Chapter 839
But what was this?
China was shaken much earlier than Yoo-hyun had expected.
The CIA had destroyed the data center that was the source of the Communist Party’s information, as stated in their second report.
As a result, China’s stock market plummeted in an instant, the yuan fluctuated, and the world economy was shaken.
And that was not the end.
According to the CIA’s third report, which came out a month later, they had obtained additional evidence that Huawei had leaked top-secret data from the US, Europe, and other parts of the world.
This revelation prompted not only the US but also other countries to join the movement to expel Huawei.
As a result, sanctions were imposed on not only China’s communication equipment but also a significant portion of its exports.
It was as if the US trade war that would break out in a few years had been brought forward.
The difference was that it was not a war of mutual attacks, but a one-sided assault by the US.
It was fitting to say that they beat up an opponent who could not resist.
In the end, cornered China asked for help from Korea.
Thanks to this, Korean companies that exported to China did not suffer much damage even though China was shaken.
On the contrary, they grew rapidly with the simultaneous support from China and the US.
‘How did things turn out like this?’
What was more surprising was his meeting with Ma Win.
Ma Win, who had postponed the meeting under the pretext of review, not only advanced the schedule, but also showed his sincerity by coming to Korea himself.
He entered the Reverb office and even asked Yoo-hyun first.
Yoo-hyun, who was facing the small and skinny-faced Ma Win, asked in surprise.
“You want to join the Reverb Alliance?”
“Yes. I’m thinking of moving and testing the data centers outside of China one by one.”
“Can I ask why?”
“Would it be an answer if I say it’s to avoid the old-fashioned regulations?”
Ma Win’s answer reminded Yoo-hyun of his past, or rather, his future memory.
-Good innovation is not afraid of regulation, but of old-fashioned regulation. You can’t manage an airport the way you manage a train station.
Years later, he would be severely retaliated for harshly criticizing the Chinese authorities’ regulations that could not keep up with the innovation of the electronic finance era.
The reason why Alibaba could not expand its market to the world was also because of China’s serious regulations.
He realized this too late and left it in his memoir.
But now things had changed.
Maybe he had realized it sooner after experiencing this massive sanction.
That he had to get out of China to survive?
Maybe the existence of Reverb had pushed his choice forward.
Yoo-hyun was sure as he faced Ma Win’s shining eyes.
This little giant, who had risen from the bottom to the chairman of China’s largest company in a short period of time, would surely make another history.
Thump thump.
Yoo-hyun got up from his seat and bowed politely to him, hiding his excited heart.
“Thank you for joining us.”
“I’m the one who should thank you. Please take good care of me.”
Ma Win smiled and shook hands with him.
Some more time passed.
Around the end of autumn, after summer had passed, Yoo-hyun was in his hometown.
He sat in the customer waiting room of Kim Hyunsoo’s car center and listened to his phone.
A hesitant voice came from the other side of the receiver.
-President Han, about the production of the JK server chip…
“Yes, Mr. President. What is it?”
The caller was Choi Minyong, the president of Ilsung Electronics.
-I think it would be better for us to have exclusive production.
“What do you mean?”
-There’s no other company that can do this kind of ultra-precision process, right? If we secure the quantity in the future, we can lower the price more than now.
“I remember you said you had no room to take ours before.”
-Ahem. Don’t be tied to the past, let’s talk about our future.
President Choi coughed and changed the subject.
The reason why the president of Ilsung Electronics, who had the world’s best semiconductor line, was in such a low position?
It was because the Huawei communication chip production, which was scheduled for mass production, was canceled due to the sanctions against China.
It was a problem that the plan that had been set until next year and the year after was disrupted, but the bigger problem was the production gap that occurred immediately.
The semiconductor line suffered huge losses just by stopping for a moment.
If left alone?
Not only would the semiconductor foundry industry rank that had been raised fall, but there was a high possibility that the semiconductor business, which Chairman Choi Jincheol had cherished, would record its first deficit in 20 years.
President Choi, who was facing the succession of the company next year, was desperate.
Thanks to that, the value of the JK server chip, which could fill the gap in one go, soared.
There was no reason for Yoo-hyun to be dragged along when he knew the situation.
“What should I do? I was planning to entrust the later quantity to TSMC since you said it wouldn’t work.”
-You’re using a Taiwanese semiconductor company at this time?
“Is there a reason why I can’t?”
-Hmm. It’s not that, but wouldn’t it be better for domestic companies to win-win?
He didn’t even consider TSMC, but what did that matter?
You have to get more when you can.
“I’m sorry to say this, but I have to keep my faith.”
-Faith with a Taiwanese company? The real faith is to do what’s good for the country and the people.
“Fine. Then how about we negotiate on something more substantial than emotional?”
-Negotiate?
“Yes. You have to show me a reason to choose Ilsung Electronics for me to make a decision.”
-…
“If you don’t want to, I have nothing more to say.”
As Yoo-hyun tried to hang up, President Choi quickly intervened.
He spoke with a voice that suppressed his pride.
-We’re planning to build a data center. We’ll use JK Communication’s server there.
“JK Communication’s server chip is so cost-effective that there’s not enough quantity. That’s why we’re trying to produce more. This seems like a good thing for Ilsung, doesn’t it?”
-Then…
“Yes. Tell me.”
-Sigh. I lost. We’ll move Ilsung Electronics’ cloud base from Amazon to WithC. It means we’re joining the Reverb Alliance that you wanted.
President Choi must have thought he had pulled out his trump card, but well.
Yoo-hyun nodded calmly and replied.
“That’s a good idea. But Ilsung Electronics’ own cloud service is not that big, is it?”
-What? If Ilsung joins, all the related partner companies will join in. It’s comparable to the whole Hansung Group joining. Don’t you know that?
“I know. And I think it will be a great help.”
-But?
“As you know, Alibaba from China has also decided to join the River Alliance. The situation has changed a lot from before.”
If it were the old days, he would have welcomed Ilsung’s partial participation, but not now.
It was meaningless unless the data of the entire Ilsung Group, not just some of Ilsung Electronics’ services, moved.
President Choi Min-yong, who understood Yoo-hyun’s intention, felt a surge of emotion.
-Are you telling me to give it all up now?
“Didn’t you ask for exclusivity because you thought the production of JK server chips would increase? Then you should make a proper offer.”
If he could secure JK Communications server chips?
He wouldn’t have to worry about the gap in the ultra-precision foundry business for the next one or two years.
He would be able to secure the most expensive goods stably.
President Choi Min-yong had no choice.
-Grr… Fine. I’ll think about it more.
“Okay. I’ll wait for the good news.”
Yoo-hyun hung up the phone with a smile.
Tap tap tap.
Kim Hyun-soo, who was typing at his desk, muttered.
“Your caller seems pretty nasty.”
“Why?”
“Just. You seemed to be pushing him hard.”
“Really? Well. I’ve been through a lot of trouble trying to get Ilsung in.”
Ilsung was the one who didn’t accept any of his proposals.
He wasted a lot of time because he kept his distance until the end, even though he seemed to be willing to give in.
He had no way out because Chairman Choi Jin-chul wanted it that way.
The problem was solved too easily.
‘I owe Huawei a lot for this.’
Ziing. Ziing.
Yoo-hyun, who was laughing, sighed as he saw the name on his phone screen.
“Ugh. Why is this guy doing this again?”
“Who is it?”
“Just someone I know. I’ll go take the call.”
“Sure.”
It was a call from a place he couldn’t possibly reveal.
‘The National Intelligence Service.’
Yoo-hyun quietly opened the door, remembering the previous call.
Drrrr.
As he stepped outside, he saw the scenery of the car center, which was much wider than before.
Many employees were dealing with the customers in line.
He looked at the busy people and answered the phone, and the other person asked bluntly.
-Mr. Han, you haven’t forgotten your promise, have you?
“What are you talking about?”
-We agreed to meet tomorrow, didn’t we?
Yoo-hyun calmly spoke to the National Intelligence Service’s Deputy Director Choi Cheol-woo, who was brazen.
“No, Deputy Director, I told you that tomorrow is my mother’s birthday. I’m in my hometown right now.”
-That’s fine. We’ll come to you.
“Just see me next time. There’s no reason for you to come all the way here.”
-No. It has to be tomorrow.
“What the hell is going on?”
-As I said, that’s a secret. It won’t take long, so please spare me some time.
The conversation was going in circles again.
It was something more secretive than revealing that he was from the National Intelligence Service.
‘Maybe Deputy Director Choi is overdoing it.’
He knew the answer would be the same no matter how much he asked, so Yoo-hyun wrapped it up nicely.
“Then contact me before you come. We’ll set up a time then.”
-Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Click.
“What the hell is he doing?”
He had a feeling that he would get involved in some annoying trouble.
Jingle jingle.
Yoo-hyun lowered his head and returned to the customer waiting room, where he approached Kim Hyun-soo at his desk.
He was still looking at the monitor and tapping the keyboard.
“What are you working so hard on?”
“Just. Writing an article.”
“What article?”
“Auto Gear asked me to do something. I wanted to pass it on, but it’s related to Jun-ki’s company, so I had to do it.”
Auto Gear was the top car magazine in Korea.
Yoo-hyun was surprised to see the title on the monitor screen.
“Oh, self-driving special? This is main-level stuff. You’re amazing.”
“It’s nothing. I don’t know anything about cutting-edge IT technology, I just write from a car perspective.”
“Still. Not everyone can write something like this.”
Swoosh.
Yoo-hyun picked up the business card on the table.
-Auto Gear Honorary Reporter: Kim Hyun-soo
Kim Hyun-soo, who was the car center president, became an Auto Gear reporter.
How did this happen?
Kim Hyun-soo put his hand down with embarrassment.
“It’s just that I got picked because I wrote reviews on River, what.”
“Just? You’re one of the top-tier car reviewers, this is only natural.”
“Well, should I thank you for that?”
“Don’t mention it. I’m grateful. Thanks to my talented friend, I succeeded in car reviews too.”
It wasn’t a compliment out of courtesy.