The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 12

12. Purge

“I need to change. That’s what the people want.”

Kim Jong-pil’s ambition, fueled by his desire for the Prime Minister position, clouded his usually sharp judgment.

“Your Excellency, I’m also considered part of the old guard in the military. Will the public accept that?”

“This is my last term. I have to consider my legacy.”

*Isn’t planning for a successor just a way to pass down power?*

Kim Jong-pil quickly shoveled rice into his mouth, trying to hide his spreading smile.

Watching his own gleeful reaction, he felt a pang of disappointment at his own ambition, but he didn’t entirely dislike it.

During Chairman Wang’s rule, Kim Jong-pil was destined to remain the eternal number two, never able to reach the presidency. Wang had decided that extending the military regime was impossible and that keeping Kim close, where he could be controlled, was the safest option.

“Look here, if you’re going to accept the Prime Ministership, you’ll take a drink with me.”

The President produced a bottle of whiskey he had prepared and poured a measure, offering it abruptly. It was neat whiskey, served at midday, without ice.

Kim Jong-pil was momentarily flustered, as there were no whiskey glasses available. He picked up a soju [Korean distilled spirit] glass and held it out respectfully with both hands.

Pour, pour, pour~

The golden liquid splashed into the glass.

Then, Kim Jong-pil poured whiskey into the President’s soju glass.

The President raised his glass in lieu of a formal toast.

“Congratulations on your appointment!”

“Thank you, Your Excellency!”

He lightly clinked glasses and, turning slightly, downed the whiskey in one gulp.

The flames of ambition blazed in Kim Jong-pil’s throat.

The President, planning a transition to a civilian government, displayed the audacity to keep his greatest political rival, Kim Jong-pil, close to keep him in check.

* * *

The Saenuri Party Headquarters, President’s Office.

Kim Young-wook and Lee Woo-rak visited Kim Jong-pil together for the first time in a while.

Kim Young-wook, unable to contain his fiery temper, complained.

“Telling me to just pave roads? Does that make any sense? Asking a country that can’t even build bicycles properly to make 100,000 cars is absurd.”

Lee Woo-rak felt the same way.

“A minister is supposed to be a promotion! They’re exiling me to Japan, and telling me to steal technology while I’m there. I’ll be lucky if I don’t end up in handcuffs.”

However, Kim Jong-pil, having been offered the position of Prime Minister, couldn’t align himself with their complaints.

“There’s nothing we can do. We have no choice but to demonstrate our abilities as directed by His Excellency.”

“…….”

They were dumbfounded because Kim Jong-pil, who they expected to agree with them, suddenly sided with the President.

They were unaware of his nomination for Prime Minister.

Kim Young-wook tried to keep the conversation going.

“The problem is the lack of transparency in personnel decisions. They’re appointing some bean counter as Chief of Staff, making secret appointments. What I’m saying is, instead of just venting our personal anger, we should band together and offer advice to His Excellency.”

“Well, why don’t you tell him directly?”

“Huh? No, a monk can’t shave his own head [one cannot act against one’s own interests]. I can’t directly speak to His Excellency while being so close to him. If the parliament or the cabinet steps up, I have to follow the procedure of fully gathering and conveying information to His Excellency.”

He was trying to get information without doing any of the work himself. There was no way President Kim wouldn’t see through his intentions.

“The official announcement hasn’t been made yet. It’s not too late to observe the reaction after the announcement.”

It wasn’t a refusal, but it was lukewarm, leaving the two men with an unpleasant feeling.

Kim Jong-pil asked.

“I don’t see the Chief of the Presidential Security Service.”

“Ugh! Pistol Park, that guy has no guts.”

* * *

Taereung Training Center.

In the gymnasium, judo athletes were training, grappling with each other.

*Cha-at!*

One athlete threw his opponent onto the mat with a swift over-the-shoulder throw.

Two athletes sparred in the square ring.

*Swish, swish!*

“Turn to the right! Raise your guard!”

At the shooting range, an athlete aimed a pistol at the target.

*Bang, bang!*

Taereung was named for its proximity to the tomb of Queen Munjeong.

The large-scale training center was built here in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.

In the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, South Korea sent a fairly large delegation (165 athletes, 59 officials) to Japan, considering the country’s circumstances.

It was the President’s political goal to boost patriotism by overcoming the humiliation of being a colony under Japanese rule.

However, the results in Tokyo were disappointing. They won 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal, ranking 27th overall.

After analyzing the causes of the defeat, it was concluded that South Korea needed to establish comprehensive sports training facilities at the national level, like advanced countries such as the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan, and train athletes at the national level.

That’s why the Taereung Training Center was built. It was a symbol of national sports.

Pistol Park was at the Taereung Training Center even before his official appointment as the head of the Sports Department.

The man who had been most furious about being passed over was now the first to secure his own position to save himself.

The training center was swept by a frenzy of cleaning and polishing, as if the President himself were about to arrive.

Because the appearance of the Chief of the Presidential Security Service was a signal that the President would visit next, he was treated like a president.

The Chief of the Presidential Security Service, sitting in the director’s office of the Taereung Training Center, received a briefing from the director.

“We will participate in 15 events at the Mexico Olympics, including boxing, wrestling, shooting, cycling, judo, weightlifting, basketball, track and field, gymnastics, and swimming. We plan to send half the number of athletes and officials compared to Tokyo.”

“Looking at Tokyo, the Olympics aren’t about the spirit of participation, but only about the medals. Sheer numbers don’t work. It’s about quality over quantity.”

“That’s an accurate assessment. We are selecting only the events with medal potential and focusing on intensive training.”

“What are the most promising events?”

“We are expecting good results from combat sports, where we have won medals before. Of course, shooting is also promising.”

“Hmm, if I were just one year younger, I would have presented a gold medal to His Excellency in shooting.”

The director played along with his boasting.

“Since you are protecting His Excellency, I also find it quite regrettable.”

The Chief of the Presidential Security Service, pleased with the director’s flattery, asked the key question of his visit.

“Director, how many gold medals are you confident in?”

“Gold medals?”

“Yes. It’s useless to win 100 silver or bronze medals.”

“…….”

“One gold medal is enough. All His Excellency wants is gold.”

“I can’t guarantee that….”

“Reduce the number of events to 10. Exclude all team sports like soccer, volleyball, and basketball.”

“What? If we exclude national sports….”

“Honestly, Korean team sports are just neighborhood bullies. They get crushed when they meet tall, big Westerners. Focus on events with medal potential.”

“Ah, yes, I understand.”

The Chief, who had cracked the whip, now offered a carrot.

“If you win a gold medal, you’ll become the greatest hero since Dangun [mythical founder of Korea]. You’ll get an apartment, a foreign car, and a generous bonus. You’ll change your fate for generations to come.”

“Ah, really?”

“Do you think I came here to talk nonsense? Tell the athletes.”

“I understand! It will be a great encouragement to the athletes.”

Cracks were beginning to appear in the military. The President’s divide-and-conquer strategy was working.

* * *

The President’s office.

The President began the personnel selection in earnest. He instructed the Minister of National Defense by phone.

“It’s me.”

– Your Excellency! Loyalty!

The Minister of National Defense had also submitted a collective letter of resignation, but he had high hopes upon receiving a direct call from His Excellency.

“I need to make some personnel changes.”

– I understand. Who is it?

“There’s a guy named Kim Je-gu.”

– Ah, are you talking about the Commander of the 6th Military District and the Head of the Counterintelligence Corps?

“Yes.”

Kim Je-gu, who had caused the President’s assassination, had to be kept in check.

– Where should he be promoted to?

Kim Je-gu was someone Park Jung-woong [likely a typo and should be President Park] met when he was a teacher.

With Park Jung-woong’s strong recommendation, he entered the Joseon National Defense Academy (the predecessor of the Military Academy) when the ROK [Republic of Korea] Armed Forces were founded.

Kim Je-gu’s reputation wasn’t very good.

He was a hot-tempered person who couldn’t even shoot a gun properly. However, with Park Jung-woong’s influence, Kim Je-gu rose rapidly.

He was promoted from regimental commander to president of the Army University, commander of the 6th Division, commander of the 6th Military District and head of the Counterintelligence Corps, commander of the Army Security Command, and commander of the 3rd Corps, repeatedly holding key positions that were difficult to understand.

He served as a member of the National Assembly and Minister of Construction before being appointed as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, but he repaid the favor with bullets.

At the Ministry of National Defense, Kim Je-gu was naturally assumed to be promoted because of the President’s call.

“Send him to Vietnam.”

– What? Your Excellency, did you say Vietnam?

Suddenly being told to go to the battlefield was a demotion.

“Yes. Now it’s a merit-based government. Soldiers must prove their combat capabilities. Send him to the most intense area.”

– Ah, I understand.

“And there’s Jeon Doo-hwang, from the 8th class of the Military Academy. Send him to Vietnam too. Under Kim Je-gu.”

– I understand, Your Excellency!

The Minister of National Defense submitted his resignation and carried out the final personnel changes as directed by the President.

The President also wanted to remove Cha Ji-cheol, who had enabled the corruption that led to the assassination.

But he was now a member of the National Assembly and not subject to the President’s personnel orders.

*Hmm, it will be difficult for now. But there are other ways. There’s not much time left anyway.*

The President carried out the military personnel changes and devised a plan aimed at the political circles.

* * *

Vietnam. The Maengho Unit’s position.

Korean soldiers, their uniforms soaked in sweat from the tropical climate, dismounted from the US military truck.

The platoon leader shouted.

“Unload the wounded first!”

In the early days of the deployment, the main mission was to provide rear support for the US military, but unexpectedly, the fighting intensified, and the US military was pushed back by the Viet Cong’s fierce counterattacks. The Korean military also became heavily armed and actively participated in the offensive.

As the fighting intensified, casualties increased.

Commander’s tent.

Lieutenant Colonel Roh Tae-woo was receiving an urgent radio message from above.

“What? You’re telling me to return home?”

– Return home immediately!

“There’s fighting here. What’s going on?”

– You’ll be promoted to Commander of the Capital Defense Command. You’ll become a colonel.

The Capital Defense Command is the only command in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces that belongs to the President’s direct command system.

Even if all wartime operational control is transferred to the US-ROK Combined Forces Command in the event of war, the Capital Defense Command is not subject to its interference and conducts operations only under the President’s orders according to wartime operational control.

It was a unit that had to be seized to succeed in a coup.

“What? Me, as the commander?”

– It’s His Excellency’s special order, so prepare quickly.

“By His Excellency? Yes, I understand. But who is coming as my replacement?”

– Kim Je-gu, the Commander of the 6th Military District and the Head of the Counterintelligence Corps.

“General Kim Je-gu? He’s not really the field type….”

– Don’t worry about that and prepare to return home.

“Yes, sir!”

He put down the radio, bewildered.

It was shocking that someone who couldn’t even shoot a gun properly and only went from one key office position to another with the power of the Blue House was being assigned to the front lines.