The Price of Honor and the Weight of Resentment
"Anyway, if you want to give out an award, give it to the Managing Director."
"We have included all of you in the list at Doowon Headquarters," the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said.
"Hmm."
"The government merely reviews the candidates recommended for awards. If there are no disqualifying factors, we are obligated to bestow them."
"..."
"Do we... do we have to wear suits? The Managing Director bought us each a suit..."
The Prime Minister smiled slightly and said that would probably be for the best.
"That man had a plan for everything!"
"Seriously, who would have thought those suits would be used for something like this?"
"Excuse me, Prime Minister, but if we receive this award... does that mean we get the prize money too?"
The Prime Minister grinned and nodded, and his secretary behind him provided the details.
"You are all scheduled to receive a government commendation in recognition of your meritorious service."
"A commendation...?"
"Yes. It is essentially an award certificate. It will be a Presidential Commendation, and the President will present it to you personally."
"...Oh, the one on the news... Choi... what was his name, the welding foreman, what’s the President’s name right now?"
"Is it President Choi Mundeok?"
"That’s right. You will be awarded a certificate bearing the President’s name, along with a cash prize. As of now, I can tell you it will be equivalent to 10 to 20 million won."
Hearing that it could increase depending on the situation, they couldn't help but be overjoyed. The foreman chuckled and said, "When we get to Seoul, I’ll have to thank the Managing Director. I’ll make sure my guys thank him, too."
"It’s not just about the guys. Wow, this will pay off my house loan."
"Is that still hanging over your head?"
"It’s expensive. Plus, the salary was peanuts, so I had a hard time extending the payments."
"...I see."
"Good grief, I was worried everyone would be badmouthing the Managing Director, but instead, they’re going there and hearing praise on his behalf. They aren't even afraid of the Prime Minister. It’s like they’re reading a biography of a great man..."
"..."
Back to the phone call. The Prime Minister hesitated before speaking.
"The President praised Managing Director Han Suhyun for the entire week after the incident. And it wasn't just for the results that supported the stability of the administration."
"..."
"He was moved when he heard the news. That a businessman, someone people thought was only interested in money, was a person who valued life above all else and jumped into the sea... He often told everyone to follow his example. ...Haha, well, thanks to that, various ministries did get an earful, though."
It was true. For a while, there was talk about what the government ministries were doing that led to civilians having to step up and perform the rescue. Of course, thanks to the image he showed at the hearing, 90% of the comments were cheering for him and criticizing the members of the National Assembly rather than those kinds of remarks.
"Anyway, I didn't call to scold you."
"Yes."
"The Order of National Security Merit is like that. It is originally a medal awarded to soldiers. It is awarded to military officers and non-commissioned officers who have served long-term for over 33 years... but fundamentally, that is the meaning of the medal."
"..."
"...I believe it holds value and meaning when it is awarded to someone who has acted truthfully, solely for the sake of saving people and for the country... someone who managed to do it without any compensation or ulterior motives."
And then,
"...But even so,"
"I understand what you are saying."
"..."
"I cannot award medals to all of them. Instead, I, the Prime Minister, will make a promise. I will provide additional prize money beyond the regulations to the workers and the president at the time."
It was a point of compromise. To them, money might be more important than honor. Since they are people who live off their salaries, I think a proper commendation and a larger cash prize might be more important than a gold-plated medal. It was a compromise.
"Please understand. It is already difficult enough to tell the President to give more prize money, but if I suggest awarding medals to all twelve of them, I might get kicked out of this seat."
"..."
"Please, cut an old man some slack. Managing Director."
He knew it, too. He knew that if he pushed harder in this situation, he would at least be able to make a suggestion. The Prime Minister must have felt something while hearing those stories. They were people who had done something great. Not only did he think that if he were the Prime Minister, he might have fallen into the sea himself, but this administration was also one where the President was produced by a party that held the ideology of showing maximum courtesy to patriots and those who protect the nation. That was why he could have pestered him.
The Prime Minister also knew that fact and came at him with a low posture. It was a request to cut him some slack because, even though he really should do it, there were circumstances. So, in the end, he said,
"...Fine. Money is probably better. Thank you for your consideration."
"Haha, I feel sorry that the Prime Minister seems to have negotiated the reward. Thank you for understanding. Managing Director."
Then he ended the call. Only then did he take a deep breath to calm himself down.
"Why did the Prime Minister call? What happened?"
"...I don't know, me neither... Forget it."
"Oh, tell me quickly. I'm curious. And your food is all cold."
"Secretary Eun, you must be happy getting paid so much thanks to the Managing Director."
"Augh, I really hate it when you say things I can't understand."
Then, he explained the contents of the call and finished the rest of his meal. Afterward, he looked out the window and fell into thought. Eunbyul cleared the table, took out the trash, and returned to the office, stopping beside him as he leaned against the window.
"What are you thinking about?"
"...Revenge."
"Suddenly, what kind of rev—...?"
That’s right. Seo Jia apologized. A lot. Very much. She even changed through her actions. But there was something he could never forgive.
"My father-in-law... and mother-in-law."
Eunbyul, who knew nothing, looked at him with a puzzled expression and returned to her seat, but he stared out the window, his eyes burning with intensity. Suddenly, he remembered what her father had said.
"Sit here for a moment."
Are you asking me to sit in a chair? If you had done that, I wouldn't have been angry from the start.
"I’ve lived a life in the courts, so I’m saying this out of concern."
"Yes, Father."
"Business people keep doing strange things and end up on trial. You aren't doing any of that fraud or tax evasion, are you?"
If his father had heard this, he probably would have slapped her father across the face. A commendation for an exemplary taxpayer and a faithful taxpayer was provided every year. It was one of the things his father was most proud of. The fact that he was paying his taxes faithfully. Unlike other chaebols, the first chairman of Doowon, from the very beginning, after paying the first 74,251 won in taxes generated by the company to the tax office's virtual account, printed the transfer receipt and hung it in his office. As this motto was kept through generations, by the son's son, and up to him, it remained in that spot.
"...You don't need to worry."
"Good. It’s a case of losing the big for the small. I can’t bear to see my daughter’s spouse in prison. Keep that in mind."
"Yes..."
Not only that, but her mother, who said he should follow her to church on weekends to get closer, and that he should believe in Jesus.
"These days, the husband has to do the kitchen work. Come on, copy me."
"Yes, Mother-in-law..."
"My daughter takes after me, so she only feels satisfied when everything is in its place."
Why do I have to be the one to satisfy that satisfaction?
"Our daughter’s work is hard. You know? She has to meet high-ranking people and talk a lot. It would be good if you prepared a lot of warm tea."
My contact list is full of executives from large corporations...
"Jia was raised so preciously that she wouldn't know how to do things like this. I think Heesoo would have more survival skills, so teach her well."
Seriously, fuck, was I born and raised in a doghouse then? This fucking kind tone and those selfish words were too disgusting to hear. What? The husband has to do kitchen work? So is that why the father-in-law keeps sitting on the sofa? Did you not raise your daughter preciously, Mother? ....I wanted to say that, but I held it in.
Kitchen organization, how to wash many dishes with little detergent, house cleaning, cleaning the crevices—only after he had cleaned everything in the in-laws' house until it sparkled did he eat cold rice with a few side dishes and arrive home. And even then, he couldn't express a single complaint to her. As I said, if he raised a complaint at this time too,
"If you don't want to live, let's divorce."
"..."
"Mom and Dad aren't wrong. And you should be the one to bow lower. Everyone thinks I’m the one in the subordinate position when we’re out."
I’m angry enough to kill Jia, who showed coolness with such unreasonable gaslighting, but the object of my rage was elsewhere. Her parents. People who know the fact of the divorce and know well why they divorced, yet they continue to hold out without a single apology or a single contact. This situation is truly fucked up. If they apologized now, even if he went crazy and threw a tantrum about what face they had to come visit, they wouldn't be able to say a word. That would be the right thing to do, but,
"...Until now, they haven't even come..."
"...I’m scared, Managing Director."
"What kind of humiliation I suffered... How much money I bring in... Who does she think she is, what is she bowing down for..."
"..."
"She didn't do anything when she came to my house..."
While the objects of his fury were becoming mixed up like that, he received a call from the Prime Minister’s secretary.
"The prize money has been approved at 50 million won. May we proceed like this, Managing Director?"
"Thank you."
The anger... subsided a little. Even though it wasn't my money.