Empire of the Ring

Finally, the autonomous state received its first payment for selling the minerals that were produced by the pyrite mine near the Koryoin village.

The profit was 1.2 million dollars even after paying the business tax to the Kazakh government. It seemed that the mine could easily make ten million dollars a year. It was the minimum profit they had estimated even if the bulk freighters might not sail during the winter due to the frozen Volga-Don Canal. However, the actual profit would be more.

The autonomous state’s finances would get better through this.

“This is much more than I expected. I feel like I’m still dreaming.”

Kim Chun smiled as he looked at the documents.

Youngho was delighted too. He had never expected to make such a huge profit from the mine.

“This is why Russian mine owners would not let go of the mining industry.”

“Those robbers are still refusing to pay taxes. Kazakhstan would have become an advanced country already if not for them.”

Since Kim Chun’s family had been living in Kazakhstan for generations, his hostility toward Russians who dominated Kazakhstan’s economy was understandable. However, it was unlikely for Kazakhstan to become an advanced country just because Russians were not there.

The two were still excited to see a huge amount of money though. They made large amounts of profit for trading raw minerals while only doing the separation process. If they could also do the smelting process, they would make a few times more. The only problem was that water was needed to build a factory. They only have a small amount of underground water that they used for their workers.

“Boss. What if we build a smelting factory near the Arirang River?”

The branch river in the autonomous state was now called the Arirang River by the residents. It seemed like Kim Chun had a similar idea with Youngho.

“That’s out of our abilities now. Also, we are already contracted with H Corporation now. It’s not possible.”

Youngho had a contract with H Corporation to provide them minerals for five years; he could not change or break it. Also, the real reason why they could not build a smelting factory was because the correct amount of deposits was still unknown to them. They should only build a smelting factory once they had secured deposits that would at least last for twenty years.

“What a waste. We could’ve made much more money if we could sell minerals on our own.”

“We can decide if we need to make changes after a year. Then, we’ll be able to know the total amount of deposits. If we confirm that there’s an unlimited amount of resource deposits, we can negotiate with H Corporation to build a joint smelting factory.”

Even a small smelting factory would cost an unimaginable amount of money.

Iron manufacturing and smelting businesses were usually led by global corporations that had deep pockets. Youngho could try to start this business, but he could not give up everything else to start this business.

“H Corporation has a steel manufacturing factory in Korea. Do you think they’ll build an additional factory here?”

“Well, the corporation has enough money and experience. Building a smelting factory of nonferrous metals would not be an overwhelming deal for them. The only concern I have is that I’m not sure if they’ll invest such huge amount in Kazakhstan. This country’s still not stabilized yet.”

Kazakhstan was having a hard time due to the recent decrease in oil’s price, and Russia’s economic recession. Russia’s influence on Kazakhstan’s economy was not small. Youngho was not sure if H Corporation would still be willing to make a large investment in a country that was not generally stable.

“We cannot start a business without enough power to defend it. If the Kazakh government decided to take the business, we’ll have no chance.”

“All of this is caused by Russia. Russia had ruined Kazakhstan once and for all.”

He blamed Russia for everything, but any ethnic minority would relate to him.

“Do you think Kazakhstan’s the only one? Our people’s history is no different.”

“I hope the Arirang Autonomous State doesn’t get such a disadvantage. At least we need to have the strength to keep the peace in our state.”

“That’s the reason why I try to keep my distance from politics. If you excel from the crowd, you’ll become the target. The current president will keep us protected but when he’s gone, we’ll become a target to many powerful politicians.”

“…”

“You know it’s not all hopeless. If we make Kazakhstan famous in the global community through our own influence, it’ll be beneficial for both. The Vatican Palace is not treated as an inconvenience by Italy because the palace attracts tourists and global attention.”

The autonomous state should look like a harmless city to the government. The future of the state would be unforeseeable if the state turned into an uncomfortable entity.

***

Youngho told him a pessimistic story because he feared that Kim Chun would rush into things, but the autonomous state’s future was not too dark. It was because of the Koryoins who were in the mainstream of Kazakhstan. They were the best donors and supporters of the autonomous state.

In fact, Youngho was contacted by one of them because that particular person wanted to visit the autonomous state. His name was Alexey Choi who was the current vice minister of the Department of Health.

“I don’t know what to say. It’s such an honor to meet you, vice minister. You traveled so far even though you’re so busy. I should’ve gone to Astana instead.”

“I couldn’t make someone whom the president favors so much travel too far.”

His warm smile was just like a common Korean gentleman’s.

It seemed like his family had not been involved in interracial marriage since he looked like a normal Asian. Although he could not articulate Korean perfectly, his Korean was fluent. When a family lived in a foreign country for generations, it was natural to forget their mother tongue. It was quite amazing to hear from him since his family had been living in Kazakhstan for three generations already.

“Favors? No, he just thinks of me as his grandson.”

“It’s not easy to make a friend out of a foreign president. Our Koryoins feel very proud of you. You’ve done something that no one could have done. You made an autonomous state and named it Arirang. This means a lot to us.”

Youngho blushed.

He did not have a strong sense of duty to name the state like that. He just used the name because it was an easy name, but Koryoins did not look at it that way.

“Well, since you’ve traveled so far, I should treat you in Korean style. The majority of the autonomous state is Serbian people but Korean cultures are everywhere.”

“Not forgetting where your roots came from is a good thing. Koryoins here had never forgotten about Korea. Although the north and south are divided now, Korea is still our home.”

Koryoins must have felt bitter to see their hometown having a war and be divided into two countries. His words were well representing his heart.

Youngho set up a table to drink and treat Alexey Choi.

Since he was the vice minister of the Department of Health, Dr. Kim Dong-sung also joined at the table. As they began to exchange drinks with fresh raw sashimi on the table as a snack, Alexey Choi began to tell the reason for his visit.

“You’d know this already but Kazakhstan’s techniques for medical treatment lags behind other nations. Even Kazakhs prefer to have surgeries overseas. So, I visited the autonomous state to ask for help.”

“If there’s anything we can help you with we will do so, but we only have forty medical personnel. We’re still at the beginning stage.”

“Hahaha… I’m not talking about such kind of voluntary work. Don’t you wish for the state to become more successful?”

Of course, he wanted the state to be successful since he had invested almost everything he had for the state.

“I just want a peaceful state where common people could live together.”

“Mr. Lee. It’s impossible now for the Arirang Autonomous State to become a common state. The state is now in the center of Kazakh high officials’ attention.”

“…”

“Well, their attention has good intentions behind it though. People told me that the autonomous state is setting a good example for Kazakhstan to follow.”

“I’m being extra cautious to not outshine the other cities and states too much. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of unnecessary attention.”

“What if your state becomes a good role model, not a subject of competition?”

Alexey’s visit could be a turning point for the autonomous state. It could change the state’s uncertain future.

It was because of the elite Korean medical personnel.

He wanted to adopt Korea’s medical system to Kazakhstan. However, he suggested making a large medical institution in the autonomous state where future medical personnel of Kazakhstan could be trained since there were only about forty of them.

A state that was strong and rich could become a subject of jealousy, but a state that raised talented people would become a place of people’s admiration. The autonomous state could be the center of Central Asia’s medical education.

“I didn’t share this idea to the minister yet because I wanted to listen to your opinion and your medical team’s as well. I truly hope that the state named Arirang would exist for a long time and become a place that all Kazakhs will love. Moreover, the state is the hope of all Koryoins scattered around Central Asia.”

Alexey Choi’s words were impressive. Youngho could feel that he really meant what he said.

“I see what you’re saying. We’ve also been preparing to train the next generation of medical teams although in a rather small-scale. We only targeted the students of the autonomous state but I guess we should expand our circle.”

“That’s great. I will take this to the minister, and see how this can be supported at the governmental level.”

“Vice-minister, if we receive the government’s support, we won’t be free from the government’s interference. We’ll see if we can budget this out on our own.”

Establishing a medical institution could cost a ton of money. However, the state would not be free from the government’s influence as soon as it received money from it. If the government requested to build the institution in a more developed city where there were more social infrastructures, their plans for building a medical institution in their state could be taken away from them. Even more, some of their medical team might leave the autonomous state to transfer to that new institution in that more developed city. Youngho would refuse to do that no matter what.