sinovels Chapter 80 Minjung's Ambition
Chapter 80 Minjung's Ambition
Busan City Government intends to appropriate the $20 million raised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry into its own coffers in two steps:
First, obtaining permission from the bidding committee to participate in external publicity work is the basis for obtaining funding.
The second step is to submit the application to the Planning and Finance Department for approval and obtain the funds.
The Blue House's tacit approval is tantamount to paving the way for Busan's second step, but Busan still needs to pave the way for its own first step.
The logic is actually quite simple: your supervisor approves a sum of money for you, but if you can't even find a legitimate reason to use that money, he can't bypass the proper procedures to give you the funds.
The fact that Busan City Government sought mediation from Jeong Do-hoon indicates that they were not entirely confident in taking this first step successfully, hence their approach of addressing it from two angles simultaneously.
First, try to find help within the bidding committee;
Second, use public opinion to pressure the bidding committee;
On the balcony late at night, the evening breeze provided a cigarette for Jung Do-hoon, who leaned against the windowsill, quietly gazing at the city's night view.
My thoughts gradually became clear during meditation.
Making a "symbolic" opposition with a "resolute attitude" at the joint meeting seemed like an almost impossible task to accomplish simultaneously, but in reality, it was also a good opportunity for Zheng Daoxun to gain insight into the current situation.
Unlike political appointees who head various departments, senior civil servants such as vice ministers and bureau chiefs are required by law to maintain political neutrality and are not allowed to join any faction.
But in reality, people who sit in those positions, even if based on their own values, will have some degree of political bias.
This opportunity allowed Zheng Daoxun to thoroughly understand the positions of these senior civil servants.
Zheng Daoxun answered the phone. The caller's contact was saved as "Uncle Lu Zaixian".
Lu Zaixian has four identities:
The first is the son of the late President Roh Tae-woo;
Secondly, in 2012, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, he founded the East Asia Cultural Foundation and served as its president. He frequently travels between China and South Korea to promote exchanges and cooperation in cultural fields such as music, art, and academia.
Thirdly, he has served as the director of the Korea Belt and Road Research Institute since 2018;
The fourth person was the one who guided Jeong Do-hoon into his diplomatic career.
The two are not actually related by blood, and neither Noh Jae-heon nor Jung Do-hoon's parents acknowledge them.
When Jung Do-hoon was studying at Tsinghua University, he helped the South Korean embassy receive Noh Jae-heon, and that's how the two met.
Later, he even hired Jung Do-hoon, a college student, as his assistant to help with cultural exchanges between China and South Korea.
That's how the two became close friends despite their age difference.
"Dohoon!" Noh Jae-heon's tone was immediately impolite, even somewhat stern, but that was his style. "You've been back for almost two months, haven't you? Why haven't you come to see me at all? What's with just leaving local specialties at my house?"
Jung Do-hoon visited Roh Jae-heon as soon as he returned to Korea, but at that time Roh Jae-heon was attending an economic forum on the other side of the Yellow Sea, and he was received by Roh Jae-heon's sister, Roh So-young.
Speaking of Aunt Lu Suying, Zheng Daoxun was somewhat acquainted with her.
Lu Suying married Choi Tae-won, the current chairman of SK Hynix, and they have two daughters and one son. Her eldest daughter, Choi Yoon-jeong, studied at Beijing International High School in Shunyi District, while her second daughter, Choi Min-jeong, went on to study at the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China and then at Peking University.
During Zheng Daoxun's studies at Tsinghua University, Cui Minzhen, an independent and strong-willed girl, even took care of him like a younger brother.
Over time, Zheng Daoxun and the Lu family developed a deep connection.
However, since Choi Min-jeong has now joined the navy, their interactions have gradually decreased.
"Uncle Zai Xian, I still have a bottle of Moutai hidden at home. I'm just waiting for you, this busy man, to have some free time so we can have a drink together." Zheng Daoxun said while making a phone call, and went back to the living room to check his bottle of wine.
"Sure! I happen to have some free time recently, so come to my house. You're really making waves these days, so let this old man hear you brag a bit."
Even if Lu Zaixian hadn't said anything, Zheng Daoxun was planning to visit him soon.
"I wouldn't presume to boast, but I do have some questions I'd like to ask Uncle Zai Xian."
Jung Do-hoon briefly recounted some recent events to Noh Jae-heon. After a long silence on the other end of the phone, a time was set:
"How about this weekend? Come to my house."
Lu Zaixian hung up the phone, and then another call came in on Zheng Daoxun's end.
There was no note, so he didn't know who it was.
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This morning's news left Kim Minjung feeling uneasy.
There were rumors in the company that Yoo Ji-min had been chosen as the image ambassador for the Busan World Expo.
Why? On what grounds?
In terms of popularity, Kim Minjung feels that her popularity is not much less than that of Yoo Jimin, and she is also a native of Busan.
However, in the end, this is just a rumor. There is no direct conflict between her and Yoo Jimin. After all, even if Yoo Jimin is not chosen, the choice may not necessarily fall to Kim Minjung.
But the news from the Busan Metropolitan Government this morning gave Kim Min-jung a different perspective.
If we were to choose one celebrity from Busan, who would be more suitable than Kim Min-jung?
So all day long, she was distracted even during practice, and every now and then she would open her phone browser and refresh the online voting progress again and again.
Phew... I got first place without any major mishaps.
Fortunately, the two Busan natives from BTS are enlisting this year, which prevented them from crushing Kim Minjung in the vote.
Before Kim Minjung could even feel happy about the news, Yoo Jimin, sitting next to her, seemed to have also seen the news. The two exchanged a glance, saying nothing, but their eyes conveyed...
This seems to explain a lot.
"Was this report released by the Busan City Government?" Yoo Jimin smiled gently. "Congratulations, Minjung, you have a very good chance of becoming an ambassador."
This report was not released by the Busan City Government's official account, but it was from a major media outlet, and the report stated that the source was a relevant person from the Busan City Government.
What exactly is Liu Zhimin being sarcastic about...?
When rumors circulated within the company that she would become the brand ambassador, Kim Minjung didn't deliberately make fun of her like she did.
"It wasn't released by an official account; it was all based on random votes from netizens. Don't take it seriously," Kim Minjung responded with a sweet smile.
The atmosphere in the practice room suddenly plummeted to freezing point.
"This is a good thing for you, after all, this is your first time as an ambassador."
Even if Yoo Jimin doesn't become an ambassador for the World Expo, she can still become an ambassador for Prada. Her resources in the fashion industry are much better than Kim Min-jung's.
Upon hearing this, Kim Minjung's already barely visible brows furrowed even more, but after composing himself, he replied as gently as possible:
"It's all just hearsay."
Your reputation as Liu Zhimin's brand ambassador is nothing more than rumors circulating within the company.
Why are you acting like Kim Minjung stole her resources?
But can this news really be true? Kim Minjung wasn't sure either.
During her break, she called home, asking them to check with the Busan city government to see if the news was true.
However, her family is, after all, a military family, and their relationship with the Busan city government is not particularly close.
Even by evening, neither her father nor her husband had given Kim Min-jung a definite answer.
I really want to confirm this news as soon as possible...
At that moment, a name popped into Kim Minjung's head.
Zheng Daoxun.
Is he the diplomat in charge of the World Expo application?
The call was dialed and answered quickly.
"Scribe Do-hoon..."
Beep, beep, beep...
The call was disconnected.