Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

President Yoon Changho set down the coffee cup he had been holding.

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not.

“So Chief Justice Oh Jungseok is worried, you say. Why exactly? What could possibly have made him so concerned?”

“The prosecutorial reform you’re about to push through. And the judicial reform that would inevitably follow. You know that as well as anyone.”

Yoon Changho looked at my face in silence. The same faint smile still lingered there.

Watching him, I continued.

“The Chief Justice is also one of the primary architects of the Yoon Changho administration. Each side must respect the other’s domain. That’s what’s best for both sides.”

Only then did his expression shift slightly. Yoon Changho replied with visible discomfort.

“I have no intention of touching the judiciary. I don’t know what kind of misunderstanding this is, but prosecutorial reform is something that absolutely must be done. So—”

I raised my hand and cut him off.

“Mr. President. You don’t need to explain that much to me.”

“......”

“No matter how much you deny it, the legal cartel won’t believe you. Once prosecutorial reform succeeds, everyone knows the spearhead will inevitably turn toward judicial reform.”

“Chairman Kim.”

Yoon Changho called my name quietly, but I kept going.

“What exactly are you planning to do? I truly don’t understand. If you push this through as it is, even prosecutorial reform will fail. The legal cartel is more solid than any other organization. They’ll stab you even if it means picking up sharpened stakes. Even if they can’t kill you, they’ll gladly die just to leave a wound. And then everything we agreed on will run aground before it even begins.”

“The public has no trust in the judiciary. That’s why it must be reformed into something the people can believe in, isn’t that right?”

I erased the smile from my lips and replied.

“And the public trusts politicians? Run a poll and politicians will come out as the least trustworthy people of all. This is giving me a headache, Mr. President. Dealing with North Korea alone is already exhausting, and now we’re fighting among ourselves at home? How am I supposed to run my businesses with peace of mind? So let’s end it at reorganizing the prosecution.”

“Is that Chief Justice Oh Jungseok’s view?”

I shrugged lightly. Yoon Changho let out a small sigh.

“He asked me to pass this along to you. He’ll help with prosecutorial reform. But if you demand more than that, he’ll have no choice but to fight as well. Even so, he has no desire to fight you. You know this too. He’s the man sitting at the very top of the legal cartel. If you cross the line, he’ll be forced to step in to protect it.”

“......”

“Talk to Chief Justice Oh Jungseok. If you truly want reform, discuss it with him and make a decision together. Wouldn’t that be better for everyone?”

If the two were to clash, Yoon Changho would likely win for now. But presidential power is never permanent.

The legal cartel, on the other hand, was a vested interest that had endured for decades.

They would lie low for the moment, avoiding the blade Yoon Changho swung—but in the end, the final victor would obviously be them.

Things might be different if I chose to back Yoon Changho, but there was no reason to go that far.

Both Yoon Changho and Oh Jungseok were people I needed.

“What will you do?” ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Discomfort was written all over Yoon Changho’s face.

But his range of options was narrow.

“All right. I’ll meet with Chief Justice Oh Jungseok.”

“A wise decision. He’s someone you can reason with. If you truly want reform, entrusting it to him wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Oh Jungseok would handle it well—though not in the way Yoon Changho wanted.

“Let’s end that discussion here.”

“One last thing. He’s willing to compromise as well. Reach a middle ground. It’ll be a step back from the reform you envision, but you’ll still be able to carry out reforms they can tolerate.”

His expression was far from pleased, but Yoon Changho merely nodded.

“So be it. More importantly, what’s your plan regarding North Korea? Even our advisors are deeply divided.”

The sudden upheaval in North Korea. No one had fully grasped it yet.

“When will you form the special envoy delegation?”

“We’re still in discussions. We need to coordinate with the United States as well.”

“And what is the United States saying?”

Yoon Changho let out a deep sigh. The moment America came up, he looked like he’d aged ten years.

“They say they won’t tolerate any actions that violate sanctions against North Korea. They claim they won’t stop dialogue—but without violating sanctions, nothing can be done. It’s practically an objection.”

“China and Russia will lift their border blockades around the time the Korean envoy delegation visits Pyongyang. That alone will weaken the sanctions. The United States can’t do much on its own. China and Russia won’t openly defy UN-approved sanctions, but supplies will flow into North Korea in various ways.”

It seemed North Korea hadn’t contacted the United States yet.

“No. The United States is taking a very hardline stance.”

“They are for now. But soon Jang Songthaek will begin negotiations with the United States as well. Starting with us, then opening dialogue with Washington. He’s already begun talks with China and Russia.”

There were Chinese and Russian embassies in Pyongyang.

Their freedom of action wasn’t what it once was, but dialogue was still easier than with the United States.

“Jang Songthaek is fundamentally different from Kim Jongil. Rather than isolation, he’ll pursue economic development through openness—and use that to solidify his power. South Korea should reap the greatest benefits from that.”

“But among their demands, there’s nothing we can grant immediately. The only remotely possible one is the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and that would be a direct violation of sanctions.”

“Yes. They also want our major corporations to enter.”

“The United States won’t sit back and watch.”

The United States wants change in North Korea. I reminded him of that.

“Mr. President, no country wants change in North Korea more than the United States. There’s an election coming up. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq aren’t over. Even though declarations of the end of war were made, guerrilla fighting continues. If the nuclear issue can be resolved through dialogue, the United States will gladly take North Korea’s hand.”

“Will Jang Songthaek really give up nuclear weapons?”

At the doubt-filled question, I nodded firmly. ƒrēewebnovel.com

“Yes. He will. He’s a man who knows that usable dollars are far more frightening than nuclear weapons he can’t use.”

Only then did Yoon Changho nod and smile.

“If the nuclear issue is resolved, we too can support North Korea without hesitation. I hope this visit to Pyongyang yields good results. You’re going as well, right?”

“Yes. That’s why I asked for Lee Myungsoo to be appointed head of the delegation. I need a private meeting with Jang Songthaek. The fewer people who know, the better.”

“What do you get out of this?”

There was a hint of expectation in Yoon Changho’s question. I smiled lightly as I answered.

“I asked for Nampo City.”

“Nampo City? You mean the city right next to Pyongyang? Did Jang Songthaek agree to that?”

Yoon Changho looked startled.

He clearly thought Jang Songthaek, fresh off a coup, wouldn’t agree so easily.

“He hasn’t given a definitive answer yet, but I believe I can secure it. After designating it a special economic zone, I plan to transform it completely into a region where a free economy can take root. Then I’ll bring in major corporations. Geographically, there are few places better than that.”

“Hmm. Even so...”

“He’ll hesitate, but he’ll accept in the end. Jang Songthaek has China as a model. He’s seen with his own eyes how Hong Kong, Shanghai, and other special economic zones developed. He won’t be able to reject my proposal.”

On top of that, Jang Songthaek owed me a great debt. One way or another, he had to repay it.

Handing over Nampo City wouldn’t settle everything, but—

There was no need to tell Yoon Changho that.

“If you say so, you’ll probably pull it off. Nampo City... Come to think of it, wasn’t that where Joongwoo Group once built a factory with North Korea?”

I nodded.

“Yes. The location is excellent. That’s why Joongwoo Group chose it. And now that I’ve acquired Joongwoo Group, choosing that place might be destiny.”

“Unexpected, Chairman Kim. Hearing you talk about destiny. I never thought someone as coldly rational as you would say something like that.”

“Isn’t meeting you, Mr. President, something destiny led me to as well?”

At my banter, the corners of Yoon Changho’s lips lifted.

“Perhaps. Now that I think about it, the fact that you were in Busan when I was exiled there really does feel like destiny. To me, you were like a golden lifeline dropped from the heavens.”

Yoon Changho and I smiled at each other.

* * *

2004.

The new year dawned, and time flowed quickly.

As planned, the special envoy delegation was formed and its schedule announced.

Lee Myungsoo was appointed head of the delegation, and several officials from the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined as well.

The day before the delegation—kept to the bare minimum in size—was set to depart for Pyongyang.

I received a call from the United States.

—Charlie. This is Powell.

It was Secretary of State Colin Powell.

“Yes, Mr. Secretary. It’s been a while.”

—I hear you’ll be accompanying the Korean government’s special delegation.

“Yes. Jang Songthaek personally requested me.”

—Hmm. It seems Jang Songthaek has indeed consolidated power. He’s secretly proposed a meeting to us as well. Were you aware of that?

“No. This is the first I’m hearing {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} of it.”

Jang Songthaek was moving faster than I expected. I hadn’t thought he’d already contacted the United States.

—Opinions in the White House are sharply divided. One side insists we must immediately resume dialogue with North Korea. The other refuses to budge, insisting talks should only happen after a complete declaration of abandoning nuclear development.

“You’d be on the side advocating dialogue first, Mr. Secretary. And the opposition would be Vice President Dick Cheney.”

—That’s correct.

Was he making too many enemies? His matter-of-fact reply made me uneasy.

“Are you all right, Mr. Secretary? You seem to be clashing quite sharply with the neocons. That won’t gain you much, will it? After all, they dominate Washington right now.”

—I’m fine. I was a soldier, and by circumstance I became Secretary of State. I place American national interest above all else. Personal ambition comes after that. For America’s interests, I’m willing to shake hands even with the devil.

Putting American interests first. Classic America First.

Of course, the neocons also put American interests first.

Whether moderates like Colin Powell, who believed in dialogue, or hardliners who would wage war to impose American justice—the goal was the same.

“So what’s the outcome? Has a decision been made?”

—Not yet. President Bush hasn’t decided. We don’t yet know what Jang Songthaek is really thinking.

“So you called to ask me to sound out Jang Songthaek’s intentions.”

—Exactly.

“You could have asked the Korean government instead.”

—I trust you more than the Korean government.

Wasn’t that placing too much burden on a mere businessman?

Recalling words I’d heard in the Bush administration’s offices, I let out a dry laugh.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

—Go ahead.

“If North Korea completely abandons nuclear development and opens its markets...... will you lift sanctions and guarantee the North Korean regime?”