You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 230

Park Young-gi moved with renewed energy after his appointment as the 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Central District Prosecutors’ Office.

Park Young-gi was a seasoned special prosecutor, previously heading the Special Investigation Department of the Central District Prosecutors’ Office before his stint as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Western District Prosecutors’ Office.

The Myunghwa Pharmaceutical case, which he oversaw at the Western District Prosecutors’ Office, involving Lee Jung-chan’s alleged irregularities, was seamlessly transferred to the Special Investigation Department of the Central District Prosecutors’ Office.

While typically separate cases remain independent even with a change in command, the close connection between the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical case and Lee Jung-chan warranted a merger.

I anticipated resistance from the head of the Western District Prosecutors’ Office, but Kang Kwan-woong and Park Young-gi must have smoothed things over.

In short, it wasn’t my concern.

This case was substantial, requiring the full mobilization of Special Investigation Departments 1 and 2.

The prosecution issued numerous summonses daily.

These included executives like the CEO of Myunghwa Pharmaceutical, officials from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), personnel from Myungun University Hospital, and even Lee Jung-chan and Lee Se-hyung.

All news outlets turned their attention to the unfolding case.

[Park Young-gi, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, announced at a press briefing around 11 a.m. today that they had uncovered evidence of Kim Hyung-joong, CEO of Myunghwa Pharmaceutical, illegally lobbying former MFDS Commissioner Oh Jin-shik and Minwoo Party leader Lee Jung-chan to secure approval for Antrozol Alpha from the MFDS’s Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Review Committee. He stated that they would be additionally indicting them.]

[It has been revealed that Jin Soo-yong, head of the Department of Neurosurgery at Myungun University Hospital, has been falsifying medical certificates not only for Lee Se-hyung but also for other influential figures to help them evade military service.]

“I’m going crazy,” someone exclaimed.

Restaurants, saunas, and other businesses with televisions tuned them to news channels.

Everywhere you went, you could hear people complaining about the situation.

Just like now.

“These days, the news is more captivating than dramas, you know?”

“That’s why I’m saying I’m going crazy.”

Interestingly, the sentiment that news was more engaging than dramas proved to be a reliable indicator.

Drama and entertainment ratings were declining, while news ratings were generally rising.

“Lee Se-hwa is having a field day. With the presidential election looming, a leading presidential candidate has stumbled like this. The next president will likely come from the Liberty Justice Party.”

“The Liberty Justice Party politicians were ecstatic, giving interviews and appearing on TV, making a big deal out of it.”

Watching the patrons clicking their tongues at the restaurant, I sighed softly.

I had anticipated this, so I advised Lee Se-hwa to be moderately flamboyant.

Of course, I phrased it more diplomatically, but I believe she understood.

Lee Se-hwa also issued instructions for restraint, but the Liberty Justice Party lawmakers couldn’t contain their excitement.

I couldn’t entirely blame them.

The Minwoo Party, their main rival, was faltering, so how could they not be thrilled?

“The way the world is turning these days is so interesting,” Yoon Se-yeon remarked, stirring rice into her soup.

“I can’t believe Lee Se-hyung was perfectly healthy. I was on the phone with a Minwoo Party lawmaker yesterday, and he was complaining for a full hour.”

“What kind of complaint?”

“He didn’t even know that Lee Jung-chan and his son were committing such fraud, yet his party’s image was tarnished because of that guy. He asked what he did wrong. The party atmosphere is a mess, and he sounded like he was about to cry if you touched him. What did he do wrong? Politics is all about aligning yourself, and he chose the wrong side. Am I wrong, Attorney Cha?”

“That’s right.”

“It must be a complete mess. It seemed like people on Kang Jong-myung’s side were busy trying to recruit those loyal to Lee Jung-chan. Lee Jung-chan is screwed, but they’re persuading them not to give up and join Kang Jong-myung’s camp because they’re not doomed yet. If you stick with Lee Jung-chan, you’ll sink with him.”

The language was a bit blunt, but ‘screwed’ was the most fitting word to describe Lee Jung-chan’s current situation.

Collapsed, ruined, finished—there are many words, but they all felt somewhat inadequate.

“When things like this happen in other parties, they get excited and criticize them, making a fuss by lumping together people who have nothing to do with the case.”

Yoon Se-yeon chuckled as if it were well-deserved.

I felt the same way.

Unless you have foresight, it’s difficult to predict life with certainty.

Even if you mock others, there’s no guarantee the same won’t happen to you.

“The internal atmosphere of the Minwoo Party must be terrible right now. If Kang Jong-myung is plotting to recruit people from Lee Jung-chan’s faction, the already tense atmosphere will worsen.”

“That’s right. But the funny thing is, there are still people within the Minwoo Party who believe that Lee Jung-chan will overcome this crisis and return to lead them. No, how on earth is he going to overcome this? Do they really think Lee Jung-chan is Jesus who raised the paralyzed? Even that Jesus couldn’t resolve the misunderstanding and ended up on the cross, right? How can Lee Jung-chan do what Jesus couldn’t do? Hehe.”

“That’s right.”

“I wonder if it would have been better if Lee Jung-chan himself had been caught doing drugs.”

Yoon Se-yeon’s expression was simply a rhetorical device, but she had a point.

In the past, numerous politicians, businessmen, and entertainers were suspected of propofol [a sedative-hypnotic drug] abuse.

Unless they had other serious flaws, they would face criticism for a while, but they would eventually reappear as if nothing had happened.

Unless it’s a very significant case, it’s not easy to bring down a powerful figure with just one incident.

That’s why I tried to link Lee Jung-chan and Myunghwa Pharmaceutical.

Lee Jung-chan and Myunghwa Pharmaceutical had a peculiar relationship that could serve as an additional vulnerability for each other.

“In fact, Lee Jung-chan seemed determined not to resign from his position as leader until the very end. He was planning to use the Minwoo Party and its supporters as his shield.”

“Is Lee Jung-chan resigning?”

This information hasn’t been publicly released yet.

If Kang Jong-myung plays his cards right, Lee Jung-chan’s resignation as leader is only a matter of time.

However, considering the possibility that Kang Jong-myung might be incompetent, I also considered the possibility that he might abandon the Minwoo Party altogether and form a new party, believing he had enough support already.

Of course, that would be the worst possible move for Kang Jong-myung, who is more concerned than anyone about the upcoming presidential election, so it’s unlikely.

“Yes. That’s how the official announcement will be worded.”

“What do you mean by ‘official announcement’? Does that mean Lee Jung-chan resisted until the end?”

“That’s right. But since the situation is unfavorable, it seems that Kang Jong-myung coaxed and threatened him to force his resignation.”

He would have coaxed him by suggesting he could do great things again once the situation subsided.

He also threatened that if he didn’t resign, the Minwoo Party would suffer greatly, forcing him to disclose ‘this and that’ that he knew about Lee Jung-chan.

“It’s too brazen to resist until the end even in this situation.”

“But he must have realized that some of his supporters were defecting to Kang Jong-myung’s side. There’s no way out right now, and he needs the Minwoo Party title to plan for the future.”

If Lee Jung-chan truly intends to plan for the future, he’ll listen to Kang Jong-myung’s demands and remain silent within the Minwoo Party…

Well, that’s a bit unseemly.

Kang Jong-myung might even capitalize on Lee Jung-chan’s blindly loyal voters and achieve favorable results in the presidential election.

I don’t want the current ruling party, the Minwoo Party, to regain power.

Looking at the long term, I can’t continue to operate in the shadows forever.

Within the next 5 years, I will be revealed in some way, and the stronger Kang Kwan-woong’s influence, who is my backer, becomes, the more advantageous it is for me.

Therefore, it’s also beneficial for me if the Liberty Justice Party, where Kang Kwan-woong can operate most comfortably, wins the next election.

People who don’t know the reasoning behind this conclusion might think I’m a supporter of the Liberty Justice Party…

Well, it doesn’t matter.

There might even come a day when making them think that way will be advantageous.

“What are the chances of Kang Jong-myung being elected in the next presidential election?”

While I was lost in thought, Yoon Se-yeon asked.

I let out a short sigh and put down the spoon.

“I can’t give specific numbers, but I don’t think they’re high.”

“If he absorbs Lee Jung-chan’s loyal support and adds people who blindly vote for the Minwoo Party, Kang Jong-myung is quite promising, isn’t he?”

“That’s true, but……”

I have to prevent that from happening.

“When will the Lee Jung-chan resignation report be released?”

“It’s embargoed [a ban on publishing information]. No reporting is allowed until 11 a.m. the day after tomorrow. The Minwoo Party said they would announce it at 10 a.m., so don’t leak it in advance.”

“I see.”

I guess they’re planning to present a somewhat positive image.

But in this situation, attempting to create a positive image is naive.

Even if they strongly condemn it, some people will turn their backs on the Minwoo Party, so is Lee Jung-chan’s loyal support that valuable?

“Let’s get up now.”

“Yes. I enjoyed the meal, Attorney. This place is good.”

Yoon Se-yeon got up happily, grabbing her bag.

And, anticipating my objection to buying her food, she quickly added.

“I told you an interesting story, so you’re paying, right? Choi Jong-hyun told me to tell you an interesting story, but I thought it would be a waste for me to tell you without any compensation, so.”

She said with a playful smile.

“Reporter Choi told you to tell me?”

“Yes. Originally, I would never share information for just a bowl of rice soup, but I personally owe Reporter Choi a debt of gratitude. The reporter told me to repay it to you. He said he has a lot to repay you too.”

Yoon Se-yeon shrugged her shoulders and picked up a peppermint candy from the counter.

And she offered one to me too.

I shook my head.

I avoid eating unwrapped restaurant peppermint candies because I assume they’ve been touched by many hands.

“I have somewhere to go right away, so I can’t get coffee with you, Attorney. What a shame.”

Yoon Se-yeon said, heading towards the parking lot.

I had heard everything I needed to hear, so I had no intention of getting coffee, but I didn’t respond because it didn’t hurt to let her think otherwise.

“Then, good luck until the end of the case.”

“There’s nothing for me to fight for.”

“You’re doing that again. Anyway, good luck!”

Yoon Se-yeon waved her fist through the window and drove onto the road.

I wondered why Yoon Se-yeon said she would tell me an interesting story first, but it’s thanks to Choi Jong-hyun.

Thanks to that, I was able to get valuable information from Yoon Se-yeon, who never does anything for free.

“Hoo.”

Before taking out the car, I smoked a cigarette inside.

Inside the car with the heater on, the warm afternoon sunlight created a drowsy atmosphere.

How long has it been since I had such leisure?

I had been so busy that I hadn’t been able to rest, but now that the national agency was involved, as Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon had hoped, my mind and body felt relaxed.

Of course, it’s the relief that comes from knowing that the chief of the investigation being conducted by that national agency is on my side.

“Are these guys still asleep?”

I should at least thank Choi Jong-hyun.

Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon, who had been working tirelessly on the Lee Jung-chan case, have been sleeping all day like hibernating bears.

Before, they used to contact me as soon as they woke up, saying, ‘What are you doing, Attorney Cha?’

Well, it’s nice that there’s no one bothering me, but I should at least thank Choi Jong-hyun…

Beep, beep-

No sooner had I felt relieved than my cell phone rang.

I sighed and pressed the call button.

“This is Cha Joo-han.”

-Attorney Cha, this is Lee Se-hwa. Is now a good time to talk?

“Ah, CEO. How have you been?”

Lee Se-hwa did take my business card, but I didn’t expect her to call so soon.

I thought she would be busy watching the Minwoo Party’s misfortune and fanning the flames.

-I was hoping to see you today, is that possible?

“You mean today?”

-There are things I want to discuss in person. I have a rather direct personality. I prefer to say what I want to say right away.

“Are you meeting with Deputy Chief Prosecutor Park Young-gi as well?”

-Deputy Chief Prosecutor Park is busy right now. We shouldn’t bother him.

Lee Se-hwa said with a laugh.

Her true intention must be that she wants to see me separately.

Park Young-gi once mentioned that it would be beneficial for me to know Lee Se-hwa.

Kang Kwan-woong is also close to Lee Se-hwa, so I agree with Park Young-gi’s assessment.

Anyway, I was planning to contact her through Park Young-gi today.

Isn’t the deadline until 10 a.m. the day after tomorrow?

“Please send me the time and place by text.”

-Okay. See you later.