The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 103



< Korean Patriotic Group >

“Come on in… Come on in. Yes yes this is the right way. The Synthetic Association general election will be held here today.”

Five days after Lee Kang returned to the West.

The Synthetic Association general election was held.

Association staff and volunteers encouraged Koreans who came to vote while also guiding them to the polling places.

“You two over there! No cutting in line. Go to the end of the line.”

Everyone seemed confused as it was their first time voting.

As chaos reigned some people overtook fellow Koreans waiting in line.

“Excuse me. Come out.”

“Oh my legs hurt. You’re getting older. It must be so hard to stand.”

“What’s the big deal about being old? Even people who used to play in Joseon are standing in line without a word. Can’t you see?”

The association staff pointed to the Lee Hoi-young family and scolded those who were trying to steal the food.

Park Hyung-sik who had been planning to vote first based solely on age was startled when he saw Lee Hoe-young’s face and hurriedly ran away to the very end.

Park Hyung-sik used to be a servant who worked under Lee Hoe-young.

He was so nervous that the old owner who had helped him settle down here would notice that he was breaking the rules that he ran away in a hurry.

“After verifying your identity you will receive a ballot. Once you receive the ballot you must never lose it. We will not issue a new one. Please keep this in mind.”

“Okay.”

Since it is an association and not a government organization there is no official identification card.

However since the personal information registered in the association’s roster existed this time the ballots were distributed based on that.

“What is your name? Please tell me your date of birth and hometown.”

“My name is Kim Man-deok and I was born on the 5th day of June in the year of Im-o (1882). I was born in Pyongyang.”

“If it’s the year of Im-o then it’s 1982. Where is the collection of people born in 1982?”

Although they are Koreans living in the United States they still use the sexagenary cycle and the solar-lunar calendar.

It’s hard to change a habit once it’s established so that’s why they act that way.

“Ah! It’s been confirmed. Now on the ballot paper you received you can write whether you will reappoint the Synthetic Association representative. Here in the square it’s written in Korean and Chinese characters right? The left side is ‘for’ and the right side is ‘against.’”

“So you’re saying I can stamp this wherever I want?”

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“yes.”

“But what does re-appointment mean?”

“I am asking whether His Majesty is in favor of continuing to serve as the Association’s representative.”

“ah!”

The illiteracy rate was high during this period.

Even though Hangul is easier than Chinese characters or other characters there were many people who only worked without ever setting foot on a school yard.

Accordingly the association staff and some intellectuals explained the meaning of this vote on site explaining each word.

“If not Your Majesty who else would dare to be the representative and hold such a vote?”

“That’s right. Who is above Your Majesty? Which rotten bastard is trying to remove Your Majesty from his position as the representative!”

For the Koreans Lee Kang was almost a divine being.

Even some Christians who are advised not to worship idols praised Lee Kang as a saint.

That’s why many people complained about it.

Because the atmosphere was so overwhelming no one could openly criticize Lee Kang’s reappointment as representative.

“Is it all over?”

“Oh my. What is this thing that is taking up so much time?”

“Yeah. It’s just a hassle and I don’t know why we do things like this.”

Although it was the beginning of democracy some Korean residents did not feel the importance of voting.

This is because Lee Kang’s re-election was virtually certain and they did not realize how precious their vote was.

But those who were awake felt a sense of satisfaction and realized the importance of voting today.

“I’m fine with that. Can’t we elect our own representative for the Korean community? I never imagined that a day like this would come.”

“Right. It may seem a bit disloyal to say it this way but doesn’t that mean that if the next association president fails to do his job we can judge him with this vote?”

In the middle of being divided into two.

Just finished voting

Some people had worried expressions.

“Moreover what should we do if His Majesty steps down from the position of Association President?”

“As those bastards claim there is no one higher than His Majesty in this country. Who should we really elect?”

“Well just thinking about it makes my head hurt too.”

“Hey why are you thinking so complicatedly? Just push for someone who has His Majesty’s trust as the next representative.”

“That’s easier said than done. How would I know who that is?”

“That’s right. We have not mastered the art of mind reading so how could we know Your Majesty’s profound intentions? You have not even designated a successor.”

“Oh that…..”

One of the Korean residents who was listening to the story joined the conversation.

“I heard that His Majesty will choose one of the five deputy representatives as the senior deputy representative this time?”

“Senior Vice President?”

“They say that when His Majesty leaves the West for other matters he will hold meetings on His Majesty’s behalf.”

“Oh! If that’s true then you are only the deputy representative in name but in reality you are the representative. Your Majesty is often away from here in the west.”

“yes.”

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Lee Kang indirectly set up a process to decide who to support.

Because the next president of the Synthetic Association will have a great impact on the Korean community.

Lee Kang intended to appoint as the next representative someone he could control or someone he trusted.

“Then if Your Majesty steps down we can choose him as the next representative.”

“I see?”

After the election the Korean residents gathered here and there to talk and speak with one voice.

Everything was as Lee Kang had intended.

* * *

“Are there not enough ballot boxes? Or are there more voters than expected?”

I inspected the association’s polling place and asked the association’s executives.

“The line is still quite long even though the sun is setting. It seems like there are quite a few people coming to the polls late.”

“We won’t know for sure until after the vote but I think both factors are at play.”

Although Ahn Chang-ho was popular among Korean residents ironically he did not hold any position in the association.

That’s why he became the interim chairman of the election committee in charge of managing the election this time and he evaluated today’s chaos like this.

“First of all Korean residents are heading to the polls without properly reading the instructions that were distributed in advance. Since the association staff have no experience handling this many votes it seems like the voting process is taking longer than expected.”

“Oh like that.”

Yu Gil-jun who was watching the voting from the side also added a word.

“Your Majesty. As Your Majesty had guessed more people are coming to America than expected last year.”

“Last year it was predicted that about 70000 new immigrants would come to the United States. What happened?”

“Surprisingly it is said that in the past six months as many as seventy thousand new citizens have left Joseon and crossed the Pacific Ocean.”

There must be several reasons.

Floods and droughts caused crop failures and the volunteer army was scattered due to the large-scale air raids on South Korea.

Some of them headed to Gando and the Maritime Province and joined Lee Beom-yun’s resistance force that was resisting nearby.

A significant number of them came to the United States where I am now.

‘Ah! Because of Morgan many Joseon subjects went to Panama. We should exclude them.’

Even if you look at it that way it seems that more than 50000 Koreans have immigrated to the United States.

It’s a huge immigration procession.

“How many Koreans are currently living in the Americas?”

“It’s already over a hundred thousand. I estimate it will soon reach a hundred and fifty thousand.”

“Then there would be about 80000 voters who can participate in this election.”

“yes.”

Should I adjust the speed?

Or should I accelerate more?

This is also something to think about.

“Your Majesty. Given the circumstances it seems we will have to continue accepting overseas Koreans for some time after the sun sets. If this trend continues.”

The voting deadline is approaching but the lines are still long.

It looks like we’ll have to stay up all night to count the votes.

‘That won’t work.’

Because you can’t stretch the voting time like a rubber band.

At least one firm principle must be established.

“Tell the voter to count the number of people waiting at six o’clock sharp. Only those who arrive on time should be allowed to vote.”

“Huh? Are you saying that we should exclude everyone who comes after that?”

“Yes. Didn’t they announce the voting deadline before?”

I warned my voice louder.

“You must not be swept away by sentimentality. Voting must strictly adhere to established rules.”

This vote is a vote of confidence but from now on they will be competing for the leadership position.

If you break the rules like this from the beginning what will happen later?

The loser will not accept the results of the election accusing it of election fraud.

“Your Majesty is considering the upcoming vote.”

“That’s right.”

“We didn’t anticipate that. We’ll make sure to take care of even these little things.”

“okay.”

Time passed like that.

The results of the vote came out around dawn.

“Out of the total eighty-two thousand four hundred and five votes there were eight against. There were ninety-four abstentions and seven hundred and forty-two invalid votes. The rest were all in favor.”

The results are overwhelming.

In fact Washington the first president of the United States was also re-elected with such an overwhelming approval rating.

I had kind of expected it.

But when I actually received it I was deeply moved.

“His Majesty the King will now serve as the representative of the Synthetic Association for another year. Congratulations to your Majesty.”

Although it was dawn some association staff and volunteers who were counting the votes still remained at the community center.

After congratulating them on their hard work today I did what had to be done first.

“As you will serve as representative for another year I will begin nominating vice-representatives. When I call your names please come forward. Vice-representative Lim Jeong-su Vice-representative Jeong Myeong-won….”

Two representatives who had helped me since the early days in Hawaii came up to the podium.

He was followed by Yu Gil-jun and two others.

“The newly created position of Senior Vice President will be filled by Yoo Gil-jun one of the five existing Vice Presidents. Senior Vice President Yoo please come forward.”

I shook hands with Yu Gil-jun and exchanged pleasantries.

“Let’s discuss many things together over the next year.”

“Yes Your Majesty. I will serve You with all my might.”

After completing the appointment of the senior vice-president the general election was dissolved.

I had just left the community center and I looked quite surprised when I saw the security guards surrounding me.

* * *

“The number of security personnel has increased noticeably. I’d estimate it’s about twice as many as the base number.”

“To be exact we added twice as many people as before.”

“okay?”

“Yes. As Your Majesty knows the external environment has changed quite a bit. Because of that the security policy and methods have also changed quite a bit.”

Woo Hyun-sik and Choi Hyun-woo speak in turns.

They guided me to where my private car was parked.

“majesty.”

“No you….”

There was a person sitting inside first.

It was Lee Wi-jong who was working as an agent of Ikmunsa.

“I told you to be careful and travel secretly but I didn’t know you would be this careful just by contacting me.”

I asked Yi Wi-jong not hiding my slightly surprised expression.

“Okay. What brings you here today?”

“Your Majesty. It seems that the situation in Japan is not normal.”

“japan?”

“Yes. In the process of restoring the old organization of the Imperial Ikmunsa we are continuously contacting agents operating in Japan. They have detected suspicious movements in Japan.”

Yiwijong handed me a bundle of white letters.

It looks like a normal letter written in English but it is said that hidden information was written in the spaces between the letters using chemical secrets.

“I recently made contact with agents who are active in exporting rice to Japan… and they recently submitted this report.”

I raised my voice as I quickly read the interpreted report.

“wedding ceremony?”

“yes.”

“Access to the highest levels is still limited so I am not able to ascertain the exact details. However some words are being repeated repeatedly at the Prime Minister’s Office.”

“Is that the word wedding?”

“yes.”

wedding ceremony.

Well it could be passed over as nothing serious.

Because marriages happen all the time.

The Japanese Prime Minister might go around saying things like that.

Yi Wi-jong whispered to me with his eyes narrowed.

“I haven’t fully verified the source of the information yet but shouldn’t I at least prepare something?”

“What? Are you saying that a ninja is going to crash my wedding?”

The second species remained silent.

The meaning of silence was ambiguous.

It could mean that he agrees but it also means that he is not sure yet.

“Even if it is still a mystery we must remain vigilant. They have attempted to assassinate the heads of enemy countries many times in the past.”

Even Nicholas II who is now the Emperor of Russia is like that.

When he visited Japan as the Crown Prince didn’t the Japanese plot to assassinate him?

‘I don’t know if it was fortunate or unfortunate but it ended in an assassination attempt.’

To give a closer example my legal mother Queen Min was assassinated in Hanyang in the year of Eulmi.

Wasn’t it an incident where Japanese ronin invaded and committed a crime in a country’s palace?

‘It’s amazing. Both incidents are unimaginable to ordinary people.’

I am in the United States.

But you should never be at ease.

There are quite a few Japanese people who do really crazy things as if they’ve just lost their minds.

I shouldn’t take the warnings of the other species lightly because they might really go crazy and come after me.

‘Whether it fails or succeeds… it will have huge ripple effects in many ways.’

If the Japanese really try this how should I respond?

“Oh and recently… some disturbing activity has been detected in the Americas.”

“Annoying activity? What is it?”

“It is said that several like-minded Korean youths are plotting an assassination.”

“Who? Me?”

“No way”

“Then who? Could it be Stevenson?”

Yiwijong shook his head to and fro at my answer.

“No. Didn’t Your Majesty tell you clearly before?”

It is said that several hardline armed forces are plotting to assassinate pro-Japanese collaborators and high-ranking Japanese officials.

hmm.

What should I do about this?

This is a truly troubling issue along with the threat of my assassination.

‘We need to be careful because the image of the Korean Empire in the international community could be damaged.’

at least.

I shouldn’t move rashly until I’m hit first.

‘The Synthetic Association may be branded as a radical force. I guess I’ll have to step forward.’

“Who is the instigator? Can I possibly meet him?”

As if he had anticipated my answer Yi Wi-jong handed me a list with the names of several Koreans.

I squinted my eyes as I read this.

< Korean Patriotic Group > End