The Catalyst of Democracy
It goes without saying, but the opposition camp held this banner as the most important thing of all. Among them, YS and DJ were the closest to achieving it, as they were essentially the supreme command of the opposition.
"As you are well aware, DJ, this incident is a truly massive opportunity. The Manse Welfare Center incident. There is absolutely no way this is a fabrication. If we pour all our efforts into digging into it, we will surely find more concrete evidence."
With a broad forehead, wide brow, small slit eyes, and lips that seemed perpetually pursed, YS—who looked cheerful at a glance but hid the spirit of a true man—urged DJ to take action.
"I think so, too. The problem is that we haven't actually uncovered anything yet."
Compared to YS, DJ had a relatively narrower brow, thick and wide lips, and slightly drooping eyelids that gave him a dignified yet sleepy impression. When compared to YS, DJ didn't seem to lose out in terms of 'leadership by appearance' at all.
"I acknowledge that. That is exactly why we must join forces. We cannot defeat JD with our individual strengths. However, if we combine our powers, the story changes."
Since the last general election, the composition of the National Assembly had split into four major factions: the de facto ruling party led by N, the main opposition party led by DJ, the second opposition party led by YS, and finally, the third opposition party led by JP, who had been the ruling party but suffered a crushing defeat in the elections.
If one compared the parties individually, the ruling party led by N was by far the largest, but if DJ and YS united, they held more seats than the ruling party. However, if DJ and YS formed a coalition, JP's third opposition party became the problem. If the third opposition party sided with DJ and YS, they could completely overwhelm N's ruling party; if they sided with N, the coalition between DJ and YS would become meaningless. Therefore, JP, who led the third opposition party, had become the 'Casting Vote'.
To put it simply, while they had fewer seats, their choice could have a massive impact on the political flow. In the current situation, they could not afford to recruit JP, so the two of them met alone. This was because JP, having experienced being in the ruling party, would prioritize the ruling party over the opposition if forced to choose.
"DJ. The presidential election is still a long way off. But if there is one thing we must do before the election, it is to prevent JD from pushing through a constitutional amendment. That is a task that no one else in this world, but the two of us, must accomplish."
DJ nodded at YS's continuous remarks.
"Ah, of course I will be active as well. It’s just that the reason I was silent for a moment was because I was searching for an incident that could serve as a more definitive catalyst for this matter."
The place where the two were currently talking was a kind of secret hideout. Because JD was watching opposition figures with wide-open eyes, their movements were relatively difficult. Still, it was better than during the P era. Back then, DJ had only been released after writing a pledge that he 'would not engage in politics,' and even that was only because the U.S. had threatened that they 'would not stand idly by if DJ were killed,' forcing P to begrudgingly make him write the pledge. Of course, such a pledge had no utility, so DJ returned to politics anyway.
And then there was JD. JD also monitored the political activities of opposition figures through organizations like the ANSP, but currently, JD's surveillance system was effectively not reporting information to him, so there was no real need for them to meet so cautiously. Of course, since the two of them had no way of knowing that, acting this way was technically the correct approach.
"A catalyst, you say..."
"The welfare center incident is difficult. Although it was splashed all over the media initially, the news outlets retracted their reports and issued corrections, admitting it was a 'misreport.' In that situation, it is difficult for the public to empathize based solely on the welfare center incident."
"Grrr..."
At DJ's realistic analysis, YS groaned in frustration. However, their dilemma would be resolved before long.
* * *
January 1987. At the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office, something that should never happen in a democratic society occurred. Of course, under the P and JD regimes, such things had happened countless times, but the incident that occurred this time was on a different trajectory from those that had come before. Because the victim was a Seoul National University student.
It is an unpleasant truth, but there is a massive difference in the density of societal coverage between the death of a Seoul National University student and the death of a student from a bottom-tier university. If the former is a scoop worthy of the front page of a newspaper, the latter is something small buried on page 5 of a local daily.
There is a major misconception held by those who think, 'I don't want to study, so maybe I should just join the activist movement and do politics.' The 'true blue' elite of the activist movement was always 'Seoul National University.' It meant that the activist movement was a place you couldn't participate in unless you had a brilliant mind. And that meant the top-tier talents were tightly bound together by school ties.
Therefore, the death of a Seoul National University student at the Anti-Communist Investigation Office was not a matter that JD could simply cover up. The problem was that before the leadership could even think of an excuse, the guy who was the Chief of the National Police Headquarters had blurted out, "He died with a 'ugh' sound after I tapped the desk."
Logically speaking, could a healthy young man in his early 20s die of a heart attack from being startled by the sound of a desk being tapped? Even a person suffering from chronic heart disease would find it difficult to die that way. Naturally, the public also reacted to this incident with alarm, but JD was blocking public opinion with a very simple method. That was the minimization of those involved in the incident.
Just as Baek Seo-hong and Go Yu-seung had suffered in the Manse Welfare Center case, they created five scapegoats and treated it as a 'personal deviation of these individuals.' And, surprisingly, public opinion calmed down quite a bit. At least to the extent that it was no longer a threat to the regime.
However, in Yoon-gi's history, something JD had never anticipated was occurring.
"Damn it, we only did what we were told!"
Ahn Song-hoon, one of the five people introduced in the media as the main culprits of this incident, pounded on the iron bars and vented his rage. This fury was the same for the other four. However, they were fundamentally villains. Because at some point, they had started to enjoy torture.
In fact, except for a few unique cases, most people cannot perform torture properly. But as time passes, it changes. The moment one 'experiences' the pleasure that torture provides, a person changes 180 degrees. Of course, no one wants to admit that. That was the same for the five, including Ahn Song-hoon.
"Damn it! Let us out! I said let us out!"
No one said a word about Ahn Song-hoon’s behavior as he pounded on the door of the shared detention cell. Everyone felt the same way. Even others joined in.
"Shit! Why are you locking us in a room like this! If you were going to make us scapegoats, you should have at least given us money! At least turn on the heat in the cell! Give us hot water! Give us proper food! But what is this!"
At the words of Park Min-chang, another main culprit, everyone nodded. If you are going to use someone as a scapegoat, you should naturally offer compensation. But these people had been offered nothing. No, it wasn't that there was no compensation at all. The problem was that it was a meager, or rather, trivial reward that didn't satisfy them in the slightest. Therefore, their fury grew greater as time passed.
"If things go on like this, we’ll all become murderers and rot in prison for the rest of our lives. Do you really think the guys up top will get us out with a special pardon? We know better than anyone."
The words of Jo Hyun-seok, another main culprit. Under the P and JD regimes, there had always been scapegoats. They would lure suckers with promises like 'we'll get you out with a special pardon' or 'we'll take care of your families,' and turn problematic incidents into 'personal deviations.' However, such promises were never kept. Because the moment they entered prison, their guilt was confirmed, and they became 'socially vulnerable.'
In fact, they themselves had a history of making others suckers and sending them to prison.
"But we have no choice. There's no way to run..."
The fourth main culprit, Kim Jae-hyung, leaned against the wall and covered his face with both hands. Just a short while ago, he had been an elite police officer working at the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office, someone who made many people tremble in fear. But now, he was a mere prisoner waiting for the sentencing of a murder trial. If he could, he wanted to turn back time. He wanted to turn back time and pass the job of torturing that Seoul National University student to another colleague.
"Damn it. If only I could get out of here..."
At the words of the last main culprit, Choi Dae-gwan, everyone sighed as if they had promised to do so. And then, at that moment. Suddenly, a prison guard who looked to be in his 40s appeared at the bars of the cell door.
"Shhh..."
"Who the hell is this crazy bastard telling to be quiet?"
Ahn Song-hoon’s harsh profanity. However, the guard didn't get angry at all.
"I have been sent by the Director of the ANSP."
For a moment, the cell fell into silence.
"From now on, you must not make a sound."
When the iron door opened, everyone was surprised, but reflexively half-raised their bodies.
"The Director of the ANSP has opened a path for your survival. You will be secretly taken out of the detention center from now on, and you are to go straight to YS or DJ and expose the truth of this incident. That is the only way you will survive."
Choi Dae-gwan was startled and jumped to his feet.
"Did the Director of the ANSP really give such an order?"
"Of course. We don't have time, so follow me quickly. It will be the guard shift change soon, and we might get caught if we're not careful. Keep your waist as low as possible and follow me. I will get you out of the detention center."
It was 2:00 AM. Hearing that there was a hole through which they could survive, the five main culprits and scapegoats swallowed hard and immediately took action.
'They aren't planning to dispose of us outside, are they?'
They felt this anxiety, but they had no choice but to follow the guard.
'As expected, the Director of the ANSP was someone who knew how to think of his subordinates.' Choi Dae-gwan was moved. However, JSD could not receive an indulgence from Yoon-gi. No matter how friendly he was to YK, the political crimes JSD had committed were beyond the level that an ordinary person could understand. Until now, the situation hadn't been favorable, so he had no choice but to build a connection with JSD, but Yoon-gi intended to make JSD pay a fair price the moment the conditions were met. Of course, JSD would have no idea that such a thing would happen to him.
The five main culprits all shouted in their hearts. The instruction to go find DJ or YS and entrust themselves to them. It was like a message from JSD telling them to rely on the opposition to at least avoid prison life.
And a few hours later. As the dawn broke, they finally succeeded in joining YS and DJ.