Developing treatments for mutated viruses using artificial intelligence.
It had been only a few hours since Chun Min-jung arrived at Centurion, yet she had already conceived this idea.
"Viruses are ultimately just collections of vast amounts of information, right? If we store all the data and run experiments using deep learning AI, I think we could quickly identify treatments for mutated viruses."
"Aren't you the security officer? Why are you suddenly talking about AI and drug development?"
CEO Seo Jeong-jun looked at Chun Min-jung with a puzzled expression.
It was understandable—anyone would find it strange if someone who came to handle security systems suddenly started talking about drug development.
"She is Team Leader Chun Min-jung, a core talent at Taewoo IT and head of the AI division at Taewoo Group," I explained.
"She came here just to install security systems?"
"CEO Seo, haven't you been hearing news about mutated strains of the new flu lately?"
"Yes, there have been reports of a mutated new flu discovered in Mexico."
The higher the number of infected individuals, the greater the likelihood of viral mutation.
For viruses serious enough to be classified as pandemics, mutation was inevitable.
"Team Leader Chun, using deep learning AI, how quickly could we develop treatments for mutated viruses?"
"I haven't tried this before, so precise predictions are difficult. But I believe it would be possible to provide interpretation data sufficient for a pharmaceutical company to begin developing a treatment within a week. Of course, I couldn't do it alone—it would require collaboration with AI professors and research teams from IIT."
It was an experiment worth attempting.
Even if it didn't make a significant impact on treating the new flu mutation, it didn't matter.
It could still be extremely useful in the event of another pandemic-level outbreak.
"I'll contact IIT. Start research on the new flu mutation virus immediately, starting today."
"May I also collaborate with the Bitcoin team?"
"They're IT experts, right? How is that related to this project?"
"They're not only IT experts but also cryptography specialists. Their help is necessary to interpret the virus data. Plus, we've worked together several times before, so it's comfortable to coordinate with them."
Worked together several times?
As far as I knew, aside from the Bitcoin development project, Chun Min-jung had no prior interactions with them.
"Have they worked on any projects besides Bitcoin?"
"We meet regularly to develop security systems together. As cryptography experts, they've been a huge help in creating anti-hacking programs. To be precise, they lead the development of these programs."
This was information I hadn't fully grasped before.
The cryptography experts had been mainly focused on Bitcoin development and maintenance.
Of course, some were appointed as IIT professors, but it was true that I hadn't paid much attention to them.
"I didn't realize they were developing an anti-hacking system."
"It feels odd for me to say it myself, but I can confidently claim it's the best anti-hacking system in South Korea. If I exaggerate a little, it's among the top five in the world."
"I'll increase support. We'll provide additional equipment and personnel for the anti-hacking system development."
"They've already expressed interest in scouting their own students or acquaintances," she said.
"Tell them to bring everyone. We'll give them top-of-the-line treatment in the industry."
So far, the Taewoo Group hadn't faced any serious IT security issues.
However, as the IT business expanded, it was only a matter of time before problems could arise, so it was important to prepare in advance.
And the reason there hadn't been any major security incidents until now was largely thanks to Chun Min-jung and the Bitcoin team upgrading the security systems proactively.
"I'll spread the word on the way to IIT. They're going to be thrilled," she said.
"I feel a bit bad that Team Leader Chun's workload keeps increasing," I admitted.
"It's fine. I enjoy all of it! Plus, I relieve stress by preparing for the League of Champions tournament, so I'm perfectly okay!"
Chun Min-jung was impatient.
She was eager to begin research on the mutated virus using deep learning AI.
As she responded, she was already gathering materials and preparing to stand, but CEO Seo Jeong-jun stopped her.
"What can we do to help? Should we send some researchers from the development team?"
"It would be great if you could send someone familiar with the new flu virus."
"Then I'll go myself," came a voice from behind.
We turned our heads simultaneously and saw Dr. Kim Jang-woo standing at the door with a smile.
"Dr. Kim! Are you sure this is alright?"
"I want to experience the youthful atmosphere at the university again. And the reason I came to Korea is to develop a new treatment," he said.
Who could be more of an expert on the new flu virus than Dr. Kim Jang-woo?
Having the person who had developed Tamiflu involved in this project would certainly be a tremendous help.
"Then we'll be counting on you," Chun Min-jung said.
"No, I should be the one asking for your help. I only have knowledge of chemistry. I'm still in the process of learning AI. Team Leader Chun, did you say? I'll go with you to IIT."
"I'll drive and take you there," Chun Min-jung said, holding up the car keys.
Her gesture seemed oddly reckless, so I took the keys from her.
"The security team will escort both of you. We'll also assign a vehicle and driver. If anything happens to both of you simultaneously, it would be a serious problem."
"Ha ha ha, I didn't say anything, but I won't refuse. Driving has become increasingly difficult as I've aged, especially in Seoul," Dr. Kim said.
Chun Min-jung and Dr. Kim Jang-woo were escorted by security to IIT.
Chun Min-jung would provide the overall framework, while the detailed research would be handled by Dr. Kim and the AI team.
Immediate success wasn't the goal.
Even establishing a foundation in a field that no one had explored yet would be considered a significant achievement.
***
A few days later.
I visited a quiet restaurant near Gyeonggi Province.
The only time I came to Gyeonggi was to meet Governor Choi Jae-seok.
"I've heard that Taewoo Group accomplished something remarkable this time. Tamiflu, which other countries can't buy even at a premium, is now available at an affordable price in Korea thanks to your group," Governor Choi said.
"We were fortunate. Production and distribution are entirely handled by Centurion. Taewoo Group merely invested," I replied.
"Ha ha, your modesty is excessive. Everyone knows that Centurion is essentially a subsidiary of Taewoo Group," he praised with an expression of genuine admiration.
The compliments were almost overwhelming, but knowing that Governor Choi rarely showed this kind of reaction, I didn't mind it at all.
"How is the atmosphere in Gyeonggi Province these days? The media says it's the busiest region in the country," I asked.
"Thanks to Chairman Kim, Gyeonggi is thriving. Not only is the Taewoo Semiconductor plant active, but construction by overseas companies is also progressing steadily, resulting in significant annual population growth," he said.
The world was still reeling from the Lehman Brothers collapse.
Yet Gyeonggi Province seemed to be an exception.
Various investors had already funded factories under construction, and overseas companies operating there were largely unaffected by the Lehman crisis, so construction continued smoothly.
"That's because Governor Choi manages things well. Isn't that why your approval rating is higher now than at the start of your term?" I noted.
"Approval ratings are just numbers that can change at any time," he said.
Governor Choi's approval rating at the start of his term had been around 50%.
Normally, approval ratings decline over time, and even presidents face a "lame-duck" period toward the end of their terms.
But Governor Choi was different.
His approval rating had increased every year, and with only one year left in his term, it had reached nearly 70%.
If he ran for re-election as governor in next year's local elections, victory was virtually guaranteed.
"Isn't it about time to prepare your next move? You could run for re-election as Gyeonggi Governor, or perhaps aim even higher," I suggested.
"For now, I plan to aim for another term as Gyeonggi Governor," he replied.
"There's no harm in considering options after winning re-election. The next presidential election is three years away. You could spend two years increasing your approval rating as governor and then make your move," I noted.
A president's term lasted five years, while a governor's term was four years, so the election cycles didn't overlap.
It was entirely feasible to seek the presidency after securing a second term as Gyeonggi Governor.
"I'm still not certain. I'm relatively well-known in Gyeonggi, but I can't be sure about other regions," he admitted.
"Your popularity in the Seoul area is considerable as well. If you secure votes from Seoul and Gyeonggi alone, you could compete effectively against the major parties," I said.
"Simply being able to compete isn't enough. I need absolute confidence that I can win to consider a presidential bid. Alone, I could take the risk, but with so many dependents relying on me, I have to be cautious," he explained.
I understood Governor Choi Jae-seok's concerns.
If he abandoned his post as governor and lost the presidential race, it could jeopardize the People's Economy Party's base in Gyeonggi, threatening the party's very existence.
"Still, a party must field a presidential candidate to be recognized. If the People's Economy Party doesn't participate in the next election, public backlash will grow," I reminded him.
"That's why I'm hesitant. For now, I want to focus solely on next year's local elections," he said.
"There's no need to decide immediately. Take the next two years to consider your options. By the way, how do you see the prospects for the local elections next year?"
The importance of local elections was undeniable.
For a fledgling party like the People's Economy Party, winning even one additional seat in local councils was crucial for expanding influence and consolidating power.
"I expect the results to be better than the last local elections. In particular, there are projections that the People's Economy Party could dominate the Gyeonggi region," he said.
"If we secure seats in Gyeonggi, parts of Seoul, and even Gyeongnam and Busan, we could significantly expand our influence," I noted.
"It's all thanks to Chairman Kim," Governor Choi said.
Indeed, his presence in this position was largely due to my support.
The Taewoo Group had strongly backed the People's Economy Party, allowing its current approval ratings to rise.
Now it was time for the People's Economy Party to give back some support to Taewoo Group.
"Hmm, as you may know, we've negotiated with the government regarding electric vehicle subsidies. Once EVs are commercialized, the government has agreed to provide subsidies," I explained.
"The People's Economy Party is also actively supporting the EV subsidy policy. I believe it's an essential policy for Korea's development," he said.
"Although the subsidy issue has been resolved, the charging station problem remains. The government has offered to help install EV chargers at public institutions and large buildings, but that's far from sufficient," I noted.
The government couldn't manage every city directly.
Instead, local autonomy had to be leveraged, and in Gyeonggi Province, the People's Economy Party controlled the governor, mayors, and council members, which made it possible to receive support.
"We'll ensure that many charging stations are built in Gyeonggi as well," he offered.
"That alone isn't enough. I want to transform Gyeonggi into an EV-friendly province," I said.
Every initiative required a pilot program.
If Gyeonggi took the lead as a pilot EV city, it could accelerate the commercialization of electric vehicles nationwide.