Sail across the sea

Chapter 458 The smell of conspiracy

The person in charge of the Korean Kwangjin Semiconductor exhibition group was the company's vice president, Choi Kyung-ran, a vigorous man who had just turned 40. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and had a somewhat refined appearance.

Choi Kyung-ran graduated from a prestigious university in South Korea and later studied business administration in the United States. After returning to South Korea, he joined the newly established Guangchen Semiconductor Company, working in planning.

As the company grew from a small workshop with a dozen or so people into a multi-billion dollar enterprise, Cui Jingran was promoted from a junior employee to the company's vice president, responsible for the company's overall strategic planning and market operations.

The 70s and 80s were a period of economic prosperity for South Korea. The entire nation was full of confidence and passion, hoping to replace Japan in Asia within this century, and then spend more than a decade surpassing the United States. At that time, the world would no longer have room for the restless hearts of the Koreans.

As a former small-town elite and now a senior executive at a major company, Choi Kyung-ran has even greater ideals than other Koreans and firmly believes that he is the wisest person in society.

What troubled him was that there were too many mediocre people around him, including the chaebols and politicians who controlled social power. They were all extremely short-sighted and unable to understand the grand narrative in his mind. He longed for an opportunity for change and fantasized about becoming a hero who could drive South Korea's rise.

Upon hearing from his subordinates that a Chinese man had arrived and specifically requested to discuss important matters with him, Cui Jingran took it very seriously and immediately came out from his booth to greet Gao Fan with a handshake.

After exchanging names and positions, Cui Jingran said, "Mr. Gao, you just said you wanted to discuss something important with me that concerns the future of our company. I wonder what it is. If you don't mind, could we sit down and talk?"

At this point, he gestured to Gao Fan, inviting him to sit down at his booth.

Gao Fan shook his head and said, "President Cui, what I want to discuss with you is a bit sensitive, and it's not appropriate to talk about it in this setting. It's almost closing time now, could I invite President Cui to have a cup of coffee outside the conference center? I know there's a very nice coffee shop not far from the center."

“Of course.” Cui Jingran didn’t stand on ceremony. “Please wait a moment, I’ll give you some instructions and then we’ll go together.”

A short while later, the two left the conference center together. They walked a short distance and arrived at the coffee shop Gao Fan had mentioned. They found a window seat, each ordered a coffee, and then got down to business.

"Thank you very much, President Cui, for agreeing to have coffee with me," Gao Fan said politely.

“I’ve always been very interested in China, and you’re the first Chinese person I’ve met, so I’m very happy to have the opportunity to have coffee with you,” Cui Jingran said.

Gao Fan smiled and said, "Thank you, President Cui. I wonder if President Cui is interested in Chinese people, or in all of China?"

"I think it's a combination of both."

"It seems I guessed it right."

What did you guess?

"I suspect that Guangchen Semiconductor's ability to grow into one of the top three semiconductor manufacturers in South Korea in just over a decade must be due to a visionary leader."

"I think you must be referring to our president, Mr. Park Ji-hoon."

"I have no doubt about President Park's vision and foresight, and I would like to congratulate President Park on having an excellent deputy who can match his vision and foresight."

"Thank you for your praise, Mr. Gao. I am truly unworthy of it."

Although he knew Gao Fan was just flattering him, Cui Jingran couldn't suppress the smugness in his eyes. After a few perfunctory words of modesty, Cui Jingran asked:
"Mr. Gao, if I'm not mistaken, you've asked to meet with me to discuss some matters related to inter-company cooperation. I'd like to know, what makes you think this is a matter concerning the future of Guangchen Semiconductor?"

Gao Fan said, "It's very simple. I know that Guangchen Semiconductor's competitors are Japanese companies, and if South Korea wants to challenge Japan, it must first have an ally like China." "An ally?" Cui Jingran was a little surprised. "How could China become South Korea's ally? Our two countries haven't even established diplomatic relations yet."

“It’s just a matter of time,” Gao Fan said. “China and the United States have already established diplomatic relations. As an ally of the United States, what reason does South Korea have not to establish diplomatic relations with China? There are only some historical issues between us that have not yet been resolved, but I believe that the day when these issues are resolved should be soon.”

Cui Jingran nodded, indicating his agreement with Gao Fan's assessment. As a senior executive responsible for corporate strategy, he naturally paid close attention to political issues and could see that Sino-Korean relations were easing, and that establishing diplomatic relations was indeed only a matter of time.

"Even if China and South Korea establish diplomatic relations, Japan and South Korea established diplomatic relations even earlier. What makes you think that South Korea would join forces with China to confront Japan?" Choi Kyung-ran posed another question.

"Does President Choi not want South Korea to surpass Japan?" Gao Fan countered.

Cui Jingran was speechless for a moment. He felt he should give a negative answer, but after opening his mouth, he ultimately didn't say anything.

Gao Fan's question hit Cui Jingran right where it hurts, making him feel like he'd been seen through.

Indeed, Choi Kyung-ran's ideal is for South Korea to surpass Japan. He has even mentioned this grand vision in company meetings more than once, and his colleagues have repeatedly agreed with it.

Incidentally, Choi Kyung-ran has another ideal that he hasn't told anyone yet: to one day make South Korea surpass the United States, at which point he can order the US ambassador to South Korea to kneel before the Taegeukgi flag.

It must be said that every South Korean harbors a dream of becoming a global superpower.

But can you say such a thing in front of a Chinese person?

"President Cui, I'd like to inquire about the country from which your company imports the photoresist used in manufacturing integrated circuits?" Gao Fan asked.

"The photoresist we use is mainly imported from Japan, with a small amount also coming from the United States and Germany," Cui Jingran replied. This wasn't exactly a trade secret; he could tell Gao Fan that.

Gao Fan then asked, "So, why doesn't your company use photoresist produced in South Korea?"

"South Korea produces its own photoresist?" Choi Kyung-yeon was taken aback. "Our country doesn't produce photoresist."

"Why not produce them?" Gao Fan pressed.

“This… doesn’t seem to be a problem, does it?” Choi Kyung-ran hesitated. “Industrial division of labor is very common in the international market. Japanese companies have a deep accumulation in semiconductor chemicals. There is absolutely no need for South Korea to start a separate system.”

"Doesn't President Cui sense that there's a hint of conspiracy in this?"

Gao Fan asked with a smile.

"conspiracy?"

Cui Jingran's expression began to turn serious, and he vaguely realized something.

(End of this chapter)