1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 118



Only Krnovel

Episode 118

“What good is talking about! Of course it would be nice. If I could see the World Cup being held in Korea before I die, I would have no other wish. But the 2002 World Cup… … .”

I interrupted Prime Minister Park Dae-chun for a moment and told him that FIFA had been requesting that the World Cup be held.

“Prime Minister, the reason I came today is actually because of the World Cup. FIFA asked if we could host the 2002 World Cup.”

Prime Minister Park Dae-chun was so surprised by what I said that his eyes widened and he froze in place like ice, unable to say anything.

It was only after I called out several times that he seemed to come to his senses.

“Prime Minister? Prime Minister… … !”

“Ah, yes… … !”

“You didn’t say anything for so long that I thought you had passed away.”

“I’m sorry, I was so surprised… … .”

He looked surprised, but also like a child who had just regained his dream.

“Is hosting the World Cup really that surprising?”

Prime Minister Park gets a little worked up and starts giving a passionate speech.

“If I say more, it’ll be a pain in the neck! Mr. President, my only hobby is soccer. No matter how sick I am, if there’s a national soccer team game, I’ll watch it and sleep, even if I’m sick the next day. But the World Cup… Honestly, I thought my heart was going to burst.”

Prime Minister Lee Hwa-sung and Prime Minister Park Dae-chun are both really good at sports.

I brought up the subject when I went to recruit him as Prime Minister.

“Yes, that’s right. He was definitely at the soccer field when I went to pick up the Prime Minister.”

“Yes. Now that I think about it, that’s true. Even now, I sometimes miss watching Pohang games and my body aches. I can endure everything else, but watching this soccer game is not easy.”

“Haha, you should come down and see it even during your vacation.”

“Already, it is. No, Mr. President. But did FIFA really say that we should host the 2002 World Cup? What happened to Argentina?”

“That’s it… … .”

There have already been articles published overseas that Argentina has given up on hosting the event, but it seems that this news has not yet reached Korea.

I explained to him, as I had heard from Commissioner Oh Hyun-tae earlier, why Argentina gave up hosting the World Cup and why FIFA requested that Korea host the World Cup.

After listening to my story, he nodded and quickly agreed.

“Well, I’ve been hearing a lot lately that Argentina’s economy is really struggling. And that’s what happened. But FIFA must have been in quite a hurry. With less than three years left until the event, it would have been better to take a break… … .”

“I found out that it has been exactly one year since the current FIFA president took office. It has not been long since he took office, but it seems that he is in a hurry because something like this has happened. There is even talk that if he cannot find a replacement host city, he will not only not be re-elected, but he will not even be able to complete his term.”

“I see. So did FIFA contact the Blue House directly?”

I shook my head and answered Prime Minister Park.

“No. I didn’t receive any official contact. I received an unofficial contact from someone at the Football Association. I think they’re just checking their intentions for now.”

Prime Minister Park asks cautiously with an expectant expression.

“So, Mr. President, will you accept?”

“We haven’t accepted yet. However, it seems like they are in a hurry and if we just hold the event, they will negotiate in a way that is as favorable to Korea as possible, starting with the broadcasting rights.”

I took out a cigarette and put it in my mouth and asked Prime Minister Park.

“Can I have a cigarette?”

“Oh, yes. You can smoke comfortably.”

I lit a cigarette, exhaled smoke, and looked at him.

“Prime Minister, to be honest, I don’t know much about soccer. To be exact, it’s true that we’ve been focusing only on national defense and the economy, and have paid less attention to culture in general, including sports. However, now that South Korea’s status and economic power are different from the past, I think we need to pay attention to this culture in general.”

Prime Minister Park listens to my story in silence.

“That’s why. In fact, I think the Prime Minister, who knows more about soccer than I do, would be more qualified to handle this World Cup. Prime Minister, do you have any intention of taking charge of the overall hosting of the World Cup?”

I can’t handle all the country’s affairs by myself.

If there is someone who can do it better, it is also the ability of the president to find someone who can do it better and delegate that responsibility to them.

Prime Minister Park answered me without a moment’s hesitation.

“Of course! Mr. President! Leave the hosting of the World Cup to me!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! Now I think I know why I became Prime Minister. I think I became Prime Minister to successfully host the World Cup.”

I smiled awkwardly at Prime Minister Park’s story.

“Haha… The reason I invited the Prime Minister here wasn’t because of the World Cup.”

But it seemed like my words were already out of his ear.

“I think the reason God has kept me alive until now is to make the World Cup a success. I will do my best, no, even if I die, I will do my best to make this World Cup a success. Leave it to me!”

I laughed at his overjoyed expression and answered.

“Hahaha, if Prime Minister Park says so, there won’t be a problem. Then I will tell FIFA. But can you keep it a secret until the end of this year? I would like to share this news with the people at the beginning of the year as a gift to announce the new millennium.”

“Yes. Then, for now, let’s proceed with the purpose of promoting sports rather than hosting the World Cup.”

“Okay. Then let’s proceed like that for now. Oh, but by the way, there’s one person I think would be good to work with for hosting this World Cup.”

When it comes to working in football, it’s pointless to talk about this guy without mentioning him.

“Yes? Who are you?”

“I am Oh Hyun-tae, a member of the Football Association. Does the Prime Minister know about it?”

Prime Minister Park Dae-chun shouts out in delight.

“Ah! Oh, you mean Commissioner? I know him well. I’ve met him many times. He’s a person who is passionate about soccer. I can trust him. I don’t know much about other things, but he’s a person who is sincere about soccer.”

“I guess it won’t be a problem since you know it well. Anyway, I will leave the hosting of this event entirely up to the Prime Minister and Chairman Oh, so I ask you to prepare for a successful hosting.”

Prime Minister Park answers confidently, even saluting.

“Don’t worry. Let’s host the greatest World Cup ever!”

His eyes were like those of a child sailing in search of a dream.

* * *

“We have finalized negotiations to transfer the broadcasting rights in Asia, including the broadcasting rights in Korea, to Korea, and to receive all ticket sales in Korea.”

Prime Minister Park Dae-chun, who received a call from Commissioner Oh, praised him as if he was satisfied.

“Thank you for your hard work, Commissioner Oh. At that level, Korea will not feel burdened. The ticket revenue alone will be quite a lot, so it won’t be a big burden for the government.”

“Yes. And FIFA has decided to allocate two spots for Asia in the group stage, excluding Korea.”

“Two seats? Hahaha. That’s amazing. Since it’s being held in Korea, the more Asian countries participate, the more it will help the box office.”

“Yes. Especially if countries like China or Japan come up, they will be even more helpful for box office success, as they have large populations and are geographically close to Korea.”

The rights to resell Asian broadcasting rights now belong to Korea.

If China or Japan advance to the group stage, the broadcasting rights fees sold to those countries will skyrocket.

From Korea’s perspective, there was no need to worry anymore.

They said they would give it all away, so there was no reason not to.

Now all that’s left is to sign the final contract.

But Prime Minister Park had some doubts.

“But FIFA must be really in a hurry. Did all the other countries end up rejecting it?”

“Yes. In particular, the fire has fallen on President Blatter’s feet. There is already tremendous pressure coming from outside.”

“Haha. We benefit greatly from President Blatter, who has not yet fully established himself as president in his first year.”

President Blatter, who was originally known as the dictator of FIFA and wielded immense power, now had his life hanging on whether Korea would host the World Cup or not.

“Commissioner Oh, no, now that you are the president of the association, I guess I should call you Chairman Oh. Chairman Oh, please take good care of me. Let’s properly host the World Cup and properly increase the popularity of soccer in Korea.”

Commissioner Oh Hyeon-tae recently ran for the presidency of the Korea Football Association and was elected.

Prime Minister Park pushed him so hard that other candidates were no match for him.

And among those who lost, there were also people from the same Hyunjoong family.

Chairman Oh Hyeon-tae answers in a solemn voice.

“Of course. Even if I have to die, I will die in front of the World Cup stadium.”

Both of them were more sincere than anyone else about hosting this World Cup.

In particular, Oh Hyun-tae was truly devoted to soccer as his passion for politics and business in history was all directed to soccer.

“Okay. Then next time… … .”

Prime Minister Park, who was about to hang up the phone, remembers something he needs to check and hurriedly grabs Oh Hyun-tae again.

“Oh, Mr. Chairman. Just a moment. By the way, has the national team coach been decided?”

“Yes. Right now, we are mainly looking for foreign directors.”

Recently, the national team coach resigned due to poor performance.

This time, as the general public opinion was that in order to achieve good results, it would be good to recruit a foreign manager, Chairman Oh Hyun-tae was also looking into foreign managers.

“The performance is directly related to the box office success. Don’t spare any money and hire the best director possible.”

“Yes, of course. First, we are trying to persuade one of the famous foreign directors as a candidate.”

“Really? Who are the candidates?”

“First of all, the first candidate is… … .”

Then, suddenly, a text message arrives on Chairman Oh Hyeon-tae’s phone.

The text message was none other than a request for the national team coach candidate, who had been being persuaded, to come to the association quickly as he had responded that he would accept the position.

“Oh, Prime Minister. I think I have to go out right now, so I will fax you that person’s information right away.”

“Yes, please do. I think it would be easier to see it that way.”

Chairman Oh Hyun-tae sends a fax with the national team coach’s personal information and hurries out of the house.

[South Korea National Football Team Coach Candidate]

[Nationality: Dutch]

[Name: Gus Hiddink]

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* * *

August 3, 1999.

There was an outdoor event, and I was giving a congratulatory speech and sitting in the front row. It was quite hot, so I was sweating profusely.

The chief secretary, who had been watching from behind, approached and spoke in a worried voice.

“Mr. President, it’s quite hot. Please go inside.”

“It’s okay. Everyone is staying in their seats despite the heat, so I can’t be the only one to leave.”

“But I am still worried about your health. Mr. President, you are getting older, so you should not overwork yourself anymore.”

“Haha. It’s okay. I know my body better than anyone else. I’m still fine.”

I said this, but in reality my body wasn’t like it used to be.

When he first came in this Kim Jung-guk body, it was as if he had literally the same physical strength as a 20-year-old, to the point where it seemed like he had the same body as Han Myeong-ho.

But now, after more than 20 years, there really isn’t a single part of my body that is healthy.

My eyes were getting a little blurry, and my waist and other things weren’t what they used to be.

Of course, even so, compared to Kim Jong-guk’s actual age of mid-70s, he was in relatively good health, but now it was time to worry about his health.

‘I guess I’m in my mid-50s in terms of physical age. I should take better care of my body.’

After the event, which was held under the scorching sun and sweating profusely, I returned to my office.

Back in my office, I finally feel a little better thanks to the air conditioning.

‘Phew, I don’t know how I lived without this.’

But as soon as I returned to the office, the chief economic advisor came to see me with a document.

“Chief Economic Secretary, what’s going on?”

“I have something urgent to report.”

“Really? There’s a meeting with the chief secretary tomorrow morning anyway, so you can give it to me then. I guess it’s important.”

The chief economic adviser speaks with a troubled expression.

“Yes. Because of this, I brought it in a hurry because the number of complaints these days is so great that it’s impossible to work.”

“A complaint? What is it?”

I began to feel uneasy about the name Minwon.

The chief economic adviser hesitates and hands me a file.

“Mr. President, here is a list of pardon requests submitted by the Chamber of Commerce.”