I do this because I need to.
I spent a long time explaining to Myeongsu why I wanted to make Woo Young-sik a member of the National Assembly.
"Ha······. No matter what, I still feel uneasy. How much the President trusted that person. How would you feel if I betrayed you?"
"Are you trying to betray me by laying the groundwork?"
"No, you little punk! What would you do if that happened?"
Myeongsu's betrayal. This was a question that I had been thinking about for a long time, and it had a clear answer.
"Well, I guess I'll forgive you just this once?"
My answer was unexpected, so Myeongsu, who had been moving his lips, answered after a long time.
"······Very much."
I abandoned Myeongsu once in the past.
So, in this life, I thought I would forgive you at least once, no matter what you did.
But when I got that kind of reaction, I felt like teasing him instead.
"Why do you think so? Do I look like such a bad guy?"
When asked seriously, Myeongsu felt embarrassed and changed the subject.
"Okay, Inma. You can't say anything. If the President permits, I will accept it."
"Yes. I was planning to persuade you first and then meet the President."
"Well, the President said he'd forgive me, so it's not like I'm going to cause a fuss······. But still, it's true."
It was Myeongsu who spoke with a voice full of complaints until the end.
"Then are you going to send Park Seok out?"
"That won't do!"
Myeongsu screamed with shivers. Well, I guess there's nothing I can do about it.
"There is no better alternative. There is no politician with enough weight to overtake Park Seok."
There was no justification for putting a politician with such weight as Park Seok on the spot.
To do that, the president had to step in and direct traffic.
"Well, that's the reality. If things continue like this, I think Park Seok will be nominated without a hitch. He was originally a multi-term member of the Jongno-gu council."
Jongno was a place called the political center of South Korea.
The fact that he was elected multiple times there meant that he was a politician who received a lot of attention and love from the people.
Park Seok, who declared that he would not run for re-election and retired from politics in order to avoid being hit by the shrapnel when the Conservative Party flies away, is unlikely to return to politics just to serve one more term as a member of the National Assembly.
It was natural that Park Seok-yi would emerge as a candidate for the next presidential election once he entered the National Assembly.
Myeongsu asked, crumpling the paper cup in his hand, as if he had the same thought.
"But, Chief Woo Young-sik, are you thinking of running?"
"I don't know yet."
"What? Then even if we talk like this among ourselves, we won't reach a conclusion, right?"
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"But I'll get a call soon. I'll feel better if I finish everything before then."
Myeongsu, who had been reacting with puzzlement to my words, soon nodded.
"If Woo Young-sik is the chief, no one in the party will oppose him. After all, he was President Yoon Chang-ho's friend and closest confidant. And no one in the party knows why he stepped down."
Myeongsu threw the crumpled paper cup into the trash can like a basketball.
"nice!"
A paper cup was thrown into the trash can that had become a goal post.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him clench his fists and shout.
"What are you doing?"
"Didn't you see that just now? I went in at once? My skills haven't died yet."
"Listen to the iron."
"What are you talking about? You need to stop acting so immature."
Myeongsu, who had been grumbling, got up from his seat.
"I'll put my luck on the party leadership for now. Let's talk again after I persuade the president."
"Okay. I'll go straight to the Blue House at night."
"Then let's talk tomorrow. I'm going out."
Myungsoo waved and left the office, and I immediately picked up my phone and contacted the Blue House to make an appointment.
* * *
Late at night, the car carrying me entered the Blue House without anyone knowing.
"Mr. President."
"President Kim. Welcome."
The President greeted me warmly at his residence. And the First Lady, who was standing next to me, also greeted me warmly.
"President Kim Mu-hyeok. Welcome."
"Yes, Madam."
After concluding my greetings, I handed the flowers I had brought to the First Lady.
"Oh my? What is this?"
"I bought it because I thought of the First Lady on my way here."
"Haha. I'm telling you, President Kim has more sense than me."
"Oh, right. Go in and rest."
The First Lady, glancing at the beating Yun Chang-ho, spoke to me gently.
"Then I'll go in and rest."
"Yes. Sorry for the late night."
"It's okay. It was embarrassing to see Lee drinking alone these days."
"Do you drink alcohol often?"
"He's been drinking alone a lot lately. Even when I ask him what's wrong, he doesn't tell me."
Unable to refute the First Lady's words, Yoon Chang-ho simply smiled bitterly.
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After seeing him like that once, I spoke politely to the First Lady.
"Then I guess I should keep you company while drinking today so you won't be lonely."
"Please, Mr. Kim. I'll be going now."
The First Lady bowed her head, took a whiff of the flowers, and then moved toward the bedroom.
"Then let's go in."
I moved to the restaurant with Yoon Chang-ho. There was already a huge table full of alcohol prepared on the table.
"Your wife showed off her skills for the first time in a while because you were coming today."
"It was a good thing you bought a bouquet."
"Oh, by the way, at least tell me in advance. What am I going to become?"
I laughed as I watched Yoon Chang-ho answer bluntly.
"So, be nice to the First Lady."
"Oh, really. Just sit down."
Yoon Chang-ho asked, shaking his makgeolli as usual.
"Is makgeolli okay?"
"Yes, anything is fine."
Yoon Chang-ho put two bottles of makgeolli in the pitcher and poured in a bottle of cider.
I think it's called a barracks. I think the taste is still the same.
After a while, he poured some alcohol into a bowl and offered me one glass first.
"Let's have a drink first."
He lightly clinked his glasses and emptied his glass.
Yun Chang-ho picked up one of the pieces in front of him and put it in his mouth.
His face looked bitter, so I asked him worriedly without realizing it.
"Do you drink alone a lot these days?"
"They say life is like a blessing in disguise. There has never been a day when that saying resonates more deeply than it does these days."
"······."
There is nothing more psychologically difficult than being betrayed by those you trusted. I could fully understand Yoon Chang-ho's feelings.
Yoon Chang-ho drank another glass of makgeolli alone.
"Did something bad happen in China?"
I thought the Chinese government would not know because they were blocking information, but President Yoon Chang-ho already knew.
"Did you know?"
"Then don't you know? This guy is also the president."
"What's the point of talking about the past again? Just come back safely."
Yun Chang-ho nodded and picked up the kettle.
I lifted the bowl with both hands and held it out to him.
"Always take care of yourself, Mr. Kim."
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"thank you."
After receiving the alcohol, he took the pitcher and poured some for Yoon Chang-ho.
We clinked our glasses in silence and emptied our glasses again.
"Woo Young-sik. That guy contacted me."
He put down his glass, paused, and looked at Yoon Chang-ho.
His eyes were a mixture of emotions.
"I heard that my daughter came to Korea. And we talked about various things."
"Was that so?"
"I've been thinking a lot. I feel resentful, but at the same time, I understand the feelings of that friend who had to betray me for the sake of his daughter······."
"Do you want to forgive me?"
Yoon Chang-ho shook his head firmly to my question.
"How can I forgive a traitor?"
Although he spoke bluntly, it was obvious that his heart had already weakened.
I poured myself another glass of makgeolli and asked.
"Did Chief Woo Young-sik say anything else?"
"What else? You hung up while talking about your daughter."
Is he undecided yet, or is he too scared to tell the President?
In order for Woo Young-sik to become a candidate, he had to get the president's approval.
"Hmm. That's unexpected. I thought you were going to ask the President for his opinion."
"Opinion? What opinion do you mean?"
"I advised you to run for Jongno."
"what?"
As if he hadn't expected it, Yoon Chang-ho dropped the favor.
The bowl that had fallen to the floor rolled around with a loud noise, but Yoon Chang-ho's gaze was fixed on me.
"You told him to become a member of the National Assembly?"
"Yes. I asked you to go into politics before. I refused then. This time, I made the offer again. This time, I asked you to give me a badge in Jongno."
"······."
"Are you uncomfortable?"
Yun Chang-ho did not answer, but poured makgeolli into a new bowl.
Then he drank two glasses in succession and opened his mouth.
"······What is the reason?"
"There is no other reason."
"No way. If you made such a suggestion, there must be a reason. The President Kim I know wouldn't do such a favor without a reason."
As expected, you know me too well. I shrugged and met his eyes.
"I know you won't feel very good after hearing it, but would you still like to listen to it?"
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"I have to hear it."
Yoon Chang-ho answered in a firm voice. I emptied the glass of makgeolli in front of me and spoke.
"It seems difficult to amend the constitution to a cabinet system during the president's term."
Yoon Chang-ho nodded coolly, as if he had guessed it too.
"Then I had to make the next presidential election someone I wanted."
"······Is that Woo Young-sik?"
"yes."
"Why?"
"Because there's already a weakness. Ye Xiaotong in China… Oh, Ye Xiaotong is Chief Woo Young-sik's daughter."
"I know. I've already heard the story."
You said you only talked on the phone, but it looks like you had a pretty deep conversation.
"Because it has weaknesses. It will move the way I want it to."
"······Are you saying you're going to turn me into a puppet?"
"Do you think of yourself as my puppet now, Mr. President?"
Yoon Chang-ho glared at me without answering.
"I have never once thought of you, Mr. President, as my puppet. If you thought so, I would be a little disappointed."
The answer came a long time later. Yoon Chang-ho answered in a subdued voice.
"I think so too. We were partners."
"That's right. I just need you to not interfere with my work. That's why I joined hands with the president and made it possible for the president to take power. Chief Woo Young-sik is like the president. I plan to make him president because I need him."
"There will be strong opposition within the party."
"Myeongsu will take care of that. As you know, politicians are bullies when it comes to approval ratings. As long as the president's approval ratings don't drop, no one can go against him."
Yun Chang-ho sighed deeply and asked.
"Is there a reason it has to be that guy?"
"Of course, we can put others forward. But is it really necessary? The president alone is enough to choose the difficult path over the easy one."
"······."
"However, if the President objects, this plan will be scrapped."
When I added, "We are partners," Yoon Chang-ho's face became even more depressed.
Yun Chang-ho continued to drink makgeolli in silence.
I didn't say anything more to give him enough time to think about it.
When Yoon Chang-ho, who had been drinking for a long time, opened his mouth, the makgeolli in the pitcher had run dry.
"Let's do that. He made a mistake once, but he's not that kind of person. It wouldn't be bad to give him another chance. No, thank you."
"I'm doing this because I need to. Well, then, Mr. President, please persuade Chief Woo Young-sik. I've already told the Secretary General."
President Yoon Chang-ho nodded. His complicated expression showed that he was thinking deeply.
"I think you need some time alone. I'll take my leave for today. I'll come back next time with something better."
He got up from his seat, bowed to Yoon Chang-ho, and left the restaurant.
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Yoon Chang-ho didn't follow me. When I went outside, the First Lady was waiting for me.
"Have you finished talking?"
"Yes, Madam."
"What about him?"
"You seem to have a lot on your mind."
"Thank you. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed waiting for Mr. Kim today. Please stop by often."
The First Lady, not knowing what was being said inside, told me to come often.
"Yes. I will make time to visit you often."
I left the private residence, escorted by the First Lady.
A few days have passed since my meeting with President Yoon Chang-ho.
Woo Young-sik visited the Myeongdong office in person.
After exchanging greetings, we got straight to the point.
"What should I do?"
"Have you finished talking with the President?"
Woo Young-sik nodded.
"You can apply for membership right away and declare your candidacy for Jongno. After that, the Secretary General will take care of the traffic management."
"Does Mr. Kim think I can do well?"
"Are you afraid?"
Woo Young-sik, who had been hesitating without answering right away, soon answered.
"······If I say I'm not scared, I'd be lying."
"This is a path that President Yoon Chang-ho has already walked once. Haven't you been watching how he walked that path? Just do as he is told. If you stay silently on the boat, the Secretary General will move the key."
Woo Young-sik and I have had many conversations since then.
Woo Young-sik, who had finished his story, left me with one last word.
"Leave my daughter alone. If you harm my daughter, I······."
"You keep making me say the same thing. Threats like that don't work on me."
"This is not a threat, this is a request. If you do this, I will be happy to be your puppet."
Woo Young-sik's sore finger was his daughter, Ye Xiaotong.
< I'm doing this because I need to > End