1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 146



Only Krnovel

Episode 146

[Korea-US Free Trade Agreement to be Negotiated Soon. Tariffs to be Applied as Before Until Negotiation Ends, Korea-US Trade War Virtually Ends with Korea’s Victory – Wall Street Journal]

[President Bush’s diplomatic defeat in Korea. However, consumer prices are stabilizing. Approval ratings are recovering. – GOX TV]

The Korea-US Free Trade Agreement requires a certain level of detailed consultation, so tariffs were rolled back first.

With tariffs back to what they were before and Korea’s mineral resources being exported back to the United States, consumer prices in the United States have stabilized somewhat.

Bush has barely managed to recover his approval ratings, which had hit rock bottom.

However, separate from that, there was talk within the United States that this incident was effectively a declaration of economic defeat for Korea.

This was especially shocking for those who always had America’s Number One on their lips.

This incident was a signal that the center of the global economy was gradually shifting from the United States to the AEU, and especially to Korea.

* * *

January 1, 2004.

The year of the presidential election has dawned again.

It had already been more than 20 years since he took power, and was approaching his 25th year, and in the meantime, the heads of neighboring countries had changed countless times.

Also, many of the people I worked with and knew, such as Chairman Oh Wang-guk and Prime Minister Lee Hwa-seong, have already passed away.

An era was slowly coming to an end.

The original owner of this body, Kim Jeong-guk, was born in 1924.

In reality, my age was approaching eighty.

If things were as they were, I would already be at an age where I wouldn’t be able to straighten my back properly.

Of course, considering Han Myeong-ho’s original age, his physical age seemed to be about 20 years younger than that, but even taking that into account, he now felt like he was in his sixties.

His eyes began to become increasingly blurry, and his body began to show various abnormal symptoms.

In the past, I could stay up all night for several days and still be fine, but recently, if I stay up all night for just one day, my condition has gotten so bad that I can’t do anything the next day.

I also instinctively knew that this year’s presidential election would be my last.

He has already been in power for 24 years.

In terms of time, it has been going on for so long that it is no longer appropriate to call it a dictatorship.

Of course, the government’s approval rating is still well over 80%.

However, some of my fellow citizens actually nicknamed me the silent dictator.

I wrote down on paper what I wanted to say to the people for my final presidential bid.

‘If I do more, it’s too much, and I can’t do more. This is the last presidential election.’

* * *

In contrast to the current situation in the United States, the economies of Asian countries were generally on the rise.

In particular, the development speed of countries belonging to the AEU was even faster.

As Korea’s economy developed, the economic development of AEU countries also accelerated.

At first, joining the AEU was seen as a way out of the economic crisis, but now it was impossible to trade in Asia without joining the AEU.

In particular, Korea’s mission was even more important as the leader of the AEU.

In particular, its size has grown even further recently with the joining of Russia and India.

But the problem for the Asian economy was China.

In fact, China’s current problem is not the economy, but the very foundation of the country is being shaken.

This is because the so-called democracy protests that started a few years ago have grown bigger and bigger like a beacon.

If this were an external protest or a protest by an ethnic minority, China would continue to suppress it with force, but internally, more people than expected were participating in the protest, especially among the Han Chinese.

Because of this, Jiang Zemin’s head was about to explode.

“The unrest in Shanghai has gotten worse?”

Jiang Zemin touches his forehead while receiving reports from his secretaries.

“Yes… Your Majesty. And this time in Sacheon too… … .”

“What, in Sacheon too?”

Now, as he was slowly trying to pass on power to his successor, shocking events continued to happen to him.

At first, they tried to block it with the police, and then they tried to block it with the military.

But the number of protesters was growing to an unmanageable level.

The reason the protests did not subside even after the military was deployed was simple.

This is because this protest was not simply a protest against the political system.

The fundamental reason for these protests was China’s current difficult economic problems.

One of the reasons China was able to develop historically was because it could sell goods overseas at low prices with cheap labor, making a large trade surplus, but this has become impossible now.

There are two reasons.

One is that by joining the AEU and using the won, they are no longer able to conduct their own monetary policy.

China’s competitiveness, which had originally driven economic growth through a strong party-centered, strong monetary policy throughout history, has disappeared.

The second is the product’s price competitiveness.

Of course, the price itself was cheap.

However, the minimum quality that should have been maintained was not maintained.

The price difference with Korean products is not that big, but while Korean products are of the highest quality in the world, Chinese products are at the bottom of the list.

As a result, Chinese products were being ignored even in the Chinese domestic market.

As the economy became more difficult, China’s economy began to experience low growth of 1% or 2%, rather than the 10% growth it had experienced historically.

Naturally, dissatisfaction with the government began to build up.

China tried to stop it somehow, but the number of unofficial deaths had already reached tens of thousands.

Some areas were already in a state of virtual anarchy.

Criticism of the bloody suppression was also gradually pouring in from the international community.

‘What should I do… … .’

As Jiang Zemin was racking his brain trying to figure out a way, one of his secretaries who had been outside came in out of breath and shouted.

“My lord, my lord!! This is a big problem!!!”

He had sweat dripping down his forehead, as if something big had happened.

Jiang Zemin looks at him with an anxious expression and asks.

“What now!”

He said with wavering eyes.

“I can’t contact Yeontae and Cheongdo… … .”

“Hey, what do you mean you can’t contact me!”

The secretary hesitates for a moment, then tells everything.

“Well, it seems like most of Shandong Province has fallen to the protesters… and in fact, at this point, it seems like they should be considered rebels rather than protesters.”

“what……??!”

Shandong Province is a region not too far from Beijing.

The story was that this area had been virtually taken over by protesters, or rather rebels.

Shandong Province alone had a population of well over 100 million.

If things continue this way, I am starting to get the urgent feeling that One China might really cross the river.

“Sigh, I’m going crazy… … .”

* * *

State Council meeting.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs reports on the current status of Korean residents in China.

“Minister, have the Korean residents in China completed their withdrawal?”

“Yes, Mr. President. Most of the personnel except those absolutely essential have been withdrawn.”

As the situation in China became so serious, our government had already finished talking to our Korean residents in China to return to Korea.

“Thank you for your hard work. What is the current situation in China?”

“That’s not good. In fact, the Chinese government is losing control. People are just continuing to die in vain.”

‘There’s no need to interfere.’

I looked at the Minister of Foreign Affairs and gave instructions.

“Our government will continue to remain silent as it is now. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should also be aware of this.”

“all right.”

There is no benefit to getting involved in this fuss.

Later, when all the protests and such are over and the political situation stabilizes, it will be fortunate if we don’t get criticized for interfering in internal affairs.

‘Well, if they had asked first, it would have been different.’

I asked just in case.

I had no intention of intervening first, but if China were to ask Korea for help first, I would be willing to listen.

“Have they requested anything from you yet?”

“Yes. Not yet. But looking at the current atmosphere, if things go to the worst, it could even lead to the country being split into several countries. Shandong Province, in particular, is currently in a state where the Chinese Communist Party’s power is virtually nonexistent.”

One China was slowly collapsing.

Now, I really think that China might be divided again like it was in the past.

“Okay. For now, please continue to watch. We must be especially careful in Manchuria. If there is unrest, Korea will also be affected. Minister of National Defense, please be more thorough in preparing for the border.”

The Minister of Defense salutes and responds.

“Yes, Mr. President. We will make thorough preparations.”

* * *

“Representative Min, it’s been a while.”

“Mr. President, please sing this more often. It’s disappointing.”

Although Representative Min Jeong-gi was telling me that he was upset, his expression seemed bright for some reason.

“Haha, sorry. I’ve been really busy lately. But sir, is something good happening? You look happy.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Recently, from the World Cup to the trade war with the United States, only good things have happened in our country, so I can’t stop smiling.”

“okay.”

Representative Min Jeong-gi is now approaching his sixtieth birthday.

He was once a symbol of young politicians, but now he has become a symbol of established politicians.

‘We need to talk.’

“Representative Min, the reason I called you today is because I feel like this presidential election will be my last.”

“Yes… … ? What are you talking about, Mr. President? You haven’t gotten it right yet. You have to do it for another 20 years.”

’20 years? Does this person know how old I am?’

I smiled and answered the somewhat absurd statement.

“Twenty years? I’m almost eighty now. In fact, this is too much. This much is enough. Rather, I’ve blocked the path of people like Representative Min.”

“But… if the President leaves, who… … .”

“You’re not leaving right away, are you? If you get elected, you’ll stay for another six years.”

Once considered one of the party’s most powerful rivals, a dozen years later he has become one of its most ardent supporters.

Representative Min Jeong-gi thought about something for a moment and then spoke to me.

“Mr. President, I actually have no more thoughts about the presidential election.”

I asked him with a surprised look on my face.

“Yes? What are you talking about? I thought that Representative Min was always thinking about the presidential election, so I said this first.”

He shakes his head and talks to me.

“No. No matter how hard I work, I don’t think I can do as well as the president. In fact, I’m thinking of leaving the party leadership position soon. In the past few years, more talented people than I thought have joined the party. I think it’s time to give up the position to them.”

“It’s a shame. I wish Representative Min or Director Oh had continued their political career.”

“If the President leaves, we must leave with him.”

I asked him while drinking the coffee that was on the table.

“Sir. But who are these good people?”