Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 74



Only Krnovel

#74. Something called a gnat.

August 14, 1945, 10:30 a.m.

Gimpo Airfield.

“Please be careful, Teacher Usa.”

“haha! “I really didn’t know that I would be taking on such an important responsibility.”

“It is a sin to make fun of someone as outstanding as you. “After this business trip, I have to head south again.”

“I will do my best.”

“The plane will be a little uncomfortable, so please bear with us for now. “Our technicians are developing a pressurization system on a pilot basis, and for first place, we will modify an airplane for you to fly.”

“This much is too much for me. “Don’t worry about it, tin.”

“then···.”

“I’ll have a nice trip.”

Wooooow!

The C-54 transport plane powerfully kicked off the runway, took off, and headed north.

Go Seok-man, who was watching this with Lee Kang-cheol, opened his mouth.

“You’ll do well, right?”

“You will do well. “Aren’t you really a capable person?”

“First of all, I am comfortable with the weight. “Because diplomacy is actually a field that requires weight.”

“You’re the type of person who has gone through all kinds of hardships, right?”

“Hehehe! “That’s right.”

On August 10, Woosa Kim Gyu-sik was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the first member of the Provisional Government.

Lee Kang-cheol also had a lot of trouble, and some of the members of the State Council, which were made up of modern people, were also against it, but no matter how much you think about it, when you look at it as a person, there was no one more suitable than Kim Gyu-sik.

Compared to other ministries, the number of people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or former civil servants belonging to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was unusually small, less than 40 people.

And the most senior among them is Secretary Do In-cheol, now 42 years old.

When it comes to practical skills, who among people of this era would dare surpass him?

However, he had a fatal weakness as a diplomat.

Secretary Do In-cheol was a baby face.

Even to modern eyes, he appears to be in his early 30s at best.

As a result, in the eyes of people of this era, at best, he was considered to be in his late 20s, and some even saw him as a minor.

It was fortunate that I was at least taller.

But what if Westerners, who already view Asians as young, see them?

This is what LeMay, who used to frequent the government building not long ago, said when he first saw him.

“hey! boy! “Get me an ashtray!”

“…”

In the end, Lee Kang-cheol had no choice but to actualize Kim Kyu-sik’s position as Minister of Foreign Affairs, which he had only mentioned in passing.

At least for now, it was nice to be able to discuss business without compromising because he was one of the only two people who knew the identity of the expeditionary force, and more than anything, his rich diplomatic experience and language skills that bordered on morale were a waste.

In addition, Do In-cheol was promoted to secretary, or rather, all the ranks, so he was overflowing with iron because he had enough ‘official record’ that is not found in the slightest in him, who is currently in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an assistant minister.

And something happened that hastened the appointment of Kim Kyu-sik as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

I asked the U.S. government to help me secure a diplomatic channel with the Soviet Union, but a bigger player than I expected got involved.

Vyacheslav Molotov.

Famous for Molotov cocktails? The Soviet Foreign Minister proposed holding a meeting on Soviet soil.

Now, there was no choice but to appoint Kim Kyu-sik as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Because I couldn’t ask Do In-cheol to face a big man like Molotov.

And Do In-cheol had to listen to Lee Kang-cheol.

“Oh, stop putting makeup on your face!”

“Is your face red?”

“So they look more like kids?”

“What if you say something about applying basic men’s cosmetics? “I’m already pampering myself and applying it sparingly.”

“Ugh!”

“…”

August 14th at 3pm (Khabarovsk local time).

Khabarovsk airfield.

Wooooow!

Purr!

The C-54 transport plane carrying Kim Gyu-sik and his group landed on the runway after a flight of more than four hours.

and.

“Huh! Do you see these people?”

The only people from the Soviet Union who came to the airfield to welcome us were three or four low-level officials from the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This was clearly an act of disregard for the Republic of Korea.

“Are you all?”

“That’s right. “I’ll take you to your accommodations, so get in the car.”

“Are you trying to play a prank on me?”

“yes? “What do you mean by that?”

“I am a representative of the Republic of Korea. I can’t stand this kind of insult, so I’m going back. Director Jaeseung Park!”

“Yes, Minister.”

“You should go back. “These guys don’t seem to have any intention of talking.”

“All right. Secretary Shim! Tell them I’m coming back after seeing the pilots! “Take off right away!”

When things happened like this, the ones who were embarrassed were the Soviets who came out to meet them.

It seemed clear that they were the only ones sent out with the intention of humiliating them.

Still, I thought he would follow me to my accommodations, but he came all the way here and turned back?

If they do that, they will be taken to the gulag.

“Now, just wait a moment! There seems to be some mistake. Hey Ivan! Hurry up and come back! “I will take care of you here!”

“I understand!”

Only then did someone hurriedly jump out of the building inside the airfield.

Even though these guys were high-ranking executives, they only intentionally sent out low-ranking officials.

Only after a commotion broke out, with the men grabbing the leg of Kim Gyu-sik’s pants and yelling at him as he was returning home, did he get into a car and head to a hotel in downtown Khabarovsk.

“Just relax for a moment. Comrade Molotov will come after the Minister has eaten at about 8 p.m.”

“I understand.”

“then···.”

As the Soviet Foreign Ministry official left, the two National Intelligence Service agents who followed him began to move quickly.

The goal was to find a wiretap.

And 10 minutes later.

“There were about 30 installed in the minister’s room alone, but now you can talk comfortably. No matter what they do, they won’t be able to eavesdrop with their technology. However, in the future, whenever you feel comfortable speaking, please tell us first. “This will be installed again when you come back after dinner.”

“her! These people are really…”

I don’t know what I’m doing when I ask to see someone.

“Do these guys look at us funny?”

“haha! “Is that what you think?”

“Yes, Minister. It is clear that this is intended to be blatantly insulting. “I never thought I would be welcomed, but I never thought I would do something like this.”

“Hehehe! Well, you can pay me back when I meet Molotov later. “Don’t get too excited.”

“But aren’t you angry, Minister?”

“Well, that’s about it. “If I was this angry, I wouldn’t have been able to fight for independence.”

“ah···.”

“I’m just saying, I feel so good right now.”

“yes? “Are you feeling good?”

“Do you know what the President said before I came?”

“What did you say?”

“I told Ross that I had no intention of getting along with those guys and that I would have to clash with them at some point, so I could do as much as I wanted. “They said that if I were to act fussy, it would be enough to get into a fight…”

“ha ha ha! “These are words worthy of the commander-in-chief.”

“I said that. You don’t know how much I was moved by those words.”

“Why is that?”

“I heard that even though modern Korea is half the size of South Korea, you get treated pretty well when you go out. Am I right?”

“you’re right. It was a country ranked 10th in the world in terms of both economy and military, so there were few countries that could look down on it. Moreover, after the cultural boom of the Korean Wave, no matter which country you go to, you’ll hear ‘Korea!’ I ate it all. ha ha ha!”

Director Park Jae-seung spoke triumphantly, as if bragging.

“Hoo! I’m really jealous. I can’t believe I was treated like that even in the southern half of Korea… But the thing is, we didn’t do that. I’m the Provisional Government’s top diplomatic expert? “That’s all nonsense.”

“yes?”

“The words were diplomatic, but in reality, it was begging. Well, I tried to behave myself, but I was no different from a beggar.”

“…”

“Representative of a temporary government in exile without a country? To diplomats from countries with prosperous countries, we were like gnats. They were annoying and unclean creatures. In fact, I’ve been treated like that countless times.”

“Well, just like that…”

“Still, I had to laugh. Even though I was openly despised and treated like a beggar right in front of me, I continued to laugh and ran forward while preaching the necessity of independence. Why? That was the only thing we could do for our ruined country. Then, if a kind-hearted diplomat listens to me and even buys me food, that day was a lucky day…”

“Keuheuk…”

Jaeseung Park’s eyes widened as he heard words he could never have imagined coming out of Kim Gyu-sik’s mouth.

I thought he was just meeting diplomats in a place like Paris and appealing for independence, but when I heard what he said, he was like a bunch of gnats.

Gnats are mistaken for mosquitoes, so people catch and kill them whenever they see them, but they are only annoying and are by no means harmful insects.

That is why it is called a gnat.

An entity that is mistaken for a harmful mosquito when in reality it is not harmful, and an annoying entity.

“But it’s different now. I also have a prosperous homeland, and the president of the country even tells me not to be discouraged no matter where I go? They say that our Republic of Korea is strong. So, how could I not be happy? “Hehehe!”

“What you said is correct, Commander-in-Chief. We are strong. In particular, contrary to its original history, the Soviet Union was expelled from the Allied Powers and exhausted its national power on the Western Front. I don’t know much about the military, but even if the Soviet Union invades, we can fully defend ourselves. Isn’t it? Agent Kim Seong-gi?”

“haha! you’re right. I can’t tell you because it’s confidential, but our Republic of Korea is strong. Probably more than Director Park thinks. So, Minister, please rest assured. “There is absolutely nothing to lose about us.”

“Thank you, thank you so much! Uh-huh-huh!”

“ha ha ha!”

Kim Gyu-sik was in a really good mood.

After finishing dinner, I waited at the hotel, but there was no news even after 8 o’clock.

“These guys are starting again. Even Putin often says that…”

“What do you mean?”

“Ah, this is the guy who ruled Russia in modern times, and his specialty was keeping the leaders of other countries waiting. “One hour is the standard, but there were also cases where people waited for three hours.”

“Is that really a characteristic of Slavic people?”

“haha! In modern parlance, it is called Jongteuk. “It is an abbreviation for racial characteristics.”

“Hehehe! “That’s a funny thing to say.”

Molotov did not appear until 8:40.

Without any sign of regret.

“female! Nice to see this. I am Molotov, Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union. So, you said you wanted to see us?”

“I am Gyu-sik Kim. “Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.”

“Hoo? “You speak our language well?”

“Well, I tend to say this and that quite a bit. From now on, let’s speak English.”

“Why don’t you just speak Russian?”

“Can you do that? “Isn’t it against international diplomatic practice?”

“Well, let’s do it then.”

“That’s right. And let’s get it straight. It is true that we, the Republic of Korea, cannot handle pending issues because we have no contact network with your country, so we asked to see it, but it is okay if we do not look at it. “There is nothing to regret.”

“W-what?”

“And why are you late?”

“I’m late for some reason.”

“Then isn’t it right to ask for understanding in advance if you are late and apologize first if you are late?”

“No, these people dare! “Where’s the topic of emerging countries?”

Suddenly Molotov crossed the line.

“I beg your pardon? Emerging countries topic? Hehehe! Director Park!”

“Yes, Minister.”

“I guess I came here for no reason. “Sorry pilots, but is it possible to fly at night?”

“Yes, no problem.”

“Then let’s go. No, where did someone like this come out to do diplomacy? “Egh!”

When Kim Gyu-sik got up and the group gathered their luggage, the one who was in urgent need was Molotov.

This meeting should never have ended like this.

The country that people thought suddenly appeared out of nowhere and messed up everything is the Republic of Korea.

Therefore, Stalin’s interest in this meeting was also special.

What if Kim Gyu-sik and his group leave like this?

He didn’t know that he, who was already in a bad position, might be taken into the gulag that day.

“Hey, over there!”

“what?”

“Are you really going? “You came all the way here?”

“Then what if you really don’t go? “I am a man who keeps the words I speak.”

“No, don’t do that. Let’s calm down for now!”

“I have never been excited. “I guess you’re the one who’s excited?”

“…”

Kim Gyu-sik and his group continue to pack their bags.

In the end, Molotov had to throw up his hands.

“S-I apologize!”

“If you’re going to apologize, do it right!”

“Whoa! I spoke too carelessly. Please forgive me.”

Kim Gyu-sik glared at Molotov and opened his mouth.

“I’ll let it go this time, but don’t do it again!”

“Oh, I understand.”

Molotov took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.