Breaking Boundaries in Literature: The Nobel Prize and Korea's Untold Stories

Chapter 5. The Duet of Creation and Destruction

After the meeting, Elsa and I slipped away to a quiet spot behind the G17 building. The gentle breeze swept across the lake, soothing the fatigue of the day as we gazed out at the rippling water. "Is it possible that this simulation is endlessly expanding?" I pondered aloud, closing my eyes to envision the cosmos stretching infinitely, filled with ceaseless conflict. "I felt it during today's meeting; they were caught in a cycle of endless opposition, expanding without resolution. Does that mean we have no way to dismantle this simulation?"

Elsa gazed at me thoughtfully before responding in her calm manner, "Then let's consider collapsing it instead."

"Collapsing it, rather than breaking it? How do we do that?"

She shrugged and smiled lightly. "I don't quite know. But if it keeps expanding, maybe it can be contracted too? I know they told us to avoid binary thinking, but that thought crossed my mind."

I fell into deep contemplation. Her words echoed in my mind, unveiling new possibilities. "Hmm... if the universe is one of expansion and contraction, and that is the principle of duality, perhaps when we contract, we can escape this virtual world. But how do we initiate the contraction?"

She looked at the lake as if searching for answers there. "That's for you to figure out, Jun. Personally, I'm content here. It's rather enjoyable, after all. Whatever the situation, having a mindset of enjoyment is the best approach."

"Easy for you to say, being in power. Even in a social democracy, power remains absolute. But I need to return to the seventh universe to write. I still haven't completed the final part of my manuscript."

At that, Elsa's smile faded, and she nodded in silence. Suddenly, a thought struck me.

"What's weighing on your mind?" she asked.

"It's not that. I've only considered dark energy; I haven't pondered dark matter. If, like the Big Bang theory suggests, an expanding universe could converge back into a singular point, then maybe we could escape this place. Ah... wait a moment! Every time we enter the virtual world, time has passed, hasn't it? From the 1950s to now, several weeks or even decades have gone by, yet we haven't aged. So... the seventh universe is in 2024. When that moment arrives here, the distance between the two universes might close enough to initiate a contraction. Isn't it possible that this simulation would end automatically?"

She looked at me, eyes wide in surprise. "Oh, that could indeed happen! But... if it ends automatically, will the people of the fifth universe be able to maintain their power?"

"I'm not sure. But somehow, I have a feeling they might. Ultimately, time could be our ally."

"You said that time doesn't flow in here."

As our conversation wrapped up, we shared a quiet gaze. The time for our flight was approaching, and we prepared to go our separate ways. To the West, to the East. In a world where power and fate intertwined, I had to return to the seventh universe.

Entering this world in 2008 was different from before; an opposition party now existed. The moment I returned to the East, I attended a session at the National Assembly, and chaos reigned there. Dozens of opposition lawmakers stood up, shouting at the ruling party representatives. "This is dictatorship!" "You're suppressing the equality of the people!"

Their sharp criticisms flew fast and furious. "We must provide a basic income of 250,000 won to every citizen! It's time for the state to take responsibility for its people!" one lawmaker cried out. "What we are advocating for is support for the people in order to build an equitable society. The Yellow Envelope Law is a minimal safeguard to protect workers' rights!"

Another legislator joined in. "We must guarantee the survival rights of our citizens. We need to stop the abuses of large corporations and help those unjustly fired workers get back on their feet!" His words were met with cheers and applause from other lawmakers.

A different opposition member stood up and continued, "The government must distribute 250,000 won to every citizen immediately! Even if it's not disaster relief, the welfare of the people is a responsibility of the state. This money isn't just support; it's a fundamental right to live with dignity!"

Their demands were relentless. Voices rang out boldly, insisting that instead of bailing out corporations with taxpayers' money, the government should directly return finances to the citizens. "Conglomerates and large corporations are not the owners of this country! The people are the rightful owners. The taxes collected from the citizens must be returned to them!"

Another lawmaker stepped forward, his voice rising in fervor. "The government must immediately expand educational subsidies! We must provide free tuition for all students to close the educational gap! From elementary education to university!" But to me, this all felt like a profound contradiction. They shouted for 'equality,' yet hidden within those calls was another power struggle, another battle for profit. How ironic it is to advocate for equality while simultaneously creating new inequalities...

Opposition for the sake of opposition, justifications for seizing power... Were these actions truly for the people, or were they merely for their own interests?

I stood up slowly, gathering my thoughts. "Proposals for equality, systems of welfare—these are all commendable ideas. But perhaps it's time to ask ourselves if any of this is genuinely for the citizens."

In that moment, the assembly fell silent. I continued, "Everyone claims to want the same thing, yet ultimately, it is different desires that drive us. This is the irony and contradiction of our world."

The lawmakers paused, momentarily taken aback by my words, but soon they erupted in fierce dissent once again.

The world spins in cycles like this. Even when we can't discern the true victor in this endless struggle, we persist in the fight. That day, the assembly was a cacophony of brawls, shouts, and political calculations.

Later that evening, I spoke with Elsa, discussing the turmoil in Seohan. "Our Seohan is rife with conflict as well. The two-party system has taken root, but a new opposition force has emerged. There are calls within social democracy to permit competition and creative destruction in the free market. They speak of innovation, but can this system truly handle such change?" Her voice carried a subtle undertone of concern.

"In the end, every system is destined to crumble. Even as we strive toward our goals... the world doesn't grant us easy passage."

"True," Elsa sighed deeply. "As you say, is freedom and equality merely an illusion in this world?"