Empire of the Ring

“What do you think Dr. Kim?”

Establishing a medical institution could not be decided by Youngho only. The opinions of the doctors who would be in charge of teaching and training students were the most important.

“There’s no reason for me to refuse a job that could grow the next generation medical personnel. I’m a little concerned with the small number of doctors we have now but I have friends who might be willing to join us. I’ll try to convince them.”

As Kim Dong-sung agreed to help out with the project, vice minister Choi could not hide the excitement on his face.

“I’ll make sure you won’t feel any inconvenience with administrative work but in exchange, would you mind letting the government choose the students for the institution? This is the only way for them to receive a scholarship from the government. This way, the government would be sending them to the autonomous state for commissioned education.”

“Very well. Any talented person is always welcome.”

It was not a good idea to ignore the Kazakh government’s influence. The government was planning to provide scholarships to medical students and make them serve in governmental medical institutions later as a mandatory service in the future for a certain period of time in exchange for the scholarship. If Youngho rejected that as well, the government would not allow building a medical institution. The reason that there was a shortage of people in the medical field of Kazakhstan was that all of the talented doctors had left the country to seek for higher payments and accommodations.

“Thank you very much. Then, I’ll make it official that the government is training our medical students in the autonomous state for commissioned education.”

“Would other medical schools oppose this project?”

“No one’s going to refuse to raise the medical personnel of an underdeveloped side of a country. If they hear that elite Korean doctors would be teaching them, even already licensed doctors would want to be taught by them.”

People were being enrolled forcefully on Kazakhstan’s medical schools, and not because their academic performance was high. Since doctors were treated the same as other government officials, people did not feel the need to study hard.

The students who received education in the Arirang Autonomous State would probably come back to the state after serving in the government’s medical institutions because they would be paid highly and treated well unlike other Kazakh doctors. Youngho was also confident that he would make them fall in love with the autonomous state while they attended the medical institution.

They would usually spend about six years to complete their medical training. The students would feel homesick for being far away from their own hometowns. They would think about their days in the state once they leave since they were treated warmly and nicely by the state.

With the medical institution established, other colleges could be established as well in the future. Many talented students would be gathering at the state. It was all in Youngho’s head, but he was sure that he could make the state as the educational capital of the country. Then, the population of the state would naturally grow. He smiled while thinking about such an innovative idea.

Alexey Choi, the vice minister of the Department of Health, stayed at the state for two days to plan and discuss the establishment of the medical institution. As a Koryoin political figure, he was excited to support the autonomous state.

“Now, the government officials who are related to the establishment of the medical institution will visit the state often from now on. They might bring their family members who are ill. The ones who are ill could be a bother but please treat them warmly. You should make them friendly to the autonomous state.”

This was some sort of a free medical trip for high officials. This could be a good chance to make friends with high officials.

“That’s also what I wanted. I have not been introduced to mainstream society. I shall make acquaintance with high officials this time.”

“You’re close with the president. You don’t need such steps but I heard that you’re close with the Department of Defense.”

Youngho was not just close to the Department of Defense. The Countryside Force was part of it now. He had given light-armored vehicles to the Kazakh Army as gifts, took the navy’s coastal patrolling position, and helped to break the ice on the ocean for naval vessels. He was also in the process of recruiting Lieutenant Commander Victor Jun to be the person in charge of the Countryside Force of the state after he retired from the Navy.

“Well, do you know Lieutenant Commander Jun of the Navy?”

“I know him well. He’s one of the few Koryoin field-grade officers in the Department of Defense.”

“Our state has taken the job of the Maritime Police, which is under Lieutenant Commander Jun’s section.”

“He must’ve received the President’s private consent.”

“I’m not sure about that. It’s just a simple recovery job for maritime police.”

“The Department of Defense acts like the president’s arms and legs. Well, I’m glad that you’re in good terms with the Department of Defense. It’s an organization that was a little rough but I’ve got to admit that they are also a loyal group. The reason that we still survive as a country is because the Department of Defense is still doing its job.”

Although the Kazakh military could not be compared to Russia and China’s force, Kazakh people had pride in their military since it was their last bastion. Also, as Alexey Choi said, the organization was not as corrupted as other parts of the government yet.

***

The original plan was to have the team of doctors train only the medical personnel of the next generation within the state after the hospital was built in the autonomous state. However, it had now expanded to the establishment of the central medical school of the west side of Kazakhstan.

The Arirang Autonomous State would naturally become famous in the country no matter what because a major general hospital would be built along with the medical school, and people all over Kazakhstan ]would come to get medical treatments from elite Korean medical team.

It was as if Alexey Choi, the vice minister of the Department of Health, had lightened the way of the autonomous state for its future. He had suggested a way for the state to become a role model to respect, not a subject of jealousy. If people could receive high-quality medical training and medical service from the autonomous state, everyone would welcome the existence of the state. On top of that, voluntary medical service of the medical teams in the remote places of the country could be added, the autonomous state’s reputation would increase as well.

“You look like an angel on the outside but there’s a wolf sitting inside you.”

“Why are you talking like this?”

“I don’t know. That’s what I see with my eyes. It will worth a Nobel prize for peace if you build a medical school and general hospital, and do voluntary medical services. But, you’re thinking about buying attack helicopters and missiles in your mind. Isn’t that a wolf or what?”

Fatima and the children were already asleep after playing in the water all day long.

The three friends were now enjoying the summer night as they sipped on wine.

“Dude. This hyung had read Vice Minister Choi’s heart.”

“Okay, okay. Why don’t you give him an honorary residential certificate for the autonomous state already?”

Jong-il was teasing Youngho but his face was bright.

He was genuinely happy to hear that the autonomous state would be establishing a medical school. The medical school would be a great strength and cover of the state, which could protect the state from outside influences.

“Mehehe…”

“You’re disgusting, man. You must be extremely happy to laugh like that.”

“Sure I am. We can do anything with this cover, man. Nobody’s going to doubt that we’re gathering weapons and raising intelligence force in the back. The agents are almost done with their training. I should send them for assignments now and make a base in advanced in Almaty as soon as possible to collect information.”

“Move after the hotel construction is done. Those agents are still inadequate. I think they’ll get caught soon.”

“I’ve waited for too long. When you’re in a rush, you need to eat the food right away, not wait until your gourmet meal is done. Hey, I was thinking to train female agents too this time. What do you think?”

“Why, have you seen someone who’s plausible?”

“Remember Katya? She’s done the same and she did a great job at it. I just want to prepare for the future because I know we’ll need some women in our team.”

The state was busy with the establishment of the medical school.

The conference room in the administration building was crowded every day to map out the medical college and general hospital. Even Im Min-soo, the newly assigned president of the highway project joined the meeting and shared his insight.

“Mr. Lee. You need to make sure that the building you’re trying to build is decent once you start to build them. It’s not realistic to say that you’re going to expand the buildings in the future if there’s a demand. Do you think it’ll make sense to undergo construction works when there are people in your wards?”

“It’s better than building a huge building and being left with empty and useless rooms.”

Kim Chun made an opposing opinion.

“We’ve got plenty of space on our land. Why would we have to expand the buildings? We can build a regular-sized building and if there is more demand, we can build another one next to it.”

The construction director Min also joined their argument.

“Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves now? We don’t even know how many students are going to be there.”

As Kim Dong-sung, the head of the medical team drove a wedge in their conversation, Kim Chun quickly led the conference with another item on the agenda.

There were different opinions and opposing views from the conference since the conference room was an open-air market, but Youngho had a big grin on his face.

The autonomous state was never this lively before. Even though many immigrants had moved in and there were kids playing in every corner of the streets, this was not a moment that could be compared to those in his view. It was because the leadership group had never discussed anything with bright smiles on people’s faces.

Everyone was enjoying telling his opinion since they were full of pride for the autonomous state. They now no longer worried about the state’s future. It was all because of the medical school project. The residents also were glad to hear the news. They now had new hope in their hearts.

“Alright. Now, I think we’ve had a constructive meeting today and shared enough opinions on our issues. Why don’t we call it a day and go river fishing together? I’ll treat you with the precious drink that I saved.”

“I saw a container arrived yesterday. Do you have Korean soju?”

Kim Dong-sung was fond of drinking as much as Youngho.

“Oh, you got me. But doctor, don’t you have work today?”

“Since I’m the head of the hospital, I should give chance for my juniors to treat patients.”

“Hahaha… Alright. The raw trouts are waiting for us. Let’s hurry there together.”

It was already past four in the afternoon.

The so-called drink hour of drinkers was getting closer.

People’s backs leaving the conference room looked lively as never before.