Chapter 153
Han Youngseon's tone was exceedingly assertive.
"Witness, what exactly do you mean by 'perfectly fine'?"
"What's the point of wrapping the whole body in bandages and casts? He could move around just like someone who wasn't injured at all. In my eyes, Go Yunseong never looked like he had an eight-week injury—from the first day of his admission until the end of my shift there."
"Could you share some specific incidents?"
She recounted how freely Go Yunseong had lived in the hospital. Things like bringing a gaming console that required both hands into his room despite the arm cast; routinely drinking alcohol in his room; ordering outside food; walking around without crutches even with a leg cast. She also shared a few minor details I hadn't known about.
"Even in the VIP ward, I'd never seen a patient act like they were just there for a vacation."
I took a moment with simple questions to explain to the jury what a VIP ward was. In truth, the concept of a VIP ward wasn't necessary for debating guilt or innocence. But I planned to exploit the general public's resentment toward chaebol luxury.
A VIP ward was a place of extravagance that ordinary people could never enjoy in their lifetime. There were people who couldn't even go to the hospital when sick because they lacked money. On top of that, at Wooshin Hospital—where others had to wait months for a bed— he got a hotel-like room without delay. If someone there lived so freely, in ways no normal patient could imagine, it was bound to leave an impression of special privileges.
It was an effective tool to heighten animosity toward Go Yunseong.
"Witness, you said you've seen Go Yunseong from the first day of his admission, correct?"
"Yes."
"So, were you still at the hospital on the day he was discharged?"
"No. I was transferred to a regional branch in October and left Wooshin Hospital in Seoul."
"October—that means you were at the Wooshin Hospital VIP ward for about two weeks from the day Go Yunseong was admitted, right? So the incidents you mentioned were all witnessed during that period."
"Yes."
"Then, from a medical perspective, could someone with an eight-week injury like Go Yunseong's start living like that right after admission?"
"Impossible. In a case like his, patients typically can't even chew properly on the first day."
Han Youngseon explained the treatments Go Yunseong had received on the day of admission. He had casts on his arm and leg, and checking the chart revealed fractured ribs as well—just as stated in the diagnosis the prosecution had initially submitted. Additionally, he had bandages on his forehead, with the chart noting stitches for a laceration. But no nurse—not her, nor anyone else—had ever disinfected or changed the gauze on those fresh stitches.
"Go Yunseong, who complained and cursed that the IV drip hurt when the nurses hooked it up—he somehow endured what even tough people would wince at. It was baffling."
"Hm. So, in conclusion, you're saying the witness doesn't believe Go Yunseong suffered an eight-week injury."
"Yes. Not only did he not have an eight-week injury—it was clear from the start he wasn't hurt at all."
As Han Youngseon finished, I turned toward the jury, adjusting the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. You remember the victim's body photos presented by the prosecution. They were so gruesome you could hardly look at them. But for such a patient to move so freely in his room? It's absurd. Unless... what if the premise of this trial—that the defendant assaulted victim Go Yunseong—never happened at all?"
I made eye contact with each juror, posing a question that wouldn't get an answer, then answered it myself.
"Then this mystery solves itself in an instant. If the defendant didn't assault the victim, and the victim wasn't injured, of course he could move freely. That's all."
"Any cross-examination?"
The judge looked at Yang Hanseok.
"Yes."
Yang Hanseok stood as if he'd been waiting.
"Witness, how many years did you work at Wooshin Hospital in Seoul?"
"About three years."
"I see. Working the VIP ward in your third year—must have made you proud."
"......Once upon a time."
"You said you were transferred regionally in October this year. Specifically, where?"
"Yeongwol Byeolma Hospital, a branch of Wooshin Hospital."
"Yeongwol. That must not have pleased you."
"Does anyone like a regional transfer?"
"Fair enough. So, why do you think you were transferred?"
Han Youngseon, who had answered fluidly until now, flinched at Yang Hanseok's question. She glanced anxiously at me and Kang Minjae. But the jurors had been turning their heads whenever she looked our way, so I couldn't send any signals. Not that I should, in principle.
Kang Minjae bit his lip and looked at me. I wasn't in a relaxed position either. We were both thinking the same thing.
A week before the pretrial conference, Han Youngseon had come to us secretly, without telling Seo Hyejin.
—Lawyer, I'm sorry, but... I don't want to talk in court about almost being raped by Go Yunseong. But I can testify that he didn't act like a sick person in the ward.
—Did something happen?
—My boyfriend might find out.
—Boyfriend?
—Yes. Actually, before meeting you, I hesitated on legal action because of him. Teacher kept persuading me, and I wavered, even saying I'd drop it... But if my boyfriend finds out, he'll definitely want to break up. Is there a way to testify without him knowing?
Han Youngseon was purely a victim. She hadn't done anything wrong. If her boyfriend would end things over this, I thought she should dump him first. But I couldn't say that outright. It might make me look like someone who ignored her situation to exploit another's misfortune for my client's innocence.
—Probably not. Your boyfriend could hear about it later and check anytime.
—......I see.
—If that's the case, you don't have to come to court. Nurse Seo Hyejin can testify sufficiently about Go Yunseong faking his illness. I didn't want to burden you.
—No. ...I'll do it. Even if I can't mention my incident, this trial is to punish Go Yunseong. I want to help, even a little.
She bowed her head sincerely, apologizing, and I finally agreed.
And now, Yang Hanseok was hurling a cruel question at her, as she sat there hoping Go Yunseong would pay without losing her boyfriend.
"Witness, please answer."
Yang Hanseok pressed Han Youngseon, who had fallen silent.
After a long deliberation, she finally spoke with difficulty.
"I had a conflict with Go Yunseong, who was under my care at the time."
"Hm. So you believe your transfer was due to trouble with Go Yunseong."
"......Yes."
"But the personnel evaluation records from Wooshin Hospital tell a different story. Witness, you've been flagged for rudeness by HR before, haven't you?"
Han Youngseon looked up at Yang Hanseok.
"That's not all. Around June this year, you injected a VIP ward patient with medication different from the doctor's prescription. Though it was ruled an unintentional error and the internal probe closed, you were docked pay, correct?"
Having caught her agitation, Yang Hanseok pressed her rapidly in a threatening tone.
Han Youngseon still didn't respond. In a place where she'd come to testify facts she'd witnessed and her own victimization, having her flaws suddenly exposed seemed to fill her with shame.
Kang Minjae, watching the standoff between Han Youngseon and Yang Hanseok, shot to his feet.
"Your Honor, objection! The prosecutor is muddying the waters with irrelevant matters."
I shook my head. It wouldn't be sustained. Just like when Yang Hanseok had objected earlier.
"Overruled. Witness, answer. Prosecutor, continue."
"......Yes."
Under the gaze of the judge, jury, and prosecutor, Han Youngseon finally nodded heavily.
"Then it seems your transfer wasn't because of Go Yunseong."
Han Youngseon bit her trembling lip. Her hidden hands shook visibly even from the defense table. Perhaps it would be better for her to step down now. With Seo Hyejin in the gallery anyway, any further details could come via her as a rebuttal witness.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. The witness harbors significant resentment toward victim Go Yunseong. Demoted from Wooshin Hospital in Seoul, where she felt belonging and pride, she naturally wouldn't want to admit fault on her end. I understand that feeling. But lashing out at the wrong person is something to avoid. Especially if it leads to slandering an innocent victim—it could ruin a person's life."
"Slander?"
Before Yang Hanseok could finish his grand closing rhetoric to the jury, the trembling Han Youngseon spoke up. It was an interruption he hadn't anticipated.
All eyes turned back to Han Youngseon.
"Innocent? Go Yunseong?"
"Witness?"
"......I'm ruining Go Yunseong's life? Slandering an innocent victim—me, ruining Go Yunseong's life?"
Tears began streaming from Han Youngseon's eyes.
"My life is the one that's ruined. Go Yunseong ruined my life!"
"Your transfer to the branch followed your personnel evaluation. The records prove it all. Cross-examination concluded."
Yang Hanseok most welcomed Han Youngseon's outburst. The more openly she showed hostility toward Go Yunseong, the easier it was to argue her testimony lacked credibility to the jury. His lengthy emphasis on Go Yunseong as the victim had been to provoke exactly this.
"Really? That evaluation came out in June—why was I still at Seoul Wooshin Hospital during the personnel shuffle in early September? And then, after nearly being raped by Go Yunseong in October, why was I demoted to the branch the moment I refused to settle?"
Han Youngseon poured out her words in a sobbing torrent. The moment "rape" escaped her lips, even the expressionless jurors showed flickers of shock. Yang Hanseok appeared to be hearing this for the first time too—his stunned face was a sight to behold.
"I remember it vividly. About a week after Go Yunseong was admitted, he tried to rape me. He pinned my resisting body with one hand and stripped my clothes with the other. That hand, supposedly broken and immobile, kneaded my body like dough. If that's not faking, what is?"
The cross-examination was over; she no longer had the floor. Yet Han Youngseon didn't stop.
This was the woman who, after agonizing, had nearly withdrawn her testimony fearing her boyfriend would leave her. But unlike the old tale where the sun's warmth undressed the traveler, here it was a fierce gale and storm that stripped away her coat.
"Are you going to say this is perjury from my grudge too? Nurse Seo Hyejin in the gallery witnessed it—she saved me from Go Yunseong's attempted rape. She's also the one who demanded he apologize. But Wooshin Hospital sided with Go Yunseong and demoted both her and me to branches!"
"Your Honor. Cross-examination is concluded. The witness is introducing unverified new facts. The prosecution needs time to assess veracity. Please order the witness to step down."
"Unverified? So you're saying I was demoted for poor performance and bad evaluations? What about Nurse Seo Hyejin? Was her evaluation bad too?"
Han Youngseon's voice, thick with outrage, echoed in the silent courtroom. Seo Hyejin, sitting quietly among the reporters, was dabbing tears with a handkerchief, her shoulders heaving.
"Witness. I understand you're upset, but you no longer have the floor."
The judge finally spoke, exasperated. Han Youngseon still heaved, uncalmed. As silence fell over the court, the jurors began scribbling on the papers before them.
Soon, the lead juror who had sworn in first submitted a document to the judge. Reviewing it, the judge consulted the associate judges. The left and right benches seemed to disagree, as the center judge silently listened to their nonstop debate.
The discussion dragged on longer than expected. Finally, checking his watch, the judge spoke.
"Typically, when unforeseen facts emerge, we reschedule the trial to allow verification time—as the prosecutor requests. We conduct pretrial procedures to minimize this, but it happens occasionally. We'll recess now and resume at 1:40 p.m."