Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 145



Only Krnovel

#145 I prepared a small gift for you

July 30, 1949.

The White House in Washington, USA.

“ha ha ha! welcome! President Lee! Congratulations on your victory!”

“ha ha ha! Thank you.”

“Isn’t the way here still difficult?”

“no. This time I came here comfortably. “Because airplanes have gotten better.”

“Then that’s a relief. Oh, I heard you stopped by Los Angeles on the way.”

“Yes, we were delayed for two days because we had to meet our Koreans and console them.”

Although LA had not yet established a full-fledged Koreatown, it was still an ideal place to gather and meet Korean-Americans from the western region on their way to the eastern United States.

In this way, Korean-Americans from the western region gathered in LA, and thousands of people came to the airport where Lee Kang-cheol landed, holding Taegeukgi flags and enthusiastically welcoming him.

“Korea horray! Long live!”

“Long live President Lee Kang-cheol!”

“hurray!”

“Hehehe!”

Since ancient times, there is less sorrow when one’s parents’ family is well-off.

However, our Korean compatriots did not even exist, let alone living well in our home country, the Republic of Korea.

Since there was no country, they were literally no different from orphans.

They were not Chinese who immigrated early and managed to settle down, nor were they Japanese who were prosperous but were imprisoned in camps during the war.

How great was that sadness, which was neither of these things?

This was in a situation where people were already suffering from racial discrimination.

However, a family that did not exist before arose.

And that’s from a great family.

It was so great that it made great contributions in the Pacific War and was said to be America’s best ally among the Allied powers.

But that was just the beginning.

Soon after, news came in every day that it had swallowed Manchuria and become the most powerful country in Asia.

And then they even defeated the Soviet Union!

A complete landslide victory!

I literally couldn’t help but shrug my shoulders.

And Korean products started pouring into the United States like a tidal wave, and every product I saw was so popular that it was difficult to sell them because there were no products.

Transistor radio was like that, and television followed suit.

Above all, medicine.

Those medicines made in Korea or made by American pharmaceutical companies using Korean technology shocked the world.

Immediately, the infant mortality rate decreased in the United States, and diseases that would otherwise have resulted in death were cured using the medicine developed in Korea.

A top ally that has reduced the sacrifices of American youth, a country that sweeps the United States by storm with cutting-edge products and new drugs.

That was their home country, the Republic of Korea, and the perception of Americans who despised them, thinking they were either Chinese or Japanese, changed.

Wherever you go and say Korean,

“Hey, bro! Korea number one!”

“Are you Korean? “Then, shouldn’t you have told me earlier?”

Humans are animals that must have self-esteem to survive.

The shoulders, which had always been timid and sagging, lifted, and the number of times children were bullied at school drastically decreased.

There was even a craze among Americans who thought English was the only language in the world and who studied French at most as a general education to learn Korean.

When I say Korean, my heart swells when I say “Hello?” or “Kamsa” in my poor Korean.

In short, the ‘Korean Wave’ began a long time ago.

And then came the president of his home country, who was known to have led all the changes.

It wasn’t a brief stopover like before, but they spent almost two days despite being busy to comfort themselves.

“Hehehe! Thank you! President!”

“Now I really feel like I have no time left even if I die.”

“ha ha ha! Why do you die? “The good world has come, so you should live for a long time, right?”

Lee Kang-cheol also unpacked the gift bundle.

“Even if our compatriots have the ability and want to do business, I know that banking is not easy due to various discriminations.”

“Yes, Mr. President. “America is still a country of white people.”

Separate but equal.

It was a time when the bullshit slogan of ‘separate but equal’ was still supported.

A few years later, in 1954, in the famous ‘Oliver Brown, et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka, et al.’ case, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that the separation of public education was essential. However, it was not until the federal Civil Rights Act was enacted in 1964 that the Jim Crow Laws, which separated public places in the southern states of the United States, were invalidated.

But now it is 1949.

Even during the fierce Second World War, black people were considered unsuitable as combat soldiers and used their good physical strength to peel potatoes.

Of course, the restriction on black combatants was abolished with the president’s signature last year.

In any case, the yellow race is viewed as lower than the black race.

Therefore, it is impossible to make proper banking transactions.

“So I prepared a small gift. Starting here in LA and New York, banks will be established for our compatriots. Of course, the Korean government will guarantee it, so there will be no lack of credit. From now on, you can do business according to your own abilities.”

“Oh oh! thank you! Long live the Republic of Korea! Long live the President!”

“ha ha ha! It is difficult to shout “Long live the Republic of Korea” too much. “Your home country is Korea, but you are American citizens.”

“haha! of course.”

Lee Kang-cheol smiles when he recalls what happened with his Korean compatriots in LA.

Then Truman asked:

“I guess something good happened?”

“ha ha ha! It reminded me of what happened with my compatriots in LA. Oh, and while I’m at it, please pay attention to our Korean compatriots.”

“haha! of course. I can’t say it openly, but I still care a lot about it. “No matter what anyone says, they are from your country, our best allies.”

“Thank you.”

After a brief chat, we immediately began the schedule for the state visit.

We had a formal meeting with the cameraman in front of us, and we also had a press conference together.

He also gave a speech to a joint gathering of senators and representatives at the U.S. Capitol.

The conclusion was this.

“Let’s get value!”

“Wow wow wow! Kachi Kapsida!”

“Kachi Kapsida!”

‘Kachi Kapsida!’ It gradually became a symbol of Korea-US relations.

And at night, there was a welcome dinner party at the White House hosted by President Truman and his wife.

“Did you say hello last time? “This is my wife.”

“Ah, First Lady. Long time no see.”

“Ho ho ho! “Congratulations on your victory.”

“Thank you, First Lady.”

Truman’s wife, Beth Truman, was the complete opposite of her predecessor, Eleanor Roosevelt, who passionately served as first lady.

She was extremely obsessed with privacy, and it seemed like she had absolutely no choice about her activities as first lady.

In the original history, Truman was very angry when he first became president.

When he was re-elected, we campaigned together.

But she also had something curious about Lee Kang-cheol.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Please feel free to ask any questions, First Lady.”

“It’s a very personal question, but will it be okay…?” … .”

“ha ha ha! “It doesn’t matter.”

“I heard that you are still single. “I was told that the First Lady of the President of the Republic of Korea would not be attending the party, so I asked her and she told me so.”

“Hum hum, that’s right. “I apologize.”

Lee Kang-cheol was embarrassed.

Normally, if my wife wasn’t around for an event like this, I should have brought a substitute, but it was annoying and I was worried that strange rumors would start, so I attended alone, and this question came up.

“oh! Well, you need to do it quickly, right? “You’re this tall?”

“yes? yes? No, I’m older now… … .”

“I guess you’re still in your prime?”

“… … .”

Truman, who was worse off, intervened from the side.

“Beth, stop. The age difference between President Lee and me is not that big. “He’s probably six years younger than me.”

“oh! Are you sure? I thought you were in your 40s… … .”

“… … .”

Western people already see Asians as young, but this happened because Lee Kang-cheol looked even younger.

And Lee Kang-cheol made his decision.

“I guess Seokman will have to peck at him… … .”

The single president was obviously uncomfortable.

Lee Kang-cheol, who attended various events until the next day, was able to have some quiet time with Truman only at night.

“Whew! “This is busy.”

“ha ha ha! This is what a state visit event is like. So, if possible, I don’t do it either. “I’m tired too.”

“okay.”

“whiskey?”

“Yes, please give me a drink.”

After drinking a glass of whiskey, I was able to catch my breath.

“You are truly amazing. “We had no idea that even if your country defeated the Soviet Union, it would be such an overwhelming victory.”

“I was just lucky.”

“haha! “That’s an official statement, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Anyway, you are truly amazing. However, the atmosphere in Washington was strange because all of the eastern territory of the Soviet Union was taken.”

“Yes, I heard from Frank that he did.”

“Frank really cared. I hope you see it before you return home. “He didn’t attend this event out of consideration for me, but he wants to see me.”

“I didn’t ask, but I thought it would happen.”

Lee Kang-cheol heard from Ambassador Hong that Roosevelt had worked hard to eliminate the strange atmosphere in Washington through his influence.

I was truly grateful.

“First of all, I somehow calmed down that strange current. “An atmosphere was created where South Korea’s occupation of Soviet territory was considered to be in line with the interests of the United States.”

“Thank you.”

“ha ha ha! “The President has someone else to thank.”

“Not Frank?”

“Yes, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy.”

“ah… … .”

“What kind of wind did that crazy guy have that made him want to return home like that? Especially since he is a Republican?”

“Wow, indeed! “I’m telling you this in case you misunderstand, but our government has nothing to do with that person.”

“haha! I heard the story from Frank. “I heard it was always like that?”

“Well, there was even a term called McCarthyism. In short, there was a storm. “With just one word from him, many people were accused of being communists and their lives were ruined.”

“It must have been really bad.”

“It was huge.”

“But I’m glad I went crazy in the right direction this time.”

“That’s right.”

I was really fortunate.

It seemed like there was probably a belief that they really hated the Soviet Union.

“So I’m telling you, it’s really going to be difficult if you advance any further. “Europe is Europe, but the atmosphere in Washington will not be good either.”

“From the beginning, we operated thinking that the Ural Mountains were our limit. “You won’t have to worry anymore.”

“I believe it. “If we advance further, neither I nor Frank can support your return any longer.”

“of course. So, our Minister Kim Kyu-sik is on a tour of Europe. “To reassure the European empires.”

“You did really well. Since our American roots are in Europe, many of our lawmakers still have connections to Europe. “You know what I mean, right?”

“haha! I know it well. Don’t worry. “The territory we have swallowed this time is also burdensome.”

Lee Kang-cheol felt a little bad inside, but spoke without showing it.

America is still the best in the world.

I couldn’t go against my wishes.

Not yet.