The Liquor Bottle
***
Hwang Ki-cheon's home. A fierce winter wind howled like a blade, but the man sitting in his wheelchair paid it no mind. His face was etched with utter despair, devoid of any hope. If anything, he blamed himself for surviving, for becoming a burden to his family.
Hwang Ki-cheon had run a sizable bearing factory in Seongsu-dong. He never could have imagined his life crumbling like this. No matter how much he racked his brain, he could only conclude it was all his own foolish fault.
Nodding as if he'd made up his mind, he laboriously reached for the bag hanging on his wheelchair and opened it.
To erase the debt, this is the only way...
Inside the black plastic bag was gramoxone, the "blue light of death." His hand trembled as he grasped the pesticide. He wanted to live. He didn't want to die. But this was the only way to free his family from debt.
Pulling out his one last card, Hwang Ki-cheon choked back sobs, murmuring his daughter's name until the very end.
"Seon-hee... Dad's so sorry..."
With a long sigh, he pried open the lid—
"Honey! Honey! You can't do this!"
The floor was colder than ice, but his wife rushed out barefoot, snatched the pesticide, and hurled it to the ground. The green liquid silently soaked the asphalt.
"Honey! We promised you wouldn't do this again. Why?!"
"I should've died back then... I can't face you or Seon-hee."
"We said we'd stop talking about that."
"I never should've given my brothers my seal... I had no idea it'd come to this."
"It wasn't your fault. I'll work harder at the restaurant—we'll figure it out. Just hold on a little longer."
"You know this is the only way to wipe out the debt..."
He scolded himself again, but that couldn't turn back time. It had all started three years ago.
One day, his daughter Seon-hee began breathing raggedly. Tests revealed a heart condition requiring multiple surgeries. She was the apple of his eye, precious beyond words. Hwang Ki-cheon dropped everything to care for her, leaving the presidency vacant.
His two older brothers, who'd long drawn salaries under him, seized the chance and revealed their dark ambitions. They pressured him with all sorts of excuses to hand over his company seal. The naive younger brother, never dreaming they'd drag him into ruin, gave it to them without a second thought—along with his ID.
Thus began the nightmare. Jealous of their successful sibling, the brothers waited for this moment and systematically stripped him of his company. They even dumped all the debts on him.
Betrayed overnight, Hwang Ki-cheon lost everything and became a debtor. He denied it, but creditors showed up daily, grabbing him by the collar. Repaying over 300 million won seemed impossible.
There was only one way out. Without hesitation, he threw himself in front of an oncoming train.
But horrifically, he survived—losing only his lower body. Even in the hospital, teetering between life and death, he begged the doctor to kill him. Hospitals save lives, not end them. The doctor refused coldly and wielded the scalpel.
Thus, Hwang Ki-cheon lost everything and was condemned to a wheelchair for the rest of his days. The crushing debt and broken body were bad enough, but the most urgent issue was his daughter's surgery costs. Her health was deteriorating by the day.
"How's Seon-hee?"
"Breathing even harder than yesterday."
"Did you give her the medicine?"
"We know it's a heart issue—can't just give her random pills. We need to get her to a hospital fast."
"I'll... somehow scrape together the surgery money."
In this hideout they'd fled to for survival, even a phone was a luxury. Wheeling himself with all his might to the corner store, Hwang Ki-cheon arrived panting.
"Boss, sorry, but could I make a quick call?"
"I know your situation's rough. Use the phone, but every time it's the same bad news—what's the point?"
"Gotta try for Seon-hee's surgery."
"That number from last time?"
"I know it's shameless, but please."
The store owner dialed and handed him the receiver. A familiar voice answered.
"Yes, Hyeopsim Bearing."
"Miss Seo? It's me. Can I talk to my brother for a sec?"
"Sigh... He said not to put you through."
"Come on, just ask nicely..."
"I've told you a million times! Stop calling!"
"Hello? Miss Seo?"
He pleaded for help with just the surgery costs, but his heartless brothers refused the call. Powerless, he wheeled back home.
"What'd they say, honey?"
"Uh? They're busy now—said to call back after dinner."
She knew it was a lie but pretended otherwise, clinging to any straw.
As he sighed deeply enough to cave the earth, the gate creaked open. Three familiar faces entered.
"Hey, President Hwang."
"Yes, bosses... I talked to my brothers, but..."
"You think those bastards who bled you dry are gonna help? Be real."
They weren't digging money from the ground either. And the amount they were owed was substantial. They'd come with grim resolve, but they knew there was no easy fix.
"I'm sorry. If I get the company back, I'll pay you first thing."
"Get a lawyer or something. Hiding out here won't solve shit."
"I'm truly sorry. That's all I can say. Really sorry."
Their words were harsh, but Kim, the boss who knew Hwang's plight, glanced through the open door at the daughter inside. No matter the creditor, a parent's heart for their child was the same.
"How's the kid's surgery?"
"That's... we're delaying it for lack of funds."
"She'll kick the bucket at this rate. Her heart's bad, right? Do something quick."
"Looking into every option."
The man sighed, pulling two 10,000-won bills from his pocket and handing them over.
"Can't have the kid starving. At least feed her."
"Thank you. Take care—I'll be in touch."
Hwang Ki-cheon had been anxiously bracing for trouble. As he exhaled in relief, a young man opened the door and proffered a business card.
"Lee Min-ho from JK Credit Info."
***
Hwang Ki-cheon was a Seongsu-dong veteran. He knew full well that failing to repay JK meant being dragged off to forced labor until death. To him, Min-ho's arrival was no different from the grim reaper.
Denying it, he checked the card again—JK in bold letters. His body began to shake violently. Not from the frigid air atop the slum hill, but from the terror of JK's debt collectors, far worse than any cold.
Slowly lifting his head, Hwang Ki-cheon spoke.
"How... how did you find this place?"
"This is what I do after lunch. Can't even track down one president?"
"I'm sorry, but we don't have money for the next meal. If you reduce the interest even a bit, beat me all you want till your anger fades."
"Not interested in that. I'm here to verify a few things, not collect."
The word "verify" from Min-ho's mouth was ripe for misunderstanding. Hwang Ki-cheon assumed it meant counting family members for labor camps. Wheeling frantically, he slammed the slightly open room door shut and grabbed a coal tong from the wall.
"Touch a hair on my wife or daughter, and..."
"Seems like a misunderstanding."
"G-Get out before I stab you with this!"
He brandished the tongs in fury, but it was hardly threatening.
"Put that down. If I came to fight, would I just stand here?"
Min-ho, used to such scenes, stayed calm. Meanwhile, Deputy Oh trembled in terror, haunted by a nightmare from years ago when a debtor slashed him with a knife.
Min-ho glanced carefully at Oh. "You okay?"
"Huh? Y-Yeah... no, I don't think so."
"Sit over there."
"What if he stabs you with that...?"
"Worry about me later. Want me to grab you?"
"No, I'm fine. I'll sit nearby."
Min-ho, the subordinate, patted his boss Oh's shoulder reassuringly and faced Hwang Ki-cheon, who still glared menacingly.
For some reason, Min-ho strode right up to him. Hwang bellowed his final resistance.
"Stay back!!! Just hearing JK keeps me up at night!!!"
"I'm not here to collect. Don't make this messy—put it down."
"D-Don't come closer! I'll really stab!"
Hwang gripped the tongs with both hands, knuckles white. His eyes brimmed with fear, hands quaking. Such a man could never harm another.
Undeterred by the cries, Min-ho closed in. Even tongs could wound if swung hard—and injury was inevitable if Hwang mustered the strength.
Clicking heels echoed closer, Hwang's breaths grew ragged. Deputy Oh watched in dread. It was a powder keg ready to blow.
Stopping before Hwang, Min-ho did the unbelievable. Without hesitation, he reached out and gripped the tong's tip—pressing it to his own throat.
"Go ahead if you can."
"........."
"But stab deep. Half-ass it and it just hurts—no tetanus shot otherwise."
Hwang's hand shook faster. In a fearful voice:
"Y-You think I can't shove this in your neck?"
"A man who dropped his business to nurse his daughter at the hospital—how could he hurt someone?"
"H-How do you know that?"
"You're speaking politely, hands shaking like this—how could you stab me? Plus, it's too blunt for the throat."
Min-ho took the tongs and set them down. Now Hwang was defenseless. Overwhelmed by helplessness, he bowed his head and sobbed.
"S-Sorry... Give me some time, and I'll scrape the money together somehow."
"Exactly 300 million 1.5 million won. How's a man in your state supposed to repay that?"
"I'm sorry. Truly sorry."
Min-ho's words were plain fact. Hwang was speechless.
"Just need to check the room quick."
"Nothing worth taking here."
"I know. Won't take long."
Patting Hwang's shoulder, Min-ho headed for the room. From behind, the watching wife rushed out, clearly misunderstanding too. She clutched Min-ho's legs, kneeling like a criminal, wringing her hands in desperate plea.
"We'll get the money somehow. Please don't take my daughter or husband. I beg you. Please."
Min-ho knelt to help her up, but she refused, kowtowing.
"Can't you just let my husband off once?"
"No reason or intention to take him."
"I work at a Noryangjin restaurant nearby. I'll give you every penny I earn. Please, sir."
"Ma'am, even the interest alone is 300 million. You think that's feasible?"
"................."
"Floor's cold. Get up."
Hwang and his wife hung their heads like sinners.
"No misunderstanding—listen. I'm just here to verify something quick."
"Verify?"
"Open the door, and I'll check a few things and go. Promise."
Wiping tears, she cautiously opened it.
"It's humble, but... look all you want."
How did Min-ho plan to collect in this situation? He entered the room. First thing he saw: daughter Seon-hee.
"Your daughter's heart is bad, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"Doctors said surgery at a big hospital."
"Yes, but it's not cheap—we can't afford it."
If Min-ho's memory was right, that item should be in here. It alone could give everyone—Min-ho, Hwang's family—a chance.
Just hope my memory's spot on...
Scanning every corner calmly, Min-ho searched intently. His eyes landed on it.
"No valuables here. No hidden cash."
"I know, ma'am."
"What are you looking for?"
Min-ho smiled, pointing to the corner.
"That flat liquor bottle."