The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 311

Sword Dance (6)

There are only two ways to run for president and win.

One is to build a support base by holding positions such as a member of the National Assembly, party leader, or floor leader in the political arena for a long time and be elected by the power of the party.

The other is when a non-politician gains public favor through various means and then runs for president, not another position, through a special opportunity and gets elected.

The latter is the case I chose among these.

It is safe to say that there is almost no chance of being elected otherwise.

Therefore, it is generally accepted in this field that once you lose an election, you will continue to lose unless a major problem occurs in the previous government.

That’s why I must be elected in the 25th presidential election, which is my first time running.

Even if I run once and lose, it is only natural for my image to plummet as I roll around in the political world.

This is no different from being confirmed to lose in the 26th and 27th presidential elections as well.

That’s why I chose to become a lawyer after my term as Prosecutor General.

Frankly speaking, gaining public favor before officially running can be seen as a campaign.

In fact, before major elections such as general elections, presidential elections, and local elections, the ruling and opposition parties start pushing their respective policies a year in advance to win votes.

Their intentions are actually obvious. Many people are aware of it.

However, it is still used consistently because it works in the Korean political scene.

However, if you do not belong to a specific party and walk the path as a lawyer, you can win the hearts of the public separately from them.

What if you stand on the side of the common people as a human rights lawyer among them?

Moreover, what if you confront the *chaebols* [large, family-owned industrial conglomerates], large corporations, and high-ranking public officials that they hate and antagonize the most?

The public’s support will be a sure thing.

Then, if you naturally criticize the current situation and say that you will do politics for the common people, the game is over.

“Prosecutor General, I have a question for you…”

Yoon Seol-ha asked cautiously.

“If you clash with large corporations or high-ranking figures as a human rights lawyer, won’t it harm you, Prosecutor General?”

“Of course, it can.”

I smiled lightly.

“Only if I directly clash with them, though.”

“You mean…”

“Yes. Of course, I will do some groundwork in advance.”

Large corporations or politicians that I will clash with, and even the judges who will be in charge of the case.

I will contact them all in advance.

To be precise, I will pretend to fight for the people and win the case to realize justice and gain the support of the citizens, but in reality, all the behind-the-scenes work will be completed in advance and proceed as planned.

The large corporations may suffer losses right now, but I will support them after the presidential election, so it will be a great benefit for them in the long run.

The people are happy, the large corporations are happy, and I am happy, so no one loses out.

It’s not difficult to do the groundwork.

The name Choi Seo-jun alone will be enough to form such relationships.

Moreover, the best position to contact all these people is…

The Prosecutor General.

Because it’s this position.

As a result, my ultimate goal is to complete all the work, gain popularity as a lawyer, and then run for president and enter without bloodshed.

That’s why I left figures like Cho Byung-gap of the Min Guk Party, who was attached to the Sung Tae-hyun line, as the floor leader.

If you put a guy with ambiguous power in the position of party leader or floor leader, he might harbor ulterior motives.

Rather, having a scarecrow in that position will make my power stronger and make it easier to draw the picture I want in the presidential election.

“We need to finish all the work in a short period of time. Let’s start moving in earnest from tomorrow.”

“Understood, Prosecutor General.”

***

Knock, knock.

With a knock, Department Head Gong Sang-wook entered the Prosecutor General’s office.

“Hello, Prosecutor General.”

“Oh, Department Head Gong is here?”

I smiled warmly and guided him to the sofa.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

“Are you busy these days? When I think about it, I gave you quite a few instructions.”

“No. It’s almost sorted out. And…”

He smiled slyly.

“Isn’t it my blessing to have a lot of work?”

“I appreciate you thinking that way.”

I went straight to the point without beating around the bush.

“How much connection do you have with the judges?”

Department Head Gong Sang-wook stroked his chin and thought for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I’m still in contact with my classmates from the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and I also regularly attend the Korea University alumni association, so I know quite a few judges from Korea University.”

“Then it will be easy to talk.”

I leaned towards him and lowered my voice.

“I think I need to contact the judges.”

“Just tell me. I’m confident in any district court.”

“It’s not a specific place.”

“……Yes?”

“All of Seoul.”

I twisted the corners of my lips.

“Broadly speaking, up to Gyeonggi Province.”

He bit his lip tightly.

He must be thinking it’s quite difficult.

In fact, it can’t be helped.

No matter how wide your network is, it’s difficult to cover the metropolitan area.

Frankly speaking, it’s impossible unless you sell a name like mine.

I wrote a number on a sticky note and handed it over.

“If it’s impossible, you can call this place, give my name, and ask them to arrange a meeting.”

“May I know who that person is?”

“Supreme Court Justice Yang Cheol-joong.”

“……Ah!”

Department Head Gong Sang-wook’s pupils widened.

“You don’t need to meet all the judges in each district court and high court. Just meet the chief judges and ask them to use their power once a special opportunity arises later. That’s all I need.”

The reason for working on the judges is one.

If you clash with high-ranking public officials or large corporations, you will naturally face a splendid team of lawyers.

No matter how good I am, I can’t overwhelmingly win against them.

The prosecutor’s world and the lawyer’s world are different.

If the agreement with the large corporation falls through, it’s a preliminary work for that time.

Of course, if I move directly in this behind-the-scenes work, things will be easier.

However, I shouldn’t do that.

There are several reasons, but above all, it is to prevent the judges’ attitude from changing after I become a lawyer.

At least while Shin Dong-hyun reigns as president, Department Head Gong Sang-wook’s words will have power.

I need to be able to exert influence even after I step down and become a lawyer.

Department Head Gong Sang-wook folded the sticky note and put it carefully in his pocket.

“Is that all you need?”

“For now.”

“Understood.”

He asked with shining eyes.

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Within 6 months.”

The corners of Department Head Gong Sang-wook’s lips twisted.

“That’s enough.”

He stood up and spoke with a determined voice.

“I will finish it as soon as possible and report to you.”

“I’ll be expecting it.”

“Yes. Please rest.”

Department Head Gong Sang-wook bowed his head and left the office.

I didn’t explain the plan for bloodless entry to him.

The fewer people who know about this plan, the better.

***

“It’s been a while, Prosecutor General!”

The man who greeted me with a forceful voice was none other than Lee Doo-hyung.

He became a big shot in just a few years after entering politics.

He became a member of the National Assembly who swallowed Jongno, a district called the political heartland, through the last general election.

“It’s been a while, Assemblyman.”

When I used polite language with a sly face, he waved his hand.

“Please don’t be so humble, Prosecutor General.”

“Hahaha, how’s work these days?”

“I think I’m finally getting the hang of it. Politics is not just about doing well, but also about looking at the public sentiment, so there are many variables.”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“No. I’m sure you’ve been through more, Prosecutor General?”

Lee Doo-hyung joked.

“By the way, what brings you here? It would have been more convenient for you to call me.”

“I haven’t been able to come since you were elected. I should at least take a look at your office.”

“Hahaha, thank you.”

He didn’t have this kind of composure when he was a prosecutor.

He became more sociable after becoming a politician.

I don’t know why, but I feel proud.

I also feel good.

It’s like seeing my son come home with the prettiest girl in kindergarten as his girlfriend.

“It’s not about anything else, I’m here to ask you for a favor.”

“Prosecutor General, a favor?”

He said firmly.

“Just give me instructions. Who do you think I owe this position to?”

I burst into laughter once and got to the point.

“I want you to contact some large corporations.”

“Large corporations?”

“Yes. Because I’m going to work as a lawyer after I retire.”

“Oh…”

He tilted his head as if he didn’t expect it at all.

“Is it strange?”

“It’s not that, but I thought you were looking forward to a bigger dream…”

I lightly twisted the corners of my lips.

“It’s a step to go through for that big dream.”

He let out a low sigh.

“Ah, are you perhaps a human rights lawyer?”

As expected, he knows it right away.

I nodded instead of answering.

“I was expecting it, Prosecutor General.”

“What are you expecting?”

I smiled and continued.

“If I work as a human rights lawyer, I will definitely clash with large corporations, if not politicians.”

“That’s right. And that’s how you can win the hearts of the public.”

“However, there’s no need to make them enemies.”

Frankly speaking, political-business collusion is an indispensable element in Korea.

The country cannot function without large corporations, and they also cannot grow further without the protection of the country.

That’s why, as I told Yoon Seol-ha, I contact large corporations in advance to prevent actual fighting.

That way, we can all win-win.

“What can I do?”

“It’s not difficult. In the future, if I clash with them while working as a lawyer, I just need you to provide a channel for dialogue behind the scenes, rather than antagonizing them.”

Lee Doo-hyung’s job is to work in advance for that day, rather than rushing to move when the time comes.

He nodded without hesitation.

“No problem. Just leave it to me.”

It is said that members of the National Assembly are closer to the heads of large corporations than company employees, so it will be a piece of cake for Lee Doo-hyung, a member of the National Assembly in Jongno-gu.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Yes.”

He twisted the corners of his lips firmly as if to tell me to trust him.

“By the way, when are you planning to open your law firm?”

“It will be right after I retire.”

“Then the period is…”

“About 1 or 2 years? I won’t do it for long. One or two big things are enough.”

Lee Doo-hyung asked with shining eyes.

“Are you planning to run in the 25th presidential election right away?”

I nodded lightly instead of answering.

“I was hoping you would.”

He lowered his voice and continued.

“Shin Dong-hyun’s re-election is quite difficult with the current approval ratings. If you run in the next presidential election, it won’t be easy, but I think you’ll have a good chance.”

“That’s right. However…”

I wrinkled my nose and added.

“My plan is a little more grand.”

“What kind of picture are you drawing?”

“You should think that it’s hard to imagine unless you’re me.”

Bloodless entry.

A daydream that no one but me can dare to dream of.

It is a plan that only I can realize in Korea.

Lee Doo-hyung asked cautiously.

“Are you perhaps thinking of running as a member of the Dae Han Party?”

I lightly twisted the corners of my lips.

“You can imagine that, can’t you?”