Myungsoo ca to see and brought up the matter of the mines.
“I looked into it separately, and it does seem like they’re mines without any major problems.”
“Really? Then I guess we can go ahead.”
“What’s this? Weren’t you the one who told to look into it because sothing felt off?”
I shrugged and said,
“Did I know you were going to et the president of Sierra Leone and have the mines prepared right on ti? Does that even make sense?”
“What do you think?”
“I thought there had to be so kind of trap hidden in it. But you checked, and you’re saying there’s nothing wrong.”
There was no way Myungsoo, who was called Yoon Changho’s right-hand man, had no connections in the governnt.
Sure enough, in just half a day, he ca back with a fairly detailed explanation of what was going on.
“It really was sothing they’d already been preparing. The idea was to acquire stakes in mines in resource-rich countries like Africa, Australia, and Canada and bring the resources into Korea on a stable basis. Since Sierra Leone was trying to get sothing out of helping us this ti, the thinking was to steer it in a direction that would benefit us too.”
“Did you talk to the President?”
“Yeah. He said a report had gone up through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and he told them to go ahead. They want to use it as a way to overturn the worsening public opinion.”
If the President had approved it, why did I still feel uneasy?
The feeling creeping over was strangely ominous, but I forced myself to stay calm as I spoke.
“Well, if the President signed off on it, go ahead for now. It’s not like this kind of contract gets wrapped up all at once [N O V E L I G H T] anyway, right? Sotis you sign an MOU first, start the real negotiations, and then it all falls apart.”
“No, I’m only saying this because you said it felt off. Your instincts have never been wrong. Why do you say things like that and make people nervous for no reason?”
I let out a small laugh at Myungsoo’s complaint.
“It’s because I tend to look at everything negatively. I’ll look into it more myself, so proceed for now.”
“Got it.”
“Oh, and....”
I explained to Myungsoo what kind of people the president of Sierra Leone and the vice president were.
After hearing the explanation, Myungsoo’s expression turned strange.
“Hm. So in the end, they’re the kind of people who might want separate compensation.”
“Well, that’s not necessarily bad. It just ans you can hamr down the stake price that much more.”
“I’ll think about that a little more. This ti, we should probably stop at a morandum of understanding and move on.”
“Yeah. Handle it however you see fit.”
It was almost ti for him to head to the presidential palace, so Myungsoo left.
The mont he was gone, I called in Chief Ma.
“Chief. The more I think about it, the more it bothers . I didn’t say more because Myungsoo was already too uneasy, but I think we need to look into it.”
“Yes. I’ll have it checked right away.”
* * *
A pri minister on the verge of retirent listens to no one’s orders.
Especially in South Korea, the pri minister was little more than an administrative position that oversaw and coordinated the cabinet under the President’s orders.
That was why most presidential candidates, whenever they ran, promised to guarantee the authority of the pri minister as provided by the Constitution and pushed the idea of a responsible pri minister system.
Yoon Changho had done the sa.
And right after being elected President, he appointed a pri minister and greatly expanded his authority.
But in the end, as long as the President held the power to appoint the pri minister, that authority could not help but remain subordinate to the President.
“Do they think I’m just going to die like this?”
From the mont he was ordered by the President to prepare for retirent, Pri Minister Han Dongsik had stopped going into the governnt complex and instead remained at the official residence, rushing about in all directions.
But very few people were willing to et a pri minister who had fallen out of the President’s favor.
“...Vice Minister Seo.”
“Yes, Pri Minister.”
“How long has it been between us?”
“I think about twenty years, roughly.”
“You’re going to Sierra Leone?”
“Yes. The Minister personally singled out and told to go.”
“Without my permission, at that.”
Vice Minister Seo lowered his head without a word.
“Vice Minister Seo. Are you my man?”
“Of course. I was only able to rise to vice minister because of you, Pri Minister. Without your power, it would have been impossible.”
“Then you’ll have to do a favor. Can you do it?”
After hesitating for a mont, Vice Minister Seo answered in a calm voice.
“Yes. If it’s sothing you order to do, Pri Minister, I’ll do anything.”
Pri Minister Han Dongsik nodded and began to speak.
“When you go to Sierra Leone....”
Vice Minister Seo’s eyes widened after hearing the order.
“Pri Minister. This is a bit....”
“What’s the problem? It’s not us who’ll end up taking responsibility. It’ll be the President and that fellow Lee Myungsoo.”
“Even so, if this grows into sothing bigger later, it could beco a problem for too.”
“Even so, if this grows into sothing bigger later, it could beco a problem for too.”
“That’s why I’m telling you not to step out personally. Move only after getting formal approval from the President.”
Pri Minister Han Dongsik pressed him as Vice Minister Seo hesitated.
“This was sothing that had been in preparation for a long ti already, wasn’t it? The mine acquisitions, I an.”
“That is true.”
“You only need to slip in a few of them.”
“It’s not sothing I can do alone. At the very least, I need soone from the Korea Resources Corporation to work with .”
At the Resources Corporation, they had data built up over decades, investigating and organizing the profitability and reserves of mines in countries all over the world.
“You don’t need to worry about that. If you step in, President Park will personally manipulate the data for you.”
“Ah, now I rember hearing that the president of the Resources Corporation was very close to you, Pri Minister.”
“Vice Minister Seo. Don’t you want to serve as foreign minister soday? I’ll help lead you there. Help .”
At Pri Minister Han Dongsik’s request, Vice Minister Seo let out a deep sigh and nodded.
“Understood. I’ll do what I can.”
“I’m not planning to set it off right away. Still, shouldn’t I be holding at least one bomb of my own?”
The corners of Han Dongsik’s lips curled upward.
“It can’t end at the MOU. You have to push it all the way to the main contract, no matter what.”
“It can’t end at the MOU. You have to push it all the way to the main contract, no matter what.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Then go on back. Keep in touch and report to regularly.”
After sending Vice Minister Seo away, Han Dongsik continued busily making calls to various places.
* * *
In Korea, articles about the MOU signed with Sierra Leone were written and published at great speed.
[South Korean Special Envoy Delegation Signs MOU for Acquisition of Sierra Leone Mine Stakes
A special envoy delegation led by Special Envoy Lee Myungsoo has taken the first step toward economic cooperation with the African nation of Sierra Leone. Today, the South Korean special envoy delegation signed a morandum of understanding (MOU) with the Sierra Leonean governnt to acquire a 50% stake in iron ore mines and in mines believed to contain large deposits of rare earth elents, including bauxite.
This MOU was announced as aiming to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in tal and mineral resources and to pursue developnt in the mining sector.
The contents of the MOU signed by the governnt are as follows.
(omitted)
Regarding this MOU, the governnt and ruling party positively evaluated it as a asure that would strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and create long-term cooperation in the mining sector. anwhile, the opposition refrained from comnting directly on the signing of the MOU and continued its offensive over the humiliating diplomacy incident that occurred in Guinea.]
After two rounds of talks, Lee Myungsoo signed the MOU with the Sierra Leonean governnt and boarded his flight back ho.
At Incheon Airport, countless reporters were waiting for his arrival.
A short while later, the mbers of the envoy delegation, led by Lee Myungsoo, appeared at the arrivals gate, and the reporters began firing their caras nonstop.
“Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo!!”
“Please look this way just once, Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo!”
Even though he had already braced himself before arriving, Lee Myungsoo looked utterly overwheld by the sheer number of reporters.
“If you do this here, it inconveniences the public. I’ll arrange a separate press area, so....”
Lee Myungsoo tried to lead the reporters elsewhere, but they refused to budge.
“Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo. What do you think was the achievent of this special envoy mission?”
“Please say a word to the public, sir.”
The chaos grew so great that airport security personnel all rushed in and began controlling the reporters.
“First, let’s move, and then I’ll answer your questions. We only need to move a little.”
Ignoring the reporters’ shouted questions, Lee Myungsoo started walking, and the reporters moved after him like a flock of sheep following a shepherd.
“The rest of you, go back first and wait. This may take quite a while.”
“Sir, will you be all right on your own?”
“I expected this already. I’m the one who led this envoy mission as its head. It’s easier if I face it alone.”
“Understood.”
As Lee Myungsoo disappeared with the reporters in tow, the other mbers of the envoy delegation were able to leave the airport without incident.
Stopping at a prepared area off to one side of the airport, Lee Myungsoo turned around to face the reporters.
Because the security personnel had already set up barriers, the reporters stopped outside the line and kept firing questions.
“This is pretty chaotic. Please let only the reporters I call on ask questions. Otherwise this will never end. I’d appreciate it.”
Lee Myungsoo asked for their understanding, and the flood of questions gradually died down.
“If you have a question, please raise your hand.”
Every reporter raised a hand at once. Lee Myungsoo pointed to one of them.
“Special Envoy, first of all, congratulations on your safe return. Were there any hardships or difficulties while you were unable to leave?”
The first question seed intended to ease the tension, without much sharpness to it.
“Thank you. It was truly a difficult ti. I’m sorry for causing concern to the public. I was able to return thanks to the help of the governnt and the people. First of all, I think the word detained goes too far. Because of the sudden upheaval in Guinea, not only our delegation but most people were unable to leave. The airport had already been shut down, and....”
Lee Myungsoo calmly explained the situation, and the reporters wrote furiously, trying not to miss a single word he said.
After several questions passed, the truly uncomfortable ones started pouring in.
“The governnt has officially announced in a statent that it will recognize the coup that occurred in Guinea. Voices of concern are rising across all sectors. We’d like to hear your thoughts on that.”
“...I don’t know the detailed circumstances regarding that myself. I believe it was resolved through diplomatic negotiations between the Guinean governnt and the Korean governnt.”
Despite his calm explanation, the reporter did not let up.
“The opposition has taken a critical stance toward the governnt’s statent this ti. They say the administration bowed to Guinea and engaged in humiliating diplomacy. What do you think about that?”
“I believe the South Korean governnt must place the lives of its citizens above all else. If it can save Korean lives, then any humiliation must be endured. I will accept the criticism, but I do not think it is right for the opposition to turn a sudden crisis into political strife. If there is responsibility to be borne, I will bear all of it.”
After that, similar questions kept coming, and Lee Myungsoo answered them faithfully one by one.
“I’ll take just one more question.”
At the words that he would take one last question, everyone raised their hands again.
Among them, Lee Myungsoo pointed to a Koryeo Daily reporter he was at least sowhat familiar with.
“After news of this envoy delegation’s detention beca known in Korea, President Yoon Changho’s approval rating fell below 50%. So may think that ans the public was deeply disappointed by this incident. Is there anything you would like to say to the people regarding that?”
At the reporter’s question, Lee Myungsoo looked straight into the cara and said with a hardened face,
“I apologize to the people. All responsibility lies with , the one who led this delegation as its head. I will humbly accept the people’s stern rebuke. I am sorry.”
After bowing, Lee Myungsoo left the press area.
* * *
Even after sending Myungsoo off, I was unable to leave Sierra Leone.
I decided to wait in Freetown until the coup in Guinea had been put down.
“Today, right? That’s when they arrive in Conakry?”
“Yes. We’ve already received word that they joined up with the governnt forces and are moving toward the capital.”
“Do you think they can suppress it without major damage?”
“The governnt forces have a strong justification on their side. If the other military units don’t help, they should be able to put it down with overwhelming firepower.”
Just then, the phone sitting in front of rang. I quickly picked it up.
—It’s Igor, Boss.
“What happened?”
—It looks like things are starting to move in a strange direction.
What did that an? I asked back without realizing it.
“Things are moving in a strange direction?”
—It seems Captain Kamara has already left the capital.
“Kamara left the capital? What do you an by that? Explain in detail.”
—Well....
As I listened to the report, my brow furrowed.
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