Free Web NovelI didn’t stop provoking Kim Seonggeun.
“I’m not someone who could ever like the Progressive Party. Our colors just don’t match.”
“...The wealthy don’t tend to like the Progressive Party.”
“No, that’s not necessarily the reason. I pay my taxes in full, and I don’t even engage in basic tax avoidance. If you have even a bit of sense, isn’t it natural to lean toward the Centrist Party, which actually considers policy and people’s livelihoods? If you look at the Centrist Party’s platform, there are times when they care more about welfare than the Progressive Party does.”
Unable to find a flaw in my words, Kim Seonggeun only bit his lip in frustration.
I had never once defaulted on taxes related to my visible assets, nor had I even tried to reduce their scale.
After all, I held far more than what was visible on the surface, so there was no need to invite trouble.
“And yet the Progressive Party does nothing but try to take from those who have.”
“Redistribution of wealth is the core of politics.”
Kim Seonggeun glared at me as he spat the words out. This was exactly why it showed he’d only ever learned politics from books.
“Redistribution of wealth. Sure. A noble cause. But shouldn’t the Progressive Party’s lawmakers and members redistribute their own wealth first before preaching it? It’s rather strange, isn’t it? A party that condemns the rich so fiercely happens to be full of rich people.”
“If that’s your argument, shouldn’t the Conservative Party be reformed first?”
Seeing Kim Seonggeun drag the Conservative Party into it instead of the Centrist Party, I let out a scoff.
As an outsider, he clearly didn’t know that I was the one who had already destroyed the Conservatives.
“You’re right. Which is why I personally crushed the Conservative Party. I sent the Cheongpung Association and the pro-Japanese collaborators—those entrenched evils rotting this country—to the trash heap of history. Anyone who stands in my way, I will remove. No matter who they are.”
“You... have frightening ideas.”
Kim Seonggeun muttered with a look of disgust.
At my declaration that I would eliminate any obstacle, I smiled warmly at his reaction.
“Is that so? But doesn’t everyone think that way? Conservative, Progressive, right-wing, left-wing... I have no interest in any of that. As long as the people around me are happy, and I can protect my wealth, I’d sell my soul to the devil if I had to.”
“......”
“So I hope you stop here, Professor. You were one of the few professors I truly respected.”
In my memories from my previous life, Kim Seonggeun had quietly returned to his hometown after retiring at the mandatory age and lived out the rest of his days in peace.
He had refused every offer from former students active in politics.
Though I’d only taken his class for a single semester, I had respected him for that unwavering academic stance.
Yet this time—whether because of me, or because the Progressive Party had collapsed too easily—he had been appointed as emergency committee chairman.
I could understand the decision. The party’s internal strife was such a swamp that only an outsider could hope to contain it.
Still...
Seeing one of the few genuine scholars reduced to mingling among crows was painful.
“Theoretical politics taught at universities and real-world politics are fundamentally different. When you stare into the abyss, you eventually become the abyss yourself. There’s no need to soil yourself in mud. The ideals you once held as a scholar will be shattered when you see how filthy the political arena truly is. That’s what saddens me.”
“...Do you really think I’m that naïve? Do you think I accepted this position without that level of resolve?”
“You’re a smart man, so you’ve probably already guessed this. The factional warfare within the Progressive Party is far dirtier than you think. It’s always been that way. Ever since former President Kim Hakgwon stepped down, the party’s life has effectively been over. Why do you think he hasn’t said a single word about this internal conflict? It’s because he has no attachment to the Progressive Party anymore.”
After President Kim Hakgwon retired, I’d met him a few times.
If anything, his complexion had improved once he left office.
— I don’t know why I struggled for decades just to sit in that chair... After experiencing it firsthand, the presidency was far too heavy for me. I’m sick of politics now.
When I asked whether he intended to step in and resolve the Progressive Party’s infighting, he’d only given a bitter smile.
— I’m a relic of the past. The Progressive Party I belonged to and the one that exists now are completely different. There’s nothing more ridiculous than someone who should fade into history stepping back into the spotlight. That’s why I even gave up my party membership. I just want to live peacefully now.
Regret was etched deeply into the face that now looked no different from that of an ordinary old man.
Recalling that conversation, I offered Kim Seonggeun a final piece of advice.
“I’m saying this as a former student who once attended your lectures, out of genuine concern. If you regret this later, it’ll already be too late. If you look at the Progressive Party’s history, you’ll understand why I’m saying this better than anyone.”
“...One must change to survive. That’s why I accepted this position.”
“It might be better to let it fester until it bursts. A sloppy patch-up will only make it hurt more. You’ve studied political science longer and deeper than I have, Professor, so I won’t say any more.”
With that, I stopped trying to persuade him.
It was unfortunate that someone so intelligent would choose to walk a path of thorns, but there was nothing more I could do.
He met my gaze squarely, as though his resolve was already firm.
Looking into his calm eyes, I made up my own mind as well.
If he were to stand against me as an enemy and block what I intended to do, I would bring him down with everything I had.
The groundbreaking party continued for quite some time. Yoon Changho and Jang Songthaek spoke at length.
I walked over to Han Jiho.
“Representative.”
“President Kim.”
“I kept my promise.”
Regarding those under prosecutorial investigation who had still won their elections, I’d instructed that only formal, superficial investigations be conducted.
Oh Hyunwoo had been delighted and acted immediately.
Once those meant to be spared were out of the picture, the investigations into those who remained accelerated rapidly.
“So you should keep your promise as well.”
“I will. Don’t worry.”
“I don’t want to be at odds with you either, Representative. There’s no one in the Centrist Party right now with your weight. That said, I have no desire to involve myself directly in party politics. If this had been a fair fight within the established rules, I wouldn’t have acted this way.”
Sensing my displeasure, Han Jiho nodded quietly.
“There won’t be a next time. Watch closely how your rival, the Progressive Party, is completely torn apart.”
It was practically a warning—fail to keep your promise, and you’ll be next.
Han Jiho forced an awkward smile, clearly understanding the message. I returned it with a bright smile, ending the conversation.
“President Kim. Come over here for a moment.”
At that moment, President Yoon Changho called out to me. As I stepped over, he got straight to the point.
“Chairman Jang Songthaek asked when development of Nampo City would begin.”
“Nampo City development? Wasn’t that scheduled to start next year?”
The legislation related to the Nampo Port project hadn’t yet been firmly established.
Once the law passed next year, the plan was to send in experts for preliminary assessments.
“President Kim, if that’s difficult right now, at least get Nampo Port operating normally first.”
“Nampo Port?”
“The operating rights are included, aren’t they? You said you’d take them on. Our people need a way to make a living now, don’t they?”
He was in a hurry.
But given how much public attention this project attracted, it wasn’t something I could rush just because I wanted to.
I signaled for a moment and asked Yoon Changho,
“Mr. President, is it really acceptable to begin Nampo Port development now? The Kaesong Industrial Complex could proceed smoothly because the legal framework already existed, but there’s still no relevant legislation for Nampo Port.”
What I intended was a large-scale project requiring permanent, on-site leadership by specialized personnel.
Logistics didn’t function just because there was a port.
Trustworthy managers and supervisors were essential.
If there were time, I could elevate North Koreans into management roles, but right now, there was no one I could trust.
“I’ll push to have the legislation drafted as quickly as possible. Or at least issue an administrative order right away—”
“No.”
I cut him off urgently.
“That would spark controversy over preferential treatment. This is a major project for Joongwoo Construction and Joongwoo Shipping. Yes, it could proceed under an administrative order, but it shouldn’t be handled through such shortcuts.”
For a long-term project, unnecessary noise would only cause harm.
“They say the more urgent it is, the longer the detour. Let the government propose the bill and have the National Assembly approve it quickly. At that pace, it should still be possible to finish within the year.”
“...Hmm.”
My reasoning wasn’t wrong, and Yoon Changho fell silent in thought.
To give him time, I turned to Jang Songthaek.
“Chairman, are you in a hurry?”
“I am. The faster Nampo City develops, the sooner jobs will be created for people living in Pyongyang. We plan to prioritize relocating Pyongyang residents there. Our Republic has already begun introducing a market economy, starting with currency reform.”
A very Pyongyang-centric answer.
No matter how much power Jang Songthaek wielded, he couldn’t ignore the residents of Pyongyang.
They were the backbone of the regime.
If their relatively privileged lives worsened and public sentiment turned, disaster would follow.
“We plan to collect taxes from Pyongyang first, then expand nationwide. To do that, we need quality jobs. We intend to open the floodgates starting with Nampo City.” ƒгeewёbnovel.com
So the plan was to pilot taxation in Pyongyang, assess the results, then roll it out across the country.
True enough, few things created jobs like large-scale construction.
Still, that wasn’t justification to rush the Nampo Port project.
I looked at Jang Songthaek, who seemed uneasy.
“Is there significant backlash from the currency reform announcement?”
“It’s not severe. Those holding dollars protested, but that can be suppressed with power. For now, food aid from China and South Korea has resolved survival issues, but people can’t live on that alone.”
He was right.
Without proper jobs, North Korea’s currency reform would collapse quickly.
But there was something that needed to be addressed first.
“I’ll move as quickly as possible. As you know, nothing distributes jobs like construction. Even before the bill passes, use slush funds to repair the Nampo–Pyongyang expressway.”
“....”
“The road conditions are poor. If logistics entering through Nampo Port are to reach Pyongyang smoothly, the state of the roads is critical.”
“I’ll think about it.”
I clicked my tongue internally at his reluctance.
Whenever slush funds came up, he always tried to sidestep the issue.
So I dangled a carrot.
“And once the relevant legislation passes, we’ll rebuild the Ryugyong Hotel as well.”
“Oh? Is that true?”
At the mention of the Ryugyong Hotel, Jang Songthaek’s dark expression brightened.
“Yes. I’ve already secured a renowned architect and commissioned the design. I’ll explain the details later, but it will be magnificent enough to become one of Asia’s foremost landmarks.”
“Excellent. Truly excellent. President Kim Muhyuk, you’re a man I can trust. You always keep your word.”
“Thank you.”
He only praised me when there was something to gain. The maneuver was obvious, but I simply smiled.
“By the way, Chairman—when do China and Russia plan to begin organizing their special economic zones?”
“They’ve only talked and haven’t even shared concrete plans with us yet. It’s maddening. Couldn’t you take charge of that as well, President Kim?”
Absolutely not.
I shook my head firmly.
“All related countries have already reached an agreement. If you were to break it, no one would trust North Korea again. Business ultimately comes down to trust. Right now, North Korea is in the process of rebuilding the trust it lost. Even if it’s frustrating, please be patient. China is already offering every incentive imaginable to attract foreign capital. If even China is doing that, a country whose credibility can’t fall any lower breaking agreements would be no different from choosing isolation again.”
“I know how important trust is. I do. I’m just frustrated. We made grand promises to the people, made everything public, and yet the only thing moving forward is the Kaesong Industrial Complex.”
Jang Songthaek had taken a significant political gamble with this initiative.
Rapid change always bred resistance, and with nothing visible yet, his frustration was understandable.
“All right. I’ll speak with China and Russia.”
“Thank you, President Kim Muhyuk.”
After that, Jang Songthaek continued listing various demands.
Internally, I sighed, but I had no choice but to agree to everything I reasonably could.
