The main assembly hall of the National Assembly in Yeouido.
As 365 lights hanging from the ceiling brightly illuminated the interior, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties had gathered to conduct a session to process the various bills that had been introduced.
The second-floor gallery—usually sparsely occupied by a handful of reporters with access to the National Assembly and a few observers—was, unlike usual, so crowded that it was difficult to find an empty seat.
Among them, one figure stood out in particular.
It was Seok-won.
Wearing a thin turtleneck wrapped around his neck and a black suit, he exuded a calm yet unapproachable presence.
Perhaps because of his striking appearance and undeniable aura, the surrounding spectators kept sneaking glances at him, while reporters were busy taking photos of him sitting there.
Even though he was fully aware of it, Seok-won maintained an expressionless face and kept his gaze fixed ahead.
What he was looking at was the main assembly hall, where seats were arranged in a semicircle around a massive symbol representing the National Assembly.
The agenda displayed on the large electronic board installed on one side clearly revealed the reason he had come here.
[Special Act on Enhanced Punishment for the Prevention of Random Violent Crimes]
As he lightly interlocked his fingers and looked down at the floor below, Manager Han Ji-sung, who was seated beside him, covered his mouth with one hand and whispered in a low voice.
"It looks like they're about to begin the vote."
The moment Seok-won gave a small nod, the voice of the Speaker of the National Assembly rang out through the speakers.
"Then we will now proceed with the vote on the Special Act on Enhanced Punishment for the Prevention of Random Violent Crimes, proposed by Representative Choi Bok-rak and 43 others. Assembly members, please cast your votes!"
As the stenographers seated beneath the Speaker's podium rapidly typed on their keyboards to record the proceedings, the assembly members pressed the voting buttons installed at their respective seats.
Soon, the names of the lawmakers—previously displayed in white on the large electronic board—changed to green or red depending on whether they voted in favor or against.
At a glance, there was almost no opposition; approval was overwhelmingly dominant.
This was because the bill had been created in response to the Daegu subway arson incident, which had shocked the nation and become a major issue both domestically and internationally.
Even if some internally held opposing views, revealing them could easily expose them to fierce public backlash.
Moreover, with the general election scheduled for next year, they had no choice but to be even more conscious of public opinion.
Understanding this psychology well, Seok-won had deliberately arranged things so that the bill would be decided through an open vote rather than a secret ballot, effectively preventing lawmakers—regardless of party affiliation—from casting opposing votes.
"Then we will now conclude the voting."
When a National Assembly staff member delivered the tally results on a slip of paper, the Speaker checked the contents and then stepped up to the microphone to speak in a loud voice.
"I will now announce the voting results. Out of 158 members present, 155 voted in favor, 2 opposed, and 1 abstained. Therefore, I hereby declare that the Special Act on Enhanced Punishment for the Prevention of Random Violent Crimes, proposed by Representative Choi Bok-rak and 43 others, has been passed."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With the three strikes of the gavel echoing through the assembly hall, the bill passed just as intended, and a deep smile spread across Seok-won's lips.
"It seems we've seen enough, so let's get up now."
Seok-won spoke calmly as he rose from his seat.
Buttoning his suit neatly, he left the main assembly hall—where the session was still ongoing—behind him and stepped into the marble-floored lobby with light strides.
As if they had been waiting for this moment, dozens of reporters rushed in, thrusting cameras and microphones toward him.
While Manager Han Ji-sung and the security personnel raised their arms to keep them from getting too close, the reporters fired off questions at Seok-won, who had come to a stop.
"How do you feel now that the bill on enhanced punishment for random violent crimes, prompted by the Daegu subway arson incident, has passed the National Assembly?!"
"You've expressed strong support for this bill since it was first proposed—do you still feel the same way?"
"Some argue that the punishments are excessively harsh. What are your thoughts on that?"
Amid the flashes going off from all directions, Seok-won listened to the questions in silence. Then, at the reporter's last remark that caught his ear, his expression hardened as he opened his mouth to speak.
"I believe that, even if belatedly, it is fortunate that this bill has established at least a minimal safeguard to prevent incidents like the previous Daegu subway arson attack from happening again."
As he said this, he looked at the reporter who had asked the question and continued.
"And you just asked whether the punishment is excessive—but do you think the victims of random violent crimes and their families would feel the same way? I highly doubt it."
At that, the reporter met his gaze directly and responded as if in rebuttal.
"Under this bill, the Daegu subway arsonist could receive up to a life sentence in court. Isn't that excessively harsh for what was, in the end, a simple arson case with no casualties?"
Seok-won asked in a firm voice.
"Are you saying that just because no one died, the punishment should be lighter?"
"It's just…."
The reporter trailed off, unable to respond immediately.
Seok-won briefly glanced at Eom Hyo-jun and Seo Byeong-cheol, who were standing in front of him blocking the reporters, before speaking again.
"If the security personnel on site—and I—hadn't stepped in and put out the fire, a major disaster could have occurred, with countless people dead or injured. Even then, would you still say it shouldn't be punished severely just because there were no casualties?"
The reporter hesitated and ultimately failed to give any answer.
Watching this, Seok-won straightened his neck and spoke firmly.
"Random violent crimes targeting unspecified individuals are never someone else's problem. At any time, not only I but also the reporters standing here could become victims. These acts, committed randomly without any grudge or reason, are not merely ordinary crimes—they are, in effect, no different from acts of terrorism."
Faced with his firm tone and overwhelming presence, the reporters found themselves at a loss for words, simply listening to him speak.
"I do not believe that the human rights of the perpetrator should take precedence over the suffering of the victims and their families."
He looked straight at the reporter who had asked the question and spoke.
"Does that answer your question?"
"…Ah, yes."
Overwhelmed by his presence, the reporter gave a brief reply and avoided his gaze.
After glancing around at the reporters gathered nearby, Seok-won spoke again.
"What we must do—as a nation and as individuals—is to heal and embrace the pain of the victims and their families, rather than focusing on the perpetrators."
Having clearly expressed his stance, Seok-won raised one arm and gestured behind him.
"The bill that just passed in the main assembly hall will be the first step in imposing strong punishment on the perpetrators."
He paused briefly to catch his breath before adding,
"Of course, strict punishment is not a cure-all, but at the very least, the state must prioritize the safety of victims and innocent citizens over that of the perpetrators."
Some wore expressions that suggested they found it hard to readily agree, but most of the reporters nodded, showing signs of agreement.
Then, Seok-won brought up something shocking.
"As you all know, one of the decisive factors that prevented the Daegu subway arson incident from escalating into a major disaster was the fact that the interior of the subway cars had been replaced with flame-resistant materials."
Since everyone already knew that Seok-won was the one who had changed the interior materials of the Daegu subway cars, some reporters initially thought he might be praising himself—but at his next words, their eyes widened.
"Through this incident, I have clearly realized the necessity of flame-resistant materials. At the same time, considering that similar incidents could occur at any time not only in Daegu but also in subways in Seoul and Busan, I couldn't help but feel deeply concerned."
Seok-won stared directly into the lens of the ENG camera from the broadcasting station positioned in front of him.
"To prevent tragedies caused by fires, I will invest 100 billion won of my personal funds to replace the interiors of all subway cars nationwide with flame-resistant materials and to install fire extinguishers throughout."
The reporters stirred in shock at the unexpected statement.
"Are you saying you'll fund all of this with your personal money?"
"Do you truly mean you're willing to put up 100 billion won?"
Questions poured in like a swarm, but Seok-won answered without the slightest hesitation.
"That's correct. Of course, it's not something I can accomplish on my own—we would need to coordinate with the government and the relevant local authorities—but I believe this is absolutely necessary for the safety of the public."
Since no taxpayer money was being used—and Seok-won had stepped forward to contribute as much as 100 billion won of his own funds—there was no reason for the government or local authorities to oppose it.
Moreover, with public anxiety heightened following the Daegu subway arson incident, the situation was such that even if it required taxpayer money, all existing flammable interior materials in subway cars would have needed to be removed and replaced with flame-resistant ones.
Having handed the reporters an unexpected scoop, Seok-won ended the impromptu interview and strode forward along the path cleared by his security personnel.
After leaving the National Assembly building, he got into the rear seat of the waiting Maybach sedan.
The Maybach glided forward smoothly, and together with the escort vehicles following behind, it left the National Assembly grounds and headed toward the company's headquarters at the 63 Building.
While the car was briefly stopped at the southern intersection of Seogang Bridge due to a traffic signal, his phone vibrated.
Taking his phone out of his inner pocket and answering the call, he heard Landon's voice.
[Is this a good time to talk, Boss?]
Leaning back against the soft leather seat, Seok-won asked,
"What is it?"
Landon got straight to the point without hesitation.
[A suicide bombing has occurred in Baghdad, pushing international oil prices past $35 per barrel based on WTI.]
Seok-won frowned slightly and asked,
"Hadn't the impact of the suicide bombing in Sadr City already been fully reflected?"
[Earlier today, a series of coordinated suicide bombings occurred in Baghdad, targeting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters office and five police stations.]
"...!"
[And just moments ago, six mortar shells fired by armed militants landed in the Green Zone, reportedly causing multiple casualties.]
In Baghdad, the roughly 10-square-kilometer area where key facilities—including the U.S. Embassy—were concentrated was known as the Green Zone.
Because it was a highly secured area directly managed by the U.S. military, it had been considered the safest place in Baghdad. The fact that mortar shells had landed there was, in effect, a major blow to American pride.
[Reports have also come in of attacks by armed groups in Kirkuk, a major oil-producing city in northern Iraq. Contrary to expectations, concerns are rising that the normalization of Iraqi oil production may be delayed, which is pushing international oil prices upward.]
Since it was a situation he had already anticipated, Seok-won quickly regained his composure.
"Things in Nigeria haven't even settled down yet, and if Iraq starts slipping back into chaos, supply instability is only going to worsen."
[I think so too.]
"Since the situation in Iraq won't be resolved easily, let's maintain our long positions for now and keep closely monitoring the movements."
[Understood.]
After speaking a bit longer, Seok-won ended the call. He then turned his head and gazed out the window of the Maybach, which had begun moving again as the traffic light changed, watching Yeouido Hangang Park pass by with a bitter expression.
"By now, President Bush must have realized something is going terribly wrong and is feeling a chill down his spine."
But even if he had realized he had stepped into a deep swamp, it was already far too late to get out.