Dear Comrade Leader, Episode 138
Chapter 49. Republic’s No. 1 Groom
First of all, even in present-day North Korea, there was a law that recognized the intellectual property rights of others or other companies.
In the socialist constitution enacted in 1972, it was stipulated that copyright and invention rights based on the phrase ‘Citizens have the freedom of science, literature and art activities’ (of course, it was never properly observed) should be respected.
The problem is that it is not a stand-alone law like Korea’s patent law or utility model, so its legal status is weak,
In the existing North Korea, where the system was overwhelmingly superior to individual individuality and creativity before legal status, the existence of such a law was only felt far from the general public as well as party officials.
Even right now, Jeong Hwan had to take the time to explain the details of intellectual property rights and their necessity to party cadres who looked like, ‘Why is that necessary?’
However, as Jung-hwan himself, he thought it would be unreasonable to crack down on all the fakes circulating in the Republic right now.
Actually, I had no intention of doing that.
“Create an independent law that sets out exclusive rights to trademarks and technology and ensure that all businesses have legal protection for trademarks. There are a lot of people in the republic who don’t even know that it’s illegal, so I’ll have to focus on publicity.”
“Then… … ?”
“Comrade Hyun Young-sook, director of the department, asks to send a propaganda broadcast through broadcasting and the Rodong newspaper stating that counterfeiting is illegal against the laws of the Republic and that you should not even buy it. Let the South Korean and foreign companies that have entered the republic know this too.”
“… … Comrade General Secretary, are you really planning to smash all counterfeit manufacturing in the Republic?”
When Hyun Young-sook, who had been given instructions, asked cautiously, showing a slight difference of opinion, Jeong-hwan shook his head with a smile.
“Of course not, I’m only talking about this place, but I have to pretend to do it. Shouldn’t it at least look like that abroad?”
Seeing Jung-hwan’s smile, the Politburo members made an expression of ‘?’ for the first two seconds, then nodded with an expression that they would understand one after another.
The order in which the expression of enlightenment appeared on his face was quite interesting.
The first was Kim Yong-geon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, followed by Hyun Young-sook, Baek Seung-cheol, Jang Seong-taek, and Hong Gye-seong.
In other words, it could be said that he understood Jeonghwan’s words in the order of the executives who had extensive experience in foreign countries and were flexible in their thoughts.
“I see what you mean. Are you saying that in order to receive investment from abroad and to attract one more business, you have to look like that? In reality, even if the crackdown on counterfeit goods is not very strict.”
“That’s right. Oh, of course, if you completely let go, the other side will get hot someday too, so set an internal standard and take action when the amount of damage reported by the tenant company exceeds a certain limit. Now that economic sanctions on China will be lifted, shouldn’t the republic maintain its reputation as a good country to do business?”
Anyway, the history of industrial development in East Asia is, in other words, a history of counterfeiting, copying those from the United States and Europe.
Even if we don’t come up with clichés such as ‘imitation is the mother of creation’, the industrialized countries of today and the future, such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.
Companies large and small accumulated capital and technology through counterfeit manufacturing, and the companies that survived the competition grew into national and international brands.
Without going far, Korean IT companies such as Seongsam Electronics and Hyundai Electronics are enjoying a kind of indirect profit by not actively explaining the misunderstanding that they are Japanese brands abroad. Jeonghwan knew it was overflowing.
And there was no one unaware of the fact that Japanese brands also copied American electronic products like crazy in the 1960s, a period of rapid growth.
Of course, like the future China (actually, China is still the mecca of counterfeiting), we will face retaliation one day only if we openly mass-produce fakes based on the size of the market. it was
‘After all, the current international intellectual property rights and the patent law system are one of the tools used by entrepreneurs in the West and the United States to kick the ladder that developing countries will climb. It’s disgusting and dirty, but what if you don’t have the strength to make new rules? You have to pretend to be obedient and obedient.’
In the current situation, Jeong-hwan suggested introducing intellectual property rights (which is not respected very much in Korea, which is still far ahead of the industry) because North Korea had to join the rapidly approaching world trade system as a member.
In order to meet the requirements for joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), which will be launched two years from now, international organizations must have a legalized intellectual property protection system.
Of course, whether or not you actually follow it is a different matter, so there will be a lot of talk behind the scenes… … .
In case such a situation arises, Junghwan already had everything he had in mind.
“As soon as it is concluded, prepare the details of the bill and the implementation plan and send it to the secretary’s office. So, here it is for today. Go and do the national archery for public affairs in the Republic, comrades.”
“You always work hard! Comrade General Secretary!”
Announcing the end of the Politburo meeting, Jeonghwan stood up first, and other members shouted loudly and bent over.
In fact, Junghwan himself kicked his tongue out saying that it was not an organization or something, but he did not deliberately stop it.
(Although subject to prior censorship) As foreign media started coming in little by little, the anachronistic worship of a single person was gradually falling out of the people.
Initially, these members of the Politburo, who belonged to the top ranks of the Workers’ Party cadres, were enlisted in consideration of the loyalty of the Kim family as their top priority.
Building an administrative system run by a rational system and well-educated bureaucrats, rather than the work of a dictator, did not happen overnight, and he only hoped that time would solve the human resource problem.
And for the time being anyway, as the leader, Jeong-hwan, has to lead national development and development, there was nothing wrong with consolidating his own authority only to the extent that it does not become an obstacle to national development.
The fortunate thing is that, as we learned from today’s meeting, Hyun Young-sook and other members of the small group understand the changing world and are showing signs of self-directed change.
“Hey, I’m a little tired today.”
“The health of Comrade General Secretary is directly related to this republic. If that’s the case, how about leaving early and eating some delicacies? I will talk to my co-cooker.”
“Then it must be a hot day, shall we try some comfort food like abalone porridge? McDonald’s on a fictional day by a person whose name is the recipient… … I’m only eating U.S. food, so I’m not looking forward to this… … What do you think, Lieutenant Yu?”
“The Chosun Central Broadcasting and the Rodong Sinmun advertise that Comrade General Secretary sets an example for party members not to satisfy their self-interest by eating frugal meals with only soup for one meal and three meals every day… … Well, considering the price, it’s not a lie at all.”
The members of the Politburo did not straighten their bent backs until the appearances of Hyerim Yoo and Jeonghwan Jeong disappearing completely disappearing as they left our conference room while talking.
However, only as much as Jang Seong-taek, the leader of the party’s organizational leadership department, was gently raising his back and throwing an unreasonable gaze on the two of them.
His gaze was especially fixed on one of the two people, Yoo Hye-rim, and he did not know how to leave.
* * *
“Comrades, look at me for a moment.”
“… … ?”
When the meeting was over and Jang Seong-taek summoned two of the committee members, each preparing to return to their original departments, they looked at each other and tilted their heads.
However, in any case, he could not refuse to see the second-ranking party leader, the organizational leadership director.
“… … What’s going on here, Comrade Jang?”
“Current manager, manager Kim. I have called today to discuss important matters concerning the future survival of the republic. You guys, our supreme dignity… … So, do you know how old Comrade General Secretary is this year?”
In the small meeting room next to the conference room, Jang Seong-taek, who had locked the door without even bringing his own aides, broke his luck with a serious expression.
As the last cadre of the old republic represented by Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il and the leader of the new republic led by Kim Jung-hwan (at least he thought so), he has worked hard to adapt well.
Read at noblemtl.com
Now, North Korea was no longer a closed kingdom, and Jang Song-thaek’s daily luncheons and entertainments with foreign investors, multinational corporations presidents and vice presidents were more frequent, instead of chasing after the leader and his family every day.Compared to the days when Kim Jong-il was in trouble, the sharp rise did not go anywhere at the time when the leader had to look at what the leader ate in the morning in order to preserve his life for as long as possible.
Read at noblemtl.com
No matter how much reform and opening up, no matter how much you change the world, the physiology of power doesn’t change!And no matter what kind of boss, a leader would prefer subordinates who understood their intentions well and guessed their needs and desires before they even spoke out.
And considering Jang Seong-taek with such a keen eye and situational judgment, he was the only one with the position and ability to guess the young supreme leader’s intentions and provide what he needed in the current situation.
In fact, Kim Yong-geon had an expression like, ‘What kind of bullshit is this when you call a busy person?’
Hyun Young-suk made an expression that he knew what he was going to say even with a quick glance, then put his hand on his forehead and answered first.
“Maybe now thirty… … .”
“Okay, that’s it. By the way, don’t you think that if you’re a healthy guy in general in this republic, you have to do something around that age, comrades?”
“… … .”
After talking up to that point, Kim Yong-geon was starting to notice too.
And why Jang Seong-taek called them all the way here.
“… … hey, marry me… … So, shouldn’t we have started a family?”
“right. Ordinary people usually get a matchmaker in their mid-twenties at the earliest, or before they turn 30 at the latest. But the person we are talking about now is no one else, but the supreme dignity of this republic, Comrade General.”
“Yes.”
“This is not only about his personal marriage, but it also has to do with the external face of the Republic and its people.”
He spoke nonstop.
“Right now, among the leaders of the world, if there is a case where you do not have a family and are a geese, please take a look. Didn’t all the kings have secrets in the time of the dynasty?”
“So, the words of Comrade Jang are… … .”
In other words, will you play the role of Chae Hong-sa, who picks up a suitable ‘Queen’ candidate? Like Kim Jong-il?
‘No, of course we have to get married, but… … .’ Before Hyun Young-sook, who had closed her red lips with a dissatisfied expression as if thinking about it, could finish her words, Jang Seong-taek coughed and opened his mouth first.
“Girae, the reason I called my comrades here today is about the matter of the general secretary’s marriage. There is also a first lady in South Korea, and there are women who act as hostess of the country by doing something like the first lady of the US imperialists, that is, the United States of America. Can’t we just ignore this problem forever? Don’t you think so?”
The same thought popped into their minds this time at Jang Seong-taek’s question, which seemed to ask for consent.
To be precise, not a thought, but a person’s figure.
“Comrade Zhang. You’re definitely right, but… … It seems to me that Comrade General Secretary Yoo Hye-rim already has in mind. Of course, you never officially promised to take Lieutenant General Yoo as your wife, but two strong men and women have been together for such a long time, so there is no reason to think otherwise.”
“… … Besides, I think it is right for the marriage to be decided by the will of the general secretary to the end. Of course, it is true that the general secretary, who has the highest dignity of the republic, is not in the right place to be an unmatched geese, but I am just worried that we are only living in the wrath of our comrades while trying to find a suitable wife and wife for nothing.”
The two euphemistically expressed their uncooperative intentions, but Jang Seong-taek waved his hand as if he had expected it enough.
“Who asked your comrade to find a new woman? If the leader has a heart for Lieutenant Yu Hye-rim, it must be respected. I’m just saying that there is a problem with the fact that the supreme dignity, who has always been the leader of this republic, can’t get married, so let’s settle the matter of marriage.”
“Gogoi… … ? Then why… … .”
“It seems to me that Comrade General Secretary Yoo Hye-rim has a heart, but he seems hesitant because of various problems. If so, wouldn’t it be our job to figure out his intentions and move them on their own without saying anything?”
“… … What if there are several problems?”