Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 244

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

244. I’ll arrange an opportunity for you when the time is right.

A few days later, at Hansung Building in Yeouido, Seoul.
Three men gathered in the chairman’s office on the 10th floor, which served as the party headquarters for the New Era National Council, a splinter group that had broken away from the Democratic Peace Party.
On one wall of the sparsely decorated chairman’s office hung a large national map with electoral districts drawn on it—districts that had been finalized just months before the upcoming general election.
Kim Jae-chun, the party chairman, rested both hands on the armrests of his sofa as he regarded his aides seated across from him.
Woo Chun-il, the secretary-general responsible for party affairs, and Representative Choi Jae-young, the floor leader handling negotiations within the National Assembly, were among his most trusted inner circle—his right and left arms, as they were called.
All three men appeared somewhat fatigued, having just returned from a general election strategy meeting that had lasted several hours.

“This is the confirmed list of 46 candidates for the at-large seats.”

Kim Jae-chun set down his coffee cup and accepted the list from Floor Leader Choi Jae-young, reviewing it carefully.
His brow furrowed slightly as something seemed to displease him, and he looked up.

“How many at-large safe seats did we say there were?”

Floor Leader Choi Jae-young, a man of stocky build, glanced cautiously at Chairman Kim Jae-chun before answering.

“Nineteen.”
“I mean the realistic ranking, not the scenario where we become the leading opposition party.”

At Chairman Kim Jae-chun’s words, Floor Leader Choi Jae-young exchanged a glance with Secretary-General Woo Chun-il across from him, then continued.

“Even if variables arise and our vote share falls short of expectations, we should comfortably secure seats up to at least number 15.”

Though the number had decreased from the previous general election, with 46 at-large seats available, Chairman Kim Jae-chun believed that much was certainly achievable.
Chairman Kim Jae-chun placed the at-large nomination list on the wooden table and spoke.

“But my name is listed as number one.”

Chairman Kim Jae-chun, who was eyeing a presidential bid, had decided to run in the general election through at-large seats rather than a regional district, since he would need to resign from his seat immediately upon launching a presidential campaign.
If elected through a regional district, a by-election would be necessary after his resignation, but with at-large seats, the next candidate in line would automatically inherit the position, allowing the New Era National Council to maintain its seat count—a more advantageous choice.

“As the face of our party, you naturally deserve the number one position, don’t you think?”

Secretary-General Woo Chun-il added his agreement.

“Exactly. Who else but you could take number one? And this approach will also demonstrate that we, not the Democratic Peace Party, are the true inheritors of the opposition’s legitimacy, which should boost our vote share.”

However, Kim Jae-chun still wore an expression of displeasure.

“I understand what you’re saying. But conversely, won’t there be those who criticize me for taking the number one nationwide slot out of fear that I might lose the election?”
“Who would spread such nonsense, sir?”

Choi Jae-young, the floor leader, immediately raised his eyebrows and spoke as if it were absurd.
Woo Chun-il, the secretary-general, also chimed in with a similar expression.

“Not only your hometown of Mokpo, but you could easily win in any competitive district. It doesn’t make sense.”

Kim Jae-chun looked at the two men with a reluctant expression and opened his mouth.

“Of course that’s true, but if rumors are spread with malicious intent, they can certainly mislead voters’ eyes and ears during the chaotic election period. You both know that well, don’t you?”
“That is….”

The two men exchanged glances and their expressions grew clouded.
Having rolled around in the cutthroat politics of Yeouido for decades and experienced all manner of things, both men knew better than anyone that elections were a place where all sorts of rumors and slander flourished to defeat opponents.

“And considering the presidential election next year, it would be wise not to create unnecessary vulnerabilities.”

This general election was naturally something he had to win, but Kim Jae-chun’s attention was now turning more toward the presidential election that lay just ahead.
Choi Jae-young, the floor leader, immediately grasped this and asked carefully.

“Then what would you like us to do?”

At that, Kim Jae-chun turned his head to look at Woo Chun-il, the secretary-general, and asked.

“Do you have a pen?”
“Ah. Yes.”

Woo Chun-il quickly pulled a fountain pen from his inner pocket and handed it over.
With the fountain pen in hand, Kim Jae-chun drew several lines through his own name at the top of the list.
Then, after a moment of deliberation, he wrote a new name next to number fourteen and straightened his upper body.

“Let’s change the order this way.”

Seeing the newly changed order, Choi Jae-young looked at him with a slightly concerned expression.

“Isn’t number 14 a bit too far back?”
“That’s true. It might be better to aim for around number 10….”

Woo Chun-il, the Secretary-General, also furrowed his brow in concern as he spoke.

“Didn’t you all just say that up to number 15 is a safe zone for winning?”

Choi Jae-young, the floor leader, found himself at a loss for words at this seemingly innocent question.

“But Chairman….”

As Woo Chun-il, the Secretary-General, tried to stop him again, Kim Jae-chun, the Chairman, raised one hand to silence him.

“Still, considering the possibility of unforeseen circumstances, I moved up one position and put my name at number 14. Only by doing this much can party members and voters alike understand my genuine commitment to serve the nation and people without falling for baseless rumors.”

Though lingering anxiety about potential problems hadn’t entirely disappeared, the two men could not dissuade him further given Chairman Kim Jae-chun’s unwavering resolve.

“If that is your decision, Chairman, there is nothing we can do.”
“Many party members and citizens will be moved by your self-sacrifice and will offer their support.”

Chairman Kim Jae-chun’s bold decision to move his national ballot number further back was intended to relinquish his existing privileges and demonstrate genuine sincerity.
It was a seasoned political maneuver underpinned by shrewd calculation—simultaneously unifying the fragmented opposition base while quelling criticism over his reversal of political retirement and return to the political arena.
As long-time aides, Secretary-General Woo Chun-il and Floor Leader Choi Jae-young quickly grasped this intention.
Moreover, they were confident that even if vote totals fell short of expectations, they could still secure at least 15 national assembly seats.
This confidence was also why they did not more actively dissuade Chairman Kim Jae-chun’s actions.
Yet none of the three men could have known at that moment what consequences this very arrogance would bring in the not-too-distant future.
As the discussion seemed to reach a conclusion, Chairman Kim Jae-chun picked up his coffee cup and asked.

“How is the campaign fundraising going?”

Secretary-General Woo Chun-il then answered with an apologetic tone.

“Well… we’re continuing to contact corporations, but the money isn’t coming in as much as we’d hoped.”
“What?”

Chairman Kim Jae-chun, who was just about to bring his coffee cup to his lips, raised his eyebrows.

“What’s the reason?”
“With the slush fund scandals involving two former presidents still unfolding, corporations are hesitant about handing over election funds.”
“So they’re not giving money to the Democratic Justice Party either?”

When I hardened my expression and asked, Woo Chun-il, the secretary-general, could only show an awkward look without offering any response.
Seeing this, Kim Jae-chun, the party chairman, twisted his lips.

“So they’re giving to the ruling party but have no election funds left for us. The excuse about being cautious because of the slush fund incident is just that—an excuse. They simply don’t want to give us money.”

As he spoke in an angry voice, Choi Jae-young, the floor leader, also made no effort to hide his displeasure.

“Despite the ruling party’s crushing defeat in the recent local elections, corporate executives still seem to believe the Democratic Justice Party will continue to hold power.”

Corporations lining up with the Blue House and the ruling party to gain whatever advantage they could while staying in the good graces of those in power was hardly a new phenomenon.
As a result, opposition parties always struggled with insufficient campaign funds during elections.
But this time, with Kim Jae-chun himself emerging as the frontrunner for the presidential election and the ruling party suffering a decisive defeat in the recent local elections, I had quietly expected the major corporations most sensitive to political trends to bring substantial campaign funds.
Yet the result turned out completely opposite, leaving me disappointed and feeling let down.
Then Woo Chun-il, the secretary-general, offered somewhat better news as if trying to appease the angry Kim Jae-chun.

“Still, Hyundai and Daeheung Group have sent us quite substantial election funds despite the inconvenience it causes the ruling party.”
“Hmm. Really?”

Kim Jae-chun’s eyes brightened with interest.
While everyone else turned their backs on me, these two groups had helped despite bearing the cost, making them feel all the more special and appreciated.
Seeing this, Woo Chun-il quickly nodded.

“Yes. Particularly with Daeheung Group, Park Seok-won, the second son and president of Daehung Venture Capital, brought a substantial sum of 3 billion won separately.”

Then Kim Jae-chun showed great interest and asked.

“The second son of Daeheung Group—didn’t he also help with the party founding funds last time?”
“That’s correct. Without the money President Park provided then, we would have faced considerable difficulties in establishing the party.”

Kim Jae-chun nodded in agreement.

“That must be it. If my memory serves, I heard he was at Daehung Securities, but it seems he’s changed positions in the meantime.”
“Yes. I understand that not long ago, he fully inherited the shares of Daehung Venture Capital from Chairman Park and has begun actively managing the company.”

As Kim Jae-chun listened with a pleased expression, Woo Chun-il added the recent rumors circulating.

“There are rumors that Chairman Park intends to spin off the venture capital division and other financial subsidiaries within the Daeheung Group to pass on to his second son.”
“Since they say the second son has exceptional talent in finance, it’s not a bad idea to divide things up beforehand to prevent the brothers from fighting.”

As Kim Jae-chun showed a positive response, Choi Jae-young, the floor leader, also chimed in with agreement.

“Exactly. Last time he contributed 5 billion won, and now he’s sent campaign funds of that magnitude again without fail. It seems he truly is a capable individual, as you say.”
“And I hear the eldest son doesn’t have excessive ambitions either—he’s leading the company with substance and stability. Chairman Park has truly done an excellent job raising his children.”
“Ha ha. Indeed he has.”

Kim Jae-chun stroked his chin thoughtfully with one hand for a moment, then lifted his head and looked toward Woo Chun-il, the Secretary-General.

“After the general election, find an appropriate time and arrange a meeting with Chairman Park’s second son.”

Woo Chun-il, the Secretary-General, then asked with a slightly surprised expression.

“You wish to meet with President Park directly?”
“Yes. We’ve received help twice now—it’s only proper to at least see his face. Besides, I’m personally intrigued by this fellow.”

Since this had never happened before, Choi Jae-young, the floor leader, also looked at Kim Jae-chun with an expression of surprise.

“Well, if the fellow finds it burdensome to meet me, there’s nothing to be done about it.”

Unless the administration changed, it was obvious as fire that if it became known he’d met privately with a leading opposition presidential candidate, the Blue House and the ruling party would view him unfavorably.
So from a businessman’s perspective, a meeting with Kim Jae-chun would inevitably be burdensome.

“That couldn’t possibly be the case. President Park will surely be delighted.”

At Woo Chun-il’s words, Kim Jae-chun’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.

“Then go ahead and reach out to him.”
“Understood.”

Thus, three letters spelling Seok-won’s name were etched deeply into the mind of Kim Jae-chun, a heavyweight of the opposition and a leading presidential contender.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————