Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 38.
The Medical Command, overseeing the patient Ri Mu-seong—not Kim Joon-ho—was in a state of panic.
He had come south across the 38th Parallel with nothing but the clothes on his back, as though he’d walked into death itself. The only assumption they could make, from the fact that he’d crossed the line on foot, was that he wasn’t an ordinary soldier—beyond that, they had no information about him whatsoever.
Headquarters kept hounding them: had they found out anything? Meanwhile, word came from below that they’d tried to save him at the Military Hospital but failed.
Pressure from above, failure from below—it was hell on both ends. And through it all, what rankled the Commander most was the attitude of Hankook University Hospital.
All they gave were hollow assurances: they’d look into the patient’s personal information, they’d verify it—but they showed no real gesture of cooperation.
And when they finally sent what they called patient information, it was just a name. Three characters.
“That’s all we got?”
“Yes, sir. His real name is Ri Mu-seong.”
“For crying out loud!”
The Commander suddenly bellowed, and the soldier bringing the report took the full brunt of his fury.
“Listen, you idiot. I already know that. You just said it yourself! What about the cooperation request we sent?”
The soldier hurried to continue, trying to appease his irate superior.
“We haven’t received a formal response yet, but we did get word they’d discuss it over the phone. They’re asking for a meeting—and they said they don’t care about timing, treatment is urgent, so they want to meet at Hankook University Hospital.”
The soldier did his best to match his superior’s mood, but it had little effect.
‘Is this how they’re going to play it?’
The Commander tried to force down his anger.
He’d heard rumors that the newly appointed director of Hankook University Hospital was a willful man.
A med school junior to the former Minister of Welfare—some said his eyes were so dazzled by power that nowadays he was little better than the Minister’s lapdog.
Having already heard gossip about Beom Jun, the Commander found Hankook University Hospital’s approach unpalatable.
‘They say he backs down the harder you push. That’s the problem with these educated types. They think they’re the only ones who matter. They’re mocking the military—what’s that about?’
True, doctors had no way of understanding the sacrifices of the military in service to national security.
“Tell them we’re having the meeting right now. This afternoon.”
They’d clearly said timing didn’t matter. A real man doesn’t speak out of both sides of his mouth.
—Bang!!!
The Commander’s fist came down on the bookshelf beside him. The metal shelf crumpled under the force of his blow, leaving the clear imprint of his knuckles.
* * *
That afternoon.
Outside Ri Mu-seong’s hospital room, soldiers and Hankook University Hospital’s security team faced off against each other. Young men in olive-drab military uniforms and black suits.
Before the meeting, the Commander had come directly to see the patient’s face, but he was denied entry.
“It’s a matter of patient safety. Outside visitors cannot be admitted.”
“Outside visitors? Are we outsiders?!”
The Commander was incredulous. He’d come when asked, and this was the treatment he got? As Deputy Commander, he was the man overseeing every operation under the command.
‘We came to greet him, and yet this upstart dares block my path?’
But the security team didn’t budge. Intimidation and threats had no effect—this was because of Beom Jun’s orders.
‘No matter what happens, don’t let anyone from outside enter. Even if it’s the Minister of National Defense.’
As South Korean men, everyone on the security team had served in the military, but for them, the hospital director outranked a commander who had already discharged.
—Creak—
Just then, the hospital room door opened. The one who’d come out to see what the commotion was about was none other than Beom Jun. He happened to be in the room.
The security team, unmoved by the Commander’s roaring, naturally parted to let Beom Jun step forward once he appeared.
When Beom Jun reached him, he recognized the Commander and spoke.
“Why are you here? We told you to meet somewhere else.”
Of course, Ri Mu-seong’s hospital room was not the meeting place Hankook University Hospital had designated. The Commander had bulldozed his way here on impulse to see the patient.
After seeing promotional footage of Hankook University Hospital, the Commander recognized that Beom Jun was the hospital director.
‘So this is the director putting on airs?’
Beom Jun was nothing like the polished figure in the video.
A man accustomed to physical confrontation, the Commander scanned Beom Jun with keen instinct and grasped that this was no easy opponent.
“I came to see the patient Ri Mu-seong, who was commissioned by the military.”
The Commander swallowed his pride and probed first, gauging whether Beom Jun was worth a real fight.
“On what authority? Ah, are you the patient’s guardian?”
Beom Jun answered smoothly. Then he turned to the patient through the open doorway and asked,
“Patient Ri Mu-seong. Are these people your guardians?”
“No. I have nothing to do with them.”
“And visiting hours?”
“I don’t want them.”
Beom Jun deliberately let the conversation carry through, then shrugged his shoulders. The Commander understood: Hankook University Hospital was Beom Jun’s home turf. He hadn’t called him here for nothing.
“The patient is military-related. That falls under military jurisdiction.”
The soldier beside the Commander protested, but it had no effect.
“Since we’ve commissioned Ri Mu-seong to Hankook University Hospital, we have an obligation under Medical Law to protect the patient. Kim, what was that clause again?”
“Section 20 of the Medical Law, sir. Once treatment has begun, the medical institution has both the right and the duty to continue providing care.”
As Beom Jun spoke, Kim Jae-gyeong, who stood beside him, quickly added the details.
“You’re welcome to leave now. I’ll see that you can submit a request for visiting or consultation. However, you’ll need to follow the proper procedures.”
At Beom Jun’s words, the Commander was caught off-guard. This wasn’t a power struggle—the man was genuinely defending the patient’s interests.
‘He’s supposed to be a tyrant, but this? I’d gain so much more if he were on my side?’
He was astounded. The assessment of Hankook University Hospital’s director had to be wrong.
“Isn’t Medical Law applicable only to South Korean nationals?”
The Commander, losing ground in front of his men, came up with a clever trap. But Beom Jun’s eyebrow rose, and he smiled wickedly—like watching a mouse spring into a snare of its own making.
“Really? So North Korea isn’t our country?”
The Commander belatedly realized his words had been dangerous.
“Kim, check with the Ministry of Unification. Say this is a matter requested by the Ministry of National Defense.”
“Yes, understood.”
The Commander waved Kim off, making an absurd figure of himself.
“No, wait! That’s not what I meant!”
A long sigh escaped the Commander. This operation was a complete failure. His intelligence had been wrong from the start, so his entire strategy had fallen apart.
The Commander, feeling as though he were a toy in Beom Jun’s hands, took a step back.
“Fine, fine, I understand. Go ahead with what you were doing.”
Watching the Commander with his tail between his legs, Beom Jun guided him to the conference room.
“Let’s do that. Everyone should be waiting.”
Investigation or not—that can all wait until after the patient has recovered his health. Right now, maintaining Ri Mu-seong’s condition is the top priority.
He’d come out half-expecting the Commander might show up in person—and thank goodness he had. If he hadn’t posted security, the man would’ve barged right into the room.
Investigation, interrogation, whatever—the patient needs to be in good shape for it all. Showing up unannounced the day before his second surgery? There’s no courtesy worse than that.
Beom Jun shot the Commander a sidelong glance.
‘He’s a bit heated, I suppose. Still, you have to observe basic decorum.’
Even setting aside the Commander, in Beom Jun’s judgment, Ri Mu-seong was in no condition to face outsiders right now.
Ri Mu-seong had just released the emotions he’d held in yesterday and needed emotional support, but more importantly, his cardiovascular stability had not yet been secured.
This was a time when unnecessary stimulation had to be minimized. The attending professor, Shin So-jeong, had already prescribed Absolute Bed Rest for him.
In the end, the Commander heard only the patient’s voice through the doorway—he couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Ri Mu-seong.
But for Beom Jun, it had been beneficial. Before serious negotiations began, he’d seized the initiative, so to speak.
Watching the Commander turn and go ahead, Beom Jun organized what he wanted to say to him.
* * *
Shin So-jeong was already in the conference room.
In the few days since they’d last met, she remained neat and composed.
“Long time, Director. How have you been?”
She greeted Beom Jun first. Soldiers were filing into the conference room behind him, but she seemed not to notice.
“This is Professor Shin So-jeong, attending physician for patient Ri Mu-seong.”
Beom Jun introduced Shin So-jeong to the Commander.
“I heard the name and half-suspected, but you’re indeed a woman. The patient must be difficult for you to handle.”
The Commander remarked on the professor’s gender right off the bat, and though Shin So-jeong’s eye twitched briefly, she laughed it off gracefully.
“Oh, were you concerned? Thank you.”
But Beom Jun detected the Commander’s spiteful smile. He was hunting for any opening to exploit.
Beom Jun spoke, shielding Shin So-jeong.
“The patient’s temperament doesn’t affect his treatment. And frankly, no other doctor would take on a patient like Ri Mu-seong.”
True, Shin So-jeong’s skill was beyond reproach, but when a case involves as many competing interests as Ri Mu-seong’s does, doctors avoid taking it on.
One small mistake, and you face every conceivable criticism. Treat him successfully, and you gain nothing for it.
Simply being his attending physician was proof in itself that she was a good doctor.
After Beom Jun finished speaking, in that instant, Shin So-jeong’s eyes curved in a knowing smile—a broad smile visible only to him.
“…?”
Beom Jun couldn’t quite pin her down, but a notification window appeared that revealed her feelings.
[Shin So-jeong’s Favorability has increased by 1.]
[Register as Talent? Yes/No]
It had already reached 7. The Commander, now sidelined from attention, cleared his throat to draw focus back.
“Ahem!”
And he wasted no time getting to the point.
“Let’s not forget that Ri Mu-seong is legitimately a patient commissioned by the military. Hankook University Hospital is merely in the position of temporarily caring for him, right?!”
What he’d said was less a question than a threat.
Beom Jun watched it all unfold, his lips curling into a smile.
Right, well said. That was exactly what he’d been planning to bring up anyway. Hankook University Hospital was taking over the patient’s care from the Military Hospital.
Beom Jun looked at the Commander with confidence.
“How about we make Hankook University Hospital an official Military Commissioned Hospital? That should make things easier for you.”
At Beom Jun’s proposal, the Commander uncrossed his arms and leaned forward.
“What? You want us to what?”
“A Military Commissioned Hospital. Hankook University Hospital will provide care for military patients.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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