Material Engineer Cheolwoo Lee (9)
Taiwan TSM’s strategic meeting room.
“Chairman Wang. This is the news that Ohsung Electronics has succeeded in developing a 10nm process semiconductor using a new material Soromin.”
The news that Ohsung Electronics can process semiconductor chips with 10nm spread to many places.
Among them, it was very sensitive news in TSM, which can be said to be the two major mountain ranges of the semiconductor foundry industry.
“……. They say there was help from Lee Cheol-woo?”
TSM President Wang said.
“Yes. It was after Cheol-Woo Lee succeeded in developing Soromin, a better substitute for rare earth elements.”
“Ha…… how much is the maximum process we have now?”
he said with a deep sigh.
“Right now, our maximum process is 16nm.”
Before Soromin was developed, Ohsung Electronics’ maximum process was 18nm. However, after Soromin was developed, it went down to the 10nm process at once, so it was an important event for TSM.
“You’ll see a performance difference of close to 50%.”
“Yes…… We need to come up with a countermeasure. Waffle, our largest customer, heard the news this time and is moving to move to Ohsung Electronics.”
American waffle companies, they were more than Googol IT companies building their own ecosystem.
“What can I do?”
“…”
Chairman Wang asked, but he could not answer.
It was difficult to take any action in the overwhelming difference in technology. Except for one thing.
“Is there any way to save Soromin?”
Chairman Wang intended to lower the unit process to Soromin, like Ohsung Electronics.
“We should contact LF, but we have a problem.”
“Is the problem the Chinese government?”
“……. Yes. That’s right. Lee Cheol-woo developed Soromin as a result of the Chinese government banning the export of rare earth elements. By the way, if we buy Soromin from LF…. I don’t know what the Chinese government will do. .”
To understand why they care about the Chinese government, you need to know Taiwan’s history.
After Japan’s defeat in World War II, China split in two.
Communist China and democratic Taiwan.
There was no difference between South Korea and North Korea and between China and Taiwan. However, if there is a difference, it is the difference in power.
South Korea and North Korea share similar territories, but Taiwan and China were not.
Taiwan lagged behind China in all areas, including economic power and defense power.
China has been continuously attempting to annex Taiwan under the principle of ‘one China’ and intends to unify it by force whenever the opportunity presents itself.
People in Taiwan who knew that well couldn’t just ignore China.
“under…….”
Chairman Wang, who knew the situation well, could only sigh.
If you blindly import Soromin made in Korea, you will end up giving China an excuse.
“As expected, it must be difficult, right? China has ill feelings towards Soromin, or Lee Cheol-woo, but joining hands with them?”
“That’s right. If we blindly buy LF’s Soromin, we don’t know what kind of disaster we’ll face.”
“……Then, do we have to stay still as we lose our competitiveness?”
Their position was embarrassing.
A situation where you can neither do this nor that.
Then someone opened the door to the meeting room and entered.
“What’s going on? I told you not to let anyone in.”
“I… that’s an important matter.”
“What’s the problem?”
“I got a call from Korea’s LF. Soromin’s offer has come.”
“…?”
he was bewildered
‘Didn’t they join hands with Ohsung Electronics?’
The question was not only that.
‘Why are you doing business with us? It’s not like I’m trying to sell more Soromin because I’m short on money… … .’
He wondered why he had been contacted directly by LF.
“Me and I want to have a meeting, so please give me some time.”
“…… A meeting? Who’s coming?”
“I heard that CEO Chul-woo Lee and CEO Min-seok Cha will come in person.”
“What?”
The co-representatives of LF, Lee Cheol-woo and Cha Min-seok, said that it was not normal for them to come in person.
“How do I do it? Shall we schedule a meeting?”
“Of course! Get it as early as possible!”
He had a hunch that a great opportunity was at hand.
* * *
On the plane to Taiwan.
Minseok and I boarded the first class and were talking about various things.
“Um… that’s the direction I suggested, but is this the right one?”
Minseok said with a slightly worried expression.
“Come now?”
“No, no matter how much it is, the policy of one China is a very sensitive content for China. But to stab at that part.”
“Well, we’re not directly supporting the Taiwanese government, are we selling Soromin to TSM, a company in Taiwan? What’s the reason for it to get caught, and it’s weird if you make a fuss about it?”
“Isn’t China normal from the beginning?”
“… that’s right.”
I had nothing to say.
“So what do you want to do in the end?”
“What do you want to do? Hmm… I haven’t thought deeply about it, but… isn’t it the democratization of China?”
“……? what?”
“Yes, we must democratize China.”
democratization. To spread the democratic political system.
I thought that the reason why China could go crazy like this was because of the one-party dictatorship of communism.
If it becomes a democracy where the people are at the center of all decisions, will it be possible to do things that are a national disgrace while the people are watching?
If that happens, the government will change immediately.
“Do you know how difficult that is?”
“I know. That’s why I don’t think it’s easy.”
“So, do you have anything on your mind?”
“huh.”
“……. What?”
“It’s just economic ruin.”
That’s the picture I’m thinking of.
If the people of China become poor economically, will the people stay still? And if the reason is the government’s fault… … .
“Economic bankruptcy…? Explain it a little more clearly.”
“How did the French Revolution happen?”
“……? Suddenly the Great French Revolution?”
“I don’t know the details, but as a result, didn’t the farmers rise up because they had a hard time making a living? What I’m trying to do is the same. I’m going to take all of China’s industry. And if the reason is the Chinese government’s fault, of course I won’t rise up?”
“…”
Minseok was speechless.
“Well, let’s say it is. But do you know how difficult it is? And you don’t know what China is going to do.”
“Well, first of all, we can’t go to war as long as the US exists. And… I just said I’ll try something. It’s not like I’m risking everything. And if things go in that direction, we’re good too.”
“…… I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is there a way?”
“The method is already being prepared.”
“okay?”
“Yes. Ark. Manpower, China’s greatest weapon, we can take it away with Ark. People around the world will no longer use Chinese products.”
“That makes some sense.”
“Then people in China will lose their jobs and become poor.”
From noble mtl dot com
“Um… is that right? But there’s no guarantee that things will always go as planned.”
“hahahahaha, I know that much.”
It’s okay if things don’t go according to plan. Because what we’re trying to do now is to play tricks on China.
“So, is going to TSM now part of that plan?”
“… Um, to what extent?”
“How is this part of the plan?”
-Our aircraft will arrive at Taoyuan International Airport soon. Inform you once again. After a while our airliner… … .
An in-flight broadcast was played.
“Well, I’ll explain that later. Let’s get ready to get off.”
“Okay. I can roughly guess.”
“I’m landing.”
After a while, the plane landed safely, and we got off the plane and went straight to TSM.
When we arrived at the TSM headquarters, Chairman Wang personally greeted us.
“Oh, who is this? Teacher Lee Cheol-woo and representative Cha Min-seok? You have worked hard to come this far.”
He politely greeted us and greeted us.
‘… … . We were people like this. TSM, but it’s the best company in the world.’
With such thoughts in mind, we arrived at the meeting room he guided us to.
“I would like to greet you formally once again. I am Wang Quan, who is leading TSM. It is an honor to meet the distinguished guests of LF.”
“It’s an honor…”
“By the way, can we meet officially like this?”
When I was saying something strange, Minseok asked.
“What does that mean?”
“Oh, no. Everyone is busy, so I’ll just keep things simple. The reason we’ve come here is because of Soromin’s sale.”
When Minseok said the sale of Soromin came out of his mouth, Chairman Wang’s expression hardened a little.
“Yes. I heard. Soromin can be used to process semiconductors below 10 nm, right?”
“Yes. That’s right. If the process equipment is supported, it can be integrated without electromagnetic interference down to the 1nm process.”
“Wow…. It’s a really amazing material that can be integrated down to a process of 1nm or less.”
He expressed surprise, but there was no word that he would actively buy it.
“You’re stuck.”
In the meantime, I intervened.
“What are you talking about?”
“Isn’t it that the Chinese government got caught and couldn’t accept our offer?”
“…”
Possibly stabbed to the core, Chairman Wang was silent.
“Cheolwoo, if you say it too directly.”
“How about it, it’s true.”
“……. Yes. That’s right. It’s true. We’re in an awkward situation. Ohsung Electronics is using Soromin to beat us, but we have to notice the Chinese government, so it’s very difficult to accept the offer suddenly.”
“We’d like to make another offer, including Soromin.”
“What suggestions do you have?”
“I would like to order the processing processor ARM, which corresponds to the brain part of the arc, and various processors that go into the quantum interference antenna.”
Arc requires a small computer to run the NF network.
Originally, I was going to place an order with Ohsung Electronics, but I changed my mind. I definitely need to push TSM.
“……Ark’s ARM?”
“Yes. In addition to that, we also need quantum interference antennas to be installed in Ark’s industrial complex. I want to do two more requests.”
“From now on, I really want to make the power of the new era, the ARM of the Ark. But…”
he was speechless
It would be dangerous to offend the Chinese government with just this.
“Wait, could you hand over someone?”
As I said, Chairman Wang bit the people behind him. At the same time, Minseok also took over the secretaries who came along from our LF.
There were three of us in the conference room, Chairman Wang, and Minseok.
“There must be a reason why you came here yourself.”
Chairman Wang had a hunch that we must have another real reason.
“Yes. That’s right. You know the relationship between us and the Chinese government, right?”
“I know.”
There is probably no one in the world who doesn’t know. The fact that I uncovered China’s lies, and the fact that I developed Soromin and ruined rare earths.
The relationship between China and our LF is not good.
Furthermore, international relations between China and South Korea have deteriorated a lot.
“We will push TSM.”
“As I just said… the Chinese government…”
“What I am saying does not mean simply giving support. It means that we will spare no support in terms of technology and economics.”
“What do you mean?”
“A war without gunshots between our Republic of Korea and China is scheduled in the future. No, it may already be underway.”
“…”
Chairman Wang seemed to be worried.
“How long are you going to keep an eye on China?”
They couldn’t use their national flag at the Olympics, and they didn’t sit properly at official events.
The people of Taiwan had such sadness.
“Now is your chance to strike back.”
I gave President Wang a chance.