1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 18



Only Krnovel

Episode 18

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“How do you look? Director Kim. No, President Kim.”

Chairman Oh asks his chief secretary, who is sitting next to him in the car on his way home.

“This is not the first time I’ve seen President Kim, but he feels like a completely different person than when he was Director Kim. He was definitely an upright person even when Director Kim was in office, but now···.”

“The editorial is long, so what did you think?”

The chief secretary was the person Chairman Oh trusted the most.

I never believed anyone who said that even if they were someone I liked, they weren’t the Chief Secretary.

Although he had been the chairman of one of the largest companies in Korea for over 20 years, his chief of staff had an even better eye for people.

That is why Chairman Oh often sought advice from his chief secretary.

The chief secretary hesitates for a moment. Then he speaks to Chairman Oh.

“President Kim was not an ordinary person.”

“You said he wasn’t an ordinary person?”

“Yes. He was not a person who seemed to have any selfish desires, and he was a person with an outstanding ability to read the flow of the world.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes. Personally, I think he has a higher status as a leader than President Lee Jung-hwan.”

President Lee Jung-hwan.

Although his approval ratings dipped and he struggled in his later years, few leaders have remained so respected and popular for so long after their deaths as dictators.

“He is of a higher rank than President Lee Jung-hwan..”

Chairman Oh closes his eyes for a moment and becomes lost in thought. He is now an old man, approaching his seventies.

When others saw him, he started out with a silver spoon in his mouth and built one of the nation’s leading conglomerates, and his family prospered, so it would seem like he could close his eyes with no regrets, but he still had one dream left.

‘Will I be able to set foot on my hometown soil?’

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A huge project has begun with a total of seven domestic construction companies, led by Hyunjoong Construction.

Construction of a total of 8 nuclear power plants.

There was a reason for building it this way, even though it cost a lot more than expected.

For the next few years, it is certain that crude oil prices will fall again, and energy supplies will not be disrupted, but we need to think about the future.

Even in 2023, the use of energy resources other than nuclear and thermal power remained low.

Even if a singularity comes and eco-friendly energy becomes incredibly efficient, at least in the future, nuclear energy will still be the energy source with the highest efficiency.

Therefore, if we build a large number of nuclear power plants using this future technology, it will certainly be of great help to national development in the near future.

“How is it? Are you okay here?”

Chairman Oh asks, looking at the land he donated to the country as a site for a nuclear power plant.

“Good. This is a great place to build a nuclear power plant.”

The ocean is nearby, and there is no risk of earthquakes or weak ground. There are also houses nearby, so there will be little opposition from local residents.

“That’s fortunate.”

“But there’s nothing I can do for you. But would it be okay for you to just donate this vast land?”

Chairman Oh donated this vast land without any compensation. In addition to this land, he donated another site, the site of a power plant.

The cost of building the power plant there was also contracted at a much lower amount than other companies.

The fact that I had nothing to wish for actually made me feel uneasy.

“It’s okay. It’s all for the good of the country. However, I have one favor to ask.”

“.. ..Please tell me first.”

I’m anxious. There was no way they would give this much land away for free.

Chairman Oh notices that my expression has not improved and waves his hand with a smile.

“Haha. Your Majesty. I’m not asking for any special favors for business or anything like that.”

“Yes..? Then..”

Chairman Oh stops laughing and speaks.

“Your Majesty, my hometown is too far north of the 38th parallel. Now that my descendants are well off and I have achieved great success in business, I no longer have any great affinity for business or anything like that. However, before I die, I would like to set foot on my hometown land at least once.”

Chairman Oh’s eyes turn a little red. Chairman Oh is known to be more cool-headed than anyone else in business, but when he thinks of his hometown, tears well up in his eyes.

“Oh, Chairman..”

“Your Majesty, I wish to die and be buried in my homeland. Is that possible?”

Chairman Oh’s eyes were more sincere than ever.

‘With the North… unification…’

It’s not that I didn’t think about it.

I think it is more important than any other issue, and I have thought about how to do it several times in my head.

However, it is such a dangerous method that I have never spoken about it out loud.

But this old man’s tears made me reveal my hidden true feelings.

“.. .. Don’t worry, Chairman Oh. If you live another 15 years or so, you will definitely be able to build a house in the north and enjoy your old age there.”

“.. .. .. .. ··· Thank you, Your Majesty.”

I don’t know how Chairman Oh took my words, but his expression seemed to indicate that he understood to some extent.

‘It’s not time yet, but I should prepare little by little…’

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2nd floor of a high-class bar in Myeongdong.

Today, this bar is closed.

To be exact, it was a break from business to accommodate VIP guests.

A man called Kim Tae-jun, abbreviated as TJ, empties his glass first.

Then he looks at YS Kim Yong-shin and JP Kim Jung-pil sitting across from him and says:

“How did you come up with the idea of ​​a constitutional amendment?”

JP answers, taking a sip of the alcohol poured into his glass.

“First of all, our party sees the restoration of basic rights of the people, prohibition of the president from dissolving the National Assembly, and direct presidential election as the three most important.”

The idea was to restore three problems that had arisen in the Yushin Constitution.

“We’re similar. Can’t we just add minimum wage and the presumption of innocence to that?”

YS speaks while smoking a cigarette.

“I see. Our side is similar to what you said.”

TJ also discussed with his people in the New Democratic Party and with people in the opposition. The details may be slightly different, but the basics were not much different from what YS and JP had said.

However, all three were hiding their true feelings about the most important thing.

That was the question of the president’s term of office and how many times he could be re-elected.

All three look at each other. Then TJ breaks the silence and speaks first.

“I can’t do this because I feel suffocated. I’ll just talk things through. Our position is that re-election is not possible during a six-year term.”

“Once every six years? Isn’t that too short? Our party is thinking of making it possible to run for reelection in a five-year term.”

What JP and the Democratic-Republican Party were thinking of was to allow re-election every five years, making the term of office up to 10 years.

“10 years… isn’t that too long?”

TJ is a little uneasy about JP’s opinion.

From TJ’s perspective, it was natural to feel uneasy, having seen former President Lee Jung-hwan continue his presidency by winning a second and third term.

“It’s a long time. Wouldn’t it take the president about 10 years to accomplish the things he wants to do?”

But JP said that six years is not enough for the president to implement the policies he has envisioned.

At that moment, YS, who had been quietly smoking a cigarette, puts out his cigarette and joins in.

“Then how about a 4-year term with 8 years until re-election?”

YS proposed an 8-year term as a mediation plan. Although 4 years was a bit short for one term, 8 years was a period that could properly implement most policies, so it was not a bad idea.

“8 years..”

“It’s not bad, but… re-election… hmm..”

Both TJ and JP ponder Kim Young-sam’s story for a long time.

But then, suddenly, the door that had been tightly closed opens.

The person who made the visit was none other than President Kim Jong-guk.

“Mr. President, are you here?”

TJ stands up and greets Jeongguk.

“Sorry, I’m a little late because something came up.”

They each gave each other a quick eye contact. Meanwhile, JP seemed a little uncomfortable with Jeongguk.

“So, is the story over?”

JP puts aside his ill feelings and talks to Jeongguk.

“Yes. We’re almost in agreement, except for one thing.”

“is it so?”

JP explains the constitutional amendment that he had discussed with TJ and YS a little while ago.

Jungkook nods and listens.

‘It’s basically similar to the 1987 constitutional amendment.’

“There is only a slight disagreement about the length of the presidential term, but otherwise we are largely in agreement.”

“That’s good. I also have something to say about that term.”

“Yes? Mr. President, have you thought about the constitutional amendment?”

Jungkook looks at the 3 golds once, takes a breath, and then speaks.

“Yes. I think that in this constitutional amendment, the presidential term should be six years and there should be no limit on consecutive terms.”