The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 93

재벌총수가 대통령으로 회귀함1967 재벌총수가 대통령으로 회귀함 1967-93화(93/225)

93. Expose!

Minister Jeong greeted him respectfully.

“You’ve come a long way, Prime Minister! This is the President of the Republic of Korea.”

Following Minister Jeong’s introduction, the President of South Korea and the Prime Minister of North Korea met and shook hands.

“Prime Minister, welcome. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh, Your Excellency, it’s a pleasure to meet you too. Pyongyang isn’t that far away.”

“It was the hearts that were distant, not the distance.”

“Hahaha, the weather is so nice, even the sky seems to welcome us.”

The reporters’ cameras flashed.

Click! Click!

Bang!

Many people had great expectations for the meeting between the leaders of South and North Korea.

However, the two who had regressed were calm because they knew the outcome better than anyone else. [Those who had ‘regressed’ likely refer to characters who have traveled back in time and thus know future events.]

There was nothing to expect from a small number of meetings and conspiracies where South and North Korean citizens did not freely interact.

The talks ended amicably.

Without issuing a separate statement, they agreed to have regular exchanges between high-ranking officials from South and North Korea.

Of course, North Korea was focused on industrial exchanges because of oil.

As Minister Jeong’s photo, which bridged the gap between the two leaders, was published in the newspaper, Minister Jeong’s visit to Pyongyang in the past was mentioned again, and his popularity soared.

It was the achievement of the goal.

*

Inside the ruling party.

The presidential candidate nomination committee was accepting applications for the presidential election.

A total of 11 people, including the party leader, had completed their applications.

The nomination committee chairman said to the committee members.

“The structure is two strong and two medium.”

“Isn’t it one strong and three medium? The party leader is the most likely candidate.”

Leader Lee had abandoned his party post to run.

“The Busan Mayor is also strong. He’s a likeable figure in his 40s, full of energy.”

“It will be a battle between the old and new generations.”

“It will be interesting to watch.”

At that time, as the deadline approached, Minister Jeong appeared with the documents.

“It’s not over yet, is it?”

The nomination committee chairman was surprised to see him.

“Don’t tell me you’re applying too, Minister?”

“Yes, I’ve come to apply as a candidate.”

Not only the nomination committee members around him but also the reporters who were covering the event flocked to him.

“You’ve never been involved in politics, have you?”

“Even if it wasn’t obvious, I’m an experienced person.”

“…….”

He was a former president, but to those who didn’t know about the regression, he was just seen as a businessman and administrator.

“The people don’t want outdated politics. I am a politician who has added management skills and administrative power. This time, I will prove it with political power.”

“Haha, you’re very confident. Do you have His Excellency’s permission?”

“Yes, my resignation as minister has just been accepted. And look at the recommendation section there.”

The President’s name was written in bold in the recommendation section.

“His Excellency?”

The reporters took pictures of the recommendation section.

Click!

The documents were accepted, and a reporter asked Minister Jeong.

“As a minister from a business background with no political experience, why are you running for president?”

“Experience isn’t about age, but about experience itself. I have experience as a businessman and as a minister. I am going to use this experience to challenge national management this time. Doesn’t His Excellency also manage it as (Co.) Republic of Korea? Besides, I am the only candidate who has experienced both South and North Korea. Do you need any more experience?”

The reporters wrote diligently.

“The President is your recommender; did you have His Excellency’s permission?”

“His Excellency’s encouragement was a great motivation. I also wrote a letter of resignation as minister.”

“Are you saying that the President directly encouraged you?”

“That’s right.”

“What policies are you planning to implement?”

“I will inherit the current President’s merit-based Republic of Korea’s philosophy of state affairs and policies as they are. I will also complete the sluggish political reform without fail.”

Among the articles on the ruling party’s presidential candidate registration that appeared in the newspaper the next day, Minister Jeong’s declaration of candidacy was by far the most talked about.

As the President’s approval rating was high, and the President’s halo [referring to the positive influence or popularity of the President] was known, he immediately entered the ranks of the top three.

Minister Jeong’s political power was put to the test.

Meanwhile, the opposition party opened the presidential candidate race earlier than the ruling party to take the lead in the issue.

More than 10 candidates registered and competed, but the competition was quickly narrowed down to a three-way battle between three candidates in their 40s.

*

Ruling party leader’s office.

The party leader said.

“Everyone wants to be president. Times have become too good.”

“The more, the better. The more people run, the more advantageous it is for you, Party Leader. Opinion polls also strongly predict a scenario in which you, Party Leader, will face off against Representative Bang from the opposition party. In the polls for a two-way race between the ruling and opposition parties, you, Party Leader, are slightly ahead.”

The party leader had the most members of the National Assembly in his faction, so he was overwhelmingly dominant in the party member election.

The party leader’s shoulders swelled as he came out ahead in the ruling and opposition party match-up.

The party leader said.

“I saw that article too. But why is the approval rating of the current president, who is at the end of his term, so high compared to the presidential candidates? What is 67%?”

“I don’t know. What’s even more unpleasant is that more than half of the people approve of the current president’s re-election. If it weren’t for the constitution, you wouldn’t have been able to run this time, Party Leader.”

“That’s why the law is good. Power, you know, should be shared in turn.”

He showed a double-dealing attitude of insisting on unlimited terms for members of the National Assembly, without feeling any pangs of conscience.

“Okay, aide, let’s set up a campaign camp now. Ah, now you’re the public relations director.”

“Yes, candidate!”

*

The ruling party’s presidential candidate’s eight-province primary began.

The President watched with great interest how Minister Jeong’s political experience from his previous life would be demonstrated.

The party member primary vote started in Jeju Island.

Among the party members, the candidates gave speeches in turn.

Number 1, Leader Lee gave a passionate speech.

“It’s not just youngsters who are youngsters, everyone! A person who runs a company without political experience, becomes a minister out of the blue, and suddenly wants to go to the Blue House [the Korean equivalent of the White House] is also a youngster, everyone! A political veteran who has led the party as a five-term leader must come forward as the ruling party’s representative to win, everyone!”

Number 2, Mayor Choi also shouted.

“Revolution is good, and reform is good, but radical reforms that try to overturn the parliament overnight are nothing more than a coup against the parliament. We will take the lead in the independence of the parliament without government intervention, party members!”

Finally, number 12, it was Candidate Jeong’s turn.

Candidate Jeong’s first strategy in the primary was to expose.

“The political reform law for honorary positions is becoming vague due to the conspiracy between the ruling and opposition parties. Why do I say it’s a conspiracy between the ruling and opposition parties? Not long ago, a certain party leader came to the President and made a devilish proposal to the effect that if the National Assembly reform law was abolished, the ruling and opposition parties would agree to the President’s third-term constitutional amendment.”

From the first word, the mega-ton level exposure caused the audience to fluctuate greatly as if they had encountered a storm.

Not only the participating party members but also the 11 candidates buzzed.

In particular, Leader Lee, who had met with the President alone, was restless.

The exposure continued.

“Of course, the President rejected it outright. Then, the ruling and opposition lawmakers did not come to their senses, but rather stalled the National Assembly during the remaining term, delaying the submission and passage of the reform law. That’s why the plenary session is not being held while the ruling and opposition parties are pretending to be in conflict in 8 standing committees and 1 special committee, party members!”

The ordinary National Assembly members without party positions who were listening were shocked.

That’s because the boycott conspiracy was only agreed upon by the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, so they were completely unaware of this and staged a breakdown according to the party line set by the leaders.

If Candidate Jeong’s words were true, the ordinary members were completely used.

Candidate Jeong asked the party members.

“If we limit the terms of National Assembly members, abolish aides, cut salaries to make them honorary positions, increase the number of members in proportion to the population, and revive the local autonomy system, a large number of new politicians will increase. But who would benefit the most from blocking this?”

“…….”

“A handful of leaders are only filling their own pockets, everyone! The party members, party officials, aides, and aspiring politicians here are being fundamentally blocked from serving, everyone!”

Clap, clap, clap!

Beep~

Well done~

Applause and cheers erupted.

It properly poked at the festering dissatisfaction of people who dreamed of politics while taking care of National Assembly members.

“Jeong Joo-hyun! Jeong Joo-hyun!”

Even party members belonging to the National Assembly members shouted for Candidate Jeong with one heart.

The Prime Minister protested to the steering committee member.

“This is a foul! Is it okay to fabricate and spread such groundless rumors in the presidential primary? He’s a minister, not a member of the National Assembly, so he doesn’t have immunity. Stop him right now!”

The steering committee member approached Candidate Jeong and whispered.

“Other candidates are asking for sanctions, saying it’s a groundless smear campaign. What is the basis for this news? Do you have any evidence?”

“Did the party leader protest?”

“Well, I can’t reveal it.”

“I’ll give you my speaking time, so tell the party leader to protest to me directly and officially.”

The party leader, who heard the steering committee member’s message, grabbed the microphone.

“Ahem, ahem, it is true that I met with His Excellency alone, but what you are saying now is an extreme exaggeration and distortion. Is it okay to deceive party members with such rumors?”

Suddenly, it turned into a truth game.

“Shall we? I heard it directly from His Excellency. If necessary, I will ask His Excellency to explain it directly. Then the truth of my exposure will be proven, right?”

The party leader’s face turned red and he made excuses.

“It is absolutely not true that the ruling and opposition parties are deliberately boycotting the National Assembly, party members! The ruling and opposition parties are doing their best to create reform bills that the people want. Candidate Jeong is lying now, everyone!”

Candidate Jeong said.

“Stop the hypocrisy, water-muddying [obfuscating the truth], and negativity! Are you going to keep using such low-level political tricks? Is that political experience?”

“…….”

“That sincerity will be judged by whether or not the political reform law is passed as originally proposed. We cannot tolerate the fact that the ruling and opposition leaders are colluding to block more political opportunities! If I become president, I will propose a reform bill that is more strengthened than the original bill to greatly increase political opportunities, party members!”

After the controversy, the Jeju Island party member vote began.

Because it was the analog age, party members had to come to the designated polling place in person for two days to vote.

It was a long journey that would take more than a month to complete the national vote.

The Jeju Island vote count was released.

Candidate Jeong received 32%, the party leader received 28%, and the Busan Mayor received 10%.

Breaking expectations, political novice Candidate Jeong caused a sensation by taking first place in the first primary.

It was the result of the support of ordinary party members and ordinary members of the National Assembly.

Candidate Jeong put a bouquet of flowers around his neck and bowed to the party members.

“Thank you, everyone! This is just the beginning! I will definitely complete political reform!”

*

That evening, the President interviewed the news director of a broadcasting station and the editor of a newspaper.

The news director asked.

“In the process of the ruling party’s presidential candidate primary in Jeju Island, Candidate Jeong Joo-hyun exposed facts related to Your Excellency. Have you ever received a proposal to the effect that if you give up the political reform law, the ruling and opposition parties will agree to the President’s third-term constitutional amendment?”

“Well, unfortunately, it’s true. Candidate Jeong’s words are not wrong in the slightest.”

“You refused?”

“Of course. Political advancement is the future of the country, but the president and members of the National Assembly cannot conspire and share positions.”

The President’s interview was published as a breaking news story in that day’s evening newspaper.

It spread like wildfire.

Voices criticizing not only the ruling party leader but also the ruling and opposition leaders were heard across the country.