A Gate Opened On My First Day As A Politician - Chapter 45

A voice answered the order, and the warships, their sails fluttering in the wind, lined up as if forming a single platform. They moved back and forth, navigating freely.

Cao Cao, pleased with the sight of the drill, proudly boasted about Pang Tong’s strategy within the camp.
Jia Xu and Xun Yu asked him,

“Prime Minister Cao, we understand the ingenuity of turning naval warfare into land warfare by linking the ships together.

“But what if fire were to break out?”

Cao Cao responded,

“If the southeastern wind doesn’t blow, there’s no problem, you fools.”

— From Pansori The Battle of Red Cliffs

—

“No one dies alone. Remember that. We all know too much about each other, don’t we?”

“Are we strangers? None of us are clean, so running away without loyalty would be troublesome.”

As the panicked legislators foamed at the mouth, turning into rabid dogs, Yang Pan-seok stepped in to control the situation.

“Alright, alright. Everyone, calm down first. Let’s figure out how to handle this. Whether it’s through smoke screens or an ethics committee hearing…”

“E-Ethics Committee?”

Ethics Special Committee.

A special committee that could review a legislator’s qualifications and strip them of their badge.

“Representative Yang! Are you suggesting we get ourselves expelled!? Are you saying we should all go down together—”

“I’m saying we can stall for about a month by debating whether to open an ethics committee, then another month once it’s in session to gauge public sentiment and the political landscape.”

“If we drag it out, it’ll blow over.”

“A-Ah…! Ahahaha! Sorry! I got too worked up!”

“I understand that when the blood rushes to your head, it’s hard to think straight, but please calm down. Let’s put our heads together first. After all, isn’t the elite class in society standing united right now?”

“With how much we’ve all benefited together, do you really think the government won’t cover for us?”

No one gets a gold badge without a basic level of intelligence. Now that Yang Pan-seok had stabilized the situation, everyone seemed to be thinking more clearly.

“What if we frame the recordings as being manipulated?”

“Who would believe that?”

“Supporters don’t need reasons. They just need excuses. If we raise suspicions about fabrication, it’ll divide public opinion.”

The discussion began in earnest.

“The country is mostly run by the southern regions, isn’t it? The elderly population ratio is quite high there, so we should have an advantage in shaping public opinion.”

“With most of the young people dead and only the elderly left, won’t propaganda work better?”

Na Yoon-hee, the Republican Party’s Policy Committee Chair, frowned.

“No, I think we should refrain from taking action and adopt a very cautious stance. The public is extremely sensitive right now…”

“Parents who lost their children might express resentment, but they won’t take our side.”

“I also think we need to observe public sentiment more closely.”

“Agreed.”

By now, someone should have suggested cutting off the rotten part before it festers, but too many people were involved for anyone to fend for themselves.

They knew too many of each other’s weaknesses. In South Korea, politics without stains was nearly impossible.

Bribery, party power struggles, media manipulation, political-business collusion, budget allocations in standing committees, local district management, election candidate purges, presidential campaign fundraising—

Dirt accumulated naturally.
And because everyone had the means to destroy each other, no one dared to.

If one fell, they all did.

So, they had no choice but to hold onto their wounds and fight.

“First, why don’t we assess the situation with local governments and regulatory agencies?”

“Everyone knows my brother-in-law is the Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission, right? I’ll handle the media, who’s up next?”

“I’ll check on Honam.”

“The Mayor of Gwangju was someone I put in place when I was governor.”

“Hmm… I’ll make a few calls to the prosecution.”

“The prosecution is under my control.”

“Hmm, who’s the current Election Commission Chairman…?”

“Representative Yang Pan-seok, the current Chairman of the Election Commission is Lee Joo-hyung from the Supreme Court. Didn’t you place him in the Court Administration Office when you were a Justice? Maybe it’s time to call in that favor?”

“Well, hearing from government officials is good, but shouldn’t we also work on public sentiment…”

“That’s not the priority right now, you idiots.”

Yang Pan-seok cut off the discussion.

If they were going to fight while holding onto their wounds, the first priority was stopping the bleeding.

A former Democratic Party Supreme Council member backed him up.

“I agree. Right now, the public will naturally direct their anger towards the political sphere. Think back to when our Representative Han Seung-moon entered Apgujeong. The people, blinded by rage… Ah! Sorry for bringing up bad memories, Representative Han.”

[Translation: Seung-moon…]

“No, no, it’s fine.”

“Ahem. Anyway, the entire nation is looking for someone to blame. Do you think they’ll listen to our excuses?”

[Translation: Seung-moon…]

“So what, should we issue a collective condemnation statement?”

[Translation: Seung-moon…]

“That’ll backfire.”

[Translation: Seung-moon…]

“Damn it…”

[Translation: Seung-moon…]

They kept glancing at me as the conversation continued.

In the brief 0.3 seconds of eye contact, I could feel their desperation.

They trailed off, but I could almost hear their unfinished words.

“Whether we explain or apologize, the priority is calming public sentiment…”

Apparently, I was the only one who could do that.

“This is too big to ignore. The National Assembly must come forward to address it. The problem is political credibility…”

They wanted me to handle it with a press conference.

“We need to put out the immediate fire first…”

They wanted me to extinguish it.

I stammered, looking around with a flustered expression.

“Ah, no, I mean…”

“…Representative Han.”

The Republican Party’s Policy Committee Chair, seated beside me, firmly grasped my hand.

She was known as the queen of negative campaigning.

“The National Assembly needs to issue an official statement first. Could you contribute to shaping the message?”

“……”

“Divisive politics are not good for South Korea. Representative Han, you know this. You’re much younger than I am, but I always learn from you…”

“I trust you understand exactly what I mean.”

“……”

“The National Assembly must come together to overcome this crisis, don’t you think?”

“Ah, uh… yes. Yes. I understand.”

—

– Representative Han Seung-moon!

– This is Woo Joong-young from KBC!

– About the recent recording!

– This is Lee Jae-pal from SBM!

– Was the succession of proportional representatives deliberately blocked by the National Assembly!?

“Wait, I—one at a time, please—”

– There are claims that even the April general election was postponed!

– Representative Han Seung-moon!

– Please answer!

– Did you exclude them on purpose!?

– Is the National Assembly monopolizing power!?

-This is Kim Hyun-joong from JTBN!

“H-How about we take questions one at a time…”

– Representative Han Seung-moon!

– Is the National Assembly consolidating power!?

– A political collusion!?

– Is it true!?

– This is Kim Bong-jun from YTM!

– Representative Han Seung-moon!

– Were you involved!?

– Is the recording real!?

“W-Wait a moment. Please let me through.”

– Representative Han!

– Is the National Assembly turning into a dictatorship!?

– Please say something!

– Representative Han Seung-moon!

– What do you think about this political collusion!?

“Uh, about that… I can’t just—”

– Did you take part in the establishment’s collusion!?

– Y-YTN, Kim Bong-jun here!

– Was this a consensus among all lawmakers!?

– There are voices saying you betrayed the people!

“Ah, well, this is not the time for division, but rather… c-cooperation…”

– Please answer!

“A-Ah! Don’t hit me with the microphone! Ugh…!”

– Did you take part in this secret agreement!?

– The postponement of the April general election!

– The exclusion of proportional representatives!

– Did lawmakers intentionally suppress the people’s will!?

“Th-That’s…”

– Did lawmakers, who are supposed to represent the people, deliberately use unjust pressure to block candidates chosen by the people’s votes, all to monopolize power in the National Assembly!?

“O-Our Democratic Party, as well as the Republican Party, are both solely dedicated to serving the people…”

– Representative!

– Political collusion!

– Please answer!

– Were you involved!?

“Th-This is not a time for the people and the National Assembly to engage in division and hatred, but rather a time for unity and cooperation…”

– This is Reporter Gam Chul from Korea Newspaper. Are you suggesting a party merger!?

– “H-Huh? A merger?”

– Are the Republican and Democratic Parties merging!?

“That’s not it. I meant cooperation—”

– Has the ruling and opposition parties decided to merge!?

– Representative Han Seung-moon! A massive ruling party is forming! People already believe the party lines have lost meaning! Is this a merger!?

“The ruling and opposition parties exist solely for the people—”

– Is this a merger!?

– A merger!?

– Is this a Republican-Democratic Party merger!?

“T-That’s not it, but given the national crisis, I meant we should reduce partisan conflicts—”

– So, a behind-the-scenes merger was already finalized!?

“T-That’s not it, but discussions about cooperation—”

– How is that any different from collusion!?

“There was certainly talk about moving beyond partisanship.”

– When was the merger finalized!? Does democracy even mean anything anymore!?

– Representative Han Seung-moon! Did you acknowledge the merger!?

– This is Lee Joon-seok from YTBC! Please answer! Was the postponement of the April general election a result of this collusion!? Was the exclusion of proportional representatives a result of secret negotiations!? Did you betray the people!?

“It was just briefly mentioned in conversation, but I don’t know much about it!”

—

[Thirty-Six Stratagems
Stratagems for Confrontation

The 27th Stratagem
Feigning Madness Without Becoming Insane

Pretend to be foolish but do not go insane.]

—

Only two days had passed before the legislators reconvened.

“What the hell is this, Representative Han!?”

Public opinion had spiraled into madness.

The collusion within the National Assembly was now treated as fact. A flood of demands for explanations had erupted.

The people’s right to an election.

The people’s chosen proportional representatives.

And the lawmakers, who were supposed to represent the people, had blocked them.

And the worst part? It was all true.

They had done it so many times before, they had grown sick of it themselves.

With multiple scandals exploding at once, the very foundation of democracy was shaken.

Naturally, the lawmakers turned their rage toward me— the one who had ‘accidentally’ ignited the whole situation.

“There’s a limit to slip-ups! Are you trying to bring us all down!?”

“Ah, no…”

“Are you joking right now!?”

“I apologize.”

“You little brat! Seriously!”

One of the legislators—who had been hit the hardest by the recording leak— was red-eyed with rage, foaming at the mouth as he lunged at me.

Yang Pan-seok intervened.

“Calm down. What kind of disgraceful behavior is this?”

“Oh, so it was Representative Han who leaked the recordings, huh? No—Yang Pan-seok, did you order it!?”

“Hah… You’ve lost your mind. Completely.”

The enraged legislator yanked off his tie and threw it to the ground. His face turned beet red as he seethed with venomous rage.

“Shit! Are we all supposed to die together!?”

“Watch your language!”

“You—you son of a—!”

He ripped the watch from his wrist and hurled it to the floor. Glass shards and tiny components scattered across the ground.

“Hey! Han Seung-moon! What the hell are you going to do about this!?”

“W-Why are you acting like this!?”

“You don’t know!?”

“You little brat, still wet behind the ears! Who the hell do you think you’re trying to take down!?”

“Let go of me!”

He grabbed me by the collar. The man was built like a boulder, and as he lifted me up, my feet left the ground.

He brought his face close to mine, his voice dropping into a low growl. As a former prosecutor, his intimidation was bone-chilling.

“You little shit. Do you have a death wish?”

“Guh…! Gghk…!”

With my feet dangling off the ground, I was forced to stare into the furious, bloodshot eyes of a man on the brink.

“You. It was you, wasn’t it?”

Yang Pan-seok, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward and grabbed his wrist.

“Yoon Jae-sang.”

The grip on my collar froze.

“I don’t use words to defuse situations.”

“……”

“Try holding on a little longer. Let’s see what happens.”

His hand slowly released me.

I collapsed onto the chair, coughing as I wiped away the tears that had welled up involuntarily.

The man stormed back to his seat. His heavy footsteps echoed through the room.

A thick silence settled among the legislators.

Someone muttered under their breath.

“…For now, let’s just say that careless remarks made in a private gathering have caused concern among the public. We’ll convene an ethics committee. And announce that the April general election will proceed as scheduled. Then, we’ll all issue a public apology.”

No one objected.

There was no other option left.

“Whether we drag this out with an ethics committee or start preparing for election campaigns… for now, the people…”

“……”

“…Haa. Just get ready for the press conference.”

—

The day of the new press conference arrived.

Eleven lawmakers stood in a single line on the podium.

It must have felt like stepping onto a gallows because I was the one who put them there.

The journalists shouted over one another, their voices clashing in a chaotic storm. Activist groups, barely restrained, looked ready to throw objects.

We endured waves of anger and humiliation.

Someone had thrown an egg at me on the way here—my bangs were still damp.

The man from the recording stepped up to the microphone.

The sound of camera shutters clicked relentlessly. Flashbulbs exploded from every direction.

“…Good afternoon, citizens. I am Representative Yoon Jae-sang.”

The moment the press conference began, the uproar only intensified.

We stood in the hallway, lined up like scolded children, heads bowed in silence.

“Our society has fallen into chaos. Divisive politics, politics of hatred—these must come to an end.”

At that moment—

I loosened my tie and threw it to the ground.

Then, I strode off the podium.

“First and foremost, I would like to express my apologies to the public. Uh—R-Representative Han Seung-moon, what are you—”

“I oppose the merger!”

“…What?”

“I refuse to acknowledge it! I oppose the merger!”

—

[Thirty-Six Stratagems
Stratagems for Confrontation

The 28th Stratagem
Remove the Ladder After Climbing the Roof

Lead them to the rooftop, then take away the ladder.]