university community isn't trashing An Hee-sang.
―Gaming communities are the same lol.
―Even the peaceful plant gallery is blasting An Hee-sang.
―One-line summary: Goes to America, throws a tantrum, gets hit with facts, rages, and resorts to bullshit.
―The government should cancel An Hee-sang's flight ticket right now and make him swim back to Korea.
―He'd end up shark bait.
―That'd be better for the planet.
―What's the shark's crime?
―Never been this embarrassed by a Korean politician before.
It was a display of corruption, stubbornness, and crude language.
It was the familiar image of a politician, but seeing him go to America and bicker live with Kim Shin came as a shock even to the public.
An Hee-sang's side took down the video that had been automatically uploaded after the broadcast, but it was pointless.
[An Hee-sang's tantrum video re-uploaded]
People who'd watched and saved the video immediately reposted it.
They used all sorts of titles, and as it spread to countries like France and Germany, the algorithm propelled it even faster across the globe.
―This is a K-politician?
―Brutal.
―A balding guy runs the executive branch as prime minister?
―How did Korea even develop?
―Politicians like this in Mexico would be hanging from overpasses.
―France would have a revolution.
Prime Minister An Hee-sang became a target of ridicule and abuse worldwide.
Korean media outlets sharply criticized him through reports and editorials.
[Prime Minister An Hee-sang disgraces himself meeting Earth Resource CEO Kim Shin in San Francisco]
[Global backlash for throwing a fit at CEO Kim Shin]
[Politician without shame: Prime Minister An Hee-sang]
The opposition unleashed fierce condemnation in the political sphere.
"We all saw what this government's prime minister did in America. He must resign immediately."
"We need to understand Prime Minister An Hee-sang's desperate sincerity. Wasn't it an attempt to fight for Korean industry?"
While the ruling party tried to defend their ally An Hee-sang, the stock market moved.
[Foreign investors continue sell-off, KOSPI drops over 4%]
[Semiconductor stocks plummet]
[Distrust in Korean politics spreads to industry]
[U.S. semiconductor expert: "We knew Korea's response was slow. But I didn't know they had zero countermeasures."]
KOSPI and KOSDAQ both crashed in tandem.
* * *
Prime Minister An Hee-sang knew he was politically cornered.
The clip of him arguing with Kim Shin had spread worldwide, turning him into a laughingstock.
"If they hadn't broadcast it, this wouldn't have happened."
His original intent wasn't to pick a fight with Kim Shin in America.
He'd hoped Kim Shin would agree to build an Earth Factory, and even if not, he could show the public his efforts and boost approval ratings.
Who could've predicted he'd get hammered with facts and lose his cool?
"Should've never listened to those Chinese bastards."
He turned on the TV in his hotel, and there was his face on Fox News.
"Surprising. Did the prime minister really come to America just to throw a tantrum demanding an Earth Factory in Korea?"
"Korea has a tradition of government meddling in business. It rarely ends well, though."
"Earth Resource is an American company."
"It looks like the Korean government lacked proper judgment. They probably thought they could interfere because CEO Kim Shin is Korean, even if it's an American firm."
The perspective from the glamorous news anchor could become the public's view, especially the U.S. government's stance.
"Damn it."
He knew Korea was in an uproar too.
Calls poured in from ruling party lawmakers, and messages from the presidential office urged him to return to Korea ASAP.
"Let's head back to Korea."
An Hee-sang boarded a flight home with his entourage, shoulders slumped like defeated soldiers.
* * *
[Prime Minister An Hee-sang returns empty-handed from San Francisco meeting with CEO Kim Shin]
[Prime Minister An Hee-sang flies first class on return]
[Time to reflect on why no Earth Factory in Korea]
[Biolife dominates as top donor this year]
[Prime Minister An Hee-sang shows the world Korea's third-rate politics]
Prime Minister An Hee-sang faced scathing criticism from Korean media.
―An Myeong-guk VP: Lol, Korea's going nuts.
―Kim Shin: Any calls coming in?
―An Myeong-guk VP: Everywhere. Presidential office wants to spin it as An Hee-sang's rogue action, ruling and opposition parties pushing their angles.
―An Myeong-guk VP: Media outlets keep calling too.
―Kim Shin: Want my side of the story?
―An Myeong-guk VP: Nah, more like asking how hard to go after An Hee-sang.
―An Myeong-guk VP: With public opinion shifting, his political life is toast, but they ask if I want to finish him off completely.
The media was fully on my side.
They had journalistic integrity, sure, but Earth Channel payments were just too lucrative.
Ruling or opposition, they could trash talk, but not the money flow.
'Is this the power of an entrepreneur or investor?'
I'd accomplished a lot through investments.
My accomplishments ranged from producing dramas and films to building electric cars and semiconductor plants.
No wonder super-rich Americans had so much influence.
They created new things that hadn't existed before, changing people's lives.
[European Central Bank retreats on rate hikes amid severe inflation fears]
[U.S. jobs data far exceeds expectations]
[U.S. jobs surge despite Omicron, raising rate hike odds]
[Exploding U.S. employment fuels inflation terror]
Capital markets were in total chaos.
Inflation had reached a level unseen in forty years.
Investors no longer trusted the Fed or U.S. Treasury.
―Ellie: Be careful when talking economic outlook on broadcasts.
―Kim Shin: Why?
―Ellie: Could trigger massive retail sell-off and shock the stock market.
When Elon Musk talked crypto, Dogecoin doubled.
My posts could directly sway New York markets, apparently.
―Hyung said to sell.
―All-in on shorts.
Rampaging Korean retail investors in U.S. stocks were part of it too.
[U.S. stock retail investors' loans surge for funding]
[Put options all-in bets trend among U.S. stock Koreans this time]
Even investment banks and private equity bet on the New York decline.
But the biggest winners were me and the Korean retail crowd.
Koreans going all-out, just like in real estate or coins.
[Kim Shin officially world's richest]
[Kim Shin's New York stock investments valued over $400 billion]
Articles ran in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.
* * *
[Global Earth Phone sales surpass 100 million]
[Earth Channel subscribers nearing 1 billion]
[Prime Minister An Hee-sang issues official apology]
Korean media buzzed daily with Kim Shin stories.
Any Korean using a smartphone rarely missed a Kim Shin news day.
"The software alone is 85 million won. Including surgical equipment, total is 380 million won. We offer various leasing options."
"Handle it on the good side for Soo-ah. Installing the machine means I'll visit Suwon often?"
Selling over 300-million-won ophthalmology equipment.
Jo Soo-ah had visited the Suwon eye clinic multiple times to demo the product.
She was an ace salesperson at Arcor.
New cities sprouted nationwide, and eye clinics always opened with them, so she traveled everywhere.
Male doctors and clinic directors' advances were a constant annoyance at work.
"Soo-ah, what food do you like? Great Japanese place nearby. Their tuna's insane."
"Sorry, but I have to head back to the office tonight."
"Office? I'll boost your sales. Say you're at our clinic dinner and join me for a drink."
"......"
From her first day at Arcor to now, nothing changed.
"Next week, Assistant Manager Na Sang-guk will take over."
"Huh? What? Changing reps?"
"I'm quitting Arcor."
Jo Soo-ah had agonized for a year.
Dating Kim Shin, she didn't want to rely on him financially.
Long-distance could fizzle anytime, and he was insanely rich.
She figured he'd face endless temptations and watched steadily.
―Jo Soo-ah: What're you doing Saturday?
―Kim Shin: Biking with Jong-yeop.
―Jo Soo-ah: ......Sunday?
―Kim Shin: Fishing with Jong-yeop.
Kim Shin's routine was steady.
On weekdays, his routine consisted of home and the office.
He exercised or pursued his hobbies with Lee Jong-yeop.
He even sent photographs of his daily life, which looked completely ordinary.
He did not seem like the man who had founded Earth Resource, the corporate powerhouse dominating Korean news.
'Am I keeping distance just for my pride?'
Being with Kim Shin was fun, but fear held her back.
She wanted to muster courage and spend time with him.
He might meet someone younger and prettier someday, but right now, he was with her.
* * *
He chatted frequently with Mirae Motors' R&D team.
"Earth Car's performance, using LK's electric motors, will be top-tier among Mirae Motors' vehicles."
"I see."
Perhaps designing cars would become a new hobby.
Internal combustion engines involved engine tech and experts, so less room for detailed specs.
But EVs had simpler structures: motors, batteries.
"Standard model targets 5-second zero-to-sixty for battery efficiency and safety. Performance model aims for low 3s."
"Sounds good."
EVs definitely outperformed gas cars in acceleration.
Mirae Motors' chief researcher Jeong Man-ho said,
"Two million units is plenty for economies of scale. Our analysis puts Earth Car margins at 23%."
"23%?"
"Yes, factoring direct online sales, no regional dealers."
There were no discounts and no dealer commissions.
That alone let Earth Car rake in huge profits.
'Business profits on top of New York stock windfalls...'
Money was good, more the better, sure.
"Hyung, heard EVs are dangerous in crashes."
"Huh?"
Eating in Earth Resource's cafeteria, Eddie spoke up.
The saying goes: ignorant conviction is dangerous.
He acknowledged ignorance outside his field, so he listened without preconceptions.
"They say if the battery damages in an EV crash, high fire risk."
Oh Myeong-woo, on his second pork cutlet, chimed in.
"Heard firefighters struggle to put out EV fires."
"Why can't they?"
"Battery fires don't extinguish no matter how much water."
There had even been a fatal incident at an apartment complex in Hannam-dong, Korea.
After a crash in the basement parking garage, the car had burst into flames instantly, trapping and killing its occupants.