The Congressman's Funeral
Leaving Heo Sang-do at the hospital coffee shop, Park Maru headed toward Haeundae. His first priority was calming Jeong-ah, who must have been shattered by Congressman Hwang's sudden death.
She worked as a hospital aide and had surely witnessed plenty of deaths, but this was different. Someone she'd been connected to—whether for better or worse—had dropped dead out of nowhere. The shock of that would hit harder than some stranger's passing. And to think he'd died mid-sex, skin to skin with her. How devastating must that have been?
"Don't think about anything. Just relax and sleep."
"Oppa, I'm scared."
"What's there to be scared of? If you're worried about being home alone, want to crash at a friend's?"
"No one's house I can go to this late. Can't I just stay at the hospital with you, oppa?"
"Once Chairman Lee gets here, I won't be able to move a muscle. Not until the funeral's over."
"Then what do I do?"
He was worried. She was tough as nails, but at 19, this was too much for any young woman to handle alone. Leaving her like that felt dangerous even to him, so he had no choice but to call Ara. With her and her mother's permission, he took Jeong-ah to Ara's place.
"Sorry for the late hour."
"No problem. What's going on?"
"She's a coworker from the office. Had a rough day. If it's okay with you, Mother-in-law, I'd like her to stay here with Ara for a few days."
"Sure thing. If you're asking, how can I say no? But what happened?"
"Congressman Hwang, the one I worked for, passed away."
"I see. And now what about you?"
"I'll watch how things play out and decide from there."
"Got it. Go take care of it."
"Ara, she's all yours."
"Don't worry, oppa. I'll take good care of Jeong-ah."
After dropping Jeong-ah off at Ara's, he returned to the hospital and joined Heo Sang-do for coffee. That's when the call came: Chairman Lee and Eun-mi had arrived. He asked Heo to wait and hurried to the parking lot to greet them. With Eun-mi, he went to the morgue to identify Hwang's body, then headed to the hospital director's office with Chairman Lee.
After introductions, at Chairman Lee's suggestion, the attending physician and paramedics came up to the director's office. They greeted him, and he stressed confidentiality again before handing each an envelope. Once they left, he thanked the director.
"Director, thank you."
"No need. Our hospital's small—hope it's not too inconvenient."
"It's fine. I won't forget your help today."
"Even without you, sir, I'd have done it for Secretary Park."
"You know our Park Maru well? I think of him like a son."
"Of course. At first, he brought in patients who couldn't pay, which was tricky. But his sincerity won me over."
"Glad you see him that way. Keep looking out for him."
"If he were my son-in-law, I'd be thrilled."
"With your support, he could take over Hwang's district."
"If you back him, why not? What about the funeral?"
"We'll hold it here."
"But for an active congressman, our small hospital..."
"It's fine. Convenient location—easier for people coming from afar."
"Yes, sir. It'd be an honor for us."
With Chairman Lee's decision, Hwang's funeral would be at Gil Hospital. Hwang had been orphaned young and risen on his own—no close relatives. That must have been why Chairman Lee took him as a son-in-law. Even in front of the director, he made a point of calling Maru like a son, solidifying his position.
"Maru."
"Yes, Father."
He called him by name out of the blue. Probably to bolster his standing with the director, so Maru called him "Father" in return.
"Did that police info officer go home?"
"No, he's in the basement coffee shop."
"Director, mind if I call him up?"
"Not at all. Make yourselves comfortable."
With the director's okay, Chairman Lee had him summon Heo Sang-do. Maru called, and he came up.
"Heo, say hello. This is Chairman Lee Seong-hak, and this is the director."
"Pleased to meet you. Heo Sang-do from the police."
"He says you helped Maru a lot—this time especially."
"Just doing my job."
"This won't leak outside, right?"
"Of course not. No chance."
"Thanks. Keep helping our Maru."
"Yes, sir."
"Good things will come your way."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Secretary Lee, give him one."
Chairman Lee kept saying "our Maru" in front of Heo, underscoring their bond. He directed Secretary Lee to hand Heo an envelope. Heo hesitated as if it weren't expected, but accepted at the chairman's insistence.
"No need, sir. Wasn't expecting this."
"Just take it. I know expenses run short on duty."
"You didn't have to. Thank you anyway."
"Help our Maru. I won't forget."
After Heo left, Chairman Lee's gaze turned to him.
"No other contacts yet?"
"No, waiting to consult you first."
"Good. Now notify the on-duty staff and the in-laws. Anyone coming from there?"
"I'll call duty staff first, check the family side myself."
"Do that. I need a place to stay."
"Father, I booked two rooms at Lotte Hotel."
"I'll take those. Secretary Lee, check who can come from Seoul, coordinate hotels."
"Father, head to the hotel and rest first."
"Right."
He bid the director farewell and escorted Chairman Lee to the hotel. En route, he informed the office manager of Hwang's death and asked him to notify duty staff. He also called major newspapers and broadcasters, explaining Hwang died of a heart attack from overwork amid chronic hypertension.
"Maru."
"Yes, Father."
"You're my son and son-in-law now."
"Yes."
"After the funeral, I'll push central party to appoint you acting committee chair. Prep steadily for next year's election. People sympathize with death—use that for votes."
"Got it. Rest here, Father. I'll see you at the hospital tomorrow."
"Yeah. Look after Eun-mi. You're all she has."
"I will, Father."
And so Congressman Hwang Seong-tae's funeral proceeded. With no close family since losing his parents young, Chairman Lee took charge. Maru happened to be in the district, but the chairman's consideration planted the idea among mourners that he was Hwang's successor. Local duty staff consulted him on every funeral detail, keeping him glued to the venue.
After three days, cremation, and burial at Sinbul Mountain Memorial Park in his hometown of Yangsan, the rites ended.
"Father, you worked hard."
"Come to Seoul soon."
"Yes, after steadying the duty staff, I'll visit."
After seeing off Chairman Lee and Eun-mi, he dragged his weary body to the office where the duty staff gathered. Everyone—duty staff and aides from the Yeouido office building—was buzzing.
"Secretary Park, great job."
"No, you all did the heavy lifting."
"Yeah, you handled almost everything alone."
"Impossible without you and the manager. Thank you."
"No thanks needed. The wife and chairman head back?"
"Yes, just saw them off. She'll visit once settled, to greet you all."
"Sit, let's hear your take."
They sat as for usual meetings, and he explained Hwang's death. Questions arose—how he learned first, why no autopsy despite good health—but Heo's presence and the office manager's defense smoothed it over.
Talk shifted to district operations, but the office manager summed it up neatly.
"If the congressman were here, his say would matter. But now? Hold a party members' meeting, elect the chair by consensus."
It was the fairest approach, though parties rarely let members choose district chairs outright. Usually, they rubber-stamped pre-picked candidates. No one could argue, so Baek Aide—who eyed the post—sat stone-faced, lips sealed.