The Language of Power
“20.”
It was the question floating in everyone’s mind. What on earth could 20 mean? However, the answer was revealed quickly.
“When you applied here, you all confirmed one thing. That is the fact that you can be deployed to the front lines at any moment.”
Everyone nodded with stiff expressions. The people who came here had their own reasons, but those reasons were surprisingly similar. They couldn’t adapt to other jobs after discharge. They had been abandoned by their families. They were socially isolated. While there were rare cases of people who had acquired Soviet citizenship along with their families, most of them had personally thrown themselves into YK.
“In short, it means you have entrusted your lives to Mr. Guster.”
Everyone nodded. The reason they applied like this was solely because they trusted Guster. It was only natural that Guster’s sincerity, which he had endlessly demonstrated for retired U.S. soldiers, resonated with them.
“And I am the person responsible for your lives on behalf of Mr. Guster. And, this is a secret, but I am also his granddaughter’s husband.”
As Yoon-gi winked with one eye, everyone chuckled and laughed. In fact, they knew what kind of person Yoon-gi was. A chaebol who owned oil fields, a member who sponsored the meteorite destruction team, and on top of that, Guster’s son-in-law. Although they had been dissatisfied earlier because Guster didn’t take the podium, in this current atmosphere, there was no one who would hold a grudge against Yoon-gi. Of course, it was still not enough to feel affection.
“In the battles to come, I cannot dodge bullets for you or block them in your stead. Because, I am not a superhero.”
People giggled and laughed again. The atmosphere was gradually turning warm. In the midst of it, Yoon-gi drove the wedge in.
“However, I can take responsibility for the lives of the heroes who dodged those bullets—that is, your lives. If you serve in the PMC I operate for 20 years, you will be able to spend a comfortable life with your comrades in the ‘Silver Town’ that YK is building. Even if you end up smearing feces on the walls in your old age!”
The wit he intentionally mixed in at the end ignited hope in the people’s hearts.
If you serve for just 20 years, your retirement is guaranteed!
Cheers swept through the auditorium, and after the wave of cheering passed, Yoon-gi opened his mouth again.
“Everyone, do you know the characteristics of slaves in the old days?”
As the word ‘slave’ suddenly came out of Yoon-gi’s mouth, the Black personnel slightly frowned. This was the unavoidable sorrow of history. It was the same as how eyebrows would furrow if someone called them ‘Joseon-jing’ in front of Koreans. However, Yoon-gi quickly continued.
“In the old days, if slaves worked under their masters, the masters gave them a house to live in and food to eat. Huh? Doesn’t this sound familiar, my White friends?”
As White people were suddenly mentioned, the Black personnel felt intrigued, and the White personnel wore puzzled expressions.
“You guys also work hard to earn money, and you can only afford to rent a house and make a living with that money, right? How is this different from a slave?”
Laughter erupted in the auditorium again. The 1980s U.S. was a very difficult place for commoners to live. In Korea, the dream of ‘owning my own home’ had not yet been completely destroyed. Because, even if it was a house that was falling apart, one could still possess ‘my own home.’ At least, ‘for now.’ But it wasn’t like that in the U.S. There were countless people living on monthly rent in the U.S., and that was why the White personnel empathized deeply with Yoon-gi’s story.
“I will not treat you as slaves. If you serve for just 20 years, I will provide you with a house and quality meals for the rest of your life. I will also provide a separate pension. However, the ‘absolute salary’ itself, considering the exchange rate, might certainly be less than in the U.S.”
Originally, when saying things like this, it was necessary to bring up the bad news first. But Yoon-gi intentionally brought up the bad news later. That was to give the perception that ‘he is not calculating.’ In reality, the people accepted Yoon-gi’s sincerity.
“How little are you going to pay us?! Surely you won’t pay us so little that we can’t even buy a pack of gum, right?”
At the words of one of the people in the auditorium, laughter erupted again, and Yoon-gi opened his mouth with a smile.
“You will receive more than one-third of the average salary you received in the U.S. as your PMC salary. Of course, housing and meals are provided separately. You can just purely enjoy yourselves with that money.”
People did the math in their heads. Salary – Rent – Food expenses = ? No matter how they thought about it, they didn’t think the rent and food expenses in the U.S. would be lower than two-thirds of their salary. Moreover, the people here were those who had come to the PMC because it was hard to make a living. Therefore, they wore expressions of satisfaction instead.
“Surely you aren’t going to give us dog houses, right?”
“Of course not.”
As Yoon-gi shook his head, his bodyguard, Bill, came out and wiped the blackboard. And a photo appeared on the projection screen in the auditorium.
“This is your accommodation that is currently being prepared.”
A studio apartment with a separate kitchen. However, it was an 8-pyeong (approx. 285 sq ft) studio, twice the size of a typical one.
“This is the studio a Private will use.”
“Then, what about a Private First Class?”
At the question that came out again, Yoon-gi clapped once, and the photo changed. This time, it was a 10-pyeong studio.
“It increased by two pyeong. When you become a Sergeant, it increases to 14 pyeong.”
“Then, what happens to Non-Commissioned Officers and Officers?”
“In our PMC, you must serve until you are a Sergeant to choose between becoming an NCO or an Officer. Those who pass the NCO exam become NCOs, and those who pass the Officer exam become Officers. Naturally, the Officer accommodations are better. Because the exams are much harder.”
At Yoon-gi’s playful words, everyone burst into laughter again.
“Of course, this accommodation is not provided indefinitely. As will be announced soon, you will be going to specific regions, and you will be active centered around ‘Regional Defense Units.’ Therefore, you will basically be living in communal quarters. However, I will give you quarterly leave, and that is when you will be living here.”
Yoon-gi’s words continued.
“However, the moment you retire, you will acquire accommodation at least at the Sergeant level or higher. Surely there isn’t anyone here who won’t even be able to make Sergeant after serving for 20 years, right?”
Boisterous laughter spread through the auditorium. Before they knew it, they had set a goal to endure 20 years in Yoon-gi’s PMC by any means necessary.
‘Now, it should be fine, right?’
Yoon-gi, who had confirmed the people’s reactions, opened his mouth again.
“Everyone, before you become official PMC agents starting today, you will receive adaptation training with your comrades. Along with other comrades who arrived a few days earlier than you.”
At the mention of ‘other comrades,’ people looked around with expressions of ‘What is he talking about?’ However, there was no one in the auditorium except for themselves.
“Open the doors!”
Yoon-gi’s shout. Then, the auditorium doors opened, and 1,000 personnel from the Soviet Union and 1,000 Koreans appeared. All of them were the 1st batch of reserve agents who would be joining Yoon-gi’s PMC.
***
3,000 personnel. Yoon-gi put them into 8-pyeong accommodations in groups of three. One from the U.S. military, one from the Soviet Union, and one from Korea. However, unexpectedly, there were no accidents in the accommodations.
[Everyone here is someone who has experienced war.]
The U.S. military veterans were from the Vietnam War. The Korean military veterans were also from the Vietnam War. Then, what about the Soviets? None other than the Soviet-Afghan War. Participants of the war that lasted from 1979 to 1989, which, along with Chernobyl, collapsed the Soviet Union, had entered Yoon-gi’s PMC.
The Soviet-Afghan War, which was still ongoing in 1986. Those who had been discharged after serving there were prioritized for selection for this PMC. That was why these three people struggled to convey their experiences to each other, even using hand and foot gestures. However, perfect communication was impossible. As night fell, they fell asleep, soothing the regret of communication, and the next morning, they heard surprising news.
[Hangul Mandatory]
***
“Chairman, currently the world’s common language is English. In such a situation, wouldn’t it be unreasonable to use Hangul as the common language in the PMC?”
At Kang Seok-ho’s words, Yoon-gi shook his head.
“That is exactly why we must use Hangul even more.”
“Pardon?”
Yoon-gi continued his explanation to Kang Seok-ho, who still didn’t understand.
“Currently, our YK is wielding immense influence over the Soviet Union. Most Soviet citizens are at the level where they all want to work in factories under our YK.”
Yoon-gi’s words were true. Although they hadn’t been able to hire many personnel yet, the Soviet people’s envy of YK was at its peak. That was why every time YK hired personnel, people would run to him, asking to be picked. Of course, they were using the Soviet language at construction sites for safety, but still.
“Before we officially deploy the PMCs, we have enough time to train them. In a word, isn’t it the perfect time to unify their languages? Secretary Kang, when a Korean, a Soviet, and an American gather, which language do you think is best to teach?”
Kang Seok-ho realized that the answer was already decided. So, rather than questioning it, he decided to answer.
“Korean.”
However, Yoon-gi burst into light laughter.
“Pfft, Secretary Kang is quick-witted as expected. You answered Korean even though it was obvious you weren’t convinced, that’s like you, Secretary Kang.”
Yoon-gi continued his explanation to Kang Seok-ho, whose face had turned slightly red.
“As Secretary Kang will find out if you study it in detail, Korean is the easiest to learn up to a certain stage. Of course, I’m not teaching Hangul simply because it’s easy to teach.”
“Do you have a deeper meaning?”
“The more people who use a language, the more power that script has. I don’t want Koreans to waste time learning unnecessary foreign languages.”
“Uh… if you only succeed, you might become the greatest person in Korean history.”
Yoon-gi shrugged his shoulders.
“Anyway, if you just follow the U.S., you can never surpass the U.S. We have to build our own independent force. 40 million Koreans, 300 million Soviets, and other countries we will combine in the future. If over 500 million people use Hangul, we could create ‘our own standard,’ right? That is the world I am dreaming of.”
Kang Seok-ho was genuinely impressed by Yoon-gi.
“Somehow, I think it’s possible if it’s you, Chairman.”
“We have to make it possible. The number of language users is national power. The Soviet language is difficult to learn, and increasing the number of people who learn English only increases the power of the U.S. To increase Korea’s power, we must teach Hangul. And, Hangul is, in any case, relatively easy to learn to the level of an average person among languages.”
“The value of Hangul in the PMC will become very important.”
“That’s right. Because the NCO exams and Officer exams will be given in Hangul.”
“If that happens, I think many people will learn Hangul in advance to join the PMC.”
“Later, I will make Hangul mandatory for all businesses under YK, not just the PMC.”
Perhaps, if a Soviet or American heard this now, they would have burst out with countless complaints. However, the one holding the sword now was Yoon-gi, a Korean. A future where at least 350 million people used Hangul, just calculating Korea and the Soviet Union, was approaching.
Choi Deok-bae’s mutterings flowed into Yoon-gi’s ears.
***
3rd day of the PMC agents’ communal training. Since there were 3,000 people, they were divided into groups of 60 and received training in 50 classrooms. And one word written on the blackboards of the 50 classrooms.
Ghoti
“Everyone, how do you read this word?”
The teacher selected by YK was clearly speaking in Korean, but it was possible to deliver it to all the students. Because the class president and vice president of each class were in charge of those who were bilingual, including Hangul. Thanks to that, even though the education speed was slow, Hangul-centered education was possible, and many people who could speak English answered in unison.
However, the teacher smiled and shook his head.
“Everyone, you are wrong. The way to read this word is Fish.”
An opportunity had arisen for everyone to want to learn Hangul.