Chapter 64: Traffic Light

“Hello, this is Jin Hangman, the host of KBC’s Uninvited Candidate Debate…”

The Uninvited Candidate Debate.

It was the first and last TV debate for minor candidates.

Ahead of her first debate, Han Yeomyung was summoning her inner rage.

“Of course, I’m the only woman here. South Korea still has a long way to go.”

Han Yeomyung, the candidate from the Green Women’s Party.

Her primary campaign pledge was “appointing all ministers as women.”

She had come this far with nothing but her belief in women’s activism.

Though the major party candidates were absent from the event, she had the chance to debate Kang Jiwoo.

This ensured good viewership ratings.

“As a representative of women, I’ll deliver a sharp blow to South Korea.”

Han Yeomyung’s debate concept was rage.

Her goal was to convey her anger to citizens and spark interest in women’s activism.

However, a problem arose.

“Kang Jiwoo is too cute!”

Whenever she looked at Kang Jiwoo’s face, her anger melted away!

She even felt slightly less intelligent…

Was it because of the adorable outfit?

A white blouse, a beige skirt, and round-toed shoes.

The highlight was a navy ribbon tie on the blouse.

“With that outfit, she looks like a doll! Or is she just naturally much better-looking in person…?”

To be honest, Han Yeomyung had thought people were overhyping Kang Jiwoo’s charm when she saw her on TV.

Sure, she was cute, but polling over 20%, even surpassing Yoo Hangcheol?

“All that just because of her cuteness?”

But seeing her in person, Han Yeomyung started to believe the hype.

“I want a daughter like that…”

She, a staunch advocate of singlehood, even found herself imagining having a child.

“Candidate Han Yeomyung.”

“……”

“Candidate Han Yeomyung?”

“Oh, yes?”

She had been so absorbed in admiring Kang Jiwoo’s face that she hadn’t heard the host’s words.

That’s how captivating Kang Jiwoo’s presence was.

“It’s time for opening statements.”

“Oh…”

Hurriedly, Han Yeomyung read from her prepared script.

“Be angry!”

She tried to channel her rage.

“Is… angering people too much…?”

The effort fizzled out.

Thanks to Kang Jiwoo, Han Yeomyung’s heart softened.

Her statement ended up being quite mild.

The same went for the other candidates.

Candidates who had brought bold pledges like withdrawing U.S. troops or dismantling conglomerates…

Even they adopted a softer tone.

It was all because of Kang Jiwoo.

Her gentle influence shone even more during the free debate.

“Now, we will begin the free debate.”

Unexpectedly, Kang Jiwoo was the first to secure a chance to speak.

“I have a question for Candidate Han Bando…!”

“Yes, go ahead.”

The debate required participants to stand, but since Kang Jiwoo was so short, she had to use a platform.

Even then, she was the smallest candidate on stage!

With her eyebrows arched into a confident V-shape, Kang Jiwoo asked:

“Your main pledge is the eradication of bbaekkaengi… no, bbaekkaengi… extermination, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Who are bbaekkaengi?”

Her cute appearance.

Her slightly inaccurate pronunciation.

And her pure, straightforward question.

It was impossible to hold back a laugh.

“Well… bbaekkaengi refers to… people who sympathize with North Korea, essentially those who like North Korea.”

She doesn’t even know what bbaekkaengi means?

How could one possibly debate with such a child?

The Hanbando candidate could only gaze at Kang Jiwoo with fondness.

However, her next words put him on edge.

“That’s right! Bbaekkaengi is a derogatory term for people who like North Korea!”

Kang Jiwoo did know what it meant.

Her initial question was just a setup!

“But you also called our soldiers bbaekkaengi! I think that’s wrong!”

Indeed, he had said that.

It was regarding an incident involving military personnel.

The matter had sparked division and heated arguments in political circles.

The Hanbando candidate retorted:

“When individuals demand state compensation for accidents caused by personal mistakes, what else would you call them but bbaekkaengi?”

“Hiek…”

Kang Jiwoo flinched at his loud outburst.

But she soon puffed out her chest and squared her shoulders.

Despite her fear, she stood firm.

“Sniff!”

She remembered Sojin’s advice.

The host then issued a warning to the Han Bando candidate.

“Candidate Hanbando, please refrain from making definitive statements about unverified incidents.”

“No, that’s…”

“If it’s determined that you’re distorting specific events, we may not allow you to speak. Since this is a televised debate, please ensure you speak responsibly.”

“……”

In the end, Han Bando had no choice but to close his mouth. Kang Jiwoo took over and wrapped up the statement.

“I think it’s wrong to speak to the soldier unkindly! Because they risk their lives to protect our country…!”

At that moment, everyone looked at Kang Jiwoo with pleased expressions.

Everyone, except one person.

Han Bando.

‘Why is she suddenly so articulate? She stammered so much when debating Cho Seoyoung and Yoo Hangcheol…’

Caught off guard, candidate Han Bando’s face turned beet red.

Being outmatched in a debate by an elementary school student was embarrassing, to say the least.

Fortunately for Han Bando, he wasn’t the only one on the receiving end.

“I think ministers should be chosen based on ability, not gender…!”

Candidate Han Yeomyung of the Green Women’s Party.

“I think it’s more reassuring if the American uncles protect us…!”

Kim Mangchi of the Labor Freedom Innovation Party.

“I think Hwandangogi shouldn’t be taught in schools…!”

Heo Kyungyeon of the Hwan National Revolution Party.

All of them were caught off guard by Kang Jiwoo’s sharp and decisive speaking skills.

It wasn’t as if the debate was entirely one-sided; the other candidates presented sufficient rebuttals.

But that was part of the problem—their policies were excessively extreme.

In contrast, Kang Jiwoo seemed like the only one with a realistic perspective.

More importantly, the fact that their opponent was an elementary school student made things worse.

‘We’re all losing ground here…?’

They initially thought Kang Jiwoo’s presence would make them stand out, but the opposite was happening.

‘The longer this debate goes on, the dumber I look!’

Adults being outmatched by the logic of a child. 

That’s exactly how they came across.

Realizing this, the candidates changed their strategy.

‘Avoid engaging with Kang Jiwoo as much as possible.’

Thus, they started avoiding direct exchanges with Kang Jiwoo.

Inevitably, the next candidate deemed the easiest target became the focus.

“I have a question for candidate Heo Kyungyeon.”

“I, too, would like to ask candidate Heo Kyungyeon…”

“Candidate Heo Kyungyeon…”

The new target was Heo Kyungyeon, whose flagship campaign promise was “levitating the Korean Peninsula.”

It was easy to challenge him.

The real issue came after.

“Why can’t it be done? I can do it! Of course, I won’t do it here. But if this broadcasting station pays me properly for a demonstration, I’ll show you!”

Logic was never part of his repertoire to begin with.

The debate’s level plummeted to new lows, sapping everyone’s morale.

But Heo Kyungyeon wasn’t done.

“Look into my eyes! You’ll feel happy!”

Out of nowhere, music began to play.

As everyone looked on, baffled, Heo Kyungyeon nonchalantly pulled out a smartphone.

“Oops, my bad. I forgot to turn it off.”

“……”

Promoting his own song on live broadcast during a debate— this was a disaster of epic proportions.

But it was only the beginning.

“Call out Heo Kyungyeon!”

The beat and lyrics echoed once again.

The other candidates protested.

“What is this? Are you promoting your song right now?”

“Seriously, why are you so angry? I have multiple phones. I’ll turn them all off. Just hold on.”

From his pockets, smartphones began emerging endlessly.

Even as he turned them off one by one, the music didn’t stop.

“Call my name!”

“Call my name!!”

“Call my name!!!”

A relentless earworm demanding people chant his name.

The piercing electronic sound made it all the more unbearable.

“Candidate Heo Kyungyeon, please turn off the music quickly.”

“I am turning it off. Just wait a bit.”

Heo Kyungyeon replied casually, his gaze fixed on Kang Jiwoo.

‘You want to say it, don’t you?’

Over the past few days, he had focused his campaign efforts on her.

He parked his campaign truck near her office and blasted his song, bombarded her with campaign calls, and even sang loudly in waiting rooms.

It was all a buildup to this moment.

‘You won’t be able to resist. You’re already addicted, aren’t you? Isn’t that right?’

A sly grin spread across Heo Kyungyeon’s face.

Kang Jiwoo’s body started moving to the rhythm.

“Sing it! Sing! If you even hum a single line of my song, that’s a success for me…”

Kang Jiwoo’s lips twitched.

As if about to say something.

As if about to sing at any moment.

Heo Kyungyeon’s song was addictive.

How else could someone almost sing along within five minutes of hearing it in the office?

But if you asked whether it was a good song…?

Absolutely not.

A crude beat and lyrics bordering on brainwashing.

Once you heard it, it stuck in your head against your will, and that’s exactly what it was—forced.

It was like being tickled to make you laugh, but feeling uncomfortable.

The answer lay in that discomfort.

Lee Sojin.

I remembered a conversation with her, who is now my best friend.

“You’re suffering because you’re addicted to this song?”

“Yeah…”

“Hmm… It’s not that bad.”

“R-Really…?”

“It feels so outdated. The lyrics are childish too.”

Sojin then pulled out her earphones.

She placed one in her ear, and the other in mine.

Before she played the music, she whispered conspiratorially.

“I’ll play you a real good song.”

The music started.

A cheerful drumbeat.

Followed by a soothing guitar melody.

Soon, the lyrics came.

“Though I’ve finally decided on my destination~ The world blocks my way, though my path is long~”

Was there ever music this comforting?

The soft voice layered over the guitar was truly pleasing.

But the highlight was yet to come.

“Red light~ Blue light~ In the three seconds in between~ The yellow light shines~ That traffic light over there~”

Ah, it was this song.

The title was Traffic Light.

A song that became wildly popular among elementary school students and caused a buzz.

I had heard it a few times myself and thought the vocals were lovely each time.

And then, in that moment, I felt like an elementary school student again.

“Wow…”

I could finally feel in my heart why this song resonated so much with children.

“With my mind emptied, I don’t know if I’m fast~ Or slow~ All I see is yellow ahead of me~”

It was like a gentle breeze brushing against me as I rode a bicycle on a spring day.

The song evoked beautiful memories from my life.

“How is it? Do you like the song?”

“Yeah… It’s amazing. The best song I’ve ever heard…”

Sojin said she related to the lyrics deeply.

I wondered what kind of struggles a child could have…

But children have their own hardships too.

Even as Jiwooping, I often faced moments of doubt.

Life is like crossing a traffic light.

The only thing I know is to cross when the light is green.

Some lights count down the remaining time, but others just blink away.

Some are even broken.

Is it okay to cross?

Should I run or wait?

I know I should move, but my legs are so short.

And I’m so small that the speeding cars might not even see me.

In those moments, it was my comrades and citizens who held my hand.

This time, it was Sojin who held my hand.

Thanks to her, I could safely cross the traffic light.

“Are you crying?”

“I-I’m not…!”

“It’s okay to cry. I cried when I heard this song too.”

“Bwaaahhh…”

Jiwooping cried on the spot after listening to Traffic Light.

I don’t know what touched me so deeply.

Emotions are hard to explain, after all.

I just knew that I shared a spring breeze with Sojin, and it felt like comfort.

From that day, Traffic Light became my life’s anthem.

“Red light… Blue light… In the three seconds in between…”

Before I knew it, I was muttering the lyrics to myself.

And with that, the ordeal of Heo Kyungyeon’s ringtone ended.

He looked at me with a somewhat defeated expression.

Realizing his plan had failed, he shouted at me in frustration.

“Kang Jiwoo! Don’t you know my song? Sing it with me!”

“???”

Now he was outright demanding that I sing.

Isn’t this too obvious?

“Candidate, you are not allowed to force another candidate to sing.”

“Force? What did I even do! Why are you people being so biased?! Huh?!”

“What bias are you accusing us of?”

“Forget it! I knew it from the moment you said you’d hold this debate! From the start, you were out to humiliate me, Heo Kyungyeon!”

Heo Kyungyeon , ranting by himself, eventually stormed out of the debate hall.

Dumbfounded chuckles followed behind him.

“Red~ Blue~”

Today, his traffic light was red.