Chapter 167: Washington Accord (1)

Washington D.C. The briefing room of the Herbert C. Hoover Building, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

This place was quiet yet filled with a taut tension.

The lights installed under the high ceiling poured out a subtle glow.

A blue background stood out on the wall.

On both sides, the Stars and Stripes and the Taegeukgi stood side by side, and even the air flowing between them felt as if it held weight.

The audience seats were already full.

Reporters from leading media outlets had their laptops open and were waiting with their fingers placed on the keyboards.

Their eyes were serious as if they would not miss a single piece of information that would pour out at any moment.

In the back, high-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the South Korean government delegation, and even executives from global investment firms filled the seats.

While camera flashes brushed past the podium, the Department of Commerce spokesperson stepped up onto the stage.

He was a middle-aged man in a neat suit and a red tie, and the calmness of a veteran who had been in charge of government briefings was felt.

As he appeared in front of the podium, the murmuring of the conference hall stopped all at once.

The spokesperson slowly opened the prepared manuscript and opened his mouth with a clear voice toward the cameras.

“Today is a historic moment where the United States and the Republic of Korea open a new industrial era together.”

As the first sentence ended, the conference hall became even quieter.

He caught his breath for a moment and continued with the next sentence.

“I announce that South Korea's HJ Partners has been officially selected as the core partner for this U.S.-Korea Advanced Industry Network Strategic Cooperation.”

As soon as that one word fell, the conference hall began to stir in an instant.

The hands of the reporters began to move simultaneously over the keyboards.

Countless camera shutter sounds poured out.

The government officials sitting in the back also exchanged glances and whispered something to each other.

Everyone seemed curious about just how big the project was for HJ Partners to be selected.

There was a small stir, but the spokesperson continued speaking without minding it.

“HJ Partners has designed an industrial data synchronization platform that integrates energy, logistics, semiconductors, and financial industries into a single network, and this will become the backbone of the next-generation industrial competitiveness strengthening strategy pursued by the U.S. government.”

As soon as those words were finished, a large screen in the back turned on.

A giant blueprint unfolded on the screen.

On a map encompassing the entire North American continent, numerous dots were shining.

Those dots represented energy hubs, logistics bases, semiconductor factories, and financial data centers, respectively.

And thick lines connecting those dots began to be drawn slowly.

As if blood vessels were spreading throughout the entire body, the lines connected the dots and formed a giant network.

The flow of energy was indicated in red, the logistics route in blue, the semiconductor supply chain in green, and financial data in yellow.

The four lines crossed and intertwined with each other, moving like a living, breathing organism.

Everyone in the conference hall held their breath and looked at the screen.

It was not a simple presentation.

The spokesperson spoke again.

“This blueprint you are seeing now is the concept that Representative Lim Hyunjun of HJ Partners presented directly not long ago.”

At that moment, the air in the conference hall changed.

Several reporters began to search for information about Lim Hyunjun.

It was then.

The door at the back of the briefing room opened.

A young man, appearing while fluttering the hem of a neat coat, moved his steps confidently.

His appearance drew all eyes at once.

The murmuring of the reporters subsided.

Dozens of camera lenses turned their direction toward him at the same time.

Choi Seo-jun and the HJ Partners team members were watching my appearance.

They each had the same thought.

‘The time we endured for this moment was not in vain at all.’

I bowed my head shortly and walked toward the front of the stage.

A baptism of flashes followed my movement.

I had a calm expression without any flicker, just like usual.

The Department of Commerce spokesperson took the microphone with a bright smile.

“The person joining us here right now is Representative Lim Hyunjun of HJ Partners.”

His gaze turned toward me.

It felt as if the lighting became a level brighter.

I stood in front of the podium, caught my breath calmly, and took the microphone.

I said it fluently in English.

“Hello. I am Lim Hyunjun, the representative of HJ Partners.”

My voice was firmer than anyone else's.

The conference hall became quiet in an instant.

“The industrial data synchronization network we designed is not simply a technology that connects industries. It is about creating a system where different industries can move together and find balance on their own even amidst a crisis.”

I stopped speaking for a moment and slowly looked around the conference hall.

The gazes of the reporters were fixed toward me.

“I believe this cooperation is not just the achievement of one company, but the first step toward the future that the U.S. and Korea are creating together. It is an honor to be able to share the beginning of that path in this place today.”

As my voice resonated, the briefing room was filled with applause.

Flashes flashed again, and the reporters all moved their hands busily.

After a moment, two sets of documents were placed on the table next to the stage.

Under Secretary Elliot Domes entered.

He looked to be in his early 50s, with dark brown hair slightly mixed with silver and wearing a neat suit.

His calm yet firm impression exuded leisure and dignity.

In Elliot’s hand was a fountain pen engraved with the Department of Commerce emblem.

Beside him stood Michael Leonard, the Director of the Bureau of Industry and Security at the Department of Commerce.

Leonard looked back and forth between me and Elliot with a subtle smile in his eyes.

As if the tension and burden accumulated over the past few weeks were finally being released, he felt good at least for today.

Elliot slowly turned his head and met my eyes.

His voice was gentle yet full of conviction.

“Now, let us sign together.”

I nodded lightly and answered politely.

“It is an honor, Under Secretary.”

The two of us walked toward the table at the same time.

On the table, the Taegeukgi and the Stars and Stripes were set up side by side.

Between them, two sets of the agreement were neatly unfolded.

Elliot picked up the pen first.

The moment the tip of the fountain pen touched the paper, the conference hall became as quiet as if it were holding its breath.

The moment he drew the last stroke, camera flashes burst out one after another as if they had made a promise.

Next, I picked up the pen.

As the signature was completed, flashes poured out once again.

Elliot covered the agreement carefully and stood up from his seat.

After that, he reached out his hand toward me.

I firmly grasped that hand.

The moment the hands of the two people touched.

Although their nationality, background, and age were different, at this place, they were like companions moving toward the same goal.

Michael Leonard, who was watching from the side, let out a deep breath.

“It is finally over.”

Pride was permeated in the voice he let out quietly.

He smiled faintly while looking at the backs of Elliot and me.

Amidst the continuous flashes, I suddenly recalled the time that had passed and closed my eyes for a moment.

The camera shutter sounds surged in like waves, but I could not hear any sound.

Only the heartbeat inside my chest resonated clearly.

‘How far have I run for this moment.’

There were faces that came to mind.

The employees who lit up the conference room lights night and day.

The team members who had staked their lives on a single number.

My parents who supported me without a word.

All those times passed by like a kaleidoscope.

When I first conceived this project, no one believed me.

Words saying it was impossible poured out.

Nevertheless, I did not stop.

I moved forward looking only ahead with that one conviction of doing it until it works.

I opened my eyes and fixed my gaze forward.

I saw the faces of the people.

Choi Seo-jun was clapping with a bright expression, and Baek Yu-jin gave a slight smile while pushing up her glasses.

Cho Hana's joy was revealed intact on her expression.

General Hong also struck his palms together powerfully.

Yu Hyeon-seok was the same.

Moment by moment was engraved in my heart.

I breathed out slowly.

Hot emotions rose up to the end of my throat, but I pressed them down while forcing a smile.

Now is the time to rejoice rather than tears.

Elliot Domes said while lightly tapping my shoulder.

“You have worked hard. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

“I also look forward to working with you.”

As the smiles of the two people flowed, applause burst out again inside the conference hall.

That sound of applause was a celebration and, at the same time, announced the beginning of a new era.

A cruel trick of fate that says bad things also come after good things.

The world always hands out happiness and unhappiness in turns, as if trying to balance them.

The evening of the same day.

The South Korean President, who had been on a state visit to the U.S., embarked on the path back home after finishing the official schedule in Washington.

This visit to the U.S. was called a series of achievements.

Major agreements were announced one after another, including the conclusion of the Korea-U.S. Advanced Industry Network Agreement, energy cooperation, joint response to the semiconductor supply chain, and joint defense development.

The media poured out praise every day, calling it a new turning point in South Korea's economic diplomacy.

The scene of the President boarding the private jet was broadcast in real-time on all stations.

A red sunset was spreading at the end of the runway.

That scene appeared just the same in South Korea.

[New Beginning of the Korea-U.S. Advanced Industry Alliance]

The news of the President's return was enough to decorate the front pages in an instant.

At the same time, I was out at the airport to see off Lim Hye-seon.

As if the heat of the agreement ceremony that happened a few hours ago had not cooled yet, the faces of the two people were full of a sense of achievement.

Lim Hye-seon said while adjusting her collar.

“When will you be able to come to Korea?”

“I think it will take about one more day.”

“Finish up well and come.”

Lim Hye-seon slowly examined my face.

It was calm for the face of a person who had just gone through a big event, but a shadow was nested within it.

She lightly tapped my shoulder.

Worry was mixed in the warmth touching her fingertips.

“Do not overdo it too much.”

I let out a short breath and smiled.

I could feel exactly what she was thinking.

“Do not worry. I will finish up quickly and return.”

“Okay.”

Hye-seon nodded and turned around.

As if lingering feelings still remained, she turned her head every now and then to check on me.

I waved my hand toward my aunt.

Hye-seon waved her hand once with a smile and moved her heavy steps.

I watched that back silently.

Her silhouette walking toward the runway slowly permeated into the red sunset.

I pledged to myself while capturing that sight in my eyes.

When I returned to Korea, it was full of things I had to do.

My heart became heavy.

Choi Seo-jun, standing behind me, said.

“Representative, let us go back now.”

“Let us do that.”

I was moving my heavy steps when the cell phone inside my pocket began to vibrate.

My eyes flickered slightly as I saw the caller's name appearing on the screen.

[Prosecutor Son Yu-jin.]