The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 14

14. Meeting Alone at the Blue House

The prosecutor stacked money envelopes and photos of banknotes on the table.

“Prosecutor Na, what is this?”

“Don’t you recognize it? Fingerprints.”

“Fingerprints? You’re using a technique usually reserved for violent crimes on this?”

“Is an election offense a minor crime?”

“No, what I mean is, fingerprints are usually collected from smooth surfaces like glass. How can you collect them from paper? This is unscientific. Tsk, tsk, so sloppy.”

“…….”

“I’m not some small-town lawyer. I’m from the Central District Prosecutor’s Office. I know everything about fingerprints.”

The female planning director next to him, emboldened, stubbed out her cigarette in the tin ashtray and sneered.

“If it weren’t for you, lawyer, we almost would have been fooled. You, bring me those photos. I’m going to sue you for false and coercive investigation. You, get ready to take off your prosecutor’s uniform!”

He took a few photos himself.

Prosecutor Na said.

“Lawyer, it looks like it’s time for you to retire. This was treated with chemicals imported directly from the United States. Fingerprints on paper come out this clearly.”

The President ordered a scientific investigation into this matter.

A scientific investigation meant proving the crime with objective evidence such as fingerprints and DNA.

In the 21st century, DNA analysis was cutting-edge forensic science, but back then, at best, they were only taking fingerprints with tape for violent crimes.

However, they brought in a technique from the United States where spraying ninhydrin solution on paper and applying heat would cause the fingerprints to react and appear in a clear purple color, and applied it to the election crime investigation for the first time.

It was a measure possible because it was a president from the future.

The lawyer, caught off guard, stammered.

“So, a solution? You, you said America?”

“When we sprayed the solution on the money envelopes and banknotes reported by voters here, all the fingerprints of Representative Cha’s election officials came out. Of course, Representative Cha’s fingerprints too. Will you defend against this evidence, lawyer?”

The lawyer’s face turned blue.

He kept wiping the sweat on his nose with his gold-rimmed glasses, trying to find a counter-argument, but there was no evidence to overturn the scientific evidence.

The female planning director next to him, sensing the strange atmosphere, pressed the lawyer.

“Lawyer, what are you saying? Are there only one or two fingerprints on the money and envelopes? You can get them from buying cigarettes or giving tips at a room salon [a type of Korean hostess bar].”

“…….”

“Why can’t you open your mouth like a stone Buddha when you used to be so eloquent?”

“…….”

The lawyer wiped the sweat flowing down his neck with a handkerchief and answered nervously.

“It’s not a money envelope collected from a bar, but an envelope that came from a voter.”

“…….”

Prosecutor Na said.

“Well, please stamp here to confirm that you have checked the evidence. I’m sure your senior is busy.”

The faces of the lawyer and the female planning director were flushed and confused.

The investigation manager greeted the planning director and lawyer, who were walking out like zombies after the interrogation, without any tact.

“Oh, you’ve worked hard for a long time. I’ve ordered a cool iced coffee from the cafe over there, so please have a refreshing drink.”

The female director grabbed the investigation manager by the collar.

“Are you fanning the flames right now!”

The investigation manager, finally noticing the suspicious atmosphere, backed down.

“I put cool ice to put out the fire….”

Bang!

They slammed the door shut and disappeared.

Nationwide, investigations into election crimes using scientific investigation were being carried out on a large scale.

* * *

The opposition party.

The party’s three key members (floor leader, whip, and policy committee chairman) and spokesperson (Kim Tae-jung) gathered to discuss the president’s proposal for a one-on-one meeting.

The leader said.

“Isn’t this a trick? Is it even possible to discuss such important issues with the opposition party?”

The policy committee chairman chimed in.

“Isn’t this a tactic to disrupt our fighting ranks?”

The spokesperson said.

“I’m also suspicious. But in order to resolve the stalemated political situation, we need a breakthrough. The chief of staff came directly without going through the ruling party, and the president is proposing a secret one-on-one meeting, so I think it’s worth considering.”

Kim Yong-sam (whip) also expressed his opinion.

“That’s right. We have to face it head-on. We have to enter the tiger’s den to understand the president’s true intentions.”

* * *

Presidential residence at the Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president].

The President and Kim Yong-sam faced each other, and kalguksu [Korean noodle soup] was served for lunch.

The President looked at Kim Yong-sam and thought to himself.

‘He’s full of the vigor of a man in his forties. He probably doesn’t know that he will become president in the future.’

“Assemblyman Kim, I apologize for the simple kalguksu. I was going to prepare a dinner banquet, but the time was set around this time.”

“Don’t mention it. I like kalguksu.”

Kalguksu was Kim Yong-sam’s favorite lunch menu during his time at the Blue House.

The president, who was like an emperor, came out so unceremoniously that Kim’s tension eased somewhat.

After the meal, tea was served, and the President got to the point.

“My goal for this term is to end military rule. I think the next government should be a civilian government.”

For the military coup president to say the words “end of military rule” was a fresh shock to Kim Yong-sam.

He probed him to see if it was lip service or sincerity.

“If Your Excellency hadn’t run this time, the end of military rule would have been completed.”

‘Is a second term too long? You idiot, if we fail to transfer to civilian control this term, we’ll have an 18-year long-term rule!’

These words surged up to his throat, but he barely suppressed them and calmed his mind as calmly as possible.

“Haha, that’s what I’m saying. It’s not that I was greedy for a second term, but that four years wasn’t enough. The constitution doesn’t say a second term is illegal, so I don’t think there’s anything to be ashamed of.”

Kim Yong-sam was slightly embarrassed by the President’s calm response.

“Your Excellency, this election is a corrupt election of illegality, corruption, and fraud that surpasses the March 15th election [a historically controversial election in South Korea]. You said you would conduct an investigation without any sacred areas, but it’s not enough to expel a few people from the party. Those who are expelled will become ruling party votes as independents, so it’s like covering your eyes and saying ‘aah.’ You have to strip them of their assembly seats.”

His dialect was mixed in here and there as he got excited.

“I agree.”

“…….”

Kim Yong-sam’s eyes widened when he thought the President would make excuses but instead agreed!

The shockwave was just the beginning.

“The special investigation department of the prosecution is already investigating.”

“The prosecution?”

“Yes. We are investigating both the ruling and opposition parties.”

Kim Yong-sam thought that the President was finally revealing his true colors and became furious.

“Your Excellency, if you even cut out the seats of the opposition party, which is less than 1/3 of the seats, this is an outright attempt to kill the opposition party. You will face national resistance.”

The President responded calmly and leisurely to Assemblyman Kim, who was fiercely opposing him.

“You’re very impatient. You have to listen to everything I have to say.”

“…….”

“According to the interim report of the investigation, 53 members of the ruling party and 7 members of the opposition party are expected to lose their assembly seats. We plan to remove them regardless of whether they are from the ruling or opposition party.”

There were a total of 175 members of the 7th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, including 131 members elected by direct election and 44 national representatives elected according to the vote rate of each party.

The ruling party won 129 seats (102 local and 27 national), which accounted for 73.7% of the total number of seats, and the opposition party won 45 seats (28 local and 17 national).

If 60 members of the ruling and opposition parties were subject to by-elections, it would be a re-vote that would bring about a huge change in the number of seats.

“Did you say 53 members of the ruling party?”

Assemblyman Kim doubted his ears. ‘Isn’t that saying that they will give up more than half of the elected seats!’

“That’s right. Even if it’s not a majority, we have to get rid of the fraudulent elections.”

It was an extreme measure that went one step further than what the opposition party wanted. Assemblyman Kim felt like he had been hit in the head with a sledgehammer.

The President looked at Assemblyman Kim, who was unable to speak due to the shock, and said.

“You don’t believe it, do you?”

“Th, that’s right.”

“We will carry it out immediately after the cabinet reshuffle.”

Assemblyman Kim regained his senses at the word “cabinet reshuffle” and sharpened his dulled blade.

“You declared a merit-based Republic of Korea, but isn’t it absurd for the military to control the government?”

“That’s a good point. So I organized the camp like this.”

The President handed over the government organization chart and list of names he had prepared.

It was unprecedented to show the cabinet reshuffle list to the opposition party first. The President went even further.

“If there are any inappropriate people or people you want to recommend, please tell me. I’ll take it into consideration.”

Assemblyman Kim’s mentality was shaken to its roots when he said he would discuss the cabinet reshuffle with the opposition party.

Assemblyman Kim took a deep breath and looked at the list.

His eyes grew wider and wider.

The intention to minimize military personnel with the Kim Cheong-ryeom economic tower as the center was clear.

“Is the chief of staff also serving as the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs?”

“That’s right. A small Blue House and a big economy are the key. The economy can only run well if the Blue House is small. We will delegate tremendous authority to Deputy Prime Minister Kim. The budget for the secretariat will be reduced by 50%.”

“50%?”

His mouth dropped open.

One of the opposition party’s attacks was to prepare a 30% reduction in the Blue House budget, but the president voluntarily said 50%, so it was hard to tell who was the opposition party.

Assemblyman Kim cleared his throat and barely reorganized his thoughts.

“Ahem, although all three members of the Blue House are being replaced, they are not entering the ministry as ministers? It cannot be seen as a true personnel change.”

He wanted to shout that he was desperately trying to change history right now! But all he could do was indirectly offer a justification.

“I have to get rid of the fixed idea that they become ministers because they are soldiers, and they can’t because they are soldiers. If the politicians had done well, would a soldier like me have entered the Blue House in the first place?”

“…….”

“Even an earthworm squirms when you step on it. If you take away their rice bowls overnight, will the military stay still?”

“…….”

“In line with the status of a merit-based government, we are trying to give them opportunities and present them with goals to achieve and send them to the ministry. We have promised to resign if we fail to achieve it due to lack of ability. This is why there is a justification for a soft landing when transferring to a civilian government, right?”

“…….”

In fact, the president was trying to cut off his own flesh, which even the opposition party could not do, so there was little justification for digging deeper.

Still, he revived the opposition party’s check-and-balance instinct and barely attacked.

“If the Prime Minister is Kim Jong-pil, isn’t that an intention to extend military rule?”

The President’s patience reached its limit with the endless suspicion.

“Assemblyman Kim, let’s be honest. Can you do politics better than Kim Jong-pil? Can you handle it?”

Even now, the number of seats is an absolute majority, and before the regression, Kim Jong-pil was the eternal second-in-command, and wasn’t he a kingmaker who brought three people into the Blue House with his political skills of the 9th dan [a high level of expertise, often used in games like Go]?

“…….”

“We are bringing Kim Jong-pil, who has seized the parliament, into my command system, the executive branch, and separating him from the parliament. He is absolutely necessary for a soft landing. Can’t you grasp that idea? Does the opposition party have that kind of power?”