Chương 680: Chapter 680: It’s a Relief That Hard Work Pays Off
While Kim Mu-hyeok juggled his overseas schedule between Iraq, the UK, and Russia, Korea itself was engulfed in chaos.
The confusion sparked by allegations from the U.S. quickly spread to the media and civic groups, fueling the flames of unrest.
The reformist faction of the Progressive Party united with civic groups to seize the opportunity, launching attacks against the government and the president.
But all that turmoil was swiftly quelled.
With just one video broadcasted on major news channels in the U.S., the blazing flames were extinguished without a trace.
"I warned you, didn't I? What a mess this is!"
The faction leaders gathered in the Progressive Party's headquarters lowered their heads in shame.
Kim Seok-jin, sitting at the head of the table, didn't hold back his sharp criticism, targeting the interim leader Kim Sung-keen.
"I distinctly remember saying that we shouldn't touch this issue. We put you in this position to propose party rules and reforms, not to play politics!"
"Kim Seok-jin, please maintain some decorum. The interim leader of the party is present, after all."
Kim Sung-keen furrowed his brow, reprimanding Kim Seok-jin's disrespectful behavior, but that only made the latter raise his voice higher.
"Right, the emergency response committee chairman, Kim Sung-keen. That's your title. We entrusted you with full authority to innovate and reform for our party, which has experienced consecutive losses in presidential and general elections. My silence on your proposed reforms wasn't an endorsement. But to play political games now? That's a blatant overreach!"
Until now, Kim Seok-jin had quietly prepared for the establishment of his own party, relying on a select few trusted allies.
Despite his stance, he patiently awaited the right moment without intensively critiquing the reforms of the Progressive Party.
He believed that if he stayed low and patient, his time would eventually come. And just as he predicted, that time had arrived.
Although Kim Seok-jin and his faction expressed disapproval regarding the current issue, Kim Sung-keen pushed forward without hesitation.
"Even if you come up with various reform proposals to eliminate me and my faction, I was prepared to sacrifice for the party. But that's no longer the case. What the chairman and the others are doing is tantamount to harming the party. I can't just stand by and watch."
"Are you saying you want to bring me down?"
Kim Sung-keen muttered while rubbing his temples, evidently suffering from a headache.
"How dare an old man like you even think about toppling the chairman? If you dislike the monastery, the monk should leave."
Everyone's eyes in the chairman's office widened in shock.
"Did you just say…"
"Once this meeting is over, I will submit my resignation. I won't waste my remaining political years in a party with no future."
At Kim Seok-jin's bombshell announcement, Hong Jin-woo raised his voice in protest.
"Chairman! You are the face of this party! Are you really going to leave?"
"Kim Hak-gwon has already left, so what difference will one more make? Don't you want me to leave so you can secure your hold on power?"
"We can have power struggles within the party, it's normal. Resigning is an entirely different matter. Even if our views differ, we should fight it out among ourselves, not leave the party."
Could Kim Seok-jin's resignation truly be just his own problem?
Even if he was now a toothless tiger, he was still the leader of the Honam region.
To be elected in Honam next time, his faction had to follow Kim Seok-jin.
If he and his faction left, the number of seats would likely be halved.
For Hong Jin-woo, it was crucial to prevent a split in the party.
"You've made your mind up. Even if you try to dissuade me, my decision is final. Why are you so angry when I'm offering you what you want?"
"I just asked you to take a breather, didn't I? When you come back…"
Kim Seok-jin mocked Hong Jin-woo, cutting him off.
"I don't trust the promises of politicians. Aren't you the same? The moment people forget a politician's name, it's as good as being dead. Am I as loved as President Kim Hak-gwon? Your words suggest that I should die. Or do you plan to give up your hold on power and do what I say? Then I might reconsider."
Hong Jin-woo bit his lip. Kim Seok-jin's proposition was absolutely unacceptable.
If he didn't act now, he might never have another chance to seize power.
When the opportunity arose, he had to firmly grip the reins and expand his faction.
Thus, Hong Jin-woo proposed that Kim Seok-jin step back for a moment.
He tempted him with the next presidential election, but Seok-jin refused.
In the end, Hong Jin-woo put forward Kim Sung-keen, a man who had spent his entire life as a professor, as the figurehead for the emergency response committee.
Together, they crafted rules for the party convention that favored Hong Jin-woo.
"Chairman."
"Hong, you too aren't inclined to concede, right? I have no intention of stepping back either. If the party constitution and rules are finalized as they are, I'll naturally be pushed to the back."
The rules for the party convention announced by the emergency response committee were 30% from delegates, 20% from general members, and 50% from public opinion polls.
Despite the high support rates among party members for Kim Seok-jin, he wouldn't be able to claim party leadership with over half of Hong Jin-woo's support in polls.
"I absolutely won't allow that. Yet I don't wish to incite chaos in the party. I've dedicated decades to it. Even if I resign, I'll still support you."
Though he claimed not to want turmoil, the faction leaders felt as if they had been hit by a bomb.
"Lastly, I'm offering advice born from love for the party. Reform? It's great. But no one likes rapid change. It's better to transform slowly and steadily. Good luck to you all."
Kim Seok-jin stood up. No one in the chairman's office tried to stop him.
"And Kim Sung-keen."
As he stood, Kim Seok-jin looked down at Kim Sung-keen with a smirk.
"You're finally understanding that politics from books and real politics are worlds apart? Didn't I tell you from the beginning? Pretending to be noble in this filthy world won't prevent you from rolling in the mud with everyone else. Just like these folks. Welcome to the dirty realpolitik, Chairman."
At Kim Seok-jin's scornful laugh, Kim Sung-keen's face hardened.
However, Kim Seok-jin simply turned away, leaving the chairman's office.
* * *
After finishing more than a month of overseas work, I finally returned to Korea.
Summer was in full swing in Korea.
The airport was bustling with people heading off for vacations.
I escaped the chaotic airport and headed into Seoul.
"So, Kim Seok-jin has left the party," I murmured.
The front page of the newspaper I purchased at the airport had a huge article about him.
[The Progressive Party no longer represents progress. Former Chairman Kim Seok-jin's sudden resignation.]
Former Chairman Kim Seok-jin has announced his resignation from the Progressive Party. At the press conference, he criticized the current emergency response committee and Chairman Kim Sung-keen, declaring he could no longer stand by and watch the party devolve.
Former Chairman Kim Seok-jin was a prominent politician who fought against military dictatorship during those dark times…]
As I folded the newspaper, I spoke to Manager Ma.
"Please contact Kim Seok-jin and arrange funding for his new party preparations. Ensure you keep all evidence of the transactions."
"Yes, I will take care of it."
Listening to Manager Ma's response, I sank back into my seat.
I gazed out at the swiftly passing scenery, deep in thought.
'The opposition is splitting in two…'
The ruling Moderate Party's internal strife was resolved because I intervened and helped forge a compromise.
Power within the party had completely tilted toward Yoon Chang-ho's faction and Lee Myeong-su's faction.
Of course, Myeong-su wasn't actively forming a faction, though.
But politicians have an acute sense for power.
Naturally, people began gravitating toward Myeong-su, the potential next power player, rather than the current one, Yoon Chang-ho.
It didn't matter to me whether they flocked to Myeong-su because of our relationship or out of self-interest. As long as they were useful, I was fine with it.
Arriving home, I sat in my study and picked up the phone.
Before the signal tone rang more than a few times, the other party picked up.
'Oh, Mu-hyeok! Have you made it back to Korea?'
"I just got back and I'm currently in Pyeongchang-dong. Did you see that Chairman Kim Seok-jin resigned? Current lawmakers and several party committee heads are sure to follow suit to form a new party."
"'Is this all part of your plan?"
Myeong-su asked in a serious tone. I'd merely handed Kim Seok-jin a loaded gun.
But it was Kim Seok-jin who pulled the trigger.
"Well, it was ultimately Chairman Kim Seok-jin's choice. I only supported him along the way."
"'True, at the end of the day, the individual makes the choice. For us, this is an opportunity we should embrace. By the way, are you heading down to Busan?"
"I'm planning to meet with the President tomorrow and head down to Busan immediately after. Grandma's been calling for me to come down for a while now."
As soon as Grandma was mentioned, Myeong-su sighed.
"'I already got scolded by Grandma. When she found out you entered Iraq, she asked why I didn't stop you. I thought I was gonna die making excuses. Did she go off on you too?"
After Kim Mugil went down to Busan, he got a good talking to from Grandma.
Merely knowing I'd entered Iraq to negotiate with terrorists had her on a rant the entire time.
"Don't even get me started. I think that's the first time I've heard that much nagging at my age. If Grandma keeps this up, she might just live to be a hundred."
"'Haha. Seriously, you should have kept it under wraps. Who could have guessed you'd actually go to Iraq?"
Myeong-su laughed loudly. After a while, still chuckling, he continued with a voice full of mirth.
'So when are you going to Busan tomorrow? I wanna see Kim Mu-hyeok getting scolded again, it's been too long.'
"Probably late tomorrow evening. I've got lunch with the President, and then I'll be having a chat with him."
"'Alright, then I'll schedule something for the evening in Busan as well. Oh, I need to go now. The whole leadership is gathering for a meeting because of Chairman Kim Seok-jin's resignation. Yes, I'm heading in now."
We barely had time for proper goodbyes before Myeong-su hurriedly hung up.
Looks like the ruling party leaders are also gathering to discuss the implications of Chairman Kim Seok-jin's resignation.
After hanging up, I hurriedly handled a few papers that needed my attention before rising from my seat.
Maybe it was the long flight, but my body felt heavy.
I patted my shoulders and spoke to Manager Ma, who was awaiting outside.
"Manager, don't connect me to anyone today. I need a good rest for once."
"Yes, Boss."
"You should take it easy too, Manager."
I glanced at the bowing Manager Ma and headed straight for my bedroom.
The next day.
I entered the Blue House for a luncheon meeting with President Yoon Chang-ho.
"Mr. Kim, welcome back."
President Yoon Chang-ho was waiting in the dining room. Lunch was already prepared.
"The weather's getting hot, so I thought we could have samgyetang. Is that alright?"
"Of course. After more than a month away from Korea and eating foods that didn't suit my palate, I'm simply grateful for your thoughtfulness, Mr. President."
"I'm glad to hear that. Let's eat up."
Throughout the meal, no critical conversations came up. We merely engaged in light chat.
Once lunch ended, the staff cleared the table before dessert was served.
"From now on, no one else is to enter this room."
"Yes, Mr. President."
After the Chief Secretary bowed and left, we began to discuss matters of real importance over tea.
"I appreciate your efforts in Iraq."
"It's nothing, really. It was possible due to your determination, Mr. President. Had I failed, it could have resulted in a significant backlash against you as well."
It was fortunate I succeeded; otherwise, President Yoon Chang-ho would have taken all the blame alone.
"That said, it's not easy to negotiate directly. You've certainly had a tough time."
There was sincerity in Yoon Chang-ho's words. I flashed a smile as I responded.
"It was a struggle, but I'm relieved that it paid off. It should also help with your approval ratings."
"True. Although no one knows the weariness you've endured, I'll be sure to remember it."
As Yoon Chang-ho spoke, he set his coffee cup down and locked eyes with me.
"So what's the reason for today's meeting? You aren't the type to seek praise for your accomplishments, are you?"
"Haha. Was that my reputation? I've secured confirmation from the President of Russia about the construction of the oil pipeline that'll run from there to Ulsan."
"What? Is that true?"
Yoon Chang-ho was already aware that I intended to push forward with the construction of the pipeline that would cross North and South Korea.
"Yes. I received the confirmation, and I was granted the operational rights for the pipeline as well. That's why I came to get your approval, Mr. President."
Getting an approval from the Russian President wasn't something I could rush into immediately.
The pipeline constituted national infrastructure.
Thus, I had to obtain permissions from all concerned nations: Russia, North Korea, and South Korea.
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