You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 637

“You waited at the Special Investigation Office until the search and seizure was over?”

“No. The warrant review for Senior Prosecutor Lee Ye-jin and Go Sang-jun is tomorrow, so I was busy preparing for that.”

“So, is the preparation done?”

“It’s mostly done, and they told me to go ahead since only the finishing touches were left. They said to kidnap you so you wouldn’t go to the Special Investigation Office since the search and seizure seemed to be over.”

“What do you think I am?”

Kang Min-jae looked at me as if asking if I really didn’t know, while we were stopped at a light.

“Chief and Senior Prosecutor Lee have known you for a long time, so don’t they know your personality? They probably wanted to check the seized items and the warrant review preparations.”

I had nothing to say, so I closed my mouth.

Then, Kang Min-jae shrugged.

“I have a rough idea of what you’re feeling. To be honest, so do I. We’ve always kept things related to Wooshin strictly confidential and only checked among ourselves, and we didn’t trust the investigative authorities enough to ask for help. To be honest, it’s really awkward for me to talk about human trafficking and slush funds with people I’m meeting for the first time.”

“Still, I need to see the warrant review preparation documents.”

“Senior Prosecutor Lee said she’ll send them by midnight tonight.”

I nodded and got out of the car.

I reached out to grab the elevator, but Kang Min-jae asked,

“Why is your palm like that?”

“Ah, this.”

I went to the search and seizure site as soon as the interrogation was over, so I couldn’t even put a bandage on properly.

It felt like a bandage would make it stand out more.

“I got hurt at the site.”

“At the search and seizure site? How did that happen?”

“When I was opening the secret room door, there was a piece of metal left on the lock, and I touched it without knowing.”

The lies flowed out smoothly.

How could I tell him that I stabbed my palm with a fountain pen nib because I showed signs of a seizure after seeing Go Sang-jun’s face in the interrogation room?

“A piece of metal from the lock? What if you get tetanus! Shouldn’t you go to the hospital right now and get a tetanus shot?”

“I can go to the hospital tomorrow morning.”

“The wound looks deep, though?”

“How can you tell it’s deep without even looking properly?”

“Then show me so I can see properly.”

“I can’t, because you’ll make a fuss.”

“I won’t make a fuss.”

“If that were up to you, why haven’t you listened to me every time I told you not to make a fuss?”

Kang Min-jae couldn’t say anything.

Anyway, I stabbed my left hand on purpose, and there’s no major pain unless I move my hand vigorously.

“Hmm?”

When I arrived in front of my house and opened the door, I smelled food from inside.

It was a smell that was rarely smelled in my house, so I was puzzled.

There’s only one thing I can suspect.

That Tae-shik is eating late-night snacks in my house.

I don’t know why he’s doing that in my house at a time when he should have already left work.

“Oh? The lawyer is here.”

When I approached the kitchen, I saw Tae-shik’s large back sitting at the table, facing away from me.

Sang-gil was also sitting next to him.

“Why are you eating late-night snacks at my house…”

“Did Ju-han come?”

Before I could say a word to them, a familiar person opened the pantry and appeared.

…It was my mother.

“Your mother said she would make something delicious, so I delayed my *toegeun* [leaving work] a bit. The lawyers were so late that they told us to eat first… Hurry and sit down. It’s really delicious.”

I looked down at the large pot in the middle of the table.

The menu seemed to be braised spicy chicken, but the amount was so large that I wondered if it was for commercial use.

“I saved the drumsticks for the lawyers.”

I washed my hands in a daze and sat down at the table.

Suddenly, I felt hungry.

Only then did I realize that I hadn’t eaten dinner because I was at the search and seizure site for seven hours.

“Eat quickly.”

“You must be tired, but you even did this?”

“Tired? It’s more tiring to play at home. I was getting restless. Oh, I brought side dishes too, so make sure to eat them. I recently changed the recipe, and it’s really delicious?”

“Yes.”

“But why isn’t your father coming? He got a call right before you came and opened the door.”

“Did Father come too?”

“Yes. I told him to buy some standard-size trash bags because we ran out.”

I nodded and started eating.

While I was emptying one bowl, Tae-shik ate three more bowls.

I clearly saw a mountain of chicken bones in front of him when I first saw him.

By the time I finished eating, my father came into the house with a bundle of standard-size trash bags.

“The building structure is so complicated that it took me a long time to find it. I went all the way to the swimming pool area.”

“To the swimming pool? You went all the way around. You should have called. Then I would have picked you up.”

Kang Min-jae said, taking the standard-size trash bags from my father’s hand.

“Still, the complicated structure seems to have great security.”

“It’s the perfect house for a lawyer, heup!”

Before Tae-shik could finish speaking, Sang-gil blocked his mouth.

Despite his efforts, the important information had already been conveyed, so the atmosphere became very solemn.

“Still, now that the lawyer has become a special prosecutor, I’m relieved. Don’t worry too much. The president even sent 100 doses of Gongjin-dan [a traditional Korean medicine], saying to take care of the lawyer’s health.”

It was Kang Min-jae’s job to clean up the mess.

My father seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then relaxed his stern expression and answered coolly.

“Okay. Work hard while taking care of your health.”

“…Yes.”

“You’ll do well on your own, but respect the people you work with, even if you’re higher in rank. Got it?”

“I will.”

“Looking at the special investigation team lineup, they all seem to be great people. I saw on the news that they made difficult decisions, so don’t forget to be grateful.”

“…”

“Huh?”

“Ah, yes.”

My answer was a beat late.

This was a scene I had imagined countless times in my previous life, so I was absentminded without realizing it.

I had imagined it so much that I wondered if I was seeing hallucinations in this life, and it felt unreal.

“…”

In my previous life, I created the 2018 Wooshin Special Investigation, starting with the Antrozole Alpha investigation.

And as I was dispatched to the special investigation team, I finally thought I had the face to see my parents.

On the day the special investigation team was launched, I drove to the charnel house where my mother and father were enshrined.

I thought it wouldn’t be right to come empty-handed, so I bought their favorite bread from a nearby bakery.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure if they liked it because I was a terribly indifferent son.

So, I spread out the bread in front of the *bonganham* [a mortuary receptacle] engraved with my parents’ names and rambled on like someone caught in the rain.

At first, I spoke calmly, but at some point, I think I was crying.

I just kept repeating that I was sorry it took so long and that I would make Wooshin pay the corresponding price no matter what.

When I came home after making such a mess, it was already dark.

Going into a dark house was a matter of course for me, but that day, I felt strangely unfamiliar.

The house was too dark and quiet.

My parents, who should have told me that their son had worked hard and to take care of my health, were nowhere to be seen.

They should have been nagging me while filling the refrigerator with side dishes that I didn’t even eat well, but I didn’t understand why no one was by my side.

Even worse, I died shortly after that, without fulfilling the promise I made to my parents at the *bongandang* [another term for charnel house].

“Ju-han, aren’t you eating more? There’s more rice.”

My father’s voice woke me from my reverie.

“There’s red bean bread.”

And I suddenly asked.

“Huh?”

“Red bean bread. Do you like it?”

“Why suddenly red bean bread? Well, I don’t like it, but it’s delicious when I’m hungry.”

“What about Mother? Does she like glutinous rice bread?”

“Glutinous rice bread? Well, it’s okay. Her favorite is *bam-sikppang* [chestnut bread]. Your father likes red bean donuts more. Right, Ju-han’s father?”

“That’s right.”

My parents were showing me exactly what I wanted most right now.

In the end, the bread I bought at the *bongandang* back then wasn’t what my parents wanted.

“Why are you asking that suddenly?”

“No, I just suddenly thought of it. I’ll remember it from now on. Red bean donuts, *bam-sikppang*.”

“You don’t have to remember that. Just focus on the special investigation. It’s what you wanted to do, and you’ve been recognized, so you have to finish it properly. Mom and Dad will support you too.”

I will.

So that no more people will buy bread that their deceased parents don’t even like and cry at the *bongandang*.

* * *

The next day, a correctional facility transport vehicle with the Ministry of Justice mark stopped in front of the court.

Following that, the defense team mobilized for Go Sang-jun’s warrant review got out of the vehicle, but people’s attention was only focused on the transport vehicle.

Inside, a correctional officer and Go Sang-jun got out.

He looked as gaunt and sick as when he was arrested and arrived at the Special Investigation Office.

However, wearing a dark-colored coat over an unwrinkled suit, he looked so neat that you would believe he came from home if he hadn’t gotten out of the transport vehicle.

The handcuffed wrists were not visible because they were wrapped in a cloth of a similar color to the coat he was wearing.

In the case of an unconvicted prisoner, they can wear private clothes instead of prison uniforms when going out.

However, there is a regulation that elderly people can only wear handcuffs without being tied with *poseungjul* [rope binding].

Go Sang-jun, who was in his mid-70s, seemed to have refused the *poseungjul* and chose to wear private clothes.

There would be no greater humiliation than having his appearance in an unconvicted prisoner’s uniform exposed in front of the *gae-dwaeji* [literally dog-pigs, referring to the public].

It’s not just a matter of humiliation.

If his appearance in a prison uniform is imprinted on the public, the image of ‘prisoner Go Sang-jun’ will remain clearly in people’s minds.

Even though evidence containing shocking content has already been released and there is no one who does not know his heinous crimes, he did not give up.

“Arrest Go Sang-jun!”

“You murderer!”

At that time, the people who had gathered shouted at the top of their lungs.

[Arrest Murderer Go Sang-jun]

[Human Trafficker OUT]

[Apologize to the Victims]

Banners with clearly printed phrases fluttered in the wind everywhere.

“Don’t you feel sorry for the children!”

“Apologize to the nation!”

“Aren’t you ashamed, you shameless bastard!”

“Cleanly admit it and beg!”

As Go Sang-jun entered the court building, the people who had gathered outside the court continued to shout even after he entered the court building.

Tada dada dak!

When Go Sang-jun arrived in front of the press line, flashes went off and microphones were thrust out from here and there.

“Did you order the human trafficking using the children of Angel House?”

“Did you have the executives of the secretarial team confess to human trafficking charges instead?”

“What do you think about the statements of political figures who met Mr. Go Sang-jun at a Japanese hostess bar?”

Go Sang-jun did not answer any questions.

“Do you have anything to say to the people?”

“I am sorry for causing concern to the people. I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation so that the facts can be identified as soon as possible.”

However, thinking that he should at least make a perfunctory lie, Go Sang-jun answered the last question slowly with a cracking voice.

Then he took a step through the reporters.

“A bastard who says he will faithfully cooperate with the investigation destroys evidence?”

“Your shredder must be laughing!”

“Don’t push it on the executives and admit it!”

At that time, a loud voice was heard from the crowd outside the court.

The voices grew louder and more violent.

The correctional officers, fearing that an unexpected situation would occur, quickly brought Go Sang-jun inside.

* * *

Five dispatched prosecutors from the special investigation team were mobilized for the warrant review, and eight members of Go Sang-jun’s defense team attended.

The warrant review lasted for six hours.

The defense team argued that in the case of human trafficking, executives belonging to the secretarial team had already confessed and submitted evidence, so it was not reasonable to arrest Go Sang-jun as a suspect.

In the case of *seongsangnap* [sexual bribery], there was only the confession of a specific person, and there was no physical evidence, and all of their statements were false.

At the same time, they submitted a *nokchwirok* [recorded statement] containing various testimonies, claiming that they would prove that they harbored malice towards Go Sang-jun.

Go Sang-jun’s departure to Japan was due to a business trip, and it could have been a coincidence.

To prove this, they also submitted records and minutes of Go Sang-jun’s visit to Wooshin’s local Japanese corporation during that time.

Regarding Kim Mi-ja’s statement to the investigation headquarters, they even made the outrageous statement that she was dragging Go Sang-jun in to make herself a victim in order to cover up her own acts of harm.

The defense team claimed that Kim Mi-ja’s *nokchwirok* was fabricated and wiretapped because she harbored resentment.

The defense team must have known.

Legally, there is no reason for Go Sang-jun’s arrest warrant to be dismissed.

There are victims’ statements, confessions from some accomplices, numerous circumstantial evidence, attempts to destroy evidence, and even circumstances of plotting the murder of a key witness.

All they can do now is to place their expectations on the money that Go Sang-jun has been *ppuryeo* [splashing/bribing] on the political and business circles.

But even that is not possible.

Why does the court notify the results of the warrant review for so-called ‘high-ranking officials’ in the early morning?

There are several reasons, but one of them is to reflect public opinion.

And now, the public’s evaluation of Go Sang-jun is the worst since the founding of Wooshin.

[Court Decides to Arrest Go Sang-jun]

[Wooshin Father and Son, Side by Side in Detention Center]

[Go Sang-jun and Go Yoon-soo to be Detained in Different Detention Centers]

[Court Acknowledges Go Sang-jun ‘Has a Bad Crime and is Concerned About Destroying Evidence’]

[Special Investigation Team’s Search and Seizure of Go Sang-jun’s Home Was ‘A Divine Move’]

At a time past midnight, the court finally issued an arrest warrant for Go Sang-jun.

It was a monumental event unprecedented in Korean history, with the heads of a chaebol family being arrested side by side.