Chapter 89

EP 15 - Extras in the Political Arena (3)

When a politician causes trouble, attention is drawn to them.

This is only natural.

Even if a politician is unknown, when they cause trouble, they receive national attention.

Then,

if a star politician with 15% support in the presidential race were to scatter chicken at the Chungcheong defense line, a national shield, and get caught for violating election laws, and then appear on TV to do a talk show with an anchor, what kind of ratings would it get?

I think it would be 100%.

Not everyone would watch the live broadcast, but it was a given that the content would be conveyed to the entire nation.

- The military blunders of the Won Ok-bun administration have already been revealed through the dissolution of the reserve forces.

- Oh, wasn't that the incident that was resolved with the dismissal of former Defense Minister Jang Bum-geun?

- The expression "covering the sky with one's palm" would be more appropriate.

* * *

"The biggest problem with the Won Ok-bun administration is that it sacrifices national defense for political gain."

There is a term called "Frame."

"By claiming that the Seoul defense line is stable and that infantry is inefficient against monsters, the decision to dissolve the reserve forces shows that public opinion was prioritized over national defense."

"Are you saying that Acting President Won Ok-bun pursued populism to aim for the next presidency?"

"It would be more accurate to say that the military was used to boost support ratings."

Frame, a term that can mean a frame, border, window frame, or the basic structure of a building. It can also be interpreted as a "framework of thought." In construction sites or political circles, it is often referred to as "waggu."

The basic of politics is to create a "waggu."

Trapping the opponent in a certain "waggu" and then attacking them is the most basic strategy and tactic in Korean politics. It is usually expressed as "creating a frame."

If the market chaos caused by the government's improper exchange rate intervention is expressed as having a negative impact on the export economy, voters won't understand, so it's just called an incompetent and corrupt regime.

This well-established tradition, used by both the ruling and opposition parties, as well as conservatives and progressives for decades, naturally has its clichés.

An incompetent economic regime.

An incompetent diplomatic regime.

A regime that gives to North Korea and is full of communists.

A regime that doesn't cooperate with the opposition and is closed off.

A regime stained with corruption.

And in this case,

"Unless Acting President Won Ok-bun views the military as a servant of the regime, the idea of dissolving the reserve forces would never have emerged."

"Are you talking about the manipulation of national defense?"

"That's an appropriate expression."

National defense manipulation. That would be appropriate.

"After the reserve forces were dissolved, a gate opened in Uijeongbu, and the Seoul encirclement was breached, almost leading to the nation's downfall. I was there at the time, and my parents were infected with the epidemic tumor."

"Yes. If Commander Kim Doo-sik hadn't reorganized the retreating national army and set up the Chungcheong defense line, it would have been a matter of national survival, wouldn't it?"

"We must never forget the contributions of the late Kim Chun-sik, Gan Ji-yoon, and many other awakened individuals. While it is truly fortunate that such heroes exist in our country, the public also knows that national policy should not rely on heroes."

The reason we survived was not because of Won Ok-bun's good governance.

"Ah...! You mean that the nation was saved by the sacrifices of our predecessors, not by the current regime's system?"

"That's right."

By the way,

Is it because Won Ok-bun keeps declaring martial law and squeezing the media, or did Yang Pan-seok do something beforehand? The anchor assigned to me by the broadcasting station was leading the frame creation with a dazzling smile.

Honestly, her skill with words was not ordinary. Looking at her face slowly, she seemed familiar, and she must be a veteran anchor.

She asked me with a solemn expression.

"Then, what aspects of the current regime's system do you have doubts about, Representative Han Seung-moon?"

"Let's take the Seoul disaster as an example. To my shame, I only arrived when the situation was almost over. Before that, Chairman Kim Chun-sik, Awakened individual Seol Jin-woon, and many other superhumans had fought hard to stop the monster, and many people lost their lives."

"Was there no support from the national army when the Seoul gate was blocked?"

"There was not even a single air force support. So the Awakened individuals fought and died alone because there was no link between the national army and the superhumans."

I took a deep breath while drinking water.

And as calmly and seriously as possible, trying not to sound like a cheap politician on YouTube, I continued, aiming to sound like a cool political commentator.

"Of course, as is well known, the primary responsibility lies with the North Korean defectors who caused chaos, but the fundamental responsibility lies with the government and the National Defense Party. Why? Because they were the ones who dismantled the National Ability Employment Cooperative, commonly known as the Guild."

"Yes... When the Han Seung-moon Foundation was raided during the merger of the Republican and Democratic parties?"

"They dismantled the Guild to attack me. The National Defense Party even moved a special prosecutor to dismantle the Guild and bury me with charges of treason.

At that time, the National Assembly that passed the special prosecutor was the current National Defense Party, and the acting president who moved the prosecution was Won Ok-bun. In the end, the Awakened individuals were the ones who suffered in the political struggle.

That's why I strongly argued for blocking government intervention when organizing the Hunter Association this time. Fortunately, it actually happened."

Thus, the logic of national defense manipulation was established. The dissolution of the reserve forces and the dismantling of the Guild.

I pointed out the two facts clearly by tapping my fingers on the desk.

"To boost support ratings, the reserve forces were dissolved, leading to the opening of a gate in Uijeongbu, which breached the Seoul encirclement."

First, manipulation of the national army.

"To eliminate a political rival, the Guild was dismantled, so when the Seoul gate went out of control, the Awakened individuals fought and died without any support from the national army."

Second, manipulation of superhumans.

"If the army is reduced and the Guild is dismantled, who will protect the country?"

Conclusion, incompetence in national defense.

The anchor neatly summarized it.

"Are you saying that the Won Ok-bun administration manipulated national defense for political gain?"

"It's not just that."

I pulled out the materials I received from Yu Jae-kyung and Kim Doo-sik with a solemn expression.

"The flow of funds within the national army. If you look here..."

I took out a cheap panel with only the important parts highlighted in red.

I had once sighed at the sight of politicians on cable TV holding up childish panels and raising their voices, thinking how hard they must work, but I never thought I would end up doing the same.

I poked the yellow tape with the words [1.5 trillion vanished!?] written on it with my finger.

"The money vanished."

"Excuse me?"

"The emergency supplementary budget allocated to the national army by the Blue House and the Ministry of Economy and Finance has disappeared somewhere."

Supplementary budget.

To run the country, a budget is needed. The Ministry of Economy and Finance drafts a budget and submits it to the National Assembly, which usually drags on from the end of the year to the beginning of the next year before it is finally passed. The country operates with the budget set at that time, known as the original budget.

However, if there is a sudden need for funds, the government can divert money from the original budget, which is called a supplementary budget.

If the Blue House requests it, the Ministry of Economy and Finance drafts a supplementary budget and submits it to the National Assembly. If the National Assembly passes it, the budget is changed.

The government often passes a supplementary budget to manipulate statistics when it seems the economy is about to be adjusted, but in this case, it was a national defense supplementary budget.

Logically, if a war breaks out, more budget should be allocated to the Ministry of National Defense.

So the supplementary budget was passed many times long ago.

However,

"Let me explain it simply. During the 6th supplementary budget, 2.5 trillion won of national tax was sent to the national army, but only 2.35 trillion won arrived."

"Ah...!"

"I ask the Won Ok-bun government, where did the 1.5 trillion won go?"

Of course, I wasn't asking because I didn't know. Yu Jae-kyung and Kim Doo-sik also knew where the money went.

The Awakened Special Forces.

The secret military organization that stole nuclear weapons from North Korea for Won Ok-bun.

We secretly suspected that the money had gone there. In fact, most high-ranking officials probably knew about it.

"I have no idea where the 1.5 trillion won went."

Of course, I don't know. I just don't.

"Even if the Korean economy is in bad shape, 1.5 trillion won is not a small amount, is it?"

"Are you suspecting military procurement corruption, sir?"

"I will refrain from hasty conclusions, but I think it is appropriate to consider all possibilities."

"Are you saying that money intended for the national army has leaked somewhere?"

"Why would I have brought food to the Chungcheong defense line? It's because the food that should have been given to our soldiers disappeared somewhere, isn't it?"

I said this fresh nonsense seriously and then calmly recited even more nonsense.

"Of course, I am not unconditionally criticizing the Won Ok-bun government."

"Ah, yes."

"Such a situation, yes, goes beyond our common sense, doesn't it? In the midst of a global crisis, our Republic of Korea and our people are firmly overcoming the national crisis. And in that regard, I fully recognize and respect the efforts of the Won Ok-bun government."

The magic words followed.

"However."

"Yes."

"I think it is somewhat inappropriate to use the national army as a political tool. And there is a tendency to shift the blame for the resulting problems to the Minister of National Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

I recited the general statement.

"The President is the head of the executive branch and the commander-in-chief of the national army. However, it is not the proper conduct of a national leader for the commander-in-chief to keep avoiding responsibility and using the command authority improperly. The President should lead the way, not focus on negative aspects."

The anchor recited the prepared statement.

"Perhaps this is a bit presumptuous, but..."

"Ah, yes. Please speak."

"Is the National Party not focusing on negative aspects?"

"I have once expressed distrust in the judgment of our party's public affairs committee."

I adjusted my posture and changed the flow of the conversation to a brighter tone.

"Let's talk about the future."

"Yes."

"I am pushing for the establishment of an international organization for hunters."

"Really?!"

The anchor widened her eyes and showed a startled expression. The more I look at her, the more I like her.

"The news that the European Union's Noah Lumière, the executive chairman, has accepted the position of permanent advisor to the Awakened Association has already been reported."

"Yes. It was quite a groundbreaking visit to Korea, wasn't it?"

"In fact, I have also had close talks with Vice Chairman Li Zhongbin of China."

"Vice Chairman Li Zhongbin...! Isn't he the second-in-command of China?"

"Yes, that's right. We had very constructive and international discussions, and Vice Chairman Li Zhongbin presented a vision for peaceful international cooperation in Northeast Asia."

When introducing Li Zhongbin, I omitted the provocative titles such as "Central Military Commission," "Senior General," and "CMC Senior General."

Earlier, I introduced him as "Vice Chairman Li Zhongbin of the Central Military Commission," but the anchor and the PD told me to just introduce him as "Vice Chairman."

Yes.

This interview was already being recorded for the third time.

Perhaps, after several interviews, only the best scenes would be selected to create an amazing interview.

"Of course, given the current unstable domestic situation, that is, the next administration has not yet been determined, I cannot promise the establishment of an international organization lightly..."

So, this is.

After being suppressed by Won Ok-bun during the long martial law and barely being freed, and after being almost sent to prison for treason by being ganged up on by Won Ok-bun and the National Defense Party,

I very carefully packaged it,

"Perhaps if the current administration had shown more interest in national defense, we might have been at the center of a new international order by now."

It was a lie.