The Former Chaebol Heir Excels as President

Chapter 52: Star Member of the National Assembly (1)

As soon as I stepped out of the main assembly hall, dozens of reporters rushed toward me.

Several microphones pushed toward my throat as if to stab me.

“Excuse me. You’re about to pierce my throat.”

“Do you have materials on other ministers’ corruption as well?”

“Where did you receive the tip-off? Is it trustworthy?”

“Do you have other cases of corruption among the government’s overseas investments?”

I had to be cautious with my responses.

Answers to reporters’ questions were not protected by immunity from arrest.

“There are suspicious circumstances in other overseas investments as well. Those will be revealed in due time. The informant’s identity is certain, and depending on the situation, they may be recognized as a whistleblower.”

“Have you secured other corruptions?”

“That’s not something I can talk about at this stage. I’ll just say it’s in progress.”

Why did the walk to the main building feel so long?

Reporters stuck by my side and continued to fire questions.

After the interpellation session, the matter with the Merchants’ Association had completely died down.

“Do you have a recording?”

“That’s for the Prosecution to investigate. If they try to cover it up, I plan to present other evidence.”

“What kind of evidence?”

“You’ll find out later.”

“Do you have documents on other Cabinet members as well?”

“You’ll come to know everything in time. It’s not appropriate to comment now.”

I walked quickly.

At the same time, the reporters’ footsteps quickened.

“Assemblyman Kang, when do you plan to reveal the other cases of corruption?”

“I’ll decide after watching the Prosecution’s investigation.”

“You mean you’ll go public if the Prosecution fails to investigate properly?”

“Wouldn’t I have to? But I trust the Prosecution.”

At the entrance to the Members’ Office Building, I saw my staffers and secretaries waiting.

“Let’s stop here. I’ve given all the necessary answers.”

“If the government committed fraud, could the Blue House also be involved?”

“I won’t give a definitive answer.”

“Just a word, please.”

“Even if you think you can hide the truth, it eventually comes out. Even if it’s late. Of course, there will be interest to pay.”

Two staffers and two secretaries rushed out and surrounded me.

Im Seong-chan looked at the reporters and said,

“That’s it for today. Call me later if you need anything.”

“Assemblyman, when will you make the announcement?”

“Who do you think is behind all this?”

“I’m going in now.”

I entered the Members’ Office Building escorted by the staff.

Thankfully, the reporters didn’t follow.

When I got off the elevator on the fifth floor, what had happened in the assembly hall played back in slow motion.

Did I do well?

Listening to Im Seong-chan’s words, I felt like I did.

“You were really amazing, Assemblyman.”

“It’s thanks to all of you who prepared the materials so well.”

“Your pronunciation was clear, and you emphasized the key parts by varying your tone. Your delivery was excellent.”

Compliments felt good.

The office staff looked cheerful as well.

“Thank you all for your hard work. I’ll rest for a moment.”

“Assemblyman, you looked so cool.”

“You really caught me off guard.”

“They say compliments can make even a whale fly. Thank you.”

I entered the office and sat on the sofa.

“Whew.”

It was a successful debut.

Maybe politics was in my blood after all.

Then, I heard a voice from outside the door.

“Assemblyman, the Floor Leader is here.”

I jumped up from the sofa and opened the door.

Mo Jong-chan, the Floor Leader, extended his hand with a big smile.

“Our party just gained a treasure.”

“Thank you. Please have a seat.”

As Mo Jong-chan sat down, Secretary Yoon came in with drinks.

“Thank you.”

Mo Jong-chan took a sip and looked satisfied.

“Your staff are incredibly capable. The materials were put together in a way that really stood out.”

“Maybe I’m lucky with people.”

“Meeting capable people is a result of your own efforts, Assemblyman Kang. I didn’t expect you to handle it this well. How about transferring to a different Standing Committee?”

“Pardon?”

It was a completely unexpected proposal.

“Watching you today, you're logical and meticulous. Move to the Knowledge Economy Committee and do whatever you want. You're still receiving materials, right?”

“Yes, I am, but do you think the Speaker of the National Assembly will approve?”

“Politics is a deal. I'm telling you this because I can make it happen.”

“I'm in favor. There's still a lot to uncover.”

“Good. Let’s do that.”

“Thank you.”

Mo Jong-chan stood up.

“If you get carried away by the media praise and act like you're floating on clouds, you'll be in trouble. That just means more people will be aiming at you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“A first-term lawmaker just needs to work hard. That’s how you get attention.”

I escorted him to the office door.

“Take care.”

“Good job.”

Standing beside me, Ahn Jin-su said,

“Your debut was too spectacular.”

“I need to make sure it doesn’t fizzle out. Make time this evening.”

“Is something going on?”

“We're meeting Ji Jeongseok, so don’t be too late.”

“Understood.”

Though it was a work-related meeting, it was still nice to see friends again after a long time.

Yeouido Han River Riverside Park.

Ji Jeongseok and I sat on a mat with beer and chicken laid out.

“Is Jin-su coming late?”

“She’s probably sorting through all the joint proposal requests.”

“You got help from her, so you should return the favor.”

“Normally, yes, but I have to cut what doesn't make sense.”

“Can you afford to?”

“People might say I’m rude because I’m a first-term lawmaker, but what’s wrong is still wrong.”

“Right. What’s wrong is wrong.”

I drank my beer and asked,

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Right now, the government has lost a lot of power. Back in the beginning, I was even tailed.”

“Thinking about it, your personality hasn’t changed since school days. Even back when you talked back to the drill instructor, you were something else.”

“We’re like that, but Wang Dohun has completely changed.”

Wang Dohun.

He used to be timid, but now he was the complete opposite.

“He’s obsessed with cameras.”

“Still as annoying as ever.”

“You hated him from the start.”

“Guess we just don’t click. I can’t tell you how satisfying it was when you beat him with your grades. But now he’s a totally different person.”

“Yeah. I guess the job of a prosecutor is something else.”

The river shimmered under the lights.

I blankly stared at the buildings across Mapo Bridge. Even at this late hour, lights were sporadically leaking out, as if people were still working.

“Cheonmyeong.”

“Yeah.”

“You were amazing today.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I hope you keep going just like this. I’ve seen too many who burst onto the scene like a comet and then get stuck in a rut, clinging to their badges.”

I turned my head and looked at Ji Jeongseok.

“I won’t change.”

“I believe you.”

The possibility of me changing had nearly reached zero. I had pledged to live my second life differently.

“By the way, I’m moving to the Knowledge Economy Committee.”

“Really? Wow! Today’s events must’ve influenced that.”

“Probably. You’ll have to keep bringing me material.”

“Floodgates are bursting open all over the place. Good stuff will come out.”

“Thanks.”

“No matter how many articles I write, what's the point? No one picks them up. One word from you is way more powerful.”

“Is that so? Haha.”

As I made eye contact with Ji Jeongseok and laughed, the sound of someone running came toward us.

It was Ahn Jin-su.

Ji Jeongseok jumped up.

“Jin-su, long time no see.”

“Good to see you.”

“You’ve lost so much weight. Just how hard is Cheonmyeong working you?”

“When the Assemblyman runs ahead so hard, I’ve got to follow.”

“Haha. Looks like you met your match.”

I looked at Ahn Jin-su and said,

“Good work. The mailbox must be overflowing, right?”

“I collected it twice—morning and afternoon.”

The mailbox was piled with requests from other Members of the National Assembly who wanted to participate in the joint proposal, along with revised bills.

I met the Members in person to talk and persuade them, but most left the proposal intent and the revised bill in the mailbox.

Normally, this kind of proposal would be circulated among lawmakers from the same party, but since I received support from the Korea Unification Party, they also sent many joint proposal requests.

Ji Jeongseok clicked his tongue as he looked at Ahn Jin-su.

“You’re suffering because you ended up with the wrong Member.”

“I’ve learned a lot.”

“Like what?”

“What you see from the outside and from the inside is different. I’m learning that talking is easy, but action is hard.”

“Politics is about the opponent. If everyone’s on the same side, corruption naturally follows. Just like we walk straight on two legs, a healthy path needs balance between two political forces.”

“Do you think that applies to our reality? Even if it’s a matter of degree, both legs are limping.”

“It’ll get better over time. It’s only been twenty years since our country started practicing democracy. The problem is people are too impatient.”

Ahn Jin-su nodded and then asked,

“By the way, are you okay? I figured there’d be a lot of temptations and threats.”

“I’m not greedy for money, so temptations don’t work. And I’ve got nine lives, so threats don’t work either.”

“Seriously, you’re something else. Maybe because your father was a soldier?”

“That plays a part. I also value honor.”

“Have you heard from Seok-gu?”

I answered Ahn Jin-su’s question.

“I talked to him last week. He said he secured a national project in Vietnam. He should still be there.”

“Seok-gu’s doing well.”

“He grew up lacking money, so he works hard.”

“I’m worried he’s becoming too obsessed with money.”

I agreed.

A man with ninety-nine sacks of rice still tries to steal the one sack owned by another to make it a hundred—that’s the greed of the wealthy.

I once met Yang Seok-gu and advised him not to become a monster. He smiled and said it would never happen, but for some reason, I felt uneasy.

“Oh, right.”

As if remembering something, Ahn Jin-su turned to Ji Jeongseok.

“Cheonmyeong transferred to the Knowledge Economy Committee.”

“I heard.”

“I think the party leadership wants to use the blow dealt to the ruling party and carry that momentum into the presidential election.”

“No matter how big the blow, winning the election won’t be easy.”

“The President’s approval rating is rock bottom. You really think we can’t win?”

Ji Jeongseok shook his head.

“Even during the IMF crisis, we barely won by a margin of 2%. And back then, a candidate who left the party got nearly 20% of the vote.”

“True. Even two elections ago, we barely won thanks to unification, so yeah—it won’t be easy.”

“We only won because of that dramatic story. It was a miracle back then.”

“Cheonmyeong, you should become President too.”

Ahn Jin-su’s sudden remark came out of nowhere.

“What the? Out of the blue?”

“Watching you up close, I really think someone like you should become President.”

“I’m just cracking my shell and starting to grow feathers.”

“I don’t mean right away. But when you hit your fifties, it should be possible. If you get elected three times, it’s definitely doable.”

Looking at the sparkle in Ahn Jin-su’s eyes, I could tell she wasn’t joking.

Ji Jeongseok joined in.

“I fully support it too. After ten years in the National Assembly, you’ll understand how the country works. Besides, you’re a successful businessman, smart as hell, and fluent in foreign languages.”

“Start preparing now. I’ll support you with everything I’ve got.”

“Are you working on your next bill already?”

“Our Assemblyman is already preparing it. It’s an education and support bill to promote employment for people with disabilities.”

I realized the issue while watching my second brother.

Breaking down discrimination and prejudice is the only way for people with disabilities to enter the realm of ordinary life. I believed we needed to help them become self-reliant by enabling them to participate in economic activities.

Now I didn’t want to talk about work anymore.

“Let’s drink. I don’t want to think about anything tonight.”

“Yeah. To President Cheonmyeong!”

“To the President!”

“Oh, come on!”

Though I pretended to be angry, I didn’t feel bad at all.

I would become President—without fail.