CH21 : Reconstruction

'I don't think I need to attend the welcome party.'

Having already signed a contract with Gulf, I didn't want to get involved with politicians at the welcome party.

If I got tangled up with the military regime of this era, a small company like Daese Group could be blown away in an instant.

Of course, I should also avoid the military regime of the 1980s, but by then, I would have grown large enough to be relatively safe.

In the early stages of the business, it was better to directly connect with foreigners and grow the export business.

Buzz, buzz.

"Huh?"

I was about to explain the situation to President Hwang Hyesung, but there was a huge crowd near the abandoned factory.

"President Woo!"

"President Hwang, who are all these people?"

"They are sandblaster mechanics and welders. Didn't you tell me to bring them?"

"Did you find sandblasters?"

"They had some at Jangsaengpo Port. It's equipment often used for ship repairs."

Wow, so there were sandblasters at this time.

Anyway, did you gather this many workers just because I asked you to find mechanics?

"How did you gather so many people?"

"There was a lot of talk about building fertilizer plants and refineries in Ulsan. But then the companies pulled out, so they flocked here for 500 won a day."

Come to think of it, the establishment of the Ulsan Petrochemical Complex had many ups and downs.

It was a project that required large-scale investment, and only after bringing in a $150 million loan from the U.S. did the project start gaining momentum.

Of course, as the petrochemical industry began to be spotlighted due to the Vietnam War, the push became even more intense.

"Since we're all here, let's eat first."

"Huh?"

"Everyone, listen up. Beef bone soup to the left! Blood sausage soup in the middle, and ox blood soup to the right."

"President, are you providing food here?"

Of course.

I only hire those who eat quickly and clean up.

I have no intention of paying daily wages to mechanics who just waste time.

"Our company provides room and board to employees. So, quickly line up for the soup. Time is money, everyone knows that, right?"

"Wow!"

We conducted interviews with mechanics at the abandoned factory in Ulsan.

***

A few days later,

"Everyone, move aside. We're moving the pipes."

"Move aside, move aside!"

We hooked the pipes cut with an oxy-acetylene torch to the crane.

The first thing I dismantled was the pipes in the abandoned factory.

To extract chemical fibers from naphtha, it was better to dismantle all the existing pipes and reconfigure the plant in my own way than to modify the existing factory.

"Crane! Be careful with the crane!!"

"Move aside! Move, you idiot."

Someone appeared next to the crane out of nowhere.

The signalman and the crane operator both freaked out.

"Huh!"

"Who are you? Why are you here? That's a warning!"

I grabbed the collar of the mechanic who was wandering near the crane barricade and dragged him out.

"Sorry!"

"Shout after me! Safety distance! Safety distance! Safety distance!"

"Safety distance! Safety distance! Safety distance."

"Three warnings and you're out. Understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

I made him shout the safety distance loudly enough for others to hear.

It wasn't just a warning.

I kicked out those who pretended to be clueless and ignored safety.

Those who couldn't even take care of their own safety couldn't work properly. They were just there to waste time.

"Stainless steel pipes here, steel pipes there."

"Yes, President."

"What's this? Don't you know to classify pipes by thickness? And why aren't you inserting the retaining pins? It's written on the noticeboard! If it rolls off, people can get hurt."

As with any site, especially at a plant site, organization is directly linked to efficiency and safety.

"Sorry!"

"That's a warning! Show me your name tag!"

"Sorry."

"Never mind the apologies, show me your name tag! What's this? You've already had two warnings."

The name tag showed he had already received two warnings.

"This... this was a mistake. Please forgive me."

"How do you make three mistakes? Get out of the site now! You'll be paid at the front gate."

I kicked him out immediately.

It was my third day of sorting out mechanics.

They all ate so well that I couldn't sort them out by eating speed alone.

"Please, just one more chance! President."

"What are you doing? Get this person out now!"

I kicked him out mercilessly.

If a worker throws pipes wherever they want despite the notice board clearly indicating to classify by thickness, what kind of work ethic do they have?

If they put things anywhere out of convenience, they'll have to move them again later.

Not only does it lower work efficiency, but such workers are bound to cause accidents sooner or later.

I had no intention of working with such people.

Like Manager Kim from my past life, who would pour concrete knowing an apartment would collapse, I would never hire such people in this life.

I had seen enough companies go bankrupt in my past life.

This time, I would never go bankrupt!

Anyone who has worked on a site knows this.

Accidents don't happen to careless workers; they happen to diligent workers passing by where the careless workers have made mistakes.

It's extremely unfair for those who get hurt.

People fall from scaffolding carelessly tied, heavy objects fall from cranes due to improperly closed hooks, people get hit by reversing vehicles ignoring signals, workers fall into pits covered with tarps, and materials roll and cover people because retaining pins were carelessly inserted. Most accidents are caused by careless workers hurting others.

"What are you going to do if you kick everyone out? We have to live together."

"Who are you?"

"I'm from Ulsan Labor Agency nearby. You should use some of our workers."

"Was the worker I just kicked out from your agency?"

"That's not important. You shouldn't just fire people recklessly in this town. This isn't Seoul."

He was a type I despised: a thug from a labour agency. These thugs pushed neighbourhood bullies or lazy bums onto construction sites and skimmed off their wages.

I laughed sarcastically, and the people around me gathered. Most of them were former marines among the mechanics, known for their fighting skills.

"This person claims to be from Ulsan Labor Agency and says we should use their workers. What should we do?"

"You bastard. Do you know where you are?"

"Hey... hey... why are you doing this? I'm from Ulsan Labor Agency. You don't know who you're dealing with."

"President, can I punch this guy?"

My site was safe and well-treated, so most people were attached to it.

The smart ones already knew.

I was hiring permanent employees.

"Just warn him and turn him over to the police."

"Yes, President."

"Why are you doing this? Step back, step back."

Labour agency thugs are mistaken if they think they can mess with construction workers.

Workers on dangerous sites have nerves of steel and unimaginable strength.

Their bodies are their assets, so they usually hold back, but it's different when they have a stable job.

Even if a thug pulls out a cutter, they just laugh.

Swinging an iron pipe a few times is enough.

"Kid, put that down. You'll cut yourself."

"You bastards! I'm from Ulsan Labor Agency... Gah!"

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The former marines among the mechanics began to beat him moderately.

"Kid, relax. If you tense up, your bones will break."

"Argh. Aaaah!"

In this era, former marines were close with the local police and were considered the righteous protectors of the community, so such incidents were easily covered up.

Dealing with local thugs one by one was impractical, and I decided to handle it the 1960s way.

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

"Everyone, dinner time."

The dinner bell rang from afar.

The day's work was done.

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work today."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Since I hadn't sorted all the permanent employees yet, I couldn't conduct night operations.

No matter how urgent it was, pushing night work with unverified workers was inviting accidents.

"Gas safety! Safety! Safety!"

"Gas safety! Safety! Safety!"

Groups gathered here and there, chanting safety slogans.

After my persistent nagging, end-of-day safety checks were thorough.

They turned off the gas, kinked the oxygen hose, pointed to the gas cylinder pressure gauge, and shouted safety.

It might look childish, but such confirmation slogans and gestures prevented accidents.

'I should hire that team as permanent staff.'

I had already picked out a few promising teams.

At a glance, they might seem to work the same, but with a little attention, it was clear who was meticulous and who was sloppy.

"President, you should eat."

"President Hwang, you've worked hard too. Let's go."

I was covered in dust, and President Hwang was covered in soot.

I was in charge of pipe cutting, and President Hwang was in charge of pipe cleaning.

We headed to the site cafeteria.

There were small restaurants around, but the cafeteria lady's food was the best.

"Madam, two servings, please."

"Is mackerel stew with spring greens wrap okay?"

"It sounds delicious. Two meal tickets, right?"

"Please wait a moment, President."

The best part was not having to choose a menu.

"Madam, can I have some gochujang? I want to mix it in."

"

Wait a minute, young man."

"Can I have more dried radish greens soup?"

"Yes. Yes."

Though it was a makeshift building with a tent and wooden boards, it fed nearly 200 workers.

"President, is it okay to provide free meals like this?"

"It's not free. They need an 80-won meal ticket to eat."

I gave two meal tickets to each mechanic daily.

Those who commuted home solved two meals on-site, and those staying at the site had to skip one meal or buy it with their own money.

"Some might think you're running a charity. Providing room and board, clean restrooms, and even a bathhouse."

"It's just connecting temporary facilities to the plant boiler. It's not charity."

I had to do it for my own comfort.

I couldn't tolerate pit latrines, and I couldn't sleep without showering, no matter how tired I was. Ideally, I wanted to change my sweaty work clothes daily.

"If there were more people like you, everyone would be rich."

"Of course, everyone should get rich. That's why we're doing this."

"... Well, that's true."

President Hwang seemed unable to grasp how big my plans were.

"Moreover, you have to treat them well to earn their loyalty to our company."

Compared to 21st-century working conditions, it couldn't be called special treatment, but 1960s mechanics were thrilled with the makeshift lodgings built with cement blocks, called 'boroqu'.

Honestly, I preferred the makeshift lodgings to inns. I could clean up, lie down, and fall asleep listening to the radio. They played pop songs until 2 a.m., and it worked as a morning call too.

"I learn a lot from you, President. But, isn't it risky to start repairs while the purchase of the abandoned factory site is still underway?"

President Hwang was concerned that to finally take over this factory, the Ulsan city hall would have to transfer the site title.

It was granted to Gulf Company as a special favour.

"It's fine. If I don't take over the factory, Gulf won't be able to sell naphtha or receive catalyst supplies."

Ulsan city hall couldn't ignore the Gulf's influence, just as the South Korean government couldn't ignore the U.S. government's influence.

"I see."

Gulf being on my side was unquestionable.

For Gulf, it was realistically impossible to betray me, who provided catalysts that increased refining efficiency by 5% and consumed all their naphtha.

"Is the microphone tower ready?"

"Microphone tower?"

"The reactor, the polymerization reactor."

The reactor was a massive structure where various raw materials were combined under special conditions to create chemical compounds.

It resembled a karaoke microphone, hence the nickname 'microphone tower'.

"Ah! The polymerization reactor. I was about to report it. We cleaned it thoroughly and finished welding it today."

"What? Already?"

I was surprised while eating mackerel.

That couldn't be.

I had given President Hwang the reactor drawings only four days ago.

It would take at least two months to dismantle the existing tower and modify it according to the drawings.

"Believe it or not, there was a reactor similar to the one you designed in the waste storage. We cleaned off the rust and attached it to the tower."

"Really?"

Amazing! Absolutely amazing.

It seemed the original factory design included a naphtha refinery plant attached to the oil refining facility.

"Shall I show you after dinner?"

"Of course."

"We might even be able to test run it."

"Really?"

President Hwang was an expert in polymerization reactors.

If he said a test run was possible, it really was.

Amazing! Amazing!

I shoveled food into my mouth.

My heart was pounding.

I might achieve my goals much faster than I thought.

I wanted to become rich quickly.

If not a 21st-century apartment, I at least wanted to live in a 1990s Western-style house. I wanted to bring good news to Sam-bok, who was struggling in Seoul.