Chapter 119
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Jeju's Triple Rabbit Strategy
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"The clinic I inherited from my grandfather is in a tourist spot. If we promote it with a fun martial arts theme, wouldn't people stop by at least once?"
It was Yoo Kyung-hoon's words.
At first glance, it sounded pretty good.
"The patient base would be very different from a typical clinic."
But it wouldn't be easy.
Some clinics specialize in specific conditions and draw patients from across the country, but most clinics' main patients are those with chronic pain.
Our clinic had a fair number of patients who came from afar on recommendations, but we also had just as many regulars.
There were tons of people whose backs hurt, shoulders knotted up, or digestion was off—and it kept recurring due to aging or work stress.
Opening a clinic in a Jeju tourist area?
They might come once, maybe twice at most, but coming back would be tough.
When our clinic first opened, we'd occasionally get hikers who'd sprained an ankle, but they almost never returned.
If the treatment was good, they got better and didn't need to come back; if it was bad, they'd just go to a clinic near home.
"For a specialization strategy to draw nationwide patients, a traffic hub in Seoul would be better than Jeju. For general pain patients, even in Jeju, a residential neighborhood beats a tourist spot. It seems like you're forcing a concept onto your grandfather's building because it's in a tourist area—do you really think that's okay?"
I said it coldly.
Honestly, it sounded fun... I really wanted to do it.
But opening a clinic takes serious financial and mental resources.
Was it worth investing just because it seemed entertaining?
Unlike the previous two business ideas, though, Yoo Kyung-hoon didn't back down.
"We'll go with a strategy to catch three rabbits."
"Three rabbits?"
"First is the local Jeju residents, like you mentioned. It's a tourist spot, but not without residents—there are plenty of restaurants and cafes. Not as busy as a market, but decent foot traffic."
"Targeting office workers like in a business district?"
Yoo Kyung-hoon nodded.
"Yes, that's number one. Number two is obviously the tourists who get injured by chance."
That patient group was a given.
"And the third?"
"We make them come to Jeju just for our clinic. We'll turn the clinic itself into a tourist attraction while drawing people from the mainland for treatment."
"Oh."
"Haha, of course, it'll take time for word-of-mouth to spread for that third rabbit, and we'll need to hone our skills more."
Drawing mainland patients all the way to Jeju.
"Ambitious. I like it."
The essence of a clinic is treating sick patients.
If they'd ditched that for a pure tourist gimmick, I would've turned down the partnership flat.
I'd have convinced them to do a concept cafe or experience center instead.
"Let's do it. I'll help as much as I can."
But the ambition to make people seek them out from anywhere in the country? That resonated.
He played humble at the end, but his email intro and what he was saying now showed real confidence in his skills.
I took Yoo Kyung-hoon's hand.
"Thank you!"
* * *
We had a verbal agreement, but no contract yet.
I needed at least basic verification—whether his words were just hot air or if he had real skill.
Especially since Yoo Kyung-hoon seemed to have some stubborn streak.
"Handle today's new patients yourself, Director Yoo."
"Pardon?"
If he had skills on par with Professor Kim Chun-sik, great—no notes.
But if it was all talk? If he lacked skill but thought he was hot stuff?
Disaster. Better someone like Chu Mi-young who admitted ignorance and asked to be taught from scratch.
"Is that really okay?"
"Why not? I'll log you as locum. Full pay, of course."
"What if they come back specifically for me?"
"Confident, huh? We'll risk losing them if they bail without you. Don't worry."
That's how locum works anyway.
Locum tenens is when another doctor covers for the main one when they're unavailable for personal reasons.
Sometimes it's short-term for travel or events, 2-3 days; other times months for things like maternity leave.
Obviously, some patients skip re-visits if the doctor changes, but it's better than closing shop.
Ah, and I was confident I could satisfy any of his new patients on re-visit.
"Hello. My arm's been numb for a week."
Yoo Kyung-hoon sat awkwardly at my desk.
He'd come expecting to observe, so suddenly treating threw him off, but he wasn't the panicky type.
"Welcome!"
He grabbed the patient's hand eagerly.
Hm? Surprisingly enthusiastic.
"Any incident a week ago that might've triggered it?"
"Uh, not that I can think of."
"No obvious trigger, then. Do your neck and shoulders stiffen easily usually?"
"I'm in an office job, so if I skip stretching, my shoulders feel heavy. Orthopedics said disc issue; I treated for a while, but no improvement."
Perfect—totally average patient.
No high expectations from a referral, no skeptical glare.
Yoo Kyung-hoon asked the right questions; the patient answered fully.
"Wow, you've been through it. Numb to the elbow only? Or fingertips too?"
"All the way to my fingertips."
"Specific fingers worse? All of them?"
"All fingers numb."
"Let me press your neck. It's the Spurling test for cervical disc. Tell me if the numbness reproduces!"
After quick symptoms check, Yoo Kyung-hoon did the Spurling test.
Patient tilts head back and 45 degrees; doctor presses forehead axially.
If disc-related nerve compression, symptoms reproduce as disc presses.
"Any numbness or sharp neck pain?"
"Not really."
"Then let's check the rhomboid muscle."
"Ack!"
No reaction to Spurling, but rhomboid palpation got a scream.
"Not disc—rhomboid syndrome. The brachial plexus passes under this muscle; tension compresses nerves, causing arm numbness."
"Ah, I see."
"I'll needle it to release. Desk job means shoulder tension builds pressure. Stretch when you can, massage it. Treat today; come back tomorrow if needed!"
"Yes!"
Yoo Kyung-hoon diagnosed smoothly.
Treatment spot-on too.
Some oriental doctors avoid direct neck needling fearing carotid hits, but he seemed experienced.
His email about treating diverse patients in tough public service conditions? Not lip service.
He fully rotated the neck for safety, then needled tender points on anterior and middle rhomboids precisely.
Even checked surrounding muscles—thorough work.
"No more numbness, neck and shoulders feel so much better!"
The patient left thrilled.
"Director Jeon, you try too."
"Me? I don't have much experience—sure you want to trust me?"
"It's fine. You learned well in school."
"What if they leave a bad review because of me...!"
"I'll jump in if I spot issues. Just treat."
Unlike Yoo Kyung-hoon, Jeon Min-ji panicked a bit.
Didn't expect to be thrown in right after watching her husband.
She'd been beaming proudly; now suddenly at the desk, total fluster.
"Doctor! My finger hurts so much!"
And she drew the high-maintenance patient lottery.
"What do I do? Thumb bending feels weird! And it clicks!"
"Uh, how long?"
"Ten days already! Heard your clinic's great, so please help!"
Jeon Min-ji bit her lip.
No mind-reading needed; I got her vibe.
Of all things, not basic shoulder/back pain—a finger joint issue.
But it was super common.
"Trigger finger syndrome."
She nailed it easily.
Schoolwork wasn't wasted.
"Trigger? Like a gun?"
"Yes. Sticks like a trigger. The flexor tendon sheath is inflamed and swollen from overuse."
"Then what?"
"Reduce inflammation. Herb injection and acupuncture should fix it. Don't worry."
Jeon Min-ji injected herb meds directly into the inflamed thumb area.
"Eek...!"
Needle straight into the joint; patient winced hard.
But post-injection, the stiff bend loosened right away.
"Oh!"
"Acupuncture too."
"Y-yes!"
"Treating connected muscles as well."
Her needling was solid—plenty of practice.
Pre-licensing, options are limited: supervised charity or student mutual needling. Many start sloppy.
"Come tomorrow if pain lingers! Head director's out today, so I covered—but there's an even better one!"
"Thank you so much~!"
Jeon Min-ji handled it flawlessly.
'Both solid...?'
Since I'd committed to locum pay anyway, I gave them a few more new patients.
Yoo Kyung-hoon persuaded with knowledge and charisma.
Jeon Min-ji loosened up, chatting easily with patients.
"Very good."
After sessions, I sat them down for feedback.
"Not jumping to ortho's disc diagnosis, proper check, accurate points—all great."
"Thank you."
Yoo Kyung-hoon grinned.
"Just one thing..."
But ruling out disc definitively felt off.
"Even if you're sure, leave an out. Real cause is rhomboid, but MRI might show disc protrusion anyway?"
"Ah, true."
Asymptomatic disc bulges are common.
Test-obsessed patients chase ghosts, get wrong treatment.
Then proper oriental care improves symptoms—they love it.
But rarely...
"Some rage: 'I got more tests, it is disc!'"
"Ahh."
Yoo Kyung-hoon swallowed bitterly.
"And Director Jeon, ultrasound would've been good."
"Ultrasound?"
"Yes. Early case, resolved quick—but chronic trigger finger ossifies ligaments into hard nodules. No acupuncture fix then."
"Oh..."
"Must inform surgery needed, so confirm precisely."
Jeon Min-ji nodded furiously.
Hadn't thought that far; admitted weak on ultrasound.
"No worries. I improved on the job. I'll teach you slowly."
Fixes needed, but overall excellent.
6 years of school wasn't nothing; lack of hands-on made them underrate themselves.
Share pro tips, gain experience—they'd adapt fast.
I printed contracts, handed them over.
"Thanks for the sudden request. Looking forward to working together."
"No—we learned a lot."
I'd observed their new patients; they'd seen some of my re-visits.
Patients' trust in me rubbed off—their gazes burned brighter.
Thud!
Yoo Kyung-hoon stamped his seal.
Jeon Min-ji too.
"You could've read slowly."
"Pre-checked as prelim. Please take care of us!"
My final stamp sealed the network contract.
Whew—branch four born.
"Prep for opening still early, right?"
"Yes. While Min-ji observes and learns here, I'll head to Jeju to set up."
Beyond treating, tons to do.
Registration basics, plus his grandfather's building needed full rehab—no maintenance since passing, repairs to interiors all new.
"Martial arts concept... you're really doing it...?"
"Of course."
"Then I'm coming too."
"To Jeju?"
"Yep."
Where else?
"If we're doing it, do it right. I'll go, bring Director Chu—brainstorm together."
Chu Mi-young's skills essential here.
Random tourists peek in, see doctors in wuxia costumes? They'd bolt.
SNS hype first: "This place is meant to be like that." Then they visit knowingly.
Might as well loop in influencer Chu from space design stage—better aesthetics than me.
I messaged Chu Mi-young about Jeju trip feasibility.
"Yay, Jeju trip with Director Han! Awesome! Booking pool hotel!"
She agreed eagerly.
Could squeeze 2 nights/3 days begging locum for two more days.
I'd dump a day on Hwang Sang-hun.
Group flight to Jeju booked.
'Haven't mentioned wuxia theme for branch four yet... it'll be fine, right?'
Eh, tell 'em there. Whatever.