Dear Comrade the Leader Episode 176
Chapter 63. It’s not a gun wind, it’s a full wind
“Yes?”
“You speak. Manager Park Se-hwang… … No, did you say retired? Anyway, Agent Park Se-hwang, let me tell you.”
The person who stutters in surprise at the sudden call from the president is the person who brought General Secretary Kim Jeong-hwan’s bailout loan from North Korea, and who sat in the corner restless not knowing why he was called to this meeting today, heuk. It was Park Se-hwang from Venus.
I was excited to return to Seoul, which I had missed for a long time, and deliver the proposal of the North Korean general secretary to my superiors and see the faces of my family. Why the hell is he in this Blue House?
So, when President Park Yi-sam, who had only seen newspapers or TV screens, asked himself a question, Park Se-hwang was sure he had heard it wrong.
However, the person Park Yi-sam pointed out was that person, Park Se-hwang.
“Among these, I’ve only met one friend, General Secretary Kim Jeong-hwan, Agent Park Se-hwang. It is said that only one person knows about the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the North Korean leader, then we should listen to Agent Park’s thoughts as to what the intention of General Secretary Kim Jeong-hwan made this proposal.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not an economist and I don’t know much about finance or anything like that… … .”
“Ah, I didn’t believe in economists and those so-called acquaintances, and I ended up looking like this today! So, why not listen to non-professionals? I’ll allow it, so don’t hesitate to say it!”
Soon, everyone’s eyes turned to Park Se-hwang.
Some of the staff wondered what Park Yi-sam would say, one of the few people who had ever met a North Korean leader in person, but most looked slightly dissatisfied.
If the country is facing an unprecedented economic disaster, why waste time listening to non-expert opinions?
It has already become clear that North Korea’s general secretary’s intention is to subordinate South Korea economically.
And Park Se-hwang, who was suddenly pointed out, took a long time with an expression of what kind of thunderbolt this is.
There is also the director of Ahn Ki-ji, who is his direct supervisor, in this position right now, so maybe there is something wrong with what I said and something will happen?
After a lot of contemplation, he made a decision and opened his mouth.
“… … Isn’t there a third condition?”
“what?”
“The third condition for purchasing government bonds and acquiring companies. The third condition that I received from General Secretary Kim Jeong-hwan from North Korea was to remove the cease-fire line and activate civilian traffic between the two Koreas.”
As Park Se-hwang said, what Jeong-hwan proposed as a condition of the first loan was ‘activation of private exchanges through issuance of visas between the two Koreas. Road connection and joint operation of border checkpoints.
Of course, it is a joint operation with the issuance of visas, but the conditions were unequal, such as the North could limit the number of people entering the North from the South and the North could unilaterally cancel the issuance of visas… … .
It was a condition markedly different from the ones that had been using almost ignoring strategies for others so far.
Until now, if the North Korean people had been wary of large-scale defection and unification by absorption using South Korea’s developed economic power, it was said that there was no reason to cut off exchanges since the IMF could certainly dispel such concerns.
Of course, the fact that it was easier to absorb the manpower and technology of South Korean companies into North Korea also played a big role when traffic was less demanding.
“The greatest threat to the North Korean system was not our military, but economic power and democracy. Earlier, the chief security officer said that North Korea might make artillery shells or missiles with our technology and fire them, but why would a country that considers us as an enemy ease border checkpoints and allow movement freely?”
“What does that mean? North Korea has used such deceptive negotiating tactics many times before. Right now, we are offering such sweet terms and trapping the loan, but if we ever go wrong, we may immediately block the border and hold another armed demonstration.”
“The general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim Jeong-hwan, I saw is a realist. Why would a person who suppressed the Frunze clan, who were shouting for unification of Red and Red, seized power and switched to a pro-American line, harbor such vain ambition? furthermore… … .”
Park Se-hwang swallowed his saliva and gathered his strength to say the last word.
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Now I really want to go home.“The general secretary also said that this was a decision that had to bear a considerable diplomatic burden from his point of view.”
“Diplomatic burden? What diplomatic burden? What a freezing diplomatic burden for those who want to subordinate us to capital and steal businesses… … .”
“Think about it. It is a fact that everyone knows that the US is the largest investor in the IMF, and that the goal of US banks and financial capital is to open up the Korean capital market. Did the general secretary really not know?”
“… … .”
At Park Se-hwang’s words, the staff kept their mouths shut for a moment, and Park Yi-sam’s expression also changed slightly.
Seeing the president’s expression change, some of the staff’s expressions wrinkled, but then Park Se-hwang spoke up again.
“Now, North Korea is also a pro-American country. Of course, technically speaking, we are crossing our legs between the United States, China and Russia… … Already under pressure from the US, Japan, a nominal ally, has also refused us loans and bond maturities, but the North is trying to lend us dollars for any hidden purpose or whatever.”
“If the hidden purpose is the unification of red flags, what will you do? Don’t they have this kind of sentiment that they will use the dollar from the bottom of Donghan Bay and spend it unaware that it is a waste of money, and one day they will put an artificial device in the Blue House?”
“No, from my point of view, the North Korean general is not someone who knows nothing about the value of the dollar. It is not the Juche idea or communism, but a rationalist who believes in benefits versus cost of investment. furthermore… … .”
Park Se-hwang, who was hesitant at first, was pouring out his words.
What am I talking about right now, while shouting to himself, Park Se-hwang closed his eyes tightly and said his thoughts.
“… … If we buy South Korean government bonds in large quantities, wouldn’t there be another reason for North Korea not to attack Korea? Even loan sharks will never kill debtors in any way they can. I have to pay the borrowed money.”
“that… … .”
“I don’t know if it’s a penny or two, but 24 billion dollars is a formidable amount of money even from the North Korean side. Isn’t there a saying that says “Great Horse Immortality”? If the amount of debt is a small amount, the creditor becomes the first, but as the amount of the debt increases, the debtor becomes the second.”
I know this well because I have experienced it myself,” said Park Se-hwang to himself.
It was a very strange life for him, as he was in danger of losing his country’s economy as soon as he returned from suffering, washing his identity, risking his life for spying in the North.
When they got here, some ministers tried to change Park Yi-sam’s heart, laughing as if they couldn’t believe the reality in front of them.
“… … President, I see. I will admit that the North’s proposal may be better than having the country’s economic sovereignty mortgaged by the IMF. There will be uproar in the Korea Daily. … … It is questionable from the moment whether the National Assembly will ratify it… … .”
“… … .”
Park Yi-sam didn’t answer, but closed his eyes.
As my eyelids closed, the memories of my life as a politician in the dark passed like a lantern.
I remember when I entered politics as the youngest member of the National Assembly in my 20s and fought against rounds and wrongs.
I remember losing my mother to an armed communist and becoming a staunch anti-communist and shouting ‘overthrow the Communist Party’.
Democracy achieved by fighting against a military coup and a wretched military force.
Conflict with lifelong rival and comrade Yu Min-jung.
The resignation of the new military and the union of the three parties.
The emergence of a new North Korean leader named Kim Jung-hwan.
And until I became the 14th president of the Republic of Korea and now face this crisis… … .
Everything that politician Yi-sam Park knew, felt, promised, and learned from the human person, Lee-sam Park, passed by as if it had just happened yesterday.
And Park Yi-sam finally made a decision and woke up.
“I have decided.”
“Sir, you don’t have to do this. If you turn off your time for just one month, you can restore your honor and become a respected full-time president in 15 or 10 years… … .”
Although the faces of the aides and chiefs who felt bad foreshadowing turned blue, Park Yi-sam shook his head and spoke softly but firmly.
“How long is the term of the President of the Republic of Korea?”
“yes?”
“… … 5 years at most. The time is too short to implement all of our vision and policies for the country and check the results. Because this is a liberal democratic republic, and not a country that suffers from grandchildren like Kim Jung-hwan, his older brother. Even if the Lame Duck arrives there early, the period in which he can gasp with the National Assembly and end up doing nothing is five years.”
“… … .”
“If I procrastinate, whether my successor becomes Rep. Lee Hyun-chang or President Yoo Min-jung, I have to make a decision that consumes a lot of support like gold at the beginning of my tenure! Even if you know too well which side is in the national interest and which side protects the lives of the people and stabilizes the damaged economy, you will be stuck and unable to make a decision.”
In particular, from the perspective of President Yoo Min-jung, the decision would be even more thorny.
“This is a karma I have to carry. It is the law of the predecessor to allow the successor to realize his vision and policies as much as possible in the least burdensome environment. Prepare for the press conference. After a week, I will inform the public directly, not the spokesperson. The governor of the Bank of Korea told me to prepare to go to Pyongyang!”
“… … I see, President.”
“And Agent Park Se-hwang,”
“yes? yes! Speak, President!”
At the sudden call from the president, Se-hwang Park was awakened and answered hastily.
Even if he had lost his cowardly head a while ago, he could not help but be shocked when the president suddenly called him while he was regretting that he had teased his tongue too much in front of his superiors who had lost it for a long time.
However, Park Yi-sam patted him on the shoulder with a remorseful expression and said.
“It has been a lot of hard work. This Republic of Korea really owes Agent Park a great debt.”
“… … Oh no. President.”
“Due to such a series of incidents in such a dire situation, it was not possible to confer a proper award for the service that the agent risked his life for in the dark. So, even now, in return, I would like to confer the ‘Medal of Merit of the Eulji Service’ directly to my agent here, at least briefly.”
“… … I just did what I had to do, President.”
Park Yi-sam shook her head at Park Se-hwang, who responded mechanically with his eyes wide open.
“no. I know it is a politically complex and sensitive issue, but what Agent Park has done in North Korea has greatly helped the security of the Republic of Korea and overcoming the national crisis. I know awards require a lot of process and approval, but I won’t be president in a month, so before that, I’d like to award the medals directly to the agent. … … Go and get the medal.”
‘To be honest, I hope that history books don’t just say that I have clouded the president’s judgment and helped give the country to North Korea… … .’
Even while enjoying the honor of being awarded directly by the President of the Order of the Taegeuk Military Service Medal, it was a thought shared by Park Se-hwang with a sigh as he watched the executives running out to carry out the President’s orders.
And because of that, he missed the opportunity to see an unusual light flash in the eyes of some of the chiefs and members of the State Council.
* * *
“Ebosho, when are you going to send me home? Did you change the security rules of the Ministry of Home Affairs while I was in Pyongyang?”
“… … .”
Park Se-hwang murmured and complained to the security guard, or the security guard, who was monitoring him, but there was no answer.
I am not a person who lacks patience, but I thought that I could finally see my family, but in this situation, I couldn’t help but complain.
In conclusion, on the 3rd day after the end of the historic women’s house meeting, Park Se-hwang was still unable to see the faces of his family.
After the meeting in which the future fate of this country was decided is over, Park Se-hwang, who wanted to go home and find out for himself how his family is doing in this chaos, escaped the Blue House, and as soon as he got out of the Blue House, the head of the Ahn Security Department caught him.
“You go to the safe house for a while. We still have a security check to do.”
‘What kind of security check do you get tired of rummaging before you meet the president? Are you suspecting that I may have turned or turned away?’
Of course, Park Se-hwang is also a member of the National Security Agency (though, of course, it was not officially through the process of identity laundering), he knew well that the procedure was to be careful considering the possibility that Agent Black had turned away or was subsumed by an aptitude force.
But what are you going to do to find out what else you’re going to do after doing all sorts of searches from psychological tests to the point where you can take them before the president, who is already the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces?
Rather than being a proper prosecutor, he insisted that the content only to be reported to the president to the chief of the ANS who pressured him to ‘tell me first what he received from the North’ made it impossible for him to look at himself nicely.
Moreover, the suspicion of the Ahn Ki-wi, ‘may have been brainwashed by the North’s ideology,’ was not entirely wrong.
“Follow me. The manager is waiting for you.”
“… … ?”
When the strong agent who came in as the door where he had been imprisoned opened and spoke briefly, Se-hwang Park got up while tilting his head and followed him and walked down the hallway.
The lights in the long hallway were dim and all the windows were blocked with iron bars.
When they came to this place, they were blindfolded and they were driving round and round in a black van, so there was no way to know where Park Se-hwang was also, except that this place was somewhere in Seoul.
And when the door to the room where Park Se-hwang had arrived opened and he recognized the faces of the people inside, a cool energy ran down Park Se-hwang’s spine.
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Not because of the end of the year cold, but because of an ominous feeling.“Come here, Park Se-hwang. In the meantime, you have worked hard to dedicate yourself to this country and people.”
“But I have to work a little harder. sit down You all know each other, so can I not introduce myself?”
Several middle-aged men were sitting there, including the head of the security department.
According to the Minister of Security and Security, Park Se-hwang knew most of the faces even though he had never met them. A few ruling party lawmakers stood out first, followed by generals including the commander of the Military Security Command.
And as soon as the commonalities came to mind following their identity, Park Se-hwang could not help thinking of the worst-case scenario he had been afraid of.
In less than a second, the mouth of a ruling party lawmaker moved, and the scenario became a reality.
“Since the state is the state, let’s get right to the point, Park Se-hwang. It is President Park Yi-sam that we called you here today… … No, this is to urge him to make a decision to save the country with us against Park Yi-sam, who is betraying his country and trying to sell his country to the North Koreans. … … Do you know what I mean?”