1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 147



Only Krnovel

Episode 147

“These are the people.”

Representative Min shows me a photo using the Galaxy 2 smartphone recently released by Samsung.

“Representative Min, do you also use a smartphone?”

“But I am still a politician, so shouldn’t I adapt to these new technologies even as I get older?”

That was right.

Politicians in particular have had to continually adapt to new technologies, even if it meant some inconvenience.

When a new technology comes out, a corresponding policy comes out.

But how can we come up with good policies if we have no knowledge of the technology?

“Yes, that’s true. People in politics have to study endlessly.”

I nodded and took the Galaxy 2 smartphone he handed me.

“Okay, let’s take a look.”

Some of the people in the smartphone he handed over were familiar, while others were not.

And among them, there were some who, in this history, wished to avoid politics and enjoy personal happiness.

‘So this guy has finally entered politics again… … .’

I didn’t know everything about the people that Minjeonggi showed me.

But if I were to judge only by the people I know, they were still people with decent political capabilities.

This isn’t a bad lineup.

‘Still, this is great.’

I handed him the phone back and smiled.

“Everyone is fine. Can we call these people Minjeonggi Kids?”

Representative Min waves his hand.

“Oh my, Minjeongki Kids? It’s embarrassing. They’re just people I’ve been keeping an eye on. It’s not like I’m going to pull these people up, it’s just that since there are people with this level of ability, I can retire now. I won’t do anything special for these people or anything like that.”

He made it clear that these were people he was keeping an eye on, but not in the usual sense of a line.

‘It’s a shame he’s retiring. He was a good person.’

I asked him while finishing my coffee on the table.

“So, does that mean that Representative Min also has no plans to run for office after this term ends?”

“Yes. As I said earlier, I plan to enjoy the rest of my life away from this noisy political scene. Well, I will work hard for the rest of my term. I also have a business trip to Indonesia next week.”

‘Indonesia… … .’

When I hear the word Indonesia, something immediately comes to mind.

‘what……?’

As I remained silent for a moment, Representative Min asked in a worried voice.

“Mr. President, are you okay? You suddenly became silent… … .”

I came to my senses at his words and immediately answered.

“Oh, no. I was just thinking about something else for a moment. Are you going on a business trip to Indonesia?”

“Yes. I plan to meet with the mayor of Jakarta, Indonesia, and the speaker of the House of Representatives. I think our relationship with Southeast Asia will be more important in the future than it is now.”

I nod in agreement.

“That’s right. Southeast Asia continues to grow in population and is an important diplomatic and economic partner as an AEU member. Relations with Southeast Asia are now as important a diplomatic relationship in Asia as those with China and Japan.”

“That’s right. So this time, I also want to… … .”

‘… … .’

Every time he mentions Indonesia, a feeling of unease flashes through my mind.

I can’t seem to remember anything.

‘What was it… … .’

After talking a little more, Representative Min Jeong-gi stands up.

“Mr. President, I must go now. I have to prepare for the Supreme Council meeting tomorrow.”

“Haha, I see. I was holding on to someone too busy.”

He stands up from his seat and bows his head to me.

And as he was about to turn back, he soon turned his head again and asked me.

“Oh, right, Mr. President. When do you plan on making that announcement?”

“Are you saying that this presidential election is the last?”

“Yes. Because we need to respond accordingly when the announcement is made.”

‘Is a week enough?’

“Well, I’m still thinking about it, but I’ll probably make an announcement within a week.”

“Okay. Then, I’ll prepare the party by then. Okay, let’s go in.”

I bowed my head once again and gave him some final advice as he was about to leave.

“Representative Min. Don’t underestimate yourself. You can definitely become an excellent leader.”

Representative Min, who heard my story, leaves with a smile that is hard to read.

* * *

I wrote this article to express my position on the passing of Representative Min Jeong-gi and the change in my presidential bid, along with the fact that this will be my last bid.

But strangely enough, while writing this important article, I kept thinking about the Southeast Asia story I mentioned earlier.

‘What, I feel like I forgot something… … .’

Even though we clearly didn’t have a long conversation and only talked briefly about going on a business trip next week, I still felt like something was stuck in my throat and I was on edge.

Because of the constant distracting thoughts, I can’t even focus on writing.

Eventually, I stopped writing, opened my smartphone, and started searching about Indonesia in 2004.

‘Indonesia in 2004… … .’

And when the search results came back, I remembered what I had forgotten.

[2004 South Asian Earthquake / The worst earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people… … .]

“2004 South Asian earthquake… … .”

2004 South Asian earthquake.

It was recorded as one of the worst earthquakes in human history, and was the worst disaster that killed over 300,000 people.

It was a major disaster that caused enormous damage to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India due to a magnitude 9.3 earthquake that occurred in Indonesia.

Originally, South Korea and Indonesia did not have a close relationship in history, so even though it was a huge disaster, it was mostly forgotten in my mind.

‘What should I do with this?’

If you didn’t know at all, you wouldn’t know.

Knowing that a great disaster would kill over 300,000 people, I couldn’t just ignore it.

Even though I only know Korea, I am not such a wicked person that I would just sit by and watch 300,000 innocent people die.

And it wasn’t just sympathy.

The positions of Korea in Southeast Asia in the original history and today are very different.

Korea was currently serving as the de facto leader in Asia.

Since the establishment of the AEU, exchanges with Asian countries have become increasingly active.

In particular, relations with Southeast Asian countries have become even closer.

Even in Indonesia, which was hit hardest by the 2004 South Asian earthquake, the number of Korean residents and businesses there has at least doubled compared to its original history.

Even if it is not simply a matter of sympathy, if we ignore this great earthquake in South Asia, the damage that will eventually come to Korea will not be insignificant.

‘There’s nothing we can do about an earthquake, but we have to minimize the damage as much as possible.’

You can’t stop an earthquake from happening.

No matter how great South Korea’s current technology is, it is not enough to prevent an earthquake.

But if you know an earthquake is coming, you can definitely prepare for it.

The disaster that killed 300,000 people could certainly have been prevented.

And if this is prevented, it is clear that South Korea’s position in Southeast Asia will rise beyond imagination.

‘I guess we’ll have to talk about it at the AEU regular meeting next month.’

* * *

With one of my complicated worries lifted from my mind, fortunately, the writing went smoothly, and I held a live press conference the next day.

The press conference was not very long, around five minutes, so the broadcaster asked for it.

A cue from the broadcasting station staff comes in and the live cameras start rolling.

“Hello, citizens. This is Kim Jung-guk. It’s been over a month since the new year began. I hope you’re keeping up with the plans you made at the beginning of the year.”

After a brief greeting, I took a sip of the water next to me and continued my speech.

“The reason I am standing here today is because I have something to say to the people.”

The camera zooms in a little closer to my face.

“Citizens. I, Kim Jong-guk, intend to retire from politics after this presidential election.”

Everyone at the broadcasting station, including the cameraman, starts to murmur in surprise.

Even in the Blue House, only a few people, including the Chief of Staff and the head of the Civil Affairs Office, knew about this, so everyone was surprised.

“If I am re-elected in this presidential election thanks to the support of many citizens, my term will end in 2010. By then, I will be too old to be involved in politics.”

I finished it neatly without adding anything special.

“I have received so much love from the people for over 20 years. Now that I am at an age where I can think about retirement, I am speaking to the people in advance. Thank you, people.”

After being in power for over 20 years, it must have been difficult to imagine a Republic of Korea without me as president. The media even gave me a special feature story, even publishing extra editions.

[Extra Edition / President Kim Jung-guk. The next presidential election is his last political challenge. – Tongil Ilbo]

And the one who reacted most urgently to this announcement was none other than the perennial opposition party, the Komeito Party.

The Gongmin Party members hold an emergency general meeting and discuss countermeasures.

Although it was a small party with just over a hundred members, the Gongmin Party was still the largest opposition party in South Korea.

One of the top members speaks first.

“Will the President really stop after the next presidential election?”

Oh Baek-seung, a 4-term lawmaker from the Gongmyeong Party, answers while smoking a cigarette.

“Considering his age, isn’t it not strange? If he wins this presidential election and serves until the end of his term in 2010 as he said, President Kim Jong-guk will also be in his mid-80s.”

But another member of parliament asks, “Is that really true?”

“That may be true, but President Kim Jong-guk, who has only just eaten the elixir of immortality, still looks like he is only in his sixties, so shouldn’t he be able to do more?”

Rep. Oh Baek-seung answers with a hint of annoyance.

“Hey, Congressman, do you want President Kim Jung-guk to be president for a thousand years? Are we the Liberty Korea Party? Or the Gongmin Party?”

CEO Lee Hae-chang, who had been quiet, also opens his mouth.

“That’s a long time. Even if he was elected, where in the world can someone serve as president for more than 20 years? Even if he quits in 2010 as you said, he will have served 30 years.”

Rep. Oh Baek-seung nods his head in enthusiastic agreement.

“That’s right. It’s time for President Kim Jong-guk to step down.”

Still, they were quite encouraged.

Although this was a presidential election that had never had a close result, the reason for this was much greater support for President Kim Jong-guk as an individual than support for the Liberty Korea Party.

Clearly, with President Kim Jong-guk retiring, the Gongmin Party is beginning to realize that it may now have a chance to take power.

And then, after thinking about something for a moment, Representative Lee Hae-chang opens his mouth and asks the lawmakers.

“Congressmen, given the situation, wouldn’t it be better not to field a candidate in this presidential election?”