1953 Bare-handed Tycoon - Chapter 363



Only Noblemtl

363 – Ryu Chan-woo

In March, visits by Japanese businessmen to Korea began to become a hot topic.

A man named Kohei Yukawa, who identified himself as the head of the Japanese bonded processing investigation team, visited Korea to explore the possibility of bonded processing trade.

In an interview with a Korean newspaper, he presented a bright future, saying that if Japan provides technology and capital and Korea provides labor, both sides will benefit.

The argument was that through bonded processing trade, Japanese companies could reduce tariffs and lower product prices by using cheap Korean workers, while Korea could reduce its serious unemployment rate.

The media, even including his photo in the article, reported extensively, but could not shake off concerns and suspicions about the Japanese businessperson’s visit to Korea.

He highlighted the fact that Kohei was a member of the imperial coup d’état by young military officers in Japan in 1936, and expressed concern that Japan’s economic invasion was beginning again.

The keynote speech was that the activation of private-sector-level economic exchanges between Korea and Japan was not something that just happened.

I got the feeling that Chairman Park’s connections in the Manchurian military and the Japanese military academy were responding to Japan-Korea economic cooperation.

On March 15, the 5th national referendum on constitutional amendment was successfully held and passed with an overwhelming majority.

On March 20, Korean businessmen in Japan entered Korea at the invitation of the military government.

After receiving a call from Lee Hu-rak, Ki-jo entered the Blue House together with Park Tae-jun.

As they headed to the Blue House, Park Tae-jun spoke to Ki-jo.

“Thank you for helping the Korean businessmen in Japan to inspect the country. I feel sorry that Cheongsan is spending the money that the country should be spending. Since the country is short on money… … .”

The keynote speech was to pay for the living and travel expenses of Korean businesspeople in Japan.

“It’s okay. Korean businessmen in Japan are our valued guests. What if I pay you?”

The keynote didn’t matter.

Chairman Park invited Kijo and Taejun to attend a meeting with Korean businesspeople in Japan.

Chairman Park, wearing a suit instead of a military uniform, welcomed the Japanese businessmen by taking off the sunglasses he was wearing.

Chairman Park, without sunglasses, explained the first five-year economic development plan.

He appealed to Japanese businesspeople to invest in Korea, reciting statistics one after another to persuade them.

“Korea is weak in its basic industries. Please bring in capital and technology from Japan and develop our country.”

He then mentioned the difficult circumstances of his home country.

“Even North Korea’s GNP per capita is $300, more than three times ours, and Burma (Myanmar) has $900. Your home country is suffering as one of the poorest countries in the world.”

“There are no decent jobs in the country, so we are also planning to send people to German coal mines.”

Chairman Park, who spoke about Korea’s difficulties, also expressed envy for Japan.

“Japan is more politically and economically stable than us, and they held the Olympics in Tokyo in 1964. I envy that.”

“Tourists from all over the world will flock here, and they will spend a lot of dollars in Japan. I think that people who come to Japan to watch the Olympics may visit nearby Korea, but it is unfortunate that there are no modern hotels for foreign tourists to stay. I hope you build hotels in Korea.”

The expressions of Japanese businesspeople darkened at the investment appeal that was almost like begging.

Everyone seemed to be heartbroken by the difficult circumstances in their home country.

Chairman Park quickly presented a vision for the future.

“Korea has been suffering from politics, but I will fix it. If we just straighten out politics, things will get better.”

“We plan to introduce nuclear power plants from the United States and build large oil refineries and steel mills to establish an industrial base. Don’t Japan also value Korea’s low wages? If we can establish an industrial base, Korea can also make a leap forward through exports like Japan. I’ve been reading a lot about Japanese economic history lately. Since Korea and Japan have similar circumstances, I think they will develop similarly.”

Chairman Park, who emphasized that Korea can also ‘do it,’ looked at a businessman and said,

“Mr. Chairman, are you a descendant of Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong?”

“Yes.”

The person who answered was Ryu Chan-woo, who is in the business of non-ferrous metal materials such as aluminum, copper, and tin in Japan.

“If it weren’t for Ryu Seong-ryong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who were great ministers during the Imjin War, the country would have perished. As a descendant of theirs, please work hard for the country once again.”

Chairman Park held Ryu Chan-woo’s hands with both of his and asked him to do something.

The keynote speech examined the impression of a person named Ryu Chan-woo.

Perhaps because he was a descendant of Ryu Seong-ryong, he seemed to have an upright and gentle personality.

“How can I help you with something?”

Ryu Chan-woo asked.

“I heard that you make copper in Japan. How about using copper in Korea to make things like steel plates, pipes, and bullet shells? Even bullets are imported from the United States, so if we can make domestic bullets, it will help strengthen our national defense.”

Ryu Chan-woo nodded in response.

The gist was that this is how a company called Poongsan was created.

Ryu Chan-woo was the one who founded the Poongsan Group in Korea.

The Korean businessmen in Japan who attended the event were initially very nervous, but they seemed to be relieved as time went by.

It seemed reassuring to see a military man who had taken power through a coup wearing a suit instead of a military uniform, not only reciting economic figures but also knowing each person’s family history and earnestly making requests.

“Would you like to go see the gold mine with me?”

Chairman Park made the suggestion. He then spoke while looking at the keynote speech.

“Chairman Lee Ki-jo, who leads Cheongsan Group, one of the top three conglomerates in Korea, donated the gold mine he discovered in Seoul to be used for the development of the country. He asked that the gold mine be used to attract foreign capital.”

Korean businesspeople in Japan applauded Chairman Park’s introduction.

Seo Gap-ho and Shin Gyeok-ho, who had first met in Japan, smiled brightly while looking at the keynote.

“And this is Colonel Park Tae-jun, the president of Mapo Gold Mine. He is also scheduled to become the president of Daehan Heavy Industries and is also pushing for the construction of a steel mill. He will become the godfather of Korean metals.”

Chairman Park gave a speech to Kijo and Taejun.

Park Tae-jun stood up from his seat and greeted me with a sharp look in his eyes.

Everyone seemed to be strongly impressed by Park Tae-jun’s appearance.

Park Tae-jun, who had a strong and clean inner self, was a person who gave a sense of trust even to those who met him for the first time.

Chairman Park led the Korean businessmen in Japan, led by Kijo and Taejun, and headed to Mapo Gold Mine.

Upon arriving at Mapo Gold Mine, the mine site, which had been expanded due to the acquisition of surrounding land, caught our eye.

There was barbed wire and soldiers were standing guard.

Chairman Park took Japanese businessmen into the gold mine and showed them the exposed gold veins.

Park Tae-jun explained the gold vein.

“This white-looking thing is also a gold vein. It’s called a quartz vein. Gold veins are exposed in gold color, but they can also be mixed with quartz and continue on.”

Taejun, who studied hard about gold mining, distributed Jinamcheol to Japanese businessmen.

“If this vein is fake gold like pyrite, it will be mixed with iron and will have a magnetic field. Please check it out.”

The businessmen tested it by attaching a magnet to a rock.

“Wow! Who knew there was a gold mine like this in Seoul?”

Everyone was delighted to learn that there was gold buried in Seoul.

Seo Gap-ho, who was standing next to him, praised the keynote speech.

“This CEO has made a great sacrifice for the country. He is amazing.”

Shingyeokho also spoke with a bright face.

“It seems that the profit would be higher if the gold from this mine was processed and sold instead of made into gold bars. If the jewelry industry is also developed, the added value could be increased.”

After finishing his inspection of Mapo Gold Mine, Chairman Park returned to the Blue House, and Kijo and Taejun headed to the Bando Hotel with the businesspeople.

The keynote speech offered the entire 8th floor of the hotel to businessmen.

The next day, Kijo and Taejun took the Korean businessmen in Japan to Gimpo Airport and boarded a plane to Busan.

The keynote speech presented the Cheongsan Radio Factory and Cheongsan Defense Industry Factory in Busan to businesspeople.

There, the keynote speech was given to Ryu Chan-woo.

“In the future, the key to the electronics industry will be to use printed circuit boards to make electronic products thinner and smaller while reducing their failure rate. To do this, we need to make thin copper films, but we are struggling because we do not have the technology and materials.”

Ryu Chan-woo nodded at the keynote speech and said.

“I understand what you mean. Even electronics companies in Japan are reducing the use of wires. Printed circuit boards are becoming the norm.”

The keynote speech also emphasized the necessity of copper to Ryu Chan-woo at the Cheongsan Defense Industry’s Cremoa factory.

“Currently, we are only producing claymore, but in the future, we hope to produce bullets and shells as well. The charge for shells is being developed by Korea Gunpowder in partnership with Cheongsan. Once we secure the technology to make cartridges, we will be able to test shells made by our own hands. The future is bright because the demand from the Korean military is high.”

Ryu Chan-woo nodded his head repeatedly.

After finishing the tour of the Yeonji-dong factory, Kijo also took us to the Kia Motors factory and showed us the assembly process of Japanese motorcycles and three-wheeled trucks.

Japanese businesspeople showed great interest when they saw that products that were widely sold in Japan were being assembled in Korean factories.

Shin Kyuk-ho also personally drove a Honda motorcycle and a Mazda three-wheeled truck assembled by Kia Industries.

Shin Kyuk-ho’s eyes lit up after finishing the test drive.

It seemed like they figured out that things assembled in Korea weren’t that shoddy.

It seemed that they had concluded that it would be possible to do business in Korea if they could just import parts and technology from Japan.

After finishing the inspection of the Busan area factories, Kijo moved to Ulsan and showed the Ulsan Industrial Center, which was currently under construction.

Seo Gap-ho and Shin Gyeok-ho, whose hometown is that place, were particularly moved.

The keynote speaker also gave us a tour of the Cheongsan Fertilizer Factory and the Cultivator Factory there.

Seo Gap-ho and Shin Gyeok-ho were moved as they met and greeted their hometown people working at the Cheongsan Fertilizer Factory and the Cultivator Factory.

“Oh my, sir, you’re here. How have you been?”

“How have you been? How many decades has it been?”

The people of Ulsan earnestly requested Seo Gap-ho and Shin Gyeok-ho.

“Since you guys have made a lot of money in Japan, please build more factories here. If there are more factories like this, wouldn’t all the people in my hometown become rich? These days, our living conditions have improved a lot.”

“Okay. I’ll think about it.”

Seo Gap-ho was so excited about the success of the large factory in his hometown and the welcome from his hometown people that his face lit up.

After finishing their tour of the factory, the Japanese businessmen toured the site of the oil refinery.

Seo Gap-ho and Shin Gyeok-ho seemed to be envisioning the future while looking at the still-wasteland.

They had faces that seemed to be wondering how great it would be if they built a big factory there.

Ryu Chan-woo, who is from Andong, was also very excited to see the development of Ulsan.

It was a face that seemed to want to participate in the development of his home country and hometown.

After the Ulsan tour, Kijo and Taejun took the businesspeople to the Bulguksa Hotel in Gyeongju.

It was the place where the unfortunate incident involving Yongtae Kim and Director Killen occurred last February, but this time, nothing like that happened.

At the banquet, Korean businessmen in Japan actively asked Kijo and Taejun whether there were any realistic difficulties in investing in Korea.

“What special benefits are given to Koreans living in Japan who invest in their home country?”

“Is it true that the land is being provided free of charge?”

While actively sounding out Korean investment, Seo Gap-ho, who was sitting at the same table as Kijo, quietly asked Kijo a question.

“Last time, you said you would introduce me to the manager who was planning to build a refinery?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

When Seo Gap-ho showed interest in building an oil refinery, Shin Gyeok-ho, who was next to him, showed interest.

“Sir, are you going to do it alone?”

“Wow, are you interested too?”

“If we’re going to do it, let’s do it together. If you invest in Ulju and don’t pay, you’ll be the only one getting cursed at by your hometown people.”

“That’s true. Hahaha.”

Kijo watched the two working together happily.

Ryu Chan-woo also approached the keynote speaker and asked a question.

“Are there only plans to build steel mills in Korea? Are there no plans to build non-ferrous metal smelters?”

“Why not? If the boss says he’ll do it, a plan will come out in no time.”

“Is that so?”

Ryu Chan-woo thought for a moment and then said.

“I think the field of copper is promising in Korea.”

*Copper processing – the process of processing copper or copper alloys into plates, tubes, rods, wires, etc.

“You saw it exactly. There’s always a fuss about a shortage of Shin-ju at the factory.”

*Shinju (Shinju) – Copper or non-ferrous metals

“Could you please connect me with a government representative?”

“Of course. I’ll arrange for you to meet me as soon as you come up to Seoul.”

The keynote speech was that he was willing to jump in for Korean-Japanese entrepreneurs who wanted to invest in Korea.

They were a strong support force that saved the Korean economy.