1953 Bare-handed Tycoon - Chapter 399



Only Krnovel

399 – Catching a Wild Boar (1)

On January 14, 1963, Kijo published an article titled “New Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency Comments on Hama-pyeong (Dismounting from Horseback)*” in the Hankook Ilbo.

*Hama-pyeong (下馬評) – refers to various gossip about politics and current affairs, mainly dealing with personnel transfers and appointments to official posts.

This is an article written by the author himself, and his name is listed at the bottom of the article.

As soon as the morning edition of January 7th was published, a phone call came to the Hankook Ilbo early in the morning.

It was a call from Jang Gyeong-sun (張坰淳) who had climbed up to Hamapyeong.

―President of Hankook Ilbo, what is this, a red bean soup in the middle of the night? I am a candidate for the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Jang Gyeong-sun was a soldier who participated in the May 16 coup, served as the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and then ran for and was elected as a member of the National Assembly for Gimje, North Jeolla Province.

“I wrote the article based on the public opinion floating around. I apologize if I caused any inconvenience.”

-Public opinion? Who says I am a suitable person for the position of Director of the Central Intelligence Agency?

“I can’t tell you that. But I nominated you because you are loyal to Chairman Park and Chairman Park also thinks well of you.”

-Is that what people think of me?

When he said that loyalty was the basis, Jang Gyeong-sun’s attitude softened slightly.

―But now that I have just become a member of the National Assembly, I am suddenly being appointed as the head of the Central Government. What will this mean for the voters who elected me?

“I’m sorry. It’s just a Hama-pyeong article, so please don’t worry too much about it.”

―Next time you put me in an article, give me a call and ask.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be sure to do that next time.”

Kijo repeatedly apologized and tried to appease Jang Gyeong-sun.

Following Jang Gyeong-sun, a phone call was also received from Kim Yong-sun (金容珣), who had been posted on Hamapyeong.

– Excuse me, but why on earth did you post such an article?

Kim Yong-sun also protested.

He was also a former soldier who participated in the May 16 Incident, served as the Chairman of the National Reconstruction Supreme Council’s Literature and Public Affairs Committee, and then ran in the 6th general election, running in the Samcheon-Sacheon-Hadong constituency in Gyeongnam and being elected.

The keynote speaker apologized in the same way as he did to Jang Gyeong-sun.

And finally, Kim Hyung-wook, who had climbed to the top of Hamapyeong, came to visit the Hankook Ilbo in person.

Kim Hyung-wook burst through the door to the president’s office with a very angry face and asked questions without even greeting him.

“Hey! You! Why did you put my name in the article?”

I thought the keynote was typical of Kim Hyung-wook.

He spoke without being overwhelmed by the impulsiveness of the wild boar.

“I have heard that Commissioner Kim Hyung-wook is a strong candidate for the next Director of the Intelligence Service, so I have brought this up. Please take a seat for now.”

When Kijo was not overwhelmed by his momentum, Kim Hyung-wook sat down and placed his hand on the pistol he was carrying.

Kijo smiled and asked, knowing that Kim Hyung-wook was trying to scare him.

“Are you very upset?”

“You didn’t put my name in the article just to embarrass me, did you?”

Kim Hyung-wook yelled again

Kim Hyung-wook said that there was no way he would become the head of the Central Intelligence Agency.

“How could that be? I included it in the article because I heard that Commissioner Kim Hyung-wook is gaining the trust of the 8th class of the Korea Military Academy. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Kijo poured some warm tea for Kim Hyung-wook.

Kim Hyung-wook asked, slowly removing his hand from the gun, without showing any sign of intimidation.

“Who said that?”

“It’s hard to say who it is because I’ve collected and written down public opinion.”

“Is this by any chance something that came from the Blue House?”

Kim Hyung-wook asked with a slightly expectant expression.

“It’s difficult to say. Let’s have some tea first.”

Kijo had a cup of tea with Kim Hyung-wook.

Kim Hyung-wook, whose spirit was dampened, asked in a softened tone.

“I heard that this CEO is close with the 8th class of our military academy. I heard that he is especially close with Jongpil and Jeonggeun. Did that come from Jongpil?”

The keynote speech neither acknowledged nor denied.

Then, Kim Hyung-wook seemed frustrated, but he seemed to have guessed on his own that the person who recommended him was Kim Jong-pil.

“Do you often contact Manager Kim (Kim Jong-pil)?”

“I just heard that he is coming to Korea soon.”

“Hmm… that’s right. Jongpil is right.”

Kim Hyung-wook said decisively.

“I’m sorry for coming here so suddenly. I misunderstood. I was a bit nervous because there was someone who tried to shake and mock me while I was still.”

The keynote speaker knew that Kim Hyung-wook was a person with a victim mentality.

Kim Hyung-wook was the most powerful figure among those classified as pro-Kim Jong-pil within the current revolutionary forces.

So, Kim Hyung-wook must have thought that Kim Jae-chun, the head of the anti-Kim Jong-pil faction, was always trying to harm him.

The keynote speaker knew that Kim Hyung-wook’s suspicious attitude continued until his death.

“Next time, if Jongpil asks me to write an article like this, tell him to tell me too. I need to know something so I can prepare.”

“If that happens, I will definitely do it.”

The keynote speech sent away Kim Hyung-wook, who had barged into the president’s office as if he was going to turn it upside down.

And waited for the real thing.

The reactions of the three people who posted on Hamapyeong were not what Kijo had expected.

At around 10 AM, the long-awaited call came from the Hankook Ilbo.

It was a call from the Blue House.

– Mr. President, the Chairman has asked you to come into the Blue House for a moment.

It was Lee Hu-rak.

Kijo put on his coat and entered the Blue House.

Chairman Park was waiting for the keynote speech, smoking a cigarette in his office.

Chairman Park welcomed us, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray.

In front of him was a copy of The Hankook Ilbo.

“Come in and have a seat.”

The keynote speaker figured out that Chairman Park wasn’t in a particularly bad mood.

As Kijo sat down in front, Chairman Park asked.

“I enjoyed reading the article this morning. How did you write it?”

Chairman Park also seemed curious about the article written by Kijo.

“Among those who participated in the revolution, those with the highest loyalty to the Chairman were selected and placed on Hamapyeong.”

“okay?”

Chairman Park looked at the keynote speaker with eyes filled with curiosity.

That would be the case, since Jang Gyeong-sun was the person that Chairman Park had secretly wanted to promote to the position of director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

And although Kim Yong-sun did not become the second director of the Central Intelligence Agency due to the changes in history, in the original history, he was the person Chairman Park chose after much deliberation to succeed Kim Jong-pil.

Lastly, Kim Hyung-wook, who was nominated, was also chosen after Kim Jong-pil’s strong recommendation, so all three were people Chairman Park liked.

“That’s amazing.”

Chairman Park looked at the keynote and smiled.

It seemed like he had chosen the people he had in mind and nominated them.

“I’d like to hear your opinion.”

“What do you think?”

“Isn’t there something that wasn’t included in the article? Let’s give a character evaluation of the three people.”

The keynote speech slyly rejected Chairman Park’s request.

“I am a civilian and not a member of the government. How can I discuss the people who will be appointed to important positions?”

Then Chairman Park urged even more strongly.

“Hey, I just wanted to chat. Tell me what you heard outside.”

“No, sir. If this is the only reason you called me, I will be leaving now.”

As Kijo tried to get up, Chairman Park got a little angry.

“Oh, is that him? Didn’t he say he would be my conversation partner?”

“But it’s such a sensitive topic that it’s hard for me to say anything.”

“It’s okay. Go ahead. That’s why I didn’t let Lee Hu-rak into the room on purpose. Just talk comfortably.”

Kijo first asked Chairman Park if he could smoke a cigarette.

Then, Chairman Park lighted Kijo’s cigarette in a friendly manner.

There was anticipation in Chairman Park’s eyes as he sat with one leg crossed and looked at the keynote speech.

The keynote speech understood Chairman Park’s feelings.

Kim Jae-chun, who was already dissatisfied with the situation, must have resigned and been worried about who to appoint as the new head of the intelligence agency.

Kijo started talking about Kim Yong-sun while half-smoking a cigarette.

In Kijo’s opinion, Kim Yong-sun was the most difficult person to select.

The reason Chairman Park chose Kim Yong-sun as the second director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the history of the Republic of Korea was the power struggle between the 5th and 8th classes of the Korea Military Academy.

Then, Chairman Park chose Kim Yong-sun, a neutral graduate rather than one from the 5th or 8th class of the Korea Military Academy.

But in political circles, neutrality meant being supported by neither side and only being attacked.

The second vice-minister of the central government, Kim Yong-sun, stepped down from his position after two months without accomplishing anything.

“Mr. Kim Yong-sun is classified as a centrist. His biggest advantage is that he is not close to the 5th or 8th class of the Korea Military Academy, so he can make independent judgments and take independent actions. However, being a centrist is also his biggest disadvantage. He will be attacked by both sides and it will be difficult to obtain cooperation.”

Chairman Park nodded at the keynote speech.

“Next person speaks.”

“Mr. Kim Hyung-wook represents the 8th class of the Korea Military Academy. He will get support from the 8th class, but the 5th class will veto him. Therefore, internal strife within the revolutionary forces may increase.”

Chairman Park raised a question in the keynote speech.

“The previous chief, Kim Jae-chun, was from the 5th class of the Korea Military Academy. Since the 5th class took over once, wouldn’t it be good for the 8th class to take over this time?”

The keynote speaker was that Chairman Park would consider the arrangement of the party.

“But the problem is that Mr. Kim Hyung-wook’s reputation is not very good. The Hankook Ilbo reporters interviewed his former subordinates and were a bit concerned that he was very greedy for money.”

“Money? Oh, I see you’re talking about how Kim Hyung-wook used his private soldiers to make charcoal and sell it when he was a battalion commander. I think it’s because Kim Hyung-wook had a hard time making a living. I know that too.”

Chairman Park seemed to be reminiscing about the 1950s, when it was difficult to make a living on military salaries and officers were committing various corruptions.

When Chairman Park said that it was not a big flaw, Kijo put on the brakes.

“But now the Central Intelligence Agency is in an awkward position because it is involved in four major suspicions. There will be a presidential election this year, and if we appoint someone who will cause money problems as the head of the intelligence agency, we could be in big trouble.”

“I guess so… … .”

Chairman Park looked thoughtful as he smoked a cigarette.

“Then what about Jang Gyeong-sun?”

Chairman Park asked the keynote speech during the questioning session.

“Do you happen to know what Jang Gyeong-sun’s nickname is?”

“The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.”

Chairman Park knew his nickname.

Jang Gyeong-sun, who was from Gimje, Jeollabuk-do, earned the nickname ‘Minister of Agriculture and Forestry’ because he talked about farming so much from the time he was a junior officer.

Whether or not the words became seeds, Jang Gyeong-sun actually became the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries after May 16.

“How was Jang Kyung-soon as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries?”

When asked about the keynote speech, Chairman Park smiled faintly.

“He knows a lot about farming, but he doesn’t have much support from the farmers.”

Chairman Park said with regret.

Kijo nodded and then spoke to Chairman Park.

“I recently tried to obtain cooperation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to conduct contract cultivation of sesame seeds nationwide.”

“Susemi?”

“Yes, we tried to export the dishwashing detergent to foreign countries. It is widely used as a cleaning tool and packaging filler.”

“however?”

“I felt that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s work was really not easy. The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry requested cooperation from the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, but the local agricultural cooperatives did not cooperate well. This is despite the fact that orders worth 275,000 dollars were expected from the United States and 100,000 dollars from Europe.”

“What? What do you mean? You can get 370,000 dollars in foreign currency, and you won’t cooperate with that?”

Chairman Park looked slightly excited.

“Many farmers are reluctant to plant new crops, and local agricultural cooperatives are demanding commissions in exchange for arranging contract farming.”

“These people… , when farmers don’t know how to cultivate crops, it’s the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation that should teach them, and it’s the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation that should actively promote crops that can earn foreign currency, but they do things like that… .”

The keynote speech was given to Chairman Park, who was feeling sorry.

“Seeing that, I thought that the job of Minister of Agriculture and Forestry would not be easy.”

Kijo looked intently at Chairman Park.

Chairman Park was taking notes in his notebook about the problem of local agricultural cooperatives not cooperating with the cultivation of sorghum.

The keynote speaker thought that since Jang Gyeong-sun had been defended, it was time to move on to the next step.

There was no benefit to pushing someone openly.

They should have just talked about each other’s strengths and weaknesses and let Chairman Park make the decision.

It was a good thing for Kijo himself too.

The keynote speech was that he might fail to block Kim Hyung-wook’s appointment as the head of the intelligence agency.

History wasn’t that easy.

History tends to flow as it did in the past, and if rumors reached Kim Hyung-wook’s ears that he had pushed Jang Gyeong-sun, he might have a hard time surviving.

The keynote took a different approach.

I wanted to give Chairman Park a big, unexpected gift to give weight to my words.

The keynote speech was given to Chairman Park, who had finished taking notes.

“Mr. Chairman, there is a more important matter than that.”

“The bigger problem? What is it?”

Chairman Park closed his notebook and showed interest.