The Smartphone Era and a New Connection
Following the successful test evaluation of the TA50 lead-in fighter trainer, the Ministry of National Defense immediately signed a contract. Starlink Aviation continued to grow its revenue by supplying the TA50 alongside the existing T50 advanced trainer, while Starlink Defense secured a contract for GPS-guided bombs for the Air Force. Meanwhile, due to delays in missile development, the medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) project was split into two phases for testing: first, the flight tests for the drone itself, and later, the weapons integration tests.
While Starlink Aviation focused on the UAV trials, Taesik received a call from the United States.
"Representative Kim, our smartphone is finally launching this week. You're coming to the launch event, right?"
Mike Jobs had invited Taesik as a VIP, but Taesik had to decline.
"Mike, I'm sorry. My schedule in Korea is too packed; I can't find the time."
"Really? It's a shame to have the person who helped the most be absent..."
"You're the star of the show anyway, Mike. Make it a great event."
"Okay. But next time you visit the States, you absolutely have to meet me!"
After turning down Mike's invitation, Taesik called Luke at WP Morgan for the first time in a while.
"Representative Kim, it's been a while since you called."
"I heard Apple is launching their smartphone this week. What's the atmosphere like over there?"
"Consumers are excited to see what new product Mike Jobs will unveil, but the stock market is in a wait-and-see mode. Since they haven't seen the product yet, analysts are holding off on their investment reports until after the launch."
"How are my investment results?"
"The stock is at 7 dollars now, so you're looking at roughly a 700% return, totaling 25 billion dollars. How much of your loan remains?"
Taesik checked his remaining balance, as he had borrowed from WP Morgan to acquire Starlink Aviation and pay for the mobile processors used in the smartphones.
"It's less than a million dollars. Most of it has been repaid through Apple's dividends. Starting this year, the dividends should start piling up. Would you like to settle the rest?"
Taesik felt a sense of satisfaction seeing how much his investment in Apple stock had grown.
"Once the smartphone launches, the stock price will rise even further. I'll hold onto it."
"Hahaha. I followed your lead and invested my spare cash in Apple, so I'm having quite a bit of fun myself. If you're holding, I suppose I should keep holding as well."
Five days later, Mike held the launch event in San Francisco, and the media flooded the airwaves with glowing reviews, calling it a revolutionary product. As Taesik watched the sales figures of the new smartphone and focused on the satellite production for Space Y, he received a call from Vice Chairman Jeon Hak-soo of the Misung Group.
"Representative Kim, do you have a moment to talk?"
"Of course. What's the occasion?"
"The Chairman wants to have a meal with you. When would be good?"
"I'm available anytime."
"Then, is this evening okay?"
Taesik immediately accepted the request, and they agreed to dine at a hotel owned by the Misung Group. Upon finishing his work and arriving at the hotel, the manager personally escorted Taesik to the restaurant, where Chairman Lee Hyundo and a young woman were already seated.
"You've arrived, Representative Kim."
Taesik offered his greetings and glanced cautiously at Chairman Lee.
"Introduce yourself! This is my third daughter. I brought her out so she could meet you."
The Chairman's daughter greeted Taesik.
"I'm Lee Miso."
Unlike the typical image of a chaebol daughter, Miso was dressed in a calm and modest outfit. After a light greeting, she scrutinized Taesik and chuckled.
"My father said you were a decent person, so I thought you might be a slick operator, but you look quite ordinary."
Taesik was flustered and looked at Chairman Lee, who just laughed.
"I heard you don't have any women around you...? I brought her just in case. What do you think? Do you like her?"
Taesik blushed, unable to speak for a moment.
"Did you call me out specifically to introduce your daughter?"
"No. I suffered a great loss by not listening to you last time, so I wanted to get your advice on future matters while also introducing you to my daughter."
During the conversation, the hotel manager brought the food, and the three began to eat.
A while later.
"Are you full? It's a hotel I own, but it's the best place for Japanese cuisine, so I visit often. Is it to your taste?"
"Yes. It's more delicious than anywhere else."
"Now, let's talk business!"
At the Chairman's words, Taesik took a sip of water and straightened his posture.
"I saw that Apple applied the idea you suggested—putting a computer in the palm of one's hand—for their launch. The atmosphere in the US is better than I thought. We've even received inquiries about increasing the volume of mobile processors we supply to them."
Since the smartphone was setting new sales records every day in the US, Taesik answered immediately.
"It seems there are many people starving for an innovative product."
"I should have listened to you... We were too complacent. Do you have any other innovative products?"
Taesik judged that it was too dangerous to reveal products that had revolutionized the world in his previous life, so he answered indirectly.
"An innovative product must be able to create a new ecosystem by changing the world. Unless you create something new or destroy what already exists, you'll always be stuck making second-rate products."
"Hahaha. A new ecosystem... You're saying that if I don't step up myself, it won't happen. You told me before that Misung Electronics would continue to grow, didn't you? Looking at it now, you were right."
"..."
"I envy Apple, but Misung Electronics is continuing to grow. However... that was before Apple's smartphone turned the phone into a piece of junk..."
Taesik watched the Chairman's face silently as he spoke such harsh words.
"What should I do? About the smartphone!"
"You need to jump in now, even if it's late."
"After disassembling the Apple product, I realized that software is more important than hardware. We don't have the capability to build an operating system for a smartphone."
"...If you don't have the capability, I think you should borrow it."
"Who would be good?"
"Join hands with Google. Google is likely already preparing for it."
Chairman Lee looked as if he had made a decision.
"Ah! You mentioned before that Misung Electronics' growth rate would slow down for a while... What was that about?"
Since this was already happening in Taiwan, Taesik decided to give the Chairman a hint.
"Excluding South Korea, which countries are eyeing the semiconductor market?"
"The US, Japan, Taiwan, etc. Isn't that common knowledge?"
"If you consider the companies in the countries that receive the most government support, you'll find your answer."
"Hmm... are you talking about Taiwan?"
"Yes. Taiwan is pouring subsidies into the semiconductor industry under government leadership. If companies that receive government subsidies pour out similar products in a market that hasn't grown, what do you think will happen?"
Chairman Lee, lost in thought for a moment, asked with a sharp glint in his eyes.
"How should I win that fight?"
"You need to achieve price competitiveness through mass production with superior quality and yield. It will likely end up being a battle of manufacturing costs."
"So you're saying I should be the winner in a chicken game. Hahaha. The meal price today is hardly enough to cover the advice I got from you."
Taesik looked at Chairman Lee, who was mentioning the meal price.
"If you like my advice, hand over Misung Techwin to me."
"Misung Techwin...?"
"Yes. Starlink Aviation needs an engine company."
"As you know, if I sell Misung Techwin, Misung will have no connection to the defense industry. The politicians won't sit still. If a conglomerate like Misung doesn't participate in the defense industry, there will be attacks."
"I don't need the self-propelled artillery. You only need to sell the engine division."
"Not the whole thing, just a part...?"
"Yes. If you sell it to create synergy with Starlink Aviation, the politicians won't make an issue of it."
"I understand. It's difficult to sell it right now, but I'll consider it depending on the situation. Come