The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 100

100. The End of the Seven Princes

A hotel room salon in Itaewon [a district in Seoul known for its nightlife and international atmosphere].

Around the marble table, six men, including CEO Ma, Mr. Shin, and Chief Nam, were sitting and smoking marijuana.

About ten actresses and entertainers, almost naked, sat with them, smoking marijuana.

At that moment, the door opened, and Executive Director Yoon entered.

“Haa~ Sorry I’m late~,” he said.

As he scattered a wad of cash into the air, the women rushed to pick up the bills.

“Hey, Executive Director Yoon! What time is it? Why is it so hard to get the whole group together?”

“Damn it~ A shitty car was blocking my way, so I had to take care of it. Then a cop intervened, so I was late dealing with that.”

“Hey, man! Do you get antsy if you don’t stir up trouble every day?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Hey, Prosecutor Chun! It’s the Yongsan Police Station [a police station in Seoul], so take care of it.”

Prosecutor Chun wasn’t a real prosecutor, but his father was a prosecutor at the Gyeonggi District Prosecutors’ Office [a regional prosecution office in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea].

Prosecutor Chun said,

“How many stars do you have?” [referring to the level of influence or connections needed to resolve the issue]

“Five stars!”

“Even if you kill someone, there shouldn’t be any trace. Why do you always make a name for yourself as a petty criminal?”

“Hey, I got into an accident on the way here, so it’s a work-related incident. Hurry up and call your father. Hey, Chief Nam, a newspaper reporter was covering the story, and it was your newspaper. Shut him up.”

“Damn, the newspaper sells well when that kind of thing is published.”

“You’re doing a good deed; you’ll go to heaven.”

“Man, Pastor Shin is in charge of heaven here.”

Mr. Shin said,

“Hey, you bastards! Do you think you can just go to heaven? Donate, donate! Heaven and hell are divided according to the amount of money!”

“When you think about it, Pastor Shin has the most lucrative business. What’s the point of working your ass off to make money in a company? He takes it all as a heaven tax.”

“Let’s pray! For heaven!”

They clinked their glasses of whiskey and toasted.

This gathering was a so-called ‘Seven Princes Club,’ consisting of the sons of leading figures in the domestic business world, high-ranking public officials, and the press.

They indulged in misdeeds and crimes, helping each other with money and power, mocking the law, and roaming the streets, enjoying debauchery.

*

The President’s office.

The Chief of Staff reported.

“The traffic police officer has been diagnosed with a 12-week injury.”

“That’s fortunate, all things considered. What about the driver?”

“He paid a fine of 2 million won [approximately $1,500 USD] and was released.”

“Released? Even though it’s possible to destroy someone else’s car, commit drunk driving hit-and-run, obstruct official duties, and attempt murder?”

“I also didn’t understand the measure.”

“Who is the driver?”

“It’s Executive Director Yoon, the son of the president of K Corporation.”

K Corporation was the leading defense company in Korea.

“Hmm, really? Something smells fishy. Tell the Commissioner of the National Police Agency and the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection to come. Schedule them at different times so they don’t overlap.”

*

The Commissioner of the National Police Agency reported to the President.

“K Corporation’s Executive Director Yoon previously hit the driver of a car in front of him with a brick, resulting in a sentence of 2 years and 6 months in prison with 3 years of probation, violated the Narcotics Control Act and the Marijuana Control Act, resulting in a sentence of 1 year in prison with 2 years of probation, was fined for fighting with a pedestrian, and assaulting the perpetrator who damaged his grandparents’ graves during on-site inspection. This time, he was fined for drunk driving.”

“You’re saying drunk driving is all? What I saw was at least assault, drunk driving hit-and-run, and obstruction of official duties?”

“……..”

The Commissioner didn’t understand the President’s statement that he had witnessed it.

“They look like the scum of the earth, but they haven’t spent a single day in jail?”

“……..”

“If an ordinary person committed this kind of accident, wouldn’t their license be revoked, and they’d have to rot in jail for at least 10 years?”

“Th, that’s right.”

“Find out why they received such lenient punishment and report it to me.”

“Yes?”

“Find out who’s backing them up to make them like that!”

“Yes!”

“There’s no covering up for your own people.”

“Yes?”

“Behave yourself so you don’t become an accomplice. I’m watching you with my eyes wide open.”

“Yes…”

*

This time, the President instructed the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection.

“Conduct a full investigation into the second-generation members of the top 50 companies and the second-generation high-ranking public officials who have a colorful history of indictments like Executive Director Yoon but haven’t gone to jail.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

“Identify all the police, prosecution, and judge connections related to them.”

“I understand, Your Excellency!”

After a while, the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection reported.

“Among the children of high-ranking public officials and chaebols [large family-owned business conglomerates], there are 52 cases of exemption from military service, 46 cases of suspended sentences, and 77 cases of fines.”

The President lamented.

“Oh, my~ Isn’t this really money equals innocence? The privileged class enjoys these privileges, so the idea that money equals innocence cannot be eradicated.”

“While investigating, there was an organization called the Seven Princes Club.”

“Seven Princes? Is it a gang organization?”

“It’s a gathering of second-generation members of the political, business, high-ranking public officials, and religious circles. It’s a lawless, arrogant social club for the scum of the earth. Executive Director Yoon was one of the Seven Princes this time.”

“They commit such crimes in broad daylight and still roam the streets. How good is their backing? And why isn’t there a single line in the newspaper?”

“It’s because they are concealing their misconduct by helping each other with money, power, and the media.”

“This time, it will be a war with deep-rooted evils. Pass the data to the Special Investigation Unit.”

“I understand, Your Excellency!”

*

The President instructed the new Prosecutor General.

“Conduct a full investigation into those in charge of military service exemptions. Re-examine those who have been exempted.”

“I understand, Your Excellency!”

“Investigate the investigation line and the judicial line, and if corruption or illegality is revealed, indict them all, regardless of their position.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

“And arrest all the scum of the earth, the Seven Princes. If you indict them for the crimes they have committed, they will get a life sentence with the suspended sentence added. Spending their youth in prison will be good for their lives.”

“I will handle it according to the law, regardless of their position.”

“That’s right! That’s where public power should be used. If you are pressured during the investigation, report it to me. I’ll bet my presidency and cut off their heads.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Excellency!”

*

K Corporation headquarters.

About 20 gangsters in black suits hired by Executive Director Yoon blocked the main entrance of the company.

A detective showed a warrant and shouted.

“We are executing our duties. If you block us, you will be arrested for obstructing the execution of official duties.”

A huge figure said menacingly.

“Nothing to do here. There’s no such person here.”

At that moment, something fell in front of the detectives and shattered.

Smash!

It was an orchid pot.

Executive Director Yoon opened the window from the upper floor and shouted.

“Catch me if you can, cops!”

He threw the pots down one after another.

Thud! Thud!

The detectives stepped back and radioed.

“The suspect is throwing flower pots and strongly refusing to comply. Gangsters are blocking the door, so we can’t enter, over!”

– Received! We will notify you of the measures, so wait!

After a while, about 10 military trucks appeared.

The trucks were carrying heavily armed police special forces.

The gangsters guarding the entrance hesitated.

The special forces got off and put on gas masks.

And they all aimed tear gas.

“Fire!”

Bang-Bang-Bang~

Clang!

Cheek~

The glass windows were broken, and a hazy tear gas rose in the lobby.

The headquarters was covered in white smoke as if a fire had broken out.

“Cough, cough!”

The gangsters coughed, squeezing out tears and snot.

Wow!

The special forces with batons advanced.

Thud! Thud!

“Argh!”

The gangsters blocking the entrance were beaten indiscriminately and handcuffed for obstructing the execution of official duties.

The special forces who went up to the executive office kicked down the door and entered.

Wham!

Executive Director Yoon swung a golf club around.

“Get out of here! Do you know who I am?”

“Executive Director Yoon, you are under arrest for instigating murder, assault, drunk driving, hit-and-run, organizing and joining a criminal organization, and obstructing the execution of official duties!”

Executive Director Yoon, overwhelmed by the force, opened the window, put one leg over it, and shouted.

“If you come closer, I’ll jump!”

The special forces commander put the baton on the desk and said.

“Ah, I know. I’ll step back. I don’t want to get fired for abusing my authority… I was going to say, you scum of the earth!”

“……..”

“I’m done if I take off my clothes, but you’ll get judged by King Yama [the judge of the underworld in Korean folklore]! It’s a waste to die leaving this much wealth behind. Hurry up and jump, you bastard!”

“……..”

Executive Director Yoon hesitated. He looked down, and it was dizzying.

“If you can’t jump, I’ll push you.”

As the commander approached, Executive Director Yoon waved his hands with frightened eyes and came down from the window.

“I, I’ll go…”

“Beat that bastard!”

“Yes!”

The special forces kicked Executive Director Yoon in the stomach with a flying kick.

“Ugh!”

Pow!

The kicking continued for a long time.

The scene of Executive Director Yoon throwing flower pots from the window and resisting decorated the social pages of the newspaper.

*

The President smiled as he looked at the newspaper.

“Is he a democratic fighter? He’s doing a building occupation struggle with the theme of human waste.”

Ring~ Ring~

The President answered the phone.

– This is the Vice Minister of National Defense.

“Yes, what’s the matter?”

– I am sorry to say this, but K Corporation President Yoon wants to see Your Excellency.

President Yoon was the father of Executive Director Yoon, who was arrested yesterday.

“Me? I don’t meet with businessmen unless it’s official business. Vice Minister, since when have you been doing errands for solicitations?”

– It’s not that, but today President Yoon came and said that there might be disruptions in the supply of defense weapons. I’m telling you this because it seems to be because of his son’s arrest.

“Are you threatening me with defense?”

– Yes. From the military’s point of view, I am telling you this in the hope that it will be resolved smoothly so that there is no security gap.

“I understand.”

The President, who hung up the phone, clicked his tongue.

“He’s threatening even the president because he can’t find a loophole? Okay, let’s see how it ends.”

*

The main building of a religious organization.

There was a factory employing believers, and a church stood tall behind it.

About 1,000 community believers living there were blocking the main gate and preventing the police from entering.

The police shouted through a loudspeaker.

“If you interfere with the execution of the warrant, you will all be charged with obstructing the execution of official duties. Please move aside!”

But the believers were adamant.

“Only heaven can judge the family of the pastor! Satan, go away!”

As believers were contacted and gathered one after another, the number of believers was increasing.

*

The police command and the prosecutor in charge who received the field report held a meeting.

“They are putting up a human shield from the elderly to children to protect the pastor. More than 3,000 people have gathered from all over the country.”

“They are ready for martyrdom. It is irrational, so if we enter, casualties are expected.”

“It is clear that the suspect is inside now, right?”

“That’s right. We captured him looking out from the main building with binoculars.”

“Okay. Then let’s fly a helicopter. It’s a feint operation.”

About 100 police special forces gathered at the main gate.

The believers saw the scene and gathered at the main gate with clubs.

The special forces commander shouted through a loudspeaker.

“I’m telling you again! Please move aside so that we can execute the warrant!”

“Go away, Satan!”

That’s how a physical fight broke out at the main gate.

At that time, a helicopter approached from the back.

Tootootootoo-

Tear gas was fired in time with the helicopter sound.

Bang-Bang~

“Cough!”

The believer leader shouted.

“Don’t back down! If you are martyred here, you will go to heaven! Cough! Cough!”

Wow!

Rubbing their stinging eyes, they did their best without backing down.

From the helicopter, special forces descended on ropes and entered the main building.

The pastor and his son, who were blankly looking out the window, were startled by the appearance of the special forces.

“Wh, who are you?”

“I came to pick you up from hell. Shin Taek-geun, you are under arrest for smuggling foreign currency and instigating murder!”

Mr. Shin was tied to a helicopter rope like a dried corvina [a type of dried fish, used as a humorous comparison] and floated into the air.

Meanwhile, special forces stormed into J Newspaper and took Director Seo away.

J Newspaper wrote a lot about the abuse of power and excessive suppression.

The Seven Princes were rounded up. Their basic charges were embezzlement of public funds, assault, drunk driving, drug use, and obstruction of official duties.

76 related public officials were arrested, including military officials in charge of military service exemptions, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief, police chiefs, prosecutors, and judges who received bribes and protected them.

But the aftermath was not easy.