Chapter 188: National Unity Party

“A news outlet? Is there a problem?”

When I expressed my doubt, Executive Director Oh Seong-hak showed me several recent articles written by major news outlets on his tablet.

Advanced technology leak? Overseas export of AGE-01 is a hole in national security

Overseas sales of wartime strategic weapons, is there a problem?

Dojin Frontier is virtually privatizing the defense industry

Quantum 4, imitation of A-Phone design? UI, camera module similarity controversy

OS Lunar, claims of security vulnerability continue

Suspicions of shoddy construction of the 93-story smart tower built by Dojin Frontier

Cracks in the exterior wall just three months after completion, is it really safe?

Industry insider: ‘The building itself is a structure that would struggle to withstand a single shake’

Structural defects hidden behind a flashy exterior…… Why is Dojin silent?

Concerns of a major disaster in Gangnam downtown…… Allegations of skipping the supervision process

“Wow…… What’s all this?”

These were contents I hadn’t expected.

“For some time now, opposition-affiliated news outlets have been indiscriminately spreading slanderous articles about us.”

There were also many articles about the recent establishment of joint ventures with materials, parts, and equipment companies related to semiconductors.

Abuse of power or ‘technology protection’…… Dojin Tech, controversy over excessive NDAs with small and medium-sized partners

Contract terms are ‘乙’, but responsibility is ‘甲’…… Small and medium-sized semiconductor partners of Dojin facing mass bankruptcy crisis

Hand over the technology, no compensation…… Dojin Group, demands for free technology transfer

Behind the pretense of building a semiconductor ecosystem lies ‘the tears of 乙’…… Small and medium-sized companies dealing with Dojin complain, ‘No way out’

None of the articles directly attacked me.

However, using rhetoric like suspicions, controversies, and circumstances rather than facts, they were indirectly shaking public opinion.

“National Broadcasting, Central Media, Hanbit Daily…… All of them are opposition-affiliated news outlets.”

Legacy media either affiliated with the National Unity Party or receiving funds from them.

“Assemblyman Baek Moo-jin is trying to help us, but it seems like the lawmakers from the National Future Alliance are being cautious.”

“They’re probably holding back because they’re worried about the impact on votes.”

They were concerned about the upcoming presidential election.

“Anyway, with such an indiscriminate flood of articles, our image has taken a bit of a hit.”

The reservation increase rate for the soon-to-be-released Quantum 4 smartphone had significantly decreased.

And there was a declining trend in sales for the already released models.

“What about publishing a rebuttal article?”

Executive Director Oh Seong-hak shook his head.

“We did prepare a rebuttal article, but due to the legacy media structure, no news outlet would carry it.”

Of course, there were some, but they were places with little influence.

I sighed lightly.

“Of course, it’s Ahsung’s doing, right?”

“It’s not just Ahsung, but the National Unity Party also sees us as a thorn in their side. It seems they want to properly crush us this time.”

My brows furrowed involuntarily.

A joint attack from Ahsung and the political sphere.

“It seems like I’m still on Ahsung’s mind.”

“Having shut down their mobile business because of us, and losing in areas like defense and construction, their feelings couldn’t be good.”

Well, I didn’t have good feelings about them either.

If possible, I wanted to bring them down quickly.

But given their massive scale and the numerous businesses they were involved in, it wasn’t easy to bring them down quickly.

‘Still, it won’t take too long.’

Executive Director Oh Seong-hak explained what he had confirmed.

“From what I’ve found, there have been multiple contacts between the editorial office of National Broadcasting, the public opinion survey team of Central Media, and the policy committee of the National Unity Party.”

Seong-hwan, who was listening, also seemed annoyed and raised his voice.

“Hyung, why don’t we just buy those news outlets outright?”

Looking at me with eyes filled with frustration and helplessness, he continued.

“If we buy shares of National Broadcasting or Central Media and just replace one editorial director, we can change the atmosphere at once. Even if the political stance doesn’t change, at least they won’t be able to touch us.”

I shook my head lightly.

“No!”

“Why? If we go in indirectly through DJ Capital or Trinity Holdings, no one will know. Without a direct confrontation, we can just quietly secure influence……”

“How long do you think that influence will last?”

Seong-hwan’s words trailed off, and a brief silence hung in the air.

I continued.

“Legacy media is already being shunned by the times. Newspaper circulation is declining, and broadcast viewership ratings are continuously falling.”

It was an era where people were more moved by a single short video clip than by reading articles.

“……But they still have influence right now.”

“They do. For now. But soon they’ll disappear. Instead, if we spend tens or hundreds of billions buying those news outlets, places trying to imitate us will sprout up like bamboo shoots.”

In a situation where management wasn’t doing well, if a few malicious articles led to buying the entire company, who wouldn’t try to follow suit?

And.

“Fighting by acquiring legacy media has clear limits. It would be far more effective to fight using platforms instead.”

I took out my smartphone and showed it to Seong-hwan.

KTalk Feed.

Currently, my follower count had surpassed 29 million.

Thanks to a post I uploaded during the recent hafnium oxide incident becoming a major issue, my follower count had surged.

“So, instead of acquiring news outlets, you’re going to deal with them using SNS?”

“Right.”

I had already experienced firsthand, before my regression, just how tremendous the influence of platforms could be.

With over 200 million followers backing me,

I had made Trump win the U.S. presidential election by a landslide.

And with a single word, I had moved the market capitalization of a Silicon Valley company by tens of billions of dollars.

‘What truly holds power isn’t the media, but the person who can speak directly.’

Seong-hwan tilted his head.

“But doesn’t that only work for people who like us, like a fandom? For the moderate or conservative older generation like now……”

“That’s why we need to create an attention-grabbing, provocative issue.”

＊＊＊

Kwon Seok-tae.

National Unity Party Leader’s Office.

A more relaxed smile than usual spread across his face.

He gently stopped the secretary from pouring tea.

“I’ll do it myself today.”

Holding the teacup with his left hand, he slowly scrolled through the list of real-time articles floating on the monitor with his right.

Dojin Frontier, controversy over overseas leakage of defense technology spreads.

Quantum 4, serious security issues? Failure of technological independence pointed out

Cracks in Smart Tower? Civic groups urge reinvestigation

Busan Optic, down 15% in early trading…… Investors moving for class action.

Scanning each line, Kwon Seok-tae showed a satisfied smile.

“They must be out of their minds by now.”

Sitting next to him, National Unity Party Policy Committee Chair Bae Gil-seong asked.

“Why are you going this far to restrain Dojin?”

“That guy.”

Kwon Seok-tae pointed to Kang Tae-joon’s face on the monitor.

“There’s a rumor he’s Baek Moo-jin’s financial backer.”

Baek Moo-jin was once his comrade but was now the representative of the National Future Alliance and his greatest political rival.

“Financial backer…… Is that really true?”

Bae Gil-seong’s eyes widened.

“Since it’s information from Ahsung Group’s Strategic Planning Office, it’s almost certainly true.”

“I see…… So that’s why Assemblyman Baek Moo-jin is maintaining the party leadership so solidly.”

As Bae Gil-seong muttered to himself, Kwon Seok-tae nodded.

“In the end, politics is about money. The one with the money draws the picture, and the one without follows.”

Putting down the teacup, Kwon Seok-tae slightly raised his eyebrows.

“That Kang Tae-joon, he’s a businessman by nature…… But lately, he acts like a politician. As if Dojin is his own kingdom.”

“Actually, Dojin’s corporate image is too strong.”

Smartphones, KTalk, and Lunar.

On top of that, they made the ridiculous AGE weapon.

Now they were even reaching into semiconductors.

“That’s why we’re trying to suppress them now.”

If they didn’t suppress them now, it could hinder his fight against the National Future Alliance in this presidential election.

Kwon Seok-tae pointed again to the articles on the monitor.

AGE-01, weapon or export item

Technology funded by taxpayers……

“If Dojin were a listed company, its stock price would have halved by now…… That’s a bit regrettable.”

Bae Gil-seong responded.

“Still, the stock prices of listed companies like Busan Optic, NextTech, and Seyoun Materials that entered Dojin’s semiconductor ecosystem this time are hitting consecutive lower limits.”

“Haha, that’s true. Shaking them like that, eventually, cracks will appear internally too.”

Policy Committee Chair Bae Gil-seong made an additional suggestion.

“Why don’t we move the prosecution to investigate the connection between Kang Tae-joon and Baek Moo-jin this time?”

The green tea in the teacup drew a thin ripple.

“You mean dig into political funds?”

“Yes, there’s no official route, but there are funds supported by Assemblyman Baek Moo-jin’s side to startups or tech funds, which are likely coming from one of Dojin’s affiliates.”

“Really?”

Kwon Seok-tae’s eyebrows arched.

“If we trace the flow of funds…… we’ll see assets intertwined through cross-shareholdings via investment consulting firms and private equity structures. Using that, we can pressure both Baek Moo-jin and Kang Tae-joon under the pretext of ‘illegal political funding.’”

Kwon Seok-tae put down the teacup.

Today, the scent of green tea seemed particularly strong.

“Alright. I’ll directly request that through my prosecution contacts.”

Thinking this would sufficiently dampen the momentum of the National Future Alliance

and secure a favorable position for himself in this presidential election, Kwon Seok-tae showed a triumphant smile.

But the situation didn’t go exactly as he wanted.