The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 309



Only Noblemtl

309. Recombination (3)

Captain Kang’s office.

After finishing the discussion with Governor Choi Jae-seok, we had a light beer time with President Han.

“Have you decided to install a large number of electric vehicle charging stations in Gyeonggi-do?”

“First, we decided to build a charging station with a private business, and depending on the level of interest in electric vehicles that will be released at the end of this year, we decided to declare Gyeonggi-do an electric vehicle-friendly city.”

Governor Choi Jae-seok made a decision after long consideration.

We made this decision to minimize leaks, and it was not a bad decision for us.

“Even if we build a lot of charging stations in Gyeonggi-do, wouldn’t the infrastructure be too lacking?”

“So, first of all, we will use the assets owned by Taewo Group. First of all, we must install at least two electric vehicle chargers in all Starbox stores.”

“It doesn’t seem like a bad idea. If I could charge my electric car while drinking a cup of coffee, a lot of people would use it.”

Electric vehicle chargers will be installed in the parking lots of all Starbox stores.

It was a very expensive project, but Taewo Group was able to handle it.

The government also decided to provide a certain amount of support, so it was not a big burden.

“Electric vehicle chargers will be required to be installed in all Starbox stores in the future. Electric vehicle chargers will be added as a condition for moving in.”

“Wouldn’t it be too burdensome?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to cover all of the charger costs. And you know who we’re collaborating with for the electric vehicles we’ll be releasing in the future, right?”

“Aren’t you collaborating with Apple?”

A CEO thought for a moment about the intention of my question.

His worries didn’t last long, and he continued answering by clapping his hands as if he had realized it.

“Ah! iPhone or iPad users can ride the Apple Car and charge it at Starbox? This is a plan that will definitely work!”

“Starting with Starbox, we will mandatorily install at least five electric vehicle chargers in all buildings owned by Taewo Group. And Captain Kang will also have to work hard.”

“I will work hard at everything. But what can I do?”

“We will replace all Cocoa taxis with electric vehicles. Of course, we will not replace them all at once, but we will only use electric vehicles when purchasing new taxis, and gradually replace all taxis with electric vehicles.”

It would not be wrong to say that electric vehicles are specialized for taxis.

First of all, it had the advantage of city driving, and the charging fee was much cheaper.

Taxi drivers could have made even bigger profits if the government had even supported charging fees.

“We will install large-scale charging stations in taxi company parking lots. We will also stop shipping all new vehicles by the end of the year and place large orders for electric vehicles when they become available.”

“We will support you with any insufficient funds, so proceed without worrying about funds.”

“Cocoa Taxi funds alone are enough to make this possible. It may sound like bragging to say this, but we already occupy more than 50% of the national taxi market.”

The number of Cocoa taxi users was rising significantly.

The spread of smartphones was increasing, and smartphones were no longer exclusive to the younger generation.

“You’re making good progress.”

“The shared mobility business can also start soon. Shared bicycles and kickboards have already been deployed in Seoul and major cities across the country, and as soon as permission is granted, the business can start right away.”

“Isn’t it too much work? It seems like it’s putting too much pressure on Captain Kang.”

“No! Thanks to the fact that we brought in many people who used to work in administrative positions in the military, there is no burden at all.”

Captain Kang answered like a soldier.

Even while we were talking, President Han was preoccupied with one thing.

“But Mr. Chairman, even if we use Gyeonggi-do, assets under the Taewo Group, and even taxi companies, the infrastructure is sorely lacking. And it is a bit disappointing that electric vehicle infrastructure is concentrated in Gyeonggi-do. If such infrastructure is built in Seoul, electric vehicles will be commercialized much faster. “Wouldn’t it be possible to bring it forward?”

“It means that there is a lack of electric vehicle infrastructure in Seoul. So I thought of a plan.”

I took out a piece of data from my briefcase.

Inside the paper was information related to the congestion level of Subway Line 9.

“Isn’t this data from subway line 9? I have also heard reports that congestion is increasing every day.”

“The high level of congestion is not the end. The fare system is different from other routes, so the city of Seoul is said to be having a very difficult time.”

The fare for subway line 9 was about 100 won more expensive than other lines.

This was the price established at the time the contract for Subway Line 9 was signed, so the city of Seoul and the government could not tamper with it.

“Are you planning on trading Subway Line 9 and electric vehicle infrastructure?”

“The city of Seoul wants to equalize subway fares somehow. If we ask them to create electric vehicle infrastructure in return for lowering the price by 100 won, won’t you agree?”

Subway Line 9 was regularly in the news.

When it’s rush hour, people gather without a place to go.

Since it was a perfect video for the media to cover, media outlets often covered it.

Even though I knew that, I didn’t do anything.

This is despite the fact that an 8-car subway with four times as many seats can be installed right now.

“The biggest problem in Seoul is Subway Line 9.”

“If we say we will solve the congestion problem on Line 9 and even lower the fare, the city of Seoul will have no choice but to accept our demands.”

“Do you plan to negotiate directly with the mayor of Seoul?”

“Wouldn’t it be better for me to step forward? The planning office is moving on now, so I think we can meet within this week at the latest.”

From Gyeonggi-do to Seoul.

If electric vehicle infrastructure were in place, the commercialization of electric vehicles could be greatly accelerated in Korea.

* * *

I visited Seoul City Hall.

Since there was no reason to meet in secret, we decided to hold discussions at the mayor’s office at Seoul City Hall.

“Chairman Kim, are you here? I can finally see your face like this.”

“I’m sorry for the delay in greeting you. I should have come to see you in advance, but I was on a long business trip to the U.S. so I couldn’t say hello to you properly.”

It was Seoul Mayor Oh Jeong-hoon, who had a cool appearance.

He was elected mayor of Seoul with a high approval rating, and was one of the ruling party’s presidential candidate-level politicians seeking re-election.

“Thank you for visiting me like this. Moreover, I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you said you would discuss the issue of subway line 9.”

“Can’t the citizens of Seoul continue to suffer because of Subway Line 9?”

Mayor Oh quickly got to the point.

It was something that could not take too much time, and the subway line 9 issue had to be resolved for re-election.

“I also used subway line 9 during rush hour.”

“Are you speaking directly, Mr. Mayor? Many people will recognize this, but you have taken a difficult step.”

“No one recognized me. I didn’t even get a chance to see anyone else’s face.”

How can you pay attention to other people’s faces when you have to worry about suffocation?

Subway Line 9 was unrecognizable even if it was an S-class celebrity rather than Mayor Oh.

“If it had not been for the hearing issue, the Taewoo Group would have proceeded with the improvement work on Subway Line 9 a long time ago, but it was delayed. And it is also true that we have lost the drive and will to proceed with the improvement work.”

“I would like to apologize on behalf of the hearing issue. Our party went a little too far.”

“The mayor doesn’t have to do that. I already received an apology and it was resolved amicably.”

The initiative was definitely mine.

This was because the Seoul Metropolitan Government could not solve the problem of Subway Line 9 on its own, and it was only possible with the help of Taewo Group.

“I was really impressed by Taewoo Group’s ability to increase the scale of Subway Line 9, contrary to the government’s predictions. I am truly grateful that they increased the scale of construction for the citizens of Seoul even at the cost of losses.”

“The demand forecast results of Taewoo Group’s own research were very different, so they ignored the government’s guidelines and increased scale. If something went wrong, Taewoo Group was like a gambler who would suffer huge losses.”

Gambling involves great risk.

However, if you overcome the risk and win, you will be rewarded greatly.

Because I emphasized the number of gambles, the mayor of Seoul immediately understood what I meant.

“You took a risk, so of course you should take a lot of profit. However, please think about Seoul City’s transportation policy. There is a difference between the fares for subway line 9 and other lines, so various policies, including transfers, are blocked.”

“There is nothing I can do if I do not receive commensurate compensation. I cannot persuade the companies that trusted me and invested in the consortium.”

I was asking for a reason to persuade him.

The mayor of Seoul thought for a moment and proposed several compensation proposals.

“I can provide benefits for the large-scale construction underway in Seoul. And I can also take good care of the large building being built by Taewo Group until it is completed.”

“If we accept those conditions, we will hear that the city of Seoul and Taewo Group are in collusion. We can move on for now, but if time passes and the government changes, both the mayor and I will face great difficulties. So, what do you think of this plan?”

I paused for a moment.

The mayor of Seoul leaned his head in my direction and prepared to listen.

“Instead of making the fare for subway line 9 the same as other lines, why not build an electric vehicle charging station in Seoul? And I would like to supply electric vehicle chargers to all apartments, including large buildings.”

“The city of Seoul cannot move like that on its own. If the government creates policies and laws related to electric vehicle subsidies, the city of Seoul can take an active role, but it is difficult right now.”

The power of the mayor of Seoul was enormous.

Unlike mayors of other cities, he was the mayor of Seoul, who was treated like a minister, and of course held slightly more power than other mayors.

Nevertheless, it was not possible to break the large framework established by the government.

Although guidelines need to be issued from the government, we were able to invest a little more in building our own infrastructure.

“The government has decided to create a policy related to subsidies in the near future. And Yeouido has also decided to pass a bill related to electric vehicle subsidies in the next session.”

“If that happens, of course the city of Seoul can use its funds to build infrastructure. But it cannot spend more money on infrastructure construction than the amount that lowers subway fares.”

The mayor of Seoul said that he would invest more in infrastructure equivalent to the reduced rates.

That promise was enough, but I decided to go a little further.

“We will also solve the congestion problem. Currently, Subway Line 9 is operated with two cars, but we will introduce two 8-car subways. Then, won’t the congestion drop by at least half?”

“Okay, okay. We will invest a lot of budget in the electric vehicle infrastructure construction project for 5 years. We cannot build all the infrastructure right away this year, but if we gradually increase it over 5 years, wouldn’t it be possible to build as much infrastructure as Chairman Kim wants? ?”

A period of five years was set.

This was also said to be possible only if the mayor of Seoul was re-elected.

In other words, it was like asking people to help him get re-elected because he would invest a lot in building electric vehicle infrastructure.

“All announcements related to Subway Line 9 will be left to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. It is okay to announce both the fare reduction and the introduction of the 8-car subway as projects led by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.”

“Good! I need to see you often, Chairman Kim. We have such great conversations with just one meeting, so how much better would it be if we met often?”

We got up and shook hands.

I gained electric vehicle infrastructure, and the mayor of Seoul gained an opportunity to increase approval ratings through subway line 9.

Because it was a negotiation that satisfied both parties, we were able to shake hands with sincere smiles.