ewsbrokethatKorea,Japan,andChevronwereholdingtalksinJapanregardingthedevelopntofSeven-wanggu.
hankstothenonstopbuzzsurroundingthediscoveryofoilatSeven-wanggu,theinternalconflictwithintheCentristPartyreceivedrelativelylessattention.
otthatpeoplehadlostinterestcompletely.twasstillascorchingpoliticalissue.
[CentristPartyresolvesconflictbetweenFlooreadereeMyungsooandSecretary-eneralJangSeokhyeonovernominationcommitteecompositionthroughdiationbypartyleader.]
herulingCentristPartyannouncedthattherecentconflictbetweenFlooreadereeMyungsooandSecretary-eneralJangSeokhyeonregardingthecompositionofthenominationcommitteehadbeenresolvedthroughdiationbythepartyleader.
Withthis,thepartycreatedanopportunitytoovercoitsinternalstrifeandregainstability.
Forthepastseveralweeks,tensionhadhungheavilywithintheCentristParty.hedisagreentbetweenFlooreadereeMyungsooandSecretary-eneralJangSeokhyeonoverthecompositionofthenominationcommitteehaddividedopinionsthroughouttheparty.
FlooreadereeMyungsoomaintainedthatthecommitteeshouldincludemorereform-mindedandfreshfigures,whileSecretary-eneralJangSeokhyeonarguedthatitshouldbecenteredaroundexperiencedindividualswhodeeplyunderstoodtheparty’straditionalvalues.
nthissituation,thepartyleaderpersonallysteppedintodiatethedifferencesbetweenbothsidesandpreparedanominationcommitteestructureacceptabletoeveryoneinvolved.
“hefutureofthepartyandtheinterestsofthepeoplewereourhighestpriorities,andweaidtocreateanominationcommitteecapableofreflectingdiversevoices,”thepartyleaderexplainedregardingthediationprocess.
hroughthislatestappointntprocess,theCentristPartyunveiledanominationcommitteemadeupoffigurespossessingbothexperienceandfreshness.
Withintheparty,manyexpectedthisappointnttogreatlystrengthentheCentristParty’scompetitivenessintheupcomingelectionandhelpselectcandidatescapableofrespondingtothediversedemandsofthepublic.
avingovercointernalconflictthroughthepartyleader’sactivediation,theCentristPartywasnowpreparingtostandbeforethepubliconceagaininaunitedandstableform.
PoliticalcirclesandthepublicalikewerenowcloselywatchingwhatkindofchangestheCentristPartywouldshowthroughthisnominationcommitteeappointntandwhatresultsitwouldachieveinthecomingelection.
readtherelatedarticleprintedonpagetwoofKoryeoDaily.
thadn’tbeenresolvedperfectly,butitlookedliketheyhadreachedsokindofcompromise.
“Still,that’sarelief.”
hepartyleaderhadn’tactuallysteppedintosolvethingspersonally,butthefactthatitwasbeingreportedthatwaywouldbenefitMyungsooaswell.
Ascontinuedreadingthenewspaper,mygazesuddenlystoppedatthelistofnominationcommitteembers.
[CentristPartyannouncesnominationcommitteeappointnts.]
Aheadoftheupcomingelection,therulingCentristPartyannouncedtheformationofanewnominationcommittee.
ProfessorKimyunsik,aforrKoreaationalUniversitylawprofessorwhohadoncentoredFlooreadereeMyungsooduringhisuniversityyears,wasappointedchairmanofthenominationcommittee.hecommittee,composedofnineadditionalmbers,wasexpectedtodeterminethefuturedirectionoftheparty.
ChairmanKimyunsikwasknownasafigurepossessingprofoundacademicknowledgeinthefieldoflawaswellasextensivepracticalexperience.
eandFlooreadereeMyungsoofirsttasprofessorandstudentatKoreaationalUniversityawSchoolandhadmaintainedantor-and-nteerelationshipformanyyears.
ChairmanKimyunsikstated,“willleadtheCentristParty’snominationprocessfairlyandtransparentlytoincreasetheparty’scredibilityandbringitclosertothepeople.”
heremainingcommitteembersconsistedofexpertsfromvariousfieldsandfiguresrepresentingdifferentsectorsofsociety.Specifically...
hewordsafterthatnolongerenteredmyeyes.
couldn’ttakemygazeoffKimyunsik’sphotograph.
‘ProfessorKimyunsikbecathenominationcommitteechairman?’
ProfessorKimyunsikwasarespectedprofessor.respectedhimaswell.
ecertainlywastherightpersontooverseenominationsaccordingtoprinciplesandrules.
Buthewasn’tthekindofpuppetwhowouldcarryouteverythingeeMyungsoowanted.
pressedthebuttonbesideandcalledforManagerMa.
“Youcalledfor?”
“Manager.ContactProfessorKimyunsik.o,ChairmanKimyunsikofthenominationcommittee.ellhim’dliketopayhimavisitsoti.etknowoncethescheduleisarranged.”
“Understood.”
AftergivingManagerMatheinstruction,beganreadingthenewspaperagain.
Butnotasinglewordenteredmyhead.
ntheend,foldedthenewspapershutandstoodupbeforewalkingtowardthewindow.
Afewdayslater.
visitedProfessorKimyunsik’sho.
elivedinanold,worn-downapartntthatwashardtobelievebelongedtosoonewhohadspentdecadesasaprofessor.
hemontgotoutofthecar,headedstraightinsidetheapartntbuilding.
Kimyunsiklivedonthefifthfloorofanoldbuildingwithoutanelevator.
Whenrangthebell,thedooropened.Anelderlywomanwithwhitehairanswered.
“ello,ma’am.”
“Who...?Ah,KimMuhyuk!”
tseedsheremberedmyfaceaswellbecausesheimdiatelycalledoutmyna.
“t’sbeenalongti.aveyoubeenwell?”
slightlybowedmyheadpolitely.
“fcourse.sitalrightifcallyouKimMuhyuk?”
“fcourse.Pleasefeelcomfortable.”
Shenodded,thenhergazeshiftedtowardManagerMastandingbehind.
isimposingappearanceseedtoputheronguard.
“Manager.Pleasewaitoutside.”
“Yes.Understood.”
eavingManagerMaoutside,steppedintotheapartnt.
ProfessorKimyunsikhadbeenlookingoversodocunts.
“oney.Wehaveaguest.”
Kimyunsikloweredthepapershehadbeenreading,removedhisglasses,andlookedat.
“KimMuhyuk!t’sbeenalongti.”
“Yes,Professor.t’sbeentoolong.”
“Professor?quitlastyear.”
“Really?apologize.failedtokeepup.”
“hat’sfine.Coinsidefirst.”
Withasimplesmile,Kimyunsikledintohisstudy.
hestudywassmallerthanexpected.owever,thebookshelveswerepackedwithallkindsofbooks.
tfeltlikesteppingintoawell-maintainedusedbookstorethathadbeencarefullytendedformanyyears.
Wesatfacingeachotherataroundtable.Becausethestudyitselfwassosmall,itfelttightlypacked.
iswifeplacedsosimplefruitanddrinksonthetablebeforeleavingandquietlyshuttingthedoorbehindher.
lookedatthedarkbarleyteaplacedbeforeKimyunsikandsmiled.
“Youhaven’tchanged.”
“Atmyage,theysayifapersonsuddenlychanges,itansdeathisnear.”
Kimyunsiksaidthataftertakingasipofbarleytea.
“’vebeenhearingnewsaboutyoufromallovertheplace,Muhyuk.”
“sthatso?”
“venthoughknowyou’redoingwell,stillregretsothingfromtitoti.Yougivingupthebarexambackthen.”
“Attheti,onlyneededthetitleofsoonewhopassedthefirststageofthebarexam.twasrelyonesteptowardthepathactuallywanted.”
Suddenly,moriesofmyuniversitydayssurfaced.
WhenKimyunsiklearnedthatwasn’tplanningtotakethefullbarexam,herepeatedlycalledinundertheexcuseoffacultycounselingandtriedtopersuade.
Andeverysingleti,heplacedacupofstrongbarleyteainfrontof.
“heviciousnessinyoureyeshasfadedabitnow.”
“Doesitlookthatway?”
“fcourse.Backthen,youreyeswereterrifying.didn’tknowthereasonattheti,butasyearspassed,eventuallycatounderstanditsowhat.So,areyousatisfiednow?”
“Yes.’mlivingalife’msatisfiedwith.”
“hat’sgood,then.”
Kimyunsikletoutaquietchuckle.alsotookasipofthebarleyteabeforeasking:
“neverexpectedyoutoaccepttheoffertobeconominationcommitteechairman.”
“didn’texpectiteither.”
“Mayaskwhyyouaccepted?”
“Why?Whatimportancedoesthathave?Representativeeecatoandaskedtotaketheposition.simplyaccepted.”
“You’renotsoonewhowouldmanipulatenominationsthewayMyungsoowants.”
Kimyunsikburstintoloudlaughter.
“hat’sright.Representativeeecatoand{•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t}saidthis:‘wantnothing.Pleasehandlethenominationsfairlyandimpartiallywithintheestablishedrules.’”
hadheardMyungsoosaysothingsimilarbefore.
MostoftheremainingcommitteemberswerepeoplechosenbyMyungsoo.
omatterhowmuchauthoritythechairmanpossessed,iftherestofthecommitteetrulyintendedtoshakethingsup,theyabsolutelycould.
“...omatterwhatresultscoout,therewillbepeoplewhoattackyou.Youdon’tintendtoenterpoliticsyourself,doyou?”
“Whydoyouthinkthat?”
“Becausetheprofessorknowwouldneverbecoapolitician.”
Kimyunsiklaughedheartilyagainandnodded.
“ahaha.hat’sright.havenointentionofenteringpolitics.simplyintendtodoasRepresentativeeewishes.”
“venifthatpositionbecosnothingmorethanacrownofthorns?”
“hat’sright.”
tseedtherelationshipbetweenMyungsooandKimyunsikrandeeperthanhadexpected.
Ashesitatedtospeak,Kimyunsikspokefirst.
“Representativeeesaidsothinginteresting.”
nodded.
“esaidthatthisnominationprocesshastobetransparentandfairiftheywanttowinnextyear’spresidentialelectioninalandslide.”
slowlynodded.
“intendtothoroughlyexamineeventhepeopleRepresentativeeerecomnds.Andifsoonegoesagainstthenominationrulesormyownjudgnt,’llcutthemdownwithouthesitation.”
“Doyouthinkthat’strulygoodforMyungsoo?”
“tis.don’tknowexactlywhatkindofpoliticsRepresentativeeewants.Butthereissothingcanhelphimwith.fcompletethesenominationsaccordingtomyconvictions,wouldn’tthathelphimgreatly?”
SoheaccepteditforMyungsoo’ssake.
istonewascalm,butitbelongedtosoonewhoclearlyunderstoodwhathehadtodo.
“see.fyoucarryoutthenominationsaccordingtoyourprinciples,mostoftheparasiteswillgetweededout.”
“believethat’sexactlywhatRepresentativeeewants.”
versincebecomingaationalAssemblymber,countlesspeoplehadgatheredaroundMyungsoo.
aturally,thereweremanywhoremainedbyhissidesolelyforpoliticalprofit.
o,perhapstherewereevenmorepoliticalschersthangenuineallies.
Becausenomatterhowthoroughlyhefilteredpeopleout,sooneinMyungsoo’spositioncouldnevercompletelyeliminatethemall.
‘Sothat’swhyheplanstouseProfessorKimyunsikasablade.’
couldtellMyungsoohadmadeamajordecision.
ehadchosenProfessorKimyunsikasabladecapableofcuttingdownevenhisowncloseassociates.
Afterall,opposingKimyunsik—thentorofbothMyungsooandJangSeokhyeon—wouldnotbeeasy.
“understandnow.hankyou.”
slightlyloweredmyhead.
Kimyunsikhadnoobligationtoclearupmydoubts.
Yetheansweredmyquestionssincerely.
“o,no.twasniceseeingyouagainaftersolong.Yourotherfriendscotovisitoccasionally.”
herewasaslighthintofreproachinhisvoice,makingsmileawkwardly.
“apologize.Allcandoismakeexcusesaboutbeingbusy.”
Afterthat,spentquitealongtitalkingwithKimyunsik.
Andneartheendofourconversation,hegaveapieceofadvice.
“Muhyuk.”
“Yes,Professor.”
“fyoutrulycareaboutRepresentativeee,thenstophelpinghimwithhiswork.”
Withoutrealizingit,furrowedmybrow.ButKimyunsikshowednosignofdiscomfortandcontinuedspeakinggently.
“don’tknowpoliticswell.Butafteracceptingthisnominationcommitteeposition,thenaheardmostoftenwasn’tanyoneelse’s.twasyours.”
“......”
“hat’snotagoodthing.Representativeeeneedstostandonhisownstrengthforeveryonetotrulyacknowledgehim.”
“know.hatit’sabouttifortostepback.”
Kimyunsiknodded.
“Yes.Yourshadowistoodark.t’stiforhimtostepoutfrombeneathit.Andwithnextyear’spresidentialelectionapproaching,isn’tthistheperfecttiming?”
“Yes.”
“Don’ttakeoffense.’msayingthisbecausecareaboutbothyouandRepresentativeee.”
“’mnotoffended.”
Checkingtheclock,spoke.twastitoendtheconversation.
“shouldgetgoing.haveanotherappointnt.’llcovisityoufromtitotifromnowon.”
“here’snoneedforthat.Aren’tyoubusierthananyone?”
“Yourwordshelpedgreatlytoday,Professor.’llvisitoccasionallyandseekyourguidance.”
hadoriginallyvisitedhimbecauseofthenominationcommitteechairmanposition,buttherestofhisadvicehadalsobeenimnselyhelpful.
Atmywords,Kimyunsiksmiledwithsatisfaction.
“’mgladitwashelpful.”
stoodfrommyseatandbowedmyhead.
“fanythingdifficultevercosup,pleasecontactanyti.’lldomybesttohelp.”
“aha.Atmyage,whatkindofhelpwouldevenneed?”
Kimyunsiklightlywavedhishand,thinkingitwasjustapoliteformality.
Butknewhowhislateryearswouldend.
“venso.fanythinghappens,pleasecontact.”
“Alright.understand.”
leftthestudy,greetedhiswife,andsteppedoutside.
Aftercomingdowntothefirstfloor,lookedupatKimyunsik’sapartntforamont.
twasoldandmodest,butitwasagoodhofilledwiththewarmthofordinarypeople.
“Manager.”
“Yes.”
“ProfessorKimyunsik’sgrandsonshouldbeattendingyeonggiighSchoolrightnow.isnaisKimJunhyeok.eshouldbeeighteenyearsold.o,maybeseventeen.”
“Yes.”
“Anyway,lookintothatkid’sactivities.”
Kimyunsikwasdestinedtofallintoruinbecauseofhisgrandson.
fcourse,itwouldn’thappenimdiately.
nlyyearslaterwoulditbecoknowntotheworld,andbecauseofthat,Kimyunsik’sreputationwouldcollapse.
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