It's entirely possible for soone to end up at a police station in the course of their life. But how often would one have reason to go to the prosecutor's office?
For an ordinary person, perhaps never. But I've lost count of how many tis this is for .
The news was already broadcasting a breaking story: "Kang Jin-hoo Appears for Prosecution Questioning." I asked Ellie to go to the hotel because I was worried my mother would call and nag about it.
As I got out of the car, a photo line was set up in front of the prosecutor's office, and reporters holding caras were crowded around.
My face was probably being broadcast live right now.
Reporters thrust microphones at , firing questions simultaneously.
"Do you admit to paying tip money?"
"Will you continue despite the potential illegality?"
"How are you feeling right now?"
"Do you have any intention of retracting your statents and apologizing?"
"What are your thoughts on the opinion that this is surveillance of politicians?"
"Do you have anything to say to the public?"
I uttered the sa perfunctory words that every chaebol chairman says when appearing before the prosecution.
"I will cooperate faithfully with the investigation."
Anyone who's been investigated by the prosecution knows that the actual questioning ti is short, while the waiting around, just sitting there, can last for hours.
One reason might be the heavy caseload per prosecutor, but another could be the intention to wear you down by making you wait indefinitely.
The ability to make soone wait is also a form of power.
Fortunately, I was guided directly to the prosecutor's office without any waiting. Inside, a young prosecutor was seated with an investigator.
I sat down comfortably across from them.
I seem to recall being chided for crossing my legs during a previous interrogation at the prosecutor's office, but now, no one cared whether I crossed my legs or folded my arms.
The young prosecutor flipped through docunts and questioned , and I readily admitted to the various charges I had been accused of.
Since there was no dispute about the facts, the investigation concluded quickly.
"May I leave now?"
"You may be summoned for further questioning several more tis."
"Understood."
When I ca out after the questioning, the reporters were still waiting.
They imdiately sward , throwing questions.
"Did you admit to all the charges?"
"Please say a word to the public."
"Among the tips you disclosed, so factual details are incorrect, and counterargunts are erging. What are your thoughts on this?"
I looked at the reporter who asked the question and said.
"If it's not true, then it's not true."
"Excuse ? What do you an by that...?"
"Don't reporters and politicians do that all the ti? It's not like I fabricated anything; what am I supposed to do if the tips ca in that way?"
"..."
This ti, another reporter shouted.
"Even if it's true, revealing real nas is defamation!"
"Just as I had to endure my family being hard because I am a famous businessman, I believe Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook, as a famous politician, will willingly endure harm to his family. The public's right to know is surely more important."
"Do you think it's right to indiscriminately attack not only the politician himself but also his family? You could be punished for this!"
Judging by the logo on the microphone, this reporter was from a progressive dia outlet.
I let out a smirk.
"If there's sothing to be punished for, I will gladly accept the punishnt. And I, too, will soon file a complaint with the prosecution based on the tip-offs. Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook himself, being a mber of the National Assembly, may have immunity, but his family mbers won't."
The tips kept pouring in.
A considerable number of tips ca from the military. Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's son, Myeong Jae-seong, was currently an army sergeant.
The days when politicians' sons would evade military service were largely gone. As public awareness has risen, the trend these days is for them to serve, for the most part.
What's the first question asked when you go to the army?
It's who your parents are. And depending on the answer, the treatnt you receive changes completely. Having a father who is a senior ruling party assemblyman and a potential future president inevitably leads to various special favors, whether desired or not.
Exposing all of those alone would fill a truck.
Sang-yeop sunbae said.
"There's no issue in Korea as sensitive as the military."
People can tolerate other injustices, but not when it cos to the military. The reason is obvious: because of conscription, everyone is forcibly drafted.
How many celebrities and politicians have been ruined in one fell swoop because of military issues?
One celebrity left the country right before enlistnt to change his nationality and ended up being unable to return to Korea for life. A leading presidential candidate lost the election after issues arose concerning his son's military service exemption.
Several tips also ca from Boston. Among them was a video. Sang-yeop sunbae, who had reviewed the video first, showed it to us.
Students of various ethnicities were gathered, playing music, drinking alcohol, and enjoying a party. A potluck party, perhaps?
A female student who appeared to be Korean put a cigarette, handed to her by soone, to her lips. At that mont, Sang-yeop sunbae paused the video.
"That female student is supposedly Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's daughter."
Looking closely, there seed to be a slight resemblance.
"Is smoking a cigarette the problem?"
"Look closely. That's not a cigarette, it's marijuana."
"Ah..."
Massachusetts, where Boston is located, has legalized recreational marijuana. Therefore, smoking marijuana at a party there is not an issue at all.
However, this only applies if you are an Arican.
When in Ro, do as the Romans do. But since Korea follows the principle of personal jurisdiction, when in Ro, one must follow not only Roman law but also Korean law.
Whether marijuana is legal in Massachusetts or not, it is illegal in Korea. And it is also illegal for a Korean to use it in a country where it is legal.
Since the evidence is clear, this will undoubtedly beco a problem if pursued.
"Legally, it's problematic. Give the informant 50 million won for the tip and release the video. Moderately blur her face."
Sang-yeop sunbae said.
"Actually, marijuana barely even counts as a drug. That's why many states in the US have legalized it."
"That doesn't matter. In any case, it's illegal in Korea. What's important is the fact itself that the daughter of a prominent politician used drugs at a party."
Taek-gyu nodded vigorously.
"Indeed. If we release the video, the 'trash reporters' will take care of the rest."
[Daughter of New Politics Party's Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook Consus Drugs at Party!]
[Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's Daughter, Drug Controversy Following Porsche Issue!]
[Related Video Released! Repercussions Spreading Like Wildfire!]
[Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook Previously Proposed Bill in National Assembly to Strengthen Punishnt for Drug Offenders!]
[Testimonies Erge of Her Having Smoked Marijuana on Several Occasions...]
-I'm so jealous of the informant ㅜㅜ Made 50 million with one video ㅜㅜ
-Making money is this easy.
-LOL, the father proposes laws to punish drug offenders, while the daughter goes abroad and does drugs. What a fine household~
-Sent her abroad to study music, and she's driving a Porsche, living luxuriously, and smoking drugs at parties.
-ㅋㅋ What kind of party was that, I wonder? So curious.
-If you drink and do drugs, what cos next is pretty obvious, isn't it?
-Are there any photos of Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's daughter?
-Yes. Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook previously posted family photos on Facenote, and his daughter also uses Facenote.
-It's private now though.
-Still, you can find many if you search the internet~
-She must be summoned back to Korea imdiately for a drug test!
-That's right! We must not go easy on her just because she's the daughter of a prominent ruling party politician!
Upon seeing the news, Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook called his daughter and yelled.
"I sent you abroad to study, and what on earth are you doing running around? What? Drugs? There's a limit to shaming your father!"
His daughter said, choking back tears.
[N-no, Dad. I really didn't do drugs or anything like that.]
"Then what is that video all about?"
[I was drunk, and a friend handed it to , so I just put it to my lips for a mont without thinking. But they spread that all over Korea... Sob!]
As she made her excuses, his daughter, overco with emotion, burst into tears.
Thinking about it calmly, it wasn't such a huge deal. Even though they are classified as the sa type of drug, marijuana and thamphetamine are worlds apart.
As a first-ti offender, even if she ca to Korea and was investigated, she would at most receive a suspension of indictnt or a suspended sentence. But what good would that do?
Public opinion has the power to create facts out of thin air and make people believe what isn't true.
His daughter had already been branded by the entire nation as soone who went to Arica, lived a life of luxury, and did drugs at parties.
That label would follow him throughout his political career.
[Sob, sob, rumors have spread among all the Korean international students, so I can't even go to school now. Kids here all smoke marijuana, so why do I have to go through this? How am I supposed to live now? Waaah!]
"..."
Hearing his daughter's cries, anger surged, and his head felt like it would explode.
He had faced political attacks countless tis before, but to have his family targeted like this was driving him completely mad.
Reporters sward to the National Assembly, thrusting microphones at Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook.
"Do you admit that your daughter used drugs?"
"Conservative groups say they will report your daughter as a drug offender. What are your thoughts?"
Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook said, as if aggrieved.
"According to my daughter, she received it thinking it was a cigarette, and she only held it to her lips briefly and did not inhale. This is defamation and an invasion of privacy. As a father with a daughter, not as a politician, I am devastated. I will definitely hold those responsible accountable for this!"
However, this explanation sparked even greater controversy.
-LOL, she only held it to her lips but didn't smoke it, he says!
-How is this any different from 'I drove after drinking, but I didn't drink and drive'?
-At this rate, guys caught doing th will say they only pricked their arm with the drug-filled syringe but didn't push the plunger.
-If you're so confident, tell her to co to Korea and officially take a drug test.
-He lets his daughter live luxuriously and attend drug parties in Arica, and then he spouts nonsense about doing politics for the common people?
-I was once an ardent supporter, but I'm truly disappointed.
-Myeong Jin-wook, bow your head and apologize to the people!
Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook was busy formulating counterasures.
He had expected the prosecution to take strong action since Kang Jin-hoo's charges were clear, but the prosecution showed no particular movent after a single summons for investigation.
Despite the nation's eyes being focused on the case, they didn't even hold a press briefing and remained tight-lipped in response to reporters' questions. It felt as if they wanted to avoid getting entangled as much as possible.
While he was working with the party to quell the controversy surrounding his daughter, it wasn't over yet.
This ti, an article related to his son broke out.
[Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook's Son, Controversy Over Various Special Favors During Military Service!]
[Takes Reward Leave Once a Month! What Do Military Experts Say?]
[Confird to Have Freely Used the Cyber Knowledge Information Room During Duty Hours]
[Serving as an Aide-de-camp, a Position Not Even in the TO. Was There External Pressure for This Cushy Job?]
[His Unit Commander Explains He Was Selected Because He Shines Combat Boots Exceptionally Well...]
[Skipped All Ranger Training and Cold Weather Training! Excused Due to Poor Health...]
[Skipped Lunch and Frequently Used the PX on Multiple Occasions...]
-Whaat? He didn't eat als and ate frozen food from the PX instead? This bastard is no good. Doesn't he know that skipping als ans a loss of combat readiness? This guy needs to be sent to the stockade.
-He slept lying down during his sentry duty? This too, stockade.
-Isn't it strange that he was assigned to guard duty as a private first class, while everyone else stands sentry duty at night until they're a private first class?
-Why are there three aide-de-camps? Don't tell one shines each combat boot, and one supervises?
-How many tis did that bastard go on leave? Why so many reward leaves?
-They said politicians' sons are doing well in the military these days, but this is what it amounts to. So get good positions for cornering well, and so beco aide-de-camps for shining combat boots well.
-If I had good parents, my military life would have been comfortable too ㅜㅜ
-I'm from a dirt-spoon family, so I suffered in the airborne troops, you bastards!!!
-I thought Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook was clean, but he's damn dirty. Are you happy sending only your son to a cushy position?
-I'm a mother who sent two sons to the military. While your son enjoys a comfortable military life in a cushy place, our children are rolling on the ground with their bare bodies during training. Thinking this is all because of parents who have nothing, my heart breaks. I thought Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook was a politician who cared for common people like us, but you are just like other politicians.
-I am also a father who sent his son to the military. This is an opportunity to thoroughly investigate the military service status of all politicians' sons. Which unit, which position did they go to, how many tis did they go on leave, and were there any special favors.
-That's right! Before that, let's send Myeong Jin-wook's son to the stockade!
-Myeong Jin-wook's son to the stockade! Myeong Jin-wook's daughter to the clink (prison bars)!! And Myeong Jin-wook to the bamboo spear!!!
-That rhy is sick.
Seeing the articles and public reactions pouring in real-ti, Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook could no longer contain his anger and shouted.
"Kang Jin-hoo, you son of a bitch!"
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