Chapter 407: Have a Drink and Cool Down

A secret bar in Gangnam.

I sat alone at the bar swirling my glass while waiting for Yoon Chang-ho.

By the time the large ice cube had melted slightly the closed door swung open.

Yoon Chang-ho walked straight toward me after entering.

“Boss Kim it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”

“Indeed it has. I see you’re looking rather haggard Chairman.”

“Haha you know how it is. Things have been crazy lately. Never thought Kim Hak-gwon that old fox would try to drag us into this mess.”

Though Yoon Chang-ho spoke with an amiable smile his words carried a hidden blade.

“Can’t be helped. The Moderate Party has Choi Seon-man’s people after all.”

“Still that doesn’t mean they should lump us together with the Conservative Party. After all the help we’ve given Kim Hak-gwon’s government. He shouldn’t be treating me like this.”

Yoon Chang-ho who sat beside me raised his voice. He must be quite angry.

I poured whiskey into a fresh glass added ice and slid it toward him.

“Have a drink first and cool down a bit.”

Taking the glass Yoon Chang-ho removed his coat and loosened his tie.

Before the ice could even melt he downed the strong whiskey in one go.

“Whew! Now I can breathe.”

“Is it that difficult?”

“It’d be a lie to say it isn’t. Lately there’s been a sudden surge of complaints within the party I’m going crazy. But it’s fine. We just need to get over this final hurdle.”

Though exhausted Yoon Chang-ho seemed more confident than ever as he spoke.

“That’s right. The presidency is within reach. But first let’s clean house. You can’t keep those who’ve turned against you. Expel them all from the party. I’ll handle the rest.”

“……”

I could see Yoon Chang-ho hesitating. He wavered unable to give a quick answer.

“Are you worried about losing your majority party status?”

Yoon Chang-ho didn’t deny it and nodded immediately.

“Yes. You know how many representatives are involved in this… If we expel them all we’ll lose our majority status. What if they join the Progressive Party? Even if I become president it’ll cause problems with running the government.”

“True your point is valid. But keeping rotten fruit in the basket will spoil the rest.”

I already knew why he hesitated to remove them.

Until now every election had been a numbers game.

Victory depended on how many regions and people you could mobilize.

Representatives worked tirelessly to secure and strengthen their local organizations.

They spent years building relationships with local community leaders.

In smaller towns the words of these leaders greatly influenced votes.

While parties sometimes handled this it often came down to individual representatives’ capabilities.

Asking them to give all that up was naturally a difficult choice.

But times are changing.

While local organizations still matter image has become more important.

Politicians with good images gain devoted followers and these fandoms become powerful weapons.

“It might hurt short-term but will keeping them really help with votes? Koreans deeply distrust the military due to two past coups. Now another private organization has been discovered in the military planning a coup. How do you think people will react?”

Yoon Chang-ho’s expression hardened. Anyone with a brain could figure out the implications.

Those associated would face public condemnation.

“So let’s use this chance for a proper reform. Use your strengths – the upright Prosecutor General untainted by politics. There’s no reason to sacrifice that image to protect them.”

Yoon Chang-ho grabbed the whiskey bottle and filled his glass to the brim.

After downing several shots of the strong whiskey he spoke.

“You must have a plan? You wouldn’t bring this up without preparations. What happens after we expel them?”

Of course I had contingencies though whether he’d accept them remained uncertain.

“Chairman merge with the Conservative Party.”

“What? What are you…”

“The Conservative Party is about to collapse. Not everyone there is involved but once an image is tarnished it’s impossible to recover. Take them in. Absorb their assets and human resources.”

“Are you telling me to commit political suicide? I entered politics opposing the two-party system. You’re asking me to destroy that principle with my own hands.”

I gave Yoon Chang-ho a small smile.

“Chairman did you know the Republican Party was once progressive and the Democratic Party conservative in America?”

“I know but why bring that up now?”

Now the Republican Party holds conservative ideals while the Democratic Party leans progressive.

Their ideologies switched over time.

That’s what I wanted.

“Politics is like a living organism.”

“……”

“To survive you must be willing to work with enemies and change party colors for your supporters. Yes your image drives the party’s reformist color now but what about after taking power? After your era ends? I want a party that can rule for decades. We need a party that chooses the best path based on the times and issues not ideology.”

Traditionally parties gather those with similar ideologies.

But I had no interest in conservative or progressive labels. My priority was having something manageable.

“Become a politician who embraces both left and right progressive and conservative. This requires flexible thinking. Merging with the Conservative Party will be the first step.”

“There will surely be internal opposition.”

“Then remove all who oppose. Keep showing your reformist side. The public will support you.”

The Moderate Party was already taking heat alongside the Conservative Party in this scandal.

In some ways they’d taken an even bigger hit than the failing Conservative Party.

At times like this retreating wasn’t the answer – they needed to push forward.

“And your concerns won’t materialize. Those expelled won’t keep their seats. We’ll find new talent in next year’s by-elections.”

Yoon Chang-ho swallowed hard as I smiled brightly. He seemed to understand what I meant about them not keeping their seats.

I had no intention of letting the representatives who opposed Yoon Chang-ho off easy.

After finishing I slowly swirled my glass waiting for his decision.

A long silence followed broken only by the occasional clink of ice.

“Can Kim Hak-gwon be trusted?”

Instead of answering Yoon Chang-ho posed a question.

As I stared at him he continued.

“About not dragging us further into this…”

“Ah I understand your concern. President Kim Hak-gwon has already dropped Choi Seon-man’s name. He also removed the Progressive Party’s presidential candidate’s name. The Moderate Party won’t face any more disruption.”

I knew what worried Yoon Chang-ho. He feared this incident might continue causing major turbulence for the Moderate Party.

Kim Hak-gwon didn’t want chaos in his final days either so things would quiet down soon.

“It’s better to quickly expel the representatives who turned against you. The longer you wait the deeper you’ll sink with them.”

“Alright. We’ll merge with the Conservative Party.”

Yoon Chang-ho made his decision.

He knew if the Progressive and Conservative parties merged it would derail his presidential ambitions.

So consuming the Conservative Party first made more sense.

“Good. Leave the merger negotiations to Myeong-su. Stay in the background Chairman. But you must handle the expulsions personally. People need to see you wielding the sword.”

Yoon Chang-ho nodded with a grim expression. Raising his glass he said:

“I’ll do that. Now tell me about Japan. What exactly happened there?”

“That wasn’t my doing Chairman.”

First Kim Hak-gwon now Yoon Chang-ho asking me about it. I’m starting to feel like the bad guy here.

“No I’m not asking if you planned it. I figure you have more accurate information than me. That’s why I’m asking.”

“It’s a long story.”

“I knew you’d say that so I canceled all my appointments. Now tell me.”

Yoon Chang-ho kept sipping his whiskey urging me on with curious eyes.

Can’t be helped. I moistened my lips with alcohol and explained the situation in Japan in detail.

It was dawn by the time I could finally part ways with Yoon Chang-ho.

The next day.

Following Choi Seon-man’s orders Yoon Chang-ho expelled all thirty-seven National Assembly members who had opposed him.

It was so sudden it shocked both the political world and the general public.

This was only possible in the Moderate Party where the chairman held all power unlike the Progressive Party’s collective leadership system.

People gossiped about Yoon Chang-ho’s aggressive move.

While the media eagerly covered it extensively favorable articles dominated thanks to Kim Mu-hyeok’s direction.

Even Yoon Chang-ho’s closest allies were confused.

“Chairman this is too risky. Expelling so many members right before the presidential election? Most of them are leaders in TK and PK regions. We can’t win this election without them.”

Though all party leadership except Lee Myeong-su opposed Yoon Chang-ho wouldn’t budge.

“Enough I can’t do politics with such people. Even if it costs me the presidency. So stop arguing about it.”

Yoon Chang-ho was resolute. While Lee Myeong-su showed a faint smile everyone else’s faces soured.