The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 71

71. Pushing It to the Limit

The Chief of Staff said,

“The ruling party is planning to block the start of the National Assembly audit in the standing committee.”

They were going to push through with their majority.

“There’s no need for that.”

“Yes? What do you mean…”

The President immediately summoned the heads of relevant departments.

* * *

Government Complex.

An emergency cabinet meeting was held.

It was a countermeasures meeting attended by the President, as well as the leader of the ruling party.

The leader of the ruling party said,

“The ruling party will try to block it. It’s just an excessive political attack.”

The President said,

“No. Let it be. The National Assembly audit is the unique right of the National Assembly members, and blocking it would be like admitting the allegations. The opposition party can 충분히 충분히 [sufficiently] raise the issue. If we block it, it will explode. Let it flow.”

“Your Excellency, the opposition party’s momentum is unusual. They seem to be very determined.”

“The opposition party may see it as an allegation. What’s important is for the public to understand.”

“If we are constantly bombarded with attacks, the government won’t be able to do its job. And when it comes to diplomacy and state affairs, there are definitely parts that cannot be disclosed, and the opposition party will latch onto that.”

“If the ruling party blocks it, the opposition party will use it as a cause for внеочередной [extraordinary] struggle, and the ruling party will be reduced to the President’s Red Guards, not the representatives of the people. If the President hides behind the allegations, he cannot exert his driving force for state affairs. Let’s investigate and correct what needs to be corrected. We need to improve what’s lacking.”

“Ah, yes…”

The Minister of Construction said,

“In order for collusion between politics and business to be established, money must be received from the company in exchange for vested rights. It is true that it is concentrated on Hyunse, but it is not corruption.”

The President asked the Minister of Construction,

“Have you ever received any ‘tteok-값’ [literally ‘rice cake money,’ a form of bribe] from construction companies?”

“I took special care because I succeeded Kim Young-wook, the former minister, who was vacant due to corruption charges. I have had meals with them.”

The President said,

“All the collusion between politics and business that the opposition party is raising is what I ordered. It’s my responsibility, and I will explain it.”

“Your Excellency, it would be difficult for you to come forward. If there is responsibility, the ministers should take responsibility at the working level.”

“The key is who should take responsibility if the process of measures for national interest is wrong. Let’s not cut off the tail [avoid taking responsibility].”

“…….”

The Prime Minister, who attended, remained silent and watched.

* * *

National Assembly.

The leader of the opposition party raised his voice in a negotiation group speech from the podium.

“President Jung of the Hyunse Group has never been absent from the President’s domestic and international tours! He has monopolized only major construction orders such as highways, Vietnam construction, and nuclear power plants, monopolizing 90% of overseas orders. Where is such favoritism?”

The opposition party members responded.

“That’s right! It’s all-in.”

The encouraged leader of the opposition party raised the level of attack.

“The 5.88 million dollars (7 billion won) that came in from Vietnam was not deposited in the Innovation Enterprise Bank in Korea, and 4.95 million dollars of that money flowed into Hyunse. Isn’t this money laundering?”

The National Assembly was shaken by the specific figures.

“Look at this picture!”

It was a picture of the President and President Jung chatting and laughing at the Kennedy Space Center.

“Even this visit to the United States is the same. Why did President Jung, who runs a shipyard, follow the rocket launch? There were no other businessmen. This is a close relationship and isn’t it going to launder money? The President outwardly shouted fairness and ability, but behind the scenes, he took care of the black money bag like this. We demand an immediate National Assembly audit!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The leader of the ruling party gave a negotiation group speech.

“I have heard the opposition party leader’s request for a National Assembly audit. The ruling party, as a representative of the people, also demands an explanation that the people can accept if there are allegations. The ruling party also requests a National Assembly audit.”

The opposition party seats shook greatly.

“Huh? They’re requesting a National Assembly audit together?”

“What? The ruling party too?”

“Why don’t they oppose it?”

“How is this going? We’re losing strength.”

The plan to gather public attention by 밀당 [mildang – a Korean term for push and pull, or playing hard to get] with the opposing ruling party and then expose it was shaken from the beginning.

The leader of the opposition party said to the opposition party members.

“It won’t change anything. The ruling party’s attack is 물타기 [mul tagi – watering down, diluting]. We’ll see if it’s something to be so confident about.”

The front page of the evening newspaper that day was decorated with a photo of the President and President Jung taken together at the Kennedy Space Center, along with the opposition party leader’s allegations of collusion between politics and business and the ruling and opposition parties’ demands for a National Assembly audit as headlines.

The newspapers competed to publish speculative commentaries such as connections, scandals, and political funds between Hyunse and the Blue House.

* * *

Blue House Restaurant.

The President faced President Jung for dinner.

They were also having a drink.

President Jung said,

“I knew this day would come someday. But it came too quickly. Revolution has no procedure, but the political enemies follow the process.”

“Excuses won’t work, so it’s really frustrating. I knew the future and took preemptive action, but who can I complain to about this? In particular, a lot of slush funds go into diplomacy. If we expose this, diplomatic problems will arise. If we don’t keep diplomatic secrets, Korea will not be dealt with.”

“I fully agree, Your Excellency.”

“President Jung, how did you deal with this kind of situation during your term?”

“I explained it according to the procedure, but if the attacks continued, the Central Intelligence Agency took care of it. I once committed 초산 [chosan – a type of acid] terror against the opposition party’s floor leader. I also beat up the members who opposed the 삼선 [samseon – third term] amendment in Namsan [a mountain in Seoul].”

“…….”

“Looking back now, it was a dizzying act. It was an overheating of the aides’ loyalty competition, but I have no intention of excusing my responsibility. Your Excellency has declared that you will take a different path from me, how are you going to break through?”

“Well… I’m going to go all the way.”

“All the way? What do you mean?”

“Politicians often take action in the name of ‘for the country.’ I wonder if I’m the only one who’s 빠진 [ppajin – fallen] in such heroic fantasies, or if the people will make such a choice. I want to be 추인 [chuin – ratified] by the people on this occasion.”

“A whirlwind will sweep through the political situation. There is a high possibility that the North will use this opportunity to provoke or incite confusion.”

“When I was Chairman Wang, the worst harvest was raising children.”

“…….”

The President emptied his soju glass.

President Jung tilted the bottle to fill the glass and drank a glass himself.

The President said,

“The probability that the second and third generations of chaebols [family-owned conglomerates] will take over and do well is extremely low. Because they don’t have the ‘hungry spirit.’ Because there are no chaebols who raise their children hungry. They protect them from danger, reduce their difficulties, clean up their dirt, help them with difficulties, and raise them like precious flowers. The fault of the chaebol descendants is ultimately the fault of the chaebol father.”

“…….”

“The President will take responsibility to avoid the people’s suffering. This is no different from that idea. It’s like raising the people like flowers.”

“Ah….”

“I’m going to give the people a chance for direct democracy to judge directly.”

“I know what you mean. Lions drop their cubs off cliffs, and Spartans threw their children into the fields where wolves roam. You are right. The people must also become stronger. I learn a lot in many ways, Your Excellency.”

“What are you talking about? I’m working on President Jung’s foundation.”

The two toasted and emptied their glasses.

President Jung asked,

“What happened to Hyunse in the future? Who succeeded the president’s position?”

“I tried to avoid hereditary chaebols. And I’m going to dissolve it and spin it off.”

“Yes? Dissolution?”

“I was 정신이 번쩍 들었 [jeongsini beonjjeok deureot – suddenly struck by an idea] when I saw my children fighting over rice bowls. These guys are not running the company for the sake of society, but for their own rice bowls.”

“…….”

“So I tried to spin off the group by industry, hire talented experts through public recruitment, and entrust them to professional managers. But while I was fleeing overseas, they replaced all the executives with their own people. I was suddenly pushed out of the president’s position.”

“So you said it was a bad harvest.”

“I feel guilty that I couldn’t renew the octopus-style management and hereditary clan culture of Korean chaebols.”

“…….”

The chef brought out a spicy 동태 [dongtae – frozen] stew.

“I’ll have to have another bottle.”

“Let’s drink until our noses are crooked today. Hahaha.”

After the glasses turned two more rounds, the President asked Chairman Jung.

“Even if the president changes, you can just elect another one, so there are no vacancies, but if a company goes bankrupt, a foreign company will immediately fill the void. When you go to the National Assembly audit, please remain silent until cobwebs grow on your mouth. Pretend that the regime ordered you to do it.”

“…….”

“President Jung, do you have any thoughts of doing politics again?”

President Jung was 확 깼다 [hwak kkaetda – jolted awake] by the President’s unexpected question.

“Politics? Hahaha, when I 회귀 [hoegwi – regressed], I had severe motion sickness from the aftereffects of being president, but now I’m used to the company and I’m very comfortable. Thinking about it now, I don’t know why I was so 악을 [ageul – struggling] to extend my presidential term. I like it this way, Your Excellency.”

“Um, I just asked.”

The President drank a glass.

“Kuh~ The stew is good.”

* * *

National Assembly National Audit Hall.

A special national audit consisting of 11 special auditors from the ruling and opposition parties began for a week.

The Minister of Strategy and Finance explained.

“The Gyeongbu Expressway was ordered by Hyunse, and the construction is 2/3 complete with 23 billion won in foreign loans, 15 billion won in national budget, and 5 billion won in Innovation Bank loans out of 43 billion won.”

Opposition member Chu criticized.

“Is it possible for Hyunse to monopolize a 43 billion won project alone? It’s the privilege of privileges.”

“That’s… other companies gave up bidding.”

“How can you give up bidding on a huge project with 사운이 걸린 [sauni geollin – the fate of the company at stake]? Didn’t you put pressure on them?”

“As you know, the opposition party cut the highway budget, so we had to 강행 [ganghaeng – push forward] without the national budget in the first year. The ordering company had to endure at least 5 billion won of debt for a year.”

“…….”

“Hyunse Construction was the only construction company that bid.”

“Minister, does this make sense? Is the company doing construction on credit while ordering construction ordered by the government? The purpose of the company is profit. There must have been external pressure.”

“Please refer to the submitted bidding documents as they specify the participating companies and the ordering companies.”

“Who are you asking because you don’t know who will see this document?”

“…….”

Opposition member Chu asked the president of another construction company.

“I will ask the president of Daerin Construction. Were you at the Gyeongbu Expressway bidding site?”

“Yes.”

“Was there any external pressure or coercion?”

“That wasn’t the case. However, it was not just low bidding, but a huge minus bidding from the beginning, so I gave up bidding.”

“Hmm….”

The opposition member, who lost face, finally called President Jung.

“President Jung, answer the questions without any lies.”

“Yes.”

He was a member of the National Assembly who didn’t even 겸상 [gyeomsang – eat at the same table] when he was president, but now he was about to be 당하려니 [dangharyeoni – be subjected to] by the same scolding, so he was 배알이 뒤틀렸다 [baeari dwiteullyeotda – his insides were twisted].

He barely suppressed it and tried to save his words as much as possible.