There was no industry where labor costs loomed as large as in commerce.
You had to receive goods from sellers, store them in warehouses, and then deliver them all the way to customers' doorsteps.
Every step of that process required human hands, which meant an enormous workforce.
It was no wonder Jeffrey had spent hours ranting about labor costs.
In the commerce industry, labor expenses consumed an outsized share of revenue.
That was why Jeffrey had poured most of Amazon's sales into reducing those costs—and now, he was finally starting to see results.
"So, if I join hands with the Taewoo Group, you're saying there's a way to cut labor costs?" Jeffrey asked.
"How about we build robots together?" I suggested. "Robots are essential if we want to perfect the concept of factory automation."
"I've heard about robotic arms being used in automobile plants," Jeffrey replied. "I even had plans to introduce them to Amazon's warehouses. But I never considered manufacturing robots ourselves."
I had seen robotic arms plenty of times.
At any Taewoo Motors factory, dozens of them were already assisting in assembly work.
But that was all they did—assist.
What I wanted wasn't just a robot arm that helped with assembly, but a robot that could complete the process entirely without human involvement.
"Robotic arms used in car factories aren't enough," I explained. "To truly slash labor costs, we need robots capable of handling every stage of the process without humans at all."
"That would be ideal," Jeffrey admitted, "but is it even possible? Warehouse operations may look simple, but they're far more complicated than they appear."
"That's exactly why Taewoo Group and Amazon should join forces," I said.
For Taewoo to jump into the robotics business alone would be reckless.
To minimize risk, a partner was necessary—and there was no better partner than Amazon.
Other companies weren't suitable, since in most cases our customer bases overlapped too much for a joint venture.
Among the groups that did not compete with Taewoo, Amazon was virtually the only company that truly needed robotics development.
"If it's about investing in factory automation, I also recognize the necessity," Jeffrey said. "But it feels like what you're proposing goes far beyond that, and frankly, it scares me a little."
"You can walk away at any time," I reassured him. "But once the results start coming in, you won't be able to leave. You'll be hooked on the practicality of robots."
"You're that confident?"
"Of course. With Amazon and Taewoo working together, we can drastically shorten development time. And now that you've finally turned profitable, this is the perfect moment to invest in robotics."
"How could I refuse when you're asking me directly? Still, I didn't realize Taewoo Group also struggled with labor costs. Compared to the U.S., I thought your labor expenses were less than half."
The issue of labor costs wasn't about the present—it was about the future.
Sure, building factories in China or Southeast Asia could significantly cut expenses for now.
But that loophole wouldn't last forever.
China's labor costs would inevitably rise someday.
And if new factories kept springing up overseas, the political establishment at home would never let it slide.
The biggest concern, however, was population decline.
Although the low birthrate hadn't yet become a heated topic, within just a few years the number of workers would drop sharply.
So, if Taewoo wanted to survive as a Korean company, it had to go beyond simple automation—rapidly adopting smart factories that combined robotics with the Internet of Things.
"No matter how low wages are, replacing humans with robots is always a gain," I explained. "Robots don't need salaries, vacations, or breaks. Can labor costs ever compete with machines that can work 24/7, 365 days a year?"
"I couldn't agree more," Jeffrey nodded. "Even if we fail to develop the kind of robots you envision, just creating ones that can sort and organize logistics would still slash labor expenses."
No further persuasion was needed.
Jeffrey was already picturing a logistics center bustling with robots, so we were able to sign the contract without delay.
"I've already acquired a few Japanese robotics firms," Jeffrey added. "Next, we'll move to acquire companies in the U.S. and Europe and push full-scale into development."
"I'll put together a concrete plan myself!" I promised.
"Good. Taewoo will also send specialists to the U.S. so you can work together on the details."
Artificial intelligence and robotics.
It wasn't just preparation for a smart factory—it was technology that could also be applied across Taewoo Group's diverse product lines. That was why development needed to begin as soon as possible.
And if Jeffrey were to lead it, the results might come far faster than I had ever expected.
Jeffrey muttered to himself as he headed back to Amazon.
It reminded me of when he had first founded the company—he was once again lost in a world of endless ideas and visions.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Jeffrey like that. The boss really does have a knack for getting people to work. If the boss sets his sights on you, even a homeless man would pick up a job."
"David, you sound rather relaxed these days. Should I throw some work your way?"
"I'd welcome it anytime."
David had come over to the U.S. with me. While I stayed in California, he had been meeting with people in Washington.
"You made sure to properly convey my thanks to the White House, right? I'd have liked to express it in person, but doing that might have caused unnecessary issues."
"I passed along your gratitude perfectly. They also said we shouldn't hesitate to reach out if there's anything else they can do."
The White House had given us tremendous support.
For my sake, they had even brought out the formidable Super 301 Act. Naturally, I was planning to repay that favor.
"There is one more thing I'd like to ask. I'm thinking of consolidating SAVE Investment and all the companies we've backed into one place. To secure the right building, I'll need the White House's help."
"You need their help just to buy a building? Don't tell me it's government-owned property?"
"I want to lease a building long-term from the New York Port Authority."
"The Port Authority… don't tell me you're considering the World Trade Center?"
"Of course. If we're going to make a statement, it has to be with a landmark like New York's World Trade Center. That way, Wall Street will clearly understand the scale of our influence—and the nuisance factor will disappear. Surely you're not going to tell me it's impossible?"
I teasingly prodded David.
He smirked, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"We don't even need the White House's help for this. As it happens, I've heard the New York Port Authority is already planning to lease out the Trade Center long-term to private companies."
"Can it be done before August?"
"Absolutely! All you need to do, Boss, is get ready for the move."
The World Trade Center.
One of New York's greatest landmarks.
And soon enough, it would become the site of the catastrophic 9/11 attacks.
Yet here I was, preparing to lease the entire complex.
Calling it a 'lease' was just a figure of speech—considering the money involved, I could have bought several other skyscrapers outright.
It was far too expensive a "gift" for Bush.
But of course, I had already devised a way to recover every last dollar.
After wrapping up my business trip in the U.S., I boarded a flight back to Korea.
I had always used Seoul Airport before, but this time, I finally returned through the newly completed Incheon International Airport.
"They really built it well. Much wider and cleaner than Seoul Airport."
"I find myself impressed every time I come here too. Honestly, I never imagined Korea would one day have an international hub like this."
Together with the planning director who had come to greet me, I took a short tour of Incheon Airport.
Even though I had used it several times in my previous life, seeing it again after so long gave me a fresh sense of wonder.
As we were looking around, a sudden commotion stirred nearby.
"Sounds like a celebrity must be arriving."
"Indeed. Shall we head back to the office now?"
"Yes, let's do that."
But then—
From within the crowd of over a hundred people, someone recognized me and shouted.
"Hey! It's the Taewoo Group heir!"
"Wooooah!"
"Vice Chairman Kim Min-jae! I'm a fan!"
Maybe it was because they were idol fans.
People came up to me with shameless smiles, asking for handshakes.
I ended up taking photos with them, even signing autographs, before I could finally break free from the crowd and get into the car.
"This is definitely a first."
"We'll need to increase your security detail, sir. The general public is starting to recognize you now."
"Being recognized is one thing… but I didn't expect people to ask for handshakes and autographs."
"Your popularity has been skyrocketing lately. Ever since the iPhone launch, the media has been showering you with praise."
It wasn't just Taewoo Group's stock that was rebounding.
My reputation, once driven into the ground, had also recovered significantly. The media no longer published smear pieces about me.
"When I acquired Taewoo Semiconductor, they practically wanted to eat me alive."
"Well, how could the reporters have known? Honestly, even I didn't expect Taewoo Semiconductor to stabilize this quickly."
I still remembered the articles predicting the collapse of Taewoo Group because of the acquisition—pinning the blame squarely on me.
But once we secured the massive contract to supply semiconductors for the iPhone, Taewoo Semiconductor's losses shrank dramatically. And as chip prices began climbing, those doomsday articles vanished overnight.
"Well, that's public opinion for you—shifting at the drop of a hat. Right now they praise me, but if Taewoo Group's stock dips even slightly, they'll be the first to start condemning me again."
"We'll do our best to prevent that from happening. After all, that's the job of the Planning Office and the Secretariat, isn't it?"
"No need to go overboard. I'm not the type to be swayed by every little swing in public opinion."
Together with the Planning Director, I returned to headquarters.
Waiting in the Vice Chairman's office were the presidents of Taewoo Motors and Kia Motors.
"It's been a while. I was the one who recruited you to Korea, yet I've hardly had the chance to greet you properly. My apologies."
"Not at all. If anything, I should thank you. Because you've given me space, I've been free to reform Kia Motors exactly the way I wanted."
"When did your Korean improve so much? Anyone would think you were a native speaker."
President Carlos spoke fluent Korean.
As expected, his gift for languages was extraordinary. With talent backed by relentless effort, he had mastered Korean in no time.
"Aren't you focusing a bit too much on Kia Motors? Don't forget I'm here as well."
"Of course, I was about to greet you next. I've heard the reports—Taewoo Motors has been taking the U.S. market by storm."
The rivalry between Kia Motors and Taewoo Motors was intense.
Carlos had succeeded in revitalizing Kia Motors, while Taewoo Motors dominated not only the domestic market share but was also posting impressive sales figures across the United States and Europe.
They were fierce competitors.
Thanks to that rivalry, Taewoo and Kia combined now held nearly half of the domestic auto market.
"The reason I asked both of you here today is to discuss factory automation systems."
"By automation, do you mean robotic arms? We've already begun implementing them, starting with the Changwon plant. Assembly, welding, and other processes are now being handled by robotic arms."
Was there any industry that made better use of robotics than the automotive sector?
As far back as the 1970s, auto plants had been using robotic arms.
At the Changwon factory alone, dozens of robotic arms—each costing tens of millions of won—were already in operation.
But that wasn't enough.
To introduce the kind of smart factory I envisioned, I would need the full cooperation of both presidents.
TL/n -
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