In my family, everything is singular. Not two, but just one. No matter how you look around, there's only one father, one mother, one sister, one brother-in-law, one son, one daughter, one sister-in-law, and one sister-in-law (on the wife's side) as well. Everyone is unique.

So, if I call out, "Brother-in-law!" over the fence, it means only one person will answer, and if I call "Sister!" only one woman will appear as my sister.

That one and only brother-in-law has come from America. From his perspective, I am his one and only brother-in-law (on the wife's side). With my parents-in-law passed away, I am the only blood relative left of his wife's family.

My brother-in-law, born in the year of liberation, is technically a "Jahyeong" (elder sister's husband). "Ja" (sister) and "Mae" (younger sister) are distinct titles, yet the term "Maehyeong" has become so ingrained that I simply call him that. It feels much more affectionate than "Jahyeong."

To my mother and father, my brother-in-law was also an exceptionally cherished son-in-law. Their only daughter and her husband were, quite literally, their love and pride. While my sister is beautiful, my brother-in-law was also tall, handsome, and highly intelligent. Therefore, when my brother-in-law got married, our home was the envy of the neighborhood.

This is a story from when my brother-in-law visited our rural home for introductions before his marriage. It was around 1975, a time when transportation was inconvenient and everything was scarce. It might be understandable in historical context if it were before Vietnam fell to communism.

And back then, the large yellow croakers, as thick as an arm, were still caught in small numbers from the Chil-san Sea in Yeonggwang. To honor my brother-in-law, my father traveled all the way to Beopseong to buy one of those large croakers, and my mother steamed it in a cast-iron pot. However, it seems the tail of the croaker fell off when it got caught on the edge of the basket, and my mother's face fell with disappointment.

"What to do?"

I quietly told her to just place the detached croaker tail back on. Then, when the meal began, I was the first to pick up and eat that tail. By doing so, no one realized the croaker's tail had fallen off, and the incident passed without incident.

This anecdote is about my mother's devotion to her one and only son-in-law, but it seems my father was also simply delighted to have such a son-in-law. I understand he did his utmost to welcome him.

Now that my brother-in-law has visited, I am the one who must host him in place of my parents. I, who quietly tended my orchard and enjoyed a drink, am not a person who particularly enjoys travel. For me to try and match my brother-in-law's hobbies and schedule has been exhausting, leaving me in terrible physical condition. I can't help but groan in pain, but what else can I do?

My brother-in-law was enjoying the true pleasure of travel, seeing the Sambyeolcho Oryongjangseong Fortress in Jindo, Jang Bogo's Cheonghaejin in Wando, and meeting Jeong Yak-yong at Dasan Chodang in Gangjin.

Since he was born in the year of liberation, he is over eighty years old. However, he eats well and has good stamina. He smokes almost constantly, yet his lungs are reportedly clean. Even if it's "puffing tobacco," where the smoke is held only in the mouth and not inhaled into the lungs, it's hard to believe.

My brother-in-law is neither left-wing nor right-wing. He is a person who stays true to the essence of what is right and wrong. It's not that he dislikes Lee Jae-myung because it's Lee Jae-myung; he points out the actions that are not proper.

It's the same with Yoon Suk-yeol.

"Who declares martial law in such a manner?"

He means, who declares martial law so sloppily? Because it was done that way, they lost power and handed the country over to the leftists, he thinks.

"It's the same with Jang Dong-hyuk. As the leader of the People Power Party, what on earth is he doing right now?"

This is a criticism of his incompetence as party leader in failing to properly lead the conservative faction.

However, my brother-in-law was unaware of the "budget dictatorship" of the Democratic Party under Lee Jae-myung in the past, which even eliminated the budget for the KF-21 fighter jet development, and the situation where the Minister of Education became acting president through over 30 impeachment proceedings. I suspect he lacks a comprehensive understanding of the overall situation.

At that time, the country was almost at a standstill in its governance. A country with no president, no prime minister, no deputy prime minister for economy, and no prosecutor general. It was a country that operated solely on systems. And there were situations that necessitated the declaration of martial law, such as the seriousness of the revealed election fraud.

My brother-in-law did not fully understand the entire situation. Of course, there should be sharp criticism for the failure of martial law, but Yoon Suk-yeol was too naive a president to deal with a four-time repeat offender.

My brother-in-law was also making hasty conclusions about Jang Dong-hyuk without knowing the inner workings of the political situation. He lacks awareness of the "bad hands" that manipulate our politics. It was the limitation of viewing South Korea from the perspective of the United States.

Currently, the South Korean political scene is operating on a grand chessboard laid out by China. China has not only infiltrated the Democratic Party but also recruited numerous individuals within the People Power Party. It is a well-known fact that most of those considered senior figures in the party are pro-China. This can be inferred from the leadership that stood by with folded arms during the impeachment of former President Yoon.

As long as the entire political arena, regardless of party affiliation, is engaged in a puppet show on a chessboard set by China, we must consider that we have lost our political sovereignty. Consequently, Jang Dong-hyuk has become merely a powerless individual. There is no absolute majority supporting Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk; only Chinese spies who will seize any opportunity to attack are visible.

From the reason Jang Dong-hyuk went to the United States, we can infer various unseen maneuvers. The United States would also want to extract the "poison" of China and North Korea from its ally, South Korea.

Furthermore, they are likely well aware that the problem in South Korea lies with its leaders. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to assume that the United States is considering a "change of leadership in South Korea." It is quite predictable that the United States will take action against the communists in South Korea.

There are increasingly frequent signals from the United States warning of the expulsion of anti-American elements. This movement indicates that the United States' actions are about to begin. Consequently, the United States' stance towards the children of anti-American elements residing in the U.S. is becoming stricter.

Indeed, there are reports that the children of Iran's anti-American leadership are facing revocation of their residency permits and deportation from the United States. Therefore, the fate of the children of South Korean communists is also being depicted.

Lately, as I accompany my brother-in-law and sister, I am making one earnest plea.

"Please, never attend gatherings of Jeolla people in the United States. They are leftists and anti-Americans who support pro-China and pro-North Korea sentiments. If the U.S. begins a full-scale expulsion of anti-Americans, some among them will undoubtedly face the U.S.'s heavy hand."

The cherry blossoms are falling. My brother-in-law is a filial son. Upon returning, he is the first to visit his parents' graves, a filial son of the Cheongju Yi clan. My sister, as a daughter-in-law of the Cheongju Yi clan, has also been diligently serving her in-laws. Raising three lawyers, including her husband, and a son who is America's top reconstructive plastic surgeon, will be a source of family pride.

As April passes the midpoint, the cherry blossoms in Jeolla have already fallen, and peach and plum blossoms are in full bloom. In the fields, green barley grows taller, and the days of Grain Rain are verdant.

My brother-in-law will soon return to the United States. I will pray for their peace throughout, but it is regrettable that the world has divided itself to the point where even the flowers worry about tomorrow, and the reality facing this nation and land makes me feel sorrowful.

April 19, 2026, from Jeolla, Poet Jeong Jae-hak

◆ Poet Jeong Jae-hak

Poet, national merit recipient, columnist, Park Chung-hee presidential publicity committee member, 36 years of teaching in Jeolla.