An About-Face
Han Gi-jeong, the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, had a light spring in his step on his commute for the first time in a while.
He had finally dealt a blow to Lee Yun-hyeok.
The arrogant bastard dared to challenge the Governor.
Han Gi-jeong smirked.
For a politician like Lee Yun-hyeok, image was everything.
He had burst onto the political scene as a paragon of integrity and justice. The whiter the canvas, the more glaring a single drop of black ink becomes.
Ink splatters like these, for instance.
Lee Yun-hyeok: Boosting Performance, Making Citizens Cry
From Private Contracts to Supply Negotiations: Is This Acceptable for a Local Government?
Obsessed with Achievements, Leaving the People's Livelihood Behind
"This is going to sting."
Articles like these wouldn't end Yun-hyeok's political career, but the damage would be far from negligible.
In particular, it would make it difficult for him to eye the Gyeonggi Province governorship in the upcoming local elections.
Because in the midst of it all, Han Gi-jeong had subtly flipped the frame to score a point for himself.
— Gyeonggi Province Governor Han Gi-jeong, acknowledging the current situation in Mir City, announced that he will cooperate with the Ministry of National Defense to expedite the relocation of the 80th Infantry Division to its previously proposed new site.
The Governor of Gyeonggi Province cleaning up a mess made by the Mayor of Mir City in Mir City itself.
Ah.
What a beautifully clean picture. This was what it meant to be the head of a metropolitan government.
"Yun-hyeok, my boy. You're still ten years too early for this."
Han Gi-jeong chuckled as he walked into his office.
"Governor!"
But right then, before he could even sit down, his Chief of Staff stopped him.
He looked utterly horrified.
"A statement opposing the relocation of the 80th Infantry Division has just been released in Baekryeong-dong, Mir City!"
"That's to be expected. The military officers probably live in that neighborhood, right? But they're a minority anyway. The parent-teacher association has much more sway..."
"The parent-teacher association is the one leading the statement!"
"What?"
Han Gi-jeong's eyes narrowed.
"Did I hear you wrong?"
He literally couldn't believe his ears.
"Wait, didn't those people just form an 'Emergency Response Committee' last week?"
It was an organization formed upon hearing the news that the drone supply contract had made relocating the 80th Infantry Division extremely difficult. It was centered around the PTA, with Baekryeong-dong residents gathering for the sole purpose of condemning Mir City.
"But this statement was issued by that very Emergency Response Committee!"
"Explain it so it makes sense. What kind of nonsense is this?"
How could a hostile organization turn into an ally overnight?
"Is this North Korea? Unless they held them at gunpoint to force this statement, how does this make any sense..."
In a state of utter confusion, Han Gi-jeong hurried over to the secretariat.
An article by the Mir Shinmun was displayed on the monitor.
The meeting between the Emergency Response Committee and Mayor Lee Yun-hyeok, held on the 28th in the main conference room of Mir City Hall, concluded swiftly. Mir City announced that it proposed a public-private-military cooperation project, securing the unanimous support of the parents who form the core of the committee. Mayor Lee Yun-hyeok stated that this would serve as a new model for coexistence between military bases and local communities...
As he read the article, Han Gi-jeong felt his breath grow shallow.
A sudden wave of intense anxiety washed over him.
This was because of Gyeonggi Province's unique characteristics.
Gyeonggi Province is packed with military cities.
The northern regions of Gyeonggi—such as Yeoncheon, Pocheon, Dongducheon, and Paju—are border areas home to numerous front-line Army divisions, corps-level units, and training grounds. Pyeongtaek hosts the US Forces Korea base, which is considered one of the largest overseas US military installations in the world.
Seongnam has an Air Force base, the Special Warfare Command, and the Armed Forces Capital Hospital. Icheon houses the Joint Forces Military University, and Yangpyeong is home to special forces units.
Gyeonggi Province was a metropolitan municipality with so many military facilities that it could rival Gangwon Province, and the conflict surrounding the 80th Infantry Division in Mir City was not an isolated incident. Similar issues had occurred countless times in other local districts.
What did this mean?
Is he going to run around trying to sell this business model all over Gyeonggi Province?
If he wasn't careful, this could become Season 2 of Mir-yook-ah 365. Han Gi-jeong was suddenly terrified. This time, it wouldn't just involve private pediatricians; it might scale up to a full-blown joint venture with the Ministry of National Defense.
"Wait a minute."
Perhaps another institution, not just the Ministry of National Defense, would be involved.
The thought flashed through Han Gi-jeong's mind like lightning.
The Emergency Response Committee in Baekryeong-dong was centered around parents, and for those parents to pull a 180-degree turnabout meant...
"Contact the Provincial Office of Education right now. Ask if Gang Se-jin has heard anything! Hurry!"
"Governor."
One of the secretaries pointed at the monitor.
"Lee Yun-hyeok is doing a live broadcast..."
Han Gi-jeong rushed over to the computer.
"Hello, everyone. I am Lee Yun-hyeok."
Gang Se-jin, the Director General of Education, was experiencing a living hell.
"...Therefore, the root of the problem lies in the fact that as the outskirts of the city were developed, schools were relocated near the 80th Infantry Division."
Listening to the broadcast, his mouth went completely dry.
"Naturally, measures should have been prepared in advance considering the noise from military training. Unfortunately, it seems there was no prior agreement between the Provincial Office of Education and the Ministry of National Defense."
He was pointing out the Office of Education's hasty administration. He was making sure everyone knew where the responsibility lay, while positioning himself as the problem solver.
The 80th Infantry Division would provide students with special lectures on engineering, politics, ethics, and healthcare as a form of community support. They would also offer tours of high-tech equipment and even issue certificates of completion for the educational programs. There was a clear reason why the parents had pulled a 180.
How on earth did he pull this off?
Couldn't this cause serious issues with military security? How did the division commander make such a bold decision?
"I was told that installing soundproofing at the training grounds would require major construction anyway. Furthermore, a security system must be established to allow external students inside. So, I suggested that while we are at it, we should upgrade the military facilities and build welfare amenities for the soldiers as well."
The division commander had struck a deal with Lee Yun-hyeok.
They would design a separate visitor area within the base, controlling access with CCTV and security screenings.
And they would provide secure Wi-Fi and build tablet-based study rooms in this area. When there were no student tours, the soldiers could use the space to complete vocational training programs.
A reading cafe-style lounge would be newly established, and the cramped PX would be remodeled. The cafeteria's HVAC system, which made the place sweltering in the summer, would be overhauled to create a comfortable dining hall.
While they were at it, they decided to upgrade the barracks too: replacing all the windows that constantly let in bugs, installing individual booths in the communal showers, replacing the bed mattresses, and adding new workout equipment to the fitness zone.
"In truth, isn't this the kind of welfare they absolutely need? I believe the very notion of treating military bases as undesirable facilities is fundamentally wrong."
Lee Yun-hyeok spoke with conviction on the broadcast.
"We must recognize the hard work of these young men who sacrifice their youth for the safety of us all, and we must treat them accordingly."
"Even if Mir City had been unable to supply drones to the 80th Infantry Division, I would still have blocked the relocation of the military base. An infantry division is a valuable resource that can provide many benefits to local residents, and at the same time, it is a welfare recipient that the state must step up to care for."
"When the young men of the 80th Infantry Division complete their service and return to their hometowns, I will make sure they carry fond memories of Mir City with them. And I will ensure that when the citizens of Mir City meet the soldiers of the 80th Infantry Division, they welcome them with open arms instead of scowling."
"Mir City drives no one away."
"Relocating those schools... wasn't that your doing, Director Gang?"
Superintendent Gwon Hae-gon asked, clutching his throbbing head.
"Why on earth do you keep rushing into things and making my life so difficult?"
"I-I am terribly sorry..."
Gang Se-jin clenched his jaw.
"Look at this, Director."
The Superintendent showed him Lee Yun-hyeok's YouTube screen. The live broadcast had already ended, but the comment section was absolutely exploding.
The reason the Superintendent had such a massive headache was that half of the comments were criticizing the Office of Education.
"What do you think of this?"
The Superintendent buried his face in his hands.
"Director Gang. Given this atmosphere, do you have any idea what Lee Yun-hyeok is going to do next?"
"..."
Gang Se-jin hung his head low.
He knew as well.
Looking at Lee Yun-hyeok's track record from Doma Elementary until now, he was not a man who would ever miss an opportunity like this.
"Look at this."
The Superintendent showed him a document submitted that morning.
The Office of Education's budget could only be executed for educational purposes, so it couldn't be used to install soundproofing at a military base?
In that case, he would simply package it as "part of an educational program."
That psychotic yet brilliant idea was laid out perfectly inside the document.
"They claim that constructing a separate visitor center requires significant work, and they want us to share the construction costs. And since the visitor center is inside the base, they're asking us to cover the cost of installing soundproofing to block out training noise."
"Sigh..."
"After all, it's been submitted as an educational program, so how can we refuse? Especially in a public climate like this?"
Superintendent Gwon Hae-gon let out a deep sigh.
"Director Gang."
"..."
"How on earth did you handle this!"
The Superintendent slammed his hand on the desk.
A similar document was submitted to the Ministry of National Defense. Passing through the Barracks Environment Improvement Division at headquarters all the way to the Minister's desk, the document was, likewise, a request for funding.
The contents boiled down to three main points of logic:
1. Mir City prevented a base relocation that would have cost trillions of won.
Granted.
In fact, the relocation of the 80th Infantry Division was an issue that had already been outsourced for feasibility studies.
2. Mir City improved the image of a military base previously classified as an undesirable facility.
Granted.
This unique form of community support was receiving praise not just in Mir City, but nationwide.
3. So cough up the money to build welfare facilities for the soldiers!
"Of course we should give it to them."
Minister of National Defense Baek Seung-ho signed off on the approval.
Now, Yun-hyeok had managed to cover only 5% of the cost with the city's budget, shifting 65% of the burden onto the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and the Ministry of National Defense.
And as for the remaining 30%...
"Aaaaargh!"
Han Gi-jeong, the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, shrieked as he received the document.
"Aaaagh! That absolute lunatic!"
He broke yet another electronic cigarette.