The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 4

Reverting to President as a Conglomerate CEO 1967-4

4. Korea, Inc.

The President responded,

“Exactly. Let’s not dawdle like bureaucrats, weighing every option. Like a major corporation, we’ll start working from the moment we hire someone.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“I want to break ground on the Gyeongbu Expressway [major highway connecting Seoul and Busan] this year.”

Kim Chung-ryeom tilted his head, puzzled.

“Your Excellency, starting construction requires a budget, but the national budget was already finalized at the end of last year. There’s no allocation for the Gyeongbu Expressway in this year’s budget.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Then perhaps next year…”

“Why wait until next year for the budget? Let’s break ground this year.”

“…….”

Minister Kim was speechless at the contradictory statement.

However, the President, knowing the future, wasn’t spouting nonsense.

“We have overseas loans, don’t we? Let’s look into that.”

“Ah, loans!”

To be reflected in the national budget, it would take at least a year, and both the ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly opposed the Gyeongbu Expressway project due to its massive budget.

Recalling his past life, the breakthrough depended on securing overseas loans.

What frustrated Chairman Wang the most as President was the glacial pace of bureaucratic approvals, where nothing seemed to get done.

Going through the Planning and Coordination Office, the Economic Planning Board, and navigating the treacherous waters of the National Assembly, it was easy for a year to pass.

During his days as a conglomerate CEO, anyone who handled work like that would be immediately fired. Everything had to be done immediately, finding solutions and implementing them on the spot, even if it meant working through the night.

That’s why administrative organizations can’t keep up with corporations, and why nationalistic states can’t escape poverty.

“From now on, the Republic of Korea must transform from a nation led by administrative bureaucrats to Korea, Inc., led by a conglomerate CEO.”

“Korea, Inc.! Understood, Your Excellency!”

With Chairman Wang as President, the nation was now a corporation, not a bureaucratic organization.

Chief Secretary Kim was inwardly impressed.

‘His Excellency has the mindset of a conglomerate CEO, not a bureaucrat! I thought he was just a rigid military man, but he’s been hiding this side of himself!’

The President said,

“Expedite the construction of the Gyeongin Expressway [highway connecting Seoul and Incheon] as much as possible.”

“Understood, Your Excellency!”

“And there’s an urgent matter.”

“What is it?”

“As you know, the biggest obstacle to purging the military is me, isn’t it?”

“Yes?”

“I’m both the subject and the target of the revolution. I must change first.”

“…….”

“We must start by changing the family.”

“Your family?”

He couldn’t fathom what he meant by changing the family.

“Since you’re familiar with the Americans, meet with U.S. officials today and explore this issue.”

The President gave Minister Kim his first instruction.

Minister Kim was dumbfounded after hearing all of the President’s instructions.

It was truly the beginning of a revolution.

Chief of the Presidential Security Park Jung-gyu entered.

“Your Excellency, the vehicle is ready. The First Lady is also waiting.”

Hmm, how should I purge this man….

Presidential Security Chief Park Jung-gyu was also a key figure in the military coup and was known as ‘Pistol Park’ for his marksmanship with a handgun.

As President Park’s personal bodyguard and loyalist, he had become increasingly corrupt.

He had mercilessly beaten a governor for holding a lighter too close to the President’s hair while lighting his cigarette, openly assaulted a vice-minister who cut the security budget, and even had an old friend of President Park fired for speaking informally to him.

Despite being a sharpshooter, the bullet he fired at the scene of the President’s assassination missed the perpetrator and hit a high school girl instead.

After the First Lady’s death, he took responsibility and resigned from his position as Security Chief, but later moved into the sports world and amassed wealth through bribes.

The Security Chief led the way, guiding the President and Minister Kim.

The President stopped abruptly when he saw the people standing at the boarding platform.

Ah! It’s Madam Yoo!

She was the image of a wise and virtuous wife who softened President Park’s authoritarian image, but she would meet her fate by an assassin’s bullet.

The schoolgirl in uniform was Park Geun-hye [former President of South Korea], and the boy in a neat suit was Park Ji-man [businessman and son of Park Chung-hee].

They, too, would be imprisoned and live unhappy lives. For their sake, the Republic of Korea must not follow the same path.

“Your Excellency, please get in.”

As the event was imminent, the Security Chief opened the door and urged him to board.

Once the President and his family were all aboard, the car departed.

Vroom~

Black sedans escorted the bulletproof Mercedes-Benz, with motorcycles leading the way in front and behind.

It was a spectacle of authority reminiscent of a Joseon Dynasty [Korean kingdom from 1392 to 1897] royal procession rather than security.

Vroom~

Young Ji-man, in the car, grumbled.

“Mom, this outfit is itchy around my neck.”

It was uncomfortable because it was a new custom-made suit. Madam Yoo soothed him.

“Formal wear is always like that. A man has to endure that much.”

The President said to Madam Yoo,

“You know, the weight of being the President’s family is quite heavy. I worry that the children will grow up to be authoritarian like royalty, rather than democratic citizens.”

“We have to bear it because it’s for the sake of the nation.”

“Being ordinary is the greatest happiness. That’s why I think it would be good to send the children abroad to study, so they can enjoy freedom and learn about the world.”

“Study abroad?”

“My second term will focus on reforming consciousness. Purging pre-modern authoritarianism and cronyism. But with bodyguards attached to the children’s schools and people treating them like emperors, I can’t set an example myself. The key to the success of reform is, without a doubt, leading by example.”

“…….”

“Because it’s absurd to tell others what to do without practicing it myself, starting with my family.”

Madam Yoo knew well that no one could break the President’s resolute will.

“It seems you’ve made up your mind, so I must follow Your Excellency’s opinion.”

“Let’s talk about the details later.”

A shadow of unease fell over Madam Yoo’s face.

Vroom~

The President looked out the window at Gwanghwamun [main avenue in Seoul] and sighed at the backward state of 1960s Korea.

Old civic centers and pre-modern buildings filled the area around Gwanghwamun.

It was far from the magnificent modern city with skyscrapers and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts [major performing arts complex in Seoul].

What was particularly jarring was the Japanese Government-General Building, blocking the ancient palace under the name of the Central Government Building.

‘I need to get rid of that first.’

Vroom~

* * *

Central Government Building.

The scene of the President’s official car entering the venue was being broadcast live on brown-tube TVs and vacuum tube radios.

– Amidst the blessings of the entire nation and the grace of heaven sending rain, President Park, who was re-elected with overwhelming support, is entering.

As the President stepped onto the podium, congratulatory diplomatic delegations and party representatives from various countries bowed to him.

The President couldn’t show it, but he was uncomfortable.

‘It’s just power delegated by the people, but the protocol is no different from a Joseon Dynasty monarchy.’ But to modernize and reform, I need to use his authority appropriately.

After taking the oath of office, he proceeded to read his radically revised inaugural address.

He pointed to the ground with his finger.

“Isn’t it absurd to hold the President’s inauguration at the former Japanese Government-General Building, a symbol of the Japanese colonial era, while proclaiming national pride and the revival of the nation?”

A silence fell over the audience at the President’s sudden remarks.

The President made a declaration that no one had imagined.

“As part of clearing away the remnants of Japanese imperialism, I will consult with relevant ministries and demolish this Central Government Building first!”

In Chairman Wang’s time, the demolition of the Central Government Building took place in 1995, so it was a bold move, advancing it by 28 years.

The audience buzzed with excitement. Reporters, who had expected a predictable inaugural address, were caught off guard by the bombshell announcement and busily scribbled notes.

Ruling and opposition party attendees stared at each other with wide eyes.

The reaction of viewers watching TV was the same.

While they nodded in agreement with the cause of clearing away Japanese imperialism, they couldn’t help but be shocked that they were demolishing a landmark of Seoul and a symbol of the Republic of Korea, even more so than Namdaemun [historic gate in Seoul].

It was an even greater shock to the Chief of Staff and the Blue House [South Korean presidential residence] secretaries.

This was because they had not been informed of this bombshell announcement in advance.

Ruling party figures stirred.

“His Excellency didn’t discuss this with us?”

“Is that impromptu?”

“How can we imagine Gwanghwamun without the Central Government Building?”

“It’s the first sentence of the inaugural address, so he’s declared it to the entire nation, so there’s no going back. We need to look into the demolition administrative procedures.”

Unlike the flustered bureaucrats, Minister Kim Chung-ryeom only smiled slightly.

“Hmm, His Excellency has changed. He’s definitely not the same person as before.”

Minister Kim enjoyed observing the audience’s reaction to the next bombshell.

The President’s rapid-fire pronouncements continued.

“The modernization of the nation must go hand in hand with both material and spiritual progress. We will eliminate academic cliques, blood ties, regionalism, and bureaucracy, and we will appoint and evaluate talent based on ability.”

Up to this point, the audience took it in stride. What followed was a nuclear-level bomb.

“Ability-based means nothing more than doing what you do well. In other words, it’s about expertise. Politicians should return to the political arena, scholars to their laboratories, and soldiers to the military to demonstrate their abilities.”

The audience surged like a ship caught in a storm at the mention of soldiers returning to the military.

Kim Jong-pil, the leader of the ruling party, questioned Chief of Staff Lee Woo-rak as if he were blaming him.

“Why is the manuscript in this state? Anyone who hears this would think he’s purging all of his revolutionary comrades!”

In fact, Lee Woo-rak had been on pins and needles from the very first sentence.

“Well, he completely changed the draft right before he departed. There was no time to review it.”

Kim Young-wook, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, crossed his arms and furrowed his brow.

“How are you assisting His Excellency? Is the inaugural address that we received from the Intelligence Agency just a piece of paper?”

He tried to avoid responsibility by emphasizing that even the Intelligence Agency didn’t know.

Lee Woo-rak made excuses.

“Ah, I’m telling you, I received it 15 minutes before boarding the official vehicle and barely managed to type it. Isn’t the Intelligence Agency’s information unaware of His Excellency’s feelings?”

“What? Are you blaming the Intelligence Agency now?”

Thus, they bickered and flaunted their loyalty.

The opposition party, watching TV, also had divided interpretations.

“What does he mean by what he just said?”

“I don’t know. Is he saying that this is the end of military rule? Or is he going to replace the entire cabinet?”

“Don’t overinterpret it. They’ll already think of themselves as politicians, not soldiers. He’s just wary of the emergence of a new military faction.”

“Hmm, is that what he means?”

They couldn’t even imagine that it meant the liquidation of military rule.

The President’s bombshell inaugural address continued.