The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 153

Trojan Horse (5)

December 14, 2021.

On a day when snow fell softly, I finished getting ready for work and put on my shoes.

“I’m off.”

“Have a good day.”

Unlike usual, Han Ji-yu gave me a warm hug.

“Why the sudden affection?”

“It’s Hug Day today. December 14th.”

She smiled brightly and waved.

“See you later.”

“Yeah. Be careful filming; it’s cold out.”

“Don’t forget your scarf either, Oppa [an honorific used by women to address older brothers or male friends].”

“Okay.”

I waved to Han Ji-yu and immediately pulled out my phone.

I called Reporter Park Su-hyeong as I walked to the parking lot.

-Yes, Seo-jun.

“I enjoyed today’s paper.”

-We’re getting great traction online too. It’s the top real-time search term since this morning.

“Good momentum. Let’s wrap things up before the year ends.”

-That’s the plan. I’ll keep the pressure on.

“Understood. I’ll contact you again this afternoon.”

-Yes, take care.

I ended the call feeling good. The morning news was promising.

I checked the mobile internet on my phone and, as he said, the real-time search terms on major portal sites were dominated by ‘Somangwon,’ ‘Seo Gi-ung,’ ‘Lee Young-mi,’ and ‘Prosecution Corruption.’

The orphanage remodeling was completed yesterday and immediately featured in the WK Daily. This morning, it was the front-page story.

The articles detailed how Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung pressured junior prosecutors to make mandatory donations and how his wife, Director Lee Young-mi, misused that money.

I heard from Prosecutor Jang Ha-young that the twenty or so prosecutors targeted by reporters had started a crisis meeting. But what could they accomplish gathering like a disorganized mob?

They could only fret and get picked apart.

Among them, Prosecutor Oh Jun-min, supposedly the ringleader, had already spoken with Prosecutor Jang Ha-young and submitted his resignation just before the article broke, fleeing the scene.

I heard that the others, upon hearing this news, were demoralized and unable to reach any conclusions.

Of course, Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung was under the most pressure.

He was not only accused of forcing unwanted donations but also of corruption. He must have been utterly dumbfounded and furious.

But what could he do? The evidence was already stacked against him.

From his perspective, it must have felt like a crushing blow.

The world was white with falling snow, and the roads were icy, making driving difficult, but I hummed a tune all the way to the office.

When I arrived at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, listening to Christmas carols, there were, as expected, reporters camped out.

Perhaps because I had been in the media spotlight so often, the reporters recognized my car and swarmed around, blocking the way.

“Prosecutor, please say a word!”

“Chief Choi, what’s your view on this case?”

“Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung is known for his integrity, so this is even more shocking. Were you aware of this corruption?”

“Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun, were you also pressured to donate?”

The reporters crowded around the car window, holding out microphones.

I honked repeatedly, but they didn’t budge.

In reality, I was enjoying this situation, but I feigned annoyance, opened the window slightly, and spoke my true feelings.

“I don’t know the truth, but isn’t it the way of the Republic of Korea that those who commit crimes are punished?”

I winked and gestured to the side.

“I’ve said my piece, so please move aside now.”

Like the parting of the Red Sea, I drove into the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, passing through the reporters who had split to both sides.

***

-I have never forced junior prosecutors to donate money, nor have I given them any special favors.

Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung, standing at the press conference, firmly denied the allegations that had surfaced since yesterday.

-Furthermore, we will take strong legal action against WK Daily, which has raised these allegations…

“He’s coming on pretty strong?”

Jang Ha-young, who was watching TV, said with her arms crossed.

“He must be incredibly frustrated.”

“That’s right. From his perspective, he probably believes it’s all baseless. He probably talked to his wife at home yesterday, right? Director Lee Young-mi herself probably doesn’t know about the embezzlement, so it’s normal for him to react like this.”

More than anything, Reporter Park Su-hyeong from WK Daily wrote the article so openly, so he must have realized that I was behind this.

The anger of Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung, visible on the screen, would be directed entirely at me.

I chuckled and leaned back on the sofa.

“Let’s watch and see what else he says.”

Prosecutor Jang Ha-young also smiled and turned her gaze to the TV.

“Yes.”

Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung spoke through gritted teeth on the screen.

-I don’t know where these rumors came from, but in the thirty years since I entered the prosecution, there have been many temptations, and I have always resisted them.

-So, you are denying all the facts reported in the articles?

-Yes. I deny everything. I pride myself on being clean.

At that moment, Park Su-hyeong raised his hand and shouted.

-I am Park Su-hyeong, a reporter from WK Daily.

Instantly, silence fell over the press conference, and everyone’s attention turned to him.

He was the one who raised the allegations against Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung.

-I believe you’re finished speaking. May I ask a question?

The eyes of Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung, looking at him, began to tremble.

His teeth were grinding so hard that the anger was palpable even through the screen.

However, Park Su-hyeong continued to speak nonchalantly without being intimidated.

-According to my investigation, I heard that you called all twenty prosecutors who donated to your office. Is that true?

It was a fact I had told him.

I could barely suppress a chuckle.

Prosecutor Jang Ha-young, who knew the truth, also had a slight smile on her face.

Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung clenched his fist tightly and answered.

-I called them to my office after they donated. I called them to tell them that I could not give them any special favors because they had donated without my knowledge.

-You said that you couldn’t give them special favors because they donated without your knowledge, so in other words, if they donate with your knowledge, you would give them special favors?

-I mean that if I had known, I would have prevented the donation itself. Don’t twist my words.

However, Reporter Park Su-hyeong raised his eyebrows and replied.

-Ah, so you did meet and talk to the twenty prosecutors who donated in your office. It would be legally accurate to write the article like that, right?

“Wow…”

Prosecutor Jang Ha-young exclaimed without realizing it.

“Reporter Park is really amazing.”

“He’s the best in this field in that respect. He’s like a moth drawn to a flame.”

Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung glared at Reporter Park Su-hyeong as if he wanted to kill him and answered.

-I repeat, I have never forced anyone to give money, nor have I given any special favors or disadvantages.

However, not satisfied with this, he emphasized while looking at the camera.

-Furthermore, if the alleged shoddy construction, construction irregularities, and embezzlement at the orphanage run by my wife, which is causing controversy, are found to be true, I will step down from my position as chief prosecutor.”

“He’s making a self-destructive move.”

“I agree.”

Prosecutor Jang Ha-young unfolded her arms and turned to me.

“Shall we prepare a follow-up report?”

“No, I’ll take the lead this time. It would be better to finish it cleanly, wouldn’t it?”

I smirked and got up from my seat.

“Let it be known that the Special Investigation Department will be in charge of this case.”

“Understood.”

***

“Hello, I am Choi Seo-jun, the chief prosecutor of the Special Investigation Department of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.”

Exactly one week after Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung’s press conference, I stood at the podium this time.

The data had been prepared long ago, but I deliberately delayed, giving the media time to investigate.

“It has been determined that Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung did not give special favors to the twenty prosecutors who donated to Somangwon, nor did he disadvantage those who did not donate.”

I laid the groundwork with the facts and immediately moved to the main subject.

“However, at Somangwon, which is run by Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung’s wife, Director Lee Young-mi, embezzlement through a fraudulent contract has been confirmed, and Neulbit Construction has admitted this fact. In addition, the operations team leader of Somangwon also confessed that he had no choice but to accept the shoddy construction due to the director’s instructions, and that Director Lee Young-mi took the resulting unfair profits.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a barrage of flashes went off.

“Director Lee Young-mi strongly argues that she did not give any instructions, but Neulbit Construction also confirmed that they contacted Lee Young-mi and received instructions for shoddy construction, so it is judged that the credibility of Lee Young-mi’s claim is low.”

It was a short but impactful statement.

In other words, it was an admission that Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung may not have known, but his wife did commit a crime.

“I’ll take questions.”

As if they had been waiting, the reporters reached out their hands, and I pointed to one of them.

“I’m Choi Seong-tae from Politics No. 1. Then, will the twenty prosecutors not be punished?”

“That part will be handled through additional investigation. The decision on whether or not to punish them will depend on whether they donated with the intention of receiving special favors or not.”

In fact, the punishment for these people is no longer in my hands.

I’m leaving it to Prosecutor Jeong Hyeon-woo to either force them out or transfer them to remote provinces.

Perhaps within a few days, Prosecutor Jeong Hyeon-woo will bring the results of catching those twenty prosecutors to the Special Investigation Department.

It will be an even more rewarding winter.

After receiving a few questions from the reporters, I finished the press conference.

“That’s all.”

As I came out of the press conference, Prosecutor Jang Ha-young handed me a coat as if she had been waiting.

“You worked hard, Chief.”

“Prosecutor Jang, you worked hard too.”

“No. I just added a spoon to the table that the chief has set.”

She smiled brightly.

“Did Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung come to work today?”

“Yes. I heard he arrived right at 9 o’clock.”

“He must be watching the press conference in the chief prosecutor’s office.”

“He probably is.”

Now, Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung has only two options.

Believe in his wife’s innocence and wait until his honor is restored.

Or, step down from his position as chief prosecutor, as he said, before his honor is further tarnished.

Whatever he chooses, the fact remains that I will be the winner of this game.

At that moment, my phone rang.

Looking at the caller ID, my head tilted in surprise.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung?”

Even after double-checking, it was Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung.

I just finished the press conference, and he’s calling.

I don’t know his purpose, but I answered.

“Yes, this is Choi Seo-jun.”

-Chief Choi.

His low voice came through the phone.

“Yes, Chief Prosecutor.”

-Let’s talk for a moment. Come to the chief prosecutor’s office.

“Understood.”

As soon as I finished the call, Prosecutor Jang Ha-young frowned and asked.

“What’s going on?”

“He wants to see me.”

“Perhaps…”

“No. No matter how angry he is, Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-ung wouldn’t do anything rash.”

I entrusted the documents I was holding to her.

“Put them on my desk.”

“Understood.”

I turned my back on Prosecutor Jang Ha-young and headed to the chief prosecutor’s office.