CH33 | MCT

Using the President to Set the Stage (1)

A secret meeting was taking place in the reception room of the Blue House.

Han Cheong-ho handed a box of apples to Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Jeong-rim.

Of course, the box was filled with something other than apples.

"Please inform His Excellency that Han Cheong-ho of Cheongil came to offer his congratulations."

"I will deliver the message as you wish."

Kim Jeong-rim smiled as he accepted the box.

He was certain it was packed full of fresh green bundles of cash.

"You already paid your respects to His Excellency right after the election. What brings you back so soon?"

"One can never receive too many congratulations and well-wishes. And Chief of Staff, you must have endured quite a bit of hardship managing the election."

Han Cheong-ho took out a thick envelope from his pocket and handed it to Kim Jeong-rim.

Without hesitation, Kim accepted it and let out a hearty laugh.

"I only did what was necessary for the country and for His Excellency. There's no need to call it hardship. But I will certainly remember Cheongil’s goodwill."

With a pleased expression, Kim nodded.

"Now, tell me. What kind of effort do you need from me?"

"Have you heard that there's a molybdenum mine in Gangwon Province?"

"A molybdenum mine?"

"Yes. Molybdenum is a strategic mineral used in military supplies."

Han Cheong-ho's eyes gleamed as he thought of Tae-soo.

"The price of molybdenum has been skyrocketing. It’s already surged more than ten times its previous value. They say the mine is making a fortune."

"Is that true?"

"Of course. And we're not talking about just any resource—this is a national strategic mineral. Can we simply stand by and let someone hoard the nation’s wealth for their own gain?"

"Hmm…"

"Think about the heavy chemical industry His Excellency is working so hard to foster. Because of that man’s greed and manipulations, our factories are on the verge of shutting down."

"Is that really the case?"

Han Cheong-ho smiled subtly.

"Think about it. Whose granary should be filled with the wealth from this molybdenum?"

Kim Jeong-rim also gave a knowing smile.

"Whether that granary ends up belonging to the nation or to you, one thing is certain—it won’t belong to him."

"Exactly."

"I’ll bring this up with His Excellency."

As Kim Jeong-rim stood up, Han Cheong-ho followed suit.

"If His Excellency grants permission, I’d like to handle the matter personally—cleaning out that granary, so to speak."

"Hahaha, that’s for His Excellency to decide. But I’ll be sure to mention it discreetly. And I’ll enjoy the apples."

Lifting the box of ‘apples,’ Kim Jeong-rim grinned with satisfaction.

* * *

Park Tae-jong thought of Tae-soo.

"I wonder how far along he is by now."

President Park Jung-hwan had requested to meet him.

Tae-soo had readily agreed, answering with his usual straightforwardness, "Let’s do it."

Waiting for Tae-soo, Park Tae-jong smiled with satisfaction.

"He has no greed, yet he’s exceptionally capable, and his personality is refreshingly direct—what more could you ask for?"

His ability to track down those Japanese-born scoundrels surpassed even that of the Central Intelligence Agency.

When they had visited the Gangwon Province mine, he had signed the contract without hesitation and without unnecessary conditions.

Even more astonishing, he had voluntarily decided to donate the mine to the nation.

A truly rare kind of young man.

"He’s a pillar for the future of this country."

Otherwise, why would he choose to build a school instead of a lucrative shopping mall or hospital?

And not just any school—he wanted to nurture the future of South Korea.

"On top of that, he immediately recognized my son's potential and recruited him into his company. That kind of vision is remarkable."

His son was doing an excellent job constructing the school.

Much better, much more thoroughly, and much more skillfully than expected.

Even though he had been right beside his son all these years, he had never truly recognized his potential. But Tae-soo had seen it instantly.

What more could be said about his keen judgment?

Perhaps he was even sharper than Han Cheong-ho.

"The more I think about it, the more remarkable he seems. He will accomplish great things for the country. I’m already looking forward to it."

If there was one thing he trusted, it was his sharp intuition.

Especially when faced with someone extraordinary—his instincts always became sharper.

And those instincts had told him, time and time again:

Kang Tae-soo was an exceptional talent, someone the nation desperately needed.

"I must nurture Kang Tae-soo well and ensure he is put to great use for the country. I should take this opportunity to recommend him properly to His Excellency."

President Park Jung-hwan would undoubtedly be pleased the moment he met him.

* * *

Tae-soo drove toward Pohang.

"Why does President Park Jung-hwan want to see me?"

He had a few guesses.

"Maybe Park Tae-jong spoke about me and caught Park Jung-hwan’s attention."

Thanks to Tae-soo, the steel mill construction had accelerated, and he was also building the school that Pohang Steel had commissioned.

On top of that, Park Tae-jong had likely enjoyed the financial benefits of selling chromium-molybdenum steel and stainless steel.

"But that seems unlikely. I’m not someone significant enough to interest the president."

At best, he was just a minor mine owner in Gangwon Province and the head of a subcontracted construction company.

"The most likely explanation is that Park Jung-hwan simply mentioned me in passing to do Park Tae-jong a favor."

After all, President Park Jung-hwan valued Park Tae-jong as one of his most trusted confidants.

"If not that, then it must have been Han Cheong-ho pulling strings behind the scenes."

Han Cheong-ho would have undoubtedly rushed to the Blue House with a box full of cash, eager to take over the molybdenum mine and line his own pockets.

"But Park Jung-hwan isn’t the type of man to go back on his word. He won’t seize the molybdenum mine."

Even Park Tae-jong had reassured him of that.

No matter how bitter Park Jung-hwan might feel, he wouldn’t break his promise.

"Hmm, in the end, it must be that Park Tae-jong needs to discuss something with me."

That would be easy enough to confirm once he met with Park Tae-jong.

"Should I take this chance to subtly bring up the Gangnam development project when I meet Park Jung-hwan?"

Gangnam Development

Park Jung-hwan was ambitiously preparing a massive urban development project.

It hadn't fully entered the execution phase yet, but the grand blueprint had already been drawn.

"If only he would approve the Daechi-dong apartment project in exchange for constructing roads."

Cheongil Construction had laid down Samsung-ro, Yeongdong-daero, and Nambu Sunhwan-ro while building the Cheongil Apartments in Daechi-dong.

"If that happens, the low-lying wasteland I’ve been buying for pennies will instantly transform into prime residential land."

Daechi-dong

A location surrounded by major roads, positioned near Daechi Station on Subway Line 3, and soon to become the heart of Gangnam’s prestigious '8th School District'—the very center of South Korea’s elite education system.

The Cheongil Apartments had been the defining symbol of Gangnam residential complexes for 36 years, standing as the largest residential apartment complex in Gangnam-gu.

"But this time, it won’t be Cheongil Construction building it. Tae-yang Construction will take the lead. The most prestigious luxury apartment brand will belong to Tae-yang Construction."

The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.

Gangnam real estate was poised to become the epicenter of South Korea’s skyrocketing land prices.

However, there was one major issue.

"I don’t have enough capital to build the apartments. I’m planning to construct nearly 4,500 units all at once. Just paving the 14-lane highways alone will require an enormous sum."

Every penny from the molybdenum mine was being funneled into acquiring Daechi-dong land.

The minimum land requirement alone was 72,000 pyeong (approximately 238,000 square meters).

On top of that, rumors had begun circulating that someone else was also buying up land in Daechi-dong, causing land prices to rise.

Soon, the prices would climb even higher.

If he didn’t act fast, he might need to rely on bank loans or even private lending to secure the remaining land.

"I need capital. The molybdenum mine alone won’t cut it. I need a way to secure a massive influx of funds."

Tae-soo fell into deep thought.

There was a significant global event in 1973 that he could take advantage of.

"The oil shock… that would be perfect."

1973: The First Oil Shock

In October 1973, the world would be hit by the First Oil Shock.

Oil prices would skyrocket nearly fourfold in just three months, shaking the global economy in an instant.

It was the crisis that abruptly ended the Golden Age of Capitalism, which had flourished in developed nations since the 1950s.

"Every crisis is just another name for an opportunity. Just thinking about the oil shock, I can practically smell the money."

The First Oil Shock was triggered by the Fourth Arab-Israeli War—also known as the Yom Kippur War or the October War—which erupted on October 6, 1973, and lasted until October 25, spanning three intense weeks in the Sinai Peninsula.

As a result, multiple Middle Eastern nations joined the war, and six major oil-producing countries simultaneously declared an oil embargo, throwing the global oil market into chaos.

At the time, crude oil was priced at $2.90 per barrel. But within just three months—by December—it would soar to $11 per barrel.

A massive price surge.

"Sure, after the oil shock, a construction boom will take off in the Middle East, fueling a wave of overseas construction projects. But right now, it’s too early."

It wasn’t until the late 1970s and 1980s that oil-rich nations, flush with petrodollars, began aggressively investing in infrastructure.

"What a shame. I can’t just start an oil company overnight, and I don’t have any direct connections in the Middle East. On top of that, the region is extremely closed off right now."

At the moment, Saudi royalty distrusted foreign contractors and required them to have local sponsors.

"Foreigners can’t even meet government officials directly, let alone secure business deals without connections to the ruling elite... This is tough—really tough."

It was frustrating.

If he could just land a single construction deal in the Middle East, he could rake in piles of dollars instantly.

"Once you break into the Middle Eastern market, securing future contracts becomes a lot easier. But that first deal—that is the real challenge. Hm…"

If he could leverage the Middle East to fund the Gangnam apartment project, it would be perfect.

"Maybe Park Tae-jong has some inside knowledge or connections in the Middle East. I should ask him about the construction opportunities there."

Vroooom.

Tae-soo slammed his foot on the accelerator, pushing the speed up.

As he tore down the highway, the car surged forward effortlessly.

***

Pohang Steelworks

Upon Tae-soo’s arrival, Park Tae-jong spread his arms wide to welcome him.

"Welcome! I’ve been expecting you."

"Have you been well? I hear the steel mill construction budget has loosened up a bit?"

"Hahaha, all thanks to you! So, how about a drink in my office?"

"Sounds good."

After a long time, Tae-soo and Park Tae-jong raised their whiskey glasses once again.

Clink.

They clinked their glasses with satisfaction and chatted about recent events.

Park Chul-wan had been making excellent progress, efficiently overseeing the school construction, and the project was finally taking shape.

After discussing various topics for a while, Tae-soo brought up the main issue.

"Do you have any idea why President Park Jung-hwan is coming all the way down to Pohang at this time?"

"Officially, it’s for the steel mill. But I can’t shake the feeling that it’s really because of you."

Tae-soo shook his head.

"I don’t think so."

"Oh? Why not?"

"First, the molybdenum mine has already been approved for excavation by His Excellency. It’s no longer a matter of interest to him."

"Hmm…"

"Second, the school construction project is too minor to catch his attention."

"You think so?"

"Third, I’m not nearly as well-known as you seem to believe."

"Haha! Always so modest."

"I suspect that His Excellency has something weighing on his mind, and he's coming here to discuss it with you."

Park Tae-jong’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t considered that possibility.

But after a moment, he realized the logic made sense.

Resting his chin on his hand, he fell into deep thought.

"Hmm… There’s certainly no shortage of issues troubling His Excellency."

As the president, he was constantly dealing with both major and minor national affairs.

Park Tae-jong began to run through a mental list of possible concerns.

"Vietnam War, the National Assembly law revision bill, the 9th general election, the South-North Red Cross talks, the Saemaul Movement… What else?"

"I doubt it’s a political matter. Is there any pressing issue in the economic or diplomatic sphere that comes to mind?"

"Hm? You’re saying it’s not about politics? Why do you think that?"

"Because if it were a political issue, I doubt His Excellency would seek your counsel."

After settling in Pohang Steelworks, Park Tae-jong had completely distanced himself from politics, advocating for a clear separation between business and government.

It didn’t make sense for the president to travel all the way to Pohang just to discuss political matters with someone like him.

If he was making such an effort, it had to be something related to the economy or foreign affairs, which were the areas Park Tae-jong was still actively involved in.

After another long pause, Park Tae-jong finally spoke.

"If that's the case, then one thing does come to mind."

"What is it?"

"The Saudi royal family is absolutely furious over the Middle East road construction issue. I heard they even sent an unofficial letter of protest to His Excellency."

"The Saudi royal family? The Middle East road construction issue?"

Could it be...?

Tae-soo's eyes gleamed with interest.

"Tell me more about that."


TL/n -

The Bedouin are a nomadic Arab people who traditionally lived in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, Mesopotamia, and the Levant. They are known for their camel-herding and ancient traditions.