Chapter 472
Chapter 472
After Okazaki came to power.
Thanks to quantitative easing and the yen, Japanese companies’ exports greatly increased, and the Nikkei more than doubled.
In response, Prime Minister Okazaki shouted, “Japan is back”. But that too is a thing of the past.
The stock market crash caused by Kang Jin-hoo’s sale of Toyota stock continues to this day. The Nikkei index, which was broken by 20,000, showed signs of collapse, far from recovering, now even the 15,000 line.
Not only because of financial instability, but because the performance of Japanese companies has deteriorated in earnest after the Korea-Japan trade dispute.
The bigger problem is that this is just the beginning.
Large Korean companies that have joined hands with OTK Company are nurturing materials and parts companies based on their enormous profits.
It was returning as a blade toward Japan’s basic industry. In fact, foreign companies with a large proportion of transactions with OTK Company’s subsidiaries gradually increased their transactions with Korean companies, paying attention.
Technics went bankrupt, and large corporations stumbled. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) screamed, urging the government to take action.
Under such circumstances, the construction of gas pipelines and railroads on the Korean Peninsula, which was carried out through inter-Korean economic cooperation, was another bad news.
From the Japanese point of view, it is best not to do it and it should be prevented as much as possible, but if it is something that cannot be prevented anyway, a spoon should be added. However, in order to do so, the Claims Agreement must first be resolved.
However, under such circumstances, Kang Jin-hoo made the comfort women issue an international issue.
Prime Minister Okazaki sharpened his teeth.
‘Do you mean to undermine Japan’s power in East Asia, both politically and economically?’
If handled incorrectly, Japan could indeed lose influence and be pushed out of Asia.
It was expected that even China would step forward and let go of the obstruction, but China was cautious as if to watch the situation a little more.
Perhaps this is also because he is watching Kang Jin-hoo.
Not long ago, his goal was to amend the constitution. Now, let alone a constitutional amendment, it is impossible to predict the next general election.
‘I can’t believe that one Korean is going to make my head rot like this.’
Although Japan left the Korean Peninsula after the war, the influence of the colonial era still remains and exerts influence on Korean society, including the media, academia, business, politics, and legal circles.
Some media wrote articles favorable to Japan, some scholars taught students about colonialism, and some politicians represented Japan’s position.
Companies are also borrowing Japanese funds and want to access the huge market of Japan. As a result, none of the businessmen were directly hostile to Japan.
However, Jinhu Kang was a completely different existence.
‘What the hell is this guy thinking?’
Prime Minister Okazaki is tying his head, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinji Hayashi said.
“You don’t have to worry too much. Aren’t you familiar with the habits of Koreans?”
“Habits of Koreans?”
“My grandfather always said. The best way to deal with Koreans is to use Koreans.”
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinji Hayashi has a deep relationship with South Korea.
His grandfather, who operated a Hayashi coal mine during the Japanese colonial period, made a lot of money by bringing Korean workers to forced labor.
“It is the Koreans who react when they are suppressed. Giving you what you want will quiet you down, so why do you need to fight? In the past, Japan was able to easily annex Korea because Koreans who wanted it actively helped Japan.”
Prime Minister Okazaki immediately understood what he was saying.
There are many people in the world who put their personal interests ahead of the state.
“No matter how good the conditions are, will Kang Jin-hoo overturn his position and stand on our side?”
If you do, the honor you’ve built so far will fall to the bottom. There is no reason for Jinhoo Kang to take such a risk.
“You don’t have to ask for it. It’s just that Jinhu Kang maintains his current stance and turns slightly in the favor of Japan. Investors are chasing after money anyway. Also, isn’t Jinhoo Kang not that close with the Korean government? Japan must dig into that gap.”
Japan has always been a global economic powerhouse. The country’s wealth and market size are not comparable to those of Korea.
If you want money, give them money; if you want fame, give them honor.
‘What if I could convince Kang Jin-hoo to take Japan’s side?’
Then, all the problems facing Japan can be solved at once.
Prime Minister Okazaki’s eyes lit up.
“I’ll have to meet Jin-hoo Kang in person and make a deal.”
* * *
An unexpected Korea-Japan summit was held.
Prime Minister Okazaki visited Korea, and the leaders of both countries held hands at the Blue House. Until then, we had talked briefly when we met at international events, but this is the first time since the trade dispute that began with Japan’s export restrictions.
As it was the Korea-Japan summit held at a sensitive time, the world’s attention was focused.
After the first meeting, Prime Minister Okazaki spoke to the press.
“I had a deep conversation with President Huh Chang-min. The two countries pledged to work closely together on this issue.”
However, President Huh Chang-min said something completely different.
“There was a consensus that Korea and Japan should move beyond the past and into the future. This requires an openness to solve the problems of the past first. Korea is ready to join hands at any time.”
* * *
During the summit, Prime Minister Okazaki toured Korean companies and factories and met with Korean businessmen.
The first place I visited was the Seosung Electronics Semiconductor Factory. Prime Minister Okazaki admired Korea’s semiconductor technology and emphasized cooperation with Japanese companies.
It was a rare thing to see before.
Taek-gyu, who was watching the scene on TV, asked.
“Is Japan very difficult these days?”
“Are you tired.”
After the Korea-Japan trade dispute, exports to Korea declined, many companies turned to deficits, and some went bankrupt.
As Korean companies keep reducing their income, the prime minister is directly involved in sales.
Of course, I’m not going to increase my orders again from now on, but… … Still, it might be possible to appeal to Japanese companies that are going bankrupt that the Prime Minister is trying so hard.
OTK Company was among the companies that Prime Minister Okazaki visited. Perhaps this is the real purpose.
“There is nothing I can’t meet.”
I accepted the offer to visit.
Taek-gyu also joined us, and we decided to leave the interpretation to Team Leader Jeong Ki-hong. Of course, Prime Minister Okazaki will accompany an interpreter, but it is better to do this to clearly convey our position.
Team leader Jeong Ki-hong, who heard my story, was startled.
“Yes? me?”
“You speak Japanese well.”
Team leader Jeong Ki-hong waved both hands.
“Ah, no, that’s good enough for business, not enough to interpret for such an important position.”
“This is also a kind of business.”
Even when I was studying Japanese, I never thought I would be able to interpret the words of the Japanese Prime Minister.
Taek-gyu tapped Team Leader Jeong Ki-hong on the shoulder.
“No worries. Just do it comfortably as you always do. Shigeru Ong did a good job of interpreting without being nervous, but is Okazaki a problem?”
Anyone who hears it would know that President Ichikawa is superior to Prime Minister Okazaki.
As if Taek-gyu’s words were helpful, team leader Jeong Ki-hong nodded his head with a determined expression.
“Oh, I see. I will do my best.”
“You just have to keep in mind that the future of East Asia and the fate of Korea-Japan relations depend on the team leader’s interpretation.”
“… … Yeah?”
* * *
As it was a visit by the head of the country, bodyguards in suits were deployed around the company for several hours.
When the time came, I went out to the front door, and black cars lined up in front of the company.
Prime Minister Okazaki got out of the car, and we smiled and shook hands.
“Welcome, Prime Minister.”
Prime Minister Okazaki took my hand.
“nice to meet you. CEO Kang Jin-hoo.”
In the meantime, I’ve watched the media get tired of it, and it must be the same. But this is the first time we’ve met in person.
It looks a lot older than what you see on TV. Wrinkles grew on his face, and his hair turned gray.
There have been a lot of things that have been bothering me lately.
I guided the OTK company, and the media captured it on camera.
After the company tour, we sat down.
On our side, there are me, Taek-gyu and three team leaders Jeong Ki-hong, and on the other side is Prime Minister Okazaki and two interpreters.
Unlike Korea and the United States, which have adopted a presidential system, Japan is adopting a cabinet system. Due to the nature of the cabinet system, in which the president of the ruling party is the head of the executive branch, there are virtually no restrictions on the number of consecutive terms.
He was the longest-serving prime minister after the war. How much longer will he be able to sit there?
Prime Minister Okazaki said while drinking tea.
“I think that CEO Kang Jin-hoo may have a negative perception of Japan.”
I smiled and shook my head.
“The Prime Minister seems to have misunderstood something. I don’t have any bad feelings about Japan. He is well aware that he is an important economic partner.”
“You recently visited the House of Sharing.”
“Yes. I came here to meet the grandmothers who were forcibly taken as sexual slaves by the Japanese military. It was very heartbreaking that the grandmothers told me they wanted to receive an apology from Japan before they closed their eyes.”
Prime Minister Okazaki hardened his expression and said.
“Japan has already apologized several times, and it was irreversibly and finally resolved through the last comfort women agreement. So I don’t think it’s appropriate to bring up these issues again.”
In a way, it is Korea that Japan apologized the most. After apologizing in moderation, the problem is that he comes out so shamelessly.
“The relationship between Korea and Japan is for the politicians of both countries to take care of, so I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment on that. I am only advising on the North Korea-Japan agreement. Nothing has been resolved between the two countries, so we have to start over. As it is to calculate the amount of compensation for past events, wouldn’t it be natural to investigate and publicize what happened in the past? If you want to skip this process, you can pay an apology and the $100 billion in compensation the North Koreans think it is.”
This is compensation, not grants or loans. And indemnity is money given to the offender to compensate for the damage.
Prime Minister Okazaki shook his head.
“100 billion dollars is absolutely impossible.”
I nodded.
“I understand Japan’s position very well.”
“If you understand your position, wouldn’t it make sense to offer a realistic amount?”
“That is not something I can decide. I’m just an investor, I’m only advising on negotiations. There is not much I can do other than communicate Japan’s position well to the North Korean side.”
Even if you say this, you will be well aware that I hold the key to the North Korea-Japan negotiations.
Prime Minister Okazaki said with a relaxed expression.
“I came here today because I wanted to request an investment in Japan rather than talking about it.”
Taek-gyu showed interest.
“A sudden investment?”
“I know that Korea has a number of regulations on autonomous driving and ride-sharing. If OTK Company enters Japan, the Japanese government would like to loosen these regulations to create an environment where autonomous vehicles can run, and to provide financial support and tax benefits to attract battery and automobile factories.”(Read more @ wuxiax.com)
In an instant, my ears were persuaded.
“What do you mean?”
“If we enter Japan, we will lend money with a near-zero interest rate and set the limit and deadline as desired. We will also support related companies in Japan such as OTK Games and Faceit.”
Even if Japan has zero interest rates, borrowing money is subject to interest and limits. However, if you follow this proposal, it is no different than saying that you will write a blank check.
Of course, it is not really unlimited, but it is clear that it is an exceptional condition that no company can receive.
“It’s a very good suggestion. We were also very interested in the Japanese market.”
Prime Minister Okazaki said in a soft voice.
“I think Japan and OTK Company can become each other’s wings.”
Taek-gyu said excitedly.
“Five! If you just open up the market, it’s good for us. I will go right in.”
As in any country, the automobile industry is a key industry, and as it has a large impact on the economy, it is protected and nurtured nationally.
Of course, there will be no way to just open this market to us by spending taxes.
I asked Prime Minister Okazaki.
“Is there anything the Prime Minister wants from me or the OTK Company?”
He had a smile on his lips.
“First of all, I hope that we can work together to solve the current pile of issues well. Shouldn’t we draw a bigger picture together for the development of Japan-Korea relations in the future?”
I’m talking back, but I understand what you mean. You want me to stand on the Japanese side.
Japan has a domestic market with a per capita GDP of $40,000 and a population of over 100 million. If you accept this offer, you can enter this huge market without spending a penny of mine.
How much more money can you make in the Japanese market?
“When I hear the Prime Minister’s words, there are people that come to mind.”
“Who are you?”
I asked with a smile.
“Did you know that Eulsaojeok and Jeongmichiljeok? Or Lee Wan-yong or Min Byeong-seok?”
Prime Minister Okazaki’s expression hardened at my words.
“In any country, people who betrayed the country and people of their birth are called Maekukno. They must have received such an offer from Japan, too. In return for selling their country to Japan, the slaves enjoyed wealth and glory for the rest of their lives. But I am different from them.”
I am not trying to say that I love the country and the people more or that I am just. The biggest difference between me and Maekukno is… … .
I looked straight at him and said.
“I have a lot of money.”
Taek-gyu nodded his head for nothing.
“A lot of money. There are so many goddamn things that we don’t even have to sell the country.”
