Chapter 33: The Media’s Attack and Counterattack (1)
It was as expected.
Evening news hour.
The news anchor and Seo Inha put me on the chopping block and began to tear me apart.
“So, there were testimonies from people who went to school with Representative Kang Cheonmyeong?”
“That’s right. There were multiple testimonies.”
“All of them from 1987, when Representative Kang Cheonmyeong was in his first year of high school?”
“Correct. The two victims were a year older than him. They said they were thrown down in an alley and had their arms twisted. Let’s hear the testimony.”
How did they find them?
The screen transitioned to a man with his face blurred, explaining the situation back then.
He left out the causality and only claimed that I twisted his arm by slamming him to the ground. He said he was in such pain he couldn’t eat for days, and that he couldn’t even take notes at school, criticizing me.
“Honey, is that really him? Maybe they hired an actor?”
“I don’t know, but the content is accurate.”
“It happened because he hit your second eldest brother-in-law. Why leave that part out? They’re really despicable.”
Woo Ah‑mi was agitated.
I focused on the TV.
“There was violence in the classroom as well?”
“Yes. The class president tried to calm the class down when it got noisy, but two rounds of assault followed.”
“Are you saying he hit the class president?”
“That’s why he received a conditional suspension. Based on the school’s disciplinary action, it seems to have been a one-sided assault.”
It was absurd.
Another blurred interview clip came on.
He testified that I hit the class president and vice president, but again, the cause was omitted.
“School violence is a serious issue. What is the People’s Union Party saying about this? Doesn’t appointing a school violence perpetrator as their second recruit raise questions about their vetting process?”
“The People’s Union Party hasn’t made any response yet. As a political party, it seems they can’t avoid criticism for being irresponsible.”
Woo Ah‑mi looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“Honey, did that reporter contact you?”
“No.”
“How can they not publish a rebuttal?”
“Maybe I’ve lived my life wrong. Enemies everywhere.”
I smirked and turned off the TV.
Listening further would only raise my blood pressure.
Woo Ah‑mi seemed very worried.
“You have friends, don’t you? They can testify for you.”
“They’ll get trashed just for being my friends.”
“Then what do we do?”
“Justice will prevail.”
“You’re so calm. Are you really okay?”
I wasn’t okay.
But because I had expected this, I accepted it with less impact than they intended.
Just then, my mobile phone rang.
It was the Division Head of General Affairs.
“Yes, Division Head.”
― This puts our party in a difficult position. I clearly asked during the interview whether you had any problematic behavior in the past.
“It’s not a problematic behavior. I’ll take care of it. Just give me a few days.”
― Can you resolve this? By tomorrow morning, the newspapers will be plastered with articles about you.
“I will definitely resolve it.”
― You must solve it within a week. Otherwise, your party membership will be revoked.
“Yes.”
As soon as I hung up, my mobile phone rang again.
The power of broadcasting really was strong.
It was Assemblyman Seong Chang-rae.
“Yes, sunbae-nim.”
― Looks like someone’s got a serious grudge. They even made a special segment just to bash you. Are you okay?
“I’m fine. As you said, I’ll take care of it.”
― An impactful debut is good. For a politician, any media exposure is good—except an obituary.
“Thank you.”
― I’m the one who recommended you. I trust you’ll handle this well.
“Of course.”
Just as I hung up, my mobile phone rang again.
Woo Ah‑mi looked at me with an exasperated expression.
“Whew. What a mess.”
“Guess a lot of people saw the news. I don’t even recognize this number.”
“Pick it up. It could be a classmate who knows the truth.”
“Maybe.”
But unfortunately, the caller was Seo Inha.
I was furious, but I held it in.
“You’re shameless.”
― I didn’t run a rebuttal because you didn’t pick up the phone.
“You could’ve just sent a text. And why didn’t you air the explanation I gave during the induction ceremony?”
― If you have something to say now, say it. I’ll include a short clip.
No reasoning with her.
She was like that even when we were younger—always editing the situation to suit herself.
There was no need to talk any further.
“You’ll have to take responsibility for what you did.”
― What are you talking about right now? Don’t tell me you’re threatening me...
“If you look down on me, it won’t end well. I’m hanging up.”
― Hey!
I hung up.
“Honey, I should take out the battery.”
“You should.”
Just as I reached for the battery, the phone rang again.
It was Song Min-chae.
I had already devised a plan for this situation.
“How is it? Do you think it’ll work?”
― The Head of News Division finds it interesting, so the footage wasn’t cut. We just need to get three clips.
“Let’s talk tomorrow in person. Thanks.”
― Sure.
Woo Ah‑mi widened her eyes and asked,
“What do you mean, ‘it’ll work’?”
“It’s time to counterattack.”
“Who was it?”
“A YNT reporter. Watch how I do things.”
I gave Woo Ah‑mi a bright smile.
A café in Gwanghwamun.
In the room farthest back, I sat across from Ji Jeongseok.
“That outlet is extremely partisan. So their reporters write articles to fit their frame.”
Ji Jeongseok sharply criticized the outlet Seo Inha belonged to.
“They centralize their sources in powerful institutions. So they report opposing forces purely as enemies. You could call them a textbook propaganda outlet.”
“How did it go?”
“You remember Do Hyungmin, right?”
“Of course. He lived in our neighborhood.”
“Hyungmin said he’ll go on camera and testify.”
“Hyungmin?”
Do Hyungmin.
He lived next door and grew up in an environment similar to mine.
Before I joined the military, he used to do delivery work. I hadn’t heard from him since.
“He’s running a restaurant in Sillim-dong now. Took some effort to find him.”
“Is he doing well?”
“He’s got about ten tables. Seems like he’s settled.”
“Thanks. I should go see him.”
“And Pyun Dalsik said he’d testify too.”
The guy who only brought kimchi and stole everyone else’s side dishes.
“What’s Dalsik doing these days?”
“He’s working at Sihwa Industrial Complex. Said he was so thrilled when you knocked Oh Man-seok down that he nearly pissed himself.”
“How’d you find him?”
“If someone’s alive, I’ll find them. And, you know... most importantly...”
Just then, the door swung open and Song Min-chae came in.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“Jeongseok, I invited her. She’s...”
“I know.”
“Huh? You two know each other?”
“After ten years in journalism, there’s hardly anyone I don’t know.”
Song Min-chae sat next to me and asked,
“Did you order my coffee too?”
“Yeah.”
I looked back and forth between Song Min-chae and Ji Jeongseok.
I felt a little duped.
“You both knew you’d be meeting today?”
“We did.”
“How come neither of you told me?”
“There was no need. Whether we know each other or not doesn’t matter right now.”
“Fair point.”
As she listened, Song Min-chae asked Ji Jeongseok,
“Did you find allies?”
“Three of them.”
“Will that give him strength?”
“They said they’d show their faces.”
“Really?”
Song Min-chae looked at Ji Jeongseok in surprise, then turned her head toward me.
“You must’ve lived right. It’s not easy to show your face like that.”
“Did the Head of News Division approve it?”
“I got promoted to Deputy General Manager, remember? I have that much pull.”
“Wow! Congratulations.”
“It’s only natural. I’m capable.”
Song Min-chae gave a smirking smile. Ji Jeongseok looked displeased by it.
“I won’t congratulate you. I’m jealous.”
“If Reporter Ji hadn’t quit, he’d be a Deputy General Manager too by now.”
“If I’d stayed, I’d still be doing ad sales. I like where I am now. Are you satisfied, Reporter Song?”
“Our editorial independence is guaranteed. The Head of News Division takes the hits for us, so we work even harder.”
Song Min-chae had pride in her company.
She looked at me.
“Kang Cheonmyeong, you really aren’t ordinary. After taking that much flak, you should be angry, but you look calm.”
“I expected it.”
“Reporter Seo Inha is pretty famous, you know.”
“For what?”
I showed interest.
“We worked together at the National Assembly press office for about a year. She’s not ordinary.”
“What happened?”
“A rookie journalist from a new media outlet tried to join the press corps, buying meals and coffee for months. But Seo Inha rallied opposition and stopped it. In the end, they didn’t get the majority vote.”
“She’s definitely the type.”
“She’s the vanguard of clique journalism. Somehow sweet-talked the coordinator, got early intel, and even scooped a few exclusives. She broke embargoes multiple times but never got disciplined.”
I chuckled.
She worked hard to build her clique even when we were young.
Nothing’s changed.
“She was your classmate and neighborhood friend, right? Was she like that even back then?”
“People don’t change easily. On TV, she looked like an ordinary reporter.”
“She was denied promotion due to rumors. They said she damaged the company’s reputation.”
“Rumors?”
“Apparently, she had an inappropriate relationship with an aide to get intel. The aide quit, but Seo Inha insisted nothing happened. She’s not a normal one.”
Seo Inha.
She couldn’t stand losing—even as a child.
That’s why she excluded only me from her birthday party just because I took first place.
She’s the kind who’ll do anything to achieve her goal.
Ji Jeongseok got a bit worked up.
“News, you know, stands for North, East, West, South. It’s about covering events across all directions and maintaining balance. A journalist isn’t just a wage worker.”
“If they just uphold two of the ten journalistic ethics—protecting press freedom and reporting fairly—they won’t be criticized. But in reality, they treat media as power.”
“Exactly. So many people think being close to power or acting like they are makes them successful. They’re proud of that.”
In my past life, journalists were like pets to me. Give them food and they’d stick their tongues out, obediently waiting for commands like loyal lap dogs.
Of course, once my father was imprisoned, they started tearing into me.
Regardless, the media was firmly under the control of capital.
I looked at the two of them and asked,
“Is there anything I should do?”
“You stay still. If the person involved moves, it can become a weakness.”
“Thanks.”
“No need to thank me. We have to correct the truth when it’s distorted.”
Ji Jeongseok said he’d write an article himself and told me not to worry.
Song Min-chae looked at me with sharp eyes.
“Cheonmyeong.”
“Yeah?”
“Since you’ve started politics, there’s something you must know.”
“Go ahead.”
“Perception matters more than facts.”
I thought I understood what she meant.
Because of last night’s news, the public perception of me would be negative. Even if it wasn’t true, that’s how the public would view it.
I etched Song Min-chae’s words into my mind.
“I get what you’re saying. Give me advice from time to time.”
“I believe you’ll become a good politician. Just don’t lose your original intent.”
“Of course.”
Ji Jeongseok looked at me sharply.
“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s intense.”
“Do politics properly. If not, I won’t let it slide.”
“I better do well just so I don’t get on your bad side. Ha ha.”
Two days later.
A powerful knockout punch landed.