The Scientific Border Security System
“Representative! The Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) are in a state of emergency because of Starlink.”
“I assume it’s because of the Chinese-made CCTV cameras... but isn't the Scientific Border Security System a project led by the Ministry of National Defense? Why is DAPA in a state of emergency?”
“DAPA oversaw the project for some sections of the CCTV and control systems, while the Ministry of National Defense handled the rest, so DAPA cannot remain detached from this. They are currently inspecting every contractor to see if they supplied Chinese-made CCTV cameras. Fortunately, the project overseen by DAPA was contracted to the Misung Group, and it has been confirmed that Misung Group used domestically produced CCTV cameras.”
“That is, at least, a relief.”
“But what was the reason for your call?”
“The current Scientific Border Security System consists of daytime CCTV and detection sensors, but I understand there are an enormous number of false alarms from those sensors. How about replacing the Chinese-made CCTV cameras with the day-and-night hybrid CCTV cameras developed by Starlink Defense?”
“The day-and-night hybrid CCTV cameras could be installed through the compensation funds from the existing contractors for the Chinese-made counterfeits and by increasing the budget, but isn't it impossible to solve the false alarms from the detection sensors?”
“Previously, the system didn't have facial recognition and object recognition software installed, so there was no choice but to rely on the detection sensors for the alarm system, right?”
“Ah! So you mean to change the concept so that the detection sensors aren't the main focus, but rather, if an anomaly occurs in the detection sensors, the day-and-night hybrid CCTV cameras perform the final verification of the suspicious signs and trigger the alarm?”
“Yes, exactly. If you only add the day-and-night hybrid CCTV cameras to the existing contract, I will provide the infrared shape recognition software for free.”
Since the software for the control system provided by Deepmind already included infrared mode shape recognition technology, he mentioned it would be provided for free. Lieutenant General Choi, who had been lost in thought for a moment, replied.
“I will coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense. Would it be possible to provide the unit price information for the CCTV cameras?”
“I will have it delivered to DAPA through Starlink Defense.”
“And would it be alright to announce these system improvements to the media?”
“Shouldn't the issue of the Chinese-made CCTV cameras be resolved first?”
“I intend to announce the improvement plan simultaneously with the request for investigation while the public's attention is focused on the defecting soldier.”
“There is no problem with that. If you need any materials for the media announcement, please contact me at any time. And when are you planning to retire?”
“I think the announcement will likely come during next year's regular personnel reshuffle. It seems it is time to wrap up my 30 years of military life.”
“As I mentioned before, I would like to have you as an advisor for Starlink, so please contact me whenever you are ready.”
“Hahaha. Thank you for the offer. If I were to get a job at a defense company, I would be too embarrassed to face my juniors...”
“Please, consider it once.”
Lieutenant General Choi stated that he would personally persuade the Ministry of National Defense, worried about the fallout spreading to the Ministry and DAPA, and promised to announce the improvement plan for the Scientific Border Security System through a media briefing immediately.
A week later, Miso, having received a call from Managing Director Park Ji-hong, who had gone on a business trip to the United States with two employees, brought up the topic of Bitcoin investment.
“Taesik. Managing Director Park Ji-hong says he has completed the Bitcoin purchase through a U.S. firm.”
“The speed is faster than I thought.”
“He’s someone my father assigned to me... his competence is truly outstanding. There’s a summarized report; would you like to see it?”
Taesik took the report Miso handed him and examined the data summarizing the investment results.
“Miso, you invested 200 million dollars?”
Miso, who had initially planned to invest 100 million dollars, had ultimately invested 200 million dollars, and Taesik was surprised to see the investment amount had doubled.
“Taesik, you invested 2 billion dollars. Managing Director Park recommended investing more, saying it would be a huge hit once Bitcoin is incorporated into the regular market, but I reduced the amount because I was worried about what my older brother and sister would think.”
“You took out a loan using your stocks as collateral, right?”
“Yes. My brother actually called me, asking if I needed money for something, since I had taken out a loan against my stocks.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I just brushed it off by saying I was investing in UAM with you... but he was very worried that it might cause problems for my management succession.”
“Just wait a little longer. Once the announcement about the exchange listing for Bitcoin comes out, there will be good news. Managing Director Park’s ability is amazing. To think he bought Bitcoin at 5,800 dollars when it was around 6,100 dollars...”
“I was curious too, so I asked him... he said he lowered the price by repeating buying and selling because the price volatility was so high.”
“We should give him an incentive later if the investment succeeds.”
“I’ll handle that. More importantly, I think I need to go to the U.S. next year as well.”
“Why...?”
“Oh my! It seems Taesik doesn't want to be apart from me.”
“......”
Taesik laughed at Miso’s playfulness and avoided answering, and Miso laughed as she continued.
“The UAM factory will be completed next year, so I have to go there for test flights and to receive airworthiness certification from the U.S. government.”
Taesik was momentarily lost in thought as things were progressing faster than he had anticipated, then said.
“When you go next year, let’s go together. I have some business to attend to in the U.S. as well, so it would be good for us to move together.”
Miso was delighted that Taesik would go with her, and Taesik, vowing in his heart to hasten his marriage to Miso, asked her a question.
“How is the Chairman’s health these days?”
“Even after undergoing cardiovascular expansion surgery, his health condition isn't good. Fortunately, he is conscious, but he finds it uncomfortable to speak.”
“Are you going to the hospital today as well?”
“Yes...”
“Then let’s go together today.”
Miso nodded in surprise at Taesik’s offer to visit the hospital, and after Miso left, Taesik called another secretary and requested that they call a driver to prepare for an outing. Taesik thought about creating a separate office for Miso, as she was currently sharing a desk with other secretaries, then grabbed his suit jacket and headed out.
“Let’s go to the department store nearby.”
While Taesik was spending time at the department store, a media briefing was being held at the Ministry of National Defense. A spokesperson for the Ministry was briefing the reporters on the problems with the Scientific Border Security System, and the reporters were focused on the spokesperson’s words, curious about the content of the sudden briefing.
“Misconduct has been discovered in the Scientific Border Security System project currently being conducted by the military, and we have requested an investigation into the relevant companies. Due to frequent defects and false alarms in the existing system, we plan to carry out a system upgrade through this opportunity. Please refer to the distributed press materials for detailed briefing content.”
As the spokesperson’s briefing ended, reporters raised their hands to ask questions.
“The press materials don't mention the detailed nature of the misconduct; could you provide additional explanation?”
“The military’s internal investigation revealed that the CCTV cameras used in the border security system were Chinese-made, and we plan to make an example of the companies involved in the misconduct through an investigation request.”
“Was it really discovered by the military itself?”
“Yes. It is a fact discovered in cooperation with relevant agencies. Next, please!”
“You say you are upgrading the Scientific Border Security System, but who is the lead contractor, and what parts are you upgrading?”
“Starlink Deepmind will be in charge as the lead contractor, and artificial intelligence-based object recognition technology will be applied.”
“Considering the length of the truce line, the contract amount is expected to be significant; is it proceeding in the form of a private contract? And is it true that Starlink Deepmind possesses artificial intelligence technology? I heard that there is no artificial intelligence technology other than Google’s; is it really true that a domestic company possesses such technology?”
The spokesperson smiled at the reporter’s question, turned to the side, and gave instructions to play the prepared video. The reporters, who had been curious when the spokesperson suddenly announced they would play a video during the Q&A session after the briefing, focused their eyes on the screen to the side.
“The screen you are looking at now is the result of the control system upgrade project conducted as the first phase of the Scientific Border Security System. The CCTV cameras used were those installed in the previous project, and the software developed by Deepmind was installed.”
The reporters were struck with amazement as they watched a person appear on the CCTV screen, a box-shaped warning indicator pop up, and the main computer immediately identify whether it was a friendly or enemy soldier. The spokesperson announced that there was indeed a company in South Korea that had commercialized artificial intelligence technology.
“The Ministry of National Defense has decided to apply artificial intelligence technology for the first time among government agencies to revitalize such technology, and we inform you that we proceeded with a private contract because there were no companies in the country that possessed the technology. Are there any other questions?”
“Is the North Korean soldier who defected recently related to the border security system upgrade project?”
The spokesperson flinched at the question they had been trying to avoid.
“There is a slight connection. Please think of it as reinforcing the system to respond decisively in the event of a North Korean provocation.”
“I know Starlink Communication, Defense, and Aerospace, but the company called Deepmind is unfamiliar. Could you provide related information?”
“It is difficult to introduce companies at the Ministry of National Defense level, so please inquire with Starlink.”
“The materials just released only contain images of soldiers walking; they wouldn't cross the truce line by walking, would they? Is it possible to identify them even when they use low crawling or cover?”
“Um... I cannot tell you because too detailed information could violate security. We inform you that the Ministry of National Defense is applying measures to catch any form of infiltration.”
“Then, could you provide the video you just showed to the press corps?”
“Yes. It is material that has already undergone a security review, so we will provide it immediately.”
The spokesperson smiled with satisfaction as they watched the press corps focus on Starlink’s new technology rather than the Ministry of National Defense’s liability, as they had intended, and was satisfied that the Chinese-made CCTV issue was not receiving media attention.
The reporters gathered in groups of three or four, checked with each other whether their articles were redundant, noting that artificial intelligence technology had been commercialized for the first time in the country, and then dispersed to write their respective articles.
That evening, each media outlet reported that Starlink had developed artificial intelligence-based facial and object recognition technology and that it would be applied to the Scientific Border Security System for the first time. So-called "national pride" articles began to appear, comparing the technology of Starlink Deepmind with AlphaGo, which was released by Google last year, and boasting about South Korea’s capabilities, claiming that Korean technology had surpassed Google’s.
After the first articles were published, reporters requested interviews with Deepmind officials at Starlink, and CEO Cha Young-jin, feeling overwhelmed by the flood of interview requests, called Taesik.
“Representative. Following the media briefing on the Ministry of National Defense’s Scientific Border Security System, interview requests for Deepmind are pouring in. What should I do?”
“Can’t you just do the interviews?”
“If the reporters find out I’m a former hacker, they won’t leave me alone.”
“Hahaha. That was in the past, isn't it? CEO Cha, you should do the interview yourself. Who knows? Through this interview, domestic talent might even hope to be hired by Deepmind.”
“Representative! Isn't there another way?”
“I am busy right now. CEO Cha Young-jin, please make the decision yourself.”
Taesik ended the call with CEO Cha Young-jin to pick out items at the department store and then made a request to the clerk across from him.
“I’ll take this.”