1953 Bare-handed Tycoon - Chapter 344



Only Noblemtl

344 – Dr. Rosto

The first schedule on the 16th was to meet Dr. Rosto, who provided the framework for Korea’s economic development strategy.

Dr. Walt Whitman Rostow was a man of remarkable credentials.

A descendant of Russian immigrants and a Jew, he worked in the Office of Strategic Command during World War II and was an economics professor at MIT before meeting Kennedy.

He joined Kennedy’s staff ahead of the presidential election, becoming an advisor on foreign policy and even writing his own speeches.

In his presidential acceptance speech, Kennedy emphasized the spirit of the New Frontier, and Dr. Rostow also wrote the speech.

He was famous as an economist and anti-communist, and he argued that in order to prevent communism in developing countries, an must be brought about in developing countries.

His main argument was that if underdeveloped countries were industrialized and led to a society of “mass production and mass consumption,” communism would not be able to gain a foothold.

Dr. Rosto came to the ambassador’s residence and the breakfast meeting began.

Dr. Rosto, balding and wearing brown horn-rimmed glasses, had an intense gaze.

He kindly explained his theory to Chairman Park.

“If Korea goes through the five stages of industrial development, it will be able to enter the ranks of advanced countries without becoming communist.”

His confident words drew the attention of Chairman Park, Minister of Finance Chun Byung-kyu, and Deputy Director of the Board of Economic Planning Song Jeong-beom.

“First, just like an airplane taking off, we need to quickly launch the Korean economy, which is centered on agriculture, into the air.”

He had a theory that divided economic growth into five stages.

The point was that even developing countries could succeed with properly designed, large-scale capital injections and public-sector interventions.

Although he is an economist, he explains things in easy terms without using difficult terms.

Thanks to this, the keynote speech was easy to interpret.

“Chairman Park, first get the Korean economy off the ground. Then, in the next stage, the Korean economy will achieve an ‘explosive leap.’”

Everyone listened to him as if they were entranced by his words that Korea could also become a developed country.

Chairman Park, who was listening to him, asked.

“What should we do first to get the Korean economy off the ground?”

Then Dr. Rosto asked back with a big smile on his face.

“What do you think the chairman should do first?”

To his question, Chairman Park gave an answer that seemed to have been in his mind.

“Shouldn’t we start by developing light industry?”

Then Dr. Rosto laughed heartily and said,

“What the chairman said is wrong. Ordinary economists often make such suggestions. When I looked at Korea’s first five-year plan, it seemed to reflect a lot of the opinions of timid scholars and officials. The economy

That’s not how it works. Korea has to make the final product from scratch.”

“What is the final product?”

“I’m talking about things like TVs, refrigerators, cars, and ships.”

His remarks were a statement that overturned the common sense of Koreans.

Since Korea can’t even make screws, I thought we should start by producing simple parts and gradually build up to more complex parts, and eventually make technology-intensive products like automobiles.

“Is that possible? I don’t have the skills….”

“It is possible. If you want to make a car, start by making a car.”

Everyone was astonished by his claim.

Dr. Rosto explains how this is possible.

“Aren’t wages cheap in Korea? Are wages less than 10 times lower than in the US, and less than 4 times lower than in Japan?”

As an authority on economic development in developing countries, Dr. Rosto was very familiar with Korea’s situation.

“Yes.”

“Make Korea a subcontracting base for advanced countries. Bring in all the parts from abroad and simply assemble them based on Korea’s low wages.”

Dr. Rosto said clearly.

It was a relief to see Dr. Rosto speak for himself, saying what he wanted to say.

It was the first time I felt refreshed since visiting the United States.

“While working on assembling the final product, you have to learn how the factory works and what parts go into the final product.”

“What’s the next step?”

Chairman Park asked with eyes full of curiosity.

“We need to bring companies that make parts that go into the final product to Korea. And in doing so, we need to learn how to make parts like this.”

Dr. Rosto was suggesting an idea that was diametrically opposed to the common sense of Koreans.

Everyone was amazed at Dr. Rosto’s strategy of going backwards.

“Ultimately, we must move towards becoming a country that produces basic raw materials. That is the end of industrialization.”

Everyone at the breakfast meeting nodded.

If you think about it, advanced countries like Germany and the United States are the best at making basic industrial raw materials and parts.

The doctor’s words were correct, as only when the industrial base is strong and scientific and technological capabilities are developed can the basic raw materials for industry be produced well.

Kijo was relieved to see the authoritative Dr. Rosto accept a story that would raise suspicions if he said it himself.

Finance Minister Chun Byung-kyu and Economic Planning Board Deputy Director Song Jeong-beom actively participated in the conversation by asking him questions.

The breakfast meeting lasted a full two hours.

After Dr. Rosto left, everyone’s eyes became brighter and they were inspired by new ideas.

Everyone seemed to be filled with positive energy as he gave them hope that Korea could definitely become an advanced country and even suggested specific methods to do so.

But there was no time to indulge in such sweet hopes.

The delegation went straight to the National Press Club.

The National Press Club was a place where visiting national leaders would speak to reporters and take questions.

As the home of the American Press Association, it was known for its high-level questions as a place where freedom of the press was freely expressed.

The person most nervous about this was Won Chung-yeon, the director of the Public Relations Office.

Kijo moved to the press club and asked Won Chung-yeon.

“Have you prepared your speech manuscript well?”

“sure.”

Won Chung-yeon opened his bag and checked the manuscript he was going to hand over to Chairman Park once again.

Kijo glanced over the manuscript he had in his hand.

As in the original history, the contents written by Won Chung-yeon himself were written on the front and back of the paper.

The keynote was that it seemed like it would be a hit this time too.

Chairman Park read through the manuscript that Won Chung-yeon had handed over to the press club, not knowing that it was a double-sided manuscript.

I checked the manuscript later because something didn’t make sense and realized my mistake, but it was already too late.

Voice of America had already recorded Chairman Park’s speech, and once the words were out, they could not be taken back.

As a result, Won Chung-yeon loses trust and is dismissed from his position as head of the public relations office. He then loses his life while plotting a coup.

Kijo spoke to Won Chung-yeon in a subtle way.

“The manuscript is written on both sides. Do you usually do that?”

“The chairman said that we should save paper, so I wrote it like that… … .”

Won Chung-yeon, who was thinking about something, said.

“Before I hand it over to the chairman, I should tell him that this is a double-sided manuscript.”

“That would be a good idea. The chairman might be tired and not realize that it’s a double-sided manuscript and might pass it by.”

“Thank you for letting me know. When I go back to Korea, I’ll buy you a set of clothes instead of a drink. Hahaha.”

Won Chung-yeon said with a bright smile.

Arriving at the National Press Club, Chairman Park began his speech to reporters by emphasizing the inevitability of a military revolution.

This time, the double-sided manuscript did not cause any problems.

Kijo stood next to Chairman Park and interpreted his speech.

Chairman Park did not leave out the afforestation project plan, saying that he was working to protect Korea from communist invasion and to develop the economy.

He pledged to create jobs for tens of thousands of people through urgent waterway construction, afforestation and land reclamation projects.

After the speech, reporters poured in questions.

It was poisonous and spicy from the first question.

“They say a journalist was sentenced to death in Korea. Isn’t that a suppression of freedom of the press?”

It seemed like something he said about Cho Yong-su of Minjok Ilbo being sentenced to death.

This was also an issue during his visit to Japan, with leftist protesters criticizing Chairman Park.

Chairman Park answered.

“As for that incident, it is as follows. As a result of the public trial, it was proven that he was a communist spy. The operating funds for the newspaper were sent by North Korea through the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, and he acted according to the orders of North Korea. It is against the law.

“He was justly judged by the court.”

The second question was, ‘Is North Korea dependent on the Soviet Union or on China?’

Chairman Park responded that North Korea is subordinate to both sides.

The third question was also sharp.

There was also a sensitive question as to whether Chairman Park would run for presidency as a civilian in 1963.

“We will return to our original mission once the revolutionary task is accomplished. We hope that conscientious civilians will run for office.”

In one way, it was a lie, but in another way, it was the truth.

Chairman Park will be discharged from the military and become a civilian before he can run for presidency.

After the initial sharp questions passed, the questions gradually became dull.

“Do you think we should advance beyond the Yalu River as General MacArthur suggested during the Korean War?”

“As a Korean, I agreed with General MacArthur’s opinion at the time, but history will tell us later whether this was the right decision.”

When he answered like that, there was a round of applause.

The questions gradually became more trivial.

“I heard that the use of wooden chopsticks is banned in Korea. I would like to know why.”

The reporter who asked that question laughed after asking the question.

Then Chairman Park answered with a blank expression.

“The issue of banning wooden chopsticks is not a laughing matter for us. It is an urgent issue because there is a severe shortage of wood and there are no trees in the mountains.”

Overall, I gave a brief and concise answer without any unnecessary details.

The keynote speaker interpreted Chairman Park’s words of thanks to reporters at the end of the press conference.

“Yesterday, President Kennedy warned the Press Club that many world leaders were in a state of confusion. I appreciate your being gentle with me today.”

Chairman Park added to the story as the applause stopped and he remembered something he had left out.

“Secretary of Commerce Hodges gave me a cat statue. He said that if you pet it, the reporters will be more docile. It seemed to work.”

American reporters applauded and laughed at Chairman Park’s joke.

After leaving the press club, the delegation returned to the ambassador’s residence and held a press conference with the accompanying press corps and Washington correspondents.

Chairman Park explained that during this visit, he was able to secure a special loan for the construction of a nuclear power plant, although he was not able to secure a loan for the First Five-Year Economic Development Plan.

Lee Young-hee was also present, but did not ask any pointed questions about whether she was satisfied with the support she received from the United States.

And at 5 p.m., Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Ambassador to Korea Samuel Berger came to the ambassador’s residence.

Secretary Rusk, who had previously warned Park not to complain about the amount of American aid, heaped praise on him this time.

“I believe that the Chairman’s decision has given Korea a great opportunity. I have dealt with many foreign leaders, but this is the first time that someone has returned to their country with so many accomplishments as the Chairman.”

After safely completing his external schedule, he invited overseas Koreans, international students, and diplomats’ families to the ambassador’s residence for a reception at 6 p.m.

There were a lot of mothers with children there.

Chairman Park smiled unusually often, even hugging the children.

When I saw the children, I was reminded of my sons and daughters in Korea and my heart was touched.

Overall, the reception had the feel of a neighborhood party.

Chairman Park was not as authoritarian as Syngman Rhee, and the invited Koreans also reacted with excitement at seeing Chairman Park in person.

It seemed like they were relieved to find out that the coup leader they had only heard about on the news was not such a scary person.

Korean expatriates who were tired of living abroad seemed happy and comforted just by seeing people from Korea.

After all the schedules were over, Chairman Park gathered his delegation and held a meeting.

Everyone was tired, but there was an atmosphere that they absolutely had to have the meeting today since they had skipped the meeting yesterday.

As the meeting was over and they were about to return to the hotel, Chairman Park’s attending physician, Dr. Ji Hong-chang, called Kijo aside and asked him a question.

“Aren’t you tired, interpreter?”

Dr. Ji Hongchang, after examining the patient’s complexion, handed over a few pills and said.

“This is a sleeping pill that was also prescribed to Chairman Park. You have to leave for New York tomorrow, so take this and get a good night’s sleep.”

Kijo was a little surprised that Chairman Park couldn’t sleep despite such a tiring schedule.

“I’m fine, Doctor. I just need to put my head on the pillow to fall asleep.”

“That’s good. It’s great to be young.”

The doctor, who was ten years older than Kijo, smiled.

As the keynote speaker headed to the Shoreham Hotel with his entourage, he reflected on the remaining schedule.

A tight schedule with no time to rest still awaited me.

The Korean delegation planned to meet with all those who could help Korea and appeal for support.

He was pulling together his soul and carrying out a desperate schedule for the national interest.

When the delegation returned to the hotel, Lieutenant Colonel Han Sang-guk, who was the original interpreter, came out to the lobby to welcome the delegation.

“Lieutenant Colonel Han, are you okay now?”

Public Relations Director Won Chung-yeon was the first to approach and ask.

“Yes, I’m all better now. I think I can be your interpreter starting tomorrow.”

“Really? That’s good. But let’s see Dr. Ji again tomorrow.”

“All right.”

After finishing his conversation with Won Chung-yeon, Han Sang-guk approached Ki-jo, held his hand tightly, and spoke.

“Thank you for your hard work because of me. I’m sure things will be much easier from tomorrow.”

“I’m glad you’re feeling better. I can do the interpreting, so I hope you don’t overwork yourself.”

Kijo returned to his hotel room and lay down on the bed.

Lee Young-hee was not in the room as she was having a meeting with other reporters.

The keynote reminded him of his family in Korea.

My heart swelled with excitement at the thought of seeing my family in nine days.

Kijo closed his eyes as he thought about the gifts he would buy for Youngsoo, Youngeun, and Youngjun.

Although I had been away from my family for nearly two weeks, it felt like I had been separated for months.

The images of the children came to mind vividly.

When I got home and opened the front door, I smiled at the thought of Yeong-eun running to me and calling me, “Dad.”

The images of Youngsoo and Youngjun came to mind, and the image of Pilgrimage laughing and crying while looking at him was vividly drawn.

Kijo’s mind had already arrived home.