The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 332

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 332 (332/341)

Presidential Election (1)

– The clash between the Daehan Party and the Minguk Party marks the 25th presidential election! But is the true leader the people desire emerging?

– Even during the general election and the presidential election, the public’s attention is focused on Choi Seo-joon’s next move…

– Why doesn’t he respond to the people’s call?

– Top 5 cases of national heroes who entered politics and their rise and fall.

– The national petition calling for Choi Seo-joon’s candidacy has already exceeded 200,000 signatures…

– Critic Hong Moon-in says, ‘There are no talented people in this presidential election!’ Controversy over remarks!

– Why are the people waiting for Choi Seo-joon?

“The articles are coming out well.”

Ko Joong-hyuk said with a satisfied smile.

“After initially manipulating the traffic by placing a few on the main pages of portal sites, it seems derivative articles are naturally being published.”

These are the results of the work done through the Mudfish [an organization or team specializing in manipulating public opinion].

As the presidential election gradually approaches, it’s time to slowly start building public opinion about my candidacy.

Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin has already declared his candidacy for the party’s primary, and President Shin Dong-hyun will announce his intention to run for re-election through the party this afternoon.

Most likely, unless there’s a major upset, Shin Dong-hyun will be decided as the presidential candidate for the Minguk Party without holding a party primary.

The Daehan Party will hold its party primary in two weeks.

And the presidential election campaign will begin in early December, not long after that.

“First, we need to determine the timing of both candidates’ withdrawal.”

“Regarding that, I’ve investigated the times when approval ratings fluctuate greatly and when they enter a stable phase in each past presidential election.”

Ko Joong-hyuk said, taking out his analysis data as if he had been waiting for this.

“I think the best times would be ten days before the election and one week before the election.”

“Really?”

“Yes. According to my research, the initial period of the three weeks is likely to fluctuate and change dramatically, so I’ve concluded that it’s best for the three candidates to solidify their respective support bases during that time.”

That’s right.

Especially in the early stages of the presidential election, support bases are generally unstable due to various reasons such as debates, noise marketing [using controversial or attention-grabbing tactics], and negative campaigning, and undecided voters continue to change who they support.

“However, the truth is that things become somewhat stable from ten days before the election, as everything that’s going to come out has come out. If you want to make a big impact, you have to move from then on.”

That means you can bring in the existing supporters all at once.

“Of course, stability increases as you get closer to the election day, but that can be a disadvantage.”

That’s also true.

If everything goes according to plan, it would be much more helpful for Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin and President Shin Dong-hyun to simultaneously withdraw their candidacies and declare their support the day before the election.

That way, there won’t be any criticism, and the election can be held right away.

However, since people’s minds are uncertain, if they don’t withdraw their candidacies, a situation will arise where I have to compete with them.

There’s no guarantee that won’t happen.

People’s hearts can change at any time in the face of power.

That’s why we need to allow time to overcome the situation, even if one of the two candidates betrays us.

“The most representative example is the 16th presidential election in which the late President Roh Moo-hyun was elected. Until right before the election, opinion polls predicted the election of candidate Lee Hoi-chang. However, Chung Mong-joon, who had been campaigning with him until the day before the election, suddenly changed his mind and withdrew his support for President Roh Moo-hyun just 10 hours before the election, plunging everything into complete uncertainty.”

As a result, Chung Mong-joon’s supporters went to Lee Hoi-chang, but sympathy arose among the undecided voters, who cast their votes for Roh Moo-hyun, and Roh Moo-hyun eventually won the presidential election and became president.

This example alone shows that you can’t really know anything until the presidential election unfolds.

Since the election landscape is so unpredictable, we need to reduce the risk and take out insurance.

In the current situation, the only thing we can do is make them withdraw in advance before the election to make it safer.

That’s all.

If it’s implemented as planned, there will be no absolute variables.

I nodded.

“Then let’s do it ten days and one week before the election, as Ko Pro [referring to Ko Joong-hyuk] said.”

“Thank you.”

“Then, about the order of withdrawal of the two candidates…”

“I think it would be better for Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin to withdraw first.”

The same thought as me.

Shin Dong-hyun is more likely to change his mind.

If the analysts and my predictions are correct, the approval ratings of the three candidates, me, Kim Kang-jin, and Shin Dong-hyun, will not differ significantly in the early stages of the presidential election.

At most, around 10%.

A figure that can be easily overturned during the election period.

If Shin Dong-hyun withdraws first, and then Kim Kang-jin withdraws.

If it works out, it’s the best.

But if Shin Dong-hyun becomes blinded by power and refuses to withdraw, Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin will also lose the possibility of withdrawing.

They’ll think it’s worth it in a 1:1:1 three-way battle.

In the end, a bloodless entry is thwarted, and I have to face two parties head-on as an independent.

The most dangerous scenario.

However, if we assume that Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin withdraws first, the story is different.

His approval rating is likely to be the lowest in a three-way battle.

In that case, Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin is likely to withdraw this time as promised with me for the next presidential election.

Then my approval rating will far exceed Shin Dong-hyun’s, and Shin Dong-hyun will also be more likely to withdraw as promised, no matter what he’s really thinking.

Ko Joong-hyuk probably did the same analysis as me.

“What about Seol-ha?”

“I agree as well.”

Unanimous.

“Then let’s decide that Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin will withdraw ten days before the election, and Shin Dong-hyun will withdraw one week before.”

“Yes.”

Ko Joong-hyuk carefully looked at me and said.

“Of course, even if that happens, it doesn’t mean that Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin’s supporters will completely come over, so you need to stay very alert.”

“I know.”

The most worrying thing is the ‘undecided voters’.

There’s a saying that ‘if there are fans, there are haters’.

If there’s a fan base, there’s bound to be anti-fans.

As much as many people like me, there’s no way there won’t be people who hate me.

If Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin withdraws, some voters, even though they’re supporters of the Daehan Party, will naturally turn to the Minguk Party to oppose me if they don’t like me.

There are probably people like that now, but what if the Daehan Party supports me in the presidential election?

Then even Minguk Party supporters or Daehan Party opponents will try to create opposition to me.

It’s impossible to consider 100% of what actions they’ll take.

Because there are so many variables.

However, you can only become a sure winner in the presidential election if you control these many variables.

“Finally, we need to determine when I’ll announce my candidacy.”

“We need to find the time when the public’s desire for the lawyer is at its peak.”

It has to be exactly that time.

We can’t deviate even a little.

Even if there are many people who want me, we can’t make them wait endlessly so that they become more anxious.

Just like overcooking meat, if the heat and enthusiasm are broken, there may be side effects.

But if we come out too early, we won’t be able to gather all the supporters for me.

We need to catch the right timing.

The time when the most people want me.

The time when their cheers will be at their peak.

We need to find that time.

“Then how about this time?”

Ko Joong-hyuk said, pointing to a date on the calendar.

“I think the last day of candidate registration would be good. Generally, more people register early to show their faces rather than registering the day before the deadline.”

He smiled and raised his eyebrows.

“The main character appears last, doesn’t he?”

I nodded lightly.

“Let’s set it for that day for now, and think about it a little more in case any variables arise.”

“Understood.”

***

– Hello. This is KBS reporter Oh Dae-gi. Currently, Assemblyman Kim Kang-jin has been decided as the 25th presidential candidate for the Daehan Party, and President Shin Dong-hyun for the Minguk Party. With Assemblywoman Seo Hyun-mi of the Manse Party also declaring her candidacy, lawyer Choi Seo-joon has held a press conference. Many people are not hiding their expectations for his presidential candidacy. Let’s listen to Choi Seo-joon’s press conference right now.

“Ahem.”

As I coughed and cleared my throat, the angle of the camera in the press conference room focused on me.

The state of affairs is such that there are more reporters and cameras gathered than at any other press conference.

I straightened my shoulders and raised my head confidently.

“Hello, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

I bowed my head and started speaking calmly.

“I’ve experienced so many things while working as a lawyer for the past two years, and I’ve felt a lot because of it.”

I lowered my head slightly and made a miserable expression.

“This society was more rotten than I thought. The common people are suffocating under the abuse of large corporations, but they have to bow their heads to survive. They were too busy protecting their families, so they couldn’t resist all kinds of injustices and discrimination, and all they could do was endure in silence.”

I bit my lip.

“Moreover, under the pressure of foreign countries, South Korea has only been looking at the major powers and competing to survive. Frankly speaking, South Korea is being ignored in the world, even though it’s the 11th largest economy. It got to the point where we had to file a lawsuit for nearly a year to receive an apology for a war criminal country calling an independence activist from a victim country a terrorist.”

I raised my voice.

“I felt that these things should never happen again. To protect the country, we must completely change our attitude.”

Instilling pride as a citizen of South Korea.

“Also, it should not be a country for the top 10%, but a country for the 90% of common people. It is our people who support South Korea, not a small number of gold spoons [referring to the wealthy elite].”

He revealed that he would do politics for the common people.

Then, once again, he spewed out nationalism.

“What kind of country is South Korea? It is a country that has achieved remarkable development by creating the Miracle on the Han River [referring to South Korea’s rapid economic growth in the late 20th century] from a country devastated by war. It’s not a country that should be stagnating and faltering like this now!”

More and more strongly.

“If we eliminate injustice at home and increase our national power, we can fully enter the ranks of the great powers. We don’t have to look at the major powers and tremble at their actions. But!”

Bang!

I slammed the table and said.

“What were the presidents in history like so far? They were all busy taking care of their own parties. If party politics continues anyway, it will be politics for their own interests, not for the national interest, just like national development was hindered by opposition for the sake of opposition.”

Criticism of current politicians.

This means.

It evokes a longing for the emergence of a ‘new hero’.

“But I realized that it doesn’t change just by criticizing and blaming from afar. I realized that in order to break down these injustices, I have to step forward and overhaul the political landscape.”

The only person who can realize this.

“So I, Choi Seo-joon!”

The eyes and lenses of the reporters were focused on me.

“I declare that I will run for the 25th presidential election!”

Flashes went off incessantly and shutter sounds erupted.

“I will change South Korea. I will not make promises that I cannot keep, such as making all South Korean citizens rich and living in luxury. But!”

I raised my voice even more.

“I will put South Korea in the ranks of the great powers. And I will eliminate all the injustices you have experienced so far. I will do my best to make South Korea a just country.”

I took a deep breath and uttered the last words.

“I will make sure that ‘justice’ is established in South Korean society.”

I bowed politely to the camera.

“This was presidential candidate Choi Seo-joon.”

The long-awaited presidential election that will gloriously decorate the end of my life.

It’s finally starting.