The Youngest Son of Sunyang

Chapter 10

Now it was time to flip his mood over. And mother, I looked at her. Yeah, a soft smile crept onto her face.

When I grow up, I want to be a chairman like grandfather,

Their looks were reversed: the grandfathers anger deflated and he grinned like a hahoe mask while the mother couldnt hide her perplexed look.

Hahaha, thats my grandson! the grandfather laughed broadly. And the mother saved her breath.

Did you hear that, sweetie? Our Do-jun wants to be a chairman too, haha,

The mothers eyes widened, and she looked at the grandfather. He then stopped laughing as if hed suddenly forgotten what was funny.

An awkward silence hung between them for a time.

The mother picked herself up from the sofa, then asked to the grandfather,

Would you like more tea?

Sure, bring it up to Do-juns room, he said.

He grabbed my hand and said, Lets go upstairs, and the mother entered the kitchen.

Sweetie? I thought to myself, climbing the stairs.

The grandfather bade goodbye to the two tutors. They nodded goodbye and left.

The grandfather looked around the room, then seated me on the edge of the bed.

Do-jun, he said.

Yes, grandfather,

Do you remember what you told me the other day?

?

The three friends,

Oh, yes, I do,

Of course I remember. He must be talking about the presidential election campaign, I told myself.

I gave each of the three gifts, to make them my friends, just as you told me, he said.

You did?

Bribes, you mean.

However

He seemed disoriented as the political situation was getting more and more chaotic.

The second and the third are fighting shoulder to shoulder over the first, he said.

If the second and the third win over the first, they can be president and vice-president?

No, there is no vice-president in the country, kid,

But then why would the two team up when only one can be president?

The second and the third are YS (Kim Young-sam) and DJ (Kim Dae-jung) respectively.

The two were longtime colleagues. They joined hands and went head to head with the military regime led by Chun Doo-hwan, running for president.

The two opposition parties, YS and DJ were poised to unite behind one candidate to prevent the ruling party, Roh Tae-woo from ruling the country.

FYI:

After the assassination of Park Chung-hee in 1979, then Prime Minister Choi kyu-ha became acting president and won an election in December that year. then-Major General Chun Doo-hwan and close allies within the military staged a coup dtat against Chois government. In April 1980, due to increasing pressure from Chun and other politicians, Choi appointed Chun head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. In May, Chun declared martial law, becoming the de facto ruler of the country. by then, student protests were escalating in Seoul and Gwangju. Choi was forced to resign soon, then Chun was elected as Chois successor in a rubber-stamp election. He was officially inaugurated into office on 1 September 1980 as the 5th President of South Korea. In January 1981, Chun formed his own party, the Democratic Justice Party. On 13 April 1987, Chun made a Defense of the Constitution speech. He declared that the DJP candidate for president would be one of his military supporters, and his successor would be chosen in an indirect election similar to the one that elected Chun seven years earlier. That announcement enraged the democratization community. Two months later, he declared Roh Tae-woo as the Democratic Justice Partys candidate for president, which, by all accounts, effectively handed Roh the presidency. The announcement triggered the June Uprising, a series of large pro-democracy rallies across the country. In hopes of gaining control over a situation that was rapidly getting out of hand, Roh made a speech promising a much more democratic constitution and the first direct presidential elections. After Chuns retirement, the first democratic presidential election was held in 1987. Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung initially promised to unite behind one candidate. However, due to a dispute between the two Kims; they failed to agree on who was going to be the opposition blocs single candidate. The two Kims ran against each other, splitting the opposition vote and enabling Roh, Chuns hand-picked successor, to win the election.

In April 1980, due to increasing pressure from Chun and other politicians, Choi appointed Chun head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. In May, Chun declared martial law, becoming the de facto ruler of the country. by then, student protests were escalating in Seoul and Gwangju. Choi was forced to resign soon, then Chun was elected as Chois successor in a rubber-stamp election. He was officially inaugurated into office on 1 September 1980 as the 5th President of South Korea. In January 1981, Chun formed his own party, the Democratic Justice Party. On 13 April 1987, Chun made a Defense of the Constitution speech. He declared that the DJP candidate for president would be one of his military supporters, and his successor would be chosen in an indirect election similar to the one that elected Chun seven years earlier.

That announcement enraged the democratization community. Two months later, he declared Roh Tae-woo as the Democratic Justice Partys candidate for president, which, by all accounts, effectively handed Roh the presidency. The announcement triggered the June Uprising, a series of large pro-democracy rallies across the country. In hopes of gaining control over a situation that was rapidly getting out of hand, Roh made a speech promising a much more democratic constitution and the first direct presidential elections. After Chuns retirement, the first democratic presidential election was held in 1987. Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung initially promised to unite behind one candidate. However, due to a dispute between the two Kims; they failed to agree on who was going to be the opposition blocs single candidate. The two Kims ran against each other, splitting the opposition vote and enabling Roh, Chuns hand-picked successor, to win the election.

But the grandfather was well aware that the authority could threaten to subvert their colleagueship.

He responded with a gratifying smile, stroking my head.

Father? Yun-ki asked in an astonished voice.

Yes, he is talking with Do-jun,

Yun-ki was told about what had happened earlier by his wife.

He is only ten years old! he stormed.

Dont make your father upset, she said.

Yun-ki tilted his head,

Why are you acting strange? he asked.

She couldnt bring herself to say that the sweetie made her get choked up with emotion.

Just dont, please, she said.

Yun-ki nodded yes.

Then he waited till the grandfather came downstairs.

It was a great change, nevertheless, that he mentioned he would give us some shares of Sunyang, because of Do-jun, Yun-ki thought to himself.

The sound of footsteps descending the stairs brought him out of his thoughts.

The grandfather clasped me by the hand.

Be good, kid, said to me, patting my head, then looked at the father.

Got a minute to talk?

The father followed the grandfather into the garden.

Ill go to the HQ. I want you to arrange a CEOs meeting. the grandfather said to his PA.

Then he turned to look at Yun-ki who was avoiding his gaze.

Whenever I look at Do-jun, I cant help but think that he resembles me, the grandfather said.

How come? just as his wife told him, Yun-ki tried not to make the grandfather upset, curtailing his words.

Do-jun is acquisitive, shrewd and perceptive,

Are you intending to have him take over part of the management of Sunyang? Yun-ki asked.

It depends on him. Im just giving him the chance,

Hes too young now. Dont you think it is too soon to speak?

Well see, the grandfather said.

I want to see him once a week, he added, giving Yun-ki a gentle tap on the shoulder, then left.

CEOs meeting.

The grandfather would not usually attend CEOs meetings, giving vice-chairman Young-ki authority to execute judgement; Young-ki would conduct the meetings and brief him.

If he attended a meeting, its agenda was crucial.

He ensconced himself in his chair, surrounded by a continual buzz of frenetic conversation.

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