The headquarters meeting room was filled with faces you’d occasionally see on the news.
Chairman Chae Won-tae of SSK Group and Chairman Yang Jun-mo of CL Group. Besides those two, also present were President Park Dong-wook of SSK Nix, President Chae Won-ho of SSK Innovation, President Yang Ho-young of CL Chemical, and President Yang Ho-kyung of CL Electronics, among others.
We had met before, at places like the Blue House or hotels.
“Nice to meet you.”
Taek-gyu grinned slyly and said to the president of CL Chemical, “How’s your daughter doing?”
President Yang Ho-young gave an awkward smile at that remark.
“I’d like to apologize once again for what happened then.”
President Yang Ho-young’s daughter is Yang Hana. She and Taek-gyu had a bit of a run-in at a party in the past.
I nudged Taek-gyu in the ribs to tell him to stop, then smiled and said, “He’s just joking. Don’t worry about what happened before.”
We exchanged greetings and took our seats.
I looked at President Yang Ho-young and President Chae Won-ho and said, “I heard the stock prices of CL Chemical and SSK Innovation have been falling a lot recently.”
Their expressions subtly hardened at my words.
There are three major battery manufacturers in Korea: Seosung SB, CL Chemical, and SSK Innovation. However, while Seosung SB has skyrocketed, the other secondary battery stocks have continued to plummet.
In internal combustion engine vehicles, the most expensive component is the engine, while in electric vehicles, the most expensive component is the battery. Batteries are the core of electric vehicles, and companies have been engaged in fierce competition.
Both CL Chemical and SSK Innovation are recognized for their excellent technology, and they have secured a string of supply contracts with finished vehicle manufacturers. They have also been diligently investing in R&D to prepare for future market growth. Thanks to this, the performance of NCM batteries has improved beyond comparison to the past.
However…
The situation completely changed due to OTK batteries. When it was first announced, it was expected to be difficult to mass-produce, but they successfully commercialized it as if to prove everyone wrong.
The R&D that both companies had been pouring enormous costs into was temporarily suspended. No matter how much they improve NCM batteries, all they can create is just a better NCM battery.
Next-generation batteries like solid-state batteries and new material batteries are also under development, but there’s no guarantee of success, and even if they succeed, it will be difficult to surpass the performance of OTK batteries.
They probably acquired OTK batteries and analyzed them, but they wouldn’t have been able to figure out the core technology. Even if they did, production is impossible until the patent rights are released.
Now that they’ve confirmed the direction, they’ll try to find ways to bypass the patent, but that won’t be easy either.
Fortunately, the production volume of OTK batteries is limited, and TS Company does not supply large batteries for vehicles produced by TS Company to other companies. Therefore, other finished vehicle manufacturers were forced to continue using existing NCM batteries. However, the price of NCM batteries was gradually declining, and sales volume was also the same.
According to Chairman Im Jin-yong, Volkswagen Group and Fiat Group have requested to revise the volume and price of existing contracts.
Eunseong Motors, which had been cooperating with CL Group in the electric vehicle sector, turned to our side, and cooperation with GM will also be completely cut off after the existing contract volume is fulfilled.
“As you know, unmanned electric vehicles are linked to all fields. Batteries, communication, electronics, and so on. Among your group affiliates, SSK Innovation, CL Chemical, SSK Telecom, CL Telecom, SSK Nix, and CL Electronics can be said to be directly related. So, first of all, I would like to propose to CL Chemical and SSK Innovation the consignment production of OTK batteries.”
Their expressions seemed as bad as their plummeted stock prices. Asking them to produce on consignment OTK batteries instead of batteries produced with their own technology must be a blow to their pride.
However, the cutting-edge NCM battery technology instantly became outdated due to the emergence of OTK batteries. There will still be some demand for a while, but a carriage is still just a carriage, no matter how well you make it.
“We need more batteries, and the operating rate of both groups’ factories is hovering around 60 percent. As you’ve already heard, Seosung Electronics is also planning to commission foundries to TMSC in Taiwan and SK Nix because their own production volume is insufficient. I think there will be many things we need to cooperate on in the future, what do you all think?”
Chairman Chae Won-tae and Chairman Yang Jun-mo both seemed lost in thought. They probably couldn’t have imagined being told this by a young man just a few years ago.
The answer was pretty much predetermined.
Companies prioritize profit. Pride won’t put food on the table.
***
I received a call from Professor Kim Myoung-jun after a long time.
[Congratulations on the blockbuster pre-orders for CarOS.]
“Thank you.”
[Not only our department, but also the chemistry and automotive engineering departments have high expectations. Thanks to you, everyone is happy that they don’t have to worry about getting a job.]
“Really?”
[I heard you’re also cooperating with SSK Group and CL Group? At this point, it’s practically OTK Company that’s feeding the Korean economy.]
He kept praising me, so I felt like he had something he wanted to ask.
“If you have something to say, you can get straight to the point.”
[Really? Then, I have a favor… no, a request to ask.]
“……”
Isn’t this too straight to the point?
“What kind of request?”
[You know the Korea Philharmonic Orchestra, right?]
“Yes, I do. They come to Korea University and perform once or twice a year.”
I don’t usually listen to classical music, so I haven’t been to their performances.
[Right. It’s a historically deep orchestra that was formed in 1955, mainly by music students of Korea University, and has continued to this day. It’s in the top three in Korea and is recognized worldwide.]
“And?”
[As deep as its history is, the Korea Music Hall, which is used as a practice room and concert hall, is also old. They recently had a safety inspection, and renovations are urgently needed. Facility improvements are also needed. So, they are currently seeking sponsorships from companies….]
“Are you asking OTK Company to sponsor them?”
[I’m not usually the type to receive or make these kinds of requests, but the head of the Department of Instrumental Music at Korea University has been asking me so much.]
“The head of the Department of Instrumental Music?”
The music building is quite far from the business school building, so we rarely run into each other. Still, there’s no one in the business administration department who doesn’t know who the head of the Department of Instrumental Music is.
Because…
“Isn’t she your wife?”
[……That’s right.]
Professor Kim Myoung-jun sighed deeply and said.
[If it was another professor who asked, I would cut them off immediately, but what can I do when it’s my wife asking? She pesters me every day, I can’t withstand it. It seems she’s worried because many of her former students are in the orchestra. You don’t have to donate a lot, just pretend to sponsor them with a small amount. If OTK Company donates, wouldn’t other companies also sponsor them?]
It’s not a particularly difficult request.
If you’ve made money, actively sponsoring the arts is also a role of a capitalist.
The Medici family sponsored Botticelli, Michelangelo, etc., leaving behind countless works of art in the world, Andrew Carnegie built Carnegie Hall, and the Rockefeller family built Lincoln Center. Seosung Group and CL Group also operate art halls.
Even if we can’t do that much, we can certainly donate a sponsorship amount.
“With no strings attached?”
Professor Kim Myoung-jun was startled by my words.
[Huh? What do you expect from a poor professor?]
I smiled and said.
“There’s no free lunch in the world.”
[Tsk, did I teach you too well? Can I at least tell them to contact you?]
“Yes, you can.”
[Ah! And one more thing. Never get married. This is the greatest teaching a teacher can give to a student.]
“……”
It’s said as a joke, but I can feel a strong sincerity in it.
***
A middle-aged woman wearing glasses came to the company.
“Hello. I’m Park Hye-jin, the representative of the Korea Philharmonic Orchestra.”
“Welcome. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
It is the conductor who leads the orchestra, but the representative also has a lot to do. They have to manage the members of the orchestra and are responsible for performance schedules and venue rentals, etc. But the most important task is securing the budget.
Revenue comes in every time they perform, but that alone is not enough to sustain them. Unless it’s a very large and successful orchestra, support from local governments and corporate sponsorships are essential.
Especially for facility renovations that require a huge budget like this time, the Seoul Metropolitan Government also expressed difficulties, and as a result, the representative is directly running around to raise funds. However, it seems difficult to get sponsorships because even large corporations are not in good shape these days.
There are various reasons why companies sponsor culture and arts. First of all, tax reduction benefits are given (but we don’t qualify anyway because our corporation is in a tax haven), and they can promote the company. Various benefits are given when attending concerts, which is a bonus. Special performance invitations, reserved seats, VIP treatment, etc.
Taek-gyu asked, “How much do you need?”
Then Representative Park Hye-jin cautiously said, “2.7 billion won.”
Hearing the amount, we looked at each other.
She quickly added, “Ah! I’m not asking you to sponsor the entire amount. Even sponsoring just a part would be sufficient.”
Taek-gyu said in a small voice, “I was thinking of several billion won, but it’s cheaper than I thought.”
“Right.”
I also thought about around 10 billion won. How much should we donate?
Before I could finish thinking, Taek-gyu said, “We’ll sponsor the entire amount without you having to go to multiple places.”
At those words, Representative Park Hye-jin stood up from her seat and bowed deeply.
“Re-really? Thank you.”
“There’s just one condition.”
“A condition?”
“Well, it’s not too difficult, so don’t worry. It’s just….”
Hearing Taek-gyu’s condition, she was surprised. I was surprised too. What is he talking about out of the blue?
After a moment, Representative Park Hye-jin, regaining her composure, stammered, “S-so, you’re saying you want us to perform Lost Fantasy music as an orchestra?”
“That game has so much good music. Especially the ending song of 7 and the opening song of 12 were truly touching. Have you heard them?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“To not have heard those masterpieces is a shame. It’s on A-tube, so please listen to it sometime. You’ll be amazed.”
I said in embarrassment, “Why suddenly a Lost Fantasy orchestra?”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. As everyone knows, next year is the 30th anniversary of Lost Fantasy’s release.”
“……”
Everyone knows, but why am I the only one who didn’t know?
“If we hold a 30th-anniversary concert, wouldn’t it be a good memory for Lost Fantasy fans?”
“Who would listen if you perform that with an orchestra?”
“The fans will listen.”
“The concert audience and the game audience are completely different, aren’t they?”
“Why do you think they are different? Gamers invest so much in sound. We even have gaming headsets separately. They listen to music while playing games.”
“……”
What is this? It’s surprisingly logical, making it hard to refute.
Taek-gyu, as if excited, clenched his fist and shouted, “How long are we going to keep playing Mozart and Beethoven? It’s time for orchestras to play new music too.”
“That’s just because the only musicians you know are Mozart and Beethoven. There’s also Johann Strauss II and Johannes Brahms.”
“And Kondo Hayashi too.”
“Who’s that?”
“As everyone knows, the music director of Lost Fantasy. Don’t tell me you didn’t know?”
“……”
Why am I constantly excluded from that “everyone”?
Taek-gyu looked at Representative Park Hye-jin and asked, “Would it be difficult?”
“N-no, it’s not difficult, but….”
“Think about it. It’s an opportunity to make the Korea Philharmonic Orchestra’s name known worldwide. I’ll give you massive promotional support, and if it flops… no, if you lose money, I’ll cover all the costs. But it’s bound to be a hit and generate profit.”
Representative Park Hye-jin had a completely reluctant expression. But 2.7 billion won in sponsorship is on the line.
It’s too large an amount to refuse, isn’t it?
Art is a very noble thing, but you need money to do it, right?
She nodded, as if having made a firm decision.
“I’ll do it.”
