The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 310

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

Chapter 310

Countless resumes poured in.

The number was truly uncountable, as new emails arrived every time Kim Chunsik refreshed his inbox.

[It was a mistake. I should have somehow found someone through connections… I should have even contacted Professor Lee Minseok.]

Soon Kim Chunsik’s mind became dizzy.

Ah, but that’s not right either. Asking a professor for help would look too pathetic, wouldn’t it?

Even if it’s a bit of trouble, open recruitment is better.

[If you have a desired image in mind, couldn’t you just select based on that? Professor, do you prefer fresh graduates who are like blank slates? Or someone with some experience?]

[Each has their own advantages, don’t they? As long as they work hard, that’s enough.]

Im Suchul offered a word to help, but Kim Chunsik didn’t seem to have a particular type of Vice Director in mind.

Maybe that’s why even more resumes poured in after posting such a job listing.

[Should I help you out a bit?]

[Ah, no need. I should at least read through all of them first. They worked hard to write about wanting to come to our Oriental Medicine Clinic.]

That’s true too.

Since everyone has different evaluation criteria, we can’t divide them up to review… Even I would have looked at all of them first.

[I’ve been thinking, it would be good to have someone with a slightly different style from mine. The three directors at headquarters each have different personalities, which creates good balance.]

[You mean us?]

[Yes. One director is the charismatic type, Director Hwang is serious and academic, isn’t he? Director Lee is bright and empathetic.]

Is that so? Now that I think about it, that was true.

Since each character doesn’t overlap, there are some patient groups who specifically look for certain directors.

[But what style is Director Kim Chunsik?]

At Chu Miyoung’s question, Kim Chunsik immediately answered.

[Recently, I’m… empathetic and extremely kind, the type who listens well to patients’ requests, aren’t I? Hmm, if a young, charismatic director comes, wouldn’t that be complementary?]

…At least I can tell that he has zero self-awareness.

What is this person saying, who used to shout “Go!” at patients until just before meeting me?

I barely managed to turn him from an extreme charismatic type into someone who can communicate normally.

[You don’t seem to have any particular weaknesses.]

[That’s right. You’re also the most academically excellent among us. You speak gently but with compelling force, and you treat patients well. You’re the ideal Korean Medicine Doctor I envision.]

Seon Nayeon and Yu Minseong each added a comment, and I agreed with this interpretation too.

[You’re a complete hexagon. In that case, maybe a Vice Director with some unique characteristics would be good. If there’s a smaller hexagon who does various things well but not quite as well as Director Kim, they could play a supportive role.]

I casually offered my opinion.

Of course, it would be enough if the Vice Director just did their fair share, but since we have so many applicants, wouldn’t it be good to have someone with at least one outstanding quality?

[I was just thinking it would be nice to have an MZ generation friend with sharp, distinctive sense. I’ll keep that in mind. First, I’ll read through everything and narrow it down before asking for opinions.]

Hmm, those are not easy requirements to meet.

Even if there are three-digit numbers of applicants, it’s too abstract.

Well, since Kim Chunsik’s initial expectations weren’t that high anyway, he’ll probably find a compromise at a reasonable level.

Bringing in a new Vice Director and changing the clinic’s system is a big challenge.

I hoped Kim Chunsik would carefully select a good person so he could feel at ease.

* * *

“Ugh.”

Kim Chunsik reviewed countless resumes.

After reading about 100 until late at night and selecting the decent ones, dozens more had arrived in his inbox.

The next day there were 80, and the day after that another 70.

Eventually, Kim Chunsik felt it was impossible and posted an application deadline notice.

He had heard that Vice Director hopefuls flocked to Seoul, but it seemed this happened because it was the time when the most new graduates come out, combined with the recent rising fame of Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic.

“Having passion is the most important thing.”

Kim Chunsik’s hiring criteria was the same now as before.

The persistence to properly cure patients, the drive to continuously study and become a better Korean Medicine Doctor.

Of course, that didn’t mean he evaluated personal statements filled only with aspirations favorably.

Kim Chunsik learned from seeing the young directors at Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic, especially Yu Minseong and Ryu Jinseong at the Daejeon Branch, that it was possible to do so many activities even as public service doctors.

“Have my standards become too high? Hmm, but if someone has passion, they should have done something.”

For new graduates, what kind of studies or activities they had done within accessible limits during their school days.

For those with experience, he filtered out those who seemed to have real passion by focusing on resumes that specifically described what kinds of patients they had seen and whether they had abilities.

[I barely narrowed it down to about five people for interviews. Is this still too many?]

[It’s just right. This is an interview where you’re trying to select the best person, so call anyone you feel like hiring. Just prepare the interview expenses well!]

Three were experienced, two were new graduates.

He scheduled interviews for five consecutive days, Monday through Friday, one person per day during lunch time.

[What kind of person is coming today?]

[He said he’s confident about his physical strength. He’s 190cm tall, was a boxer, and completed the Chuna Medical Association’s advanced course. At his previous workplace, he did chuna on 30 people per day.]

[Oh, amazing.]

The first applicant with high expectations.

Considering his own physical strength, Kim Chunsik didn’t recommend chuna unless it was really necessary for the patient’s treatment. Sometimes he would refuse even when patients requested it first, saying it wasn’t needed.

Wouldn’t this be a special advantage to expand to new patient groups?

“I’m the type who does whatever I’m told to do. Just give me orders and I’ll do anything to fit your system, Director.”

“Were most of the patients you saw before musculoskeletal cases?”

“More than 90% were. Chuna satisfaction was extremely high, and even the head director’s patients would often change their primary doctor after receiving treatment from me just once.”

An applicant who matched exactly the image I had in mind.

He seemed like the type of friend who would quietly do his job well without causing any headaches if we worked together.

‘Hmm… looks like he mainly played a supporting role at his previous workplace.’

Kim Chunsik was looking for a vice director who could independently lead patients even when he was away.

Of course, this applicant probably applied because he wanted to develop such abilities, but his passion for treatment was subtle.

“I’ve scheduled interviews through this week, so I’ll contact you after seeing everyone.”

“I’ll wait! Thank you for calling me in for the interview!”

The next day, the second interviewee.

“I’ve been working at specialized clinics until now. I applied because I want to gain experience with musculoskeletal and herbal medicine patients at a general clinic, but if you’re looking to pioneer semi-specialized areas, I’ll do my best to contribute to the clinic.”

She was a Korean medicine doctor with 5 years of specialized experience in dermatology, diet, pediatrics, gynecology, and respiratory diseases.

I really liked how she clearly knew her strengths and talked about what she could contribute to the clinic.

If Kim Chunsik had been a director starting with a neighborhood clinic rather than a Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic branch and wanted to pioneer semi-specialized fields, he would have hired her as his first choice.

[She only worked one year at each workplace? You can’t say that’s bad since she fulfilled her contract periods, but Director Kim wants to hire someone he can continue working with long-term, right?]

However, Kim Chunsik didn’t think there were any particular areas he was lacking in.

If he were to deploy her for musculoskeletal treatment, he’d probably have to teach her similarly to a new graduate.

[That would be nice, but isn’t working for several years something I need to do well on my part?]

He put it on hold for now, and the next day.

The third interviewee who came on Wednesday was exactly the small hexagon that Director Hanyewon had mentioned.

“I’ll work hard thinking of it as my own clinic.”

He expressed his aspirations with a typical comment, and he had studied quite a bit up until now.

With 3 years of experience working at a clinic similar in style to Kim Chunsik’s, he seemed ready for immediate deployment.

He would do his part adequately, but it was unclear whether he had something that Kim Chunsik lacked.

[Who would be best among the three?]

[Number 3 is safe. He’s the type who won’t generate complaints even if you leave the clinic anytime.]

[Still, wouldn’t number 2 be better if you want to pursue some development?]

[Trying to pursue development through a vice director is unrealistic from the start. Number 1, who does what he’s told reliably, is the best.]

The branch directors’ opinions were also divided.

Kim Chunsik also felt that hiring any of the three wouldn’t cause major problems.

[Oh, but the applicant scheduled to come Friday is named ‘Park Jun’? Is he by any chance from Korean University?]

[That’s right. Do you know him?]

Meanwhile, Director Hanyewon belatedly recognized the name of an applicant scheduled to come later.

When she went to give a lecture at Korean University, he was the student who raised his hand and appealed that he wanted to work at Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic.

“Oh, I like this kind of passion.”

Perhaps because of his age, he found young people who eagerly pushed forward saying they wanted to work hard quite endearing.

Kim Chunsik gave the applicant he hadn’t even interviewed yet a few points.

So Thursday arrived without being able to rank even among candidates 1, 2, and 3.

“Uh… well… I’ve completely read Donguibogam 5 times…”

This friend was unfortunately extremely nervous.

He had written the best application letter among nearly three hundred applicants, but apparently had more talent for writing than speaking.

If it were school, stuttering a bit wouldn’t matter, but for hiring a vice director who needed to work immediately, he inevitably fell to a lower priority.

And finally, Friday.

“Hello, I’m Park Jun! I’ve always wanted to work at Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic!”

An energetic friend entered the examination room.

As they said he raised his hand and spoke at the lecture hall, he seemed quite extroverted and comfortable dealing with people.

“I have no clinical experience, but as an officer of a volunteer service club, I’m somewhat familiar with giving acupuncture and dealing with patients. I’m confident I can adapt quickly once I start working.”

Park Jun mentioned his numerous part-time job experiences, and from what Director Hanyewon said, it seemed to be true.

“What kind of vice director talent are you looking for, Director?”

“Having passion is most important. If you work hard, your skills will definitely improve.”

His communication skills weren’t inferior to the previous experienced candidates either.

Even though he was in the interviewee position, he naturally asked questions and the conversation flowed comfortably.

“How have you been studying? I see from your resume that you’ve participated in many academic conferences besides school studies.”

“Yes, among the conferences I attended, the best one was…”

He had attended many conferences and personally read and organized medical texts.

What impressed him most was that he had personally purchased a chuna bed, placed it in the club room, and practiced by bringing classmates and juniors there.

“I even asked this friend to get X-rays taken to compare before and after.”

He had performed chuna more than 20 times, even correcting his classmates’ spines.

“You did this by yourself? Was there a supervising professor?”

“The rehabilitation professor observed for me!”

Kim Chunsik would have gladly helped if a student had made such a request during his professor days.

‘This is exactly the passion I was looking for.’

After hearing about the spine story, even his sitting posture was perfectly straight.

If he had to find a flaw, it would be that he still hadn’t shed his student-like demeanor?

‘Ah, he is a bit short in height. His face looks young too.’

He wasn’t as physically advantageous as applicant number 1, but… perhaps because I had a good first impression from the start, it didn’t feel like a major problem.

As we enjoyed our conversation, the interview grew longer and longer.

“Um, may I ask if there were many applicants?”

“Oh my, don’t even get me started. I never imagined over a hundred would come in.”

“Oh no… As expected of Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic, the competition is incredible.”

His face stiffened slightly.

He really seemed to want to work at his clinic.

The intensity of his desperation was clearly different from experienced workers who could go anywhere.

‘Should I go with this guy?’

Everyone had their own merits, and there was no way to know who would bring the best results.

But it seemed like he wouldn’t particularly regret choosing Park Jun.

Kim Chunsik had somewhat made up his mind.

“I’ll review it and contact you by tomorrow. Thank you for applying. It’s not much, but here’s the interview fee.”

I should consult briefly with the other branch directors and decide.

As treatment time approached and I was about to send Park Jun off, Park Jun bit his lips while receiving the envelope.

“Um, may I say just one more thing at the end?”

“Of course. Do you have a question?”

“It’s not that… please think of it as self-promotion.”

Oh dear. He seemed to have misunderstood that the interview fee was given to rejected candidates.

Since there were many experienced competitors, did he think he was falling behind?

Kim Chunsik was about to clear up the misunderstanding but stopped. There was nothing wrong with listening to what he had to say.

“…I have a YouTube channel that I’m running! Originally I only did anime reviews as a hobby, but I gained some fame by talking about the characters’ body types and spines.”

“Body types? Spines?”

“While talking about daily life, I revealed that I’m a Korean medicine student…”

Park Jun turned on a YouTube video and showed it to Kim Chunsik.

It was a video explaining lumbar lordosis by drawing spine images on a cartoon character’s body type.

“Hmm? Hmm?”

A Korean medicine blog… doing something like that on YouTube? Because he’s from the MZ generation?

But there was a character dressed in traditional Korean doctor’s clothes in the bottom right corner of the screen.

“What’s this character?”

At Kim Chunsik’s innocent question, Park Jun’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Th-that’s me… Have you perhaps heard of virtual YouTubers? It’s doing YouTube with a character that follows your motions appearing on screen…!”

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