Woosung met up with Lee Sunghyun at a hotel room.
“Thank you so much for your help. Things worked out well my company.” He bowed.
“It was nothing. It’s partly because your messenger is a great product. It has great security features too. It wasn’t hard to convince them to take your app.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem. If you keep up the good work and supply me with good info, I will make sure KND’s trading algorithm gets selected for the National Pension plan.” Lee Sunghyun looked confident.
Woosung replied. “I will do my best.”
“Anyway, today’s meeting isn’t formal so relax. It will just be two team leaders and us.”
“Alright.”
“Now, did you bring what I asked?”
Woosung pointed at his laptop. “Yes. It’s in here.”
“Sorry for asking to bring it, but there are a lot of people who are doubting your abilities.”
“Haha, no worries. It’s no trouble.”
While they chatted, two people came in one after another. They were the leaders of the marketing and political policy departments. They sat down and looked at Woosung with a strong sense of suspicion. The marketing team leader with frameless glasses pointed at Woosung and asked.
“Is this the guy?”
Lee Sunghyun introduced Woosung to them. “Yes. This is the leader of the digital media department. He will be responsible for analyzing and controlling the internet to our advantage.”
“Hello. I’m the CEO of KND. My name is Kang Woosung.”
“I’ve never heard of a company named KND. It must be very new?”
“Yes. It was created only a little while ago. It is a software development company.”
“Then you’re a computer programmer?”
“Yes, you could say that.”
“How old are you?” Marketing team leader Park Sukho already knew of Woosung from Lee Sunghyun, but he asked anyway.
“I’m 27.”
Lee Sunghyun defended Woosung. “He may be young, but he is very capable. He will be a great asset to us for the next year’s election.”
“I will take your word for it, but…”
It was clear he had difficulty accepting this situation. A young programmer…
Lee Sunghyun nodded to Woosung. Woosung opened his laptop and offered. “Let me show you what I have.”
“Alright.”
Woosung showed them his analysis of the upcoming election. He explained that based on the SNS, he could tell how the population and the media thought of each candidate. Currently, their own candidate wasn’t seen in the best light.
The two department leaders continued to frown. They didn’t like what they were hearing, thus they still felt like they couldn’t trust Woosung. Internet wasn’t something they’ve seen with the utmost importance and reliability in the political world.
Lee Sunghyun asked the two leaders. “What do you guys think?”
“This isn’t some school election. This is a national event. How can we trust ‘internet data?’ It’s no better than believing in gossip magazines.”
Woosung replied. “I believe in public opinion.”
“We all know that, but what people say anonymously on the internet doesn’t represent the general public’s opinion.”
“Your way of thinking is too old-fashioned. The Internet is the new way to go now. Everything can be found and done on the internet nowadays.”
An unprecedented tension filled the room. Lee Sunghyun looked at Woosung with interest.
Park Sukho reddened. “What did you say?”
“Even the American President Barack Obama believed in internet data. I am trying to help you here.”
Lee Sunghyun continued to watch without a word. Park Sukho felt he couldn’t lose this fight, so he argued back.
“This isn’t America. Korean people think differently than Americans. You can’t apply what worked in the US to Korea.”
Woosung retorted with wit. “So based on your logic, we shouldn’t bring American technology to Korea either. American technology wouldn’t suit Korea.”
Park Sukho glanced at Lee Sunghyun. He wanted help, but Lee Sunghyun remained silent and neutral.
Park Sukho looked at Woosung and said, “Business is different than politics. Politics is about gaining people’s heart, while business is about making money.”
“Business also involves gaining the customers’ hearts. That’s the best way to make money.”
Lee Sunghyun planned on not getting involved. He wanted them to resolve the differences by themselves. Park Sukho sighed.
“Hmm…”
These were people he had to work with.
Woosung tried to lighten the mood by compromising. “Please consider my data just as a piece of supplementary information for now. Once I’ve proven myself, then you can take it more seriously.”
Finally, Lee Sunghyun stepped in. “Haha, sounds reasonable. Let’s start with that.”
The meeting ended.
Lee Sunghyun talked to Woosung in private. “Haha, you were impressive today.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
“Please do your best for this team.”
“Of course. Anything involving you is always my priority.”
“I am happy to hear that.”
Woosung offered. “Anytime you need me, please let me know.”
“You sound like a true businessman. You are looking to trade?”
Woosung lowered his voice. “Haha, I can’t hide anything from you. Well, I am planning to get involved in the communication business.”
“Are you talking about MVNO?”
MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) was a wireless communication service provider that did not own the wireless network infrastructure over which it provided services to its customers.
Woosung replied. “No, I am referring to becoming the fourth mobile carrier. Currently, three companies control the entire industry in Korea. I would like to be the fourth one.”
“…pardon?”
“My smartphone manufacturing is coming along nicely. The apps for the phone are also being developed. If I can become the carrier, it would complete the picture. Do you blame me for wanting this?”
Lee Sunghyun’s eyes widened. It didn’t seem like Woosung was joking. “It’s a huge risk. You could lose a lot of money every year for a long time until you make it. That’s why not many attempted it.”
“I am ok with the risks.”
Lee Sunghyun was shocked. “…pardon?”
“I know the risks very well. This will be also beneficial for you. Didn’t the current president promised to lower the communication cost down this term?”
It was indeed one of the promises of President Lee Parksung. He swore to decrease the cost by 20%. However, this was almost impossible when the three carriers monopolized the business.
“You are more ambitious than I thought.”
“Shouldn’t I? Don’t you have a big dream too?”
Lee Sunghyun kept his voice. Woosung looked at him with anxious eyes. Before this meeting, he thought hard about asking this question.
Woosung already got a lot out of Lee Sunghyun. He got the government deals for Coconut and most likely the algorithm as well. Should he risk his relationship with Lee Sunghyun for an even bigger deal?
In the end, Woosung decided it was worth it.
If he wanted to destroy Choi Gichul and Daeyang, he needed to become big.
There were a few who attempted to become the fourth carrier, but they all failed, even in 2018. Woosung felt that with his knowledge of the future, he could do it. Woosung asked Lee Sunghyun. “Don’t you think your new world should include new people?”
Lee Sunghyun remained silent.
Woosung continued. “You don’t have to answer me right now. I am always ready, so please contact me when you know.”
Lee Sunghyun was reluctant but he gave a nod in response.
As soon as he got into his car, Woosung called Jang Gwangchul.
“I asked him. He didn’t react much.”
“It won’t be easy.”
“But possible.”
“But we are a start-up company. We haven’t completed Coconut service nor the smartphone. We have only a minimal profit from the algorithm trading system so far. I realized expanding is important, but creating a solid foundation is also necessary.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
“And even if we become one of the carriers, will the customers use our service? If they don’t, do you realize how much money it will take to maintain the business?”
“I have enough money. You don’t have to worry about that. Didn’t I tell you that I made a lot of money during the financial crisis?”
Jang Gwangchul stopped nagging Woosung. The call ended soon after.
