Chapter 7

If a chaebol has regressed, what can't he do? Chapter 7

The revenge of the chaebol family's playboy has been converted to a paid service.

'As much as a Jew.'

The Irish have dominated American politics.

'Even President Kennedy, who was assassinated.'

Because it's a prominent Irish family.

It's inevitable, as about one-tenth of the U.S. population is of Irish descent.

"Please meet with the President."

I said this in Korean for the Blue House Secretary and Korean military generals to hear.

The interpreter translated it as is.

'Today is December 24, 1971.'

If the U.S. Senator from New York meets with the President today, it will be a Christmas gift for South Korea.

"Patriotism?"

"Godfather, my country is still poor."

"When I first came to Korea, there was really nothing."

What does that mean?

"Seongsu, your father participated in the Korean War."

Lieutenant Smith explained to me.

'That's a good thing.'

I almost burst out laughing.

"Godfather, thank you for protecting South Korea."

The U.S. Senator smiled at my words.

"It's gratifying to come back and see it again."

Although the war brought painful memories, there must be a sense of pride.

"Starting with the Korean War, Korea and the great United States became the most perfect blood allies. Moreover, just as I, a young Korean, bled in Vietnam to protect the United States and Korea, as well as freedom and democracy, as Godfather did."

This is a kind of emotional appeal.

And it's to emphasize that the relationship between Korea and the United States is different from that between Japan and the United States.

'Korea.'

Bled for the United States.

In contrast, Japan has a history of making U.S. soldiers bleed.

By emphasizing this, we need to make the United States feel hostile toward Japan, which is becoming an economic power, and support Korea.

'Although the Plaza Accord is still far off.'

If the New York Senator creates the right atmosphere when he returns to the United States, Japan's economy can collapse more quickly, and conversely, Korea can grow faster.

'I remember the future.'

Next year, 1972, will come, and the following year, 1973, the Fourth Middle East War will break out, and the first oil shock will occur, causing the price of oil to skyrocket from $2.50 in 1973 to $11.50 in 1974.

The United States, which had been experiencing stagflation due to inflation since 1971, will be hit hard by the first oil shock, leading to a global economic downturn.

And as a result, Korea's exports will plummet, leading to an economic crisis.

I've already told the President this much.

"I believe that Godfather would want this Republic of Korea, which he risked his life to protect, to become more stable and prosperous."

"It seems the Korean government wants a lot from me."

Was it too much?

"If my son wants it, I should do it. I also want the Republic of Korea to develop more, as it is a country I risked my life to protect."

The Senator defined me as his son.

The Blue House Secretary, who heard his words through the interpreter, couldn't hide his surprise.

'My stock is going to rise again.'

Now, I will be someone the President supports and the U.S. Senator pulls.

"Senator, I will escort you to the Blue House."

The Blue House Secretary stepped forward, thinking this was the right moment.

"That's what I wanted. In fact, I was going to meet Seongsu, who saved my son Smith, and then return to the United States with my son."

He seems to want to raise my stock even more.

"Oh, is that so?"

"It's a politically obvious situation, isn't it?"

"I'm sorry."

"But since I became Seongsu's godfather, I can't ignore my son's request, so I will meet with the President."

This will be reported to the President later.

"Thank you."

After the Blue House Secretary spoke to the Senator, as we were about to leave the VIP room, I had an idea and grabbed the Blue House Secretary's collar.

"Wait a moment."

I called the Blue House Secretary quietly.

"Why?"

The Blue House official, who is known to have the power to make birds fall, showed respect to me.

That shows how high my stock is.

"The Senator is a Korean War veteran."

"I was also surprised to hear that."

"A medal of merit awarded by the President of the Republic of Korea would touch the Senator's heart even more."

The Secretary looked surprised at my words.

"How did you come up with such a great idea?"

"Hurry. Call the Blue House immediately and have them prepare it."

"Understood."

The Blue House Secretary, who still shows respect to me.

'A gold medal would be cheaper than U.S. economic aid.'

In politics, economics, and business, everything is done by people.

If you win their hearts, politicians get votes, and businessmen accumulate wealth.

* * *

The President's office at the Blue House.

"Seongsu asked to prepare a medal to award to the Senator?"

The Secretary's report was surprisingly delivered to the President.

"Yes, that's right. And Senator Walker Smith is now on his way to the Blue House from the National Military Hospital."

"But awarding a medal?"

"According to the Secretary's report, Senator Walker Smith is a Korean War veteran. After hearing this, Sergeant Lee Seongsu suggested it to the Secretary, so we prepared it immediately."

The President thought Lee Seongsu was a clever young man.

"Hahaha, I really like it."

* * *

The President's office.

"To all the citizens of the Republic of Korea, the President will award a medal of merit to Lieutenant Walker Smith, who participated in the Korean War, in gratitude."

Suddenly, the security chief became the master of ceremonies for the medal presentation.

Senator Walker Smith was surprised to hear that the President of the Republic of Korea would award him a medal for his participation in the Korean War.

"Chungseong!"

However, as the medal presentation ceremony proceeded, the U.S. Senator gave a salute to the President of the Republic of Korea, which he doesn't even do for the U.S. President.

"Thank you for protecting the Republic of Korea."

Receiving the salute from the U.S. Senator, the President of the Republic of Korea felt a sense of pride.

"Thank you."

Thus, the hastily arranged medal presentation ceremony ended.

"My son Seongsu insisted on meeting the President, so I came to the Blue House."

The President was surprised again at the Senator's words.

"Senator, you decided to become Sergeant Lee Seongsu's godfather."

The Blue House Secretary briefly explained to the President, who had watched Seongsu become the godson of Senator Walker Smith.

At that moment, Seongsu, who had changed into civilian clothes at the National Military Hospital, carefully opened the door and entered the President's office.

"Sergeant Lee Seongsu, reporting to the President. Chungseong!"

As Seongsu entered the President's office, the President of the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Senator from New York welcomed him with bright smiles.

"Come and sit down."

The President said to Seongsu.

'I need to keep Seongsu by my side for a while.'

Seongsu's value has increased due to his relationship with the Senator.

* * *

The President's office.

"Is there a possibility that the Fourth Middle East War will break out in the next 1-2 years?"

After sitting down at the President's instruction and having a brief conversation, I told Senator Walker Smith, who had become my godfather, about the Middle East situation I had previously discussed with the President.

This was already agreed upon with the President.

'This is the last conversation we had when we drank makgeolli.'

The war started with a surprise attack by the Arab forces.

Egypt wants to regain control of the Suez Canal.

Syria wants to recapture the Golan Heights, and Arab countries want to regain their lost dignity, so the war is inevitable.

'And the important fact is.'

Saudi Arabia, a pro-U.S. country, supported the Egyptian army with over $400 million and demanded that the U.S. stop supporting Israel.

The U.S. refused.

From then on, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern oil-producing countries began to weaponize oil, threatening to stop exporting oil to countries cooperating with the U.S. and reducing oil production.

As a result, world oil prices soared.

'What's even more important is.'

The U.S. military will completely withdraw by March 29, 1973, according to the Paris Peace Accords.

There's about a year left.

'In fact, the U.S. military began withdrawing in 1969.'

The Korean military is filling the combat gap as the U.S. military partially withdraws.

And the U.S. government does not trust the South Vietnamese government, and the U.S. military considers the South Vietnamese regular army to be a ragtag group.