Dear Comrade

Dear Comrade Leader, Episode 244

Chapter 85. The future is a battle of platforms

If I had to name one of the most abused idioms in the 21st century, it would be the idiom ‘change the world’.

When e-mail first went into service, someone said it changed the world.

When the feature phone first came out, when the chubby CRT TV disappeared and a thin TV with an LCD display appeared, it was said that the world was changed or the world was changed.

This phrase, which was right at first, was later abused by advertising producers and publicists, who found it amusing, to the point of making loud noises every day that something could change the world.

(Unfortunately, even in Pyongyang these days, you can see phrases such as ‘Changing the world of hamburgers! McDonald’s Garau! Burger King is landing in Pyongyang soon.’)

But in January 2007, a white man in a black turtleneck – the idiom that Steve Jobs brought out with a new mobile device, the iPhone, that changed the world was no exaggeration.

-The era of PDA is gone, Blackberry is gone.

– A true smartphone that has finally appeared! A major innovation is taking place in the global IT industry… … .

-Some experts raise pessimism. I don’t know if the era of current cell phones (feature phones) will end so soon… … . It could be just another ‘expensive toy’.

Of course, such skepticism was nothing more than a sound completely unknown to Junghwan, who had been preparing for the advent of smartphones and their ripple effects from the very beginning.

In fact, he has been preparing for the changes that will change this era since the entire republic was in turmoil several months, no, years ago due to the protests at the Hakchongryon.

However, it was not a story of making something like the previous cars or chasers in developed countries that were ahead of North Korea.

“Comrades in the party, and leading comrades in the private business world, as we all know, a world-changing change has taken place in Silicon Valley now. And this change will serve as an opportunity for our republic, which has been only striving to catch up with other advanced countries, to occupy a leadership position in one field in the world economy, both in name and reality.”

About a week after the so-called ‘iPhone Shock’, a historic Steve Jobs presentation that will be remembered for posterity, Jeong Hwan and party economic officials were held at the headquarters of the Korea Investment Corporation for the new year of 2007. It was a word that came out of a public hearing.

In the South Korean style, it was a ‘meeting between the heads of the business community and the president’, with officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Party, the heads of public companies including the Korea Oil Corporation and the Investment Corporation, as well as the heads of state-run funds, as well as the executives of the top 10 companies based on market capitalization in the republic. The expression of the chiefs looking at the president, no, the general secretary was nothing compared to that of South Korea.

Isn’t the general secretary in front of him a frustrated politician from another country who is only interested in the political game and the battle of the three parties, and calls businessmen and shouts, “Why don’t we increase investment and employment even though we don’t know anything about management?”

Apart from the success that has been achieved by leading the republic through political power and its political power, the companies that the general secretary has invested in the name of the Investment Corporation have undoubtedly achieved tremendous success that no one had expected, and even in the economic development of the republic. He has made an indescribable contribution.

Peony Holdings, a sovereign wealth fund managed by Choi Seung-il, with ultimate responsibility, has been reborn as one of the three largest investment companies in Asia.

There was no way such a person could have called them to this place and made a fool’s note, so of course everyone had to put down the luxurious champagne and caviar prepared for the guests and listen.

And soon, the reaction that Jeong-hwan had expected came from among the crowd, more precisely, among party officials and officials.

“… … If that’s the case, we’ll also have that new cell phone… … Are you saying that we need to inspire the private industry here so that the Republic can produce its own smartphone?”

“Did you hear that? Why do you think so?”

The audience at the public hearing, who had not yet felt the craze that the iPhone would soon bring, were bureaucrats and heads of private companies, and they looked hard to believe, but they couldn’t sit still because the words came out of the mouth of the general secretary.

So, when one of the party cadres made such a statement based on the mindset they had been holding, most of the party cadres nodded their heads.

Behind such remarks, the party, that is, the country’s economy and party, that it has finally secured the capability to compete in an industry that can compete with the United States, even at the world level, even if it is the United States, through the party, that is, the state-led industrial development plan for the past 20 years or more. Junghwan could feel the confidence in him.

And he knew best that such confidence was by no means vain, but true.

“Yeah, now, the industry of our republic is not following others, but shouldn’t we have to lead the flow first? We can’t live by only focusing on subcontracting or the domestic economy forever, so now we need to secure export products that can be called the world’s number one even outside the republic.”

“If our comrades in the private business world, especially top-tier street comrades, are capable enough, we will be able to create the same thing first.”

“Hmm, of course, development is done by the private sector, but wouldn’t it be difficult if the Party held a conference in the name of a party-affiliated organization and presented the concept and specific goals for carrying out tasks through mid- and long-term government tasks?”

“… … Hmm… … .”

Among the party cadres who shouted out like this, Jeong Hwan did not miss the slight frown on the faces of the heads of private companies or the way they looked elsewhere.

Among them, Joo Seong-hwan, the founder and president of Union, the largest internet portal in the Republic, was also smiling bitterly.

Even among those who sat in the back row, relatively far from sight, there were those who snorted coldly.

And Jeong-hwan denied some of these party officials and betrayed their expectations in a good way.

“It could be. But that’s of no use. Now that time has come to an end.”

“… … yes?”

“This iPhone is the product of pure creativity and vision of an innovator named Steve Jobs to be exact. He has accurately observed the future technology that others have not seen before, and he will achieve success because he has embodied the consumer’s inner desire, which the consumer himself is not yet aware of, in the form of the iPhone.”

“… … ?”

“I have to admit it, regardless of the likes or dislikes of Steve Jobs personally or his achievements. But let me ask you a question here. Could it have been that other companies, or other countries, were technically incapable of making mobile devices similar to the iPhone? Just looking at the technological prowess of South Korea below, it already has enough power to lead the world in the electronics industry. But why couldn’t someone like Steve Jobs come out of South Korea? Can anyone answer that question?”

The public hearing was again engulfed in silence.

Fortunately, Jeonghwan did not keep the silence for long.

“This is because there is not yet a climate in which everyone in society is convinced that individuality, artistry, and creativity can be respected and converted into economic value. And the same is true of our republic.”

“… … Comrade General Secretary, what can I say… … .”

“I am not blaming my comrades. Up to now, the republic has carried out state-led economic development with me as the apex in order to provide the people with the minimum necessary food, clothing, and shelter and to build a foundation for national survival. And, as we all know, the strategy worked. Now, the economy of the Republic is, so to speak, a golden age… … But now we have to change our strategy.”

After leaving such a remark, Junghwan made the excuse that another schedule was urgent and left the public hearing earlier than the others that day.

Looking at Jeonghwan who left without trying to talk about something in earnest, some said, ‘What did you want to say in the end?’ They tilted their heads, but the members of the crowd, who recognized the general secretary’s words with a meaningful meaning sooner than others, changed their expressions strangely.

Some of the party executives realized the hidden meaning and their expressions changed as if they were chewing on something, but the difference was that the private entrepreneurs had their expressions suddenly brightened.

And Jeonghwan wasn’t the only one who left behind this public hearing.

“This iPhone incident… … This expression is a bit funny, but yes, how do you evaluate the ‘situation’? Having heard the opinions of the executives, I would like to hear the opinions of the business people.”

“exactly… … Already the public, especially those who are sensitive and interested in new technologies, that is… … This expression is only being used slowly in our industry, so I don’t know if the general secretary knows… … .”

“Earlyadopter, I often read American newspapers. Anyway, among those early adopters, are you saying that the reaction to the iPhone is already hot?”

The next schedule for the general secretary, who had left the public hearing early that day, was a solo meeting with Union President Joo Seong-hwan, who was also at the same public hearing.

As expected, Joo Seong-hwan, who quickly settled for a brief surprise of being the general secretary, quickly delivered a calm expression on his reaction to the presentation at Macworld, USA.

“It’s not just hot, it’s explosive. The general public has yet to feel it, but early adopters are already talking about something that will really change the world.”

“Hmm, you’re talking about an Apple store opening in Pyongyang soon, right?”

“there… … Trusting the interest that my comrade general secretary has shown me in the meantime, if I dare say my opinion as a corporate worker… … Do you really think that the Party and the Investment Corporation will not take any preemptive action against this change?”

Joo Seong-hwan was well aware of the ripple effect of new technologies and new products like a person who was rejected by a large portal, and from his point of view, the iPhone was the starting point.

Global IT companies that catch this signal that the game has changed soon will jump into the competition one after another, and the era of extinction has arrived.

It was the industry dynamics he picked up that Nokia and BlackBerry executives were receiving reporters’ questions and requests for interviews about this new powerhouse day after day.

If no action is really taken during these times, the dream of North Korea, an IT powerhouse that has managed to establish itself, will sink to the bottom of the sea forever.

And fortunately, the general secretary did not abandon the advice that came out of his sense of crisis.

Soon, Junghwan smiled haha, as if he knew it, and tapped Joo Seonghwan’s shoulder with an urgent expression.

“Indeed, civilian workers in the field have a different opinion. That’s why I brought it up at today’s event. The bureaucrats belonging to the party organization are probably civil servants, so even if they do well in what they are asked to do, they cannot take the lead and lead the change. Aside from being competent and incompetent, is it a fundamental limitation of the civil service organization?”

“That word… … .”

“Your comrade may have already foreseen it, but now the IT industry, no, even the world will see a big change with the iPhone. Socially broadly, people are getting closer, and events from the other side of the world are communicated in real time with video, and speaking to one person is no different than talking to a thousand people. But if you look at it narrowly, now cell phone manufacturers around the world are facing a bloody battle.”

“You are really right. But not only that… … .”

Joo Seong-hwan, who was listening to Jung-hwan, tried to tell the story he really wanted to say as he continued to talk about hardware, but Jung-hwan lightly raised his hand and stopped him.

“I know what you want to talk about. This is not a hardware battle, it is also a battle between software and mobile operating systems. The iPhone has its own operating system, iOS, and the existing dinosaurs such as Google and Microsoft must already sense the crisis. “People only use iPhones, which means that they will only use the iPhone’s own operating system that’s installed on their iPhones, and that’s why they take away their market share.”

Jung-hwan, who had said this far, started walking around in front of Joo Sung-hwan, who was now silently listening.

“As I said before, Republican companies, including Modern Electronics, are not incapable of making smartphones like the current iPhone. Even if it is made, it is not very attractive to consumers. Because an ugly smartphone without the same UI (user interface) as Apple’s and the design philosophy of Steve Jobs is not an innovation that will change the times, it’s just another PDA’s monstrous subordinate.”

“… … .”

“… … So, speaking of my opinion as the chairman of the Korea Investment Corporation, which holds most of the republic’s medium and large corporations, and the leader of North Korea, a small country with a population of 36 million, what can the country’s electronics industry do in the face of this huge change? In terms of hardware, it is either to boldly give up the manufacture and sale of smartphone terminals, collaborate with South Korea, or sell semiconductors diligently. Fortunately, we have already gained an edge in that area through sustained and bold investments.”

Junghwan, who had spoken up to that point, stood still as if he had reached a conclusion and looked directly at Joo Sunghwan.

“We have to compete on the software side, precisely on the mobile operating system that will be the platform for our applications. And in that area, too, we already have a competitive edge. Already through long-term investments in the education system, the republic has grown a lot of great young developers.”

“That alone is not enough. As the general secretary has already pointed out, developers are not soldiers. If software does not create a foundation for a free development environment, and a reward system commensurate with success, rather than just changing manpower as if developing a manufacturing industry… … .”

Joo Seong-hwan shook his head as he said this, but Jung-hwan squinted his eyes as if he knew well this time.

“That’s right. This person also emphasized that more than anything when I first met him. He said he would leave the company no matter how much money he gave him if the interference was severe.”

“If this person… … ?”

“My name is Andrew Rubin, and I am the president of a small company with eight employees. Of course, it has grown in size with my investment, but… … .”

“It’s Andrew Rubin… … It’s a name I’ve never heard of… … .”

Although Joo Seong-hwan was a person who started a business in a startup himself, that didn’t mean he knew all the names of startup developers.

But Jeonghwan didn’t care and continued what he was saying.

“… … Actually, what I’ve said so far was also testing you, Comrade Joo Seong-hwan. In the early days of the business, emphasizing a free, non-interference environment than anyone else, as the company grows and rises to a higher position, the first thing to do is harden their heads and there are many managers who try to control the developers. Fortunately, my comrade seems to be an exception to that rule… … .”

Jung-hwan, who has said so far, gave a hint to the operator of the Republic’s largest portal site, who still tilted his head as if he did not know.

“The name of this person’s company is ‘Android’. It looks like you and Andy Rubin and Android and Union can get along well under one roof. More than Google.”