Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 219



Only Krnovel

#Episode 219 We are invincible in Asia!

The new year of 1954 has dawned.

And Ewhajang, which had been depressed for a while due to the crushing defeat in the presidential election, was so crowded with people wanting to say New Year’s greetings to Woo-nam that there was no room to walk.

As time passed, the perception spread that Woo-nam was the only political leader who could stand against the current government, but no matter what anyone said, Kim Seong-soo and Jang Deok-soo, who broke out of retirement after a crushing defeat in the election and joined, were responsible for creating a bright atmosphere again.

“Doctor! May you live long and long!”

“That’s right, doctor! “You must live a long, healthy life until you are 100 years old.”

“Hehehe! Okay, thank you everyone. “But when I turn 100, I don’t have much time left?”

“Oh, no… … .”

“ha ha ha!”

“Hahaha!”

Woo-nam was in a good mood and even joked, and the crowd burst into laughter.

However, Kim Seong-su smiled bitterly at Woo-nam’s joke about his age.

Woo-nam’s joke didn’t sound like a joke.

Woonam was born in 1875.

He was also born in March, so his birthday was early.

I am 80 this year in Korean age.

Considering this era, he has already lived a very long life.

I’m still correcting this, but I’m really at an age where it wouldn’t be strange if I didn’t cough tomorrow morning.

“Why are you doing that?”

As Seongsu Kim thought that and made a strange expression, Deoksu Jang, who was next to him, quietly asked.

“huh? “What do you mean?”

“It certainly seems like you are thinking differently.”

“Hehehe! “I guess you can hear all my thoughts, right?”

“Trick the ghost. “How many years have we been together?”

“To… … .”

Jang Deok-su is someone I have been with for a really long time.

Although they were three years younger, in this day and age, a three or four year age difference did not hinder friendship.

“There are a lot of people around, so let’s meet separately at my house later. “I will speak with you.”

“Sure.”

In the evening, many people gathered at Kim Seong-su’s home, and a small drinking table was set up.

And after first settling down and drinking a few more glasses, Kim Seongsu opened his mouth.

“Today, when I heard someone saying good things about Dr. Lee, it occurred to me and I invited several of my comrades.”

“What kind words are you talking about?”

Kim Jun-yeon (金俊淵), whom Kim Seong-su recently recruited, asked.

He, along with Song Jin-woo, was one of the few figures within the Liberal Democratic Party who resisted throughout the Japanese colonial period, and was imprisoned for seven years due to the Joseon Communist Party incident.

In addition, he was a rare talent who received bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Tokyo, a master’s degree from the University of London, and a master’s degree in law from the University of Berlin.

So, in the original history, he was a magnate who also served as Minister of Justice.

While working at Chosun Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo, he was classified as a Boseong network as he became close friends with Song Jin-woo and Kim Seong-su, but contrary to public expectations, he did not participate in the Liberal Democratic Party.

This is because, as can be seen from his tendency to engage in communist party activities, he secretly supported the current government, and it was only when Kim Seong-soo, who was like a benefactor to him, came forward that he joined the Liberal Democratic Party.

No matter how you look at it, Kim Seong-su’s request could not be rejected.

“Hey Nangsan, didn’t I tell you this before? “I’m saying we need to prepare the next best solution just in case.”

“ah! The doctor told me to live to be 100… … .”

“I see. “The doctor answered jokingly because he was in a good mood, but it didn’t sound like joking to me.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Everyone seemed to silently agree with Kim Seong-su’s words.

Woo-nam’s status was absolute, but even in their opinion, his advanced age was very unsettling.

“But you haven’t corrected it yet, have you?”

Song Jin-woo asked back with a slightly uncomfortable expression.

“Not yet. But you are already eighty. By the next presidential election, I will be in my mid-80s. As far as I know, even if you look back at world history, I have never heard of anyone ascending to the position of ruler of a country at that age. And even if you make corrections by then, how much more corrections will you make from then on?”

“… … .”

There was no way I had anything to say.

“So here’s what I think: As you all know, there is no one who can replace the doctor’s status right now. But I think now is the time to think about alternatives. It’s something I don’t want to think about, but it’s not surprising if the doctor doesn’t cough tomorrow. “Isn’t that right?”

“To… … .”

“Well, that’s true.”

“It’s true that when I see you sometimes these days, it’s not like it used to be.”

As soon as Seongsu Kim finished speaking, words of unanimous agreement poured out.

“The thoughts of my comrades are probably the same as mine. So, I am saying that we should serve the doctor as a focal point for now, but think of the next best solution. Otherwise, if something happens suddenly, we will be confused and lose our way again.”

“Well, that makes sense. “Then who are you talking about as the next best choice?”

“I mean, let’s discuss that from now on. “If we first decide on something ourselves and prepare for it, we won’t be embarrassed even if something happens.”

“hmm… … .”

“Then the person who does that… … .”

“Well, isn’t it obvious?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The audience’s gaze turned to Song Jin-woo almost at the same time.

In any case, within the Liberal Democratic Party, the only person with a status next to Woo-nam was Song Jin-woo.

Of course, there is Kim Seong-su, but he and Jang Deok-su are incapable of holding public office in the first place.

However, Song Jin-woo, who was actually involved, quickly waved his hand when the atmosphere became strange.

“What, something? “Why are you doing this?”

“Hey, isn’t it a certain order anyway? “Who among us, whether in terms of status or character, is there other than Goha?”

“Hey, Inchon!”

“I’m not saying what to do right now. I’m not saying you should betray the doctor. But, like I just said, shouldn’t we think of the next best option?”

“No, it’s still like that… … .”

“Look here, lord.”

“Why but?”

“Sir, you are our hope. Didn’t you tell me? I will tell you that one day, I will take off the yoke of me and the snowy mountains. I and Snow Mountain place their hopes on you. This is something that needs to be looked at over the next 10 years… … .”

“10 years each?”

“Ha, I’m only sharing my thoughts with those here, but honestly, what else is going on in the next presidential election? In the meantime, do you think something will happen that will cause the current government’s approval rating, which is over 90%, to drop?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

No matter how hopeful you think, that won’t happen.

“Then I can’t have much hope for Daum anyway. This is reality. “Then realistically, we will have to look to the next candidate, and more realistically, a realistic hope would be to settle down properly in the House in the first House of Representatives election.”

“Look, my age is not young.”

“Of course it’s not a lot. But aren’t you still in your 60s? Moreover, you are a top-class independence fighter and are receiving intensive health care from the current government?”

“… … .”

The current level of medical care in government, especially military hospitals, is the best in the world.

So much so that even Roosevelt visited Korea regularly for checkups.

And there was a hint of envy in Kim Seong-su’s words when he said this.

If he had endured just a little longer, he would have been able to enjoy the honor and benefits that Song Jin-woo enjoys now.

“I’m just saying that you should just know that and prepare your mind. Do you understand? “Now you are our hope.”

“ha… … .”

Song Jin-woo sighed as he felt his shoulders getting heavier.

* * *

January 4, 1954.

Blue house.

After Lee Kang-cheol finished the inaugural ceremony, he was welcoming a group of young people, like a group of stallions, as guests.

“ha ha ha! Welcome! “This fills my office!”

“hello! President! “It’s an honor to meet you like this!”

“Oh my! They all look like lions and tigers, right? ha ha ha!”

The first guests of the new year were about 20 young people, who were members of the Korean national soccer team.

Also, this year was the year the World Cup was held in Switzerland, and they were scheduled to participate in the World Cup Asian qualifiers.

“This is Kim Yong-sik, the director. “It is an honor, Your Excellency!”

“Oh oh! Kim Yong-sik! No, you’re the director now, right? ha ha ha! I am honored. But please don’t call me Your Excellency.”

“S-sorry.”

“no. And it’s true. “It’s an honor to see our country’s soccer hero like this.”

“thank you!”

Lee Kang-cheol’s words were not empty words.

Kim Yong-sik (金容植).

There is a saying that if there is Son Ki-jeong in marathons, there is Kim Yong-sik in soccer.

The person who overcame discrimination and became a starting member of the Japanese national soccer team at the Berlin Olympics along with Son Ki-jeong is none other than Kim Yong-sik.

Moreover, his anti-Japanese awareness was so strong that he was expelled from school for his involvement in the Gwangju Student Movement.

He is truly the first legend in the history of Korean soccer.

So how can Lee Kang-cheol treat him so vainly?

“This is goalkeeper Hong Deok-young.”

“Oh oh! “Hong Deok-young!”

“It is an honour! President!”

“Defender militia.”

“haha! nice to meet you.”

“This is midfielder Kim Ji-seong.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“As expected, this is midfielder Joo Young-kwang.”

“Oh, Joo Young-kwang! “I feel reassured!”

“Thank you!”

“And a front-line striker. “This is Choi Jeong-min.”

“Asia’s Golden Bridge!!”

“yes yes?”

When Lee Kang-cheol suddenly called out the golden bridge of Asia, Choi Jeong-min was so embarrassed that he couldn’t even say hello.

“Oh, it must be called that, right?”

“Thank you!”

“ha ha ha! is it so. Oh!”

“yes?”

“Someday, Choi Jeong-min will also become a leader, right?”

“Ah, I guess so… … .”

“haha! “When that time comes, please take care of the players.”

“of course.”

“Especially if there is a player with the surname Cha… … .”

“yes?”

“no. “Pretend you didn’t hear this.”

“Ah yes… … .”

Jeongmin Choi.

He is considered to be the progenitor of the Korean soccer striker lineage, and later became the national team coach and coached the legendary Cha Boom.

After the greetings, Lee Kang-cheol served refreshments and opened his mouth.

“Where and where will the Asian qualifiers be held?”

“This time, only one team will compete against Burma, Vietnam, the Republic of China, and Japan.”

“ah… … .”

The number of teams has increased significantly compared to the original history.

“But our Korean sons are the best! “At least in Asia, we are invincible!”

“ha ha ha! I believe it! believe!”

Originally, I was good at soccer in my country.

So much so that right after the end of the Korean War, they defeated Japan and advanced to the World Cup in Switzerland for the first time.

But in this history, it has become much stronger.

Not only was there no war, but the manpower pool itself had changed dramatically.

In addition, the government’s support was at a different level than in the original history, and the domestic foundation was strong enough for the Korean Pro League to be launched soon.

For this reason, it is inevitable that it will sweep across Asia at almost the same level as Yeopo.

“Go and win! “Let’s make a name for the Republic of Korea!”

“of course!”

“Let’s all shout together! Dae~ Han Minguk!”

“Dae Han Minguk?”

“again! Dae~ Han Minguk!”

“Great~ Han Minguk!!”

Slogans cheering for the Republic of Korea rang out from the Blue House.