The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 47

47. Top Cause of Death

A civil servant, sensing the President’s desire to hear positive feedback, eagerly stepped forward.

“Your Excellency, that’s not true! It’s chewy, mild, and delicious!”

The President chuckled.

“Is it permissible for a civil servant to stretch the truth?”

“……”

“Frankly, it’s as dry as dust, isn’t it? And it’s not just the taste. The rice plant is short, which prevents it from falling over in the wind, but that makes it inconvenient for thatching *chogajip* [traditional Korean thatched-roof house] roofs.”

“……”

A silence fell.

“It’s also problematic that it’s susceptible to pests, requiring a significant amount of pesticides.”

The Director of the Rural Development Administration was sweating profusely.

He felt his painstakingly developed rice variety had failed, and he was about to be dismissed.

The President continued.

“What I asked the researchers for was yield. The yield is satisfactory, but the taste is lacking.”

“……”

“This rice variety has been researched for several years. Starting again will take several more years. Let’s plant this new variety until we can select one with good taste. Let’s solve the hunger problem first, and then gradually transition to delicious rice.”

At the President’s honest admission, applause erupted from the audience.

Clap, clap, clap!

One of the measures to compensate for the weaknesses of high-yielding varieties was the land reclamation project to increase farmland, alongside the development and distribution of better-tasting seeds.

* * *

Presidential Office.

The President pointed to a large map of the Korean Peninsula and instructed the new Minister of Construction and Transportation.

“The west coast is a Rias coast with a large tidal range. Let’s undertake large-scale reclamation projects in Seosan and Saemangeum. Let’s transform this area into rice paddies and make it a rice production hub.”

“I understand. However, to use it as farmland, we’ll need to build dikes and remove the saltwater, and desalination requires a huge amount of drainage. The process will take more than 10 years.”

Wasn’t he the one who created the legend of the Seosan reclamation area by building dikes with *pye-yu joseon* [scrapped oil tankers] during Chairman Wang’s era?

In addition to the *pye-yu joseon* method, another unique technology that marked a milestone in the history of world reclamation was incorporated into the Seosan reclamation project.

The President explained to the Minister of Construction.

“Try this approach.”

“Instead of creating a single saltwater lake by blocking the *bangjoje* [sea wall], create two and five natural lakes in areas A and B, respectively, in the direction of the water flow.”

“The salinity of the lakes will naturally increase towards the *bangjoje* on the sea side, and the saltwater in the lowest area with the highest concentration can be pumped out to the sea.”

“By repeating this process, rainwater will fall, and freshwater flowing in from the land will accumulate, eventually lowering the overall salinity.”

It was a brilliant idea to overcome the lack of freshwater resources with a circulating irrigation system.

The Minister of Construction, who held a doctorate in engineering, was amazed by the President’s idea.

“That’s a truly ingenious—no, a genius idea! How do you possess such specialized knowledge, Your Excellency?”

*I am Chairman Wang!*

The word ‘regressionist’ surged to his throat, but he barely managed to suppress it.

* * *

A shantytown on the outskirts of Seoul.

Smoke billowed from the chimneys of the *panjatchon* [shacks], which were packed together like *gettakji* [crab shells].

Because transportation was inconvenient to get to the *sadaemun* [four main gates of Seoul’s old city walls] inside where there were many jobs, ordinary people had to eat *saebyeokbap* [early morning meal] before going to work.

Houses with middle and high school students also had to be diligent in the early morning to prepare *dosirak* [packed lunches].

It was common to have two or three single rooms under one roof.

It was an era when landlords who received *wolse* [monthly rent] or *jeonse* [lump-sum deposit lease] wielded considerable power.

Mrs. Kim, with her *bboglee* perm [tight, curly perm], came out to change the *yeontan* [coal briquettes] with *yeontan jipge* [coal tongs], muttering while looking at the quiet *mungganbang* [room near the entrance].

“The sun is already high in the sky, but it’s still quiet? Are they not getting out of bed at all because they’re newlyweds?”

The *saedaek* [newlywed woman] usually went to work before 7 a.m., but it was almost 9 a.m., and it was as quiet as a mouse.

She tapped the *yeontan jipge* on the yard and went to the front of the *mungganbang*.

“What’s going on! Even if they’re newlyweds, they have to eat!”

There was no sign of anyone.

She went closer to the *nureon changhoji* [yellowish traditional paper] door.

“What is this smell?”

She sniffed and smelled the air.

“*Yeontan* gas!”

She had a bad feeling.

She flung the door open.

*Deureuk~* [sound of a door creaking open]

A pungent sulfur smell stung her nose.

“*Saedaek*!”

The woman rushed in and shook the two people who were lying unconscious in bed as if dead.

“Wake up! Wake up!”

Groundless folk remedies, such as *shin kimchi gukmul* [sour kimchi brine] or vinegar being a specific medicine, were rampant.

* * *

Presidential Office.

The President, who was looking at the accident news, clicked his tongue.

“There are more *yeontan* gas poisoning victims than traffic accident deaths!”

The President called the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Trade, Industry and Energy, Construction and Transportation, Science and Technology, and Health and Welfare.

Originally, the President would give instructions and listen to opinions through the Prime Minister, who was in charge of the Cabinet, but indirect delivery through the Prime Minister was an unnecessary barrier because he had to convey future knowledge.

Kim Jong-pil was very dissatisfied with bypassing the Prime Minister.

So, he summoned him together this time.

The President said.

“Recently, the top two causes of accidental deaths are *yeontan* gas poisoning and puffer fish organ accidents. We need to come up with countermeasures.”

Kim Jong-pil said.

“Your Excellency, if you give me instructions on such matters, I will convene the Cabinet and convey them. If you call the ministers directly, won’t your workload be excessive amidst the many state affairs you have to take care of?”

“Well, that’s the procedure, but right now, a solution is urgent, not an instruction.”

“……”

The President instructed the Minister of Health and Welfare.

“Implement a national certification system for puffer fish cooks. Provide thorough training from handling to waste disposal to prevent accidents.”

“I understand, Your Excellency!”

“Ministers of Trade, Industry and Energy, Construction and Transportation, and Science and Technology, listen carefully to the *yeontan* gas countermeasures.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

Wasn’t the President knowledgeable in construction?

“If we use a catalyst in *yeontan*, we can increase the combustion rate, but the price will increase several times. It’s a fuel for the common people, so it’s unrealistic. Even in the laboratory, we cannot prevent incomplete combustion of *yeontan* in the home.”

The Minister of Science and Technology replied.

“That’s right, Your Excellency! We are experiencing difficulties in terms of economic feasibility.”

“That’s why I’m saying, let’s drastically improve the *agungi* [traditional Korean stove].”

“How do you mean?”

“Right now, we directly push the *yeontan hwadeok* [coal briquette brazier] into the *agungi* when burning firewood. So, if there is a gap in the *ondol gudeul* [underfloor heating system], carbon monoxide rises and causes poisoning accidents.”

“That’s correct, Your Excellency!”

“Try this.”

The President took out a heating boiler design that he had drawn by hand in advance.

“Install hot water pipes in the *ondol*, and install the *yeontan hwadeok* outside to heat the water. In other words, heat the room with water temperature, not with the warmth of the *yeontan*.”

The mouths of the attending ministers dropped open.

“That’s a truly amazing invention, Your Excellency! It fundamentally blocks *yeontan* gas from seeping into the *gudeuljang* [stone slabs of the underfloor heating], and water has a high specific heat, so the thermal efficiency will be enormous.”

“When I tried it, one *yeontan* lasted for more than 14 hours. The *yeontan* consumption can also be reduced by half, so it’s beneficial to the common people.”

The current *yeontan agungi* required three or four *yeontan* a day.

If the *gudeuljang* was thick, the thermal efficiency would decrease, so it was made thin, but this caused the *gudeul* to crack even with small impacts, causing *yeontan* gas to leak.

“Ah, that’s right, Your Excellency!”

“And if you store it in a hot water tank and supply it to the hot water pipes, you can always use hot water. This is the hot water tank.”

The President pointed to the design and explained the hot water circulation.

The attendees repeatedly expressed their admiration.

“Ah, I thought it was just a water tank, but it was a hot water tank! It supplies heating and hot water—this is a revolution in housing and energy, Your Excellency.”

“Still, it’s still dangerous if it leaks into the kitchen because we are using *yeontan*. The walls of *panjatchip* [shanty houses] are not that strong. So, let’s install a gas exhaust fan that operates even during power outages on the chimney, and let’s also install a gas alarm.”

“This is a new civilization, Your Excellency!”

“Change my accommodation in the Blue House from steam to *yeontan ondol*.”

“Your Excellency’s bedroom too?”

“I am *gaelyang agungi* [improved stove] No. 1. If this is successful, distribute it.”

“Yes, I understand, Your Excellency!”

The President had to take the lead to be satisfied.

There were also concerns.

“Your Excellency, the common people will feel burdened if they have to install *ondol* improvements, exhaust fans, and alarms.”

“Yes, that’s right. So, the state will support 80% of the cost of installing *ondol* improvements, exhaust fans, and alarms. There will be enough dollars coming in from the United States this time. Select a few companies, check their construction performance, and then pay them.”

“I understand, Your Excellency!”

“Still, there will be families who cannot install it because they don’t have money.”

“That’s right, Your Excellency!”

“After the first *ondol* improvement project is completed, let’s provide free construction to families who can’t do it because they don’t have enough money. If we do it for free from the beginning, it won’t work because of moral hazard. Let’s keep a good record of poor free families and use it as data to give other welfare benefits.”

“I understand, Your Excellency!”

“I roughly designed a *seomin* [common people’s] apartment, so please refer to this.”

Apartments, which have become the best housing option in the 21st century, were not popular from the beginning.

The first apartment that was sold to the general public after liberation was the Jongam Apartment next to Korea University in Seoul, designed in Germany and constructed in Korea in 1958.

It was a luxury residential facility at the time, with flush toilets and *yeontan* boilers, in an area full of *panjatchip*.

President Syngman Rhee even attended the dedication ceremony and praised it as ‘a truly modern apartment.’

But a flaw was revealed.

In this apartment with 152 households on 5 floors, 10 households shared a *yeontong* [chimney flue], and *yeontan* gas from the neighboring house leaked, causing an unexpected resident to die.

Because of this incident, residents lived with the windows open even in winter because they were worried about gas.

Also, the flush toilets were useless because water only came out for about 10 minutes twice a day.

No tap water came out on the upper floors, so they could not use the toilet.

Due to the high selling price, disputes among residents were constant, and the National Assembly even formed an investigation team to conduct on-site inspections.

The Mapo Apartment in Seoul, completed in 1962, was the first apartment complex in Korea, and the Korea National Housing Corporation also did the construction.

It had 650 households in six Y-shaped buildings and had six sizes ranging from 9 to 17 *pyeong* [traditional Korean unit of area, approximately 3.3 square meters].

Again, there was a risk of *yeontan* gas from the *yeontan* boiler, so the occupancy rate was less than 10% at first.

Vacant houses often had frozen and burst water pipes.

The site manager even conducted an ‘experiment’ by entering an apartment where *yeontan* gas was leaking and sleeping there himself.

This apartment, originally named ‘Mammoth Apartment,’ had absurd eligibility requirements.

‘Those who can pay *wolse*, have no more than 5 family members, can live well in a group, and have intellectual capacity.’

It had convenience facilities and shops such as a store, kindergarten, children’s playground, beauty salon, and restaurant, but there were still many inconveniences.

The original plan to build a 10-story building with elevators was changed, so residents had to use the stairs.

As a housewife, it was inevitable that it would be difficult to carry heavy kimchi ingredients or *yeontan* ash up and down the stairs.

Also, the lack of space to place *jangdok* [Korean earthenware pots], which are essential household items, was a significant inconvenience.

For these reasons, the *bunyangga* [selling price] for each floor of the apartment at the time without elevators was the highest on the 1st and 2nd floors, and it became cheaper as you went up to the upper floors.