The February Democratic Uprising (1)
The air in the interrogation room froze instantly. Baek Seo-hong was so stunned that his entire body went rigid. JSD felt yet another wave of disappointment at JD’s behavior—the man was so quick to discard the very person he had tasked with all his dirty work. Even Choi Ki-hyun, who knew through JSD that JD had ordered the hit on Choi Cheol-min, stood there in silence. Yet, JD maintained an air of complete nonchalance.
"Your Excellency, how could you do this to me……."
Baek Seo-hong had no leverage left to threaten JD. Because Yoon-gi had already raided and dismantled the welfare center before Baek could prepare any insurance to pressure the President. JD had predicted this outcome, which was precisely why he had decided to abandon Baek Seo-hong entirely.
'If I acknowledge any connection to this bastard now, I don't know what will happen to my relationship with Chairman Choi. I must maintain my ties with him, if only for the sake of this year's presidential election.'
The domestic chaebols had already lost their former influence. In such a climate, the only card that guaranteed a successful presidential election was, without a doubt, YK. JD clung to his performance with desperate intensity.
"Hey, JSD."
When JD suddenly called out to him, JSD hurriedly bowed his head and replied, "Yes, Your Excellency."
"Do you think I should be running back and forth like this just because of the words of a guy like that?"
"……I apologize."
"Haa, what is wrong with you lately? Why have you changed so much from how you used to be?"
'You’re the one who changed, you dog-like bastard.'
JSD suppressed the curses rising in his throat and simply bowed his head.
"Whew, Chairman Choi. Let’s return to the office. I am truly sorry for showing you such an unsightly scene."
"Ah, yes. I shall do that."
Choi Ki-hyun also wanted to slap JD across the face, but he desperately held himself back. A short while later, JD quietly summoned JSD to his private office.
"Hey, JSD."
Unlike before, JD’s voice was incredibly friendly. JSD bowed his head toward him.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"How do you think we should handle this matter?"
"I believe it is only right to handle it exactly as you instruct, Your Excellency."
Even though JSD’s relationship with JD had soured, he wasn't such a fool as to suddenly refuse orders or speak in riddles. JSD gave the exact answer JD had been hoping for, and JD wore a satisfied expression.
'Good, the fundamental structure hasn't changed.'
Thinking that things would go smoothly, JD immediately continued.
"That’s why I’m saying this—isn't the presidential election coming up soon?"
Considering the promises made at the beginning of his term, the president had to change by the end of this year. Of course, JD had the ambition to amend the constitution to allow for a second consecutive seven-year term, and after that, to change it again to become president for life. However, because public opinion was so abysmal, the only options left for JD were to install a puppet and pull the strings from the shadows, or to run for the election himself. While running for office was technically impossible under the current principles, he believed that if he claimed he was fighting fairly and squarely, the public wouldn't be able to stop him. In short, even if public opinion was already in the gutter, this year’s sentiment was more important than anything else for JD. That was why JD’s voice toward JSD was so sweet.
"That is true, strictly speaking, when considering your term, Your Excellency."
As the expected answer came again, JD’s smile deepened.
"That’s why I’m saying this—imagine if the things that happened recently were to spread through the media in this current situation. What would happen?"
"If I may be so bold, various articles have already been released to the media as a first step. Does that mean…… you are telling me to alter the investigation results?"
Clap! JD clapped his hands loudly once.
"That’s it! Is there really a need to punish them? You already gave them a pretty good scolding, didn't you? So, just make everything that happened at the welfare center disappear. Is that possible?"
"Then, how should I convey this to Chairman Choi Ki-hyun?"
When asked, JD answered without hesitation.
"Let’s frame it as a 'personal deviation' by that guy named Go Yu-seung. He was the one actually holding the gun, wasn't he? Of course, I don't mean to handle him legally either. Just make him 'a guy who never existed in this world.' Wouldn't Chairman Choi prefer that as well?"
Through this method, JD decided to spare Baek Seo-hong while throwing Go Yu-seung under the bus. Baek Seo-hong was the one most likely to know the true extent of JD’s corruption. Although he couldn't stop Baek from being tortured by the ANSP, if he at least granted him an acquittal, Baek would have no reason to betray him.
"Understood. I will do as you wish, Your Excellency."
"Good, I like that very much! Keep doing just that in the future."
"Yes. Then, may I be excused to handle the matter?"
"Of course!"
Leaving the beaming JD behind, JSD immediately requested a meeting with Choi Ki-hyun.
JSD did not go to his own office but visited Choi Ki-hyun’s home directly. If Choi Ki-hyun, who had returned home earlier, were to return to the Blue House, there was a chance that fact might reach JD’s ears.
"Chief of Security, welcome."
Currently, only Choi Ki-hyun and the housekeepers were at home. Choi Ki-hyun went into his study to have a private meeting with JSD. Once tea and light refreshments were served and they were truly alone, JSD went straight to the point.
"Chairman Choi, JD has ordered that this matter be handled as if nothing ever happened."
Choi Ki-hyun, who had just been about to take a sip of tea, set his cup down with an expression of disbelief.
"Is that…… really true……?"
JSD nodded with a grim expression. "That is correct. He said to frame it as a 'personal deviation' by Go Yu-seung, who tortured your second son, and to handle the rest as 'no charges.' I had heard before that I shouldn't look into matters related to that place, but it seems that place was JD’s money pot."
If JSD were to turn into JD’s enemy after traveling back seven years, who would believe him? But right now, JSD was clearly showing unadulterated hostility toward JD.
"Grrrgh……."
Choi Ki-hyun clenched both fists, trembling, unable to hide his rage.
"Chairman Choi, if you just give me the word, I will take the lead."
"Take the lead……?"
JSD nodded resolutely. "Yes. I will investigate this matter more thoroughly and leak it to the media. Then, JD will suffer a fatal blow. Furthermore, we will be able to throw all the bastards who kidnapped and tortured your son into prison."
In effect, he was saying he would completely break ties with JD. In other words, he was declaring that he would stand firmly behind Choi Ki-hyun. Of course, JSD made this judgment because he believed that if N became president later, N would appoint him. If he was going to drift apart from JD anyway, it was better to solidify his relationship with Choi Ki-hyun.
However, Choi Ki-hyun shook his head.
"No. That doesn't seem like a very good solution."
"Chairman Choi, you don't need to worry about me too much."
"Of course, that is one reason. But there is another."
Choi Ki-hyun spoke as if he were thinking of it just now, but in reality, he was simply relaying to JSD what Yoon-gi had told him.
'Just as Yoon-gi said, things are really proceeding this way. Yes…… JD was never someone to be trusted. It was like that during the Dae-young incident, and now he’s making me solidify my resolve.'
Choi Ki-hyun sighed inwardly and continued.
"Chief of Security, if we blow the lid off this now, we won't be able to properly deal with the bastards involved in this case in the Busan region."
"Ah…… come to think of it, that is certainly true."
No matter how great JSD’s influence was, as long as JD was in the presidency, there were clear limits.
"So, if we are going to blow the lid off, we must do it under the next president, not the current one. Only then can we sweep away the police who didn't investigate properly even though my son was missing, and the prosecution who are in cahoots with them. The new president will be able to seat his own aides in those positions, and I will be able to wipe those bastards out completely."
"Indeed……! As expected of you, Chairman. I was looking at this too short-sightedly."
"For that to happen, there is something I need you to do, Chief of Security."
"Just say the word. I will help with anything that is within my power."
The most important thing in this matter was JSD’s role. Seeing JSD being so cooperative, Choi Ki-hyun breathed a sigh of relief.
"JD must have ordered you to kill and dispose of that guy named Go Yu-seung, right?"
When Choi Ki-hyun called him JD instead of 'Your Excellency,' JSD’s eyes widened.
"Chairman, could it be……? Are you thinking the same thing as I am?"
Choi Ki-hyun nodded. "That is correct. I truly offered my full loyalty. But JD won't even protect my own child. I am truly…… truly deeply disappointed. If only you were the president instead, Chief of Security……."
For a moment, JSD imagined himself seizing the presidency. But he soon folded the thought, realizing it was impossible. Because the public’s perception of him was extremely poor. Still, it was true that Choi Ki-hyun’s words were received with great joy.
"I am grateful just for you saying that."
"No, it is truly a shame. Anyway, please keep that guy Go Yu-seung alive until next year’s election."
"Ah!"
"Yes, you are thinking correctly. After next year’s election, we will start with Go Yu-seung and dig into the welfare center case again. If Baek Seo-hong took out insurance, Go Yu-seung—though his level might be a bit lower—will have 100 percent taken out insurance as well. So, we must use his life as collateral to make him cooperate with us. And with that, we will thoroughly destroy JD."
"So, rather than persuasion, the priority is to keep him alive."
"That is correct. We must keep him alive for now."
Hearing a very satisfying strategy, JSD smiled brightly. When someone with exceptional loyalty clearly realizes that their monarch has betrayed them, they become a blade sharper than any other, eager to stab the one who was once their master. In such a situation, Choi Ki-hyun had provided the catalyst and the plan.
February 1987. The wheels of history, which JD could never have imagined, began to turn faster and more powerfully than expected.
It would be unimaginable in the 2010s, but surprisingly, the welfare center case was officially closed as 'no charges.' The media, unlike their initial aggressive coverage, also went quiet. JSD satisfied JD by saying, "I have succeeded in persuading Chairman Choi Ki-hyun," rather than revealing how he was hiding Go Yu-seung, and he lied to Go Yu-seung and Baek Seo-hong, telling them they would be released after spending some time in the detention center once the situation calmed down. Thanks to this, Go Yu-seung met a 'middle-ground ending' where he was locked up in prison along with Baek Seo-hong.
He had also tipped off the Busan police and prosecution that it would be handled as 'the deviation of the two.' Therefore, the Busan police and prosecution also watched the situation quietly without causing any noise. It was a storm that seemed to end quietly, but this was only an agreement among 'those with power.' The opposition figures, DJ and YS, who had been grinding their teeth, were never going to let such a big opportunity slip through their fingers.