Chapter 21 – The Negotiation Begins. I’m a Businessman.
Chairman Lee Hwan-geon couldn’t fully concentrate on his conversation with President Lee Sam-yeong.
So, he simply nodded in agreement and engaged in meaningless small talk until their meeting concluded.
This was because Chairman Lee Hwan-geon’s primary interest was not President Lee Sam-yeong, but Lee Seon-su.
After returning from his meeting with President Lee Sam-yeong, Chairman Lee Hwan-geon summoned Executive Director Lee Min-ho of Samdo General Trading.
***
“Did you call for me?”
Executive Director Lee Min-ho lowered himself, anticipating a harsh rebuke.
He had heard that Chairman Lee Hwan-geon had been to the Blue House.
He assumed it was about Lee Seon-su.
But the response was different from what he expected.
“Yes. What did you think of Lee Seon-su when you met him?”
The question was calm.
However, it was clear that Chairman Lee Hwan-geon was interested in Lee Seon-su.
His eyes sparkled.
During the last report, Chairman Lee Hwan-geon had expressed anger toward Lee Seon-su.
It was strange to see such a sudden change.
“Tell me what you felt without embellishment.”
Executive Director Lee Min-ho recalled his encounter with Lee Seon-su at the prosecution’s office and spoke as it was.
“He was full of confidence. I got the sense that he wouldn’t stray from the path he had set for himself.”
“Anything else?”
“I don’t think he is reckless, though. He seems to maximize his advantage through appropriate negotiations.”
“That seems about right.”
Chairman Lee Hwan-geon thought that Executive Director Lee Min-ho had assessed Lee Seon-su accurately.
After all, Lee Seon-su had come to the Central District Prosecutors’ Office to meet Executive Director Lee Min-ho.
He had cornered him but allowed a way out.
Chairman Lee Hwan-geon had no choice but to recognize that Lee Seon-su understood that Samdo General Trading, once cornered, would not endure further losses.
If there were truly no escape, they would fight with everything they had.
“And you said he rejected your proposal?”
“I couldn’t even bring it up properly.”
“Stubborn guy, isn’t he?”
It wasn’t just stubbornness; Lee Seon-su simply didn’t want to be entangled with Samdo Group.
“I see. You may go now.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Executive Director Lee Min-ho wondered if he had been called just for such questions.
Still, he couldn’t say anything against Chairman Lee Hwan-geon’s words.
After Executive Director Lee Min-ho left, Chairman Lee Hwan-geon called for the head of the Strategic Planning Office.
He instructed them to conduct a more detailed investigation into Lee Seon-su.
He even ordered them to mobilize all of Samdo Group’s connections to find out what exactly Lee Seon-su had exchanged with the government.
It was easier to negotiate once they knew what he possessed.
***
B.B. Industry.
Precisely, [BIG BEAR INDUSTRY].
The name implied “Great Bear Industry.”
It was the name of a defense contractor.
When people think of Russia, they often picture a large bear.
So, the name “Great Bear” was chosen.
The company had a capital of 10 billion won.
Approval for designation as a defense contractor came in less than a week after the application.
Normally, this process would take several months to several years.
However, the government expedited it for negotiations with Russia.
And so, the negotiations for the repayment of the 1.47 billion-dollar loan began.
***
The negotiations with Russia took place at the Russian Embassy in South Korea.
Russia did not send a separate negotiation delegation.
This was because Ambassador Petrov and the plenipotentiary representative Lee Seon-su were sufficient.
Meanwhile, the South Korean government assembled a negotiation team of about 30 members.
Not all 30 sat at the negotiation table, though.
There were five key members: Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Han-se, two directors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vice Minister of National Defense, and one staff member from the Defense Science and Technology Agency.
The rest were the task force responsible for drafting conditions to present to Russia and creating alternative plans in case the negotiations failed.
“Thank you, Ambassador, for arranging this meeting,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Han-se said.
Ambassador Petrov responded fluently in Korean.
“I am also glad that we could arrange this meeting. Please, take a seat.”
Ambassador Petrov only gave a brief greeting and did not say much else.
His role was merely to oversee the negotiations.
The actual negotiation was being led by Lee Seon-su.
Everyone sat down at the table.
Minister Lee Han-se then presented a document.
“The South Korean government wishes to receive the repayment of the 1.47 billion-dollar loan in the form of weapons and various technologies.”
The approach was designed to make it appear as if South Korea was making the request first.
This was to protect Russia’s pride.
This had been discussed with Lee Seon-su to some extent.
“The Russian government has agreed to that request,” Ambassador Petrov said, passing the document to Lee Seon-su.
With that, his role was over.
Lee Seon-su spoke without looking at the document.
“How much is the South Korean government willing to pay for the Minsk aircraft cruiser?”
The aircraft carriers owned by Russia were different from the aircraft carriers typically known in the United States.
The U.S. builds carrier strike groups to operate their aircraft carriers.
Because U.S. carriers mostly carry only fighter jets, they are vulnerable in terms of defense.
Hence, they deploy cruisers, destroyers, and submarines as escort ships to protect the carrier.
However, Russia’s Minsk aircraft cruiser was equipped with weapons systems capable of both offense and defense.
It could carry anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine missiles, anti-air missiles, and even nuclear missiles.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Han-se responded.
“As far as I know, the Minsk aircraft cruiser has been decommissioned. It’s basically scrap metal.”
That was true. It had been decommissioned in June 1993.
Four months ago.
The intention to buy it cheaply was understandable. But if it were sold too cheaply, there was a risk that Russia might overturn the negotiation.
“Scrap metal has its value. What would be the price of scrap metal with Russia’s radar technology and weapons systems intact?”
One of the people at the table wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to Minister Lee Han-se.
It seemed to be someone from the Defense Science and Technology Agency.
Minister Lee Han-se cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Are you really going to sell it with the radar technology and weapons systems intact?”
“Isn’t that how it would be valuable?”
“Wait… just a moment. I think we need to have a brief meeting.”
Less than 10 minutes into the negotiation, Minister Lee Han-se halted the process.
They needed to understand the potential value.
“Of course.”
The South Korean negotiation team stood up and moved to a corner.
They spoke in hushed voices so as not to be overheard.
Perhaps they should have asked for a separate room?
It seemed like a pointless gesture.
The negotiation venue was the Russian Embassy, after all.
Even in another room, there could be listening devices.
Besides, watching was entertaining.
The person from the Defense Science and Technology Agency was gesturing passionately, his face flushed.
His voice was low, though.
The Vice Minister of National Defense was also visibly excited.
Minister Lee Han-se was the one keeping them calm and collected.
Just as the waiting became tiresome, they returned to the negotiation table.
“It is currently difficult for South Korea to operate the Minsk aircraft cruiser. We don’t have vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighter jets.”
This was the issue.
The Minsk aircraft cruiser operated vertical take-off and landing jets without a runway.
In other words, standard fighter jets couldn’t be deployed.
“Minister, I hope we’re only asking for what’s reasonable. You weren’t planning to request VTOL aircraft too, were you?”
A slight flinch.
That reaction confirmed it.
“For now, let’s focus on just the Minsk aircraft cruiser. What price is the South Korean government considering?”
“We’re thinking 500 million dollars.”
The goal of this negotiation was to use the full value of the 1.47 billion-dollar loan.
Russia wouldn’t repay it anyway, no matter how its economy improved.
Five hundred million dollars seemed like a fair deal.
India had bought a similar aircraft cruiser for 1.5 billion dollars around 2004.
Even accounting for 10 years of inflation, 500 million dollars was an incredibly low price.
“How about including other scrap for a total of 1 billion dollars?”
“Other scrap?”
“The 14 VTOL jets you just mentioned.”
Minister Lee Han-se was startled.
The Vice Minister of National Defense and the Defense Science and Technology Agency staff were even more shocked.
“Minister, we must go for this.”
“Deputy Minister Kim.”
“With 14 VTOL jets, we could fully operate the Minsk aircraft cruiser.”
“Please… lower your voice.”
Minister Lee Han-se was frustrated that such talk was being made in front of the opposing party.
It revealed their weakness.
“Oh, my apologies. I got a bit carried away.”
Minister Lee Han-se realized there was no helping it.
“A billion dollars for the Minsk aircraft cruiser and 14 VTOL jets, then.”
That left 470 million dollars.
He produced a document and handed it over.
“What is this?”
“A list of weapons.”
Minister Lee Han-se glanced at it and passed it to the Vice Minister of National Defense, who handed it to the Defense Science and Technology Agency staff.
The staff member’s eyes widened as he reviewed the list.
“Minister, we should accept this deal without question.”
There was a reason for his enthusiasm.
The list was better than what the South Korean government had initially requested.
It included T-80U tanks, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, anti-tank missile launchers, portable anti-air missile systems, hovercraft, and helicopters.
This would take South Korea’s defense technology to the next level…
No, several levels ahead.
The tank technology, for instance, was later applied to the K2 Black Panther tank.
The infantry fighting vehicles also influenced the design and production of Korean armoured vehicles.
Helicopters were used by the Forest Service and various military and government agencies due to their excellent cargo transport capabilities and ability to fly in adverse weather conditions.
However, Minister Lee Han-se let out a sigh.
“Look at yourselves. Don’t ever engage in negotiations in the future.”
Such behaviour was unacceptable in a negotiation room.
But it couldn’t be helped.
The proposals Lee Seon-su had presented exceeded their expectations.
Their negotiation plan, painstakingly prepared with reasons and details across dozens of pages, was outshone by a mere two-page list.
“Minister, the remaining 470 million dollars’ worth of weapons seem reasonable. Don’t they?”
Minister Lee Han-se couldn’t help but nod.
“All right. Let’s confirm this again.”
Minister Lee Han-se confirmed the Minsk aircraft cruiser with 14 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighter jets and the weapons list provided by Lee Seon-su.
“Then we’ll proceed with the negotiation on this basis, finalize the detailed terms, and have both governments sign it. Mr. Lee Seon-su.”
“Understood.”
The detailed terms wouldn’t include much.
One was that the technology obtained from the weapons sold by Russia should not be provided to other countries.
The same condition applied to the weapons themselves.
And most importantly, Russia must not supply weapons or technology to North Korea.
“This will be left to the working-level officials for further proceedings.”
It would take at least a few days, maybe even weeks.
“If the South Korean government agrees, there’s one more item available for purchase.”
‘What else is there?’
That thought crossed Minister Lee Han-se’s mind.
“This makes me a little uneasy, Mr. Lee Seon-su.”
“If you’re uneasy, you don’t have to proceed.”
Once they heard it, there was no way they wouldn’t proceed.
“Let’s hear it first.”
“I’ll start with the price. It’s at least 100 million dollars.”
“100 million dollars?”
Minister Lee Han-se thought there was no offer that would make them proceed.
They were already receiving 1.47 billion dollars’ worth of weapons.
What could possibly be worth an additional 100 million dollars?
“Yes, that’s the minimum.”
“Haha. All right, go ahead. Though the chances seem slim.”
The mention of “at least 100 million dollars” made him think that way.
“Satellite technology.”
“Oh, I see. A satel— What?”
Minister Lee Han-se was taken aback.
Currently, the countries with the most advanced satellite technology were the U.S. and Russia.
It was not a technology that would be offered to another country easily.
The Deputy Minister of National Defense, who was listening from the side, intervened.
“Is that true? Are you really saying you’ll provide satellite technology?”
“To be precise, not giving it, but sending engineers to assist in its development.”
That was essentially the same.
A scientist familiar with satellite technology would come to Korea and participate in developing the technology.
It was the transfer of technology.
“Has the Russian government truly approved this? Really?”
“That’s why I said at least 100 million dollars.”
Satellite technology didn’t just involve building satellites.
It also included the technology to launch them into orbit.
In other words, it was missile technology.
Ballistic missiles are those that launch into space and then strike their targets.
“Ah! This will be the first project of B.B Industry.”
Lee Seon-su smiled brightly.
In other words, I’m a businessman.
—
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