The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 191



< Two Stars (2) >

Rockefeller is a historical figure who influenced the past century.

Recently I became close with him and was able to have conversations about various topics other than economics.

『How about meeting the prospective students once before they enroll and giving them some encouragement?』

One of them was a conversation related to overseas Koreans.

Although he was quite old Rockefeller’s clear vision was not rusty at all.

This was a year in which we were busy with the establishment of the FOMC and anti-monopoly issues.

He gave me some very helpful advice.

“Secretary Choi.”

“Yes Your Majesty. Is there anything you would like me to do?”

After Rockefeller returned to my home in New York I immediately called my right-hand man Choi Hyun-woo.

It was to quickly accept his advice.

“Do you remember the recommendation for cadets at the Army and Navy academies that I gave you six months ago?”

“Yes go ahead.”

“I’d like to check the relevant materials. Please bring them to me.”

“Do you need a brief summary or a report detailing the entire process?”

“Bring them both out.”

Choi Hyun-woo stopped by his office for a moment and then brought a pile of documents to me along with some other people.

I started by skimming through the summary first.

“Hmm. There were more final applicants than I thought.”

I was worried at the beginning of the announcement because there weren’t many applicants.

I guess it was leaning.

“There was a rush of applicants at the last minute.”

Choi Hyun-woo picked out a report from a pile of documents.

It was a report detailing the movements of key figures and Choi Hyun-woo briefly introduced it to me.

“As Dosan (Ahn Chang-ho) Woo Sung (Park Yong-man) Woo Sa (Kim Kyu-sik) and Woo Man (Rhee Syng-man) promoted this to the overseas Korean community a wave of support swept through the region.”

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Oh oh.

There was such a hidden story.

“Thanks to this hundreds of applications were submitted to the Synthetic Association Scholarship Foundation which at one point paralyzed the foundation’s work.”

“okay?”

I nodded and continued reading the relevant material.

“Well that means hundreds of applications came in within a week… It would have taken several days just to read them through once.”

“yes.”

Choi Hyun-woo mentioned the efforts of those working at the Synthetic Association Scholarship Foundation and explained further why so many people gathered at the last minute.

“We Koreans originally considered passing the state examination to be a family honor. The four major figures I just mentioned seem to have mentioned this and encouraged the support of overseas Koreans.”

A fragmented memory of Lee Kang suddenly flashed through my mind.

The anecdotes of the civil service exam ronin who had challenged the civil service exam throughout their lives came to mind.

“The Hanyang government said it was eradicating these past evils and completely eliminated them.”

“Yes I did.”

I feel it again.

The enthusiasm of overseas Koreans hoping to achieve success and fame.

“So out of hundreds of applicants these two were ultimately selected?”

“Yes. Because they are the ones who best meet the conditions Your Majesty has set.”

I picked up the summarized related documents again and reviewed the details.

“hmm.”

For the yellow people entering the military academy is a difficult path from the beginning.

It’s hard enough surviving among tough men but now it’s the early 20th century and racism is rampant.

Considering this I was going to have to endure double and triple hardships so a dark cloud naturally appeared on my face.

“Your Majesty. I have chosen the candidates below more fairly than ever before.”

“….”

“….”

I frowned slightly because I was worried about the future of the prospective cadets but Choi Hyun-woo read my expression and interpreted it differently.

“I can assure you that we have selected very strictly according to the criteria set by Your Majesty. Look we even created a language assessment test.”

It’s a bit sad to say this but Joseon society was an extremely corrupt society.

Choi Hyun-woo must have been aware of this as well as he emphasized this while reporting the selection process one by one to me.

‘It’s a foreign language speaking test… I guess I put a lot of thought into it.’

Several similar tests I’ve seen in modern Korea come to mind.

As I review the various new certification exams introduced this time I emphasize several elements necessary for survival in the United States.

“Language communication is the most basic of basics. If our people with different complexions are to blend in with the existing crowd this ability must be outstanding.”

“Yes. The association also took this into consideration when selecting candidates.”

Choi Hyun-woo praised the language skills of the two students who were finally selected.

“They are both Korean immigrants who have recently come to the U.S. but their language skills are so outstanding that it is truly amazing how well they speak English.”

“okay?”

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“Yes. Moreover not only is his speaking and listening ability excellent but his reading ability is also top-notch so he will have no trouble performing his duties and receiving training.”

“Your physique looks average.”

The military and naval academies are not just places for studying.

Athletic ability is also evaluated here.

“He is considered a giant among Koreans. However compared to the locals he is considered to be slightly inferior.”

Choi Hyun-woo mentioned the innate physical differences between races.

“But don’t worry too much we will overcome this with our will. Above all we have cheerful personalities and both of us have a strong spirit of challenge. We evaluated our external tendencies but we also evaluated our internal qualities.”

Listening to it I feel a little disappointed.

If it weren’t for the busy times I’m having now I would have stepped forward and confronted them myself.

‘There’s a difference between hearing information through others and experiencing it directly.’

Well it can’t be helped.

Because everything has priorities.

Because it was more important to focus on the FOMC and antitrust issues in the East right now.

I don’t regret my past choices.

“More than anything I have a personality that cannot stand injustice. Both of us received high marks in the areas that Your Majesty considers most important.”

Of all the factors the evaluation item that received the highest score was of course hostility toward Japan.

Becoming a high-ranking American military officer means becoming a full-fledged American not a Korean.

In the worst case scenario there could be a conflict of interest between me and Joseon the country where they were born.

‘If you want to look in the same direction as much as possible you need common interests.’

When they were wearing stars World War II was in full swing.

There is only one thing I wish for from them.

When Japan started the world war I took their side and put more pressure on them.

That’s why I included these items as evaluation items.

If I were to fall for Japan’s persuasion all my efforts would be in vain.

“That means there is considerable animosity toward Japan.”

“Yes. They both lost their families to the Japanese. That’s why they won’t be easily shaken by external circumstances.”

The desire for revenge is an emotion that does not easily go away.

Especially since losing a close family member is like losing a part of my soul.

I put down the report on the two finalists with a satisfied expression on my face.

“Since you are so sure I will take your word for it. By the way you all look familiar.”

Just looking at the photos they all look like they would make women cry.

I looked at Choi Hyun-woo and handed him the photos of the two cadets.

“I’d like to have dinner with you guys before May ends.”

“Yes. I will make an appointment.”

“Oh if possible bring your family too. I want to talk to them and congratulate them on their admission.”

“Understood Your Majesty.”

* * *

“Oh my. Your Majesty the King.”

An old man came up to me and bowed deeply.

“Thank you for recommending my son as a cadet at the Naval Academy. What are you doing? Without saying hello.”

The old man bowed to me while grabbing the head of my son next to him.

“Hello Your Majesty the King. My name is Shinsungmo.”

A prospective cadet who was about to enter Annapolis bowed deeply watching me intently.

If I ate some seafood and my head grew a little bigger I might not have to bow down anymore.

I gladly accepted his Korean-style greeting thinking it would be the last bow of the Holy Mother.

“Thanks to your recommendation I was able to enter the Annapolis Naval Academy. Thank you again.”

There are two students who passed but only one stopped by my house.

I tilted my head and asked around about other successful candidates.

“Where are the other candidates? The Annapolis Reserve cadets are here but I don’t see any West Point Reserve cadets.”

“majesty.”

Choi Hyun-woo approached me with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“The train carrying another cadet was… delayed.”

“Oh like that.”

“I was told that because of that I would be slightly late in attending the event.”

Like the 21st century.

This is not an era where trains arrive every minute.

Delays due to accidents were common and in severe cases flights could arrive several days later than originally scheduled.

Just like right now.

“That’s good. At least you won’t be late for admission thanks to my invitation.”

Is this your first time taking the train?

The prospective cadets who were accepted to West Point did not take these cases into account.

I guess I was aware of it.

The good news is that I made this mistake before entering the military academy.

“You too be careful. While other evaluations are full of subjective elements attendance is recorded objectively.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

“That’s why attendance is reflected so much in personnel decisions. It’s objective. Since you’re an Asian you have to work twice as hard as other people. To do that you absolutely have to get full marks for attendance.”

“yes.”

He emphasized his sincerity to the Holy Mother and supported her future.

“Even if it’s dirty that’s the only way to surpass white people. Please don’t be discouraged by the harsh environment and whip yourself.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Your Majesty.”

A man arrived panting.

The young man’s relatives were all in the Korean Empire so he was alone unlike Shinsungmo.

“I am sorry for being late Your Majesty.”

“I am a student named Hwang Ki-hwan who was recently admitted to West Point.”

Choi Hyun-woo quickly introduces the young man’s identity to me.

I extended my right hand and offered an American-style greeting.

“Yeah. Nice to meet you.”

The young man greeted me with a bewildered expression as if he still had not come to his senses.

Some people even frowned seeming displeased with the American-style greeting.

“Come on! Now that both of our protagonists have arrived here let’s start eating.”

Whatever.

First I’m going to start with a banquet.

I seated the two protagonists on either side of me and ordered them to bring out some wine.

* * *

‘Shin Seong-mo and Hwang Gi-hwan…’

Living as Park Byung-jun in the 21st century.

I tried to remember that time.

I had read an article about one of the two characters.

‘The character called Eugene in the drama is Lee Ja-geuk.’

A drama that aired in 2018.

A Korean drama set during the Japanese colonial period that was broadcast worldwide through OTT platforms flashed through my mind.

‘In the work he was called Eugene Choi.’

Hwang Ki-hwan is the real-life character who played the main character in this famous drama.

I had obtained this information through a Korean community newspaper and I began to cut the meat while recalling the article related to Hwang Gi-hwan’s original life.

‘In the history of the original people they lived a pitiful life and eventually died young…’

What kind of person will you grow into in this history?

I turned my head towards Hwang Gi-hwan with a rather curious expression.

“Mr. Eugene.”

“Huh? What did you just say Your Majesty?”

this.

I made a mistake.

As I was reminded of the related drama I naturally ended up calling it by a different name.

“Ah! I’m sorry Ki-hwan. I think I confused you with another one of mine.”

After apologizing to Hwang Gi-hwan.

I quickly turned my head to the Holy Mother and asked the two figures.

“There’s something I’d like to ask Cadet Hwang and Cadet Shin here.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

“Please speak.”

“What kind of exercise do you like the most? I heard that you relieve stress by exercising during your free time at the military academy.”

Before starting a full-scale conversation I tried to become friendly with them by mentioning personal stories.

I looked into their exercise preferences by listing recently popular ball games.

“Baseball? Football? Basketball? Which do you prefer the most? Who else would answer first?”

< Two Stars (2) > End