The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 208

208. Running for Election

They delved into the specifics.

The Minister of Culture asked,

“Your Excellency, if we organize the pop music scene around singers, does that mean multiple singers will perform one song simultaneously?”

“Two singers shouldn’t sing a new song. The core of my idea is competition. One song per singer lacks competitiveness.”

“Isn’t being chosen by the public a form of competition?”

“Singers are only focused on commercial success, which leads to a lack of diversity, and limited hit songs become disposable. Classical music becomes deeper and more widely known because countless people competitively perform it, spreading to many countries over centuries. Why can’t pop songs be sung by multiple singers in various styles at official events?”

“…….”

“When a singer disappears, the song disappears with them. Also, existing singers lack motivation. Once a song becomes theirs, it’s a monopoly, and they repeat the same hit song like a broken record. Moreover, certain star singers represent genres like trot [Korean pop music], pop, and folk, leaving other singers struggling with a drought of opportunities. A great song becomes great when sung by many singers.”

“That’s absolutely right.”

“There are only a handful of lyricists and composers, but there are countless unknown singers who are good at singing. We should give singers the opportunity to sing others’ songs in public. We have competitions for new and amateur singers, but why don’t we have competitions for established singers?”

“Your Excellency, while your concern is valid, how can we rank singers from different genres in a competition? How do we rank Nam Jin, Na Hoon-a, and Ha Choon-hwa? [Famous singers in Korea]”

“Have you seen the classical music competitions in Europe, like the Concours? [Prestigious music competitions]”

“Yes, of course, I know them well.”

“They don’t perform the same piece; the performers choose their own, and that’s enough to evaluate their talent and excellence. It’s the same with pop music. Even if they sing different songs, if the public likes the song, then they’ve sung it well. We can evaluate competition songs in many ways.”

The Minister said,

“Your Excellency, are you talking about a program where established singers perform free-choice songs in a competition?”

“Exactly! A competition stage for established singers!”

The President could have said it himself from the beginning, but he guided them like a twenty-question game to evoke awareness and share the idea, finally reaching the conclusion with difficulty.

The Entertainment Director, a practical worker, asked with sparkling eyes,

“Your Excellency, if Na Hoon-a and Lee Soo-man [Famous singers in Korea] were to compete, wouldn’t Na Hoon-a win even if he sang a children’s song?”

“Haha, that’s right. So, what if we covered the singers’ faces with masks?”

“With masks?”

“Cover their entire faces with masks and dress them up so no one knows who they are. They would sing songs other than their own, competing solely on singing ability, and the audience would vote to decide the winner. Only the loser would remove their mask. The winner would continue to wear the mask until the King of Kings battle.”

“Ah, that’s a fresh idea, Your Excellency. Since we don’t know the singers’ faces, we’ll focus only on the song, and the public’s curiosity about the winner will increase, making it a very suspenseful and interesting music show. It’s a beneficial program where the whole family can gather and guess like a quiz. But won’t we recognize their voices right away? Who wouldn’t recognize Na Hoon-a’s voice?”

“Famous singers won’t even participate. If they were to lose, it would tarnish their reputation. So, we’ll scout forgotten singers, those active in the shadows, singers who are thirsty for the stage.”

“Ah, that would work!”

“I guarantee it will be a huge hit.”

“I have a good feeling about it, Your Excellency!”

This time, they skipped ‘I Am a Singer’ and went straight to ‘King of Mask Singer’ [Popular singing competition shows].

The success or failure of this program will be a watershed moment for the development of Korean pop music.

The President also ordered administrative support.

“Let the government take the lead in promoting the status of popular artists. From entertainers to artists.”

“…….”

“Until now, the Order of Cultural Merit [A South Korean award] has been dominated by novelists, poets, journalists, children’s literature writers, Korean language scholars, historians, classical composers or performers, conductors, painters, sculptors, dancers, and intangible cultural heritage holders. Now, let’s include popular cultural figures like pop singers, actors, and comedians who make the public cry, laugh, and feel moved.”

“Ah, I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll put it on the agenda for the Ministry of Culture.”

*

Several months later.

The Minister of Culture reported,

“The viewership ratings for ‘King of Mask Singer’ have surpassed those of dramas, Your Excellency! An upset has occurred!”

“Hahaha, I told you it would be a hit.”

“Lee Soo-man, a rookie, has seen a surge in popularity after removing his mask. Yoon Soo-il, who used to perform in nightclubs, has signed a record deal and will release a new song. Talented singers in the shadows are being re-evaluated, Your Excellency.”

“Just as fish need water, cultural artists need a stage to showcase their talents. How miserable would it be to sing only one representative song and be obsessed with its success?”

“That’s right. Viewers who have listened to several songs are exclaiming in admiration, saying they now understand the difference between ordinary people and singers.”

“I’m glad that Korean pop music is finally finding its place.”

“Other broadcasters are preparing similar established music programs.”

“Ah, already? What are they about?”

“They are planning ‘I Am a Singer,’ which will openly feature singers with strong vocal abilities competing against each other.”

“Ah!”

It was truly a miraculous thing.

Although the order was changed from ‘King of Mask Singer,’ it was eventually being realized.

Competitions for new and established singers will be 활성화되고 풍성해져서 [invigorated and enriched] and grow into the K-pop genre.

* * *

Sinuiju [A city in North Korea].

Grrr…

A newly manufactured machine was compacting the road.

After pouring asphalt on it, a large roller pushed over it, and a highway was created.

Ascon roads, which produce less dust, noise, and vibration, were used for highways, while cement was used for national roads with slower speeds and heavy vehicles.

The President met with CEO Jung, who was overseeing the highway and railway construction.

CEO Jung, dressed in manager’s work clothes, was so tanned that he was unrecognizable.

“CEO Jung, are you doing manual labor too? I thought you were a construction worker.”

“Soldiers follow when the commander leads. It’s the same with construction. Construction isn’t done with words.”

CEO Jung, who was used to giving orders, had definitely changed a lot from before his regression.

“You’ve completely become a construction man now.”

“The appeal of construction is that you can see the results of your daily sweat.”

“Actually, I miss this site too.”

The two headed to the temporary management office.

*

Management office.

The office was shabby because it was built as a temporary building on the site.

The President also felt nostalgic because he had lived such a life in other places many times during his time as Chairman Wang.

In a place where only the two of them were present, the President said to CEO Jung.

“Soon, the party will hold a convention to elect the presidential candidate. Leave this to the vice president and CEO Jung should also prepare, right?”

CEO Jung had recently called to tell him that he had decided to run for president.

“Your Excellency, but this time I will not receive help from the party for my candidacy.”

“Then….”

“I will run as an independent like Your Excellency and receive the people’s choice.”

“Hmm… it’s good not to be indebted to the party if you’re independent, but the situation is a bit different this time.”

“…….”

“I’m worried about how the North Korean people, who are accustomed to the communist one-party system, will think about independent, non-partisan candidates, not to mention the South.”

“Yes, I’ve thought about that issue too. I’ve also talked to a few leaders in the North.”

“Ah, really? What did they say?”

“They were surprised that being independent meant doing politics without a party, in a state of anarchy, as Your Excellency said. So, I told them that it was a process of forming a party with new people, not the existing parties, and then they agreed.”

“Ah!”

“In fact, they had a sense of victimhood about the South’s ruling party taking over the North entirely, but they were happy when I said we would form a new party that integrates the South and North.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that running as an independent would be the best promise to the North!”

“You can only know their sentiments by interacting with North Korean officials; it’s just armchair theorizing at your desk, Your Excellency.”

“I was short-sighted. I forgot that all the answers are in the field. I guess I’ve become a bureaucrat after being in power for over 10 years. I only think about the bureaucratic system that is easy to govern. That’s why a change of power is necessary.”

“I’m thinking a lot about how to avoid repeating the mistakes of my past life. In my past life, my downfall was trying to govern like the military, with a pyramid-like top-down command structure. In the beginning, it was unified and quick with the spirit of revolution, but as the years went by, my subordinates became corrupt officials intoxicated with vested interests.”

“That’s right.”

“It wasn’t enough for me to be clean and honest alone. I can’t manage them all. Politicians must always put new wine in new bottles and frequently change the water to maintain their initial intentions.”

“You’ve mastered a very important art of governance. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“My presidential role model is Your Excellency. Rather than artificially manipulating things, I will communicate directly with the people and break through head-on with the mindset of entrusting it to heaven. I believe the president is chosen by heaven.”

“Hmm, I understand what you mean. You mean let’s not rig things, right?”

“That’s right, Your Excellency!”

“Then, is telepathy okay?”

“…….”

*

The Presidential Office.

The President announced to the press.

“As the upcoming 8th presidential election is a place to fulfill the weighty historical mission of becoming the first unification president to integrate the South and North, I will leave the ruling party for fair election management and conduct a fair election with an independent, pan-national, neutral cabinet!”

Reporters poured out questions at the shocking announcement.

“Your Excellency, wouldn’t it increase confusion if Your Excellency leaves the party since it is the first presidential election after the reunification of South and North?”

The President replied.

“Every time there is an election, the opposition party raises the issue of the president and public officials’ election bias. But this time, North Korea can also raise such bias issues. It is a preemptive measure to end such misunderstandings in advance. A pan-national neutral cabinet means that we will strictly supervise fair elections with a neutral attitude, not that we will let go.”

Reporters took notes diligently.

“There are concerns about the proliferation of presidential candidates in the South and North. Your Excellency, do you have anyone you support as a presidential candidate in this election?”

“Each party will run on their own, and they will run on their own. If I publicly mention someone, it would negate the meaning of leaving the party, wouldn’t it?”

The reporter was persistent.

“Then, do you have a candidate in mind that you are not disclosing?”

“No comment.”

The President immediately submitted his resignation from the party that afternoon.

And that afternoon, Jang Sung-taek also held a press conference in Kaesong [A city in North Korea near the border with South Korea].

“North Korea will not field a candidate in this presidential election. This is to prevent the division of the South and North and to contribute to the reconstruction of North Korea, no, the North, with one heart.”

Jang Sung-taek, upon hearing the news of CEO Jung’s candidacy, declared his abandonment of the presidential election in the North as promised.

The ruling and opposition parties welcomed Jang Sung-taek’s statement, but reactions to the President’s departure from the party were sharply divided.