"This is the Security Command. You know, I've been here before. It's a place where things like this happen without a care in the world."
"It looks like you're really going to do it."
"Yes, yes. Instead, please release all my comrades who have been detained without trial."
"Is that all?"
I'm a little confused.
"Just as the military has a command center and an executive branch, so do protests."
"Instead, if you are arrested demonstrating for other reasons, you will be brought here. I know you are in dark times. But after winter comes spring."
"You talk like you have been on the planet a long time. All right, so what does the process matter? What matters is the outcome."
One of the student body presidents grumbled indignantly, and I was tempted to answer yes.
"Lee Seong-su."
When I was about to go down, the then-president of the Korean University Student Council phoned me with an expression of concern in his eyes.
"Yes, senior."
"This is how they suppress anti-Yushin rallies."
"Is that so?"
"It's accomplishing two ends with one goal: gaining an excuse and eliminating protests against the Yushin regime."
"Are you senior Kim Gwang-pil?"
"You must know my name."
Naturally, I did.
Because prior to Lee Seong-su and I enlisting, we were both at the helm of the student movement.
"The senior's shout for democracy from the stage still lingers in my mind."
We are schoolmates.
"All other seniors can go home."
"really?"
The other universities' student body presidents stared incredulously when they heard me utter those words.
'yes.'
Because there's no one who was brought to the Security Service investigation room or the Namsan air defense office and released without being beaten.
"The shadow will stick. And seniors, you must never forget the marks of torture on my body. Even now, in that hellish Vietnam, there are many soldiers who are suffering like I did."
All the faces became solemn at my words.
'If it keeps going like this, we have no other option but to protest.'
* * *
Outside the Security Service investigation room building.
"Senior, do you smoke?"
I set it aside because the Kim Gwang-pil I met was green.
"Why did you change your mind?"
This is Kim Gwang-pil, who takes the cigarette I offer him and asks again why he changed his mind.
"If it's a betrayal, then it's a betrayal."
I spoke to Senior Kim Gwang-pil as he lit the cigarette in his mouth.
"You can call it a betrayal, but everything I said is true. I don't want any more Korean soldiers being dragged off to Vietnam."
"Even a dictator?"
"It was the people who elected that dictator."
Senior Kim Gwang-pil frowned at my words.
The truth is usually painful.
'The Yushin Constitution is the same.'
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It passed with 98% approval through a national referendum.
This is the reason why the people need to learn. When the people are ignorant, dictators are born."
That's correct.
"You do not have to believe me, but Your Majesty is also opposed to the dispatch of troops to the Vietnam War."
"It could be that they require economic assistance from the United States. It could also be for the slush fund purpose."
Tongue-in-cheek.
'The President's secret funds?'
The US military's monthly wages, life allowances, and combat allowances are not directly paid to the local Korean soldiers, but are paid by the Ministry of National Defense via the government of Korea. Therefore, there is a 100% certainty that the government of Korea has sliced the lives of young men.
"Why didn't you say that in the interrogation room?"
"That's true, ha!"
"That's why."
"This is the Security Service investigation room."
"That's not the true motive. You said it with thorns in your side, but it assisted me a lot."
"You're so intelligent."
This is Kim Gwang-pil, smiling at me.
"What's going on?"
"I'm going to be a father."
At that time, the color of Kim Gwang-pil that I saw gradually changed from green to light blue.
"yes?"
"Fuck, I should be the one who will betray you."
Do we call this an emergency situation?
"Democracy is good, and it is good to resist dictatorship, but I must begin as a father. In Korea, the barley sound has vanished, but my wife is poisoned in pregnancy because she cannot eat. Shit!"
If I must choose one of the president's accomplishments, it would be the Saemaul Movement.
And through the New Community Movement, the issue of barley passing during spring was resolved.
"If you do this, it's real betrayal."
"You're saying it's not you?"
"Senior, from now on, let's live together with some lame excuses."
Lame excuse?
"what?"
"You live while contributing to economic development."
Senior Kim Gwang-pil is a man who entered the business administration department of the most prestigious university in Korea as the top student.
'I need people too.'
why?
Because everything is done by people.
"Come with me."
"What are you going to do?"
"I will make the Republic of Korea the world's greatest power."
On hearing my words, Senior Kim Gwang-pil's face was one of puzzlement.
"Is this also a side effect of torture?"
The color which Kim Gwang-pil asks me is now a beautiful blue.
"You'll see when you do."
* * *
December 28, 1971, in front of the U.S. Embassy.
"We oppose the sending of Korean soldiers to Vietnam!"
The demonstration against the deployment of soldiers to pressure the United States, emanating from the mind of Lee Seong-su, was swiftly implemented.
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"America, stop pressuring South Korea to send troops to the ugly Vietnam War!"
"Don't do it."
"I am against sending troops."
The number of people protesting outside the U.S. Embassy began at approximately 2,000 and has since increased to 10,000.
The U.S. ambassador was threatened by the protesters and asked the Korean army to guard the embassy.
So, even though the water defense troops stood before the embassy as if they were encircling it, they did not disperse the protesters or react violently.
* * *
The U.S. Ambassador's Office.
"Isn't the mainland also hot with anti-Vietnam protests?"
The American ambassador inquired of the embassy personnel.
"Yes."
"Did that anti-war protest extend to Korea?"
"Ambassador, there's something a little odd."
"what?"
"Normally when these types of protests happen, the Korean government cracks down on them with force, but there is no reaction."
"That's it again."
"It's a little suspicious."
"Do you really believe that the Korean government is the one behind these protests?"
The American ambassador laughed as if everything was okay.
"That's a crazy notion. The Korean government neither has the capability nor the desire to do such a thing."
"It was a verbal error. Sorry."
The scale of the protests against the Vietnam War was still increasing.
"But shouldn't we report the present situation to the White House beforehand?"
"of course."
All was going as Lee Seong-su wished.
* * *
The Blue House Presidential Office.
Your Majesty, a demonstration against the deployment of troops has started in front of the U.S. Embassy, just as planned by Sergeant Lee Seong-su."
The President's Chief of Staff reported to the President.
The president nodded.
"Minister of Foreign Affairs."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Unofficially, it was leaked to the US government that further troop deployment may be hard."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Hurry up.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, on the instructions of the President, politely bowed to the President and then departed the office.
* * *
The Office of the U.S. Ambassador.
"Why is the Korean government not crushing the demonstrators?
The US ambassador was naturally intrigued. The Korean government was safeguarding the US embassy by sending in police, but it was not pushing aside the protesters. In a way, it was almost condoning the protests against the sending of troops.
"It is said that the President of South Korea will soon announce the Yushin Constitution."
"Why is that?"
"So it looks like they are giving the protesters a free pass so as not to anger the people. In a way, the protesters might appreciate it."
"Thank you to the protesters?"
The American ambassador appeared to be in a state of confusion.
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"Because that enormous crowd of protesters is not protesting against the Yushin Constitution."
The American ambassador also nodded upon hearing the words of the reporter.
"But it's a bit odd."
Then one of the consuls spoke to the ambassador:
"What's odd?"
"There are rather a lot of short-haired protesters among the protesters."
"okay?"
"Ambassador, that's not the key. We must report to the mainland."
"That's true."
* * *
Among the protesters in front of the U.S. Embassy.
"I never thought I'd live to see people protesting with protesters."
The ranks of the protesters included numerous low-ranking officials from the Security Command. They were all called in to protest because their hair grew longer than that of ordinary soldiers.
"That is true."
"Hey, are you missing?"
"yes?"
"You should scream louder!"
"Yes, I will correct it. I oppose additional troop deployment to Vietnam!"
Thanks! Due to Lee Seong-su, South Korea instantly became a world of pandemonium.