A few days afterward, inside the presidential office at the Blue House.
I was awarded the Hwarang Military Merit Medal directly by the President while wearing the Army uniform that no other South Korean soldier had ever worn, and wearing the sergeant's rank on my shoulder. In addition to that, all nine of the deceased soldiers were treated as deceased soldiers, and the nine bereaved families were awarded the Inheon Military Merit Medal by the President on behalf of the deceased soldiers.
'maybe!'
It would also be the first time since the Korean War that a soldier was promoted several ranks to sergeant.
It would also be the first time the Hwarang Military Merit Medal was granted directly by the President.
"Congratulations, Sergeant Lee!"
The president, who had put the Hwarang Military Merit Medal on my chest, gave me a handshake and stated:
'What about the gold medal?'
If he became a sergeant and was awarded the Hwarang Military Merit Medal, he must receive the Presidential Medal of Honor, but I don't see the envelope.
In South Korea, medals don't buy, now or in 2023 when I reside. South Korea is most likely the only nation on earth where soldiers are treated worst.
Of course, it would be the fruit of two military coups.
"Sergeant Lee Seong-su! Thank you."
I answered loudly.
As soon as the medal award ceremony was over, as if it was planned, the Chief of Staff left the President's office with the nine bereaved families of the fallen soldiers, and then came back in alone.
"Hahaha, how about trying to enroll in the Korea Military Academy while you're at it?"
The president then made me another surprising offer.
"I'll write you a letter of recommendation."
The president is writing a letter of recommendation for me?
That means the president likes me now.
"thank you."
What if I transfer to the military academy?
'Even if I devote my youth to the army and retire as a general.'
The pension will be just 5 million won.
Of course, a pension of 5 million won would be an enormous amount of money for common people.
'Wait a minute, so you're not going to award me the gold medal?'
Actually, I had thought that if I got the daily bonus, it would be seed money for my investments in the future, but I feel so disappointed that it has taken away my appetite.
"Hahaha, you're so stiff, wouldn't it be okay if I had a cup of tea?"
What will the President say to me?
What else should I say to the President?
'Now it is 1971.'
It will be 1972 soon.
In 1973, the Fourth Middle East War erupted, and in 1974, the First Oil Shock took place.
'I have to appeal to this.'
I believe that only when I submit rational alternatives to the president through correct analysis will I not waste my time pulling weeds while serving at the Blue House.
* *
There's a cup of coffee in front of me, but I am unable to take even a sip.
"Seongsu, did you want to take Lieutenant Smith to Korea?"
I suppose this is what I was wondering about.
But the president called out my name with a friendly smile.
'He's a scary person.'
He appears quite kind today.
"If the New York senator had encountered his son, who was detained in the atrocious Vietnam, in Korea instead of Vietnam or America, he would have a more positive view of Korea."
"Hahaha, you truly are an intelligent and considerate friend."
Advertisements
"I will try my best not to be a burden to Your Excellency the President."
Having this alone with the President can be pretty empowering.
"I see, your eyes are saying something to me."
It's incredible.
The President knows what people think by looking into their eyes and faces.
I was trying to figure out when it would be appropriate to raise the issue of the Fourth Middle East War.
"no."
Nevertheless, you shouldn't introduce the subject for the first time.
"It's fine, what you are doing is a great help. So if there's anything to tell me, just say so in the future."
from now on?
Have anything to say?
'The president isn't the uncle next door?'
What it means is that I'll be in proximity to the President.
It sounds like he's not only working at the Blue House, but next to it.".
"Your Majesty, Mr. President."
"When you recover, you will be posted to a job in the secretary's office."
It's unexpected and unsettling.
"What do you mean by that expression in your eyes? Now I am curious about what you are trying to tell me. Tell me."
"Your Majesty, I want to speak to you like a thunderbolt."
The chief secretary frowned slightly at my words. But the president cannot see that expression on the chief secretary's face.
why?
Because the chief of staff stands behind the president.
"Mr. Lee Seong-su, choose your words carefully."
The Chief of Staff of the Blue House spoke to me in a cautious tone.
"Hahaha, these days, young people are so outspoken. Alright, speak freely."
The president addressed me with a face that indicated it was alright.
"Your Majesty, regretfully, South Korea does not have even a single drop of oil or natural gas."
When I abruptly began discussing oil, even the chief secretary was taken aback.
The president was surprised.
'There are natural gas deposits near Dokdo.'
And now here it is at the end of December 1971, and soon next year will be arriving, and another year after, because of Japanese interference, the South Korean government will sign a treaty to authorize the 7th mining region, that of South Korea's territorial waters, as a common development area by South Korea and Japan.
'Stop that, too, has to be accomplished.'
For all this to materialize, there would have to be sky-high trust from the president in me.
How do we proceed with the story from here?
'It has to be convincing.'
What I am now going to speak about is the first oil shock.
"petroleum?"
"Yes, when I was being kept in a clandestine North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp with Lieutenant Smith, there were quite a number of American POWs present."
"Yes, due to your brave actions, 75 American troops and 17 Australian troops were saved."
It's incredible that you recall precisely how many American POWs were liberated. Naturally, I am aware that there were also POWs from Thailand, Laos, and the Republic of China.
"One of the American POWs told me he was in the Middle East before he was in the Vietnam War."
All that I am going to say from now on is a falsehood.
But it is a believable falsehood.
"American prisoners of war based in the Middle East?"
"He said the situation in the Middle East is going to get worse."
Advertisements
The Middle East is already labeled a powder keg.
Since Israel and Arab nations have already had three wars.
"so?"
"Your Majesty, you must prepare for a fourth Middle East war."
"Are you trying to tell me that if Israel and Arab nations go to war again, South Korea's oil supply will be in jeopardy?"
I have faith that Israel will emerge victorious in the 4th Middle East war. The nations of the Middle East will begin to revolt against the United States, which supports Israel, and thereon Arab nations will tend to weaponize oil."
"As I predicted, you are so smart."
"Thank you. If we don't lock down oil at once, the price of oil will shoot up because of the war, and the Korean economy will receive a deadly blow.
"I heard you're a law student."
"yes."
"You're at a level where you can teach college students at a business school, not a law school. Then how?"
This is a president who even asks me for solutions.
"We need to get a short-term loan through the New York senator who can move the U.S. government."
"Short-term loan?"
It is not easy to borrow money from the United States.
"It is not free economic assistance, but a loan which the South Korean government borrows with precise interest."
"Seongsu, will the US government lend Korea loans due to pressure from senators?"
"That's not it."
"So that won't do."
"So we have to make an operation to pressure the United States."
"Pressure on America?"
"Yes, the US mainland will be boiling with anti-war sentiment."
You have to seize every opportunity in order to acquire something.
"I also received that report."
"What do you intend to do, Mr. President, if big-scale anti-war protests erupt in Korea?"
"Protest against dispatching troops to Vietnam?"
"Yes, if there were big-scale protests, couldn't Your Excellency make them bargaining tools against the US President? The US still needs to dispatch troops to Vietnam."
"Hey, are you asking me to get the students to protest now?"
"If you declare that because the Korean people oppose sending troops to Vietnam so strongly, it will be hard to send more troops and we cannot help but contemplate withdrawing Korean troops, the U.S. government will be in a state of panic."
"Then the senator mentions the deputy minister?"
"You can make them use it as a bargaining chip. Rather than beg them to lend you money, you can force them to give it to the US government.
The president, who had been considering my words for a moment, turned his head and looked at his chief of staff.
"owner."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You can't just send me off after having a cup of tea. Tell the restaurant to prepare some makgeolli."
"Yes, I see, Your Majesty."
"Sergeant Lee Seong-su."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"When you are discharged, stand right by my side."
Neither I nor the Chief of Staff could conceal the shocked look on our faces upon the words of the President.
"And the chief secretary."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Get the Security Commander in here."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Blue House Chief of Staff responded immediately, bowed, and then exited.
"Sergeant Lee Seong-su, you have to lead in dealing with this issue."
"Me?"
"If you were in charge, would the student body presidents all over the nation believe what a soldier says?"
Now that I am hearing it, that is indeed true.
"Let's assume this is your first mission."
"We will make the best outcome."
What would be the best achievement?
'Stop sending troops to the Vietnam War.'
If we have funds, the economy will develop and the South Korean youth will not be pulled into foreign wars.