The Former Chaebol Heir Excels as President

Chapter 38: Turning Point for Reversal (1)

It wasn’t a decision I could make, given that I had no political experience. It was certainly an appealing offer, but it required discussion.

“Thank you for the good proposal. I’ll contact you after internal discussions.”

“There’s no time. We need to start public opinion polling as early as tomorrow. Maybe because you’re a novice, but you’re awfully laid back.”

“This isn’t something I can decide alone.”

“Does the candidate not have full authority? Right now, you’ve just kicked away a lifeline from the heavens. At this rate, you’ll narrowly lose by a few percentage points.”

Seok Jun-sang stirred up emotions.

He was trying to intimidate me by suggesting that if I didn’t follow his advice, I’d lose—implying I had no authority.

It reeked of fraud.

As I didn’t respond, he became impatient.

“We don’t just conduct polls; we also offer consulting. I’m fairly well-known in Yeouido. Do you know Member of the National Assembly Park Chil-seung?”

“I don’t.”

“Ask him. He’ll know what kind of person I am.”

Could that be true?

Or was he deceiving me just because I was a novice?

I didn’t know Member of the National Assembly Park Chil-seung.

Of course, it could be true since I couldn’t possibly know every parliament member.

Still, it smelled too strongly.

“I understood what you meant, so just wait for my call. I’m not that foolish.”

“I’m only rushing because we don’t have time.”

What I meant was that I wasn’t foolish enough to be tricked, but he didn’t catch on.

“Don’t come to regret this later—just listen to me. I’ve been in this field for decades. There’s a reason I’m called an expert.”

“I might regret it more if I listen to you.”

“Excuse me?”

Seok Jun-sang looked flustered.

“Please leave. I’ll contact you tomorrow morning.”

“How can someone successful in business lack decisiveness like this?”

“That’s enough. Please go.”

I stood up and opened the door for him.

Seok Jun-sang looked displeased as he left.

Immediately, my staffer and Chief Kim entered.

“What happened? That man didn’t look happy.”

“Take a seat. I’ll explain.”

I detailed everything we had discussed.

My staffer spoke as if he’d been waiting.

“It’s a rig.”

“A rig?”

“In games like Hwatu or poker, arranging the draw order to favor certain cards is called a ‘rig’.”

“So you’re saying this is about manipulating the polls?”

“Of course, the current approval rating of the candidate isn’t accurate. Like he said, they focus on landline surveys, which miss working people. But the real concern is if he manipulates the data using mobile phone numbers he has—this could cause problems later.”

Chief Kim had a different view.

“If we label the candidate as a successful businessman, it definitely gives us an edge. If favorable polls come out before the public opinion poll blackout period, the underdog effect kicks in. As long as the sample is controlled, it shouldn’t be an issue.”

“Brokers will do anything to win. If he engages in illegal acts, it could lead to blackmail after the election. You need to be careful.”

I asked.

“Does this kind of thing happen often?”

“It’s true that each region has its own brokers. We must distinguish between brokers and consultants, and I’ve never seen this Seok Jun-sang before.”

“So he’s not a verified consultant.”

“I’ll check through the party.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Sorry?”

“Let’s move forward as we are.”

Chief Kim widened his eyes.

I conveyed my thoughts.

“If what he says is true, then there’s still a chance for a comeback. Let’s do it on our own. What we think is a vitamin could turn out to be paraquat.”

“That’s how I feel too. A 10% uniform difference among voters over 50 isn’t bad. We just need to take 5% from them.”

The staffer agreed with me.

I turned to Chief Kim and asked,

“Do you agree?”

“Elections are survival games—you must win no matter what. Honestly, it’s a shame. But the final decision is yours. I agree.”

“Thank you. Let’s review tomorrow’s schedule.”

The meeting continued past midnight.

Though my staffer and Chief Kim were worried, I decided to break down the schedule by the minute and push through with a forced march.

I had to win, no matter what.

* * *

The morning greetings at work were with Woo Ah-mi.

The news that my wife was appearing brought reporters, and they came to take photos.

My staffer looked pleased.

“The image looks beautiful. If this photo gets published in an article, it will draw attention. You two really are beautiful and wonderful.”

The staffer was right.

More people than yesterday noticed us on their way to work.

After wrapping up the morning greetings, we toured the traditional market.

Perhaps explaining the revitalization plan for traditional markets had an effect, as the merchants responded positively.

“Candidate, public sentiment on the ground is beginning to shift. The mood is good.”

The staffer was visibly excited.

After a late breakfast at the market, we went around greeting people at daycare centers, sports centers, the hometown association, welfare centers, sports centers again, and cultural classes for housewives.

It was a relentlessly busy time, leaving no room to breathe.

As evening fell and darkness deepened,

we stopped at the food alley in Yeongdeungpo.

The campaign workers had gone home, leaving only Woo Ah-mi, the staffer, and Chief Kim.

After eating a late breakfast at the market and continuing a forced march, I was hungry.

“Chief Kim, staffer, are you two okay?”

“The mood is great. We can eat after we’re done.”

“Thank you.”

I looked at Woo Ah-mi.

She must have been tired too, but her expression was bright.

“Are you okay?”

“This is fun. You’ve been doing something this great all on your own?”

“Ha ha. Thanks.”

“Let’s keep going.”

“Yeah.”

Company dinners for office workers, drinking parties for friends, dates for couples—

On a Friday evening, the food alley in Yeongdeungpo was packed with people.

I entered a nearby dakgalbi restaurant.

There were many young people.

“Hello, everyone. Sorry to interrupt your evening. I’m Kang Cheonmyeong, who grew up drinking Yeongdeungpo soju. Let me just say a few words.”

“Oh my! It’s Kang Cheonmyeong!”

A woman at the opposite table suddenly stood up, holding her mobile phone, and rushed over.

“Representative Kang Cheonmyeong! Can I take a photo with you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh? She’s beautiful.”

“She’s my wife.”

“Hello?”

“Oh my! You’re truly a handsome couple. Can I take a photo with both of you?”

“Of course.”

With the woman standing in the middle, we took a photo.

People murmured with interest. As expected from a younger crowd, many recognized me.

“Representative Kang Cheonmyeong! Please take a photo with us too.”

The political high surged.

The illusion that everyone was photographing me, the confidence that I would win the election—

The more people recognized me, the more intoxicated I became with political euphoria.

“Candidate, I’d like a photo too.”

“Let’s take one together.”

“You look even more handsome in person. Oh my! My eyes are about to faint!”

“Thank you. We have many policies for the youth in this district. I’d be grateful if you’d take a look at our campaign pamphlet.”

When we came out of the dakgalbi restaurant, Chief Kim was clearly exhilarated.

“As expected, the candidate is very popular among the younger demographic.”

Even though I tried not to, even though I tried to stay humble, I kept getting intoxicated by the political high.

It felt like I could make a comeback at any moment.

When we entered a high-end sashimi restaurant, an old man grabbed my wrist.

“Hey, young man! To be in politics, you must start with the heart to serve the people.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

“This time, I’m going to vote for a young guy like you.”

“Thank you.”

“I was one of the driving forces behind our country’s industrialization. I went to Saudi Arabia and brought money back, worked day and night in factories.”

“I believe it is the duty of politics to properly serve the elders who’ve dedicated their lives.”

I tried to accommodate the old man.

“I’ll vote for you. What’s your name again?”

“I’m Kang Cheonmyeong.”

“If all they do is bicker in the National Assembly every day, that’s not politics. The reason I’m voting for you is because I hope for change. Do you know how much I suffered in Saudi? Just standing still there would make your body burn. I had to wake up at six in the morning to the Saemaeul song…”

The old man’s words didn’t stop.

Ten minutes passed, then twenty.

Eventually, the staffer tugged at my arm.

“Sir, we have a schedule to keep. We’ll listen to you more next time.”

“Where are you going? I said I’d vote for you. Are you ignoring the vote of an old man?”

“Apologies, Candidate. Let’s move to the next location.”

“I’ll listen to you again next time. Have a great evening.”

I bowed and was pulled away by the staffer.

Why was that?

“Staffer, what’s going on?”

“That gentleman isn’t going to vote for you.”

“Pardon? He said he would.”

“He’s deliberately stalling so you can’t campaign. He’s interfering with you.”

“Is that so?”

“There are quite a few people like that. It’s something you have to catch yourself.”

Another lesson learned.

“I see.”

“Many people say they’ll definitely vote for you but end up voting for someone else. Don’t be fooled.”

“Ah…”

Then were the young people earlier just saying that too?

I was confused.

“What about the folks we met at the dakgalbi restaurant?”

“No, they were sincere. Though going to the polls is another matter.”

“How can we tell the difference?”

“You need more experience, Candidate. Then you’ll start to see it.”

“I still have a long way to go.”

“Let’s move.”

Next was a barbecue restaurant.

Maybe because it was popular, the inside was packed.

I walked around the tables greeting people and handing out business cards.

“Hello, everyone. Enjoy your time. I’ll work hard for you.”

“Come have a drink with us. That’s the only way you’ll get our vote.”

I went over to a table of men who looked to be in their fifties and bowed.

“Thank you.”

“Here, take this.”

I emptied the glass, handed it back to him, and poured him a drink.

“I’d appreciate your support.”

“Take my glass too. I have a vote, you know.”

“Yes.”

As I drank one glass after another, my face turned red.

“Candidate Kang Cheonmyeong, take ours too.”

“Yes.”

It was the kind of atmosphere where refusing would be frowned upon, so I moved table to table drinking.

In a short time, I had over ten glasses and was feeling tipsy.

At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to campaign.

“We’re hurt that you haven’t come to our table. How are we supposed to vote for you with broken hearts?”

“Exactly. It feels like you’re discriminating against us.”

I didn’t think I could drink anymore. But I couldn’t refuse either.

As I exhaled deeply and stepped forward—

“I’ll drink on his behalf.”

Woo Ah-mi passed me and stopped in front of the men.

“Husband and wife are one, after all. I’ll drink and pour for you.”

“Wow! You’re gorgeous. I feel great today, being served by such a beautiful woman.”

It unsettled me to see her act like a bar hostess, but thankfully Woo Ah-mi handled it so well that she erased all my worries.

“I’m not a woman who pours drinks. This is simply a heartfelt gesture to offer some comfort after your hard day.”

“Ha ha. I really like what you said. Take my glass too.”

“Thank you all for your hard work. Our candidate Kang Cheonmyeong will be a breeze in the sweltering summer heat. I personally vouch for my husband.”

The staffer and Chief Kim both gaped at the same time.

At this rate, I might lose my candidacy to her.