The Acquisition and the Talent Hunt
After finalizing the salary negotiations with Park Kyung-hoon, a former NIS agent, Taesik immediately laid out the tasks ahead. "For now, your title will be Security Team Leader, though I’ll address you as Director for the time being. The business I’m planning involves manufacturing artificial satellites and utilizing satellite communication. Since there isn't a single company in Korea with experience in satellite production, I need you to find a company capable of manufacturing mobile phones that we can acquire."
"Does the size of the company matter?"
"Prioritize small to medium-sized enterprises rather than large conglomerates. We need to conserve capital, as we’ll need to invest heavily in facilities after the acquisition."
"I’ll look into it right away."
"Also, please provide your account number. I’ll deposit this month’s salary and operating expenses."
Having instructed Director Park to scout for potential acquisitions, Taesik returned to his officetel to resume his drafting work, waiting for the Director's call. A few days later, Director Park contacted him, claiming to have found a company specializing in satellite phone production. After reviewing the company's profile, Taesik immediately ordered the Director to set up a meeting.
Upon entering the company with Director Park, an employee guided them to a conference room. The CEO greeted Taesik’s party with a curious expression, addressing Director Park instead of Taesik.
"I’m Ryu Gwang-soo from BP Satellite. I heard you were interested in acquiring our company..."
Director Park looked flustered. "The CEO is the gentleman right here."
"Oh...! My apologies."
"It’s quite alright. I’m young, so it’s a natural misunderstanding."
"I heard you intend to acquire BP Satellite. Are you planning to enter the satellite communication terminal business?"
"Yes. I plan to conduct business across the entire spectrum, from satellite manufacturing to satellite communication services."
"That’s the business I’ve always dreamed of. If I’d had enough capital, I would have wanted to build satellites, not just terminals... But I’m rambling. What valuation have you placed on the company?"
"I understand your current annual revenue is around 3 billion won. How does 10 billion won, including the company building, sound?"
"That’s a much more generous valuation than I expected. What happens to the employees?"
"The reason I’m acquiring this company is to utilize the existing staff and factory as they are. I intend to retain all employees."
"I don’t mind, as I’m selling the company, but I assume the executives will have to step down?"
"If they wish to stay, I’m willing to embrace them as well. Director Ryu, you are welcome to stay if you wish. However, you would remain as a manager, not the owner. I intend to focus on external affairs, so it would be better if you stayed on."
"I founded this company to achieve my dream, but I lacked the funds to launch a satellite..."
"I plan to launch two satellites within this year, so your dream will be realized this year."
"If it’s alright with you, I will stay."
"Then, let’s start by reinforcing the research staff. I plan to bolster the software team first, so Director Ryu, please prepare for the Korea Telecom satellite bidding. Also, please purchase the medium-sized test chambers required for satellite environmental testing."
"Ah! You mean the Mugunghwa 5, which is set to launch next year?"
"Yes. If we utilize government budget, we can streamline the orbital permit process. And we will begin manufacturing navigation systems immediately."
"CEO Kim! We don’t have the personnel to handle navigation design."
"I know you’ve already secured the communication technology for satellites. Since you have the GPS signal processing technology, all you need to do is secure the electronic map production technology. I will provide all the necessary funds, so please hire experienced personnel. Oh! And stop production of the existing satellite terminals and manufacture them using the blueprints I’ve provided."
"Hahaha. You’re giving me a mountain of work from the very first day of the acquisition. Since you’re providing sufficient funds, I’ll start the hiring process immediately."
"Keep in mind that our goal is to move beyond 2D maps to 3D-centric map production."
"What shall we name the company?"
"I’ve decided on the name Starlink Communication."
"Understood. I will change the company name immediately and begin hiring experienced staff and developing the navigation system."
After explaining to CEO Ryu the information regarding the Starlink Map company he had acquired in the U.S. and the plan to export navigation systems to the U.S. once domestic production was complete, Taesik headed to his alma mater, Daehan University. Visiting the school for the first time in months, he went straight to the laboratory and met his senior, Sangwook.
"Hey! Kim Taesik. You just went to the U.S., what are you doing back in Korea?"
Sangwook looked at Taesik with wide eyes, surprised by his sudden appearance after months. Taesik explained that he was quitting his doctoral program to start a business in Korea.
"Even so, shouldn't you gain some experience working at a company first?"
Since he couldn't reveal that he had regressed, Taesik answered calmly. "Learning by bumping into things isn't a bad way to go! Opportunities don't always come around."
"More importantly, why are you at school? Did you come to see me?"
"I wanted to see you, and I’m looking for talent for my company..."
"What kind of talent? And what about me? Don't you need me?"
"You need to gain experience at Misung Electronics, Hyung. I’m looking for software personnel. I want to hire them as full-time employees, but since it’s a small company, I’m worried they won't be interested, so I’m thinking of offering about 2 million won a month as a part-time gig!"
"Wow! A part-time job that pays 2 million won? They’ll all be interested... I’ll send a message to the master’s and doctoral students."
After Sangwook sent the details to each lab via messenger, he asked, "You say you're doing satellite business, so why do you suddenly need software personnel?"
"I plan to create an algorithm that identifies and tracks desired information on a map. It starts with target identification and tracking, but there are many fields where this technology can be applied."
"Are you sure you don't need me? If you're starting a business, I want to join you..."
"You should study communication-related technologies more at Misung Electronics and join me later! We aren't at the stage where communication technology is needed yet."
After discussing their future plans, the two headed to the lecture hall where the students interested in the part-time job were to gather. The news of a 2-million-won part-time job must have spread widely through the school network, as over 30 master’s and doctoral students had gathered. Taesik explained that he was running a company and looking for programming experts for navigation and target identification and tracking systems, then asked the students for questions.
"They said it was a 2-million-won part-time job, is it actually payable?"
"If you wish, I can pay it in advance. However, only to those whose skills I have verified first."
One of the master’s students raised his hand. "I’m Lee Sang-hoon, a master’s student in Computer Science. Navigation is possible by simply programming the logic to display location information on a map and search for routes, but implementing a target identification and tracking system seems impossible with logic circuit programming."
"Yes. You are correct that it is impossible with current logic circuit programming."
"A part-time job to program the impossible... What kind of job is this exactly?"
Taesik looked at the student who asked the question. "You need to convert image files taken by cameras into data and create a deep learning program in the form of a neural network, not a traditional logic circuit, and then train that deep learning program."
"Ah! You mean developing the deep learning programs that are becoming popular overseas."
"Those selected for this part-time job will be developing deep learning programs with me. Currently, most neural networks use feed-forward neural networks where data flows in one direction from input to output nodes, but we need to program a feedback loop. Once the feedback loop is complete, we need to develop a convolutional neural network useful for specific image recognition and classification."
"Is that something we are capable of?"
"..."
"The first thing you need to learn is the Hankel structure matrix, which is the foundation of neural network programming."
As Taesik continued his explanation while writing on the chalkboard, half of the gathered students left. By the time he finished explaining the mathematical formulas that form the basis of deep learning, only five remained.
"Hahaha. It seems only five people are interested in AI programming. Do all of you intend to participate in this part-time job?"
The student named Lee Sang-hoon, who had asked the question earlier, replied. "There aren't many opportunities to learn the mathematical formulas for deep learning programs, so of course I have to. But where will we be working?"
"On weekdays, you can program during your spare time at school, and you only need to come to the company on weekends. We’ll start with navigation programming, and once you’ve accumulated enough mathematical knowledge, we’ll move into AI programming."
"Is the part-time pay you mentioned earlier paid in advance?"
"Since there are only five of you, I’ll pay you right away. And if you’re willing to work for our company, I intend to offer you an annual salary of 100 million won immediately."
At Taesik’s proposal, the five remaining students looked at each other in surprise.
"An annual salary of 100 million won before you’ve even seen our skills?"
"If you understood the Hankel structure matrix I explained earlier, you are worth 100 million won. Those who aren't capable will likely leave the company on their own without me having to say anything."
"Would it be okay to express our intention to be hired after we finish our degrees?"
"You are free to make any choice you want. However, I am the only one you can learn AI programming from, and once the AI program is complete, I intend to pay an incentive of 1 billion won each."
The five who remained deliberated for a long time before asking Taesik for some time to think, and in the meantime, Taesik decided to hire them as part-timers. After handing over Starlink Communication’s contact information and address to the five, Taesik moved to a drinking spot with Sangwook, who asked him seriously, "Hey! If the salary is 100 million won, take me with you too."
"No! I plan to give you the task of connecting satellite communication and mobile communication later. You need to secure detailed technology for mobile processors."
"Connecting satellite communication and mobile communication...? Is that possible?"
"It will be someday. Join me after you secure the mobile processor design technology! I’ll always have a spot for you."
"It’s a promise, right? But those computer science kids are getting 100 million won, what are you going to pay me?"
"Hahaha. I’ll decide when I see your salary then. Don’t worry, I intend to pay you more than Misung Electronics at the very least. It will be easier for you to work if you bring more related engineers when you move to our company."
"Alright. But I feel like an industrial spy..."
"You haven't even been hired by Misung Electronics yet, so what industrial spy? And I don’t need Misung Electronics’ technology."
The two shared drinks, discussing detailed plans for the future and enjoying their long-awaited reunion.