1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 114



Only Krnovel

Episode 114

At 9:00 PM on the day we returned from Baekdu Mountain.

Due to the sudden request for an interview with Representative Min Jeong-gi, I have a drink and talk to him without even being able to properly recover from the fatigue from the hike.

The reason he requested an interview was none other than the local elections that were coming up soon.

As the megacity project progressed little by little, the problem of overpopulation in the metropolitan area was gradually being resolved, unlike the original history.

Of course, most of the population was still concentrated in their old residential areas, but even so, the severe overcrowding of the capital city as before did not occur.

Although Korea’s population is now approaching 100 million, Seoul’s population has remained at around 8 million, and Gyeonggi-do has not exceeded 7 million.

Rather, as the megacity project progressed, the population of North Hamgyong Province and the coastal region centered around Chongjin City was rapidly increasing.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the Seoul mayoral election was unimportant.

Even though Seoul may not have the same status as before, the mayor of Seoul still has great significance as the mayor of the capital city of the Republic of Korea.

Normally, I wouldn’t pay attention to candidates running in either the local or national assembly elections.

Even if those from the Blue House ran for election, there were no examples of support or anything like that.

This was to maintain the principle of non-interference in elections that has been talked about since long ago.

But, unlike usual, there was one person who was particularly nerve-wracking during this local election.

“What about General Lee Dae-sik? He says he still isn’t considering becoming the mayor of Seoul or the governor of North Hamgyong Province.”

Representative Min Jeong-gi shakes his head.

“I can’t convince you at all. I’ve never seen such stubbornness in my life.”

“Did Representative Min try to persuade them personally?”

Representative Min speaks in a voice that shows he is fed up.

“Yes. I tried to persuade him several times. I don’t know how many times I called him. But he refused, saying that he was just a first-time politician and how he could possibly run in such a big election.”

I said, holding up the can of beer I had set down.

“That’s too bad. He’s not the type of person to spend his days in small waters.”

“That’s right. If General Lee Dae-sik runs, the Seoul mayoral election will be a breeze.”

Representative Min looks at me and asks me carefully.

“So, what I’m saying is, wouldn’t it be okay if the President could persuade me? I don’t mind listening to someone else, but wouldn’t I listen to the President?”

I said, shaking my head.

“No. If I personally urge him to run, it will inevitably lead to election interference. And even if I personally urge him to run, will General Lee Dae-sik listen?”

Representative Min sighs and asks again.

“Ha, how can it not be done, Mr. President?”

I asked him that.

“Isn’t the Seoul mayoral election easy?”

When asked whether being the mayor of Seoul is not easy, Min Jeong-gi sighs deeply once again.

“Ha, yes. Former Representative Lee Hae-chang himself has come forward. He did a good job in the recent presidential election. He has moved down a level, so it won’t be easy because of the perception that he is a political heavyweight. We will also have to send out someone who is worthy of that title… … .”

‘Well, if the opponent is a previous presidential candidate, then someone who is suitable for the position will have to run… … .’

“Um, isn’t there a better candidate besides this general?”

“It would be great if Prime Minister Lee Hwa-sung would step forward, but he seems to have health issues… … .”

“Yes, that’s true. I also visited the hospital last week… … .”

Death from disease is not as easy to avoid as one might think, even if it can be predicted with a smartphone.

No matter how much medical technology advances, at this Prime Minister’s age, it was virtually impossible to change history even if the disease had been known in advance, as he was practically certain to die from old age.

I also sent people to check on his health several times, but Prime Minister Lee Hwa-seong’s health has been rapidly deteriorating since the beginning of this year, and he was recently hospitalized, so we have not even been able to meet at the Blue House once or twice a month.

It wasn’t just Prime Minister Lee Hwa-sung.

As Chairman Oh Wang-guk’s health became increasingly unhealthy, he was not able to be as active as before.

When I saw people I had spent time with becoming unwell, I felt like another era was slowly coming to an end.

‘How much time do I have left… … .’

Before I could even think about it for a moment, Representative Min asked me a question.

“Or, could you please remove some people from the Blue House? For example, the Chief of Staff… … .”

“Don’t you know? The Chief Secretary doesn’t think about politics.”

“ha…….”

Representative Min’s sighs grow deeper.

“Then, wouldn’t it be possible for you to draft Prime Minister Park Dae-chun?”

It wasn’t Prime Minister Park who was in trouble, it was me.

Prime Minister Park was the most important figure in the government at the time.

“That is a problem for me. If Prime Minister Park leaves, who will become Prime Minister? If Representative Min comes in as Prime Minister, I will consider it.”

As soon as Prime Minister Park took office, he carried out his work with a bulldozer-like force, as expected.

Sometimes he would get too far ahead of himself, to the point where I would have to step in and stop him.

But as expected, his work-related skills were evident.

In some areas, he handled things so reasonably that I didn’t have to worry about it.

Dissatisfaction with the government within the civil service has also decreased dramatically.

Since he was someone who paid a lot of attention to employee welfare when he was in Pohang, he also put a lot of effort into improving welfare and wages for civil servants.

Thanks to this, the Prime Minister’s popularity within the civil service was higher than that of the President.

Representative Min empties the remaining alcohol and stands up from his seat.

“I’ll go and see. I’ll go down and try to persuade General Lee Dae-sik one more time.”

“Haha. Don’t worry about it. If you put your mind to it, even I’m not the type of person who can be easily persuaded.”

“But shouldn’t we try? As the party leader, we can’t just lose the Seoul mayoral election, right?”

* * *

“Honey, are you really going to run for provincial assembly? Why don’t you at least run for county governor?”

Despite his wife’s request, General Lee Dae-sik’s attitude was firm.

“Don’t say that, ma’am. I’ve been a soldier my whole life, so it’s ridiculous to suddenly be called a military commander. I don’t know much about administration either.”

The wife looks at her husband in disbelief and says a word.

“No, how can someone who has been the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for over 10 years not know anything about administration…?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m going to go exercise.”

As he puts on his shoes and prepares to go out, General Lee Dae-sik’s wife also puts on an apron.

While General Lee Dae-sik went out to exercise, she had to prepare breakfast in the meantime.

General Lee Dae-sik never once used the military personnel for personal use in his nearly 20 years as the Chief of Staff, so his wife was used to preparing breakfast like this.

Rather, he was so clear about the distinction between public and private affairs that he even warned his subordinate generals not to use the military personnel for personal purposes.

“Oh, bye. I’ll be preparing breakfast.”

General Lee Dae-sik goes out and starts running, greeted by his wife.

Although he was now approaching 70, his body was so fit that it was hard to believe he was old, thanks to the fact that he never missed a single day of exercise.

“General! Victory!”

An old man who looked not much older than General Lee Dae-sik saluted him.

General Lee Dae-sik also saluted and greeted me as if he was used to it.

“Good luck! Thank you for your hard work.”

He was already a national star, so much so that even the neighborhood elders would salute him when they saw him.

It was, of course, the Second Korean War that made him a star.

He was a so-called war hero who led the Second Korean War to victory.

Of course, even after that, he was respected by the people, including the soldiers, because he led the army rationally and thoughtfully for his subordinates.

Although he was the Chief of Staff, his influence within the military was actually greater than that of the Minister of National Defense, thanks to the strong trust of President Kim Jong-guk.

At that moment, someone runs behind General Lee Dae-sik, panting, while he is running while sweating profusely.

“Haa, haa, President. Why can’t I contact you?”

Looking back, the person who was there was none other than Min Jeong-gi, the leader of the Liberty Korea Party.

General Lee Dae-sik pauses for a moment and asks Representative Min a question.

“What brings you here, sir?”

“Ha, you don’t answer my calls very often, so that’s why you came to see me in person.”

Representative Min takes a moment to catch his breath and asks General Lee Dae-sik a favor.

“General, could you please run for mayor of Seoul?”

However, despite Representative Min’s pleas, General Lee Dae-sik’s attitude was firm.

“As I have told you several times before, I am not yet capable of that level.”

Representative Min says in disbelief.

“No, if someone of this general’s caliber is not capable, then who in South Korea would be fit to be the mayor of Seoul? If this general is not fit to be the mayor of Seoul, then the only person fit for that position in South Korea is President Kim!”

But this time too, General Lee Dae-sik’s attitude was firm.

“Why don’t you just step down, Mr. Representative? I think you’re more than enough to be the mayor of Seoul.”

“If I run for mayor of Seoul, who will be the party leader? If General Lee runs for the position, I will consider running for mayor of Seoul.”

Minjeonggi was also a man full of ambition.

If President Kim Jong-guk were to retire, he would immediately formalize his candidacy for president.

But he was not the president, and he was the mayor of Seoul, so he was an envoy.

No matter how great the position of the mayor of Seoul is, if you only look at the number of times his face appears in the media, the ruling party leader appears several times more often.

Considering the upcoming presidential election, it would have been more advantageous to maintain the party leadership position as it is now rather than to become the mayor of Seoul.

If he were to step down as party leader now, there would be no one to take over the position.

It was clear that this huge party with nearly 300 seats would be torn apart.

That was clearly not something a party leader should do.

Representative Min pleads with him once again.

“Please, General. The current situation for the mayor of Seoul is not so easy. Our party’s mayor, Woo Gil-han, has given up on running for reelection due to health issues, so there really is no suitable candidate. No matter how high the president’s approval rating is, the other candidate is Lee Hae-chang, so I cannot guarantee victory with any other candidate.”

“No matter what, I… … .”

-Tiring… Tiring… Tiring… … .

Then suddenly a cell phone rings from somewhere.

“Excuse me, sir. Can I take a call for a moment?”

“Oh, yes. That’s right.”

“sorry.”

General Lee Dae-sik asks for understanding from Representative Min and receives a phone call.

“Yes. This is Lee Dae-sik. Oh, Prime Minister.”

* * *

“Prime Minister, how are you feeling?”

“It’s okay. It’s not enough to worry about that much… Big, ugh… …!”

Prime Minister Lee Hwa-seong coughs up blood, making his words of not worry seem meaningless.

“Hey, are you okay! Nurse! Nurse!”

Prime Minister Lee Hwa-seong stops General Lee Dae-sik from urgently calling a nurse.

“It’s okay. It happens sometimes. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“Oh, no. You’re spitting up blood like this… … .”

“I’m really fine, so don’t worry about me. Anyway, thank you for coming today.”

“The Prime Minister called me, so of course I should come.”

The person on the phone was none other than Prime Minister Lee Hwa-seong.

He had been hospitalized in the Armed Forces Capital Hospital for several months due to a chronic illness.

Today, General Lee Dae-sik came all the way to Seoul at the request of Prime Minister Lee Hwa-seong.

The Prime Minister’s gaze was as strong as ever, but his body was much more injured than before.

The legs were swollen and the cheeks were hollow.

He looked like someone who was nearing death.

“How has the general been lately? He’s busy preparing for the elections, so I wonder if I called him for no reason.”

“Don’t say that, Prime Minister.”

The Prime Minister looks into the distance and says:

“General, I know. I don’t have much time left. However, I am satisfied with the life I have lived so far. After all, I have served as a soldier of the Republic of Korea for a long time, and I have also served as Prime Minister under the best President of the Republic of Korea. Although I may not have done as well as President Kim, I have never done anything shameful while serving as Prime Minister. Even if I die tomorrow, I have no more regrets.”

“Prime Minister… … .”

He looked as if he was already prepared for death.

The Prime Minister takes a drink out of the refrigerator and hands it to General Lee Dae-sik.

“By the way, a guest came, but I didn’t offer him a drink. Have one of these. The President bought it for you. You must be busy, but this is already the third time you’ve come and gone.”

“thank you.”

The Prime Minister also takes out a drink and drinks it while speaking.

“General, do you like Seoul after all?”

“Oh, yes. It’s definitely nice to come up here after living in the countryside for so long because transportation is convenient.”

“Yes. Even though it is not as much as it used to be, Seoul is the capital of the Republic of Korea. But if the president and the city of Seoul speak out against each other, wouldn’t that cause problems in running the government?”

“That’s, what… … .”

And a little later, Prime Minister Lee Hwa-seong holds General Lee Dae-sik’s hand and says:

“General Lee, why don’t you run for mayor of Seoul?”