Sponsorship Funds
Min-ho never made emotional judgments. And yet, using the word "trash" as his pretext, he was pressuring Candidate Kim.
"Let me say it one last time. If you don't get rid of Aide Han Cheong-o right here and now, this car's destination changes to Donam-dong."
It meant he'd support the rival candidate instead. Five hundred billion won—a sum no other company could match. With polls showing a razor-thin lead, securing that money would lock in first place for good. The power of money was beyond imagination. No matter how frontrunning a presidential candidate Kim was, Min-ho had flipped the dynamic from top dog to underdog in an instant.
On the surface, it looked like he was strong-arming the opponent. But his real intent was to drag things out, creating a clear picture for the angle. Thanks to that, employees hidden at various vantage points snapped away with their shutters, capturing Candidate Kim's every move. Photos of the money in the apple boxes, Min-ho, and Candidate Kim together. Now they had a sturdy rope around his neck.
Another goal was to excise the wart before it grew. If Aide Han Cheong-o tagged along to the Blue House, trouble would brew later. Min-ho wasn't acting on emotion. He was simply executing a meticulously prepared plan. Five hundred billion in sponsorship funds—and the aide's neck on the line.
Candidate Kim agonized for a long time but couldn't decide. "My grandson seems upset over what our aide said earlier. As a man, let me apologize on his behalf."
Min-ho didn't even respond. He turned and commanded his waiting staff, ramping up the pressure. "Everyone! Close the doors and start the engines!"
"Yes, young master!"
"One word from me, and five hundred billion heads to Donam-dong. Do you want JK Group's choice to go to your rival?"
"No... that's not..."
"I'm not a patient man. If you can't decide, I can do it for you. Bring the files, Executive Director Mun."
"Yes, sir."
Moon Sang-oh handed over the documents he'd prepared to Candidate Kim. As he scanned them, Kim Dong-il's pupils trembled like there was an earthquake.
"I've looked into Aide Han Cheong-o a bit. Man to man, I won't dig into his zipper secrets."
"How did you get this..."
"Did you know? Or did you not? Or did you know and let it slide?"
Candidate Kim didn't answer. With shaking hands, he hurriedly lit a cigarette.
"He took bribes to rig local district public works contracts for specific firms. One or two cases might've been swept under the rug, but this is beyond that."
He'd known about some of it, but the bigger scandals were news to him. The aide hung his head like a grave sinner, silent.
"What if this goes to your rival? Including these cars, of course."
No choice left. He appreciated Aide Han Cheong-o's loyalty, but he couldn't let the Blue House keys dangling before him slip away.
"Don't worry about the articles. We'll spin it as him heading home to spend more time with family."
His past actions flashed through the aide's mind—especially his words to Min-ho moments ago. No choice for him either. He collapsed to his knees in heaving sobs.
"Candidate, I'm sorry. Sorry to JK Group's young master too. Give me one chance, and I'll do anything you ask, even if it costs my life."
Min-ho didn't spare him a glance. Heading inside with Moon Sang-oh, he said, "I'll wait three minutes at the door. If he doesn't come in, I'm off to Donam-dong. With all the details on the aide, of course."
Once in the tiger's jaws, no choice remained. Candidate Kim stared at Aide Han Cheong-o for a long moment.
"Go your own way. You've worked hard all this time."
"Candidate, it's me, Han Cheong-o. You know how much I've served and slaved for you."
"I must've been drunk... trying to outfox Chairman Kang..."
"Candidate, please, one more chance."
Candidate Kim patted the aide's shoulder and turned coldly toward Min-ho.
"Candidate! Assemblyman Kim Dong-il!"
Crying and screaming changed nothing. It was too late.
"I've chosen JK. Shall we head inside now?"
Min-ho gestured to his staff. They shut off the engines in unison and stepped out again.
"Of course."
***
Moon Sang-oh checked that no one was outside the door before entering. As if warning Candidate Kim, he spoke up. "From now on, Young Master Kang Min-ho's words are the same as Chairman Kang Jin-gwang's. Keep that in mind."
Not Chairman Kang or even Executive Director Kang Du-seong, but Min-ho's arrival left Candidate Kim bewildered. He couldn't fathom it. One clear fact: real power now lay with Min-ho. Min-ho was as good as Chairman Kang Jin-gwang himself.
Candidate Kim forced a servile smile, trying to thaw the frosty atmosphere by opening the conversation. "I expected the chairman or Executive Director Kang Du-seong, not that his grandson would come. Never dreamed of it."
"Can I buy the president a drink two months from now?"
"Aigoo, what president? I'm just a candidate still."
"With JK Group's backing, it's as good as done."
"Your words alone mean the world. Thank you."
Min-ho filled Candidate Kim's glass and asked, "I hear you've been worried about campaign funds."
"Everything costs money. One speech at a rally runs tens of millions, plus staff wages and printing—it's like pouring water into a bottomless bucket."
"Our calculations say five hundred billion should cover it. What do you think?"
"We've spent less than that so far, and with two months left, it'd be more than enough."
"Good to hear. Mind if I ask why you chose JK over other companies?"
Candidate Kim downed his glass in one go and replied. "To be frank... other firms give peanuts but demand the moon. Not my mother-in-law, but they've been nitpicking since my assemblyman days—pure agony."
"What do you think our chairman will want?"
"He's helped me since my rookie days, so I know his straightforward nature. I cautiously guess he'll be different from the rest."
Now it was Min-ho's turn for the real talk. He slipped in the question smoothly. "What exactly are you thinking?"
"I'll spell it out after cabinet appointments. As JK Group grows, I'll back your construction in every region and telecom ventures to the hilt."
Was all this effort just for Min-ho to snag a few crumbs like that? Hardly. Min-ho's vision was on a scale no one could imagine. Any other executive would welcome it with open arms, but Min-ho's face stayed stone-cold.
"JK Group—Chairman Kang Jin-gwang specifically—has zero interest in dirty money. Let me make that clear."
This was a dream deal. He thought it sufficient, but Min-ho's expression didn't budge.
What could he want for five hundred billion? Candidate Kim couldn't guess. Desperate, he rambled on. "Considering my pledges and JK Group's needs..."
Min-ho didn't care to hear it. Before he finished, Min-ho cut to the chase. "Chairman Kang Jin-gwang wants just one thing."
"Yes. Whatever it takes, I'll do it."
Min-ho emptied the glass before him and spoke slowly. "Even if you become Blue House master, give JK Group no favors whatsoever. That's why Chairman Kang Jin-gwang is sponsoring you."
Bribes versus sponsorship. Handing over money was the same act. The difference—and what determined punishment—was the quid pro quo. Paying for favors made it a bribe. Ask for nothing, and it was just nominal support.
Chairman Kang's long-sought masterstroke from Min-ho. Moon Sang-oh, grasping it all, could only marvel.
On the surface, nothing demanded. But a sturdy iron leash already encircled Candidate Kim's neck—one Min-ho could yank anytime.
The goal had always been the leash, not the dirty money, as Min-ho put it. Short-term math screamed loss, but over five years, it flipped.
Of course, oblivious Candidate Kim could only panic. "No favors at all...? So five hundred billion is pure sponsorship?"
"Exactly. JK Group has been stifled by regulations and scrutiny, missing growth chances."
"I find that regrettable too."
"No special interests. But no regulations either. That's the chairman's will."
The shackles on Chairman Kang Jin-gwang's ankles. Min-ho had loosened the big ones, but petty rules lingered. JK Group never lacked cash. Free of red tape, it could sprout wings and soar.
If the government pulled regulations later? Yank the leash. Simple as that.
Candidate Kim, blind to the noose, asked, "That's really all?"
"Yes. A clean, corruption-free Korea—isn't that your slogan? We'll make sure you keep it. How about it?"
He'd figured tossing a few national projects would suffice, but once again, Chairman Kang's fangs sank in. Five hundred billion dangled before him. Reject it, and it went to the rival. He'd lose the presidency and end up a rotten egg in the Nakdong River.
No choice. Reject JK now, and all crumbled. The demands were straightforward. He had to grasp Chairman Kang's hand.
Grasp it, and he'd seize the lifelong prize: the presidency. No reason or excuse to refuse Min-ho's alluring offer. More hesitation was a luxury.
Candidate Kim shot to his feet, hand extended. "I accept the chairman's proposal."
"Wise choice. Thank you."
"Tell him I'll visit personally later."
"We'll send your car home once it's darker."
"Got it."
Min-ho tossed one final test question. "If today's events leak, what's your plan?"
No secret was perfect. It could slip somehow. Worst-case planning was essential. As the pressure peaked, Candidate Kim wet his parched throat with liquor and answered.
"It mustn't happen... but if it does, I'll take all the blame alone."
"Can I trust that?"
"Yes. I mean it."
One more issue: Aide Han Cheong-o, who'd just left. "Soseonjae staff, our people—no worries there. My only concern is Mr. Han Cheong-o."
"No matter how you cast him out, he's no backstabber."
"Absolutely not... How can you be so sure, Candidate?"
"We've been together over ten years..."
The worst scenario flashed in Candidate Kim's mind. If Han Cheong-o turned and blabbed, the presidency could slip away. Another choice loomed.
Loyalty built slow, shattered fast. He'd already deceived and pocketed dirty money—plenty of reason for Han to strike from behind. If during the next two months? Irreversible disaster.
The surest way to seal lips forever. Just one method.
Candidate Kim nodded resolutely. Min-ho, reading the meaning, probed gently. "Made your decision...?"
"To get here... I've poured everything in. I won't let one rat flip the table."
"I'll trust you. Fail to shut him up properly, and even as president, you'll face hell."
"Understood. Time for me to go."
The meeting ended. Candidate Kim climbed into the back seat with a grim face and left Soseonjae first.
Moon Sang-oh still seemed stunned. "Young master, I never expected that proposal."
"Who cares about scraping petty favors for pocket change? Strip the regulations and leash the president—what's better than that?"
"Indeed. I'll gather the staff."
At Moon Sang-oh's signal, secretarial staff emerged from the shadows one by one.
"Report."
"Captured Candidate Kim perfectly."
"Filming done as ordered."
Min-ho nodded and issued final orders. "Send the cars to his house in an hour. Print the photos now. I'll head to Seongbuk-dong first."
"Yes, sir. We'll leave as soon as it's done."
"Great work, everyone. Fat bonuses coming—if you keep your mouths shut."
Min-ho turned for his car. Moon Sang-oh and the staff bowed ninety degrees in unison.
Having leashed the presidential candidate, Min-ho sped straight to Seongbuk-dong where Chairman Kang awaited.