Taeho knocked on the door of the director’s office at Samcheok Medical Center.
“Come in.”
Director Kim Byeongjo rose to greet Taeho. He was smiling, but his face was shadowed.
“Welcome, Director Kang Taeho.”
“Good day, Director. I requested this meeting because I have something to discuss with you.”
The moment Taeho sat down, he got straight to the point.
Director Kim Byeongjo looked at him in puzzlement.
“What might that be?”
“I would like to take over Samcheok Medical Center.”
A flicker of bewilderment crossed Kim Byeongjo’s face.
“Take over? It seems you haven’t heard the news, but Samcheok Medical Center is slated for closure…”
“I know. I cannot stop Samcheok Medical Center from being closed as a public medical center, but I would like to acquire the building and operate an emergency medical center here.”
At those words, Director Kim Byeongjo smiled bitterly.
The recklessness of a young doctor.
He could guess what sort of state of mind this was.
“When I was your age, Director Kang, there was nothing in the world I feared either. I was full of confidence that I would revive regional healthcare and build the best hospital.”
“…”
“But reality was far harsher than I had imagined. Budget shortages, staffing difficulties, administrative issues—things like that eventually broke my dream. At some point, it became a struggle just to keep the hospital running.”
“I expect it to be difficult. But I can do it well.”
Taeho answered calmly.
Countless emotions churned in Kim Byeongjo’s heart. He slowly looked over the young man before him once more.
A spirited youth brimming with ambition.
A global reputation already earned at an age young enough to be called a child in the world of doctors.
A respectful, yet confident gaze.
Kim Byeongjo could not answer right away and closed his mouth.
Jealousy suddenly rose in his heart.
‘But if this young man truly accomplishes what I could not… will I be remembered only as an incompetent predecessor?’
As he thought that, one side of his chest ached. He had devoted his entire life to Samcheok Medical Center, yet the thought that he would be remembered as an incompetent man who had driven the hospital to the brink of closure was hard to bear.
After a long while, Director Kim Byeongjo opened his mouth.
“The population in this region is disappearing rapidly. Jobs and tax revenue are shrinking, while those who remain are mostly elderly, so medical facilities are needed even more. I know from the news that Director Kang is successfully operating Geumsan Clinic. But a hospital of this scale is on an entirely different level. The problem is, let alone competent specialists, even people who simply hold a medical license do not willingly come all the way here. Can you solve such a problem?”
“Of course, it would be difficult for me alone. That is why I need your help, Director.”
“Mine?”
“Yes. Your experience and know-how in hospital management, the trust of the local community—all of it is necessary for this to be possible.”
Kim Byeongjo shook his head. He fell into deep thought.
“I’m over seventy now. My wife suggested I open a small clinic near our son’s home in Seoul. If that doesn’t work out, I could work part-time on a salary and take it easy.”
It was the tone of a refusal.
But Taeho could sense the deep regret melted into Kim Byeongjo’s words.
Taeho continued in a warm voice.
“Director, I understand very well how burdensome it must be for me to ask you to choose not the comfortable path, but to walk a difficult road again. However, you have protected this place for thirty years, and the reason Samcheok Medical Center has managed to remain until now is thanks to your devotion and effort. The crisis this medical center faces now is not your responsibility, but a structural problem in the regional healthcare environment.”
As Taeho spoke, Kim Byeongjo felt comfort in his wounded pride.
“Going to Seoul may be the wise choice. But if you remain here and take on the challenge with me once more, I will do everything I can to inherit your dream and build a proper emergency medical center in Samcheok.”
Taeho’s voice was filled with sincerity.
“I ask this of you, Director. Please help me bring Samcheok Medical Center back to life.”
Director Kim Byeongjo felt something hot welling up in his chest.
‘Is passion something that spreads this easily? What a shame. If only this young doctor had come under me ten years earlier, no, even five years earlier, Samcheok Medical Center might have looked different from how it does now…’
Unable to continue speaking, he looked out the window with reddened eyes.
Should he grasp the hope rising like clear spring water…?
His thoughts grew heavy.
***
The conference room of Samcheok Medical Center.
Of the seventy-nine total staff members, most of the forty medical personnel and employees, excluding the thirty-nine public health doctors, had filled the seats. Each of them looked at Taeho standing on the platform, carrying expectations, anxiety, or skepticism.
Taeho spoke to the staff in a serious voice.
“I intend to take over Samcheok Medical Center on the condition that I rehire all existing medical staff.”
In an instant, the conference room fell into a deep silence. The expressions of the employees grew even more complicated.
Park Hyeonu, chief of internal medicine, cautiously opened his mouth.
“I have already decided to go to Gangneung Medical Center.”
To him, who had chosen a stable path, Taeho answered calmly.
“I fully understand your decision, Chief Park. Gangneung is certainly a good choice.”
He had thought Taeho would try to hold him back, but instead, he showed understanding.
At the unexpected response, Park Hyeonu could say no more.
Head Nurse Lee Miseon asked with a tense expression.
“Do you truly intend to rehire older employees like us as well?”
“Of course. The experience and know-how of people like you, Head Nurse, are absolutely necessary for our hospital.”
Head Nurse Lee Miseon nodded, looking somewhat relieved.
The young nurse Kim Sujin looked at Taeho with a briefly wavering gaze.
Taeho then turned toward Kang Minho of internal medicine, who still wore a cynical and skeptical expression.
“Dr. Kang Minho, the new hospital desperately needs your abundant field experience and your insight into medical operations.”
Kang Minho’s eyes widened. When he heard that someone so young was taking over a large hospital, he had expected Kang Taeho to be arrogant and insolent. He had not imagined Taeho would speak to him with such respect.
But he still had not decided what to do. If the hospital failed to bring in new doctors after all the public health doctors left, he might truly end up working himself to the bone.
Taeho looked around the entire conference room again and continued calmly.
“I will not force anyone to stay. The choice belongs to each of you. But if you remain here, we will build an emergency medical center together—one that everyone can be proud of.”
At that moment, Director Kim Byeongjo slowly rose from his seat and spoke.
“I truly want to see this hospital come back to life. I believe Director Kang Taeho here can make that possible.”
Director Kim Byeongjo’s statement greatly changed the atmosphere in the conference room.
The young nurse Lee Suyeong cautiously raised her voice.
“To be honest, I’m afraid. But at the same time, I’m excited.”
Then Choi Dongjin, senior technician in radiology, sprang to his feet, clapping his hands and breathing life into the room.
“Since it’s come to this, let’s do it properly!”
One by one, the employees began to agree and applaud, and even those who had been hesitating started to open their hearts little by little.
However, some staff members, including Park Hyeonu, chief of internal medicine, and Head Nurse Jeong Haesuk, still maintained cold expressions.
“Reality isn’t that simple. I’m leaving.”
“It’s too idealistic a dream. You’ll only lose a few years of your career.”
In the end, thirty out of forty people decided to stay. Among them, Director Kim Byeongjo and Chief of Surgery Yu Sihyeok firmly chose to remain, while Kang Minho of internal medicine had yet to decide. Along with them, four administrative staff members, eight clinical support staff members, and sixteen nursing department staff members also agreed to stay.
Taeho smiled with sincerity and expressed his gratitude to the staff.
“Everyone, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will do my utmost to ensure that today’s decision becomes something you can be proud of.”
The staff answered with vigorous applause. Yet on their faces, expectation was still mingled with an anxiety they could not shake off.
No one knew how this decision would change their future.
***
One week before the closure of Samcheok Medical Center.
Since a large-scale remodeling was planned to begin the day after the closure, most of the hospitalized patients had already been transferred to other hospitals.
The atmosphere was quieter than usual.
Head Nurse Lee Miseon had come in early again today and was organizing the handover documents. Twenty years’ worth of papers were piled like a mountain on her desk.
Nurse Kim Sujin came in.
“Ma’am, you’re already here.”
“Yes. But Sujin… are you really going to Seoul?”
“Yes. I received a call from Seoul Samjeong Hospital. They asked me to give them an answer by this Friday.”
Complicated emotions passed across Kim Sujin’s face.
Lee Miseon let out a sigh.
“That’s right. When you’re young, you shouldn’t let opportunities pass you by.”
But regret seeped into her voice. It was all the more so because Sujin was a junior she had trained and raised, teaching her every little thing from the beginning.
Kim Sujin, also feeling uneasy, avoided Lee Miseon’s gaze and busily moved about.
***
Ring, ring.
The phone in the director’s office rang.
Director Kim Byeongjo was in the middle of discussing the takeover process with Taeho.
Director Kim Byeongjo answered.
“Yes, this is Samcheok Medical Center.”
—Director, this is the 119 Dispatch Center. I’m contacting you directly because of a major traffic accident. A tour bus has overturned on the Samcheok coastal road. There are forty-five passengers in total, and multiple serious injuries are expected.
“A tour bus overturned?”
Kim Byeongjo’s face turned pale.
“Right now, we’re… scheduled to close in a week, so emergency patient intake is…”
—Director, the situation is serious. Gangneung Medical Center’s emergency room is already at capacity, and Gangneung Ayeong Hospital is full as well!
The voice of the 119 Dispatch Center staff member was desperate.
—The closest hospital right now is Samcheok Medical Center. Could you at least provide initial emergency treatment?
Kim Byeongjo hesitated. Even in his thirty years of experience as director, this was his first accident on such a large scale.
“Well, that is… in our current state, it would be impossible…”
“Director.”
At Taeho’s call, Kim Byeongjo switched the call to speakerphone.
“119 Dispatch Center. I am Director Kang Taeho, who will be taking over Samcheok Medical Center. How many injured are there?”
—Forty-five passengers. Based on the information that has come in so far, about fifteen are expected to be seriously injured. There are many minor injuries as well.
Taeho quickly assessed the situation inside the hospital.
Including the public health doctors who still remained, there were about thirty medical personnel staying on. The emergency room could operate, and two operating rooms were in service.
“We will accept them.”
—Are you serious?!
The 119 Dispatch Center staff member’s voice grew louder.
“After initial emergency treatment, we will disperse and transfer the patients who can be moved to other hospitals.”
Director Kim Byeongjo looked at Taeho with startled eyes.
“Director Kang. Will it really be all right?”
“Director, it will take more than two hours to reach the next nearest hospital. If we refuse now, these people may die.”
“But…”
“We have thirty medical personnel, and we have a director with thirty years of experience. That is enough.”
The 119 staff member urged them on from the other side of the phone.
—Director, the first ambulance is scheduled to arrive in fifteen minutes!
“Understood. We will prepare to receive them!”
Taeho hung up the phone and looked at Kim Byeongjo.
“Director!”
“Very well. Let’s give it a try!”
The light returned to Kim Byeongjo’s eyes.