The Backlash
It had become something that could no longer be called a debate.
For a debate to function, there had to be opposing panels representing both sides of a given topic.
But by the midway point, the industry representatives had completely lost their will to fight.
They spent the latter half of the broadcast simply listening to Lee Yun-hyeok's lecture on the childcare products market, and by the end, they were all laughing together, discussing ways to further refine Mir City's policies.
It went something like this:
"If the city hall receives products through a public bidding process, how can we ensure consumer demand is reflected?"
"What if we let companies promote their upcoming products on Mir Childcare 365 and hold citizen votes?"
"How about running a trial group by providing some products for free?"
"Let's make all public bidding results completely transparent. That will reduce friction between companies and prevent corruption among city officials."
The anchor tried desperately to steer the broadcast back to its original premise of a pros-and-cons debate, but failed. The panelists sitting there were not political pundits.
In the end, the broadcast wrapped up with everyone cheerfully agreeing, "Let's make this policy a success!"
After exchanging polite farewells, Yun-hyeok stepped out of the studio. Jo Hyeon-seo was waiting for him.
"Did you wait long?"
"Mayor... the broadcast was absolutely insane..."
Hyeon-seo showed him his smartphone screen, which was displaying KTBC's YouTube live stream. Although the broadcast had already ended, the comment section was still on fire.
"I scanned the parenting and political communities before you came out, Mayor."
As they walked to the car, Jo Hyeon-seo showed him the opinions on those online forums as well.
The public opinion was heating up at an extraordinary speed.
Because the establishment parties and major media outlets had fanned the flames and poured oil on it, they had brought this upon themselves.
When the backlash hits, they will be the ones caught in the firestorm.
"Public intervention in the private market is an act that shakes the very foundation of a free market economy," National Assemblyman Kim Gun-young had written in his column.
Now, the comment section of that column was in complete chaos.
Hanmin Party Assemblyman Go Hae-sik's column, titled "We cannot tolerate local governments throwing away citizens' tax money as they please," was also flooded with critical comments.
"Did you see that?"
Gyeonggi Province Governor Han Gi-jeong let out a heavy sigh of relief, brushing his hand over his chest.
Then he shouted at his incompetent staff.
"Did you see that?!"
Lee Yun-hyeok was currently receiving nationwide support on this issue.
The fatigue and burden of premium baby products had accumulated across the nation, and Lee Yun-hyeok had struck a nerve.
By emphasizing that his policy was the solution to that problem, he argued that devising and pushing for such solutions was exactly what a politician was supposed to do.
That statement was also a highly calculated political move. He positioned himself as the solver of this long-standing problem while branding the politicians who attacked him as incompetent, lazy, and guilty of dereliction of duty.
Thanks to this, the politicians who had jumped on the bandwagon to throw shade at him were now facing their karma.
Of course, this wouldn't end their political careers, but if Han Gi-jeong had actually gone through with the provincial audit...
"Then my political career really could have been in jeopardy."
It would have acted as a massive risk in the gubernatorial election. During the campaign, Lee Yun-hyeok's side would have attacked him with questions like: "Why did you launch a provincial audit on such a good policy?", "Was that audit appropriate?", "There were absolutely no legal issues, so wasn't it just political sabotage?" This would have heavily impacted Han Gi-jeong's approval ratings.
"We are sorry..." the aides hung their heads in shame.
"Anyway, I'm glad we barely dodged it," Han Gi-jeong said. "Though I am worried that Lee Yun-hyeok has grown too big."
With this single debate, he had literally established himself as a national politician.
He had been gaining a reputation here and there before, but this was different.
Instead of just a specific group, a massive public awareness of the industry's deep-seated issues—something felt directly by the entire nation—was translating into support for Lee Yun-hyeok.
To Yun-hyeok, there was something just as important as his work.
Reclaiming his family. Even if he succeeded in stopping the demographic collapse within the ten-year limit, if he lost Hye-min... and thus lost the children of his second and third lives...
Honestly, Yun-hyeok couldn't bear that. He wouldn't have the strength to focus on politics in such a state.
"Hye-min."
Fortunately, for a regressor with overwhelming experience and knowledge, wooing his wife was far too easy.
"Would you like to have dinner together?"
The summer vacation period, while she was staying in Mir City, was the perfect opportunity! It felt a bit sly, but he had no choice.
Yun-hyeok often called Hye-min out after work or on weekends. Fortunately, she came out every single time.
She had sensitive skin, so she usually carried a parasol on hot summer days.
Today, however, she had forgotten it and came out empty-handed.
"The sun is too strong."
Yun-hyeok opened an umbrella he had in his car.
"Ah...!?"
Did your heart flutter a bit?
After getting into the car, his phone, connected via Bluetooth, played a YouTube music track.
He had prepared it in advance.
It was the theme song of a children's anime about legendary magic.
"...!"
It was a song Ji Hye-min loved.
She used to watch it when she was a child, and she said listening to this music made her feel happy for some reason.
"Y-you listen to this music...?"
However, it was a bit too kitschy to be played from the phone of a thirty-two-year-old local government head, so she was flustered.
"I heard it while researching some children's toy materials, and it popped up on YouTube. Must be the algorithm."
It was true that he had listened to it while researching materials and the algorithm had picked it up. Though this time, he had played it intentionally.
"You're a really fascinating person, Mayor," Hye-min said as they drove. "You're probably the only politician who researches children's toys..."
"Should I change the music?"
"N-no." Her face turned red. "It's a song I like."
Lunch was her favorite: kalguksu and pork cutlet.
But the kalguksu couldn't be spicy.
She was a total lightweight when it came to spicy food.
In fact, Yun-hyeok wasn't good with spicy food either.
After the meal, they went to a cafe.
When ordering his drink, Yun-hyeok intentionally targeted Ji Hye-min's taste.
She preferred this over coffee.
"Oolong tea, with aloe pearls, zero sweetness, regular ice."
"...!"
Behind him, Ji Hye-min gasped in surprise.
"You should choose too, Ms. Hye-min."
"I-I'll have the exact same..."
How is it, Hye-min?
Are you starting to feel like this is destiny?
"When do you graduate, Ms. Hye-min?"
"Next February."
"Not long left."
"You have the local elections next June too, right, Mayor?"
"That's right."
"I'll work hard on editing the videos."
"Don't overdo it. I'd feel bad."
Her internship had actually been extended. Because she was so good at her job, Agronex had practically begged her to stay.
"The Doma Elementary School remodeling, the Agronex Smart Farm, and your YouTube channel. I want to bundle them together into a portfolio."
"That's a great idea. But where do you plan to get a job?"
For college seniors preparing for employment, this was always the biggest concern.
Hye-min had strategically interned at the startup Agronex, but she was actually aiming for major conglomerates.
"Wherever I go, I'll make sure to keep editing your YouTube channel. I've almost finished editing today's debate too."
"Would you be interested in taking full charge of policy PR at city hall instead?"
Hye-min smiled and shook her head.
What stubbornness!
She didn't want to inject something as dry as an employment contract into her relationship with Yun-hyeok. That was why she refused.
Yun-hyeok could fully understand her feelings.
Then how about this proposal?
"Ms. Hye-min."
"Yes?"
"If I start a political party, would you join?"
"Pfft!"
Ji Hye-min choked on her oolong tea, covering her mouth.
"Would you be our very first party member?"
No matter how outstanding a political superhuman's performance is, it is not easy for an individual to overcome a structural national crisis like the low birth rate.
Especially with a tight ten-year time limit.
Administrative power has limits, and policies disappear with the administration.
But if there is a superhuman political party instead of just a superhuman politician, it might be possible.
A political party organizes and structures the scattered opinions of voters by policy lines.
It guarantees the durability and continuity of policies.
And it acts as a filter in the political arena, nurturing and verifying talent.
The flower of democracy is party politics.
"Both of the existing major parties will have difficulty achieving what I want. I want to create a new political party."
In any romance story in the world, there probably wouldn't be a flirtation as madly intense as this.
"Let's build a political party together."