The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 11



< In Hawaii (3) >

“I’m sorry. I don’t have the face to see you all.”

I didn’t beat around the bush.

This is how Lee Kang originally spoke.

Before explaining something let me first explain how I feel right now.

I used that method too.

“Please forgive me.”

The audience listening to me from beyond the podium were silent at my surprise remark.

There were over a thousand men in this place but not a single breath could be heard.

It’s as if not a single ant is wandering around.

‘You make so many different expressions.’

I turned my head to check their faces.

Many people are confused.

But some people looked surprised.

‘Well… it must be their first time. How can someone above them easily repent for their mistakes?’

Let’s end the facial expression check here.

I quickly analyzed the situation.

‘Those who are embarrassed will be the ones who came out to see my face.’

Those who look surprised are probably immigrants who came here to give me a hard time.

I had to win the heart of the latter.

after….

I took a deep breath.

After that he closed his eyes slightly made a self-reproachful expression and then carefully opened them again.

‘An apology must be sincere and clear.’

As modern people we have seen many celebrities and company CEOs who have caused controversy in society.

They confessed their wrongdoings to the public and asked for forgiveness through social media and broadcasts.

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‘A half-hearted apology is worse than no apology at all. It can actually have the opposite effect.’

Most clients who seek out lobbyists are representatives of interest groups.

That’s why they sometimes do evil things to maximize their own interests.

It’s okay as long as you don’t pass it by or get caught.

The problem comes when their mistakes become known to the public.

At that time they received consulting from a professional consulting firm on how to apologize to the public.

I too had been watching this from the sidelines so I knew very well how to apologize when a problem arose.

‘At first you should bow your head and apologize.’

Next you must confess your specific sins.

I explained one by one what I had done wrong and asked for forgiveness from the immigrants.

“Although I am a member of the royal family I have not been able to properly carry out a single duty. I should have been there to advise His Majesty to follow the right path… but I failed.”

A desperate look in your eyes.

Looking at the immigrants standing in front of the podium with a voice that was not arrogant I blurted out the following words.

“I continued to ignore those who were suffering. I knew but pretended not to know.”

I didn’t bother to make excuses.

I did not explain to them the fact that internal and external enemies were targeting me.

‘These people in front of me are not fools.’

They knew the local situation in Joseon better than anyone else.

The dead Queen Min.

And Empress Dowager Eom who took Minbi’s place.

Plus Japan which they hate so much.

This means that the immigrants here all know that they are keeping me in check.

‘Because two people who know them well Kim Kyu-sik and Yu Gil-jun testified to this. It must be believable.’

That’s why rather than making excuses I confessed my mistakes and preached the truth.

“I was a coward when I went to America to study abroad to survive. I couldn’t let go of my foolishness. I pretended not to see you again so I could live comfortably in the palace.”

For the past six years Lee Kang has been trying to return to Joseon.

I also mentioned this movement because I think most of you here are familiar with it.

I raised my voice little by little and let out the small voice that had been building up in one corner of my chest.

“But at the last minute… my conscience called me. I knew better than anyone how you were doing so I asked if you would return to Joseon. Phew….”

Before Bing Lee Kang also did not completely ignore them.

Sometimes I would visit the Korean community give them a daily allowance and meet their representatives to encourage them.

I have lived my life taking these people into consideration in my own way and thanks to that I have been able to use them very well.

“I thought of you. That’s why I came back. I couldn’t leave this land without you.”

And then he declared.

I will not return to my homeland for at least ten years.

Instead I declared that I would remain in America and live for those before me.

“So please forgive me. If you give me another chance I will try to show you a different side of me.”

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I’ve said everything I wanted to say.

I ended my day by stepping down from the podium.

‘Slowly… move.’

I met with a representative of the Hawaiian immigrants the day before.

Most of them were friendly to me but I still talked to them separately and built up a good impression of them in advance.

“Your Majesty has done nothing wrong.”

also….

It was worth eating together last night.

Lim Jeong-su who was in the front row took a half step forward.

He looked at me turned 180 degrees and shouted at the crowd.

“What power did Your Majesty have to deal with those thugs who blinded Your Majesty?”

“That’s right. Behind them are Japan and Russia.”

As a man next to him responded Lim Jeong-su quickly nodded and stirred up the crowd.

“Weren’t you the one who was blamed for the failed revolution five years ago? That caused you great suffering. Everyone here knows this.”

In response Hawaiian immigrants began to respond one by one.

“That’s right. Your Majesty has done nothing wrong!”

“It’s all because of those traitors like Moribae.”

“We must kill all pro-Japanese and pro-Russian forces.”

The atmosphere is slowly shifting towards me.

Even those who had openly shown their displeasure are being swept up in the atmosphere and are hesitating unable to say anything in protest.

I didn’t miss it and closed my eyes slightly to express my gratitude.

“You forgave me so easily when I was so scared… Thank you thank you.”

I felt like crying but I held it back.

Because to be a leader you have to be strong.

The apology I gave earlier was an act that showed my character.

But there is a fine line to everything.

If you cry after apologizing you will look weak.

“I saw a sight on my way here. It must have been one of you here. I saw you being threatened by a Korean middle manager in a sugarcane field.”

Except for middle managers Korean workers were forced to work without even the most basic right to rest.

I clenched my fist as I spoke about these poor working conditions.

“There is one reason why the ranchers look down on us. It is because we do not stick together. Look at the Japanese who immigrated from the Chinese archipelago across the Pacific Ocean. They are all sticking together and trying to survive here. But what is our reality?”

I began to slowly approach the crowd.

Front back left right.

As the immigrants surrounded me I forced my voice to say the following words:

“We are scattered fighting and jealous watching each other.”

A man asked me.

“Do you have any solution Your Majesty?”

“Yes. Can’t we also come together? In order to do that we need to create a unified church association right away.”

It’s been two years since Koreans immigrated to Hawaii.

Although small branches of the Korean community were created there was still no representative organization representing all Koreans.

“I will donate the hundred thousand dollars I have saved up to the Korean community that will be established here. Since I have already settled my family assets in Korea… this is now my second home.”

As soon as I finished speaking local broadcasts began to blast from all over the place.

“A hundred thousand dollars?”

“How much is that?”

“How much was our daily wage? Was it around a dollar?”

“But a hundred thousand dollars?”

Boom boom. The surroundings became noisy.

Everyone looked surprised.

Some of them looked surprised when I announced that I was using such a large thing for them exclaiming “Royal people have different sized hands.”

“We are also planning to establish a scholarship foundation. Those of you who are bound by contract may not know this but don’t your children need to study?”

Policies are made into laws.

Laws are legislated by members of the National Assembly.

Lobbyists were quite naturally inseparable from politicians.

『People like hope. If you make them think that they can have it with just a little effort… they give their hearts.』

I remembered something a New Jersey senator with whom our company frequently did business used to say.

okay.

I too intended to give them hope.

Their contracts with the sugarcane farmers may not bring about any immediate changes in their lives but it does inspire the imagination that the lives of their newborn or soon-to-be-born children will be different.

‘Modern Korea’s enthusiasm for education was very famous even in the United States.’

Before Korea became widely known in the United States.

So even before the Korean Wave Korea’s enthusiasm for education was very famous.

Barack Obama who was very interested in normalizing public education even specifically mentioned Korea’s enthusiasm for education and praised it saying that it should be emulated.

“I will support any talented child without worrying about money. So trust me and let’s become one.”

I drove the wedge in exchanging glances with each of them.

“We left our hometown and came here. Now you who are here are brothers and sisters. We are family. That is why we all have to live together well.”

The Korean community began to cheer at my suggestion.

The heat was so intense that even I who was giving the speech was surprised.

* * *

After coming down from the podium I went to the hotel for a while.

As the square became chaotic with immigrants trying to meet me I was given a moment of semi-forced free time.

“majesty.”

Woo Hyun-sik came quickly to me.

He asked me with a surprised look on his face.

“Are you serious about what you just said on stage? Are you really planning to donate a hundred thousand dollars to the Korean community and the new scholarship foundation?”

I nodded and did not deny Woo Hyun-sik’s question.

“That’s right.”

“Your Majesty a hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money. Why…?”

Woo Hyun-sik held my hand tightly with a look of shock on his face.

He is currently my financial manager.

He once grabbed me like a rat and asked where the money I had saved up was.

From then on I became a person who was extremely sensitive to money.

‘Because a financial manager has to manage money conservatively. That could be the case.’

Each person just needs to faithfully do the work assigned to them.

Woo Hyun-sik is a financial manager.

So it was natural to also be concerned about cash flow.

As their leader I have to decide which one takes priority based on their advice.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance. I should have at least given you a heads up…”

Woo Hyun-sik looked slightly disappointed but then quickly showed an expression of understanding.

Because the situation of Korean residents in Hawaii was really bad.

Although he didn’t see my big picture he understood the general situation and eventually agreed to my proposal.

“By the way are you really going to pay that much money?”

Kim Kyu-sik came and spoke to me.

Because it was an official setting he didn’t hesitate to speak and he treated me as politely as possible while asking for my opinion.

“If the royal family gave His Majesty activity funds shouldn’t it be used for more important purposes?”

“That’s right. The current world situation is dangerous for our country.”

Yu Gil-jun intervened.

Having been under house arrest for four years he developed considerable resentment toward Japan.

“Isn’t Japan targeting our Korean Empire? Please reconsider.”

However I firmly refused Yu Gil-jun’s request and declared that I would not take back what I said on the podium.

“These are more important to me. They are my Joseon and my hope.”

At my words Yu Gil-jun looked speechless for a moment.

But everyone else except him looked at me with expressions of emotion as if a true leader had appeared.

I patted Yu Gil-jun’s shoulder and reassured him.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ve set aside my own activity funds. I’m not the same as I used to be. I live with my own thoughts.”

“majesty.”

“Tell me.”

“If you’re going to establish an association the first thing you need to do is come up with a name.”

When a middle-aged looking man suggested this everyone nodded in agreement with what he said.

The middle-aged man approached me politely and asked my intentions.

“Do you have anything in mind?”

Anywhere.

The leader often decides the name of the group.

It seemed like everyone here already considered me a leader.

It can’t be helped.

Because I pay all the money and my status is much higher.

Everyone has no choice but to think like that.

“Synthetic Association. Let’s call it the Synthetic Association.”

As I said the group name that suddenly came to mind everyone began to interpret it and praise me.

“It means let’s succeed together.”

“It seems like a group name that fits perfectly with the speech you gave on the podium earlier.”

“Have you already thought about it?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then Your Majesty it seems you have a great sense of naming.”

“You came up with this on the spot… huh….”

I asked Lim Jeong-su who had earlier recommended that I name the group and Jeong Myeong-won who was standing next to him.

“I’d like you two to take charge of this group temporarily. From what I hear… you two are the most prestigious people here.”

The only people currently in the hotel are my entourage and temporary representatives of the Hawaiian immigrants.

After receiving the advice from Kim Kyu-sik last night I was planning to appoint these two most prestigious among them as co-heads of the Korean Association.

“But shouldn’t Your Majesty take charge first?”

As expected.

Lim Jeong-su who had suggested naming the group gave up his seat to me.

also.

It’s easy to work with people who are quick-witted.

“If you think so then let me do so. When things stabilize later… we will elect a new representative through a vote.”

It was concluded by appointing two people as vice-presidents.

“A hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money so I can’t deposit it right away. However since we need a lot of money in the beginning I’ll put in about twenty thousand dollars for now.”

“Even ten thousand dollars is a lot of money to us.”

I nodded and handed them a few banknotes I had.

“I’ll also give out the scholarship I mentioned earlier. For now you just need to donate about ten thousand dollars.”

The activity fee for the Korean community is 20000 dollars but the funds used for the scholarship foundation are also as much as 10000 dollars.

He looked surprised at this.

“Ten thousand dollars?”

“Yeah. With about ten thousand dollars I think I can somehow get through this year.”

He looked even more surprised at those words.

Everyone was shocked to hear that he would be spending ten thousand dollars a year.

“For those with bright minds help them as much as possible to get into college. They will become our cornerstones.”

I added raising both hands.

“In particular pay special attention to those who are also good with their hands.”

“Why are you looking for such a person?”

“If circumstances allow I would like to send them to medical school.”

“Are you talking about medical school?”

“okay.”

The reaction from immigrant representatives was mixed.

Half curiosity.

The other half looked at it negatively questioning why a medical school was created.

‘The Joseon water hasn’t drained yet.’

In modern Korea and the United States the status of doctors is high.

Because I make a lot of money and am socially recognized.

However the status of doctors in Joseon in the 1900s was not as good as expected.

Most people thought it was a job that only middle-class people did.

Since they have been here for less than two years most of them do not know how doctors are treated.

‘Koreans have extraordinary manual dexterity. If they become doctors they will all be very successful.’

Moreover… a doctor’s job is to save people.

If a Korean doctor can help me with a prestigious position it will help me in my future business.

‘If Jews had taken over the financial sector…’

I want to encourage Koreans to pursue the medical field.

That was my wish.

‘The stronger the power of the Korean people becomes the stronger my power becomes.’

That is why I plan to support you without holding back.

Especially in the medical field.

“I don’t think it would be good to be too biased towards one side.”

“You’re right. It’s necessary to save people but shouldn’t we earn this damn money more than anything else?”

America is a capitalist society.

I stressed the need for money and also that the funds we raised could be of help to the Korean Empire in the future.

“So those who have some business acumen keep an eye on them. If I can help you I will.”

“yes.”

“Ah… and.”

I gave them a heads up emphasizing one thing.

“Let’s exclude those with bad reputations from support. Let’s spread this information little by little in the Korean community.”

Middle managers.

I saw them exploiting their fellow countrymen.

I mentioned this and warned you because I did not want to support such people.

“What should we do when those who wish to see Your Majesty are waiting outside?”

“We should meet. I’ll meet each and every one of you and talk to you.”

It looks like the outside situation has been pretty much sorted out.

I headed to the square again guided by Choi Hyun-woo and Yu Gil-jun.

* * *

The sight of some fairly young immigrants came into my view.

The excitement of being able to talk to them.

At the same time I was also a little worried.

I was worried whether there would be any usable sprouts left.

‘What a pity the timing.’

It’s early August now.

Most American universities start classes in September.

It takes about fifteen to twenty days to travel from Hawaii to San Francisco.

From there it would take another fortnight to travel east on the transcontinental railroad across the American continent.

If I left now I would have a hard time arriving on time even if I skipped the withdrawal period.

Because of that it seemed like all the young talents who had already emerged had left Hawaii.

“majesty.”

“Come this way.”

As expected a number of people of different ages appeared in front of me.

I was introduced to over a hundred people but unfortunately I couldn’t find any useful talent.

“majesty.”

huh?

Someone called me.

This is Kim Kyu-sik.

“I would like to introduce you to Your Majesty Lee Ja. He is a talented Korean who entered George Washington University early this year. Fortunately he has not left yet.”

“You…..”

I turned my head and saw a familiar face in front of me.

But I couldn’t remember the name.

It seemed that he couldn’t even remember the name because it was a person who only briefly passed through Lee Kang’s memory.

“What are you doing? Why don’t you come and say hello?”

A neat-looking man bowed his head and greeted me.

After that he started introducing himself and telling me his name.

“I am Syngman Rhee. It is an honor to meet you. Your Majesty the King.”

< In Hawaii (3) > End