Chapter 41
future cars
When I was in college, a future car was my dream job.
A large company that is hard to dare to look up to with my specs.
I applied because the salary was high and the welfare benefits were good, but I failed the document review.
“This is how I come.”
Arriving at the headquarters of Future Motors, I looked up at the high-rise building.
To me in my 20s, joining the company itself would have seemed like having the whole world.
“Let’s go in.”
10 minutes before the appointment time, when I entered the lobby with the bodyguards, Jin Yoo-kyung was already there.
“Welcome.”
The staff at the information desk and the staff at the future car going to and from the lobby glanced at Jin Yu-kyung.
“Are you Jin Yoo-kyung, the managing director?”
“What’s the matter with you being greeted like that here?”
I could hear the staff whispering.
If the automobile of the future were the kingdom, Jin Yu-gyeong would be the princess of this place.
she said, standing upright.
“We cannot export data containing our company’s management information to the outside world. Can I just allow it to be read in the office?”
“good.”
Following Jin Yu-gyeong, I took the elevator to the 19th floor where the office was located.
Her private office was full of books and papers.
From the window, I could see Gangnam and the Gyeongbu Expressway.
Managing Director of the giant corporation Future Automobiles.
Although he made a lot of money, he wondered what it would be like to work in his office with a title like this.
“Here you are.”
I picked up the thick paper that Jin Yu-gyeong had given me.
It looked like it had been printed out as a document to prevent external leaks.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“yes. Mixed coffee, please.”
“Mixed coffee?”
“I got used to it because I drank a lot when I was traveling abroad.”
When I was tired from traveling, there was nothing like mixed coffee.
early in the morning or late at night.
On a day full of stars in the night sky, while camping, there is nothing that fills up sugar as well as mixed coffee.
Jin Yoo-gyeong boiled water and made coffee herself.
“thank you. Do you make your own coffee?”
“sure. I really don’t like having my secretary do it.”
It seems to say something sternly.
I took a sip of coffee, but there was too much water.
Anyway, I read the documents, and in Future Automobiles, Nikola was treated as a fraudulent company for various reasons.
It was famous not only for the actual demonstration of the vehicles that had been unveiled so far, but also for not allowing reporters or officials to get close.
It may be a paranoid reaction due to technology leaks, but the Badger hydrogen truck announced plans to launch immediately after the Tesla Cybertruck was revealed, innovative battery technology, and non-existent solar power facilities.
There were internal data that many of the technologies or plans disclosed by Nikola were judged to be bluffs.
The part where detailed technical data for the released vehicle was filled with mathematical formulas and detailed analysis unknown in the design data, so I skimmed through it.
Jin Yoo-gyeong sat in front of her and watched her until she handed over the last paperwork.
The way I look at my work very carefully.
‘Are you afraid I’ll steal documents or take pictures?’
I put the papers down on the table.
“Good read.”
Then Jin Yoo-gyeong, who had been in a daze and suddenly woke up, spoke.
“The transaction conditions related to the acquisition of the stake in Aurora must have been met with this, right?”
“Sure. It really helped me a lot.”
When identifying a company, the place you know best is the competitor.
There were quite a lot of data because they were judged based on the same industry and hydrogen technology.
In the meantime, Nikola’s stock has risen a lot.
Although it can rise further because it is a company that receives media attention and investors are interested in.
Not all startups that succeed in developing technology become successful.
Production and market dominance are completely different issues, and the rise so far has been enough.
It was time to stand up, having finished the business.
“Whew.”
gold spoon.
Jin Yoo-kyung, who was born with money and beauty, sighed.
“Did you know that I am 30 years old now?”
“I didn’t know.”
It was difficult to guess the woman’s age.
Originally, I’m kind of sluggish in that direction, but these days, cosmetics are coming out well, and I’ve been working hard on skin care.
“I’m 30 and I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“… … .”
“Do you have plans for the evening? Would you like to have a meal together? Drinks are fine too. I drink quite a bit.”
“I am busy.”
quickly declined.
If you don’t, you may be caught until late.
* * *
Jin Yoo-gyeong sent Kim Shin off to the lobby on the first floor and returned to her office.
With a sad heart somewhere.
In the office where he had been away for a while, a middle-aged gray-haired man was sitting on the sofa.
“father.”
“A guest has arrived.”
Myungil Jin.
My father, who took over as chairman of Mirae Motors three years ago.
A person who graduated from high school and college in the United States and is bringing about a major reform in the traditional chimney company, Future Auto.
“How did you know?”
“A report came from the secretaries. It’s not uncommon for you to meet me in the lobby.”
Although Jin Myeong-il had several sons, he cherished his only daughter.
A cute and lovable daughter from a young age. I have never been disappointed in my business.
“I told you to come because of what I reported to you before.”
“Aurora?”
“yes. My father said it was a company he really wanted to invest in.”
“It did. Our company’s research institute has established itself in the basic field of vehicle manufacturing compared to world-class companies, but it is a little lacking in creativity.”
Like all research institutes of large corporations, major technologies follow quickly, but the ability to create new things is lacking.
For that part, Jin Myeong-il was creating a new wind in future automobiles through mergers and acquisitions of start-ups.
“The person who owned Aurora was said to be Kim Shin.”
“You even know the name.”
“You should know about rich people like that in Korea.”
“I have a lot less money than my father.”
Even Jin Myeong-il’s wealth, which was revealed on the outside, is five times greater than Kim Shin’s, which was disclosed to the media.
A statement that took into consideration the slush funds accumulated over decades of business activities and overseas assets.
“Well. Although he may have less money than me.”
Jin Myeong-il laughed.
One of the various information that the group chairman knew, one of Nikola’s major shareholders was Asian.
Since it is an unlisted company, the share structure is not complicated, so I was able to guess to some extent.
‘If it’s the same person… … .’
Jin Myeong-il spoke without bringing out the thoughts he had in his heart.
“A deal?”
“I decided to sell half of my stake. I don’t think there will be any problem in forming a cooperative relationship with Auroa.”
“Right.”
As the chairman, I achieved satisfactory results this time as well, but as a father, I had a question.
“How close are you to him?”
“Are we meeting for business?”
“Aren’t you in touch privately?”
“yes. Not at all.”
Jin Yu-kyung already didn’t want to get his nose pierced by his father.
I asked to have a drink today, but I just walked out because I was busy.
“Even though I was young, I was divorced once.”
“It must be because I got married early. A man and a woman meet each other and if they don’t like each other, they can break up, right?”
“My parents aren’t here… … .”
“But you grew up feeling like that. Isn’t that even greater?”
I felt sorry for my daughter’s reaction.
When I saw men in the business world, they said they were boring or unlucky, but I didn’t expect to see them defending me diligently.
* * *
After leaving the future car, the next place I went to was Gwangmyeong.
The place where Biolife’s research center is located.
The research, which was done by renting several officetels, was moved to a large building on the outskirts intended to be used as a distribution center thanks to investments made over the past two years.
Security guards stood at the entrance, and researchers in white coats were busy running around the building.
“Janice.”
“ah. Kim Shin is here.”
I met a researcher who said he had been following Dr. Lee Ho-yeon from the United States.
“How about Dr. Lee Ho-yeon?”
“We are conducting various tests with the collected samples. May I call you?”
“no. I’m thinking of taking a look around the lab for a while.”
I didn’t want to interfere with my research.
It is not a general study, but a study on an infectious disease that is currently in vogue in China.
“Then let me guide you. Most of them are Level 3 containment facilities, so you can only enter them while wearing protective clothing. This is where we grow viruses for testing and molecular analysis. And this is a microbiology laboratory, with a scanning electron microscope room, a centrifuge, and more.”
I looked through the window from the hallway to the labs that Janice was guiding me to.
Two or three researchers were working on each machine.
“How about Dr. Lee Ho-yeon?”
“You are in the Infectious Disease Lab.”
Just looking around the lab a little bit, I could feel the spleen atmosphere of the researchers.
Even for Zenith, her face was pale and her eyes were bloodshot red.
“Does Dr. Lee Ho-yeon sleep while working?”
“After the outbreak of the infectious disease in China, I hardly slept. It should be of some help.”
“It must have been well over a month already.”
“Doctor, you won’t be able to sleep properly until we have a vaccine or a cure. I want to make sure you don’t have to go through the pain of losing your family. Because that’s who he is.”
I walked through the corridors of sectors A and B of the laboratory and looked around.
I don’t know anything about going in wearing protective clothing, but I feel like it’ll get in the way.
“It seems that a lot of personnel expansion has been done.”
“yes. Thanks to your active investment, we are replenishing equipment and personnel. Dr. Lee Ho-yeon is an authority on infectious diseases, so many people are gathering. Professor Paul Lesser also decided to come.”
“A professor at Johns Hopkins University?”
“yes. You came to support because this infection seems very serious. And the news broke two hours ago, and it is said that more than a dozen people infected with corona are continuing in Daegu.”
As the local infection in Daegu became serious, it is said that Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administrative agencies went into a frenzy.
Although there have been rare cases of confirmed cases in Korea due to an infectious disease that occurred in China, it is the first time that a large-scale local infection has occurred.
“I see.”
An investment of 20 billion in 2 years, an investment of 60 billion this time.
It’s a good job, but I didn’t have high expectations. And I thought that the cost of research might fly away for a little bit, but I reflected on it.
‘If everyone works hard like this, it won’t be a meaningless waste of money. Anything in the world would be helpful.’
bio life.
I was the largest shareholder in the company, and I was the one who could help right away.
The government can provide various types of support, but that requires procedures and time.
Biolife is not a company that has had a track record so far.
“What do you need right now?”
“There are a few more things we need equipment for. And I need a bed.”
“bed?”
“So that the researchers can sleep. Right now, I sleep in a small space with a single futon on top of each other.”
“okay.”
Prior to the investment, Biolife had been developing artificial intelligence.
We moved to a large building with labs and equipment, and researchers were eating and sleeping on blankets in the break room.
It is said that most of the 60 billion won invested this time was spent by purchasing equipment and signing rental contracts.
“I will make accommodations for researchers to stay right away.”
“Thank you.”
“And what else do you need?”
“It requires a lot of computer resources. The faster artificial intelligence can analyze more data, the faster it will develop a vaccine or treatment.”