The Hijacked Spring
And so, the rebellion—no, the revolution—struck like lightning.
The suppression forces deployed across Seoul, rearmed with weapons of unknown origin from the former North Korean military, seized government offices, press agencies, and broadcasting stations throughout the capital.
The mainstream society, which opposed the revolution, looked to the media to play its part, but the press remained dead silent. A journalist later described the situation in these terms:
"The media landscape has already lost its normal function due to its overwhelming feminization. The press no longer performs its duty of social indictment and information delivery. It has degenerated into a mere mouthpiece for female supremacists and the vested establishment, its pages plastered with worthless propaganda. In truth, the media has never functioned properly to begin with. Thus, it failed to function now, and it will continue to fail in the future."
Another journalist used even more severe language to describe the collapse:
"...It is a self-evident law of nature for a woman to spread her legs for a strong man... (omitted) ...True to its nature, the feminized media landscape spread its legs for the new, masculine power."
The remaining members of the executive branch demanded that the military suppress the rebellion, but the southern military units, heavily dominated by female soldiers, fell into a vegetative state, utterly paralyzed and in disarray.
The northern military units refused the order, claiming they could not deploy troops due to ongoing operations to suppress armed insurgencies by former North Korean militant groups. In truth, those northern insurgent groups had already been thoroughly crushed, their seeds virtually wiped out. This excuse from the northern commanders was widely understood as a silent message: 'The tide has already turned, so accept it.'
Moreover, since General Park Tae-seop, the Commander of the North Korean Military Government that held de facto control over the northern region, was the mastermind behind the revolution, there was absolutely no reason for them to move.
Ultimately, it was only after a massive purge and reshuffling of key executive figures that the military secured complete control over the administration.
The legislature, naturally, protested vehemently. But what use was a politician's silver tongue before the barrel of a gun? After a brief "demonstration of force" by the former suppression forces—now the revolutionary army—whose rage and hatred had reached their peak, the legislature fell silent.
Thereafter, "reforms" proceeded at a breakneck pace.
The National Normalization Supreme Committee was established to function as the de facto government. General Park Tae-seop assumed the role of Chairman, while Major General Lee Jin-hyuk became Vice Chairman.
The President resigned. The National Assembly dissolved. Both the presidency and the legislature had to be rebuilt from scratch.
However, a clash of opinions arose.
Thud!
"Transitioning to civilian rule? What on earth do you mean by that?!"
Vice Chairman Lee Jin-hyuk slammed his fist onto the table in a fit of rage. The impact was violent enough to rattle the entire desk, but Chairman Park Tae-seop, sitting across from him, remained perfectly composed.
"Yes. I intend to declare the transition to civilian rule in my upcoming address to the nation." Chairman Park Tae-seop took a sip of his coffee, completely unbothered.
"We have only just managed to set this country straight, and you want us to step down now?! This... this is wrong, Chairman!"
"Look here, Jin-hyuk. I think you are mistaken." Chairman Park took another sip of his coffee. "The military's role is to protect democracy, not to practice it. We merely borrowed this authority from the people for a short time. Now, we must return it to them."
"And if we return it? What on earth changes if we do?"
"We must let the citizens correct the nation themselves."
“...”
Vice Chairman Lee Jin-hyuk clutched his forehead. He took several deep breaths, desperately suppressing his rising fury.
"Chairman. No, Senior... no, Brother. Brother," he said, the words scraping out of his throat with immense effort. "Do you honestly believe those people can correct themselves?"
"I believe in civilian rule. The people have merely lost their way temporarily in the aftermath of the war. Once we step down and a new government and parliament are formed, the nation will return to the right path."
"What... what on earth are you saying? Right now..." Dumbfounded, Vice Chairman Lee Jin-hyuk ground his teeth so hard they creaked.
"Brother." He forced his voice down, speaking with cold, hard conviction. "Do you really believe those pigs and dogs can correct themselves?"
"Watch your mouth!" A flash of anger finally broke through Chairman Park Tae-seop's calm facade.
"You know it as well as I do, Brother! They are all the same. Birds of a feather. It might look quiet now, but it will go right back to how it was. The moment we step down, those exact same bastards will just put on a fresh coat of paint, pin on their badges, and take office again. Can you really tolerate that, Brother?"
Vice Chairman Lee Jin-hyuk leaned in close.
"Brother. This is the last chance given to Daehan. It is a heaven-sent opportunity for patriots like us to change this country. Are you really going to throw this away?"
"When soldiers think too much, the country becomes chaotic!"
"To hell with soldiers! To hell with civilians! Brother. Brother." Lee Jin-hyuk lowered his voice to a menacing whisper. "We are already rebels anyway. We are traitors. And you... you are no different. Are you trying to play the honorable soldier now?"
"Look here, Lee Jin-hyuk!"
"Am I wrong? The moment we turned our guns on the state, we became mutineers. Since we're already branded as traitors, what's the harm in going a bit further? Once we set the country straight, the people will see us in a different light!"
"I will not allow the military to sin against history any further. That is my final decision!"
"Fine, let's say we don't care what happens to us! We can take responsibility, step down, and let them execute us by firing squad or hanging! But what about our men? What about the subordinates who trusted us and turned their guns with us?! What happens to them?"
"I will take appropriate measures before I step down. You don't need to worry."
"Do you actually trust the words of politicians, Brother?"
"I must."
"You are far too naive, Brother." Lee Jin-hyuk fumed, his chest heaving. He forced himself to calm down, lowering his tone. "Then, how about this? Let's delay the transition to civilian rule for a few years. We can throw some random armed group in the North under the bus as a distraction, claim the situation is too unstable right now..."
"My brother."
"Yes, Brother."
"...How many times have I told you to leave your personal feelings out of this?"
“...”
"I understand your circumstances completely. But you are already crossing the line. 'Restrict women's right to vote,' 'Apply the death penalty for false accusations'... I heard those extreme words came from your mouth."
"Is any of it wrong?"
"...I think you need to cool your head. In any case, I have a good grasp of why you oppose the transition."
"You make it sound as if I oppose it just because I want to turn the world upside down."
"Yes."
“...”
"Regardless, do not try to shake state affairs with such personal feelings. Of course, I know the things you worry about are valid. I will discuss them with everyone and take appropriate measures, so do not worry too much."
"And then everything just goes back to the way it was?"
"...If that is what the people wish, then so be it."
"Brother."
"Yes, my brother."
"Even now, I see my son in my dreams every single day. I see him weeping tears of blood. Do you know what my boy says to me?"
“...”
"'Father, it's unfair. Father, I did nothing wrong. Father, why didn't you save me?'"
"...I understand your pain."
"No! Understanding isn't enough! You're right. It is a personal grudge. But until I tear this country apart and exact every last bit of this vengeance, this revolution cannot end. No, it will not end. Brother. Depending on what we decide..."
Vice Chairman Lee Jin-hyuk stared straight into Chairman Park Tae-seop's eyes.
"...the world might change, or it might not. What do you think, Brother?"
"You speak as if you hold a grudge against this entire nation."
"Do we not? Didn't both you and I come this far because we held a grudge against this country?"
"A handful of men cannot change everything."
"But we can shake it to its core!"
"...In any case, right is right, and wrong is wrong. Shaking state affairs for a personal vendetta is wrong."
"You're telling me this now?"
"My mind is made up. The transition to civilian rule will be announced in the next address to the nation. And... I am sorry, but there will be a reshuffling of the Vice Chairman position immediately afterward."
"You speak as if you are casting me aside."
"...Think of it as a long vacation. Don't worry. I will prepare a position for you in a related agency. Just think of it as a career change. You won't have to worry about making a living."
"Is it a demotion?"
"A promotion."
"No need to worry about making a living, you say..." Vice Chairman Lee Jin-hyuk chuckled dryly. "I don't even have a family left to feed anyway."
"You must live well so your family can rest in peace in the next world."
"I believe they will only rest in peace once their grudge is avenged."
"Which is exactly why I cannot leave you as you are."
“...”
The two men faced each other in heavy silence.
"I understand your intentions, Brother. In that case, I will begin preparing various things for the future."
"Yes. It won't be the military, but it will be a comfortable retirement."
"Comfortable... comfortable, indeed. One can only truly find comfort in death."
"Think of it as the soldier Lee Jin-hyuk dying, and the civilian Lee Jin-hyuk being born."
"I have never once imagined a life outside the military... but very well."
"Yes. I am sorry to have to deliver such news."
"No. It is I who became too emotional. If you will excuse me, I shall take my leave."
"Go on," Chairman Park Tae-seop granted permission.
Vice Chairman Lee Jin-hyuk calmly stood up. "Loyalty. I suppose I will miss this salute before long," he said, offering a crisp salute.
As he turned away, his eyes were sunken, cold as ice.
On the day of the scheduled address, Chairman Park Tae-seop was assassinated.
The culprit was publicly announced to be a "corset-free" radical feminist activist.
Lee Jin-hyuk, who had retained his position as Vice Chairman, immediately assumed the chairmanship.
The transition to civilian rule was quietly swept under the rug.
Chairman Park Tae-seop had been a savior and a hero to young men. The hero was dead.
When a hero dies, they become a martyr. A martyr becomes a political symbol. And a political symbol becomes powerful political momentum.
The reforms began to move in a slightly different direction.
"The Democratic Republic of Daehan will be born anew," Chairman Lee Jin-hyuk smiled.