Anyone who's been to the military has probably wondered this at least once.
Why can officers use cell phones but enlisted soldiers can't? Why do they have to stay cooped up on base even after duty hours are over?
Actually, the reason is simple. It's because of money.
All sorts of people gather in the military, regardless of region, education, inco, or assets. Therefore, to prevent a sense of incongruity or resentnt among soldiers due to wealth disparities, activities requiring money are completely blocked.
It's much better now, but back then, a sergeant's monthly pay was less than 100,000 won.
You might think there's no need to spend money since the military feeds and houses you, but can a person live on food alone?
Even just buying snacks or drinks at the PX, that money disappears quickly. Not to ntion shampoo, skin toner, lotion, etc., and when winter cos, they have to buy various winter gear with their own money. (Military-issued supplies are scarce and of poor quality.)
Their salary isn't enough, so they sotis ask their families to send money, and when they go on leave, they usually get an allowance from their parents to spend.
How ridiculous is this situation? Instead of getting paid to defend the country, they're actually spending their own money to do it.
Going to the military ans losing not just ti but also money, so everyone desperately tries to get out of it, I guess.
No one would oppose giving soldiers the minimum wage. But whenever this topic cos up, budget issues always follow.
A TV station aired a debate program, where experts and mbers of the National Defense Committee engaged in a heated discussion.
"Look at what's been revealed. If we had just saved the money that's been leaking out all this ti, we could have significantly raised the soldiers' salaries."
"Think about it. Assuming we pay 500,000 soldiers 1 million won a month, that's about 6 trillion won in budget required. Based on the current wage system, 2 trillion won is already being spent, so an additional 4 trillion won is needed per year. This is one-tenth of the entire defense budget; it's impossible no matter how much we save from 'leaking' money."
"The Ministry of Defense budget has been increased by trillions of won every year. Where on earth did that money go?"
"Wasn't it used for modernizing equipnt and weapons?"
"So you're saying there's money to buy weapons, but no money to raise soldiers' salaries?"
"The nation's security depends on a single fighter jet, a single warship. If we reduce weapon purchases to raise salaries, it will lead to a decline in military strength, weakened security, and eventually, this country will be reunified under North Korean communism."
"By that logic, why are we even paying soldiers? If we stopped paying them altogether and bought dozens more fighter jets with that money, wouldn't security improve that much more?"
"So, the current salary is sufficient. Do people go to the military to earn money? The military should be like the military."
"What does the military being 'like the military' have to do with low salaries?"
"Wouldn't a low salary encourage an ascetic lifestyle? A certain degree of asceticism is necessary to cultivate patience and learn how to look after superiors and subordinates. Learning when to put your feet up and when not to becos the foundation for fulfilling one's role as a mber of society. As it is, there's a lot of criticism that the military has beco a joke because this governnt keeps raising salaries, allowing cell phone use, and increasing leave and overnight stays."
"US soldiers receive several tis the salary of Korean soldiers, carry cell phones, and go out on weekdays. So, according to you, Congressman, is the US military also a joke of an army?"
"No, what I an is..."
"You, Congressman, who are saying all this, were exempt from military service, so you wouldn't have learned patience, how to look after superiors and subordinates, or when to put your feet up and when not to. You have none of the foundations to fulfill your role as a mber of society, so how on earth are you a mber of the National Assembly?"
"What, you punk? Are you trying to pick a fight with right now?"
***
A string of resignations from active-duty generals followed.
If embezzlent and bribery were revealed during the investigation, leading to imprisonnt or a dishonorable discharge, their severance pay and pensions would be cut. They were resigning first to avoid such a situation.
As they say, "birds of a feather flock together," so the Ministry of Defense tried to quietly accept their resignations. However, when Kang Jin-hoo stated, "Accepting the resignations of officers who committed acts of treason, allowing them to collect their severance pay and pensions, is sothing pro-North Korean commies would do. If such a thing happens, please report it," the Ministry of Defense had no choice but to announce that they would not accept the resignations of those involved until all investigations were concluded.
What could those corrupt individuals possibly say for themselves? But, as the saying goes, there's no grave without an excuse.
"We didn't co to the military to play. When I was in the service, I wore worse uniforms and had no complaints."
"People in their 20s have good digestion, so it's fine for them to eat expired rations."
"US soldiers buy their own combat boots and such. It's given for free, so what's the big complaint?"
"Our seniors got away with much more and had no problems. Why are you doing this only to us?"
"For decades, I've sacrificed and devoted myself solely to the country and its people. It's too unfair to be punished for such a minor mistake."
So even made the outrageous claim that "it doesn't really matter if we use slightly inferior weapons because the US military will fight for us if a war breaks out anyway," enraging the public.
- LOL, these bastards still haven't learned their lesson.
- Wow! Anyone hearing this would think they did forced labor or free volunteer work.
- What sacrifice and devotion? You took all your salary and treated enlisted n like personal servants.
- The taxes spent on you guys are a waste.
- Just spit out all the money you've embezzled~
- If the US military is going to fight for us, then just disband our army!
- Execution by firing squad is the only answer!
- Even bullets are a waste. Let's stab them with bamboo spears!
As public opinion boiled over, the civil servant society tensed up all at once.
Ministers of each departnt set out to tighten discipline. Official notices were sent down, warning against even minor entertainnt and social gatherings that had been conducted under the guise of custom.
Everyone was disgruntled, but after seeing the stars of the Ministry of Defense fall one after another, no one dared to speak out.
There was no guarantee that Kang Jin-hoo wouldn't do the sa thing again.
Even the Pri Minister stepped forward, ordering the eradication of corruption, and a large-scale reform began.
It was true that Korea's integrity index had significantly improved over the years. However, it was also true that it still fell short of the public's expectations.
Credit rating agencies like Moody's and S&P evaluated this positively. Eliminating corruption increases administrative efficiency and greatly helps attract investnt and revitalize the economy.
***
When I opened my eyes, I was alone in bed.
I sat up. Going down to the first floor, I saw Ellie sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee.
"When did you wake up?"
"A little while ago. She worked out and showered."
Perhaps that's why her skin and hair were still damp. Ellie looks pretty today too.
"You're diligent even on the weekend."
"I've been so busy lately I haven't been able to exercise much. I have to do it when I have ti, like today."
I also got so coffee from the kitchen.
When I first moved into this house, I thought it was huge, but now I don't really feel that way. It just feels... adequate?
If I had to live in the house I lived in before, I probably couldn't. Seeing things like this, it seems humans really are creatures of adaptation.
I looked out the window from the living room. Seeing the pouring sunlight and the lush green garden, I realized sumr was approaching.
It'll be incredibly hot this year too, right?
As we were drinking coffee together, Taekgyu, dressed in a tracksuit, ca out into the living room.
"Why were you so late last night?"
"I t up with Anneke."
"What did you do?"
"She said she wanted to visit Neverland, so we went together and even watched the parade before leaving."
"Oh, really?"
It was a the park operated by the Seosung Group, and I had been there with Ellie before.
Princess Anneke has a pretty and cute appearance. Moreover, she has a lively personality and loves gas, animation, and cosplay.
Therefore, for n who like gas and ani, she's like an ideal type straight out of a dream.
Sure enough, shortly after transferring to Hanguk University, her popularity exploded among engineering students. She reportedly received many offers for entertainnt debuts and comrcials. She declined them all, saying she wanted to focus on her studies.
It seed she was indeed spending her days hectically, trying to keep up with lectures and learn Korean. Nevertheless, she t with Taekgyu often. They had beco quite close in that ti, and Princess Anneke naturally called Taekgyu "Oppa."
Well, he is older, so "Oppa" is correct.
But why does she keep calling CEO-nim?
As I was thinking that, Taekgyu suddenly said sothing out of the blue.
"Lately, I've been thinking this."
"Thinking what?"
"Don't you think I might be quite popular with won?"
"Huh?"
Usually, when a guy says sothing like this, it's likely a delusion. But if the person saying it is Oh Taekgyu, it's a different story.
Just looking at his face, he doesn't seem like he'd be popular at all. However, judging a person by their appearance alone is foolish.
At the very least, you should consider their assets.
Oh Taekgyu was the second-largest shareholder of OTK Company and the second richest man in the world. The halo effect from that was truly imnse.
A person's charm isn't just one thing; it's a combination of everything: appearance, personality, knowledge, habits, manners, way of speaking, profession, assets, and so on.
Therefore, being rich was definitely part of Oh Taekgyu's charm. Even more so if he earned it through his own abilities rather than inheriting it.
In fact, even when he was in Europe, many won asked why Taekgyu hadn't co with . That's how global Oh Taekgyu's popularity was.
His wealth is beyond Korean levels, so his popularity is global, shall we say?
"Why do you think so?"
Ellie quickly asked too.
"Hurry up and tell us."
"It's nothing much, but yesterday, while we were eating, Anneke suddenly asked, 'Oppa, what are we to each other?'"
At Taekgyu's words, Ellie and I looked at each other.
Ellie's eyes were wide. My expression probably wasn't much different.
What are we to each other! Seriously, what kind of relationship prompts such a question?
"So, what did you say?"
"I said I wasn't sure and would think about it."
It certainly wasn't an easy question to answer. Because there was too much room for various interpretations.
To give the right answer, one first needs to accurately grasp the questioner's intent.
"What do you think your relationship is?"
Taekgyu pondered for a long ti before speaking.
"Sseom?" (A 'sothing' or 'fling')
Language segnts not only physical things but also conceptual ones. For example, there's no clear dividing line that precisely distinguishes morning from afternoon, or breakfast from lunch.
Human relationships are the sa. For instance, if soone goes from being friends to lovers, it's hard to clearly define where friendship ended and love began.
An interesting fact is that because such cases beca so common, the new term "sseom" (썸) erged. And the term, in turn, helps to spread the phenonon.
In the past, if friends beca lovers, now they have to go through an interdiate stage called "sseom."
"Do you know what 'sseom' is?"
Ellie nodded at my question.
"Of course. At first, when I heard 'sseom-nyeo' (girl you have a sseom with), 'sseom-nam' (guy you have a sseom with), and 'sseom tanda' (to be in a sseom), I didn't know what they ant, but now I understand clearly. It's like 'mine, but not quite mine, yet feels like mine,' or 'further than love, closer than friendship,' 'neither lovers nor just friends,' that kind of relationship, right?"
"You understand it perfectly."
"There are plenty of similar concepts abroad too. But 'sseom' is an unstable relationship, isn't it?"
"That's right. Because it has directionality rather than definitiveness."
Friendship or a romantic relationship are, in themselves, the purpose of the relationship and are stable. On the other hand, a "sseom" relationship can be a process, but not a destination. Therefore, it always has a tendency to move in so direction.
If it moves backward, you go back to being just friends or strangers; if it moves forward, you develop into a romantic relationship.
Actually, after dating for a while, one should either confess and ask to be official, or decide to stop seeing each other, but they had just been... eting!
How frustrated must Princess Anneke have been to ask such a question first?
So, it's safe to assu she said it because she wanted to move beyond the unstable "sseom" relationship and establish a stable one, right?
Taekgyu scratched his head and said.
"But co to think of it, Min Ha-young and Yang Hana asked similar questions before."
"What!?"
I was shocked again by his words.
Why on earth is this guy so popular?
As a friend, I want him to do well. But why does my stomach ache (am I jealous)? Is it just my imagination?
Ellie smiled brightly and asked.
"What's wrong? Surely you're not envious or jealous, are you?"
I shook my head firmly.
"O-Of course not."
There's no way I'd be jealous of Oh Taekgyu!
"So, who do you like?"
Taekgyu crossed his arms and, after pondering for a long ti, asked.
"Do I really have to like only one person?"
"......"
Wow, listen to this guy.
At this rate, he's going to say he'll naturalize as a Saudi Arabian citizen. Of course, they'd welco him with open arms over there.
A true friend can't let his best friend walk the path of polygamy. I absolutely have to stop him.
I said curtly.
"Of course, you should only like one person!"
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