95.
The outsourcing of our Karma vaccine was just as complex and nuanced.
The U.S. would be free to produce and distribute it on their own, almost as a licensed production, limited to North America.
Of course, it’s limited to the region, and the selling price is under our control, so there are a lot of restrictions, but it’s a huge benefit compared to outsourced production in other regions.
It’s only because it’s the United States that they’re doing it, and no other country would do it.
Other countries?
They’re all going to be outsourced.
That means they’re strictly producing our vaccine on our behalf, and we own it, and we have full control over distribution and sales.
Of course, the producing countries will have a stable supply of vaccines to inoculate their citizens, at least initially, and there will be some economic benefits as well.
However, in a world where vaccines are considered a strategic commodity, even this is a big deal.
Let’s take India, for example, which is obviously going to take the production rights, given its production base and everything.
If India gets the South Asian production rights, then its neighbor, Pakistan, has to get its vaccines from India.
The problem is that India and Pakistan are bitter enemies.
Even last year, in 2019, they fought a dogfight with fighter jets.
It’s a terrible situation for Pakistan to have to source vaccines from such an intractable enemy.
This is why I say it’s complex and nuanced.
“Ha, that’s a real problem.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Well, let’s just decide on that, because we’re going to get criticized for dragging our feet.”
“Even if we don’t, we will.”
“You have a rough idea, right?”
“Yeah, basically, you can only take so many countries because you have to have a production base even if you want to take production rights.”
“Explain that.”
“Well, first of all, East Asia and Oceania we produce ourselves. We have such a strong production base that we can afford it all.”
That’s right, Sasung Bio’s three factories alone rank first in the world in terms of production capacity.
There are many other companies, including TK Bio, that produce original generics, biosimilars, and contract manufacturing for multinational pharmaceutical companies.
“And then there’s Russia and China. China has their own quadrivalent vaccine, and Russia has something they’ve developed in the past for MERS, so they’re close to finalizing a vaccine based on an adenovirus vector.”
“Oh, so Russia is pretty good?”
“hahahahaha, yes, they are. They’re actually probably the fastest to a proper vaccine aside from us, and South Asia, of course, is India.”
“We’ll have to make sure that India and Pakistan are properly supplied.”
“Yes, Mr. President, and I think we can tear Europe apart, and then South America, Africa, and the Middle East, wherever we have a production base.”
Africa?
Do you have any production facilities in Africa?
“Does Africa have a production base? It’s a region with very few developing countries?”
“There are facilities, but there are only a few places that can synthesize, but I know that Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa are pretty good, so I’m thinking about those. Well, I don’t think about other countries. Honestly, even if I give them a vaccine, I don’t know if they will be able to inoculate properly, but it’s Africa. We can’t help Africa, Mr. Chairman.”
“I see.”
“Yes, it is.”
Poor Africa.
Still, we should try to care about them.
They’re human beings just like us.
Even if we can’t save them all.
“Whatever you do, pick a few and get it over with. Don’t even think about the politics of a neighborhood that has nothing to do with us.”
“Yes, sir.”
This is too good to be true.
Anyway, South Korea and the United States began vaccination at the same time, becoming the envy of the world.
The vaccination started with the elderly, who are classified as high-risk people over the age of 70, and it went smoothly because the CDC had prepared thoroughly in advance.
The United States, the world’s strongest country, also made thorough preparations—.
It can’t be, right?
What I felt while living as a permanent resident in the United States.
It’s a big country, so the system is surprisingly bad.
However, this was a bit too much.
Unlike Korea, where the vaccination process goes smoothly, I couldn’t help but be open-mouthed about how bad it was.
It was cute that the vaccine was lost, but it wasn’t like there were protests and uproar because the vaccinees weren’t selected properly.
“Is this the most powerful country in the world?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, this is America. Kkkkkk!”
From nob le mt l. co m
Jeffrey, who had seen a lot of America over the years, didn’t seem too surprised.
“No, but it is, isn’t it? This is too much, isn’t it like Africa?”
“Did you still have some kind of fantasy about America, come on, you amateur?”
“…”
Do I have to listen to Jeffrey’s old man gag?
In the end, I liked my country.
The first week of August, after the chaos had settled down and the U.S. vaccination was going relatively smoothly.
“Boss, I have a report for you.”
“Oh, John. What’s going on?”
“Well, this one’s a little wacky, but—. I’ve been contacted by the Japanese Embassy in the United States.”
“Huh? The Japanese Embassy? Why the Japanese Embassy?”
“Well, that’s an area I have no way of knowing about, so why not make it obvious?”
“…”
Surely there’s only one reason the Japanese kids would want to see me.
The vaccine.
Many countries wanted to see me, knowing that Karma Holdings of Korea is a 100% investment of Karma Investments of the United States, but I drew a line in the sand through a company spokesperson.
I told them that the South Korean government and Karma Holdings Korea were solely in charge of the vaccine issue and that they should talk to them.
Of course, it’s a bunch of bullsh*t that they’re blindfolded by, but I was so forceful that they had to give up.
They continued to try to contact me through the sideline, but when I threatened to put the vaccine supply on the back burner if they continued to do so, they stopped.
And the Japanese Embassy wants to see me?
Did these gentlemen understand my blackmail as real blackmail?
“What can I do? The boss says the Japanese ambassador to the United States wants to see you any time he wants?”
“Did he tell you our policy?”
“Yes, I told him that any country trying to make direct contact with us, to the exclusion of South Korea, of course, might be pushed back in the vaccine supply, but—.”
“But?”
“Then he asked me to be sure to convey this to my boss. He said that he would like to discuss the vaccine as well as the current issues between Japan and South Korea.”
“What do you mean, why are you talking about bilateral issues with me? Shouldn’t you be talking to the Korean government?”
“Boss, may I tell you what I said?”
“Feel free, there’s nothing between us—.”
“Honestly, I don’t know much about Japan-Korea relations. But I do know that it’s historically complicated.”
“…”
It is complicated.
Very, very complicated.
It’s a country so close and so far away.
“But just in general, it’s surprising how many times business people step in and solve things that are difficult to discuss officially between governments. If you look at it that way, why don’t we discuss the current Japan-South Korea issue together to get a vaccine? Like, if you give the South Korean government a vaccine officially, we’ll make concessions on this and that, we can’t say the same thing, but we can say it to your boss, who is a private citizen.”
“Hmmm—.”
“Don’t just say no, but I think you should talk to the Korean government first, and that’s it, that’s all from an American citizen.”
“Fuhahahahaha!”
“Hmph.”
From nob le mt l. co m
John, the American citizen, had a point.
It’s not up to me to decide.
I immediately called Mr. Nam Jeong-won and told him about the situation and asked him to ask our government.
Then, that evening.
Tiri-ring! Ti-ri-ring!
It’s Mr. Nam’s phone.
“Oh, Mr. Nam.”
– “Yes, Mr. Chairman. You’re not sleeping, are you?
“hahahaha, I don’t sleep that early. It’s not even 10 o’clock yet, is it?”
– Good, then. I relayed the situation to the government as instructed by the chairman. Then I got a call a little while ago.
“What?”
“A VIP wants to talk to you on video, and he asked me what your security is like, and I told him it’s probably better than the Blue House, and he said he’d like to connect in 30 minutes. What do you want me to do?”
I had a fully secured video conferencing system at home, the same system as the company.
But a VIP in person?
You get the picture.
“Yes, let’s set up a connection in exactly 30 minutes. We’ll have someone on our end set up the connection, and you can have your security contact them.”
– Okay.
Exactly 30 minutes later, I was connected to the president via video.
“hahahahaha, Mr. Kang. I’m sorry, it must be late at night in LA.”
“No, Mr. President. I usually go to bed by 12:00. I apologize if it’s too early for you.”
“Oh well, you’re welcome. Anyway, I heard President Kang’s words late last night. The Japanese ambassador to the United States wants to see the chairman?”
“Yes, that’s right. As you may have heard, I’m strictly avoiding contact with the U.S. about the vaccine, and I’ve warned them that they’ll be penalized in the vaccine supply if they try to contact me.”
“Yes, I am aware of that.”
“And yet, you’re jumping at the chance to discuss Korea-Japan issues, which puts me in a bit of a bind. I’m just a civilian, aren’t I?”
“hahahaha, no, it’s not uncommon for a prominent civilian to step in and untangle a diplomatic tangle, so it’s not that unusual.”
“Hmmm—.”
The President echoed John’s sentiment.
“So, Mr. President, what do you want me to do?”
“We’ve been discussing the matter with our officials all night.”
Apparently, the president’s complexion was so sullen, they’d been up all night discussing the issue.
Apparently, being a president and being a government official is a tiring job.
“What was the conclusion?”
“We, the government of the Republic of Korea, would like you, Mr. Kang, to meet with the Japanese Ambassador to the United States in person.”
“What? You want me to meet with the Japanese ambassador to the United States? No, Mr. President, I’m just a private investor, a private citizen. What do you think I have to say to the Japanese ambassador?”
“Don’t put any pressure on yourself, why don’t you meet with him and see what he has to say? Our guess is that the Japanese ambassador is just a messenger.”
“What do you mean, a messenger?”
“The Japanese Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Shinsuke Sugiyama, is the highest ranking professional diplomat in Japan, but he’s not the kind of person who can negotiate this kind of thing with full authority. He’s just a diplomat.”
“Then?”
“He’ll probably ask to see Prime Minister Abe.”
“What? Abe?”
No, Abe?
I’m a little confused.