The Audacity of the Empire

Japan didn't stop at merely conveying their regrets through diplomatic channels; they formally requested a Korea-Japan diplomatic summit. If YS had been the President, he would have likely dismissed the request out of hand with a sharp, "Cheeky bastards." However, because YS was the Prime Minister and N was the President, the demand was accepted. N didn't particularly care for Japan either, but the weight of the presidency demanded a sense of responsibility, especially with the international event of the Olympics looming just around the corner.

Consequently, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kim Byung-soo met with his Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Ito, in Seoul. Usually, such diplomatic meetings require time to schedule as a matter of courtesy. However, Japan, despite being the one making the request, demanded the earliest possible date, and Korea agreed, thinking, "Fine, let's hear what kind of nonsense they have to say."

The Korea-Japan diplomatic summit began. There was some initial small talk, but as soon as the perfunctory pleasantries concluded, Foreign Minister Ito immediately cut to the chase.

"Must you really tear down the Government-General of Korea building?"

Minister Kim Byung-soo’s brow furrowed slightly at Ito’s remark, which felt almost like a breach of diplomatic protocol.

"What is the meaning of that?"

To this inevitable counter-question, Ito shifted his gaze toward Minister Kim’s interpreter. It was a look that seemed to ask, "Did you translate that correctly?" Minister Kim, sensing the implication behind that look, furrowed his brow even deeper.

"There is no problem with our interpretation. I am asking in what 'sense' you are saying that."

"Are you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠truly asking because you don't know the meaning?"

His attitude was as if to say, "You don't even know that?" This arrogance was rooted in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Japan is #1" conviction fueled by the 1980s bubble economy. In the original timeline, the demolition of the Government-General building was supposed to happen on August 15, 1995. Even then, Japan didn't display such insolence during official "summits," though they certainly spewed arrogant remarks in official settings.

Furthermore, a major misconception held by the younger generation is that Japanese politicians in the 90s and 2000s were friendly toward Korea. In reality, that is far from the truth. While some defend Japan by citing the Kono Statement or letters from Prime Ministers regarding forced labor or the "comfort women" issue during the colonial period, has Japan actually changed because of those things? Not at all. Instead, Japan uses these two facts to frame the narrative as "Japan, the country that knows how to apologize" and "Koreans, the people who don't know how to receive an apology." In short, they simply used Korea for their own political and international propaganda; the 90s were never a time when Japan was particularly "pro-Korea."

If the 90s, when the bubble burst and their economic power plummeted, were like this, one can only imagine how they were in the 80s, when they were self-proclaiming themselves as the "world's strongest economic power." Naturally, the words, "The inferior Koreans really can't understand a simple point," were practically written on Ito’s face.

"I am asking for clarification. If there is something you want, please express it clearly and specifically, rather than using metaphors. This is a place for dialogue between nations."

At Minister Kim Byung-soo’s words, Ito let out a sigh. It was a sigh that carried the underlying sentiment of, 'Do I really have to spell this out?'

"The Government-General building is a structure with deep historical significance. Moreover, it has been standing for over 60 years. Tearing down such a building simply to stir up public sentiment? I cannot understand the intentions of the Korean government. Are the Korean people so obsessed with such useless things?"

Minister Kim Byung-soo’s temple throbbed. If he were to jump up from his seat right now and deliver a soccer kick to Ito’s face, it would certainly be a moment of great catharsis, at least in the short term. However, knowing it would lead to an international disgrace, he desperately suppressed his emotions.

If not for N’s warning, Ito would have been bleeding from both nostrils by now. But thanks to Minister Kim’s restraint, Ito was able to keep flapping his trap.

"I don't understand why the Korean people hate the Government-General building in the first place. Isn't the Government-General originally a symbol of glory for Koreans?"

"W-what did you say?"

Minister Kim Byung-soo felt as if his throat was about to burst.

"Isn't that right? The 'annexation' of Korea and Japan happened because Korea lacked the national strength, and the Joseon royal family bowed their heads and begged us, Japan. Our Emperor graciously accepted it. If it weren't for us, Japan, how would the Joseon of that time have endured the harsh international situation? You would have been exploited by the uncivilized Qing Dynasty or the cruel white men of that time. You are aware of the fate of countries exploited by European nations, aren't you?"

Ito’s nose was held high, his expression radiating a pride that seemed to pierce the sky.

"Are you actually saying that? Have you forgotten the exploitation Japan committed in Korea?"

At Minister Kim Byung-soo’s incredulous reaction, Ito wore an even more bewildered expression, as if he were the victim.

"No, I am the one who cannot understand the Minister’s words. Do you not remember how much grace the Empire of Japan bestowed upon Korea at the time? Or were you not taught?"

"G-grace, you say?"

Ito opened his mouth with a look of pity.

"Let me enlighten you. Japan surveyed Joseon’s land and brought precise land data to Joseon, and we established banks to develop Joseon’s commerce, which was at the lowest level in the world at the time. We laid railroads to develop Joseon’s transportation, built ports to develop Joseon’s trade, and built schools to implement universal education for Koreans. If this isn't grace, what is? Furthermore, isn't Korea as developed as it is now thanks to the infrastructure we laid back then?"

"No, how can you say such a thing..."

Minister Kim Byung-soo was so dumbfounded that he couldn't find the words. In reality, Japan’s land survey was a scheme to forcibly seize land and hand it over to the Japanese and pro-Japanese traitors. The banks were established to neutralize the currency held by the people of Joseon and to safely store the assets of the Japanese and the traitors. The railroads were a means to easily plunder Joseon’s resources to Japan, and the people of Joseon were even restricted from boarding them. Furthermore, the schools were places of brainwashing to eradicate the national identity of the people of Joseon.

Minister Kim Byung-soo was speechless from the shock of such outrageous remarks, but Ito, thinking he was speechless because he "couldn't refute" him, wore a smug expression.

"See? Even the Minister cannot refute it. Furthermore, we, Japan, graciously allowed the people of Joseon to use Japanese names at the time, treating them as equals. Really, I cannot understand Koreans. To forget such grace and focus on trivial matters... tsk tsk..."

What Ito was referring to was none other than the Sōshi-kaimei, or the "forced adoption of Japanese-style names." It was a policy to eradicate national identity by forcing the people of Joseon to change their names to Japanese ones. And yet, he called this grace. Not only Minister Kim Byung-soo, but the interpreter translating these words was also turning red with rage. No, going beyond that, he shouted at Ito.

"What kind of bullshit are you spewing! Do you have no idea about the exploitation Japan committed in Korea? You forcibly conscripted Koreans and exploited them in ways that defy reason!"

Ito frowned at Minister Kim’s interpreter.

"Speak properly. 'Forced conscription,' you say? They were all volunteers. And at the time, Japan paid fair compensation according to the principles of capitalism."

"You son of a bitch!!!"

The interpreter tried to lunge at Ito, but the security guards blocked him.

"Ha, as expected, Korea is a people lacking in manners, both then and now. It doesn't seem like we can communicate, so I shall take my leave."

Ito stood up without even waiting for Minister Kim Byung-soo’s permission.

"Oh, let me say one more thing. If you are trying to tear down the Government-General building because the maintenance costs are too high, our Japan will graciously cover that amount. Unlike Korea, we are an economic superpower, after all."

Ito, who left with a sneer, even let out a loud, "Hahahahahaha!" as he walked out of the summit hall.

"Those son of a X-ing bastards!"

Upon receiving the report on the summit results, YS forgot he was in front of N and exploded in fury.

"I am truly sorry. When I heard what that Ito guy was saying, my mind went blank for a moment, and I couldn't say anything."

Minister Kim Byung-soo was bowing his head with an expression that looked like he was about to cry.

"What? Japan developed Joseon? No, who are they talking to when they spew such nonsense! I’m from the generation that experienced that exploitation!"

YS was born in the mid-1920s. Because of that, he had vivid memories of the exploitation by Japan during the colonial period. In particular, Japan became even more vicious in their exploitation of Joseon entering the 1940s, and because the level of exploitation at that time was beyond vicious—it was extreme—those who had memories of that time were absolutely disgusted.

"Before those bastards returned to Japan, they issued astronomical amounts of worthless currency and flooded Korea with it to induce hyperinflation, and they thoroughly hid major industrial technologies, yet what? They claim Korea developed thanks to the infrastructure they laid?"

YS felt like he wanted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to grab the back of his neck. And the news that made YS want to grab his neck even more occurred the next morning in Japan.

Countless Japanese newspapers were condemning the Republic of Korea. And they conveniently left out Ito’s own diplomatic breach of protocol.

"Damn it!"

In the same presidential office as yesterday, YS was tearing the Japanese newspapers that had been flown in to shreds with both hands.

"Mr. President, are you just going to endure this? Let’s just tear it down right now. We need to fix those Japanese bastards’ manners!"

N nodded as if in agreement.

"The Prime Minister is right. We must pour all our national strength into tearing down the Government-General of Korea as quickly as possible. The date isn't what’s important."

Yoon-gi, who had been listening to the two of them quietly, spoke up in a low voice.

"It shouldn't end with just that."

Yoon-gi was also ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quite furious, but he spoke deliberately and quietly.

"Do you have a better way?"

At YS’s words, Yoon-gi nodded.

"Let’s broadcast the summit footage on the three major networks during prime time."