Chapter 431: They Must Be Waiting

The atmosphere at the Progressive Party headquarters shown on TV was like that of a funeral home.

The mood couldn’t have been good as the Progressive Party plummeted from ruling party to opposition in an instant.

Though party members had expected defeat they were stunned by such a dramatic margin.

Those who came to their senses were leaving one by one with devastated expressions.

Though it was just a prediction based on exit polls every major broadcast network showed similar margins.

The outcome was as good as decided even before opening the ballot boxes.

As the vote count began and night deepened Yoon Chang-ho’s name was marked ‘confirmed elected’ by ten o’clock.

Usually it took until past midnight for a likely winner to emerge.

However the gap between Yoon Chang-ho and other candidates was so vast that his victory was confirmed just after ten.

Lee Myeong-su who had been watching the election broadcast with Yoon Chang-ho at his home stood up and bowed deeply once more.

“Mr. President! Congratulations.”

Yoon Chang-ho jumped up from his seat and pulled Lee Myeong-su into a tight embrace.

“Thank you Director Lee! You worked hard truly hard.”

Yoon Chang-ho patted Lee Myeong-su’s back several times with an elated expression. Soon both men composed their overwhelming emotions and moved.

“President-elect we should get moving soon. Campaign staff will gather in front of the house shortly. I’ll handle the communications while you prepare.”

“Alright I leave it to you.”

As Yoon Chang-ho walked toward the master bedroom Kim Mi-seon started to follow but stopped and turned around.

“Secretary-General Lee Myeong-su.”

“Yes First Lady.”

“Thank you. Thanks to you my husband made it to the presidency. Really… truly thank you.”

“Not at all. This is all due to the President-elect living an honest life.”

Kim Mi-seon shook her head firmly. She had some idea that the Secretary-General and those behind him had set the stage.

“No that’s not true. I know him better than anyone. If he hadn’t met you… he probably would have ended his career as Prosecutor General.”

“…”

“I’ll properly thank you later. Well then…”

Kim Mi-seon gave Lee Myeong-su a slight bow.

Caught off guard Lee Myeong-su bowed in return.

After the greeting Kim Mi-seon followed Yoon Chang-ho into the master bedroom.

Left alone Lee Myeong-su stretched and pulled several phones from his suit pocket.

The phone for contacting reporters was already flooded with hundreds of missed calls and text messages.

Lee Myeong-su first called Kim Hak-phil the campaign committee chairman.

Kim Hak-phil answered almost before the first ring ended.

“Chairman this is Lee Myeong-su.”

“Director Lee! We won. This is a complete landslide!”

The voice of Kim Hak-phil Yoon Chang-ho’s closest aide trembled slightly.

“Yes that’s right. A landslide. This is the candidate’s victory and our victory.”

“Haha how’s the President-elect doing?”

“We’ll head to party headquarters soon. Before that could you and some key campaign staff come to the house? I think that would look better.”

“Of course of course. Absolutely right.”

“At party headquarters he’ll need to greet party leadership and campaign staff give a brief acceptance speech then address the nation at Gwanghwamun Square. Please plan the movement schedule carefully.”

Despite Lee Myeong-su’s continuous stream of orders Kim Hak-phil responded quickly without any displeasure.

“Understood. I’m leaving right now. I’ll tell the staff to arrange the President-elect’s schedule.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Should be there in thirty minutes.”

“Please text me when you arrive. I’ll be waiting.”

“Right got it. I’ll hurry.”

After finishing his call with Kim Hak-phil Lee Myeong-su called campaign staff to relay instructions.

After also finishing calls with friendly reporters Lee Myeong-su pulled out his last phone.

On this phone which only had numbers for friends and family he pressed speed dial 0.

“Oh Myeong-su.”

“What are you doing?”

“Watching election coverage and having a drink with Brother Gyeong. You?”

“Damn… I’m about to get insanely busy and you’re just drinking?”

“Haha! Sorry sorry.”

“Whatever.”

A smile had appeared on Lee Myeong-su’s face as he chided Kim Mu-hyeok.

“Congratulations. Now you’re the ruling party’s Secretary-General.”

“Ha… my head already hurts. My phone’s about to explode as it is. But it still doesn’t feel real.”

A strong voice came through the receiver as he spoke with a sigh.

“It’s real. From now on implement the reforms you want one by one. That’s all. You can do it. I believe in you.”

“Thanks. Let’s grab a drink when things calm down. With all our friends.”

“Sure let’s do that.”

After ending his call with Kim Mu-hyeok Lee Myeong-su moved to the window at the end of the living room.

When he slightly pulled back the curtain to look outside he could already see many people gathered.

Dozens of broadcasting teams newspaper reporters and countless supporters were waiting for him.

Lee Myeong-su let out a small sigh lowered the curtain and sat on the sofa.

A moment later when Yoon Chang-ho emerged dressed up Lee Myeong-su jumped up in surprise.

“It’s fine sit down. Let’s not be so formal between us.”

“Yes President-elect.”

As Lee Myeong-su sat back down Yoon Chang-ho asked:

“When do we need to leave?”

“When Chairman Kim Hak-phil and campaign staff arrive. Not right away though we should wait about five minutes after they get here.”

“I see. Then let’s wait a bit.”

Meanwhile on the TV Yoon Chang-ho’s name was marked ‘election confirmed.’

“Though the count isn’t complete yet Moderate Party candidate Yoon Chang-ho’s victory is already confirmed. The 16th presidential election winner is Yoon Chang-ho.”

The announcer’s voice came through as the broadcast began showing the front of Yoon Chang-ho’s house.

“Hah…”

Yoon Chang-ho gasped at the sight of supporters gathered in front of his house.

His eyes reddened with emotion at the supporters packed into every alley without a space to spare.

Kim Mi-seon who had been adjusting Yoon Chang-ho’s clothes wiped away tears.

Seeing this Lee Myeong-su slightly turned his head.

Just then his phone rang. A text had arrived saying Kim Hak-phil and key campaign staff had arrived.

“President-elect everyone has arrived. We should start preparing to go out.”

“Is that so? Shall we get up then?”

“Yes. Let’s head out in a moment.”

“Alright.”

A moment later.

Yoon Chang-ho’s front door opened and he emerged with Kim Mi-seon.

Lee Myeong-su stayed three steps behind.

When Yoon Chang-ho appeared the gathered supporters began chanting his name.

“Yoon Chang-ho! Yoon Chang-ho! Yoon Chang-ho!”

Kim Hak-phil and campaign staff standing in a line all bowed deeply and shouted in unison:

“President-elect! Congratulations on your victory!”

This was the moment Yoon Chang-ho became South Korea’s 16th president.

[‘Moderate Party’s Yoon Chang-ho Wins 16th Presidential Election’]

This was the front page headline of the Goryeo Daily the day after the election.

The newspaper featured a large photo of Yoon Chang-ho giving his victory speech to supporters at Gwanghwamun.

– Total eligible voters: 41.7 million

– Total votes cast: 35.25 million

– Final turnout: 75.4%

1st: Moderate Party Yoon Chang-ho 60.2%

2nd: Progressive Party Huh Tae-min 24.4%

3rd: People’s Assembly Song Chan-hyeok 13.4%

Seoul: Yoon Chang-ho 72%

Gyeonggi-Incheon: Yoon Chang-ho 63%

Chungcheong: Yoon Chang-ho 58%

Gyeongsang: Yoon Chang-ho 91%

Jeolla: Yoon Chang-ho 37%

Jeju: Yoon Chang-ho 55%

Yoon Chang-ho won by a landslide in all regions except Honam.

Since direct elections resumed in 1987 this was the only presidential election where a non-Progressive Party candidate received over 30% of votes in Honam.

Huh Tae-min gave his concession speech before reporters in front of the empty party headquarters.

Though he was a presidential candidate it was an inglorious exit. Song Chan-hyeok also gave his concession speech around the same time.

* * *

I put down the newspaper I had been reading.

Even though they had conceded and stepped back I had no intention of forgiving these two.

If it was just losing an election I might have let it go but they had bared their fangs at me.

When I pressed the bell beside me Manager Ma soon entered.

“Have Daehyeon Group Chairman Song Chan-woo come in. He must be waiting.”

“Yes.”

Not long after I gave Manager Ma instructions Song Chan-woo arrived.

I stood up smiled and extended my hand.

“Chairman Song. Welcome.”

“Yes Boss.”

As soon as we finished shaking hands and sat down I got straight to the point.

“You were waiting for my call weren’t you?”

“Yes I was waiting.”

“You must know why I called.”

“…Is it about Brother Chan-hyeok?”

Having been warned beforehand he must have easily guessed why I called.

“He bared his fangs at me. If I let this slide no one will fear me. But I’m troubled since he’s Chairman Song Young-ju’s blood.”

Song Chan-woo bowed his head with a grim expression. He must be troubled too.

If Huh Tae-min had won Daehyeon Group would have been shaken.

“I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about Chairman Song.”

“What would you like me to do?”

“You have evidence of tax evasion and breach of trust from when Song Chan-hyeok managed the heavy industries right?”

“…”

“Hand that over to the prosecutor I designate. I mean have Daehyeon Group file the charges directly. Then I won’t move.”

“Are you telling me to eliminate my brother?”

Song Chan-woo’s voice trembled.

“That’s right. I’m telling Daehyeon Group to remove Song Chan-hyeok.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry too much I’ll have him released later through a special pardon. But he won’t be able to live in Korea anymore.”

This was the cruelest thing for Song Chan-hyeok. It was essentially being cast out by family.

“If it’s too difficult I’ll do it directly. Though then Representative Song Chan-hyeok won’t be able to breathe outside air again.”

This much courtesy toward Chairman Song Young-ju should be enough.

If Song Chan-woo said he couldn’t do it I planned to handle it personally.

“No I’ll call a family meeting and we’ll handle it.”

“I’d like it handed over to prosecutors before President-elect Yoon Chang-ho’s inauguration.”

“Understood.”

“Then I’ll trust you Chairman.”

Song Chan-woo’s face hardened. Though he wouldn’t turn against me to protect Song Chan-hyeok I should probably ease things a bit.

“By the way how’s Daehyeon Group doing these days?”

“Automotive maintains growth. Heavy industries isn’t bad either. The problem is North Korea business.”

All of Daehyeon Group’s North Korea projects had been suspended.

By now companies should have been moving into the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

Mt. Kumgang tourism should have been proceeding smoothly but everything had ground to a halt.

The one fortunate thing was that Daehyeon Automotive’s growth was exploding.

Thanks to that they had somewhat recovered from losses in North Korea projects but the damage kept accumulating.

“It’ll probably be the same in President Yoon Chang-ho’s early term. Just try to hold out as long as you can.”

Even Yoon Chang-ho couldn’t immediately proceed with North Korea projects. Relations with the U.S. had to be considered.

“Holding out with North Korea projects isn’t the issue. The problem is Daehyeon Card.”

“Didn’t I warn you about credit card insolvency beforehand?”

“But you know we couldn’t ignore or go against government policy right?”

Daehyeon Group had formed too close a relationship with the Kim Hak-gwon administration.

When acquiring Jungwoo Group Chairman Song Young-ju strongly pushed to take Jungwoo Card. Because of that Daehyeon Group which had been holding steady started shaking from this crisis.

“For now apply for emergency loans from Taesan Bank. I’ll pass word to Chairman Ha.”

“Thank you Boss.”

Only then did Song Chan-woo’s expression finally soften.