The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 280

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 280

First, I should check the content.

I sequentially reviewed the emails, starting with Ryu Jinseong’s that had just arrived.

It was polite and well-written.

After introducing himself, he explained how he learned about me and our Oriental Medicine Clinic, with neat content expressing his desire to inquire about network franchise opportunities.

A simple resume was attached as well.

‘Graduated from Sekwang University, three years ago… Ah, he did some substitute work after finishing his public health service.’

After graduation, Yu Jinseong served as a public health doctor in Jeonnam, then worked short-term and long-term substitute positions at various Oriental Medicine Clinics to gain experience before opening his own practice.

And now he judged that he was somewhat ready to open his own clinic.

He had sent me an email because he wanted to work together with Seongsuhaneui Clinic.

The typical course for a male Korean Medicine Doctor eager to open his own practice.

Rather than opening immediately, he wanted to gain experience first, but being a vice director requires working at one Oriental Medicine Clinic for over a year.

So he simultaneously worked at multiple places that hired substitute directors 1-3 times a week only on the head director’s days off, experiencing various medical systems.

‘There’s also the opinion that it’s better to cleanly work as a vice director for a year either before or after public health service…’

Well, it’s a matter of preference.

Of course, there were quite a few Korean Medicine Doctors like me who opened their own practice immediately after graduation.

“Daejeon works out perfectly. Since there are no branches in the central region, there shouldn’t be anyone opposing it.”

The polite email and resume full of course attendance records made a good first impression.

I would check with the existing directors before meeting him, but I had a feeling this would be a good connection.

“Let’s see, what kind of person is Yu Minseong?”

I then clicked on the email that arrived yesterday.

Yu Minseong graduated from Yeongnam Korean Medicine University and completed three years of public health service in Gyeongbuk.

He worked substitute positions at various Oriental Medicine Clinics to gain experience before opening his practice.

He hoped to open in Daejeon and would be greatly honored if he could work together with Director Hanyewon…

“Huh?”

Feeling déjà vu, I looked at Ryu Jinseong’s email again.

“They’re both in Daejeon?”

They definitely had different names, and the email addresses were different too.

Reading again, Yu Minseong’s tone was much softer.

Two people who graduated from different universities in the same year, completed public health service in Jeonnam and Gyeongbuk respectively, and were now considering opening their practices… had sent inquiries one day apart.

“Why are they both in Daejeon of all places?”

Do they know each other?

Did they talk about wanting to open as Seongsuhaneui Clinic branches, then each send emails? Asking me to choose?

I frowned.

After thinking for a moment, I shared the situation in the group message chat with the Seongsuhaneui Clinic directors.

[We have no problem with it, of course~]

[But if we accept one of them, both would oppose having the other in the same Daejeon. Director, please decide after meeting them first.]

As I expected, the existing directors had no objections to a new opening in Daejeon.

But as Yu Gyeonghun pointed out, Ryu Jinseong and Yu Minseong wouldn’t want branches in the same city.

‘The impression from both emails is quite favorable though’

Since becoming somewhat famous, I’d been receiving quite a lot of such emails and contacts through acquaintances.

However, even though I hadn’t rejected many from my side.

Most dropped out when they learned that all branch directors participate in weekly studies.

Although I said it wasn’t mandatory participation, since there haven’t been any absentees so far, it’s understandable they’d feel pressured.

Of course, there were times I cut off those who were excessively greedy, trying to ride on my fame with rotten fish eyes.

Sometimes things naturally fell through when various requirements couldn’t be accommodated.

‘But this situation…’

Even if I like both, I might inevitably have to choose just one.

Of course, meeting them in person might give completely different impressions from the emails, making the choice clear or requiring me to reject both.

In any case, I couldn’t judge anything based on short emails alone.

[Thank you for your inquiry. Opening in Daejeon isn’t a problem, but it would be good to meet and discuss whether our clinic’s pursuits align with yours, and whether you can gain what you’re looking for.]

I sent identical replies to both.

* * *

I said I could go to Daejeon to also look at their planned clinic locations.

Was it an appeal of enthusiasm? Both said they would come to Busan first.

If I were going to let them observe treatment all day, that would be one thing, but having conversations interrupted by me going to see patients in between would be awkward for a first meeting.

I told them to choose a date among my days off that would be convenient for them to come to Busan.

And coincidentally, both Ryu Jinseong and Yu Minseong chose the same day – Tuesday afternoon.

“Do they really know each other…?”

I almost asked, then stopped.

Wouldn’t it be strange for friends to have a 1-on-2 interview with one getting rejected?

Even if that were the case, I should pretend not to know and handle it well.

I scheduled interviews at 2 PM and 4 PM respectively, arranging to meet at a cafe near the Oriental Medicine Clinic.

Today I planned to just discuss, and if things went well, I’d have them observe tomorrow before deciding on contracts.

So I entered the cafe, our meeting place, at exactly 1:50.

It wasn’t a time when there would be few customers, but it was originally a cafe that didn’t get much foot traffic.

There was only one customer sitting alone – a man.

“Are you Director Han Yewon? You came early!”

As soon as my gaze reached him, a man dressed neatly in a suit jumped up and greeted me.

He’s quite tall.

“Nice to meet you. You’re Director Yu Minseong, right? You must have had a hard time coming all the way to Busan.”

“Yes, I’m Ryu Jinseong.”

Along with a handshake, the man bowed 90 degrees at the waist.

Since he extended his hand first, I reflexively shook it too.

And probably, since all the vowels are the same, this person seems to have mistaken me for calling his name.

“Didn’t we arrange to meet Director Ryu Jinseong at 4 o’clock…?”

I heard correctly.

I hurriedly scanned the other customers in the cafe, then turned around at the presence I felt behind me.

“Ah, Director Han Yewon! You just arrived?”

“Are you perhaps Director Yu Minseong?”

“Yes, I’m Yu Minseong. It’s an honor to meet you!”

Yu Minseong also appeared.

Tall like Ryu Jinseong.

A man wearing a beige cardigan with a gentle yet languid impression smiled.

“…?”

Ryu Jinseong was openly flustered.

Yu Minseong hadn’t grasped the situation yet.

He looked back and forth between me and Ryu Jinseong with a cheerful smile.

“Ah, are you perhaps the manager…?”

He asked a question.

For a moment, Ryu Jinseong’s brow furrowed slightly, then quickly disappeared.

“Oh my… Actually, this is another director. I was supposed to meet Director Yu Minseong at 2 o’clock and Director Ryu Jinseong at 4 o’clock, but it seems this happened because you came a bit early.”

Before any unnecessary misunderstanding could arise, I quickly explained the situation.

“Ah!”

“Ah… I came too early. Since I was coming from out of town, I left early in case I got lost and was late. I was planning to wait while having a snack anyway, so please go ahead with your business first.”

Ryu Jinseong stepped back and waved his hand.

“Oh no, it’s fine. Since we’ve met like this, it’s fate – why don’t we just talk together? Of course, if Director Han Yewon is okay with it!”

Yu Minseong smoothly suggested we sit together.

Phew, if this is acting, they’re both professional actors.

Ryu Jinseong and Yu Minseong clearly didn’t know each other.

Both of them looked at me simultaneously.

“I appreciate your understanding, but since your positions overlap, it might be rude to both of you. Let’s meet one at a time.”

If one was Daejeon and one was Gangneung, I could have briefed them simultaneously.

But this is a bit different.

I stated the facts as they were.

“Ah, is this person also aiming for the Daejeon branch director position? I thought it was a vice director interview!”

“Oh my. There was a competitor.”

But for some reason, the atmosphere became strange.

The confusion and gentleness from just moments ago disappeared, and fire blazed in both their eyes.

‘Hmm, indeed if they’re warriors, rather than fearing the existence of an opponent, they’d show enthusiasm… no, that’s not it.’

After scanning each other, Ryu Jinseong and Yu Minseong each spoke triumphantly.

“It won’t be rude at all. I’m fine with talking together. I’m confident too.”

Ryu Jinseong looked straight at me and expressed his confidence.

“I feel the same way. You’ll definitely like what you hear.”

Yu Minseong also tapped his chest with one hand and made a strong appeal.

…It seemed they wanted to see with their own eyes rather than avoid the competition.

If they’re going this far, there’s no backing out now.

“Then let’s do that. Let’s start by casually talking about how you’ve been practicing medicine.”

I ordered coffee for three people and sat at a table for four.

* * *

As expected, the atmosphere was quite intense.

Joining the network isn’t an employment contract, but a business-to-business contract.

The word “meeting” would have been much more fitting than “interview.”

But today, these two people actively promoted themselves as if they had come to a major corporation interview.

“I was unlucky and failed to get the public health doctor position I applied for in the Chungcheong region, so I worked for 3 years on an island in South Jeolla Province. Although the distance to Seoul wasn’t short, I attended every lecture I could by traveling back and forth on weekends, and I tried every treatment possible as a public health doctor. I requested the health center to purchase herbal acupuncture, and recommended chuna therapy when I thought it was necessary. Thanks to that, I think I was able to achieve good results even while working at a general clinic after discharge.”

I had already confirmed from his resume that he attended every lecture he could.

That was exactly what I found appealing about him.

However.

“You worked on the island for 3 years? I thought you could apply for a transfer to the mainland after 1 year, isn’t that right?”

“I voluntarily stayed to take responsibility for the patients I had been treating as much as possible.”

This is… not ordinary.

Since someone has to go to the islands, they send some public health doctors there through a lottery.

In return, they’re given consideration to serve near major cities the following year.

But he voluntarily stayed?

Moreover, I’d never heard of a public health doctor doing chuna therapy.

There wouldn’t even be proper beds, right? Did he do it like I did in the martial arts world, pressing, pulling, and manipulating on regular beds?

“I also attended all the necessary lectures. Not just pharmacopuncture and chuna therapy, but I learned and actually utilized thread embedding therapy and percussion therapy because I wanted to introduce various treatment methods.”

As if not to be outdone, Yu Minseong also began his self-promotion.

Percussion therapy? The one where you correct the spine by tapping with a hammer?

“I provided all necessary treatments, and since the effects were very good, the number of patients increased significantly. When I was first assigned to the health center, we usually saw three to four patients a day, six at most, but by the time I left, it had settled at 30-40 patients. Because of patients who came for oriental medicine and decided to see the medical doctor too while they were there, the doctor I worked with told me to ease up on increasing patients.”

…He increased patients by 900%. That’s insane.

“That’s remarkable.”

I was genuinely impressed.

Actually, since public health service is alternative service, there were no incentives or anything for seeing more patients.

Some doctors even deliberately provided mediocre care to discourage patients from coming.

If such people took over positions where passionate people like these had worked for three years… hell would break loose.

Posts frequently appeared on communities complaining about patients causing trouble, asking why the current doctor doesn’t provide this or that service when the previous director used to do everything.

So I knew that Korean medicine doctors who delivered top 0.1% performance even under the harsh conditions of rural public health service existed.

But this was the first time I was actually seeing one.

However, Ryu Jinseong wasn’t intimidated at all after hearing this story.

“I also used thread embedding therapy, though not frequently, and consistently maintained over 30 patients. Additionally, I proposed and pushed for a home visit medical service that didn’t exist before, and operated exercise classes for elderly residents. The health center received an award for being selected as an excellent institution for resolving medical blind spots and health promotion projects!”

A Korean medicine public health doctor personally ran exercise classes…?

Even if such projects were proposed, they would usually be done in cooperation with sports associations… ah, there wouldn’t be any on an island.

“Whew, I wasn’t going to mention this, but I received a ministerial award personally, not the health center. Our region already had village circuit medical care, but I increased patients by promoting the advantages of Korean medicine treatment to residents. My contributions in acupuncture treatment, herbal prescriptions, and customized health consultations were recognized.”

Is this real, seriously?

How could two such talents come rolling in wanting to join?

“Ah, I almost forgot this. I also requested and secured support for a project providing Korean medicine treatment for adolescent dysmenorrhea. Support continues even after I was discharged. Thanks to the first student showing significant improvement, I treated over 40 patients just at the health center. If I join Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic, I could even pioneer semi-specialized fields.”

While glancing at his competitor, Yu Minseong maintained his composure until the end.

“Both of you seem remarkable enough to open independent practices without any problems. Why do you want to open as a Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic branch?”

This wasn’t a perfunctory question about motivation, but genuine curiosity.

All the directors who had inquired about the network so far had passion, but each had some lacking aspect.

Even saying they were anxious about new practice opening didn’t apply – these two were overflowing with confidence.

“I thought the direction you pursue aligns well with my life goals! I want to do my best for every patient, always strive for improvement, and learn from each other with the existing directors!”

Ryu Jinseong already knew about our study group.

He was extremely polite and upright – the type elderly patients would absolutely love.

“How cool is that. Opening practice right after graduation and growing it this much purely through ability. I fell in love at first sight after seeing the interview and looked up all the known treatment cases, and I felt this was real.”

Unlike Ryu Jinseong who seemed incapable of lying, Yu Minseong appeared quite skilled at smooth talking.

But his objective achievements… were at a level impossible to achieve without being truly serious about medical practice.

“I see. It’s an honor for me to meet you both like this. Let me briefly explain what I can offer.”

I explained in detail the basic provisions when joining the network and the areas where I could help.

Systems, manuals, study methods, and so on.

“In the case of the 3rd branch director, he was a former professor with very unique treatment methods…”

I also mentioned management improvement results using cases as examples.

Thanks to both of them enthusiastically promoting themselves, I ended up bragging unintentionally too.

“Ah, there was such a problem when going local! Amazing how you caught that immediately!”

I also mentioned the excellence of Seongsuhanuiwon Herbal Medicine Pharmacy and our insurance preparations.

“There was a clinic among those I competed with that used these preparations. I had thought preparations were minimally effective, but these were definitely different. It was what doubled my desire to join Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic.”

Finally, I explained the contract conditions.

And… though I could guess the answer, I confirmed whether they really wanted to open as Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic.

“Of course. Where should I stamp my seal?”

“Yes! I already have a location in mind!”

As expected, both gave enthusiastically positive responses.

“I really like both of you, so I’m asking just in case. Is there a specific reason you must open in Daejeon? Even Sejong or Cheongju would seem fine.”

At those words, Ryu Jinseong and Yu Minseong answered simultaneously.

“Because I have a regular bakery.”

“Because I don’t want to be far from the bakery…”

And the two looked at each other, seeming to feel some inexplicable intimacy.

A bakery…? That’s really the reason they’re insisting on Daejeon?

“Ahem, I’m sorry. But… I absolutely want to visit that regular bakery every day.”

“It’s the same for me…! Ever since I failed to get into Daejeon University of Korean Medicine, I’ve been waiting for the day I could return to my hometown!”

They added a few words about wanting to live with family and loving their hometown.

But the core issue was ultimately the bakery.

There would be no compromise whatsoever.

Since it’s come to this, there’s only one way left.

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