Chapter 369 |
The New Politics Party spokesperson spoke in a strong tone before reporters.
“Offering a reward to investigate a politician's family and defame them is clearly illegal and an outrage. This act undermines the very foundation of democracy and must stop immediately. The New Politics Party takes this matter very seriously and will respond strongly at the party level.”
The Liberty Korea Party did not release any particular statement.
For now, they found some satisfaction in the New Politics Party's predicament, but the thought that they could face the same fate at any time prevented them from taking sides.
Kang Jin-hoo retorted to the New Politics Party's announcement.
“So, politicians can attack my family, but I can't attack theirs? If my actions truly undermine the foundation of democracy, I will leave this country. But even so, before I do, I'll see things through with Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook.”
This remark once again threw Korea into an uproar.
He possessed the greatest wealth in human history, and that wealth was still growing. Depending on which country he moved to, the global economic landscape could shift.
The Blue House and the New Politics Party found themselves in an awkward situation.
Floor Leader Jang Hyeon-joon muttered while chain-smoking.
“Is Kang Jin-hoo a problem if he's in Korea, and a problem if he leaves Korea?”
It sounded like a play on words, but that was truly the situation in Korea.
The entire country being swayed by Kang Jin-hoo's presence was a burden, but the economic shock or drop in growth rate from his departure was an even greater burden.
This was because OTK Company's share in the Korean economy was too large.
Although it was a U.S. corporation, it influenced the entire domestic economy and was leading new industries based on its technology and capital.
It didn't directly run many businesses, but its ripple effect was enormous.
If Kang Jin-hoo were to leave Korea, what on earth would happen?
[Kang Jin-hoo's Shocking Remark! Hints at Possibility of Naturalization!]
[K Company CEO Park Sang-yeop Confirmed to Have Contacted US, Russian, Chinese, Australian Embassies! Reason Undisclosed...]
[Americans Strongly Hope for Kang Jin-hoo's Naturalization!]
[What's the Likelihood of Kang Jin-hoo Leaving Korea?]
[South Korea Swayed by Money!]
[Government and National Assembly Must Not Be Swayed by Threats from Chaebols and Businessmen]
The media and the internet hotly debated what would happen if Kang Jin-hoo left Korea.
-If I were Kang Jin-hoo, I'd have changed my nationality long ago. Why stay in Korea and put up with that crap?
-Seems like developed countries want to attract Kang Jin-hoo.
-It's not just 'want'; they're actively contacting him.
-Think about it. They say his personal assets alone are over $1 trillion, and how much more will he earn?
-Whoa! Damn. That's more than double Korea's annual national budget~
-Bringing in one Kang Jin-hoo could change a country's GDP.
-What's more surprising is that this isn't a joke!
-From Kang Jin-hoo's perspective, it's better to change his nationality this time. Why bother fighting with politicians in Hell Joseon?
-Would things be different if he went to another country? Someone of Kang Jin-hoo's stature would be a problem wherever he goes.
-Still, they wouldn't be as idiotic as Korean politicians, regardless of conservative or progressive.
-What happens if Kang Jin-hoo leaves? Isn't Korea doomed?
-No way. Just stock market crash, real estate crash, exchange rate skyrockets, economic recession, and negative economic growth rate.
-……Isn't that what 'doomed' means?
***
Sang-yeop sunbae, who had been lazing around with little to do lately, became incredibly busy.
This was because Team Leader Jung Gi-hong would first filter the tips received about Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook, and then Sang-yeop sunbae would conduct a secondary analysis of the facts.
“Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's wife, Kim Soo-yeon, is a music professor. You know how music professors got into trouble before for giving expensive private lessons to applicants, right?”
“Expensive private lessons?”
“Usually, they're introduced through acquaintances at social gatherings. It's 2 million won per hour basic, and some paid over 100 million won for a year.”
“Seeing how much they pay, it must be very effective?”
Sang-yeop sunbae said,
“I don't know how much their skills improve, but it's a big help during the practical exam. As they say, 'he who ate salt will drink water.' Wouldn't they give better scores to students they tutored after receiving tens of millions of won? When the issue blew up, only national university professors were punished for violating the Public Officials Act. Professor Kim Soo-yeon, being at a private school, escaped. It seems they let it slide even though there were potential violations of the Hagwon Act or prohibition of concurrent positions.”
“That's not right, as it can affect fair admissions. We should dig it up again and expose it.”
“There were some issues when she sent her daughter to study abroad too. Music professors wrote recommendation letters, and they were all connected to Professor Kim Soo-yeon. And there's a high chance her volunteer records were falsified. According to a tip, she posted on FaceNote that she went to Yeosu with friends on the day she claimed to be volunteering.”
Taek-gyu chimed in.
“SNS is a waste of life.”
Sang-yeop sunbae continued,
“In Korea, claiming to have done volunteer work you didn't do is almost a custom, but foreign universities take it very seriously. If the documents were indeed falsified, she could be expelled.”
I clicked my tongue in pity.
“Oh dear. If those are the rules, it can't be helped.”
Taek-gyu kept nodding beside me.
“Exactly. They have to follow the rules.”
There was also a tip that Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's son bullied his junior soldiers.
It wasn't severe abuse, just the usual 'jjamjil' (pulling rank) common in the military... but if made into an issue, it would indeed become an issue.
***
[Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's Daughter, Study Abroad Process Also Suspicious]
[Recommendation Letters from Music Professors. Possibility of Mother's Involvement?]
[Falsification of Volunteer Records, Will it Be Proven True?]
[Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's Wife, Professor Kim Soo-yeon, Controversy Over Expensive Private Lessons for Music School Applicants Reignited!]
[New Facts Undisclosed in Previous Investigation Revealed!]
[Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's Son, Allegations of Abusing Power Over Junior Soldier!]
[Military Prosecutors Begin Investigation into Abuse within Unit]
Public opinion worsened over time.
When Kang Jin-hoo first offered the reward, criticism against him was much higher. Many people protested offering money to target a specific politician, and civic groups and supporters held large-scale daily protests in front of OTK Company headquarters.
But now, the voices criticizing Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook were equally strong. Demands to summon his daughter to Korea as a drug offender, to thoroughly investigate preferential treatment during his son's military service, to investigate his wife's expensive private lessons, and so on.
Rumors spread that Kang Jin-hoo's side was also digging into his past real estate transactions and legal cases he had handled. Even though these matters had been verified multiple times in hearings, they were determined to find any fault. Furthermore, they were now scrutinizing his father and mother's circles.
Looking only at the facts revealed so far, they weren't major issues. Literally, they became problems because they were made into problems.
Some were even factually incorrect or impossible to verify.
But it was a matter of 'so what if it's not true after checking?' They hadn't fabricated it themselves; what could they do if they received such tips?
From Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's perspective, it was absurd. It was exactly the method politicians used, and indeed, one he himself had used.
The golf course assault incident and Kang Jin-hoo's mother had no connection. But the fact that she stayed at a hotel and went golfing was enough to provoke public sentiment. Raising suspicions of preferential treatment and abuse of power would inevitably turn something up during an investigation, and even if it didn't, it wouldn't matter. By then, public interest would have waned.
But when the opponent used the same tactics, it was hard to keep his wits. No matter how much the New Politics Party and civic groups protested, Kang Jin-hoo paid no heed.
With news of tips pouring in almost daily, he hadn't slept properly for days. And there was no sign of these days ending.
Even at this moment, articles would be going up.
Myeong Jin-wook reflected on his political career.
He had gone through countless things to reach this position. He'd been tortured during student activism, arrested fighting against the military regime. There were several crises where his political career almost ended.
He had overcome all of that to get here.
But this crisis was entirely different.
The Blue House Office of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs had canceled Myeong Jin-wook's nomination for Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the New Politics Party began reviewing procedures to expel him.
Running for president isn't something you can do well on your own. You need sufficient support base within the party. As he belonged to the party's mainstream, his support base was essentially the New Politics Party members.
It was obvious that the moment he left the party, he'd be like a kite with a cut string.
Lawmakers who were previously eager to build connections with him began to distance themselves one by one. He could feel his standing within the party gradually shrinking.
If before it was a fight of who would win, now it was a matter of survival. He felt a fear that one more step back could send him tumbling off a cliff.
‘Am I going to end like this? Just one step away from the presidency, and I'm going to fall just for criticizing Kang Jin-hoo's mother?’
He couldn't collapse like this. He had to overcome it somehow. Just as he always had, there had to be a way.
“Are you alright, sir?”
At the voice, he lifted his head. The staff in his office had stopped working and were looking at him with worried expressions.
“Haha. I'm fine. Continue with what you were doing...”
At that moment, he felt something was off.
His longest-serving aide, Han Sang-hyeon, was nowhere to be seen.
“Where is Aide Han Sang-hyeon?”
“Ah! He called this morning saying he was sick and would take the day off.”
“I see.”
He was about to nod but paused.
‘Sick? He was perfectly fine until yesterday.’
Instantly, an ominous premonition ran down his spine. It could be called a politician's intuition.
“Where is he now?”
The staff member’s eyes widened as if he didn't understand.
“He should be at home. Why do you ask? Is there something urgent?”
He immediately found his phone and made a call. The phone rang and rang but didn't connect easily.
‘Please, pick up!’
After several tries, the call finally connected.
[Yes, Assemblyman. What is it?]
“I heard you were sick. Are you feeling okay?”
[Ah, yes. I'm a bit unwell, so I'm resting at home.]
His voice trembled violently as if nervous. Moreover, judging by the sound of other voices in the background, he clearly wasn't at home.
Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook yelled.
“Where are you right now! Tell me immediately!”
[W-well...]
A moment later, another person's voice was heard.
He spoke in a friendly tone.
[Aigoo, Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook. Nice to meet you. Have you been well?]
The moment he heard the voice, his ominous premonition became reality.
“Wh-who are you?”
[I'm Park Sang-yeop.]
“Park Sang-yeop...?”
A name impossible not to know. CEO of K Company, a subsidiary of OTK Company, and Kang Jin-hoo's right-hand man. But why on earth was this man answering his aide's phone?
[Aide Han Sang-hyeon had something to tell me, so we were meeting for a bit.]
“Wh-what?”
Just for a tip that could lead to the stripping of his assembly seat, the reward was a whopping 1 billion won. If it was a tip that could lead to arrest, it was 10 billion won!
It might be pocket change for Kang Jin-hoo, but for someone else, it was life-changing money.
Park Sang-yeop clicked his tongue and said.
[You really shouldn't have touched Jin-hoo's mother. If you had only criticized Kang Jin-hoo, this wouldn't have happened...]
He felt the world turn yellow before his eyes and dropped his phone to the floor.
***
Kang Jin-hoo's side announced they had paid 1 billion won to an anonymous informant. The political world buzzed at this news.
-Wow! Awesome! 1 billion won actually paid out!
-Total lottery win, life reversal^^
-1 billion won is the reward for a tip leading to stripping of office. What on earth did they report?
-Does that mean Kang Jin-hoo obtained information that could strip Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook of his seat?
-Is he going to publicize this and oust Assemblyman Myeong?
-LOL, reminds me of when he took down His Excellency and Chairman Han Min-goo.
-It's just a bluff. The claim about paying the reward is also a lie~
Amidst diverging opinions, Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook called for a press conference himself.
Reporters were shocked to see his appearance as he entered the press conference hall. His skin was rough, the area around his eyes was hollow, and his eyes were bloodshot red.
In less than ten days, he looked as if he had aged ten years.
Standing before the podium, Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook spoke in a calm voice.
“First, I apologize to the citizens for causing concern. All recent events are due to my lack of virtue. I withdraw all lawsuits and accusations against CEO Kang Jin-hoo and offer my sincere apologies to CEO Kang Jin-hoo and his mother, whom I have hurt. As of today, I intend to retire from politics and return to being a private citizen. I will take responsibility for this incident, leave the New Politics Party, and resign from my position as an assemblyman. Once again, I offer my sincere apologies to everyone.”
It wasn't just an apology but an announcement of his retirement from politics.
Not only the reporters present but also the citizens watching the broadcast were stunned.
“Is it true that CEO Kang Jin-hoo obtained information that could strip you of your assembly seat?”
“Were you perhaps threatened?”
“Please tell us what happened!”
Questions poured in from reporters, but Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook, after his final words of apology, remained tight-lipped and left the press conference hall.