1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 15



Only Krnovel

Episode 15

###

[Due to the second oil shock, international crude oil prices rose sharply until the first half of 1980, but eventually, due to overproduction, oil prices plummeted.]

‘It’s a temporary problem after all. It doesn’t make much sense to be excited or depressed by the price of crude oil right now.’

According to my search results, the month when international oil prices peaked was May 1980.

It will hit $35 a barrel and then eventually go into a downward spiral.

But even if that period was not long, the lives of ordinary people were shaken by inflation triggered by the oil shock that started last year.

Naturally, dissatisfaction with the government was also growing.

Of course, if we just get through this period, after the mid-1980s, South Korea will achieve economic growth at a level that it has never experienced before in history.

But my term is only one year at most. I needed to somehow increase my national support within the next five or seven years.

At the same time as coming up with measures to help the common people who are having a hard time making ends meet, the approval rating had to be raised.

“There is no need to be obsessed with crude oil. The price of crude oil will stabilize soon anyway.”

In the end, in this situation, I had no choice but to reach out to the company.

But the conglomerates aren’t stupid either.

There was no tycoon who would readily accept my threats and extort money when I knew full well that he was only a one-year interim president.

‘I’m sorry, but I guess that’s the only way.’

It was the most radical and impressive policy among all the policies implemented by any South Korean president, and I was planning to implement it a little earlier.

At the end of his term, his approval rating hit an all-time low because of the IMF, but at the beginning of his term, he had plans to implement the real-name system for financial policies that YS had implemented, which had achieved overwhelming approval ratings.

In order to implement the real-name financial system, it had to be done as secretly as possible.

The real-name financial transaction system itself means that if even a little bit of information is leaked, people will withdraw their money in advance, and then the meaning of the real-name financial transaction system will fade.

I immediately summoned all the economic leaders of the Republic of Korea, including the Minister of Strategy and Finance, the Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, and the Chairman of the Banking Supervisory Service (currently the Chairman of the Financial Supervisory Service), to the Blue House.

“Everyone, from now on, what I’m going to tell you must never be spoken of to anyone, not even to your family.”

Of course, since it is something the president is saying, it is basic to keep it confidential until the government steps forward and speaks to the public, but it is rare for the president to make such a strong request.

The chief economic adviser and the chairman of the banking supervisory board listened quietly to my story.

The chief economic adviser and the chairman of the banking supervisory board were both highly specialized people whom I had appointed.

We conducted a preliminary search and selected only people who had absolutely no involvement in corruption or bribery.

And basically, all of these people are bureaucrats, not politicians, to the core.

“What is the matter, Your Majesty?”

Democratic Republican Party member and Minister of Strategy and Finance Han Joo-hyun asks.

‘The problem is this person···.’

But Minister of Strategy and Finance Han Joo-hyun was different. Although Hyun Joo-yeon was an economic expert, she was a politician, not a bureaucrat.

That’s why I felt a little uneasy.

Because politicians were more difficult to control than bureaucrats.

‘There’s nothing we can do about it… But it doesn’t make sense to implement the real-name financial transaction system without the Minister of Strategy and Finance.’

I continued speaking as calmly as possible.

“Everyone. I plan to implement a real-name financial transaction system.”

When I mention the real-name financial transaction system, everyone’s mouths drop open.

Everyone seemed flustered, perhaps because an unexpected story had come up.

Everyone was so shocked that they couldn’t say anything.

“Why is no one saying anything?”

When I say something, only then do they shake their heads and open their mouths.

“I’m a little confused. I think that for something like the real-name financial transaction system, there needs to be communication with the National Assembly first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It would be absurd to keep such a big matter to ourselves.”

I laughed and countered their story.

“Everyone. If we inform people about the real-name financial system, will it be in line with the purpose? If we discuss this with the National Assembly, it is obvious that it will be on the news, and people who used their accounts under fake names will all withdraw their money before the real-name financial system is implemented. If that happens, what is the point of implementing the real-name financial system?”

“Your Majesty. Then shouldn’t you at least talk to the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties?”

Minister Han Joo-hyun speaks with a worried voice.

“Hahaha. I know what you mean. You’re saying that a one-year interim president like me shouldn’t act so unilaterally?”

“No.. Your Majesty, that’s not what I meant.. I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant..”

When I answered in a slightly sarcastic manner, Minister Han immediately apologized.

“Haha. Just kidding. Just kidding.”

“dismissal..”

A minister has sweat forming on his forehead.

“But I have no intention of informing anyone, including the 3 Kims, before the real-name financial system is implemented. And I am telling you this because I consider you to be my people. I have no intention of ending up as a one-year president.”

“Your Majesty.. What you said..”

I first looked at the chief economic adviser and the chairman of the banking supervisory board and said:

“Yes. I plan to run for president after the direct election system is finalized in a year. Rather than ending up as the chief economic secretary or the chairman of the Bank of Korea for just one year, shouldn’t you stay in that position for four or five years and properly implement economic policies?”

And this time I spoke to the current minister.

“And someone has to be the Speaker of the National Assembly, right?”

Everyone’s eyes change. They thought he was just here to temporarily patch things up for a year, but when they realized that he might be able to hold on to power for much longer than they thought, everyone’s eyes light up.

Especially when he heard the story of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Minister Han Joo-hyun’s eyes lit up.

For him, who had already been a multi-term member of the National Assembly, the position of Speaker of the National Assembly was a very attractive one.

“So how long do you think it will take to prepare?”

The chief economic adviser answers immediately.

“I think a month will be enough.”

A month would have been fast, but I wanted to go faster.

“More than two weeks is difficult.”

“Your Majesty..! Two weeks is absolutely impossible. I’ve even reached the maximum possible time of one month.”

The chief economic adviser shakes his head and says it is absolutely impossible.

I handed him a notebook.

“The basic framework is set. We just need to fix the details. Is two weeks not enough?”

The chief economic adviser takes the note, looks through it, and then looks surprised.

‘You can’t help but be surprised.’

The note was originally about the financial real-name system bill that was to be implemented in 1993. It was a bill that experts had prepared for several months at the time, so it was obvious that it would be highly complete even now.

The chief economic adviser covers his notebook and speaks.

“Okay… I’ll finish it within two weeks… no, within 10 days.”

“Okay. The Ministry of Finance and the Financial Supervisory Service should also prepare accordingly.”

The minister and the director nod their heads.

“Oh.. and this is a bit unfortunate.. Until the real-name financial transaction system is announced, those preparing this policy will not be able to enter their homes. And they will be monitored by the Central Intelligence Agency staff. I don’t suspect you, but if even a little bit of information is leaked, this policy will be meaningless, so I hope you understand.”

Everyone seemed dissatisfied at the news that they couldn’t even enter the house, but soon everyone nodded in understanding.

“Yes, I understand, Your Majesty.”

“Then please start by forming a headquarters right away. And… how about not using the title ‘Your Excellency’? It’s been a while since I told you to change it to ‘Your Excellency’.”

Even though I asked them to change their title from “Your Excellency,” people still aren’t listening.

###

Things moved quickly.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and economics professors from major universities all got together and started working through the night to create bills and policies based on the notes I gave them.

There were two main goals of the real-name financial transaction system.

Eradicating corruption and reforming the underground economy.

And after the promised 10 days had passed, the gist of what they brought was twofold.

-Prohibition of withdrawals from non-real-name accounts without real-name verification.

-If a net withdrawal exceeds 10 million won, notify the National Tax Service.

If we look at the details, such as the monetary aspect, there were quite a few differences, but the basic framework was almost the same as YS’s real-name financial system policy.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Your Majesty… But is it really okay not to tell the conglomerate chairmen anything?”

“It’s okay. No, actually, they are the ones who absolutely must not know. I think that’s the only way I can get some help from them this time..”

And then came the long-awaited Monday, January 7, 1980.

At 8 p.m., when all banking operations were closed, he announced to the public through radio and broadcasts that he had declared an emergency presidential measure for a real-name financial transaction system, just as YS had done in 1993.

“Citizens. Today, I have been forced to take emergency measures under the presidential authority with the goal of eradicating corruption and legalizing the underground economy. From this time on, all financial transactions will be conducted under real names only. .. .. .. .. ..”

The broadcast, which lasted about 10 minutes, ended. Then, while taking a break and smoking a cigarette, Young-ho came running before the cigarette had even completely gone out.

“Mr. President. I got a call from the Chairman of Samjung Group. And from JP too.”

“Tell them I can’t pick up right now. If they call now, they’ll just say the same thing.”

Youngho makes a face that says he is in trouble. Youngho goes back to the secretary’s office.

The phone in the secretary’s office was still ringing countless times.

“Sir! I got a call from the Chairman of Hwawoo Group… and also from the Chairman of LK Group.”

The secretary’s office staff was at a loss as the phone calls from the conglomerates kept ringing.

Two days later, the bank opened and the whole country was in chaos. Stock prices began to fluctuate, and people who had not heard the story would often come to the bank without identification and then turn back.

But since most people had been trading under their real names from the beginning, it wasn’t a big problem.

People who had forgotten their ID had to go back home, but it wasn’t a big problem.

The ones who were really hit were the conglomerate leaders, their families, and those in the underground economy.

Most of their funds were in borrowed names, and those funds were blocked in an instant.

In particular, Chairman Min, known as the loan shark king of Myeongdong, was in a state of panic.

“Fuck..!! Is this going to kill us all? What the heck!!”

Clang!

The ashtray he threw shattered the window, but his anger was not appeased.

At that moment, the female secretary who was outside cautiously came inside.

“What! I told you not to come in right now unless it’s important!!”

Chairman Min yells at the female secretary who came in.

The secretary speaks to Chairman Min in a crawling voice.

“I… The President… contacted me and asked if we could meet for lunch tomorrow···.”

“what?!”