Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 243

Five Vital Signs – Episode 243 (243/502)

243. Kim Cheol-gi’s Blueprint

OO Nursing Home.

“Would you like some coffee? Or we also have juice.”

Lee Ok-bin, carrying a Min-gi doll on her back, asked Kim Cheol-gi’s visitor.

“Then, I’ll have coffee, please.”

“Coffee? Okay. You’ll have a cup too, right?”

“Sounds good.”

“Then, please continue your conversation.”

“Thank you.”

Even though Kim Cheol-gi knew Lee Ok-bin, who suffered from dementia, wouldn’t bring the coffee, he always made sure to say thank you.

“So, this information was sent by Chairman Kim of Nuga Group?”

“Yes, sir.”

The visitor who came to see Kim Cheol-gi that day was a lawyer who had been handling his affairs for a long time.

Attorney Park, who took care of everything from small matters to big ones, was almost like a personal secretary to Kim Cheol-gi.

The reason he came all the way from his Seoul office to see Kim Cheol-gi was because of Chairman Kim Geon-hyung of Nuga Group.

It was about the time Go Gye-deuk and Tae-kyung had their showdown at the conference.

‘An offer I can’t refuse?’ Kim Geon-hyung had said.

‘That’s right. No pressure regarding treatment and surgery fees for patients, full support for any research you want to do, and guaranteed tenure. Plus, an incredibly generous salary. Would you still refuse?’

‘Yes, I would still refuse,’ Tae-kyung had replied.

Kim Geon-hyung offered Tae-kyung excellent conditions, trying to bring him over to his side, but Tae-kyung flatly rejected him.

However, being a born businessman, he didn’t give up there.

He instructed his close aide, Team Leader Go, to find out about the director of Our Hospital.

After that, Team Leader Go couldn’t contact Kim Cheol-gi directly, but he found Attorney Park’s contact information and conveyed Kim Geon-hyung’s intentions.

“It’s about acquiring the hospital.”

“Yes. It’s not just about acquiring the hospital, but also acquiring the entire staff, including Director Kim Tae-kyung.”

“That’s quite a generous offer.”

“Please look at the second document.”

“Our hospital’s location is prime, so there’s potential to expand the hospital in various ways, and experts have analyzed that it will generate positive revenue. So, Nuga Group… Hmph!”

Kim Cheol-gi read the information Attorney Park gave him aloud and then scoffed.

“This, this… this guy is really determined. This is why you have to be careful of businessmen.”

“Sir, anyone listening would think you don’t know him at all. Aren’t you happy to hear from him?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Chairman Kim Geon-hyung, I mean. Isn’t he your younger brother?”

“I suppose so.”

That’s right. Kim Geon-hyung of Nuga Group had been searching for his older brother, who was none other than Kim Cheol-gi.

“Aren’t you taking this a bit too casually?”

“Do I look like it?”

“Yes. You’re always smiling peacefully, so I can never tell what you’re thinking.”

“Smiling brings good fortune, right? What’s the point of frowning in this harsh world?”

“That’s true.”

In fact, Kim Cheol-gi wasn’t completely indifferent.

When he heard the news from Attorney Park that his younger brother Kim Geon-hyung’s side had contacted him, he was more surprised than he expected.

Even before, when he heard that his younger brother was looking for him, he deliberately hid himself even more.

At that time, because of what happened with his wife and everything else, he didn’t want to see anyone.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t want to see his brother. He wasn’t turning his back on his only sibling.

He was planning to meet him when the time was right, but he didn’t expect to be contacted about hospital matters like this.

“Don’t you want to see him?”

“I see Geon-hyung all the time.”

“I mean in person, not through the media.”

“I want to see him, but he left on his own terms… But Attorney Park, you’ve become quite sly.”

“Me?”

“You’ve never brought up personal matters during work discussions. Why are you adding so much unnecessary chatter today?”

“I apologize. I must be getting old.”

Attorney Park, who knew Kim Cheol-gi’s situation better than anyone, also hoped that the two would meet as soon as possible. That’s why he was so determined to speak up that day.

“Enough with the unnecessary chatter. So, in the end, what Nuga Group is after isn’t the hospital, but Director Kim Tae-kyung.”

“That’s right. Chairman Kim seems to be very impressed with Director Kim Tae-kyung. Seeing this, you can tell that the two of you are brothers.”

“He’s a talented individual that anyone would be impressed with.”

“So, what are you planning to do?”

“As you know, I didn’t bring that friend here just to be the director of our hospital.”

“I know.”

“First, tell Chairman Kim’s side that we’ll review it slowly and get back to them. We have no reason to rush.”

“Understood.”

“I need to talk to Director Kim first.”

Kim Cheol-gi looked at the documents Kim Geon-hyung sent and thought of Tae-kyung.

“Attorney Park, I need a ride.”

“I’ll take you there.”

Once Kim Cheol-gi made up his mind, he was quick to act. He entrusted his wife, Lee Ok-bin, to Jang Deuk-chil’s mother and headed to Seoul.

A few hours later-

Kim Cheol-gi was sitting with Tae-kyung on a bench in the courtyard of Our Hospital.

“I was going to treat you to a delicious meal.”

The two had just finished eating together in the hospital cafeteria.

“Oh Yeo-sa’s cooking is the best. Where else would I go?”

“Yeo-sa’s cooking is indeed good. How is the madam doing? And are you healthy, sir?”

“Of course, my wife and I are doing well. Anyway, I’m very grateful to you.”

“What are you talking about? I’m the one who should be grateful.”

“Running a hospital isn’t as easy as you think. But you’ve been doing such a great job so far, I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”

“It’s all thanks to you, sir.”

“What are you saying? That’s not true. I entrusted you with an empty shell, and it’s all thanks to you that it’s doing so well. Director Kim?”

“Yes, sir. But is something the matter?”

Tae-kyung was a little worried about Kim Cheol-gi, who had come to visit without any notice.

“What do you mean, something the matter? There’s nothing like that. More importantly, how are you doing right now?”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I mean Our Hospital. This hospital is like a child to me. Parents want their children to grow up well. Will you raise it well, Director Kim?”

“Pardon?”

“Team Leader Choi was saying that there’s talk of a trauma center and a cancer center in this area.”

“……!”

Tae-kyung flinched slightly at Kim Cheol-gi’s words.

Trauma center and cancer center.

In fact, the reason Tae-kyung obtained the triple board certification was also because he thought it might be helpful if he ever worked at a trauma center or a cancer center.

He was especially interested in trauma centers, which deal with the lives of patients in critical condition.

A place that specializes in treating people with severe trauma who are in life-threatening situations, dealing with major injuries from accidents, gunshot wounds, and self-inflicted injuries.

That was the trauma center.

Just a few days ago, he and Team Leader Choi had a conversation after receiving documents about the trauma center.

‘There’s been talk about it for years, but it seems they’re finally going to push for a trauma center in this area.’

‘Really? That’s great.’

‘I heard the government is providing a huge amount of funding for it, right?’

‘Yes, the amount will be quite substantial.’

‘Director, should we apply too?’

‘If we want to apply, we’d have to expand and secure more beds and staff. We’re not ready for it in our current state.’

‘I guess not. That’s true.’

Setting up a trauma center wasn’t something you could do just because you wanted to.

You needed the right facilities and personnel, which Our Hospital severely lacked in its current state.

Typically, each center needs 40 to 50 dedicated beds and a team of specialized medical staff and nurses. And it must also have facilities and equipment that allow for immediate emergency surgery and treatment when a patient arrives at the hospital.

Only when all of these preparations are possible can it be called a trauma center.

But suddenly, Kim Cheol-gi, who had come to visit without any notice, was discussing trauma centers and cancer centers, so Tae-kyung wondered what this was all about.

“Sir, but Our Hospital can’t handle a trauma center or a cancer center.”

“Hmm!”

Kim Cheol-gi looked at Tae-kyung’s bewildered expression and stood up from his seat.

“If you dream it, I’ll draw the blueprint.”

“……”

“If all those things are met?”

“Yes?”

“As Director Kim knows, our hospital has a good location. If a trauma center or a cancer center were to be established here, it would help the local people and be good in many ways. So, what I’m saying is, if the building is built, beds are secured, and medical staff can be recruited, would you be willing to do it?”

“Is that possible?”

“Whether it’s possible or not, we’ll have to see. More than that, what I want to know is Director Kim’s heart. A trauma center or a cancer center is no ordinary task.”

“To be honest, it’s a bit sudden.”

“Is that so? I came too suddenly and spoke about a big topic so casually. Director Kim, I’ll give you time to think about it slowly.”

He had been thinking about it for a long time, but trauma centers and cancer centers required a different operation than Our Hospital and required a lot of attention in many ways.

Moreover, Tae-kyung, who knew that Kim Cheol-gi’s financial situation wasn’t good, wondered what this was all about.

“For now, don’t worry about this and that, and take your time to think about it seriously.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After that, Tae-kyung had a personal conversation with Kim Cheol-gi, not a business one, and then went back down to the nursing home.

* * *

Baltimore, USA-

There is a world-renowned hospital here, considered to be the best.

It was Johns Hopkins Hospital.

A Middle Eastern man came to this place, where countless patients receive treatment and surgery every day, looking for someone.

Knock, knock-

He moved with familiar steps and knocked on the office door.

“Yes, come in.”

Click-

“Hamad? Welcome.”

The man who stood up from his seat upon seeing Hamad entering the office was Richard, a professor of pathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

“I hope I’m not taking up your time when you’re busy.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Anyway, how are you doing?”

“Well, I’m as you see me. I’m more calm than I thought. Cancer isn’t a death sentence these days.”

The reason Hamad came to see Richard, who was working at Johns Hopkins, was because of his illness. He had recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer.

He visited the hospital to get advice from a doctor friend regarding this.

“Is your condition okay?”

“I don’t feel much pain or anything, and I’m doing better than I thought. Anyway, I need to have surgery, and I was wondering if I should have it at your hospital.”

“Our hospital?”

“Why are you so surprised? You had stomach cancer surgery too. Seeing that you haven’t had a recurrence and have been doing well so far, I think the doctor who operated on you did a good job.”

Richard had a history of stomach cancer surgery a few years ago.

Hamad wanted to be introduced to the doctor who had operated on Richard, seeing that Richard had returned to work at the hospital and regained his health after the surgery.

More than anything, he thought that the doctor who was trusted and operated on by a doctor working at the best hospital must be very skilled.

“So, you want to have surgery with that doctor?”

“That’s right. Please introduce me.”

“But I didn’t have surgery at our hospital.”

“What? You didn’t have surgery at Johns Hopkins? This is the best place.”

“Strictly speaking, different fields have different strengths. Anyway, I didn’t have surgery at our hospital, but in another country.”

“Another country?”

“Well, maybe Germany?”

“No.”

“Then, Japan?”

“No, a country right next to Japan. Korea.”

“Korea?”