The Former Chaebol Heir Excels as President

Chapter 26: A Proposal from the Political World (2)

A youthful, firm skin and a likable face that was hard to believe belonged to someone in their 50s.

He was a politician known for securing at least 10% of the vote based on appearance alone.

We all stood up and greeted him.

"Good to see you."

"Nice to meet the graduates of the 25th class."

We took turns shaking hands with him.

As expected, a politician’s hand felt different. His grip was strong, but it also carried a heavy energy.

"Representative Kang Cheonmyeong, I watched your broadcast well."

"Thank you for your interest."

"Could we have a word in private?"

"Excuse me?"

"It won't take long."

"Sure."

"Then this way, please."

I followed him out to an outdoor park.

With winter approaching, the cold wind rustled the bare branches.

"Do you smoke?"

"No, I don’t."

"You take good care of yourself."

He was ten years my senior.

I felt uncomfortable with him using honorifics toward me.

"Mr. Mayor, it would be better if you spoke casually. I'm your junior by ten years."

"Let’s do that the next time we meet. Today is our first meeting, after all."

He was just as gentlemanly as he appeared in the media.

"Let’s sit and talk."

He and I sat on a bench under a tree.

"After watching your broadcast, I got curious and looked you up. Your company is ranked number one among places job seekers most want to join."

"There’s still a lot we’re lacking."

"If you’re too modest, it can come off as arrogance."

"I’ll be careful."

"I'm truly proud to have a junior like you."

While he praised me, he was laying the groundwork.

I needed to figure out what he was after.

"If there’s something you want from me, please say so directly. I’m pretty quick on the uptake."

"Ha ha. You saw right through me. I’ll get straight to the point. The city is currently working on a public service project."

"What kind?"

"Under the name 'Total Care', we're preparing initiatives for facilities for the disabled, child care, senior welfare, cultural and arts support, support for the homeless, and environmental solutions."

Ik Je-hoon had dreams of becoming President.

Early in his term, he focused on showy administrative projects, but facing harsh public criticism, he seemed to have changed direction.

"You’re looking for corporate sponsors."

"It’ll also promote Representative Kang’s company. I hope you’ll support us in the spirit of exercising positive influence."

"I'm very interested in environmental issues. Once the project’s direction is set, I’ll actively support it."

"Thank you. These days, the mayor has to be a salesman. Ha ha."

Ik Je-hoon spoke of the difficulties of city administration. I had no idea why he was telling me this.

One thing was clear: by sharing personal thoughts, he was trying to foster intimacy with me.

It wasn’t long before he revealed his hidden agenda.

"Representative Kang, are you not interested in politics?"

"It’s a field I don’t know much about."

"Frankly, politics isn’t much different from business. It’s about looking to the future and serving people."

"I have no experience whatsoever."

"You can start slowly from now. You’ve already got the premium of being a successful businessman."

"It still feels like a burden."

"Take your time to think it over. If you wish, I can be of great help."

"Thank you."

Ik Je-hoon brought up school days, business stories, and economic issues, but his true goals were twofold.

Sponsorship and a political offer.

We talked for quite a long time. That’s how much effort he was putting into me.

"Let’s go back in now. The seniors and juniors might start complaining. I’ve taken too much of a precious man’s time."

"Not at all. Thank you for the insightful conversation."

"Then that’s a relief."

As we entered the banquet hall, a few people approached us after seeing me and Ik Je-hoon.

"We’ve been looking for you two for a while. This is cheating."

"Exactly. The Mayor is way too greedy."

"Ha ha ha."

After a round of laughter, a familiar face approached me.

"Junior, good to see you. It’s Song Minsik."

It was the movie actor, Song Minsik.

A famous actor who was among the top earners in South Korean cinema.

"Hello, I’m Kang Cheonmyeong."

"I saw you on TV. You look even better in person. Ha ha."

He was affable.

"Let’s meet again."

"Sure."

He waved his hand and left.

The power of television was strong.

People who hadn’t had a chance to greet me came over to exchange business cards.

It was probably either for sponsorship, collaboration, or simply to get acquainted with a man of wealth.

As I spoke with them, I tried to memorize their faces and names.

Before I knew it, quite a bit of time had passed, and only when the event was about to end did I return to the table for the 25th graduates.

Yang Seok-gu was awkwardly sitting there alone.

"Seok-gu."

When he saw me, Yang Seok-gu looked like a lost child, clearly flustered.

"Cheonmyeong…"

"Don’t cry."

"I’m not crying… Can we leave now?"

"Let’s go."

What had happened to Yang Seok-gu?

It wasn’t until we stepped out of the hotel that he began pouring out what had occurred.

"After you went out with the Mayor, I turned into a barley sack that no one cared about."

Yang Seok-gu, face flushed, continued speaking.

"Mansuk and Se-ung got into a debate. I couldn’t butt in because I didn’t understand what they were talking about. They were going at it over the monopoly of prosecution rights."

A fight between a prosecutor and a lawyer.

The prosecution held exclusive rights to initiate and conclude investigations and to indict.

They could turn a blind eye to crimes or issue a cheap ticket for the lightest charge.

Still, I found it hard to imagine Hyeon Se-ung getting into a fight.

He was known to be quiet, mild-mannered, and had a gentle face.

"Se-ung got into a fight?"

"I was just as shocked. He was passionately arguing, like he had some history with prosecutors. The seniors intervened, so it didn’t escalate into a big fight, but he left midway."

Hyeon Se-ung.

I suddenly felt curious about him.

Did he have a bad history with someone from school?

Judging by Oh Man-seok’s personality, it wouldn’t be surprising.

"By the way, that must’ve been uncomfortable for you."

"It wasn’t so bad. There were two executives from top-tier construction companies. We exchanged business cards."

"Good job. That’s how you expand your network."

"But I was surprised by how many famous alumni we had from our school."

"Be careful. There are always those who kick away the ladder after climbing up."

Yang Seok-gu tilted his head but then realized what I meant.

"Oh, you mean to beware of backstabbers."

"You’ve probably encountered all kinds of people doing business. When the smell of money spreads, predators gather. Be careful."

"You’ve given me a lot of good advice. But in my line of work, I can’t avoid using bribes."

"Steer toward bridge patents. That field’s clean. And develop overseas markets too."

"I do listen to you well, don’t I? Thanks."

"Be careful. The more weaknesses you have, the easier it is for others to strangle you."

"Yeah."

Having experienced the construction industry in a previous life, I couldn’t help but worry.

Construction is a sector where the more you spend, the more lucrative deals you win. But if you get extorted from all sides, you end up maximizing profits through falsified documents, illegal subcontracting, cutting subcontractor costs, or collusive bidding.

Out of concern, I emphasized it again.

"Don’t forget—once the company grows, it becomes a target."

"I told you, I take your advice seriously."

Yang Seok-gu seemed confident, but my worries didn’t fade.

A 40-pyeong apartment in Yeouido.

That was my home.

I set up my newlywed home close to Daebang-dong, where Mom lived.

We were in our fifth year of marriage.

This spring, our son was born, and we named him Kang On-chan.

It was my wish for him to live a fulfilling life.

When I opened the front door and stepped inside, my wife greeted me as if she had been waiting.

"You’re home early."

"Where’s On-chan?"

"Asleep."

"You’re working so hard. Even put your career on hold."

"The baby is what matters now."

Starting from our second year of marriage, we spent three years visiting multiple hospitals to treat infertility.

Had we continued to fail at conceiving, we would’ve looked into artificial insemination or test-tube babies.

So, of course, our first priority was the child.

I exchanged a smiling glance with her and stepped into the bathroom.

"You had dinner, right?"

"Yeah."

"How was it? A lot of famous people must’ve shown up. I heard Single High School has strong influence."

"It was okay. The Mayor of Seoul was there."

"Oh my! So Ik Je-hoon graduated from Single High School."

"He’s ten years my senior."

After washing my hands and face, I opened the bathroom door and stepped out.

"Were there many politicians?"

"I saw a few."

"Did they reach out to you?"

"For now, they're just testing the waters. The general election’s in two years, so they’re probably gauging interest."

"Don’t rush. Time is on your side."

I chuckled softly and went into the bedroom, changed into pajamas, and came back out.

She prepared coffee.

"Sit down. Tell me who was there."

I sat at the dining table and took a sip of coffee.

"This is good. Are you really okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"I thought raising a child must be stressful. You’re such an active person, and now you’re cooped up at home. I worry about you."

Woo Ah-mi had worked at a Commercial Bank, gone to university, and after graduation studied in France. She had worked with environmental organizations.

She traveled across the country responding to environmental issues and even participated in solo protests, always active.

It was understandable that staying at home would feel stifling.

"Watching On-chan grow fills me with pride and happiness. Don’t worry."

"Thank you."

"You didn’t tell me who came."

"Song Minsik was a senior."

"The movie actor Song Minsik?"

"Yeah."

"Wow! I really love him. I’d love to meet him someday."

Woo Ah-mi's eyes sparkled with genuine excitement.

"Alright."

"Did you get his contact?"

"No. I guess I’ll get it eventually."

"That was a huge mistake today."

Woo Ah-mi looked disappointed but then turned to me as if she just remembered something.

"Oh, the Director said thank you."

"It’s where you work. I should help."

Woo Ah-mi was active in a nonprofit environmental organization called the Earth Research Institute.

It ran on donations, so I regularly sponsored them and occasionally donated larger sums.

This time, I had made a significant donation, and it seemed the Director had mentioned it.

It was an act of support for my wife, but I also genuinely cared about the environment.

Woo Ah-mi looked wistful and said,

"When will we have an environmental political party? In Europe, they have political forces."

"I'm sure it’ll happen in our country one day too."

In a past life, an environmental expert had received proportional representation, but it hadn’t led to a full political party.

Her hope was for environmental groups in Korea to gain political influence, like the Green Party in Australia or Europe.

"Can’t you make one?"

"What ability do I have for that?"

"When you become President someday, create policies that heal the Earth."

"Ha ha. Do you really think I could become President?"

"Absolutely."

Woo Ah-mi smiled brightly and gave me a thumbs-up.

Just then, my mobile phone rang.

It was Ji Jeongseok.

"Hey, Jeongseok."

— You went to the Total Alumni Reunion, right?

"Yeah."

— I’m in Yeouido. Can we meet out front?

"Now?"

— I can be there in ten minutes. Let’s meet in front of the convenience store.

"Okay."

After the call, Woo Ah-mi blinked and asked,

"Was that Mr. Jeongseok?"

"He says he’s in Yeouido. Wants to meet for a bit."

"He’s still digging around everywhere, isn’t he?"

"He says it’s his calling. I’ll be back soon."

"Seriously, he’s not your average guy. Come home early."

"Yeah."

I put on a jumper and left the house.

Ji Jeongseok.

He hadn’t come just to say hello.

What was he going to bring up?