Free Web NovelIn the previous life, Yoon Changho was a man who never received recognition within the prosecution. He drifted from one backwater post to another, until finally, when a Prosecutor General from a lower class rose above him, he took off his prosecutor’s robe.
But this time it was different. He had grasped the hand I extended to him. As a result, Yoon Changho had grown into a powerful politician, now standing right before the presidency.
“I was the one who reached out first, but the one who clasped that hand was you, Mr. President.”
“That’s right. It was I who grasped your hand.”
President Yoon set down the coffee cup in his hand.
“Even now, I believe it was the best choice I ever made in my life.”
“Is that so?”
“So I have no intention of letting go of your hand. But that doesn’t mean I intend to be your puppet, either.”
“I have never once thought of you as a puppet.”
President Yoon shook his head. The smile on his lips carried a bitter shadow.
“That may be your view. But do you think others see it the same way, President Kim? Even today—President Kim Hakgwon didn’t ask me, he asked you. Isn’t that proof that, unconsciously, he sees you as above me?”
“...”
“Shouldn’t he have proposed a summit to me first, or at least called me? What do you think?”
From President Yoon’s perspective, that was a fair way to feel.
But the situation was too urgent to be resolved through proper procedures. That was why Kim Hakgwon had skipped all formalities and called me directly.
A man like Kim Hakgwon, who had rolled in politics for decades, would not have done that in ignorance. It meant he was desperate.
But poking that point now would gain nothing.
So I only nodded and offered a gentle smile.
“You could certainly see it that way.”
“That’s why I hesitated a bit.”
“I understand.”
At my softer tone, his expression eased slightly.
“I’m glad you understand. To be honest, it doesn’t feel good. My anger isn’t at you, but at President Kim Hakgwon. That’s why I was conflicted. But if you want it, then I’ll do it.”
“Thank you. I know it’s an unreasonable request. The time was too short, and I asked you hastily. If you want to extract something from President Kim Hakgwon, then by all means, do so.”
President Yoon nodded, sighed, and spoke again.
“I don’t know if this is really the right thing to do. Don’t you think the same?”
“To be honest, I also oppose it. But if I were Chairman Song Youngjoo, I think I would have wanted to be buried in my hometown soil, even after death. And as for Daehyeon being dragged around, I can stop that, so you don’t have to worry.”
“That may be true, but...”
Trailing off, he glanced at his watch and gave a faint groan.
When I glanced at my own, I saw how much time had already passed.
“I’ve detained a busy man too long. Let’s continue this talk another time. For now, please go to party headquarters and unify the lawmakers’ stance. Then hold a press conference under the party spokesman’s name. The Blue House will respond afterward.”
President Yoon and Myungsoo both rose to their feet.
“Myungsoo, let’s talk a little longer, just the two of us.”
Myungsoo half rose, hesitating, then glanced at the president’s face.
“Let him stay a bit. The rookie lawmakers listen to him even better than they do me.”
“All right. I’ll send him along shortly.”
With permission granted, Myungsoo stood fully and bowed to President Yoon.
When he raised his head, there was a mischievous grin on his face.
“I’ll follow right after. Please suffer a bit on your own for now, sir, haha.”
“Honestly...”
With a short laugh, President Yoon shook his head and left the study.
Only then did Myungsoo drop his grin and collapse back into his seat.
“Can’t you just stir shit when I’m not around?”
“No.”
“Damn it. I thought I’d suffocate from the tension.”
He grumbled, downing his cold coffee in one gulp.
“Still, I get where he’s coming from. No matter how much you and he coexist, the one doing politics is him. Then the president calls you directly, without even a word to him, to decide the party’s stance? Who would like that? I’d be pissed too.”
“I know. So what were you about to say back then? Of course you were going to agree, right?”
“You call that a question? Of course I would. If you told me to, I’d drink lye.”
Thanks to Myungsoo, the heaviness left my face.
“So why did you ask him to leave you behind?”
“To get a detailed sense of the Centrist Party’s atmosphere.”
“Well, it’s the same as always. Everyone already sees President Yoon as the next presidential candidate. The approval ratings prove it. So all they do is watch his mood. The party’s no party, just a personal fief.”
From Myungsoo’s mouth, the Centrist Party’s condition sounded already decided. Stroking my chin, I asked again.
“Really? And you?”
“I’ve got the rookies under complete control. Not only that—I even created a cross-party rookies’ club, with members from Progressives, Conservatives, and our party alike.”
Pride shone in his words, and a smile came naturally to my lips.
“Well done. And President Yoon? No strange moves?”
“No. He can’t separate from you even if he tried. But a politician could turn at any time, so I’m keeping a close watch.”
“Good. When he becomes president, he must step down as party leader. If he controls both the Blue House and the party, he might start thinking the wrong way. I will never trust a politician.”
So far, every president had held both offices—the presidency and the party leadership.
If the party, the Blue House, and the Cabinet all fell into one man’s hands, no one knew what might happen. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Kim Hakgwon had changed once he became president. So who could say Yoon Changho wouldn’t?
“In theory it’s possible. But will he step down so easily?”
“We’ll start shaping the mood now. Do you have anyone to push forward as next leader? You should be the first president under the parliamentary system after constitutional reform. Until then, we need someone to hold the post.”
“I’ll think on it. A few names come to mind, but they’re all Yoon’s close aides...”
Myungsoo trailed off, lost in thought, then continued.
“Most of the big four-term and up politicians are his people. There are a few outsiders, but if we hand them the reins, who knows what they’ll do.”
“Then we just raise someone up. Draw up a candidate list and give it to me. I’ll meet them and decide.”
“Really? Got it. I should get going. I’ll pick some names and send them quickly.”
Checking his watch, Myungsoo rose.
“No need to see me out.”
He grasped the doorknob, then paused and turned back.
“And try coming to the gatherings, will you? You created the club, but we hardly ever see your face. The others won’t say it, but they’re disappointed. I’m really going this time.”
With that said, Myungsoo opened the door and left.
I gazed at the closed door for a long moment, then smiled.
Everything moved swiftly. The funeral of Chairman Song Youngjoo, originally scheduled for tomorrow, was postponed by three days.
Instead, it was necessary to determine who would travel to North Korea with the bereaved family.
Once all administrative procedures were completed, a large number of people gathered to cross the division line along the very path Chairman Song had once driven his cattle.
I too was there, to witness Chairman Song’s final journey.
“Sir, why not go as well? Won’t you regret it?”
Standing beside me, Ha Myeonghun spoke quietly, just loud enough for me to hear.
“No. The timing isn’t right. I’ll visit personally another time.”
“Understood.”
He nodded easily, but I added with concern,
“Please be careful too. That place is never free of danger.”
“Would they dare cause trouble now? If anything happens to this group, the South Korean government would have to risk war.”
“That may be true, but still.”
As we spoke, a special hearse built by Daehyeon Motors solely for Chairman Song arrived at last.
Behind it came several buses.
From the first bus, Chairman Song Chanwoo stepped out, followed by the rest of the family.
Reporters fought fiercely to capture even a single shot.
Even in death, Chairman Song Youngjoo was rewriting Korea’s # Nоvеlight # history.
“Mr. President.”
“Chairman Song, safe travels.”
“You should be coming with us...”
“No. Forgive me. I’ll visit your father’s grave personally another time.”
“Understood. Then time is short, so I’ll contact you when I return.”
“Do that.”
With that, Chairman Song Chanwoo hurried back to rejoin the family.
“I’ll be going too.”
“Safe travels.”
I nodded at Ha Myeonghun’s words.
After bowing once more, he walked toward the family with his secretary.
Once everyone boarded, the hearse carrying Chairman Song’s remains departed first, crossing the Military Demarcation Line.
The buses carrying the family and others followed.
When the procession had vanished from sight, I finally turned away.
I looked up at the sky for a moment and thought to myself:
‘Chairman, rest well in your hometown.’
Pulling free of that thought, I patted Manager Ma on the shoulder as he stared after the departed buses with worried eyes.
“Nothing will happen.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Let’s go too.”
When the reporters were gone, only soldiers remained at Panmunjom, rifles trained on each other.
* * *
Chairman Song Youngjoo was laid to rest on a mountain not far from the house where he had been born.
From the grave, one could see his hometown village at a glance.
“This is where my father was born.”
Upon returning to Seoul, Chairman Song Chanwoo came straight to me.
He showed me several photos, explaining them one by one.
“Ah... it’s a fine place.”
“Yes. I’d only heard about it before, but I never realized it was so beautiful. Father had said he saw it once when he drove cattle up there.”
Longing for his father filled Song Chanwoo’s face.
“Do you miss the honorary chairman?”
“It hasn’t been long, yet I already can’t recall his voice. I only remembered it after watching old recordings at home.”
“That happens to everyone. After my grandfather passed, I too couldn’t recall his voice unless I watched his videos again.”
I felt a strange sense of kinship with him.
“I’ll do my best to lead Daehyeon without staining my father’s name. I’ll honor his will and devote myself to North-South business.”
“Do that. I’ll help you.”
Over coffee, we talked of this and that.
Though Song Chanwoo was past fifty, his life had been one of serving his father. It had been harsher and lonelier than I expected.
“I will never pass this burden to my children. I have no intention of handing the company to them.”
A firm resolve shone in his eyes. He truly loved his children.
“I’ve never given them management lessons. I told them to live as they wish.”
With that, his talk of family matters ended.
“President Kim, were you aware of this?”
At the words that followed, I could not help but be shocked.
