Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2612 We can pay a blood tax! (First update, please subscribe)
South Korea as a member of the free trade zone is a completely different country from the South Korea of ​​today!

After Kim Young-chul finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Park Jung-woong, sitting in his leather swivel chair, seemed to be deep in thought, leaving the room in complete silence.

The wind and rain blowing from the Han River, carrying the freshness of spring, pattered against the windows of the Blue House office, creating ripples on the glass.

Rain pattered against the window, making a faint sound. Park Jung-woong looked at Kim Young-chul in front of him, and then his gaze involuntarily fell on the desk.

There were more than a dozen confidential documents spread out on the table, one of which was titled "Feasibility Analysis of South Korea's Accession to the Nanyang Free Trade Area".

Joining the Nanyang Free Trade Area

Park Jung-woong turned his gaze to the window, his eyes falling on the trees battered by the wind and rain outside. As he watched the branches swaying in the storm, and the tender new shoots sprouting from the branches, what was on his mind?
It is South Korea itself.

South Korea is like a branch swaying in the wind and rain, without roots or duckweed, facing external security risks, internal pressure to grow its economy, and fierce competition.

In this environment, how can South Korea get out of its predicament?

His brows furrowed slightly, and his fingers tapped the armrest unconsciously, making a rhythmic, soft sound.

Kim Young-chul sat on the soft chair opposite him, a cup of still-warm coffee in front of him, his expression solemn yet somewhat indifferent.

As Park Chung-woong's most trusted chief of economic staff, Kim Young-chol understood better than anyone what joining the Namyang Free Trade Area meant for South Korea today.

That is why he has always advocated joining the Nanyang Free Trade Area!

Influenced by him, Park Jung-woong also had the same idea.

"Yongzhe, tell me again, how much of a boost will it bring to our economy once we successfully join?"

Park Jung-woong slowly turned his gaze, his voice deep and powerful, his eyes filled with an almost yearning anticipation as he looked at Kim Young-chul.

Kim Young-chul leaned forward slightly, his tone calm yet tinged with anticipation:
"Mr. President, this will be a groundbreaking opportunity."

As you can see, the core advantage of a free trade zone is that there are no trade quotas or tariff barriers.

Our textile, electronics, machinery manufacturing, and even shipbuilding and automobile manufacturing industries have built a considerable foundation in recent years, but they are constrained in the Southeast Asian market due to tariffs and quota restrictions.

Once we join the Nanyang Free Trade Area, our goods will be able to enter member countries' markets at a lower cost. This will not only further stimulate our domestic manufacturing sector, but we also have the advantage of low wages. Under the integrated market advantages of the free trade area, South Korea's attractiveness to international capital will naturally exceed that of the original member countries. This will attract a large influx of foreign investment, which will not only provide more jobs but also bring new technologies, thus solving the problems of employment and technological upgrading.

He paused, looked at the thoughtful president, and said:
"The experience of the Nanyang Free Trade Zone has proven this point. The free flow of goods among the Nanyang countries has greatly promoted economic prosperity in the region."

Moreover, the free trade zone has reached consensus with the United States and Europe on many trade issues through comprehensive trade negotiations, thereby ensuring the prosperity of trade.

In international trade, South Korea has no bargaining power. If we can become a member of the trade zone, we can benefit from the trade zone's trade negotiations with Europe and the United States, further expanding our exports.

Kim Young-chul spoke softly and slowly, simply stating a fact in a calm tone:
“Over the years, our companies have been calling for ‘expanding into overseas markets.’ Although the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) has given us the opportunity to enter the European and American markets, it does not mean that there are no other trade barriers. In contrast, free trade zones have signed separate trade agreements with various countries through negotiations. With the support of free trade zones, South Korea will surely be able to further expand into overseas markets.”

Park Jung-woong echoed in agreement:
"Yes, joining the free trade zone... that's the world's third largest economic zone. If South Korea can join, it will definitely achieve further development."

After expressing his agreement, Park Jung-woong's expression was immediately replaced by deep worry.

He was silent for a moment, then his tone was full of helplessness:
"Joining the free trade zone is something we've dreamed of for many years."

But as you know, becoming a member of a free trade zone is extremely difficult.

In theory, free trade zones have strict regional restrictions, and most of them are only able to form groups of countries that are geographically adjacent and have complementary economic structures.

We are located in Northeast Asia, separated from the Nanyang Free Trade Area by mountains and sea. Joining it is not easy. Moreover, as you know, the Nanyang Free Trade Area is, to a certain extent, a free trade area for the Chinese. Those member countries are called Nanyang countries, but in reality, they are all 'Nanyang Chinese countries.' But what about South Korea?"

The president's question silenced Kim Yong-chol. It was a fact that even though those countries kept calling themselves "Southeast Asian countries," everyone knew what their true nature was.

"We...are too!"

Kim Young-chul said directly:
"We also write Chinese characters and speak Chinese!"

Over the years, Yanwen has been effectively phased out. Inspired by the "going to Southeast Asia" movement, Koreans are far more enthusiastic about learning Chinese than Korean.

Nowadays, young people hardly speak Korean anymore, and many can only speak it haltingly.

Some have even said that while Korea gained independence, it lost its own language and script. What the Japanese failed to achieve during the colonial era, the Koreans accomplished themselves after independence.

"Yes, although we share the same language and ancestry, but..."

Park Jung-woong said helplessly:

"There are still differences, and that is the invisible barrier."

Kim Young-chul remained silent.

He was well aware of the difficulties involved. Over the years, the South Korean government had tried to join the free trade zone many times, sending countless delegations and making countless efforts, but each time it was blocked by some invisible barriers.

Those free trade zone member countries either see South Korea as a potential competitor or are excluded due to unseen barriers.

As for the official residence in Chang'an, they have consistently refused to budge.

"What is the prerequisite for us to join the Nanyang Free Trade Area? It is that we must become a member of Nanyang!"

Park Jung-woong said:
"This is the fundamental premise, and also the reason why we are excluded."

What does it mean to be a member of Nanyang?
It's not just about politics and economics, but also about culture and many other aspects. Only by truly integrating into Southeast Asia can one truly belong.

It's not something you can just write on any piece of paper, nor is it something you can simply say "we share the same language and ancestry." After all, Japan said something like that a century ago.

"That's right, what they want is a family, a real family."

At that moment, the air in the office seemed to freeze.

Park Jung-woong tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, his eyes suddenly sharpening as if he had just thought of something.

He raised his head, his gaze fixed on Kim Young-cheol, his tone carrying an undeniable resolve: "Perhaps, now is an opportunity."

Kim Young-chul's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked:

"Mr. President, do you have any ideas?"

"war."

Park Jung-woong uttered two words, not loudly, but they stirred up a storm in Kim Young-chul's heart.

"war?"

Seeing Kim Young-chul's astonished expression, Park Jung-woong continued:

"From Ethiopia in East Africa to the war on terror in the Middle East, and now to Chenla and Saigon, the SEA or ASEAN countries have recently been involved in wars in many places. The coalition is being formed, and the war on terror requires troops. Maintaining order in Southeast Asia also requires the deployment of troops."

We can send our troops to the Middle East and Southeast Asia to join the coalition's operations.

Kim Young-chul's brows furrowed sharply, and a word immediately flashed through his mind—blood tax.

He never expected that Park Jung-woong would think of this.

Park Jung-woong seemed to read his mind. He turned his chair around, gazing at the branches outside the window being battered by the rain. His tone carried a complex mix of emotions: nostalgia, determination, and a hint of barely perceptible pathos.

"Yongzhe, do you still remember why we sent troops to Saigon back then?"

When the president mentioned the past, Kim Yong-chol nodded slightly. Of course he knew; it was all about escaping poverty. It was about exchanging blood and sacrifice for American aid and orders. For South Korea at that time, apart from paying the blood tax, it had nothing else.

Now... after sacrificing a generation of Koreans, do we still have to pay a blood tax?

"Back then, South Korea was even poorer than it is now. It was destitute, and most people couldn't even get enough to eat. In order to escape poverty, we were forced to make that choice—sacrificing a generation."

It was through the bloody battles fought by those soldiers in Saigon that we secured substantial aid from the United States, orders from the US military, valuable foreign exchange reserves, and the first pot of gold for the start of our domestic economy. Back then, we could escape poverty with blood.

He turned around, staring intently at Kim Young-chul, and asked, word by word:

"So now, can we use the sacrifice of our soldiers to open the door to the free trade zone? Or, can we use the blood of our soldiers to gain their recognition and integrate with Southeast Asia?"

These words struck like a thunderclap in the office.

Kim Young-cheol was completely stunned. He stared blankly at Park Jung-woong, his lips trembling slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He knew what Park Jung-woong's decision meant.

This is no longer a high-stakes gamble.

A crucial decision about the future, made with the blood and lives of a generation of South Korean soldiers, to secure the nation's future!
They used their blood to earn the chance to integrate.

It's just a chance to join the family!
The wind and rain outside the window intensified, rustling the leaves of the trees outside the Blue House, as if setting the stage for this decision.

At this moment, Park Jung-woong's face showed no hesitation, only a resolute determination to go all in.

In Kim Young-chul's heart, however, was in turmoil. He had no idea what fate this gamble, wagered in blood, would ultimately bring to South Korea.

But he knew that this was the most important opportunity Korea had ever had in its history. If Korea could seize this opportunity, it could not only join the big family, just like Yi Seong-gye sent envoys to Yeongcheon hundreds of years ago, but this would also completely change Korea's future...

(End of this chapter)