Yoon Woo-bin, seated in the VIP section of the Busan Industry Summit, felt a jolt at his own thought: *Asia's richest man?* The idea that Park Minho could reach such heights stunned him. If true, Gao Sheng Investment had to act—sink its hooks into Hansung Technology now, reaping billions as Minho's star soared. Yoon's ambition burned brighter: securing Hansung could vault him past Gao Sheng's Asia president, cementing his name in history.
The crowd—bosses, elites, millions on TV—watched Minho, their eyes reflecting awe, fear, and calculation. Ordinary viewers were torn. Minho's Industry 4.0 vision—self-driving cars, robot nannies, smart homes—promised a dazzling future. Yet, its early pains, with jobs lost to automation, loomed like a specter. Still, they rallied behind the "super genius" kid from Gyeonggi, a dropout defying the odds.
Small-time CEOs, with tens of millions in assets, shrugged off Minho's speech. Their budgets barely covered next quarter, let alone a decade-out revolution. But front-row tycoons—chaebol heads, tech moguls—saw opportunity. They'd seed modest bets on chips, AI, and robotics, hedging against Industry 4.0's rise. Unwittingly, their collective moves would shave years off its arrival, a ripple Minho's words had sparked.
Minho, center stage, scanned the room—Xu Jia-Hu's scowl, Big Kim's nod, Ni Kwang-soo's pride. His *Ultimate Imitation Emperor System* kept him poised as he wrapped up. "Thanks for listening. I'm Park Minho, from Gyeonggi, CEO of Hansung Technology. We make phones—Labor Edition 12 for rural workers, tough, long-lasting, loud, smooth, just 29,900 won. Nobody dares overcharge, or they answer to us."
Chuckles rippled; his bluntness charmed. "We've also got the Hansung 3, same durability and slick system, only 49,900 won. It's not out yet—production's tight—but soon. Oh, and both run our fully proprietary OS, built in-house. Try 'em out."
The crowd groaned, black lines on their faces. Minho had turned Korea's grandest stage into a product pitch. Xu Jia-Hu smirked, sensing a misstep. Yang Joon-ho, still smarting, scoffed. But Minho's cheeky grin disarmed most. Catching Ni's mock cough, he bowed, laughing, and left the stage.
Applause thundered, though Xu and Yang sat stone-faced. Minho's speech—Industry 4.0, chips, AI—had reshaped Korea's tech narrative. His shameless plug? It cemented Hansung's name. MaumNet would buzz tonight, tying Hansung's rugged phones to national pride.
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That night, Korea's media erupted. Print, TV, and web portals splashed Minho's name across headlines:
- **HanFox Portal**: "Summit Roars with Visionaries, Industry 4.0 Steals Show."
- **eKor Portal**: "Genius Kid Minho, Industry 4.0's Prophet!"
- **WaveKor Portal**: "How Close Is Industry 4.0?"
- **KBS News**: "Summit Closes: A New Star Rises."
Minho was the focal point. His Industry 4.0 pitch, triple play proposal, and Hansung's phones sparked debates online. Though niche, the buzz reached millions, etching a Gyeonggi kid and his brand into Korea's psyche. Hansung wasn't just a phone maker—it was a movement.
The summit's three days had delivered a marketing coup worth 10 billion won in ads, all for the cost of a trip to Busan. Hansung's Labor Edition 12—180,000 monthly sales, walnut-climbing fame—shed its "cheap knockoff" stigma, emerging as a scrappy, patriotic brand. Minho's name now carried weight; his "super genius" tag, backed by Ni and Choi Sang-Woo, opened doors.
Before, Hansung's obscurity meant suppliers gouged Minho on parts. A 500-million-won order nearly sank him until he haggled prices down. Now, with summit fame, Hansung commanded respect. Suppliers would bow first, offering deals. Minho's gamble—three days of audacity—had paid off, elevating him to minor celebrity.
Tens of millions knew him now: the Gyeonggi prodigy, Hansung's dreamer, Korea's tech hope. Did he regret it? Not a chance. Earning billions in brand value while shaking rivals like Jaehan's Xu Jia-Hu? Pure thrill. The mobile war loomed—Jaehan's low-cost push, TLC's copycats, Gao Tae's schemes. Minho saw the detour: chips, AI, Industry 4. Hansung's climb was just starting, and Korea was his.
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(end of this chapter)