July 14, 2001.
Hyundo Group, once the top conglomerate in South Korea, was now on the brink of collapse.
The founder and honorary chairman, Jeong Ju-myeong, had passed away last year, and severe debts had pushed Hyundo Construction and Hyundo Electronics into crisis.
Rumors spread that it would be nearly impossible to restore the group’s former glory.
The situation was so dire that even Kim Cheol-soo, who rarely paid attention to the news, was aware of it.
There was a grim rumor going around that if Hyundo Group—the country’s number one conglomerate—fell, the nation itself would fall apart.
“Doctor, I’m so sorry. I really was wrong… please forgive me.”
“I want to apologize again as well, Military Doctor. Since it was my order, please don’t hate her too much.”
Early dawn, after hearing Jeong Mong-hoon’s sincere apology, Kim Cheol-soo’s mood lightened. If he were the chairman of Hyundo Group, he could understand lying.
He himself would have done the same. It was crucial that news of the illness not spread outside. But Kim Cheol-soo was curious. Why was this famous man, someone he had only ever seen on TV, here?
“… Are you really Jeong Mong-hoon, the third son of Hyundo Group’s founder? The one who inherited the group last year?”
Startled, Kim Cheol-soo asked back. He never imagined he would meet the next chairman of Hyundo Group in a place like this. Jeong Mong-hoon nodded in acknowledgment.
“I am indeed Jeong Mong-hoon. But in front of you, I’m just a patient suffering from pancreatic cancer. So, what do you think? Can you treat my illness?”
Kim Cheol-soo honestly didn’t like chaebols much. He thought they used all sorts of dirty methods to take money from the common people.
However… seeing the head of the crumbling Hyundo Group, his heart softened. It wasn’t a good feeling to watch a company that once led South Korea’s economy fall apart.
If Hyundo Group collapsed, heads of households across Korea would be shedding tears of blood. How many people would lose their jobs? What could he do right here, right now?
After a moment of thought, Kim Cheol-soo spoke.
“Pancreatic head cancer is a disease where cancer develops in the head of the pancreas. Surgery requires removing the entire pancreatic head, but it’s by no means an easy operation. The risk of dying during surgery is very high.”
“I understand that well. That’s why I’m asking you, Doctor. Please perform the surgery before the entire pancreas is overtaken by cancer. Please, remove this cursed cancer from my body.”
“……”
In an instant, the atmosphere among the three became heavy. How Kim Cheol-soo answered here would decide the fate of Hyundo Group. The third son of the deceased founder, Jeong Mong-hoon.
Having officially succeeded as chairman of Hyundo Group, he was currently locked in a bitter conflict with his eldest brother Jeong Mong-gi, who had broken away from the group with Hyundo Motors.
The media called this the Prince’s Rebellion.
Jeong Mong-gi was known to have an utterly despicable and vile character, and if Jeong Mong-hoon died, he would take over the entire group.
If that happened, the group’s employees and executives would undoubtedly face even more painful days.
Especially since the eldest brother Jeong Mong-gi was notorious for abusing ‘mass layoffs’ like a ruthless corporate tyrant. After some hesitation, Kim Cheol-soo said,
“I’ll… think about it. Chairman, you must manage your condition carefully. The pancreas is a vital organ that secretes digestive enzymes to help digest food and produces insulin. Now that you have pancreatic issues, it will be difficult going forward. Can you endure it?”
“… I’m fine. I was alive when my father passed and when my brother betrayed the group. Though mental illness has become physical illness and led to this, I have not yet given up on life.”
“…..”
Kim Cheol-soo noticed the patient had already lost a lot of weight. He must be vomiting sometimes… digestion would be poor. He might have itching, and jaundice was a given.
The pancreatic head, or pancreaticoduodenum, connects to the bile duct. The bile duct blockage causes jaundice. Above all, the ever-nearing fear of death day by day must be overwhelming.
Yet despite such dire circumstances, Chairman Jeong Mong-hoon, who had officially inherited the group, looked strong. Kim Cheol-soo worried if he might make the wrong choice.
Still, he wasn’t someone who would easily give up his life. Surgery had to be considered carefully first.
“Where have you been treated so far? I need to review your MRI scans and medical records before deciding on surgery.”
In response to Kim Cheol-soo’s serious question, Jeong Mong-hoon replied,
“At Shinchon Y University Hospital. I’ve received all treatment from their general surgery department. But… even the best doctors there said they couldn’t operate. They said it was a surgery destined to fail, no matter how much money I offered.”
Jeong Mong-hoon’s confidence was waning. Kim Cheol-soo glanced behind and saw Ha Saebyeok’s anxious face and suddenly wondered. What exactly was the relationship between Ha Saebyeok and Jeong Mong-hoon?
They weren’t even involved in the entertainment business at Hyundo Group, so how were they connected? Of course, now was not the time for such thoughts.
Kim Cheol-soo looked directly at the chaebol chairman—or rather, just a patient in front of him—and said, “When I have time, I’ll visit Shinchon Hospital. So please have courage. You have no reason to give up on life yet, Chairman.”
“……”
The chairman’s gaze wavered at Kim Cheol-soo’s words. The truth was, countless times he had felt like giving up on life. How did he know that?
Perhaps a master of the body was also a master of the mind. Though his weak and shameful inner thoughts were laid bare, it didn’t feel unpleasant. Rather, it felt like a new strength had been born.
It was as if he had unexpectedly received encouragement from a doctor.
Jeong Mong-hoon clenched his fist, emboldened by Kim Cheol-soo’s words, and said, “Yes… I must survive. I must survive and revive the group. I won’t die so easily, Doctor.”
*****
Meanwhile, Jeong Mong-gi, who had taken Hyundo Motors and separated from Hyundo Group, was feeling very pleased these days.
When he betrayed his founder father and left the group, he thought he was completely finished, but the situation strangely turned in his favor.
To be honest, Jeong Mong-gi hadn’t done anything, yet the global recession was shaking the group.
Since the construction and semiconductor markets were bad, debts of the group’s two main companies had skyrocketed.
This was a good situation for the one who had launched the Prince’s Rebellion. Jeong Mong-gi, the eldest son of the founder, spoke with a vile sneer to Hyundo Motors Executive Director Lee Hae-chun.
“Ha ha ha! Everything is going exactly as I want, even if I just stay still. Just look at that unlucky Jeong Mong-hoon going down. I’m so happy I’m getting an appetite.”
He voraciously chewed on a hamburger.
On the table before him lay a mountain of franchise hamburgers. As a known glutton, he liked fast food.
“Aren’t you sad that the founder and honorary chairman passed away last year?”
“Sad, my ass! That damn old man made my life hell. Back in college, he tried to completely exclude me from management because I didn’t study and just hung out with the sports club friends. I still get mad thinking about it. I was scolded by Father for being compared to the smart and diligent Jeong Mong-hoon. In the end, right before he passed, he only left me this tiny Hyundo Motors. The eldest son, and that’s all I got! Hmph! It pisses me off.”
Jeong Mong-gi ground his teeth as he spoke.
In truth, since childhood, he had tormented people around him using his noble status and money.
He caused countless scandals with women as well.
The founder had seen all this and tried early on to push him away from management rights, but Jeong Mong-gi climbed his way up step by step from section chief to now president of Hyundo Motors.
However, even after gaining so much, he still retained his old delinquent nature.
He hated his younger brother Jeong Mong-hoon, who inherited Hyundo Group, enough to wish him dead.
Executive Director Lee Hae-chun tried to soothe him.
“Anyway, Hyundo Construction and Hyundo Semiconductor will fall under creditor control within this year. Then the Hyundo Group, stripped of its profitable businesses, will collapse. That’s when we move in to formally inherit the group. The Prince’s Rebellion is far from over, President.”
“Ha ha ha! You really are smart. That’s why I cherish you, Director Lee. By the way, how’s Jeong Mong-hoon these days? I heard he’s sick?”
“Yes. According to our contacts at Y University Hospital, they keep it top secret, but Jeong Mong-hoon’s health isn’t good. That’s good news for us.”
“Heh heh… that’s music to my ears. That bastard third son took everything, surpassing me, the eldest son. I can never forgive him. I’d love to chew him up! How dare he ignore the eldest son and inherit the group? Scoundrel!!”
Director Lee, who had been quietly listening, honestly thought this was too much, but he didn’t show it.
Still, could he keep serving such a despicable man who rejoiced at hearing his brother was sick?
But despite everything, that man was the president of Hyundo Motors and the crown prince to inherit the crumbling Hyundo Group.
The eldest son had legitimacy on his side, and many circumstances were turning in Jeong Mong-gi’s favor.
In 2001, Hyundo Motors was still a relatively small company, and because of that, it could avoid the worst of the economic downturn.
His luck was unbelievable.
On the other hand, the smart third son Jeong Mong-hoon was truly unfortunate.
Suffering from illness on top of everything else… Director Lee felt a twinge of pity inside but didn’t express it outwardly.
He didn’t want to offend the brutal crown prince Jeong Mong-gi.
Jeong Mong-gi expressed his curiosity, asking,
“So, exactly what’s wrong with that bastard? Tell me.”
“Pancreatic cancer. It’s so severe they say he’ll die soon. Even the great doctors at Y University gave up on surgery.”
“Ha ha ha! That’s great news. Once he dies, everything will return to normal. Hyundo Group will be mine. But I hope no crazy doctor shows up suddenly wanting to operate on Jeong Mong-hoon, unlucky me.”
“No way. Even Y University doctors gave up on surgery. It won’t be easy. It’s practically impossible.”
“Hmph, but keep a close watch on him. It’d be troublesome if some mad doctor appears saying they’ll do the surgery. Where is Jeong Mong-hoon now?”
“He’s being treated in the VIP suite at the Shilla Hotel. Mainly, doctors from Y University make house calls. I’ve heard the treatment isn’t very effective… the core is surgery, but they can’t do it now.”
“Good. Send some people to watch him at the Shilla Hotel. See if he meets anyone from outside. We can’t have any variables that bring Jeong Mong-hoon back to life. That bastard must die this time.”
“We’ll monitor him thoroughly, President.”
*****
Coming out of the VIP suite, Kim Cheol-soo accepted Ha Saebyeok’s apology.
“I’m really sorry, Doctor… please forgive me.”
Kim Cheol-soo smiled and replied,
“Who would guess that the patient was the chairman of Hyundo Group? The whole world must be in chaos. Saebyeok, I understand why you had to lie. But please don’t do it next time.”
“Yes… I’m truly sorry. I reserved the hotel rooms for the medical staff. You can rest comfortably there today.”
“Thank you. Then…”
Getting close to a celebrity had its perks. Staying at the Shilla Hotel… Kim Cheol-soo felt somewhat better.
He entered the room Ha Saebyeok had booked, unbuttoned the top button of his dress shirt, and sank into the soft single sofa.
Suddenly, exhaustion swept over him. A beer and a good sleep would be perfect.
Should he take a shower first? He wondered…
Ding dong! Ding dong! –
Someone rang the bell.
Hmm, maybe a hotel staff came to deliver towels or something?
Walking to the door, he called out, “Yes—who is it?”
Then, from the other side, a sweet, melodious voice answered,
“It’s me… Lieutenant Colonel Shin Se-young.”
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