[BH is Behind Me!]
-(Strategy) Chairman Lee Yong-gwang shouted at the police during his arrest and investigation, claiming that BH was behind him. Here, BH is an abbreviation for Blue House, referring to the presidential office.
His phone revealed numerous calls and text exchanges with National Intelligence Service employees and the secretary room of the Blue House’s political affairs office. Moreover, his notebook contained multiple notations stating ‘BH directives.’
According to the messages, Blue House secretary Lee Il-seon instructed on the date and location of protests, and conservative organizations acted accordingly.
Currently, the prosecution is tracking the flow of funds related to the alias accounts…
Surprisingly, the first outlet to break the news was Joongilbo. Following that, similar articles poured in.
[Chairman Lee Yong-gwang boasts about his power while on the phone with the Blue House secretary in front of his members.]
[Testimonies from Parents Association members confirm they witnessed the conversations.]
[What is the relationship between the Parents Association and President Park Si-hyeong?]
[Did President Park Si-hyeong know about Secretary Lee Il-seon’s instructions?]
[What are the legal repercussions for the contractor’s protests?]
[What is the source of cash found in alias accounts and safes?]
**[Hiring defectors for controlled demonstrations at 20,000 won per person…]**
Even internet users were taken aback by the article exposing the regime’s flaws.
– “I can’t believe it! Joongilbo is criticizing the government!”
– “I questioned my own eyes.”
– “This is as shocking as if the Rodong Sinmun criticized the Supreme Leader.”
– “Lol, a few journalists got arrested, and now they’re turning on him.”
– “If you have any loyalty, don’t criticize the leader!”
– “When they were eagerly flattery, now they’re backstabbing. Betrayal icon, Joongilbo.”
– “It’s so strange to see Joongilbo reporting the truth. Please return to your tabloid roots ㅜㅜ”
The Blue House immediately denied it.
Spokesperson Seo Mun-jeong stated that the Blue House has no connection with the Parents Association and emphasized that the actions of the Blue House secretary were entirely personal deviations.
Naturally, no one believed that statement.
***
There’s a saying that fame is the tax you pay for becoming well-known.
While it’s not about paying money directly, it’s true that it brings a lot of annoying situations.
One of those is having to change your phone number often. I don’t know where my number got leaked, but I’m getting calls from all directions.
Reporters wanting to interview, various organizations asking for donations, politicians encouraging me to join their party, old school friends pretending to be close, people I barely know trying to connect, random strangers, prank calls, scammers, and so on.
I changed my number and sent a message to those whose contacts I had saved, informing them about the change.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve done this.
As I was grumbling to myself, my phone rang.
[Hey, you changed your number again, senior.]
A lively young woman’s voice came through the phone. It was none other than Shin Yuri.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
[Oh, I’m always the same.]
Listening closely, it sounded like she was at school.
We caught up on everything we had missed.
“Anything happening at school?”
[Nothing much, except that a conservative group pushed into the campus and protested.]
I was taken aback.
“They went there too?”
[Yes. Since you’re a student at Korea University, they were saying the president should come out and apologize to the public personally.]
“…….”
What did our president do wrong?
Fortunately, most of the protesters were reportedly gathered in front of the OTK Company headquarters, so the numbers weren’t too high.
[There was a lot of criticism about you on campus. The seniors in their final year were complaining that they might not get jobs because of you.]
“Eh?”
Why is it my fault they can’t get jobs?
Yuri said with a feigned air of superiority.
[Ahem, still, I believed in you until the end. I thought there must be a reason for your actions. Thank you, right?]
“Yeah. Thanks.”
And after all, the situation turned upside down after the big win.
From then on, Korea University started to heavily promote that it was the alma mater of Kang Jin-hoo.
[They’ve put up banners at the main and back gates. They also put up a big one on the business school building.]
“Banners?”
[You’ll be surprised when you see them. You can see them if you come to school now. Or should I take a picture and send it to you?]
“……No.”
I should avoid going near the school for a while.
I can’t believe they haven’t put one up at my elementary, middle, and high schools too, right?
Yuri sighed as if to say.
[You’re drifting further away.]
“Me?”
[Isn’t that right? At first, you were just a plain student about to return, but before I knew it, you became a CEO of an investment firm, and now you’re a hero who saved America.]
“Is that so?”
To think that I didn’t know I would end up like this when I first met Yuri.
[Anyway, even if you continue to succeed, don’t forget your junior at school.]
I smiled.
“Got it.”
Now that I think of it, the only junior I keep in touch with is Yuri.
[I should get to class now. See you soon, senior.]
“Study hard.”
I hung up the phone and leaned back in my chair.
Taek-gyu, lying on the sofa, said, “It’s quiet today.”
“It was quiet yesterday, too.”
It’s been so peaceful these last few days that it’s almost boring. The company is running smoothly without me, so I don’t really have anything to do.
I thought about going next door to see Elly’s face, but then another call came in.
This time, it was Chairman Im Jin-yong.
He had just returned to Korea after checking the damage situation at the California sales outlets of Seosung Electronics and meeting with the CEOs of global IT companies.
Unlike other companies that are taking a conservative approach to the U.S. market, Seosung Electronics was actually aiming to expand its market share.
With this incident, they had significantly raised their recognition in the U.S., believing that now is the time to row while the water is high.
[If you have time, would you like to grab a coffee?]
I had nothing to do at that moment.
“Sure, I’ll come over.”
***
I got into a car with Taek-gyu and headed to the Seosung Group headquarters.
An employee who had been waiting for us guided us directly to the chairman’s office. Inside, along with Chairman Im Jin-yong, there was a middle-aged woman.
President Im Soo-mi stood up to greet us when she saw us.
“It’s been a while. Representative Kang Jin-hoo, Vice Representative Oh Taek-gyu.”
“You were with him. I hope I’m not interrupting any important conversation.”
Chairman Im Jin-yong smiled and replied, “It was just a casual conversation between siblings.”
“……”
What could be a typical conversation between the Seosung siblings? Surely, they aren’t discussing which company to acquire.
I said to President Im Soo-mi, “I heard you’ve taken great care of my mother this time. Thank you.”
She shook her head, “Oh, there’s no need to thank me. I haven’t really done much.”
“That’s not true. My mother was quite anxious about suddenly changing her residence, but thanks to you, she was able to feel at ease during her stay.”
At my words, President Im Soo-mi smiled.
“I’m glad to hear that. Please tell her that I enjoyed visiting her every day.”
During my mother’s stay at the hotel, Im Soo-mi visited her daily to check if she was comfortable, had room service together, or just kept her company.
Whether it was pure goodwill or had other intentions, I do owe her. Someday, I would repay her kindness.
“I have another appointment, so I’ll excuse myself first.”
“Goodbye.”
President Im Soo-mi left the chairman’s office, and we took our seats.
Chairman Im Jin-yong handed me the newspaper.
“Have you seen the article?”
“Yes.”
I never expected the JoongAng Ilbo to publish an article on the front page investigating the relationship between the Parents’ Association and the Blue House.
There have been controversies regarding the Parents’ Association and various conservative groups organizing protests for a long time. However, throughout that time, the judicial authorities had not conducted investigations, and the media remained silent.
This time, however, there was direct evidence from the police investigation, and the media simultaneously broke the story.
“I heard there were also texts sent by a Blue House secretary directing protests in Dongtan.”
Few people know the location of my mother’s house in Dongtan. Therefore, I did not anticipate that conservative groups would gather there to protest.
The Parents’ Association and the conservative groups were no different from hired thugs. They had no qualms about illegal protests, property damage, or assault, and the police allowed them to run rampant.
I remembered my senior, Gi-hong, who was assaulted by members of the conservative group.
If there hadn’t been security guards, and if I hadn’t quickly taken my mother elsewhere, the same incident could have happened to us.
The mere thought of it stirred my anger.
There are things that should never be touched by anyone. These are typically referred to as ‘red lines.’ Park Si-hyeong has crossed the line numerous times, but this incident was absolutely unforgivable.
Taek-gyu said,
“They say the Federation of Korean Industries funded the Parents’ Association, is that true?”
Chairman Im Jin-yong replied in a bitter voice.
“That’s correct. Money from the Federation and the National Intelligence Service flowed that way. Some of the protests were directed by the Federation. It’s a shameful story, but it’s true that the Seosung Group was also involved.”
While the founding purpose of the Federation was to promote South Korea’s economic development, in reality, it served as a private gathering for the interests of conglomerates and a link for collusion between politics and business.
I don’t know what it was like in the past, but recently, the Federation has only pressured politics to create favorable laws for businesses, petitioned for the amnesty of CEOs caught for economic crimes, and funded conservative groups.
“If the corruption is revealed, won’t Seosung Group face issues as well?”
At Taek-gyu’s question, he smiled bitterly.
“It was ultimately the work of the late father, but… the group cannot avoid moral responsibility. I am prepared to take responsibility for what needs to be accountable.”
Many were involved in the practical aspects, but ultimately, it would just be pushed onto the late Chairman Im Il-gwon. After all, legal responsibility cannot be held against the deceased.
“The Federation of Korean Industries is a relic of a bygone era. It’s not suited for today’s times. The Seosung Group plans to withdraw on this occasion.”
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
The reason companies join and pay is that the Federation holds significant influence in politics.
“We don’t care. However, companies benefiting greatly in the domestic market will find it difficult.”
The Eunsung Car Group is a prime example.
In fact, Eunsung Car has benefited most from the conservative group’s protest rallies. They would show up to oppose the strikers whenever the union went on strike, demanding the noble union to stop their actions. (The Eunsung Car union has a bad reputation, which created a ‘they’re all the same’ atmosphere.)
Chairman Han Mingoo and Vice Chairman Han Chan-young are both known to be actively involved in the Federation’s activities. How are they connected to this incident?
“The investigation results haven’t been revealed yet, but this will be quite a major negative factor for the presidential election.”
After returning to Korea, I realized that Korea is currently in the midst of the presidential election season. The primaries of each party have already concluded, and candidates have been determined, with only registration remaining.
Chairman Im Jin-yong provided some explanations.
In this presidential election, Lee Jeong-hye of the Korean Party and Heo Chang-min of the New Politics Party are the two strong candidates, representing conservative and progressive factions.
Originally, the prominent candidate from the Korean Party was Congressman Choi Myung-hwan. However, he created controversy by illegally withdrawing funds during the Hosung Savings Bank incident and was forced to resign as party leader due to public pressure.
The new figure that emerged during this time is the three-term legislator Lee Jeong-hye.
Entering politics through Park Si-hyeong’s recruitment, she had not made much of an impact until then. However, after becoming party leader, she managed the party well and launched her campaign, leveraging her young image in her 40s and being a woman to draw attention.
Ultimately, she became the Korean Party candidate, with strong support from Park Si-hyeong’s faction.
The main opposition party’s candidate, Heo Chang-min of the New Politics Party, has a background as a labor lawyer and holds a centrist-progressive stance. It’s fair to view him as the single progressive candidate.
“Who will it be?”
“Well, there are many variables in this election. Above all, the biggest variable would be your junior. Depending on whom the hero who saved California from disaster supports, it could significantly influence the presidential race.”
After all, he played a kingmaker role in the U.S. presidential election, so there’s no rule saying he can’t do it in the South Korean election.
Chairman Im Jinyong continued.
“And another variable is Park Si-hyeong. By now, he must be looking for ways not to transfer power.”
