The Gwangju Rock Festival (2)
‘Filtering the stones out of the ANSP, are we...?’
Surprisingly, Yoon-gi was planning to recycle the ANSP. Of course, he didn’t mean using them to drag in pro-democracy activists and torture them as they had in the past.
In reality, one had to acknowledge the sheer competence of the ANSP during the military regime. It was packed with individuals who had even served as double agents, moving between communists in East Germany and capitalists in the West. Even if Yoon-gi had the CIA, the remnants of the KGB, and even Choi Deok-bae in his pocket, it would be a waste to discard such capable assets without a reason.
Surprisingly, Yoon-gi’s words pierced through to a certain truth. Based on original history, JSD’s term as the Director of the ANSP was only three years—from 1985 to 1987. And even then, he didn't serve the full three years; it was only about 25 months. Yet, while people remembered JSD, they barely knew who the directors before him were. When did the phrase "President of Namsan" first appear? The fact that this term for the ANSP Director emerged during JSD’s tenure was enough to guess the extent of his notoriety.
However, in Yoon-gi’s timeline, the butterfly effect was massive. JSD, who should have become the Director in '85, had taken the position from the very beginning of the JD administration and had effectively served as Director throughout JD’s entire term. Furthermore, as JSD’s personality had become more family-oriented, the notoriety of the ANSP itself was undeniably “a bit” lower compared to the original history. That was why Yoon-gi had given the order to Shin Ho-jun.
‘This isn’t just about looking at documents; hearing the opinions of the parties involved is the most certain way.’
In the first place, it was difficult to hold agents who served as liaisons or transporters in the ANSP accountable. Fundamentally, the ANSP’s atrocities stemmed from torture. As such, Shin Ho-jun began to move, precisely grasping what Yoon-gi required.
“Is everyone here?”
At Shin Ho-jun’s words, the ANSP agents gathered in the spacious conference room answered loudly.
[[[[[[YES!!]]]]]]
Although Shin Ho-jun was not officially part of the ANSP, JSD had treated him specially, so the agents followed his lead as well. Of course, this didn't mean Shin Ho-jun interfered in ANSP business, but it meant that at the very least, he was trusted enough to act as an interim commander when JSD was absent.
“You all know that the Director has been detained in the detention center.”
The atmosphere among the agents turned abruptly somber. Seeing this, Shin Ho-jun used his right palm to slightly lift the frame of his glasses and adjust them.
“I’m sure most of you are thinking the same thing. That if the Director receives a prison sentence, ‘we’ won’t be able to avoid one either.”
At Shin Ho-jun’s use of the word “we,” everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions.
“I don’t know what kind of sentence I might receive depending on what happens to the Director. So, in a sense, we are all in the same boat.”
A slight sense of intimacy mixed into the gazes the agents directed at Shin Ho-jun.
“To put it simply, a lifeline has been lowered to us.”
The agents’ eyes widened, and their heads lifted sharply. All eyes rushed toward Shin Ho-jun, who was speaking from the podium. Even under those gazes, Shin Ho-jun continued calmly, yet coldly.
“You all know that Chairman Choi Ki-hyun has a special relationship with the Director.”
A sense of relief spread among the agents so quickly it was palpable.
“Chairman Choi Ki-hyun does not wish for the Director to become a traitor to the nation. However, it is impossible to change what has already happened into something that didn't.”
His tone was calm, yet it was the most appropriate for the current situation.
“Therefore, I ask you. While working for the ANSP, did you ever truly pursue personal pleasure?”
For a moment, some agents looked stung, then hurriedly tried to control their expressions. However, Shin Ho-jun didn't miss them.
“Of course, if I asked each of you individually, you would all say you had no selfish motives. That is why I intend to ask you about the conduct of other agents.”
Shin Ho-jun continued immediately.
“This is not snitching. Our ANSP is a group that upholds the state’s orders, and in that process, it just so happened that the head of the state was JD.”
Most of the agents nodded as if in agreement.
“Chairman Choi said this: A salaryman has no choice but to do what his boss tells him to do, so isn't it the same for a public servant? He also asked how many people could risk their lives to rebel against a boss they don't want to listen to.”
The moment these words ended, many agents looked conscience-stricken. In truth, while working at the ANSP, their consciences had been heavily sealed off to protect their own sanity. But at this very moment, they began to feel the pangs of conscience, recalling why the things they did at the ANSP had started, and why they had become so numb to them.
“That is why Chairman Choi made a promise. He said that YK would cover all compensation for the victims regarding the work done at the ANSP. Those of you with lighter sins will soon be working in the new ANSP, but some of you with heavier sins will inevitably have to go to prison.”
The expressions of some agents darkened.
“However, you don't need to worry while in prison. YK will resolve all matters related to your living conditions, and Chairman Choi has promised to do his best to suggest to the current President that you be allowed to return to the ANSP immediately after your release.”
Suddenly, every agent’s head snapped up.
“No matter if it was an order from the regime, we cannot avoid responsibility. You might feel it’s unfair. Because it was work ordered from above. Chairman Choi is trying to fill exactly that gap. Let’s admit our sins and apologize to the victims. And let’s pay for our crimes. After that, let’s work under a clean regime. Chairman Choi has given us that opportunity.”
Though it was a minority, some agents began to shed tears. They had thought they were destined for prison and would live as traitors to the world, but suddenly, a lifeline had been thrown to them.
“Are we guaranteed even if we receive more than 5 years in prison?”
“As you all know, Chairman Choi is someone who takes care of his family better than anyone else. Just as the Director is Chairman Choi’s family, you are also Chairman Choi’s family.”
The absolute principle by which Yoon-gi operated his group. It was that he would never abandon his family. And employees were naturally included in the scope of that family. The ANSP agents were the ones who had witnessed that fact more than anyone else during the JD regime.
“So, write down the sins you committed honestly on the paper. And write down the names of those you saw who went too far. Those who borrowed the name of the ANSP to indulge in their own pleasure do not deserve to be our family. Do not forget that this is not snitching, but a justifiable act for our family. I, too, will write down everything I know.”
[[[[[[GULP]]]]]]
The sound of people swallowing echoed loudly in the conference room. And a moment later, YK bodyguards walked among the agents, carrying large boxes.
“Write.”
The moment Shin Ho-jun’s word fell, the furious sound of scratching pens began to spread through the room.
A larger number of ANSP agents than expected spread out across the country. And without exception, they sought out the people they had tortured and performed seokgo-dae-joe (a traditional act of prostrating and begging for forgiveness).
[[[[[I am sorry.......]]]]]
It wasn't an amount that would change their lives, but it was enough as compensation for torture. The reaction shown by the victims toward the ANSP agents who came to them with that money and prostrated themselves was, quite literally, a complex emotion. And that complex emotion soon turned into tears.
If the ANSP agents had just appeared and said, “I’m sorry,” they would have been kicked out immediately. But because they brought a large sum of money—ranging from tens of millions of won to, in some cases, hundreds of millions of won by 2010s standards—the victims felt the sincerity. It wasn't that they felt sincerity because they were greedy for money. The victims had no idea where this money came from. Therefore, they believed the agents had desperately scraped the money together because they truly wanted to apologize.
A refracted sincerity. However, this refracted sincerity also caused ripples in the hearts of the ANSP agents.
‘I’m ashamed...’
The thought appeared in the hearts of all the ANSP agents who were prostrating themselves. They began to feel ashamed of the fact that they were apologizing with YK’s, with Chairman Choi’s money, not their own. They had certainly tortured and sowed discord among many people under the orders of JD and JSD. As time passed, the work had become so familiar that they hadn't even felt a sense of guilt. But now, in a situation where they had a choice, seeing the reality of the victims, they couldn't bear the shame. The ANSP agents’ faces turned red to their earlobes as they even thought of the—factually impossible—option that they should have just resigned and left the ANSP back then.
“I, I’m sorry. Even now, I have lied.”
One of the agents finally couldn't bear the shame and began to confess the truth in front of his victim.
“Yes...?”
The man whose hands were shaking intermittently. This man in his 40s was someone who had suffered aftereffects after being tortured by an agent simply because he was a close neighbor of a North Korean long-term spy.
“This money is not my money. It is money that YK supported me with so that I could sincerely apologize to the victim.”
At the words of the ANSP agent speaking while crying, the victim’s body stiffened.
“At first, I apologized for my own well-being. Because if I just apologized, I could continue my work. But now, seeing your appearance and the money placed beside me, I have become so ashamed. I did something I shouldn't have done... Truly, I did something a human being should never do, and I didn't even know that until just now...”
The agent’s words, just now spilled out, and his tears. The two things made the victim’s stiffened body move once again. And the place that moved was none other than their eyes.
Drip.
Feeling the sincerity, the victim cried with their eyes, and with their heart.
“Ugh...”
When the agent first appeared, they were scared. When the agent offered the money, they felt half-doubtful. When the agent said it was because YK told them to, they felt as if their heart was turning cold. And now. The agent’s sincerity, hitting their eardrums and retinas, finally turned the victim’s scar into a wound once again. A wound that might now never heal. A wound that might never become a scar. Clearly, when looking only at the surface of “apologizing with money,” it was truly a trashy way to apologize without a single emotion, but in reality, the money acted merely as a minimum medium. A medium that made the agents feel shame.
[[[[[I am sorry, the truth is.......]]]]]
Countless agents shed tears and begged for forgiveness in front of the victims they had created. However. There were naturally exceptions among them. There were, of course, those who gave a fake apology to the victim, handed over the money, and then wore a joyful expression the moment they stepped out the front gate. Like the appearance of Choi Deok-bae clicking his tongue, Yoon-gi’s bodyguards, who were tailing these agents, were recording every single move of theirs in minute detail across the country.
Finally, the day of JD’s trial arrived. The charges were truly diverse; JD was facing countless counts, starting from insurrection, murder, abetting murder, intimidation, and fraud.
However, JD’s expression was unexpectedly not one of someone about to die.
‘I won’t die alone. As long as you people are human, you won’t be able to kill me.’
JD and the ANSP agents, who were being tried as his accomplices but were sitting slightly apart for various reasons. JD was convinced that even if N or Choi Ki-hyun could abandon the ANSP agents, it would be impossible for them to completely abandon JSD. Because JSD was their dog. An obedient dog. If JSD’s sentence was lightened, it was only natural that his own sentence would be lightened as well. Therefore, JD had a relaxed inner mind, but he hid it and maintained a calm expression.
However.
“That is correct. I admit to all the charges applied to me and the facts thereof.”
At JSD’s overly quick and compliant admission, JD opened his mouth so wide his jaw practically hit the floor.
“Hey, are you crazy?!”