Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 390

‘A favor?’

Suddenly, a favor?

And it’s not just anyone, but the Chief Secretary of the Blue House [the South Korean equivalent of the White House Chief of Staff]…….

He was just a mere mayor of a local city. For such a person to ask a favor, it just didn’t make sense. It was like heaven and earth, a different level altogether.

But the other person had clearly said it was a favor. What could it be?

‘Could it be pressure disguised as a favor……?’

It was the moment Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun’s worries deepened.

As Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun’s response was delayed, Hyun-sung spoke first.

“Mayor, it’s not a difficult favor.”

-Ah, no. I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment……, and for you to ask a favor of someone like me, it’s not appropriate. Please, speak comfortably.

Realizing belatedly that his response was delayed, Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun spoke faster.

Then, Hyun-sung’s words followed immediately.

“The rain will continue until tomorrow morning. But don’t worry too much. We already passed the critical point last night, so there won’t be any major problems.”

-Ah, yes, I understand.

Even while answering, Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun couldn’t hide his doubts. It wasn’t that he hadn’t worried after receiving the call last night. The reason was that the Meteorological Administration had already predicted that the rain would be less than 100 millimeters [approximately 4 inches].

But he couldn’t dare to refuse an order from on high. So, he unconditionally issued an emergency alert and even decided to build an embankment on top of that.

But the amazing thing was that it actually happened exactly as predicted. How on earth did the Blue House know that fact in advance?

But the important thing was that he couldn’t dare to ask about that fact.

“So, what I’m saying is, please don’t go home for the next week. That’s my favor.”

-Yes? What do you mean by that…….

“Of course, the Namdaecheon River was prevented from flooding thanks to the Mayor’s excellent judgment, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any flooded areas. This rain came so suddenly and heavily.”

-Yes, that’s right. Even from the report I received this morning, the flood damage was significant for those in the lower reaches of the Namdaecheon River and those in low-lying areas.

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun answered confidently, as it was something he had already grasped in the morning.

Then, Hyun-sung’s words followed immediately.

“That’s why I’m saying this. Those people won’t be able to go home for the time being. So, not only will they not be able to sleep, but even eating will be quite uncomfortable.”

-Yes, we will do our best to provide support so that there is no inconvenience in that regard. But about the matter of not going home that you mentioned earlier…….

“Ah, you didn’t understand?”

-I’m sorry. I was so foolish that I didn’t properly understand the Chief Secretary’s intention.

Click.

Hyun-sung clicked his tongue. He was a little disappointed that the mayor couldn’t understand what he was saying even after he had explained it to this extent.

But on the other hand, there were some understandable aspects.

Inertia.

A person’s words or actions become ingrained habits. Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun was also inevitably a civil servant.

Of course, not everyone is like that, but in the case of Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun, he would fulfill his duties for the given tasks, but nothing more. That’s why he can’t understand what Hyun-sung is talking about now.

Why?

Because he had never even thought of such a thing.

The only way in this case is to go straight to the point without wasting time and tiring each other out.

Hyun-sung opened his mouth immediately.

“It means to become a flood victim and share their pain directly for a week. Of course, the choice is up to the Mayor. I’m just asking if you would do that.”

-Ah……!

Thud!

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun unknowingly slapped his knee.

Only then did Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun realize what the other party wanted and immediately opened his mouth again.

-I understand what you mean now. The position of the flood victims……, but I’m sorry, if you could tell me exactly what to do, I will do it. It’s embarrassing to say, but I haven’t thought about it, so I honestly don’t know what to do right now.

“……”

Hyun-sung was momentarily speechless.

He never thought such words would come out. He thought that if he said that much, he would naturally know what to do next. But now, he’s even asking for the method.

‘Hmm…….’

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung immediately nodded.

Now that it has come to this, he thought it would be better. Rather than awkwardly imitating the flood victims and becoming a laughingstock, he judged that it would be better to do as he was told.

Hyun-sung called Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun in a low voice.

“Mayor!”

-Yes, Chief Secretary. Just tell me what to do. I will just do as the Chief Secretary tells me. Rather than pretending to be a flood victim and causing trouble for the higher-ups, I think that method would be better.

Hyun-sung seemed to understand Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun’s feelings now. Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun was not going to act on his own because of the pressure from the Blue House. He had thought of it as the Blue House from the moment he received the call, so his actions were understandable.

“Yes, I understand. Then listen carefully to what I say from now on. First, get a tent.”

-A tent? Do you mean a tent to set up outdoors?

“Yes, that’s right. Then set up the tent in the city hall plaza. Then eat your meals there and sleep there. You can do this much, right?”

-Of course. I used to live on my own when I was a student, so I’m still incredibly good at cooking rice.

“That doesn’t mean you should eat rice for all three meals. Eat ramen and Choco Pies [a popular South Korean snack] in between, and eat appropriately. The important thing is that the Mayor is now sharing the pain of the flood victims. Do you understand what I mean?”

-Yes, I understand perfectly. In other words, you’re telling me to be pathetic, right?

Snort.

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but laugh at Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun’s word ‘pathetic.’ But the laughter didn’t last long.

He didn’t seem to understand his intentions properly, but he had no choice but to continue.

“Next, call the broadcasting station.”

-Yes? You mean the broadcasting station?

“Yes, that’s right. Then broadcast the Mayor’s daily routine.”

-Are you telling me to put on a show?

“That’s right. Show the image of ‘I, the Mayor, am directly sharing the pain of the flood victims.’”

-No, no matter how much…….

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun thought this was not right.

This is a show anyway. When this image is broadcast, the public’s reaction is obvious. They will naturally ridicule it and may even get angry. But to do it knowing the obvious result doesn’t make sense.

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun carefully opened his mouth again.

-Chief Secretary, I’m sorry, but I absolutely can’t…….

“Mayor, do you know that?”

-Yes? What…….

“If you put your heart into a show, it doesn’t end as a simple show, but it becomes a comfort to the citizens who watch it. Of course, everyone may make fun of it at first, but if they know it’s the Mayor’s sincerity, the citizens will be comforted. Of course, the Mayor’s sincerity is the priority to make that happen.”

-Sincerity?

“Yes, it can’t be done with acting. It will be possible when the Mayor sincerely feels the pain of those people in his heart. I’ll tell you in advance, if you’re going to do a clumsy imitation, stop from the beginning. That’s just mocking and ridiculing the citizens.”

Hyun-sung paused for a breath and then continued.

“I’ll say it again, sincerity with sincerity, if you don’t have that heart, forget everything I’ve said so far and don’t do anything at all. That’s the way to help the citizens.”

These were the words he always wanted to say.

When something happens, instead of understanding and comforting the pain, they flock together and take pictures, people who can’t even put on their boots alone and need the help of their aides, people who only go around traditional markets and eat fish cakes and tteokbokki [a popular Korean street food] during election season, people who don’t even know how to ride the subway but wander around in front of the ticket gate saying they’re going to ride the subway, and so on.

There would be no end to listing them all.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“Can you do it?”

-So, you’re saying to put on a show, but put your heart into it?

“Yes, then it’s not a show, but a comfort. It’s the sincerity that our politicians have forgotten since some point. That’s all you need. What are you going to do?”

-…….

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun couldn’t answer easily.

Sincerity (眞心).

It’s one of the words he had forgotten since some point. When he first entered the city hall as a city councilor 20 years ago, he vowed to do his best for the citizens.

At that time, he frantically chased after any place where there was a real problem. He had countless debates until the problem was solved, and he thought a lot about how to think and solve it from the citizens’ point of view.

‘That’s what I did…….’

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun, who was reminiscing about the past for a moment, called Hyun-sung in a low voice.

-Chief Secretary!

“Yes, Mayor, please speak.”

-I had forgotten. When I first became a city councilor, I only had citizens in my head. But since when…….

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun’s words became longer. His words were serious, as if he were making a confession.

Hyun-sung was just quietly listening to his words.

How much time had passed?

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun called Hyun-sung again.

-Chief Secretary Kim!

“Yes, Mayor!”

-I don’t know if it will work, but I’m going to go back to the way I used to be. I’m going back to the state of mind I had when I first became a city councilor. I will only look at the citizens and go into their midst.

“As expected of the Mayor. I think the Mayor will be able to do well. And that person also said that they are cheering for the Mayor. So, please show the Mayor’s sincerity this time.”

-That person? Ah, yes…… thank you. I will never disappoint you!

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun suddenly bowed deeply while receiving the call.

Then Hyun-sung’s words continued again.

“Mayor, just keep one thing in mind.”

-Yes?

“The answer is on the ground. I will give you that word as the last one.”

-I understand what you mean. Tomorrow, no, I will run straight to Namdaecheon in a little while. I will go and be with the people there.

“Um…… and this is just a side note, but the shovel shouldn’t be new when you go. I’m sure Mayor Yoon wouldn’t do that, but there are often many people who have no concept.”

-Ah, yes…… I understand what you mean.

“Then I’ll contact you again. Please take care.”

Just as Hyun-sung was about to put down the receiver, Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun’s urgent voice was heard from the other side of the receiver.

-Chief Secretary Kim!

Hyun-sung picked up the receiver again.

“Did you call me?”

-Yes, Chief Secretary.

“Is there anything you want to say…….”

-It’s not that, but I’m sorry, what is your name…….

“For now, just know me as Chief Secretary Kim. Ah, and if you finish this well, I will go down to Gangneung once. Then I will see you then.”

-Yes? You mean you’re coming in person?

“Of course, I have to visit and say hello. So, please take care of this matter. I look forward to the Mayor’s sincere service. Then goodbye…….”

Hyun-sung was about to hang up the phone, but he grabbed the receiver again.

“Hey, Mayor Yoon!”

-Yes, please speak.

“Do you know who pays our salary?”

-Of course, it’s our people, isn’t it?

“That’s what I’m saying. But I think many public officials, including me, sometimes forget that fact. I just wanted to say that. Then take care.”

Click.

A smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he hung up the phone.

These were the words he always wanted to say.

I always feel this way, but when I go to public institutions, I wonder who the owner is, who pays the salary, and whether public officials really exist for the people.

These were questions I had sometimes, no, very often.

“What is it?”

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun tilted his head after hanging up the phone.

Just by listening to the voice, he was clearly in his 20s. But judging from the way he spoke, he was at least over 50.

“What does it matter?”

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun shook his head. Anyway, the other person is the Chief Secretary. Such a voice is not a problem. The important thing is that he found the original intention that he had forgotten because of it.

Press!

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun pressed the call button on the intercom.

“Did you call, Mayor?”

Secretary Kim Hyun-soo approached Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun as soon as he came in.

“Secretary Kim, prepare a tent.”

“Yes? A tent? Now?

Kim Hyun-soo momentarily doubted his ears.

A tent?

In this flood situation?

But it’s a secretary’s duty to do as he’s told, but no matter how much he thought about it, he didn’t think it was right.

“Mayor, I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear you correctly. What did you say?”

“From today for the next week, no, until all the flood victims return to their homes, I will live in a tent. So, please know that and prepare it.”

“Yes? You mean you’re going to live in a tent?”

Kim Hyun-soo wondered what this was again. If it’s a tent, it’s naturally outdoors. But it’s not just for a day or two, but he’s going to live in a tent until the flood victims return home. Does that make sense? It could be a month or even several months.

“Mayor, I’m sorry. I don’t know why my understanding is poor today, but I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Haha, this person, listen carefully. So…….”

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun began to explain his plan to Secretary Kim Hyun-soo in detail. As time passed, Secretary Kim Hyun-soo’s eyes began to widen more and more. And finally, when Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun’s explanation was over, he immediately bowed his head.

“Mayor! You are great. I will prepare it right away.”

“Ah, and prepare a pair of boots and a shovel. But it shouldn’t be a new one with the paint not peeled off. Both should be used, got it?”

“Yes? Ah, yes, I understand.”

Two hours later, a tent was set up in the city hall plaza. And after an hour, it seemed like tents were being added one by one, and by evening, the city hall plaza was filled with tents.

Snort.

Hyun-sung, who was watching the news on TV, unknowingly began to smile.