“Welcome, Chief I!”
When I arrived at KD Techwin, the technical team was the first to greet me.
When I scheduled a meeting with Nam Sang-gi, I had specifically asked the vice chairman: I wanted to meet the brains of KD Techwin first. Thanks to that, this occasion had been arranged.
“Thank you for welcoming us. This is the first time we’ve met face-to-face.”
“Indeed it is. Haha.”
“I watched the Defense Forum closely. To think that Korea’s first indigenous drone has finally been born—you truly are the nation’s top defense experts.”
“You flatter us. It’s all thanks to you, Chief. Haha.”
Their faces were brighter than ever.
As the Russia-Ukraine war dragged on into a prolonged conflict, China began controlling components, just as I had predicted. For our military drones, which relied on China for all core components—cameras, sensors, motors, and the like—it was inevitably a fatal blow.
But KD Techwin had demonstrated indigenous technology at the Defense Forum and announced an Innovative Defense initiative to achieve one hundred percent domestic production of all military drones by the end of the year.
Thanks to that, they had once again solidified their position as the nation’s premier defense contractor.
“Did the talks go well?”
“Yes. At the Defense Forum, we persuaded the high-ranking Ministry of National Defense officials. We asked them if it was right for military equipment to rely on foreign components.”
“And so?”
“Of course, our technological level falls far short of not only China but also Turkey and Israel. However, we received a promise that military procurement would be concentrated on domestic companies.”
Chief Bak’s expression hardened.
“But I believe we have ten years at most. If we don’t achieve innovation in either unit costs or technology within that decade, we’ll eventually lose our contracts. I feel a heavy sense of responsibility.”
Money knows no borders. The same is true for the defense industry.
Despite the countless reproachful gazes from France and Germany, Poland placed a flood of orders for the K-9. With similar specs but half the price, they ultimately gave up on domestic (EU-made) products and chose foreign ones.
To avoid suffering the same misfortune, we too must ultimately innovate on our own, whether in unit costs or technology. Chief Bak seemed to measure this against a ten-year timeline.
“How is the technology development progressing?”
“We’re assuming the worst across the board. Chinese drones are essentially no different from North Korean drones, and China must certainly possess anti-systems as well…”
“I see.”
“Our primary goal is mass production, but our secondary goal is ultimately anti, and anti to the anti. Assuming North Korea provokes the South with mass drones, we’re directing our research toward how to stop them. Honestly, this anti-technology is far more difficult than mass production.”
Of course it is. It is a world where intercepting a hundred-million-won ballistic missile requires a billion-won interceptor missile.
In the past, offensive power had to be superior to defensive power, but as the paradigm of war shifted to missile warfare, defense now requires far more force than offense.
“Truthfully, I find the Israel-Palestine war more shocking than the Russia-Ukraine war.”
“You mean the pager terrorism?”
“Yes, tactical concepts have become boundless. I predict drones will eventually become miniaturized down to the semiconductor level… If my prediction is correct, the paradigm of war will change dramatically.”
Humanity built castles in the age of cold steel, but dug trenches in World War I.
They kept digging trenches through World War II, but the “Push-button War” of the Gulf War rendered them meaningless.
Then, in the age of unmanned warfare, what form will the paradigm shift take?
“What truly matters isn’t this conventional military power. Ultimately, the future will be one of reconnaissance warfare, of sensing-asset warfare. Then we inevitably must talk about hypersonic technology and the space defense industry.”
“…”
“But this requires first securing technological capabilities like aerodynamics, high-temperature materials, and plasma communications. Let me explain simply what this is. So…”
Perhaps thinking we were on the same wavelength, he began speaking in alien tongues. It seemed that even after living multiple lives, conversing with a physicist was no easy feat.
Truthfully, I couldn’t remember everything about the cutting edge of defense. I only clearly remembered that three years later, U.S. Secretary Hegseth would release a defense white paper.
This defense directive, called ATAR (Army Transformation Acquisition Reform), announced the reduction of firepower assets such as Apache helicopters, Humvees, and Booker platforms, and an increase in drone and mobile missile inventories.
But such public announcements likely made up less than one percent of U.S. defense strategy.
We must grasp the tail and infer the body. No, we must grab a single strand of fur and deduce the entire body.
What kind of future warfare is the United States envisioning? What future did U.S. leadership see to arrive at this decision?
“In short, space defense industry technology requires an enormous amount of time, effort, talent, and…”
“It requires money, I suppose.”
“…Yes.”
“Doctor, then how advanced is Korea’s space technology?”
He let out a sigh.
“It’s dismal. Even India, where twenty percent of the population lacks toilets, has launched lunar probes. Yet Korea, where people have two bathrooms each, has never even stepped outside Earth’s orbit.”
“…But isn’t Korea the ninth country to produce an astronaut?”
“Well, yes. We’ve bought a first-class ticket on Russia’s space airline. In fact, after that, it seemed the government would pour effort into space development, but it fizzled out.”
He spoke bitterly.
“It’s lamentable. As you can see from the Russia-Ukraine war, when war begins, every nation starts by destroying communications networks. The tide of war shifts wildly depending on whether Starlink is on or off. When on earth will our government take an interest in space?”
He looked up at the sky and muttered.
“If I could, I’d ask Russia to sell us one more brown bear. If technology could be bought with money, I’d pay a king’s ransom to acquire it.”
“…”
“But given the state of affairs, technological cooperation is a lost cause. Truly lamentable.”
I looked up at the sky alongside him and spoke carefully.
“Doctor, if we bring in one more brown bear, can we use it to advance our technology?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Of course, it would be a cub. We’d have to bring it back and raise it diligently ourselves.”
“Well… Since the Brown Bear Project, it took only thirty years to develop indigenous howitzer technology and even export it. If you gave us even a cub, a technological leap would certainly be possible. But… is that actually possible?”
“I can’t give you a definite answer, but I’ll look for a way.”
Russia does not collapse.
Rather, in the ceasefire negotiations, it resolved the West’s financial sanctions with a single point and effectively gained recognition of Crimea’s annexation.
At first, the Ukrainians rose up in protest, but prolonged attrition caused pro-peace public opinion at home to exceed majority support. Eventually, Europe ended the war with a security guarantee that was NATO-like yet not NATO, but I don’t remember much of what happened after.
One thing is certain: after the war, Nord Stream ran very busily.
As always, every country went its own way according to national interest.
“I will do my best to explain your position to Vice Chairman Nam Sang-gi. Thank you for the technology briefing today.”
He shook my hand with a bright smile.
“You’re welcome anytime. I noticed earlier that you take a great interest in hypersonics, Chief I? Next time you visit, I’ll explain quantum and nanotechnology as well. In as much detail as possible.”
“Yes… Thank you.”
*
“Welcome, Chief I!”
After finishing my meeting with the aliens, I went to meet an earthling.
Indeed, meeting someone who speaks your language is a joy.
With the stock price soaring and drones promising future growth… the spin-off controversy surrounding KD Techwin vanished in an instant, and thanks to that, Nam Sang-gi’s face overflowed with confidence like never before.
“Chief. Before we talk, I’ve prepared a small gift for the pension fund.”
“A gift?”
“Yes. KD Techwin will retire three hundred billion won worth of treasury stock by the end of the year. Next year’s dividend will be the highest in our history. We will continue to build investor trust through such aggressive shareholder return policies.”
His excited face said it all. That the succession structure had completely solidified in his favor.
“I appreciate the gesture… but can you afford to do that?”
“Pardon?”
“With countries everywhere entering an arms race, I understand that R&D spending competition has intensified like never before.”
“But shareholder return policies are a major priority for the pension fund…”
“If you’re doing this to keep up appearances, you needn’t bother. The stock price has already risen significantly. Rather, you should be conducting a paid-in capital increase and lowering dividends right now.”
Nam Sang-gi’s eyes widened.
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes. A corporation is not a people’s ration depot. Earned money must be invested, invested, and reinvested. Meeting the technical team today, it seems there is so much road ahead for Korea’s defense industry. Please pour your efforts solely into R&D.”
“Well, I’m grateful to hear that, but…”
“And I have one more proposal. Vice Chairman, how is the KD Group succession situation unfolding?”
He shot a slightly wary gaze but soon spoke frankly.
“It’s exactly as reported in the press. I will take charge of the major subsidiaries, including the defense industry, while my younger brothers will likely take the remaining ones.”
“Are you going to give that up?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Nam Sang-jun and Nam Sang-hyeon are set to inherit the prime subsidiaries. If the defense industry hits another downturn, KD Techwin will need a cash-cow affiliate to carry it through the lean times.”
“T-that may be true, but why do you ask?”
“Because I’d like to help you.”
“…Pardon?”
“What you want isn’t your brothers’ shares, is it? I’ll bring in the money, so tell them to keep their hands off management rights… Isn’t that it?”
“That’s true, but…?”
“When the Honorary Chairman passes away, seize an appropriate opportunity and convene the board of directors and shareholders’ meeting. With the pension fund’s shares, you will have no sturdier ally.”
“W-wait a moment.”
Nam Sang-gi responded as if he couldn’t understand.
“…I don’t quite understand. So you’re giving us drone technology, blocking our shareholder return policy, and later you’ll be our white knight too? Why on earth…?”
“In exchange, please grant me one request. It won’t be difficult for you, Vice Chairman.”
I forced a bitter smile and lowered my voice.
*
On my way out after the meeting with KD Group.
I called Director Oh.
“You’re asking to extend your business trip by two more days? Why, did the talks with KD Techwin not go well?”
“No. It has nothing to do with that. Since I’m passing through Seoul, I thought I’d meet with Asan Motors.”
“Asan Group? Why?”
“Natural gas has been cut off, and the electric vehicle market outlook has grown too dark lately. I heard they’ve declared emergency management over there, so I wanted to hear their countermeasures. Would that be… impossible?”
Director Oh paused briefly and spoke.
“Nothing’s impossible. But you must report to me exactly what you discussed. Including your talks with KD.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”