I Will Stage A Coup D’état - Chapter 186



Only Noblemtl

EP.186 The interior

While Smile wasted time and money in Indochina, we established the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and accelerated rocket development.

It was an expression of the will to now pour the national budget into rocket development.

“We must complete the ICBM by 1960 if possible.”

“That’s not as easy as it sounds.”

“If it doesn’t work, I’ll invest more money. I don’t want to hear that it won’t work.”

I hammered the German engineers hard.

In fact, it was not the case that the German engineers failed to achieve results, but rather that they were complaining.

The short-range missiles they developed were already undergoing combat testing.

The development of medium-range and medium- to long-range missiles was also outlined.

So the demand to have ICBMs by 1960 was not unreasonable.

Of course, mutual assured destruction was not the only goal achieved through ICBMs.

If we could build an ICBM, we could target satellites.

‘We could recreate the Sputnik shock.’

The problem was that doing so would arouse America’s wariness and jealousy.

The position I’m aiming for is 2nd or 3rd place, following the Soviet Union and the United States.

It was a position that was neither too far ahead nor too far behind.

However, I had no intention of giving in to the smile.

If it was a field that was about money rather than fame, we would have been too lazy to give up first place, and we were full of calculations about what we would take.

This was the case in fields such as semiconductors, which will become a source of food in the future.

We devoted national resources to the production of transistors.

Once they started churning out quantities, it was only a matter of time before they crushed their competitors.

“The know-how to mass produce is also a technology.”

Of course, the government subsidized massive facility investments to produce this.

Isn’t that foul play?

Nowadays, it is legal to provide subsidies like China.

If you didn’t break any rules of the game, what does it matter?

“No, what if you sell the transistors so cheaply?”

“If you insist, you can sell it cheaply too. We sell it at a profit.”

Semiconductors were not the only sector where subsidies were given in this way to crush competitors.

In fields such as chemistry, electronics, machinery, and shipbuilding, which would become important sources of income for the empire in the future, subsidies, however small, were provided.

“Eunseong, Geundae, and Sesung are representative companies of Korea. They should never be pushed out, as the government is pushing them.”

“Will there be any repayment? I will definitely repay Your Majesty by dominating the world market.”

Government support did not stop at subsidies.

“Government agencies should also support exports. If policies and support follow, wouldn’t our national athletes fight better?”

Bureaucrats who had believed that the government was above the business world expressed bewilderment at this directive.

“Ah, but, Your Majesty, isn’t there a need for the government to take responsibility for the merchants’ business?”

“What are you talking about? An economic war is also a war. Do you think that war is just about bullets flying around? You should keep that in mind. Even if you lose an economic war, your country will be ruined.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

While we’re on the subject, we also established a trade and investment corporation to encourage corporate investment.

It was as if the country was straining its national capabilities just for trade.

And if they lost the trade competition, it was the company’s fault.

Anyway, we paid some attention to the trade balance itself so that it wouldn’t become too large of a trade surplus.

“If imported products are of similar price, import more from the US and Europe.”

If you try to take advantage of your opponent too blatantly, they won’t just sit by and do it.

I continued to increase the empire’s market share by balancing the seesaw in this way.

On one hand, it turns the engine of economic growth,

On the other hand, it raises its status by acting as a judge of the international community.

The Cold War was a blessing for us, if only there had been no threat of nuclear war.

“So, I, AzXdan, will rise up. I will become the great X-horse!”

“and.”

My daughter Se-eun opened her eyes wide and clapped her hands.

If I think about it, it would have been good to pay attention to this kind of cultural content, but I’ve been so busy living my life that I haven’t had the time.

‘Should we also take this opportunity to grow some K-content?’

The greater the visible hard power, the more it is subject to checks and balances, but soft power is free from such checks and balances.

It’s soft power.

When I think about the Republic of Korea in the 21st century, I feel a bit drawn to improving soft power.

The current South Korea is a country with weak soft power compared to its national weight class, so it would not be a bad idea to invest in this area.

‘What should I start raising first?’

Adult magazines, including beer magazines, were knocking on the Western market with a considerable number of magazines.

However, comics, novels, and music were still weak compared to the West.

It was because of the way it held back creativity.

‘Should we deregulate?’

I called in government officials to discuss the ‘popular culture liberalization policy.’

In reality, the instruction was to find out what problems would arise if this were implemented.

“Your Majesty, is it really necessary to do this?”

“Even if it’s not now, it’s something that needs to be done someday. Why?”

“If we let popular culture loose, political satire will increase considerably. That could lead to unpleasant things.”

My criticism arises, that’s it.

But I could tolerate that much.

The strong concrete support was the source of my confidence.

‘I’m not the type of person to be shaken by a few finger pointings.’

The vast rural areas were my home turf, and even if I were attacked, my power would not be shaken.

“You have to accept that. Can a politician live only hearing praise? You have to hear some criticism, too.”

The issue of liberalization of popular culture was resolved with some preconditions.

“The Korea Communications Commission needs to do a good job.”

“Is there any possibility, Your Majesty?”

I created the Korea Communications Commission to censor all publications and videos.

You may ask, what kind of liberalization is this? But in the 21st century, South Korea even controls individuals’ sexual lives.

So, to this extent, it was freedom.

Shortly thereafter, the Popular Culture Liberalization Act passed Congress.

“You can draw, sing, and write anything, right?”

“As long as it passes censorship, it’s okay.”

Even broadcasting allowed a certain amount of satire and humor that had been taboo until then.

‘Giving people the freedom to point fingers rather than blocking them from swearing will help reduce public discontent.’

I thought this was right, as it advocated the abolition of the Yushin system.

Immediately after the liberalization of popular culture, the overall national mood became lighter.

“I, Lee Young-jun, promise. I will build a future where everyone can urinate freely!”

In the market, people have even made black humor out of my words and actions.

Of course, the guys who did this were a little bit swollen.

Even though the Yushin system was abolished, the power I had was greater than that of the imperial president of Korea.

If we must compare, it would have to be on the same level as the presidents of the 5th Republic.

Are you making fun of such a person with the highest authority?

It was a bit absurd, but I thought of them as ‘friends with a lot of courage’ and decided to leave them alone.

“Your Majesty, I apologize. I will arrest the people who created this disrespectful booklet right now and give them a bad lesson.”

“What kind of era do we live in today that makes you say something like that?”

As times change, our thinking must change too.

How long will we have to watch the tightly-clogged era of the Korean Empire?

The empire and the ‘Republic’ that I will create are clearly different worlds.

Even for the sake of the empire’s future, it was right to gradually satisfy the public’s cultural needs.

Soon, the impact of liberalization began to show in the broadcasting industry.

From works featuring widows as protagonists to works featuring adultery, stories that were previously taboo are now boldly appearing on public airwaves.

“Oh, this is the end of the world. How can they confidently talk about such vulgar things on a broadcasting station?”

And yet people were enthusiastic about that vulgar story.

The power of the stimulating seasoning could not be ignored.

Even when it comes to novels in newspapers, the feeling of being stifled has decreased compared to before.

The sentences that were twisted and twisted over and over again became concise, and I felt relieved.

I had hopes that things would get better with time.

This was especially true of magazines.

Magazines began publishing photographs of a level of prominence they had previously undreamed of.

Even for beer, models started showing up almost naked.

Beauties of various races, from Europeans to Asians, created diverse and breathtaking appearances.

“This is great.”

Just looking at these photos, it seemed like the tent would stand tall.

However, liberalization did not mean that everything was tolerated.

“Brother and sister love?”

Occasionally, items emerged that crossed the line that the conservative social atmosphere of the Korean Empire could tolerate.

Of course, this doesn’t happen in movies or dramas that the Korea Communications Commission focuses on checking, but mostly in novels and comics.

Then, voices began to pour in demanding a rethinking of the policy of liberalizing popular culture.

“When on earth will the government abolish the liberalization policy that gives rise to such obscene stories?”

The opposition party also took to these voices and poured out stories like this during interpellations to the government.

But no matter how much the wind blew, my thoughts did not waver.

Even if the Empire was a bit noisy, this was a growing pain that had to be endured.

“How did the empire become so decadent?”

“It’s because Western customs and customs came in.”

That doesn’t mean I criticized the day I pushed for liberalization policies.

Lee Seong-jun was an inviolable being who could do anything in the empire.

I, Lee Seong-jun, do it.

“So, you were looking at porn magazines in the bathroom? There must be a reason you’ve been so unfaithful lately.”

Of course, not at home.

I bowed my head before my wife’s accusing gaze.

Well, it’s not like I was wasting my energy here.

It’s just a physiological phenomenon.

I quickly bent down my pride that had been rising proudly.