Chapter 311
Chapter 311
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Side Story 2: Expectations
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While Lee Sung-jun was away on vacation, Kim Jeong-gil was deep in thought about the image he wanted to project to the public.
He had considered various options, but it was impossible for him to portray the same image of a strong leader that his predecessor Lee Sung-jun had embodied.
Not only was he incomparable to his predecessor, but it also didn't suit Kim Jeong-gil's own style.
After much deliberation, the slogan they came up with was this:
"The Great Era of Ordinary People?"
Kim Jeong-gil mulled over the proposal from his aides.
"It's an image inspired by a memo left behind by Premier Lee Sung-jun, Your Excellency."
"Ordinary people? Doesn't that sound too weak?"
The chief of staff voiced his opposition, but Kim Jeong-gil took a liking to the image of an ordinary person.
"There's no need to compare ourselves directly to Your Excellency, and it gives off a comfortable, soft vibe. I think that's perfect."
Through this process, the Kim Jeong-gil regime adopted the catchphrase "The Great Era of Ordinary People."
"Lee Sung-jun, who styled himself as a great man, is succeeded by the mortal Kim Jeong-gil? This administration's image-making is really off the mark. Compared to the shrewd Lee Sung-jun, they come across as total amateurs."
The opposition party laughed at the catchphrase, saying it perfectly captured Kim Jeong-gil's bland image.
But in the presidential election held right after the constitutional amendment, Kim Jeong-gil crushed the opposition with 73% of the vote.
"Elect Kim Jeong-gil, the true successor to His Excellency, as president!"
The opposition had entered the race expecting defeat, but the result was absurdly one-sided.
"No way. How could we lose this badly to that colorless, odorless Kim Jeong-gil?"
The opposition was left speechless in shock.
If they were losing like this to him, how could they ever seize power?
In contrast, the ruling party popped champagne.
"You idiots. Did you really think we'd struggle with His Excellency's halo over us?"
Kim Jeong-gil's victory wasn't limited to the presidential election.
In the subsequent general election, the ruling Grand Governance Party managed to hold onto its supermajority.
"It's a breeze. That's what an election is like when you just plant the flag and win."
One ruling party candidate even died during the campaign, yet voters piled on the votes anyway, electing him posthumously in a feat for the ages—whether they knew or not.
Faced with the ruling party's overwhelming triumph, the opposition knelt once more.
"What an unbelievable election. Even without Lee Sung-jun, we're getting steamrolled like this."
These back-to-back victories in the presidential and general elections were more than enough to demonstrate to the world that the Kim Jeong-gil regime had successfully taken root.
Using these wins as a springboard, Kim Jeong-gil confirmed the hierarchical relationships with the nation's various power centers.
First came the chaebol.
As soon as the chaebol chairmen confirmed Kim Jeong-gil's stature, they picked up the phone first, signaling their submission to the powers that be.
"The business world will continue to faithfully follow the government's policies."
Kim Jeong-gil yanked tight on the leash that had begun to loosen just a bit.
Second was the legislature.
The faction leaders and heavyweight lawmakers of the Grand Governance Party called the presidential chief of staff to pledge their loyalty.
"Your Excellency, our Grand Governance Party's mission is to unwaveringly support your rule."
It wasn't exactly an ideal sight for the legislative branch to swear fealty to the head of the executive, but this was a transitional period where power was shifting.
Kim Jeong-gil accepted their oaths of loyalty.
Third were the bureaucrats.
More sensitive to shifts in power than anyone, the bureaucrats swiftly lined up behind Kim Jeong-gil.
"If Your Excellency commands it, we'll follow even the path to hell."
At this moment, Kim Jeong-gil's power reached its zenith.
At the same time, the power vacuum left by Lee Sung-jun's retirement was neatly filled.
"A power vacuum? That could never happen in Daehan."
With the Kim Jeong-gil regime firmly in place, the massive machine that was Daehan began churning ferociously once more, just as before.
Up to this point, Daehan under Lee Sung-jun and under Kim Jeong-gil seemed to show no major differences.
But there was a vast gulf between the two.
The most prominent example was in policy.
"Kim Jeong-gil's foreign policy is a bit bland. There's no satisfying punch like when His Excellency would toss $30 billion at the Americans to shut down their complaints whenever they acted up."
Unlike Lee Sung-jun, who had always been aggressively offensive, his successor Kim Jeong-gil showed a relatively defensive posture.
People felt frustrated by this gap.
'His Excellency's reign, where you could feel Daehan's might the moment you opened your eyes, was truly a blessed time.'
Experiencing Kim Jeong-gil's comparatively less vibrant rule, Koreans began to feel nostalgia for Lee Sung-jun's era.
No matter the rumors of senility or whatever, no other time had suited Korean tastes quite like his reign.
"His Excellency's rule was truly the great era of a great man. Damn right."
Not just the elderly, but young people too longed for Lee Sung-jun's leadership.
"Your Excellency, we miss you."
But His Excellency could not rule Daehan again.
The man who had stood at Daehan's pinnacle had grown too old.
"His Excellency is almost 80 already."
In newspapers and occasional videos, the post-retirement His Excellency appeared with white hair and a wrinkled face.
The rugged, resolute face of the leader from propaganda posters was nowhere to be found.
Even those who yearned for his rule realized, upon seeing the withered, frail old man in the footage, that it was impossible to pin hopes on him.
This nostalgia for His Excellency naturally extended to expectations for his bloodline.
His Excellency might be old, but what about his young kin?
Conveniently, His Excellency's children had all reached adulthood or were nearly there.
His eldest daughter, Lee Se-eun, and eldest son, Lee Jae-jun.
As public interest poured in, the media naturally turned its attention to them.
People wanted to know, through the press, what Lee Sung-jun's children were up to.
"The Lady visits the Moranbong Band to enjoy a performance."
If anyone among them was popular, it had to be the eldest daughter, Lee Se-eun.
Not only did Lee Se-eun have a glamorous appearance, but her demeanor toward the public was refined as well.
Her eloquence was graceful, and she managed her image well as the Air Force's mascot.
"The Lady is like a princess from a fairy tale."
With her image so well-established, her every move always drew public fascination.
Her private life was no exception.
Korean media fixated on everything from what Lee Se-eun ate and wore to whether she was dating or had marriage plans.
Lee Se-eun didn't show irritation at this media attention.
She always faced the press with a smile, answering questions kindly.
"Asking if I have plans to date? If I meet the right person, maybe."
Lee Se-eun always left a bit of room in her words.
Her way with words evoked memories of Lee Sung-jun's deft handling of situations.
People strongly sensed Lee Sung-jun's lingering shadow behind her.
Such expectations led to rumors that Lee Se-eun might leave the Air Force and enter politics.
"Lady, do you have any thoughts on stepping into politics?"
When asked if she would go into politics, Lee Se-eun waved it off.
"I like living this way in the Air Force."
"Even if the public wants to see you in politics?"
"I'm not someone who's learned enough to do politics. Smarter people who've studied more than me should handle that."
On this point, Lee Se-eun drew a firm line without leaving any wiggle room.
This attitude was also mindful of Daehan's absolute ruler, Lee Sung-jun.
'I hope you don't go into politics.'
Lee Sung-jun had been wary of his daughter's political ambitions and had imposed numerous restrictions.
Lee Se-eun had no intention of going against her father's wishes.
'Defying Father is as good as giving up on living in this country.'
Lee Se-eun's cautious approach earned her positive reviews.
"Isn't she doing that because His Excellency said no to hereditary succession? What a dutiful daughter, honoring her father's will."
"Like father, like daughter."
As Lee Se-eun garnered significant popularity among the people, her official residence piled up daily with postcards and gifts.
Among the influx of letters were marriage proposals.
From Indian princelings and scions of powerful Chinese families to high-ranking Korean elites, the suitors were diverse.
Lee Se-eun politely declined them all.
"Why turn down such great matches? You're at that age now."
Baek Ha-yeon looked at her with concern, but Lee Se-eun smiled and said she had her own plans.
"That's a good attitude. But these proposals won't keep coming forever."
"That's fine."
To protect the image she had built, Lee Se-eun avoided any behavior that could be interpreted as dating.
It got to the point where her principle of never being alone with a man became a viral term called the "Se-eun Rule."
With her princess-like image plus Lee Sung-jun's halo, Lee Se-eun's popularity soared.
"And yet they cling to this empty faith in bloodlines. It'll take at least a generation for Daehan to become a proper democracy."
Watching all this, Lee Sung-jun delivered a scathing assessment of Korean democracy.
In truth, there was some unfairness in his harsh critique of Korean democracy.
Obsession with the bloodlines of successful leaders could be found aplenty even in advanced America and Europe.
Political dynasties were prime examples.
Lee Sung-jun was well aware of such cases.
His criticism came despite knowing that.
Lee Sung-jun gave a wry smile at the Korean populace's refusal to heed his words.
Perhaps it was cynicism toward the liberal democracy he himself had championed.