Chapter 118: <National Core Technology>

Oh Hoon.

Woosung remembered seeing him on TV in his previous life.

Oh Hoon said to Woosung, “I heard a lot about your data analysis skill.”

Lee Sunghyun nodded.

Woosung answered, “Thank you.”

“I wish we could have met sooner but we have been both very busy.”

Oh Hoon sounded genuine. It was no wonder he was a successful politician. His words sounded sincere and kind.

“I should have visited you sooner. I apologize.” Woosung said to him respectfully.

Oh Hoon replied, “Should we get to the business on hand? I heard you think I will be re-elected?”

“Yes. Currently, my analysis tells me you will win but only by a little. Unlike the Democratic Party’s Han Minsook, you have already proven your skill as the mayor of the capital city. You have made the city better with natural gas public buses and building a customer support service to hear the public’s suggestions and complains. Most people like the improvements you made.”

Woosung complimented him, but Oh Hoon wanted more. “Can I hear the specifics? How did my work affect people exactly?”

“Firstly, when I search your name on Google, one of the most popular relevant terms that come up is the public call center. The public’s reviews all state how convenient it is for them.” Woosung took a deep breath and continued. “I collected the positive and negative words that came up with your name online and compared them. I did the same for Han Minsook too.”

Oh Hoon looked at Woosung with interest.

Woosung continued. “I also collected the public’s countless comments about you and the other candidate. What I came up with was based on all of these data, but remember, I am not saying I am giving you data that speaks with a hundred percent certainty. It is all about the game of numbers.”

Oh Hoon suddenly looked disappointed. Lee Sunghyun’s eyebrows flinched.

Woosung continued. “But to be honest, I have never been wrong so far. I have made many predictions and they all turned out to be accurate.”

Both Oh Hoon and Lee Sunghyun brightened once again, but their frowns returned after hearing Woosung’s next words.

“But then, perhaps I made things to happen my way and that is why I have been right so far.”

Woosung said it with a hint of mystery.

He was implying he could make things happen.

Oh Hoon smiled again and replied, “Haha, no wonder Lee Sunghyun recommended you. Make things happen…And do you think you can make the election result go my way?”

“If the reward is big enough.”

“Hahaha, you’re a true businessman. What would you like me to do for you?”

Woosung answered slowly. “You must feel the world changing. The era of hardware is gone and IT technology is the new future.”

“Are you talking about smartphones?”

“Not only that. I was also thinking even more progressively.”

Lee Sunghyun looked at Woosung in confusion. Oh Hoon also looked curious.

Woosung asked, “Do you know the bus-only lane?”

Both nodded. It was the previous mayor’s crowning achievement.

“The goal was to make sure the public transportation gets to its destination faster. Another improvement was the Transportation Card system.”

Both nodded again.

Woosung continued. “This was why the low-income citizens loved this idea. Subway used to cost 90 cents and another 90 cents for the bus separately. However, with the card system, they now only have to pay 90 cents for both the subway and the bus fee.”

Oh Hoon asked impatiently, “I know all that. So what are you trying to say?”

“If I go to a convenient store and load my Transportation Card with my credit card, 2% fee is charged by the VAN (Value Added Network).” Oh Hoon and Lee Sunghyun appeared to be ignorant of this fact. Woosung continued. “Currently, the reload system involves the VAN and the credit card company sharing this 2% fee. This was created before the internet became widespread, but at this point, this is unnecessary and is costing the public.”

Oh Hoon asked quickly, “So do you have a solution to replace the VAN?”

“I also think the fee is too expensive.”

“So?”

“I recommend a new system. You can call it Seoul Pay or S Pay for short. It will replace VAN. It will also decrease the fee to 1% maximum and as low as 0.5%. This will benefit the public a great deal.”

Oh Hoon seemed unconvinced. “But if that’s possible, why wouldn’t it have been applied already?”

“Before now, we didn’t have the technology or the funds for it. Not to mention, the main problem was due to the many small businesses that won’t support the idea.”

Lee Sunghyun glared at Woosung. This was something new and he didn’t like to be surprised like this.

Oh Hoon asked again unconvinced, “Are you sure?”

“Can I show you right now?”

“I would love that.”

Woosung made a quick call, and his assistant brought in various items with bar codes and the POS machine.

***

Woosung showed many examples. When he took the POS onto the Blue S2 phone, it beeped with an alert that said the transaction was completed. One could also check the transaction history right away.

“You can use the existing POS system or the ones that can be provided by KND.”

“By using S Pay, you will earn S Coin, but you will get less of it as your fee will be less as well?”

“That’s right, and if they want to cash their S Coins, they can do it at any KND POS stations or through my new company Bitmain at the rate of 1:1.”

“I don’t see that much of a difference between S Coin and the existing credit card reward points.”

“The main differences are the security and the future value of the coins. Firstly, I will be using blockchain, which is a new technology.” Woosung brought out the paperwork he prepared. “This is the proof that it is a superior system.”

Oh Hoon nodded earnestly. Woosung could tell it was almost a done deal.

“The second advantage is the value of the coins. These S Coins could become more valuable in the future.”

Both men’s eyes widened. “How?”

“You are probably aware of how popular Blue S2 is currently.” Woosung continued. “I am planning on creating another line of luxury phones. For examples, Blue S2 Diamond and Gold. They will be limited editions. They will also have KND services included in the phone for free. These phones could be purchased only through the use of S Coins.”

Oh Hoon rubbed his chin.

Woosung added. “Of course this plan does not have to be disclosed immediately to the public. The first thing will be to sell this idea by emphasizing the advantage of fee reduction. I think this will be the way for you to win this election with 100% certainty.”

“It sounds like your idea is an innovative system that can be applied anywhere. It doesn’t actually have to start in Seoul. It almost feels like I should be asking you for it, rather than you suggesting it to me.”

“As a matter of fact, I was going to launch it in America first, but I wanted it to be applied in working condition as soon as possible. A nationwide application would take too long, but if we start in Seoul first, it could yield results immediately. Once the people see how beneficial it is, it will spread like wildfire nationwide. I can then take it overseas.”

Woosung added. “What I want is to prove this system a sense of speed and security. What you will get is a lasting achievement as the mayor of Seoul. Who knows? This could get you even further in your career.”

Oh Hoon looked excited.

Every Korean politician’s dream was to become the President of Korea.

He asked, “Are you confident about your plan?”

“I just proved it to you.”

“S Pay. S Coin.”

“Seoul Pay. Seoul Coin. This could be your shining legacy.”

Oh Hoon nodded again. There was no room for Lee Sunghyun to join between Oh Hoon and Woosung.