Dear Comrade Leader, Episode 330
Epilogue – Dear Comrade the Leader
The autumn sky in October 2018 was clear.
It was a good signal for the hundreds of thousands of domestic and foreign crowds who gathered in Pyongyang Kim Il-sung Square, or no, Daedongmun Square, once called Kim Il-sung Square.
For the first time in the history of the republic, the sky seemed to help with the retirement ceremony of the supreme leader before he was alive.
On that day, Daedongmun Square was packed with people from the morning without a break.
The retirement ceremony was broadcast live throughout the Republic of Korea and throughout South Korea through the Korean Central Broadcasting System.
However, people from all over the world have been flocking to Pyongyang from a month ago, and on the day of his retirement ceremony, from every moment to see the last farewell speech of the esteemed Supreme Leader with his own eyes.
In order to maintain order that day, it was necessary to call out security forces not only from Pyongyang’s police and task force, but also from the neighboring metropolitan area, so it was truly unprecedented in scale.
Although an accurate estimate has not been made yet, it was said that there might be over a million people, so it was not a military parade or labor mobilization, but it was an unbelievable crowd that gathered at the retirement ceremony where participation and absence were free in a public format. .
On the other hand, the person who can be said to be the cause of this large-scale population movement, Jeong Hwan, who has resigned as general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea as of today, was located a bit far from the Daedongmun Square where the retirement ceremony was held.
“Okay then, I said goodbye to my mother, so should I go to retire now?”
“Are you really thinking of leaving the Republic?”
“Wait, what? And it’s been a while since you’ve been free to travel abroad, haven’t you? Now I’m tired of having to face the camera flash every time I get off the airport.”
“… … In fact, it’s the same.”
When Jeonghwan woke up from the tomb where he had bowed a while ago, the grave of Kim Myeong-ae, who could be said to be his other mother in this life, his companion, Hye-rim Yoo, also smiled bitterly and nodded.
But this time, unlike usual, there was one other companion besides Yoo Hye-rim.
“… … And here in America, we have a proud granddaughter who has to do a PhD, and she understands that she won’t see us for a while.”
“I haven’t decided yet. And why does my father attract me? Actually, it’s not because of me or my mom… … Until the end… … .”
Another person’s companion, Yoo Hye-in, slurred her mouth at first, but became fuzzy as she went back.
It was because he knew better than anyone about the background of Junghwan’s decision to leave the Republic for a while after his resignation ceremony today.
Although Jeonghwan had already announced his intention to retire to his aides for quite some time to express it as “clear and clear,” the plan to leave for a foreign country, or more precisely, the United States, shortly after retirement, rather than staying in the Republic, would not be a shock to the executives who had already known this fact. couldn’t
-comrade! No matter how long you wait… … !!! Please consider the feelings of the people who do not hesitate to honor their comrades!
– No, Prime Minister Kim. Now, this Republic and the Workers’ Party will be led by General Secretary Hyun Young-sook, Prime Minister Kim, and Vice Chancellor Baek in full responsibility. If I stay here, regardless of my own intentions, the current manager or the people will secretly look into my heart.
– Where the hell is Girum? … . No matter how much the comrade himself says he wants, if the general secretary completely resigns as a savage, the party members and the people will not let our Politburo members stand still!
– Don’t worry about that. Since Margaret Thatcher passed away a few years ago, isn’t the position of director of the Northeast Asian Balanced Security Foundation vacant? It’s the perfect job for a retired politician like me. And, as a courtesy to the former head of state, isn’t it going to follow up with security or anything? You don’t have to worry about assassination.
-It is, but… … . comrade. really… … .
-Anyway, the foundation is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so I think it would be good if you raise the salary a bit. ah! Of course, I’m also looking for a side job besides that, so my last years won’t be boring. haha.
‘I didn’t know it was going to be like this, but I kept my promise. mother.’
Junghwan thought so and muttered in his heart as he placed the ‘side job’, the appointment letter of the chair professor of diplomacy sent by Georgetown University, Washington, USA, on the altar of the graveyard.
The appointment of a staunch ex-dictator as a chair professor at a prestigious university that nurtures political leaders in the United States of America, a country that is a leader in liberal democracy, was frankly daunting because there was a lot of talk about it.
However, thanks to Condoleezza Rice, who is now the former head of state just like Jeonghwan, who has been working positively and negatively with Washington.
And most of all, thanks to the changes that Jung Hwan himself has made over the past three years, his perception of him has changed.
He was able to keep the promise he made to his mother Kim Myung-ae.
Carefully placing the appointment letter in the frame, Jeong-hwan looked at the panoramic view of Pyongyang in the distance.
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Now, with this, the work to be done on this earth is almost finished.Except for one last thing.
“Let’s go, Hyein-ah, and honey, when we go to the airport today… … .”
“yes?”
“Can you drive for me one more time? As before. I miss that day especially today.”
“… … .”
The word ‘as before’ would refer to the day their relationship actually began.
On a spring day in the Republic, the day ‘Kim Jeong-hwan’ and Yoo Hye-rim met at the People’s Great Learning Center.
Like Jeonghwan, Yoo Hyerim, who quickly remembered that day, nodded with a smile on her wrinkled lips.
“sure. But today is the last day. Comrade General Secretary.”
“thank you. then go now I have to go say goodbye.”
* * *
“there! Here you are!”
“comrade! Comrade General Secretary!”
“comrade! Is it true that you are leaving the Republic?”
“Comrade General Secretary! Please remain in the Republic and continue to lead our people!”
As soon as Jeonghwan arrived at Daedongmun Square and got out of the bulletproof vehicle, the crowd echoed in the square with a camera flash and the cries of the people who were already anxious about not being able to catch him.
Although the clamoring literally ceased to exist because he could not overcome the strict scrum of the guards, Jeonghwan was already worried about the future of North Korea without him, and regretted it. and… … He could read even faint horror.
‘It’s my achievement… … No, I might have to express it as my vocation.’
In his heart, various emotions such as pity for them, regret that his time and role had run out, and gratitude for this republic like another of his own children were complicatedly swirling.
However, Jeonghwan’s time was over.
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Now the people were like children who had to learn to stand and think on their own, without the help of an adult, the esteemed supreme leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.However, one comfort was that there were companions and compatriots who would accompany these people on their journey.
“Comrade General Secretary! comrade!”
“Dear and respect, fellow people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
“… … Whoa!!!”
“… … town!”
“… … And many guests, both inside and outside, who came to this place today. I was with myself 30 years ago from today. And I made a promise to my friend who is not here now. Although we cannot reveal the details of that promise, it seems that the time has finally come to keep it.”
When Jeonghwan finally stood on the podium and spoke in a calm voice into the microphone, the Daedongmun Square, which had been filled with noise until a moment ago, became quiet in an instant.
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Now in the square, only the breathless moans of the people who listened only to the last farewell speech of Comrade General Secretary who had led this republic for the past 30 years could be heard.“… … As of today, I would like to step down from all public offices, including the position of general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which I have served for the past 30 years. And after that, I will become just one people, a people just like you, and quietly watch the next generation lead this country from your seat now.”
“… … .”
“But before I retire, I would like to add just a few last words from the old woman, so please listen carefully. So far, this republic has crossed so many waves, and it will have to cross many waves in the future. And, the waves were harsher than they have ever been, and never less.”
At Jeonghwan’s calm but resolute warning, the square couldn’t even hear his breath.
And here, in Daedongmun Square in Pyongyang, as well as in Seoul, hundreds of kilometers away, a huge number of people were listening with their mouths shut about what Jeonghwan said about the waves.
“Of course, there have been achievements along the way. The North-South Constitutional Council, which was formed immediately after I announced the historic acknowledgment of invasion of the South, enacted a unified constitution after three years of consultation. It will go beyond the era of two national governments and be reborn as a single democracy.”
“However, unemployment and polarization, which are common tasks of the north and the south, which are becoming more serious day by day, are no longer separating the people from ideology or ideology, but from the bias of wealth and opportunity. Previously, North Korean workers and South Korean workers had to compete for regular jobs, but now the 3 million Yanbian compatriots who have become our new citizens for three years are being forced into such competition.”
“In addition, these problems in each region of the country overlap with the differences in the system over the past 60 years, which have not yet been resolved, and are still deepening the differences, distrust, and sense of incongruity between the North and South and the people of Yanbian Special Self-Governing Province. Already in cyberspace, hatred and ridicule for each other among the people of the three regions is increasing day by day.”
“I have one thing to say to you about this. … … Take each other’s hands, comrades. and folks. And I have no doubts that you will show sufficient tolerance and understanding for each other. I believe in you. We also believe in your potential.”
“The multi-faceted achievements of the two Koreas over the past three years by enacting a common constitution and increasing exchanges have solidified my belief. Korea National Oil Corporation has been reborn as one of the world’s major oil companies through the shale gas revolution. The achievements of the North-South Joint Particle Physics Research Institute in Sariwon became the first Korean nation to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics.”
“Modern and Ssangwoo Motors, a living witness of the history of economic exchanges between North and South Korea, is leading the autonomous vehicle industry. Seongsam Electronics of the South and Union of the North have revolutionized artificial intelligence and 5G around the world, and in cooperation with Space X, we are carrying out a global-scale satellite internet network and space internet project. Last year, the 2017 World Summer Universiade was successfully held in Yanbian, and history textbooks are being used anew as a result of the North-South joint exploration of Goguryeo-Balhae relics.”
“I can’t help but be excited about how many more achievements this nation will achieve on the road to becoming one again in the future. Now, North and South are no different and are reunited under one flag. Neither is worse than the other and we have something to learn from each other.”
“The North Korean people must learn from the Korean people respect for free individuals as independent individuals, and the Korean people must learn to trust the legitimate leaders and groups of the North Korean people. If North and South Korea only promote each other’s strengths, North Korea will fall into totalitarianism in which the existence of individuals is annihilated, and South Korea will fall into each trap of extreme cynicism and hatred of all community values. … … This is my first request.”
Jeonghwan, who had said this up to this point, took a breath and looked around.
The son-in-law was still quiet, and only a thousand eyes were watching him.
And, receiving those gazes in one body, Jeonghwan began to read the second part, which will go down in history as much as the first part of the speech, and that is much more talked about in the population.
“Secondly, I want to tell you about my personal life and my 30-year reign. At one time, the republic was an authoritarian state. It was first made by my half-brother and father, who ignored human rights and devoted himself to individual worship, but I have to confess that I was also a part of the system and, out of necessity, maintained that state for quite a long time.”
“… … Huh… … !!”
This time, a shallow moan revolved throughout the square.
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Not only in Pyongyang, but in Seoul as well, many people were shocked by the dictator’s confession by covering their mouths with their hands.But Junghwan was calm and at the same time confident.
“I will not make excuses. Obviously, although I could have started democracy earlier like other countries, I deliberately delayed that time in order for me to acquire and maintain the means and power to change this country at that time. But at the same time, if I go back to that era and that position now, I will make the same choice.”
“’I think all dictators in history have prepared themselves well and will not follow in the footsteps of other dictators. However, in the end, there is a famous saying of former President Minjoong Yoo, ‘You either step on the train or face the harsh judgment of history’. I wonder if I was a human who walked a different path than the other dictators… … I still don’t know. For once, like other dictators, I was superior to other humans, and I was an arrogant, arrogant kid, drunk with the pride of selecting and handing over power to those who were so talented.”
“But even after waking up from such a nightmare, I still have no intention of being judged by so-called history. History is extremely unfair and cruel, and cold to the weak. History presents certain peoples with an innate geographic advantage that makes it more difficult not to become a great power. However, for some peoples, it throws a harsh history full of disasters, such as the challenges of nature, hardships and shouts, and sometimes division for no reason. But why should I leave my judgment to such an unfair judge?”
“… … If I have to be judged, it must be by all of you who are here. That’s right. To you, the thirty-six million people of the former Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. folks. I apologize to all of you here. As I apologized to the Korean people for my invasion of South Korea three years ago, this time I will bow my head to all of you. I apologize.”
With that said, Jeonghwan briefly stepped out of the stage and bowed to the hundreds of thousands of people who had gathered in the square.
And for about 10 seconds while the general secretary was bowing to the people, the entire republic, no, all areas where the radio wave reached the entire Korean peninsula literally stopped.
Soon, Jeonghwan straightened his back again and spoke.
“I am leaving this republic for a while as of today, but if the government elected by the people in the future summons me to ask for my sins, I will respond at any time. In the future, as time goes by, this republic will become closer to a country in which no one is above the laws established by the free people’s consent, not just a people’s republic in name but a republic truly for the people.”
“And the subjects who can accelerate or delay the emergence of such a country are not only Comrade Hyun Young-suk, the new General Secretary Hyun Young-suk, the Workers’ Party of Korea, nor me, who will succeed me, but you yourself. And the more you take that path step by step, the faster the gap with the Korean ‘people’ who have already walked that path will be filled faster.”
“There will no longer be a president, a general, or a supreme leader in this country. The talk of being of a white-headed bloodline and a reactionary molecule will disappear. Only you, the people’s hand-appointed representatives, the watchers and the general secretary, will perform their assigned duties in accordance with the law. And as time goes by, the negative impression that was placed on the word ‘People’ by dreamers and opportunists will be removed from North and South and around the world, and only the original meaning of the people will remain and be used. It may not be.”
“… … Either way, I think I’ve done all I have to say. The free people who have become the masters of this land, the ninety million compatriots of the Korean Peninsula and Northern Manchuria, who are no longer North, South, or Korean-Chinese, but only citizens and peoples of a unified country. Then I, ‘People Kim Jeong-hwan’, will leave. Goodbye.”
After finishing his farewell speech, Jeonghwan came down from the stage with a sad expression on his face.
However, while no one in the square dared to open their mouths and only death-like silence flowed, Jeonghwan was embraced by Yoo Hye-rim, who looked at him with tears in his eyes, and headed to the prepared vehicle.
The car, which the driver with a solemn expression had already started, was scheduled to go straight to the airport, but just as Jeonghwan was about to tell him it was okay to go, Hyein suddenly walked to the driver’s seat and gently let the bewildered driver go. He sat in the driver’s seat.
Seeing the scene, Jeonghwan tilted his head.
“What is it, daughter? Are you already a rebel?”
“… … The rebellion passed a long time ago. I’m no longer the general secretary, but it’s annoying trying to make my mother a driver, so I’m going to drive it once in a while.”
“… … Really?”
“Then I wonder if there will be a daughter who lies on the day her father retires? You may not have known that you have been running around saying that you are making a constitution and reunifying the country, but don’t worry, you just got your driver’s license for the Republic. What are you doing? Don’t ride.”
“her… … !!”
Jeonghwan stood so dazed for a while, then opened the car door with a smirk.
“Yeah, my daughter really does filial piety after a while, so I should get it. Do you know the way to the airport?”
“Heh, okay. Thanks to my father, planes have been flying smoothly since I was a child.”
When Jeonghwan and Yoo Hyerim sat in the back seat, the forward gear was put on.
And just as the car door closed, the wheels rolled, and the car was about to leave the square, something like an explosion occurred.
After a while, the people in the car realized that the explosion wasn’t a real explosion, but an explosion, almost like an explosion of applause and cheers.
Clap clap clap… … !!!!!!
“thank you! Comrade general secretary! Thank you!”
“Thank you for making this a prosperous country! Thank you for the freedom!”
“good bye! Comrade general secretary! I haven’t forgotten! Recipient!”
“Goodbye! General Secretary Kim! You were a leader on a different level to the Korean people than your father or grandfather!”
“I never forgot what you said! Please come back and teach… … No, please check the results of the request with your own eyes! Comrade general secretary! Supreme Leader Comrade!”
The thunderous applause and cheers did not stop even after the car left the plaza and made its way to the boulevard, even after passing through the main road and entering the outskirts of Pyongyang.
Former citizens, who had been watching the live retirement ceremony broadcast on TV, the Internet, and an intelligent cell phone, ran out to the roadside where Jeong-hwan’s car passed and participated in the farewell ceremony.
And in any house, building, or street, all the people never forgot one title.
A title that he truly possessed only after he had thrown it away with his own hands.
““Dear our leader comrade!!”
Everywhere they passed, all vehicles and means of transportation backed down, and the people who had stepped out through every door, window and window on the street they passed were crying and applauding and paying their respects to their former general secretary.
Everywhere he looked from the windows on either side, there was no place that was not filled with people waving and cheering him.
It was as if we were moving through the Red Sea with a crowd of joyous people.
It was the people’s response to Jeong-hwan’s speech, asking him to judge himself by the people’s hands rather than by history.
“… … I’m really It is because there is no such thing as a leader anymore.”
“This is the most wonderful sight I have ever seen in my life… … . honey… … .”
“… … Yes, I agree with that.”
Jeonghwan nodded his head like that and quietly put his hands on his wife’s shoulders.
And soon their car disappeared into the distant horizon in the cool Pyongyang sky.
* * *
Even after the farewell speech of the general secretary was over, the more than one million North and South Koreans who gathered in Daedongmun Square on that day could not hide their excitement for a while, shouting long live the general secretary, long live the reunified fatherland, long live the people and democracy, and then disbanded after a long time.
Outwardly, it seemed that nothing had changed in their appearance, except for their flushed cheeks and disheveled hair.
However, before entering the square, they were clearly different from before hearing Jeonghwan’s speech.
Their general secretary, who always brought change to this republic, was because Jeong Hwan had changed them until the very end.
Although they may not be able to feel the change right now, hundreds of thousands of people leaving the plaza will see themselves, their republic, and the world from a completely different perspective than they did before entering the plaza.
And maybe even Koreans who have already encountered democracy and its limits and are slowly getting tired of fatigue and cynicism.
Under the blue autumn sky, new steps of a new country and new ‘people’ were spreading little by little.
Dear Comrade Wan (完)
#author review
Yes, this concludes the main part of ‘Dear Comrade the Leader’.
It seems like it was only yesterday that I happily watched the increase in the number of favorite works while pressing the refresh button, but sooner or later, it was loved undeservedly by readers and achieved the revolutionary task of completing the 330 episodes.
It’s cool, it’s sad, it’s refreshing, but it’s also the biggest regret.
Stories that we couldn’t get out of the main plot, stories that could have been told better, stories that should have been shortened, stories that should have been increased,
Characters that couldn’t be saved, characters that should have been killed, etc… … .
There are many, many, but to give just a few examples, Hyun Young-sook was a character who had a relationship with the main character to some extent from the beginning.
Originally, there was an episode prepared to highlight male supremacy that was prevalent in North Korea, the joy-making sexual crimes of the Kim family, the North Korean version of Chae Hong-sa, and finally highlighting the magnanimity of the Workers’ Party of Korea system and the trashiness of its co-worker Jang Song-thaek… … .
There were people who were offended by why there are so many unnecessary depictions of female appearance, and the water level was close, and above all, I felt that it was too far from the main plot, so I excluded it.
In addition, readers who have been following me since the beginning of the play (how many minutes do you want to stay…) will know, but the person named Kim Jung-hwan was originally a very different character from now, and through the conflict in which such a character is changing, the existence of a companion and antagonist named Yoo Hye-rim will also be highlighted. It was planned… … .
As Jung-hwan’s character itself was modified, the amount of Yoo Hye-rim was also cut a lot. Sobbing.
And above all, Yonghwan Ri.
What I regret even now is that a being who was just an ordinary child was placed and raised (?) from around episode 100 to show the birth and growth of the North Korean version of the son-in-law, and the rapid economic growth brought through it. I broke my heart painfully to give the spotlight.
In addition, the advance of native North Korean companies represented by Union, the growth of capitalists through it, and the confrontation between the emerging capital power and the political power of the Workers’ Party of Korea… … .
It’s unfortunate, but in the end, it’s my fault as a writer and my preparations didn’t follow it, so whatever I say now is just an excuse.
So, if we go into one of the main reasons why I am writing this review, I would like to receive the back story of ‘Dear Comrade Leader’ that readers who have supported me so far want to hear.
The theme of some of the side stories and much of what will be the real end of the story of the dear Comrade Leader and Jeonghwan has already been written, but many other parts have not been decided yet.
In the meantime, I was asked to write a long side story, so I would like to tell the story of the world of the beloved leader, the leader of the world, that readers want to hear more as soon as my abilities and ideas arrive.
As a comment on this review or the last part of the main story, anything is fine with my personal note, so please send me a character and subject you want to hear the story behind, and I will try to make the story as fun as possible.
Lastly, even though it was a novel in my imagination to the last, I hope that at least one tenth of what happened in this novel will happen in real-life inter-Korean relations, and I will leave with the first greeting I wanted to give in the end of the author’s review.
I sincerely, truly, bow my head, and thank you for supporting me and my dear comrade leader.
We’ll see you again soon.
parenthesis.