Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 47

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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 47.
The matter involving the military-commissioned hospital was now largely settled. Beom Jun had no further decisions to make as the representative.
“Take charge of this one, Director Kim.”
Beom Jun said this to Jae Gyeong. It was his way of delegating the hospital director’s authority.
Ever since Jae Gyeong became the contact line between the Ministry of Defense and Korea University Hospital, he had been handling most of the overall communications.
Given everything decided thus far, there was scarcely a single matter that hadn’t passed through his hands.
Beom Jun’s assessment was that there was no problem with Jae Gyeong taking this on.
“Do you think I can manage it?”
“Won’t know till you try. If it really doesn’t work out, just call for help. I’m not stepping back either way.”
Beom Jun didn’t offer Jae Gyeong false reassurance. Push too hard, and things would collapse entirely.
When working with external partners, it was best to remain cautious as he was now, deliberately maintaining formality and propriety. That way, if something went wrong, there’d be no opening for anyone to seize upon.
Jae Gyeong was the right person for this.
[Name: Jae Gyeong / Position: Director of Secretariat]
Schedule Management: ■■■□□
Administrative Support: ■■■■□
Internal Communication: ■■■■□
External Cooperation: ■■□□□
– Growth Potential: Minimal
– Favorability: MAX
Yet his External Cooperation score was notably low,
‘probably because he never had the chance.’
As Director of Secretariat, he’d have had no reason to contact external parties from Korea University Hospital.
Beom Jun’s eye was drawn to his growth potential. “Minimal” meant almost no growth prospects, but it didn’t mean impossible either.
“I can try, but honestly, I’m not sure how it’ll turn out.”
Jae Gyeong’s gaze dropped to the floor, and his words trailed off. He’d always said yes before, but stepping into a leading role seemed to unsettle him.
“If I didn’t think you could do it, I wouldn’t have asked. Go ahead and try first.”
But Beom Jun pressed forward, even deploying his Control/Domination Power on him.
[You are using Control/Domination Power on Jae Gyeong.]
[Level 3: Try it first.]
Once the power took effect, Jae Gyeong’s posture shifted.
“Yes, understood. I’ll give it a try.”
Indeed, grudging Level 2 and willing Level 3 started differently. With the right opening stance, everything that followed would run smoothly.
“That’s right, you can do it. If it really doesn’t work, just tell me.”
Truth was, Beom Jun knew Jae Gyeong wouldn’t ask for help easily.
In all this time, Jae Gyeong had never said he couldn’t do something or was unable. He’d work through problems no matter how long it took, and whenever issues arose, he’d bring solutions.
[A textbook example of “being a good kid.” Since he does exactly what he’s told, tasks require detailed instructions to be completed properly.]
This model of “goodness” approached his work with admirable attitude. Whatever he was given, he pursued faithfully and consistently—and Beom Jun recognized this too as a talent.
During his time as a professor, Beom Jun had invested considerable effort in training junior physicians. The most direct example was resident education.
Those who studied obsessively often stumbled with weak social skills once they entered the real world.
Misspeaking to patients was common. Throwing their weight around with other hospital staff happened often. And sometimes there was the rare one who relied solely on his own intelligence and acted recklessly. Thought he was the only smart one.
Once there was a guy who stole a junior resident’s login ID and wrote profanities about Beom Jun in a patient’s Medical Order. The resident whose ID was stolen came to him in tears, insisting it wasn’t him.
Medical Orders were part of official medical records. When a patient took a copy, they could see the content, the author, and even the deletion timestamp.
Beom Jun tracked down the perpetrator and scolded him, but he was more surprised than angry at the time.
It was common to encounter crazies in a hospital, but one with such creativity was a first. In some ways, that guy had been talented.
Compared to Beom Jun, Jae Gyeong was a smoothly rounded person, without any sharp edges. His character didn’t draw particular attention, but that made it all the harder to acquire. Character couldn’t be taught.
Someone who’d never let you down, who’d see things through to completion—that was what Jae Gyeong was to him.
Beom Jun wanted to entrust Jae Gyeong with even more. And if he could hand over his back entirely, he’d gain more free time than he had now.
‘I shouldn’t be drowning in director’s work. I need to cultivate at least one more talented person.’
In trying to keep Korea University Hospital running smoothly without Im Sung Hyuk’s involvement, his recruitment of talent had slowed—something that weighed on Beom Jun’s mind.
If Jae Gyeong could handle operations to that extent, he could make time to find new talent.
“Jae Gyeong.”
“Yes?”
Beom Jun called him softly. Loyal as he was, he answered readily at just the sound of his name.
“I trust you.”
“Yes!”
Hearing his answer, Beom Jun placed a light hand on his shoulder.
* * *
A few days later, Beom Jun visited the Thoracic Surgery Department Office for the first time in a while.
[Searching for Im Sung Hyuk’s location.]
[Location confirmed: Thoracic Surgery Department Office.]
Sung Hyuk was there.
He’d returned immediately after being discharged from the Emergency Room, and only took a single day of leave after completing the third surgery on the difficult case. Just one day.
“Get some good rest?”
“Yes, I rested well.”
One day off, and he claims he got good rest. He’s glad because he rested, even if barely.
Beom Jun let out a long sigh looking at him.
Unless he shot him with an anesthetic gun and knocked him out, Sung Hyuk would never stop seeing patients. He wouldn’t even notice himself falling apart.
In Part One, Sung Hyuk devoted himself entirely to patient care. After that, he’d become hospital director, getting less hands-on as he took on management duties.
But if Beom Jun survived and continued as director, could Sung Hyuk hold out?
‘I can’t just leave it like this.’
These days, Beom Jun was troubled over what to do with this moth drawn to the flame.
Just then, someone spotted Beom Jun from a distance and called out.
“Director!!”
It was Lee Min Ho. He raised his hand above his head and waved at Beom Jun. If he’d had a tail, it probably would’ve spun like a helicopter.
While Sung Hyuk was hospitalized and Beom Jun covered his duties, Lee Min Ho had grown rapidly closer to Beom Jun.
Where he’d once been at a distant remove as the hospital director, now he was like a fellow soldier who’d fought alongside him.
“It’s been a while. How’ve you been? Thanks for the hard work last time.”
[Name: Lee Min Ho / Position: Resident, Year 3]
Patient Interview: ■■■□□
Examination: ■■■■□
Diagnosis: ■■■■□
Treatment: ■■■□□
Follow-up: ■■■■□
Growth Potential: Explosive
Favorability: MAX
Lee Min Ho’s Treatment and Follow-up scores had each gone up by one. With explosive growth potential, he was indeed exceptional.
“Oh no, Director, it’s only because you helped me out. I was seriously spiraling, and I was so grateful. Really, thinking about it again gives me chills.”
Lee Min Ho hugged himself with goosebumped arms, saying things would’ve gone badly without Beom Jun.
“The director helped you out?”
Sung Hyuk, who didn’t know the situation, tilted his head in the middle of the conversation.
“Ah! A few days back, we had a critical patient, so the director received notifications until dawn. The last call was around four in the morning, I think.”
Lee Min Ho explained to Sung Hyuk on Beom Jun’s behalf.
Then he’d gone straight into surgery on the difficult case in the morning, so Beom Jun had been on a forced march just as hard as Sung Hyuk.
Sung Hyuk, who hadn’t known up to that point, was shocked. He’d felt guilty enough that Beom Jun had stepped in for the difficult case surgery, but learning he’d done even more than that—
“Don’t worry about it. Everything turned out fine anyway.”
Sung Hyuk clenched his teeth even at Beom Jun’s reassurance. Words of reassurance didn’t work on him.
The fact that Sung Hyuk held others to high standards was because he held himself to an even higher one.
“…I’m sorry.”
With a burden of responsibility so fierce it was almost punishing, Sung Hyuk was falling into self-blame again when Beom Jun called out to him.
“No, there’s nothing for you to apologize for….”
– Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding—That’s alright♬
But the strange ringtone cut his words short.
The ringtone came from Lee Min Ho’s coat pocket. He pulled out his phone and stepped away from Beom Jun and Sung Hyuk.
“Yes, this is Lee Min Ho, Resident in Thoracic Surgery.”
It was a notification from an admitted patient. Lee Min Ho would be receiving dozens of notifications a day.
And this was after junior residents in years one or two had already filtered them. No wonder his Follow-up score kept rising.
Once Lee Min Ho stepped away, Beom Jun changed the subject and spoke to Sung Hyuk, who seemed to be sinking into gloom.
“Has Min Ho said anything about his Fellow exam?”
“Not yet… I haven’t brought it up.”
Sung Hyuk hesitated, but he wasn’t as deflated as he’d been moments before.
“Come on, it’s almost winter already. When are you going to talk to him? He won’t be able to apply to Korea University Hospital or anywhere else without passing the Fellow exam.”
To Sung Hyuk like that, Beom Jun suggested he bring it up with Lee Min Ho.
After completing Specialist-in-Training, he could take the Specialist Physician exam. Passing it would let him apply to hospitals including Korea University Hospital.
Since the exam was held in winter, registration would come even sooner. As a nationally certified test, the hospital director couldn’t exert any influence over it.
For Sung Hyuk to avoid working himself to death, Lee Min Ho was essential.
‘Should I just tell him myself? No, it’s better if he hears the first offer from Im Sung Hyuk.’
Beom Jun pulled up Lee Min Ho’s personnel information.
[Name: Lee Min Ho / Resident, Year 3]
[Type who does things proactively before being asked. Has strong growth ambition and gravitates toward supervisors with greater ability.]
He needed a capable supervisor nearby, so having Sung Hyuk beside him was better.
Anyway, in the latter half of Part One, a Fellow from America arrives.
‘If I pair Min Ho with him, they’ll compete and grow on their own.’
The Fellow from America had the skill to directly assist Sung Hyuk, so they’d push each other.
“You’ve got loyalty, but I still think it’s better if his supervising professor brings it up first. If he refuses, I can try to convince him too.”
“Yes, I’ve been so buried in work that I haven’t had time to talk to him privately. I’ll bring it up soon.”
Sung Hyuk scratched the back of his head as he spoke.
He’d been so caught up in work that there hadn’t been an opportunity for personal conversation with Lee Min Ho.
Right, you need time for anything to be said.
“There’s a Thoracic Surgery conference in Busan next week. Let’s take Min Ho and clear our heads.”
Beom Jun proposed what could be written as a business trip but read as a vacation.
This way, he could get Sung Hyuk to rest and convince Lee Min Ho as well.
“Ah, you mean the fall academic conference? Are you going too, Director?”
Beom Jun answered with a nod to his question.
Soon the next episode would begin. A rare disease patient requiring a new treatment method would be admitted.
And above all, that treatment method would be presented for the first time at the Korean Thoracic Surgery Conference.

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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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