11 November 2024, 18:30hrs [UTC+8]
Eternity Cheongdam
Seoul, Republic of Great Korea
Officially coming into being on the first day of 1955, the East Sea Sphere (ESS) was a relatively small organisation with a wide reach. The ESS was composed of two members, the Republic of Great Korea and the State of Japan, two democratic republics that had come together to forge a united front on the world stage against potential threats. Both Great Korea and Japan were governed by liberal-centrist political parties in what could be called a 'dominant-party system': the Constitutionalist Party in Great Korea and its Japanese sister, the Good Governance Party, had both ruled almost continuously since before the establishment of the ESS, which had been the brainchild of both parties. Since the creation of the ESS, Great Korea and Japan established increasingly closer ties in virtually every realm of governance and economics. They enjoyed a free trade agreement that resulted in wide-ranging economic cooperation and an excellent standard of living in both nations. Their respective militaries, the Great Korean Armed Forces and the Japanese State Armed Forces, frequently engaged in joint exercises and used a great deal of standardised equipment to ensure ease of military cooperation. The National Intelligence Service and the Public Security Intelligence Agency worked so closely together that they might as well have been one consolidated organisation, with a simplified information-sharing process and frequent joint operations. The Presidents of both nations met in person every six months to demonstrate the level of unity between the two, with easy communication available between both governments at all times. Even the respective national criminal organisations had gotten in on the act, with various Jopok and Yakuza groups cooperating across the East Sea and beyond. Quite possibly the most striking example of unity within the ESS lay in the world of the chaebols and the zaibatsu. Both forms of family-run conglomerates, the Korean chaebols and Japanese zaibatsu had wholeheartedly endorsed the free trade agreement and subsequent closeness of both economies. However, it inevitably led to the two groups competing as they tried to gain footholds in each other's economic backyards. While many corporate families were fiercely independent and held onto their empires, others saw the value in cooperating...or rather, money spoke and buyouts began. This led to the rise of what had become known as chaebatsu, a conglomerate formed from the union of a chaebol and a zaibatsu. While the chaebols and the zaibatsu had plenty of economic muscle, the chaebatsu were the true powerhouse conglomerates of the ESS.
The best-known and most influential of the chaebatsu was Nancho-Jasuko, which had started life as a retail chain in Great Korea but now possessed holdings across various sectors of the wider ESS economy. More popularly known simply as 'N-J', Nancho-Jasuko dominated the ESS retail sector with its department stores, hypermarkets, shopping malls, supermarkets, convenience stores, retail warehouses, discount stores, and pharmacies spread across both member states. In addition, the conglomerate owned and operated a chain of cinemas, as well as holdings in the realms of home shopping, fashion and beauty, food production and distribution, interior design, appliance rental, entertainment, construction, real estate, and even banking. Owned and controlled by the exceedingly wealthy Min family, Nancho-Jasuko held the top spot as the ESS's largest and most profitable corporation. Unsurprisingly, the Min family also took a keen interest in the political arena of Great Korea. Their position as the wealthiest family across both ESS members, as well as being the most prominent backers of the incumbent Constitutionalist Party, meant that they could rely on the occasional favour or two when necessary. The Min family had an excellent public profile due to their well-known charity work, with celebrities and politicians always eager to be seen at parties or other functions held by the family. While the family patriarch, Min Kang-dae, and his wife Hei-ryung were the epitome of respectfulness and refinement, their eldest son and heir was more relaxed in his public persona. The twenty-four-year-old Min Yong-sun had been dubbed the 'S-Class Prince' by the media because of his good looks, ever-present beaming smile, and eagerness when interacting with fans and admirers who cheered for him when he arrived at engagements. The lithe blond billionaire often modelled for the high-profile advertising campaigns of various Nancho-Jasuko subsidiaries, which only helped to elevate his celebrity status and time in the public spotlight. This had also made him an incredibly eligible bachelor, although the rumours were that his time as a bachelor was potentially drawing to a close. The current President of Great Korea, Han Won-shik, had four sons who all held excellent careers, although the youngest had strayed away from the more professional and political worlds of his older brothers and parents. Han Dong-yul was only six months older than Yong-sun, still holding at twenty-four, and had a flourishing career as a music artist. Conveniently enough, he was contracted with a Nancho-Jasuko subsidiary, N-J Idol Entertainment, meaning he had one of the top record labels in the ESS supporting his career. Nicknamed 'Smouldering Black' due to his trademark expressions and penchant for dark clothing both on and off-stage, Dong-yul had been the focus of media rumours after dancing with Yong-sun at a charity event, and those rumours were soon confirmed as the two announced that they were dating. The pair had quickly become the 'it couple' of the ESS, that status bringing with it the usual admirers and detractors.
Their residence of choice had certainly added to such a reputation. Overlooking the Han River in the Great Korean capital, Seoul, Eternity Cheongdam was a luxury residential building that had been built by N-J Engineering and Construction. Built according to the principle of the Golden Section, a mathematical theory that could be used to create aesthetically pleasing compositions, the building featured four basement floors and twenty above-ground floors, and was designed to house up to twenty-nine households. Between the second and eighteenth floors, the building featured twenty-two single-storey residences and six two-storey residences, while the nineteenth and twentieth floors were occupied by the two-storey 'super penthouse'. Unsurprisingly, the super penthouse was the domain of Yong-sun and Dong-yul. The incredibly stylish and high-tech residence had floor-to-ceiling windows on both floors that were tinted on voice command, as virtually every aspect of the penthouse was linked to the resident home automation system, 'E-C'. The couple were currently in their expansive walk-in closet which bore more resemblance to a high-end boutique than a walk-in closet, adding the finishing touches to their outfits for the evening's event. The five-foot-seven Yong-sun had decided on a completely white suit that matched his shoulder-length dyed blond hair, while the three-inch taller Dong-yul was going with a more traditional black tuxedo at his partner's suggestion, although he was not overly fond of it.
"I hate bow ties. You know I can't do them."
Yong-sun chuckled as he watched Dong-yul struggling to tie his neck accessory properly, smiling slightly and folding his arms. "You managed it on the mannequin."
"That's different, and you know it. I swear you make me wear them so you can show off by tying them for me."
"Is that you asking for help?"
Dong-yul sighed and gave up his efforts, allowing the tie to hang down either side of his neck. "Yes please." As Yong-sun stepped in front of him and began deftly sorting out the situation, Dong-yul peered over his head at a full-length mirror and finished sorting out his shoulder-length layered black hair. Upon successfully tying the bow tie, Yong-sun gave it a gentle pat and stepped back to admire his handiwork.
"There, perfect."
"Just like you." Dong-yul grinned cheekily as his comment brought a beaming smile to Yong-sun's face. "Remind me what we're actually doing tonight, because I've completely forgotten." As Yong-sun's beaming smile turned to an eye-roll and an exasperated sigh at the attempt at humour, Dong-yul flashed another grin. "I know, I know, we're going to the Seoul Arts Center for a Constitutionalist Party fundraising gala. Although it's not as if they really need it, your family will bail Dad out if the party ever gets into money trouble."
"Maybe so, but we don't want it to look like we own them. It's not like we actually do, anyway. Lots of companies and other people give money to them."
"Uh-huh." Dong-yul winked playfully at his slightly shorter partner. "So I smile, wave, say nice things, and try not to refer to the 'Republic of Nancho-Jasuko'." He laughed loudly at the glare that he received in return. "You're so cute when you're angry."
Yong-sun blushed slightly and looked at the floor for a moment. He mumbled under his breath and gave Dong-yul a playful slap on his right arm. "Behave, or there'll be trouble."
"You promise?"
"Mom told me to watch out for bad boys who might be fun and exciting, but who will also wreck my life. Trust me to fall for one anyway."
"Hey!" Dong-yul narrowed his eyes as Yong-sun gave him a sweet closed-eyes smile that was part genuine and part cheekiness. "I'm not a bad boy, I'm-"
"Nothing but trouble, but I love you all the same." Yong-sun reached up and gently patted Dong-yul's cheek, then turned to inspect the pair of them in the full-length mirror. "There we go, all ready."
