December 31, 1971, Office of the President of the Republic of Korea.
"Chief Secretary, after completing your New Year's agenda, invite Seongsu separately for dinner."
"Yes, I see."
"It's New Year's, so I should provide some pocket money, hahaha."
The President liked Lee Sung-soo very much and believed he still had sufficient utility.
"But there are many things that annoy me nowadays. To begin with, I believe the religious community is too rigid."
He was a president whose eyes became cold.
"yes?"
"The 10,000 won note which was to be issued this year did not end up being issued."
"Oh, that's right."
The South Korean government had scheduled a 1972 issue of a 10,000 won note but was forced to withdraw it because of protests from Buddhist and Christian sectors regarding design.
"And what about the Chinese?"
Following the May 15 military coup, when it was necessary to stabilize the political situation in South Korea, private loans were frozen by the military and a policy of expelling the Chinese who had settled in the Incheon and Busan regions was put into practice.
In accordance with this, overseas Chinese who could not bear it left South Korea and immigrated to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
In the process, Japan and South Korea were the only two countries in Asia where overseas Chinese capital was not the central capital.
Although it was a dictatorship and a military coup, they did the right thing.
"It has not been completely eradicated."
"I think that overseas Chinese are a cancer to the development of South Korea. They are also closed off, so it is difficult for them to assimilate into South Korea."
The Chinese remain close as a family.
That is why I say the president is closed.
But there are Chinese who have come to settle in South Korea, and most of them are grouped into two categories.
Chinese from the Shandong Peninsula who migrated in during the Im-o Incident and the Sino-Japanese War.
And anti-communist Chinese who poured into Korea when the Republic of China lost to the People's Republic of China and escaped to Taiwan.
"dismissal."
"why?"
"Among the overseas Chinese, there are quite a number of comrades who participated in the Korean War. And overseas Chinese who are anti-communists are numerous as well."
The May 16 coup regime's revolutionary objectives were anti-communism and economic development.
But they are still Chinese. This is something I experienced when I toured Southeast Asia. If you leave the Chinese alone, they will attempt to dominate the underground capital of that nation and even manipulate politics at will. That is absolutely impossible."
The Philippines is like that.
Indonesia did that.
And in Thailand, the Chinese, not the Chinese, were fully assimilated into the Thai upper class.
Of course, for the locals, Thai, Chinese people abroad, and overseas Chinese are all from the same place.
"You are right."
"This time we must pull the roots out nicely. If you want to reside in Korea, we will grant you permission, but you have to never become the center of anything."
The Blue House Chief of Staff perceived strong will within the eyes of the President.
* *
January 1, 1972, the living room of Lee Seong-su's residence.
It's a new year.
Even though my body is not yet fully recovered, I was released from the military hospital in the evening of January 1st, because the president told me he would call me after completing all his New Year's schedules. And I have to report to work at the Blue House on January 3rd.
"father."
My father is a run-of-the-mill executive of a trading company.
"why?"
"How much money do you have at home?"
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My mother, peeling an apple at the family ritual table, raised her eyebrows at my surprise question, and my father shot a glance at her.
'Your mother knows.'
Since I am a man, I'm insensate about money.
"Honey, how long do you have?"
"How much will it cost?"
That implies there isn't one.
"But why?"
"I'm going to start investing from now on."
"invest?"
My parents' expressions changed to absurd.
"Yes, investment."
In these times, all investments are real estate speculation.
"Investment, what kind of investment are you making?"
My mother's eyes are telling me not to say anything nonsense.
"I'm looking to buy rice paddies and fields in the Gangnam area for a cheap price."
South Korea has already begun developing Gangnam. Of course, it has only just begun.
Beginning in the 1960s, people started to concentrate in Seoul, and the coup regime, remembering the Korean War and assessing that North Korea might invade any time, schemed and initiated development plans for the region south of the Han River.
Gangnam development has not been adequate, though, by the reason of recession since 1973.
It was nearly stopped by the first oil shock in 1974, and developed completely after 1975. Therefore, if you purchase land in Gangnam these days, you can make a few times more.
'Still, it's a grain of rice.'
However, however quickly you roll 10 million won, it's just a grain of sand.
Because it's not better than rolling a pumpkin.
It doesn't mean I won't roll it.
After all, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
"You bought rice paddies and fields in Gangnam area?"
My mother gave me a look that told me not to do anything stupid.
"Why are you so surprised?"
"That area is prone to flooding in the summer. What are you going to do with the land you bought there? And you also have to go back to school after you're discharged from the military."
right.
Gangnam area was an area that suffered from flooding every year until the Daehyun Group and Hansung Group began competitively carrying out flood control projects under the president's direction.
So the president summoned Chairman Wang of Daehyun Group and Chairman Lee of Hansung Group and ordered them to execute a flood prevention project in Gangnam.
Hansung Group Chairman Lee hosted foreign-class flood experts in order to overcome flooding in Gangnam.
Unexpectedly, Chairman Wang of Daehyun Group forecasted that real estate prices in Gangnam, in which there was not any damage from flooding, would increase and develop.
Because Daehyun Group put all its energy into speculation in real estate, they even got the plot of the Hyundai Daehyun Department Store I am familiar with.
'Sometimes tricks can make money.'
Sure enough, I'll have to bring it out at least once.
"That's why it's so cheap now."
Gangnam will certainly be developed.
'and.'
I learned from the future that the coup regime bought privately owned land in the name of land readjustment projects to mobilize political funds.
I also know that Seoul city acquired 300,000 pyeong of land for the meager price of 5,000 won and sold it for 15,000 won to mobilize political funds.
'First, I have to buy a cabbage field in Gangnam.'
After increasing it several times, I must invest somewhere else and grow my capital as much as I can within a short time.
'By the way.'
It would be better if you discharged him rather than awarding him a medal.
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Of course, it will be hard to work in the Blue House after being discharged.
* * *
The President of the United States White House Oval Office.
"How is the situation in Korea?"
Nixon simply had to deploy more Korean troops to Vietnam rather than American troops.
"They say the size of the protests has increased."
"Everybody is wild about the anti-war protests."
It was President Nixon who impressed.
Nixon was seeking pacifism and was secretly advocating withdrawal of US soldiers from the war in Vietnam. Meanwhile, as a measure to further establish that he was a pacifist, he was seemingly working alongside the communist nation China.
To this end, Nixon's re-election was an assumed reality to all US citizens.
With chances of nearly 7 to 3 that he would be reelected, Nixon was expecting a sweep 10 to 0.
That is why we established a special re-election task force that did not have to be established.
Through them, the Watergate scandal took place and he was impeached.
"dismissal."
"why?"
"There are opinions coming out from the Democratic Party that in order to persuade the Korean government, a vice minister should be provided."
President Nixon leaned his head to his aide's statement.
"In the Democratic Party?"
"Yes, I heard Senator Walker Smith had given his word. As previously reported, Lieutenant Smith, son of Senator Walker, was freed from a North Vietnamese POW camp by a solo mission by the Korean military."
"Was it like that?"
"Yes, it appears to be reciprocating for that."
"Isn't this a poker game Walker and Korea are playing together?"
It was President Nixon who suddenly grew suspicious of the reasonableness of the situation.
"Your Majesty, it doesn't matter, does it?"
Then another aide intervened.
"Doesn't matter?"
"Granting a loan in return for the dispatch of Korean troops is not a bad proposition from our side. In addition, the Democratic Party would have been the first to protest, but since the Democratic Party originated the idea, there will be no protest."
President Nixon assents to the words of his aide.
"That's right. Then how much of a loan would be appropriate to grant?"
"I believe $500 million would be sufficient."
The mood of the meeting was leaning towards lending a loan to Korea, which was opposed to sending more troops to Vietnam.
"Let's do that."
Lee Seong-su's scheme succeeded.
That's how eager US President Nixon and Republican politicians were to withdraw from the Vietnam War.
dripping!
Then there was a knock on the door.
The secretary entered.
"National Security Advisor Kissinger has come."
* * *
"Your Majesty, you can pay a surprise visit to China in February."
National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger served President Nixon.
"Then we can announce the Shanghai Communique."
The announcement involved the opening of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, peace matters in the Asia-Pacific region, and the Taiwan problem, and the honeymoon of the United States and China started after the announcement.
"But your majesty."
Then another aide summoned President Nixon.
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"why?"
"The mood on the Democratic Party side is not good."
"What does that mean?"
"There is a growing mood that America is losing its pride by engaging in ping-pong diplomacy without a formal apology by the Chinese Communist Party for having taken part in the Korean War."
"But if you want to put pressure on the Soviet Union, you have to become close to China."
"However, New York State Senator Walker Smith, a Democrat, is adamant that we should not forget the Battle of Chosin Reservoir."
"Battle of Chosin Reservoir?"
"yes."
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the Chinese People's Liberation Army's greatest victory in the Korean War, is being debated once again by Senator Walker Smith.
Senator Smith started using war veterans to influence public opinion.
"Why are you suddenly doing this?"
"Senator Walker Smith is a Korean War veteran and just came back from Korea."
President Nixon nods to his aide's statement.
"Senator Walker again?"
Nixon frowned.
And his son, Lieutenant Smith, is a Medal of Honor recipient."
The Medal of Honor would be an invaluable asset to Lieutenant Smith in his political endeavors.
"Smith Walker is a prominent Democratic politician."
Kissinger informed Nixon.
"yes."
"If we are not able to convince the Democratic Party, my proposed trip to China in February will also be impossible."
Nixon frowned at Kissinger's words.
Anyway, Lee Seong-su started shaking American politics.
But eventually, it may prove to be a blessing in disguise for the United States, which is already grappling with the issue of a more powerful China.
"dismissal."
The office door was just opened and the secretary entered.
"Why again?"
"Veterans started demonstrating in front of the White House, carrying picket signs."
Upon the secretary's remark, Nixon arose from his chair and walked to the window, observing there the picket signs held up by the war veterans with the inscription, "Remember the Battle of Chosin Reservoir!"
"Remember the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, damn it!"
A slight change could swing the pendulum of America's status as the hub of the world.