Chapter 195: Personnel Announcement
The Presidential Transition Committee
It was an organization where, literally, the newly elected president through the election received the handover from the former president and prepared to form a new government.
Baek Moo-jin leaned forward and added,
“If Representative Kang helps me, it will be a great help to me.”
If I participate in the transition committee, it will certainly empower not only the elected Baek Moo-jin but also me.
The Presidential Transition Committee is, literally, the place where the ‘transfer of power’ is designed.
Deciding which cabinet members to appoint.
How to reorganize the budget.
Where to prioritize in running the country.
It was a position that fully embodied the philosophy and direction of the next administration.
My participation here meant
I would be virtually a ‘co-designer of the next government.’
But.
“It’s an honor, but…”
I straightened my back and met Baek Moo-jin’s eyes.
“There’s already considerable scrutiny on my deep involvement in politics.”
Baek Moo-jin responded with a surprised expression.
“That controversy will die down soon. So…”
I raised my hand to stop him.
“Because of me, supporters of the National Unity Party are already flooding SNS with hundreds of thousands of criticisms and conspiracy theories.”
If I officially joined the transition committee in this situation,
The media would likely label me as the ‘power behind the next administration’ and cling to the story even more.
It was clear that it wouldn’t help in the next general election.
I smiled and continued.
“So, how about sending someone else in my place?”
“Someone else… perhaps?”
“I recommend Executive Director Jo Seong-hwan.”
My closest confidant, someone I trust more than anyone.
Seong-hwan’s participation in the transition committee would be no different from my direct involvement.
Baek Moo-jin seemed to think it wasn’t a bad idea, curling the corners of his lips.
“It’s true that having Representative Kang participate directly would draw less attention.”
Since he’s also a KAIST graduate, his intellect isn’t lacking either.
I thought he’d fit in surprisingly well.
‘It might not be a bad idea to launch his political career now…’
When I told Seong-hwan I was passing on the invitation to join the transition committee, his eyes widened as he looked at me.
“So, you’re telling me to join the Presidential Transition Committee now?”
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to, but it would be much better for you to go than me. It could also be an opportunity to build political connections.”
While I already have some political connections due to my external affairs work,
Direct participation in the transition committee was on a different level.
“So, you’re saying I should step away from the company for a while?”
“To join the transition committee, you’d have to give up your official position.”
There would already be many critical eyes on joining the transition committee.
Holding onto my position would likely invite even more criticism.
“Anyway, the transition committee only lasts for 60 days, so don’t feel too burdened.”
“Hmm…”
After pondering, Seong-hwan looked into my eyes and slowly spoke.
“You want me to place our people in this administration through the transition committee, right?”
“Of course. If not, there’d be no reason to recommend you.”
First, I thought it would be good to place our people in the Ministry of National Defense or its core staff.
Seong-hwan’s expression hardened.
He seemed to fully understand what I was thinking.
“We do need to place our people in the Ministry of National Defense.”
Currently, many Ahsung Defense figures were in the Ministry of National Defense, creating obstacles for us to participate in ministry-led projects.
“Ahsung has a long history in the defense industry. It’s time we take their place.”
I continued.
“It would be more realistic to aim for a high-ranking position in the Defense Acquisition Program Administration rather than the Minister of National Defense. Most practical matters like bidding, weapons systems selection, and technology approval are handled there.”
Appointing our person as Minister of National Defense would make them a target,
But people wouldn’t pay as much attention to positions below that.
“So, the Minister of National Defense is just for show, and the real power lies in the practical roles?”
“Exactly. The Minister of National Defense can be appointed anywhere for political balance, but the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration has the authority to control the organization with personnel rights.”
I tapped the conference table with my fingers.
“And we need our people in the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.”
“All places that significantly impact our business.”
These ministries were all connected to Luna, semiconductors, batteries, and even the Lunar Link project.
I took a sip from the water bottle in front of me and continued.
“At the Ministry of Science and ICT, we need someone who can cooperate with the technical certification of the Luna platform we’re planning. At the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, we need someone who can reflect semiconductor support budgets and technology infrastructure plans.”
“And the Ministry of Economy and Finance?”
“The Ministry of Economy and Finance holds the keys to all budgets, so pick a suitable person from Executive Director Oh Seong-hak’s team.”
No matter which national project I undertake, the money ultimately comes from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
“This seems like a bigger task than I thought…”
“That’s why I recommended you. This isn’t just about placing people; it’s a much more complex issue.”
I spread my hands to Seong-hwan.
“This means that South Korea’s national strategy and industrial direction for at least the next five years, if not more than ten, could fall into our hands.”
At that moment, Seong-hwan’s eyes changed.
He seemed to instinctively grasp the weight of the task I was entrusting him with, but he didn’t back down.
Instead, the corners of his lips slowly curled up.
“Alright. I’ll go and fill this administration’s personnel with our people!”
Seeing Seong-hwan’s confidence, I thought he’d actually fit quite well in politics.
Two weeks had already passed since the 19th presidential election.
While there had been many changes in South Korean politics, a strong wind of change was also blowing within the Dojin Group.
[Dojin Group Personnel Announcement]
· Hong Chung-ki, Senior Executive Vice President → Executive Vice President
- Head of External Cooperation
· Oh Seong-hak, Executive Director → Senior Executive Vice President
- Head of Management Support and Strategic Planning
· Jo Seong-hwan, Executive Director → Position Removed
· Park Cheol-jin, CEO → Title Retained
- Head of Dojin Frontier Business
· Lee Hye-ryeong, Department Head → Executive Director
- Head of Dojin Group Manufacturing Division
· Park Sang-bae, Assistant Manager → Department Head
- Team Leader of Equipment Innovation at Dojin Tech
· Jang Hee-soo, Assistant Manager → Assistant Executive Director
- Head of Dojin Group Design Research Institute
· Han Yu-ju, Assistant Manager → Assistant Executive Director
- Head of Dojin Soft Business Division
· Hong Jin-man, Section Chief → Department Head
- Team Leader of Development at Dojin Soft
· Hwang Chil-bong, Principal → Chief
- Head of Development at Dojin Group
· Lee Seol-jin, Executive Director → Position Retained
- Team Leader of Development at Dojin Tech (Retained)
· Cha Dong-hyuk, Director → Director (Position Retained)
- Head of Defense Division at Dojin Frontier
· Kim Se-bin, Professor → Director (New Recruitment)
-
Director of Autonomous Aviation Technology Research Institute at Dojin Frontier
-
Former Researcher at Korea Aerospace Research Institute
· Yoo Min-seok, Former Vice Minister → Advisor
-
Group Regulatory Strategy Advisor (Non-executive)
-
Former Vice Minister of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
…….
The Dojin Tech employees were abuzz over the personnel announcement, which spanned more than ten A4 pages.
“Wow, this personnel reshuffle is really massive.”
“Did you see Hye-ryeong? She finally became an executive director.”
In response to Park Chang-jae’s comment, Yoon Young-bae nodded as if he had seen it too.
“Honestly, I thought Lee Hye-ryeong… no, the division head now. Anyway, I didn’t think she’d become an executive.”
“What are you talking about? Lee Hye-ryeong is practically a founding member. Becoming an executive is only natural.”
“That’s true, but… honestly, her academic background is a bit lacking.”
At Yoon Young-bae’s words, Park Chang-jae’s eyebrows arched.
“You’re such an old-fashioned guy. As long as she does her job well, who cares if she’s a high school graduate? And by the way, who in our company knows manufacturing better than Director Lee Hye-ryeong?”
“Well… I admit that. She’s involved in everything—lenses, camera modules, batteries, smartphones, TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, even AGE. There’s nothing Director Lee Hye-ryeong hasn’t touched.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I think if it weren’t for Director Lee Hye-ryeong, our company’s manufacturing lines wouldn’t run properly.”
Having seen Lee Hye-ryeong since before Dojin Tech even started making smartphones or camera modules,
Park Chang-jae knew her capabilities better than anyone.
“Except for her being a high school graduate, she’s definitely qualified. But it was a bit surprising that Assistant Managers Jang Hee-soo and Han Yu-ju became executives.”
“I thought so too. And they skipped not one, but two levels at once.”
Though they were assistant executive directors rather than full executives, the fact that they became executives remained unchanged.
“Dojin Soft has been performing exceptionally well, so they were likely to become executives.”
“Still, at thirty-four, becoming an executive director at Dojin Group is enviable.”
“When it comes to being young, Chief Hwang Chil-bong is the youngest. Who would’ve thought he’d become a chief-level department head at thirty-one?”
“But Chief Hwang Chil-bong is a genius everyone knows about.”
Chief Hwang Chil-bong played a leading role not only in the development of Quantum but also in AGE-01 and the ongoing semiconductor development.
“Still, promoting him over his former superior, Team Leader Lee Seol-jin, to head of development seems a bit too much.”
“Since it’s something the CEO did, he must have his reasons.”
Kang Tae-joon was an absolute figure of trust for Dojin Group employees.
Despite the drastic personnel announcement, there wasn’t much backlash.
Park Chang-jae, who had been carefully examining the organizational chart, spoke again.
“It seems like the CEO really intends to grow Dojin Frontier properly.”
“I thought so too. They’ve recruited a lot of external talent.”
“A professor from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, a former vice minister from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy…”
Yoon Young-bae flipped to the last page of the announcement and muttered.
“They’ve also recruited several PhD-level talents from KAIST and POSTECH.”
“Where were they assigned?”
“Two KAIST professors specializing in electrical and electronic engineering went to the AI Research Institute and the Autonomous Driving Platform Task Force.”
“And from POSTECH?”
“Those in materials science went to the New Materials Development Department at Dojin Tech. A few others were assigned directly under Chief Hwang Chil-bong.”
“Wow… they’re really determined to overhaul everything this time.”
Yoon Young-bae added to Park Chang-jae’s comment.
“But there are quite a few people removed from their positions, like Executive Director Jo Seong-hwan?”
“Oh, about Executive Director Jo Seong-hwan, I heard a rumor that he’s being dispatched to the transition committee.”
At the unexpected remark, Yoon Young-bae’s eyes widened.
“You mean the Baek Moo-jin Presidential Transition Committee?”
“Yes.”
Realizing something, Yoon Young-bae pointed to the names of others marked as removed from their positions.
“Then… could it be that all these people are also going to the transition committee?”