How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

For defectors to send money to their families remaining in North Korea, the money had to pass through at least two stages.

First, the money had to be transferred to a broker living in China.

The Chinese broker took around 20% as commission before passing the remaining amount to a broker in North Korea.

The North Korean broker then pocketed another 50% of the money received and only afterward handed the remainder over to the family.

In the end, around 60% of the money defectors had worked so hard to earn simply disappeared in commissions.

For that reason, Cha Jiham intended to use the Triad to substantially reduce those fees.

NIS Director Om Giyeon directly asked whether his assumption was correct.

“Your assumption is absolutely correct, Director Om.”

“I understand your intentions perfectly well, Leader Cha, but is this actually feasible?”

“How about listening to my conversation with Vice Chairman Wei Chen yourself?”

“Let’s do that.”

After receiving NIS Director Om Giyeon’s permission, I immediately dialed Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s number.

After several rings, his sleepy voice came through.

[...Leader Cha, what happened at this late hour?]

“Vice Chairman Wei, I apologize for disturbing you. I’m currently with NIS Director Om Giyeon, Commander Kwak Taesu, and Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol.”

[Did something serious happen?]

Sensing that something was amiss, Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s tone immediately became much more serious.

“Not at all.”

[Then why are all of you together?]

“We were discussing a business proposal I’d like to make to you, Vice Chairman Wei.”

[To me? Go ahead and tell me what this business is about.]

“The gentlemen here would like to listen to our conversation. Would you mind if I put you on speakerphone?”

[Do as you see fit, Leader Cha.]

After switching the phone to speaker mode, I got to the point with Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

“Vice Chairman Wei, you’re surely aware that many people who fled North Korea live in our country. They send part of what they earn to relatives who remain in the North.”

I explained the current remittance system to Vice Chairman Wei Chen in detail.

“...The biggest problem is that the middlemen take far too much in commissions.”

[And why are their commissions so high?]

“The Chinese brokers simply take advantage of the defectors’ desperate circumstances.”

[Tsk, what scumbags.]

“As for the North Korean brokers, they risk being discovered by the Ministry of State Security, which could even result in the death penalty.”

[You mean the North Korean brokers’ commissions include compensation for risking their lives?]

“You’re absolutely right, Vice Chairman Wei.”

[And how much money do defectors send to their families in North Korea in total?]

“Around 50 million dollars a year. After deducting what the brokers take, only about 20 million dollars actually reaches the recipients.”

[Less than I expected.]

North Korea’s GDP per capita was around 1,170 dollars, or roughly 1.58 million won.

If a defector sent one million won to their family, it would be an enormous help to their survival.

However, I had no intention of sharing those thoughts with Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

“I won’t deny it.”

[Are you suggesting that we take over the role of the brokers?]

“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.”

[We already have plenty of business to handle. Is there any reason for us to take this on?]

To ordinary defectors, 50 million dollars was an enormous sum of money.

But to Vice Chairman Wei Chen, who headed the Triad, it was little more than pocket change.

Still, I had a trump card that could persuade him, so I wasn’t worried in the slightest.

“In the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) future, the amount being transferred to North Korea will increase to at least 10 billion dollars.”

‘After all, Commander Kwak Taesu and Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol could also be considered defectors.’

[Is there a reason it would increase by such an enormous amount?]

“Commander Kwak and Deputy Director Jo are planning to transfer 5 billion dollars to their subordinates in North Korea. On top of that, several billion more dollars will have to be sent over to conduct cyberwarfare.”

[And what would our role be?]

Vice Chairman Wei Chen had finally taken the bait.

All that remained was to set the hook sharply enough that he couldn’t get away.

“First, you’ll need to eliminate the greedy brokers operating in China.”

[Those people won’t be a problem for us. But what about the North Korean brokers?]

“The North Korean brokers are connected to the Chinese ones. Once the Triad cleans up the Chinese side, they’ll lose their livelihood. They’ll have no choice but to come to you themselves.”

[Hmm... That makes sense.]

“You can entrust the remittances from ordinary defectors to your men.”

[It sounds like you have some special role prepared for me. Am I right?]

Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s instincts were as sharp as ever.

“You’re right. You’ll personally deliver the money to the trusted people designated by Commander Kwak and Deputy Director Jo.”

[And I assume there’s a good reason for that?]

“That money will be used as a military fund to overthrow Kim Jonghun’s regime. If we entrust it to ordinary brokers, the risk of a leak will be far too high.”

[I understand. But how am I supposed to deliver the military fund to the people they designate?]

“Their trusted people will contact you directly, Vice Chairman Wei. You can discuss the details with them.”

[All right, let’s do that. What commission rate are you proposing for this work?]

“Since ordinary defectors send relatively small amounts, I think 10% would be fair.”

[Ten percent is too much. Let’s lower it to 5%.]

Since he himself had offered to lower the commission, I had no reason to refuse.

“I sincerely appreciate your generosity, Vice Chairman Wei.”

[Come on. What about the North Korean brokers? What percentage will their commission be?]

“I don’t think it should exceed 30%.”

[Do you think they’ll agree to that?]

“I’ll simply say that their lives and deaths will be in the Triad’s hands.”

[Ha ha! I understand.]

“As for the commission for transferring Commander Kwak and Deputy Director Jo’s military fund, I think 5% would be reasonable.”

[I accept your proposal.]

After discussing a few more details with Vice Chairman Wei Chen, I ended the call.

The moment I did, Commander Kwak Taesu impatiently asked,

“Leader Cha, tell me how the military fund will be delivered to my people.”

“I’m planning to use the Chinese Embassy’s channels in North Korea.”

Only then did Commander Kwak Taesu grasp Cha Jiham’s plan.

The North Korean authorities had no right to inspect diplomatic mail sent from China to its embassy in North Korea.

By using that channel, dollars could be safely smuggled into North Korean territory.

All an employee of the Chinese Embassy would have to do was hand the money received through diplomatic mail to the designated trusted individuals.

However, this plan had one fatal flaw: it was impossible to transport a large sum at once using this method.

Gritting his teeth, he cautiously asked whether there was a solution to that problem.

“There is a way, but I’ll need your help, Commander Kwak, as well as Deputy Director Jo’s.”

“Tell us quickly. What exactly do you need us to do?”

“Replace the commanders of the troops stationed in Sinuiju, as well as the heads of the Ministry of State Security and the Reconnaissance General Bureau there, with your loyal associates.”

“That won’t be particularly difficult.”

“Suppose your people gain control of Sinuiju. Then they’ll be able to cross the border themselves, travel to Dandong, collect the dollars from the Triad, and return to North Korea.”

“Ah...”

Commander Kwak Taesu hesitated, nodding as he finally realized the full extent of the plan.

“Until your associates gain complete control over Sinuiju, I’ll keep the 5 billion dollars in my possession.”

“Do as you see fit, Leader Cha.”

At that moment, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol joined the conversation with a question.

“Leader Cha, what was that about transferring several billion dollars into North Korea for cyberwarfare?”

I had been looking for the right moment to bring up that very subject.

“Deputy Director Jo, you know that Kim Jonghun’s eldest son studies in Switzerland, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Our company, NIS agents, the CIA, and the FIS joined forces and cleaned out his house.”

“What, really?!”

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol looked as though this was the first he had heard of it.

I turned toward Commander Kwak Taesu to figure out what was going on.

As though reading my thoughts, he immediately explained,

“I didn’t tell Deputy Director Jo anything.”

‘Good grief...’

Sighing inwardly, I continued my conversation with Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol.

“Commander Kwak emailed Kwak Cheolhun classified materials concerning Kim Jonghun’s family. They mentioned that Kim Jonghun had converted his slush funds into gold bars and hidden them in Kim Juchol’s house.”

“And then? Keep going!”

“To verify the information, I sent Saho into Kim Juchol’s house while I was in Switzerland.”

I explained the process of taking the gold bars from Kim Juchol’s house.

However, because of their endless questions, the explanation dragged on like taffy under the July sun.

“Leader Cha, why did Colonel Cho Yeongil and his subordinates decide to defect to our country?”

“Colonel Cho Yeongil was persuaded to defect by Colonel No Gwancheol. His subordinates were won over with money.”

“With money?”

“The soldiers from the Guard Command and Reconnaissance General Bureau were promised resettlement payments ranging from 1 to 5 million dollars depending on their positions. I’ve already paid them a 50% advance.”

“You’re a true patriot, Leader Cha!”

“You’re embarrassing me with such praise, Deputy Director Jo.”

“Ha ha ha!”

Everyone present burst into loud laughter at the sight of my embarrassed expression.

Once the laughter subsided, I continued.

“As soon as the Guard Command soldiers left Kim Juchol’s house, Saho infiltrated it. He shut off the main breaker and cut the power to the building, then knocked out Kim Juchol, Hyeon Songja, and the Unit 974 soldiers.”

Since quite a bit of time had already passed, I decided to finish the story with a brief account of how the gold was seized.

“...In total, we found 12 tons and 750 kilograms of gold bars.”

“That’s an incredible amount!”

“I won’t deny it. The gold was transported to Chairman Bongard’s villa. We took the Unit 974 soldiers with us as well.”

“Why did you take them?”

“To find out the purpose of the Stinger missiles discovered in the hidden room and learn what was inside the safe.”

“I see. And where are they now?”

“They decided to seek political asylum in the United States.”

“So you didn’t bring them to our country?” A note of regret crept into Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol’s voice.

“The Unit 974 soldiers firmly believe that Colonel Cho Yeongil, Colonel No Gwancheol, and their men were shot dead by CIA agents.”

“Ah, now I understand. Continue.”

“I gave the CIA and FIS 5% each of the gold we seized.”

“Wasn’t that too little? Didn’t Director Griffin and Director Jean-Philippe protest?”

“Director Griffin knew what the gold would ultimately be used for. And Director Jean-Philippe had no choice but to accept 5% because Griffin had already supported the decision.”

“I see!”

“I decided to sell the remaining shares of the gold equally to the CIA and FIS. The total value of the transaction came to 9 billion dollars. And I’m going to donate all of that money to the special unit responsible for cyberwarfare.”

“What did you say?!”

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol froze, practically in shock.

Nine billion dollars was an astronomical sum, exceeding 12 trillion won.

Who wouldn’t be astonished to hear that such an enormous amount of money was being donated to a special unit?

“The true owner of the gold was Kim Jonghun. So it’s only fair that the proceeds from its sale be returned to the people of North Korea.”

“Whoa... That’s incredible!” Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol breathed in amazement as he stared up at the ceiling.

“Use that 9 billion dollars as a military fund and make sure you bring down Kim Jonghun’s regime.”

“We’ll do everything in our power!”

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol clenched his fists, unwavering conviction filling his voice.