Chapter 91: Reversal
***
Kang Jin-gwang, the Chairman, hurriedly set off for Korea University Hospital in Yeouido. His secretaries urgently dialed the hospital president's office.
“Yes, this is the Korea University Hospital president's office.”
“This is JK Group's secretariat. It's an emergency, so I'll get straight to the point. Chairman Kang Jin-gwang will arrive at Korea University Hospital in about ten minutes.”
“Pardon? Is the Chairman unwell?”
“There was an accident on our end, and he got a bit startled. We'll fill you in on the details later—please prepare right away.”
“Understood.”
The secretary slammed down the receiver and rushed into the hospital president's office.
“Hospital President, this is bad!”
“This place is full of crises as it is. What's got you in such a panic?”
“It's not that—JK Group's Chairman Kang is arriving in ten minutes.”
Caught off guard, Hospital President Gil Kang-tae shot to his feet and asked again.
“Is what you just said true? The Chairman?”
“Yes, it's true.”
“How and where was he hurt?”
“We were told it's connected to a JK Group taxi accident, and he's just a little shaken up.”
“Got it. Call every professor on staff and tell them to come down immediately! Hurry!”
“Understood.”
The sudden arrival of Chairman Kang left the hospital president pale as he scrambled downstairs. Within minutes, not only the president but the entire faculty had gathered in front of the emergency room.
The president straightened his clothes and spoke up. “We don't know exactly where Chairman Kang is hurt yet, so when he arrives, everyone move fast!”
“Yes, understood.”
Korea University Hospital's top professors stood ready in front of the emergency room, waiting anxiously for Chairman Kang.
Moments later, a black sedan pulled up. The hospital president bowed deeply in greeting, then hurried to open the back door and check on the Chairman's condition.
“Chairman, are you all right?”
Kang Jin-gwang turned his head, scanning the surroundings. “What's all this fuss for, dragging busy folks out like this?”
“Not at all, sir. It's the least we can do when you're visiting. Did the taxi make direct contact with you, by any chance?”
“If it had, I'd be heading to a funeral home, not here.”
He was a bit rattled, but there was no serious health issue. As he took a step forward, the hospital president fussed loudly.
“Chairman, we've prepared a wheelchair. Wouldn't it be better to ride in?”
“No need for the commotion. I can walk in calmly on my own two feet.”
“Understood. Allow me to assist you.”
The hospital president noticed Min-ho standing beside Kang Jin-gwang and barked irritably.
“What are you doing just standing there like an idiot? Hurry up and go inside to let them know Chairman Kang has arrived.”
Kang Jin-gwang halted, fixing the president with a piercing glare.
“What did you just say?”
“Pardon? I... I just told the staff to go in and announce your arrival. Did I say something wrong?”
It was wrong—terribly wrong. Kang Jin-gwang raised his right hand, lightly tapping the president's cheek, then pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He took a long drag and blew a cloud of pale smoke right into the president's face.
“It's been nearly a year, hasn't it? Looks like your head's gotten quite a bit bigger in the meantime.”
“No, sir. Not at all, Chairman.”
“You know full well what happens to this hospital without my support...”
“Of course, sir. Thanks to you, we've saved hundreds, thousands of lives.”
The president had no idea why Kang Jin-gwang was displeased. As one of the hospital's biggest benefactors, crossing him could spell disaster, so the president bowed low.
“Without your support, Chairman, I wouldn't be in this position, and the hospital would have struggled to stay afloat. I'm always grateful and never forget it.”
“From the looks of it, your neck's gotten awfully stiff too.”
“No, sir. I always think only of the patients...”
Kang Jin-gwang raised his hand, cutting him off.
“It's been about twenty years now... On a day when snow was falling thick and fast, you came to me in your white coat. You remember, don't you?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“You wept openly before me, saying people were dying for lack of money... I didn't know you, but your guts in seeking me out and your sincerity won me over.”
“I remember it as vividly as if it were yesterday.”
“The next day, I began my support. But time passes, you rise high, and now you're full of yourself—arrogant as can be.”
The president still hadn't realized his mistake. Yet Kang Jin-gwang was an absolute power, so he bowed his head in apology.
“I'm sorry for showing such an unworthy side.”
“How many bills would you have if you emptied your pockets?”
“Pardon? You mean my assets?”
The president hesitated on the sensitive topic.
“I... Chairman, there are a lot of eyes here...”
“One call from me, and I can check every penny you own. Don't make this tiring—speak.”
“Around ten, roughly.”
Kang Jin-gwang nodded. “Then you couldn't even hand out your business card to this young man here. Your mistake was just one thing.”
“Pardon? Tell me, and I'll correct it.”
This was a hospital—no need to hide Min-ho's identity. Besides, Kang Jin-gwang had another motive: bragging about his grandson.
“This young fellow must look like a rookie employee to you.”
The president glanced up at Min-ho. No matter how he racked his brain, the face was unfamiliar.
“I'm not sure what you mean...”
“It's my grandson. Would I bring just anyone to a hospital?”
Only then did the president realize his blunder. He bowed ninety degrees to Kang Jin-gwang in apology.
“I'm sorry, Chairman. In the urgency, I failed to recognize him.”
“No need to apologize to me.”
The president hurriedly turned to Min-ho, bowing deeply.
“I sincerely apologize for my rudeness to you, young master. I'm sorry.”
Such trifles didn't matter to Min-ho. His grandfather's health was the priority.
“Grandfather got worried thinking I was in the accident. No need to apologize—just give him a checkup. Run every test necessary.”
“Understood. This way, please.”
As Kang Jin-gwang entered the emergency room, virtually the entire medical staff lined both sides. He said to the hospital president,
“No need for all these doctors to check on an old man like me. Send them all away.”
“Understood.”
The president gestured frantically, and the doctors and nurses dispersed.
Min-ho carefully helped Kang Jin-gwang onto the bed, holding his hand reassuringly.
“Grandfather, getting angry isn't good for your health.”
“How could I stand by when that fool snapped at my grandson?”
“Take slow, deep breaths. They're about to examine you now. Tell them if anything feels off.”
“All right, I will.”
“I'll be right back—I need to check something up front.”
Min-ho asked a nearby doctor, “Do you know where the patient transferred from JK headquarters is?”
“You mean the taxi driver?”
“Yes, that's right.”
“He's in the ICU right now. Mind if I ask what's this about?”
“Just a few things to confirm.”
“Sorry, but ICU has no visitors. You'll have to wait until he's moved to a general ward.”
The hospital president jumped in surprise and sidled up to Min-ho cautiously.
“Young master... Normally it's not allowed, but as president, I'll make an exception.”
“Is that really okay?”
“Of course. With me here, what couldn't be?”
“I'd be grateful if you could.”
“You'll need to wear a mask and change into scrubs, though. All right?”
“Of course I'll cooperate.”
“This way, please.”
Soon, the ICU doors opened, and Min-ho stepped toward Bed 1 as directed.
There lay the taxi driver whose life Min-ho had desperately saved.
“Driver, it's great to see you again like this.”
“Aigoo, young man—no, doctor, I heard you saved my life. Thank you so much. I don't know how to repay this kindness.”
“How much do you remember?”
“You got out and told me to go to the hospital.”
“Yeah, just in case, I said it twice.”
“After that... nothing. I woke up here.”
Having narrowly escaped death, the taxi driver's emotions were understandably tangled. He couldn't even say he was glad to be alive. The reason? Money, of course.
The driver let out a long sigh and confessed his true feelings.
“Might've been better if I'd died.”
“Driver, what do you mean?”
“All I've got is that one taxi... It's probably totaled beyond repair. And now I have to pay for damages to that huge JK Group building, but my insurance won't cover squat.”
Instead of worrying about his health, he was fretting over cash. His sole livelihood, the taxi, was wrecked. Worse, it had plowed into the first floor of JK Group headquarters. Hospital bills, living expenses, and massive compensation to JK— even the low end would run tens of millions of won. An enormous sum for an ordinary man, but nothing to Min-ho. In fact, it was a golden opportunity to turn crisis into chance.
“Driver, I have a proposal for you.”
“Pardon? I don't have anything to offer.”
“If you accept, we won't bill you for the building repairs. I'll even cover your treatment and get you a brand-new taxi. How's that?”
***
The carpet bombing from the three major dailies had sent JK Group's image into a nosedive. To flip it in one go, Min-ho had crafted a brilliantly clever scenario.
Jo Dong-uk, president of The Times, and Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon rushed over at Min-ho's call.
“President, are you hurt anywhere?”
“Why run like that? Take it easy.”
“When I heard about the accident, I dropped everything and came flying.”
“I'm fine. More importantly, there's something we need to handle first. Take a look at this?”
Min-ho tore a page from his densely noted notepad and handed it to Jo Dong-uk.
“Is this accurate?”
“A bit of seasoning, but close enough to the truth.”
“Did the Chairman really perform CPR himself to save the taxi driver?”
“Let's say that for now. You've never met him, right?”
“No, President.”
“You're The Times president—you should at least show your face. Do an interview, so head to Bed 1 and explain, then greet him.”
The thought of meeting Kang Jin-gwang made Jo Dong-uk flinch.
“Me? Really?”
“That's what makes it an opportunity. Give a quick report, then call in the reporters for coverage. You know the rest?”
“Yes. I'll notify the other outlets next.”
“It won't be nearly enough to turn opinion around.”
“Understood.”
“Lawyer Choi, you're with me.”
Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon covered his face with both hands, looking utterly tormented. He blamed himself for it all.
If he hadn't been stubborn and had just driven Min-ho himself, this wouldn't have happened.
“I'm sorry, young master. It's all my fault.”
“No. Why blame yourself, Lawyer?”
“I should have escorted you... I have no face. Truly sorry.”
“If we're assigning blame, it's mostly mine for driving on a suspended license. It's in the past. No need to beat yourself up.”
“Understood.”
“Reporters will swarm here in two hours. Before that, let's head to Dobong-gu.”
“Dobong-gu? Suddenly—what do you mean?”
“You'll see when we get there. It's key to completing the picture.”
Min-ho and Lawyer Choi hurried off to Dobong-gu. Meanwhile, Jo Dong-uk approached Kang Jin-gwang cautiously, heart pounding.
When their eyes met, he bowed deeply.
“Pleased to meet you. I'm Jo Dong-uk, president of The Times.”
“My ears work fine. You can speak softly.”
“Sorry.”
Now settled, Kang Jin-gwang smiled comfortably and asked Jo Dong-uk,
“Couldn't sleep, feeling lonely—just the right time for company. You need my testimony, eh?”
“Yes, Chairman. I'd be grateful for a moment of your time.”
“Go on, state your business.”
Jo Dong-uk reported Min-ho's scenario in full. It was perfect for overturning the negative press at once.
Kang Jin-gwang nodded in satisfaction after hearing it all.
“Dong-uk, was it?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“I like it. Proceed just like this.”
“Thank you. I'll always give my best.”
“Thanks for the chat.”
“Thank you for the interview. I'll cherish it as a lifelong honor.”
Jo Dong-uk bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the ground, then withdrew.
Having reviewed Min-ho's entire scenario, Kang Jin-gwang smiled contentedly.
“Who does he take after, so smart... Turning misfortune to fortune... This should be enough...”