The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 158

158. The Era of National Gangs

Savoy Hotel, Room 720, Myeongdong.

Shin Sang-sa, the boss of the ‘Shin Sang-sa Clan,’ a notorious gang, was lecturing Lee Man-jae, who was affiliated with the ‘Pan-Honam Clan.’

Jeong-sik and Gu-hong, prominent figures from Busan’s underworld, along with five members of the Japanese Yakuza, stood by, casting menacing glares at Lee Man-jae.

“We’ve already taken over Seoul. Tell your boss to get out of Seoul!”

Lee Man-jae defended himself.

“I’m friendly with the Honam boss, but I’m not a member of their organization. I’m just a bodyguard hired by CEO Jang.”

Lee Man-jae and Oh Hwang, the boss of the Pan-Honam Clan, were from the same hometown and shared a close, brotherly relationship.

Once under Oh Hwang, Lee Man-jae entered a prestigious university in Seoul, leaving the organization to work as a bodyguard for CEO Jang, a wealthy loan shark in Myeongdong—a so-called educated gangster.

The landscape of Seoul’s underworld was being reshaped in the 1970s.

Kim Doo-han, based in Jongno in the 1960s, had successfully entered politics. Lee Jeong-jae, who rose from Icheon to dominate Dongdaemun as a political *kkangpae* [깡패, a Korean term for a political thug or gangster] for the Liberal Party, aimed for the presidency but was betrayed by Lee Gi-bung and executed following the 5·16 coup [May 16th Military Coup of 1961].

The end of the gangster era in the late 1960s left a void in Seoul.

The Myeongdong faction, the weakest, barely survived government crackdowns until Shin Sang-sa, based in Busan, took over and expanded its influence under the banner of the ‘Shin Sang-sa Clan.’

Previously, the underworld was dominated by local gangs, but with the Shin Sang-sa Clan’s entry into Seoul, it rapidly transformed into a national stage.

As Seoul prospered, with population and money pouring in, entertainment districts mushroomed, increasing the stakes in lucrative businesses.

Gangs used hotel nightclubs as their base, raking in illicit money through alcohol and prostitution.

Well-known gangsters from the Honam region also came to Seoul, but they were relegated to the status of petty local thugs, overshadowed by the established Shin Sang-sa Clan.

In response, a man named Oh Hwang gathered gangsters from the Honam region—Gwangju, Jeonju, Mokpo, Yeosu—to form the ‘Pan-Honam Clan’ and establish a foothold in Seoul.

The Pan-Honam Clan expanded its influence, using the entertainment district of Mugyo-dong in Seoul as its base.

They extended their reach to Chungmuro and Toegye-ro, threatening the Shin Sang-sa Clan.

A precarious peace was maintained while protecting their respective ‘*nawabari*’ [Japanese term for gang territories], but a war for dominance in Seoul was inevitable.

In this tense situation, Lee Man-jae, considered a key figure in the Pan-Honam Clan, frequented Myeongdong as a bodyguard, which the Shin Sang-sa Clan saw as a violation of their territory.

They threatened him, issuing a final warning.

Shin Sang-sa exhaled cigarette smoke and warned,

“Stop making pathetic excuses. I’ll be blunt. Myeongdong is my *nawabari*. Get out now.”

“I’m not part of the Pan-Honam Clan; I’m running a personal business, *hyungnim* [Korean honorific term for older brother or respected elder]!”

“Personal business? Are you playing games with me?”

“I already left the *jojik* [Korean term for organization, referring to the gang] a long time ago.”

“So, it’s a personal *jojik* then.”

“……”

The reason they hadn’t immediately attacked Lee Man-jae was to propose something.

“If you’re independent, as you say, come under me and do business.”

“I told you, I quit being a *geondal* [Korean term for gangster or hoodlum] and I’m working a regular job. I’m not in a *jojik*. It’s just a job!”

“Too bad. Fine. Let’s say I believe you. This is my *nawabari*. Take it with your fists like a man. That’s the law of the *geondal* world.”

Jeong-sik, standing next to him, took off his shirt.

His body revealed fearsome tattoos.

The atmosphere quickly turned hostile, and the men around them prepared for a fight, exuding menace.

Shin Sang-sa said,

“If you beat my top dog here, you can do your personal business in Myeongdong. But if you lose, you leave cleanly.”

It was the traditional way of local gangs: if you could beat the boss’s fighter, you were allowed to settle.

There was no choice. Lee Man-jae took a defensive stance.

Lee Man-jae had been fighting in the streets since childhood and had learned formal martial arts in college, making him a formidable fighter.

Even though he was outnumbered seven to one, fighting with his back against the wall in the narrow room was essentially a one-on-one fight.

Both sides raised their fists in guard and prepared to attack.

At that moment, Shin Sang-sa said,

“If we start a brawl in this small room, we’ll have to pay for the expensive hotel interior, and the hotel will call the police. Let’s take this outside.”

Shin Sang-sa nodded, and Lee Man-jae disarmed and went outside.

Shin Sang-sa’s crew watched Lee Man-jae leave the room with sinister smiles.

*

Lee Man-jae came out of the hotel entrance.

Instantly, a group armed with wooden bats and iron pipes surrounded him.

Lee Man-jae protested.

“You cowardly bastards! Using weapons? That’s not what *geondal* do; that’s what *yangachi* [Korean slang for low-level thugs or hoodlums] do!”

Jeong-sik, who had followed him, said,

“You ignorant fool. The rules are different in the national league. You have to use your head! Boys, get him!”

“Waaah!”

The gang with weapons pounced on Lee Man-jae.

Unarmed and outnumbered, he was helpless and brutally beaten.

*

Mugyo-dong, New Seoul Hotel.

A car dumped Lee Man-jae, covered in blood, at the hotel entrance and sped away.

Boom~

A guest leaving the hotel screamed at the sight of the bloodied man.

“Kyaaak~”

Barely alive, Lee Man-jae survived but was crippled.

The Shin Sang-sa Clan had made him an example for violating their *nawabari*.

*

The Pan-Honam Clan leaders held an emergency meeting.

Boss Oh Hwang gritted his teeth.

“Those *gae-saekki-deul* [Korean profanity, literally ‘son of a bitch(es)’]! They did this to my brother! This is a declaration of war!”

He ordered his right-hand man, Jo Yang-heun,

“From now on, it’s war with the Shin Sang-sa Clan! Get Shin Sang-sa!”

“Yes, *hyungnim*!”

“If we win this *nawabari* war, we take Seoul. Fight to the death!”

“Understood, *hyungnim*!”

Three teams were formed to attack Shin Sang-sa.

Each team was assigned to block one of the three entrances to the Savoy Hotel to cut off escape routes.

Jo Yang-heun was tasked with taking out Shin Sang-sa’s brother-in-law and closest aide, Yang Geon with Shin Sang-sa himself, and Kim Chun-seok with another key figure.

*

The President was making an unannounced visit, passing through the Myeongdong Savoy Hotel area.

“There are a lot more entertainment establishments now.”

Hotels and bars lined the streets around the loan shark district.

“It will become a breeding ground for crime.”

A bodyguard said,

“According to weekly magazines, *geondal* frequently engage in gang fights in Myeongdong and Jongno.”

“It’s been quiet for a while, but the *jopok* [Korean term for organized crime or gangsters] are becoming rampant again.”

The Savoy Hotel sign came into view.

“Savoy Hotel? I think I’ve heard of it… where did I hear it?”

At that moment, about 30 men in black suits rushed into the Savoy Hotel.

The President recognized someone at the front of the group.

“Who is that? I’ve seen him somewhere before? An actor?”

He couldn’t remember.

He continued down the street.

“Crash!”

A window shattered loudly.

He turned to see it was the Savoy Hotel.

At that moment, a brawl was taking place in the Savoy Hotel.

“Kill!”

Following Oh Hwang’s orders, having received information that Shin Sang-sa was inside, Jo Yang-heun and his three teams blocked the three entrances to the hotel as planned and stormed inside, leaving Gu-hong, Beon-gae, Jeong-sik, and eight others battered and bruised.

However, Shin Sang-sa had already escaped and was not there.

The President rushed to the Savoy Hotel.

Jo Yang-heun’s crew, covered in blood, were leaving after the attack.

The President suddenly remembered the name.

“Ah! Jo Yang-heun!”

He finally recalled the Savoy Hotel *jopok* incident.

The *jumeok* [Korean term for fist or fighter, often used to refer to gangsters] quickly disappeared towards Mugyo-dong, and the police arrived late.

The President lamented,

“*Jumeok* are running rampant in broad daylight!”

*

Cabinet meeting.

The Commissioner of the National Police Agency explained the Savoy Hotel incident, showing a chart with the names of the organizations and members involved.

“The Pan-Honam Clan attacked the Shin Sang-sa Clan to seize their so-called *nawabari*. We raided their base, the New Seoul Hotel, but the organization’s boss, Oh Hwang, and his right-hand man, Jo Yang-heun, fled, and we have issued arrest warrants.”

The President said,

“The names Kim Tae-chun and Lee Dong-soo are missing from the *jopok* list.”

During Chairman Wang’s time, the Pan-Honam Clan and Shin Sang-sa Clan were dismantled, and the three major *jumeok* families—Jo Yang-heun (Yang-eun-i Clan), Kim Tae-chun (Seobang Clan), and Lee Dong-soo (OB Clan)—who were action leaders in each faction, divided and ruled Seoul.

The President planned to arrest them and eradicate the *jopok* *seryeok* [Korean term for power or influence].

“Those names are unfamiliar, Your Excellency!”

“They are individuals caught in my intelligence network, so investigate further.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

As the President said, Shin Sang-sa hired Kim Tae-chun, a hitman, to take revenge on Oh Hwang, who was on the run.

Lee Dong-soo, who broke away from the Pan-Honam Clan, which had been weakened by the arrest warrants, formed the OB Clan.

The police, who had been watching them, arrested Shin Sang-sa, Oh Hwang, and the three action leaders on charges of organized crime and conspiracy to commit murder.

The newspapers reported the news of the roundup, publishing the organizational charts of the *jopok*.

The Seojin Room Salon incident did not occur due to the President’s preemptive measures.

* * *

Punggye-ri, Hamgyeong Province, North Korea.

The Baekdu Mountain Range stretched ruggedly.

A man was making his way through the jungle-like forest.

He was dressed in tattered clothes, carrying a backpack and a foraging bag, like a common North Korean *sannamul* [Korean term for wild mountain herbs] collector.

The agile man in his early 30s, standing at 170cm, with sharp eyes like a leopard stalking its prey, lowered his body and cautiously moved through the trees, following the valley.

He skillfully climbed the ridge like a mountain goat and photographed the surrounding terrain with a small camera.

After looking around, the man found soft ground and took a small shovel out of his foraging bag.

He quickly dug a hole deep enough for a person to enter, like a mole.

He covered it with branches and grass to create a pit.

Then, he ate *misutgaru* [Korean grain powder drink] and waited inside for days, huddled up.

How long had it been?

“Thump!”

The mountain shook violently.

It was an earthquake.

The man, who had been huddled in the pit like a rabbit in its burrow, came out and began to move.

The man went up the valley and took out an empty plastic water bottle from his foraging bag.

He filled it with stream water, being careful of his surroundings.

He wrote a number on the outside of the water bottle with a permanent marker.

He took out a small camera from his front pocket, photographed the water bottle and the collection site, and put the water bottle in his backpack.

The backpack was already full of several containers.

He took out another empty container and filled it with soil this time.

He also collected air.

*

Najin Port, North Korea.

Located on the border between North Korea, China, and Russia, with the Tumen River in between, North Korea had designated the area as a special economic zone early on and was focusing on development.

Construction of the pier was in full swing, and cargo ships from various countries were busy coming and going.

“Splash~”

A rubber tube floated faintly like a fallen leaf near the pitch-black port coast.

Inside the tube, the man who had been collecting samples in the mountains was rowing forward.