When election season arrived, it wasn't just the politicians who got busy.
With countless incidents and developments erupting simultaneously, media outlets were also buried in nonstop reporting, churning out articles around the clock.
But was there ever a day as hectic as today?
The chief of strategy brought me real-time reports of the articles flooding out of newsrooms.
"Vice Chairman, every major media outlet is covering this story."
"They've done a good job with the headlines."
Here's what the headlines looked like:
[Apple announces plans to build 3 trillion won factory in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province —
spearheaded by Assemblyman Choi Jaeseok]
[Amazon eyes Incheon, Gyeonggi Province as Asian hub — decision made after talks with
Assemblyman Choi Jaeseok]
[Choi Jaeseok successfully brings Google's Asia data center to Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi
Province!]
[TDK battery plant confirmed for Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province — decision followed
meeting with Assemblyman Choi Jaeseok]
[Choi Jaeseok attracts OTT-exclusive mega studio complex to Namyangju — expected to
boost local tourism as theme park-style attraction]
A barrage of announcements had just been made about major corporations building factories in Gyeonggi Province.
Naturally, I was the one who orchestrated it all—and I had rushed Choi Jaeseok to the U.S. to
take photos with company CEOs or key executives, which were then distributed to the press.
"It's not just in the newspapers. Radio stations and national news broadcasts are also running
major segments on the new factory developments in Gyeonggi Province."
"With all the factories combined, that's over 30 trillion won pouring into Gyeonggi—of course it's making headlines."
Of course, the 30 trillion won figure was heavily inflated.
The factory plans could still be scrapped, or the scale could shrink.
But for now, what mattered was the breaking news that massive investments were heading to
Gyeonggi Province.
On top of that, the credibility of the news was ironclad.
This wasn't based on hearsay or rumors—it was announced directly by representatives from
major corporations. There was nothing to question.
"What's Choi Jaeseok's approval rating looking like?"
"It's climbing fast. Before the news broke, he was polling at 31%, but today's numbers show he's already passed 35%. That's a 4-point jump in just one day, and we expect the momentum to continue."
This was only the beginning.
With several days of continuous media coverage ahead, a further rise in support was inevitable.
After all, how could voters not support a candidate who was bringing over 30 trillion won to the province?
"It's a structure where his approval rating is bound to rise. If Assemblyman Choi loses the
gubernatorial race, all these factory investments—over 30 trillion won—will be scrapped."
"The public's growing support is largely due to the anticipation of massive job creation from
these projects."
A kind of soft blackmail.
This operation was effectively a threat directed at the residents of Gyeonggi Province—if you
don't elect Choi Jaeseok, you'll lose 30 trillion won.
Gyeonggi's development, rising real estate prices, job creation...
The actual economic impact was worth several times more than just the 30 trillion won
investment, so even though people knew it was a form of pressure, they were likely to accept it anyway.
"The major parties won't take this lying down. What are they doing?"
"All their candidates are going around bragging that they, too, can attract new factories. They're saying that even if Assemblyman Choi doesn't win, they'll ensure those factories still come."
"Then we need to publish something even more provocative. Run articles stating that if
Assemblyman Choi isn't elected, all these projects will be canceled ."
"I'll make sure the article goes live today."
At this point, the election was virtually over.
If Choi Jaeseok became governor of Gyeonggi Province, there was a very high chance that
mayors, county heads, city and county council members across the province would also end up affiliated with the People's Economic Party.
"You, Chief of Strategy, will take the lead on the local elections. Make sure this momentum
continues. I have to head over to the driving center."
"I've just received word that the executives from Taewoo Motors and Kia Motors have already arrived at the driving center."
"Then I need to hurry. If a young Vice Chairman like me can't even keep an appointment,
imagine how much they'll talk behind my back."
"If any employee does that, I'll personally sew their lips shut!"
Leaving behind the overly loyal Chief of Strategy, I headed toward the driving center.
It was the day when Taewoo Motors and Kia Motors would unveil their newly developed cars for the first time, so there was no time to waste.
Taewoo-Kia Driving Center.
The atmosphere was far tenser than usual.
Hundreds of security personnel were stationed throughout the area, maintaining strict
surveillance.
Several large trailers, typically used for transporting vehicles, were parked nearby.
"Vice Chairman, excuse me for a moment."
Even I had to undergo a body search by security.
This was something I had personally ordered: everyone entering the driving center today would be subject to thorough screening. No one was allowed to bring in cameras, phones, or any electronic devices.
There was a reason for such strict measures.
Today marked the long-awaited unveiling of the electric vehicle prototypes—developed over
several years of research.
"Apologies for being late."
"Not at all! We just finished the test drive preparations."
Two vehicles stood veiled beneath black covers.
Though covered, it was already clear they were quite different from conventional cars.
Notably, due to the nature of electric vehicles, there was no need for an exhaust system, making the rear designs quite distinct.
"Then let's begin."
"We'll start with the 0-to-100 test."
"0-to-100," or zero to one hundred , refers to the time it takes for a car to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h.
The more powerful and quicker the car, the shorter the time—making it a critical performance metric.
"Preparing for the 0-to-100 test! 3, 2, 1, go!"
On cue, the two vehicles shot forward.
They reached the end of the straight course in an instant, and speed sensors placed along the track recorded the precise times.
"Results are in. The T model reached 100 km/h in 5.15 seconds, and the K model did it in 5.07 seconds."
"Both clocked in just over five seconds. Very impressive."
"Typical vehicles take over 10 seconds to reach 100 km/h. Only high-performance cars break
under five seconds."
It was a result that clearly outperformed conventional vehicles.
But it wasn't something to celebrate too easily.
Electric vehicles naturally excel at acceleration—they don't require combustion or gear shifts,
and they can instantly deliver peak torque via electric motors.
"Next up, we'll demonstrate braking performance."
Tests were conducted under various conditions.
From speeds of 50 to 150 km/h, the braking demonstrations took place. On the surface, it didn't look very different from how a regular car would brake.
But the driver who had just taken the wheel had a different take.
"Compared to regular cars, I felt the car continued to coast a bit. Instead of an abrupt stop, it felt like a gradual deceleration."
"That's a characteristic of the regenerative braking system. Unlike internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, electric vehicles recover energy during braking and convert it back into battery charge. That's what causes the coasting sensation. But rest assured, it's not a safety issue."
The vehicle already had a fully implemented regenerative braking system.
This system significantly improved one of EVs' biggest weaknesses—driving range—and was an essential feature for commercial viability.
"Still, if the car coasts like that, the ride comfort may be compromised."
"That's true for comfort, but in terms of noise, EVs far outperform ICE vehicles."
"Yes, I noticed. Without the engine running, there wasn't any noise. Though, I did hear a bit of a scraping sound from the tires against the road."
The driver pointed out an issue with external noise.
I already knew from before my regression that this problem had come up—so I had a solution
ready.
"We can solve that with EV-specific tires. Try designing them with polyurethane components to reduce the road noise."
"We'll collaborate with a tire manufacturer and begin designing EV-dedicated tires."
The demonstration continued with various additional tests: on-road driving, range testing per charge, and finally, cornering trials.
"There's a noticeable body roll during cornering."
"That's due to the vehicle being over 20% heavier than ICE cars, which causes stronger lateral force. We're currently applying various assist systems to mitigate that issue."
"Tires might also help reduce that effect to some extent. If the test runs are finished, let's head inside. I'd like to see the EVs with my own eyes."
The EVs had been running with black coverings the entire time.
It was an unavoidable security measure—to see their true form, we would need to head into a
secure building where the designs could be revealed safely.
"Activating the security system now!"
I entered the secure facility with a small group of executives.
Only after the multiple doors and windows were closed did I approach the electric vehicles to
remove their black covers.
Click! Slide!
As the fasteners were undone, the black cloth slowly peeled away.
Finally, the true form of the electric cars was revealed.
"The design is very impressive."
"At Taewoo Motors, we developed a compact car optimized for road driving, highlighting the
characteristics of electric vehicles. Our main target groups are young professionals, housewives, and those looking for a second car."
Soon after, we examined the electric vehicle developed by Kia Motors.
It was larger and taller than the Taewoo Motors model.
"This is an electric pickup truck. Since the transport industry worries the most about fuel taxes, we decided to develop a pickup truck. It offers more than a 50% reduction in fuel costs compared to traditional pickups."
"A wise choice."
Though I heard the developers speak, my mind was elsewhere.
How many years had we invested to build these electric vehicles?
We acquired a Japanese company for battery development and poured trillions of won over
several years.
And that wasn't all.
We even helped Tesla at their founding, sharing technology with them.
Of course, Tesla also shared their tech with Taewoo-Kia Motors, so it wasn't a one-sided benefit.
Through all that, we finally succeeded in developing electric vehicles.
And now, it was time to unveil our superior technology to the world.
"We will debut Taewoo-Kia Motors' electric vehicles at the Los Angeles Motor Show in
September. Can you address the remaining issues by then?"
"We will fix everything—from tires to cornering performance!"
"We will make sure Kia Motors becomes the star of this motor show!"
The executives raised their voices like fresh recruits.
But could Taewoo-Kia Motors truly become the star?
Tesla was also planning to unveil their electric vehicle at the 2006 Motor Show.
The Los Angeles Motor Show was shaping up to be an electric vehicle exhibition.
With three companies presenting different types of electric vehicles simultaneously, all eyes
would naturally be on the event.
In truth, whoever became the star, it was a win for me.
Taewoo, Kia, and Tesla—
All companies where I held the majority shares.
No matter who took center stage, I would benefit.