Power & Sex, and... 32
Becoming president in one's early forties wouldn't be easy, but it wasn't an impossible dream either. In a democracy, getting elected president came down to winning the support of the majority of the people—age and status had nothing to do with it.
That meant my first task was to transform our party—the one I'd lean on as a presidential candidate—into a force that enjoyed widespread public backing. Once that was done, I'd position myself as the party's nominee, facing off one-on-one against the ruling party's candidate, armed with the trust of the masses to secure victory.
The party's overhaul would kick off with a party convention to replace the leadership. In parallel, it was time to strategize how I could build trust and support from the public as a politician. In truth, the approach was surprisingly simple.
Constant exposure on TV and newspapers for the elderly and housewives, SNS for the young—that's all it would take for "Assemblyman Park Maru" to seep into the public's minds. Then, at the right moment, ignite it, and the game would be over.
To make it real, no one was more crucial than Kim Sil-jang, who'd handled media since my days as Hwang's secretary, alongside Jeong-ah. I need to bring Jeong-ah up to Seoul on Tuesday, he thought.
"Where are you right now?"
"You home already, achi?"
"Nah, still in Seomyeon."
"Me too. Having dinner and coffee with Unnie Eun-mi and Jeong-ah."
"Oh yeah? What then?"
"What do you mean? Just come over here."
They weren't far. A small coffee shop across from the Korea Electric Power building in Seomyeon. He took the covered road toward Jeonpo-dong and headed there.
"Achi~ Come on in. You got here fast!"
"Honey, have a seat."
"Oppa, you're down!"
He sat amid the three women's warm(?) welcome. Jeong-ah dashed to the counter to order coffee and returned.
"Achi, cute, right?"
"Yeah, real cute. Where'd you get it?"
"Unnie Eun-mi gave it to me. She bought one for herself and grabbed ones for me and Jeong-ah too."
"Lucky. Some people get all the gifts. So when'd you get down?"
"This afternoon. Came for some governor business, thought I'd see Ara and Jeong-ah before heading back."
"Tomorrow's a holiday anyway, so crash in Busan tonight?"
"Yeah, Unnie? Let's hang out tomorrow. I took the day off 'cause Achi's coming down."
Ara lit up at his words, pleading with Eun-mi to stay. Eun-mi feigned seriousness, then beamed and agreed, shooting him a sly smile. Once again, he and Eun-mi had lied to Ara. But confessing they'd spent last night together? She wouldn't show it, but it'd unsettle her. No helping it.
"Hey, Jeong-ah, you busy Tuesday?"
"Nah, Oppa. What's up?"
"Yeah, come to Seoul for a meeting."
"Why, Achi? Something going on?"
Eun-mi stayed quiet, but Ara, unable to contain her curiosity, asked why he needed Jeong-ah in Seoul.
"Yeah. Need to beef up the SNS side."
He laid out the current situation and his broad plans ahead. Ara and Jeong-ah, clueless about politics, stared wide-eyed at his mouth. Eun-mi nodded steadily, occasionally frowning seriously as his explanation rolled on.
"But honey, who all knows about this plan?"
"Just Assemblyman Seo for now."
"Dad?"
"Chairman Lee probably suspects. Last time I saw him, I hinted, and he said funding's on him."
"He'll handle it fine, but keep it airtight. Gag orders on anyone involved."
"Obviously. Fewer who know, the safer."
Eun-mi grasped political undercurrents fast—years as Hwang's wife, or maybe the chaebol air she'd breathed her whole life.
"Oppa, so what do I need to do?"
"Nothing major changes. Meet Seo Dong-beom's cousin who ran his online campaign, get him on board. Same for future assemblymen's online handlers. Build our force online too."
"Some solid folks in our cafe already. What about them?"
"What about 'em? You manage 'em tight. Call me if you need backup."
"Got it, Oppa."
"Jeong-ah, your workload's ramping up. Line up reliable guys you can summon anytime."
"Yes."
After briefing Jeong-ah, Eun-mi spoke up.
"What if we get Suji to join the fan cafe?"
"Too obvious?"
"So what? Sign her up, have her post occasional hellos. Jeong-ah picks a date for an offline meetup, Suji shows—boom, surprise effect."
"Hash it out with Jeong-ah, get Suji's okay."
"Deal. If it pops off, seed more of our kids starting with her close friends. Hype it naturally."
"Whoa~ Unnie, that'd blow up."
"Right?"
"Totally. Suji's fans are no joke."
Eun-mi and Jeong-ah got fired up, chattering about the cafe's future. Ara smiled, listening in.
"Ara, post in the cafe sometimes too?"
"I'm no good at writing."
"Pfft, good or bad—who cares? Just spill what's in your heart."
"Yeah, Unnie. Your election posts killed it."
True. During the campaign, Jeong-ah's shots of Ara in the kitchen or greeting voters—her cute, pure vibe—drew massive young voter buzz.
Even on his Busan rounds with Ara, elders clutched her hand: "So young, why put up with this hardship?" She struck them as a granddaughter or daughter. Ara seemed born to be a politician's wife.
Anyway, online needed more focus. For the fan cafe to feel grassroots, appointing Jeong-ah as a National Assembly secretary might backfire.
"But is it okay keeping Jeong-ah in the secretary's office long-term?"
Eun-mi voiced his exact worry. He'd pondered it before, but Jeong-ah loved her title, so he'd held back. Perfect timing—watch her reaction.
"Why would it be a problem?"
"The cafe's supposed to be volunteer-driven. If members learn she's your secretary, won't it stir drama?"
"Cross that bridge when it comes. Why worry now?"
He played it cool, but Eun-mi looked genuinely concerned. Jeong-ah eyed her intently.
"Hire her at my company? With Suji and our kids joining soon, it'd look natural."
Eun-mi pushed to settle it. He couldn't urge Jeong-ah himself, so he waited silently.
"What do you think, Jeong-ah?"
Eun-mi went straight for it.
"Whatever's best for Oppa."
"There. She works with me at Ara Entertainment or Daesan's PR, handles the cafe on the side."
"Then we need her a place in Seoul."
"Nah. If she's cool with it, she can live with me. Better than me alone—we can lean on each other."
And so Jeong-ah's path was set. She nodded happily after details, especially Ara, whose face brightened at Jeong-ah bunking with Eun-mi.
From Ara's view, better Jeong-ah tagging along in Seoul than him alone with Eun-mi. She was his wife first, politician's spouse second.