Kyung-soo's Father
Saturday evening. We'd insisted that she shouldn't bother cooking from scratch and that we'd bring some food in turns, but the moment the door to Jong-hyuk's house opened, an onslaught of mouthwatering aromas and a banquet-like spread greeted us.
"Oh my, did Jong-hyuk's mom really prepare all this by herself? You should've called me at least. I just brought ingredients for a simple bulgogi hot pot."
"I know, right? When Jong-hyuk suggested inviting his friends' parents too, we each said we'd bring a little something, and it turned into this. Take some home with you. My hands are too generous—I made way too much."
"This much..."
Mother responded in a voice laced with bewilderment but also joy at being invited to her son's friend's home for the first time. Just then, Kyung-soo's mother entered, dressed in a suit.
"I figured Ji-hee would've made plenty since her portions are always huge, so I just bought drinks. Don't tease me for traveling light."
"Sis, you're here? It's been too long. It's so nice to see your face, but you never come around."
"I feel bad because it always seems like you're gonna try to sell me insurance when I visit. Your husband is here today too, right?"
"I had to drag him back because he was trying to slip out feeling awkward. Hehe."
The three mothers—Jong-hyuk's mom, Kyung-soo's mom, and my own—bustled about together, setting the table in a display that seemed designed to make the legs of the table buckle. Joo-shin already looked drowsy, his belly full just from the smells, Jong-hyuk wore his expected nonchalant expression, and Kyung-soo had the look of someone about to feast after ages of restraint. Seeing Jong-hyuk's father, who seemed flustered but not displeased, I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
Good thing the atmosphere isn't bad.
Throughout the meal, the mothers chatted animatedly about our school life at the restaurant—Kyung-soo, Jong-hyuk, and me—blooming conversation like flowers. Behind them, Joo-shin, stuffed with greasy food, began nodding off. Jong-hyuk laid him down on his bed and came back out. He glanced at me, then whispered something to his father.
Jong-hyuk's father, looking startled, slipped away from the cluster of chatting mothers and called me to the living room.
"Joo-in, I heard about it from Jong-hyuk. Still, I think that money would be better used for your own family. It's rare and admirable to want to keep a promise like that, but you shouldn't spend easy-come-easy-go money without a plan."
"Thank you for your advice, Jong-hyuk's dad. Honestly, I think I was hoping for some adult guidance like this. But could you hear my side first before deciding?"
"Huh?"
"Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo are great friends. And I believe they have clear goals for their futures. I think I can take care of myself too. But do you know what worries me most?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Your health—our parents' health."
"Huh?"
It was clearly an answer he hadn't expected, judging by the puzzled look on Jong-hyuk's father's face.
"I know you've taken out a lot of insurance. But isn't it all life insurance?"
Back then, high-value life insurance policies were common. Though my own father hadn't signed up for one, most policies centered around life coverage.
"Well, yeah, that's why I told Jong-hyuk's mom to stop with the insurance."
"I don't want to receive money after my parents pass away. I think Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo feel the same."
Seeing Jong-hyuk's father deep in thought, I realized this was my only chance to persuade him and blurted out the hastily prepared words in a jumble.
"I don't want to see my parents suffering in the hospital, tormented by medical bills. The insurance available now..."
"Is that why you had Kyung-soo design actual expense insurance plans?"
Kyung-soo's mother, who had perked up at the mention of insurance from behind us, had quietly joined us in the living room where Jong-hyuk's father and I sat.
"Kyung-soo's mom..."
"I'm not that bad of a person. Jong-hyuk's dad's policy is whole life, but after 20 years, if he cancels at the legal interest rate max, he'll get back more than the principal. It's inconvenient having money tied up, but considering his income, it's like a savings account."
"It's not that the insurance you designed is bad, Kyung-soo's mom. I just want our parents to all have coverage that helps with hospital bills."
"What?"
Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo really haven't even mentioned to their parents that I won the lottery.
For some reason, my chest warmed, and I let out the words I'd been holding inside.
"I want my parents to stay healthy and by my side for a long, long time—and my friends' parents too. Not growing sicker because they're worried about hospital costs, but going whenever they feel ill as if it's the most natural thing, and getting regular checkups."
In fact, Kyung-soo's dad is right before his cancer diagnosis. I can't say I saw in the future that Kyung-soo struggled with medical bills... He absolutely needs hospital expense insurance... But telling Kyung-soo 'your dad's got cancer, get insurance so bills aren't an issue'—he wouldn't take that seriously, right?
So I changed my approach. Actual expense insurance for medical costs was a new product back then, favorable to policyholders, but insurance companies would gradually adjust rates as loss ratios rose, making it less advantageous over time. If I could turn lottery winnings into seed money for bigger gains through investment, I'd hesitate too—but as a minor, I couldn't invest alone anyway. Better to use it to prepare before Kyung-soo's dad collapsed from cancer.
"I heard from Kyung-soo that you seemed like an old soul, but your thinking really isn't ordinary—it's different."
After Kyung-soo's mother's surprised admiration came Jong-hyuk's father, lost in thought.
"I won the lottery this time. I want to use it to get actual expense insurance for all our families. That's why I asked for designs."
"But insurance requires monthly payments, right?"
"No, I heard lump-sum payments are possible for larger amounts."
"Kyung-soo's mom, is that feasible?"
"Pardon? Of course it is. People just don't usually do it that way. Wealthy folks often pay lump-sum for cash discounts."
"So you gathered everyone today to cover insurance for your friends' families?"
"Yeah... something like that?"
"What about the remaining money?"
"I have a place I want to use it, but I planned to discuss with Mom first."
Mother had apparently come over at the growing commotion in the living room, placing a hand on my shoulder from behind.
"Where did you want to use it?"
I'd bowed my head in guilt for not telling even Mother about the lottery win, so I couldn't see her expression. But drawing strength from her warm, gentle voice, I spoke.
"After the insurance, if there's money left for me to use, I want to start a victim support foundation."
"What?"
"The Red Brick House incident this time. I don't think that lady was wrong. Well, killing the man in that house was wrong... the method was wrong... but I understand it from the heart. So I can't comprehend people pointing fingers at Eun-young noona and Eun-su, calling them the killer's kids, and condemning the surviving family. I want to help, but as an individual, our family might get backlash. So I want to create a foundation like a school one, to help victims. Anyway, it's just an idea..."
As I spoke, growing excited, I lifted my head—only to see the faces around me. My voice trailed off at their stunned expressions.
Suddenly, Jong-hyuk's father stood, grabbing my hand. I nearly yelped in surprise. Jong-hyuk across from us looked shocked too. He pulled not just me but Kyung-soo into the center of the living room, gathering us.
"That you kids are friends... As Jong-hyuk's father, I'm grateful... truly thankful."
"Pardon?"
I answered reflexively in confusion, and his large, warm hand embraced Jong-hyuk, Kyung-soo, and me as he looked down tenderly.
"If I can help, I will—whatever it takes. Well, your moms and Kyung-soo's mom have to approve, of course."
"If Joo-in wants to do it, I'm all for it."
I wanted to turn at Mother's voice, misty with emotion, but Jong-hyuk's father held us firm.
"If you all stay close friends, that's all I could ask for. And boosting my performance too..."
"It's been ages since I saw Jong-hyuk's dad get emotional like this. I'm all in. In that spirit, what should we have for dessert?"
"Mom, my stomach's gonna burst."
We all burst out laughing at Jong-hyuk's mother's words. As Kyung-soo, Jong-hyuk, and I plopped down on the sofa in a row, they began interrogating us from across the way.
"How did you get involved in something like that? I'm not saying you did wrong, but jumping into dangerous situations without fear isn't okay."
"We just reported it."
"And then we ran into Eun-young noona by chance."
"We felt bad for her and bought her a meal, and somehow it snowballed from there. Sorry about that part."
"No, no. Joo-in growing up so upright must be thanks to his mother's kind heart."
As the mothers exchanged compliments, my sides took a beating. Kyung-soo and Jong-hyuk, arms covered in goosebumps, kept poking me—the culprit—from both sides. I wanted to scream and retaliate with headlocks, but with parents watching, I just broke into a cold sweat and endured.
Just... you wait.
"Everything's great, but there's one issue."
"What?"
"Kyung-soo's dad really hates insurance."
"Hmm..."
"I get what you mean."
"He'd say 'what's a woman doing with that' from the start of my insurance work, but lately it's worse..."
I'd wondered about that too—why Kyung-soo's dad, with his wife in insurance, hadn't gotten even basic cancer coverage, leaving the family strained financially.
He dislikes insurance itself because he doesn't like his wife doing that job.
"I'll convince him."
"Ah... If Jong-hyuk's dad says it, he'd believe even red beans could make bean paste..."
"Why not have him get every possible policy while we're at it? Cancer insurance and all..."
"Huh?"
"Others can decide for themselves if they need new products, but for Kyung-soo's dad, he really hates insurance. So why not load him up with as much as possible?"
"High-value policies like that would cost a fortune— you okay with that?"
"Something tells me Kyung-soo's dad needs to get it now, maxed out big."
"Well, it'd boost my sales, and if I could get him insured—he works construction, injures himself but never goes to the hospital—that'd be great..."
"This is the perfect chance. Maybe I won the lottery exactly for a time like this?"
The parents decided to discuss it among themselves. Before sending us to the room as money details flew back and forth, I casually added one last thing.