Baeguk

[beifengxiaoxiao]

Nine Tail Society Responds to Criticism as "Murky Organization", Declares Intent to Restore Taeyang Light Palace 
Author: Yiri Jaechan
5618.2.12

TAEDO METROPOLITAN AREA - Today Ipelchan Hwangje Hwanheechan (晃制 환히찬), head of the House of Hwangje and the Nine Tail Society, held a conference near Taedo's Changsoldae Grand Monument (長雪臺 大獨立紀念碑) today to address concerns over the increasing influence of the Noble House. Most notably, the Ipelchan declared his intent to restore the long-lost Taeyang Light Palace, which has remained a preserved ruin for centuries.

Firstly, Ipelchan Hwangje admonished the negative press coverage of the Kumihoe (九尾會), or Nine-Tail Society, a small private paramilitary security force that has existed for centuries in the service of the House of Hwangje. The Nine Tail Society is one of Baeguk's most venerable and old associations, having been founded and run with the express purpose of serving the House of Hwangje and its cadet branch, the House of Taeyang. The House of Taeyang-Hwangje are descended from the potentates of the Pyeonghae Kingdom of the Classical Era of Baegukese history and ruled the nation as the Grand Imperial Union of Dankuk from 4297-4454. Following the death of the final matriarch to bear the surname "Taeyang", Taeyang Haesook (b. 4330 May 22, d. 4441 Feb 20), the Taeyang branch of the house ultimately decided to revoke its cadet status and merge back into the House of Hwangje on the orders of Kim Hye-ja (b. 4507, d. 4589), the last independent head of the House of Taeyang. It is now house policy that the "Taeyang" title will be applied only when a Hwangje is in a position of state power. Meanwhile, in the modern political climate, the House of Hwangje have been awarded the Sacred Bone (聖骨) rank of Ipelchan (伊伐飡), the highest in the noble peerage system of the KGB.

The existence of the Nine-Tail Society remains controversial, with detractors decrying it as tantamount to a "criminal organization" with unofficial rules and underground laws that bypass the Imperial court system and due process. During the chaotic 53rd century, the Nine-Tail Society participated in racketeering as well as vigilante justice and intimidation against political opponents, having previously headed illegal anti-state activity during the fascist DNWA era. Whilst the Nine-Tail Society publicly declares that it has since reformed and operates completely within Imperial law, there have been intermittent allegations of Nine-Tail Society interference, bribery, and intimidation within different circles of public life. The Nine-Tail Society are seen to have their strongest links in their home base of Taedo Metropolitan city, although regional offices are spread throughout the country. There has been notable regional bias against the house in the southern provinces like Gonggi, where loyalists of the House of Ryeo are believed to still exist intermittently despite that house's apparent extinction and/or going underground with no leads to their current whereabouts. For instance, last year the Gongmangdo Capital Police Agency (GCPA) reported at least 3 violent altercations between Nine-Tail Society members and the "Black Flag Society", a far-right rival gang professing loyalty to the House of Ryeo. 

At today's press conference, Ipelchan Hwangje continually stressed the reformed aspects of the Nine-Tail Society and how it serves the public. He pointed out that the Nine-Tail Society currently is one of Taedo's main patrons of the arts, funding and supporting independent traditional theater, craftsmanship, and different cultural centers and museums. The Nine-Tail Society also control a number of fraternal and sororal orders across the nation's public and private universities. Additionally, in partnership with local churches of the Draniano Universal Church, the Nine-Tail Society also provides free food to the homeless and unemployed.

Pivoting from the defense of the organization, Ipelchan Hwangje also announced that enough private funds had been raised to initiate what the Nine-Tail Organization hopes will become a successful bid to partially reconstruct the Taeyang Light Palace. Ipelchan Hwangje revealed that the Nine-Tail Organization had formally filed an application at Taedo Citizen's Hall earlier today asking for public funds to partially fund the reconstruction as well as a license permitting on-site construction.

Currently, the site of the Taeyang Light Palace is a public museum park protected from any development. Despite some preservation efforts, the Light Palace has long been considered a blotch on the otherwise shiny and futuristic landscape of Taedo Metropolitan Area, seen as a remnant of its former glory. Once one of the largest and most decadent imperial residences in all of Terra, the Taeyang Light Palace formerly housed a Grand Library - the most comprehensive in all of Dovani, huge courtyards, and the massive Haebit Abortorium. However, following the end of the Imperial Union, state funding was cut and large sections fell into disrepair or were destroyed by development. The communist government of the UCCR and the fascist government of the Kyo Commonwealth both plundered the remnants for their remaining wealth and building material, consequently leaving practically nothing of the ruins beyond some major stone foundations and columns in the 6th millennium.

While Ipelchan Hwangje admitted that it is currently infeasible to recreate the entire Palace due to its massive scale, he declared his intent to rebuild the main halls and to re-open the Haebit Abortorium restored as a public botanical garden for the people of Taedo to freely stroll about. The reconstruction plan will use historical blueprints and pictures to meticulously recreate the 8 major halls of the Light Palace and the Abortorium over an estimated construction period of several decades. The completed palace will be open to the public and is intended to serve as both a tourism draw and a community gathering ground for Taedo locals.

Local lawmakers, especially from the center-left Hongik Party which currently dominates the city's politics, have expressed interest in the project and it is widely expected to receive funding especially as Taedo looks to increase its tourism rates among generally positive economic trends. Mayor Hyeob Deunghaesol (劦등해솔) has declared that "the slow desecration of the Taeyang Light Palace has led there to be a hole in the heart of our city", and is widely believed to be in support of partial restoration efforts.