There's a saying, "to be AMZ'd."
AMZ, which started as an online bookstore, expanded omni-directionally into online shopping malls, cloud services, news, content creation, streaming, AI speakers, devices, advertising, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and finance.
AMZ's expansion strategy was simple. Enter a market, don't pursue profit, and even incur massive losses to maximize scale. Once economies of scale are established, use them to further lower costs and attract more users with these low costs. This chicken ga crushes competitors, allowing AMZ to completely dominate the market.
"To be AMZ'd" ca to an that when AMZ entered an industry, competing companies were dood to fail.
Economic experts, drawing a parallel, coined the new term "to be OTK'd."
When Kang Jinhoo first invested in companies like Karos, FaceIt, and M Pizza, no one paid any attention. However, these companies have now driven out competitors and virtually dominate their markets.
Therefore, when OTK Company acquired Tugobox, a startup for video creation and sharing, rumors instantly spread throughout the industry.
Although no imdiate changes were expected, related companies remained on high alert.
Everyone had a good idea of why OTK Company acquired a video platform.
"Are they aiming for after the VRMMORPG is released?"
The biggest buzz in the ga industry recently was the currently popular Lost Fantasy Online and the announced developnt plans for a VRMMORPG.
OTK Gas had stated that it would continue to allow internet broadcasting of Lost Fantasy on all platforms, but it was highly likely that this policy would change once the VRMMORPG was released. Might they allow ga streaming only on their own platform and ban it elsewhere, or operate by charging fees only to other platforms?
Either way, they wouldn't just stand by and watch others profit from the content they created.
"But isn't that only if it succeeds?"
"It ans they're confident it will succeed."
"They wouldn't pour $10 billion into developnt costs otherwise."
This incident brought Vice President Oh Taekgyu into the spotlight anew. The fact that the Vice President had worn a mask while hosting a ga stream was revealed by Chairman Im Jinyong, who had appeared on the show.
"So, it wasn't an eccentric act, but a way to check the marketability of ga streaming?"
"I can't believe he'd personally wear a mask to test it."
"That’s not sothing most people would do."
"Was wearing an Iron Man mask perhaps a provocation against Disney?"
Before Kang Jinhoo appeared, Warren Buffett was the world's most outstanding investor, and he is still praised and respected by many.
The person he considers a partner, friend, and ntor is Vice Chairman Charlie Munger. There's an anecdote that when Buffett is unsure about an investnt, he always consults Charlie Munger, and in the end, slaps his knee and exclaims, "You're right, Charlie Munger!"
Perhaps Kang Jinhoo and Oh Taekgyu had a similar relationship.
Compared to Kang Jinhoo, little was publicly known about Vice President Oh Taekgyu. However, the financial industry had long since gathered information.
He was Kang Jinhoo's middle school classmate and had only graduated from high school.
One might look down on him for being a high school graduate, but in this field, nothing is as aningless as academic qualifications. If not, why would all sorts of geniuses with backgrounds from Harvard, Yale, MBAs, CFAs, etc., be working under others?
"The idea that the Vice President is the real power isn't just a joke, it seems."
"Co to think of it, it was the Vice President who first established OTK Company and brought Kang Jinhoo in."
"We'll need to keep a close eye on the Vice President's movents from now on."
"He might be even more of a person to watch out for than Kang Jinhoo..."
***
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) announced its largest deficit in history. Its stock price was not just halved but cut to a third, and investors unleashed their fury on the governnt.
This was because the nuclear power plant operating rate had dropped significantly this year.
KEPCO is a listed company, but it's a public corporation. Therefore, it is subject to various governnt controls. When international oil prices rise, refineries raise the prices of gasoline and diesel they sell.
However, electricity rates are set by the governnt, not KEPCO, so KEPCO profits when electricity production costs are low and loses money when they are high.
Although said to be temporary, this state of affairs could not be allowed to continue. Eventually, one of three options had to be chosen:
Increase the nuclear plant operating rate to lower costs, raise electricity prices, or have the governnt cover the deficit with taxes.
The governnt was visibly flustered but firmly stated that there would be absolutely no increase in electricity prices.
Electricity prices are directly linked to the cost of living, and raising them is a sensitive issue due to concerns about the impact on low-inco households. This is especially true with an election approaching.
In this situation, Professor Nikolai Petrov, who was spearheading TWR developnt, visited Korea.
Just as Isaac Newton said, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants," new ideas and technologies are built upon the foundations laid by humanity.
However, even when standing on the sa giant's shoulders, a taller person with better eyesight can see a little further.
In this respect, Professor Nikolai Petrov was undoubtedly a genius.
Having succeeded in the TWR experint, he solved problems one by one. Comrcialization was now only a matter of ti.
As miniaturization and modularization are possible, there are plans to produce it for marine vessels as well. If TWR is used as fuel, it will have trendous economic advantages over conventional ship fuel.
Fuel costs could be drastically reduced, and there would be no need for refueling during long voyages. Of course, safety asures against various mariti accidents would need to be prepared.
The Russian governnt actively supported TWR construction and export, and all countries with nuclear power plant construction plans showed great interest and joined the TWR camp. This included NATO mber countries that were imposing economic sanctions on Russia.
After a short wait, Professor Petrov and his entourage walked out of the arrivals gate.
Nuclear physicists are treated as important figures in any country, but after the TWR developnt, Professor Petrov was designated as a subject of national security protection.
Therefore, Russian governnt bodyguards accompanied him on this trip to Korea. n in black suits, with model-like proportions, sunglasses, and earpieces, flanked him.
If anything were to happen to him, it could escalate into a diplomatic issue between Korea and Russia. Therefore, National Intelligence Service agents controlled parts of the arrivals hall, ensuring thorough security.
I greeted him warmly.
"It's even better to see you here in Korea."
Professor Petrov smiled brightly.
"Haha, it's been a while."
A balding, middle-aged man standing next to bowed respectfully and said in English,
"Welco to Korea. I am Kim Yongjun, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power."
Professor Petrov shook hands with him.
"Pleased to et you. I have long been aware of Korea's outstanding nuclear technology. I am delighted to et you like this."
Professor Petrov's visit to Korea was at my invitation.
First, he would visit Korea University to et with nuclear engineering professors and students, then tour Korean nuclear facilities with other researchers, and et with KHNP officials.
***
The Blue House issued no particular statent, but the whole world was watching Professor Petrov's visit to Korea. The Korean nuclear industry, in particular, had very high expectations.
I headed to Korea University with Professor Petrov. The Korea University professors had already gathered in one place.
Professor Kim MyoungJun bead.
"Thanks to my student, I don't know how many Nobel laureates I've t."
"Professor Petrov hasn't received it yet."
"Even if not this year, won't he surely win the Physics prize next year?"
"That's probably true."
It would indeed be strange if he didn't get it.
The nuclear engineering professors, who train Korea's top nuclear engineers, warmly welcod Professor Petrov. Eritus professors, who could be considered elders, also ca. These were the people who had built Korean nuclear technology from scratch, now white-haired old n.
Without these individuals, Korea could not have dread of building nuclear power plants with its own technology.
Attendance at the lecture was prioritized for students from the nuclear engineering and nuclear physics departnts. Korea University students applied first, followed by students from other schools.
The remaining seats were taken by Korea University engineering students. The main auditorium was packed with them. Even folding chairs from storage were mobilized, but there still weren't enough seats, so so sat packed on the stairs.
The opportunity to et a world-renowned scholar is rare.
Among them, surprisingly, was Princess Enrique. Or perhaps, now that she's a Korea University engineering student, it wasn't surprising?
First, I went up to the podium and said to the students,
"I present to you, Professor Nikolai Petrov!"
***
After the Nishida Securities scandal that rocked international finance and Japanese politics, Pri Minister Okazaki dissolved the Lower House and held another general election.
The result, as always, was a victory for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Although the world was aware of the peculiarities of Japanese democracy, this LDP re-election was surprising.
Which governnt on earth could lose 2 trillion yen of national pension funds and still win an election?
Although successful in regaining power, the LDP's number of seats was greatly reduced. However, the Democratic Party, which had been the main opposition, did not increase its seats either.
So, who took the remaining seats? The party that made the most significant gains in this general election was none other than the Japan Innovation Party (JIP).
The LDP, as everyone knows, is a conservative right-wing party. But the JIP was an incomparably more extre far-right party.
Compared to them, the LDP looked like a moderate centrist force.
"The Nishida Securities scandal has made Japan a laughingstock to the world! What happened to Pri Minister Okazaki's slogans of 'Strong Japan' and 'Restoring Japan's past'? When will the constitutional andnt for a 'normal country' actually happen? How long must Japan bow its head, wary of neighboring countries?"
Kato Nakamura, President of the Japan Innovation Party, shouted that if he won and beca Pri Minister, he would hold Korea accountable, even if it ant going to war.
"Japan protected Korea from the Western powers and led Korea onto the path of modernization! Yet Korea, ignorant of this benevolence, is hell-bent on exploiting Japan! They fabricated 'comfort won' and 'forced laborers' to demand compensation from Japan, and not content with that, they committed fraud to plunder 2 trillion yen of Japanese citizens' retirent funds! Since when did Japan beco such a pushover? I and the mbers of the Japan Innovation Party will definitely hold the Korean governnt accountable and restore this!"
A large number of anti-Okazaki faction mbers, who were a minority within the LDP, defected to the Japan Innovation Party. As far-right populism took hold effectively, the JIP succeeded in increasing its seats from a re 11 to an astonishing 73.
The Nishida Securities scandal was also linked to the Pri Minister's personal corruption. Therefore, it was wisest not to bring it up at all.
Pri Minister Okazaki and LDP mbers avoided ntioning it as much as possible, but the Japan Innovation Party kept harping on the issue.
JIP mbers also spewed hardline remarks in the Diet.
"Kang Jinhoo must kneel and apologize."
"Korea's insolence must be corrected."
"At this rate, reclaiming Takeshima will also be impossible!"
"We must also consider severing diplomatic ties with Korea!"
President Kato Nakamura argued that the Nishida Securities scandal should be resolved together with the forced labor compensation ruling issue and the comfort won issue.
"It may seem like there are multiple problems, but the essence is simple. It's that Korea is trying to subjugate Japan and extort money. The solution is also simple. The Japanese governnt must hold the Korean governnt accountable, prepared for severed ties and even war. If Japan backs down here, it will be reduced to a laughingstock in the international community."
For the Japan Innovation Party, it was practically a no-lose situation.
If Pri Minister Okazaki did nothing, they could continue to hurl criticism; if he took action, they could take credit for it.
The LDP was well aware of this point, but to avoid being outdone, they had no choice but to adopt a hardline stance.
Pri Minister Okazaki issued an official statent.
"We urge the South Korean governnt to promptly resolve the issues regarding OTK Company's compensation and apology, the implentation of the comfort won agreent, and the seizure of Japanese corporate assets following the forced labor compensation rulings. If actual damage to Japanese companies occurs, the Japanese governnt will respond with various sanctions, including tariff hikes, restrictions on transactions with related companies, and remittance limits."
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