Amid the falling white snow, Seok-won stepped out from the backseat of a large black Mercedes sedan that had stopped in front of the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan. As he did, a familiar figure—the Minister's Chief Secretary—approached him.
"Welcome, sir. I received instructions from the Minister to escort you here, so I've been waiting."
"I feel bad for troubling you like this."
"Not at all. Please, follow me. I'll take you to the Minister's office."
With the Chief Secretary leading the way, Seok-won walked alongside Deputy Manager Han Ji-sung and Choi Tae-ho, the president of Blue Space.
Although the entire Ministry of Defense building was a high-security facility with strict entry procedures, thanks to the Secretary's prior arrangements, they only needed to leave their identification cards before being allowed inside.
Crossing the lobby—where military uniforms outnumbered civilian clothes—the group took the elevator straight up to the Minister's office.
Upon arriving at the antechamber, the Chief Secretary excused himself politely.
"Would you mind waiting just a moment?"
He then went into the Minister's office, knocked, and opened the door.
"President Park Seok-won has arrived."
"Please, bring him in."
Holding the door open respectfully, the Chief Secretary gestured.
"Please, go ahead."
With a slight nod, Seok-won entered the office with his companions, where Minister of National Defense Ahn Yong-guk rose from the sofa to greet him.
"It's been a while since we last met."
Smiling, Seok-won clasped the hand the Minister had extended.
"Thank you for sparing the time in the middle of your busy schedule."
"For President Park? Of course—I'd make time even if I didn't have any."
Minister Ahn answered warmly, then lifted an arm to point toward a broad-shouldered, middle-aged man wearing the rank insignia of a brigadier general.
"This is Director Lee Yong-gu, who oversees the management of national property owned by the Ministry of Defense."
Director Lee Yong-gu stepped forward and spoke with a polite demeanor.
"It's an honor to meet you for the first time. I look forward to working with you."
"I'm Park Seok-won. I should be the one saying that I look forward to working together."
With a gentle smile, Seok-won shook hands warmly with Director Lee.
Having heard that Seok-won was the world's richest man and a powerful figure closely connected to the VIP at the Blue House, Lee Yong-gu had been tense inside. But seeing that Seok-won was neither arrogant nor overbearing, and instead came across as approachable, he felt a wave of relief.
At that moment, Seok-won introduced the companions who had come with him.
"This is Choi Tae-ho, the president of Blue Space, a private space development company we established not long ago."
Wearing a gray suit and looking a little stiff, Choi Tae-ho spoke.
"I'm Choi Tae-ho. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Once the introductions were over, Minister of National Defense Ahn Yong-guk gestured toward the seating area.
"Rather than stand here, let's sit down and talk."
"Of course."
The two groups sat facing each other on sofas arranged on either side of the Minister's office. Minister Ahn, rather than taking the center seat of honor, chose to sit shoulder to shoulder with Director Lee Yong-gu.
"What would you like to drink?"
A secretary asked the question, but though Minister Ahn was the host, all eyes naturally turned to Seok-won.
"I'll have coffee."
Minister Ahn immediately followed up.
"Then shall we all go with coffee?"
"That would be best."
"I agree as well."
With everyone in accord, Minister Ahn gave a small nod to the secretary.
"It will be prepared shortly."
Once the secretary left the room, Minister Ahn glanced at Seok-won across from him and carefully began to speak.
"I've heard that you're interested in purchasing land owned by the Ministry of Defense in Moseulpo, Jeju Island."
"That's correct. As stated in the proposal I submitted earlier, I intend to build a space launch site in Moseulpo. Part of the planned area includes land owned by the Ministry of Defense, and I'd like to acquire it."
At Minister Ahn Yong-guk's signal, Director Lee Yong-gu spread out a detailed map of the Moseulpo area on the table.
Pointing with his finger at a wide section outlined in highlighter just below Moseulpo Port, Minister Ahn asked,
"This is the western area of Seotal Oreum in Daejeong-eup, correct?"
After confirming the location, Seok-won gave a slight nod.
"That's right."
At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation as a secretary entered. He placed coffee and refreshments for each person on the table, bowed, and quietly exited the room.
Seizing the brief pause, Minister Ahn laced his fingers together and looked down at the map.
"Before you arrived, we held an internal meeting. The land has long been left idle, and more importantly, everyone responded positively to your promise to build and donate a naval pier along with the launch site."
"That's good to hear. You have my word—the promise to donate the naval pier will be fully honored, so you needn't worry."
"However, there is one issue."
Seok-won, who had been smiling at the favorable mood, slightly furrowed his brow.
"And what would that be?"
Minister Ahn turned his head toward Director Lee.
"It's better if you, as the one handling the practical matters, explain."
"Yes, sir."
Adjusting his posture, Director Lee looked across at Seok-won and President Choi Tae-ho and began speaking calmly.
"It's true that the land you wish to purchase contains no significant military installations. However, aside from the unpaved runway area of the Altteureu Airfield, about 450,000 pyeong of the land has been leased to local residents, who are currently using it as farmland."
Seok-won immediately understood and frowned.
"You mean to say that if a space launch site is built, the local residents who've been farming on leased land will strongly oppose it."
"That is correct."
Sensing the mood, Minister Ahn Yong-guk carefully interjected.
"Since it's idle land that's not being used anyway, and with the growing concerns over securing safe maritime transport routes, the prospect of having a sizable naval base is very appealing to us. So, from our standpoint, we support the construction of a space launch site. But if the residents oppose it, the situation could become very difficult for us."
Seated beside him, Director Lee Yong-gu added cautiously,
"Moreover, around the Altteureu Airfield, there are still remnants of Japanese military structures from the colonial era—hangars, defensive fortifications, ammunition depots—and on top of that, the site is tied to the painful historical memory of the April 3rd Incident. Resistance will likely be fierce."
"In fact, about ten years ago, the Air Force attempted to turn Altteureu Airfield into a new base. But they faced such intense opposition from local residents and civic groups that the plan was scrapped."
"I see… I hadn't realized that happened."
At Minister Ahn's explanation, the lines on Seok-won's forehead deepened.
Beside him, President Choi Tae-ho also realized that this wasn't just a matter of taking over land—the obstacles would be far greater. His face sank with dismay.
"To be frank, we could simply hand over the land and look the other way. But in that case, President Park, you would face serious difficulties, so we felt it best to warn you in advance."
"If we had pushed ahead blindly, it would have been quite troublesome indeed. Thank you."
Minister Ahn regarded him with a doubtful expression and asked,
"Given all this, do you still intend to purchase the land?"
Seok-won turned his head toward President Choi.
"What do you think?"
With a conflicted look, Choi Tae-ho hesitated for a moment before answering with clear regret.
"Moseulpo is the optimal location for a launch site, but with such obstacles in the way… I don't think it will be easy to move forward as planned."
Seok-won's tone was calm as he pressed further.
"So, setting aside everything else, purely in terms of location, Moseulpo is the best site?"
"Yes, it is."
Nodding, Seok-won stroked his smoothly shaven chin, silently weighing the matter.
Everyone fell quiet, waiting for the decision he would make.
By the time the coffee before them had cooled to lukewarm, Seok-won finally raised his head and spoke.
"We'll purchase the land in Moseulpo."
The three men, who had fully expected him either to give up or at least deliberate further, were taken aback.
"Are you serious? The opposition from the local residents could be far greater than you imagine."
Minister Ahn voiced his concern again, wondering if Seok-won was taking the matter too lightly. But Seok-won did not waver.
In fact, he spoke with renewed confidence.
"Now that I'm aware of circumstances I hadn't previously considered, it's clear we'll need to adjust our original plans somewhat."
"Of course, that would be necessary."
"That's why, rather than purchasing just a portion, we intend to acquire all of the Ministry of Defense's land in Moseulpo, including the Altteureu Airfield."
"It will be difficult, but if there's any way we can assist—wait, what?"
Minister Ahn Yong-guk and Director Lee Yong-gu widened their eyes, unable to hide their astonishment at the unexpected declaration.
Beside them, President Choi Tae-ho also stared at Seok-won in shock.
"You're saying you intend to purchase the entire six hundred and ten thousand pyeong of land?"
Minister Ahn asked again, as if seeking confirmation. Without the slightest hesitation, Seok-won nodded.
"That's correct."
"But… if you acquire not just part, but all six hundred and ten thousand pyeong, the residents' opposition will only grow stronger. How do you intend to handle that?"
Minister Ahn's concern was genuine, yet Seok-won remained calm and composed.
"The reason I want to buy more land is precisely to ease the residents' opposition and ensure we can coexist in harmony."
"What do you mean by that…?"
The three men exchanged looks of disbelief, their expressions showing they couldn't make sense of his words.
In particular, President Choi Tae-ho, thinking Seok-won was recklessly overreaching, spoke with worry written across his face.
"Moseulpo may be the best location, but if the residents protest fiercely, the construction could be delayed for years and seriously disrupt the project."
"That won't happen. There's no need to worry."
No one could understand what was going through his mind, but since this wasn't a private conversation and, more importantly, Seok-won was the one holding the purse strings and ultimate authority, Choi Tae-ho didn't press the matter further.
Still, he couldn't hide the heavy look of concern on his face.
At that moment, Seok-won turned to Minister Ahn with a new proposal.
"If the Ministry of Defense agrees to transfer all of the land it owns, in addition to the naval pier I already promised, I will also donate six Chamsuri-class patrol boats to the Navy."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course."
The Chamsuri-class patrol boat was a 150-ton vessel operated by the Navy for coastal defense and intercepting North Korean spy ships.
It was an unexpected offer, but even though production had ended years ago and the class was considered somewhat dated, each vessel was still worth several billion won. To donate not one, but six of them for free—there was no reason to refuse.
On top of the earlier promise to donate thirty K9 self-propelled howitzers, Seok-won had a habit of presenting enormous gifts whenever negotiations came up. To Minister Ahn Yong-guk, he was starting to feel less like a businessman and more like Santa Claus himself.
Suppressing the smile tugging at his lips, Minister Ahn forced his expression back into composure.
"Ahem. Since you say you have a plan to address the residents' opposition, then let's proceed that way. To us, this land is like a useless burden—neither here nor there. But it's far better for President Park to acquire it and put it to use than for us to just let it sit idle."
Turning to the side, he addressed Director Lee Yong-gu.
"Don't you agree?"
"You're absolutely right."
Catching the Minister's gaze, Director Lee quickly nodded in agreement.
"In truth, with the promise of not only a naval pier but also the donation of patrol boats, I'd like to transfer the land at a reduced price. But legally, that could cause problems, so I'm afraid it won't be possible."
"That's quite all right. In fact, it's easier for me if we settle on a proper price, rather than risk trouble later."
At Seok-won's casual tone, Minister Ahn let a small smile slip.
"As expected of the world's richest man—you certainly think on a grand scale."
"You flatter me."
Brushing off the compliment, Seok-won continued,
"Please reassess the value of all six hundred and ten thousand pyeong of Ministry of Defense land in Moseulpo. Once I receive the figure, we can negotiate the details and move forward with the contract."
Since the Ministry of Defense had nothing to lose in such a deal, Minister Ahn readily agreed.
"Very well."