Chapter 324
Chapter 324
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Side Story 15: Lady Yi Se-eun
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On the dark early morning of January 3, 1976, an unimaginable catastrophe struck a storage yard in Yeosu.
BOOM!
A whopping 1,500 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer exploded, turning everything within a 500-meter radius into a scorched wasteland.
Over 70 people were killed or injured in the blast.
Most of the victims were low-wage foreign laborers, but a significant number were Korean as well.
That same afternoon, another 2,500 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer detonated at a storage yard in Gunsan.
The Korean government immediately launched an investigation into the incidents.
A week later, Pyongyang declared that these were deliberate acts of terrorism orchestrated by someone.
“We hereby declare that we will hunt down the terrorists responsible to the ends of the earth.”
To prevent further attacks, the Korean government declared martial law.
“Isn’t the government overreacting?”
“Hey, with hundreds dead or injured in a terrorist attack, declaring martial law makes sense.”
The public, still frozen in shock at the sheer scale of the terrorism, grudgingly accepted the martial law.
“Anyway, stopping more terrorism is the priority.”
While the people were uneasy, the Korean government swiftly flung open the gates to the Yushin regime.
“A constitutional amendment to respond organically to the national emergency?”
It was dressed up as a response to a national emergency, but it was really just a way to cling to power.
Before the government could spin its narrative, the KCIA steadily released “fabricated poll data” through select media outlets.
“Ruling party support at 39.5%, bolstered by economic recovery.”
Through this groundwork, the KCIA created the illusion that the regime could hold onto power without even needing a Yushin amendment.
“It’s not about lust for power—it’s a patriotic decision for the good of the nation.”
Of course, the people weren’t complete fools.
“Who do they take us for, idiots? You think that bullshit holds water?”
Opposition to Yushin erupted everywhere.
Student movements and anti-regime voices burst forth like a dam breaking.
Police alone couldn’t suppress it all.
“If it’s just police, sure.”
The Jang Dong-yun regime mobilized the Chungjeong Unit as planned and began crushing the anti-regime protests with force.
“Don’t you know protests are illegal under martial law!”
The Korean government aggressively deployed the military to quash the demonstrations.
“Deploy the airborne troops as well.”
“Understood.”
Over 200 people were killed or injured in the process.
Witnessing this horrific scene, Yi Se-eun knew it was time for her to step up.
‘Father didn’t want me in politics, but he’d feel differently now.’
Yi Se-eun shed her military uniform and appeared at the protest sites.
“They claim to be Father’s successors, but I see it differently. How can those trampling his legacy be his heirs?”
Yi Seong-jun’s eldest daughter, Yi Se-eun, had joined the protests.
The impact on the demonstrators was immense.
“Wow! The Lady is with us!”
This shifted the protest situation into unpredictable territory once more.
Military and police hesitated to bare their teeth wherever Yi Se-eun appeared.
“How could we fire rubber bullets at a place where the Lady is?”
“Hmm.”
Even commanders who had to issue orders felt the pressure.
Reports of the escalating protests reached the Presidential Office.
“Yi Se-eun showed up with the protesters again?”
“Yes, sir.”
Jang Dong-yun was greatly rattled by her appearance.
Who was Yi Se-eun?
She was Yi Seong-jun’s flesh and blood—the “princess” who embodied the nation’s hopes.
And now she stood against the Jang Dong-yun regime.
‘It’s like the dead giant has risen against us.’
Jang Dong-yun and his aides scrambled for a way to contain the situation.
“There’s only one option. We have to silence Yi Se-eun.”
“Wouldn’t touching her make things worse?”
“We’ll ensure her safety. It’s just house arrest.”
Jang Dong-yun found even that burdensome, but he had no better ideas.
“Let’s do it.”
The Korean government bided its time, then dispatched 200 police officers around Yi Se-eun’s home, trapping her inside.
“What is this outrage!”
“It’s for the Lady’s safety.”
Not only Yi Se-eun, but Yi Jae-jun and their mother Baek Ha-yeon were placed under house arrest as well.
Friends, relatives, and even journalists were barred from contact.
This thoroughly isolated her from the outside world, successfully muting her voice.
But they overlooked one key fact.
Yi Se-eun was a far shrewder politician than they realized.
Whether people listened or not, every day Yi Se-eun stood at her front gate and recited the Constitution to the world.
“Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Republic of Korea Constitution: The Republic of Korea shall be a democratic republic. Paragraph 2: Sovereignty resides in the people, and all authority is derived from them.”
Like a broken recorder, she repeated the same words day after day.
It seemed foolish at first glance, but it wasn’t meaningless.
Even the police surrounding the mansion had eyes and ears.
Word of Yi Se-eun’s defiance spread quietly through society.
“The Lady refuses to bow to the dictatorship to the very end.”
Her resolve left a profound impression on people.
No, it created something even greater.
She became the most prominent politician standing against Jang Dong-yun.
Yi Se-eun had transcended her identity as the dictator Yi Seong-jun’s daughter to emerge as a symbol of democracy itself.
The dictator’s daughter as a symbol of democracy.
It was ironic, but that was the way of the world.
The stronger her image grew, the greater the expectations placed on her.
Eyes once fixed on her as the post-Yi Seong-jun figure now recognized her fully as a politician in her own right.
This shift sparked even more interest in Yi Se-eun.
“I wonder if the Lady is safe.”
Unable to withstand public pressure, the Korean government allowed journalists to meet her.
But they strictly banned filming or interviews.
On their way out after speaking with Yi Se-eun, a few police officers glanced around nervously and approached the reporters.
“Is the Lady doing well?”
If even those duty-bound to uphold the regime felt this way, the Jang Dong-yun administration’s wariness of Yi Se-eun was immense.
“Crack down on all news or even rumors about Yi Se-eun.”
Bury her from public view.
That was Jang Dong-yun and the Presidential Office’s plan.
But this time, America wouldn’t sit idly by.
“We got plenty of gifts from them—time to return the favor to those Pyongyang bastards.”
Determined to strike at Korea’s authoritarian regime, the U.S. relentlessly stirred the pot.
“No news? Get something from the CIA or NSA.”
The U.S. government focused its intelligence on Yi Se-eun-related matters, harping on even the smallest tidbits for a full two weeks.
“Aren’t they sick of it?”
“Nah, not even a little.”
The Korean government strictly blocked foreign media reports, but it couldn’t seal everything off.
Koreans turned to U.S. media ignored by local outlets to track Yi Se-eun’s movements.
With no end in sight to the Yi Se-eun issue, Jang Dong-yun sent his chief of staff to propose a compromise.
“If you promise to stop your political statements now, we’ll lift the house arrest and let you leave for abroad. We’ll even cover your living expenses there.”
Yi Se-eun fixed her unreadable brown eyes on the chief of staff for a long moment.
Then, instead of answering, she posed a question.
“You served under Father as well, didn’t you, Chief?”
“Ah, yes. I was his secretary when he was Prime Minister.”
“What were your impressions of him back then?”
“I thought he was a man of tremendous responsibility.”
“A daughter raised by such a father—wouldn’t it be stranger if she shirked her responsibilities?”
The chief of staff found himself speechless at the Lady’s retort.
It wasn’t wrong.
After hesitating, he finally spoke with difficulty.
“But, Lady, this isn’t a trivial matter. If you don’t compromise with the regime, you could be confined to this mansion for 10 years, 20 years. Can you really endure that? Spend your youth fighting the regime?”
Yi Se-eun lifted her teacup.
“Just as you call me Lady, the people remember Yi Se-eun as Prime Minister Yi Seong-jun’s daughter. They pin their hopes on me with the weight of that title. How could I betray that?”
“Lady, nothing feels as empty as dashed expectations once the moment passes.”
“Maybe you’re right. But some lives can’t escape that sense of duty.”
Yi Se-eun elegantly sipped her tea.
They were conversing, but she had no intention of being persuaded.
Yi Se-eun had long ago resolved her heart.
The chief of staff picked up his hat and rose.
“I regret that our talk ends this way.”
“I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing.”
“No, no. Who knows when we’ll meet again—stay safe.”
“You too, Chief.”
The chief of staff bowed and left the mansion.
Yi Se-eun watched the door close behind him.
The world glimpsed beyond seemed so free.
Ten years, twenty years ahead.
Perhaps even a lifetime staring at that door until death.
But Yi Se-eun was prepared for such a life.
Great burdens brought great rewards.
In this gamble of her life, the victor was yet to be decided.
Yi Se-eun stared at the closed door for a long, long time.