Dear Comrade

Dear Comrade the Leader, Episode 149

And it was not long after the brief webmail was sent that Bill Gates’ visit to Pyongyang and a lecture at Kim Il-sung University were completed.

The launch of Windows changed the tight schedule of Bill Gates, one of America’s youngest billionaires, who had to rent an entire hotel to keep reporters from flocking to his wedding.

First of all, it was because Peony Holdings, a state-owned investment company in North Korea, decided to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Microsoft, and the second was the interest of Bill Gates himself.

The reason that Bill was so interested in crossing the Pacific Ocean at the request of the North Korean leader, who had only known so far as “closed and exclusive, but a country with the fastest economic growth among former communist countries after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc,” was the content of the webmail sent by Jeong Hwan. .

Although it was a little short for a message sent to the prince of the US IT industry by a young leader of a country that had made the foundation for a prosperous country through radical reform and opening up and mining Asia’s largest oil field, it was enough to stimulate Gates’ interest.

[Dear Gates,

Your company’s history is as short as the history of the free market economy introduced in this republic, but in that brief period you have shown unprecedented innovation.

We would like to invite Gates to Kim Il-sung University for the second Microsoft, the second Bill Gates, who will be born (or are already being born) in the garage of this ordinary family in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Also, I would like to hear from the members of the party as well as the smartest students in our country the wisdom necessary for the Workers’ Party of Korea to survive in the 21st century to come.

We wish your company development and prosperity.

Kim Jeong-hwan, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea]

“A garage? Considering the per capita income level of North Korea I know, I wonder if there is a flush toilet in the house, let alone the garage.”

“… … .”

“president?”

“Tell the pilot of the private plane to change the flight schedule. I want to meet this person.”

Despite the secretary’s sarcasm, Bill decided to accept the invitation of this person named Jung-Hwan Kim.

It was because he had an intuition that the expression “garage” was not meant to be a real garage, but rather a reference to the unpredictability of the IT market, which he had always been keen on.

Isn’t he the one who started in that garage right away and started Microsoft today.

‘I pinpointed the anxiety and sense of crisis that were always lingering in my head. I don’t know who this friend Kim Jung-hwan is, but in the future, he will become a friend or a competitor.’

Besides, it’s a lecture, so isn’t it a story that they’re going to learn?

It was a fresh request, contrary to Bill’s previous prejudice against the authoritarian and prescient Eastern Bloc leaders in the West (which most Americans had during the Cold War).

So, about a month later, Bill Gates set foot at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, which had just been expanded and refurbished.

* * *

“Welcome to Pyongyang. President Bill Gates. I’ve heard a lot about fame. My name is Kim Young-nam, the permanent chairman of the Politburo.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Chairman Kim. But the person who decided to come today… … .”

Upon landing at the airport, receiving a respectful welcome, the first place Gates headed to was Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang, the place of his lecture.

When he arrived at the waiting room, Chairman Kim Young-nam greeted him first.

When he heard from the interpreter that Kim Young-nam was in fact the vice president of North Korea, Lee In-ja, Gates was polite, but he did not forget the purpose of his coming here.

“Ah, the general secretary said that he wanted to see the faces of the students for a while, so he is already in the auditorium. Because this is also his alma mater. Mr. Gates also told me to come there, so come with me, huh.”

“Hmm.”

Gates shook his head with a look of surprise.

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Now, this is a story from the past, and no matter how old your alma mater is, did the average head of state, even the head of a communist state, wander around casually with students like this?

Moreover, he had heard that Kim Jung-hwan had driven out his father and half-brother and took his place, so it was clear that there would be many statics and assassination attempts.

So I expected that he might be a paranoid figure surrounded by a wall of bodyguards and searching for anyone who approaches, but Gates certainly seemed to be a radically different person from the previous leaders, as we saw in the New York Times International section the other day.

“I understand that the company has decided to hold a formal interview due to the schedule, but for me, the earlier we meet, the better. Shall we go?”

After Kim Young-nam’s consent, Bill Gates and his attendants left the waiting room and walked across the campus grounds of Kim Il-sung University to the podium of the lecture hall.

Thirty minutes before the start of the lecture, while the attendants went to inform the general secretary of his arrival, Bill slipped his head out of the corner of the stage and looked around the stage where he was going to give his lecture and the surrounding students.

As the president of Microsoft, he had traveled all over the world, and it was Bill Gates who had gone through lectures, interviews, and the public’s eyes that worshiped or feared him over the past few years.

However, up until a few years ago, North Korean university students, who were known to be a more closed and outdated country than the terrifying Soviet Union, arose out of pure curiosity how they would see their visit as ‘American entrepreneurs’.

And he discovered some unexpected phenomena and mumbled unknowingly.

“It’s amazing… … .”

First of all, the first thing that surprised him was the enthusiasm of Kim Il-sung University college students who were sitting in the entire auditorium without a single empty seat.

There was still some time left for the start, but the curiosity and enthusiasm that could not be hidden was already felt on the faces of the students of Kim Il-sung University.

Some of the dogs with good eyes recognized his face, and his face went red and his mouth was wide open.

Maybe it was because of the Special Security Agency agents around the podium, even after recognizing Bill himself, he couldn’t cheer or applaud, but he looked like a fan meeting a rock star.

Considering that even in his home country, the United States, there are still many people who still know him as ‘a young man who became rich by selling some kind of window’, it was certainly a surprising reaction.

And the second thing that caught his eye was the laptop in the hands of all the students.

At first, I thought it might have been a propaganda announcement that he was coming, but to see that, each student was too familiar with and preciously holding a laptop.

‘It must have been given by the state. To be precise, that friend named Kim Jung-hwan. I have to admit that there are certainly more pioneers looking for future technology than the stuffy CIA ex-George Herbert Walker Bush.’

When he was invited to the White House and gave a briefing, Bill slurped his taste buds in mind, remembering George Bush, who had never understood him.

He also insisted on installing computer labs and compulsory coding education in all high schools across the United States for the future, but only heard that ‘there is no budget for that’.

Even the media, who heard the news, misrepresented it in such a way as to say ‘The Devil of Silicon Valley, insisting that all schools in the country purchase computers with Windows installed with the government budget’.

In Silicon Valley, the market capitalization of Nasdaq, which focuses on Internet venture companies, within the next three years may even exceed that of the New York Stock Exchange.

“That’s why I photographed Clinton.”

“Hmm, I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Bill Gates turned his head at the sound of a voice coming from behind, and there was a young man of Asian descent who looked a few years younger than him.

Realizing that he was the reason for his visit to Pyongyang today, Kim Jeong-hwan, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Bill Gates hurriedly greeted him.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were here… … . that… … .”

“You can call me the general secretary. I also just call him the President of Gates, how do you feel about visiting Kim Il-sung University?”

Bill, on the contrary, quickly settled his embarrassment at Jeonghwan’s tone of speaking in fluent English as if he were talking to friends without any formality.

It was much more comfortable for him to meet and have a conversation behind a dark stage like this, rather than gathering reporters needlessly, setting off flashlights and fussing.

“These days, I don’t hear very well in my hometown of America because of the monopoly problem, but I never expected to receive such a hospitality from the other side of the world. To be honest, it’s amazing.”

“In a capitalist society, it is not natural for those who take risks and jump in first to build wealth. Among my juniors gathered over there, someone like Mr. Gates might come out and change the future of the Internet.”

“Hmm, then today’s lecture came out for nothing. As the monopoly demon of Silicon Valley, you have to start killing your rivals as quickly as possible. Or did you take it over, haha.”

Bill Gates joked about it as a joke, but when Kim Jung-hwan turned his head to him, Gates realized a new fact as he looked into his eyes.

From now on, for the story to be told behind the scenes, Kim Jung-hwan called him here, and the company would take pictures.

“How about if you put it into action after you have spoken?”

“What do you mean?”

“It is literally. Invest in areas with high growth potential. Of course, I’m not talking about making an acquisition, I’m asking you to invest with me. If you’re not an enemy, it’s better to be a friend.”

“Are you telling me to dive into professional investing like Warren Buffett did? I am still rich enough.”

When Gates asked a question, Jeonghwan smiled and wiggled his fingers.

“You already know that it’s not about money, don’t you? To make the future come sooner. A future where everyone carries a computer the size of the palm of your hand, a future where you can order movies on a TV that speaks to you and watch them whenever you want, a future where electronic cryptocurrencies rather than paper bills are used at local convenience stores.”

“… … Let’s be specific.”

Bill Gates, who had heard this far, made a decision.

At least this guy is more talkative than George Herbert Walker Bush.

In fact, even if not for this proposal, he was already interested in professional investment.

“Peony Holdings, our state-owned investment company, has created a fund. Money is pouring in as Korea’s oil production is in full swing, and while looking for a place to use it, I made a decision with the advice of President Masayoshi Son. We decided to invest in future information and communication technology.”

“Are you also with Mr. Son?”

“That’s right. And besides him, several prominent investors, such as George Soros, have decided to invest in this IT-themed fund. The fund’s recruitment target is approximately $30 billion.”

“30 billion dollars… … !!!”

Gates opened his mouth.

It was an amount he had hardly ever heard of.

“Of course, it will be the largest investment in our republic. If I just wanted to play Middle Eastern royalty, I would have provided food for the people with oil extracted from this land, and I would have played on a yacht. But I decided to look to the future instead.”

“… … .”

“The name of this fund is the ‘Vision’ fund. It is a fund that depends on the future of this republic and of the whole world. How are you, Mr Gates? Would you like to become a major shareholder of future competitors who are still making something in their garage?”

Jeonghwan said so and apologized to a Saudi Arabian prince who was still young.

Sorry for stealing your name.

“… … The IT market is overheating right now. There are many cases in which idiots who only have the name of a venture and have no understanding of technology start a business. There will probably be one typhoon in the near future, and that bubble is the reason Warren Buffett doesn’t invest in tech stocks. I think it’s a bit risky… … .”

“The stock market that invests in information and communication technology for several years will heat up greatly, and although there will be ups and downs, ultimately the era of the Internet will come. That is why we are now spending a lot of money to lay high-speed optical network cables throughout the republic. If we want to build up our stability, isn’t it natural for only those who deserve to survive the measles to survive?”

“… … I agree with that, but still… … .”

“It’s about designing the game for a new era. It’s something you can control for the next half-hundred years. Oh, and one more personal purpose… … .”

As Gates still seemed hesitant, Junghwan added a final word as if shoving him on the back.

“We are already investing in Apple. For $30 billion, even if Steve Jobs returns to Apple, he’ll have to listen to Gates’ orders.”

“… … I like that.”

As Jung-hwan frowned as if he already knew the love-hate relationship between him and Steve Jobs, Bill finally released his expression and smiled.

It seemed that he had finally made up his mind.

“I have no intention of giving orders or interfering with that friend, but I really want to see his angry face. That would require the friend to return to the position of CEO of Apple.”

“Haha, of course you can achieve that by investing in this fund. If so… … .”

“I’ll do it.”

The two held hands and shook hands.

He hadn’t signed a contract or made an announcement publicly yet, but he thought that was enough.

When the most important deal was done, Junghwan raised his hand and pointed to the stage.

“The time has already come. Shall we go then?”

Gates nodded and applauded as he walked towards the center of the spotlighted stage.

Although the president’s voice reverberated throughout the auditorium, it did not overwhelm the applause that represented the excitement of the university students.

“… … So, student comrades, I would like to welcome Mr. Bill Gates with applause for coming all the way from the United States to this Pyongyang. Welcome to Pyongyang, Mr. Bill Gates.”

clap clap clap… … !!!!

As applause poured in, the stage lights of the Kim Il-sung University auditorium lit up Bill Gates.

Bill Gates, waiting for his turn behind the scenes, slowly walked out, shook hands with the president of Kim Il-sung University and handed the microphone.

“nice to see you. everyone. To be honest, I was hesitant to come here. This is partly because of the decades of hostility between the two countries between the United States and North Korea, and in a country on the outskirts of Asia where there are few computers like this, I wonder what Microsoft and I can do… … Ummm, so… … .”

Having said this, Gates squinted his eyes as he looked at Jeonghwan, who was still looking at him from behind the dark stage.

“… … It was partly because of the arrogance characteristic of the ‘Enemy of the Workers, the U.S. Capitalist Bourgeoisie’, but when you come here and receive your hospitality, those thoughts are blown away. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to your leaders and seniors, General Secretary Kim Jeong-hwan, who have awakened me.”

clap clap clap… … !!!

What the hell are you talking about, you idiot?

While shaking his head as if he couldn’t dry it, there was a smile on Jeonghwan’s face.