Chapter 34 – Starting Anew (1)

On July 27, 1953, the war finally ended.

No, the South and the North agreed to halt the war for a while.

With this, the blood-drying war of three years, one month, and two days, or 1,129 days in number of days, came to an end.

It was a war of nothing but scars.

Since it was not a complete victory for South Korea, but a truce forced by Western powers.

At any rate, the war was over, and the tragedy of killing one’s own people could stop.

Since the war ended like that, the time for recovery arrived.

South Korea immediately set out on reconstruction activities to revive the devastated nation.

One of them was the hospital.

The Swedish Red Cross Field Hospital was built with Sweden as the main axis in accordance with the Red Cross spirit and the UN resolution to protect world peace and freedom.

Therefore, as the war ended, the field hospital, which had fulfilled its role, underwent the process of dissolution, and Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok were preparing to go up to Seoul.

* * *

Professor Olsen’s office at the UN Hospital.

Around the time the clean-up of the UN field hospital was almost completed, Professor Olsen called Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok to his office.

“It has already been three years since I came to this place.”

Professor Olsen stared at them as if deeply moved, with Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok in front of him.

“During this time, I felt and learned a lot through you, Professor! I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life! Thank you for your hard work all this time!”

Ji-hyuk stepped forward first.

“What hard work? The citizens of South Korea had it hard. How much blood have they shed during this time? There must absolutely never be such a tragedy again.”

Professor Olsen, who had volunteered since the beginning of the war and was appointed to the UN hospital.

He was a true doctor who personally experienced the misery of the Nakdong River Battle and strove with all his heart and soul to save countless wounded soldiers, regardless of whether they were allies or enemies.

“That is correct. There must never again be a tragedy of killing our own people!”

“To that end, your role is greater than anyone else’s. Because the medical system will play the most pivotal role in the reconstruction of the nation.”

“I am ready to willingly dedicate the medical skills I learned from Professor Olsen!”

“Haha, I like that you are always confident. Ji-hyuk possesses qualities superior to any intern I have seen so far. In the future, you will become the best surgeon representing South Korea.”

Professor Olsen spared no praise for Ji-hyuk.

“You flatter me.”

“No. Even in my country, Sweden, I have never seen a student as bright as you. You and Yun-seok are the pillars who must take the lead in the reconstruction of this country, South Korea. Make sure to refine your medical skills much more than now. My expectations of you two are high!”

Professor Olsen stared at Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok with a pleased smile.

“If Doctor Yun-seok just fixes his clumsiness a bit, he will be able to become a surgeon as excellent as Ji-hyuk. Honestly, his comprehension is better than Doctor Ji-hyuk’s.”

Hehehe—

“Ji-hyuk, stop laughing, will you?”

“Haha, okay!”

“Yes, Professor! Since I am much smarter than Ji-hyuk, better at memorization, and have superior comprehension, I will catch up to Ji-hyuk soon!”

“Hahaha, that’s exactly it. A man must have at least that much guts and grit. Yun-seok, my expectations of you are high hereafter!”

Professor Olsen wore a satisfied expression.

“Yes. I will succeed your will, Professor, and dedicate myself hard to medicine!”

Yun-seok also steeled his determination in front of Professor Olsen.

“Yes. Probably a large hospital will be built in Seoul before long. Both I and Director Gustafsson plan to recommend you two to that hospital.”

“Us?”

“Yes. If Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok do not go, who would go. That hospital will also have Swedish medical staff as its main axis, so it will not be very difficult to adapt.”

“Yes, Professor!”

“Yes! Though we part like this now, there will be a day when we meet again someday. In that sense, shall I hug you two once?”

In that way, Professor Olsen hugged Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok alternately and shared a warm farewell.

* * *

South Korea of the 1950s, which had become a ruin that seemed absolutely impossible to reconstruct due to the Korean War.

The birth of a hospital that would lead the medical field of South Korea was close at hand.

Named the National Medical Center!

As the Korean War ended, the personnel from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and so on remaining in the country, and the Syngman Rhee government signed an agreement to establish and operate the National Medical Center.

Although it was something that should have happened five years later according to the original history, whether it was due to a butterfly effect or not, that history was brought forward by five years.

It was the result of a sudden action to reconstruct the destroyed medical system of South Korea due to the strong assertion of the Syngman Rhee government.

It was decided to newly install the National Central Medical Center at the Seoul City Hospital, and the required funds were approximately 2.4 million dollars.

While utilizing the existing buildings to the maximum, they agreed to build new buildings before long, and almost all the necessary financial resources for that were to be borne by the United States.

Nevertheless, the United States put the UN forward, which was to gain legitimacy in the competition with the communist system.

In any case, to make a long story short.

In this way, the National Central Medical Center was established, and Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok were able to go up to the capital thanks to the active support of Professor Olsen and Director Gustafsson.

* * *

Grandmother Mi-seon’s house.

Was it said that those who meet must part, and those who part must meet again?

Just as there was a meeting, there was bound to be a parting, so it was a situation where they had to bid a regrettable farewell to Grandmother Mi-seon as well.

Ji-hyuk tried to bring Grandmother Mi-seon and the children up to Seoul, but the grandmother wished to remain in her hometown until the very end, and ultimately they were in a situation where they had to say a regrettable farewell.

“Grandmother, do you really have to stay here? There is the children’s education too, so please come up with us!”

Ji-hyuk held Grandmother Mi-seon’s hand, expressing his regrettable feelings.

“No. I like it here. And in the midst of this chaos, what difference is there between Seoul and Busan? Since the kids have also adapted here and are living well, you do not have to worry about us.”

“Even so…”

“The person leaving should leave with a smile, how can you snivel like that?”

Grandmother Mi-seon gently held Ji-hyuk’s hand.

“Yes, Grandmother! I will come down often!”

“What are you talking about? Is a doctor that free? Do not worry about this place, go and study hard.”

Grandmother Mi-seon’s mind was completely sound now.

“Yes, Grandmother!”

“And carry this in your bosom by all means.”

Grandmother Mi-seon took out a sheet of paper from her bosom and gave it to him.

“What is this?”

“It is an amulet. This amulet will protect our Doctor Ji-hyuk safely until the end.”

“Oh, this is superstition…”

“Hey! I was once the best shaman in this neighborhood. You did not know? Do not say useless things because it brings bad luck, put it deep in your pocket and carry it around.”

“Ah… Yes, thank you, Grandmother!”

Ji-hyuk carefully put the amulet given by the grandmother into his pocket.

‘Grandmother! I remember exactly what you said! I will always be careful and pay attention!’

“Wow! There is no more bad luck for me now!”

Ji-hyuk bantered while raising both hands.

And.

“Senior Jeong-eun, please take care of Grandmother and the kids!”

Shin Jeong-eun also had an opportunity to work at the National Medical Center through Professor Olsen’s recommendation, but she politely declined Professor Olsen’s offer.

Her intention was to become a seed for the medical development of the underdeveloped region.

“Yes. Do not worry about this place at all. When you go up to Seoul, observe a lot, learn a lot, and contribute to the medical development of our country!”

“Yes! I will write letters often.”

Yun-seok’s eyes welled with tears as if regrettable.

“Hehehe, Doctor Ji-hyuk! Take good care of Doctor Yun-seok. Since he is so weak-hearted, how will he perform those difficult surgeries?”

Teasing him—

Shin Jeong-eun teased Yun-seok, who showed tears.

“Tell me about it. My worries are as high as a mountain.”

“He will do well, Doctor Yun-seok! Doctor Yun-seok is a natural-born doctor. And smart!”

“Yes. That is acknowledged! Anyway, I only trust you, Senior Jeong-eun. And please take good care of our Soon-deok just until she grows a bit more.”

“Of course! Soon-deok likes me so much. Right, Soon-deok?”

“Yes!”

Shin Jeong-eun lifted young Soon-deok in her arms.

“Yes! Soon-deok, Daddy will come to pick you up soon, so listen to the teacher well until then, okay?”

“Yes!”

In that way, the regrettable farewell greeting came to an end.

“Cheol-woo! Let’s talk for a moment.”

Ji-hyuk beckoned toward Cheol-woo.

“Yes, Doctor!”

A moment later.

Ji-hyuk came outside with Cheol-woo.

He handed over a portion of the returns recovered by asking Mr. Brown to invest to Cheol-woo.

“W-what is all this, Doctor?”

“What else? Money. With this amount, you won’t have to worry about money for the time being.”

“Even so, such a large sum of money?”

“It is fine. Now you are the head of the family. You must look after Grandmother, Mi-seon’s siblings, and even our Soon-deok. Can you do it?”

“Yes! I will never live separated from my family again!”

“Indeed. Study whatever you want to study with this money and enter medical school. You must never abandon your dream!”

“Yes, Doctor!”

“Then let us go inside now. Everyone will be waiting.”

“Yes.”

In that way, Ji-hyuk said farewell to the people he had grown attached to for about a year.

A few months later, Seoul.

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, where the scars scratched by the war still remained.

Although it was the capital of the Joseon Dynasty for five hundred years and was still the greatest city in South Korea, its past majesty was nowhere to be found.

Even in the downtown center, paved roads were hard to find, and on the roadsides, signs of shops selling ice cream, ice candy, cigarettes, and so on were stuck messily alongside lined-up shacks.

There were still many people walking around wearing hanbok, and even in the center of Seoul, a farmer was plowing a field with an ox and a plow.

‘Simply amazing. It has been only about seventy years since the war ended, and yet to make such a dazzling growth!’

Ji-hyuk was deep in thought, recalling the appearance of Seoul before his possession.

“Kim Ji-hyuk! You must be quite bewildered now that you have come up to Seoul, right? It is totally glamorous, seriously.”

Yun-seok was looking around and marveling at the appearance of Seoul in 1953.

‘Glamorous?’

“Yes. It is. It is completely different from Busan.”

“Of course. What kind of place is Seoul? Isn’t it the capital of South Korea! Be careful, okay? They say if you lose your mind in Seoul, they will cut off your nose before you know it!”

Lululala—

Since he was thinking about coming up to Seoul and working at the hospital, Yun-seok was just joyful.

‘Was my grandfather that frivolous?’

Hehehe—

Seeing that sight, laughter naturally came out of Ji-hyuk.

* * *

The next day.

“Ma’am, we will be off!”

“Yes. Our doctors! Please return safely today too!”

“Yes, Ma’am!”

Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok, who had unpacked their bags at a boarding house they had secured in advance through an acquaintance.

It was finally the first day of work.

*Ring, ring—*

Seoul, whose infrastructure was weak because it had not been long since the war ended. Since transportation was difficult, they had no choice but to commute by bicycle for the time being.

The National Medical Center, which took approximately forty minutes to reach even by bicycle.

“Ji-hyuk, I’m nervous!”

As soon as they came out of the boarding house, Yun-seok shrank back.

“You saw it too when we took the interview, didn’t you? It is the same!”

“Hey, how can Busan and Seoul be the same? Even the accent is completely different.”

“They are all foreign doctors, everything they say is similar, so what is different from the Busan Field Hospital? Do not be needlessly scared, spread your chest wide and enter confidently. Okay?”

“Sigh, you might be able to do that, but I have a real chicken-heart, so I’m trembl…”

It was right at that moment.

*Screech, crash—*

“Ah!”

As soon as they turned the intersection corner, the sound of slamming emergency brakes was heard, and then a short scream spread out.

It seemed a traffic accident had occurred.