The Former Chaebol Heir Excels as President Chapter 35 : Election Campaign (1)

Chapter 35: Election Campaign (1)

A quiet rural village in Hapcheon.

Under a zelkova tree that seed to be over a hundred years old, I sat with Jeon Seonghyeon and had a conversation.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“I’m just glad you rembered and ca to visit. It’s good to see you like this.”

“You’ve shown great courage. Thank you.”

“You’re a student I rember well. You were so good at studying but got called to the teachers’ office so often that I found it strange. After learning your circumstances, I realized how bold you really were. A great tree is different from the sprout.”

Jeon Seonghyeon smiled warmly at .

Though he was past sixty, the muscles he built from farming looked quite impressive.

“How’s work treating you?”

“Farming is a battle with weeds. Weeds steal nutrients and hinder the crops’ growth.”

“You must be busy.”

“People are the sa. If you keep letting weeds grow, they eventually beco poisonous.”

It sounded like a Zen riddle.

Was he giving advice because I was in politics?

“I believe you’re emphasizing decisiveness.”

“A politician wavering back and forth is a sin. It’s okay to fix the barn after losing the cow. What’s foolish is getting hit again without even doing that.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I took his words to an that I should reject indecisiveness and fix my mistakes when I made them.

Jeon Seonghyeon looked out over the field dyed green.

My gaze followed in that direction as well.

“I hope you beco a politician who practices love. Love the people, love the nation, and go further to love the world.”

“I’ll hold that in my heart.”

“We need to create a better world than now.”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

“If the people are foolish, the leader must make them smart. That is the mission of a leader.”

I didn’t quite understand what he ant.

Was he telling to beco an Enlightennt thinker?

Jeon Seonghyeon stood up.

“A re farr saying all sorts of things to soone destined for greatness.”

“Not at all. I feel like I’ll rember what you said soday.”

“That’s because you’re smart. Let’s go have a drink of makgeolli.”

“Thank you.”

Starting the day after tomorrow, the full-scale election campaign begins.

Today, I had co to et the teacher I respected most and hear his advice.

I walked over to the driver who was waiting up ahead.

“I’ll have a glass of makgeolli before we go.”

“Of course.”

“Please have your al at a nearby restaurant.”

“Yes.”

Jeon Seonghyeon’s house was a traditional tile-roofed ho full of old charm.

I sat on the wooden floor and drank makgeolli with him.

“This house is so peaceful. I like it.”

“Co visit whenever you want to rest. There are plenty of rooms.”

“Thank you.”

“I saw the opinion poll. You’re about 5% behind.”

“So you’ve seen it.”

The party had designated Yeongdeungpo as a strategic district and gave the sole nomination.

My opponent was Kim Bu-seong, a three-term mber of the National Assembly from the ruling party.

He campaigned on a redevelopnt pledge, aiming to win votes by promising to resolve long-standing local projects using governnt funding.

Currently, the opinion poll gap was widening.

“You can do it. The Kang Cheonmyeong I knew was a man of cobacks.”

“I don’t think it’ll be easy, but it’s not impossible either. I grew up in this area, so that gives so advantage.”

“Kim Bu-seong is a political powerhouse within the ruling bloc, so he’s not easy to beat. The public doesn’t look at character—they want soone strong. It’s foolish admiration.”

“I’m strong, too.”

“Ha ha. That’s the spirit.”

The makgeolli tasted great.

Drinking in an open space and breathing fresh air made the alcohol go down smoothly.

“Co to think of it, you seem to have grown just as you were back in school. Jeongseok too.”

“He was always soone I was curious about—what he would beco. I actually thought Jeongseok would go into politics.”

Ji Jeongseok had won the ‘Journalist of the Year’ award for his continuous reporting on civilian surveillance. However, in the end, he wasn’t able to expose those at the top.

“You two go well together.”

“He’s a good friend.”

“Do you happen to rember Ahn Jin-su? She was the short, chubby one.”

“Of course. I t her recently, too.”

“Did you? I wonder what she’s up to. She had such a selfless nature.”

“She graduated from a theological university and is now involved in civic activism. She’s deeply committed to changing this unequal society.”

Jeon Seonghyeon nodded silently.

Looking out over the plains dyed by the setting sun, we talked about everything—from our school days to the success in business.

We talked for quite a long ti.

I had to get up before darkness fell too deeply.

“Thank you for your words today, Teacher. I’ll make sure to get elected and co back to greet you.”

“If you want to work for the country, you’ve got to keep busy. Co visit when you feel tired.”

“Thank you.”

“Politics is done by the citizens. Never forget that the politician is just a representative.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

On the way ho.

Seeing my respected teacher had lightened my heart.

The day before the election campaign.

While I was sitting on the sofa reviewing the schedule, On-chan toddled over.

“Dad, wha doin’?”

After turning two, he could talk fairly well. Of course, his pronunciation wasn’t quite accurate yet.

“Reading a book.”

“Read for .”

Since I couldn’t read the schedule to him, I told him an old story instead.

“…The magistrate proposed to Kongjwi, and the two lived happily ever after.”

“More, more!”

On-chan begged for another story. My mind was so caught up in the election campaign that I couldn’t think of what else to tell him.

Just then, Woo Ah‑mi ca out.

“On-chan, it’s bedti. Mommy will read to you.”

“Okay.”

On-chan waved at and followed Woo Ah‑mi into the room.

I checked the schedule again.

At 6 a.m., I would greet commuters at Yeongdeungpo Station, then go to the market, followed by etings with various local groups at the campaign office.

In the afternoon, I’d visit the senior center, attend a local policy eting, and greet workers on their way ho.

The schedule was tight.

“Your eyes are burning with focus.”

Before I knew it, Woo Ah‑mi had sat beside .

“Huh? Is On-chan asleep?”

“He just fell asleep. He loves stories so much it’s exhausting.”

“It’s good for his imagination.”

Woo Ah‑mi looked over the schedule.

“That’s a lot. Do you think it’s doable?”

“My experienced aide made it, so I should be able to manage. He said this is already trimd down for a beginner like .”

“You’re going to get a nosebleed from both nostrils.”

“If I don’t give it my all, I won’t be able to accept the result.”

“You’ll do well. You’ve done great so far.”

Her words gave strength.

There was curiosity in Woo Ah‑mi’s eyes.

“How’s the polling trend?”

“The party classified this as a tight race and gave the data. The dia shows I’m trailing by about 5%, but the party’s numbers show a 7% gap.”

“Aren’t you anxious?”

“There are about 150,000 voters. If turnout is 60%, I only need 45,000 votes to win. I can turn it around.”

“Are you confident?”

“Of course.”

It was certainly a tough battle against a ruling party heavyweight.

Ji Jeongseok had said that every candidate, regardless of approval ratings, never gives up the dream of winning. Whether that was true or not, I still felt confident even if the polls showed falling behind.

Woo Ah‑mi asked seriously.

“Should I help?”

“You think you can?”

“I already got my face out there with the solo protest, so I’m not shy.”

An aide said that photos of the couple would look good and help the campaign.

Since this race might be decided by a few hundred votes, her help was needed.

“The aide ntioned that.”

“You have an aide?”

“Assemblyman Seong Chang-rae assigned one to .”

“What did they say?”

“They said elections are about image, so pictures of with you would have a good effect. The title of environntal activist helps too.”

“I’ll do whatever I can. I should also ask Mother-in-law to help. Since On-chan can express himself now, it won’t be too hard for her.”

“Are you really okay with this?”

“We must win!”

What a relief.

Woo Ah‑mi willingly stepped up to help.

On the night before my first election campaign, I couldn’t fall asleep easily.

* * *

“Hello. Have a great day.”

“Please vote for Kang Cheonmyeong, the hardworking man of Yeongdeungpo.”

The third floor connected to L Departnt Store.

The reason we chose this spot was because we could et many working-class people.

Two campaign staff stood at the top of the stairs, two more behind the entrance, and behind them, my aide and I stood greeting people.

At this early hour, people’s faces looked tired.

“Hello. I’m Kang Cheonmyeong, candidate number 2. I humbly ask for your support.”

I bowed at a ninety-degree angle. Most people passed by like a cow looking at a chicken, or a chicken looking at a cow.

Then, a woman who looked like an office worker approached .

“Oh my! Representative Kang Cheonmyeong!”

“Hello.”

“I heard you’re running in our district, and you really are! You look much better in person. Can I take a photo with you?”

“Yes.”

My aide took the woman’s mobile phone and snapped the picture.

I smiled brightly like a seasoned politician and made a ‘V’ sign.

For sothing so small.

The woman was thrilled.

“I’ll definitely vote for you. Do your best.”

“Thank you.”

She waved at , shouting “Fighting!” as she walked away.

My aide grinned.

“Candidate Kang, that was natural. Have you ever run in a student council election or sothing before?”

“No. Honestly, my head’s all over the place.”

“Most first-tirs get too nervous to speak. You seem born for this. You’re good at making eye contact, too.”

“I’ll give it my all.”

As ti passed, I had to admit this wasn’t easy.

A man made eye contact with and then spat on the ground, and an old man asked if I was part of a pro-North group.

And then, bluntly—

“Get lost, you thug! Who do you think you are running for Parliant!”

A middle-aged woman pointed at and hurled curses. My aide tried to stop her, but she kept screaming.

“How can a guy who beat people beco a politician! Apologize and withdraw right now!”

There were still people who believed I was a school violence perpetrator.

Just like Song Min-chae said, politics wasn’t about truth but about perception.

I’d already been warned by Assemblyman Seong Chang-rae that people would curse , so I wasn’t shocked.

Instead, I raised my voice.

“Please vote for ! I’ll show you how a successful businessman can transform this community!”

People on their way to work turned their eyes toward .

“I’m Kang Cheonmyeong, candidate number 2! I’ll do my best!”

“You’re so loud!”

“Such an annoying racket in the morning!”

“I’m sorry for the disturbance. I will beco a politician who revives people’s livelihoods. I always follow through!”

There were also people who gave strength.

“Kang Cheonmyeong, fighting!”

Even people who smiled at and flashed a V sign with their fingers.

Ti passed quickly.

Around 8:30, my aide spoke up.

“We’ll do this until 9, then head to the market.”

“Okay.”

Just then, a middle-aged man swaggered over.

“Give one of your na cards.”

“Thank you. I’m Kang Cheonmyeong. I’ll do my best.”

As soon as he took the na card, he threw it on the ground and stomped on it.

“A kid who still has blood on his head thinks he can do politics? You even look like so spoiled gigolo. Disgusting.”

I had anticipated eting soone like this.

I picked up the na card from the ground and smiled.

“Sir, please keep an eye on . I will never beco soone discarded like this na card. Thank you.”

The flustered man turned red and walked away, while my aide stared at in astonishnt.

“Candidate, you’re a political genius.”

“Am I?”

This was fun.

Almost too much so.