Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 255



Only Krnovel

#255. Push the people harder!

Emperor Akihito’s speech was surprisingly very plain.

He completely excluded unnecessary modifiers and difficult-to-understand court terms and offered a sincere apology for the decades of suffering Japan had caused the Korean Peninsula by invading it in the past. At the end, he even stepped aside from the stage for a moment and bowed deeply.

Although the speech was given in Japanese, most members of the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as a significant number of the public, knew Japanese, so they understood it immediately without having to listen to the interpreter’s voice.

“Lastly, I apologize again and hope that in the future, South Korea and Japan will become good neighbors as close countries. Thank you.”

Clap clap clap clap!

The senators and representatives, who are more hostile to Japan than anyone else, gave Akihito’s apology speech, which was neither excessive nor inadequate, a generous round of applause.

The lawmakers understood that this was the maximum apology Akihito could offer.

If they had gone any further, public opinion about the Japanese royal family in Japan would have become a cesspool, and if that were not enough, they would not have been able to move public opinion in South Korea, so the apology was just at an appropriate level.

After Akihito finished his speech, Senate President Kim Koo approached him and opened his mouth.

“It must have been a difficult speech, but you did a great job.”

“Personally, I feel that I am lacking, but as the King of Japan, I have done my best. Thank you for your understanding.”

“Hahaha! That would have melted the hearts of the majority of our citizens of the Republic of Korea.”

“I sincerely hope so. Of course, I do not think that my one apology will forgive all of Japan’s past mistakes. I will continue to apologize whenever I have the chance.”

“Thank you. Thank you for your hard work.”

As Akihito said, this one apology speech could not possibly alleviate the resentment in the hearts of the Korean people.

However, it was a first step, and in an emergency opinion poll conducted immediately after the speech, more than half of the people viewed the Emperor’s apology positively.

The foundation for establishing diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan has finally been established.

Emperor Akihito stayed at the State Guest House for one more day to complete his official schedule and then departed for Japan.

There was now nothing for him to do, and the Foreign Minister would handle the rest.

The Korea-Japan diplomatic negotiations that began like that started off smoothly.

This was not only because the response to Emperor Akihito’s apology speech was positive, but also because the Japanese negotiator, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanzan Ishibashi, had a rather unusual background.

Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida opposed the Pacific War, but he was fundamentally an imperialist.

In particular, his obsession with Manchuria was so great that even the military was astonished. The reason he opposed the Pacific War was not because he was a pacifist, but because, as a career diplomat, he knew that waging war against Britain and the United States was reckless, and so he realistically opposed it.

In fact, Yoshida originally had no regrets about invading and ruling Joseon before and after the war.

No, rather, he is the person who asked why Korea hates Japan when the Japanese Government-General of Korea had carried out the selection, and even suggested to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers that Koreans in Japan be expelled, and even disparaged Koreans in Japan as “worms in the stomach.”

Since Lee Kang-cheol and other South Korean leaders were aware of these facts before visiting Korea with the Emperor, he was repeatedly criticized throughout his visit.

But the case of Foreign Minister Tanzan Ishibashi was completely different.

This gentleman originally supported the March 1st Movement that occurred in Joseon and was a person who advocated for the abandonment of Japan’s colonial rule.

In short, he is a person with anti-imperialist tendencies at heart, and the South Korean government has no choice but to welcome him.

He was not on good terms with Prime Minister Yoshida either. There was even a widespread rumor that Yoshida was the one who falsely accused him of being a war criminal, despite him having said everything he wanted to say to the US military government in the original history.

It is quite ironic that such a person became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Yoshida Cabinet. This was because Yoshida had deliberately placed Ishibashi Tanzan in the position, anticipating that his flawless career would be well-received in South Korea.

Accordingly, Kim Kyu-sik also treated Foreign Minister Ishibashi favorably, and since Akihito had even made an apology speech, there were almost no obstacles to the negotiations for the establishment of diplomatic relations, so the negotiations progressed quickly.

South Korea has already received everything it could from Japan.

Hokkaido, Tsushima Island, Okinawa, and other areas became South Korean territory, and territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, which were unfamiliar at the time, were also claimed and established by the South Korean government.

In addition, all cultural assets were received, and textbooks related to the Republic of Korea were to be jointly written for 100 years after the end of the war.

In short, all that was needed was to formally establish diplomatic relations and treat Japan like any other country from now on, but for Japan, which depends on South Korea economically, even this was a huge achievement.

And on October 15, 1956.

Diplomatic relations were officially established with Japan after approval by the Senate and House of Representatives.

***

November 6, 1956.

The Blue House.

“How is the US election going?”

“It’s behind us so it’ll be done soon.”

November 6th is the presidential election day in the United States.

Accordingly, Lee Kang-cheol was receiving reports on the U.S. election situation from Kim Kyu-sik and National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-hyun.

“What are the results of the last poll?”

“President Truman has the upper hand, but the difference is not that great.”

“Huh! Right! Even though it was revealed that Nixon had received dirty money?”

“That’s true.”

Truman’s journey to a third term was not easy.

With the Republican candidate Nixon neck-and-neck all summer, it was impossible to be optimistic about Truman’s victory.

So, Cho Tae-hyun, unable to stand by and watch, carried out a plot to leak to the press the evidence and circumstances that Nixon had received illicit political funds, but Truman was still unable to be overpowered.

“I think we underestimated the psychological resistance of Americans to a third term. According to our survey, there are many public opinions that say, ‘But isn’t Truman’s third term a bit much?’”

“Even though you’re doing well like you are now?”

“Haha! That’s why you’re American.”

“Hey, really… … .”

“Besides, there is also a reason to be fed up with the Democratic Party’s long-term rule.”

“No, it’s okay if you do it well. Do you hate it if you do it for a long time?”

“That’s American.”

“… … .”

“And Truman’s showmanship was really… … .”

“… … .”

Even Truman’s camp knew that one of the reasons he was unpopular was his lack of showmanship.

So, it seems like he was trying to show off his showmanship in this election, but it wasn’t something that could be done to that extent.

When a person who had never known showmanship in his life suddenly started doing showmanship in a clumsy way, it seemed even stranger and it was also a negative factor in the election.

“Hey! It has to be Harry, but this is really worrying.”

If Truman lost, he would have to reestablish US-ROK relations with Nixon, but Lee Kang-cheol hated that so much.

“Haha! Anyway, aren’t you saying that you have the upper hand? Just wait and see.”

“Well, that’s how it should be.”

It wasn’t going to work out if I got upset here.

As for Lee Kang-cheol, he did as much as he could by even interfering with the presidential election of another country.

The election results were not announced until after noon on November 8.

“Mr. President! We won!”

“Huh? You won?”

“That’s right! Just a little while ago, President Truman’s side surpassed the 266 electoral votes needed to win!”

“Hahaha! Hurray! Hurray!”

Ultimately, Truman was elected for a third term by securing 301 of the 531 electoral votes.

“ha ha ha!”

“Heh heh heh!”

“I’m happier about this than I was about winning my election.”

“Well, that’s because the President has overwhelming support.”

“That’s true. Why don’t I make a congratulatory call?”

“I will prepare.”

Now, not only the United States and satellites, but also the trans-Pacific submarine cable has been installed.

Originally, the trans-Pacific submarine cable was completed and opened in 1964, just before the Tokyo Olympics in Japan, but this time, it was opened early this year under the leadership of Korea Telecom.

Even though the government was in such a hurry, the task of laying submarine cables across the Pacific Ocean was delayed because it was a very difficult project.

“Harry, here we go.”

“Hahaha! Iron, I knew you’d call me anyway.”

“Hahaha! Then, would you like to go first?”

“Why do I have to pay international calling charges? I’m going to come anyway.”

“Hey! Anyway… … .”

“Hahaha! Just kidding.”

“Anyway, congratulations on your third term. Oh my! I was worried a lot because I couldn’t rest easy until the very end.”

“I’m sorry about this. You helped me ‘a lot’… … .”

“Oh! Please don’t say things like that.”

No matter how tight security was, if it was revealed that South Korea had interfered in the US election, the world would have turned upside down.

“Hahaha! I know. Thanks anyway.”

“Okay, you’ve worked hard, so get some rest.”

“I intend to do that. Oh! Do you happen to be interested in coming to my inauguration in January next year?”

“Hmm, I’ll check my schedule. I’ll attend if possible.”

“Hahaha! I’ll be looking forward to it.”

After hanging up the phone, Lee Kang-cheol checked his schedule for January next year.

“Truman’s inauguration is on January 20th. Then, it seems possible to link it with the tour of Central and South America that is currently being planned.”

“Oh, the tour of Central and South America was planned to start in February.”

“Yes. It’s a bit off in the middle, but it’s possible if you fit in other schedules appropriately.”

“Please push forward with that. I really want to attend President Truman’s third inauguration.”

“All right.”

***

December 12, 1956.

Zhongnanhai, Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

Zhongnanhai was the former imperial garden where Mao Zedong, the supreme leader of the People’s Republic of China, resided.

But the atmosphere in this place where the most powerful person in Northern China resided was not at all normal.

“What? Agricultural production has decreased? No, it’s during the Great Leap Forward?”

“I’m sorry, but it’s true. It has been confirmed that there has been a decrease of more than 5% compared to the previous year.”

“Does that make sense? The sacrificial offering movement is in progress? Isn’t this not being done properly?”

“No, that’s not true. The people have been mobilized to get rid of not only sparrows, but also mosquitoes, flies, and rats.”

“No, no! That’s because you’re not doing it right. Push the people harder!”

“Oh, I understand.”

“What happened to steel production?”

“Thanks to the large-scale installation of the earthworks, the number has increased by about 10%. Next year, when it will be fully implemented, it is expected to increase even more than this year.”

“That’s right. Anyway, sparrows are harmful birds! Catch them all and exterminate them!”

“Understood, Comrade Joo-soo!”

Disaster began to strike the People’s Republic of China.