1953 Bare-handed Tycoon - Chapter 394



Only Krnovel

394 – Off the Record

Kim Dae-jung cut off Kim Young-sam’s words, and Kim Young-sam looked at Kim Dae-jung.

And the keynote speaker, Chairman Park, and Jang Jun-ha looking at those two.

An awkward silence filled the conference room.

Kim Young-sam frowned at being stopped from giving his lengthy speech.

It was the look on his face of someone who knew why he was doing that.

Kim Young-sam read the statement again.

“If you admit your sins against history and show remorse even now… … .”

“Congressman Kim.”

Kim Dae-jung has applied the brakes again.

Then Kim Young-sam asked with an expression that showed he couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Why do you keep calling me…?”

“No, that’s… I think that Representative Kim Young-sam is committing a foul.”

“Is this foul play?”

Kim Young-sam’s voice rose to the end.

Kim Dae-jung said to Kim Young-sam,

“I knew this was a place where we could all talk comfortably. But I didn’t know that Rep. Kim would come prepared with a statement. I would like to ask if this was discussed in advance.”

Then, Kim Dae-jung turned his head to Jang Jun-ha, who was sitting next to him, and asked.

“Are you ready, Mr. Jang Jun-ha?”

“no.”

Jang Jun-ha answered, shaking his head slightly.

Kim Dae-jung also asked Kijo.

“Did you originally plan on bringing something like a statement?”

“There were no specific restrictions or rules for this meeting, Mr. Candidate.”

The keynote speech gave an answer that took neither side.

Then Kim Dae-jung took a deep breath and looked at Kim Young-sam and said.

“Congressman Kim Young-sam, isn’t what you are doing now something that you would do in the National Assembly?”

“Is there a special place to speak the truth?”

Kim Young-sam fired back immediately.

“No, I’m not pointing that out. We’ve done this many times in Congress. What have we gained from it?”

The two of them bickering from the start created a strange atmosphere.

On the surface, the talks were structured around one ruling party and three opposition parties.

Kim Young-sam of the Democratic Justice Party, Kim Dae-jung of the Democratic Party, and Jang Jun-ha of the opposition.

Since these three met with Chairman Park, it was considered natural that they would pressure Chairman Park or express their regrets.

Chairman Park must have expected that and made up his mind to come out.

However, Kim Dae-jung stopped Kim Young-sam, who had been cornering Chairman Park from the start.

It appeared that Kim Dae-jung was helping Chairman Park.

Chairman Park also found it strange, his stiff expression loosening and he looked at the two with interest.

Kim Young-sam asked Kim Dae-jung.

“Candidate Kim, why are you here now? Aren’t you here to point out what’s wrong and ask that it be corrected?”

“That’s right.”

“I’m doing it right now.”

Kim Young-sam lowered his voice and spoke as if trying to persuade him.

“So what do you want to say to Chairman Park now? Do you want to tell him to step down?”

Kim Young-sam hesitated for a moment at Kim Dae-jung’s direct question.

Kim Dae-jung took advantage of the gap and continued.

“As you know, Rep. Kim, that’s useless. Let’s say Chairman Park promised to stop in front of us. It would be easier to go back on that promise later than to wring a child’s hand.”

Kim Young-sam’s anger was visibly seething at Kim Dae-jung’s remark.

Kim Young-sam, suppressing his anger, asked Kim Dae-jung.

“Then why is Candidate Kim here? What on earth are you hoping for?”

It was a counterattack.

Then Kim Dae-jung smiled and said.

“Me, what the heck… … . Since it’s come to this, I guess I should be honest.”

A dialect slipped out of Kim Dae-jung’s mouth.

He spoke awkwardly to Chairman Park.

“Mr. Chairman, please pardon our poor former Prime Minister Jang and let him live out the rest of his life in peace. His liver is not in good condition. Please show him mercy.”

The keynote speech was impressed by Kim Dae-jung’s political sense.

While meeting with Chairman Park Chung-hee and finding out what kind of person he was, he was also seeking an absolution for participating without the permission of the elders of the Democratic Party.

Even if Kim Dae-jung was criticized for meeting Chairman Park without permission, he could have just replied that he went into the tiger’s den to rescue Prime Minister Jang Myeon, who was produced by the Democratic Party.

Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung both came out without asking for permission from their party.

While Kim Young-sam used a strategy of catching the big horse by beating Chairman Park hard from the beginning, emphasizing grand causes.

Kim Dae-jung was quietly seeking his own interests and reputation. Perhaps even Chairman Park’s favor…

Chairman Park smiled faintly at Kim Dae-jung’s absurd request.

It was like a smile that came out without me knowing.

The keynote speaker was curious about how Chairman Park would react.

Although he was a newbie in politics, he had the inner strength to survive through difficult times.

Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung were making demands that Chairman Park was having difficulty accepting.

Unlike Kim Young-sam, who demanded that he step down, Kim Dae-jung’s demand was somewhat realistic, but it was something that Chairman Park could only do as part of social integration after becoming president.

The keynote speech focused on Chairman Park, wondering how he would handle those demands.

“Let’s listen to what Representative Kim Young-sam has to say.”

Chairman Park seemed to have chosen to buy time.

Kim Young-sam began to read the statement he had prepared, but he could not maintain the same tension as at first.

When Kim Dae-jung interrupted him and Chairman Park showed composure, he seemed to have lost his will to fight.

“… Please reflect on history and think again about what you need to do to rebuild the liberal democracy that you destroyed.”

Chairman Park replied to Kim Young-sam, who had finished speaking, “I listened to your story well.”

Kim Young-sam heard Chairman Park’s answer and picked up the glass of water on the table.

It seemed like he had a lot of worries.

And as he drank the water and put it down, Kim Young-sam’s head was turned away from Kim Dae-jung, as if he was hurt by Kim Dae-jung’s feelings.

“Candidate Kim Dae-jung, if you have anything to say, please say more.”

When Chairman Park offered the floor, Kim Dae-jung declined.

“That’s all I said to you earlier. Please reconsider.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Chairman Park now looked at Jang Jun-ha, the last remaining member.

“Please tell us about Professor Jang Jun-ha.”

The keynote speaker said to Jang Jun-ha.

Jang Jun-ha coughed once and then spoke to Chairman Park.

“First, I would like to express my gratitude to Chairman Park, who helped create this opportunity, and to Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung, who worked with me.”

Unlike the two politicians before him, it was a clean and classic start.

“I basically think that the April 19 Revolution was successful, but failed to continue its spirit, and that is why the May 16 Revolution happened. However, looking at the current situation, I am afraid that if even the May 16 Revolution fails, what will happen next?”

Chairman Park nodded noticeably at Jang Jun-ha’s calm words.

“So, I hope that the revolutionary government that has come into power this time will complete the revolutionary task with the determination to die. In order to do so, they must not become corrupt themselves, and they must not make the mistake of failing to eradicate old evils by being swayed by personal feelings or emotions.”

Jang Jun-ha, who emphasized generalities, concluded his speech by making a key request.

“If the rumors of the revolutionary government’s corruption that are circulating in the market are true, and the person responsible for that corruption is someone close to the Chairman, the Chairman should have no hesitation in getting rid of him.”

Chairman Park nodded as if he understood and said.

“I will do so.”

Now, it was Chairman Park’s turn to answer after hearing what the three people had to say.

“I have listened to the three of you. Now it is my turn to speak. I will give you a clear answer. But. Let’s do it this way.”

Chairman Park tore off the four stars attached to the epaulettes of the military uniform he was wearing.

He said after removing the eight stars attached to both shoulders.

“I heard your story as an army general, chairman of the Supreme Council, and acting president. But I will answer your questions as a human being, Park Chung-hee, with all my rank removed.”

Chairman Park came up with a clever idea.

The three people’s orders were something that Chairman Park could realistically find difficult to grant.

Then, he drew the line, saying that he would step down from his position and answer only as a human being.

It was also a signal to the keynote speaker.

It was like a declaration that whatever he said while wearing his rank could be published in the newspapers, but whatever he said from now on could not.

Kijo recorded in a notebook what Chairman Park had said to the three.

To Kim Young-sam, who said that he should reflect and step down as a sinner of history, he replied, “I heard the story well.”

When Kim Dae-jung asked for Prime Minister Jang’s release, he replied, “I will think about it.”

And when Jang Jun-ha ordered him to cut out Kim Jong-pil, who was suspected of the four major crimes, he said, “I will do so.”

These three words could be included in a newspaper article.

The keynote speaker now put down his pen and notebook.

It was time for a real ‘off the record’ conversation to begin.

Chairman Park, who had taken off his rank, looked at Kim Young-sam first and spoke.

“Congressman Kim, please help me.”

He asked for cooperation from Kim Young-sam, who had been pushing himself the hardest, with a soft expression and tone of voice.

Then Kim Young-sam looked puzzled.

“I am a member of the opposition party, how can I help the Speaker…?”

Unlike when he read the statement, Kim Young-sam’s attitude seemed somewhat softened and he seemed to be treating Chairman Park as an elder.

“You are going to be an opposition member, so you should act like an opposition member. But please don’t tell me to step down right now. The train called revolution has already started and is running and is heading to its destination. What would happen if the driver suddenly jumps out here?”

Chairman Park leaned over to Kim Young-sam, who was closest to him, took his hand in both his and said:

“Congressman Kim, if I suddenly step down, I don’t know who will take over as the locomotive driver. What will you do if someone more dangerous than me takes the wheel?”

Kim Young-sam, who shook hands with Chairman Park, showed an even more lenient attitude.

Chairman Park said, letting go of Kim Young-sam’s hand.

“I am more afraid of failing in the revolution and standing before the court of history than of the court of reality. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I understand what you mean.”

Kim Young-sam agreed with Chairman Park’s words.

Chairman Park now looked at Kim Dae-jung and spoke.

“I understand that Candidate Kim wants to protect former Prime Minister Jang Myun, whom he served as his superior. But honestly, as long as I remain as the Chairman of the Supreme Council, it will be difficult to pardon him. He rejected the Jang Myun government and started a revolution, so if I pardon him, it would be like denying the cause of my revolution, which would be very difficult. However, since former Prime Minister Jang Myun is said to be in poor health, I will do my best to maintain his health.”

“Please take good care of me.”

Kim Dae-jung nodded his head in agreement with Chairman Park’s words.

Chairman Park turned his gaze to the last remaining member, Jang Jun-ha, and said.

“Mr. Jang Jun-ha, I can’t say with my own mouth that the revolutionary government is completely clean. I also often receive reports of corruption from those who participated in the revolutionary government. Every time that happens, I get angry, but on the other hand, I think, how can corruption not follow people? I will try my best until the end. But I want to hear that those soldiers tried to be clean.”

“thank you.”

Jang Jun-ha also paid tribute to Chairman Park, who was of the same age as him.

After answering everyone’s questions, Chairman Park leaned back on the sofa.

Unlike the upright appearance he had when he was wearing his rank insignia, his appearance was a bit disheveled.

Since he seemed to be craving a cigarette, Kijo offered Chairman Park a cigarette.

When Gijo lit the cigarette in his mouth with a lighter, he wrapped both of his hands around Gijo’s hand holding the lighter.

It was unclear whether his movements were conscious or unconscious.

But when I felt the warmth of Chairman Park’s body temperature, I could feel that this person was also someone with warm blood flowing through him like us.

“Let’s smoke together. Those who want to smoke, please smoke.”

Smoking a cigarette, Chairman Park sank deeper into the sofa.

I don’t know if that gesture was intentional, but it was enough to show that he was having a hard time listening to the other person’s story and responding.

Kijo watched Chairman Park and others taking a break to smoke a cigarette.

Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung were political comrades and rivals who lived half their lives together.

But eventually, starting with the 1987 presidential election, they completely split up. Was it because they were born with that fate?

When the two were brought together at a much earlier point in time, unexpected sparks flew.

And Jang Jun-ha.

During the Yushin era, he opposed the regime with the determination to die, but he took his place like a docile lamb and showed a moderate side.

Of course, that wasn’t all he could show.

His veins were filled with passion and boldness.

How about recommending him as Chairman Park’s confidant since he still has a favorable impression of Chairman Park? Kijo thought.

While he was thinking that, Chairman Park finished smoking his cigarette and stubbed it out in the ashtray.

From there, everyone took a stance to prepare for the second act of the off-the-record conversation.

Kijo was curious to see what would be said this time.