I Became Park Jeong-ui’s Nephew - Chapter 26



Only Krnovel

He became Park Jeong-ui’s nephew. – (26)

[The government should stop oppressing Jeju Island]

[The South Korean government should engage in dialogue with North Korea]

[Demanding measures for Koreans in Japan]

[Punish the pro-Japanese collaborators]

The same routine that repeats itself today,

We gave North Korea a blow, but that wasn’t the end of the story.

Jeju Island, which was the cause of this incident, is still being played into the hands of reactionaries, and those who attempted to overthrow the South Korean government are now demanding dialogue with North Korea.

North Korea’s tactic is to demand dialogue when it is disadvantageous and to resort to military provocation when it is advantageous. Should I listen to their voices?

After much deliberation, I came to a conclusion.

‘You guys, do you think I’m funny? Show me.’

I have so far pursued a policy of conciliation towards the left wing as much as possible.

When the Communist Party, under the direction of Park Hwon-young, was caught by the US military government while carrying out terrorist activities in South Korea, what did I do?

He persuaded the US military government to give them a chance to turn themselves in, and when the Korean Democratic Party refused to allow them to join, claiming that they were communists, he founded the Korean People’s Party and recruited many communists.

It is true that he gained the trust of the US military government by bringing the leftists who were hiding in the shadows into the light, but now it has reached its limit.

‘When did I oppress Jeju Island? I just beat up those who tried to overthrow the government. Are you talking to North Korea? What kind of conversation are you having with those who are planning an invasion? Demanding measures for Koreans in Japan? Saying that those guys are the ones responsible for the recent Jeju Island riots, and punishing pro-Japanese collaborators? Don’t make me laugh.’

None of the demands of the reactionaries can be met.

Am I oppressing Jeju Island right now?

Is North Korea a partner that can be talked to? Demanding measures for Koreans living in Japan? Liquidating pro-Japanese collaborators? If that were possible, it would have been done already.

The reason I am especially hated by the leftists is because I hired pro-Japanese people.

I approached this problem from a different angle.

‘There is no filial son in front of a long illness. Joseon people have been taking care of illness for 36 years.’

What do you think when you see news of a child who took care of his sick parents for a long time and ended up killing them?

Is that kid a bastard or does it make you think, ‘Why must he have done that?’

Confucianism demands that parents be mourned for three years when they die. It is difficult to serve one’s parents while they are alive, so it is recommended that one practice filial piety even after death.

On top of that, the ancestral rites are a bonus. At this point, even a filial son would run out of patience.

Were the pro-Japanese collaborators pro-Japanese from the beginning?

Among them, there are many who were unable to endure their activities as independence activists and collapsed.

‘We won’t make it. Maybe… .’

‘Let’s give up. Independence is impossible.’

When Japan occupied British-ruled Singapore, intellectuals despaired.

If Japan can even beat Britain, which is said to have conquered the world, how strong is Japan?

Demanding independence from such a country is a dream, and some have turned to autonomy or outright pro-Japanese sentiment.

“These are the world’s most unfilial sons!!”

“We will fight to the end!! Until Joseon becomes independent!!”

Of course, there are such filial sons.

Who would belittle their efforts when they fought for independence for 36 years while enduring the suffering of a fallen country?

However, there is room for leniency in the case of pro-Japanese collaborators who could not endure the suffering of the sick.

‘When I hear people say, ‘Punish pro-Japanese collaborators,’ they all seem to be loyalists. But why is our country like this? Why do I see so many people like Lee Wan-yong who are only looking out for their own interests?’

When foreign enemies invaded their borders, did Ukrainian soldiers fight against Russia with patriotism?

The number of Ukrainian youth in their 20s and 30s has decreased by a whopping 1.8 million.

Could it be that 1.8 million people died in the Russian military attack?

In fact, most of the people who fled when the war broke out,

The situation is the same in Russia. Russian youth are scattered to various countries because they do not want to be dragged into the battlefield. This is the reality.

How many people can keep their convictions in the face of a war that kills and the oppression of the government? It is human nature to want to save one’s own life first, and I do not deny that.

‘If the country was strong, you wouldn’t have become pro-Japanese. That’s why I bowed my head to America. Yes, I’m a coward. No, I don’t want to go to the trouble of helping a sick country.’

I’m human too, so I don’t like things that are difficult.

I’m so busy just trying to make a living that I’m dying, and you want me to give up my life for my country?

Few people would agree with that claim.

That’s why I have never forced the people to sacrifice for the country, or to put forward the slogan, “Let’s eat well and live well.”

So, it was decided not to punish pro-Japanese collaborators who defected any more.

What on earth do you want me to do when I’ve been working hard for years for a country that’s already ruined?

My father also worked as a bureau chief at the Dong-A Ilbo to make a living. Does that mean my father was also a pro-Japanese collaborator?

Am I also a pro-Japanese collaborator, the child of that pro-Japanese collaborator?

My uncle even graduated from the Japanese Manchurian Military Academy.

My entire family was a group that collaborated with the Japanese, so I should be killed by the people. But right now, I am the one who holds the real power in this country.

If they insist on overthrowing the Korean government under the pretext of overthrowing pro-Japanese collaborators and unifying the country, I will only harshly suppress them.

I conveyed my intentions to Prime Minister Lee Beom-seong.

“I will declare martial law on Jeju Island. The period will be 5 years, and all supplies will be controlled. Jeju residents will also be denied entry to the mainland. Any departure from the designated location will be considered an anti-state act, regardless of the reason.”

“Yes? Ha… But Your Majesty, isn’t that too cruel?”

Prime Minister Lee Beom-seong trembled.

This means they are going to kill the Jeju Island people.

It was natural for me to react this way, since I had been pursuing a conciliatory policy up until now and was taking a drastic measure.

But I have already made up my mind,

He ground his teeth, saying that he would see how long they could continue to talk nonsense about national reunification.

“Let’s see how long they can hold out. Can they really talk nonsense about having a dialogue with North Korea when they are hungry and their freedom is being suppressed? Let’s see. If they hold out for five years, I will acknowledge their patriotic spirit.”

Prime Minister Lee Beom-seong couldn’t stop me.

Even if you face the sharp blade head-on, you will only get hurt yourself, and eventually, martial law was declared on Jeju Island for five years.

Supplies heading to Jeju Island are completely controlled.

Pre-deployed police forces arrested residents who fled the area.

***

“Commander, the Korean government has sent a letter of cooperation.”

“What is it about?”

“It’s a request to control Koreans in Japan.”

This is the US Far East Command,

Commander-in-Chief MacArthur listened to the request from the Korean government.

The Korean government declared martial law on Jeju Island and is controlling its residents. Of course, this is what the United States wanted.

Those who deny the South Korean government and support North Korea are running wild, and we can just leave this alone.

However, the South Korean president has pursued a conciliatory policy as much as possible and has even asked the US military government to stop its excessive suppression of the left wing.

Why did that friend change like this?

MacArthur was able to hear the details from his inner circle.

“I think he’s tired now. I think he’s realized that he has reached his limit when it comes to persuading people with words.”

“Well… it’s really hard to persuade people. I understand that position.”

MacArthur nodded.

Why is the political world a repeat of the same old story of fighting?

That’s because it’s too hard to persuade the other party, so some argue for cooperation, but the reality is a mess.

“American soldiers will die cursing you.”

“What? You want to take your clothes off?!!”

“Is it the president who cuts the military budget during a war?!! Did I say something I shouldn’t have said?!! Stop whining and just send the supplies properly!!”

MacArthur clashed with the President on many issues during the war.

There is a famous incident where Franklin Roosevelt cursed, “The soldiers will die cursing you” when he cut the military budget.

Is the US military an invincible army that advances without eating or sleeping?

That’s ridiculous,

When all the ice cream given out as rations went to the officers, the morale of the soldiers hit rock bottom, and the U.S. government urgently built a separate ship just to make ice cream and distribute it to the soldiers.

If you eat well, you will develop patriotism.

That’s why MacArthur boosted morale by giving the cadets vacations.

But those idiots who don’t even know the situation on the ground keep trying to cut the budget, so how can we get over that?

Politicians wouldn’t listen even if you spoke nicely to them, so MacArthur was always fighting with the administration and was hated by politicians because of that.

“I don’t talk to you guys either. What kind of conversation can I have with guys who don’t even understand each other?”

A world where fists speak louder than words,

You should only have a conversation with someone you can communicate with. If you can’t communicate with someone, you should lose.

The Korean president has been very patient so far. How long will he have to pursue a conciliatory policy toward those who seek to overthrow the government?

Jeju Island is being oppressed hard and the next target is Koreans in Japan.

MacArthur conveyed his position to the Korean government that he would handle the matter.

“Forcibly relocate all Koreans in Japan.”

“Yes? Where are you talking about?”

“To a very far away place, a place from which there is no return home.”

MacArthur relocated Koreans in Japan across the 39th parallel.

Japan’s area is about twice that of the Korean Peninsula, but the inhabited area is limited to the area south of the 38th parallel and some other areas.

This is why Japan had its eyes on Joseon and invaded the Korean Peninsula.

Beyond the 39th parallel, there is too much snow and it is a mountainous area where you cannot build a city. If you are taken here, you will never be able to set foot on your homeland again.

Koreans in Japan resisted going, but they were all trampled by the boots of the American soldiers.

“Please!! Please!! I want to go home!!”

“shut up!!”

“evil!!”

“dad!!”

“honey!!”

US soldiers wielding real violence, not just threats.

Koreans in Japan were already a people who had been branded as anti-state forces and agents of North Korea, so they were not treated with any mercy.

The unimaginable oppression by the Korean and US military governments decided the fate of over 700,000 people.

‘Let us remain quiet.’

‘Oh my~ I’m so scared, how can I live? Please just pass by quietly.’

The Japanese government is unable to even breathe loudly.

If the US military government wanted to, they could send all anti-Americans across the 39th parallel.

The US military government, which oppressed Koreans in Japan and even trampled on the Japanese Communist Party, can we be sure that its blade will not be aimed at the Japanese government?

Another incident occurred here.

[The US military government hopes to return Tsushima Island to the Korean government.]

The Korean government’s sudden request to return Daemado Island,

Japanese politicians were shocked.

Why do you want to negotiate with the US military government over territorial issues?

The Korean government’s response to this mercilessly attacked Japan’s pride.

[Japan has no government. There is no reason to negotiate with you.]

This is not a lie, it’s a fact,

When the independent Joseon chose a 30-year trusteeship by the U.S. military, frightened Japanese lawmakers passed a bill handing over Japanese rule to the United States.

So, the fact that MacArthur is called the king who rules Japan and Korea, this incident ultimately depended on MacArthur’s will.

The Japanese Diet held its breath and watched, but the results finally came out.

[Daema Island has long been Korean territory and has the right to claim territorial sovereignty. This issue will be decided by the Korean government in consultation with the U.S. government.]

The Japanese were shocked as if the sky was falling.

It was a day when I could feel for myself that Japan was truly ruined, even though I couldn’t believe it until then, when the US and South Korea signed a separate agreement over our territory.

Is there any guarantee that Japanese mainlanders will not be dragged off to faraway places like Koreans in Japan in the future?

In the span of a year, more than 50,000 people scattered, each going their own way.