Chapter 39 – Special Connection

The next day, the Director’s office.

“Come on in.”

As Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok stepped inside, Director Lee Tae-soo welcomed them warmly.

In a space that was not very large, there was a simple desk and chairs, two creaking cabinets, and a worn-out sofa.

Even if it was right after the war, considering the status of the National Medical Center—which was one of the largest hospitals in South Korea and where doctors from Sweden and Denmark would soon work—the Director’s office was excessively shabby.

“Hello, Director!”

Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok greeted him politely.

“Yes, yes. Let’s all sit down!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

The three sat on the sofa and faced one another.

“So, how are the mother and the baby?”

Director Lee Tae-soo asked about the patients’ well-being.

“They seem to have passed the critical danger. They are currently resting stably.”

“Hahaha, that is the most welcome news I’ve heard. As Gustafson said, it has been proven that you are the best surgeons from the Busan UN Hospital.”

Director Lee Tae-soo showed a pleased expression.

“We are sorry! The hospital has rules, and there must have been superiors to treat the patient even if we didn’t step in, so we feel we committed a great rudeness. Because it was such an urgent situation, we lost our heads and ignored the procedures. We apologize!”

Ji-hyuk bowed his head and apologized to Director Lee Tae-soo.

“Hahaha, I would welcome such rudeness anytime.”

“What do you mean by that?”

At Director Lee Tae-soo’s words, Yun-seok asked in surprise.

“It’s an embarrassing story, but we originally had two general surgeons at our hospital. One was drafted into the military and died in action while serving as a military doctor, and the other… that gentleman developed dementia and is currently in a nursing home!”

“……!”

“……!”

The two of them had expressions as if they had been hit on the back of the head.

“Ah, of course there are several residents who just graduated from medical school, but anyway, that’s how it is. So there was no one for you to be rude to. Therefore, instead of you being sorry, I should be the one apologizing to you. I am sorry. As the director, I have no face showing for running the hospital like this.”

Hahaha, Director Lee Tae-soo showed a self-deprecating smile.

“Ah…”

“Ah…”

‘Could such a thing even happen? In a hospital that is said to be one of the largest in Seoul, there were only two general surgeons? One died in action, and the other has dementia… That means there are no general surgeons at all, doesn’t it?’

In the face of this absurd situation, the two could say nothing.

“You might not believe it, but this is the current reality of South Korea. So your roles will be very important in the future. Please lead our hospital’s surgery department well.”

“Yes. We will do our best.”

“Can you do the same, Dr. Yun-seok?”

“O-Of course! I will also do my best.”

“Yes, yes. Don’t think too negatively. Although you will bear heavy responsibilities, conversely, you will also hold powerful authority in your hands. In that sense, it’s not a very bad situation.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, look at my mind! There is one more piece of good news. Next week, a competent surgeon will come to fill the vacant chief of surgery position. He fought actively as a military doctor on the battlefield, worked at Yonhei University Hospital after discharge, and is now coming to our hospital. He is a very capable surgeon, so you two will have a lot to learn!”

“Whew, that’s a relief.”

Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yes! I have high expectations for you two! Please lead our hospital well along with the new chief who is coming. Our country has been too devastated! Shouldn’t you two take the lead in rebuilding this country?”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Yes. We will work hard!”

In that way, the Seoul life of Ji-hyuk and Yun-seok began in earnest.

“Ji-hyuk, at least it’s a relief! They say a veteran professor is coming, right?”

“Indeed. Frankly, at first, my eyes were pitch black! How could you and I be the only specialists in this large hospital?”

Ji-hyuk wiped his chest in relief.

“Tell me about it! By the way, I wonder what kind of person the new chief will be?”

“They said he performed actively on the battlefield! He will probably be someone we can learn a lot from. Unlike Professor Cho Dong-ki!”

“Ugh! Don’t even bring up Professor Cho Dong-ki. There won’t be another quack doctor like him in the world. Besides, I heard that quack doctors are rampant after the war.”

Yun-seok shuddered as he recalled Professor Cho Dong-ki.

“Indeed. Speaking of which, it’s really a big deal! According to the newspaper, in Incheon, an unlicensed doctor gave a wrong injection and caused a death.”

Ji-hyuk also shook his head in disgust.

“Whew, right. Quack doctors are rampant nationwide, and since hospitals lost many documents during the war, it seems people just make a fake certificate and say, ‘I’m a doctor!’ and they are believed. The related laws are also inadequate, so even if a person dies, it seems it’s not easy to punish them with a felony!”

Yun-seok showed a self-deprecating, bitter smile.

Everything was a mess.

South Korea’s entire medical system had collapsed.

South Korea was in a state where the administrative system was paralyzed to the point where they could not even crack down on pseudo-doctors, even though they were rampant nationwide.

The main route for unlicensed doctors was the military.

Soldiers who were former military medics discharged after the war ended, and they acted as fake doctors using the clumsy medical knowledge they had acquired during their service.

Because they were too poor to go to large hospitals even if they were sick, people sought out these fake doctors.

Since the examination and medicine fees were cheap, it was an unavoidable choice for poor people.

Furthermore, let alone cracking down, the government tacitly tolerated their activities because medical personnel were severely lacking.

Anyway, South Korea’s medical system was in a total state of crisis.

‘We will have a lot of work to do. Until South Korea establishes a proper medical system!’

Hmm, Ji-hyuk let out a short sigh.

* * *

A week later, general ward.

As if heaven had helped, the mother and child were healthy.

The baby’s father, who had received the contact late, also rushed to the hospital, and since he was someone with some financial leeway, he paid the surgical and medical fees in full.

Knock, knock, knock—

“I am Kim Ji-hyuk.”

“Come in!”

Rattle—

Opening the ward door and entering, a man in work clothes welcomed Kim Ji-hyuk warmly.

“Hello! I am the patient’s husband!”

“Ah! Hello. I am Kim Ji-hyuk, the attending physician of patient Byeon Jeong-ok.”

“Yes, yes! Thank you so much for saving my wife and my son! I don’t know how to repay your kindness!”

The man approached Kim Ji-hyuk and bowed his waist repeatedly.

“No. It’s thanks to the patient and the baby holding on well! I just did what I had to do as a doctor.”

“Oh, I was working like a madman and didn’t even know my wife had met with an accident. I went down to the provinces because of a construction project. I was so shocked to hear that my wife had a traffic accident in the meantime… It’s still dizzying to think about it.”

The man brushed his chest in relief.

‘What? This person, I’ve seen him somewhere before…’

Kim Ji-hyuk tilted his head with puckered lips.

“Ah! If you do construction?”

“Yes. I run a small construction company. Ah! Look at my mind. Here is my business card!”

The man hurriedly took out a business card from his wallet and handed it to Kim Ji-hyuk.

‘President of Mirae Construction, Jeong Sang-young’

The company name and name written on the card.

‘If it’s Mirae Construction, a construction com… Wh-what? Mirae Construction? Jeong Sang-young?? No way? The Chairman Jeong Sang-young I know?’

Argh—

‘Then that means the person in front of me now is a tycoon of a leading domestic conglomerate! Chairman Jeong of Mirae Group?’

Kim Ji-hyuk had a dazed expression as if he had been hit on the back of the head.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look well.”

Jeong Sang-young checked Kim Ji-hyuk’s complexion.

“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”

Kim Ji-hyuk shook his head.

“Ah, yes. I was worried because your complexion suddenly went pale.”

“Whew, I’m fine. By any chance, where is your hometown?”

Although he was certain it was Chairman Jeong Sang-young, Ji-hyuk asked him for confirmation.

“Sigh, Gangwon Province is my hometown. I was born in a small village called Isan-ri, but now it has become North Korean territory, so I can’t even visit.”

‘Right! Chairman Jeong Sang-young’s pen name is Isan! I read an article saying he chose his pen name after the village where he was born. Isn’t Isan Hospital, one of the four major hospitals in the country, named after that? Then it’s true that this person is indeed Chairman Jeong Sang-young!’

Finally, everything became clear to Kim Ji-hyuk.

“Whew, I see.”

“Yes. But well, how long will it go on like this? Unification will happen sooner or later! When that day comes, I intend to drive about a hundred head of cattle and go to my hometown! Actually, to confess to you, Doctor, I secretly sold my father’s cow and ran away with that money.”

Jeong Sang-young approached and whispered to Kim Ji-hyuk.

“Ah, yes.”

“So I have a great obsession with cattle. If I make some money, I intend to buy cattle and go back, giving one head to each villager! Although the price of cattle has skyrocketed and is expensive.”

Chairman Jeong Sang-young closed his lips tightly.

‘Whew, unification… That wish won’t come true, but you will indeed drive a herd of cattle to North Korea!’

“Yes. Drive a thousand head instead of a hundred in trucks and take them.”

“Hahaha, that sounds like a dream! Do you know how much a thousand head of cattle is? It’s impossible. It’s just a dream!”

“No. You will fully be able to do that.”

Whether it was a dream or reality, Kim Ji-hyuk stared at the young Chairman Jeong Sang-young in wonder.

“Yes, yes! Of course! I must. Now I intend to devote this body to the reconstruction of this country! Ah, if I make a lot of money later, I will also establish a proper hospital! If that dream comes true, I want to invite you to our hospital then!”

‘Isan Hospital! Well, if it’s Isan Hospital, I have no reason to refuse, do I?’

“That dream will also come true. Besides a construction company, make a hospital and a car company too, and grow them into global enterprises!”

“Oh, how did you know that a car company is my dream?”

‘I know, of course I know!’

“Well, aren’t construction and cars the two greatest industries for national reconstruction? Once the roads are paved, aren’t cars to run on them essential? In the future, the demand for cars will be immense.”

“Indeed! Your insight is amazing! I have the same thoughts! I will definitely build a car company that surpasses Japan’s Mitsubishi.”

Jeong Sang-young clenched both fists, his determination burning.

‘Yes. That dream will definitely come true.’

“I will pray for it to be so! Ah! If you make a passenger car later, how about naming it Pony?”

“If it’s Pony… isn’t that a colt?”

“Yes. Once South Korea has highways paved, it means to run vigorously on those roads, so I thought of it as a car name.”

“Even highways? Anyway, it’s a good name! It might be impossible, but if a highway connecting Seoul and Busan like in Europe or America is built, I will definitely make a car with that name!”

“Yes. That will surely happen!”

“Our thoughts seem to have many similarities, so let’s get along closely! What do you say?”

‘Do I have any reason to refuse? However, do not go into politics later!’

“Of course! Since I am younger than you, Doctor, I will treat you as my older brother!”

“Hahaha, good! I am a lacking brother, but I will do my part properly from now on!”

Squeeze—

Jeong Sang-young clasped Kim Ji-hyuk’s hands tightly.

In that way, the moment Kim Ji-hyuk and Jeong Sang-young, who would become the tycoon of South Korea’s richest conglomerate, Mirae Group, established their connection.