IWSF – Ch 275

I stayed in America and took care of things while the trade war was going on.

The TS Company factory, a joint venture between OTK Company and Seosung SB, began its initial production. They were now seriously embarking on the production of OTK batteries for electric vehicles.

Professor Kim Ho-min came to the United States to tour the factory.

“Welcome.”

“Thanks to you, I even get to see America.”

“You originally studied in the US, right?”

“Back then, I was mostly just inside the school. I didn’t even get to properly see Massachusetts.”

Bodyguards followed Professor Kim Ho-min. He scratched his head, looking at the people following him.

“But is it really necessary to go this far?”

I smiled and said.

“You never know.”

With the eyes of the world focused on us, they wouldn’t dare to do anything foolish, but it’s always better to be cautious.

Chinese companies had been offering Professor Kim Ho-min all sorts of conditions to recruit him. Some even offered annual salaries of billions of won.

However, the patent for OTK batteries belonged to the research institute, and he held shares in the institute. Already guaranteed immense wealth, there was no reason for him to move to another country.

Still, it wasn’t like there were no gains; they succeeded in poaching a few researchers. Professor Kim Ho-min readily accepted their resignations and told them they were welcome to return anytime.

Chinese companies had been using similar methods to lure numerous researchers and engineers from South Korea. For the first few years, they receive double or triple their previous salaries and various benefits.

In the meantime, Chinese companies gradually extract the technology and know-how they possess. Once they’ve revealed everything they know, they become useless.

And they can’t create anything new on their own.

Like the saying goes, “If you plant a tangerine tree from the South in the North, it will bear trifoliate oranges,” even if someone achieved great results at one company, they might not be able to replicate that if they move to another.

From the start, it would be difficult to properly demonstrate their capabilities in a place with a different corporate culture and poor communication.

There are many people who are exploited and then discarded, but researchers continue to go to China. The immediate profit is a factor, and the poor treatment in South Korea is also a reason.

Taek-gyu and I toured the factory with Daryl, Chairman Im Jin-yong, and Professor Kim Ho-min.

Professor Kim Ho-min looked at the mass-produced batteries and said.

“Surely China won’t copy this too, right?”

I nodded.

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

Unless they’re crazy, they wouldn’t even dare to think about it for a while.

***

As word spread that I was in America, interview requests poured in from all directions. They must have had many questions, from the events after the Big One to this trade war.

I rejected all interview requests.

Instead, Taek-gyu and I chartered a private jet to California.

The view of Silicon Valley from the sky was shocking.

During the Big One, the tsunami surged in, completely submerging San Francisco and the Silicon Valley area, and San Francisco Bay became connected to the ocean.

The water that had flooded the city receded, but what remained was a ruined city. The Golden Gate Bridge, a symbol of San Francisco, was broken and submerged in the sea.

I had seen it countless times in photos and videos, but seeing it with my own eyes made me viscerally understand the enormity of what had happened here.

Yet, this scene didn’t feel so terrible because many people had survived.

As long as there is life, there is hope.

In the less damaged outer areas, recovery work was already in full swing. Heavy equipment moved busily, clearing debris.

Large-scale construction and infrastructure projects would unfold here within the next year or two.

And that would be a new opportunity for us.

***

Wearing comfortable clothes and a hat pulled low, I walked into the California Institute of Technology campus.

It was vacation time, so the campus was quiet. In my hand, I held a book I bought from a nearby bookstore.

It was a freshly published new book titled ‘After the Big One’ by Professor Kiran Mohan.

It was a kind of memoir about the situation right before, during, and after the Big One.

The book was simultaneously published in 14 languages worldwide and immediately became a bestseller in every bookstore.

After the Big One, Professor Kiran Mohan became a top celebrity. He graced the cover of Time magazine and was named one of the 10 most influential intellectuals in America. Millions of dollars in donations poured in out of gratitude, but Professor Mohan refused the money and donated it all to the Big One relief fund.

Geology is not a very popular major. Unlike other departments where employment at global IT companies is guaranteed, it’s not a department where getting a job is that easy.

But now, things were different. Due to the Big One, interest in geology exploded, and this year’s freshman admission competition rate hit a record high.

Everyone wanted to take Professor Kiran Mohan’s lectures at least once, and thanks to that, his classes are always full.

The reason I was here was because today was the book launch event for ‘After the Big One’.

It was originally planned to be held in the auditorium, but the number of attendees became too large, so they hurriedly moved it to the gymnasium.

The governor of California and senators were attending, so that says it all.

The book launch event was in full swing, and as various local dignitaries and politicians were attending, event staff and bodyguards guarded the entrance.

As I approached, a staff member standing there said.

“May I see your invitation, please?”

“I don’t have an invitation, but can’t I just enter?”

The staff member said firmly.

“No, you can’t. The inside is already full.”

“But I came all the way from far away to greet the professor…”

“Please leave now.”

He gestured, and bodyguards approached me.

Reluctantly, I took off the hat I was wearing. The staff member and bodyguards who saw my face were startled.

“H-huh! S-surely, Kang Jin-hoo?”

“If you say I can’t, I’ll just wait here until the event is over.”

At my words, they all shook their heads.

“N-no, it’s not like that. You can go in.”

“Really?”

“Y-yes, of course. What are you doing? Open the door for him quickly.”

“Thank you.”

I entered the gymnasium.

The inside was packed. The prepared seats, as well as the aisles, were filled with people. Students, politicians, local dignitaries, CEOs of companies headquartered in Silicon Valley, survivors of the Big One, and so on.

It was truly a gathering of people from all walks of life.

The press corps gathered on one side were busily filming videos and taking photos.

In the midst of them, I could see Professor Kiran Mohan holding a microphone. There were no seats available, so I stood on the second floor in the back and watched the book launch event.

It seemed to be a Q&A session, as someone was asking a question.

“Will something like the Big One happen again in the future?”

“No one can guarantee that. Science has developed, but there is still so much we don’t know about the Earth. That’s probably why the National Weather Service’s weather forecasts are wrong every time.”

His words drew laughter from here and there.

“One thing that is clear is that even if something like that happens again, we will definitely find a way. Currently, research is actively being conducted to predict or even prevent earthquakes. If a similar situation occurs next time, I believe we will be able to cope better then. Especially now that the budget has been significantly increased.”

His words drew laughter again.

This time, a person who looked like an Asian student took the microphone.

“What if Kang Jin-hoo hadn’t been there?”

“Hmm, well, I wonder what would have happened. More people would have lost their lives, and maybe that could have been me or you all.”

Professor Mohan couldn’t continue speaking, and neither could the others.

Silence fell in the gymnasium for a while.

As if about to speak again, Professor Mohan raised his head, and at that moment, his eyes met mine. Surely he didn’t spot me, did he?

Thinking that, Professor Mohan opened his mouth wide in surprise.

“Uh, how are you here…?”

Then, everyone’s gaze turned towards me.

I had no choice but to take off the hat I was wearing.

Then, people shouted in astonishment.

“It’s Kang Jin-hoo!”

“What? Really?”

“It’s definitely Kang Jin-hoo!”

“No way!”

“Oh my god!”

They all took out their phones and started taking pictures.

People sitting in the aisles automatically cleared a path, and I went down.

We greeted each other warmly and hugged. We hadn’t known each other for long, but maybe because we had gone through difficult times together, it felt like meeting an old comrade after being separated.

“How have you been?”

Professor Mohan said, looking overjoyed.

“What brings you here without a word?”

“I heard there was a professor’s book launch event, and I couldn’t just stay put. I came to congratulate you.”

“Then you should have contacted me beforehand!”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

Professor Mohan pointed to me and said.

“As you all know, this is Kang Jin-hoo. Please give him a round of applause.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

People stood up and applauded in unison.

“From now on, you can ask him any questions you have. Actually, I’ve been holding it in since earlier, but I’ll just quickly go to the restroom.”

“Excuse me?”

Professor Mohan handed me the microphone and then left the gymnasium. While he was away, I had to answer the questions pouring in from all directions.

The book launch event ended successfully, and articles were published in media outlets around the world.

***

China warned that the US’s unilateralism was undermining the world trade order, while also emphasizing US-China cooperation through a statement by Foreign Minister Chang Yi.

“Cooperation brings mutual benefit, and fighting harms everyone. The essence of the bilateral relationship is mutually beneficial cooperation. Cooperation between the two major markets, China and the US, is the path to benefit the world. China is ready to resolve conflicts with the United States and build mutual trust and respect.”

However, Ronald scoffed and declared that he would impose tariffs on the remaining $250 billion of Chinese exports as planned.

“The United States has no reason to rush to end the trade war with China. We will continue this until China changes its existing unfair practices. China has forced technology transfers from foreign companies, infringed on patents, stolen intellectual property, and even planted spy chips and backdoors in servers to steal technology. And they are still engaged in theft and robbery. The United States has been brutally trampled and raped.”

Ronald said to reporters.

“The United States will no longer tolerate it. We will also consider sanctions against all companies that trade with Chinese companies that are subject to sanctions. Those companies will face restrictions in their dealings with the United States in the future.”

Reporters were speechless at the unexpectedly strong measures.

How many global companies do not trade with US companies?

It was effectively a secondary boycott, an order to the entire world to completely cease trading with Chinese companies.

“This is an inevitable measure to protect the security of the United States.”

Once the shock passed, reporters simultaneously threw out questions.

“Isn’t there a concern that US companies will become isolated?”

“How will you deal with China’s backlash?”

“Do you think other countries will join in?”

Ronald raised both hands and said sarcastically.

“The United States is not stupid. We will only deal with companies and countries that abide by the rules. You want to trade with the United States? Then follow our rules. If you don’t like it, then don’t. It’s not like we’re begging you to trade with us, are we?”

***

I met with Deputy Minister Li Xuewei and Vice Chairman Wang Yi-chang of the Ministry of Commerce in a hotel in Detroit. Compared to when I met them before, both of their expressions looked worse.

I personally brewed tea for them, having come from afar.

“This is the Pu-erh tea you gifted me last time. It’s really good when you drink it.”

Neither of them touched the tea.

I put the teacups on the table and then sat down in my seat.

“You said last time that you would regret it, so what brings you back?”

Deputy Minister Li Xuewei asked me.

“What do you want?”

Instead of answering, I looked at Vice Chairman Wang Yi-chang and said.

“Let me ask you one more time. Can you really say that Zhou Auto did not copy CarOS’ technology?”

“……”

He couldn’t answer my question. Well, even if he had ten mouths, he would have nothing to say.

I drank the well-steeped Pu-erh tea and said.

“Whatever you do, shouldn’t an apology and compensation come first? And we also need assurance that this kind of thing won’t happen again in the future, right?”