New Employees With an Annual Salary of 1 Trillion Won - Chapter 5

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 5. New Employee (5)

“This is pretty good? The slide has a nice tactile feel. How did you come up with this?”

“I thought about ways to secure both operability and space efficiency simultaneously. In conclusion, I judged the slide structure to be the most rational.”

Every day, I organized the patent cabinet according to routine.

During this process, several gears related to mobile phone patents began turning simultaneously.

Among them, there was a structure that made an exceptionally smooth sound.

When I traced it back, it was a patent for CD player disc slots.

“Well, the slide method is used a lot in other places too.”

“It’s a method used not only in CD players but also in car audio and camera lenses. It’s structurally stable and has strong durability even with repeated use. That’s why I judged it applicable to mobile phones as well.”

“Just looking at the prototype Employee Lee made, it definitely seems to have product potential. Development team, how long would it take to make a prototype?”

“This is Employee Lee’s work who’s giving us bonuses, so naturally we should finish it in the shortest time possible. Just give us two days. We’ll make a very impressive prototype.”

The department was moving according to the picture I had drawn.

While it would take a long time if I worked alone, with the team together we could finish in a short period.

This also meant I would have more time to create additional patents.

If only I could maintain this kind of environment.

So sharing 30% with them wasn’t wasteful at all, and it was beneficial for everyone to save time and commercialize even one more idea.

“But should we also make the horizontal phone as a prototype? Structurally, it’s not much different from the slide phone, but the screen moves sideways instead of upward.”

“What’s good about moving the screen sideways?”

“A wide screen. Right now it’s mainly for calls and texts, but when color phones become popular, an era of photos, videos, and even games will come. To prepare for that time, I thought a horizontal screen would be absolutely necessary.”

The horizontal phone was an idea that came to mind while combining color LCD and camera functions.

It wasn’t a particularly special concept, but the moment I thought of the idea, the gears rotated fiercely.

Based on my experience so far.

The faster the gears rotated or the more their numbers increased, the better results they produced.

“So you made this in advance to prepare for the day when we’ll watch videos on mobile phones?”

“Videos too, but especially when games become possible, it will gain great popularity.”

“People do play games on mobile phones these days.”

“GL Communications is starting mobile game services from this year.”

The Technology Research Institute Product Development Department that belonged to GL Group.

Because of this, most of the materials were GL Group-related content, and highly relevant ideas kept springing forth.

“If GL Communications started game services, that means it’s profitable business. Maybe the day when mobile phone games become popular really will come, just like Employee Lee says.”

“It’s technically possible, but it might be premature unless market viability supports it.”

“Mobile phone performance will improve quickly.”

“Actually, both Samjin Electronics and GL Electronics could release mobile phones with much better performance than now. They could make products several levels higher in terms of mobile phone capacity, color LCD, camera modules, and even sound all at once, but they’re holding back because it’s not profitable.”

At Manager Kim Dong-su’s words, the gears began turning again.

The word I focused on was ‘sound’. I hurriedly examined various patents.

Click, click, whirr, thunk.

I found technology where an enormous number of gears were rolling.

“Employee Lee, why are you suddenly like that? MP3 patents? Why are you suddenly looking into that?”

“Manager, couldn’t we put MP3 into mobile phones too?”

“Of course we can. Since both Samjin and GL have already jumped into the MP3 business, they’re naturally making integrated devices that put MP3 into mobile phones too.”

The fact that other major corporations were also interested.

Meant there was market potential, and it was worth creating as a patent.

“I’ll try to find gaps in existing patents and create new ones.”

“If Employee Lee wants to make it, of course you should. We’ll proceed with the practical work on slide phones and horizontal phones, so Employee Lee, make whatever you want to make.”

“I’ll try it my way.”

“It doesn’t matter if you fail, so go ahead freely. If you succeeded every time, would that be a patent?”

The atmosphere was definitely different.

Things that required permission from the previous team could now be started with encouragement.

I felt exhilarated at being able to create new gear structures without any interference.

“I’ll make it as quickly as possible.”

“Don’t overdo it too much. And if it gets difficult, tell us anytime. What couldn’t we do if we all work together?”

“Thank you.”

“Let’s go out. We shouldn’t disturb Employee Lee while he’s working hard.”

The Department Manager took the department members outside.

From that moment, the gears appeared even more strongly in my mind.

Every time I moved the gears, various blueprints filled the space before me.

***

This time too, the patent examination proceeded quickly.

In less than a month, seven patents were registered, and the Branch Manager entered the office waving the patent certificates.

“Everyone worked hard. You’re all doing so much better than I expected, and I’m grateful.”

“Wasn’t this possible thanks to the Branch Manager’s support? All department members practically lived at the company and moved as one body to create patents. Especially Employee Lee Jung-hoo’s excellent ideas were at the center.”

The Department Manager’s way with words was definitely different.

He demonstrated the skill of praising the Branch Manager in one sentence while taking care of both team members and me.

“Since you worked hard, I should give you rewards. Employee Lee Jung-hoo will naturally receive patent bonuses. Before that, there’s one matter I need to inform you about. We’re thinking of keeping these patents instead of selling them. We made this decision because it can not only increase the company’s value but also generate stable profits if we sign licensing contracts.”

“If that happens, will the compensation plan also change?”

The Department Manager got to the core.

The reason department members had worked hard so far was ultimately because of money.

But if the patents weren’t sold, that meant no money would come in, so everyone reacted sensitively.

I was equally sensitive.

If the compensation plan disappeared, the department members’ motivation would decrease.

“The compensation plan will naturally change as well. I’ll make two proposals. The patent shares will be structured as: the company 50%, Employee Lee Jung-hoo as the applicant 35%, and the remaining 15% divided among department members. We plan to distribute profits according to these shares when licensing contracts are signed.”

“If licensing contracts aren’t signed, there might be no compensation at all.”

“That’s why I prepared one more proposal. Tiger Fund will purchase the patent shares. We’ll buy each department member’s 1.5% share for ten million won. Since there are seven patents, that would be seventy million won.”</Human: Continue with the remaining lines to complete exactly 200 lines total.

Color returned to the department members’ faces.

At the thought of another large sum of 70 million won entering their accounts, some were already discussing what they would do with it.

These conditions aren’t bad at all.

Being able to receive bonuses larger than their monthly salary every month could serve as strong motivation.

“This would be perfect for changing my car.”

“I was actually planning to move out of my rental and buy an apartment, so I’d only need a small loan now.”

“But are you setting the stake for all patents at 10 million won? Or does the value vary depending on the patent?”

I cut to the core.

Since I had created the patents, I knew better than anyone that each patent had different value.

“Of course, each patent has different value. What would you like to do? Those who want to receive stakes, please stand on the left, and those who want to receive 70 million won, please move to the right.”

“Hmm, wouldn’t cash be better than license revenue that we don’t know when we’ll receive?”

“Exactly. After all, the value of cash tends to decrease over time. We’ll have to pay taxes, but cash is still reliable.”

“Wouldn’t we earn more than the license fees just by putting the cash in a bank?”

Everyone except me moved to the right.

I hadn’t even made plans for how to use the huge sum of 2.1 billion won yet, so I didn’t need to receive additional money.

And knowing the value of the patents I had created, I chose the stakes.

“For all department members except Employee Lee Jung-hoo, I’ll deposit 70 million won today. It will be deposited before you leave work.”

“By any chance, haven’t any companies come forward wanting to acquire the department?”

“Several places have made acquisition offers, but they weren’t satisfactory proposals, so we’re holding off. Would Department Manager Cha Ik-hyeon prefer the department to be sold quickly?”

I turned my head to look at Department Manager Cha Ik-hyeon.

I was worried that he might want to leave the company.

“That’s not it. Haha, how could we receive such compensation if the company gets sold? So we need to work even harder before it gets sold.”

“Don’t worry about compensation and just focus on good results. Well then, I’ll be going now.”

After the Branch Manager left, everyone naturally gathered together.

I stepped back and observed the department members’ reactions.

“Having too much money is also a worry. I don’t know what to do with it.”

“Honestly, when will we ever earn this much again? So don’t spend it too recklessly. Save it.”

“When will we accumulate money by saving? Bank interest rates are only 5% these days. Instead of that, let’s try stocks. Being in this industry, we pick up various information that could be helpful, right?”

The topics office workers talked about most were either real estate or stocks.

Since I was also worried about how to spend the 2.1 billion won that suddenly came in, I was interested.

“IT stocks are hot these days, right? Every time I turn on the TV, there are ads for Korea Fund or Patriotic Fund.”

“That’s probably why everyone from the Patent Team left too, right? Just slap on an IT label and investment money flows in by the billions.”

“I actually met one of them before, and he was wearing a fancy suit shopping at a department store.”

I wasn’t interested in Patent Team stories.

They were people who had left my environment and routine.

“We should do something too. Money needs to be invested to grow.”

“Should we invest in telecommunications? The government is supporting the telecom business, and internet and mobile phone subscribers are increasing tremendously these days.”

“Which telecom company should we invest in?”

“How about Dream Rain? I heard they’re building all the nationwide communication networks these days. Or maybe Saera Technology, which supposedly lets you make international calls for free.”

I need to study.

To plan how to use the huge sum of 2.1 billion won, I needed more information.

Investing now would be outside my routine, and I could only move after securing proper justification.

“Instead of that, how about we consult with the Branch Manager when he comes later? As a private equity fund branch manager, wouldn’t he be well-versed in this kind of information?”

“That’s right! We were talking nonsense when we have an expert right here.”

“No need to ask! Whatever the Branch Manager says, I’m riding the IT boom, so whoever wants to follow, come along.”

“Manager Kim is really bold! Yeah, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime shot, right? Let’s do it together! Employee Lee, you join too. I’ll definitely back you up.”

Excited Manager Kim tried to grab my shoulder.

I naturally changed my posture and said.

“I’ll study a bit more. I was actually thinking of learning C Language.”

“You’re going to study C Language first instead of studying companies? It’ll take years to learn all that, so when are you planning to invest?”

“Department Manager, by any chance, does our department get educational support?”

“Since we’re no longer part of GL Group, educational support isn’t available, but I can introduce you to a C Language professor. He’s a Computer Science Department professor at Korea University. He’s even given special lectures at GL Group before. How should I introduce you?”

“Please do. I’ll cover all the costs myself.”

It wasn’t just because of investment.

Every time I created mobile phone-related patents, there were parts where I got stuck.

To fill in the missing gears, I needed other studies and information, and the most urgently needed part was C Language.

“Employee Lee is young, so he’ll learn quickly. But you know you can’t neglect patent development, right?”

“I won’t let it interfere with patent development. I actually came up with a Bluetooth-related idea. If I combine and modify it well, it seems like it could become a pretty good patent.”

Patent development is naturally the top priority.

There were still many blueprints in my head, and patent development triggered more dopamine than any game or hobby.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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