Dirty Switch

“Young master?”
“Y-Yes?”
Startled, Joo Taehyun sprang up from his seat like a spring, clutching his pounding chest.

“Young master, are you in here?”
From beyond the open study door, the nanny poked her head in.
“Yes. W-What is it?”

“Oh dear, were you napping? I must’ve startled you.”
“N-No, it’s okay. I was just looking at something…”
“Oh my, you were researching schools, weren’t you? We got a fresh batch of really nice fruit today. Should I bring you some?”

“No, it’s alright. I ate too much yesterday. I’m skipping snacks today.”
“Very well. If you get hungry, just let me know.”
The nanny nodded with a pleased smile.

No doubt she’d go and report to his parents that their youngest was in the study once again, reading books, flipping through school brochures, thinking seriously about his future... It made him feel a little guilty, but it wasn’t like he was doing anything bad. So Joo Taehyun decided to keep going with his search for Seo Baekhan.
There had always been so many things to do and see around the house that he rarely used his phone for anything. But for the first time, the device was actually fulfilling its intended role.
“Ah… this was it. The one I saw yesterday.”

He started by clicking on the very first article ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) that came up when searching Seo Baekhan’s name. Since it had been posted across multiple platforms with the same title, he figured it must have gotten a lot of reads—which only made him more curious.
[Patriots’ Month Special Feature] What Makes a True Noble Family: An Interview with Special Assemblyman Seo Hongkyu
Before explaining Assemblyman Seo Hongkyu and his family, we must first clarify the uniquely Daehan Empire institution of the “Special Assemblyman.”

Globally, as the generations pass, the call to abolish royal families—seen as remnants of a pre-modern world—grows stronger. Think of the current public sentiment toward constitutional monarchies like the British Commonwealth, and it becomes easier to understand.
But the Daehan Empire is a different case. During the era of Japanese occupation, the imperial family led the independence movement more fiercely than anyone, earning the unwavering support of the people. The same goes for the intellectuals of the time who were aligned with the pro-royalist faction.
There was overwhelming public support for giving these people some form of recompense. After liberation, when determining how to honor those who had contributed to independence and eliminate collaborators, the National Assembly unanimously passed the “Independence Special Appointment System.”
Descendants of independence activists can, if they wish, apply to any public office under this special category. They still have to take the same exams as general applicants, but unlike open recruitment, their slots are separately allocated, making the process significantly more favorable.
(Note: This benefit only applies to direct descendants, and only one person per generational tier may claim it.)

This also applies to positions in the National Assembly, where an additional seat is created under the title “Special Assemblyman.” Of course, this isn’t something one can simply claim. The position must still go through a public referendum in the designated district during the election cycle.
In the past, when a candidate for Special Assemblyman appeared, other contenders would quietly withdraw as an unspoken custom. Recently, however, there’s been growing criticism—people questioning whether even National Assembly seats should be handed out so easily, leading to more frequent defeats depending on the candidate’s qualifications.
But in Pyongyang, this kind of talk holds no sway at all.

“Hmm…”
Joo Taehyun was familiar with this. It was in his social studies textbook and came up in the news all the time. But what did this have to do with Seo Baekhan? Why was this the top result when searching his name?
The Seo family had been a prominent household in Pyongyang since the Joseon dynasty, producing countless prime ministers and state officials.

There’s an old saying that you couldn’t walk through Pyongyang without stepping on Seo family land.
Another: there wasn’t a soul in Pyongyang who hadn’t received a sack of rice from the Seos.
And whenever a child was born or a funeral held, the Seo family elder would always be the first to help.

This wasn’t just about power—the family had long been loved and respected by the people, and it was easy to see why.
That fierce, almost blind loyalty from Pyongyang’s citizens continued well into the modern day, thanks in large part to Seo Baekhan’s great-grandfather, Seo Jejun of Cheongun.
As widely known, Mr. Seo Jejun was a central figure in the independence movement alongside the imperial family. He spent his entire fortune funding the cause and established schools across the country to preserve Korean language and culture.

He also fought tirelessly to protect cultural assets in the northern regions, including Pyongyang. Tragically, during an attempt to hide the royal portrait of Taejo (National Treasure No. 1, currently housed at the Independence Memorial Museum) from Japanese forces, he was betrayed by a collaborator and captured—subjected to horrific torture.
He passed away just before liberation due to the aftereffects.
“Even if my flesh is ripped apart once again, I shall cry, ‘Long live Daehan independence.’ The empire may destroy my body—but it cannot touch my soul.”

Mr. Seo Jejun’s final, resolute words continue to resonate deeply with our generation.
Joo Taehyun already knew all of this.
There were a few families that could never be left out of any discussion of the independence movement.

The royal family. The Seo family. And his own, the Joo family.
There were many others deserving of gratitude, of course—but those were the ones that came to mind first.
In any case, he felt immense gratitude for their sacrifice and legacy… but still—what about Seo Baekhan? When would the article finally mention him?

He tilted his head and kept scrolling.
But the further he scrolled, the more it just kept going…
Dr. Seo Gwangho, grandfather of Assemblyman Seo Hongkyu. And then his father, Assemblyman Seo Sunwoo.

From their reputation as incorruptible officials in the Joseon era, to their devotion to independence during Japanese rule, to their efforts for public health and welfare after liberation—there was no question: the Seo family was a true noble house.
A source of pride for the Daehan Empire. The pride of Pyongyang.
That, the article suggested, was the kind of legacy deserving of the “Special Assemblyman” badge.

“There’s still nothing about—huh?”
Joo Taehyun, skimming diagonally and scrolling rapidly, finally spotted the name he’d been waiting for and froze.
Tok.
His fingernail scraped the screen as the page refreshed.

Q. The eldest son, Seo Baekhan, is also extremely popular.
A. He’s received far more attention than he deserves, just from a few pictures that made it online. I’m simply grateful people are speaking well of a son who still has much to learn.
Q. Recently, Seo Baekhan was seen in a video saying he had no intention of inheriting the Special Assemblyman seat. The clip spread rapidly. Have you seen it?

A. Of course. My aides showed it to me—apparently it was trending at number one. (laughs) Baekhan told me it was just a silly video filmed with classmates at graduation. He has no idea how it got out. But in any case, as his parent, I respect his decision. It feels like bragging, but Baekhan has many dreams, and many talents. I hope he won’t be bound by family legacy and will live pursuing what he truly wants.
Assemblyman Seo Hongkyu’s interview was uncontroversial and graceful. Despite the immense pressure of following in the footsteps of giants, he was steadily forging his own path. While he wasn’t completely free from criticism, the policies and bills he promoted were generally seen as favoring the vulnerable.
As for his comments about Seo Baekhan… they were nothing out of the ordinary. Just the kind of things any father might say. Which meant Joo Taehyun still hadn’t learned any of the small, personal details he wanted to know about Baekhan.

Surely others were curious about the same things he was—so why had this article been shared so widely? Why did it always come up first when searching Baekhan’s name?
Yes, the article was full of patriotic pride, the kind that stirred something in the heart of any Daehan citizen… but as he scrolled to the very bottom, Joo Taehyun instinctively brought his phone right up to his nose.
“…Huh?”

At the end of the article were two family photos of Assemblyman Seo Hongkyu.
They weren’t professional studio shots, but seemed to be taken during family trips—intimate, personal glimpses into the Seo household.