Chapter 87: A Diplomatic Crossroad

I, Choi Chang-geun, will accept the people's demands and unite with the conservative party's Seong Dae-kyu candidate. Without any conditions, I will serve faithfully, charging ahead as the vanguard for the victory of conservatism.]

[I will not forget Choi Chang-geun's concession. I also remember the spirit of sacrifice shown by the party members who made this unprecedented concession. I will restore the economy of our Republic of Korea, which is facing an unparalleled economic crisis. The moment I am elected, I will visit Japan to borrow a large sum of Dollars!]

I was watching the joint speech of the presidential candidates being broadcast live from my grandfather's study.

The unexpected announcement of the unification shocked me.

The startled face of the progressive party's Kim Hak-gwon candidate appeared on the TV.

It contrasted sharply with the expression of the conservative party's Seong Dae-kyu.

"Things are getting interesting. I bet the Cheongpung Group is behind this,"

my grandfather's words turned out to be true.

"I never expected them to play the unification card."

"There must have been some deal. The fact they're borrowing Dollars indicates they probably secured support from Japan. Right now, survival is more important than anti-Japan sentiments."

"Yes, it's a big deal."

"Surely Kim Hak-gwon won't lose, right?"

"It's hard to predict now. Even if the current administration's approval ratings are at an all-time low, Seong Dae-kyu has been distancing himself from the current regime from the start."

Seong Dae-kyu had been positioning himself against the president even before he became a candidate.

Thanks to this, he consistently maintained a high approval rating despite the current president's plummeting support due to the IMF crisis.

Historically, despite the division of conservative votes, the progressive Kim Hak-gwon barely won by a margin of 500,000 votes.

If the votes combine, the victory of progressives is not guaranteed.

This was my worst-case scenario.

In this country, the president still holds significant power.

I don't know what sort of backdoor dealings the Cheongpung Group has with Seong Dae-kyu, but it doesn't bode well for me.

"If Seong Dae-kyu gets elected, the Cheongpung Group's influence will grow. We might need to consider supporting the Kim Hak-gwon candidate."

"Is there anything we can do? Just pouring money won't guarantee a win. We can't splurge like we used to."

I had already funneled quite a bit of political funding into Kim Hak-gwon's campaign. He shouldn't be short on cash.

Not just me, but Chairman Song from Daehyeon also diversified his investments: 6 for Kim Hak-gwon, 3 for Seong Dae-kyu, and 1 for Choi Chang-geun. Other large corporations probably bet the opposite way.

If this election ends in Seong Dae-kyu's victory, it would certainly be a significant blow for me and Daehyeon.

As expected,

the phone rang immediately from Chairman Song.

"Yes, this is Kim Mu-hyeok."

"You brat!!!"

Chairman Song's booming voice echoed through my grandfather's study over the phone.

"Haha!"

My grandfather chuckled as if he found it amusing.

"I'll step outside to take this call."

"No, stay here. I want to see the show unfold."

With my grandfather's playful consent, I continued the call.

"Why so silent? Speak up! What's going on?"

"Chairman, even if you whisper, I can hear you."

"Looks like everything's peaceful. How are we going to handle this? A change of government?"

"It's still uncertain."

"What do you mean uncertain? If you combine their approval ratings, it's over 60%!"

"I know. Just wait a bit longer. I've already placed my bets, and it's too late to backtrack now."

I could hear a sigh through the receiver, but I remained calm.

"At this point, rushing to Seong Dae-kyu won't yield anything. Increase support for Kim Hak-gwon. It's better to aim for first place in his camp. Most corporations are backing Seong Dae-kyu, but if Kim Hak-gwon wins, it'll bring you significant rewards."

"Haha…"

Chairman Song's laugh sounded a bit hollow.

"The trigger has already been pulled. Now we must decide what to do to ensure Kim Hak-gwon's victory. It's too late for regrets."

"In the end, the choice was mine. Do you have any plans?"

"I'll have to look into it."

"Alright. It's all or nothing now."

Chairman Song hung up, leaving a lingering silence.

As I tucked my phone back into my pocket, my grandfather signaled me to speak.

I shrugged.

"You seem worried."

"It's different for us. We at least have the weapon of Dollars, so that's some relief…"

"I merely presented the options; ultimately, the final decision lies with Chairman Song. Besides, he's not the type to be swayed by my words. He probably weighed everything before deciding. He must have been anxious, which is why he called to vent."

"Haha! I wish I could have seen the look on Song's face when he was flustered."

"We need to take some action too. We can't let the Cheongpung Group gain presidential power."

My grandfather nodded.

The 15th presidential election was like the darkness outside the window—no one could predict what lay ahead.

The attack on Korea stemmed from the intersection of the interests of the Wall Street hyenas, who suffered huge losses in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and the U.S. authorities.

Credit rating agencies, including Moody's, displayed their misconduct by abruptly downgrading Korea's national credit rating to that of Africa.

The announcements from the credit agencies spurred foreign capital to flee Korea.

American media repeatedly broadcasted that Korea's usable foreign reserves were at a mere 2 billion Dollars.

Stock prices plummeted, and the exchange rate dropped significantly every time volatility increased.

Of course, the government wasn't idle.

They sent special envoys to Japan and the U.S. to propose a currency swap, but both sides rejected the offer, citing their own interests.

Eventually, in December, IMF President Kandehshi arrived in Korea.

Korea was left with no choice but to engage in humiliating negotiations.

"This is Kim Mu-hyeok."

"Hello, this is IMF President Kandehshi. Is this Charlie Kim?"

It was a call from the IMF President, whose face was constantly appearing on TV.

"Yes, that's me… but how did you get my phone number?"

"I was hoping to meet with you. Would you come to my hotel? Quietly, of course."

"Is that an order?"

"Surely, I wouldn't dare order the owner of Dream High Investment, would I? I simply wanted to meet discreetly and convey a message from the U.S. administration as well."

"I'll get back to you."

"I'll be waiting."

I hung up.

Kandehshi's authoritative tone on TV sounded completely different from what I heard over the phone.

He spoke confidently, as if he could say anything in front of the President of Korea.

I called Han Gyeong-yeong.

"Hyung, Kandehshi wants to meet me. Do you know anything?"

"Huh… He probably received orders from the U.S. administration. He'll likely ask you not to help Korea."

"Hmm…"

"Your name might appear in next year's Forbes. I negotiated with the U.S. Treasury, but I can't prevent your name from being published. Charlie Kim, they might not reveal all your details, but…"

Forbes was a magazine that published sensational articles like 'World Rich List' every year; in my opinion, it was little more than gossip.

That ranking was merely a half-hearted attempt, omitting the names of hidden billionaires.

Yet, it provided quite detailed asset specifications, making it seem credible when read.

Once hidden tycoons like Middle Eastern royalty, the Rothschilds of Europe, and the Rockefellers of America were included, Forbes' rankings would undoubtedly change completely.

"It's fine as long as Kim Mu-hyeok isn't mentioned."

"You're first, and I'm second. Does that even make sense?"

"Haha, this is insane. You're coming to Korea tomorrow, right?"

"I'll arrive tomorrow morning."

"He might be surrounded by reporters at the airport and whisked straight to the Blue House. Congratulations on becoming a celebrity!"

"No way…"

"No way is an understatement; this is putting it mildly."

Han Gyeong-yeong's name had spread not just across the U.S. but around the globe.

As a Korean-American, Han Gyeong-yeong was like a beacon of hope for the current South Korean government.

So influential that politicians negotiating with the U.S. government sought meetings with him—though he declined.

"Just give some lip service and come back."

"Okay."

After ending the call with Han Gyeong-yeong, I called Manager Ma and headed to the hotel where Kandehshi was staying.

Avoiding it wouldn't solve anything.

The lobby was eerily empty, as if they'd already been informed of my arrival.

"Nice to meet you, Charlie,"

Kandehshi greeted me, extending his hand first.

I shook his hand, returning his greeting.

"It's an honor to meet you; I've only seen you on the news."

"Haha, I'm embarrassed to hear that from the world's richest man."

After exchanging pleasantries, we took our seats and continued the conversation.

Kandehshi glanced at Manager Ma behind me and spoke in a low voice.

"I'd prefer if the bodyguard stayed outside."

"He's with me. If there's anything you don't want him to hear, I won't listen either."

Kandehshi looked resigned and handed me a letter.

"This is a personal letter from President Clinton."

I accepted the letter and passed it to Manager Ma.

"Aren't you going to read it?"

"Later. I'd like to know why you wanted to meet today and how you got my phone number."

"Let me start with a message from the U.S. administration: 'We sincerely hope you don't assist South Korea with its currency crisis. If you do, all responsibility will fall on you,' said Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin."

"Can I interpret that as a threat?"

I still hadn't completely severed ties with the ghost company.

But I knew that if I made a concession here, they'd pounce on me like hyenas.

Kandehshi waved his hands, looking slightly flustered.

"No, no. Secretary Rubin was just being blunt; he means you don't have to help. There's nothing in it for you."

I hadn't planned on helping the government at all, but I pretended to ponder while tapping my chin.

'Have they found some leverage against me? I never intended to help, but maybe I should consider what I could gain…'

Despite my extended silence, Kandehshi waited patiently for my response.

It was hard to believe he was the same person who had been so pushy with the South Korean government.

Eventually, I nodded.

"Alright, but don't interfere with whatever I do in Korea."

"I hope we can share the benefits; don't be greedy like you were in Hong Kong."

Kandehshi's words had a sharp edge to them.

I smirked.

"Saying I took everything isn't quite fair. I certainly moved with Wall Street's influence, making quicker decisions based on the situation. I didn't act against Wall Street, just chose a different path."

Kandehshi's eyes flickered.

"If I offended you, I apologize; it was just a joke. Dream High's aggressive investments are well-known even in the U.S."

"Please relay my request to the U.S. administration. I'm willing to help, but I want a favor in return next time."

"What kind of favor?"

"It should be a reasonable proposal for both the U.S. and Wall Street. If it's unacceptable, feel free to refuse."

"Understood, I'll pass it along like that."

"It was a pleasure meeting you; I hope we can meet again soon."

"The pleasure was mine."

After standing, we shook hands and parted ways.

On the way back to Pyeongchang-dong,

Manager Ma finally spoke up.

"Is that the same person who appears on TV? Kandehshi, the IMF chief?"

"Haha, funny isn't it? The head of the International Monetary Fund, which claims to be the World Bank, is merely a pawn of the U.S."

"He looked completely different from his TV persona."

"Of course; they understand the power I have, even if the South Korean government doesn't yet. If they did, they'd try to suppress me with their authority. It's a completely different country; they'd wake up after a hard lesson."

A cold smile crept onto my face.