[That person] Ki-Won Kim, a 'Urea-su hero' who chose righteousness over Il-Hak Cheon-Geum

1. When I arrived at Aton Industrial Complex in Palbong-dong Industrial Complex in Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do, about 10 minutes earlier than the appointment time on the 15th, this person was feeding the fish in the pond inside the factory. He knew that the unfamiliar visitor was a reporter, but he glanced at him and went up to his office on the second floor. It was a gesture of someone who didn't think I had to say hello first. When exchanging business cards in the office and exchanging greetings, they did not bow their heads or bow their heads, and there were no formal greetings. Far from being fussy, he was a rather crude person. He seemed to express that he did not want to exaggerate the kindness and hospitality.

Events beget characters, just as war makes heroes. The urea water incident, which heated up the whole country from the end of October to November, made this person a hot topic. If you do a Google search for 'Kim Ki-won, Aton Industries', you will find about 2,000 related articles. This person never appeared on the news until the urea water crisis broke out. This person, the representative of Aton Industries, a producer of urea water, gave up the opportunity to earn hundreds of millions of won a day if he had a strong will, and supplied urea water to consumers at a low price. Last year, the company's net profit was around 300 million won. It was by no means an easy decision to blow away the opportunity to earn several dozen times the amount of money that could be earned in a year in just over a month. I thought that this person's good deeds were not the result of a momentary decision, but the result of the life he had lived up to now. I wondered how he was able to do such a thing because he had lived.

As the number of elements disappears from the news, this person's name is also disappearing from the press.

It has been a while since the name disappeared from the JoongAng papers, and it is difficult to find Kim Ki-Won's name in the local media.

Reporters' requests for interviews and coverage seem like a thing of the past, and requests to attend such and such meetings and events are now rare.

The interest that was pouring down like a midsummer shower is disappearing.

It must have felt like the light that was focused on him was turned off in an instant, but I was curious about this person's 'after good deeds'.

2. In mid-October, 2,000 tons of urea, a raw material for urea water, were imported from China with difficulty.

It was the last factor that entered Korea right before China took export control measures.

A urea exporter in China's Shandong province has been tempted by demanding price increases three times since the contract.

The port of import was also unilaterally changed from Gunsan to Incheon, showing a behavior close to tyranny.

I cried at the thought of having to secure three or four months' worth of raw materials, and I didn't expect that the mustard-eating elements imported would play a big role. 2,000 tons of urea is enough to make 6 million liters of urea water. The number of urea, which used to cost 7-8 thousand won for 10 liters, became more expensive after China's export controls. First of all, the object itself was not there. Most people did not know what the number of urea was, and it is true that even those who knew the number of urea treated it as washer fluid. Because it was always easy and cheap to buy. Few people knew that it would be difficult to operate 2 million diesel vehicles nationwide without urea water, and that 98% of the raw material for urea water was a 'strategic material' imported from China. At the end of October, the urea water crisis surfaced as vehicles that were unloading and unloading at Incheon and Busan ports began to disrupt operations. Confusion spread across the country as the media featured this issue day after day, and some even hoarded it. For this issue, the Blue House NSC Standing Committee was held, Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom apologized at the National Assembly, and later even President Moon Jae-in had to bow his head to the people. If it was urgent, would it have even happened to an emergency airlift of 27,000 liters of urea water from Australia using an Air Force transport plane?

If it was sold for 50,000 won per 10 liters as it was traded in the market, the sales of 6 million liters of urea, which can be made with 2,000 tons of urea, were 30 billion won, and even if the cost was excluded, it was easy to earn 20 to 20 billion won. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this person who runs a company with annual net income of about 300 million won.

They say there is money to live on, but the more money you have, the more you want to have it. He knows that giving end-of-year bonuses to employees is a reward for business owners. Because he was such a person, he had a lot of money, so he didn't waste such an opportunity.

3. Before the issue was raised in earnest in the media, there were already long lines of people in front of the factory to purchase urea water. I couldn't turn away from the people who waited for hours in the morning. 10 liters per person sold two bottles of urea water. I got 12,000 won per bottle. The number of elements sold in that way was being sold for 180,000 won on the Internet.

" There were truck drivers and heavy equipment drivers who were threatened by this, and there were people who wanted to take advantage of this chaos for personal gain.

The powerful earned money, and the desperate were suffering.

I thought that it should be possible to ensure that everyone has an equal supply of urea water.

Above all, the operation of the factory was hampered by the people who were encamped in front of the factory.

If you've decided to make money, you have to act at this point.

There was a situation in which people lined up to buy even for 50,000 won for 10 liters.

"People who came out on the coverage would make hundreds of millions of won a day even if they sold only at market prices, but why didn't they do that... I did. Wouldn't it be a rumor that I ate my back... If the broadcasting stations and reporters didn't come and stay quiet, I would make a lot of money, but it's wrong to make money this time because of you! Then everyone just laughed."

On November 4, when the urea water crisis was at its peak, I contacted the city of Iksan first and suggested that we make an agreement to supply urea water to the Iksan area first.

There was only one condition this man demanded.

It was said that the price of urea water should not exceed 20,000 won as a consumer standard.

I would give up my interests, so I was asking others not to get too drunk.

Following Iksan, urea water was supplied sequentially by signing agreements with almost all cities and counties in Jeollabuk-do.

The price of urea water that this person handed over to each city and county was 12,000 won for 10 liters.

“I have met various entrepreneurs during my 30 years as a civil servant. However, when an opportunity like this comes, most entrepreneurs always have to fill their pockets first. But, President Kim Ki-won is rather worried about me. I asked him if he didn't do it. Then he said, 'I can eat well without taking a share this time, and I just want our company to go the same way before and after the urea water crisis'."

-Han Jeong-bok, head of the energy department at Iksan City Hall, said,

"It was unusual. Usually, if something like this happens, how can I make more money? I think like this, but he thinks backwards... A warm heart that we shouldn't take profit when other people are having a hard time. Thank you very much for this."

- Ahn Ho-young, Wanjujin Choreographer, Member of the National Assembly

The number of urea was supplied to companies with which it had already transacted on the condition that the price did not increase.

When Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do saw an article that it was difficult to operate vehicles in the county due to a lack of urea, they contacted him first and sent 4,000 liters of urea.

“When I saw the news, they said that there was no urea water in that mountain village and that the bus could not run. After hearing that, I called Yeongwol-gun, thought I was a scammer, and called five people to confirm. I got corn from Gangwon-do and ate it.”

4. Applause poured in for this man's behavior. A member of the National Assembly in Jeollabuk-do even used the expression 'heroic decision' to express his gratitude. It was at this time that media coverage of this person began in earnest. To the reporters' questions pouring in, this person's answer was the same. He said he didn't want to take care of money alone when others were having a hard time, and he said he just didn't want to disappoint them when others say they're good and they're good at it.

Not everyone praised this man. At the time of the urea water crisis, few producers were criticized for taking unreasonable profits, but there were people in the same industry who gave this person a bad look.

The factory's production facilities were fully operated and the production of urea water was increased to three or four times the usual, giving priority to the Jeollabuk-do region. We supplied existing quantities to other regional customers. This person was thinking of preventing the urea water crisis even in the Jeollabuk-do region, where he had a connection, because his company could not cover the entire country with his own company's capabilities, but he was also told that he was disappointed by people living in other cities and provinces.

I wondered if he was trying to get involved in a business with the city of Iksan, which was the first to sign an agreement, or to benefit the government, but he said there was no such thing. The company's sales are also higher in other regions than in Jeonbuk. So I was more honest.

Appearing on a radio program hosted by Eo-Jun Kim and Jin-Woo Joo, they said that the company was responsible for this situation, but they were criticized for being on the side of the government. I said that as a representative of a company that makes urea water, I was only discussing corporate responsibility first, but I was wondering if it was justifiable to just mention corporate responsibility without mentioning the government's mistake in not recognizing its importance despite the announcement of China's export controls? it came out Moreover, there were people who took issue with this person's remarks in that Kim Eo-jun and Joo Jin-woo were representative pro-government journalists. It was then that he knew that his words and actions could be interpreted politically. It looked like he was trying not to show it, but because of it, his heartache was quite severe.

"I heard that CEO Ki-won Kim is suffering after appearing on a TV show. He said that if a large company has a lot of market share, then there is a social responsibility as well. There should be no such thing, but it seems to be saying that the company is not responsible for not taking such measures at all.”

- Ahn Ho-young, Wanjujin Choreographer, Member of the National Assembly

As Aton Industries became famous, more people came to the company.

Politicians cannot be left out in this place.

He said he did not like politicians very much, but he did not hide that he did not like the interest of politicians.

"It's usually inconvenient when politicians come here. There are people who come here to take pictures in this chaos, and there are people who are working and have an aide to help them..."

Aton Industrial's market share of urea water is about 3%.

This year, it will be around 5%.

Although it is not comparable to other conglomerates in terms of size, the company's recognition and credibility have increased thanks to this event.

5. He said that he came from a dirt spoon in a region where he had not learned much. You said that you wanted to hear more about your life than the known good deeds, but you didn't say much about your own life. Born in 1962, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, and attended secondary school and university in Gunsan. He hardly talked about his school days or his academic background. Except for the fact that his wife is a civil servant in Gunsan City Hall, he did not talk about his family. When I asked if he had any complexes, he said that there are many such things, but he can't think of them right now. I thought that there might be a complex about academic background or career, but I didn't want to say that. Since 1991, he has been working as a salaried worker in an environment-related small business. In 2014, he founded Aton Industries, rejecting the owner's invitation to give him stock and make him the president. Entrepreneurship has long been a dream for this man. There was no other reason for starting a business at the age of well over fifty. It was to make money. Starting a business was an adventure for this person, but the adventure was a success. The company achieved annual sales of 10 billion won within a year of establishing the company, and has never made a loss since its establishment. Aton Industries employs 28 people, and its net profit last year was around 300 million won. In addition to Aton Industries, three more corporations including a trading company were established. When I said that the sales of the four companies add up to 40-50 billion won, I could feel pride on this person's face. Aton Industries' main focus is water quality improvement, waste collection and transportation. It has a business structure that includes urea water and chemical production. It has 12 patents and certifications, but the name is not widely known.

-How much money did you make?

"Well, I haven't earned much, but I think I have more than enough to make a living. I really try to make money to spend it well."

I've said many times that I make money to spend it well. Judging from those words, it is possible that there are invisible good deeds, but I did not say in detail. He talked about his father who was drunk with a glass of makgeolli or a glass of makgeolli after having lunch at a free luncheon with his fellow elderly people, and said that he wanted to do a job of consistently providing proper meals to such elderly people.

Not long ago, I entrusted 20 million won to Iksan City to use it to help people in need. The long-awaited free lunch service project is also being pursued in detail, but he found it burdensome to let this fact become known. I also found out about the donation in the process of doing research around the area. He seemed to be thirsty for praise, but he is also well aware of the detoxification of unbearable praise.

6. For about a month from the beginning of November, there is hardly a day that this person's name has not appeared in the local media. Interview articles were also published in the JoongAng magazine and appeared on TV programs.

- How did you feel when you became a celebrity in an instant?

"There's nothing like that, but I don't think that's a good thing. Running a business…" The

public will soon forget this person, and the media won't be looking for him again, but this person will never forget November 2021 for the rest of his life. won't be able It will become a life force, a memory to look back on, and a proud pride. Of course, I know that sometimes it will be shackles.

In this passage, I talked about my mother, who passed away 10 years ago. He said he wanted to be praised by his mother. He said he didn't get praise for his studies, so he said he wanted to be praised for making money. He was thirsty for praise. From his mother's praise, to his family's, to his staff, and even the media's praise, this man was thirsty for praise. It can be expressed as a desire to be recognized for praise. It was to the point that I wondered if I was working and earning money because I wanted to be recognized and praised. A person who has come this far with the power of praise.

He knows that the interest he has poured into him disappears in an instant like a fog in the morning sun. If now is the peak of one's life, he does not know that it is the peak, but now there is only one thing left to do is to go down.

- You must have appeared in the press and received a lot of messages of support from people.

"It's just that people who know me contact me. Seoulites and young people are fussy over small things, but rural people don't express it well. They say to be careful, but they don't do much when they give praise or something like that. Seoul people ' There must have been a riot in that town,’ but there was no riot here.”

- Do you feel the pleasure?

"Yes. I think I did well. It's not that it was difficult for me to live here, but I think I would have been rather anxious if I had made more money this time, but I'm proud that I have spent it all. There is nothing and I am proud.”

7. A person who has experienced several layers of discrimination and alienation. There is no academic scholarship that can be put out anywhere, especially for those who are from the provinces, and also from Honam, where discrimination and marginalization were more severe. As an employee of a small business for over 20 years, I lived as an employee of a small and medium-sized enterprise after that. However, while talking for more than 4 hours, he hardly talked about the heartache, twists and turns, discrimination, and alienation he experienced. He didn't even say how much sweat, blood and tears he had shed until now. He said that he only took a break once a month and went to work saying that even when two children were born, being with the mother does not mean that the child will be born well. It must have meant that he lived a hard life, but he didn't say how fiercely he lived.

On the desk, a single calligraphy of 'It's really good' was placed in a frame. Every time I go to work, I repeat this phrase over and over as if memorizing a spell. A person who is convinced that saying positive things will produce positive results and saying negative things will produce negative results. He was a person who lived with the power of praise and positivity, but now the power of giving and sharing has been added to that.

Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, with a population of 270,000, was described as 'countryside'. The scale of the business and the criteria for success also seemed to be set in Seoul. This man, who was not very passionate about other things, continued to talk for a long time about the difficulties of the local economy.

“There is a difference between the countryside and Seoul. There are a lot of places in Seoul that make tens of billions of dollars a year in less than half of my office here. Seoul people say Ansan Sihwa Industrial Complex has many small and medium-sized businesses, but it’s like a hole-in-the-wall store, but that’s not the same here. The size is different. There is no comparison here and there. Isn't that the difference between a Seoul mouse and a country mouse? When it comes to eating Seoul mouse meat, the country mouse only eats broth."

After earning some money, my acquaintances suggested that I buy a house in Seoul, but they didn't listen. It wasn't that he regretted not hearing it.

8. If you are a business owner with this philosophy, I wondered if there would be something different about the company's management. He said that one of his credos was 'Let's work together and enjoy together'.

He proudly said that he has never been without a year-end bonus since his founding, and that when he is promoted to a manager, he can use the company's car for personal use and that he is faithfully operating the 'Tomorrow Chaeum Deduction' system for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employees.

-According to the Job Korea data I have seen, the average wage here is not that high compared to other companies.

"They give more than what's out there. We don't have a single person whose annual salary is less than 30 million won.

I thought it was just a little bit more than other small and medium-sized businesses in the Jeonbuk region, but after meeting with this person, in the process of supplementary coverage, I was told that the salary of an employee in the 10th year of this company was 80 million won. I wondered if the salary of a small company in the countryside would be that high, so I texted this person directly.

-If you work for 10 years at Aton Industry, what is your annual salary? I heard that it was about 80 million won, is that true?

“It’s my 8th year salary.”

Although the salary level was surprising, I saw this person again who didn't tell me such a story when I met him.

It is a beautiful thing for the company to give up the opportunity to make a big profit in the public interest, but it did not ask for the consent of the employees.

-From the point of view of the employees, wouldn't they want to receive a lot of bonuses because the company's performance improved this time?

"I think our employees care about the company as much as I do. I don't think there is a single employee who thinks that they can earn all of them this year and not have to earn next year. Although our company is a small company here in the industrial complex, it's good for the employees to go to that company. , I want to make people say, “It’s a good company. I want to make a small but substantial company and pass it on to my employees.”

When I heard indirectly from the employees of Iksan City Hall, the employees were also satisfied.

- Really?

"Yeah, that's why I joked that I had to quit the civil service and go to Aton Industries. I was surprised because the salaries were high."

- Really?

"We work with Aton Industries and make press releases, but we can't promote a company that has problems ethically or in company management. So, we heard from the employees."

-Han Jeong-bok, Iksan City Energy Manager

9. Although this person has come to the fore, this person is not necessarily the only person who kept his conscience and yielded his own interests in the urea water crisis.

There were not many 'urea water angels' who donated urea water for free to emergency vehicles such as fire stations and hospital vehicles, and thanks to their strength, the urea water incident could be resolved in a relatively short period of time.

Looking back, this person is a righteous man who gave up his interests for the public good, but he is also a 'wise businessman'.

As I said, I didn't give it away for free, and I didn't sell it at a loss.

I was just selling things without getting drunk.

You may have left a small profit right now, but you have gained something that money cannot buy.

This person also said that even if he used Kim Tae-hee or Yoo Jae-seok to advertise, he wouldn't be able to get such a good advertising effect.

It is a reward that should be given to those who put righteousness first when benefits are right in front of them.

As I came to meet this person, I thought that the size of a business should not be judging the size of an entrepreneur.

The last advice from this man, who had the acumen to see far away, was not to glorify himself.