[sample translations]kim jin myung, samsung conspiracy eng by LTI Korea Library

Sample Translations

Jin-myung Kim Samsung Conspiracy E ng l i s h

Book Information

Samsung Conspiracy (삼성 컨스피러시) Saeum Publishing corp. / 2012 / 40 p. / ISBN 9788993964479 For further information, please visit: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/772

This sample translation was produced with support from LTI Korea. Please contact the LTI Korea Library for further information. library@klti.or.kr

Samsung Conspiracy Written by Kim Jin-myung

Contents

A Word from the Author – 6

Prologue – 11

Sequence of a Virus – 249

Exclusive – 30

The Viewpoint of a Third Party – 271

Death of a Reporter – 46

The Birth of the Nano Semiconductor – 282

Final Scribble – 61

Dangerous Investors – 300

Swiss Bank – 75

Looming Conspiracy – 307

Park Chung-hee’s Slush Fund – 87

Black Reunion – 326

Clearing Suspicions – 99

An Advisor’s Proposal – 338

The President’s European Visit – 113

“M” RAM – 355

Dialogue over the Ruins – 120

M & A – 369

A War You Can’t See – 134

Out-of-Body Experience – 375

Venus de Milo – 143

Sudden Attack – 388

Minister of Defense Giraud – 151

Betrayal by the Shareholders – 395

Death of a General – 163

The Fate of Samsung Electronics – 402

Viceroy’s Foundation – 174

Secret Technology Meeting – 411

Sophia – 188

Yokohama’s Final Move – 431

The True Identity of the Woman – 199

Cochran’s Win – 441

Goose Liver – 213

Biological Semiconductor – 451

The Bible and Gyeok-am’s Prophecy – Repentant Shareholders – 466 226 Epilogue – 473 Dr. Na Yeong-jun – 242

A Word from the Author

Why I decided to resume writing this novel today.

When I was in college, Newsweek did a piece on the world’s top one hundred technological innovations. Out of the hundred, about sixty percent came from the United States and twenty percent from Japan. The rest were from Europe. I could not find Korea on the list anywhere. I fell in despair believing that this situation would never change till the end of time. Back then, the highest export earnings in South Korea were from a company that turned women’s hair into wigs, so you can imagine why I felt the way I did. However, in just thirty years, South Korea has begun competing with the best in the world and acquired a number of advanced technological skills that you could count using all your fingers. In other words, South Korea achieved a miracle. Without a doubt, at the root of this transformation was painstaking labor, as well as training and advancement in technological prowess. Then, at some point, South Korea started becoming negligent about investing in scientific research. It was especially disheartening when the new government took office five years ago, as it so easily decided to do away with the Ministry of Science and Technology.

When I first started writing this novel ten years ago, the situation wasn’t any different. In fact, when I look back on the preface I wrote then, I realize that I perceived the problem as much bigger. I had titled the book Bye Korea, and it began with the following forward:

“Most high school graduates today are applying to liberal arts colleges instead of to engineering schools. There have been statistics in the news that state that more than seventy

percent of students apply to liberal arts schools. It’s also public knowledge that a considerable number of students, including even the top students from engineering backgrounds, spend months in seclusion preparing for the bar exam, and that many universities are contemplating closing basic departments such as mathematics or physics.”

“In this context, it is no wonder that Korea’s advancement in science is contracting every year. In contrast, neighboring China boasts that ninety percent of its students entering college major in engineering, and the remaining ten percent in liberal arts. Though South Korea claims scientific advancement as the backbone of the nation’s ascendancy, the reality is quite different.”

I wrote the above preface ten years ago, but I could just as well change the date to today, and nothing would be different. From the very beginning, I wrote this novel from the above perspective on the problem. Samsung Electronics helped me overcome the hopelessness I felt about Korea’s future during my college years, and as such, I was proud of them. And I shared the sentiments of many people who believed that technological innovations would continue with Samsung as our role model. But it is also true that Samsung, a company we once held up so highly, has also earned a negative spotlight in Korean society at times.

I decided to write this novel because we have arrived at a time when enterprises must go a step beyond their best innovations and sales—not only to survive in the fierce industries of a global market, but also to prevent foreign venture capitalists from taking over them over. Even though Samsung Electronics is regarded as one of the best companies in the

world, it would be left helpless should a hostile takeover take place. It could lose control of its business, could be transformed into a foreign company, and could be degraded into a mere subcontract enterprise. Recently, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen Apple take Samsung to court over a patent lawsuit that has had exorbitant costs, and the public was forced to recognize Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s precarious state. Also, currently foreign investors hold fifty percent of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shares; which means that if a conspiring third party intervened to absorb Samsung, Samsung could easily become a nonKorean company. As I watched the legal battle between Samsung and Apple closely, my intention was to write a novel about the origin of the patent war and the ensuing plot against Samsung. That was why I decided to take a break from writing my epic novel Goguryeo. I felt that there was a need for me to resume writing this book.

October 2012 Kim Jin-Myung

Prologue

1983, Tokyo. “Mr. Chairman, the final decision is no.” The voice of Samsung’s head secretary was firm. Everyone nodded at this announcement. Chairman Lee Byung-chull raised his head and looked out the window. He could see Tokyo’s iridescent night scenery. Seoul’s night scene was not comparable. Without turning around, Chairman Lee asked in a wistful tone: “Chairman Hong, what do you think?” Chairman Hong, who had his eyes closed, opened them when his name was called and turned his gaze silently towards the mournful giant presence by the window. The silence continued for a while. It was when Chairman Lee turned his gaze back to the assembly that Chairman Hong spoke. “It’s Samsung’s final decision.” This time, Chairman Lee nodded his head. “Samsung’s final decision” was everything, and it was a phrase frequently repeated by Chairman Lee himself. No one could challenge it. A kaleidoscope of past memories flashed before his eyes. There had always been dissenting opinions in the boardroom, but all anyone could do was nod in the face of the secretary’s sharp judgment. Samsung’s boardroom. At the time, there was more security for the boardroom than for the Agency for National Security Planning. Now, a decision had been made, and Chairman Hong had to support “Samsung’s final decision” also. Who was Chairman Hong? Three of the shrewdest men in Korea had defined a generation: Lee Hu-rak, the one-time director of the former

Korea Central Intelligence Agency; Yu Jin-san, the leader of the Sin Min Party; and Hong Jin-ki, the chairman of the JungAng Daily. When Samsung had something important to decide on, Hong Jin-ki was always there and made his intentions known. His opinions were respected to the utmost. But even he simply nodded his head at what the head secretary had announced. That meant there was nothing more to discuss. “All the CEOs object also.” The head secretary said this as if to drive another nail into the coffin. The Samsung CEOs. You had to be among the top 50 of Korea’s brightest and most experienced people to even think of being considered for such a position. These were Korea’s finest hands that had molded Korea’s economy into what it was. If they were unanimously objecting, then there was nothing left to consider. “Hm.” Chairman Lee let out a heavy sigh. “Chairman, now you have to go and inform them of our decision.” So this was the decision that had come down after two years of desperately searching for a solution. Now this decision was going to be shared with the whole world. In particular, Chairman Lee had to deliver the news to the Japanese Federation of Economic Organizations, which he had asked for funds. “I understand.” After a brief moment of silence, Chairman Lee finally nodded his head. “We’ll get the car ready.” The board’s head secretary looked relieved and proceeded to close the session. “Idiots. They don’t know love begets tears…”

Chairman Lee spat the words to himself. “Everyone’s dismissed.” After giving this brief order, Chairman Lee again turned to look out the window. The attendees at the meeting all looked at each other, relieved at the thought that they had saved the company from disaster, and with Chairman Lee’s back to them, they bowed and exited. As Chairman Lee looked outside at the night view of Tokyo’s skyline, he felt a strong pang of defeat and thought: “Is this all Samsung can do? Is this all we’re capable of?” Chairman Lee thought of all the companies that represented Japanese electronics: Sony, Mitsubishi, Matsushita, Toshiba, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi—all prominent enterprises in the business world. Compared to them, Samsung had a long way to go. It was capable only of producing products like televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines. And third-rate at that. Chairman Lee remembered the showcase at one electronics shop in Frankfurt, Germany. He thought it odd to see only the brands Philips, Siemens, Sony, and Matsushita, so he felt compelled to go in. He had received reports that Samsung’s exporting sales were high, and for him not to see any items… “Do you have any Samsung color TVs?” he said, not having the presence of mind to ask his assistant to inquire. The store clerk happily replied: “Of course. Are you interested in buying?” “I have to see it first.” “That will be difficult.” “Why is that?” “You can see Samsung products in this catalogue.”

“No. I have to see it in person before I purchase it. “ “I’m sorry, but we don’t have Samsung items in the store.” “What kind of nonsense is that? You sell it, but you don’t carry it in the store?’ “Samsung is a low-end product, so we don’t keep it in the store. It makes our other products on display look bad. But if you pick the item out of the catalogue, we can bring it over from a nearby warehouse.” “What? Samsung makes other products look bad? How dare you!” The humiliation he felt then was truly wretched. And that humiliation had come to life again in a gruesome form tonight. “Chairman Lee, there’s a lot for Samsung to do going forward. Microwaves, VTRs, camcorders; don’t you think that’s enough?” This advice from the chairman of Matsushita was not patronizing. It was the truth. There was a lot for Samsung to make, and there was no reason why these items couldn’t dominate the industry. The board’s decision seemed to speak to that precisely. “Chairman, semiconductors are too difficult. There’s no way we could make them with our skill level. Without any technical expertise it wouldn’t be right to make such a big investment. If something goes wrong with that investment, then the entire Samsung group is at risk.’ The board’s head secretary was right. “Besides, Japan hasn’t been able to make a working semiconductor either. Internationally, only IBM has made a prototype. This is not something we should get into.” Chairman Lee got up and went to the window. He looked down from the window as his head felt heavy and he still couldn’t let go of the humiliation he felt. People talked about how Samsung was the best in Korea, but amongst the world’s leading businesses, it seemed so insignificant. An unbearable suffocation oppressed Chairman

Lee’s weak physique, and he felt dizzy, like he would collapse. Chairman Lee’s accompanying assistant noticed this and immediately went over to him to help steady him. But Chairman Lee brushed him away. The assistant took a step back but was worried, so he didn’t lower his arms completely. “Turn off the light and stay outside.” “But…” “Stay outside.” Chairman Lee’s low voice was overpowering. “Yes, sir.” After the assistant turned off the light and went outside, Chairman Lee stood up straight and looked directly at Tokyo’s nightscape. Once his eyes focused, he could see the names “Sony” and “Toshiba” in neon signs. In his upright position, Chairman Lee stared at those neon signs for some time.

After an hour of not hearing any noise from inside, the chairman’s assistant quietly opened the door to the boardroom. Chairman Lee was in the dark staring out the window in the exact same upright position. “Chairman.” When the assistant went towards him and quietly called him, Chairman Lee attempted to turn around and stumbled on his feet. The assistant, startled, extended his arms to help, but Chairman Lee suddenly collapsed. “Chairman!” the assistant screamed and propped him up frantically. Other people must have heard the commotion as they all rushed in to help. “Call Kun-hee in Seoul! I said call him!” Chairman Lee yelled, diverging from his usual calm and cool-headed demeanor. This was the first time the secretarial staff had seen

the chairman lose his cool, but they felt comforted by the thought that this must mean that the chairman’s mind was clear. “All right, Chairman. We’ll call him right away. Let’s get you to a hospital in the meantime.” But Chairman Lee slowly waved them away. “I’m fine.”

Next day, morning. Vice-chairman Lee Kun-hee, who had come over to Japan in a hurry, was given a thorough report from the head secretary, who had come to pick him up at Haneda Airport. “Nothing major happened to him, but the chairman must have been very upset. He must want to get some reassurance from you.” However, Vice-chairman Lee Kun-hee shook his head without saying anything. Chairman Lee was not the type of person who would summon his son to comfort him, even if he were on his deathbed. “Hmph.” “I think the chairman must have been very upset. After everyone objected, he said something to himself. We all felt bad for him.” “What did he say?” “He scolded us by saying that we were idiots and said, love begets tears.” Lee Kun-hee closed his eyes. “Love begets tears”? “Hm.” Lee Kun-hee let out a sigh. He didn’t know what this meant, but he didn’t think his father said it out of feeling

hurt. Also, there was no way he had been summoned to Japan so that his father could be comforted. Suddenly, Lee Kun-hee began to think that he was in Japan to possibly decide on the fate of Samsung.

As he entered the office and saw his father’s worn-out face, Lee Kun-hee felt his heart ache. “Father!” However, his father’s voice sounded just as sharp as ever. “Sit down.” “Yes.” Lee Kun-hee sat in front of his father and folded his hands over his knees. Chairman Lee didn’t say anything until his secretary served tea, at which point he shooed the secretary away. This meant no one was to come in. Chairman Lee began by saying something totally unexpected: “I thought of your older brother all last night.” “Yes, Father.” “Your brother… I feel very sorry for your brother Maeng-hee.” “Yes, Father.” “I’ve always been very cold to your brother Maeng-hee. Do you know why?” “Yes, I know why.” “Tell me.” “You did it for me, I believe.” “For you?” “…” “I guess I can’t blame you for thinking that. But the reason I treated Maeng-hee so

coldly was for Samsung.” “…” “If I had treated Maeng-hee as I did you, then he would have gotten power, too. Then, Samsung would have split. I made sure to treat Maeng-hee frigidly so that I could prevent Samsung from splitting.” “I know, Father.” “But last night, I thought of your brother all night. Pitiful Maeng-hee.” “I know you always think of Maeng-hee deep down in your heart.” “That’s right. Maeng-hee is a hero who sacrificed himself for Samsung. I’m fully aware of that. If it hadn’t been for him, I would have gone to jail, and that would have meant the end for Samsung.” “I realize that.” Lee Kun-hee tried to remain unperturbed. His father had always told him to keep a distance from Maeng-hee, but he kept on talking about him. There must have been a good reason. The fact that he had been called to come to Tokyo suddenly; the fact that his father had begun with recollection of his brother; it all weighed heavily on Lee Kun-hee’s heart. “I couldn’t sleep all night, thinking that Maeng-hee had sacrificed everything for Samsung so that it could rise, but in the end, this is all Samsung is capable of. If I had known that this is all Samsung would amount to, then as a father, I’m utterly regretful of how Maeng-hee was sacrificed for the business.” It began to dawn on Lee Kun-hee just how disappointed his father was. Chairman Lee continued in a low voice. “Kun-hee.” “Yes, Father.” “You know that I’m not a patriot.”

“Yes.” “But I am an honest man.” “Yes, Father.” “TIME magazine once interviewed me. I said at the time that if my country had not been liberated, I would have stayed a Japanese sympathizer.” “I know, Father.” “I didn’t have to say that, and no one makes such statements, but that’s what I said.” “Yes, Father.” “In the end, a businessman can’t be a patriot. Even if a country is in ruins the businessman has to save his business. I wanted to convey that. Do you understand?” “Yes, Father.” “I’ve lived my entire life believing that, and that’s why I stood by Samsung, even if it meant sacrificing Maeng-hee. I thought of myself as the ultimate businessman.” “…” Chairman Lee became quiet for a moment and directed his gaze towards the window. When Lee Kun-hee saw his father’s profile, he felt a fire blaze up deep inside of him. The father in front of him was not the father he had worried about and felt anxiety for before he got there. His father’s expression was still fierce, and his animal instincts were alive and well. Moreover, he was not the same businessman he had been. In fact, he appeared more like a chief of state. “Ah, Father is trying to win,” Lee Kun-hee thought to himself. At that moment, Lee Kun-hee thought he knew why his father had called him. “Do you know why I called you over to Japan?” Chairman Lee asked his son in a subdued voice without turning around. “Yes, Father,” Lee Kun-hee answered in a subdued voice.

“Yeah? You say you know?” “…” Kun-hee looked at his father without saying anything. This time, his father gazed at Lee Kun-hee with an indifferent expression on his face. “Your thoughts, then?” Kun-hee suddenly felt faint. What his father said so abruptly cut like a knife. Now, with one statement, Lee Kun-hee could change Samsung’s fate. Quickly, he became calm. From the standpoint of Samsung management, his father’s stubbornness was dangerous. The decision of “no” from the board could not be challenged by anyone with a rational mind. Chairman Lee, however, would not change his position even though no one sympathized with him. The Samsung Group had already risen to the top in many fields. Specifically, Dongbang Life profits were rising more than ever before. And Cheil Jedang and Samsung Electronics both were considered the top in the industry. The Samsung Group’s management was operating pretty much on its own. So to go with semiconductors at the risk of the group? In a word, it was craziness. There was even talk amongst some executives that the old chairman had finally become senile because of his overconfidence. Lee Kun-hee remembered what the head secretary had told him in the car on his way from the airport: that his father was not budging from his position despite the fact that even Lee Kun-hee’s father-in-law, Hong Jin-ki, agreed with the board’s resolution. “There are CEOs who say that they’ll leave the company the day investments are made in semiconductors. If Chairman Lee asks you what you think, please be stern in your protest. Then, everything will go back to the way it was.” Actually, Lee Kun-hee didn’t need to be reminded of what the head secretary had told him. Any Samsung man with any sense would disagree with the chairman. But Lee Kun-

hee had to be very careful about what he said at this moment. Not everything in this world needed to be thought of in rational terms. Lee Kun-hee, who had received an advanced business education and was regarded by others as a genius, did think of going against his father. But at this moment, Lee Kun-hee wanted to make his decision from a blank slate, so he calmly and cool-headedly observed his father. No, he wasn’t observing his father. He knew his father better than anyone, and up to this time, he had witnessed countless incomprehensible maneuvers made by his father. But he tried to feel the energy emanating from his father. He wanted to see if it was that of one old man just trying to be stubborn, or if it was something instinctive coming from a master because he knew it would make him victorious. Chairman Lee was looking at his son awaiting his answer. Lee Kun-hee could feel the loneliness coming from his eyes. Lee Kun-hee was just beginning to understand that no one could comprehend his father’s loneliness. Suddenly, Lee Kun-hee felt overwhelmed with emotions. It was partly due to his trust in his father, but it was also from the sense of solidarity that only he and his father could feel with each other. His father had designated him the successor over his two older brothers, and after resolving disagreements from both inside and outside the company, his father had helped him solidify his position. The connection they had with each other was unique. Nevertheless, it was even more important for Lee Kun-hee to be firm. He couldn’t let loyalty or filial piety influence his decision. Lee Kun-hee didn’t lose focus. He tried to see the root of the situation rather than the issue with funds, which was what everyone else was worried about. At that moment, he looked back on the past generation in electronics. It had all started first with vacuum tubes, then transistors, and then integrated circuits. The period of vacuum tubes was peaceful, and everyone adhered to their own domain. Anyone could make a product and put it out there, but

once transistors came into the picture, the situation quickly changed. And once transistors gave way to the IC generation, products became more complex and the technological knowledge between various businesses widened. Lee Kun-hee could see that as the electronics generation forged ahead, this knowledge gap would become even bigger. He had a sudden, profound realization. “My father is looking ten years down the road. If Samsung can’t surpass Japan in producing domestic appliances, then what will the future be for Samsung Electronics? If he doesn’t make a move to get ahead now, then Samsung Electronics’ future is uncertain. That is why he is urging us to invest in semiconductors. While everyone is happy being complacent, my father is waging war by himself.” At this point, Lee Kun-hee’s head was clear and open. He realized what his father meant by “love begets tears.” Success comes from failure, and failure is the seed that allows for the fruit of success. Lee Kun-hee saw that was what his father wanted to say. Kun-hee began to speak solemnly. “Father, you are a person who has never experienced losing. And I am your son.” “Really?” Chairman Lee gave his son a gentle gaze. There was a lot of hidden meaning in what Lee Kun-hee said. He knew that Lee Kun-hee was smart, but he never thought his son would understand him to this degree. However, Chairman Lee barked at him, “You’re dangerous.” “…” “You’re impudent. How could you, who are supposed to lead this great big group called Samsung, agree so easily with your father? You’re dangerous.” “…” “The advisors are correct. Samsung should not invest in semiconductors. If we fail, Samsung will fall apart. You’re the future head of Samsung. You should try to dissuade me!”

“I know, Father.” “Then why are you agreeing with my stubborn decision?” “Because it’s your decision.” Chairman Lee became angry. “Are you the kind of person who’ll go along with whatever I decide? How can you say that as a leader? Is that what I’ve taught you?” But Lee Kun-hee was not agitated in the least. He continued in a quiet tone. “No, that is not what I meant. I didn’t agree with you because you are my father, but because you are Samsung Chairman Lee Byung-chull. The person I consider to be the world’s most deft businessman is unarguably Lee Byung-chull.” “…” This time Chairman Lee was quiet. From deep inside, Chairman Lee felt a rush of emotion. He felt like he wouldn’t have any regrets if he died now. People gossiped that the reason Lee Kun-hee would become leader was because of his father-in-law, Hong Jin-ki, and Chairman Lee thought there was some truth to that. But at this very moment, Chairman Lee was certain. The Samsung Group that Lee Kun-hee would lead would be a very different one from the one he himself had cultivated. “Samsung Electronics is at a fork in the road. Do they stay a third-rate company or go all-in on semiconductors? I don’t want Samsung to remain a third-rate company.” “…” Chairman Lee was speechless. He thought it was frightening that his son understood him so thoroughly and precisely.

Exclusive

2002, Seoul.

The phone rang. Eu-rim picked up the phone on his desk at the newspaper agency. “Is this Mr. Jeong?” “Yes, this is Jeong Eu-rim.” The person on the other side of the call sounded extremely cautious. Eu-rim held the phone even closer to his ear. “I called you because I have something very urgent to discuss with you.” “Discuss?” “That’s right. I have something to disclose that’ll shock the public.” “Shock? Can you reveal this over the phone?” “No. We have to meet.” “Who is this?” “I really can’t tell you over the phone.” The person on the phone hid his identity, but Eu-rim trusted the voice on the line. He was sure this wasn’t a prank call. Also, there was something in the voice that seemed sincere. Eu-rim quickly grabbed a pen and asked him: “Where should we meet?” The caller responded in a quiet tone as before. “Can you come to Daejeon?” “Daejeon?” Eu-rim hesitated. He could tell that this was no ordinary call, but Daejeon was a long way to go without getting any information.

“Hm.” Eu-rim looked at the clock. If he went to Daejeon, that meant that he would have to put off everything he had scheduled to get done today. “You have to tell me who you are first,” Eu-rim asked gently; however, the response from the caller was the same: “I’m sorry, but I can’t for security reasons.” Eu-rim was somewhat displeased, but thought the caller wouldn’t be so adamant unless he had something big. “Then if you can tell me what kind of work this involves…” “…” This time the caller was completely silent. Did he mean take it or leave it? Eu-rim thought about just hanging up, but for some reason, he couldn’t. This brazen voice asking Eurim to come to Daejeon left him thinking that the person had news that was explosive. Eu-rim, who for a moment had doubts, decided to go with his instincts and invest in this man, so he asked a final question. “Have you contacted any other newspapers?” If he had, then Eu-rim was going to decline. He could jump in later after evaluating how the other newspapers dealt with the story. Determining the worthiness of a news item was not always as simple as that, but from the standpoint of a newspaper reporter, landing a story others didn’t was worth something big. Fortunately, the caller reassured him. “No, you’re the first. And you’ll be the last.” “Okay. I’ll leave right away.” Once Eu-rim got information on where and when to meet, he got into his car straight away and started up the engine. He had a strong feeling that this was something big. There was heaviness and urgency in the caller’s voice, and something about it that Eu-rim could

trust, but the location Daejeon had significance, also. “Gaeryongdae…” Eu-rim had a feeling that the news story was related to Gaeryongdae. Of course, there were numerous government organizations, including a cutting-edge science town. However, Eu-rim had a feeling that this had something to do with military intelligence. All the more because the caller had decided to contact Eu-rim, who reported on the Ministry of National Defense and whose specialty was exposés. Soon after he passed through the Daejeon tollgate, racing along Kyeongbu Expressway, he could see the coffee shop the caller had designated as the meeting spot. Eurim parked on the street and went inside the coffee shop. The caller must have checked out the place beforehand, as there was only one customer in this extremely quiet coffee shop. As soon as Eu-rim sat down, the lone man who was sitting in the coffee shop stood up and approached him. “Mr. Jeong?” It was the same weighty voice that Eu-rim had spoken to on the phone. Eu-rim had two thoughts running simultaneously in his mind as soon as he saw the man. First, although the man was wearing a suit, his close-cropped hair and upright standing position that seemed second nature to him clearly revealed that he was an experienced commissioned officer. Second, Eu-rim could sense that the man was facing imminent threat. He seemed like a man on the run who was trying hard to cover up his distress. “You must be the person who called me.” “Yes, did you bring your car?” As the man spoke, he kept looking over Eu-rim’s shoulder towards the door. Eu-rim could feel the man’s nervousness. “Yes.”

“Then let’s go.” Eu-rim took his notebook and followed the man outside the coffee shop. Eu-rim kept imagining what kind of person this man was. The man spoke and acted in a hurried manner, but he also appeared focused and fearless. The man seemed like someone with conviction, but right now he was a soldier who was being chased. This man, who seemed like he was in his early fifties, pointed towards where he wanted to go once he got in the car. The place they ended up going wasn’t any place special. The man asked Eu-rim to stop once they reached a secluded area, and as soon as Eu-rim stopped, the man looked around and began to speak. Eu-rim realized that the car was the safest place they could be. “I’m Jo Yeong-su, and I’m a colonel in the air force. I am in charge of appraising fighter planes that the air force looks into acquiring.” Eu-rim was pleased that his hunch was correct. This man was no ordinary soldier. This was a man who had a central role in an agency that spent an immense amount—five, six trillion won—on next-generation fighter planes. After they exchanged introductions, Eu-rim cautiously pressed the record button on the audio recorder he had inside his jacket. “I thought about holding a press conference, but for security reasons, I decided to call you.” “Thank you.” “Mr. Jeong, listen carefully,” the colonel said. “Go ahead, please.” “The government will detain me very soon.” These were the first words from the man’s mouth confirming that this was newsworthy.

“Why? Was there a problem?” The colonel let out a bitter chuckle. “Problem? Yes, there was a problem. I’ll be arrested because I insisted on not buying U.S. planes… do you understand? I went against the U.S.” “You mean to tell me because you went against the U.S., the Korean government is going to arrest an active-duty colonel?” “That’s correct. You can assume that everyone in the Ministry of National Defense in charge of purchasing fighter planes is on the side of the U.S. There’s even a rumor that the Minister of National Defense and George Bush are blood brothers.” Having access to the Ministry of National Defense, Eu-rim had heard the rumor as well. “The reason they’ll arrest me is the Dassault Rafale Fighter Aircraft.” “You must have insisted on buying France’s Rafale instead of the American plane.” The colonel nodded his head quietly. “From the four different kinds of planes that we can choose from, the Rafale is the best one. Rafale is exactly what we want in a next-generation fighter plane. In terms of price and performance it's the best choice. In comparison, the Boeing F15 is considered an oldgeneration model, and it’s going to be discontinued soon, which means that acquiring parts for it will be difficult.” “Okay, then?” “The final evaluation will come from me. That’s my job. But, right now, there are personnel from the Ministry of National Defense who are pressuring me to put together a final evaluation report that says we should purchase the F15.” “Who are they? The people pressuring you?”

“The top officials from National Defense.” “What are you going to do?” “I have no choice. There’s no way they’ll sign off on my report.” “But you’re sure the Rafale is the best choice?” Eu-rim asked him. The journalists who reported on national defense as well as the so-called military manias were all arguing over the controversy surrounding the Rafale and the F15, and Eu-rim was aware of all the rumors and opinions. No one knew what to make of the situation, and no one could with certainty assert which one was superior. But at this very moment, the colonel who was in charge of making assessments of the fighter planes was confidently declaring that Rafale was superior. “There’s not more I can say. Even the American Air Force rejected the F15. But forget whether or not Rafale is the better plane or not, there’s a bigger reason why we should go with the Rafale.” The colonel’s voice was steelier. Only someone with expertise could be so sure. “What is that?” “France has agreed to transfer their technological expertise one hundred percent. They promised to hand over all the skills needed for us to make our own Rafale. The United States, however, only reluctantly agreed to give us half of the technological intelligence.” “Hm.” “I decided to think about what is the most important thing for us when I took on this assignment. Isn’t it wrong for us to use the people’s tax money to purchase a plane costing an incredible amount, and in turn for us to use our military resources as a dumping ground for old planes? So I made an ambitious plan.” “What kind of a plan?” Eu-rim asked with his interest fully peaked. “That we take this opportunity, whether by purchasing an American or a French

plane, to obtain complete technological knowledge in order to advance our aerospace industry. But I realized it wasn’t easy to convince the U.S. to do that. So, I decided to get close to the executives on Dassault’s side. I told them that we had no choice but to purchase American planes, but that there was one condition under which we could buy the Rafale: that we get all the information it takes to produce a Rafale ourselves. I told them: ‘Look, you’re competing fiercely with the U.S., and if we buy your plane, then you’ll win over Singapore and the Netherlands, who are also in the market to buy.’ I tried to coax them this way.” “So?” “So, in the end, I was able to get their word that they would transfer their technical know-how and that they would promise this in the contract. That would have meant that it wouldn’t be long until we could make our own Rafale.” While the colonel spoke, his facial expression was glowing with hope. But he soon became dispirited. “But all of that was just a dream.” “But there hasn’t been a final decision.” “No. I’m the only one who has been protesting… and now there’s no hope. My reaching out to you is my final protest.” There was an indescribable anguish on the colonel’s face. “So it’s all over?” The colonel nodded, bereft of all energy. “It’s over. Mr. Jeong, do you think this makes any sense? If we were to enter into a contract with France, then we would have the capability to produce our own Rafale aircraft, which would advance our aerospace industry by years. So how could we pass that up and buy the F15? They say we have to consider our political and military alliance with the U.S…. but that’s all rubbish. If that were the case, the U.S. should try to sell their latest fighter planes at

a minimum, don’t you think? The Netherlands’ government is also debating between the Rafale and the U.S. plane, but what they’re looking at is not the F15, but the F22. It’s the next-generation plane that’s on the same level as the Rafale. Do you understand what I’m saying? Korea is the only one that’s in such a pathetic position.” “Hm.” Eu-rim sighed without meaning to. “What you’re saying is that we have to take into consideration our ties with the U.S., and we have no other choice but to buy an American plane; however, like the Netherlands, we should be trying to buy the latest next-generation fighter plane.” “Of course. But even if America were to offer their newest plane, we should still buy the Rafale. That’s because we can depend on foreign planes only for so long. The planes are too expensive, and they’re constantly changing. The best move for us is to make our own planes.

Last time we bought the TGV, and we gained the know-how to make our own TGV.

And just like the TGV, France promised to transfer their skills on the Rafale, so there couldn’t be a better opportunity than this. But to buy the useless F15? Not even the F22! That’s crazy. For whom is the Korean government actually working?” “Have you looked into appealing to the National Assembly? Don’t they decide on the budget?” “The National Assembly? Mr. Kim, do you still believe in our government? All they care about is popularity and money. They’re just a bunch of people armed with all sorts of figures and theories, but they are simply ‘yes’ men.” The colonel’s voice was laden with sorrow. “So you’re saying nothing would come of going through the proper channels.” “That’s right. And there’s another problem. I’m pretty sure that the minute I decide to take this case to the assembly, I’ll be disposed of before it even happens. I’m sure you know

how the military operates. Making this public is the same as committing suicide.” “How about the press? Wouldn’t there be a way for the newspapers, or for public sentiment, to protect you?” The colonel smiled faintly. “I thought that also; that ultimately the only solution was to reach out to public sentiment. That’s why, as I said before, I had considered holding a press conference. But as soon as word got out, I wouldn’t be a free man. They wouldn’t leave me alone to hold a press conference. That’s why, inevitably, I called you to meet me alone…” “After this, things are going to get very tough for you…” Eu-rim didn’t fully grasp what would happen to the colonel exactly. “First, I’ll be detained. Charged with something like breaching privacy.” “Don’t you think that the courts will have to decide on that?” Eu-rim knew that if the colonel got detained, he wouldn’t feel good about it in the least. He wanted to help him all he could. “Once they detain me… they’ll get me for something.” “Is there something they have on you?” “I’ve tried to live honestly, but everyone has something to hide, don’t they? On top of that, I’m a devout Catholic, so I can’t lie… and I don’t want to. I took money from a senior officer. It was for transportation and costs to be used in our meetings, but if you add all that up, it comes to about ten million won. And the man I took money from was an agent for Dassault…” “I see. Then it would be difficult for you to make your case. They’ll make it seem like you took kickbacks to make a deal to buy a Dassault plane.” “That’s why I called you. I thought you would be able to explain the situation objectively.”

“I see. But even if I were to write a piece, that doesn’t mean anything would change.” “It probably won’t change anything. We’ll end up buying the F15. But I had to do this for myself, having worn the uniform all my life and worked to defend my country. I didn’t think I could go on if I didn’t protest the injustice and corruption taking place.” “I am very sorry.” But the colonel didn’t get wrapped up in his sentiments. He looked at Eu-rim and smiled weakly. Then suddenly he asked a question totally off topic. “By the way, how is Mr. Lee Jun-wu?” “Mr. Lee? I think he’s well.” “Yeah? I tried to call him all day today, but there was no answer… I thought maybe something happened.” Eu-rim saw in an instant a dark shadow passing over the colonel’s face. “I’m not sure… since we’re in different departments.” It occurred to Eu-rim that the colonel must have called Mr. Lee at the business desk first, but ended up calling him when Mr. Lee couldn’t be reached. “Then will you relay something to Mr. Lee?” “Of course.” “Paris is misty with fog.” “Paris is misty with fog?” “Yes.” “That’s all I have to say?” “Yes, he’ll understand.” What the colonel said was strange. Eu-rim wanted to ask why he would want such a message delivered, but Eu-rim sensed that the colonel didn’t want to say anything more. “Okay. I’ll be sure to deliver the message.”

The colonel offered his hand, but Eu-rim didn’t feel happy about shaking it. Eu-rim found it difficult, as he imagined that the next time he would see the colonel would be when the colonel was in jail. “Please,” the colonel said, looking at Eu-rim with a steadfast smile on his face. As soon as Eu-rim reluctantly put out his hand, the colonel took it firmly, stood upright, and gave him a military salute. Seeing Eu-rim looking uncomfortable, the colonel said tenaciously: “As a colonel in the Korean Air Force, this is a salute to the people of Korea. It’s meant to say that I, Colonel Jo Yeong-su, have carried out my duties at the next-generation fighter plane procurement agency with all truthfulness.” Once he finished his statement, the colonel stepped out of the car and walked away, not looking back once. On his drive back up to Seoul, Eu-rim began contemplating the seriousness of the situation. He knew that if he reported on the case, the colonel would be arrested immediately, and the colonel’s life would essentially be ruined. But what else was Eu-rim supposed to do when the colonel had asked him to write on the case? He couldn’t stand idly by. That evening, Eu-rim wrote up the article and submitted it for release. He did it because he believed that’s what the colonel wanted him to do.

The next day, Eu-rim’s piece was published as an exclusive. Sure enough, the colonel was taken in, and during questioning, he confessed to taking a bribe worth ten million won, though the detective hadn’t asked him about it. Consequently, his credibility on the plane appraisal issue was lost as he faced accusations that he had been paid off.

Death of a Journalist

That night, Eu-rim drank like crazy. He didn’t normally drink much, but that night, he needed to drink in order to cope. He didn’t know how to handle this strange situation where his exclusive had gotten his informant arrested. But more than the exclusive, what made Eu-rim get drunk that night was the colonel himself. As a reporter, Eu-rim had always thought about his role in society, but when he questioned himself on whether he could have done what the colonel had done, he didn’t think he was brave enough to. A lot of people easily threw around the word “patriot” or “patriotism,” and Eu-rim had always considered himself as patriotic as the next person, but when he thought of the colonel, for some reason all he felt was shame. However, the people branded the colonel as being corrupt. The taxi drivers listened to the news all day long, and one provoked Eu-rim when he got in a cab by bringing up the colonel. Eu-rim hadn’t even said anything, but the taxi driver started off by cursing the colonel. “What a bastard. He takes people’s tax money to purchase fighter planes costing over five trillion won, and then takes bribes to buy a shitty plane. Rafale or whatever.” “Yeah?” Eu-rim didn’t want to talk about it, but the taxi driver wouldn’t stop. “We should execute bastards like him. Shoot at least ten rounds into him.” Eu-rim, who was already trying to suppress his emotions about the colonel, blew up at the taxi driver’s continuing diatribe. “Don’t you think you’re being too critical when you don’t know anything?” “Too critical? It’s because of assholes like him that the country is in the state it’s in.” “No, you’re wrong. It’s because we have people like him that there’s hope in this country.”

“What the…? You’re crazy.” Soon they were cussing at each other, and when Eu-rim, enraged, yelled for the driver to stop the car, the taxi driver took him to the police stand. “This crazy drunk person kept yelling at me to stop the car, and provoking me, and I didn’t know what would happen to me, so I came here.” The cab driver couldn’t be a bigger contrast to the colonel as Eu-rim watched him lie without even blinking an eye. Eu-rim couldn’t stand it anymore. “You fucking asshole. It’s fuckers like you who have no backbone who make this country shit. You got that? The reason people like you are able to exist is because of people like the colonel who risked his entire life in the name of integrity. Shut your mouth if you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” When the ruckus had died down, Eu-rim was put in a patrol car and driven to a police precinct. The taxi driver left, and Eu-rim, not having revealed his identity, was put in protective care. Eu-rim could have told them who he was and been released, but he thought of his rookie days when he used to go in and out of police stations and thought it wouldn’t be so bad to leave once he had sobered up. The detention center was much cleaner than he remembered it, and he was the only one there. Eu-rim, who had a weak tolerance for alcohol, closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.

What eventually woke up Eu-rim was his cellphone ringing. He rubbed his tired eyes, checked the number, and saw that it was his co-worker, Mr. Choe. Eu-rim thought this was odd and looked at the clock first. It was one in the morning. There was no reason for Mr. Choe, who worked for a different department, to call

him at this hour. He assumed that his co-workers were out drinking together when Mr. Choe called him. He thought about calling back, but instead put his phone on vibrate. He was about to close his eyes when his phone began to vibrate. He opened it and put it to his ear. “Mr. Jeong, did you see the notice?” “What notice?” “Mr. Lee from the business desk.” “Mr. Lee? What about Jun-wu?” “He’s dead.” Eu-rim did not expect this. “What are you talking about? What do you mean he’s dead?” “He got into a car accident. He died last night. We’re at the Hyundai Jung Ang Hospital. Come quick. Everyone’s here.” “…” Eu-rim’s mind went blank and he just stared at his phone after hanging up. Mr. Lee from the business desk had been Eu-rim’s closest colleague. Eu-rim had just gone to Mr. Lee’s housewarming party… how could he have died suddenly in a car accident? Eu-rim sat crouched down for a long time before his head cleared and he stood up quickly. Eu-rim showed his press identification card to the guard at the detention center. “Why didn’t you tell us before?” the police officer said, looking embarrassed. Upon hearing the news of Mr. Lee’s death, Eu-rim quickly sobered up, left the police station, and grabbed a cab.

“How could this happen? How could he have gotten into a car accident?” Eu-rim’s colleagues were talking to one another at the funeral home and drinking

soju. “What happened?” “Have a drink first.” After Eu-rim drank a few shots, Mr. Choe began explaining. “He drank a lot more than usual last night. He went to catch a cab and was crossing the street when he got hit. It was a hit-and-run.” He died just like that. There was nothing more to say since this kind of accident wasn’t rare. And, in turn, there was no one to blame or feel hostile towards. “How senseless his death was,” Eu-rim said without realizing it. “I know. He was so smart.” “Not just smart. He was brilliant.” “He was incredibly strong-willed, too. He wasn’t just a business reporter, but he was a tough reporter on social issues also.” Another colleague chimed in: “But he hadn’t written anything for the last few months. He used to write at least one special article a week.” “It’s because he had just gotten married.” “You think? I figured him to be the type to write even if he had to manage being a newlywed, or even if his parents had passed away. In any case, I feel bad for his wife. When she saw me a little while ago, she couldn’t stop crying.” “Jun-wu’s wife is such a good woman… he married well, that’s for sure.” Everyone had something to say and couldn’t hide the sadness they felt about Junwu’s unexpected passing. “Jeong, are you going to the burial in the morning?” “Yes, of course.”

But he stopped for a moment. Suddenly he realized he had so much to take care of tomorrow. Though he had written the exclusive on the colonel, he still had to meet the deadlines for the special articles assigned to him. “Never mind; I can’t. I have to finish my article.” As soon as the sun rose, Eu-rim left to go home and took a quick nap before heading into work.

A few days later, when Eu-rim returned from his late lunch, he saw a memo on his desk:

Lee Jun-wu’s wife called. Please return call.

Eu-rim was surprised. It had only been a few days since the funeral, so he thought it was strange for her to call. He picked up the phone. As he dialed the number, he couldn’t get rid of the image of the gaunt widow dressed in white mourning garb. Jun-wu and his wife had recently gotten married, and it seemed like only yesterday that they had hosted a housewarming party. As soon as Eu-rim heard the phone ring on the other end, Jun-wu’s wife picked up as if she had been waiting by the phone. She sounded calmer; it appeared she had gotten herself together. “Hello?” “Hello, this is Jeong Eu-rim.” “Hello, Mr. Jeong.” “I’m very sorry I couldn’t attend the burial.” “Don’t mention it. I’m grateful for your concern.”

“I was going to visit you soon.” “I called you because I found something alarming.” “What is it?” “I was looking through Jun-wu’s notebook and saw something written in it that looked strange.” “What did it say?” “It’s scribble, but it looks like he foresaw his death.” Eu-rim’s hair stood on end. “What did he write?” “I don’t think I should tell you over the phone. It’s not long, but I think it would be better for you to see in person.” “All right. I’ll be right over. Oh… by the way, which police station filed Jun-wu’s accident report?” it suddenly occurred to Eu-rim to ask Jun-wu’s wife. No one seemed to know the exact details of the accident. “Gangnam Police Precinct.” “Okay.” After Eu-rim hung up the phone, all sorts of thoughts crossed his mind. A scribbling that seemed to foreshadow Jun-wu’s death? If that was true, then that meant the accident might not have been a simple accident. Eu-rim stopped at the precinct on his way to Jun-wu’s house. He wanted to find out exactly what had happened. Eu-rim bought some drinks to give to the police officer in charge of car accidents. The police officer was overly chatty. “Wow, who would have thought I would receive drinks from a reporter! You just never know what might happen in this world.”

“Would it be possible for me to see the file on Lee Jun-wu?” “Ah, sure.” “So you haven’t found the person who hit Lee Jun-wu?” “I’m sorry. It’s hard to find the perpetrator in a hit-and-run case when there are no witnesses. Even if we do, it’ll take some time.” “What do we know about the accident?” “So what happened was…take a look here.” The officer in charge showed him the map on the back of the report. “So it was around 10 pm. The victim was drunk when he was crossing the street. He was crossing exactly here. Then a car came from this direction at lightning speed; didn’t see the victim crossing and hit him head on. It hit with such impact that the victim was thrown into the air and landed here. Of course, he died instantly and the perpetrator fled the scene. Because it happened at night and there were no witnesses, we’ve had a lot of difficulties.” Eu-rim looked over the records closely, but there wasn’t anything that stood out to say the accident was foul play. Eu-rim had to leave empty-handed.

When Jun-wu’s wife saw Eu-rim, she burst into tears again. Eu-rim comforted her and waited for a while until she settled down. “This is the notebook I told you about.” Jun-wu’s wife placed a thick reporter’s notebook that was black in front of Eu-rim. She then turned to the pages in the middle. There was a line written at the end of his notes that caught his eye. It looked like he had written it in a drunken state, but there was a feeling of desperation in the words.

Did I uncover the gang behind the feared conspiracy? I feel anxious. What if I’m right?

“Hm.” Eu-rim sighed. “Why do you think he felt anxious?” Jun-wu’s wife asked with suspicion. But that was precisely what Eu-rim wanted to ask her. “I don’t know. I’ll have to look into it some more. There wasn’t anything in his daily life that would have made him nervous, right?” “Not that I know of.” “Do you think it was his work? Maybe he had found a lead about a conspiracy.” “I’m thinking that’s what happened. From around the time we got married, he said that he had to investigate something in-depth. He kept saying that after the wedding, he would have to focus on the investigation, and sure enough, he was totally buried in something afterwards.” “For about how long?” “About three months.” Eu-rim tilted his head in confusion. A newspaper reporter’s job depended on reporting news quickly and then moving on to the next story. To spend three months on a story would be impossible for a reporter working not only for a newspaper, but even for a magazine. “If he had worked on something for three months, there should be something he left behind. Wonder why there isn’t anything he wrote up?” Eu-rim remembered what one of his colleagues had said at the wake; that Jun-wu hadn’t written anything for a few months.

“He seemed to be gathering a lot of data. He was out all the time. There were many nights when he didn’t come home to sleep.” “You mean to tell me that he was working to the point of not coming home to his newly married life?” “Yes.” “You sure it wasn’t anything else?” “No, you know him. He doesn’t even enjoy drinking much.” “I see.” Eu-rim thought something was very strange. He didn’t know what to make of his friend who had been sincere and remarkable, but who was apparently so absorbed in his investigation that he had neglected his wife and then not left any coverage behind. “There must be something. If we look through his things or his notebooks carefully, I’m sure we’ll find something he was working on. Did he have a separate study?” “Yes.” Jun-wu’s wife led Eu-rim to Jun-wu’s study. Like all newspaper reporters’ work areas, Jun-wu’s study was messy with miscellaneous items. From scraps of articles and old newspapers to worn magazines—Junwu’s room was untidy. “Do you mind if I turn on his computer?” “No, go ahead.” Eu-rim first looked through the files on Jun-wu’s computer but didn’t find anything out of the ordinary. On a CD there were notes related to the business section reporting, but even there, Eu-rim couldn’t find much. “Should we look inside the drawers?” Jun-wu’s wife didn’t wait for an answer and was soon opening the drawers. Inside

the drawers were scraps of paper, all related to the business news. “What’s this?” In the midst of all the scraps of paper, there was something that stood out. It was a brightly colored pamphlet. “Oh my, this is a travel pamphlet to Switzerland.” “It is. Were you two planning on going to Switzerland?” “No.” “You didn’t discuss it at all?” “No, we just got back from our honeymoon not too long ago.” “That’s weird. Why would he lock up an ordinary-looking pamphlet like this?” “Really. He’s not disorganized to the point that he would mix up work things and a piece of advertisement for safekeeping…” “Do you think this is linked to the conspiracy case he was working on?” Eu-rim mumbled to himself as he opened up the pamphlet that was folded into three sections. There was a simple memo written on top of the pamphlet. This didn’t seem like just a pamphlet.

Paris – Switzerland – Rome (Viceroy)

“Hm… do you think he was going to go traveling to Europe? By himself?” Jun-wu’s wife looked at the pamphlet momentarily and then shook her head. “If he had plans to go on a trip like this, he would have told me for sure. Even if it was for work.” “He would have.” Eu-rim nodded his head in agreement. “What do you think, Mr. Jeong? Do you think there’s a chance that Jun-wu’s death

wasn’t an accident and someone was after him?” Jun-wu’s wife’s face was full of doubt and worry. Eu-rim could see that Jun-wu’s wife was barely controlling her voice. “If he was worried for his own safety…,” Eu-rim said faintly. “Looking at the scribble… I keep thinking that someone deliberately killed him.” Jun-wu’s wife didn’t seem like she was going to let this go easily. Not surprising since she was still in shock from losing her husband so abruptly. Most widows in her situation would probably feel the same way. “I’ll have to look into it some more, but if he was investigating something for three months and had not written anything on it, it makes me think that maybe he was working on something else. And in the process, he uncovered a conspiracy, and because of what he discovered, he was in the accident, perhaps.” “What do you think he was working on?” “First, I’ll have to go to work and see if I can find out what it was that got him so obsessed.” Eu-rim said goodbye to Jun-wu’s wife and left.