Chapter 579: That Money Is My Sincerity

The West Sea, adjacent to Nampo, experienced significant tidal variations, resulting in wide tidal flats and shallow waters.

That's why a port was built in Nampo, a small cove about 17 kilometers up the Daedong River.

Since the time of the Korean Empire, through the Japanese colonization and even after the division of North and South Korea, Nampo Harbor has always remained an important port.

It was a unique area where heavy industry, light industry, and agriculture all flourished.

However, putting all that aside, logistics were the core of Nampo.

With an annual capacity of over ten million tons, Nampo Harbor possessed the longest wharfs in North Korea.

But now, it's lagging behind the times.

After a long period of insufficient trade, it was widely regarded to be in worse shape than before.

This suggested that, despite optimal geographic conditions, it had fallen behind.

"There aren't any ships coming or going," I remarked.

It took about an hour just to walk around the entire dock area.

As I pointed out any peculiarities I observed, Lee Jeong-woo responded.

"Not long ago, many trade vessels passed through here. Everything came to a halt after the UN's economic sanctions, though."

While I hadn't expected too much, the disappointment was significant given the harbor's considerable reputation.

"It seems there isn't even a dedicated container terminal. That makes it difficult to develop into an international port."

"…The regular docks were sufficient up until now," he replied.

"True, they were, but not any longer."

With facilities like this, we would never win in competition.

By the 2020s, nine out of the world's top ten port cities would be located in the Asia-Pacific region, with only one exception.

I was determined to transform Nampo City into a logistics hub recognized worldwide.

Of course, even with reforms and openness, the amount of goods exported from or imported to North Korea would not be substantial.

But what if we considered transshipment cargo?

Transshipment cargo, which involves transferring shipments from one ship to another for various reasons or scheduling conflicts, offered significant added value.

By increasing the scale through transshipment, money would naturally follow, changing the game entirely.

"Nampo City must become the center of port logistics in North Korea in the future. It needs to occupy an irreplaceable position in both North Korea and the global stage. However, with these facilities, it won't win in competition. I believe I'll need a lengthy discussion with the Vice Chairman."

I started planning again as I looked around once more.

'"I need to completely revamp Nampo Harbor into a transshipment hub. Competing on a low-cost service for global standards is the only way to ensure competitiveness."'

Having concluded my thoughts, I turned around.

"Let's head to another location."

We made our way to the industrial complex adjacent to the harbor area.

The complex, lined with small factories like milling, furniture, and pottery factories, resembled a ghost town—all the factories had closed down.

In that area, marked by outdated facilities and old factories, there seemed to be no reason to engage in light industry.

"Here, we should revamp everything and construct accommodation facilities and various amenities for incoming sailors and port workers…"

I continued to review various areas, carefully outlining how to develop them.

Once I established a framework, the details flowed out easily.

"Let's start with a meal first."

Unsure of how long we had wandered, Lee Jeong-woo finally took me towards a residential area.

"Just a bit further and we'll reach my parents' house. We've prepared a meal for you, Boss."

"We could go to a nearby restaurant instead," I suggested.

"I really want to treat you to authentic Nampo cuisine…"

Lee Jeong-woo glanced at me, seemingly wary of my reaction to being brought to a private home.

I smiled to dispel his concerns about the discomfort.

"Authentic Nampo cuisine? I was curious about it. Can I look forward to it?"

Lee Jeong-woo's face brightened at that. He nodded eagerly.

"It's my mother, but her cooking skills are top-notch. You can expect it to be delicious."

Lee Jeong-woo, now confidently striding, stopped in front of a house that seemed to belong to him.

The area was filled with tidy homes, but Lee Jeong-woo's looked considerably better than the nearby houses.

Yet, it still paled in comparison to homes in South Korea. No, to homes in Pyongyang, even.

As he opened the gate and stepped in, Lee Jeong-woo yelled out.

"Mom!"

In response to his call, a middle-aged woman came out.

"Jung-woo, you're back?"

"Mom! I missed you!"

Lee Jeong-woo, usually so stiff, approached the woman, his face shining with a broad smile.

As he embraced the middle-aged woman, she patted his back gently.

"Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok. This is my mother," he introduced after exchanging brief greetings.

"Hello. I'm Kim Mu-hyeok."

"Welcome. I heard you're a businessman from South Korea. Please take good care of our Jung-woo."

After the introductions, Lee Jeong-woo led us into the house.

In the living room, a large table was already set, displaying neatly arranged dishes.

Lee Jeong-woo sat down with his mother while Manager Ma and I sat across from them.

"Jung-woo asked me to prepare Nampo food because you're an important guest, but… I hope it suits your taste."

The food looked less impressive compared to what I had in Pyongyang.

But the thoughtfulness behind it looked much more abundant.

Lee Jeong-woo's mother served rice in front of us.

"It smells wonderful. What kind of rice is this?"

I asked, though the answer came from Lee Jeong-woo.

"That's oyster rice. It's a dish you can enjoy from late autumn to early spring. It's so delicious that you can make an entire meal just with oyster rice without side dishes. Please try it, Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok."

I nodded and picked up the spoon.

"Then I will enjoy it."

After greeting Lee Jeong-woo's mother, I took a spoonful of oyster rice.

The unique flavor of the oysters filled my mouth.

I understood why Lee Jeong-woo mentioned that even one dish could suffice for a meal. It was impressive enough to be served in a restaurant.

"This is delicious! It's not much different compared to what I had in Pyongyang."

As soon as I praised it, Lee Jeong-woo's mother smiled and gestured towards the side dishes.

"You're too kind. Please try the side dishes as well."

As she had promised, all the side dishes paired wonderfully with the oyster rice.

I quickly finished the mountain of rice she had served; as I put down my spoon with a satisfied expression, Lee Jeong-woo's mother let out a sigh of relief.

"I enjoyed the meal. I wondered why Jung-woo brought you here, but he must've wanted to show off his mother's cooking skills."

I wasn't just saying it; I genuinely felt satisfied.

Manager Ma seemed to have enjoyed it as well, finishing an entire bowl.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lee Jeong-woo's mother shyly smiled.

Once our delightful meal concluded, we refreshed our palates with sujeonggwa before standing up.

"Talk with your mother a bit more before you come out. We'll take a walk around the neighborhood."

Lee Jeong-woo sprang to his feet and waved his hands.

"No. I'll guide you!"

"I'll look around the area, so take your time. Since I was treated so well, I need to digest a bit. I think it'll take about 30 minutes. Come out when you're ready."

I stopped Lee Jeong-woo as he tried to follow and put on my shoes with Manager Ma.

"Manager, give me your wallet."

Manager Ma pulled out his wallet and handed it to me.

Having received such a nice lunch, I had to cover the cost.

After taking the wallet, I took a $100 bill and placed it on the shoe rack before leaving the entrance.

"B-Boss!"

From a distance, Lee Jeong-woo and his mother rushed out after seeing that.

"You really don't have to do that. We just wanted to treat you to a meal."

Seeing their flustered expressions, I smiled gently.

"Given the delightful meal you prepared for me, it's only natural I pay. Please don't feel burdened; accept it graciously."

Lee Jeong-woo seemed about to protest, but I walked out through the front gate.

I started my walk slowly around the neighborhood as Manager Ma followed silently behind me.

The residents glanced at Manager Ma and me, clad in suits, but they didn't approach closely.

"It's a rustic village that doesn't feel much different from South Korea. Isn't it?"

"Yes, Boss. You could easily mistake it for South Korea," he replied.

However, the area definitely felt more impoverished than South Korea.

Especially visible in the residents' attire and expressions.

After about 30 minutes of exploring the neighborhood, I returned to Lee Jeong-woo's house.

I spotted Lee Jeong-woo fidgeting next to the car.

He rushed over to me as soon as he spotted me, presenting something with both hands.

It was the stack of $100 bills I had left behind earlier.

"Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok, this is far too much money. It's excessive."

"Um…"

I let out a sound of contemplation as I scrutinized Lee Jeong-woo's face. He looked genuinely troubled.

I hadn't counted it precisely since I took whatever I grabbed, but it was probably around $3,000.

To me, it was money I wouldn't miss.

"Lee Jeong-woo," I said.

"Yes, Boss?"

"That money is my sincerity. Please consider it a token of appreciation for your mother who made such delicious food for me."

"Even so, that's too much money," he insisted.

What could I say to ensure he wouldn't feel burdened and would accept it willingly?

After a moment of contemplation, I spoke.

"I'm not sure if the Vice Chairman mentioned who I am to you, but that money you're holding means nothing to me. If it makes you uncomfortable, that would be far more insulting."

"…"

"My motto is to repay kindness with kindness, and malice with malice. So please, return it to your mother. It is a gift for her, not for you."

Yet Lee Jeong-woo still hesitated. Perhaps it's his naive nature or just a timid disposition.

I spoke firmly to him.

"Should I call Vice Chairman Jang Seong-taek to convince you?"

"Oh, no! I'll give it to my mother! Thank you, Boss!"

It seemed that the name Jang Seong-taek had more weight with Lee Jeong-woo than with me.

With his head lowered, Lee Jeong-woo hurriedly opened the gate and went inside.

Soon he returned, and I spoke as I got into the car.

"We've delayed too long. We need to move quickly to see the other areas."

"Yes, I will do that."

We explored all the remaining areas except for the ones we had seen that morning.

The more I walked around, the more I felt frustrated.

I had no idea where to start improving things.

"Lastly, I will take you to the West Sea Locks."

Finally, we arrived at the West Sea Locks.

I got out of the car and soaked in the sight of the locks as Lee Jeong-woo shared his pride.

"What do you think?"

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it magnificent? This enormous lock was directly commissioned and constructed by the Supreme Leader. Thanks to this lock, the passage capability between Nampo Harbor and the Daedong River has been enhanced, and it supplies water to the agricultural region of the West Coast."

Though Lee Jeong-woo gazed at the locks with pride, my eyes were drawn more toward their drawbacks than their advantages.

"There are railways and roads on top of the locks," I remarked.

"Yes. It also serves as a bridge connecting Nampo and Hwanghae Province."

"Seeing that there's already a limitation imposed by the locks… Adding land traffic would've reduced the time that vessels entering Nampo Harbor take to cross significantly."

This was something I wouldn't have realized had I only visited Nampo Harbor.

The Nampo I saw this time was not the Nampo I remembered. It needed structural changes right from the foundation.

"Let's go back. I need to meet with Vice Chairman Jang Seong-taek."

On the way back to Pyongyang, I restructured my plan entirely.

Upon arriving at Vice Chairman Jang Seong-taek's office, I sat down across from him.

"What did you think of the Nampo you saw, Mr. Kim?"

Jang Seong-taek's inquiry was tinged with subtle expectations as I shook my head.

"There's never been anything this terrible before."

His expression hardened immediately.

"It's an area that was fundamentally flawed from the start. Back then, it was likely the best option… But now it feels outdated. It's a region stuck in between extremes."

"…"

As I spoke plainly, Jang Seong-taek merely twitched his lips, rendered speechless.

I set aside the cognac in front of me and picked up the vodka.

After emptying the glass of vodka in one go, I continued.

"We need to completely overhaul the plan. I need to discard everything I initially thought in Seoul and devise a new one."