## Chapter 264 – 27. Korea’s High Fever for Education
27. Korea’s High Fever for Education
While the secretaries handled the aftermath of the banquet, I organized the timeline of the Incheon Grand Banquet.
I thought there would have been a lot of incidents because I had invited so many people, but surprisingly, there weren’t.
That’s not to say there weren’t any results. It’s just that the results unfolded in a different direction than I intended, but there were still many achievements.
‘Looking at it one way, the lawmakers provoking me might have actually worked out for the best.’
If the lawmakers hadn’t dared to collectively snub my invitation, I wouldn’t have resorted to the extreme measure of killing all the district heads. If that had happened, they and I would have continued to win-win without any major issues.
That would have been easier, but in terms of “political power growth,” it would have been slower.
Growth and development follow when there is a need, but until the lawmakers snubbed my invitation, I didn’t feel much need for a political force.
I would have just hung out with people like Kim Eun-ji and schemed to get my hands on Namdong-gu, which was my main interest. I would have tried to appease and use the rest of Incheon.
But these guys revealed their claws to me and upset me, and I felt the need for my own direct political force.
As a result, I ended up taking over the lawmakers, whom I had only intended to have shallow connections with, and now I have seven female lawmakers in my hands. I am also preparing to ensnare a number of male lawmakers using various means.
In addition, I talked to Min Ji-ah and got her promise to send capable people from her circle into politics. Of course, the top priority is district heads.
‘And the founding of a party.’
I really hadn’t even thought about it, but to think I’d be doing it this quickly…
I already have a mountain of work, and it feels like much more complex and difficult things are piling up.
But I can’t not do it.
If all the people I’ve won over, and those who are indirectly influenced, succeed, I’ll have more than enough to fill the district head positions.
All 16 districts in Incheon will be in my grasp.
However, even in that case, with Choi Cheol-gyu as the mayor and the vast majority of city and district council members still not on my side, it would be insufficient to exert complete control.
No matter what I try to do, I need a budget and bills to proceed smoothly, and the legislative branch, that is, the city and district council members, are in charge of that.
For reference, the Incheon Council consists of 32 city council members (two from each district, one each for district A and B) and 300 district council members (proportional to the population, one per 100,000 people).
Since they handle various laws and budgets, even the district heads, who are in charge of populations of over one million, are tied down without the cooperation of the council.
That’s why I need to have not only the district heads but also the council members in my hands.
To do that, it would be easier to manage them by founding a party and tying them together in one place.
‘There’s no way it’ll all work out that well in the first place.’
Unfortunately, it’s just wishful thinking to think that all the people I’ve won over will achieve political success and take over all the district head positions. It’s almost impossible at this point.
Generously, 20 percent.
Even that’s a lot, to be honest.
We’re just taking our first steps, and even that much would be a huge success.
Incheon is a huge city with a population of 3 million.
– Esteemed citizens, and members of the press. Hello, this is Kim Joo-seok, spokesperson for the Equality, Freedom, and Constitution Party. Our Equality, Freedom, and Constitution Party would like to officially announce that, after intense discussions with the Better Future Party, we have reached a bipartisan agreement to introduce a special investigation into the so-called “District Head Terrorist Incident,” which has recently caused public and national outrage.
This is an unavoidable measure for the realization of justice and transparency in municipal administration, and a duty that no political party can ignore.
This terrorist incident is a serious crime that goes against the wishes of all citizens for the construction of a safe local community. Our party, rooted in equality, freedom, and constitutional values, takes seriously the voices of citizens calling for the introduction of a special investigation to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable…(omitted)….
In any country in the world, in order for society to develop and mature, all forms of violence and illegality must be resolutely rejected, and the rule of law and human rights must be protected. That value is inherent in our party’s name, and we will continue to uphold it in the future.
Thank you.
– Esteemed citizens, hello. This is Gu Bon-neung, spokesperson for the Better Future Party. Our Better Future Party would like to inform you that we have decided to introduce a special investigation into the “District Head Terrorist Incident” through bipartisan agreement…(omitted)….
Thank you.
The media mentioned the District Head Terrorist Incident every day.
People’s attention was highly focused for days, and the political world was ablaze with talk about it.
Eventually, both ruling and opposition parties held general meetings to gather opinions within their parties, and after further bipartisan agreement, they finally decided to introduce a special investigation.
Here, Mayor Choi Cheol-gyu also issued a statement of support for the special investigation, and the situation entered a full-fledged special investigation phase. Depending on how I respond, the situation in Incheon will change 180 degrees.
“They’re still doing a good job so far.”
The seven female lawmakers I slept with on the yacht outwardly agreed with the party’s opinion for now.
It’s too early to show their true colors when my time hasn’t even properly started yet, or they’ll be weeded out.
In addition, Kim Eun-ji is also preparing for the district head by-election, while subtly expressing her opinion on the incident on social media.
As expected, it was in support of the special investigation.
The mass murder of district heads was such a shocking event that people who supported both parties were united in calling for a special investigation for the first time in a long time.
It was difficult to express an opposing opinion. There was no need to.
‘Since I have to accept it anyway, there’s no need to waste energy and make a fuss.’
The important thing is not whether to accept the special investigation or not, but the details.
Who, how, and in what way will it be done, and what results will it produce?
‘This special investigation must end completely incompetently. It must end without even uncovering a clue as to who is behind it, and the case itself must be vaguely concluded.’
That’s why it can’t be Lee Na-eun.
Lee Na-eun must always be portrayed to the public as a competent and righteous prosecutor.
That way, my work is easier.
“Hasn’t it been decided who will be the special prosecutor yet?”
“No.”
I see.
They just said, “Let’s have a special investigation,” and hammered it down, so there’s no way it’s been decided yet.
“I’ve already told the Prosecutor General not to take Lee Na-eun… Ah, how about preemptively striking first? The Prosecutor General just appoints anyone. That’ll take the wind out of their sails.”
After all, the authority to appoint a special prosecutor is with the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, and the council can only request, “Please do a special investigation.” And who to make the special prosecutor is conveyed as an option.
In other words, if the Prosecutor General just holds his head high and stands firm, he can completely control the special investigation, no matter what the council does.
“Wouldn’t that give the city’s Department of Justice a reason to intervene? Especially in a case as highly publicized as this one…”
“If they intervene, they’re confirmed as the culprit. They’re openly defying me. They know how the situation is unfolding.”
They can just express regret appropriately.
Or they can support the decision of the District Prosecutors’ Office, saying they respect it.
It’s not like they’re rejecting the special investigation altogether. The Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office is just designating who will be the special prosecutor on its own. If they make a fuss about that and actively intervene, that’s a clearer signal than appointing Lee Na-eun.
Appointing Lee Na-eun as the special prosecutor can still be seen generously as, “Ah! They’re appointing my person, Lee Na-eun, as the special prosecutor to make things easier for me!!” But if the city’s Department of Justice actively intervenes and thwarts my intentions, it’s just a clear indication that the mayor is going to be my enemy.
It means they’re not satisfied with just the special investigation itself.
It means they have political intentions beyond that.
They’re probably not going to actually arrest me, and their goal is probably just to flex their muscles for negotiations, but even that is very infuriating.
“That’s better. Contact the Prosecutor General. When the request for a special investigation comes from the council, accept it first, and then just appoint a mediocre person.”
“Understood.”
Seo Ah-ram, who had been listening quietly, offered her opinion.
“Why don’t you just convey it directly to the mayor or the council? You’d be able to give orders much more clearly. Wouldn’t that make things easier?”
“That’s the problem, Ah-ram.”
“Yes?”
It seems our Ah-ram doesn’t know me very well yet.
It’s only been a few days, so it can’t be helped.
“Why should I directly convey my intentions? The underlings have to figure it out on their own.”
“Ah.”
“If they don’t understand, they get replaced. If they understand well, they get praised.”
“Isn’t that… cumbersome?”
“Someone’s ego is more important than someone’s life. Even being cumbersome is nothing.”
