Daejeon Metropolitan City, Yuseong District, Daedeok Research Complex.
The Advanced Technology Research Institute's Daedeok Research Center, recently renamed the Blue Technology Research Institute, had been bustling with people since early morning.
It was the day the highest-performance supercomputer in Asia, surpassing not only domestic systems but even those in Japan, had finally completed installation and was entering its first operational run.
After the opening ceremony, attended even by the Minister of Science and Technology, had concluded, Seok-won followed Director Choi Sang-su toward the secured zone where the supercomputer was installed.
As they reached the entrance guarded by two security personnel in black uniforms, Director Choi Sang-su removed the ID card hanging around his neck and held it up to the reader mounted on the wall to the left.
He then placed his thumb on the fingerprint scanner. A sharp click sounded, and the lock disengaged.
"As you just saw, entry requires both an ID card and fingerprint recognition. It's a dual security system."
At Director Choi Sang-su's explanation, Seok-won gave a small nod.
"Given that it's such a critical research facility, thorough security is only natural."
"That's absolutely right."
Once they passed through the massive security door and stepped inside, the first thing that caught his eye was the seemingly endless rows of black server racks.
Filling an entire floor, the racks, each taller than an adult, stood in perfectly ordered lines. The sight was nothing short of spectacular.
Hundreds, thousands of LEDs blinked with a blue glow, as if the countless servers, woven together like a web, were breathing life into the supercomputer as one living organism.
Seok-won slowly scanned the server racks stretching so far that the end was nearly out of sight, then asked,
"Is this the main body of the one that was installed this time?"
"That's correct. What you're seeing here isn't all of it. The same setup is installed on the floors above and below as well. In fact, you could say this entire building is the Blue Cube."
Director Choi Sang-su replied with a proud expression.
Blue Cube was the name given to the newly introduced supercomputer, capable of 367 teraflops of computational performance.
The system housed here at the Daedeok Research Center was Blue Cube No. 1, while an identical supercomputer with the same specifications, currently being installed at the Moseulpo Space Center, would be Blue Cube No. 2.
"With its outstanding capability of performing 367 trillion floating-point operations per second, it's the fastest machine not only in the country but across Asia."
At that, Dr. Lee Jong-bae, a computer science expert standing beside them, spoke with an excited flush on his face.
"With Blue Cube No. 1 now operational, our institute has overtaken Japan and leapt straight to second place in the global supercomputer rankings. Not only that, but having access to a high-performance system like this means simulations that used to take anywhere from days to several months can now be completed in a matter of hours. It's going to be an enormous boost to all the research currently underway."
Director Choi Sang-su added with a satisfied smile,
"The labs under the institute have been rushing to submit usage requests. In fact, the schedule is already fully booked for the next six months."
"It was introduced to support research, so don't hold back. Make sure it's used to its fullest potential. Tell them not to worry about costs and to use it as much as they need."
When you factored in not only the tens of thousands of servers but also the massive cooling systems required to dissipate the heat they generated, installing a supercomputer demanded an enormous investment. The operational costs of keeping it running were no small matter either.
Maintenance and electricity bills alone easily ran into tens of millions of won each month.
Because of this, universities and even corporate research labs tended to use expensive equipment like supercomputers sparingly and with great caution.
So when Seok-won told them not to worry about money and to use it freely, Director Choi Sang-su and the researchers could not help but feel deeply moved.
Seok-won gazed at the supercomputer, humming with the sound of its fans like a living organism, then lightly smacked his lips.
"It's all impressive, but it's a little disappointing that it's second in the world instead of first."
Director Choi Sang-su smiled and responded from beside him.
"Just being able to have an ultra-high-performance supercomputer like this is an extraordinary achievement in itself."
"That's right. Considering that top-tier supercomputers are classified as strategic assets and cannot be exported outside the United States, the fact that we were able to bring in a monster with 367 teraflops of performance was only possible because of you, Chairman."
The other officials standing nearby nodded in agreement.
"Since this is the first time a supercomputer of this caliber has been introduced domestically, everyone is extremely envious. Not only university research labs, but even national institutions like the Agency for Defense Development and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute are calling multiple times a day, asking if they can run their research data on it."
"I see."
Dr. Lee Jong-bae adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses and spoke as if it were only natural.
"Using Blue Cubic No. 1 will drastically reduce the time needed to test research data, so of course everyone's eager. Honestly, if I were in their position, I'd want access too."
"Hmm."
With both hands tucked into his trouser pockets, Seok-won thought for a moment before speaking in an even tone.
"For the time being, focus on our internal research projects. But once there's some room in the schedule, allow external research institutions and individual researchers to use the supercomputer as well."
"Excuse me?"
Director Choi Sang-su and the other institute officials murmured in surprise.
"Are you saying we should open the supercomputer to outside users?"
"Yes. Rather than keeping it locked away, wouldn't it contribute more to the advancement of science in our country if we gave researchers working quietly under difficult conditions a chance to use it?"
Even if it was for the development of domestic science and technology, opening up a supercomputer worth several hundred billion won to other research institutions and laboratories was an extraordinarily bold decision. Director Choi Sang-su and the institute officials could not hide their astonishment.
Despite his young age, the fact that he did not cling to small things and instead acted with such broad-minded resolve inspired not only admiration, but genuine respect.
Director Choi Sang-su looked at him with impressed eyes and smiled.
"The researchers will be overjoyed when they hear that."
"No matter how powerful a supercomputer is, the moment you switch it on and start running it, it's nothing more than an asset that continues to depreciate. So while we're using it, we should operate it as efficiently as possible and squeeze every bit of value out of it."
Director Choi Sang-su and the other institute officials, however, assumed that Seok-won was simply being modest and responded only with warm smiles.
But that pleasant atmosphere was shattered the moment they heard what he said next.
"In a few years, we'll be bringing in an even more powerful supercomputer. Until then, don't hold back. Think of it as running at full capacity twenty-four hours a day and use it freely."
"Excuse me? Are you saying you plan to introduce another supercomputer?"
Director Choi Sang-su asked with a flustered expression.
The other institute officials beside him also looked at Seok-won with a mix of disbelief and anticipation, as if doubting their own ears.
"While we were introducing this supercomputer, I heard that IBM, the manufacturer, is currently pushing forward a next-generation supercomputer project called Blue Gene."
Director Choi Sang-su swallowed hard.
"Don't tell me…"
"That's right. We've decided that our Blue Technology Research Institute will participate in the Blue Gene development project by contributing a portion of the development costs."
The moment Seok-won finished speaking, a ripple of shock spread through the gathered crowd.
"IBM? You mean that IBM?"
"My goodness. What did I just hear?"
"IBM? We're collaborating with IBM?"
Not just any company, but IBM, a firm that possessed world-leading computer technology. The idea of working together on a joint project to develop a next-generation supercomputer was enough to leave anyone stunned.
"Is that really true?"
Director Choi Sang-su asked again, clearly unable to believe it.
"There had been discussions for some time, but they were only at the level of sounding out intentions. Just yesterday, we made a firm decision with IBM to move forward with the project. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner."
"N-No, not at all."
Director Choi Sang-su quickly waved his hands in dismissal.
"It's just that the idea of collaborating with a global IT company like IBM caught us off guard."
"Right now, we might be a little behind. But someday, IBM will be the one asking to work with us. There's no need to feel intimidated by a big name."
Seok-won spoke confidently as he looked around at Director Choi Sang-su and the institute officials, who still stood there in a daze.
"I believe our researchers are every bit as capable as those at Bell Labs or any other world-class research institution."
When Seok-won expressed his trust and recognition, the people standing before him felt their chests swell with emotion.
"You're not saying you lack the confidence to develop it jointly with IBM's researchers, are you?"
"Of course not."
"Even if we were to compete head-to-head right now, purely in terms of skill, I'm confident we wouldn't fall behind."
Following Director Choi Sang-su's firm response, Dr. Lee Jong-bae, the computer engineering expert, also straightened his shoulders and declared with conviction.
Rather than being intimidated by the name IBM, they were burning with even stronger determination. That was exactly the reaction Seok-won had hoped to see.
Dr. Lee Jong-bae, who was certain to serve as the Blue Technology Research Institute's lead on the joint project, stroked his chin with a serious expression.
"Then what level of supercomputer is the Blue Gene project aiming to develop?"
It was clearly what everyone wanted to know, as curious eyes turned toward Seok-won.
Since it was information they would need to know anyway, he answered without hesitation.
"I'm not familiar with the deeper technical details, but I was told it's a project to build a supercomputer with one petaflop of performance. The idea is to implement multiple CPUs on low-power processor chips, package them at the processor card level, stack them into node boards, and then connect dozens or even hundreds of cabinets with high-speed switches."
At that, Dr. Lee Jong-bae's jaw dropped in shock.
"O-One petaflop, did you say?"
"That's right."
The others standing behind them exchanged uneasy glances and murmured among themselves.
The Blue Cube that had just begun operation already boasted an astonishing 367 teraflops of computing power. The idea of developing a supercomputer nearly three times more powerful than that felt almost unreal.
"One petaflop… Is that even possible with current technology?"
When Director Choi Sang-su asked, Seok-won replied in a calm tone.
"Of course, it would be difficult to achieve right away. But considering that recent improvements in semiconductor performance are advancing at a pace that even surpasses Moore's Law, which predicts that semiconductor integration doubles every eighteen months, it shouldn't be impossible within a few years."
"Hmm…"
"It's true. The recent advances in semiconductor performance have been astonishing."
Director Choi Sang-su and the other institute officials took a moment to think it over, then nodded in agreement.
"If we succeed in developing a supercomputer with one petaflop of performance as planned, we'll install one unit each here at the Daedeok Research Center and at the Moseulpo Space Center, just like this time."
Upon hearing that, Director Choi Sang-su's face flushed with excitement.
"Participating in such an extraordinary project is remarkable in itself. But to think that, following the Blue Cube, our institute would once again receive a top-tier supercomputer… it truly makes my heart race."
Seok-won flashed a broad grin,
"I told you I would make the Blue Technology Research Institute a place that stands shoulder to shoulder with any in the world. I'll make sure you have the very best of whatever you need, so devote yourselves fully to your research."
"You already provide more than enough. I don't even know how to begin thanking you for offering even greater support."
"Just produce plenty of results worthy of being published in Nature, Science, and Cell."
For a moment, Director Choi Sang-su was at a loss for words.
The three journals Seok-won had mentioned were widely regarded as the world's most prestigious scientific publications. Having a paper published in one of them meant producing research of truly exceptional global significance.
But soon enough, Director Choi Sang-su met his gaze again, his eyes filled with firm resolve.
"With this level of full support, we will do everything we can to deliver the results you expect."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
A faint smile curved across Seok-won's lips.
As he looked out over the countless server racks, humming with the low drone of spinning cooling fans, a deep sense of satisfaction filled his chest.
In the years ahead, not only the Blue Technology Research Institute but also countless researchers across the country would make use of this place to advance a wide range of fields.
Feeling a strong sense of reassurance, Seok-won slowly continued touring the facility with the others.