章 630: Chapter 630: I Have Only One Thing to Say
The National Assembly elections were over, but the political scene was still chaos.
Within the Progressive Party, which had lost the election, several factions were fiercely vying for control and blaming each other.
The situation was no different for the Moderate Party, who were supposed to be celebrating the turmoil in the Progressive Party.
Outwardly, they pretended to be relaxed winners, discussing cooperation, but already internal scheming was underway to determine who would seize the next party leadership.
At the center of it all was Lee Myeong-su.
"I have no interest in the party leadership," he said.
Lee Myeong-su was having a meal with Representative Han Ji-ho at a restaurant in Yeouido.
"Listen here, Commissioner. Even if you're not interested, your surrounding people are. Isn't that right?"
Han Ji-ho took a spoonful of porridge and replied as he chewed.
"Anyone can run in the party convention. Whether they're close to me or the party leader, we have no reason to stop them. Freedom! That's our Moderate Party's first principle."
"Freedom is fine, but it comes with responsibility. You must uphold that principle and be ready to bear the consequences of your actions. Are you prepared for that?"
Han Ji-ho continued, his tone laced with mockery.
"Whether you want it or not, you're in control of this party convention since you're friends with Kim Mu-hyeok and acting as his spokesperson."
Mentioning Kim Mu-hyeok made Lee Myeong-su furrow his brow.
"CEO Kim has never interfered in our party affairs."
"Of course, he hasn't directly intervened. But haven't you been subtly guiding party opinions through him?"
"…I have never done such a thing."
"Really? Can you take responsibility for that statement?"
"Yes. It's true that my views may align with CEO Kim's, but I have never compromised my beliefs due to his pressure. That's an insult to me, Representative."
Han Ji-ho responded to Lee Myeong-su's sharp answer with a relaxed smile.
"Hahaha. Who would dare insult you? A rising political star in your early thirties!"
"…"
"After the era of the 'Three Kims', I thought we would never see another young influential politician. But then you appeared like a comet. And just a few years later, you've moved to the core of politics. Who would dare insult you? They would be risking their candidacy!"
Han Ji-ho pretended to compliment Lee Myeong-su while concealing barbs in his words, hinting that this candidacy was unfair.
But Lee Myeong-su, now accustomed to the language of politics, quickly grasped the underlying meaning.
He responded in a firm tone.
"The candidacy was conducted fairly according to established rules."
"I don't agree. Aside from the regions we agreed upon before the merger, most areas where there were multiple candidates were won by people you recruited, not the Conservative Party. Can we truly call that fair?"
"Everything we agreed upon during the merger was honored. The party leadership was secured by the party leader, and the candidacy rules were determined through resolutions by the highest party meetings. Regardless of my personal opinion, the structure does not allow that opinion to influence the candidacy results, does it?"
Both Lee Myeong-su and Han Ji-ho knew this fact.
The Secretary-General could have far deeper involvement in candidacies than the party leader.
"And Representative, you are the chairman of the Moderate Party. So why do you keep separating discussions of the Moderate Party and the Conservative Party?"
"Where have I made that distinction? It's you and the prominent figures close to you who are doing that."
"That's fallacious reasoning. If that were true, there's no way you would have become the party leader."
Han Ji-ho picked up a piece of sashimi and chewed while mumbling.
"Well, let's not dwell on past events any longer."
Every time Han Ji-ho spoke, the food in his mouth was uncomfortably visible.
On most days, it would just be overlooked, but today, Lee Myeong-su found it particularly off-putting.
He lost his appetite and put down his chopsticks.
"By the way, shouldn't this be stopping soon?"
Lee Myeong-su asked with a puzzled expression.
"Stopping what?"
"You're targeting those who left the party in protest against the candidacy. Why act like you're unaware? It's amateurish."
"In a country governed by the rule of law, if someone commits a crime, they must pay the price. I have no relation to this incident at all."
"Fine, it might not be you, but the intention of the Blue House behind it, right?"
Lee Myeong-su scoffed incredulously.
"Do you really think President Yoon Chang-ho would care about those people? If he were genuinely angry, he would have directly made you the subject of investigation instead of these small matters."
"Watch your words, Secretary Lee."
The smile vanished from Han Ji-ho's face.
"I have only one thing to say. The summons issued for those people was neither the president's will nor mine. It was entirely the prosecutors' independent action."
Han Ji-ho remained silent, as if urging him to continue. Lee Myeong-su raised his voice further.
"No, to be precise, the media raised suspicions first, leaving the prosecutors with no choice. You know the public might overlook many things, but anything concerning land speculation is simply intolerable, right?"
Han Ji-ho clenched his teeth and exhaled.
"…That was ten years ago."
"It's not ten years; even if it's twenty or a hundred years, the sins committed will not disappear. They will eventually pay for their crimes."
"Does that mean I can take it as you'll fight till the end? I won't just stand by, you know."
Han Ji-ho couldn't suppress his anger at the prosecutors' target investigation that could severely damage his leadership.
He secretly supported the candidates who had left the party to run as independents, hoping that once they passed the elections, they could return to bolster his strength.
After all, they were the ones who would strengthen his position upon their return.
However, among those who ran as independents after leaving the party, only a few managed to win.
Just that much alone was a huge blow to Han Ji-ho's political standing.
Moreover, the newly elected members as well as over half of the ones who lost were now on the prosecutors' investigation list.
Starting with Goryeo Daily, major newspapers raised suspicions against them, and articles based on clear evidence fueled public anger.
In response, the prosecutors issued attendance request letters to everyone named in the articles.
"I'm in a position where I have no choice but to protect them."
The individuals who received the summons all sought out Han Ji-ho.
"Please save us. Didn't we leave the party and run as independents under your guidance?"
Some pleaded with him, while others threatened that they wouldn't face this alone.
To Lee Myeong-su, Han Ji-ho's words sounded almost like a desperate plea.
"I have no power to stop the investigation."
"You can't, but President Yoon Chang-ho can."
"We have no reason to take political risks to save those who have left our party. The media has blown this too big; it's not something we can quietly resolve anymore."
The mere suspicions revealed by the media made it nearly impossible for them to recover.
If you were to name Korea's greatest sins, it would be land speculation and real estate manipulation.
There's even a saying that goes, if a cousin buys land, it's time to feel jealous.
And they didn't just buy land to profit. They've acquired information on new city developments through the power they held and bought land in areas slated for development in advance.
There were many other suspicions as well, but in the end, it was the astronomical profits they gained from land speculation that stirred the public's emotions.
"At the very least, can we spare the newly elected members?"
Han Ji-ho understood that with how serious the situation had become, it wouldn't be possible to save everyone.
Then, at the very least, they had to rescue those members who had been elected.
"They're all resources for the party. If we bring them back, we can secure a constitutional amendment. You and President Yoon Chang-ho must be thinking about a constitutional amendment. For securing the number of seats, President Yoon should step up."
Lee Myeong-su frowned.
"There will be no return for those who have left due to their protest against the candidacy."
"Listen here, Commissioner. Politics isn't about emotions. In the end, it's all about compromise."
"Still, it's not possible."
"…So you mean to say you're determined to battle this to the end?"
Han Ji-ho set down his chopsticks.
"If we don't reach an agreement today, I will use all means at my disposal. I might even go so far as to break off and form a splinter party with those who follow me. My influence isn't dead yet."
At the mention of a splinter party, Lee Myeong-su looked at Han Ji-ho in disbelief.
"Do you think you can really pull that off?"
"Are you saying I can't handle it?"
"Why? Should I think I'd stand before the prosecutor's photo line? Fine! Bring it on! Do you think I've only been called in front of the prosecution a handful of times? And yet, I'm still here, surviving."
To judge whether Han Ji-ho was delivering an empty threat or speaking sincerely, Lee Myeong-su squinted at Han Ji-ho's face.
His expression remained completely impassive as he stared right back at Lee Myeong-su.
"If I stand still, I'll eventually become irrelevant and fade into obscurity. I'm not someone who aspires to become president. Do you understand what that means?"
Lee Myeong-su couldn't contain himself any longer.
He couldn't politically collude to prevent Han Ji-ho from breaking away.
That would go against his principles.
"I accept that as a threat. Go ahead and do as you please. Whether you want to form a new party or bow your head and return to the Progressive Party, I won't stop you."
"So you're committed to going all the way."
Their eyes clashed in the air.
"Ha… Do you really think this is just empty bravado? You still can't underestimate my influence in the TK region."
"I know. If you set your mind to it, you could probably leave with over fifty lawmakers. And you could even form a massive negotiating group that could shake the government by cooperating with the Progressive Party. But that doesn't mean I can go against my principles."
Lee Myeong-su believed he could persuade Kim Mu-hyeok. He could ask for the lives of a few.
But he didn't want that.
"Principles, huh? So am I someone without principles?"
"Not at all. It's just that your principles and my principles differ. Neither can claim to be wrong—it's simply that our paths diverge."
Han Ji-ho let out a deep sigh.
"I'll convince CEO Kim Mu-hyeok myself."
"I won't stop you from doing that. But don't expect my help. Even if CEO Kim Mu-hyeok agrees with you, I'll oppose it. Even if the results of the prosecution show no charges, I won't reinstate them."
Lee Myeong-su stood up.
He nodded respectfully to Han Ji-ho.
"I'll take my leave now. I have an appointment in Busan, so I need to leave right away to arrive by evening."
With those words, Lee Myeong-su left the room without looking back.
After he exited, a sound of something breaking echoed in the room where Han Ji-ho was left alone, but Lee Myeong-su pretended not to hear as he walked out of the restaurant.
* * *
I had come down to Busan a few days ago to spend time with my grandmother in preparation for her 70th birthday party.
On the day of her 70th birthday celebration, I rented a banquet hall in the center of Seomyeon for the whole day.
Politicians from Busan, including the mayor, had contacted me about attending the party, but I turned them all down.
It could have made grandmother's acquaintances uncomfortable, so I only invited the local townspeople and market folks.
Holding my grandmother's hand, we entered the banquet hall and took our seats.
Shortly after, my grandmother's friends began to arrive one by one.
"Grandma! Happy 70th birthday!"
The first to arrive were Myeong-su and his family.
Grandma beamed as she welcomed them. After embracing her, Myeong-su called me aside.
After leaving grandma with Myeong-su's family, I moved into a room deeper inside with Myeong-su.
"Why the serious face?"
As soon as I saw Myeong-su, I realized he was quite angry.
"Ha… Representative Han Ji-ho might contact you. I had dinner with him before coming here today."
Myeong-su carefully explained the conversation they had.
I listened without interrupting until he finished.
"So Representative Han threatened you like that? That's surprising. I thought he'd abandon them without a second thought."
From what I knew of Han Ji-ho, he wouldn't feign ignorance for fear of getting burned himself.
"So what do you think? What do you want me to do?"
I asked with a slight smile, noting that Myeong-su still seemed agitated.
< I Have Only One Thing to Say > End
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