Chapter 101

Chapter 101

An Unavoidable Moment

After Uncle Cheol-gu held the public press conference, newspapers and broadcasts made noise largely every day.

President Kim U-seok of U-gwang Construction instructed the U-gwang fire arson!

Innocent employees only died in the U-gwang Group brother fight!

U-gwang Chemicals death insurance money, only 100,000 won! Asking responsibility for the social duty of a large company!

All newspaper articles in the Republic of Korea were one color of criticism toward U-gwang.

From the newspaper front page, political page, economic page, social page, culture page, even international page, original color articles poured.

The bereaved families of U-gwang Chemicals appealed injustice with tearful interviews, and university professors sharply criticized with columns.

As much as newspaper companies, broadcast stations also intensively illuminated U-gwang every day.

-Lately interest regarding the U-gwang Chemicals arson is hot every day. Will have a time of commentary regarding this inviting three experts.

-This is the National Forensic Service. Rushed at the news that the scientific investigation results regarding the U-gwang Chemicals arson came out!

-Covered the reason a large amount of flammable substances that are not handled at all at the corresponding factory were discovered!

Thanks to newspapers and broadcasts, U-gwang unions held protests every day.

“What words of arson in U-gwang’s seat fight! U-gwang take responsibility for the unjust sacrifice!”

“Take responsibility! Take responsibility!”

“What words of ignoring without even one word of sorry! U-gwang apologize immediately now!”

“Apologize! Apologize!”

Today too without fail opposition party lawmakers joined the U-gwang union protest.

So many numbers of opposition party lawmakers raised voices enough to confuse whether this is the National Assembly or U-gwang’s headquarters.

“Chairman Kim of U-gwang explain immediately now! Is it true that set fire because of seat fight?”

“The words that power is more important than human life! An impossible matter!”

But lately not only opposition party lawmakers joined but ruling party lawmakers also gathered in large numbers.

On the occasion that all newspapers and media started beating U-gwang.

When public sentiment toward U-gwang boiled fiercely.

National Assembly members whose power is immediately public sentiment couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“Properly express U-gwang’s position! Clarify the truth and bow your head and apologize to the citizens!”

“Of course the U-gwang Chemicals arson and damage settlement is only this much? Is this U-gwang’s best?”

“If head, take responsibility like a head! Stop the cowardly silence!”

People also whenever gathering flew the arrow of criticism toward U-gwang in one voice.

“Our country’s large companies are a problem because of this. Worked to death dedicating the body and died, death consolation money only 100,000 won?”

“What is power all that even killing people like this?”

“Looking at what U-gwang does, affection dropped and I sold all stocks!”

“Such a vicious company deserves to go bankrupt! I won’t use U-gwang products from next!”

U-gwang’s adverse factors were not only this.

One day suddenly people in suits rushed into the U-gwang Group headquarters.

They stuck out warrants and shouted.

“Came from the prosecution. Will start seizure and search from now.”

Began randomly putting U-gwang’s ledgers and documents into the brought boxes.

Searching desks, opening cabinets and sweeping in.

The next day after the prosecution swept once, another group rushed in.

“Came from the National Tax Service. Tax evasion suspicion was confirmed.”

To companies, more scary than the prosecution was precisely the National Tax Service.

Where in the world is there a company that doesn’t come out dust when stripped.

Among them, the representative company that grew size with collusion between politics and business was precisely U-gwang.

Ring! Ring!

No matter how much calling the phone, doesn’t receive.

In the chairman’s office that became a mess like the place a typhoon swept and passed, Manager Jang let out a moan and put down the phone.

“The prosecutor general also, the National Tax Service chief also doesn’t receive the phone.”

Chairman Kim had no words.

“The broadcast station chief also, the newspaper president also doesn’t receive the phone the same.”

Chairman Kim only looked beyond the glass window with hands behind his back.

Today too in front of the headquarters, the U-gwang union wearing union vests and holding pickets was holding a protest.

“Ruling party of course even opposition party affiliated lawmakers don’t receive the phone. Blue House security office of course even the secretary’s office and······.”

Ring!

It was the phone ringing in the chairman’s office.

Manager Jang urgently received the phone.

Manager Jang’s complexion that was pale anyway immediately died black.

Click.

The hand putting down the phone was tragic beyond measure.

“Contact came from the Blue House.”

“From the Blue House?”

“His Excellency calls the chairman. Heard very enraged.”

Chairman Kim closed eyes tightly.

An expression that what would come came.

Even so, can’t not go where the president calls.

“Seems have to go with firm determination.”

Manager Jang’s voice was full of resignation and worry.

* * *

Blue House president’s office.

On the wall, the Blue House mark was stamped largely in gold, and on the office desk, the national flag was hanging.

The president who was reviewing reports sitting at the office desk covered the documents making a clack sound.

“So many high-ranking officials that U-gwang fed bribes?”

The Blue House secretary chief carefully watched eyes.

In the approval documents that the secretary chief raised, the bribe ledger list received from Taeseong was included.

“No thought of blaming even receiving moderately behind. But this is excessive.”

A voice where anger was felt.

“The level that if chasing all these guys out, the Republic of Korea’s state affairs would be paralyzed. Without seeing me lightly.”

Actually in the list that Taeseong offered, much more people than that were recorded.

There only sorted and raised as the political enemies of the secretary chief and security chief with no thought of conciliating.

The remaining humans were already finished conciliation and recruitment with this as weakness.

“Your Excellency, what shall we do?”

“Strip. The place public sentiment heads is immediately the place I have to be.”

A government with a flaw in legitimacy because seized the regime with a military coup.

What the president has to fear is only one, public sentiment.

A situation where such public sentiment is pointing fingers and throwing stones toward U-gwang.

“The presidential election is right in front. This year of course the National Conference for Unification delegate election even the general election opens.”

A politically very important year.

After the 9th presidential election ends, the 10th National Assembly member general election was scheduled.

“A time when the ruling party has to achieve an overwhelming victory. The meaning that a time to listen to public sentiment more than any other time.”

After the October Yushin, not only the presidential election but the law regarding the general election changed.

Among a total of 231 National Assembly members, 154 seats were elected by the medium constituency system in local districts, and 77 seats were elected by the indirect election system under the name of Yushin Jeonguhoe.

With this year as the end, the 1st period of the Yushin system with a 6-year term finishes.

Therefore as the president, a situation of inevitably earnestly hoping for the ruling party’s overwhelming victory.

“The U-gwang union protest is intensifying every day. Shall we dispatch police personnel and subdue?”

“Leave it.”

The president laughed.

“What use if the government steps forward and tries to block public sentiment.”

A president who ordered hard suppression when holding protests shouting dictatorship overthrow and labor human rights.

“Have to be wary of the opposition party gaining popularity in the U-gwang union protest. Input ruling party lawmakers together too, and ignite popularity gathering.”

The meaning of not suppressing the union protest.

“The guys written here, especially opposition party figures send to the Central Intelligence Agency.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

The Blue House secretary chief stepped back to receive the meaning of purge.

In the president’s office, only the president and security chief, the two remained.

The president couldn’t hide the smile caught on the mouth corner.

“Your Excellency, Chairman Cha of Taeseong offered presidential election funds. Sent to Jangchung-dong and quite thick.”

“Chairman Cha volunteering support? The sun rising from the west.”

The president’s smile became thicker.

“When about to die, does things not done, they say. Was there some change in Chairman Cha’s personal status?”

“Almost a change arose. Such a thing came out from U-gwang’s chairman’s office.”

The Blue House security chief slightly put the document bundle on the office desk.

The prosecution mark was stuck on the black document cover.

“A report of the prosecution written based on the objects that came out from the U-gwang Group seizure and search.”

“Almost Chairman Cha suffered a change because of the object that came out from U-gwang’s chairman’s office?”

“U-gwang and Taeseong jointly established Taeseong Chemicals on the premise of engagement. Seems U-gwang tried to bite and hold Taeseong when embarrassed because of the chemical factory arson.”

The president turned the documents whoosh whoosh.

“Seems Chairman U-gwang tried to fabricate witnesses and evidence. The circumstance of trying to buy subordinates was clear.”

“Tried to set Taeseong as a shield.”

“Taeseong is business world 5th, U-gwang is business world 9th. If the two companies fall together, the national economy falls. Seems hoped Your Excellency would cover moderately. A resentful guy.”

“Liver swollen?”

The president’s brows wrinkled.

“Not enough trying to cover my eyes and ears, trying to threaten me taking the national economy as hostage?”

Knock knock knock.

“Your Excellency, Chairman Kim U-gwang of U-gwang Group has arrived. What shall we do?”

Even a tiger comes if talking about it, they say.

The president answered coldly.

“Let in.”

Already the president’s complexion was red and blue.

* * *

That night this time too news flash flowed cutting the daily serial drama in the middle.

It was Chairman Kim U-gwang of U-gwang Group’s public apology press conference held at the U-gwang headquarters grand auditorium.

“Dear citizens, regarding the U-gwang Chemicals arson, I Kim U-gwang representing the U-gwang Group bow my head and offer deep apology.”

Click! Click! Click! Click!

As if waiting, camera flashes burst all at once.

“Bow my head and deeply apologize once more to the victims and families of U-gwang Chemicals, and the citizens.”

U-gwang’s affiliate presidents and executives shouted vigorously.

“Sorry!”

“Apologize!”

Chairman Kim U-gwang held the apology text written in advance with a small trembling hand.

As much as the hand, the voice trembled finely and flowed through the microphone.

“Our U-gwang dismisses the U-gwang affiliate presidents who participated in the arson, promises to faithfully participate in the investigation of the prosecution and Central Intelligence Agency, and together feeling the damage, decided to contribute 1 billion and establish the U-gwang Foundation.”

On the television, subtitles rose in large letters.

U-gwang’s promise: U-gwang Foundation establishment and arsonist dismissal

U-gwang’s affiliate presidents and executives bent their waists all at once.

“U-gwang will not avoid responsibility!”

“Will receive fair judgment in front of the law!”

“Will become a company with not one point of shame looking up at the citizens!”

The voice of Chairman Kim of U-gwang reading down the remaining apology text was sorrowful beyond measure.

“To fundamentally resolve the anxiety of all customers and citizens who love U-gwang Chemicals, and to recover market trust, to be reborn as a completely new company, I Kim U-gwang intend to make a decision.”

Click! Click! Click! Click!

“Will step down from the head position and reflect.”

The television subtitle was immediately replaced.

Chairman Kim U-gwang head position resignation decision

“I Kim U-gwang will lead and take responsibility for accident settlement.”

U-gwang affiliate presidents and executives also shouted largely with sorrowful voices.

“Will take responsibility!”

“U-gwang’s fault!”

Chairman Kim of U-gwang looked straight at the camera and bowed his head.

“Finally once more bow my head and deeply apologize to all who suffered damage from this U-gwang Chemicals fire accident and the citizens.”

Like that Chairman Kim of U-gwang stepped down from the seat.

Right after that police were input and the U-gwang union was suppressed, and broadcast station cameras concentrated on ruling party lawmakers.

Ruling party lawmakers rejoiced and stuck faces to the camera and stuck lips to the microphone and shouted largely.

“Justice wins! The ruling party and citizens won!”

“The vicious company U-gwang collapsed! Everyone, rejoice! Public sentiment is immediately heaven’s will!”

“We did it! A monumental moment of blocking the tyranny of large companies and establishing justice!”

In no place of the broadcast station cameras was the appearance of U-gwang unions who shouted until necks burst for several days close-up.

Opposition party lawmakers who shouted together wearing red bands were not caught.

When the police dispersed the U-gwang unions, a few opposition party lawmakers being dragged also didn’t come out.

What was caught on the broadcast station cameras and newspaper company cameras was only ruling party lawmakers shouting victory and justice.

Click.

Grandfather turned off the television.

When the television sound disappeared, heavy silence hovered in the Taeseong Group headquarters chairman’s office.

What replaced that silence was the phone bell sound ringing ring.

-Chairman Cha, with this much does my sincerity become visible to the eyes?

It was the Blue House security chief.

-His Excellency is waiting for the new year luncheon. Probably can look forward.

“Thank you, chief.”

-Do only like now. His Excellency was greatly pleased. Better if Taeseong adds a share to this general election victory.

Grandfather put down the phone.

“Jeong-hyeok, grandfather seems have to urgently convene an affiliate executive meeting.”

Grandfather put me down from the knee.

I put down the double flower tea I was drinking with a slurp.

“Now hope to tell the business of coming to find this grandfather.”

I opened the coin wallet and took out a few neatly folded papers.

All papers where golden light bursts splendidly.

“Grandfather, by any chance do you recognize what this is?”

It was the thank you letter sent to the behind who helps Taeseong.

“······!”

Grandfather’s pupils shook violently as if an earthquake occurred.