The Chaebols Are Back

The office of Kim Il-sung in Pyongyang, North Korea.

"You reached out to me secretly from South Korea?"

Kim Il-sung was being briefed by the Director of the Politburo General Bureau.

North Korea attained economic prosperity by implementing the Chollima Movement led by Kim Il-sung beginning in 1960. With unrestrained aid and assistance from the Soviet Union and the communist world, North Korea became richer by several times than South Korea and has enjoyed its economic influence greater than that of South Korea ever since.

"Yes, I got a call from the director of the South Korean Central Intelligence Agency."

"Did you go begging or something?"

The state of the economy at this point was such that Kim Il-sung could afford to think this way.

"I suggested that we carry out a peace policy on the Korean Peninsula in a generous way."

"What's the reason suddenly?"

It is said that the head of the South Korean puppet regime will issue something to be known as the Yushin Constitution to pursue long-term domination."

"okay?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"You mean to exercise strong ruling authority?"

"Yes, accordingly, as I mentioned earlier, the Republic should implement the Chairman system and become a throne.

In the past, when the Fourth Republic of Korea came into being during the Yushin regime, North Korea adopted the presidential system and Kim Il-sung took on the office of president. He also held the position of National Defense Commission Chairman.

"So that's how it is, then?"

"We have been wishing that the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency would secretly travel to North Korea in May."

"Your liver is big, hahaha!"

"What should we do?"

Ask him to arrive. It's time to receive that little piece of shit."

If so, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency will have a clandestine meeting with Kim Il-sung on May 2, 1972, just as history has run with the Korean Peninsula.

In that case, the South-North Joint Statement came out on July 4, 1972.

All the people will feel that peace on the Korean Peninsula will arrive anytime.

In the future I know, however, there is a long way to go before peace arrives on the Korean Peninsula.

* * *

January 13, 1972, Iranian government-provided hotel room.

If I remain here for a few days, will it be possible to meet top Iranian government officials?

'I may not be able to meet the king at all.'

If that is the case, the trip to Iran will be futile.

"Although it is an unofficial visit, the Iranian government is treating me extremely coldly."

Special Envoy Lee Jae-gyu, who I have been watching for the past few days, is a man full of only sympathy.

'It's also narrow-minded.'

If I go back to my future memories, Lee Jae-gyu was drinking with the president at the KCIA's safe house on October 26, 1979, and killed Cha Ji-cheol, with whom he was not in good relations, and assassinated the president.

But his motive for assassination is not clear.

Of course, he claims to have shot the dictator for the sake of democracy, but is that actually the case?

As I am unbiased, it was hard for me to decide plainly.

"Iran, Saudi Arabia, and many others, is a large Middle Eastern power."

It will not be overstating to refer to them as two large mountain chains.

Then, of course, there's Iraq.

"so?"

"A little, impoverished country in Asia is not important to Iran."

Perhaps there aren't many countries that are familiar with the existence of Korea.

'In some way it was famous after the 1988 Olympics.'

Advertisements

So this type of treatment is not unusual.

"But why did you travel all the way here to seek His Majesty personally?" 

That means you do not know the details.

"Because Iran possesses enormous oil and natural gas deposits."

"Do you mean the government will initiate the import of oil and natural gas in the future?" 

Korea has not yet founded an oil company.

'Formed in about 1979.'

Its reason for formation is, naturally, the development and exploration of oil resources.

It regulates the transportation and sale of crude oil and petroleum products, such as imports and exports and stockpiling.

'The formation of the oil company should be accelerated.'

Only then will we be able to actively react to the first oil shock that will take place in two years.

And perhaps I should have a central role to play in the formation of Korea National Oil Corporation.

"I think it is absolutely necessary to have a public corporation that will oversee and manage oil and natural gas."

If the government interferes too much in the market, it can have bad consequences. Currently, Korea is an underdeveloped nation, so the government is playing the leading role in economic development, but if it keeps going like that, the competitiveness of companies will decrease."

That is true.

"That's true."

"Anyway, how long do I have to remain here in this utterly hot place where I am not even allowed to drink alcohol? Tsk tsk!

"His Majesty must have great expectations of you, Special Envoy."

Upon my words, Special Envoy Lee Jae-gyu's expression slightly changed.

"Lee Seong-su."

"Yes, sir."

"Why should I hear such things from you, an interpreter and a servant?" 

This is such an old-fashioned thing to say.

'Cha Ji-cheol is also uninformed.'

Lee Jae-gyu was Cha Ji-cheol's nemesis.

In short, they all apparently disliked each other.

"I'm sorry. I was offensive."

'His Majesty instructed me not to scoff at you like a child and to trust in you to mind your own job, but the younger you are, the more inexperienced you are, so inevitably you get your enthusiasm into something and spoil the whole thing. Watch yourself carefully when you ought to watch." 

"yes."

The president also explicitly told Lee Jae-gyu to assign most of the tasks to me in front of me, but I suppose he did not like it due to his sense of honor. It seems that he believes he must be the one who takes the initiative in everything in this Iranian trip.

"Damn, it's really hot."

Actually, Special Envoy Lee Jae-gyu's trip to Iran is an unprecedented phenomenon in South Korean history.

'so.'

From now on, the history of the Republic of Korea will be twisted gradually.

I suppose I must get used to it.

'By the way, what about that old fart?'

How do I make it remain immobile?

* * *

The Shah of Iran's office.

If South Korea has the Central Intelligence Agency, Iran has the Sabah, the Pahlavi Dynasty's intelligence department and secret police.

And it was established with the assistance of Israel's Mossad during its inception.

This is the critical aspect, Iran is now an American-friendly country and the Shah of Iran is the sole Middle Eastern nation which acknowledges the existence of Israel.

Furthermore, the Iranian king is a secularist and is opposed to Shiite clerics.

It had lost the backing of the working class.

The Iranian king, in this case, required a turnaround that would alter the atmosphere.

Advertisements

"A young Korean diplomat prayed in front of the airport together?"

It was the Iranian king who requested the presence report of Director Sabak.

"Yes, Shahanshah."

Shahanshah refers to king of kings and was one of the Iranian king's titles.

"Why do you have that expression on your face?"

"Devil said he would come slyly, smiling and in the same attire."

"Isn't it good for me?"

"I believe Korea is a nation that we do not need to be afraid of."

"why?"

"It is a small and poor nation."

The Iranian king agreed with Director Sabak's statement.

"That is true. But how desperate must the young diplomat have been to do that to impress me?"

"yes?"

"Because he believed his actions would be reported to me."

It was the Iranian king who interested Lee Seong-su.

Actually, when Savak's authority was at its strongest, the number of agents was over 50,000, so they dutifully played the role of the king's eyes and ears.

It was also the Iranian Shah's whip and guillotine.

Therefore, to the Iranian people, it was a symbol of hatred, curse, and fear.

Anyway, because the Iranian king thought this way and was interested in Lee Seong-su, Lee Seong-su's actions were successful.

"Would you allow me to see you?"

"Why did you come?"

"As always, it's oil, isn't it?"

"Yes. Shahanshain, I grant an audience to the young diplomat."

"Then should we exclude the special envoy?" 

This question must have occurred because Korea is being totally overlooked.

"Shahanshain, I'll only satisfy my curiosity. I have no basis to receive a special envoy of a poor and small nation like you have said."

If it were not for Lee Sung-soo's unintentional provoking of the curiosity of the king of Iran in his spontaneous movement at the airport, Lee Sung-soo could have never come face-to-face with the king.

"Yes, I see."

* * *

The Oval Office of the President of the United States White House.

The press secretary to President Nixon is informing that a documentary movie on the Battle of Chosin Reservoir is being simultaneously screened in 100 theaters all over the country.

Outside the White House, a demonstration by Korean War veterans was ongoing.

"A documentary movie is being simultaneously screened in 100 theaters?"

"It is being screened plenty, particularly in Democratic Party stronghold areas."

"So does that mean there's a chance it could be a problem?"

"Mr. President, 20 years ago is not that long ago. Korean War veterans still protest outside the White House. Furthermore, China is a communist nation and the enemy who fought the great American soldiers 20 years ago."

"Who doesn't know that?"

"Your Majesty, it could affect your re-election."

"re-election?"

"yes."

President Nixon scowled at his press secretary's words.

Your Majesty, what the veterans mean is that the great United States should not go hand in hand with the enemy."

"Japan was also an enemy."

"But Japan has changed to a liberal democratic nation. China is a communist nation and is at war with the Soviet Union, and so there are plenty of unfavorable opinions about the February 10 visit to China.

"Even if we are side by side with the Soviet Union, since now that we've joined hands with America, let's take us in as friends."

Advertisements

And in truth, the United States required diplomatic normalcy with China.

They were trying to impede this process were Lee Seong-su and the government of South Korea.

Of course, Walker, a U.S. senator, is also pressing Nixon for personal agendas.

"Alright, let's not listen anymore. Do you have anything else to tell?"

President Nixon noticed his Asian adviser standing by.

"We have ascertained the existence of the President of Korea beside us."

"Who is he?" 

"This is a young man by the name of Lee Seong-su. He is highly close to Senator Walker."

"Is there a need to be careful?"

"According to the Korean ambassador, it was not the Korean president but Lee Sung-soo who was the main negotiator regarding the dispatch of troops."

"okay?"

"Yes, it is said that Lee Seong-su is the one who changed the $500 million loan that was supposed to be provided for a fee into a free loan."

"This is going to be a headache."

This is the time that President Nixon fixes the life of Lee Seong-su.

"And this time he is said to have accompanied the special envoy that the Korean president appointed to Iran as an interpreter."

"There is a reason for everything, is there not?"

"An easy oil supply, perhaps?"

"hey."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You mentioned before that this person named Lee Sung-soo had a close connection with Senator Walker?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Press secretary."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Where was the documentary film on the Battle of Chosin Reservoir made?"

"It's called Korea."

President Nixon's face changed to one of confusion at the press aide's briefing.

"The Korean government is behind everything."

"Yes."

"And I don't want my nation to move closer to China."

"It's probably speculation, but it's also very probable."

"Why?"

"South Korea still has to develop economically, and just like the home country was in conflict with the Soviet Union, it is also competing vigorously with North Korea, from the system to the economy. So it is badly in need of assistance from the home country, but it appears that they are measuring that if the home country gets closer to China, that assistance may diminish."

President Nixon promulgated the Nixon Doctrine in 1969.

The main message of the Nixon Doctrine was that the United States would respect its treaty commitments to its friends and allies, and that it would extend the United States' nuclear umbrella to its allies.

But it had a clause that the parties would take primary responsibility for defense against non-nuclear attacks by enemy nations, and that the United States would extend military and economic aid. And the most significant aspect was that the United States would decrease its military intervention, which was the essence of the essence.

"Why can't you take care of your own country's security and defense? Tsk tsk!"

President Nixon did not like all the clandestine activities of the Korean government.