Solidarity, Part 2
Yun-hyeok's channel wasn't growing as explosively as before, but it was still steadily climbing. Treating her to those meals had certainly paid off.
Recently, Ji Hye-min had edited two videos for him. One was an overview of his "Public Housing Consolidation Policy."
It explained the exact nature of the policy Lee Yun-hyeok was currently pushing forward.
While public facilities built by government agencies were typically limited to daycares and senior centers, the Beomdol District project allowed for the introduction of premium amenities usually found only in brand-new luxury apartments, achieved by having local residents share a small portion of the maintenance fees.
The plan was to streamline administrative zoning with an incredibly reasonable budget, drastically improve the living environment, and universally elevate the welfare of the local residents.
And the second video was...
It was a video of him negotiating with the gathered residents of Beomdol District.
"If cooperation is going to be this difficult, we'll have no choice but to move the pilot project to another district."
That scene was the absolute highlight.
The exact moment everyone fell dead silent.
To Yun-hyeok, the comments marveling at how he had managed to pull off such a compromise in such a short time felt a bit quaint.
After all, to him, this was an incredibly easy negotiation.
A truly difficult negotiation was something like hammering out a trade deal with the President of the United States in the middle of a global tariff war, or executing a tens-of-trillions-of-won corporate merger that decided the very survival of a conglomerate.
Yun-hyeok was a man who had done exactly those things in his first and second lives.
"At any rate, despite the successful negotiations in Beomdol District, various suspicions and allegations continue to be raised lately," Yun-hyeok said, starting a live broadcast.
"So, to verify these allegations, we've decided to gather in Beomdol District today. If any of our viewers are curious, you are more than welcome to come and watch the process in person."
The viewers in the live chat were thoroughly excited.
In truth, Yun-hyeok was feeling a bit excited himself.
Today was going to be a fun day.
[ PROTECT BEOMDOL DISTRICT! ]
[ REDEVELOPMENT BROKERS, GET OUT! ]
[ ARREST DAESAN E&M! ]
On the way into Beomdol District, a crowd of protesters caught his eye. As expected, the combat power of the Raymi Castle residents was formidable.
Yeon Hui-cheol was nowhere to be seen.
He had probably stayed away out of sheer terror.
Instead, representatives from Daesan E&M Co., Ltd.'s business division had arrived, but...
"Hey, you sons of bitches!"
"You stripped our apartment clean, didn't you?!"
"The contractor said they'd fix the landscaping! You guys install the landscape lighting!"
"Replace the windows again!"
They were completely cornered, unable to budge under the fierce grip of the Raymi Castle residents.
"My goodness, what on earth is happening over there..."
The Beomdol District residents who favored redevelopment were utterly dumbfounded by the shocking turn of events.
"Why is Raymi Castle here?"
"What did Daesan E&M strip from them?"
"They say those guys took over the union at Yeok-dong Raymi Castle and pocketed massive kickbacks."
As the whispers rippled through the crowd, the middle-aged woman from Miso-jieum Villa gasped in shock.
"Does that mean we would have...?"
Shortly after, amidst the chaotic atmosphere, the safety evaluation re-inspection commenced.
The city hall had recalled the firm that had awarded a 'B' grade during the previous year's detailed safety diagnosis.
The Mir Safety Diagnosis Technology Institute.
They, too, were a private firm.
It was legally impossible for the city hall to conduct detailed diagnoses directly, and they lacked the specialized expertise anyway, so the Urban Housing Bureau contracted the work out.
In essence, it was a clash between two private evaluation firms, and the Mir Safety Diagnosis Technology Institute was absolutely furious.
"Are you seriously calling this a 'severe crack' in your report?"
The recent, persistent noise surrounding the 'D' grade was, after all, a direct assault on their professional credibility.
"You call this a severe crack?"
The crack on the exterior wall that the Institute's evaluators were pointing at was actually just a minor spalling where some old concrete had chipped off.
"Well... yes..."
The engineers from Dojeong ENG stammered, visibly flustered.
Behind them, the rapid-fire shutter clicks of reporters' cameras filled the air.
"In your photos, you tilted the camera angle and zoomed in to make it look like some catastrophic fissure. Is this how Dojeong does business?"
"Looking at it again, this crack seems to be fine..."
"You had to look at it twice to realize that? Unbelievable, truly."
"..."
"You gave Shinhwa Parkville a 'D' grade, claiming there was an issue with the load distribution of the foundation structure."
"T-That is correct."
"Did you extract core samples?"
"No..."
"Then did you perform non-destructive testing?"
"Not exactly..."
"Then on what basis did you evaluate it as a 'D'?"
"Well, the exterior deterioration was quite severe, so..."
The Institute engineers burst out laughing.
"Can you see how the load is distributed within a building's internal frame with the naked eye?"
"What, do your eyes shoot ultrasound waves?"
"How can you call that an inspection!"
As the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, Yun-hyeok stepped in to placate the engineers.
"Gentlemen, let's not let emotions get the better of us. We aren't here to assign blame today; we are here to record accurate data."
Yun-hyeok led the engineers and citizens from building to building, conducting the safety diagnosis.
All while broadcasting live through Jo Hyeon-seo's camera.
The results were confirmed before long.
[ SAFETY DIAGNOSIS RESULTS ]
Out of 13 buildings: 4 rated Grade A, remaining rated Grade B.
General aging is present, but the structures do not qualify for redevelopment.
Case closed.
As soon as the results were announced, the Daesan E&M employees scrambled to flee, calling Yeon Hui-cheol to report that Beomdol District was a lost cause.
The Raymi Castle residents chased after them, screaming for them to bring out their CEO.
And the residents of Beomdol District...
"Whoo-hoo!"
"Thank goodness!"
"I thought we'd have to move all the way to Jungang-dong."
Some cheered, while others looked rather despondent.
The former were homeowners who couldn't afford reconstruction costs, or tenants. The latter were those who had pinned their hopes on redevelopment.
For the pro-redevelopment faction, their expectations had been shattered, leaving them bitter, yet they were also deeply unsettled by the shocking truth about Daesan E&M.
While redevelopment brokers deserved to be crushed, these residents were still citizens whom a local government leader had to care for.
After all, wasn't the greed of the woman from Miso-jieum Villa just a very ordinary, working-class desire?
"Everyone."
As the crowd dispersed, Yun-hyeok gathered only the residents of Beomdol District.
"I see that some of you are overjoyed by today's results, while others are deeply disappointed."
"..."
"To those who truly wished for redevelopment..."
Yun-hyeok bowed his head slightly.
"I am sorry."
A politician is not a judge or a prosecutor. Simply punishing the wicked and enforcing justice is not enough.
A politician must be able to comfort and soothe the citizens.
No policy can ever satisfy every single person involved in a web of conflicting interests. That is why, even in redevelopment, a union can be established with the consent of just 75% of the local property owners. The project pushes forward even if 25% resist.
But if possible, I want to design policies that satisfy everyone.
The tenants of Beomdol District, the rental business owners, the actual resident homeowners, the retired elderly, the students, and the young parents who commute to work and leave their children at the Raymi Castle daycare.
Even if no single person is 100% satisfied, I want to create a policy where everyone can be 80% satisfied.
And I want to create policies that satisfy not just Beomdol District, but also Yeok-dong Raymi Castle, Durim-myeon, and ultimately, the entirety of Mir City.
To achieve this, the execution of our budget and the implementation of our administration must be fair, transparent, and intelligent. Even a small budget, when used efficiently, can yield immense utility.
Some people ask me this:
"If we need public facilities, why not just build them? Why push through such a tedious policy like consolidation?"
To be completely frank, from the city hall's perspective, simply erecting a single daycare center is far easier. It is much simpler than gathering five hundred residents every weekend to forge a compromise and fighting with the city council to push a policy through.
Yet, there is a reason we insist on this approach.
First, it is to provide you with amenities that the city hall's general welfare programs cannot easily offer, such as security booths and shared storage lockups. Second, it is to restore the local community of Beomdol District.
Are you aware that redevelopment brokers have already purchased fourteen properties in Beomdol District and split the deeds to inflate their numbers to over fifty residents?
If redevelopment had proceeded here, those people would have seized control of the union, just as they did at Yeok-dong Raymi Castle.
They would have taken kickbacks from construction companies and made backroom deals, handpicking window, landscaping, and lighting contractors of their own choosing.
We have enacted ordinances to monitor these issues, but the most powerful watchdog to stop them is actually you.
Only the united strength of the local residents can prevent outsiders from playing games with your lives. It is the only way to ensure you can exercise your rights in the most righteous and swift manner.
I am not asking you to suddenly become best friends with strangers. I know all too well how difficult that is in modern society.
However, when a crisis arises, if you ask for help in a group chat of five hundred residents, someone will surely step up to help.
Whether it is sharing items you no longer use, needing fever reducers when your child suddenly falls ill, or dealing with someone repeatedly parking illegally in your spot.
You need an infrastructure that allows you to help yourselves in various situations. The city hall is the entity responsible for building that welfare infrastructure.
Please allow me to build that here in Beomdol District. Even if no single person among you is 100% satisfied, I will make sure every one of you is at least 80% satisfied.
Since she didn't have to work on Saturdays, Hanjun's mother could spend plenty of time with her baby.
Usually, she would stay cooped up inside, but lately, she found herself going out much more often.
This was because a daycare center and its accompanying playground had been built right across from Eunsung Town.
She now left her baby here before heading to work.
A small security booth had also been set up next to the playground.
Originally, a private management firm was supposed to run the booth, but after a discussion in the community group chat, the policy was slightly adjusted.
This was because several elderly residents, including the grandfather from Sohyun Villa, had volunteered to take turns patrolling the area themselves.
"Hello there."
Thanks to this, Hanjun's mother had grown close enough to exchange warm greetings with a few of the local seniors, even though she still barely knew most of the other residents and remained somewhat awkward around them.
"This actually looks nicer than Raymi Castle."
The representative of Building 103 said.
She was sitting on a bench in front of the Beomdol Daycare playground alongside Hanjun's mother.
"Oh, no, it's not that much. I'm sure the ones built by brand-new apartments are much better."
"Still, having a manned security booth right next to us feels a lot safer than some Quad-HD security cameras..."
Hearing that, Hanjun's mother thought she might have a point.
"They really did a beautiful job with this place."
The representative said, scanning the transformed scenery of Beomdol District.
The newly paved roads and reorganized parking spaces offered plenty of room. It wasn't an underground garage, but the street-level parking was exceptionally neat.
A recycling station had been installed near Moa Chere Ville and Best Village.
The alleyways, once cluttered and filthy with trash bags piled up outside every house, were now adorned with fresh, clean landscaping.
The streetlights had been repaired and reinstalled, and a neat fence now lined the perimeter of the district.
Although the senior welfare center, the fitness center, and the library were still under construction.
"Did you get a shared storage lockup too?"
"It's right over there."
One had been installed next to Shinhwa Parkville and another by Dream Town. The middle-aged men who enjoyed golf or fishing were making particularly good use of them.
"I don't really use it. I don't have much stuff to store."
"Doesn't a baby come with a ton of things?"
"Since it's just the two of us at home, we have plenty of empty space."
Hanjun's mother said with a smile.
"Mmh."
The Building 103 representative cleared her throat. Glancing around subtly, she carefully broached the main topic.
"Well, it's not exactly a housewarming, but I guess you could call this a neighborhood-warming visit."
She gently slid forward a shopping bag she had brought along.
"The residents of Building 103... they all felt incredibly sorry. I suppose they felt a lingering regret once you actually left. Honestly, I don't quite understand them either."
"..."
"To be honest, I'm not sure if we even have the right to give you this... but still, would you please accept it?"
"...Thank you."
Hanjun's mother accepted the shopping bag.
Inside were several sets of baby clothes.
The representative wrapped her arms around her shoulders and gave her a warm hug.