I Am the Third-Generation Heir of a Conglomerate - Chapter 425



Only Noblemtl

425. Bait Products (5)

The advent of comprehensive broadcasting brought about a variety of news channels in Korea.

News, which used to be monopolized by terrestrial broadcasters and news channels, now had to compete with general service broadcasters, and so they began to seek out more provocative issues.

Is that why?

The first broadcaster to report the information we had discovered was also a general broadcaster, and we even replayed the news in Captain Kang’s office together with Vice Chairman Han.

“The report is quite informative. It includes information that we didn’t include in our information.”

“Why would it be a broadcasting station? The broadcasting station must have been gathering information in advance. However, they just delayed reporting because they haven’t found a decisive link yet.”

Fragmentary information cannot be produced as news.

It was necessary to find a link that would tie together various pieces of information, and only then could it become news.

The information we provided served as a link between the information held by broadcasters.

“I heard from the press that whistleblowers continue to come forward.”

“The lower the approval rating of the government, the more whistleblowers there are.”

“And they say reports related to the Olympic Bid Foundation are also pouring in.”

Taewoo Group has always maintained good relationships with media outlets.

Along with Samjin Group, the group that paid the most in advertising fees was Taewoo Group.

As a result, our line naturally developed in the media, and Captain Kang took care of managing them.

“There is no need to be concerned about the government’s opinion, so a variety of news will be produced.”

“There are stories about the Moonknob Trio, sports foundation corruption, and even the secret power behind the throne.”

“There’s already a story like that? The media has certainly been gathering information diligently.”

A president with imperial power.

However, in order to maintain power, it needed to be supported by approval ratings, and this government was even more weakened after recording the lowest number of seats in history in the general election.

“Please continue to release the information we have.”

“We continue to send information that our employees bring to the press.”

“And although we don’t necessarily need to move, we also manage SNS and portal sites.”

“I will play the role of pouring oil to fan the fire.”

It was a historical event that would have happened even if we had not stepped forward.

However, in order to quietly conclude the tax investigation of Taewoo Group, the flow had to be brought forward as much as possible.

“What is the atmosphere like at the National Tax Service?”

“After Taewoo Corporation, a sequential tax investigation of other affiliates was planned. However, the National Tax Service is not taking any further action.”

“The order from the Blue House must have already been given, but you’re not taking action? It seems like you’re trying to catch your breath for a moment and watch the situation unfold.”

“When the president’s approval rating falls, the organization that reacts most sensitively is the civil service. Isn’t the National Tax Service the same?”

Behavioral health.

Korean civil servants have a strong tendency to pursue comfort and security.

That would be the case. If you start something new and fail, you have to take full responsibility, and civil service is a job where you can maintain your term by just sitting still.

The same goes for the National Tax Service.

Even if I were to receive favor from this government, I would only have a few years left, so I was keeping myself safe.

“Even if they hide for now, if the Blue House continues to apply pressure, they will start to move again.”

“The president’s approval rating is currently at 29%. If it falls further, there is a high possibility that high-ranking officials at the National Tax Service will refuse orders from the Blue House.”

“If the media starts to focus on it, supporters may rally for a while. But in the long run, support rates will continue to decline.”

“As you know, it is illegal for the Blue House to order a retaliatory tax investigation without a special reason.”

Where is the high-ranking official who would want to engage in illegal activities?

Not only was it a matter of securing a seat, it could also lead to jail time.

“If there is just a little more external pressure here, the National Tax Service will stop all work. If the People’s Economy Party, the largest political party, tells them to stop the retaliatory tax investigation, wouldn’t that be effective?”

“National Tax Service officials may also be waiting for such a situation. There was no good reason to delay the tax investigation, but if the People’s Economy Party steps forward, they will have a justification.”

The weight of the first party was considerable.

If we had united with the opposition party, we would have enough seats to even conduct a special investigation into the National Tax Service.

“It’s polite to slap a crying child. Please tell them to start speaking out against retaliatory tax audits today.”

“There is a just cause that retaliatory tax investigations must disappear in order to promote economic development in the Republic of Korea, so the People’s Economy Party can also participate without hesitation.”

Now the arrow has left the bowstring.

An arrow that has once flown will never return.

The historical event of impeachment would unfold in an instant to a point where no one could stop it.

***

After two weeks.

I met with Rep. Choi Jae-seok and Captain Kang at the annex of the restaurant.

It was an opportunity to express gratitude to the People’s Economy Party, which has been vociferously opposing retaliatory tax investigations for two weeks.

“Thanks to the People’s Economy Party, the tax investigation has been stopped. Thank you.”

“Even if a group other than Taewoo Group had been subject to a retaliatory tax investigation, the People’s Economy Party would have maintained the same political stance. So there is no need to express gratitude.”

Congressman Choi Jae-seok has become more harmful than before.

Compared to the average politician, he still had an upright side.

That’s why I joined hands with him, and it was good for both of us to maintain this aspect for the future.

“It seems like the Blue House has become a place to relieve boredom these days. Not only the media, but even the opposition party and some members of the ruling party are criticizing it.”

“Politics has become a comedy. How did it come to this? The Blue House did something wrong, but it is difficult to watch because they are engaging in satire and condemnation instead of legitimate criticism.”

The media churned out sensational news.

Rumors about shamanism, secret power, and all sorts of other things poured out.

In particular, the suspicions that arose during the last presidential primary were a fatal blow.

“Don’t they say that when there’s no smoke, there’s no smoke? Since the suspicion was raised by a candidate from the same party during the last presidential primary, it seems that the media already has a lot of information.”

“It is fortunate that the tax investigation into Taewoo Group has been halted, but the remaining policies are not progressing.”

Shipping company big deal, Busan New Port, real estate PF, etc.

It was the People’s Economy Party that made many promises during the general election.

Although he was doing his best to keep his promises to voters, his economic policies were being ignored due to the impeachment situation.

That was the reason why Rep. Choi Jae-seok was not happy with the current situation.

Because these were policies that needed to be negotiated as soon as possible for the development of the Korean economy.

“Are you feeling very frustrated?”

“When the People’s Economy Party secured a majority of seats, I thought it could do anything. But even though it became the largest party, there were only so many things the opposition could do.”

“Then wouldn’t it be okay if we become the ruling party?”

“There are still one year and six months left until the presidential election.”

The 19th presidential election was almost two years away.

However, if the current trend continues, there is a very high possibility that the presidential election will be held early, and it could even be held within this year.

“The president’s approval rating has fallen below 25 percent. And corruption related to the Blue House continues to be revealed.”

“The lame duck period has come a little early. But that doesn’t change the presidential election schedule.”

“Why not? If the presidency becomes vacant, shouldn’t a presidential election be held within 60 days?”

“Are you thinking of impeachment? Impeachment is never easy. As you know, there was an impeachment process for the president 10 years ago, but the Constitutional Court dismissed the impeachment.”

Impeachment was not an unfamiliar word in South Korea.

There was an impeachment 10 years ago, and after a long impeachment trial, the impeachment was dismissed.

“Things are very different now than they were then. There was a big difference in the government’s approval ratings, and even if you just look at the results of the opinion polls conducted by the Taewoo Group, there is a big difference.”

“What were the results of the poll?”

“65% of the people are in favor of impeachment. And every time we conduct a poll, more and more people are in favor of impeachment. Even in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, which are strongholds of the ruling party, more than half of the people are in favor of impeachment.”

The results were clearly different from 10 years ago.

At that time, only about 23% of people supported the impeachment of the president.

Although more than 65% of the public thought the president did something wrong, it was not enough to impeach him; they only asked for an apology and to move on.

It was a past impeachment that was carried out forcibly without properly understanding the current.

“The political world will become even more noisy. If we move into an impeachment situation, all policies will be suspended.”

“Wouldn’t it be okay for Representative Choi Jae-seok to become president and implement all the policies that were suspended?”

“It takes too long. If we proceed with the impeachment process, it will take at least a year, and even if we impeach, the presidential election will be held only about six months earlier.”

“Six months is not a short period of time.”

“If I run for president without keeping the promises I made during the general election, I will become a liar.”

You can’t make Representative Choi Jae-seok a liar.

This was truly a golden opportunity for Representative Choi Jae-seok to become president.

So I figured I’d do whatever I could.

“We will start with policies that can be implemented only by Taewoo Group. We will complete the Gunsan Shipyard order within this month and start real estate PF. We will also prepare for the Busan New Port infrastructure construction.”

“If Taewoo Group moves on its own without government assistance, it will cost more.”

“It’s okay. It’s less damaging than making you a liar.”

The easiest problems to solve are those that can be solved with money.

In the case of Saemangeum, it could not be touched because it required agreement from the political circles, but in the case of other policies, it was possible to proceed with just Taewoo Group’s financial power.

“I feel uneasy because I feel like I am a burden to the Taewoo Group.”

“Don’t think like that. Congressman, you just need to think about the cause of Korea’s economic development.”

“Hehehe, I appreciate the decision of Taewoo Group and its Chairman to sacrifice for a greater cause.”

“The presidential election could be held as early as this year. So you should start preparing for the election now.”

Rep. Choi Jae-seok held his breath for a moment.

The impeachment process would take at least half a year, no matter how short, and even if the impeachment were passed, it would take at least a year, including the presidential election process.

So, it was physically impossible for the presidential election to be held this year, and Rep. Choi Jae-seok was shocked to the point of holding his breath.

“Isn’t it impossible for a presidential election to be held this year? Isn’t it still uncertain whether there will be impeachment?”

“If the impeachment process is carried out normally, it will not be possible within this year, as you said. However, there is one method that is faster than impeachment.”

“What method?”

“Instead of the dishonor of impeachment, wouldn’t it be possible to choose a beautiful exit through resignation?”

It was a historical trend that was progressing faster than before the regression.

His approval ratings were dropping even faster, and media coverage was more detailed and aggressive than before his return.

As a result, new options have emerged.

The option of the president stepping down from office rather than impeachment.

And it was also Rep. Choi Jae-seok’s choice to bring that option to the Blue House.