The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 316

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – 316

Rising (5)

A secluded Korean restaurant in Jamsil [a district in Seoul].

Arriving right on time for the appointment, the staff recognized me immediately and led the way.

“Has the guest arrived?”

“Yes, he arrived 30 minutes ago.”

He must have been quite anxious.

Opening the door, Chairman Woo Gun-young of WG [a fictional conglomerate] jumped up from his seat to greet me.

“You’ve arrived, Attorney.”

I bowed my head slightly in response.

“Good evening, Chairman.”

After a brief handshake, I took a seat.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“Not at all. I just arrived myself.”

Suppressing a smile, I picked up the liquor bottle first.

“Let me pour you a drink.”

“Ah, yes.”

I silently filled his glass.

After he emptied his glass, I spoke first.

“I’m sorry, Chairman.”

“……Yes?”

“You’re going through a lot of trouble because of me, aren’t you?”

“Ah, no.”

Chairman Woo Gun-young’s face clearly showed his embarrassment.

As the head of a major conglomerate, he was used to throwing his weight around, but today he must have come prepared to play the subordinate.

Since the case was attracting so much public attention, he would naturally realize that provoking me would only hurt him.

Even though they usually act high and mighty, when it comes to issues involving significant interests like this, *chaebols* [large, family-controlled industrial conglomerates in South Korea] are the most sensitive.

They know all too well that knowing when to bow down is advantageous for protecting their vested interests.

That’s why he must have been willing to humble himself, even while feeling frustrated.

He probably expected me to be stern and prickly, as I usually am.

But since I was unexpectedly approaching him with a gentle and mild attitude, he couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

I continued to speak softly.

“I also regret that we had to file a lawsuit against WG Group.”

He was still trying to figure out the situation.

“But it was an unavoidable choice for a better future.”

“I can understand your position, Attorney, but…”

Chairman Woo Gun-young carefully opened his mouth, watching my reaction.

“In this situation, it seems like it could go beyond just changing the treatment of non-regular workers and even lead to a boycott.”

He continued immediately.

“Ah, but I’m not here to complain. It’s just that, given our situation, I wanted to talk with you and find a way to resolve this…”

“Haven’t we come too far for that?”

I put down my glass and leaned back.

“The lawsuit has already been filed, and the public’s attention is focused on it. As you said, there’s even the spark of a boycott. And it’s a long-term one.”

His head nodded heavily.

“You know that Namjeong Dairy has been in the red for over two years due to the public boycott caused by their abuse of power, right?”

To make matters worse, their stock price has been cut in half.

Namjeong Group’s ranking among major corporations used to be among the top, but it’s been outside the top 10 for a long time.

Chairman Woo Gun-young slowly nodded.

“Yes, I know.”

Of course, even with a gentle tone, I had to maintain a clear upper hand.

A mild attitude and the relationship between the superior and subordinate are separate matters.

“But if this lawsuit doesn’t stop here and continues, who do you think will suffer the most?”

He bit his lip tightly.

“But considering the outcome of the trial…”

“Do you think I would consider it a loss even if I lose the case?”

I said firmly without a moment’s hesitation.

“Absolutely not. Rather, I would become a national hero who fought for the common people against a large corporation but ultimately lost to injustice.”

He pondered over which words to choose before finally speaking with difficulty.

“However, since things can change, I was thinking that if we could come to a good agreement, we might be able to turn things around in a positive direction…”

He was already backing down.

At this point, there was no need to push harder.

“That’s right. You’re absolutely right.”

I nodded.

Then, I leaned forward towards the table again.

“Do you know why I came to see you today, Chairman?”

“……I suppose it’s thanks to Assemblyman Lee Doo-hyung’s request.”

“Doo-hyung’s influence certainly played a part, but that’s not the whole story.”

I twisted my lips slightly and began to get down to business.

“If I were only looking at today, I wouldn’t have come at all. And even if I had come, I wouldn’t have had such a pleasant conversation. Instead, I would have brought reporters and made sure your face was plastered all over the news tomorrow morning.”

I glared sharply, twisting one corner of my mouth.

“Accusing you of trying to reach a secret agreement behind the scenes.”

“Then why…”

“Let’s look a little further ahead. Frankly speaking, you’re not the kind of person who should be involved in such trivial matters, are you?”

Chairman Woo Gun-young’s eyebrows twitched.

“I mean, let’s draw a bigger picture, like planning for the grand scheme that will unfold starting next winter.”

“Next winter, you mean…”

His eyes darted around, and then his pupils suddenly widened.

“Could it be that you, Attorney…”

Instead of answering, I smirked.

“That’s enough.”

I stopped him from saying more.

“I won’t say any more.”

Chairman Woo Gun-young’s face was filled with surprise.

Although I didn’t say it out loud, he must have realized it from this conversation.

That I wasn’t just going to remain a lawyer.

Rather, being a lawyer was just a stepping stone for me.

“I’m not suggesting that WG Group should become a scapegoat.”

He quietly listened to my words.

“You knew that this issue was bound to explode sooner or later, didn’t you?”

“That’s true, but it happened sooner than I expected…”

“So, let’s have WG take a small loss this time. If I help you out later, it won’t be a complete loss, will it? In fact, it will be a gain.”

At the same time, Chairman Woo Gun-young’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Think big. Think strategically.”

Immediately, his eyes changed to those of a businessman.

“May I ask what specific assistance you can provide?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“…….”

“However, one thing is certain.”

I put strength into my voice and said.

“I have never broken a promise I’ve made. You know that much, don’t you?”

Everyone who has set foot in politics knows that fact.

“I know.”

I refilled his glass again.

“And I don’t want to remain in such a conventional relationship.”

“Then…”

“Isn’t it impersonal to just give and take once in a simple business relationship? Let’s have a deeper relationship.”

Only then did Chairman Woo Gun-young’s eyes crinkle.

He must have realized it for sure now.

That today’s meeting was not just about negotiating with the non-regular workers’ union.

But it would be the starting line for me to build a strong relationship with WG Group.

“Thank you for the offer, Attorney.”

He smiled broadly like a *Hahoe* mask [a traditional Korean mask used in dances and rituals, known for its exaggerated smile] and raised his glass.

I crinkled my nose and emptied my glass in one gulp.

That was enough about our relationship.

After all, what I would hand over to him was one of the national projects, where numerous large corporations compete, and whoever pours in the most bribes determines whether they win the project or not.

If I could seize the presidency, such a project would be worth handing over.

However, the meeting couldn’t end like this.

The problems of the non-regular workers’ union, who trusted and entrusted me, had to be resolved.

“And I need to talk a little more about the initial issue…”

“Yes, please speak.”

“First, I would like you to convert those who have worked for a certain number of years into regular employees.”

“We will convert those with more than 5 years of service into regular employees.”

“Let’s make it 3 years.”

He stroked his chin and nodded.

“Alright.”

“And I won’t stop you from hiring non-regular workers on 11-month contracts, but when you extend the contract, you should change your internal regulations to properly apply severance pay based on the amount of work they’ve done.”

“You mean pay based on the total number of months worked?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He accepted it coolly.

“Alright. We will do that.”

I had to settle things properly here.

If WG Group’s policy changes according to the agreement I made with him today, other large corporations will naturally take notice and try to follow WG.

If I handle this ambiguously, it will inevitably hold me back when I run for president later.

“Then, can we announce this tomorrow?”

“No. We still need a little more public attention.”

“Ah…….”

He sighed softly and nodded.

This case is a stepping stone for my presidential bid.

If it ends too anticlimactically, it won’t have an impact on the public.

“But if we drag it out too long, WG will suffer a greater loss, so…”

I said the date I had in mind.

“Let’s do it the day before the first trial. That way, it will be easier to withdraw the lawsuit.”

About a week from now, that would be just right.

“Alright. We will announce it on the date you mentioned.”

“Thank you.”

“No, I am more grateful for this offer.”

He raised his eyebrows and smiled.

“I look forward to working with you, Attorney.”

***

One week later.

WG officially announced the details of the agreement with me, without a single deviation.

-WG Group, virtually declares surrender… Agreement exceeding the demands of the non-regular workers’ union achieved!

-On the day before the first trial, WG Group promised to meet the demands of the non-regular workers’ union, effectively raising a white flag. Two days ago, Attorney Choi Seo-joon, the lawyer for the non-regular workers’ union, was seen officially entering WG Group’s headquarters, and it is presumed that the negotiations at that time brought about a significant result. The data released by WG Group is as follows.

1. Non-regular workers will be treated equally to regular workers in terms of welfare.

2. …….

These terms are far more favorable than the conditions initially demanded by the non-regular workers’ union, which surprised many people. It is believed that this is due to the fact that Choi Seo-joon, a prominent figure, took on the case and was mindful of the growing public opinion, but also that Choi Seo-joon’s negotiations were highly effective. In addition, it has been revealed that the non-regular workers’ union has withdrawn its lawsuit as of today. Accordingly, the return to work of non-regular workers will proceed tomorrow…….

-No.1 Economic Reporter Im Yoon-ah

There was no need to look at the comments.

It was literally praise for me itself.

-This is amazing. Totally insane, lol.

-Choi Seo-joon seems to be possessed by Seo-hee [likely a reference to a powerful or influential figure].

-Wow, WG is so scared, lol. Agreement before the trial. Is this the power of Choi Seo-joon?

-Let’s make Choi Seo-joon the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Let’s handle frustrating diplomacy in such a cool way!

-Ah, please take me, Attorney Choi Seo-joon ㅠㅠ

-Seriously, run for the next presidential election. I’m from Daegu [a city in South Korea], so I’ve always been a supporter of the Min-guk Party, but if Choi Seo-joon runs, I’ll vote for him even if he’s running under the Daehan Party.

-I’ve never seen a large corporation negotiate terms that are better than what the workers demanded. It’s really crazy.

-Could it be that Choi Seo-joon was possessed by his prosecutor days and found WG’s corruption and took it with him? lol

-ㄴ If that’s the case, it’s really possible. Considering Choi Seo-joon’s abilities, 인정~ [a Korean slang term meaning ” 인정합니다” which translates to “I acknowledge/agree”].

-The implications of this negotiation are huge. Other large corporations will definitely take notice and have no choice but to improve the treatment of non-regular workers. They won’t be able to use tricks like WG in the future.

-ㄴ I’m a non-regular worker, so will my treatment get better?

-ㄴ Even if you’re a subcontractor, it will definitely get better if you’re at least directly affiliated with a large corporation.

-Hooray for Attorney Choi Seo-joon, who protects the dreams and hopes of the common people, really!

-Choi Seo-joon to the National Assembly!

-How can Choi Seo-joon go to the National Assembly? He should go to the Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president] at least!

The public sentiment is turning towards me.

All I have to do is keep going like this.

Occasionally announce news through minor cases.

And one big case.

One big case that will capture the hearts of the people.

That’s enough.

The summit is not far away.

The Blue House.

The grand mansion in Jongno [a district in Seoul] with its blue roof.

The image of me entering the Blue House is becoming clearer and clearer.