The Youngest Son of Sunyang Chapter 12

In his study, the grandfather tossed the paper on the desk, with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Its headline was what his grandson had expected.

[The Two Kims Turn Their Back On Each Other]

In the photo, the two were standing side by side on a stage and discussing the current state of affairs, with a dead serious look on their faces.

On 27 October at the Korea University.

The completely different reaction to their speech was more serious.

When Kim Young-sam got to the podium and exhorted democracy in a high-pitched voice, the audience erupted with “booooooo!”, then “Resign!” “Resign!”

Waves of booing and jeering crashed and a thick fog of shame engulfed him. Shaking his head, he descended from the stage.

Meanwhile, the audience shouted out “President!” when, clad in a traditional Korean overcoat, Kim Dae-jung stood in front of the podium. He, with a slight flush in his face, delivered his speech in a leisurely manner.

Which was followed by his supporters lifting him high on their shoulders as if congratulating him for winning the election.

Kim Dae-jung exclaimed, “Thank you, everyone! Today, I made a firm decision!”

Everyone knew what the firm decision was.

The grandfather wore a smile on his face. Not that his grandson’s prediction was correct. It was because, four months ago, when the inc.u.mbent government declared surrender, other major companies performed courts.h.i.+p displays for the two Kims in compet.i.tion with each other, as they were convinced that the two Kims would unite behind one candidate.

However, the grandfather sh.e.l.led out big bucks to the ruling party while slipped some money into the two Kims’ hands.

When the majority of people turned away from the ruling party, the grandfather verified the meaning of ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’.

His smile had a knee-jerk reaction to the benefits he would reap for the next 5 years (presidential term in South Korea).

He leaned back in his comfortable chair, hands crossed behind his head and felt a fresh glow of pride.

Before long, the sound of knocking brought his attention to the door. His three sons and the only daughter, Jin Seo-yun swept into his study.

“Why are you here?” he asked Seo-yun.

“I’m also a CEO of Sunyang, how could I not be?” she bristled.

She was managing Sunyang’s department store which, with her discerning sense for all things luxury, devolved into a high-end department store. Sales were down but net profit increased. So did her pride.

“What’s all this fuss about? Sit down, all of you,” the grandfather said.

“Did you read the paper, father?”

“Yeah,”

“The two Kims will likely run against each other,” said his eldest son and vice-chairman Young-ki.

“They will split the opposition vote,” he added, plonking the paper.

“DJ (Kim Dae-jung) will reportedly defect from the main opposition party, the Reunification Democratic Party to run for the presidency,” said another son.

“The presidency made the rivalry between the two Kims rear its ugly head,” said the other.

The grandfather rapped his knuckles on the desk, then stormed.

“G.o.d d.a.m.n it, what’s the point?”

Everyone clamped their mouths shut.

“Who’s the likely candidate to take office?”

“YS (Kim Young-sam) will likely win a majority of votes in the populous Gyeongsangnam-do. It appears that he is the most likely candidate,” Young-ki said.

Although the election was scheduled for December, two months to go,

“I’m going to contribute ten billion to a candidate’s election campaign,” the grandfather said.

Everyone opened their eyes wide.

“Father, it’s too much. I think half would probably be enough,” one son said.

“What if it goes to the wrong candidate?” said another.

The grandfather outwitted them,

“Until next week, make a conclusion: to whom I should give ten billion,”

“Fa, father… that…” the other son stuttered.

“Shut up!” yelled the grandfather.

Everyone lowered their eyes.

“Don't talk back to me. Just do as I say!”

It was because the grandfather wanted to test them.

“d.a.m.n it, get off of me!"

Letting out a sigh, everyone started backing out of the study, but Seo-yun remained.

“Something you want to tell me?” the grandfather asked.

Seo-yun grinned, then said,

“Father, he wants to run for the upcoming general election,” she said.

“Your husband?”

“Yes, and his family is supportive… what do you think?” she asked.

She was asking her father’s permission.

“How old is he now?”

“45, father,” her eyes lit up.

Her husband’s family produced two public prosecutor generals, and more than ten judges and prosecutors, which would not have been possible without the aid of Sunyang.

The family and Seo-yun was asking for more aid while asking permission.

“What can I do for you?” the grandfather asked.

Seo-yun jumped for joy, clapping her hands.

“He wants to run for a party in a local const.i.tuency, rather than the national one (proportional representation),” she said.

“On the a.s.sumption that if he win, he can rank among senior party members?”

Seo-yun nodded at him, beaming with unconcealed joy.

“I will find a local const.i.tuency that fits him. And don’t you dare see me again unless he wins the election,”

The closer the presidential election got, the more intense regionalism got (each region votes almost exclusively for its favorite sons).

In Gw.a.n.gju (Jeollanam-do), people threw eggs at YS (born in Gyeongsangnam-do), meanwhile, in Busan (Gyeongsangnam-do), DJ (born in Jeollanam-do) was booed during his speech. Their status nose-dived to the lowest level, tarnished with scandals: “DJ is instructed by Kim Il-sung (the first leader of North Korea),” and “YS has a secret daughter,”

And…

On 29 November 1987, two North Korean agents planted an improvised explosive device on Korean Air Flight 858 and disembarked the aircraft at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The aircraft took off from Saddam International Airport (later renamed Baghdad International Airport) in Baghdad, Iraq, flying to Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, with stops at Abu Dhabi International Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

On the second leg of the flight, from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok, KAL 858 was carrying 104 pa.s.sengers and 11 crew members. Nine hours after the bomb was planted, it detonated and the aircraft exploded over the Andaman Sea, killing all 115 on board.

The two bombers were arrested in Bahrain. They, Kim Sung-il and Kim Hyon-hee, both attempted suicide by taking ampules of cyanide hidden in cigarettes. Kim Sung-il was dead, but Kim Hyon-hee survived.

Photo: The Chosunilbo

On 15 December, news of Kim Hyon-hee appeared on TV. She was wearing a gag to prevent suicide and being extradited to Seoul.

The attack influenced the presidential election. The ruling party exploited it to hoist its candidate, Roh Tae-woo to the presidency.

On 17 December, the headline of the morning paper was,

[Roh Tae-woo Is Elected President]

After reading the article, I laid the paper on my table, and began to think to myself.

A new era’s begun and jolting years await me.

I should devise a scheme to swallow up Sunyang before my twentieth birthday.

After 10 years, the grandfather will be too ill, to the point of being bedridden and near death.

Before which I and my father should increase our own share enough to vie with Young-ki.

And,

I should prevent the car accident that will occur before my twentieth birthday.

Jin Do-jun’s death.

In other words,