1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 171
Only Krnovel
Episode 171
‘The EU is doing the same?’
I calmed down the anger boiling in my danjeon and asked calmly.
“Is this the opinion of the EU as a whole?”
“No… Of course, there were countries that opposed it, but it was passed by a majority vote at the EU meeting a little while ago. And as a divisive measure, they say they will negotiate separately only for countries that have withdrawn from the EU.”
‘They’re trying to kill Korea.’
There was no need to think further.
It was clear that this was an attempt to kill Korea.
“You little shits! What the hell are you guys trying to do! How much technology have we developed together with you… .”
“Mr. President! These guys, aren’t you going to try something like this?”
The State Council meeting room suddenly becomes a scene of chaos.
The Secretary of Defense speaks to me with a grave expression.
“Mr. President! If you give the order, I will immediately put the entire military on alert!”
I calmed down the Secretary of Defense, who seemed ready to start a war at any moment.
“Minister! Calm down. And other members of the State Council, calm down too. Of course, I understand that you are angry. I am also seething inside right now, so how can you feel about it? However, especially at times like these, we must calmly assess the situation.”
Only when I spoke did the Minister of Defense sit down and apologize.
“I’m sorry, Mr. President.”
“No. How could I not understand your heart, Minister? Phew… … .”
A sigh comes out on its own.
But that doesn’t mean we can just sigh and leave the situation alone.
I looked at the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and immediately gave instructions.
“Minister Yoo Seong-guk, first of all, please ask each country within the EU about its intentions through their embassies, and continue to communicate steadily with the EU leadership and Washington politicians.”
“Understood, Mr. President. I will give instructions immediately.”
I concluded the State Council meeting by calming down the room that seemed ready to explode at any moment.
“Everyone, as I said earlier, I’m so angry right now that my danjeon is boiling with anger. But that doesn’t mean we can just stay angry like this. Let’s all go back to our seats and do our best in this situation.”
* * *
“I feel like I’m being hit from both sides, from the US to Europe.”
I poured drinks for YS and TJ, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, and told them my story.
In this way, there were occasional times when I met with national elders and asked for their opinions.
Usually, I watch the YS, TJ, and JP trio together, but today, JP was out of the country for a while on business, so I couldn’t watch him, and I only watched these two.
YS empties his soju in one go and then says something.
“Those EU guys are still immature! They get played around by people like Trump, tsk tsk.”
TJ also agrees, taking a sip of his drink.
“That’s right. This is Trump’s plan to openly create a confrontational structure between the West and Asia.”
I also take a sip of my drink and say to them.
“I’m sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, but you keep complaining.”
YS says it’s okay and that this is America’s problem.
“Okay. What’s wrong with you? The problem is that guy, Trump or whatever.”
TJ also lets out a deep sigh.
“Ha. That’s right. I also tried contacting the Washington political circles a few times using my connections, but they said he’s a person who you just can’t tell where he’ll end up.”
“That’s right. This is the first time I’ve met a person who is so unpredictable.”
Until now, we could know the expected range of movement to some extent through smartphones, but this person is a person whose attitude changes immediately after doing just one thing, so it is not easy to predict even with a smartphone.
As I sigh, TJ comforts me.
“Still. Mr. President, you are amazing. To be honest, when you first became president, I never thought you would make the Republic of Korea this great.”
I waved my hand and blushed slightly at the embarrassing compliment.
“That’s too much praise.”
“It’s not an exaggeration. From the past when South Korea was the only territory, we expanded it to what it is now, and made it one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Honestly, if I had done it myself, I wouldn’t have been able to do it to this extent.”
At that time, YS, who was very drunk, said something.
“Hou-gwang (後廣) You are the one who is always so insecure. But can you say that someone who has been in politics would be worse than that person?”
TJ asks YS while looking at him like that.
“So, are you saying that Geosan could have done better than President Kim Jong-guk?”
YS laughs heartily at TJ’s question.
“Could you have done better than this gentleman? Of course not, you bastard. How did you make the Republic of Korea back then into the Republic of Korea now? It was possible because you are this person.”
Maybe it’s because they’re both so drunk, but they keep complimenting me.
‘I feel a little embarrassed.’
I’m starting to feel tipsy, and it’s time to get up because I have work tomorrow.
“I should probably get up now. Tomorrow, I’ll be busy from the morning with negotiations in Europe and the US. Hahaha.”
I smiled and got up from my seat.
“Don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine. It has been that way so far. I will also try to contact as many people I know in Washington.”
TJ comforts me.
His comfort gives me some strength.
“Thank you. I’ll try my best.”
Just as I was about to open the door and go out.
YS says a word.
“President Kim, in the end, this is an issue that we have to address so that they cannot ignore Korea. The reason the U.S. and Korea have this kind of relationship again is because of shale gas or something. Try to create something uniquely Korean that they cannot ignore. That’s your specialty.”
At that moment, something flashed through my mind.
‘Something only we can do… … .’
I say goodbye to both of them once more and leave for the Blue House.
‘First of all, we need to find out who is on Korea’s side.
* * *
AEU meeting held after Europe’s tariff bomb on AEU following the US.
The AEU meeting in Seoul was attended by far more countries than usual.
A whopping 41 of the 43 AEU member states participated.
Everyone starts complaining to me before the meeting even starts.
“President Kim, is it really that difficult to negotiate with the US and Europe? Our country’s exports to the US and Europe have been virtually blocked.”
“Mr. President, please say something about this from Korea to the US and Europe. Isn’t this an open attack on Korea and the AEU?”
Everyone was very angry, and it seemed like the situation in each country was not easy.
It seemed especially difficult for countries with weak domestic markets and who survive on exports.
For now, I decided to agree with them and tell them what I had planned to say in my speech at the general meeting.
The general meeting begins, and the first to speak is South Korea, the head of the AEU.
I went forward and greeted the heads of the AEU countries at the front of the stage.
“Dear members of the AEU, this is Kim Jung-guk, President of the Republic of Korea.”
Applause followed, and everyone began to speak briefly.
“Everyone, why are you here today for the AEU meeting? Why are you here as the heads of state, when normally the foreign ministers would attend?”
I took a moment to catch my breath and then continued.
“As you all know, the reason you are here today is because the Trump administration in the US and the EU are currently trying to kill AEU countries, including Korea.”
A lot of words burst out from below.
“That’s right! Last month, exports already decreased by nearly 30%! This is really serious. It is already having a serious impact on the domestic economy!”
The first to step forward was Japan’s newly inaugurated Prime Minister Ogawa.
And then the Indonesian president also speaks.
“We also think that the decline in exports to Europe will be so severe that it is almost impossible to estimate… … .”
At that time, the President of Buyeo, who was very angry, also said something.
“We should not just sit still, we should erect proper trade barriers and show them our will!”
Everyone seems pretty angry, so they all say something.
I listened to their remarks for a moment and then continued speaking.
“Everyone is right. The current situation is very serious. Korea’s exports this month and next month are expected to decrease by nearly 30% year-on-year.”
The Indian Prime Minister, who had been listening quietly, also said something.
“Does President Kim Jong-guk have any plans?”
I nodded and answered.
“Of course there is.”
In an instant, the conference room begins to buzz.
I calmed them down first and then continued talking.
“But it just takes some time.”
The Indian Prime Minister asks back.
“You need time? What do you mean?”
I spoke with my index and middle fingers spread out.
“Up to two years. After about two years, I’m sure they’ll start crying and clinging to me.”
The Indian Prime Minister is surprised by the story of two years.
“Two years? Does that mean we should just sit back and watch this situation unfold for those two years?”
I shook my head from side to side.
“We won’t just sit back and watch. We will have to respond, both as Korea and as the AEU. However, it is clear that for the next two years, we may see a reverse growth, which is different from the rapid and steep growth that the AEU has seen so far.”
The people in the conference room are in an uproar at the mention of negative growth.
It’s a given.
It’s only been two years, but if the economy, which has grown so steeply so far, falls back, the impact will be felt more acutely than when it grew so steeply.
-2 years… …? Isn’t that too long?
-There’s an election next year, what should we do…?
-Is there really going to be a solution after two years?
People are anxious.
This is also natural.
Everyone here is a politician.
Since there will be an election for many people within two years, this anxiety seems quite natural.
As the crowd grew quiet, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh looked at me and asked me again.
“President Kim Jong-guk, then what is the method that the US and Europe will cry and cling to in the two years that you mentioned?”
I answered firmly that I could not tell you that.
“I can’t tell you because it’s a national secret. But once this is done, our Republic of Korea will never prosper alone.”
I looked at the people gathered in the conference room again and shouted.
“It will be a difficult two years. But when this period ends, we will ultimately win, and you and your country’s people will share the sweet fruits with Korea. Will you endure the two years of suffering together?”
When I tell my story, everyone starts to wonder in their heads what to do.
And the first to speak was none other than the Indonesian President.
“We will go with Korea. If there had been no Korea, I can’t even imagine how many Indonesians would have died. Now is the time for us to repay that favor.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
