Preparing for the June Democratic Election (1)
"Huh? Impeachment?"
Choi Ki-hyun was unfamiliar with the term impeachment. It was understandable; in this era, the word wasn't exactly common. During the military regime, what would happen if an ordinary citizen brought up the word "impeachment" while drinking at a tavern? Regardless of the context, it was the perfect word to get dragged off to the KCIA or Namyeong-dong. While the 2000s and 2010s made the term relatively familiar due to one president and another whose presidency was annulled, it certainly wasn't a word used lightly during the military dictatorship.
"It means dragging him down from the presidential seat."
"Doesn't JD's term end on its own soon anyway?"
If JD truly kept the seven-year term he had pledged, his tenure should end in September 1987. However.
"JD hasn't shown any intention of stepping down from the presidency on his own, has he?"
"True, that's a fair point."
As Choi Ki-hyun nodded in immediate agreement, Yoon-gi added, "And impeachment means we don't even recognize the record of that person ever being president."
"You're erasing the record?"
Choi Ki-hyun showed immediate interest. "Yes. We’re refusing to acknowledge the fact that he was president at all. Consequently, the 'courtesy extended to former presidents' disappears as well."
"Ho-ho...! Courtesy for a former president? I suppose that existed. But since P and JD have been gorging themselves on power for so long, I’ve never really heard of that courtesy being properly applied. What was it again?"
Choi Ki-hyun, who also held deep resentment toward JD, was intrigued by Yoon-gi’s words.
"It’s simple. You provide a pension until they die, bury them in the National Cemetery upon death, and build memorial museums and the like."
"No, why would you give that kind of treatment to a bastard like that?"
"That’s why we have to impeach him."
"Right, we absolutely must. You understand?"
"Of course. Just leave it to me."
Yoon-gi nodded with a face full of confidence.
N was sitting at the dining table, having a pleasant meal with his wife, Madam Kim Eun-soon, when he brought it up.
"Honey, it looks like JD’s impeachment is going to proceed."
"Oh, is that so?"
Madam Kim Eun-soon listened to her husband with a gentle smile. Seeing that attitude, N felt at ease and offered a faint smile in return.
"Yes. From now on, JD’s wife won't be able to receive the treatment of a First Lady anymore. She’ll just remain an ordinary citizen of South Korea—no, the wife of the ringleader of a military rebellion."
Upon hearing this, the gentle smile on Kim Eun-soon’s face deepened slightly.
"Is that... really true?"
"Yes, of course. Since Yoon-gi gave the order, no one will be able to overturn it. YS is already on our side, and DJ has absolutely no reason to oppose the impeachment. JP might oppose it, but if YS, DJ, and I unite, the National Assembly passage is guaranteed. As for those people at the Constitutional Court, with the public watching with eyes of fire, they’ll definitely pass it, won't they?"
Although it was information that could be considered top-secret, N spoke honestly to his wife. It was because N had firm trust in her. In fact, when Madam Kim Eun-soon became the First Lady, she had so little presence that she was called a "shadow." She would only ever wear a faint, calm smile beside N and never showed any political activity. It was the same even after N retired. She quietly tended to N during his battle with illness and appeared in public so rarely that one could say she appeared "not at all," which was why N could trust her so deeply. In a sense, she was the best wife for a lonely politician.
However, contrary to her calm nature, Kim Eun-soon had to suffer greatly. This was because she had been subjected to truly indescribable gapjil (abuse of power) by JD’s wife.
"That’s... a relief."
Tears welled up in Kim Eun-soon’s eyes.
"I’m sorry for everything until now... There won't be any more of that in the future."
"No... it’s alright..."
N stood up, approached his wife, and quietly hugged her.
"I’ll make sure you can live a comfortable, quiet life from now on. I’ll make sure everything is taken care of..."
The subject "Yoon-gi" was missing from N’s final words. In original history, N would never show such a pure side. However, in Yoon-gi’s history, perhaps because of him, his disposition had changed significantly. If he was originally a figure who quietly looked for opportunities to commit evil deeds, one could say he had now become a figure who pursued honor in a desirable way. As long as his desire for money was perfectly satisfied by someone else, it was only natural for N’s personal desires to manifest positively.
"You won't have to see JD’s wife ever again. Don’t worry..."
"Yes..."
Kim Eun-soon quietly rested her head in her husband’s arms. JD’s wife, who was several years younger than her—she had to treat that woman as her "elder sister," and even as the wife of the number two man, she had to go to JD’s house to do the kimchi-making, cleaning, and laundry. It was an era where a full-time housewife’s power outside the home was proportional to her husband’s power. Kim Eun-soon was able to escape from JD’s wife about a year earlier than in original history.
Most of the March newspapers were covered with JD’s "Second Military Rebellion." There had clearly been a nationwide democratic struggle by the people in February. Yet, JD tried to stage a military rebellion immediately in March. At first, some analyzed that N was making JD a scapegoat to seize the next presidency. However, N held a public press conference and released the recordings of JD’s remarks without any deletions. JD’s remarks were broadcast live. Among the contents, the remark that enraged the public the most was undoubtedly this:
[We have to kill them all. Even if 10,000, 100,000, no, 1 million people revolt, we just have to kill them all. Although P failed because he couldn't kill 3 million, I will survive even if I have to kill 30 million. That is the life I have lived for.]
Thanks to this, the public was in an absolute uproar. N, who proposed the impeachment motion, began to be praised as a "light." Originally, in these matters, "preemption" was the most important thing, and N was able to do this because he was provided with this information as a top priority through Yoon-gi. Thanks to this, the one whose feet were on fire was DJ. It was fine that he had been designated as the presidential candidate through the unification of candidates, but N’s stock was rising too rapidly. Because of this, N and DJ were discussing one agenda through a secret meeting. It was a secret meeting between the two, which YS didn't even attend. There, a fierce tug-of-war between N and DJ began.
"I should have arranged meetings with you more often sooner."
DJ’s words. This contained the hidden meaning: N, you seem very different from before. Therefore, N smiled, but added a bitter twist to that smile.
"For that to happen, my past deeds made it difficult. Furthermore, JD was still going strong. If we had met often, both of us would have been dragged off to Namyeong-dong together. I say this sincerely, but I truly think you are amazing for having endured the threats of P and JD. It’s not a fitting remark for me, who is by no means free from the military’s evil deeds, but..."
N deliberately lengthened his speech, pouring his honesty into it. It meant, Let’s proceed with the conversation quickly while revealing our true intentions if possible. Therefore, DJ also brought up the main point much more honestly.
"No. Since you are pursuing change, it is only right that I respond to that change."
"Change, you say? I still have a long way to go."
"Just thinking about the agenda you proposed this time, I think it’s amazing. But by any chance, are you keeping a 'grand ambition' in mind?"
Meaning, did he have his heart set on the presidency? Since N was clearly a figure who could not be free from the military’s evil deeds, DJ was testing him.
"Yes, that is correct. I know the military’s evil deeds better than anyone else. That is why I must uncover them one by one. Even if I am impeached like JD later on."
N’s remark, throwing out a super-strong move, made it difficult for DJ to think of a rebuttal. If it had been YS, he would have said to N, "You’ve done such bad things, and you still intend to be president?" But YS had already joined hands with N, and it was DJ who had become the unified candidate, not YS.
"I see. If you harbor a grand ambition, your recent actions are all understandable."
DJ lifted his teacup, took a sip, and continued.
"It will probably pass."
N nodded immediately.
"That is correct. Even if JP opposes it, there aren't enough seats. Seeing you say that, I assume you agree as well?"
DJ nodded immediately. On this, DJ was direct.
"That is correct."
"That’s a relief."
To N, who let out a sigh of relief, DJ spoke again.
"As the saying goes, if one harbors a grand ambition, shouldn't one act in accordance with that ambition? What do you think?"
In fact, DJ was anxious. It was certain that the longer the time between the impeachment and the presidential election, the more N’s popularity would rise. To prevent that, the presidential election had to be moved up as much as possible. Likewise, N felt the same way about wanting to move up the schedule.
[Right now, all anger is focused on JD. If we drag it out and the sparks fly toward me, it could become dangerous.]
The faster the presidential election started, the more relatively advantageous it was for DJ. If the presidential election started at an appropriate time, it was advantageous for N. However, since the later the election started, the more unpredictable situations would arise for N, Yoon-gi chose the faster election route. He was confident, after all.
"That is correct. Therefore, if you allow it, I would like to pressure the Constitutional Court somewhat to finish the deliberation on the impeachment motion in the shortest possible time. Is that alright with you?"
"For the prosperity of democracy, it is sometimes a necessary task."
The agreement was finally completed. South Korea’s first impeachment was ready to become the fastest impeachment.
Only one day from the National Assembly to the resolution of the impeachment motion! Only one week from the Constitutional Court to the impeachment decision! There was the agreement between N and DJ, but more than anything, the public desperately wanted JD to be impeached, which made such a surprisingly fast impeachment possible. When politics and the public will align, things proceed surprisingly fast, and when the two do not align, things do not proceed surprisingly well. That is reality. However, thanks to the two aligning, the presidential election also proceeded at a tremendous speed. N, DJ, and JP were now going to give live speeches on TV during prime time.
"Please begin."
At the moderator’s words, N stepped onto the podium, cleared his throat a couple of times, and looked at the camera with a serious expression. And the speech began.
"I am the ringleader of the military rebellion."