[Korea: Impeachment & Election] Power of Darkness: Episode 1 - The Beginning of Impeachment

 

Downtown Seoul, May 2025. After the impeachment of the president, South Korea was engulfed in chaos. Although the Constitutional Court's final decision was said to have been made through legal procedures, the streets were filled with anger and distrust. Candlelight and Taegeukgi were intertwined in Gwanghwamun Square every day, and news channels were noisy with endless discussions and shouting. At the center of it all, prosecutor Han Do-jun sensed something was wrong.

 

“A huge conspiracy hidden in silence, Han Do-jun holds the first clue.”

 

Han Do-jun was a veteran prosecutor belonging to the Special Department of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. In his early 40s, he was called ‘the hound of justice’ as he put pressure on his opponents in court with his sharp eyes and firm tone. However, this impeachment incident confused him. Although the charges against the president—abuse of power, bribery—seemed clear, the trial process was unusually quick. It was as if someone had written the verdict in advance.

“Prosecutor Han, don’t dig too deep this time.”
Kim Tae-ho, head of the Special Department, said as he put down his coffee cup in front of Han Do-jun's desk. He was in his late 50s and always comforted his subordinates with a cautious attitude.
“Chief, is it a treason? Are you saying the president plotted treason? The evidence is absurd.”
Han Do-jun raised his voice, pointing to a pile of documents. Immediately after impeachment, a treason investigation targeting the former president began, but the evidence was weak and witnesses only repeated vague statements.
“Politics is inherently dirty. Our job is to follow the law, not pursue the truth.”
Han Do-jun tightly pursed his lips at Kim Tae-ho's words. A fire burned in his eyes.
“If the law ignores the truth, it is not the law.”

That night, Han Do-jun remained alone in the office and searched for data. Familiar names stood out in the treason investigation files. People from the 1980s movement who have now become major opposition politicians or civic group leaders. The intertwined link between their past and present did not seem to be a simple coincidence.
“This… was planned.”
Han Han-jun muttered to himself and stared intently at the laptop screen. A name appeared on the screen. ‘Choi Young-cheol’. Former activist leader, key brain of the current opposition party. His actions were shadowed throughout the incident like a shadow.

 

“Choi Young-cheol’s name appears on the screen, and his fight is just beginning.”

---

At the same time, a luxury restaurant in Gangnam. Kang Tae-min, the opposition party's presidential candidate, looked out the window and tipped his wine glass. In his early 50s, he emerged as a hope for the progressive camp with his charismatic appearance and sharp speech. However, the Supreme Court ruling was pending on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. The media was already talking about his political career being over.
“Representative Kang, it is really dangerous this time. Even though the Supreme Court is conservative, there is pressure from above…”
Assistant Park Min-soo whispered with a nervous face.
Kang Taemin smiled and waved his hand.
“Minsu, politics is a fight. If I fall here, who will protect this country?”
His voice was firm, but there was deep fatigue in his eyes.
“But there is a possibility that the evidence was fabricated…”
Before Park Min-soo could continue speaking, Kang Tae-min decisively hung up.
“There’s no way to prove that. Not yet.”
At that moment, Kang Taemin's eyes turned to the restaurant entrance. A young man was approaching the table. In his late 30s, dressed in a neat suit, he was Judge Lee Jae-hoon, a junior at the Judicial Research and Training Institute.
“Taemin, it’s been a while.”
Jaehoon Lee slightly lowered his head and sat down.
“Jaehoon, what kind of wind is blowing? I can’t believe Judge Nari is meeting a criminal like me in a place like this.”
Lee Jae-hoon smiled bitterly at Kang Tae-min's joke.
“I took charge of my brother’s case. The trial was quashed and remanded.”
Kang Taemin’s eyes widened.
“Did your manager allow it?”
“I don’t know yet. But… bro, this case is not clean. Someone is trying to manipulate the verdict.”
Jaehoon Lee’s voice was low but firm. Kang Taemin was silent for a moment and then slowly nodded.
“Jaehoon, be careful. This fight is not something you can handle alone.”

---

Meanwhile, a shabby cafe in Jongno. Veteran reporter Seo Ji-hyun was tapping away at her laptop, concentrating on finishing the article. In her mid-40s, she was a ‘truth seeker’ who shook up the political world with her sharp writing skills and persistent reporting. But recently, her articles have become increasingly helpless. The impeachment situation threw even her into confusion.
“Reporter Seo, look at this.”
Intern reporter Minji held out her smartphone. A message from an anonymous informant appeared on the screen.
“‘The truth is locked in the depths. Find Master Myodeok.’ What is this?”
Seo Ji-hyun furrowed her eyebrows at Minji’s words.
“It’s another weird informant. Ignore it.”
But Minji shook her head.
“This is the photo that came with the message.”
As Minji scrolled the screen, an old cell phone photo appeared. It was an old flip phone, with a complicated password input window on the screen.
“What… is this?”
Seo Ji-hyun’s voice was filled with curiosity. At that moment, the cafe door opened and a man wearing a hood came in. He looked to be in his 60s, looked around, and approached Seo Ji-hyun's table.
“Reporter Seo Ji-hyun?”
His voice was low and hoarse. Seo Ji-hyun nodded warily.
“Who are you?”
The man took off his hood. His face was full of wrinkles, but his eyes were sharp.
“It’s a mystery. If you want the truth, you have to open this.”
He took out the flip phone in the picture from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“What is this? Are you trying to make a spy movie?”
Seo Ji-hyun tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but the man didn't even smile.
“It’s in here… everything. Politicians, tycoons, even the judiciary. Their dirty secrets.”
Seo Ji-hyun took a deep breath. Her intuition stirred.
“Why are you giving me this?”
The man stood up and whispered lowly.
“You will find out when the time comes. But Reporter Seo, be careful. This is a fight bigger than your life.”
He put his hood back on and left the cafe. Seo Ji-hyun looked down at the flip phone in her hand. The password input window on the screen was blinking as if mocking her.

---

That night, Han Do-jun discovered a surprising fact while digging into Choi Young-cheol's past. During his activist days in the 1980s, Choi Young-cheol was investigated on charges of secretly receiving foreign funds, but the charges were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The prosecutor in charge of that case was none other than Director Kim Tae-ho.
“The manager…?”
Han Han-jun muttered as if he couldn’t believe it. His hands were shaking.

Kang Tae-min pondered Lee Jae-hoon’s words and looked out the office window.
“Someone is trying to take over this country, and I have to stop it.”

Seo Ji-hyun said to Minji as she put her flip phone deep in her bag.
“Minji, never tell anyone about this. This… could change our lives.”

South Korea was immersed in the calm before the storm. The shadows were getting darker, and the truth was struggling in the deep darkness.

 

#Han Do-jun #Choi Young-cheol #Impeachment #Conspiracy #Seoul District Prosecutors' Office #Truth tracking #Noir #Prosecutor's office #Tension #Documentary evidence

To be continued...