A Gate Opened On My First Day As A Politician - Chapter 1: I Lost My Job (1)

“What? Hah, I didn’t see him like that…”

Representative Yang Pan-seok, sitting in the back seat, frowned deeply. I carefully turned the steering wheel, doing my best not to disturb him.

“Yeah, I got it. For now, don’t mention this to anyone. No need to create a mess.”

Click.

The old man hung up and tossed his phone aside.

I am this man’s secretary. Although, it’s more accurate to say I’m his driver.

Therefore, I knew quite a bit about Yang Pan-seok.

A three-term Democratic Party lawmaker.

He hits people if you talk about his baldness.

He doesn’t put sugar in his coffee.

He avoids making enemies even if it means taking a loss.

He’s now starting to be considered one of the senior members of the party.

Of course, that last part was the most important. His position as chairman of the nomination committee proved it.

The nomination committee chairman is a weighty position that decides who will run in elections. Although it’s not solely his decision, he has substantial power in this role, enough to crush a faction if he has support.

Also, he’s a slender man in his sixties, so there are constant concerns about his health. He dislikes overt shows of concern but appreciates subtle gestures of care.

He’s also the type who prefers you to ask him what’s wrong when he’s in a bad mood.

“Is something wrong, sir?”

“The guy we were going to field in Tongyeong-Goseong was picked up by the police. It seems the Republican Party smelled something and is gearing up to tear into it.”

With great power comes great responsibility. Yang Pan-seok, as the head of nominations, would bear the blame for issues arising during the nomination process. He let out a weary sigh.

“Sigh. Seeing something like this happen the day before candidate registration, it seems like someone set this up. Either the Republicans, or some damn spy in the Democratic Party who hates me.”

“Don’t be too disheartened, sir. After all, isn’t Tongyeong-Goseong a Republican stronghold? There’s no way a Democrat would win in a port city in Gyeongsangnam-do.”

“…That’s not much of a comfort.”

“Heh, just think of it as spilled milk.”

Yang Pan-seok shook his head with a smirk.

“In this field, things expand or shrink as we want them to. If the Republican candidate wins by default, what will people think of me?”

“Really?”

“I’d lose public support for not even putting up a fight, and they’d blame me for a lousy nomination process. Is my becoming the party leader that unappealing?”

“Politicians with integrity tend to have many enemies.”

“Stop the flattery.”

“I’m serious.”

“You brat…”

Though he can be prickly, he isn’t a twisted old man, so work is relatively comfortable. He’s also got a warm side.

“Oh, come to think of it, are you from Tongyeong?”

“Yes, sir. I grew up eating fish.”

‘See? He even knows where his secretary’s hometown is. Although, he probably checked my background to see if I was trustworthy. Still, he takes care of me, so I don’t mind.’

“…You went to a good university, didn’t you?”

“Hehe…”

“Where did you go to elementary, middle, and high school?”

“T-Tongyeong, sir.”

“A local, huh.”

For some reason, a bad feeling crept over me. Yang Pan-seok was, after all, the chairman of the nomination committee. The Democratic Party candidate had just been arrested, and if the Republican Party candidate were to win uncontested, it would surely create a scandal.

“Han Seung-Moon.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever thought of running?”

I quickly put my mind to work. Yang Pan-seok wants me to run for the National Assembly. Because if we don’t field a candidate and the other side wins by default, it’ll look bad for him.

Of course, the port city of Tongyeong-Goseong in Gyeongsangnam-do is a Republican stronghold. There’s no way in hell a Democrat would win.

In other words, he’s throwing me into a losing battle to avoid bearing the responsibility as chairman of the nomination committee.

Now, let’s consider the consequences I’d face.

To register as a candidate, I have to pay a 15 million won deposit. If I don’t get over 15% of the votes, I won’t get that money back.

If that happens then I’m screwed.

Also, if I want a pension, I need to serve 20 years as a government employee. To register as a candidate, I’ll have to quit my job as a seventh-grade public servant, losing the four years I’ve built up. And whether or not Yang Pan-seok would take me back after the election is uncertain.

Would I be willing to bet my job and 15 million won for Yang Pan-seok?

Conclusion: the quicker I answer, the better.

All this reasoning took less than a second. I replied in the calmest voice possible.

“Yes, I’ll do it.”

Either way, if I upset him, I’ll be fired. Ironically, Yang Pan-seok looked more taken aback than I was, tilting his head with a puzzled expression.

“Are you answering without thinking?”

“No.”

“Then why did you agree?”

“Uh… because you told me to?”

Better to demonstrate loyalty.

“……”

Silence filled the car, and I swallowed dryly while trying to maintain a composed demeanor. I avoided even glancing at the rearview mirror to make sure I didn’t meet his gaze.

“Well, well. I didn’t expect you to be so shrewd.”

Hearing a meaningful line, I cautiously glanced at Yang Pan-seok’s face through the mirror.

He was smiling, like a grandfather doting on his grandchild.

“Han Seung-Moon.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Unlike today’s youngsters, you’ve got a bit of charm.”

“A-Ahahaha…”

—

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Ow! What!”

“Fifteen million won? Fifteen million won? You… insane idiot…!”

Yeo Do-yeon hurled a pillow at me. With her already intimidating appearance, she looked genuinely furious.

“Noona!”

“Don’t ‘Noona’ me. You’re not my brother anymore.”

“Just lend me five million won!”

“Get lost. Please.”

I clung to my cousin’s leg. We’re both from Gyeongsangnam-do and share an apartment in Seoul.

“You have money…”

“In my 28 years, the only time you ever paid me back was that 500 won you borrowed to buy a chick when you were eight.”

“I came in second in the last competition, though…”

She’s an MMA fighter. She plays rough, just as she looks.

“I gave all the prize money to Mom.”

“Then can you ask your mom for a little…?”

“Are you seriously asking my mom for a loan after she paid for your tuition?”

“Uh, I went to school on a scholarship.”

“Well…! …Good for you.”

When I was 15, I lost my parents in a car accident.

I ended up with a prosthetic for my left ankle.

And I lived with my only relatives, my aunt and her family.

Both my aunt and uncle were nice and had been close to my family even before the accident. Since my aunt was a lawyer, she even covered my college tuition.

With a prosthetic leg, I got into a prestigious university through a disability admission program and received scholarships out of gratitude to my aunt and uncle. That’s why Do-yeon and I are like real siblings.

“So, just five million…”

She silently raised her middle finger.

“You know you’re going to end up lending it to me anyway. It’s not like you won’t get it back!”

“Do you have any guarantee you’ll get 15% of the votes?”

“Are you underestimating the Democratic Party just because it’s Gyeongsangnam-do?”

“But your opponent is some regional heavyweight, isn’t he?”

Right. My opponent, a Republican candidate, was a local bigwig with four terms in office, practically glued to the seat. Realistically, I had no chance of winning.

“It’s not a fight I intend to win.”

“What?”

“Sometimes, a man has to fight even when he knows he’ll lose.”

– Whack!

She kicked me lightly on the cheek. The slap stung. It was humiliating, but there was no reason to let pride get in the way of money and connections.

“Nice kick.”

“Get lost.”

“Do you have any idea how valuable it is to gain favor from a three-term nomination committee chairman as his seventh-grade secretary, not just his driver?”

Winning this election wasn’t the point. I was showing Yang Pan-seok that I was willing to put up 15 million won and my seventh-grade public servant position for him.

“If I get in his good graces, I can rise to a fifth-grade secretary, and if I hold out a bit longer, even a fourth-grade aide. Either way, I’ll lose my job if I annoy Yang, and I’ll almost certainly get the deposit back. Isn’t this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?”

Do-yeon stared at me blankly.

“I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”

“Oh, come on…”

She scowled, then muttered,

“…When do you need it by?”

“I really love you, Do-yeon—”

“Shut up.”

“Okay.”

I grinned and poured Do-yeon a glass of McCol. She arrogantly accepted the cup I handed her, then asked,

“When do you need it?”

“Uh, the candidate registration deadline is tomorrow…”

I smiled brightly.

“Today?”

That day, I learned all the techniques Do-yeon uses in the ring.

—

It wasn’t a lack of fifteen million won that had me borrowing money.

Since I was exempt from military service due to my ankle, I saved two years and started working early. With my degree and connections, I’d earned quite a bit while working as Yang Pan-seok’s driver.

The problem was the election campaign. To impress Yang Pan-seok, I needed to show that I wouldn’t slack off, even in a losing battle for the Democratic Party.

I needed to demonstrate dedication to the party.

Renting campaign vehicles, meals for campaign workers, copyright fees for campaign songs, and so on.

One hundred million won would disappear easily.

Thankfully, I was only pretending to run a campaign, not running a serious one. If I’d gone all-in…

Supporter bonuses for delegates and party members, text message campaigns, election banners, opening ceremonies, business cards, phone promotions, office rental fees for the campaign and vehicle rentals.

It would’ve cost five hundred million won. One hundred million was a relief.

Still, I was pouring in all my savings. If Yang Pan-seok hadn’t quietly slipped me an extra thirty million won, I would’ve really struggled.

All things considered, I was actually a decent candidate. Even Yang Pan-seok was pleased, saying I was set up quite nicely.

Graduated from Tongyeong schools, a prestigious university, disabled, young.

A character perfectly suited to the Democratic Party.

Seeing that I wasn’t just passively standing for office with a fifteen-million-won registration fee but actually investing everything into my campaign, even the party leadership got excited and sent a few people to support me.

At the education office in Jukrim-ri, Tongyeong, I gave a speech about youth and disability education (a Democratic Party favorite) and, sweating profusely, plopped down by the fountain to catch my breath.

Being a hardcore Republican-supporting city, some elders occasionally cursed at me as they passed, but I wasn’t running to win; I was running to impress the Democratic Party.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

“Oh! Uncle!”

“Here, eat something. It’s your favorite tuna rice ball.”

“Shouldn’t we share it…”

“I already gave it to everyone here. This one’s just for you.”

My warmhearted, teddy bear-like uncle from Busan handed me a tuna rice ball. He’s a gruff Busan man who lives under the thumb of his strong-willed wife and daughter.

“How’d you know I was here?”

“I asked the staff at your office.”

“So you actually went there and then came here?”

“Nah, I just called and asked.”

Judging by the half-smashed rice ball, he had clearly gone to the office and then come all the way here. It was a rice ball filled with love and care.

I smiled contentedly and replied,

“So why didn’t Aunt come?”

“You little punk. Why would a lawyer come here?”

“Oh, come on, your nephew’s campaigning. She couldn’t spare the time?”

“Enough with the nonsense…”

“No heart, no empathy, a corporate lawyer with no soul! A blood-sucking mosquito who feasts on fees! A person the Democratic Party despises!”

My aunt worked at a large law firm. She was a professional at covering up for big companies.

Apparently, whoever stirred up this whole scandal briefly mentioned her in an attempt to attack Yang Pan-seok, but it was such a minor issue that Yang had told them to shove it.

My uncle gave me a mischievous grin as he handed me an envelope.

“Here. Cold, heartless money from your aunt.”

“Oh, come on! Pulling that out here, in front of everyone, makes me look terrible!”

“Just take it, you punk. Don’t pull your hand back.”

“Agh! This! Violation of campaign finance laws!”

“Shut up. When parents give allowance to their kids, how’s that illegal?”

With a playful jab to my stomach, my Busan uncle shoved the envelope into my pocket. He wiped the sweat from my face with a handkerchief.

“You’re working hard.”

“…Thanks.”

“Your mom and dad would’ve been proud.”

He smiled as though he had the whole world.

For a brief moment, it felt a bit pathetic that I was working so hard to impress someone. But I didn’t even have time for such thoughts; life was just busy.

“…Ah! A, Assemblyman! Assemblyman!”

The Democratic Party’s campaign manager came rushing toward me, sweating and panting as he clutched my shoulder.

“Hah! A-Ah! A, Assemblyman!”

“I’m just a candidate. Please, lower your voice a bit…”

“No! I mean, uh, what’s it called…”

It was the best day of my life.

“The Republican Party congressman got arrested for campaign finance violations!”