The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 95

Clam and Plover (1)

“The military?”

“Yes, sir. Upon confirmation, candidate Kyung Dong-soo was found to be a draft dodger, sir.”

“Deputy Chief Lee, are you deliberately using that ‘military’ tone?”

“…Sorry, sir.”

Deputy Chief Lee Doo-hyung, seemingly proud of his attempt at humor, scratched his head in embarrassment.

The material he had prepared concerned military service.

Upon closer inspection, the documents indicated that candidate Kyung Dong-soo had been exempted from active duty due to health issues.

He had no record of military service, and none of his brothers had served either.

“You know that the military is a more sensitive issue than anything else for men, right? This has to be airtight.”

“I know, sir. That’s why I’ve prepared multiple escape routes.”

“Escape routes?”

“Yes, sir.”

He nodded with a confident expression.

“In reality, he had no health problems but received an exemption. The stated reason is a back issue, but candidate Kyung Dong-soo has virtually no record of receiving treatment for his back at any hospital.”

“Then that’s military corruption. That’s not an escape route, that’s a dead end.”

I had to pause.

The military, the most sensitive topic for men in their 20s and 30s.

A presidential candidate being exempt, not even serving as a public service worker or a reservist.

If the exemption was unjustified, many people would undoubtedly become enraged and hurl malicious accusations.

While it’s true that we need something to shake Kyung Dong-soo, it shouldn’t be an arrow that strikes his heart.

However, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung smiled as if he had anticipated this.

“Yes, it is military corruption.”

“Then why are you smiling?”

“Because it’s the Ministry of National Defense’s corruption, not Kyung Dong-soo’s.”

“What do you mean?”

“Kyung Dong-soo’s uncle defected to North Korea.”

“Defected?”

“Yes.”

He explained with a glint in his eyes.

“Because a family member defected, it seems they blocked him from serving in the military altogether, citing impure political ideology. All of Kyung Dong-soo’s brothers received military exemptions for the same reason.”

“But the exemption reason is listed as health?”

“Yes. Back then, they were reluctant to let news of a citizen defecting to North Korea spread, so they manipulated the documents to appear health-related.”

Thirty-three years ago, in the late 1980s, during President Chun Doo-hwan’s regime.

It was plausible enough.

Which would make it easier for the public to sympathize with and accept.

Of course, considering Kyung Dong-soo’s political career, he has lived a life completely unrelated to North Korea, so it shouldn’t cause him much harm, but you never know.

If he’s involved in North Korea-related issues, the problem could become serious. With a case like this, I should probably talk to Kyung Dong-soo directly.

“Alright. I’ll look into this and decide whether to release it soon.”

“Yes, sir. And just in case, I’ve also prepared something on Nam Moon-seok.”

Deputy Chief Lee Doo-hyung produced additional materials.

“Information on Nam Moon-seok related to the military.”

Nam Moon-seok’s information?

I quickly scanned the documents he handed over.

Information about Nam Moon-seok’s son completing his military service as a reservist [a member of a military reserve force].

Deputy Chief Lee Doo-hyung leaned forward and provided additional explanation.

“Nam Moon-seok’s son retook the college entrance exam.”

“Retook the exam?”

“Yes.”

He continued with a twinkle in his eye.

“He grew up with his grandparents in the countryside since he was young. But when he decided to retake the exam, he came to Seoul at the age of twenty.”

Wait a minute.

This isn’t about Kyung Dong-soo; this is more interesting?

“Tell me more.”

“Isn’t it unusual to leave your grandmother’s house and register a new address just to live temporarily while retaking the exam?”

“That’s right.”

“So, he lived at Nam Moon-seok’s house in Seoul for a year, commuting to Noryangjin [a district in Seoul famous for its cram schools] to study, and after retaking the exam, he received a notification for reservist duty.”

“So, he didn’t transfer his address back and went straight into the reservist program.”

“Correct. He and his parents must have thought they’d struck gold.”

If this happened among ordinary citizens, it wouldn’t be illegal; it would just be considered ‘lucky’ or ‘enviable,’ but it’s different in the political arena.

If politicians receive even a slight benefit related to the military, there are plenty of citizens ready to pounce.

It might not be enough to bring down Nam Moon-seok, but it’s enough to secure a solid base of ‘anti’ fans.

Releasing Kyung Dong-soo’s past military issues is a bit risky, but if it can damage Nam Moon-seok, it’s worth the risk.

Just then, I noticed Deputy Chief Lee Doo-hyung’s face, full of confidence and yearning for my praise.

He has grown so much compared to before.

Even without being told, he understood the situation and was doing his best to achieve what I asked.

He deserves praise.

“Very well done.”

It was only a short compliment of five words, but Deputy Chief Lee Doo-hyung bowed his head gratefully, as if he had been fully compensated for all the hard work he had put into finding this information.

“I will work harder.”

I smiled lightly, gathered the documents, and stood up.

“Then I’ll let you know as soon as I confirm.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

***

Not long after requesting a meeting or phone call with Kyung Dong-soo through Assemblyman Hwang Cheol-yong, saying I had something urgent to discuss, I received a call from an unfamiliar number.

“Hello, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

-This is Kyung Dong-soo.

The same voice I heard the first time.

However, I wasn’t as shocked as before, so I was able to maintain a calm expression.

“Is this the Mayor’s direct line?”

-It’s a burner phone set up for confidential calls… but yes, it’s my direct line. You can contact me through this number from now on.

He briefly explained and immediately got to the point.

-I heard you had something urgent to tell me.

“Yes, I heard about the issue regarding the Mayor’s military service and called to ask if it was true.”

-Military service…

He drew out the end of his sentence and then spoke slowly.

-Tell me about it.

“According to my subordinate’s investigation, Assemblyman Kyung Dong-soo is a draft dodger because…”

After explaining the reason I heard from Deputy Chief Lee Doo-hyung, he answered immediately without hesitation.

-Yes, that’s true.

“I see.”

-To be precise, I was told, ‘Because there’s a commie [communist] in your family, we can’t let you join the military because military secrets could be leaked.’

Very harsh words, as expected of the 1980s.

“Hahaha…”

-Of course, I have nothing to do with North Korea, and I’ve barely even seen my uncle who defected, so there’s no problem.

That’s a relief then.

-Are you going to release this to the press?

“Yes. I’m ostensibly following Prime Minister Choi Gyu-hyun’s orders.”

-Ah, right.

“So, I’m going to release this case if the Mayor has a way to resolve this issue.”

-If it’s about the military, I welcome it.

“Really?”

-Yes.

He said, grinding his teeth.

-If that’s the case, I have something to say too.

For some reason, I could feel strength in his voice.

It seems he has a perfect card to defend himself regarding the military.

“Then I’ll release it without worry.”

-Yes.

Instead of asking about the card he was holding, I added what I had prepared.

“Initially, the spotlight will be on the Mayor. But that’s only temporary; once the Mayor resolves the situation, the target will immediately shift to Nam Moon-seok.”

After explaining his son’s military issue, Kyung Dong-soo burst into laughter.

-Hahaha, so you’re saying you’ll transfer all the aggro [aggravation] to me and then pass it on to Nam Moon-seok.

“You could say that.”

-Prosecutor Choi, you’re really something, aren’t you?

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

-It’s a sincere compliment.

Candidate Kyung Dong-soo briefly exclaimed and continued.

-I didn’t expect you to prove in just a few days that you would give me a big gift, as you said.

At times like this, restraint is more attractive than showing off.

“Thank you.”

I gave a short greeting and immediately wrapped up the conversation with work-related matters.

“Then I’ll proceed as we discussed.”

-Please do.

“I should be the one asking for your help, future 20th President.”

-Euhahahahat! Goodbye.

Kyung Dong-soo burst into laughter again, seemingly pleased with the title of future 20th President, and I ended the call while listening to his laughter.

The scenario was already beautifully drawn in my head.

I immediately called Reporter Park Soo-hyung.

-Oh, Seo-joon. What’s up?

“Soo-hyung, let’s get you a performance bonus for the first time in a while.”

He replied as if he had been waiting.

-I’ll head to the Central District Prosecutor’s Office right now.

***

-Candidate Kyung Dong-soo’s reason for military exemption is a back issue. However, he has only received hospital treatment twice since the exemption. What is the real reason for the exemption?

-Kyung Dong-soo, the presidential candidate of the MinKook Party, is known to have been exempted from military service due to a herniated disc. However, he has only visited the hospital for treatment related to his herniated disc twice in the 30 years since his exemption. Although herniated discs cannot be completely cured without surgery, the level of the disc must have been severe enough to warrant an exemption in the 1980s. The fact that he hasn’t gone to the hospital since then raises reasonable doubts about whether he actually has a disc. ……(omitted)…… Therefore, if Candidate Kyung Dong-soo’s military issue is not resolved, his claim to be the president with the power to command the military is a betrayal of the people.

-WK Ilbo Reporter Park Soo-hyung

I released the case as I had told Kyung Dong-soo.

Of course, this time, I announced it through Reporter Park Soo-hyung, as if to show that I had prepared it, and as expected, Prime Minister Choi Gyu-hyun immediately recognized it and contacted me, saying that I had prepared it well with good timing.

The DaeHan Party and Nam Moon-seok’s side began to tear Kyung Dong-soo apart as if they had been waiting, and they shredded even his brothers to pieces.

Kyung Dong-soo deliberately took their punches.

To land an even bigger punch.

And exactly two days later, when his approval ratings began to falter.

Kyung Dong-soo pulled out the card he had been saving through an interview with a media outlet.