The Living Organism (4)
"Me? To DJ?" N asked, his expression clouded with confusion. Yoon-gi continued his explanation, unfazed.
"Of course. Your administration will be a government where people from various regions participate in politics."
"Hmm, if that happens, my inner circle won't just sit by, will they? Positions are limited, and there are many who want them. In fact, regionalism is entirely the fault of politicians, isn't it?"
N was a man who clearly understood the reality of regionalism. The reason Jeolla-do and Gyeongsang-do were at each other's throats—in truth, there wasn't much of a reason at all. It was simply because there weren't enough seats for the politicians. In the modern history of South Korea, figures from Gyeongsang-do had held power for a relatively long time. Because of this, they had to rationalize it: [We aren't monopolizing power! It's just because Jeolla-do is incompetent!]
If someone used this frame in the 2010s, they would face a backlash and be forced out of office. But from the 1950s through the 80s, following the war, this political frame had been consistently pushed, enough to poison people's perceptions. And then came the practical discrimination. Even in the 2010s, it was a reality in South Korea that people who moved into apartments at lower prices were discriminated against by those who paid more, and the police couldn't even intervene. So, what would it have been like in the 70s and 80s? As seen from what Ryu Geun-tae had experienced, the discrimination against the Honam region was truly immense.
Those born in the 80s had likely heard common phrases from their parents: "Never marry someone from Jeolla-do," "Never make friends with someone from Jeolla-do," or "People from Jeolla-do are backstabbers." The workers of the 70s and 80s had their perceptions poisoned by the government, and through those workers, their children's perceptions were poisoned as well. By the 2010s, at least half of the younger generation had broken free from this frame, but the fact that the other half was still swayed by it showed just how trashy it was to incite regionalism for political gain.
"Actually, regionalism doesn't necessarily arise just because of politicians," Yoon-gi said.
"Oh?" N felt intrigued by Yoon-gi's words.
"Even in the countryside, people in the same Gyeongsang-do province fight over reservoirs during a drought. Strictly speaking, that's also regionalism."
"Ah, I see."
"It's just that when it's used for political purposes, it can be scaled up to an absurd degree. Regionalism caused by natural reasons, like a drought, naturally disappears once the factor is resolved, doesn't it?"
"True, there's no reason to fight once the drought ends. If anything, they might even reconcile with awkward smiles."
"Exactly. But regionalism created for political purposes never disappears easily. Because they brainwash the public through 'records'."
Even in Seoul, serial murders occurred, but back then, if a serial murder happened in Jeolla-do, it was splashed across the front pages. And these records piled up, one by one, poisoning the public. Statistically, the crime rate relative to the population was likely similar, but people only remembered the crimes from Jeolla-do.
"It's a more serious problem than I thought... Honestly, I'm not in a position to say this. I was part of the Hana-hoe, and even if I was a puppet second-in-command, I was the second-in-command of the JD government that incited regionalism. My life feels so shameful..."
At N's words, Yoon-gi smiled softly.
"It's enough that you realize it now. For the entirety of South Korea to develop, we must resolve the artificially manipulated political regionalism. It doesn't matter if Gyeongsang-do and Jeolla-do fight over baseball, or if Chungcheong-do and Gangwon-do fight. But fighting for political reasons must be resolved."
"I agree. But as I said before, positions are limited. What should we do about that?"
"As I always say, there is almost nothing that cannot be solved with money."
In the 80s, the power of the military was far greater, so the power of the chaebols was relatively weaker. A weaker chaebol power also meant that their accumulation of wealth was relatively lower. Furthermore, the current chaebols had seen their assets significantly reduced due to the recent corporate war. As such, it didn't take as much money as one might think to tempt politicians with cash.
"So, give money to those who want money to make them give up their seats, and give seats to those who want seats?"
"Yes, exactly. And we must purge everyone we can, starting with the Hana-hoe. For that, DJ's cooperation is absolutely necessary."
"You need DJ's cooperation to purge those who need to be purged?"
Yoon-gi nodded. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Because of JSD."
Yoon-gi was finally preparing to reform the ANSP.
N, DJ, and YS gathered in one place. Just a few days ago, they had been rivals for the presidency, but seeing them gathered like this, it was clear that politics was indeed a living organism. Yesterday's enemy was today's ally! Today's ally was tomorrow's enemy! That was why DJ was curious about why YS had called him.
"Congratulations."
N bowed politely to DJ's congratulations.
"Thank you so much for the well wishes. It was a situation where it wouldn't have been strange for you to be the assemblyman, so I feel apologetic that I seem to have gained an unexpected advantage due to what happened in Busan."
DJ shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Not at all. This is all because of my own lack of virtue. Isn't it said that life and death are determined by heaven? Perhaps it was not my destiny to be president this time."
The sigh DJ let out was filled with deep regret.
"While it is legally impossible for me to yield the presidency, I would like to invite you to serve as a cabinet minister."
For a moment, DJ's eyes widened.
"A cabinet minister?"
"Yes. I want to eliminate the regionalism in the political sphere that is boiling over in this Republic of Korea. To do that, the cabinet I am about to form must not have any regional bias. It means that capable people from each region must hold key positions."
"To think you had such a grand dream..."
DJ looked at N with an expression that suggested he was seeing him in a completely new light. In truth, DJ had thought that what N said during his campaign was close to a show. He would surely 'pretend' to do it. But he expected him to just deal with the JD part roughly and gloss over the rest. But a government composition that transcended regions? And a cabinet position at that. Considering that a cabinet position was the ultimate wish of assemblymen, excluding the president, it was a proposal that was tempting for DJ.
"Instead, I want to legally prohibit the concurrent holding of an assembly seat and a cabinet position."
"Hmm...!" DJ let out a slight groan.
Originally, an assemblyman holding a cabinet position meant the legislative branch influenced the executive branch and vice versa, which went against the principle of the separation of powers. However, in South Korea, because the legislative branch didn't do its job, the concurrent holding was loosely permitted. Even to this day! But Yoon-gi had requested the prohibition of concurrent positions to N, and N had agreed because he had no reason to refuse. After all, he was the president.
"Instead, I will guarantee your term for as long as I am president. I can write a memorandum, and I can even record it. If I don't keep my promise, I will suffer a fatal blow in a year."
DJ couldn't help but be genuinely taken aback by N, who was revealing his own Achilles' heel. 'Is N this kind of person?' However, N's attitude could also change DJ's attitude, as he was someone who didn't easily reveal his inner thoughts.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course. I would like to invite you to be the Minister of Justice."
"If you are thinking of me as the Minister of Justice, then perhaps...?"
N nodded. "There is no one the public would consider as fair as you when it comes to dealing with the remnants of the JD government. I, too, want to purge the remnants of the JD regime. Furthermore, I will appropriately deal with P and the pro-Japanese traitors in line with the current era."
A satisfied expression appeared on DJ's face, and seeing this, N continued.
"If you, I, and Assemblyman YS join forces, there is no bill we cannot pass. And you will have no reason to refuse the bill I am about to propose. How about it? Will you become a minister in the executive branch to move the current political party and work for the people, or will you act as a pure assemblyman and oppose me?"
For once, DJ didn't calculate the angles. "I understand. If you just leave a record of what you promised a moment ago, I will accept."
"In addition, I am thinking of inviting Assemblyman YS to be the Prime Minister."
"As Prime Minister?"
DJ looked at YS, and N nodded.
"Yes, Assemblyman YS's drive is recognized by everyone. As such, I believe that if we push for reform with Assemblyman YS at the forefront, it will be persuasive to the public. You will take the lead in clearing the past, and Assemblyman YS will take the lead in reform. I will be the control tower, looking after the overall state affairs."
DJ realized anew that N was a remarkable politician. On the other hand, YS, who had been quiet until now, was clicking his tongue inwardly.
'No, is it possible to make a plan like this? Is this a plan that can come out of a 20-year-old's head? Is the brain of YK Chairman Choi Ki-hyun, or is it Choi Yoon-gi? My reason is telling me Chairman Choi is the brain, but my intuition is telling me Choi Yoon-gi is the brain. Damn, this is crazy... I feel like I've lived my life in vain.'
YS honestly hadn't expected that N would even reach out to DJ. He had thought that DJ would stay on the sidelines for five years, and he would take the opportunity to become the next president. Honestly, these days, he was even thinking that it wouldn't matter much if he wasn't elected as the next president. The reason was the sweet honey Yoon-gi was providing. No matter how good honor was, the actual unearned income was overwhelming honor. Money comes in even without committing corruption. What a wonderful thing.
Just as YS was admiring the situation, N dropped a bombshell.
"If the two of you join me, there is something you must do."
"What is it?" DJ asked.
N then opened his mouth with a resolute expression.
"Please mobilize all your resources to stage protests for JSD's resignation and punishment."
It hadn't been many days since N became president, but a large-scale protest occurred in Seoul. It was a protest for the resignation and punishment of JSD. JD was currently detained in a detention center for his involvement with the military and was awaiting punishment, and the reason for the protest was that it made no sense for JSD, who had been his limb, to go unpunished.
At first, the scale wasn't very large, but this protest, led by DJ and YS, brought a great wind to the activist movement, and it suddenly swelled to a scale that was half the size of the February Democratic Uprising. JSD, who had fire under his feet, hurriedly visited N's office.
"Your Excellency, please help me. Even though I was JD's limb, didn't I really do my best for you? If you help me just this once, I will work for you even more than I worked under JD."
JSD's 'loyalty to his master' was something everyone acknowledged. However, N showed a lukewarm reaction.