126 : Glory of Entrepreneur
“Chief Wu, now that this has happened, let’s raise more docks.”
“It should be. So, could you lend me a pile? I think we should drive the stakes tightly this way.”
If you compact the ground excessively with crushed stone piles, the groundwater will not burst.
“Yes, it is. We still had room for one pile.”
“thank you. I felt a lot of equipment at that time.”
“I decided to take charge of the Gyeongbu Expressway, so I brought in heavy equipment cheaply without customs duties.”
“Good job. Gyeongbu Expressway is amazing.”
In the original history, Hyeonsan took on most of the difficult sections of the Gyeongbu Expressway. It was also to satisfy Chairman Wang’s greed for equipment.
“Please come in at the Blue House at the end of this month when the National Land Development Expansion Meeting is held. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in February, but the total project cost has not yet been specified.”
“I haven’t even decided on the total project cost, but are you holding a groundbreaking ceremony?”
It’s absurd, but in this day and age, it’s possible.
Isn’t it something the management of Korea Corporation is pushing forward with willpower?
Besides, I voted yes.
The president must have played a part in solidifying his decision.
“First of all, Hyunsan Construction spent 28 billion won for the total project cost. Of course, President Wu will say that it will cost more this time, right?”
“sure. At least 100 million per km, which will cost a total of 43 billion. That is the minimum cost of taking a loss.”
“Oh, the construction cost of 43 billion won is out of the question. The U.S. rejected the loan, so everyone had to do it internally, but where would that money come from?”
Well, I don’t need to add anything else.
The Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Finance, and the Army Corps of Engineers are all fighting over the total project cost.
Since it is called the largest civil engineering project since Dangun, no one has experienced it, so calculating the project cost cannot be easy.
In the end, the Gyeongbu Expressway started with a total project cost of 33 billion won and repeatedly increased to 43 billion won when completed.
That is the money spent on the first completion, and after that, nearly 90 billion won will be used for repair work.
It would be said that it is an idea that once the road is broken, it can be repaired and used.
Some would say it was a construction work, but in the end, it can be said that Korea is the only reason why the highway was successful among developing countries in the world.
I drilled it out at the lowest price, and then I made up for a significant portion of the repair costs with tolls.
In a way, it is similar to my strategy of building a shipyard and building a ship at the same time. This is because ship contracts and interim payments make up for shipyard construction costs.
“There is no other way for me to help Hyunsan, so please call me when negotiating with Galp. We will be able to cut the cost of asphalt by 10%.”
“Oh, then you can calculate it at 2,700 won per drum. Haha, thank you.”
President Wang fixed the unit price altogether.
Among highway material costs, the largest ones are gasoline, diesel, asphalt, and cement.
In other words, the cost of asphalt will be about 1 billion, so if I help, I will save about 100 million.
It wasn’t difficult to pressure Galp to cut the factory price of asphalt.
If our mainstream chemistry doesn’t provide a good catalyst for Galp, it’s going to be very difficult.
Besides, I know for sure that Galf has an inconvenient stock of Asphalt.
To be honest, I would lay highways with cement rather than asphalt with large trucks in mind, but the government will never agree.
Before the current oil shock, asphalt is so cheap that cement is incomparably cheaper.
“Anyway, with a total construction cost of 28 billion won, it will be difficult to escape the deficit just by saving some material costs.”
“I know. Considering bridges and tunnels, even 100 million won per kilometer will not be enough. However, once you start with the construction, you can pick up the budget gradually. Construction companies need work to make a living.”
This was also an idea worthy of President Wang.
“If that is the case, when you sign a contract with the government, include a condition that the cost of repairs be settled separately. Even then, you have to make some profit.”
“… the cost of repairs… I hadn’t thought about it until then, but that’s a really good idea. I can confidently say that I can do it with 28 billion. haha.”
With this level of guts, President Wang would get along well with the President.
It was even better because I felt a little more comfortable.
If I win the highway project, Hyeonsan will naturally be in charge of the Soyanggang Dam project, so I can focus on Joseon. It is a good thing not only for Daese and Hyeonsan, but also for the country as a whole.
“You probably won’t have enough time to sort this out, but I’ve been talking for a long time. Then see you next time.”
“You’re here, but you need to eat. Our on-site soup is really delicious. I bet you.”
“Ah, can I? I’m hungry, but…”
“Hey, everyone, let’s go eat!!”
“Wow! Let’s go eat.”
The employees, who had been scattered here and there warming themselves up with a bonfire in a drum, hurriedly headed to the Hamba restaurant when the topic of breakfast came up.
Daese, Hyunsan, and Dorim employees mingled with each other and noisily ate breakfast together, saying that their food was better, and that their worksite was several times more difficult than here.
When entering the Middle East, it would be okay to discuss strategies with at least these two companies.
There is no reason to compete to lose weight because there is so much work anyway, and it will help each other even when consortiums are considered.
**
a few days later,
“Chief Dan, please make the quay on the shore side of the drainage channel thicker. That way, the T-shaped dock will be safe.”
“Yes, I understand. president. By the way, are there other T-shaped docks like this?”
“It can’t be. We are the first.”
I completely changed the design design of the 2nd dock, where the eastern large wall had been extended, to a T shape.
It was a design that increased dock turnover by pre-building parts of other ships on both sides of the main dock.
When the finished ship is pulled out of the main dock, the partially built ship is moved to the main dock to build the ship, like pushing a bullet into a chamber.
The dock construction period will be slightly longer, but the work is much easier when building a ship, so the delivery of the tanker will not be delayed.
If done properly, a 260,000-ton oil tanker could be built one after another from the second dock.
“A design in which a mother pig is holding her young, who else would think of this if not the boss? You are so amazing.”
I imagined chambers and bullets, mother pigs and piglets… somehow, even the metaphor was 60’s.
In any case, I was a bit embarrassed to hear such compliments for just moving the 21st century technology.
“If the situation was this way, anyone could think. Have you driven all the stakes before that?”
“Yes, it was packed so tightly that there was no room for more. To be honest, at first I wanted to do it all at once, but I’m proud when I did it.”
Deputy Director Dan bulged his shoulders and was proud. It looked great to me.
Even if the groundwater was rushing in, it looked as if it would turn around when it saw the piles of crushed stone stuck in innumerable places.
“Did the safety team accompany you when driving the piles?”
Although there has been a dedicated safety team, the work it has been doing has been at a general level of checking whether employees wear safety helmets or wear safety belts on site.
However, starting with this underground water accident, the work regulations were changed in such a way that the safety team certifies the workplace itself. Even in case of an unexpected emergency, an emergency contact network was established.
“Yes, it is certified by the safety team. In addition, emergency sirens were installed at each site, an in-house fire department and medical staff were newly established, and compensation provisions were prepared for employees who report various risk factors in advance.”
Well, you did a good job following up as I instructed.
Safety needs to be continuously improved.
I was really lucky this time. When the sky gives a warning like this, you have to do well.
“Good job. It seems that the gravel was poured so much in Dock 1 to drive a lot of crushed stone piles. good work.”
He patted the shoulder of Deputy Director Dan Chung-gi, who must have been very surprised by this incident.
“Boss, another 50-ton block has been sent from Yeongdo, Busan. I wonder if it’s time to put them in my dock one by one and assemble them. A crane has to come to do that…”
“Of course it should. Ask the West German company to stock it quickly. If you whine about changing the specs, we’ll discuss the technology, so you can ask them to come in.”
“All right. I will call you right away.”Read at noblemtl
Judging from the nuances you speak, it seems that business cooperation with the West German crane company is not going well.
The reason, of course, is because I raised the maximum weight to 1000 tons.
When they said they would raise the price of equipment introduction, the management would have said they would do it, and the working-level engineers below must have been whining about the difficulty. It was obvious.
“And, this is the phone memo from this morning.”
“Oh yeah?”
Deputy manager Dan was also acting as my secretary at the site.
「Receptionist: Chairman of Daesae Group.
I have a request for a business meeting from Cooper-McDonald’s. Please provide work instructions.
-Chief of Staff, Bill Bain”
How did McDonald’s contact you so quickly?
It seems that it was urgent.
I went straight to the office and called.
***
follow.
＜This is the secretariat of Daesae Group.＞
Bill Bain always referred to the trend as a group, and also used the honorific title of chairman for me.
Well, I’m not familiar with the word group yet, but sooner or later everyone will use the words chaebol or group, starting with the Federation of Korean Industries.
“I am.”
＜Ah, Chairman.＞
“McDonald’s wants to see me?”
＜Yes, he said he wanted to deliver M16s to the Korean government and needed to see the boss. He said he was introduced to the boss by a high-ranking general in Quy Nhon.＞
It’s like an arms dealer.
He didn’t even try to hide his behind-the-scenes contact.
“The people I asked for are correct, but I don’t think meeting them in person is a good idea. I’d rather pass the ball to the government. Let go of the bridge with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.”
＜If it is the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is it Vice Minister Yum Won-cheol?＞
“Yes. By the way, when you connect him, he informs you that McDonald’s M16 copyright expires in the first half of the year, and tells him to hit the price.”
＜I know what you mean.＞
The defense industry is by no means an easy market, so you should never rush into it.
This is because the defense industry, by its very nature, is traded in a political market.
No matter how good my technology or price competitiveness is, there are not many customers who will use products from latecomers.
Who would buy anything related to national security just because it was cheap? My body armor and bulletproof helmet are also said to be used by the US Army, so the Jordanian army says they will use them.
In particular, no matter how small a rifle is, the production of weapons involves enormous fixed costs such as high quality costs, advanced processing machines, instruments, and skilled technicians.
In order to offset that, produce in-house, and eventually build up performance until it can enter the international market, government support as well as other forms of profit generation must be guaranteed.
In other words, it is crazy to do defense industry in South Korea, an underdeveloped country in the 1960s, without political benefits that can be called preferential treatment.
If they survive until the 21st century, they will become the goose that lays golden eggs.
“If the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shows signs of giving political consideration, then connect with me.”
＜Yes, I understand. However, it seems to be somewhat different from the business strategy of the president so far. May I ask why you are hesitant to expand your business?＞
“The defense industry is always in the red. This is Korea, not America.”
＜Ah, I got it. Sorry.＞
It seems that Bill Bain felt sorry for making him compare Korea and the United States.
No matter how much I come from the 21st century, it is not easy to seek exports in the defense industry.
To be honest, Livanos, who buys tankers from me, also hears the madman in the industry, so where is the government that will buy a warship first?
In the end, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will naturally want to produce the M16 domestically when it deals with McDonald’s.
At that time, my strategy is to ask for preferential treatment in the direction of profit when they call me.
Through my past lives, I know better than anyone else that the best virtue as a president is to maintain a profitable company.
People who break the bowls of employees for any other good cause do not dare to be called managers.
The value of my existence comes not from obeying the orders of those in power, but from the food bowls of my employees.
I simply gave instructions to Bill Bain and calmly waited until the Ministry of Commerce and Industry contacted me.
***
a few days later,
“Sir, a guest has come to the office. They said they came from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.”
“Oh yeah? I’ll be there soon.”
As I was inspecting the scene, an office worker came running.
Well, yes. The time has come for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to come.
“Oh, Mr. Woo. Long time no see.”
“Vice Minister Yeom, a busy person came all the way to Ulsan. What are you doing?”
I pretended to pretend and met Vice Minister Yeom.
“Oh, why are you like that? between us I want to be upset. You told me about the M16 sales plan and pretended you didn’t know.”
“Ah, that’s it. This is a company I came across by chance while I was in Quy Nhon. The President mentioned the defense industry and sent it to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. How was it helpful?”
“Is it just helpful? They cut the selling price by 30% in a 10-year contract. In addition, we even signed a special contract that the president would be very happy with.”
“You signed a special contract?”
“Yes. McDonald’s said they couldn’t provide a license for the finished product, but they could give a license for parts. I would have found this because I wanted to be able to do it.”
“I do not know. Is there any reason why I should? I think it’s okay for other companies to do it.”
“No, why is that? This is the national defense industry. It is a great honor to take on such a business.”
Vice Minister Yeom was startled.
If I don’t do it, there’s no one to do it, right?
Korea is still a barren land for precision machinery.
It is an honor for a businessman to have money left over.
I wonder if there will be money left even if I complete the M16, but how many parts will I be able to make a profit?
“It’s an honor, but it’s too small for the general public.”
“You mean… your sales are small?”
“Yes, if you consider labor costs and facility investment, there will be no such deficit. You need to find an existing company, or give the general public some motivation to invest in the machinery industry.”
“As expected, President Woo is always unexpected. I am very fortunate that I ran before reporting to the Blue House. Please tell me. What do you mean by motivation?”
Yeom Won-cheol, Vice Minister Yeom Won-cheol, took out his notebook and held it up as if he were going to transcribe my words.