The Conscience Declaration
Command & Conquer If one were to name the event that most influenced the 14th National Assembly election, it would be Lieutenant Lee Ji-moon's conscience declaration. The incident involved the systematic manipulation of military absentee voting. From division commanders down to battalion and company commanders on the front lines, they pressured soldiers to vote for candidate number one without exception. It wasn't limited to words; they stood watch, pre-marked ballots, and carried out classic vote rigging. The Defense Security Command also intervened, deploying equipment to conduct mid-process vote counts. Once absentee voting concluded, the Defense Security Command dispatch teams took charge of mailing the ballots. These teams were equipped with letter inspection devices, which they used to preview the contents of the absentee ballots in advance. There were even specific instructions to make it look less obvious by aiming for around 80 percent for number one rather than a uniform result. The election commission, which should have overseen a neutral process, did not even send observers. The military had issued a blanket ban on all personnel leaving the base out of fear that soldiers on leave might expose the scheme. Lieutenant Lee Ji-moon, as an officer, was exempt from the ban imposed on enlisted men, and his company commander possessed a strong sense of fair elections, so he was deeply affected. After much deliberation, he ultimately held the press conference to make his declaration.
Kim Dae-seok relayed the information he had received over the phone without delay. Jeon Jae-jun looked stunned, as this was the first time he had heard the details and they were so shocking, while Yoo Jae-won showed little reaction since it was his second time hearing the story. People who moved according to meticulously planned schedules often found themselves frozen when sudden variables like this arose. "I think we should head over to the honorary chairman."
"Huh? Oh! Right! Let's go right away."
At Yoo Jae-won's words, Jeon Jae-jun, who had finally regained his composure, rushed toward his own car. Yoo Jae-won climbed in as well, and they headed to the Yeouido headquarters of the Unification National Party's election campaign, where Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon was located.
"Look at these bastards!"
When they entered the campaign headquarters, Yoo Jae-won saw Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon fuming with rage so intense that no one dared to stop him.
"Rigging an election in broad daylight? You lowlifes! Aren't you afraid of heaven? You'll face divine punishment, you bastards!"
It was terrifying enough that he was simply venting his anger, but he was also gripping a phone receiver connected to who-knows-whom and shouting at the top of his lungs. Yoo Jae-won wondered if he was speaking with President Roh, but he figured the honorary chairman knew when to draw the line and wouldn't go that far. Instead, hearing that booming voice, which sounded as if he had swallowed a train whistle, made Yoo Jae-won feel relieved that the man seemed to be in good health.
This incident was in no way detrimental to the Unification National Party. If it had proceeded without anyone noticing, it would have been a major blow, but since it erupted just two days before voting day, the backlash fell entirely on the ruling Democratic Liberal Party. These were the citizens who had secured direct presidential elections through the 1987 revolution. Although they had made a mistake when electing the president, they had clearly demonstrated in this general election that any attempt at rigging would backfire. Of course, the Democratic Liberal Party, despite suffering this damage, learned no lessons whatsoever. That was why they brazenly orchestrated even larger schemes for the presidential election in December. Even though the opposition parties had strongly demanded punishment for those involved, not only the core figures who orchestrated the operation but also the individuals who carried it out on the ground escaped any consequences. Because the government had vigorously defended them, it was necessary not only to receive judgment at the polls but also to track down everyone responsible and make an example of them. Failing to properly punish those who broke the rules only encouraged them to attempt it again next time.
"What? You didn't know? These…!"
Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon, who had been focused on the phone call without noticing Yoo Jae-won and Jeon Jae-jun's arrival, looked as though he was on the verge of exploding. He must have been so furious that his words were beginning to fragment.
"Grandfather, please calm down."
Yoo Jae-won hurried over to stop him, worried he might collapse from anger.
"What's your name? I won't let you off the hook…."
—Oh, Chairman, that's not it…
The pleading voice on the other end of the line was clearly audible. If an ordinary person asked for a name and said they wouldn't let someone off, the response would be "So what?" But since this was Korea's top chaebol and someone who would soon enter the National Assembly, the other party was clearly flustered. Jeon Myeong-heon, who had been about to unleash another barrage, paused upon seeing Yoo Jae-won and Jeon Jae-jun. He then told the caller he would phone again later and hung up.
"Ah, you're here? I'm truly ashamed."
Jeon Myeong-heon slumped into his seat and gestured for Yoo Jae-won and Jeon Jae-jun to take the seats beside him.
"What's the point of waking up at dawn, sacrificing sleep, and campaigning tirelessly if something like this rigged election renders it all meaningless?"
His disappointment and disillusionment were profound. The moment he sat down, complaints poured out.
"You're right. You should step down now. You should have left this kind of thing to the people who usually do it. There's no need for you to step forward and get covered in filth."
Jeon Jae-jun's words followed as if he had been waiting for the opportunity. When Jeon Myeong-heon had announced his intention to enter politics, the entire family and his staff had tried to dissuade him. That sentiment apparently still lingered. Moreover, Jeon Jae-jun could not understand why his father had handed over major businesses to his older brothers while assigning him the role of a mere politician. As a direct descendant of the Mirae Group, he found the prospect of constant movement, delivering speeches, and forced smiling handshakes with ordinary citizens he had never paid attention to before utterly distasteful.
Yoo Jae-won's mouth fell open. Jeon Jae-jun truly thought differently from others. No matter how much he disliked it, how could he say such things so openly to Jeon Myeong-heon?
"What did you just say, you brat!"
As expected, Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon's reaction was immediate. His hand shot up, and Jeon Jae-jun flinched. After all, he had been given the safest constituency in Ulsan for the Unification National Party, yet he was spouting nonsense like this.
"Grandfather. While the social impact of the military absentee voting manipulation is significant, it won't actually affect the election results much. So there's no need to be this disheartened."
At Yoo Jae-won's words, the descending hand froze mid-air.
"There are roughly 600,000 conscripted soldiers in the military. They don't all vote for a single candidate; they vote for the constituency candidate based on their registered address. Since the votes are distributed across the number of constituencies, the effect of the manipulation isn't that great."
It was a commonsense analysis. Yet to Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon, who had only been venting his anger until now, it felt not only fresh but coldly precise.
"Instead, we must ensure they can't tamper with the constituency ballot boxes. Furthermore, amplifying this incident will deal a major blow to the ruling party's moral credibility. Conversely, it will heighten vigilance among voters sympathetic to us and rally them even more."
"That's exactly it!"
At Yoo Jae-won's explanation, Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon slapped his knee. At the same time, his evaluation of Yoo Jae-won rose another notch. While his staff and politicians were running around in panic without a clear direction, Yoo Jae-won had laid out both an analysis of the incident's repercussions and concrete countermeasures. Yoo Jae-won had already been rated as highly as possible, so whether there was room for further elevation was questionable, but in Jeon Myeong-heon's mind, he had clearly climbed another level.
Yoo Jae-won's opinions were immediately conveyed through Jeon Myeong-heon to the Unification National Party's election headquarters. They began urgently gathering personnel to monitor the ballot boxes and prevent any tampering, while also recruiting enthusiastic party members. These were not mere volunteer positions; they came with substantial compensation. Although there was a legal cap on campaign spending, when the ruling party was openly committing election fraud, spending a little more was hardly an issue. As someone who never felt lacking when it came to spending money, Jeon Myeong-heon opened his wallet generously for anything he deemed necessary.
That was not the only measure. They also decided to hold a large-scale joint rally with other opposition parties to denounce the election fraud. The larger the scale, the more media spotlight it would attract, so the other opposition parties agreed to participate. After issuing a storm of instructions, he finally caught his breath. Even Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon's complexion, which had been flushed with rage, improved.
"Jae-won."
Jeon Myeong-heon called Yoo Jae-won gently.
"Yes!"
"When you campaign, don't mention the election fraud."
"Why not?"
"There's no need for someone with such a bright future ahead to get splattered with the filth of this dirty election. The negative campaigning will be handled by me and the other candidates, so you stick to positive messages."
Yoo Jae-won nodded at Jeon Myeong-heon's words. Election fraud was something that naturally had to be condemned, and Yoo Jae-won had been prepared to do so without hesitation. However, Jeon Myeong-heon had considered his connections with President Roh and the need for bureaucratic assistance in business when giving this advice.
"And Jae-jun, you head down to Ulsan."
The honorary chairman who had spoken so warmly to Yoo Jae-won directed a cold wind toward his own son. Comparing the two, Jeon Jae-jun seemed utterly pathetic. Considering their ages, there was no comparison. If he lingered nearby, it would only fuel more anger, so Jeon Myeong-heon concluded that sending him to Ulsan was the best option.
In dynamic Korea, an incredible number of events had unfolded in that short span of time. After completing his declaration, Lieutenant Lee Ji-moon was arrested by around twenty investigators from the Capital Defense Command's military police unit on charges of deserting his post before he could even finish his statement. Given Korea's precedents, there was a high probability he would face coercive interrogation to uncover his backers. He might even be tortured to force him to recant his testimony. Afterward, he would be dishonorably discharged and face deliberate obstruction in finding employment. Yoo Jae-won could not allow that to happen. He instructed that if Lieutenant Lee Ji-moon emerged into society after providing the catalyst for fair military absentee voting, he should receive support through the ID Foundation as well as a stable job. There was no better way to encourage more conscientious individuals like Lieutenant Lee Ji-moon to step forward and improve society than to demonstrate that doing so would not result in disadvantages.
The opposition parties united to condemn the ruling party. Always one step ahead, Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon strongly argued that since the integrity of the military's absentee voting had been compromised, all ballots should be incinerated and the process conducted anew. He also raised his voice demanding the introduction of an electronic voting system to prevent future election fraud. Naturally, the idea of electronic voting had come from Yoo Jae-won. The ruling party and the election commission refused, claiming they could not take such measures based on a single person's word. To the public, it was clear whose argument carried more weight.
Time passed, and on the fateful day of March 24, voting for the 14th National Assembly election began simultaneously across the nation. Yoo Jae-won once again merely observed. He still had several years to wait before obtaining voting rights. With nothing else to do, he returned to the house in Deokjin-ri and watched the vote-counting broadcast with his parents.
—Voter turnout: 73.9%.
—Lowest voter turnout in general election history!
Experts made a fuss, claiming the record-low turnout was due to the influence of election fraud. That was nonsense. The current turnout was actually 2% higher than the original figure. Moreover, turnout had been on a continuous decline, so in later years even exceeding 70% would be considered remarkably high.
"What do you think? Do you think the Unification National Party will get quite a few seats?"
It was Yoo Bong-man's question. Originally inclined toward the opposition, Yoo Bong-man had planned to vote for a Democratic Party candidate. However, after Yoo Jae-won's full-throated endorsement of the Unification National Party, he had switched his support. Not only his father but also Yoo Jae-won's paternal and maternal relatives, and even the people of Deokjin-ri, had all changed their votes. Having cast their ballots that way, it was only natural to hope the candidates they supported would win. If their son, who had accurately predicted Korea's medal count at the 1988 Olympics during elementary school, had personally campaigned for the Unification National Party, they believed he could also predict its election results.
"Hmm…"
For a moment, cold sweat formed on Yoo Jae-won's back. Seeing the bright, expectant looks in his parents' eyes, he worried they would be greatly disappointed if he was wrong even once.
"Elections have so many variables that it's hard to predict accurately. Besides, the election fraud scandal broke just a few days ago."
Yoo Jae-won first laid the groundwork so that even if he was wrong, they wouldn't be too disappointed. His parents, who shared the same concern, nodded in agreement.
"My prediction is around 31 constituency seats and 10 proportional representation seats, for a total of 41 seats."
The final opinion poll released yesterday had shown 41 seats. That was ten more than the results from his previous life, so Yoo Jae-won felt rather proud. It was proof that his influence had grown large enough to secure ten additional National Assembly members. Of course, this number was only an estimate, and the actual results would only be known once the ballots were counted.
"Hmm? Is that a lot?"
However, since the Unification National Party was a newly formed party, his parents couldn't quite gauge whether this number represented a huge success or a failure.
"It's an undeniable jackpot."
Among the opposition parties, the largest was the Democratic Party, founded in 1991, though its lineage traced back to the immediate post-liberation era. Even that Democratic Party was projected to win 97 seats in this election. In reality, the Democratic Liberal Party had suffered the greatest damage in his previous life as well. Through the three-party merger, it had secured enough seats for a constitutional amendment, but in the 14th election, that number had dropped to around 140 seats. It had fallen below not only the constitutional amendment threshold but even the majority line. When Yoo Jae-won called it a jackpot, both parents were overjoyed. The final results weren't even out yet, and the unease that they might be counting their chickens before they hatched began to creep in. Thanks to that, Yoo Jae-won had to stay up all night in front of the television that day. Rather than checking the final results after waking up, he needed to watch the counting process unfold to feel satisfied. In the end, Yoo Jae-won, who had fallen asleep late at night, woke up when the sun was high in the sky.
"Yawn, I wonder how the results turned out?"
Overcome by drowsiness, he had ultimately failed to watch the results to the end. Thanks to that, he committed the otaku-like act of rushing straight to the computer the moment he woke up, but no one said anything. His father had gone to work as chairman, and his mother had gone out for a post-election gathering with those who had helped with the campaign. It wasn't just one or two acquaintances; with villagers and even organizations in Yeoju and Seoul involved, the celebrations were expected to last several days.
The moment booting finished, he connected to Nextcom and immediately went to the news page.
—14th National Assembly Election: Crushing defeat for the Democratic Liberal Party!
—Democratic Liberal Party 138 seats, Democratic Party 99 seats, Unification National Party 44 seats, Independents 19 seats!
—Unification National Party's great leap forward! 33 constituency members and 11 proportional representation members enter the National Assembly!
"Wow! 44 seats?"
That was three more elected members than Yoo Jae-won had predicted. Forty-four lawmakers had entered the 14th National Assembly under the name of the Unification National Party.
—The Unification National Party captivated voters with its bold economic reform pledges and vision for the future.
Subsequent articles continued to praise Yoo Jae-won for presenting a vision for the future and Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon for starting from the bottom as a chaebol scion.
Grumble.
Only after reading the articles did Yoo Jae-won finally feel the tension release. At the same time, he felt hunger. When he went to the dining table, he found a breakfast spread already prepared with beef seaweed soup and over ten side dishes. Since only the rice was missing, scooping rice from the rice cooker would complete the meal. As he was about to scoop rice from the elephant rice cooker, he noticed a note attached.
—The phone has been ringing nonstop since dawn, so I unplugged it. Also, Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon asked you to call him.
It was a note left by his father. No wonder the morning had felt so quiet it was almost eerie. He decided to eat first and then call Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon.
—Thank you! Thank you so much! It's all thanks to you.
The moment the call connected, words of gratitude came from Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon first. The result of 44 seats far exceeded the 30 seats Yoo Jae-won had initially guaranteed. Thanks to that, the Unification National Party was in a festive mood.
—Where are you? Come over right away! Everyone's waiting for you.
The protagonist couldn't be missing from the celebration. While the media focused on Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon's leadership, the Unification National Party's leadership was all paying attention to Yoo Jae-won. Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon himself was no exception.
"No. My role ended yesterday. And now isn't the time for celebration either."
—What do you mean?
"This election isn't the only one this year. There's a much bigger election left. From now on, Grandfather, you need to lead well."
The biggest election in the country, the presidential election, was scheduled for December this year. Only then did Jeon Myeong-heon realize he had been making too much fuss over a small victory. At the same time, he was amazed by Yoo Jae-won's composure, which remained unshaken despite achieving greater success than expected. Regardless, Yoo Jae-won began saying what he had been thinking.
"Oh, right! There's one thing Grandfather needs to do right now."
—What is it? From now on, I'll do whatever you say. I'll even cancel the banquet right away.
"Haha, no need to go that far. Please contact the independent lawmakers and bring as many as possible into the Unification National Party. If they refuse the Unification National Party, at least connect them to the Democratic Party. Since the Democratic Liberal Party lost its majority, they'll definitely try to recruit independents to regain it. To strengthen our negotiating power, we must block that."
At Yoo Jae-won's words, Jeon Myeong-heon realized this was not the time to leisurely enjoy the victory celebration. At the same time, he felt a bit angry. None of the expensive staff he had assembled had offered such advice.
—Understood. I'll move right away. And stop by before you leave the country. Okay? You'll do that, right?
Honorary Chairman Jeon Myeong-heon, whose desire for Yoo Jae-won was surging once again, insisted on meeting before the departure. There had been something he had been thinking about for a while. He pressed for a promise, fearing this opportunity might never come again.
"Unfortunately, that won't be possible."
Yoo Jae-won firmly refused.