Chương 640: Chapter 640: Interesting Matters as They Are
After finalizing the agreement with Han Ji-ho, I shared drinks and engaged in a lengthy conversation with Myeong-su.
As the empty soju bottles began to pile up, it wasn't long before more than ten were stacked up high.
It was around this point that a tipsy Myeong-su began to tell me about the politics he dreamed of.
"Hey, buddy… Muhan!"
I popped a grilled eel into my mouth and replied gruffly.
"What? Still got something to say? Your mouth hurting?"
"I still… I really have so much I want to do…"
"Then go for it! Just do it; there's nothing stopping you! I'll support everything you want to do."
"But what if it ends up causing you trouble? Is it still okay?"
Myeong-su muttered, burying his head into the table.
I paused drinking, looking at Myeong-su intently.
"You're going to cause me trouble?"
"Yeah."
Suddenly lifting his head, Myeong-su filled his soju glass to the brim and downed it in one go.
"What do you mean? What could possibly cause trouble for me?"
"Muhan, now that I'm in this political arena, I want to do it well."
Instead of answering, Myeong-su started rambling aimlessly.
"I was pushed into this by you, but still, I…"
He began to slip into dialect he usually avoided, stumbling over his words as he spoke less frequently.
At the same time, he started to spill feelings he usually kept bottled up.
"You did push me to get here, but still, I'd prefer not to be a puppet with no thoughts, right?"
"When did I call you my puppet? I told you to do as you wish."
"Yeah. Right. My friend Kim Mu-hyuk wouldn't really think that way. But others? They view me as your avatar, simply following your orders."
At those words, I just stared at Myeong-su in silence.
I obviously knew how others viewed him.
Most people now understand that Myeong-su and I are different, but it's the misinformed ones that are the real issue.
They see him as just my right-hand man in the political scene, acting as my avatar.
"So, what do you want to say?"
Given how elaborate his introduction was, it seemed he had something heavy to bring up.
I asked while meeting the gaze of a flushed Myeong-su.
"You mentioned that Jang Seong-taek would implement a currency reform soon."
"So what? It doesn't really concern Korea, does it?"
"Not necessarily, you know? The Bank of Korea and economic bureaucrats are saying the currency unit needs to be reduced. If Jang Seong-taek… succeeds with North Korea's currency reform, it's going to stir things up here."
Though he faltered a bit, I could gather clearly what Myeong-su was getting at.
The crux was that discussions around currency reform could surface for us too.
But that was hardly beneficial for me, hence why it was a touchy subject.
Myeong-su's worries seemed to have increased as he aged. I chuckled and swirled the soju glass in my hand.
"I absolutely consider it not possible."
"What? Because it already failed decades ago? Or is it that politicians have never dared to bring it up since?"
"No. It's that the cons outweigh the pros."
Other than politics, discussions about currency devaluation have consistently cropped up in various fields.
However, replacing the existing cash and the numerous infrastructures could require a massive sum of money.
In the end, only discussions emerged, while the practical response was to create new high-denomination bills.
I didn't anticipate this time would be any different.
And the notion that if North Korea succeeds, we must follow suit—doesn't that sound a bit flimsy?"
"There are definitely pros and cons, but the economic bureaucrats insist we should change the currency unit in the long run. Even for national competitiveness…"
"Oh really? So you want to do it?"
"Shouldn't we at least discuss it in politics? We can't keep quiet about currency reform indefinitely, treating it like a taboo!"
Politicians need to look towards the future. Myeong-su is sketching out his own.
This reminded me of the past when Myeong-su was shocked about how to be a politician.
It was astonishing to see how far this fledgling politician had grown.
"Then bring it to the surface. If you can, I won't oppose it. But I still believe it's impossible."
Upon my assertion, Myeong-su frowned, clearly displeased.
"Wanna bet?"
"Bet?"
"I'll throw out the idea and see what happens. We'll find out if it aligns with what you think or if we should seriously start discussions."
Myeong-su's suggestion made me chuckle without realizing it. Look how much he's grown, Lee Myeong-su.
"Wow, are you laughing? You really think it won't work?"
"No. It just seemed like a really foolish idea to me. Let's do it now. As for the scenario…"
"I'll keep it brief. When Jang Seong-taek announces the currency reform, our broadcasters will plan special segments about it. I'll casually mention it there."
"When did you start thinking about this? Well, do what you want. Just don't set your hopes too high."
"But is it really going to be okay? In Pyeongchang-dong…"
When I agreed willingly, he seemed surprised and hesitated to speak up.
"Pyeongchang-dong? Oh, the cash I have? That amount can be handled. Don't worry about that; do as you wish."
Even if I had a good amount of cash, I could exchange it through Taesan Bank, and there were countless other options.
I had no intention of halting Myeong-su's ambitions over something minor like that.
Besides, I was curious if Myeong-su could successfully generate public opinion if he tried.
"I won't do anything but stand by."
Myeong-su simply looked at me without a word. I filled his drink and poured some for myself too.
* * *
Hearing the whole story, Han Gyeong-yeong clicked his tongue.
"Lee Myeong-su is no usual fellow."
"He needs that kind of guts to make a difference."
Breaking a taboo is never an easy task for anyone.
"You're just going to watch?"
Of course not. I shrugged.
Though I told Myeong-su I wouldn't do anything, I had already made all the necessary preparations.
I requested the host to relentlessly press for Myeong-su's remarks…
"We need to toss some bait to the Progressive Party. No sound comes from opposite palms, right?"
Even if Myeong-su shouts, nothing would happen unless the Progressive Party engages.
I turned my gaze back to the TV. Myeong-su looked flustered as he scratched his cheek on screen.
— Please speak clearly.
As the host urged him again, Myeong-su let out a deep sigh.
— Please understand that this is all just my personal opinion. I haven't discussed this with President Yoon Chang-ho or the Blue House staff, nor with the party.
— That's something for the viewers to judge themselves.
Myeong-su seemed to struggle with the firm stance of the host, moistening his lips with leftover water to buy time.
He's deliberately dragging it out. Anyway, Lee Myeong-su has really improved his acting skills.
Finally, after a while, Myeong-su opened his mouth.
— We need to at least start discussing this. It's too late once problems arise. As several economists have claimed, we should overhaul anything that can harm international competitiveness. We must start with changing the currency unit.
— That means Representative Lee Myeong-su supports currency reform.
— If necessary, yes. But again, this has solely been a thought I've kept to myself. I'd like to reiterate; neither I nor the Progressive Party has had any discussions on this.
Myeong-su clearly drew the line with the Blue House.
At that moment, Professor Lee Min-woo, who had heard Myeong-su's remarks, interjected.
— Representative Lee Myeong-su! Can you take responsibility for that statement?
— Yes. It's natural for a politician's words to carry responsibility. I believe there must be serious discussions about currency reform.
— What will you do about the confusion that arises because of it? Surely, you're not unaware that there are more cons than pros, are you?
— Before weighing the pros and cons, discussions must be held actively. Only then can we see the matter from multiple angles. For how long must we fear mentioning currency reform?
As the panelists murmured among themselves, the host interjected anxiously.
— Wow, time has already flown by. We've heard many insightful comments. We will address Representative Lee Myeong-su's remarks later.
The host faced the camera and summarized the situation.
— It might not be a bad idea to observe how North Korea's economic policies and currency reform will unfold. This has been today's issue.
As the host bowed, the camera pulled away, briefly capturing the scene of the host and panelists exchanging pleasantries.
Turning off the TV that aired the commercial, I cast my gaze back to Han Gyeong-yeong.
"Are there no issues with the documents?"
Han Gyeong-yeong snapped back to reality at my question.
"I haven't gone through everything yet. But is it really going to be okay? Just discussing it can change public opinion in ways we can't predict. Muhan, it might not go as you planned."
"I've prepared for that, so don't worry. It won't be easy, though. We got burned once."
The last currency reform left memories of a nightmare etched in the minds of those who experienced it firsthand as banks froze deposits and the economy faltered, causing small enterprises to collapse.
No matter how much time passes, that nightmare won't fade from the memories of those who lived through it.
Though I don't know how the generation that didn't experience that time will react…
"Yet if Myeong-su's vision flows as intended, that could be something equally interesting."
If Myeong-su manages to accomplish what he set out to do, it means his capabilities are beyond what I initially thought.
Having a brilliant political partner to walk alongside me is genuinely a joy.
"Just keep a close eye on the documents. Let me know if any issues arise."
I shook off my thoughts and decided to refocus on work.
Despite my reminders, Han Gyeong-yeong made a face but returned his attention to the documents.
Moments later, Han Gyeong-yeong looked up after finishing his review.
"The review is complete. It doesn't look like there are any problems."
"Really? That's a relief. Then clean it up neatly and establish the corporation."
"Who will be the representative?"
"Manager Ma will hold the title of CEO."
"Manager Ma?"
"Yeah. Because he's the one I trust the most."
So many people were involved here.
Barack Obama, President Yoon Chang-ho, and others I needed to take care of also got a share.
I intended to share the profits from the Iraq reconstruction contracts with my people.
There shouldn't be any issues with that work.
"So, we're appointing Manager Ma as CEO; what about the rest?"
"You handle the rest. You're the best at this kind of thing. I'll handle all the negotiations myself, so just set the stage."
"Okay, Boss!"
He calls me a workaholic, but I'm the one who thinks he's worse.
I chuckled as I watched Han Gyeong-yeong, who became cheerful once he had work to do.
* * *
After finishing the shoot, Lee Myeong-su met with the party's leadership.
Han Ji-ho sat at the head of the table, with others seated to either side.
With a serious expression, Han Ji-ho began to speak.
"Director Lee."
"Yes, Representative."
"What were you thinking?"
"What do you mean?"
"What on earth made you decide to talk about currency reform? Don't you understand everyone perceives your words as the Blue House's stance?"
Lee Myeong-su frowned.
Though he clearly stated that he hadn't had any discussions with the Blue House, Han Ji-ho questioned whether the Blue House influenced him.
"Didn't I already say on air? I've had no discussions with the Blue House, and this is just my personal opinion. I didn't anticipate getting asked such questions today, but I can't just lie, can I?"
"So it's just your own thoughts… Unless…"
While Han Ji-ho trailed off, Myeong-su easily guessed what he meant: he wanted to ask whether Kim Mu-hyeok had a hand in this. Myeong-su shook his head fervently.
"This is solely my opinion. It's true various scholars are making that argument. I've heard the Bank of Korea has wrapped up its preparations for the reform. The previous and current administrations merely conducted internal reviews without implementation; they had good reasons to do so."
Both the leadership around Han Ji-ho and those supporting Myeong-su wore grim expressions.
"Do you not understand what I mean? I'm asking why you felt the need to throw that statement out there. Don't you know why politicians avoid such discussions?"
Han Ji-ho sighed. But Myeong-su didn't waver.
"Someone had to say it. North Korea has enacted currency reform. If we don't discuss it now, when? The host laid the groundwork, so I acted on it."
"But at least you should have consulted with me first."
"I didn't know it would turn out this way. I'm sorry."
Myeong-su bowed his head to Han Ji-ho. The latter sighed heavily, giving Myeong-su a dissatisfied look.
"Stop talking. Let's decide our party's strategy based on how the Progressive Party reacts. Understand, Director Lee?"
"…Understood."
Seeing Myeong-su remain silent, Han Ji-ho spoke in a softer tone, almost soothingly.
"Let me request something. This issue will have tremendous political ramifications. If the Bank of Korea had brought it up first, it'd be easier for us to receive it. But you've thrown it in the ring. Now someone else has to take the ball. You'll just have to wait until then. Afterward, we'll have to establish our party position."
"I get it. So what's your stance on this, Representative?"
"It's opposed. But what does my opinion matter? Public sentiment is what holds weight. We must observe first."
Myeong-su didn't reply and simply lowered his eyes.
His clenched fists had turned white.
A week sped by in no time.
The media heatedly discussed the points Myeong-su raised daily.
Economists supporting him bolstered his opinions while critics like Professor Lee Min-woo condemned them.
However, no one, neither those in the ruling nor the opposition parties, had made any substantial comments.
Amid the uproar, the ground-breaking ceremony for the Kaesong Industrial Complex approached without fail.
Leaving the burning media behind, President Yoon Chang-ho, along with leaders from both sides, crossed the military demarcation line heading toward Kaesong.
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