The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

Ah, perhaps he’s not interested in opening a branch?

Fair enough. Unlike Chu Mi-young, who still occasionally calls for help, Hwang Sang-hoon could probably manage well opening his own practice.

In that case, there’s no need to pay network franchise fees.

It was a bit disappointing. When the network idea first came up, he seemed interested!

“I’m not saying you have to~ I was just curious about your intentions! It’s totally fine if you want to open your own practice comfortably without joining the network!”

I emphasized that I had absolutely no intention of forcing him to open a branch, to ensure Hwang Sang-hoon wouldn’t feel uncomfortable during his time as Deputy Director.

But the more I said, the worse his expression became.

“…Are you telling me to leave after a year?”

“Huh? You want to stay longer? That’s great with me!”

Korean medicine clinic Deputy Director contracts are typically for one year.

I wrote the duration in the contract meaning I wanted him to fulfill at least a year, but even with a permanent contract, Deputy Directors usually wish to resign after a year when severance pay starts accruing.

From the chief director’s perspective, it’s good to have a Deputy Director stay long-term, but usually Deputy Directors aim to learn techniques and systems from various clinics before opening their own practice.

Of course, there are Deputy Directors who don’t aim for quick independent practice and stay long-term at a suitable workplace.

‘Isn’t it a waste? He could earn at least three times as much if he opened his own practice.’

I didn’t expect Hwang Sang-hoon to want that.

If anything, I was worried he might resign as soon as he objectified his abilities.

He hesitated, then opened his mouth.

“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay.”

“Stay?”

“Yes. Unless I fail to meet expectations…”

“That won’t happen! You’re doing so well! Of course, it’s best if you stay!”

He wants to stay?

Of course, people’s minds can change even after saying such things, but there was no need to change anything right now.

It’s been months since he started seeing patients, is he still unable to recognize his own abilities?

No, unless he’s a fool, Hwang Sang-hoon must know he could earn much more by opening his own practice.

Despite that, if he wants to stay long-term, does it mean he doesn’t want to run his own business?

Thinking about it, it wasn’t strange. If money was his priority, it would have been better to stick with his family and get scraps from them rather than opening a practice.

“Right, while we’re at it, shall we write a new contract? For permanent employment?”

Anyway, the longer an S-class Deputy Director stays, the better for me.

I immediately dropped the branch talk and tried to hold onto Hwang Sang-hoon.

‘Opening in Seoul? When the time comes, a suitable person will appear!’

Hwang Sang-hoon was overjoyed at the suggestion to stay for 10 or 20 years.

◆◇◆◇◆

A few days later.

I received messages from two friends in Seoul.

[Yeowon-aaah, you haven’t taken the continuing education yet, right?]

Unfortunately, it wasn’t about asking to open a network branch, but an invitation to attend continuing education together in Seoul.

Continuing education refers to periodic and continuous training provided to update professionals on changes and new information in their field after obtaining their technical qualifications.

For Korean medicine doctors, the first year after graduation is exempt, but thereafter, 8 credits must be completed annually, of which 4 credits must be obtained offline.

Of course, there’s no need to go to Seoul specifically for this.

There are courses available in Busan once every 1-2 months.

‘Still, should I go once?’

It’s been a while since I last saw my friends, so it might not be bad to go.

[Okay~ Let’s take it together~]

The date happens to be a Sunday, so it would work perfectly to go after Saturday’s clinic hours.

I registered for the course through the link sent by my senior classmate.

◆◇◆◇◆

Sunday.

Arriving a bit early for the continuing education session, I encountered a familiar face.

It wasn’t Hwang Seo-young or my senior classmate whom I had originally planned to meet.

“Student Han Yeowon? It’s been a while. Or should I call you Director Han now?”

“…It’s been a while, Professor.”

It was none other than Professor Lee Min-seok.

What? Was this Professor Lee’s lecture?

Continuing education is sometimes organized by the academic directors of associations, and professors are often invited as guest lecturers.

I hadn’t known because I didn’t check the lecture title or instructor, thinking I’d just be filling a seat anyway.

“Oh? Yeowon arrived first? Professor~ Hello~!”

Seeing my senior classmate arrive shortly after with a bouquet, it seems they knew.

“Is this seat taken?”

“Ah, no! Please sit!”

Soon after, dozens of Korean medicine doctors filled the seats as the lecture time approached.

As the education started immediately, there was no time for lengthy greetings with friends or the professor.

The lecture topic was musculoskeletal ultrasound—upper limb edition.

I wonder if Hwang Sang-hoon, who trained at Korea University Affiliated Korean Medicine Hospital, learned from this professor too. The points of emphasis were quite similar.

“…By using ultrasound like this, you can inject pharmacopuncture even in dangerous areas. What nerve do you think this is on the screen?”

“Oh, it looks like the subscapular nerve?”

As Professor Lee Min-seok lectured, he kept asking me questions, sitting in the front row.

Unlike in school, with many Korean medicine doctors in their 50s and 60s present, I must have seemed the easiest target as he knew me.

“Can you tell what this is in the image? It’s easy to confuse.”

“A cyst?”

“Correct.”

“Ooh!”

I answered well every time he asked.

Though I’m no great master having only handled it for a few months, there was a clear difference between having experience and not.

After 4 hours of lectures.

“Young folks these days are amazing. We need to work hard not to fall behind.”

“Ahaha, it’s because I use it in practice.”

“Should I buy one too? It doesn’t seem easy to master…”

The senior colleagues in their 50s and 60s showed interest as they watched the professor and me exchange questions and answers.

I strongly recommended it to those who approached me. After all, practice is only possible once you purchase one.

As I was about to go to my friends.

“It’s impressive, especially without a one-on-one training environment like during residency. Indeed, people like you should be at the forefront of research for the Korean medicine field, shouldn’t they?”

“I’m just grateful for the praise.”

“If you’re interested in a part-time doctoral program for degree purposes, please come to my lab.”

“Yes, I’ll let you know if I become interested.”

Professor Lee Min-seok caught me.

Didn’t we finish talking about graduate school long ago? I quickly escaped and hid behind Hwang Seo-young.

“It was nice meeting you. We have plans, so we’ll be going…”

“You’ve come all this way, why don’t you join the after-party?”

But before I knew it, I found myself at the after-party.

Why is there an after-party for continuing education?

The unwritten rule is to disappear quickly after fulfilling the attendance time, but perhaps because many people knew the professor personally, a separate dinner was arranged.

“Quite a few of our classmates and juniors came, huh? Wasn’t this professor unpopular because he was scary?”

“Still, it’s nice to meet outside~”

I naturally sat with my classmates and juniors.

The after-party barely exceeded ten participants, half of whom were Korea University alumni who were Professor Lee’s students, and the other half were from his alma mater, Umyeong University.

As it wasn’t really a place for inter-generational socializing, the tables were divided, and the professor moved between them, drinking.

“Ah, you opened a practice in Busan, right? Did Hwang Sang-hoon go there too? It seems you already have enough patients to hire a Deputy Director.”

At our table, I was naturally the main conversation partner.

Fortunately, he no longer urged me about graduate school.

“Yeowon is really amazing, right? She even opened a branch in Daegu!”

“Oh? Are you planning to start a franchise business?”

“Well, it just happened that way. It’s only the second branch so far.”

“Do you have any specialized conditions you focus on?”

“No~ Nothing like that, we just see everything!”

Instead, Professor Lee Min-seok showed great interest in my recent activities.

Well, I’d be curious too. Creating a network at an age when most are just starting as Deputy Directors, right after graduating in my late 20s.

“Are you looking for a third branch?”

“We’re not expanding rapidly. If we connect with good people, that would be welcome.”

“Do you have set treatment protocols? Like Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic?”

“We don’t do things like set number of treatments. The director of the second branch requested it, so we studied together for a few months before opening. If they’re skilled, isn’t it unnecessary? Ah, but case-based academic exchanges would be good.”

There are basic treatment manuals provided to Chu Mi-young and Hwang Sang-hoon, but it’s insufficient to call it a network operation policy.

We’re just rolling along somehow among acquaintances.

I answered Professor Lee Min-seok’s questions, making up appropriate responses on the spot.

“How do you handle marketing?”

“I don’t do any separately. The second branch director uses a blog and Instagram. If we increase branches, we might develop central marketing…?”

“Whew, Yeowon’s place doesn’t need that. They see over 100 patients a day!”

“Ho-oh. It seems you get a lot of referred patients.”

“That’s right, haha. But why are you asking? Do you have any juniors to recommend?”

Professor Lee Min-seok, with decades left until retirement, couldn’t have been asking because he wanted to join the network.

If it were a classmate, they would have contacted me directly, so it must be a junior?

“It’s not a junior.”

Professor Lee Min-seok shook his head.

“Come this way for a moment.”

He then led me to the table where the Umyeong University graduates were gathered.

The person Professor Lee Min-seok introduced me to seemed to be the oldest at that table.

“This is Director Han Yeowon. She graduated top of her class from Korea University last year and is running the Seongsu Korean Medicine Clinic network.”

“Hello…?”

Not understanding the situation, I greeted him anyway.

“This is Professor Kim Chun-sik, who retired from Umyeong University last year. He opened a practice in Songpa where his family is after retirement, and he’s currently looking into joining a network, so I’m introducing you.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

The older man offered me a handshake.

What’s the retirement age for university professors? 65? If so, he should still be in his mid to late 60s, but his name and appearance seemed 20 years ahead of that.

Of course, not 80s by civilian standards.

‘A Wudang Sect elder…?’

He exuded a kind and benevolent aura like an elder of a Taoist sect.

‘You want him as the third branch director? He’s older than our master!’

When I was at the Sichuan Tang Family’s medical pavilion, I had taken in disciples older than me. But by then, I was already hearing the voice of the divine, and even the older disciples were only in their 30s or 40s.

Even if I’m okay with it, wouldn’t they find such a young representative burdensome?

“Ho ho, I’m embarrassed to say I have no talent for management and am facing difficulties. Your skills at such a young age are truly remarkable. If it’s alright with you, would you help me?”

But Kim Chun-sik welcomed Lee Min-seok’s introduction and spoke.

At 60-something years old, and with a prestigious background as a professor.

It’s not easy for someone with such a background to readily admit their shortcomings and seek help.

Normally, they would have frowned at someone as young as me.

Impressed by Kim Chun-sik’s attitude, I shook his hand, putting aside my preconceptions.

I’ll need to hear more, but this might turn out to be a good connection.