Chapter 53 – The Gentleman Who Studied in America (1)

National Medical Center.

The year 1954 dawned.

In two months, the American singer Marilyn Monroe would arrive at Yeouido Airfield in broad daylight, and in June, our national soccer team would participate in the 5th Swiss World Cup for the first time.

Of course, they suffered crushing defeats of 9-0 to the world’s strongest Hungary and 7-0 to Turkey back then.

In July, President Syngman Rhee would travel to the United States and deliver a speech at a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Also, in the same month, J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendary fantasy novel, The Fellowship of the Ring, would see the light of day.

In November, the Great Battle of Dokdo broke out between the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison and the Japan Coast Guard, and it was also the year when the unprecedented Sasaoip (rounding-off) constitutional amendment occurred.

As such, Kim Ji-hyuk from 2024 welcomed his second year in the body of Kim Ji-hyuk in 1952. In addition, there were many changes at the National Medical Center.

As Professor Chung Ki-ryeo was appointed as the Chief of Surgery, he recruited competent surgery professors; the Department of Internal Medicine also took shape; Obstetrics and Gynecology was managed entirely by Professor Lee Gil-sook; and in particular, the Department of Anesthesiology, which had belonged to General Surgery, became an independent department, allowing the hospital to assume the dignity of a general hospital to some extent.

Not only were the best domestic medical staff gathered, but if state-of-the-art medical equipment were introduced next year along with foreign doctors from Scandinavia, including Sweden, the National Medical Center would undoubtedly leap forward to become the best hospital in the country in name and reality.

Surgical ward.

As the National Medical Center slowly began to display the grandeur of the best hospital in the country, a patient was admitted to the hospital.

Kim Pil-sung, 35 years old.

A self-proclaimed elite who studied in the United States.

However, considering he had been living in a state shelter without any relatives, it could not be believed 100%.

Of course, although his body was weak, if one looked closely, he had the appearance of the eldest son of a wealthy landowner, making him a middle-aged gentleman who made people think his words might be true.

Of course, by 2024 standards, he would be closer to a young man than middle-aged.

Anyway, Kim Pil-sung was a walking hospital.

He had high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and there was not a single healthy spot on his body.

His attending physician was Professor Chung Ki-ryeo, and the doctor in charge was Kim Yun-seok.

Upon hearing the news that he had no relatives and could not receive treatment due to a lack of money, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo paid out of his own pocket to admit him to the hospital.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

“I am fine.”

“That is a relief. You will get better soon once you undergo surgery.”

“Thank you. Would it be alright if I went out for a short walk?”

A man who looked neat with pomade in his hair.

His bangs rose high, styling it as if a crown had been placed on his head.

In other words, it was a hairstyle similar to James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause.

“It is fine, but in the hospital, it is better for hygiene reasons not to apply hair grease if possible.”

“This is the Teddy Boy style. I can never give up my hairstyle.”

“…”

Yun-seok had an expression of disbelief.

“Ah, I see.”

“I am a person who loves rock and roll. I would like to wear that jacket and those shoes right now, but I am barely holding back because this is a hospital.”

Kim Pil-sung pointed at the worn leather jacket hanging on the ward wall.

“A-Alright. A long walk is not allowed, so please walk for only about an hour. The professor will come by at around 2:00 PM later.”

“I understand. I shall return without being late.”

Surgical department office.

“Yun-seok, how is the patient Kim Pil-sung?”

“That guy is a bit strange.”

Yun-seok slowly shook his head.

“Why?”

“No, he wanders around the ward with grease in his hair. He styles himself as if he were James Dean.”

“Hahaha, it seems he really was an international student in America.”

“I don’t know. No matter how much I think about it, he seems like a fake, you know? Anyway, he is all show and no substance. I’ll bet 5,000 hwan that he isn’t! Want to make a bet with me?”

Given that the monthly salary of a nurse here at the National Medical Center was 4,200 hwan and a bag of rice was 4,260 hwan, it was quite a large sum of money.

“Sure! I’ll bet that he was an international student.”

“Hehehe, just like that, a fortune of 5,000 hwan is created.”

“We will see about that. By the way, they said he also has symptoms of pneumonia. Shouldn’t we not let him walk?”

“He’s the type who would sneak out even if I told him not to. It’s better to let him walk briefly under supervision.”

“Looking at him, it seems his thyroid isn’t good either?”

“Right. Anyway, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo says he’ll use Warfarin instead of Dicumarol, but isn’t that a bit dangerous?”

“No! Warfarin is much more effective.”

“How can you be so sure? It hasn’t even been verified yet, and it’s a drug that has barely received approval for human use.”

‘Uh! I am sure. Because Warfarin is a proven drug that is widely used as an anticoagulant even in 2024.’

“President Eisenhower will also end up using Warfarin.”

“What? He will end up using it? What is that supposed to mean?”

‘Yes. Eisenhower is a representative beneficiary of Warfarin! Let’s see… It must be next year. The day he collapses from a heart attack! Without Warfarin, Eisenhower would probably have died.’

“It just means Warfarin is that good of a drug. Anyway, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo prescribed it himself, so do not worry.”

“Well, that goes without saying. Who am I to question the professor’s prescription?”

Kim Yun-seok pouted.

“Right. We just need to assist the professor well.”

“He’s taking everything from blood pressure medication to kidney medication—all kinds of strong drugs. He is getting up there in age, so I don’t know how long he will hold out.”

Kim Yun-seok let out a sigh that could sink the earth.

‘A 35-year-old is getting up in age…’

“It won’t be easy. Do not forget that he is fasting right now.”

“Got it.”

“Looking at his personality, he is the type to sneakily eat food. Always pay attention.”

“Anyway, his basic physical strength seems good. In this state, it would ordinarily be difficult to even lie in bed like a corpse.”

“Indeed. At any rate, having good basic physical strength is not a bad thing.”

“It’s a relief.”

“By the way, you say all that, but you seem to treat him really well?”

“Treat him well? It’s just… a pain born of the times. I don’t know how he let his body get ruined to this extent.”

Kim Yun-seok shook his head.

“A pain born of the times… That is true. Kim Pil-sung is not the only one whose life has been pierced by the pain of the times. That is why we must work harder.”

“Right. I should go check on Kim Pil-sung’s ward.”

“Okay. Work hard.”

In that way, Kim Yun-seok was feeling a sense of compassion for Kim Pil-sung.

* * *

That evening, the department office.

“Kim Ji-hyuk! Did you gather the kids?!”

The voice of Professor Chung Ki-ryeo, who had rushed into the department office, was flushed unlike usual.

“Yes, everyone is gathered.”

“Dr. Ko and Dr. Jin came too, right?”

“Yes!”

“Good, tell everyone to come to my room in 10 minutes!”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo’s voice was solemn.

“Yes, understood.”

A moment later.

“Are we clashing with cardiology today?”

Kim Yun-seok asked as he entered the office after finishing his treatment.

“Yes, it’s today!”

“Wow! Will blood splatter again today?”

Gulp, Kim Yun-seok swallowed his dry saliva.

This conference was created when Professor Chung Ki-ryeo was appointed as the Chief at the National Medical Center. It was a regular event where internal medicine and surgery clashed over a single topic to improve the doctors’ skills.

“I’m nervous. The internal medicine kids are really good talkers.”

“We just have to silence their babbling mouth with our skills! This is a war involving the pride of surgery!”

Kim Ji-hyuk clenched his two fists tightly.

“Sigh, how long has it been since the war ended, and yet we have to fight another war day in and day out?”

“That is why we must win.”

“Who doesn’t know that? By the way, what is the topic of today’s conference?”

“Heart surgery!”

In the end, today’s debate topic was whether it was right to open the chest for heart surgery, or whether drug treatment was correct.

It was a battle involving the pride of surgery and internal medicine.

“Darn it, I don’t know, and our department’s life depends on your hands, so do well.”

“Just me?”

“Yes! Just you! You are our surgical ace. So of course, you have to solve it!”

A moment later, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo’s office.

“Gentlemen! You know today is the day we flatten those internal medicine fellows’ noses, right?”

“Yes, Professor!”

“Today’s topic is heart surgery! You must have studied enough, right?”

“Yes.”

“What is this? Why does your voice sound so faint? Did you not eat lunch?”

“No. We ate.”

“Then why do you sound like you haven’t even had thin gruel?”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo glared.

“N-No, it’s not that.”

Dr. Jin Sang-tae had a lack of confidence on his face.

“Cheer up! Just a moment ago, tidings of victory arrived from Japan!”

“…”

At the mention of victory tidings, the surgeons, including Kim Ji-hyuk, looked at each other.

“Rejoice! The proud national soccer team of South Korea scored 5 goals in the enemy territory of Japan and won! We should repay that in kind, shouldn’t we!”

The voice of Professor Chung Ki-ryeo, announcing the victory of the South Korean national soccer team, trembled wildly.

Today, on March 7, 1954, tidings of victory arrived that the proud South Korean national team had defeated Japan at the Tokyo Meiji Jingu Stadium, where the Swiss World Cup Asian qualifiers were held.

Although they conceded the first goal, they scored 5 consecutive goals, and South Korea won 5 to 1.

Due to the poor broadcasting environment, the tidings of victory arrived two hours late after the match had ended.

Since it was a thrilling victory where South Korea defeated the Japanese national team in the first match between Korea and Japan since liberation, how could they not be happy?

Buzz, buzz—

“Wow! Did we really win?”

As if he could not believe it yet, Kim Yun-seok asked in a trembling voice.

“Yes! We won 5 to 1! It is a great victory, a great victory!”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo shouted with a flushed expression.

“Hurrah!”

“Long live the Republic of Korea! Long live the Korean team!”

The doctors all raised both hands and shouted.

It was as if they were recreating the cheers of the year of liberation nine years ago.

“Is this not our truly proud national team! Good! Let us also inherit the spirit of the soccer team today and show the skills of South Korean surgeons! Our players did not have soccer shoes, so they made studs under old sneakers and fixed them with nails to score 5 goals! Should we fall behind them?”

Before they knew it, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo’s voice was choked with emotion.

There was a reason why Professor Chung Ki-ryeo burned with such fighting spirit.

The Chief of Internal Medicine at the National Medical Center was a Japanese man named Watanabe.

Of course, although Watanabe was a pro-Korean who dedicated himself to the medical development of South Korea and was an expert on Korea, a Japanese person was still Japanese!

Even though Japan was far ahead of South Korea in the medical field, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo wanted to defeat them just like the soccer national team did.

“No, sir! We can never lose! We will definitely win too!”

The morale of the doctors was boosted by the great victory of the national team.

“Good! Are you confident you can make Watanabe’s face full of wrinkles today?”

“Yes, we are confident! Kim Ji-hyuk said he would take responsibility and flatten the nose of internal medicine!”

“…”

Kim Yun-seok raised his hand high and pointed his chin at Kim Ji-hyuk.

“Yun-seok! Wh-what are you talking about?”

Kim Ji-hyuk looked flustered.

“Good! I only trust Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk! Let’s go! To the 3rd floor!”

‘We will see, Professor Watanabe! How dare internal medicine look down on surgery?’

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo clenched his two fists and burned with fighting spirit.