The Politician's Assault
"Are you the CEO of Starlink?"
"Yes. I am Kim Taesik, the CEO."
"I am Lee Jung-woo, the Land Information Policy Manager from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. We have received a report that Starlink has illegally exported domestic map data, and we are here to conduct an inspection."
Taesik, who had not yet exported any map data to the American branch, Starlink Map, looked at the Ministry official with a puzzled expression.
"Starlink has not exported any map data. What are you talking about?"
"We will find out the details once we investigate. For now, we will examine the map service provided by Starlink. Please submit the original map data."
President Ryu immediately called Deputy Manager Son to submit the original data to the Ministry official and his entourage. The officials examined the maps, focusing on the Blue House and military facilities, and then whispered something to the manager.
"As expected, there are many problems with Starlink's maps."
At the Ministry manager's remark, Taesik asked, "Problems, you say...?"
"You are exposing satellite images of national security facilities, such as the Blue House and military bases, exactly as they are. CEO Kim, do you have any idea how dangerous it is to reveal Level 1 national security facilities on a map?"
Taesik, knowing that there were no restrictions or regulations regarding national security facilities in the relevant laws, asked the official in charge with a look of absurdity. Since South Korea had enacted the National Spatial Data Act in 2012 to manage national security facilities, Taesik asked with a confident gaze.
"To my knowledge, there are no restrictions set by national law. On what grounds are you cracking down?"
The Ministry manager, caught off guard by an unexpected question, looked at his subordinates with a flustered expression. One of the officials stepped forward to answer Taesik's question instead.
"Starlink is violating the National Security Act."
"What did you say...?"
"You are engaging in activities that violate the law by collecting information on national security facilities, endangering national safety, and engaging in anti-state activities."
"Hahaha. This is ridiculous. Starlink provides satellite imagery and location information services. How are we endangering national safety?"
"...Aren't you providing information on national facilities to North Korea without authorization?"
"We are providing satellite images and location information for the entire Republic of Korea, not just national security facilities. Why are you limiting your remarks to specific areas?"
To Taesik's persistent questioning, the Ministry official seemed flustered. "Are you saying you will go against the government's legitimate performance of its duties?"
Taesik let out an absurd laugh at the official's stubbornness, and the Ministry manager stepped in directly.
"CEO Kim! Could you send your staff out so we can talk one-on-one?"
At the manager's request, Taesik sent his staff out and waited for the manager to speak, along with President Ryu.
"The person next to me is the President of Starlink Communication. It is fine for him to be present."
"Hmm... I will be honest with you. As you said, CEO Kim, there are no laws or regulations regarding the handling of national security facilities in satellite imagery and location information services. The inspection of Starlink started due to external pressure, but appropriate handling of security facilities is indeed necessary. I ask that you appropriately process the national security facilities in your satellite images and electronic maps, and I ask that you suspend your service for the time being."
Taesik had a hunch. "Was there pressure from the National Assembly?"
"......"
At the manager's silence, Taesik decided to negotiate with the Ministry.
"Wouldn't it be difficult for both of us if Starlink takes this to court? Please tell me who is behind the pressure on Starlink and what the solution is."
The manager, after a moment of contemplation, said, "...Public officials consider the stern criticism of the people important, but we have no choice but to be mindful of those responsible for legislation. I will issue a simple administrative guidance order, so please apply blurring to the national security facilities."
At the manager's roundabout way of speaking, Taesik nodded. "We don't know the locations of all national security facilities either. If you provide the location information for the areas that need blurring, we will process them immediately. However, there will be no suspension of our map service."
"CEO Kim! Can't you make a concession just this once?"
"Telling a private company to suspend its service for a while is the same as telling us not to do business. Can the Ministry compensate for our operating losses? If Starlink had violated relevant laws, it would be natural to suspend service, but aren't there no such laws currently in place?"
"...I understand. Let's wrap this up by having you accept the Ministry's administrative guidance."
As soon as the Ministry director left the conference room, Taesik called Department Head Park Kyung-hoon and Department Head Cha Youngjin to explain what had happened with the assemblymen last week and to prepare countermeasures.
"...The current situation with Starlink is like this, and I need your opinions."
Department Head Park Kyung-hoon, who had been deep in thought, spoke up. "CEO, there is a National Assembly election next year. How about we use the election?"
"Use the election...?"
"Assemblymen are people with four-year terms anyway, and aren't they currently collecting political funds to prepare for this election? We should launch an information operation so they can't pressure us."
"Can you be more specific?"
Department Head Park glanced at Department Head Cha Youngjin. "Is there anyone who doesn't have dust if you shake them? We will leak information about the assemblymen serving as secretaries of the National Defense Committee onto the internet. If their corruption is floating around the internet, they won't have the luxury to pressure Starlink."
"Hmm... I decided not to engage in illegal activities, though..."
At Taesik's words, Department Head Cha Youngjin stepped forward. "The level of corruption of an assemblyman can be easily collected by gathering information on the internet. You don't even need to hack."
Department Head Cha Youngjin manipulated something on his laptop. "Whoa! It's posted on an internet bulletin board that Assemblyman Jung Min-jae got his child hired at a large corporation through solicitation. And he has a significant criminal record for violence, too. CEO! At this rate, if we just post the relevant facts on the internet, he'll probably have to give up on next year's election. Oh! The nomination comes first, but it doesn't look like he'll pass the nomination process easily."
Department Head Park added to Cha's words, "For now, let's keep the assemblymen busy. We will leak information about those assemblymen through gossip columns. If we collect all their corrupt acts instead of just one, they won't have the room to attack Starlink."
Taesik accepted the opinions of Department Head Park and Department Head Cha and decided to bypass the information on the corrupt acts of Assemblyman Jung Min-jae and Assemblyman Hwang Byung-min onto gossip columns and internet bulletin boards.
Not long after the corruption of the assemblymen was posted on gossip columns and the internet, Taesik received a summons from the National Assembly, and the key staff of Starlink gathered again to discuss countermeasures. Department Head Park Kyung-hoon said with an apologetic expression, "CEO, I'm sorry. I think the summons came because there wasn't enough time for the information operation to take effect. The assemblymen who requested your attendance are Jung Min-jae and Hwang Byung-min."
"It's fine. What did they say was the purpose of the summons?"
"They said they would examine the safety of the military equipment supplied to the troops dispatched to Iraq."
"The radio we supplied must be the target. For now, I will comply with the National Assembly's summons."
Department Head Park tried to dissuade him, saying that the information operation against the two assemblymen serving as ruling and opposition party secretaries would work if they just had a little more time, but Taesik decided to go to the National Assembly.
Upon arriving at the National Assembly, Taesik left his ID and entered through the back door of the National Assembly building.
"The National Assembly makes me feel unpleasant every time I come here. I don't know if it's right for assemblymen to enter through the front door and ordinary citizens to enter through the back door."
At Taesik's complaint, Department Head Park agreed. "It's become like this because there's no one to supervise the assemblymen's sense of privilege. I've been here a few times, and nothing has changed."
The two headed to the subcommittee meeting room where the National Defense Committee was being held, and a staff member in charge of National Assembly affairs came out, verified Taesik's identity, and assigned him a seat.
Assigned to a corner seat in the subcommittee, Taesik waited for a long time, and the regular National Defense Committee began as the assemblymen entered. After the assemblymen exchanged heated arguments about the legitimacy of the Iraq deployment, the ruling party assemblyman acting as the chair called for caution, stating that this was a meeting to review the safety of the dispatched soldiers rather than to argue about legitimacy, and the assemblymen questioned the Ministry of National Defense about safety measures for the dispatched soldiers.
After exchanging questions about the equipment held by the dispatched troops, Assemblyman Jung Min-jae gained the floor.
"To my knowledge, the equipment held by the Iraq-dispatched troops is armed with equipment currently operated by the military, that is, equipment with proven combat capabilities. However, according to my information, I accidentally learned that they are providing radios that have no experience in the defense sector and whose equipment has not been verified. Minister of National Defense! What kind of radio will the special forces accompanying the dispatched troops use?"
Assemblyman Jung Min-jae glanced at Taesik in the corner seat before asking the Minister of National Defense, and the Minister answered the facts he knew.
"The regular troops plan to use existing radios, and the special forces plan to use the newly introduced dual-communication capable radios."
"Is it a radio purchased from Starlink Communication by any chance?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"To my knowledge, Starlink Communication is a company with no experience in the defense sector. Did you verify the performance yourself, Minister?"
"No. The officer in charge of acquisition verified it."
"The verification of the radio, which is the most important equipment for the Iraq-dispatched troops, is insufficient. I requested the Starlink CEO to attend this meeting, so where is he?"
Called to the front, Taesik was questioned by Assemblyman Jung Min-jae after a brief oath.
"You are Starlink CEO Kim Taesik, right?"
"Yes."
"Does the South Korean Ministry of National Defense have a track record of using radios supplied by Starlink?"
"No. This is the first batch we have supplied at the request of the Ministry of National Defense."
"Minister of National Defense! Is it right to provide radios with no track record to soldiers going on overseas deployment?"
The Minister was flustered by Assemblyman Jung Min-jae's question and could not answer, and he continued with additional questions.
"CEO Kim Taesik! Is it okay to pass the risk on to our soldiers for the sake of Starlink's profit?"
"Assemblyman! Starlink radios are equipment used by US troops dispatched to Iraq, so there is no problem with their reliability. Are you saying there is a problem with equipment that even the US military has adopted?"
Assemblyman Jung Min-jae seemed flustered by Taesik's counterattack and rummaged through his questions, and Assemblyman Hwang Byung-min immediately grabbed the microphone.
"Just answer the question you're asked. How do you view the National Assembly that you give such absurd answers? Since I have the microphone, I will continue with the questions."
Assemblyman Jung Min-jae sighed in relief at Assemblyman Hwang Byung-min's support, and Assemblyman Hwang asked the questions he had prepared.