Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 320



Only Krnovel

#320. British Invasion

The sincerity and effort that the South Korean government poured into this Seoul Olympics was considerable, because one of the major issues in South Korea is still national unity.

The Republic of Korea is a country that has rapidly expanded its territory over the past 20 years since its foundation and grown in size by accepting Chinese, Japanese, and Russians living in that territory as citizens.

As the country of the Republic of Korea itself grew and developed at such a rapid pace, an atmosphere of pride and loyalty was definitely created among each ethnic group, but it was inevitable that there would be discord between ethnic groups.

Even in modern Korea, we have keenly experienced that even among people of the same ethnicity, there is bound to be friction between regions.

Jeolladian is this and that, Gangsangdo is that and that, Dongddo is this and that, Gamja guys are that and that’s why they’re no good, Seoul and Gyeonggi guys are selfish and petty and that’s why they’re no good, etc.

Even in the days when the land was the size of a palm, it would be strange if there were no such discriminatory sentiments between ethnic groups.

However, the government cannot leave such extreme regional or national sentiments as they are.

If such sentiments become entrenched and deepen, they will ultimately have an incredibly negative impact on the country.

In particular, negative sentiments between ethnic groups had to be overcome.

Accordingly, the current South Korean government has also made continuous efforts to overcome this sentiment, and among these efforts, sports were the best.

The current government leaders, including Lee Kang-cheol, knew all too well that the Olympics and World Cup, in which athletes compete to represent their countries, are the best if the results are good.

So, since the foundation of the country, we have consistently created a national athlete village to discover talented athletes and admit them, and here we systematically trained the athletes using modern sports science knowledge.

And now it is time to harvest the fruit.

“Our proud Kim Ki-soo! He’s pushing his opponents one-sidedly! Left! Left! Right hook! Benvenuti is groggy! Down! Down! Gold medal! Gold medal! Hurray! Hurray for the Republic of Korea!”

“Fellow countrymen! Our proud athlete Kim Ki-su has achieved an unprecedented record of winning two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the welterweight boxing category!”

“Wow! I’m so touched! Now, Kim Ki-soo will turn pro after this Olympics and become a true world champion!!”

Kim Ki-soo, who achieved the feat of being the first professional major world champion in the original history of the Republic of Korea, and the first unified WBA and WBC champion, was also great this time.

He postponed his transition to professionalism due to popular demand and participated in the Seoul Olympics, where he defeated Italy’s Nino Benvenuti.

And after winning two consecutive gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics, he planned to turn pro after these Olympics and challenge for the world champion.

And that’s not all.

Our country was originally known for its prowess in speculative sports, and there was a time when people jokingly called us a fighting nation.

But this time, the extent of the problem was even worse, thanks to massive support from developed countries.

They have won almost all sports including shooting, wrestling, boxing, fencing, and judo, which has now been adopted as an official Olympic sport.

Also, medals poured in from track and field and swimming, where Korea was traditionally weak.

Track and field and swimming, especially track and field, were sports in which Asians performed poorly due to their physical limitations.

But this time it’s different.

This is because people of Slavic descent are included in the Republic of Korea.

Many Slavic white people became citizens of the Republic of Korea by defeating the Soviet Union.

They achieved incredible results in track and field as well as gymnastics, sending the nation into a frenzy.

“Gold medal! Gold medal! Great job! Sergei!”

“Hahaha! Slavic players are really good!”

“That’s true.”

Lee Kang-cheol and Ko Seok-man were very happy while watching the game.

“Where did we rank at the Seoul Olympics?”

“I got 4th place.”

“Was it that high?”

“Well, we did well back then, but we had a bit of a home advantage… … .”

“Ah! I remember. To be honest, weren’t we a bit harsh back then?”

“It was tough, especially boxing.”

“That game, it’s real! Wow! No, even the players themselves were surprised?”

“Yes, he thought he was completely outclassed and was about to give up, but then the referee suddenly raised his hand and said it was absurd.”

“You crazy guys. Even if it’s the host country’s turf war, you have to be moderate. And that’s not good for the players either.”

“you’re right.”

In fact, the athlete was accused of stealing the gold medal, and was forced to retire under extreme stress.

“Don’t even think about doing that. You’ll get cursed at for a long time.”

“Of course.”

The Seoul Olympics, which heated up South Korea for 16 days, came to an end with Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila winning his second consecutive Olympic marathon gold medal.

South Korea’s final ranking is 2nd overall.

The United States came in first place with 38 gold medals.

South Korea came in second with 32, and although it was a bit behind in third place, the Soviet Union still showed its strength and won 18.

The surprising result of second place overall was just a superficial achievement.

Because while cheering on the Korean national team, harmony between the people has progressed tremendously.

And Seoul, the capital of South Korea, also became a winner in another sense by showing off its development and beauty to the world.

* * *

“Who is coming?”

“The Beatles! The Beatles are coming to Korea for two weeks!”

“Ohhh!”

“The Beatles!”

“Gottles!”

“Oh my god! I can see the Beatles live!”

“Ugh! It was so good of you to come to the expedition!”

When the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that the Beatles would be visiting Korea, the State Council meeting and the surrounding area were instantly transformed into a place of Beatles worship and praise.

And this was the same for Lee Kang-cheol.

No, Lee Kang-cheol originally claimed to be a huge Beatles fan, so he was more enthusiastic than anyone else.

The Beatles.

It is the alpha and omega of modern popular music.

There was no Beatles before the Beatles, and there was no Beatles after them.

Even Leonard Bernstein called the Beatles the three B’s of music.

Originally, 3Bs referred to Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, but Bernstein removed Brahms and added the Beatles.

A true god of popular music who transcends time.

That’s the Beatles.

They say the Beatles are coming to South Korea.

They invaded the United States earlier this year (British Invasion) and turned it into a wasteland, and now they are coming to invade South Korea.

“I’d be happy to be invaded like this every day!”

It was Lee Kang-cheol’s cry.

And that’s not all.

He was met with glares after making a fuss to personally step forward and take care of the protocol, and he even insisted on sending a private plane, but gave up after being persuaded that this was dereliction of duty.

“Oh, just a little! Just do it moderately, moderately!”

“The Beatles are coming, how can you be moderate? Aren’t you excited?”

“I’m excited too, but you’re going too far, hyung. Even in the secretariat, there’s already an outcry asking why our president is acting like that all of a sudden.”

“What do they know! Anyway, young people don’t know art, art.”

“Even if they’re young, most of them are in their 40s or 50s, right?”

“… … .”

Due to the nature of the Office of the President, all key executives and staff who directly interact with Lee Kang-cheol are from the expedition team.

This is because Lee Kang-cheol cannot work while keeping an eye on his employees’ reactions.

Because there were so many secrets related to the future.

So the children of those who came down to the expedition team grew up and were recruited, and now many of them were in their 40s or at least in their mid-30s.

But even if people in their 50s knew about the Beatles, people in their 30s and 40s would inevitably have a different attitude toward the Beatles than those in their 60s and 70s, who were the mainstays of the expedition team.

Because they weren’t strictly a pop song generation.

As a result, a phenomenon occurred where people in their 60s or older, such as ministers or vice ministers, were excited about the news of the Beatles’ visit to Korea, but the younger generation was not so impressed.

Of course, in this era, people in their teens and twenties were dying for joy, while those in their older generations often clicked their tongues and said that it was the end of the world.

As with other countries.

October 16, 1964.

Over the Pacific Ocean.

The Beatles were flying in for a two-week tour of South Korea aboard a charter plane sent by Segi Entertainment, a subsidiary of Segi Holdings, the organizer of the event.

“Hey, Ringo.”

“John, why?”

“Do you know much about the country called the Republic of Korea?”

“Well? All I know is that it’s a country that has developed tremendously since World War II? And it’s a country that recently hosted the Seoul Olympics?”

“Child, you already know that, right?”

“Hey, that’s good enough.”

That’s it.

George Harrison, who was listening to John Lennon and Ringo Starr’s conversation, interrupted them.

“Hey, you pathetic guys.”

“What, Inma?”

“Don’t you know that the hottest country in the world right now, after the United States, is South Korea? The center of both cutting-edge industries and fashion is moving to South Korea. And our album is the country that sells the most, after the United States.”

“You did great.”

“But this time we have to be careful.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was curious so I looked into it separately. But I heard that the East, especially East Asia, has an incredibly conservative society.”

“How conservative?”

“They say that Confucianism is a religion that has dominated society for a very long time. That’s why young people can’t move in front of adults.”

“really?”

“Yeah, I heard you can’t even smoke in front of adults?”

“Hey, then that’s not fun? No, how can our album sell so many in such a boring country?”

“It’s such a wealthy country, isn’t it? Besides, teenagers in any country are just as crazy about us.”

“Hey, anyway, it’s disappointing. I have to perform for two weeks in a country like this.”

“Look, John. This is business, business. Don’t forget that.”

“… … .”

October 21, 1964.

Olympic Main Stadium in Jamsil, Seoul.

Today is the first day of the Beatles’ historic tour of South Korea.

The Olympic Stadium was already packed with 70,000 spectators, and the Beatles were preparing for their performance in the waiting room.

That’s it.

Suddenly the manager ran in.

“Hey! Boys!”

“why?”

“I have big news.”

“What’s the big news?”

“They say South Korean President Lee Kang-chul and his wife will be attending the concert today.”

“What? President Lee Kang-cheol and his wife?”

If it was Lee Kang-cheol, he would have known the Beatles too.

Because he was such a famous person.

“Not only that, but the next president is certain to be a prime minister and other high-ranking officials are coming. So you guys, absolutely do not do anything rash! Got it?”

“Hey, that’s not fun.”

“This is the Republic of Korea! When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

“all right.”

The Beatles were embarrassed when they went up on stage to perform.

What happened was that the special seats right in front of the stage were all filled with old people.

They are high-ranking officials, including President Lee Kang-cheol and his wife, and this is the first time this has happened.

Usually, even when VIPs come to see a performance, they usually go to a separate viewing area in the back and take a seat. What kind of situation is this?

“Hey, it’s Kimchi.”

“That’s right. Oh, by the way, this is my first time performing in front of elderly people.”

“There’s nothing we can do. Let’s just try our best.”

“okay!”

Soon the show began.

“Can’t buy me love, love

Can’t buy me love

I’ll buy you a diamond ring, my friend~”

“Wow wow wow!!”

“Eww!”

“I’m happy to die!”

“Khuuuuk! The Beatles are gods! Gods!”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The Beatles exchanged glances at each other in embarrassment while singing “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

Why do the old people get so excited and make such a fuss as soon as the song starts?

Hey? That guy is definitely President Lee Kang-cheol.

What happened was that the old people in the special seats in front of the stage were more crazy and enthusiastic than the teenagers and twenties in the back.

The Beatles, who were initially embarrassed, became excited and started singing more passionately.

This is my first time seeing such a crazy country.

Their songs even made the elderly people who were about to be buried in coffins excited.

“Great Korea!”

“Wooooooo!”

The Beatles, in excitement, kept shouting “Great Korea!” and started the next song, Twist and Shout.

“Well, shake it up, baby, now

Twist and shout

Come on, come on, come, come on, baby, now~”

“Wooooooo!”

“Come on, come on! Baby now!”

The ultimate weapon for performances in Korea.

The chanting began.

On this day, the Beatles went crazy like old people.