Chapter 28

EP 6 - Nuclear Bomb-Level Major Incident (3)

The acting president is determined according to the "national protocol sequence."

However, this applies only to personnel from the "executive branch."

The national protocol sequence naturally includes the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties and the justices, but these are part of the legislative and judicial branches, so they cannot become acting president.

This is due to the separation of powers.

The thorough separation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

In other words,

Prime Minister

Minister of Economy and Finance

Minister of Education

Minister of Science and Technology

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Unification

Minister of Justice

Minister of National Defense

Minister of Interior and Safety

Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism

Minister of Food and Drug Safety

Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy

Minister of Health and Welfare

Minister of Environment

Minister of Employment and Labor

Minister of Gender Equality and Family

Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries

Minister of SMEs and Startups

These are the people currently qualified to become the acting president.

Given the principle of the separation of powers, the legislative and judicial branches cannot aspire to become acting president.

"So, the problem is whether there is someone among the current state councilors who can take on the role of acting president..."

Interpretation: Is there anyone competent enough?

"In this situation, it's rare to find someone willing to take on the role of acting president. They will face significant criticism. Perhaps we should consider amending the constitution to adopt a parliamentary system?"

Interpretation: Let's just make one of the parliamentarians the prime minister!

"Amending the constitution with just 12 people! A constitutional amendment must be discussed in a direction that aligns with the sentiments of the people. With only 12 people left, the democratic legitimacy has also diminished!"

Interpretation: Is the president now from the Democratic Party? Are the ministers also from the Democratic Party? But if you're suggesting we select a prime minister from the parliamentarians, it means you want a Republican Party member to take the lead.

"No, the proportional representation candidates are also waiting in line. We can immediately appoint them as parliamentarians to increase the number of members-"

Interpretation: Just push in a few dummies to fill the spots! Republican Party comrades, I need your support. We have 7, and the Democratic Party has 5.

It was a reasonable suggestion. Originally, when a proportional representation parliamentarian's seat becomes vacant, the next person in line takes over.

However,

"At this point, the parliamentarians are not dead but their survival is uncertain, so they are considered vacant. If we appoint the next person in line and the original parliamentarian returns alive, what will we do?"

Interpretation: But! If we do that, we 12 can't handle it!

"Mr. Jang, you made a good point. According to Article 200, Section 2 of the Public Official Election Act, the replacement of proportional representation parliamentarians is a matter for the election commission. Let's not disrupt the administrative procedures."

Interpretation: Are you crazy? We can just divide it among 12 and eat it. But let's just blame it on the election commission and move on.

"According to Articles 201, Section 2, 219, Section 2, and 223, if the validity is ambiguous due to a dispute, no by-election is held. Acting rashly without a legal interpretation could confuse the people."

Interpretation: You bastard. We must uphold ethics! You're trying to overturn the table to seize power.

Parliamentarians are extremely sensitive to their positions. We, the legal experts, collectively whined and created excuses.

It's rare for real lunatics to become parliamentarians. They usually cosplay as lunatics on TV. Or, they are old-timers in politics whose mental state has deteriorated.

They are very smart people. If they face a backlash, they will be in trouble. Anyway, I kept my mouth shut, so it doesn't matter.

Yang Pansuk smiled and took the floor.

"Let's first exclude the parliamentarians from the state councilors. If we proceed step by step, we will find a common ground."

Interpretation: Hey, everyone, listen up.

Normally, the acting president should be selected from the ministers. However, the bizarre political climate in our country has caused difficulties.

Yang Pansuk, who displayed his iPad screen on a large screen, erased several names with an electronic pen.

The reason is:

In Korea,

Parliamentarians (legislative) can

hold the position of ministers (executive).

Although this violates the separation of powers, our country has a mixed system of parliamentary and cabinet systems.

However, the funny thing is, 'parliamentarians who are also ministers' cannot become acting president according to the separation of powers.

The problem is that most ministers are also parliamentarians.

While it is inevitable due to the frequent rotation of personnel in this field, the extreme reduction in the number of people who can become acting president is a significant issue.

"Alright, I've excluded the dual-role holders."

Yang Pansuk left a few names on the screen.

"Next, I'll exclude the missing and deceased."

Originally, the ministers' offices were in Sejong City, but since the deputy ministers handle the practical work and the ministers handle the political affairs, the ministers usually reside in separate offices in Seoul.

So, most of them were killed.

Minister of Food and Drug Safety - a key figure in the ruling party who lost the presidential election

Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport - a professor close to the president

"Alright, two people are left. According to the law, the Minister of Food and Drug Safety is the acting president."

Yang Pansuk continued his explanation, tapping the rhythm on the screen. He hummed as if singing a labor song, selecting the presidential candidate.

"However, the Minister of Food and Drug Safety resigned due to 'certain pressure.'"

Interpretation: This one was already sent away by Cha Jaegeun.

Squeak. Yang Pansuk drew a line with the electronic pen on his pad, and a name disappeared from the screen.

"The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport also suddenly complained of a chronic illness and was admitted to a rehabilitation center."

Interpretation: This one was also sent away by Cha Jaegeun?

In the end, both names were erased.

Yang Pansuk laughed.

"Wow, this is a difficult situation!"

Interpretation: Is Cha Jaegeun trying to take over the country?

*

"......That, day."

Parliamentarian Won Okbun spoke cautiously. It was a day that would become a trauma for everyone.

The day the gate opened on the first day of the term.

"I was carried out of the National Assembly by my aides. They were my friends for 28 years since my days as a prosecutor."

She spoke calmly and expressionlessly, without much emotion.

"......They used bizarre magic to drive away the monsters and died from excessive bleeding in front of the hospital. They placed me, who had already fainted, in front of the hospital."

She fiddled with her fingernails, her eyes clouded. Her speech was halting, but the somber atmosphere enveloped everyone.

Mrs. Won Okbun smiled faintly.

Of course, it was a distorted smile due to nerve damage.

"I was a person who could stand up even if gangsters came to my office and slashed my eyes. But politics is interesting. It turned me into a respectable person after 17 years."

She said this self-deprecatingly, as if it were a boring joke.

"But. When the person who shared my entire public career died, I thought a lot about the past. I wondered what I could do for this country."

A moment of silence followed.

"......"

Won Okbun spoke again.

"If we continue like this, the country will fall."

A cold warning.

"After 28 years in public service, I want to do something truly patriotic. What can the National Assembly do in a country without a president?"

Yang Pansuk accepted her opinion gently.

"I deeply agree with Parliamentarian Won's thoughts. Therefore, I have two proposals. Would you like to hear them?"

"Please, Mr. Yang."

"First, we will hold a presidential election within 38 days from now."

According to the Public Official Election Act, a by-election must be held within 60 days if the president is absent.

However, the Chief Justice, who is the head of the Central Election Commission, is dead, and the relevant high-ranking officials are either dead or missing.

And,

"Millions of citizens are trapped in their homes due to the monster. When will we recapture Seoul and hold the election?"

A parliamentarian's counterargument was accurate. Yang Pansuk also hesitated before responding.

"That's true. A president elected in such a situation will not be recognized by the people. It will likely take more time to hold the presidential by-election, and the administrative vacuum will be significant."

Now, the second proposal was waiting.

"Alright, second. We will remove the badge from the minister who is also a parliamentarian and appoint them as the acting president."

Interpretation: Ethics and principles aside, just push it through.

"......Is that possible?"

"There's no reason it can't be done. Given the current situation."

No one in this room failed to understand this.

Everyone looked at one person.

A five-term parliamentarian. Appointed as a minister immediately after being elected.

A legend in the prosecutor's office. An old-timer from the judicial training institute.

The current Minister of Justice.

Seventh in the line of succession for the acting president.

Won Okbun.

Yang Pansuk made his move.

"......"

He was suggesting that Won Okbun remove her badge and become the acting president. Everyone naturally turned to look at her.

Incidentally, she had said something earlier.

"After 28 years in public service, I want to do something truly patriotic. What can the National Assembly do in a country without a president?"

Interpretation: We need to create a president somehow.

Upon careful consideration,

She wants to be the president.

*

Perhaps Yang Pansuk had targeted this from the beginning. No, this was his target. He was just testing Won Okbun's intentions by talking in circles.

I reviewed the flow of the conversation.

At first, Yang Pansuk said he wasn't a presidential candidate,

(Interpretation: Okbun, do you want to be president?)

Won Okbun brought up her 28-year-old aide.

(Interpretation: Yes, I do.)

Yang Pansuk naturally endorsed her after hearing her words.

(Interpretation: Go for it.)

In conclusion, she asked for some time to think. But the answer was obvious.

Damn,

Politics is so intricate. The long meeting of 12 people ultimately boiled down to a secret conversation between two dragons.

However, I didn't say a single word during the subsequent meeting.

I was aware of the recording devices.

Moreover, the National Intelligence Service in military uniforms was surrounding the area. Even if there were eavesdropping devices, it wouldn't be unnatural.

Yang Pansuk also said,

These people were rescued earlier than us and were 'protected' by Cha Jaegeun before being released.

After signing the operation agreement presented by Cha Jaegeun, they were confined to a hotel for their safety. This was likely to prevent impeachment.

If Yang Pansuk and I hadn't resolved Cha Jaegeun's concerns (Ground Operations Command) first, we would have been in the same situation.

Cha Jaegeun safely controlled the military without fear of impeachment. Ground Operations Command, Gyeryongdae, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Forces Korea.

We even had a significant stake in it. Didn't we turn everyone except Cha Jaegeun into traitors?

"......"

"......"

Our eyes met.

Yang Pansuk, who had set the mood, also remained silent. I felt a connection with him.

Perhaps the coup had already succeeded.

And it was done by us.

*

I didn't speak until the end, mindful of the eavesdropping and recording devices. The power Cha Jaegeun held was that terrifying.

Of course, there are limits.

A line that should not be crossed.

If the 12 of us conspired to impeach Cha Jaegeun, he would mobilize the military. If he killed us 12, the people would rise up.

Politics has a few forbidden techniques.

And in my opinion,

"......This seems to have crossed the line."

"Hmm?"

Yang Pansuk handed me a recorder.

"The minutes of the underground National Assembly meeting just now."

"Who should I give this to?"

"Cha Jaegeun."

I was shocked by Yang Pansuk's calm response.

"You are to deliver this to the Northern Seoul Martial Law Command."

"No, Mr. Yang! What are you saying!?"

The raccoon laughed.

"If you can't stop the beast, you have to ride it."

Now I understood.

Yang Pansuk intentionally created tension between the National Assembly and the military and was reaching out to Cha Jaegeun through me.

"Did you mention a line?"

"......"

"My principle is to have no principles."

He quietly and gently placed the recorder in my hand.

"I hope you remember what I said when we went out on a yacht on the Han River."

He patted my shoulder and walked away.

"You are my student."

Yang Pansuk disappeared somewhere, leaving me frozen.

I stood there for a long time, staring at the recorder in my hand.

Yang Pansuk's strategy was simple.

He was going to play both sides, pitting the National Assembly against the military and losing to both. Won Okbun would likely be the meat shield.

On the surface, they would be enemies, but secretly, they would cooperate.

It was no different from the existing policy.

In many ways, it was a bat-like strategy.

However,

I couldn't deny Yang Pansuk's final words.

"......Me, really."

Do bats recognize other bats?

Or did I learn politics from Yang Pansuk?

Ironically.

I put the recorder 'one' given by Yang Pansuk into my inner pocket.

Now there were two recorders in it.

The recorder I was concerned about was not from the National Intelligence Service.