The middle-class voters who were interested in politics found it difficult to judge Lee Sung Joon.
Before the coup, Lee Sung Joon seed like a person who longed for Western-style reforms and aid for democracy.
"A sensible person like General Lee should lead this country."
After the coup, Lee Sung Joon was a typical authoritarian ruler who advocated developntal dictatorship.
"See. When a military man grabs power, he becos Park Han-jin."
Before and after the counter-coup, Lee Sung Joon showed the ignorance unique to military dictators who gave a taste of iron-fisted rule.
"A bastard worse than Park Han-jin."
And now, he says he will implent 'Korean-style democracy'.
People were montarily confused by the word 'democracy'.
It was also the effect that the original world's Park Chung-hee aid for.
"What's so special about democracy? It's democracy to recomnd soone through procedures."
*****I decided to prepare to run for Pri Minister in order to gain the legitimacy of the regi and also use the packaging of democracy.
I wanted to beco Pri Minister now because, as I materialized the ideology, I felt the need to refine the appearance.
Of course, I didn't intend to beco Pri Minister by giving the people the right to vote.
Nor was I going to go up there receiving applause from sothing like the National Assembly.
"Your Excellency. Then how do you intend to beco Pri Minister?"
"Wouldn't it look good to beco Pri Minister through a parliantary vote?"
"But there's a one in ten thousand chance, you know."
"You have a point too."
There was nothing special about a parliantary vote.
If the Defense Security Command just had the weaknesses of the lawmakers, getting votes was easier than eating cold porridge.
Still, just in case, we decided to make 'this kind of constitutional andnt'.
"Prepare for the Military Revolutionary Committee to nominate 1/4 of the lawmakers."
The thod of the military nominating lawmakers was exactly the sa as that taken by the Yushin regi or the military in Thailand and Myanmar.
This way, 1/4 of the votes were virtually guaranteed on the spot.
If we entice 1/3 of the remaining lawmakers?
Then half is unconditionally guaranteed.
Half ans being elected.
This is how I built the 'foundation for permanent rule'.
The current Pri Minister Roh Jae-Woo and the Daejeong Party agreed to fully cooperate with this constitutional andnt.
Persuasion was not difficult, as they promised to share the seats of lawmakers nominated by the Military Revolutionary Committee.
While 'Yushin' was being prepared under the surface, there was also a statent of support from the military.
"Finally, our leader General Lee Sung Joon has made the brave decision to lead this country from the front. Now, we must lend our strength to the General's steps with a united voice and pave the way for him. How about we all pledge our loyalty to the General here?"
"Yes, I agree."
Amidst the applause of the generals, the military unanimously expressed their support for .
Although nominally the military had no authority to nominate the Pri Minister, the lawmakers had no choice when such blatant pressure was exerted.
On September 5, 1940, the constitutional andnt was announced.
Even the Yushin Constitution took a year to prepare, but we finished the work in just one month.
In fact, since it had the appearance of a constitutional democracy in form, there wasn't much to revise.
As a result of the andnt, our laws beca much worse than before.
However, the substantial parts improved a bit.
Still, it's better for the Pri Minister to be in charge of military command than the Army Chief of Staff or his deputy, both in appearance and plausibility.
Imdiately after the andnt, Pri Minister Roh Jae-Woo issued an order to dissolve the parliant.
We appointed the Young Officers Party lawmakers, who were the military's share, according to the new constitution.
And an election was held for the remaining 3/4 of the seats.
Since the election ga in Korea itself was so unfair, the Daejeong Party, the previous largest party, once again took most of the seats.
When the seats of the Daejeong Party and the Young Officers Party were combined, it showed a more serious party bias than when the Daejeong Party dominated alone before.
It turned out well.
If there was a chance of anding the constitution one more ti, the more lawmakers, the better.
Of course, if there was a shortage of lawmakers, we could put incumbent lawmakers in prison to match the ratio, but it was best to avoid such a move if possible.
On September 10, in the election held in the parliant, candidate No. 1 Lee Sung Joon won 284 out of 300 votes and was elected Pri Minister.
"Your Excellency Pri Minister! Congratulations."
"Your Excellency, congratulations."
I first received greetings from the Young Officers Party lawmakers who were sitting in their seats in military uniforms.
Then, I shook hands with the Daejeong Party lawmakers who approached .
Now the Empire has sowhat taken the form of a proper nation.
Whether it was yesterday or today, it was the sa in that it was a democratic country in appearance, but there was a big difference between whether the head of governnt wore a military uniform or not.
"Congratulations on Your Excellency, the Pri Minister's inauguration."
In the afternoon, congratulatory ssages from ambassadors of various countries arrived.
Among them was one sent by Germany's dictator Adolf Hitler.
"I congratulate Your Excellency Pri Minister on your inauguration and hope that Germany and Korea will build a close friendship as before."
I replied with a smile to the letter delivered by Ambassador Eugen Ott.
"Korea also wants to get along well with Germany."
In fact, it's a lie.
Even if we're on a roll now, it's clear that if we join hands with the damn Nazis who are bound to self-destruct soon, we'll be isolated from the whole world.
Just look at Franco, he almost died after the war, but didn't he survive thanks to the Cold War?
Judging from the attitude of the German ambassador today, it wouldn't be surprising if Germany contacts us again soon.
Maybe this Hitler bastard will tempt us to help him attack the Soviet Union.
Of course, no matter what conditions he offers, I have no intention of joining hands with Hitler.
I don't even have enough energy to modernize the motherland, so why would I bother to wage a war?
Even if I absolutely have to go to war, it should be a minimal investnt to gain a foothold in the postwar world.
After finishing the ambassador's audience, I prepared for a speech to the nation.
"Dear citizens. This is Lee Sung Joon, elected as the Pri Minister of the Korean Empire."
I kept my voice cold and firm.
If I took a friendly position in public, there could be those who take lightly.
That would be troubleso.
Although I formally took the position of Pri Minister, it was beneficial for my status to maintain the strict military image.
At first, I explained why I had to beco the Pri Minister.
"For the past 3 years, the National Salvation Military Committee I led has been working hard for the modernization of the fatherland in various parts of the Empire and has achieved results. However, there are still many shortcomings. There were many things that couldn't be done from a position wearing a military uniform."
Of course, it was a complete lie.
Power doesn't care about the shape of the uniform.
I was the Army Chief of Staff in na only, but I was a dictator who manipulated all the power institutions of this country as I wished.
What I changed now was nothing more than a business card.
But the world looks at things differently depending on the packaging.
I also sat in the Pri Minister's seat aiming for such an effect.
"That's why I ran for Pri Minister. Fortunately, thanks to the representatives of the people giving a chance, this lacking Lee Sung Joon has been able to serve you."
I say serve, but in reality, it's rule.
Who would receive service from ?
Even the Emperor can't do that.
"For the next 5 years. This Lee Sung Joon will try to change the Empire greatly. I will innovate the country to the point where the word Yushin will co out. I will protect Korea from the storms of the World War. Please trust this person, Lee Sung Joon, just once."
This was a promise without any falsehood.
Protecting the Empire was the sa as protecting myself, so it couldn't be a lie.
If we don't innovate amidst the storm of the World War, we won't survive, so this was also not a lie.
Right after the broadcast, I had the Defense Security Command check the people's reactions.
The reactions were mixed.
The urban middle class who had their expectations betrayed by ,
"Are we going to trust a military dictator again?"
The rural areas that were steadily enjoying the fruits of rural modernization,
"General Lee Sung Joon will do well for us. Yup."
The poor,,
"The General says he'll change the country, so we should trust him once."
Expectation and doubt, goodwill and hostility, trust and distrust intersected.
However, gaining the support of the entire nation was not an easy task even for a dictator.
Even Russia's dictator Putin only received 70% support from 140% of the people.
If even a seasoned dictator of over 20 years like Putin has a batting average of only half, who am I to expect a higher approval rating than that?
I did not harbor such delusions.
I just needed enough approval rating to stably maintain the regi.
In the first place, my support base was not the people, but the military.
As long as I held the barrels that produced power, I only needed enough control to prevent the barrels from turning towards my head.
"Your Excellency. You don't have to worry too much about the people's reactions. No matter how well you treat them, there will always be those who are dissatisfied."
"I know that too. Anyway, you should also take off your military uniform and join the cabinet soon."
Kim Sung-joo was surprised by my suggestion.
"You an ?"
"Yes. I'm thinking of giving you the position of Army Chief of Staff, what do you think?"
"How could I dare to do that?"
The Army Chief of Staff was the top position in the previous military regi.
"I'm telling you to do it, so what's the problem? Will you do it or not?"
"I will wholeheartedly assist Your Excellency."
"Then, that's enough."
I heavily appointed comrades from the previous revolution to key positions in the military regi.
Such nepotistic appointnts undermined ritocracy, but there was no choice.
If you don't want to get couped, you have to use your close aides, what can you do?
By carrying out the cabinet appointnts, I announced the beginning of our style (Lee Sung Joon style) of democracy.
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