1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 97



Only Krnovel

Episode 97

“I stand here representing the 81 million people of a unified Korea. At the same time, I stand here as a founding member of the Asian Economic Union (AEU).

Do you remember? Just 15 years ago, Korea was a half-nation divided into the South and the North. But now, unified Korea has risen to become a world-leading nation. The GDP of the Republic of Korea is currently the second largest in the world, after the United States. This is the result of 80 million Koreans coming together as one.

We now want to use the power of the Republic of Korea for the prosperity of all of Asia and the world.

The AEU, which was recently established under the leadership of Korea, was created with the aim of forming a huge single economic zone through three agendas: eliminating trade barriers, introducing a common currency, and establishing an Asian central bank.

The ultimate goal of the AEU is to increase the pie of the entire Asian economy through active exchanges among AEU countries. We are confident that the AEU will become another axis of the global economy, like the EU in Europe.

In addition, the Republic of Korea will not simply focus on increasing the economic pie of the AEU, but will also support the economic development of emerging countries in Asia. We will not spare any effort in sharing Korea’s development experience, investing in infrastructure, and supporting education. The Republic of Korea will take the lead in creating a coexisting Asia.

Dear audience members, and citizens of the world who are watching the UN General Assembly, the 21st century will be the era of Asia. And at the center of it will be a unified Korea and the AEU. Let us gather our wisdom together and move forward for a peaceful and prosperous Asia, and further for the common development of humanity. Thank you.

After a long or short speech of about 5 minutes, he steps aside and bows his head to greet the audience.

After a while, applause breaks out, especially from Asian countries.

In particular, the story that the last century, the 21st century, would be the era of Asia seemed to have moved the hearts of Asian countries, as the eyes of the representatives of Asian countries were moist.

At the same time, other European countries and other existing advanced countries looked very nervous.

In effect, this speech was a kind of declaration of war that Korea would take the lead in the economy in the new era.

* * *

“Please talk to us too… … .”

“We came first! Please wait your turn!”

“You’re the Minister of Foreign Affairs! We’re the President himself!”

After the speech, several countries continued to approach Korea to try to have a word with it before the UN General Assembly ended.

The chief of foreign affairs was so shocked that his head almost exploded.

“Ha, I understand. First, which country are you from… … .”

In just one hour, more than 30 countries have written down their names.

After everyone left, I went outside and asked the chief of staff.

“Are you all here for the summit?”

“Yes. After the President’s speech a little while ago, I received countless requests from leaders of developing countries to meet with Korea on its support. There are many countries that would like to meet briefly, even if it is not at a summit, during this UN General Assembly.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs organizes the list he wrote with sweat dripping down his head.

“Is that so? Could you please give me a list of countries that you would like to see during this UN General Assembly?”

The chief of foreign affairs briefly lists several countries and hands them to me.

“Yes, here it is.”

Nepal, Laos, East Timor, Myanmar, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Mexico, Nigeria, Ethiopia.

Among the countries on the list, one country in particular stands out.

‘Ethiopia?’

“Chief, let’s meet here in Ethiopia. I have some free time in the afternoon, so we can meet then.”

“Are you talking about Ethiopia? If you want to meet Mexico or an African country, wouldn’t it be better to meet Nigeria first?”

The chief of foreign affairs recommends that we meet with a country with more diplomatic influence worldwide.

But I shook my head and declined his offer.

“No. Of course, we will have to meet those countries and talk about it later, but in the case of Ethiopia, we owe them a debt from the past. And it is time for us to repay it.”

Ethiopia was the only African country to send ground troops during the Korean War, and it did so not for any other reason than to protect freedom from invasion.

They dispatched over 3,500 troops, 121 of whom died in battle, and won 253 battles. This was a country that came from a faraway land and fought for Korea’s freedom.

I’m basically the type of person who doesn’t care what happens to other countries.

The story about the infrastructure of emerging countries was just a story about expanding Korea’s influence in Asia.

But that is a story about a country that has nothing to do with Korea.

If Korea is a country that owes so much, then it is a different story. Korea is not a gangster country that forgets kindness.

Just as they helped Korea without expecting anything in return, we will also help them without expecting anything in return.

* * *

A few hours later, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister arrived at the Barclays Hotel.

Despite the sudden meeting, he seemed quite well-dressed and prepared.

The Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who looks quite young, greets me as soon as he sees me.

“Hello. I am Nagaga, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.”

I held his two hands tightly and responded.

“Hello! I’m Kim Jung-guk. Please sit over here.”

As soon as he sat down, he started flattering me.

“I found the President’s speech very meaningful. In particular, the messages the President delivered to the nations of the world were particularly touching. On the other hand, I was also disappointed that as an African country, we cannot join the AEU… … .”

After a while, when he finished speaking, I continued the conversation by talking about the speech he had given.

“Thank you. I also listened to the Minister’s speech well. In particular, there were many parts that I could relate to because the current situation in Ethiopia, where a democratic government has been established, is similar to many situations in Korea in the past.”

“Oh, I see!”

After that, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister said several things.

But the conversation seemed to be going around in circles without getting to the main point.

‘Perhaps, it’s embarrassing to talk about… … .’

I understand.

It would certainly be embarrassing for a country’s minister to have to beg.

‘Should I tell you first… … .’

“Mr. President… Actually, the reason I wanted to meet you today is… … .”

At that moment, when he was about to say something with a red face, I interrupted him and spoke first.

“Minister, I’m sorry, but may I speak to you first?”

“Oh, yes. Go ahead.”

I brought up the story he was going to tell first.

“This time, Korea would like to provide investment support to Ethiopia. We would also like to build factories in Ethiopia and promote trade with Ethiopia much more actively than we are doing now. Of course, if necessary, we will also pursue loans.”

“Is that true?”

The minister’s eyes widened at my story.

“Isn’t what I said what you were going to say, Minister?”

“That, that is… … .”

The minister hesitates and cannot continue speaking.

“Minister, as a senior politician, may I give you a piece of advice?”

“Oh, yes. Go ahead.”

“Minister, as a representative of the country, you should never kneel down in situations where you can benefit your country. Personal pride is a small thing. If the nation can grow at the expense of the leader’s personal pride, I am willing to give up that petty pride a hundred times over. And that is what all politicians should do.”

The face now looked like it was that of a man in his mid-forties.

He must have lived as a fairly elite person within Ethiopia.

As a result, you will probably be unfamiliar with asking others for things like this.

But it has to be that way.

That’s what a politician is supposed to do.

Politicians from Korea and many other developing countries have also bowed their heads to leaders from advanced countries for the development of their countries.

It is the duty of a politician to put aside one’s pride for the sake of the country’s development.

“Thank you… I never thought of that, but it was a great realization.”

“No. I’m just worried that maybe I was being a jerk for no reason. Haha.”

The Ethiopian minister thinks about something for a moment and then asks me a question.

“Mr. President, why are you offering such a good proposal first?”

“Well, that’s because Ethiopia had great and good ancestors. Korea will never forget the kindness it received in the past.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs would not be unaware of what this is about.

Even though it is not their government now, what the emperors did during the past monarchy has come back to haunt them now.

In Korea, he was a very grateful person, but in Ethiopia, he was a person of love and hate in many ways.

Although he had many achievements, he was eventually deposed due to economic problems, and with him the Ethiopian monarchy came to an end.

Of course, the current Ethiopian government is not the communist regime of that time, but that does not mean there is any reason to have particularly good feelings toward the former monarch.

The Ethiopian minister’s expression becomes complicated and subtle.

“… I must go back and visit the tomb of Emperor Selassia. I never thought I would be indebted to him like this.”

“It may be rude to evaluate him from the perspective of another country, but from Korea’s perspective, he was an incomparable king.”

* * *

The evening after he left the hotel after finishing his negotiations with the Ethiopian minister, an unexpected visitor came to his hotel.

“President Clinton, how did you get here? Wasn’t the day we were supposed to meet tomorrow? Or if you had contacted me first, I would have gone.”

Clinton showed up at the hotel late that evening, even though the meeting was scheduled for the next day.

“Korea is no longer the Korea it used to be. It is now time for the United States to visit it in person.”

“First, please sit down. If you haven’t eaten yet, would you like to have a drink and chat?”

“Okay. It’s dinner time, so it wouldn’t be bad to have a drink and chat.”

I spoke to my secretary and brought the liquor I brought from Korea and showed it to him.

“This is a traditional Korean liquor. It was made by recently restoring a technique that was lost decades ago. It will taste good.”

I poured him a glass of traditional liquor.

“Korean culture is to drink all the alcohol in a glass at once.”

Clinton listens to me and empties his glass in one go.

Then, his expression brightens as if he is enjoying the taste of the alcohol.

“Hmm, not bad.”

“Right? Japanese traditional liquor and Chinese traditional liquor are fine, but Korean traditional liquor is also fine. We’re currently working on restoring lost traditional liquors in Korea. Haha.”

I continued the conversation while having a light drink.

And after a while, after some light conversation, Clinton thanks me.

“First of all, thank you.”

Then he bowed his head to me.

“Oh my, why are you doing this? Please get up. It’s burdensome.”

“Thanks to President Kim, we were able to get through the scandal without any major problems.”

Perhaps his thanks were for my advice on clearing up the scandal.

“I thought there wouldn’t be much to talk about, but it looks like you handled it well. That’s a relief.”

He nods.

“Yes. Thanks to that, I was able to successfully get re-elected, and I am able to sit here now.”

Of course, Clinton would have been re-elected regardless of the scandal.

Originally, in history, scandals broke out after re-election, but since the president had such great economic achievements, he would have been successful in re-election.

But he would not have been re-elected with such an overwhelming performance as he did now.

“Don’t worry. The re-election was possible because the president did a good job.”

After the thanksgiving, we get to the main point.

Clinton drains his glass again and asks me.

“President Kim Jong-guk, let me get straight to the point. Is South Korea trying to surpass the United States?”

His voice was more serious than ever.