I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 382

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 382
Cheong Wa Dae.
The secretaries guided me to the conference room where the VIP was waiting.
Dennis Oh followed behind me.
Everyone held their breath, barely daring to make a sound.
When one of the secretaries knocked on the conference room door, a voice from inside told us to enter.
The door opened, revealing the ministers from various departments and key figures from the Ministry of Defense.
The VIP looked at me with a stern expression and extended his hand for a handshake.
“Representative Jeon Sung-guk, I apologize for calling you on such short notice.”
“Not at all. This is a matter of national importance.”
Then I introduced Dennis Oh.
“This is Dennis Oh, from the FBI Intelligence Division of the United States.”
At those words, everyone’s eyes fixed on Dennis Oh.
I already knew that communications with the United States were currently severed.
At that moment, the Defense Minister glared at me sharply.
From their perspective, it was unthinkable that a mere boy barely over twenty years old could be the President of the United States’ direct line.
“Representative Jeon Sung-guk, I saw your post on SNS. You went through considerable effort to bring us this information—so first, tell us whether it’s authentic or not.”
[Such a stuffy bureaucrat…. Tsk, tsk, tsk.]
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Despite my mention of bringing Dennis Oh with me, these older officials still doubted the credibility of my information.
Which meant they didn’t trust me.
I looked at the Defense Minister, who had spoken to me in that commanding tone.
“Isn’t it the government’s responsibility to verify the authenticity of the information I posted? What’s the point of asking me to confirm the truth of what I wrote? If I say it’s real, will you believe me just because I say so? Based on the word of a mere individual like me?”
“Ah, well….”
The Defense Minister’s embarrassment was evident.
The VIP stepped forward.
“Representative Jeon, I apologize. We’re investigating through every possible channel, but we still can’t reach the United States. So we have no choice but to rely on your intelligence.”
“Then, would it be alright if I asked all of you gathered here a question?”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward me.
Their eyes showed clear discomfort.
“Representative Jeon, please speak freely.”
The VIP gave his permission.
I asked the bureaucrats sitting there helplessly.
“I posted the news of Kim Jong-il’s death this morning. It’s already been five hours since noon. During all that time, what measures have you all been discussing for the safety of our people?”
“….”
No one answered my question readily.
Only occasional throat-clearing sounds like “hmm” or “ahem” could be heard.
[So even after all that time, they hadn’t come up with a single countermeasure?]
It was the VIP who broke the silence.
“Representative Jeon, let me speak on behalf of everyone.”
VIP’s expression was troubled, but he was doing his best to maintain composure.
“To be honest, we and the United States have reviewed scenarios regarding Kim Jong-il’s death. The most likely scenario is a coup d’état occurring within 24 hours of Kim Jong-il’s death. If an internal coup were to occur… the coup forces that seize power would inevitably turn their sights toward South Korea.”
There was no better tool for strengthening internal unity than war itself.
“That’s why we’re currently monitoring North Korea’s movements closely. Without an official announcement from North Korea, any visible action could lead to a dangerous situation.”
VIP looked at me.
“Sung-guk, what are your predictions? You’re a businessman, but you understand international affairs better than most….”
[Of course I do!]
I paused thoughtfully, stroking my chin as if deep in consideration.
“I expect an official announcement in about two days. Contrary to external concerns, I believe Kim Un, who has been designated as the successor, will smoothly inherit power.”
Murmurs rippled through the room.
“May I ask your reasoning?”
“Kim Jong-il has constructed a more solid succession structure than people realize. He’s built trust by traveling between China and Russia, which are absolutely vital to North Korea. Of course, since he didn’t anticipate his own death coming so soon, the sanctification of his successor Kim Un is less established than it might otherwise be.”
“So you believe no coup will occur?”
“Yes… North Korea’s power brokers will understand this well. North Korea’s regime has constructed a kind of religion centered on the Baekdu bloodline—the succession from Kim Il-sung to Kim Jong-il. If those without this bloodline were to seize power, it would be a betrayal of faith to the North Korean people.”
At that moment, one of the officials raised his hand.
“Chairman Jeon, then what does the United States want?”
“What the United States wants, we all know well, don’t we? On the surface, they desire world peace, but America isn’t the Earth Defense Force from Hollywood movies. What they want is simple: the coexistence of North and South Korea. To achieve that, they would want Kim Un’s succession more than anyone.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Sung-guk, may we accept your opinion as the United States’ position?”
In other words, he was asking whether my opinion represented the Barack Obama administration’s stance.
I shrugged slightly.
“I’ve simply shared my perspective. How you interpret it is your responsibility.”
At that moment, the Chief Secretary rushed into the conference room.
The Chief Secretary quickly bowed and reported to VIP.
“Mr. President, we’ve finally connected with the White House.”
Just as I was getting out of the car, I had called Barack Obama.
I told him to call back in exactly ten minutes after I entered Cheong Wa Dae to meet with VIP, to inform him of the situation.
The White House followed my instructions faithfully.
VIP asked urgently.
“What did they say?”
“Everything Chairman Jeon Sung-guk posted on SNS is accurate. It’s true that the White House provided information to Chairman Jeon Sung-guk, and they said they will use Chairman Jeon Sung-guk as a hotline for all North Korea-related issues and economic matters going forward. And… the White House provided additional information. They say no coup movements have been detected within North Korea so far.”
Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
* * *
After everyone dispersed, VIP sat across from the Chief Secretary with a troubled expression.
“The White House has essentially formalized Chairman Jeon Sung-guk as their hotline, haven’t they….”
“It appears so.”
VIP let out a hollow laugh.
“Park Secretary, I find this man Jeon Sung-guk truly remarkable. He’s only 21 years old by our country’s age system, isn’t he?”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“Yet he conducts himself like a master politician… and what’s even more remarkable is….”
“What is that?”
“The man truly has no fear….”
The Chief Secretary nodded in agreement with the VIP’s words.
“He doesn’t seem like someone with ordinary discretion. Honestly, even the White House was caught off guard. They never anticipated that Jeon Sung-guk would expose information leaked by Barack Obama directly on SNS. And his delay in responding to the VIP’s summons was a masterstroke.”
“He’s made it so that neither the United States nor South Korea can manipulate him carelessly. Now Jeon Sung-guk possesses tremendous power—not just economically, but politically as well.”
* * *
Two days later, North Korea officially announced the death of Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il.
Simultaneously, Korean media was abuzz with talk about me.
– Jeon Sung-guk shares information with the White House before Cheong Wa Dae. Emerging as a hot potato in South Korean politics!
– Jeon Sung-guk, the most influential figure in South Korea!
Of course, commentators on the morning broadcast also expressed concerns about my actions.
– If an individual monopolizes information like this, it’s no different from dictatorship in future society. America’s actions are clearly intentional. Jeon Sung-guk is someone we must be wary of.
– What’s certain is that from now on, every single word Jeon Sung-guk speaks will carry enormous weight. Starting from the Japan earthquake, he’s undoubtedly the most influential figure of this year.
I skimmed through the interviews and articles with a shrug.
In my previous life, even as the heir to the Samjeon Group, I was influential, but not on a global scale. This life was certainly more interesting.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
At the sound of knocking, Jeon Tae-guk opened the conference room door and poked his head in.
“CEO Jeon Sung-guk, it’s been a while.”
His voice was tinged with playfulness.
“You went on an inspection tour of the provincial factories?”
“Yeah. A lot has happened in the meantime. Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il died… and you, CEO Jeon Sung-guk, have surpassed Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung and the president to become the most influential figure in South Korea.”
“Hyung, what are you getting at?”
Jeon Tae-guk walked in and handed me a document. It was about my fan club founding ceremony.
“Sung-guk, Lee Hyun-hee came to see me and pleaded with me to make sure you attend the founding ceremony. She said she’d already asked you to perform a dance and song….”
She had asked, but I hadn’t given a definite answer.
Now that I thought about it, my fan club “Sejelmiseonguk” founding ceremony was less than a week away.
“Lee Hyun-hee is quite something. She went all the way to you to ask?”
“I’ve never seen a fan club this enthusiastic. Sung-guk, you were a trainee at JP Entertainment back then. Why not use this opportunity to show what you couldn’t show back then?”
[Should I give it a shot?]
Truth be told, I’d been so buried in work lately that I needed a change of pace.
“Oh, and that day happens to be Christmas Eve too. How about we have a Christmas Eve party just among ourselves right after?”
“Hmm… I’ll think about it. I’ve been so busy lately that I don’t really know the current trending songs and dances.”
“Yeah, think it over.”
The moment Jeon Tae-guk left the office, I quickly sent an SOS to Min-guk.
– Min-guk, teach hyung the trending dances and songs these days.
Min-guk’s reply came quickly.
– 100,000 won per hour. Take it or leave it.
[This guy, seriously!!!]
But I had no other choice.
– Deal!
– Meet me at the practice studio after nine in the evening. I’m a busy person. Don’t be late, hyung!
* * *
I walked slowly down into the semi-basement practice room.
When I opened the door, Min-guk was alone, practicing while watching himself in the mirror.
Hearing my footsteps, Min-guk glanced at me.
“Hyung, before I teach you anything, I need to see what your basic skills are like first.”
Min-guk spoke in a stern voice.
“I was a trainee at JP Entertainment before.”
“Hyung, if we’re going by that logic, I used to be a successful child actor too! I’ll put on the music, so try to follow me.”
“Okay.”
I warmed up appropriately and stood behind Min-guk.
Soon the music began playing, and Min-guk started with the basic movements.
I followed along, moving my body gradually to match his rhythm.
Memories of my JP trainee days came flooding back, and my body felt like it was loosening up.
But then the music suddenly stopped.
Min-guk let out a deep sigh.
“Hyung, are you seriously calling that dancing?”
“What?”
I was flustered and couldn’t say anything.
“Hyung, that’s completely just rhythmic movements. Even a kindergartener would dance better than that.”
“Jeon Min-guk, how dare you speak to your hyung like that? Do you know who I am?”
[I’m someone the governments of the United States and South Korea can’t even touch, Jeon Min-guk!]
Min-guk put his hands on his hips and shook his head.
“Hyung, right now you’re just someone with no sense of rhythm. Get your head in the game!”

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