Chapter 9 (1/2)

[Ladies and gentlemen, my dear fellow citizens

Now I have a firm belief in the future of our country

The deep-rooted conflict and insight aht about deep conteuish over the true mission of politicians

Ellipsis

First, by the ruling and opposition parties’ agreee the presidential election system to a direct election, and which will be followed by a peaceful government handover in February 1988

The people are the masters of the country and should take priority over everything else]

June 29th, 1987

I heard this mo yogurt in the car

Roh Tae-woo announced that if the declaration was not accepted, he would resign from his public office and as presidential candidate Afterwards, the ruling Democratic Justice Party announced it was its official position

Which was followed by the incumbent president, Chun Doo-hwan’s special statement that he would accept the June 29th Declaration It becaovernment and Chun’s April 13th, ‘Defense of the Constitution’ was abolished

The June 29th Declaration meant that the people acco de would end with the funeral of patriotic student Lee Han-yeol

Now the presidential election caan

When I opened the gate, with a little exciteardener ould at times do house chores and always beam at me, drew my hand with a stiff face

“Your grandfather is inside the house,”

Alas!

This historic day, wasn’t he supposed to be with the board members?

And he obviously came to see me as there was no one he would like to see in the house, but me

I went inside, beaardener

In the living roo them with questions

When he spotted me, he rose from the sofa and outstretched his arms

I couldn’t run and throw ht well be what he expected but I approached hi He picked me up

My mother prepared a pot of tea and a plate of fruit, and entered into the living room

As the mother set them on the table and was about to turn back to the kitchen,

“Sit down there,” he said

The ave him a startled look

“What’s with the look? Got so to talk to you about,” he said

She perched on the edge of the sofa

“Why don’t you go into your room, Do-jun? Yourat the tutors

As if on cue, the two tutors took me by the hand and drew me into the room

What is he going to say? I thought to myself

“How have you been?” he asked

“I’ve been well, just doing housework Nothing unusual…” she answered

“Got so to talk about Do-jun, Don’t you think he is a little different?”