Chapter 476

Chapter 476

A family reunion was held at Mt. Geumgang.

At the reunion that took place for three days and two nights, separated families, who are now elderly, met and hugged each other and burst into tears.

This was the signal for the resumption of Mt. Kumgang tourism.

In response to changes in North Korea, the United States proposed a North Korea-US summit, and North Korea responded to this. There have been rumors that sanctions on North Korea may be lifted through this North Korea-U.S. summit.

If that happens, it was a huge boon for Korea.

Economic research institutes predicted that the economic growth rate could rise to more than 5 percent next year when inter-Korean economic cooperation is in full swing.

The people and businesses all cheered, but not everyone welcomed the situation.

When inter-Korean relations, which had been troublesome, also entered a mode of reconciliation, approval ratings for the president and the New Political Party soared to over 60 percent.

On the other hand, the Liberal National Party’s approval rating is now showing signs of collapse of even 20 percent. Both conservatives and liberals have a solid 20 percent approval rating.

This collapse meant that even the core supporters were leaving.

As international public opinion is rising that Japan should apologize to the comfort women victims, the comfort women agreement reached by the previous administration continued to hold the party’s ankles.

In the meantime, Representative Yeon Na-kyung and members of the Liberty Korea Party have argued that the Korea-Japan comfort women agreement was a very good agreement and that it was inevitable, so it was difficult to change positions now.

The Liberal Kuomintang has traditionally valued cooperation with Japan. This is because they decided that cooperating with Japan and the United States against China, Russia, and North Korea would be in the national interest.

Without cooperation and exchanges with Japan, could Korea have developed to this extent?

According to the logic of power, if necessary, we should bow our heads to China and also bow our heads to the United States. Then, what can’t Japan do?

So, when the order mistake at Nishida Securities occurred, he said that Toyota shares should be returned, and he argued that Korea should forgive Japan’s export restrictions.

Otherwise, I thought the damage would come back to Korea.

However, what happened has always been the opposite. It is the same this time. Korea had already occupied the advantageous position, and it was Japan that suffered damage.

Therefore, the argument of the Liberal Kuomintang was nothing but surrender when our side was winning.

As the decline in approval ratings accelerated, a crisis theory emerged that the entire conservative party could be destroyed both inside and outside the party.

There were also voices of opposition among the members of the Liberal People’s Party.

“Aren’t we supposed to support inter-Korean economic cooperation even now?”

“What is the party theory of the Liberal National Party?”

“Isn’t it the party’s argument to be unconditionally opposed?”

“We have to talk about the people’s eyes.”

“If this continues, next year’s general election will be a loss at least!”

When the decline in approval rating reached a serious level, party leaders and members of the metropolitan area gathered to call for the general resignation of the leadership.

Rep. Kim Jae-yeon, a fourth-term senior, announced that he would not run for the general election.

“The Liberal National Party has been abandoned by the people. The leadership must resign, and members of the three-term or higher legislature must take responsibility and step down. The only way the conservatives can come back to life is to put everything down and rebuild the party from scratch.”

* * *

Rep. Na-Kyung Yeon proposed a one-on-one meeting between the president and the opposition leader regarding her recent issues.

The idea was to change her position by pretending to make concessions, while at the same time showing her confrontation with the president through the summit meeting.

But she turned it down because the Blue House is busy.

CEO Yeon Na-kyung held a leadership meeting. She didn’t like the look of all the lawmakers gathered at her seat, and she never thought that the ruling Liberal Kuomintang, the ruling party of the last administration, would be so cornered.

“The ruling party continues to demand the passage of a special law on inter-Korean economic cooperation,” she said.

“It looks like they are putting pressure on public opinion.”

“As things are going smoothly, there is no good reason to object.”

The Blue House and the New Political Party seem to be encouraged by the rise in approval ratings.

To be honest, the government and the ruling party didn’t do much. Without Kang Jin-hoo, the damage caused by the Korea-Japan conflict would continue, and inter-Korean relations would still be in a cold state.

It was as if Kang Jin-hoo had done everything. I just put a spoon on the board that Jin-hoo Kang made, and the approval rating soared like that.

‘If I had known this would happen, our party should have talked about inter-Korean economic cooperation first!’

If you change the party’s policy line now, you will be supporting the Blue House, the ruling party, and Kang Jin-hoo.

“The bigger problem is the opposition of party members.”

“They say that the first-time lawmakers in the metropolitan area will have a sit down demanding the leadership resign.”

First of all, you have to do something.

Representative Yeon Na-kyung declared a hunger strike by the leadership.

“The territory of the Republic of Korea is the Korean Peninsula and its annexed islands, and the North Koreans are also our citizens! Nevertheless, our government is trying to join hands with the worst dictatorship that oppresses the human rights of North Koreans! This is an act of denying the identity of the Republic of Korea!”

However, the method was a bit absurd. The leadership said that they would continue fasting in five-and-a-half-hour shifts.

The reaction of the people was that they were stunned rather than absurd.

– It’s the first time I’ve seen fasting as a relay.

-What is relay fasting? Does that mean that one person eats while the other doesn’t?

-Hey, relay fast for 5 and a half hours. It’s the most creative fasting method I’ve ever seen. I admit creative singles.

-Is that what you’re doing right now?

-Do not! Please don’t do that!

-50 hours is not enough, 5 and a half hours? are you kidding?

-So you’re saying you eat breakfast at 8, lunch at 1:30, and dinner at 7 o’clock. Where the hell do you see this fasting? So, are all the people fasting in Korea?

– Members of Parliament. It’s not about fasting, it’s about not eating snacks.

-Ah ㅜㅜ Why is the shame on me ㅜㅜ

– Ramadan must be tougher than that!

– Children of Inomu! Hit them all!

– Just starve and search!

The ambitious relay singles did not show the leadership’s resolve, but rather became the object of ridicule of the whole nation.

After criticism from even the supporters poured in, the Liberal Kuomintang abruptly withdrew the struggle. Contrary to calling the media and declaring a struggle, he looked shabby.

The leadership once again entered an emergency meeting. We had to find a way to somehow suppress the opposition within the party and raise the party’s approval rating.

While several measures were being discussed, such as a boycott of the National Assembly and the general resignation of members, Rep. Ma Sang-tae suggested it.

“How about the president having a hunger strike?”

At that, CEO Yeon Na-kyung was taken aback.

“Am I fasting?”

Fasting is usually a way of fighting for the weak.

It’s the New Politics Party, which has many activists. Many lawmakers have fasted. President Huh Chang-min also fasted for nine days when he was a member of the opposition party.

However, there was no way Rep. Na-kyung Yeon had such an experience.

“Last time you said you were going to shave, didn’t you have media coverage and support from your supporters? If you say you are fighting a hunger strike, your supporters will surely gather.”

“This is the only way to maximize the meaning of the struggle.”

“Oh, no, I’d rather shave my hair… … .”

A shave is the end of cutting your hair. It’s a bit ugly to look at, but it’s the hair that grows back anyway. But not eating is not easy.

“The shave was already done by many other lawmakers last time. It is difficult to make an impact on the people by doing the same thing again.”

Other lawmakers also joined in with the words of Rep. Ma Sang-tae.

“You have to show clear determination by fighting hunger.”

“Anyway, the Blue House will dissuade them, and the ruling party will dissuade them.”

“It will be a big issue if the supporters are worried and go fasting together.”

Assemblyman Ma Sang-tae said again.

“We will continue to support you so that you can consume the least amount of nutrients in between. If you hold on like that for just a week, the media will say that your health is abnormal and your life is in danger, and the ruling party and the Blue House will react. Then we will come forward and forcibly transport you to the hospital.”

CEO Yeon Na-kyung thought carefully.

I don’t know how effective fasting will be in changing government policy under the current circumstances. But at least it will certainly work to stifle opposition within the party.

In order to survive the next general election, it was advantageous to hold the position of party leader until then.

CEO Yeon Na-kyung has made a decision.

* * *

I was having dinner with Taek-gyu in the company cafeteria, and a breaking news came out on the TV. It was none other than the announcement of a single by CEO Na-kyung Yeon.

Representative Yeon Na-kyung, who appeared on TV, stood in front of reporters gathered at the National Assembly and said:

“The Heo Chang-min regime’s evil intentions to destroy the country continue,” she said. We cannot delay the struggle any longer because we are worried about the national crisis. The stability and prosperity of the Republic of Korea in the past 70 years was possible because of the cooperation between Korea, the United States, and Japan. However, the Huh Chang-min regime is breaking this formula of success. If the government does not protect the people but rather puts them into a crisis, the only role I can play as the leader of the first opposition party is to fight to the death. Starting today, I will start the fight against hunger with the determination to live my life!”

Taek-gyu looked at him and admired it.

“Five! Our representative Yeon is fighting for hunger.”

“Hmm. It’s a hunger strike.”

do you want that to work?

“Aren’t you supposed to be by my side too?”

I asked absurdly.

“why me?”

“Wouldn’t the people be happy if the representatives battle each other?”

“Huh. If you want to do that, you do it.”

Team leader Seo Sang-won, who was eating next to him, said as if muttering.

“Fasting is not as easy as it seems. It’s a series of pain and patience.”

“If anyone hears it, I’m sure you’ve done it.”

Taek-gyu nodded his head.

“I actually did.”

“Five! really?”

Team leader Seo Sang-won smiled mischievously.

“When I was in college, I got into sports for a while. I pushed my back and tried it a few times, but it wasn’t something a human would do.”

I thought I only walked the elite course, but there must have been such a past!

Other staff members, including Yuri, also listened to our conversation. Team leader Seo Sang-won put down his chopsticks and started explaining in earnest.

“Actually, the most important thing in hunger strikes is not when you start, but when you finish.”

Taegyu said.

“Isn’t it over when the requirements are accepted?”

“That’s the best, but it doesn’t happen very often. But can’t we starve to death if the requirements are not met? However, it is difficult to withdraw from fasting on my own.”

“Then what do you do?”

“It’s one of the two. They either quit as if they have no choice but to collapse or pretend they have collapsed and be taken to the hospital.”

Come to think of it, most hunger strikes seem to have ended like that.(Read more @ wuxiax.com)

Taehyung nodded his head.

“A senator said, I’ve seen a lot of fasting lawmakers, but I’ve never seen a single person die of starvation.”

That’s right.

I asked Seo Sang-won, the team leader.

“How is the hunger strike process?”

“Before you start, you need to fill your stomach. If you eat too much, you may get a stomach ache, so the level you want to feel full is appropriate. The food in the intestine is completely digested, which takes about three days. After that, it’s a battle of physical and mental strength. Up to three days, there is still food in the stomach, so it is well tolerated. Even on the fourth day, he somehow manages to survive with his mental strength, but on the fifth day, he becomes truly insane. It’s hard to move because I’m hungry, I can’t sleep when I’m lying still, and I have only thoughts of food in my head. I usually give up at this point.”

This time, Taek-gyu asked.

“Isn’t there a case of fasting for tens of days for that kind of thing? The last time I saw a member of the New Political Party, he had been fasting for over three weeks.”

“There are people who actually do that, but it is very dangerous. You could really die then. So, in some cases, tricks are used.”

“A trick? Do you secretly hide food and eat it?”

Team leader Seo Sang-won shook his head.

“I don’t eat food. There is a high chance of getting it, and it is difficult to digest. Usually, they hide glucose candy or nutritional supplements and eat them. Sometimes I secretly drink something like soy milk or the morning sun.”

Taehyung narrowed his eyes.

“Is it the morning sun? It’s a drink made from rice.”

Team leader Seo Sang-won nodded his head.

“right. Just one bottle will keep you full all day.”

“… … .”

There are ways that I never really thought of.

It wouldn’t be that easy to fast. People are hungry even if they only starve for one meal. No matter how clever you are, it won’t be hard work, both physically and mentally.

But do you really want to do this? I don’t really know why I’m doing it.

Taehyung asked again.

“How long can CEO Yeon Na-kyung fast?”

“If you do it right, you won’t last a week. Those who have eaten meat eat well, and those who have starved rice starve well. Fasting is not something that a person who grew up like a flower in a greenhouse can do easily.”

“Will I still be able to last a week?”

Team leader Seo Sang-won answered firmly.

“I don’t know if it’s a trick, but otherwise it’s absolutely impossible. I’m guessing. Besides, isn’t it winter now? Fasting is more difficult in winter because you burn a lot of calories.”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

When I see Taek-gyu smiling at me, I get nervous.

“What else are you thinking about?”

Taek-gyu answered my question.

“What a pointless thought. CEO Yeon Na-kyung said he was fasting, and he wanted to give even a little help.”