“Let’s live well!”
“Jihwaja, what a night!”
One evening, following the President’s inauguration ceremony.
Minkook Party legislators, having wrapped up the general and presidential elections in a crushing victory, held a festive banquet with flushed faces.
It was a comfortable win—an unprecedented election, having seized 190 National Assembly seats and even taken the presidency.
The Daehan Party, choosing to go down with the presidential couple, had shrunk to Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam like the Dabudong defensive line, and all the Seoul–Gyeonggi battlegrounds had fallen into Minkook Party hands.
Truly, the era of legitimate dictatorship sanctioned by the people had begun.
“Let’s really do well this time!”
“That’s right. Let’s build a government that never disappoints the people who believed in us and supported us!”
“To the nation’s future!”
“Cheers, cheers!”
They spoke such words, yet the party leadership was gauging one another.
With the great war over, the process of doling out rewards remained. Quick-witted legislators had already begun jockeying for position with those close to the President.
Unlike in America, this had been a presidential election due to a vacancy in the presidency, so the winner took office immediately upon election. Therefore, things were somewhat rushed.
Accordingly, names of cabinet nominees were already circulating inside and outside the party, and everyone knew who they needed to impress at today’s drinking gathering if they wanted to secure high office.
“Congratulations, Prime Minister. I always knew you would make a splendid comeback. Please, accept this glass.”
“Prime Minister, I am Kim Sangjun of Geumpyung District. I look forward to your kind consideration.”
“I am Lee Mingi of Ocheon District. As you know, Ocheon District had the highest vote share in Seoul this presidential election. I worked myself to the bone. I will continue to do my best!”
Lee Chanho put on a good-natured smile.
“Why are you all like this? The Blue House hasn’t made an official announcement yet. Even if I am tapped for the position, the mountain of confirmation hearings remains.”
“Come now. How could such trivial procedures stand in the way of the greater cause?”
“Exactly. If you fail to secure the prime ministership, there would be no one left in the Republic of Korea fit for the post.”
“If those Daehan Party bastards pick a fight over some trivial matter again, we’ll utterly crush them during the hearings!”
Watching the legislators blazing with fervor like a million-strong army, Lee Chanho burst into hearty laughter.
Though he had grown increasingly worried lately due to the corruption he had committed thus far, seeing their reactions made him think he could set his mind at ease.
With 190 goalkeepers, how could the goal be breached? They wouldn’t be able to score even if they took a penalty kick right in front of the net. Moreover, the current opposition party was nothing but wounded soldiers with their legs and clubs broken.
“Thank you. Thanks to you legislators, my heart is eased. Let us truly make this administration the best one yet.”
“Yes, we will serve you with full loyalty!”
When the gathering had ripened to a certain point, he took a few close confidants and left.
“Hey, why are you leaving already? The atmosphere is great today.”
“Chanho, we can’t enjoy ourselves freely for the time being anyway. Are we going for round two together?”
The people he called out were those he had been close to since their school days: the nominees for the Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs and the Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs.
“I have something urgent to discuss.”
But Lee Chanho, stepping away from the drinking table, didn’t have a hint of a smile on his face.
“What’s going on? Is it serious?”
“I found the sponsor. The one who gave us bundles of money.”
“What? Who? It’s not that young girl’s father? That President Jang or whatever-his-name-is?”
“No, it’s not. Whether that’s unfortunate or fortunate, he’s not Chinese but Korean.”
“Ha, a Korean?”
Lee Chanho nodded.
“A guy named Lee Sejun. Apparently a team leader at the National Pension Service. But his record is somewhat unique. He’s only in his early thirties, yet already a team leader.”
“How is that even possible?”
“I looked into his background, and he’s quite capable. Though I don’t really know the detailed circumstances behind his promotion.”
Bang!
The civil affairs secretary nominee slammed the table.
“I knew it would be like this. The public service discipline has gone completely to the dogs because of the previous administration! A greenhorn like him couldn’t have saved up this money from his salary. Shall I mobilize the entire civil affairs office line and dig into that bastard’s background?”
Secretary Min was greatly indignant.
He was a man who was generous with himself but exceedingly strict with others.
“These kinds of guys? So obvious! He definitely got advance investment information and mobilized accounts of relatives and acquaintances. If the prosecution raids just a few accounts, his identity will be exposed immediately.”
Just then, the political affairs secretary nominee asked.
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“Why do we have to do that?”
“Well, of course…”
“How many big-money movers get by without doing that sort of thing? If we apply that standard, we’d have to open a special prosecutor investigation into the National Pension Service right from the start of the administration. Can you handle that?”
When Secretary Jeong rebuked him, Lee Chanho chimed in.
“I feel exactly the same as Secretary Jeong on that. Let’s not be too rigid. If he made team leader in less than five years since joining, he must have been highly rated internally. So what if a capable guy pocketed some performance bonuses?”
“…Is that so?”
“What matters now isn’t ‘how’ but ‘why’.”
It didn’t matter how he had raised the money. What mattered was why he had scattered it among politicians.
After a brief silence, Secretary Jeong opened his mouth.
“That is strange indeed… If his goal was an official post, he would have demanded proportional representation or a stronghold nomination before the general election at least. But why reveal himself only now?”
“Strictly speaking, he didn’t reveal himself. I pressed him, and only very late did the guy divulge his identity.”
“What? Then he was planning to give more money? How much exactly?”
“Who knows, he must have an inexhaustible wellspring. Actually, I spoke with him on the phone first, and the young man had confidence in his voice.”
“You spoke with him…? What did you ask? What does he want?”
“He said he’d pay a formal visit and tell me next week.”
Secretary Min interjected again.
“Isn’t it obvious! If not a nomination, then a cabinet post! This bastard is eyeing a position now that we’re establishing new ones like AI secretary or youth secretary!”
Though Secretary Min spoke boldly, Lee Chanho shook his head with a cold face.
“No. No matter how I look at it, no. What this guy wants is definitely not an official post.”
Lee Chanho recalled the phone conversation he had with the man.
The guy’s voice was overflowing with confidence unbecoming of his age, without a trace of timidity. The characteristic sycophantic sweetness of those who come seeking nominations or official posts… was completely absent in him.
If not that, then what on earth did he want?
*
“Hello, Prime Minister. I’m Lee Sejun.”
Lee Chanho swept his eyes over the young man who had come to his office with a bright face.
He had hoped he might gauge something from his face, but once again his prediction missed the mark.
The fellow, who cut a fine figure, had a face even younger than expected, and appeared to have no interest whatsoever in officialdom.
As could be seen from the fact that he had come empty-handed on this important day.
“So you’re the famous Sejun?”
“Yes, Prime Minister. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you. You’re even more distinguished than I expected. Are you and Ms. Mei Lin in a romantic relationship?”
“We are good business partners. I received a lot of help from her during the Chinese real estate crisis. Haha.”
“Is that so? Then do you have a separate lover?”
“No, I don’t.”
“That’s a relief. I don’t know much about other things, but I heard National Pension Service employees leave Jeonju as soon as they get married. I roughly looked into it, and your performance record is quite remarkable. Work here for a long time.”
It sounded like a trivial pleasantry, but it was actually a veiled threat.
Meaning he had already finished the background check. If he wished, he could dig deeper.
“Thank you. Even if I marry, I will never leave Jeonju. Haha.”
But the fellow showed nothing but a smile, impossible to read. Judging by his tact, he couldn’t be unaware this was half a threat…?
“Very well, Mr. Sejun. As you know, I’m busy with official duties these days and can’t spare much time. May we get straight to the main point?”
“Ah, yes.”
“But before we begin, there’s one thing I want to make clear.”
Though his mouth was smiling, his eyes were shooting killing intent.
“My colleagues and I are greatly indebted to you, Mr. Sejun. Politics is not a business one can conduct with a few pennies. But listen. Don’t think for a moment that you have slipped a collar around my neck with that. You’d be sorely mistaken.”
He continued in a high-handed tone.
“That’s the nature of the law. There is a law for governing politicians, and a law for governing the people. If we are to be beaten with a switch, you will be beaten with a cudgel. Do you understand what I mean?”
It was a threat not to get any foolish ideas just because he had doled out some money.
“Of course. I may be young, but I don’t harbor such reckless thoughts. Actually, I came here today to give you this document, Prime Minister.”
The young man held out a document. Lee Chanho’s eyes widened.
“What is this?”
“I thought you might be concerned in various ways about how a National Pension Service employee could raise such money.”
“Well, that’s not really…”
“It’s a company called Changcheong Fund that I manage on consignment, and it had excellent returns. This is their investment portfolio. I wanted to let you know that it’s not money of unknown origin if the opportunity arose… I’m sorry for telling you only now.”
Lee Chanho’s face, which had been on high alert, instantly softened. If he brought his own leash like this, he was much easier to deal with. Now at last he felt like a true friend.
“Ah, come now, you didn’t have to go this far. Is a capable person taking a self-earned incentive detrimental to national interests? Of course not. Put it away, that’s not what I meant to say to you.”
He had heard the name Changcheong Fund anyway; that was enough. If a problem arose, he could just raid that and be done with it.
“Don’t misunderstand me. You’re someone who helped me in difficult times… I know that. But now that I’m taking a top position, everyone is shoving invoices at me. It’s like flies swarming, you know?”
“I can see you have many worries.”
“Well, you’re a young man who makes sense, contrary to appearances. Hehe. Why did you come only now? If you’d come before the general election, I would have given you a sunny spot.”
“I am not cut out for great things. I don’t even dream of them.”
Lee Chanho grinned from ear to ear.
For someone with money but no ambition for position, there was no better talent.
His face brightening considerably, he asked.
“So, Mr. Sejun. Then what is it you want from me? As a friend, I’d like to grant you a small favor.”
“Nothing. I simply wanted to congratulate you on your appointment, Prime Minister.”
“Oh, come on. It’s fine. When an elder speaks like this, you can at least accept some gift money.”
The young man scratched his head.
“There really isn’t anything… but if there absolutely must be something, may I mention one corporate grievance?”