Chapter 927: I’m Living a Satisfied Life
ewsbrokethatKorea,Japan,andChevronwereholdingtalksinJapanregardingthedevelopmentofSeven-wanggu.
hankstothenonstopbuzzsurroundingthediscoveryofoilatSeven-wanggu,theinternalconflictwithintheCentristPartyreceivedrelativelylessattention.
otthatpeoplehadlostinterestcompletely.twasstillascorchingpoliticalissue.
[CentristPartyresolvesconflictbetweenFlooreadereeMyungsooandSecretary-eneralJangSeokhyeonovernominationcommitteecompositionthroughmediationbypartyleader.]
herulingCentristPartyannouncedthattherecentconflictbetweenFlooreadereeMyungsooandSecretary-eneralJangSeokhyeonregardingthecompositionofthenominationcommitteehadbeenresolvedthroughmediationbythepartyleader.
Withthis,thepartycreatedanopportunitytoovercomeitsinternalstrifeandregainstability.
Forthepastseveralweeks,tensionhadhungheavilywithintheCentristParty.hedisagreementbetweenFlooreadereeMyungsooandSecretary-eneralJangSeokhyeonoverthecompositionofthenominationcommitteehaddividedopinionsthroughouttheparty.
FlooreadereeMyungsoomaintainedthatthecommitteeshouldincludemorereform-mindedandfreshfigures,whileSecretary-eneralJangSeokhyeonarguedthatitshouldbecenteredaroundexperiencedindividualswhodeeplyunderstoodtheparty’straditionalvalues.
nthissituation,thepartyleaderpersonallysteppedintomediatethedifferencesbetweenbothsidesandpreparedanominationcommitteestructureacceptabletoeveryoneinvolved.
“hefutureofthepartyandtheinterestsofthepeoplewereourhighestpriorities,andweaimedtocreateanominationcommitteecapableofreflectingdiversevoices,”thepartyleaderexplainedregardingthemediationprocess.
hroughthislatestappointmentprocess,theCentristPartyunveiledanominationcommitteemadeupoffigurespossessingbothexperienceandfreshness.
Withintheparty,manyexpectedthisappointmenttogreatlystrengthentheCentristParty’scompetitivenessintheupcomingelectionandhelpselectcandidatescapableofrespondingtothediversedemandsofthepublic.
avingovercomeinternalconflictthroughthepartyleader’sactivemediation,theCentristPartywasnowpreparingtostandbeforethepubliconceagaininaunitedandstableform.
PoliticalcirclesandthepublicalikewerenowcloselywatchingwhatkindofchangestheCentristPartywouldshowthroughthisnominationcommitteeappointmentandwhatresultsitwouldachieveinthecomingelection.
readtherelatedarticleprintedonpagetwoofKoryeoDaily.
thadn’tbeenresolvedperfectly,butitlookedliketheyhadreachedsomekindofcompromise.
“Still,that’sarelief.”
hepartyleaderhadn’tactuallysteppedintosolvethingspersonally,butthefactthatitwasbeingreportedthatwaywouldbenefitMyungsooaswell.
Ascontinuedreadingthenewspaper,mygazesuddenlystoppedatthelistofnominationcommitteemembers.
[CentristPartyannouncesnominationcommitteeappointments.]
Aheadoftheupcomingelection,therulingCentristPartyannouncedtheformationofanewnominationcommittee.
ProfessorKimyunsik,aformerKoreaationalUniversitylawprofessorwhohadoncementoredFlooreadereeMyungsooduringhisuniversityyears,wasappointedchairmanofthenominationcommittee.hecommittee,composedofnineadditionalmembers,wasexpectedtodeterminethefuturedirectionoftheparty.
ChairmanKimyunsikwasknownasafigurepossessingprofoundacademicknowledgeinthefieldoflawaswellasextensivepracticalexperience.
eandFlooreadereeMyungsoofirstmetasprofessorandstudentatKoreaationalUniversityawSchoolandhadmaintainedamentor-and-menteerelationshipformanyyears.
ChairmanKimyunsikstated,“willleadtheCentristParty’snominationprocessfairlyandtransparentlytoincreasetheparty’scredibilityandbringitclosertothepeople.”
heremainingcommitteemembersconsistedofexpertsfromvariousfieldsandfiguresrepresentingdifferentsectorsofsociety.Specifically...
hewordsafterthatnolongerenteredmyeyes.
couldn’ttakemygazeoffKimyunsik’sphotograph.
‘ProfessorKimyunsikbecamethenominationcommitteechairman?’
ProfessorKimyunsikwasarespectedprofessor.respectedhimaswell.
ecertainlywastherightpersontooverseenominationsaccordingtoprinciplesandrules.
Buthewasn’tthekindofpuppetwhowouldcarryouteverythingeeMyungsoowanted.
pressedthebuttonbesidemeandcalledforManagerMa.
“Youcalledforme?”
“Manager.ContactProfessorKimyunsik.o,ChairmanKimyunsikofthenominationcommittee.ellhim’dliketopayhimavisitsometime.etmeknowoncethescheduleisarranged.”
“Understood.”
AftergivingManagerMatheinstruction,beganreadingthenewspaperagain.
Butnotasinglewordenteredmyhead.
ntheend,foldedthenewspapershutandstoodupbeforewalkingtowardthewindow.
Afewdayslater.
visitedProfessorKimyunsik’shome.
elivedinanold,worn-downapartmentthatwashardtobelievebelongedtosomeonewhohadspentdecadesasaprofessor.
hemomentgotoutofthecar,headedstraightinsidetheapartmentbuilding.
Kimyunsiklivedonthefifthfloorofanoldbuildingwithoutanelevator.
Whenrangthebell,thedooropened.Anelderlywomanwithwhitehairanswered.
“ello,ma’am.”
“Who...?Ah,KimMuhyuk!”
tseemedsherememberedmyfaceaswellbecausesheimmediatelycalledoutmyname.
“t’sbeenalongtime.aveyoubeenwell?”
slightlybowedmyheadpolitely.
“fcourse.sitalrightifcallyouKimMuhyuk?”
“fcourse.Pleasefeelcomfortable.”
Shenodded,thenhergazeshiftedtowardManagerMastandingbehindme.
isimposingappearanceseemedtoputheronguard.
“Manager.Pleasewaitoutside.”
“Yes.Understood.”
eavingManagerMaoutside,steppedintotheapartment.
ProfessorKimyunsikhadbeenlookingoversomedocuments.
“oney.Wehaveaguest.”
Kimyunsikloweredthepapershehadbeenreading,removedhisglasses,andlookedatme.
“KimMuhyuk!t’sbeenalongtime.”
“Yes,Professor.t’sbeentoolong.”
“Professor?quitlastyear.”
“Really?apologize.failedtokeepup.”
“hat’sfine.Comeinsidefirst.”
Withasimplesmile,Kimyunsikledmeintohisstudy.
hestudywassmallerthanexpected.owever,thebookshelveswerepackedwithallkindsofbooks.
tfeltlikesteppingintoawell-maintainedusedbookstorethathadbeencarefullytendedformanyyears.
Wesatfacingeachotherataroundtable.Becausethestudyitselfwassosmall,itfelttightlypacked.
iswifeplacedsomesimplefruitanddrinksonthetablebeforeleavingandquietlyshuttingthedoorbehindher.
lookedatthedarkbarleyteaplacedbeforeKimyunsikandsmiled.
“Youhaven’tchanged.”
“Atmyage,theysayifapersonsuddenlychanges,itmeansdeathisnear.”
Kimyunsiksaidthataftertakingasipofbarleytea.
“’vebeenhearingnewsaboutyoufromallovertheplace,Muhyuk.”
“sthatso?”
“venthoughknowyou’redoingwell,stillregretsomethingfromtimetotime.Yougivingupthebarexambackthen.”
“Atthetime,onlyneededthetitleofsomeonewhopassedthefirststageofthebarexam.twasmerelyonesteptowardthepathactuallywanted.”
Suddenly,memoriesofmyuniversitydayssurfaced.
WhenKimyunsiklearnedthatwasn’tplanningtotakethefullbarexam,herepeatedlycalledmeinundertheexcuseoffacultycounselingandtriedtopersuademe.
Andeverysingletime,heplacedacupofstrongbarleyteainfrontofme.
“heviciousnessinyoureyeshasfadedabitnow.”
“Doesitlookthatway?”
“fcourse.Backthen,youreyeswereterrifying.didn’tknowthereasonatthetime,butasyearspassed,eventuallycametounderstanditsomewhat.So,areyousatisfiednow?”
“Yes.’mlivingalife’msatisfiedwith.”
“hat’sgood,then.”
Kimyunsikletoutaquietchuckle.alsotookasipofthebarleyteabeforeasking:
“neverexpectedyoutoaccepttheoffertobecomenominationcommitteechairman.”
“didn’texpectiteither.”
“Mayaskwhyyouaccepted?”
“Why?Whatimportancedoesthathave?Representativeeecametomeandaskedmetotaketheposition.simplyaccepted.”
“You’renotsomeonewhowouldmanipulatenominationsthewayMyungsoowants.”
Kimyunsikburstintoloudlaughter.
“hat’sright.Representativeeecametomeand{•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t}saidthis:‘wantnothing.Pleasehandlethenominationsfairlyandimpartiallywithintheestablishedrules.’”
hadheardMyungsoosaysomethingsimilarbefore.
MostoftheremainingcommitteememberswerepeoplechosenbyMyungsoo.
omatterhowmuchauthoritythechairmanpossessed,iftherestofthecommitteetrulyintendedtoshakethingsup,theyabsolutelycould.
“...omatterwhatresultscomeout,therewillbepeoplewhoattackyou.Youdon’tintendtoenterpoliticsyourself,doyou?”
“Whydoyouthinkthat?”
“Becausetheprofessorknowwouldneverbecomeapolitician.”
Kimyunsiklaughedheartilyagainandnodded.
“ahaha.hat’sright.havenointentionofenteringpolitics.simplyintendtodoasRepresentativeeewishes.”
“venifthatpositionbecomesnothingmorethanacrownofthorns?”
“hat’sright.”
tseemedtherelationshipbetweenMyungsooandKimyunsikrandeeperthanhadexpected.
Ashesitatedtospeak,Kimyunsikspokefirst.
“Representativeeesaidsomethinginteresting.”
nodded.
“esaidthatthisnominationprocesshastobetransparentandfairiftheywanttowinnextyear’spresidentialelectioninalandslide.”
slowlynodded.
“intendtothoroughlyexamineeventhepeopleRepresentativeeerecommends.Andifsomeonegoesagainstthenominationrulesormyownjudgment,’llcutthemdownwithouthesitation.”
“Doyouthinkthat’strulygoodforMyungsoo?”
“tis.don’tknowexactlywhatkindofpoliticsRepresentativeeewants.Butthereissomethingcanhelphimwith.fcompletethesenominationsaccordingtomyconvictions,wouldn’tthathelphimgreatly?”
SoheaccepteditforMyungsoo’ssake.
istonewascalm,butitbelongedtosomeonewhoclearlyunderstoodwhathehadtodo.
“see.fyoucarryoutthenominationsaccordingtoyourprinciples,mostoftheparasiteswillgetweededout.”
“believethat’sexactlywhatRepresentativeeewants.”
versincebecomingaationalAssemblymember,countlesspeoplehadgatheredaroundMyungsoo.
aturally,thereweremanywhoremainedbyhissidesolelyforpoliticalprofit.
o,perhapstherewereevenmorepoliticalschemersthangenuineallies.
Becausenomatterhowthoroughlyhefilteredpeopleout,someoneinMyungsoo’spositioncouldnevercompletelyeliminatethemall.
‘Sothat’swhyheplanstouseProfessorKimyunsikasablade.’
couldtellMyungsoohadmadeamajordecision.
ehadchosenProfessorKimyunsikasabladecapableofcuttingdownevenhisowncloseassociates.
Afterall,opposingKimyunsik—thementorofbothMyungsooandJangSeokhyeon—wouldnotbeeasy.
“understandnow.hankyou.”
slightlyloweredmyhead.
Kimyunsikhadnoobligationtoclearupmydoubts.
Yetheansweredmyquestionssincerely.
“o,no.twasniceseeingyouagainaftersolong.Yourotherfriendscometovisitmeoccasionally.”
herewasaslighthintofreproachinhisvoice,makingmesmileawkwardly.
“apologize.Allcandoismakeexcusesaboutbeingbusy.”
Afterthat,spentquitealongtimetalkingwithKimyunsik.
Andneartheendofourconversation,hegavemeapieceofadvice.
“Muhyuk.”
“Yes,Professor.”
“fyoutrulycareaboutRepresentativeee,thenstophelpinghimwithhiswork.”
Withoutrealizingit,furrowedmybrow.ButKimyunsikshowednosignofdiscomfortandcontinuedspeakinggently.
“don’tknowpoliticswell.Butafteracceptingthisnominationcommitteeposition,thenameheardmostoftenwasn’tanyoneelse’s.twasyours.”
“......”
“hat’snotagoodthing.Representativeeeneedstostandonhisownstrengthforeveryonetotrulyacknowledgehim.”
“know.hatit’sabouttimeformetostepback.”
Kimyunsiknodded.
“Yes.Yourshadowistoodark.t’stimeforhimtostepoutfrombeneathit.Andwithnextyear’spresidentialelectionapproaching,isn’tthistheperfecttiming?”
“Yes.”
“Don’ttakeoffense.’msayingthisbecausecareaboutbothyouandRepresentativeee.”
“’mnotoffended.”
Checkingtheclock,spoke.twastimetoendtheconversation.
“shouldgetgoing.haveanotherappointment.’llcomevisityoufromtimetotimefromnowon.”
“here’snoneedforthat.Aren’tyoubusierthananyone?”
“Yourwordshelpedmegreatlytoday,Professor.’llvisitoccasionallyandseekyourguidance.”
hadoriginallyvisitedhimbecauseofthenominationcommitteechairmanposition,buttherestofhisadvicehadalsobeenimmenselyhelpful.
Atmywords,Kimyunsiksmiledwithsatisfaction.
“’mgladitwashelpful.”
stoodfrommyseatandbowedmyhead.
“fanythingdifficultevercomesup,pleasecontactmeanytime.’lldomybesttohelp.”
“aha.Atmyage,whatkindofhelpwouldevenneed?”
Kimyunsiklightlywavedhishand,thinkingitwasjustapoliteformality.
Butknewhowhislateryearswouldend.
“venso.fanythinghappens,pleasecontactme.”
“Alright.understand.”
leftthestudy,greetedhiswife,andsteppedoutside.
Aftercomingdowntothefirstfloor,lookedupatKimyunsik’sapartmentforamoment.
twasoldandmodest,butitwasagoodhomefilledwiththewarmthofordinarypeople.
“Manager.”
“Yes.”
“ProfessorKimyunsik’sgrandsonshouldbeattendingyeonggiighSchoolrightnow.isnameisKimJunhyeok.eshouldbeeighteenyearsold.o,maybeseventeen.”
“Yes.”
“Anyway,lookintothatkid’sactivities.”
Kimyunsikwasdestinedtofallintoruinbecauseofhisgrandson.
fcourse,itwouldn’thappenimmediately.
nlyyearslaterwoulditbecomeknowntotheworld,andbecauseofthat,Kimyunsik’sreputationwouldcollapse.