Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 606

608

The year transitioned to January 1998.

It was a pivotal year, marking the first peaceful transfer of power from a civilian government to a people’s government, and a historic shift from the conservative party to the center-left. However, conservative factions lamented this as the dawn of the ‘lost 10 years.’ Regardless.

The new administration inherited a mountain of problems. For many, the year would be synonymous with four grim words: IMF [International Monetary Fund], foreign exchange crisis, unemployment crisis, and homelessness. This marked the full, harsh onset of the IMF system.

Numerous companies faced their downfall through bankruptcy, composition [a legal agreement between a debtor and creditors], and court receivership. Restructuring, the dreaded specter for office workers, began in earnest, and labor-management disputes intensified, turning city streets into battlegrounds of Molotov cocktails and steel pipes during strikes.

Hyeonseong, absorbed in the newspaper, called Lee Myeonghun.

“Myeonghun-ah.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“How is your mother doing these days?”

“She’s much better, thanks to you. After being discharged, she had some trouble with her left leg, but she’s recovering well. It’s all thanks to your help, Mr. President.”

“Thanks to me, my foot…”

Hyeonseong subtly dismissed the gratitude with a slight shake of his head. Lee Myeonghun waved his hand, insisting.

“No, it was only possible to get her the best treatment because of you, Mr. President. My mother keeps asking me to bring you home for dinner. She wants to thank you properly.”

“No, tell her there’s no need to go to such lengths.”

“It’s not a burden at all. We feel deeply indebted for your help. Please, make some time.”

“Why trouble your mother…”

“You don’t know my mother. If you don’t agree, she’ll come here herself.”

“Huh…!”

Hyeonseong chuckled, realizing the situation. He had been trying to avoid burdening her, but her visiting the store would be even more disruptive.

Hyeonseong relented.

“Then, how about next Sunday evening? Not at your house, but at a restaurant nearby.”

“My mother is at home…”

“Let’s eat at a restaurant. It’ll be too much for your mother to prepare a meal.”

“I’ll talk to her again tonight, but she’ll probably insist on having you over.”

“Try to persuade her.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Just then,

Ring!

The cell phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Mr. President, it’s me.”

The caller was Lee Sooncheol, his colleague at the free sharing store.

Hyeonseong felt a sudden unease.

Lee Sooncheol had left for a delivery ten minutes ago. He should be back by now. A call instead meant something was wrong.

Hyeonseong asked, a hint of apprehension in his voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, but I think you need to come here right away.”

“Me?”

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t think I can handle this alone.”

Something had indeed happened. The question was, what?

Hyeonseong pressed further.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s hard to explain over the phone. You need to come here. The situation is more serious than I initially thought.”

“Serious?”

“Yes, Mr. President!”

Lee Sooncheol’s urgency was unmistakable. Hyeonseong acknowledged and hung up immediately. He turned to Lee Myeonghun.

“Something’s come up. I need to step out for a bit. Can you manage the store alone?”

“Yes, I understand. Don’t worry about things here. Just get back safely.”

Hyeonseong rushed out, heading towards the location Lee Sooncheol had indicated.

Ten minutes later.

Hyeonseong arrived at an old house and hurried inside. Lee Sooncheol, waiting anxiously, greeted him.

“There’s been an accident.”

“An accident?”

“Yes, a little while ago, this grandmother came to our store and fell on her way back. She’s not doing well.”

Hyeonseong rushed to examine the ankle of Grandma Lee Sunnyeo. It was already visibly swollen.

“Grandma, are you in a lot of pain?”

“Just a little…”

“Your ankle is so swollen, how can it only hurt a little? We need to get you to a hospital quickly.”

Lee Sooncheol interjected.

“I was about to call 119 [emergency services in Korea], but she refused to go to the hospital. I had no choice but to call you, Mr. President.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

The reason Lee Sunnyeo wouldn’t go to the hospital was likely singular: the burden of medical bills.

She had a son in his fifties, but he had lost his job due to his company’s bankruptcy during the IMF crisis, and hadn’t even received his final salary.

Hyeonseong paused, then addressed Lee Sunnyeo directly.

“Grandma, is it because of the hospital bills?”

“…”

Silence confirmed his suspicion.

Hyeonseong understood immediately why Lee Sunnyeo was hesitant.

He pulled out his cell phone and began dialing 119.

Instantly, Lee Sunnyeo grabbed Hyeonseong’s hand, stopping him.

“No, don’t.”

“Grandma, you can’t do this. We need to get you to the hospital and…”

“I told you, don’t.”

Hyeonseong couldn’t proceed with the call. He saw the desperate plea in Lee Sunnyeo’s eyes.

Lee Sunnyeo spoke, her voice strained.

“Mr. Kim.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“I can’t cause any more trouble for you.”

“What trouble? Grandma, it’s no problem at all. And I’ve been enjoying the side dishes you make so much.”

“No, don’t say that. Look at how much rice and groceries I take from there. If it weren’t for you this winter, I would have starved. And what about the briquettes in our warehouse? Now you want to take me to the hospital? I have some pride left; I can’t accept any more help.”

Lee Sunnyeo shook her head, adamant. She couldn’t bear to accept any more assistance from Hyeonseong.

Hyeonseong felt a pang of helplessness. He couldn’t abandon Lee Sunnyeo, but he couldn’t force someone who refused medical care.

‘What should I do?’

Hyeonseong considered his options, then spoke again.

“Grandma, let’s do this.”

“How?”

“First, come to the hospital with me and get treatment. Then, you can pay me back little by little over the next year for the hospital bills. That way, you won’t be burdened, and you can get the care you need.”

Hyeonseong saw this as the only way to ensure Lee Sunnyeo received treatment.

Did it work?

Lee Sunnyeo looked doubtful.

“Well…”

“Don’t hesitate. If you don’t treat it, you don’t know what could happen to your leg. Please, Grandma.”

“Um…”

Lee Sunnyeo seemed to be considering it, remaining silent for a moment before finally speaking.

“How much will the hospital bill be?”

“No matter how much it is, it won’t be 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD].”

“100,000 won?”

“Yes, your ankle is swollen, so it looks like it’s broken while falling, but even if you go to the hospital, all you have to do is take a picture and put on a cast. Then it won’t even come out that much.”

“Is that so…”

Lee Sunnyeo was silent for a while, as if thinking again.

About a minute passed.

Then she looked at Hyeonseong and nodded slightly.

“Then do that. I can pay back about 10,000 won a month.”

“Okay, then can I call 119 now?”

Lee Sunnyeo nodded in agreement. Lee Sooncheol, who had been observing, nodded and said to Hyeonseong.

“You’re still the boss.”

“You’re welcome…”

“How did you come up with that idea… Anyway, please take care of it, I’ll go back to the store first.”

“Yes, do that. Myeonghun will be busy alone now.”

As Lee Sooncheol disappeared on his motorcycle, Hyeonseong immediately called 119.

Two hours later.

The two returned home.

One of Lee Sunnyeo’s legs was in a cast. Contrary to expectations, Lee Sunnyeo’s ankle was fractured.

“I just fell for a moment, but I didn’t know my leg would break. I just thought I sprained it a little.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I didn’t know it would be that bad either. Fortunately, it ended like that. If your hip joint had broken, as the doctor said, it would have been a big deal. These days, there are many fall patients in winter, so be careful in the future.”

“Okay, I understand. Anyway, I owe Mr. Kim a lot again today. And I will definitely pay back the hospital bill by 5,000 won a month.”

“You don’t have to do that… Yes, I understand. Do it as you please.”

Hyeonseong was about to protest, but he relented, telling Lee Sunnyeo to do as she wished. Otherwise, she would feel even more burdened.

“Then take care of yourself. I’ll go now. And don’t come to the store for the time being. I’ll send you the supplies through our staff.”

“I’m sorry for this.”

“No, it’s okay. Grandma, just take good care of yourself so you can recover as soon as possible. Never fall again, so be sure to use crutches when you go out.”

“Okay, I’ll do as Mr. Kim tells me. By the way, thank you so much today. Go to the store carefully.”

Just then,

Her son, Yoo Minsang, arriving from outside, was startled and called out to Lee Sunnyeo.

“Mother, what happened?”

“I got a little hurt.”

“You got a little hurt and you’re wearing a cast? What happened?”

“That’s it, actually…”

Lee Sunnyeo recounted the morning’s events. As soon as she finished, Yoo Minsang bowed deeply to Hyeonseong.

“Mr. President, you saved our mother?”

“No, I just took her to the hospital…”

“No. If it wasn’t for you, Mr. President, our mother wouldn’t have gone to the hospital. If that had happened, her ankle would have gotten worse and become a chronic problem. I heard from my mother that you paid for all the hospital bills, so I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

Yoo Minsang bowed again. Then he continued, his voice heavy with despair.

“I don’t know if you heard from my mother, but the company I worked for went bankrupt, so I haven’t received my salary for 6 months. I went to the manpower company today with hope, but there’s no work available in this winter…”

Yoo Minsang’s lament continued.

His story was far from unique in Korea at that time. He hadn’t received his salary, he had lost his job, and to make matters worse, there were no jobs in the middle of winter, a devastating combination.

Hyeonseong listened quietly, nodding sympathetically. Yoo Minsang continued.

“I’m over fifty years old, so I’m not welcome anywhere. A few days ago, I inquired about a convenience store job, but they said they don’t hire people over fifty. I walk around like this every day, but there’s no work. What are people like us supposed to do now?”

It wasn’t a question seeking an answer, but the fact that Hyeonseong was the recipient made him feel deeply uncomfortable. He understood Yoo Minsang’s feelings all too well.

“I’m sorry. I’m just complaining to the president who helped us because I’m so exhausted.”

“No. Why are you apologizing? It’s okay.”

“Since we’re talking about it, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. You’re doing what the country can’t do. We’re getting through this winter thanks to you, Mr. President.”

“I’m just…”

“No, you don’t have to say anything else. You’re already an angel in our neighborhood.”

“…”

Hyeonseong was speechless. He could only sense the immense hardship Yoo Minsang was enduring.

Just then,

Lee Sunnyeo, who had been quietly listening, spoke.

“Mr. Kim, have lunch and go.”

“Yes? Lunch?”

“Yes, if you look at the clock, it’s almost 12 o’clock.”

Indeed, the clock on the wall was nearing 12. Hyeonseong checked the time, then turned to Lee Sunnyeo.

“Grandma, do you like Jjambong [spicy Korean noodle soup with seafood]?”

“Jjambong? Why suddenly Jjambong?”