CH150 | Heir

There was no industry where labor costs were as high as in the commerce sector.

Products had to be received from sellers, stored in warehouses, and then delivered to customers' doorsteps.

Every step of this process required human labor, which meant an enormous workforce was necessary.

It was no wonder Jeffrey had spent hours venting about labor costs.

Labor expenses made up a significant portion of the commerce industry’s overhead.

That was why Jeffrey had invested most of Amazon’s revenue into reducing labor costs, and now, he was finally starting to see the results.

"So, if I partner with Taewoo Group, does that mean there’s a way to cut labor costs?"

"What do you think about developing robots with us? Robots are essential for completing the concept of factory automation."

"I’ve heard about robotic arms being used in automobile factories, and we were considering introducing them to Amazon’s logistics centers as well. But we never thought about actually manufacturing the robots ourselves."

I had seen robotic arms many times before.

At Taewoo Motors’ factories alone, dozens of robotic arms were assisting with assembly work.

The key word here was assisting.

What I wanted was not just robotic arms that helped with assembly but robots that could complete the entire process without human intervention.

"Robotic arms used in car factories aren’t enough. To truly reduce labor costs, every process needs to be fully automated with robots."

"That would be ideal, but is it even possible? Logistics work may seem simple, but it’s actually more complex than it looks."

"That’s exactly why Taewoo Group and Amazon need to join forces."

It would have been difficult for Taewoo Group to enter the robotics industry alone.

To minimize risk, a partner was necessary—and there was no better candidate than Amazon.

Most other companies had overlapping customer bases, making joint ventures difficult.

Among companies that didn’t compete with Taewoo Group but still needed robotics, Amazon was practically the only option.

"I do see the necessity of investing in factory automation. But it seems like what you’re aiming for goes beyond that, which honestly makes me a little nervous."

"You can back out anytime. But once the results start coming in, you won’t be able to walk away. You’ll be hooked on the efficiency of robots."

"You sound extremely confident."

"Of course. If Amazon and Taewoo collaborate, we can drastically shorten the development timeline. And now that you’re finally turning a profit, it’s the perfect time to invest in robotics."

"If you’re asking me to join, how could I refuse? But I didn’t expect Taewoo Group to have labor cost issues. I thought wages in Korea were less than half of those in the U.S."

Labor costs weren’t just an issue for the present—they were a concern for the future.

In reality, building factories in China or Southeast Asia could significantly cut labor expenses.

But that wasn’t a sustainable solution.

Wages in China would inevitably rise, and continuously moving factories overseas would eventually draw political backlash.

The biggest issue, however, was population decline.

The declining birth rate hadn’t yet become a major topic of concern, but within a few years, the workforce would shrink significantly.

If Taewoo Group wanted to survive as a Korean company in the long run, it needed more than just factory automation.

The company had to quickly adopt smart factories—integrating robotics with the Internet of Things (IoT).

"No matter how high labor costs get, robots will always be the better option. They don’t need salaries, vacations, or breaks. How could labor costs ever be cheaper than a machine that works 24/7, 365 days a year?"

"I completely agree. Even if we can’t develop the kind of robots you're envisioning, just creating robots capable of organizing logistics would significantly cut labor costs."

There was no need for further persuasion.

Jeffrey was already picturing a logistics center bustling with various robots, and with that, we quickly signed the contract.

"I’ve already acquired a few Japanese robotics companies in advance. Let’s also acquire some in the U.S. and Europe so we can fully commit to development."

"I’ll put together a detailed plan!"

"Taewoo Group will send experts to the U.S. as well. Work together and map out the strategy."

Artificial intelligence and robotics—

This was not just a step toward smart factories.

These technologies could be integrated into Taewoo Group’s diverse product lines, so the sooner we started development, the better.

And with Jeffrey leading the charge…

The results could arrive much sooner than I had anticipated.

Jeffrey muttered to himself as he returned to Amazon.

Just like when he had first founded the company, his mind was brimming with new ideas and possibilities.

"It’s been a while since I’ve seen Jeffrey like that. Boss, you really have a talent for getting people to work. If you were in charge, even a homeless man would end up busy."

"David, you seem to have a lot of free time lately. Should I throw some work your way?"

"I’d welcome it anytime."

David had flown over to the U.S.

While I was in California, he had been meeting with key figures in American politics.

"Did you properly convey our gratitude to the White House? I’d like to thank them in person, but that might cause some complications, so I had no choice."

"I passed it on well. They said we can reach out anytime if we need help again."

The White House had done us a huge favor.

They had even pulled out the Super 301 Trade Act for our sake, and I intended to repay them accordingly.

"Actually, there’s one more thing I need help with. I’m thinking of consolidating SAVE Investment and all the firms we’ve invested in under one roof. To secure the right building, we’ll need the White House’s assistance."

"You need the White House’s help just to buy a building? Is it government-owned?"

"I want to secure a long-term lease on a building owned by the Port Authority of New York."

"The Port Authority… Are you considering the World Trade Center?"

"If we’re going to establish our presence, it should be in a landmark location. That way, Wall Street will clearly understand the extent of our influence. And it should also prevent any unnecessary troubles. You’re not going to tell me it’s impossible, are you?"

I prodded David just a little.

He smirked, lifting the corner of his mouth.

"We don’t even need the White House’s help for that. The Port Authority was already planning to lease the Trade Center to a private company."

"Can we get it secured by August?"

"Absolutely! Boss, just get ready to move in."

The World Trade Center—

One of New York’s most iconic landmarks.

And soon to be the site of the 9/11 attacks, one of the greatest tragedies in history.

Yet, I was planning to secure a long-term lease on that very building.

Calling it a “lease” was almost misleading—the cost alone was enough to buy several other high-end buildings outright.

It was an incredibly expensive gift for Bush.

Of course, I had already figured out a way to get all that money back.

After wrapping up my business trip in the U.S., I boarded a flight back to Korea.

I had always flown into Seoul Airport, but this time, I arrived through the newly completed Incheon International Airport.

"They really did a great job. It's much bigger and cleaner than Seoul Airport."

"I’m amazed every time I come here. I never imagined Korea would have an international airport like this."

I toured the airport with my chief strategist, who had come to greet me.

I had used Incheon Airport many times before in my previous life, but seeing it again after so long made it feel fresh and new.

As we walked around—

A murmur arose somewhere nearby.

"Looks like a celebrity just arrived."

"It seems that way. Should we head back to the office now?"

"Let’s do that."

Just then—

A voice rang out from within a crowd of over a hundred people.

"Oh?! It’s the Taewoo Group heir!"

"Whoa!"

"Vice Chairman Kim Min-jae! I’m a huge fan!"

Was this what being an idol felt like?

People boldly reached out for a handshake, grinning from ear to ear.

I played along, shaking hands, taking pictures, and even signing autographs before I finally managed to break free and slip into my car.

"This is a first."

"We’ll increase your security detail. The general public is starting to recognize you now."

"I expected people to notice me eventually, but I didn’t think they’d ask for autographs and handshakes."

"Your popularity is skyrocketing these days. Ever since the iPhone launch, the media has been flooding the news with praise for you."

It wasn’t just Taewoo Group’s stock that was on the rise.

My once tarnished reputation had made a significant recovery.

The press, which had once torn me apart, had completely changed their tune.

"Funny, isn’t it? When I acquired Taewoo Semiconductor, they were ready to eat me alive."

"Who could’ve predicted it? Even I didn’t expect Taewoo Semiconductor to stabilize this quickly."

I remembered seeing countless articles predicting that the acquisition would bring down Taewoo Group.

And those articles?

They had all pointed directly at me as the main culprit behind it.

But once iPhone began purchasing massive quantities of semiconductors, Taewoo Semiconductor’s deficit shrank drastically.

As semiconductor prices started rising, those doom-and-gloom articles vanished overnight.

"Public opinion is fickle. Right now, they're praising me, but the moment Taewoo Group’s stock dips even slightly, they’ll be back to tearing me down."

"We’ll do everything we can to prevent that. That’s what the Strategy Office and the Executive Office are here for, after all."

"No need to go out of your way. I don’t get swayed by public opinion that easily."

I returned to the company alongside my chief strategist.

Waiting in my vice chairman’s office were the CEOs of Taewoo Motors and Kia Motors.

"It’s been a while. I personally recruited you to Korea, but I haven’t had many chances to check in—sorry about that."

"Not at all. In fact, your lack of interference allowed me to reform Kia Motors exactly as I envisioned."

"When did your Korean improve so much? I’d believe you were a native speaker!"

Carlos, the CEO of Kia Motors, replied in fluent Korean.

His language skills were already impressive, and with his relentless effort, he had picked up Korean in no time.

"Aren’t you paying too much attention to Kia Motors? I’m here too, you know."

"Of course, I was going to greet you as well. I’ve been hearing all about Taewoo Motors’ explosive success in the U.S. market."

The rivalry between Kia Motors and Taewoo Motors was intense.

Carlos had successfully revived Kia Motors, while Taewoo Motors had achieved dominance in the domestic market and booming sales in the U.S. and Europe.

They were in fierce competition—

But thanks to that competition, the Taewoo-Kia alliance now controlled nearly half of Korea’s entire auto market.

"The reason I called you both here is to discuss factory automation."

"Factory automation? You mean robotic arms? We’ve already implemented them in several plants, starting with our Changwon factory. They handle assembly, welding, and other tasks."

Was there any industry that utilized robots more effectively than automobile manufacturing?

Since the 1970s, robotic arms had been a staple of car production.

The Changwon factory alone had dozens of robotic arms, each costing tens of millions of won.

But that wasn’t enough.

To bring my vision of a smart factory to life—

I needed these two men on board.