ICGE 01

Chapter 01

After Service
The tenth birthday of Kim Taejun was filled with white and black.

In the photograph buried beneath white chrysanthemums, his parents were smiling, yet no one else followed their smiles.

“Goodness, how pitiful. How could they close their eyes leaving behind such a young son….”

Instead of congratulating Taejun on his birthday, people offered their condolences.

The day before Taejun’s birthday, his parents, who were returning home after finishing an annual event, died in a traffic accident. There had been a small life growing in his mother’s womb, so three lives were lost.

The driver crossed the center line and failed to avoid an oncoming truck. No—he had sharply turned the steering wheel, saving his own life, but Taejun’s parents, seated in the back, died instantly on the spot. It was a catastrophe caused by drowsy driving.

Kim Seokwoo, the eldest son of Chairman Kim Jaepil of K Group and president of K Electronics, and Seol Jinhee, a former beauty pageant winner turned broadcaster. The tragic news of their deaths became a major issue in society. Reporters crowded in front of the funeral hall, and some even filmed inside.

Amid all the commotion, their only son, Kim Taejun, conducted the funeral with composure. On the day his parents died, he had cried out in disbelief, but as the busy situation unfolded, he gradually became calm and dignified. People were astonished at such maturity in a ten-year-old.

In truth, Taejun’s emotions remained locked deep inside.

“Grandfather, what about that man who killed Mom and Dad?”

After the funeral, in the car returning home, Taejun asked Chairman Kim Jaepil.

“Will he be executed? Or will he spend his whole life in prison?”

At the unexpected question, Jaepil pressed his lips into a thin line before speaking.

“We don’t know yet what will happen, but it won’t be the death penalty, nor life imprisonment. They say the sentence will probably be around one or two years.”

“Why? My mom and dad are dead.”

Taejun demanded, his eyes filled with anger. It was the first time his grandfather, who commanded the world with a vast corporation, seemed so powerless.

“Don’t you feel sorry for them, Grandfather? That man should live in prison for life. My dad was a president—what about his company? He should be made to compensate at least a hundred billion won!”

“We are people like that, Taejun.”

Jaepil spoke calmly, considering the child’s heart. It was a truth about the world the child had to learn—the unacknowledged burdens of those who live among the ruling class.

“The more you have, the more times you’ll be treated unfairly. No one will understand our grievances. No matter how much we hate the driver who caused the accident, we can’t push him to the edge. Even if we want to chase him to the ends of hell and make him suffer the same, we must forgive. That is what social status means.”

“……”

“It’s hard now, but someday you’ll understand.”

“No. Then I’ll give up that social status.”

At his grandfather’s persuasion, young Taejun clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

“I’ll just live forever cursing that man.”

When they arrived at the mansion and the gates opened, Taejun got out of the car first and ran off.

“Taejun!”

“Leave him.”

Taejun’s aunt, Seokhwa, called out quickly, but Jaepil stopped her.

Taejun ran and ran across the vast garden of the mansion. That was the greatest act of defiance a child like him could manage.

He knew well that he had more than others. But nothing he possessed could ever be exchanged for his parents.

From now on, the child would be alone for the rest of his life.

After running until he was out of breath, he found himself at the staff quarters. Through his tear-blurred vision, he saw a small girl of about six or seven years old, holding a lollipop in one hand and the hand of the mansion’s cook with the other.

She was a girl he had occasionally seen in the garden.

Han Soeun. Taejun quickly realized that she was the daughter of the driver who had caused the accident.

“Auntie, when is my dad coming? Why hasn’t he come yet?”

The child asked, lifting her head with an innocent expression. The lollipop slipping in and out between her lips shone like her eyes. Her pale face, her short hair neatly braided.

She was a child who shone—so much that he could not forgive her.

Kim Seokhwa, president of the home appliance division of K Electronics, waited for her only nephew at a restaurant.

A few minutes after she was seated, she spotted Taejun.

Her nephew, now thirty years old.

Seeing him from afar, Seokhwa’s eyes were filled with satisfaction.

Before greeting his aunt, Taejun first showed courtesy to the waiter.

“Thank you.”

His polite attitude, his calm and low, gentle voice.

Though he had a kind impression, his broad shoulders and sturdy build gave him a dependable presence.

After sitting down, Taejun greeted her.

“I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

“No, I just got here too.”

Seokhwa couldn’t stop smiling at the growth of her nephew, now thirty, with no trace of boyishness left.

“Why do you get more handsome every time I see you? You’re absolutely glowing.”

It was a natural reaction from an aunt admiring her nephew’s looks. As if he heard such things often, Taejun merely stretched his lips in a faint smile.

Soon, the appetizers were placed on the table.

Even after meeting his only aunt for the first time in a year, Taejun remained composed. It was table etiquette ingrained through strict upbringing. In the quiet meal, without a single sound of chewing or utensils clashing, Seokhwa’s gaze returned to her nephew.

With the refined features inherited from his parents and an added elegance, he had become a perfect young man in every respect.

“Who’s going to take this one? Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

“If I did, would I have come back to Korea?”

“No women following you around?”

“That’s impossible.”

“There should be. Why not?”

“Well… maybe my personality isn’t great?”

“Right? Otherwise there’s no reason.”

At his aunt’s joke, Taejun chuckled.

“It’s about time you got married, Taejun.”

“I’ll live like you, Aunt—without getting married.”

“Do you think I’m not marrying? I can’t.”

As Seokhwa flared up, Taejun’s laughter grew. Dimples formed as his lips stretched. Seeing that, Seokhwa was suddenly reminded of her older brother who had died twenty years ago, and her heart tightened. Hiding her feelings, she continued gently.

“You could’ve come a little later. Then you’d have been appointed to the main headquarters.”

Originally, Taejun had been scheduled to return to Korea at thirty-one and take a position at K Electronics. She had heard it was a firm promise with his grandfather, so his early return puzzled her.

Having spent most of his adult life abroad except for military service, Taejun had been offered the position of head of the central headquarters of K Electronics Service upon returning. Though it came with the title of director, it might not have been satisfying for a third-generation chaebol educated in the Ivy League.

“Father went too far. How could he give something like a service center headquarters to his precious grandson? You should’ve started in the management strategy office of the holding company and received applause.”

“No. I’m the one who asked Grandfather to send me there.”

As Seokhwa complained about Chairman Kim Jaepil’s decision, Taejun immediately denied it.

“You asked for it yourself? Why?”

“Because I need after-service too.”

With a faint smile, Taejun answered and calmly continued his meal.

Seokhwa grew even more puzzled.

The basics of after-service are speed. Those who come to the center all have clear purposes, so their time must not be wasted.

But the service center was always packed. Even working frantically without time to go to the restroom, they couldn’t keep up with the influx of customers. The workload piling up far exceeded what was being resolved.

Sweat kept gathering on the bridge of her glasses. Soeun wiped it roughly with a tissue and immersed herself in her work again.

After taking unpaid leave and returning to the company a month later, she spent another month carefully watching her colleagues. She had left abruptly without explanation and returned just as suddenly, so they likely felt upset.

But it wasn’t something she could easily explain.

As she worked busily, fatigue built up and her body felt swollen, but she couldn’t speak of that either. After sending off one customer and before greeting the next, Soeun quickly lowered her arm and struck her legs hard.

It’s okay. You did well.

You saved a life.

She repeated it to herself again today.

Two months ago, Soeun had 65% of her liver removed. It was to save her boyfriend Yang Heeuk’s mother, Madam Kim Malhee.

After eight months of dating, she learned that Madam Kim Malhee was battling liver cancer. Heeuk had broken down in tears as he told her. It was the first time she had seen her always strong and gentle boyfriend cry so sorrowfully.

It was a great shock to Soeun as well. Madam Kim Malhee had always treated her kindly, cherishing her like a real daughter. She never demanded special treatment just because she had a lawyer son.

For Soeun, who had lived twenty-seven years being mistreated, the warmth of Heeuk’s family was like sunlight. As she lingered, wanting to step into that sunlight, Madam Kim Malhee first brought up marriage. Saying she would envy no one if she had a daughter-in-law like Soeun, she welcomed her warmly, telling her not to worry about gifts or dowry and to come as she was.

Thus, they began preparing for marriage and went together for a health checkup. Not even knowing what tests were being conducted, Soeun underwent various examinations as Heeuk suggested. On the day the results came out, Heeuk burst into tears as soon as he received them.

“Soeun, it’s good that you’re type O. I wish I were type O too…”

Only then did he tell her about his mother’s condition. He said he wanted to give his liver to his mother, but even their blood types didn’t match, and no one in the family was compatible.

In truth, liver transplants can be performed even if blood types differ, but they couldn’t ignore the possibility of complications.

That night, Soeun, who was found to be healthy and compatible with Madam Kim Malhee, couldn’t sleep. Though non-family members cannot donate organs, it was possible for those engaged to be married.

The woman who had asked her to become her daughter, and she herself who had already considered her a real mother.

She wanted to have a real mother. She wanted to believe she had a real family.

For someone who had never been loved, these were the people who gave her certainty of being loved. She wanted to repay them with even greater love. She also wanted to be loved forever.

And so, she made the biggest decision of her life.

“Mother, my liver will definitely match yours. I’ll undergo more detailed tests.”

After Soeun announced her decision, the tears that burst simultaneously from Heeuk and Madam Kim Malhee, and their overwhelmed expressions—she would never forget them.

Through further examinations, it was confirmed that Soeun’s organ was a perfect match.

Heeuk’s family rejoiced, calling it fate. Soeun also felt proud.

Organ donation between non-relatives requires very strict procedures. The donor’s pure intention, free from any coercion, had to be proven and approved by national authorities.

Soeun had to prove her sincerity through multiple interviews with a social worker and prepare thick stacks of documents. Though Heeuk handled most of the complicated paperwork, Soeun followed along each time.

Eventually, the preparations were completed, and Soeun lay on the operating table. There, she dreamed that the compass of her life was abruptly turning.

The surgery was successful.

And after the surgery, Soeun opened her eyes alone.

The severe pain from what she had lost in a single day, from the part that had been cut out, made even breathing difficult.

The first person to come upon hearing she had awakened was a nurse.

“Han Soeun, your surgery went well. It was laparoscopic, so the incision isn’t large.”

“What about Mother? And my guardian…?”

“They’re probably in her room. Since the recipient’s condition is more critical, everyone must be there.”

It was natural and unavoidable. Even as she accepted that fact, Soeun felt an emptiness inside.

After that, Soeun’s health was always placed behind Madam Kim Malhee’s recovery. Though she herself was hospitalized, she had to take care of Malhee.

After living such a life—not quite as a patient—and being discharged, the wedding preparations were pushed aside. Heeuk spent all his free time by his mother’s side, and instead of preparing for the wedding, Soeun visited the hospital.

Even while thinking everything was natural, she couldn’t help the growing sense of disappointment.

After finishing work diligently, Soeun headed straight to the hospital. There was a direct bus from Suwon to the Seoul hospital, but it still took quite a long time.

On the bus, Soeun made up her mind.

‘Still, I should talk about the wedding today. It’s better to reserve the venue early.’

She had toured wedding halls long ago but hadn’t made a reservation. After the health checkup and Malhee’s surgery schedule, everything had been delayed.

Now that her future mother-in-law was gradually recovering, it was time to resume preparations.

I should say it gently so I don’t upset her.

If we set a date, she’ll feel encouraged and recover faster.

Filling her mind with hopeful thoughts, Soeun headed toward the hospital room.

Voices were coming through the slightly open door. They were Madam Kim Malhee and Yang Heeuk.

“Was her name Choi Hyunji? You said she works at the same law firm.”

“Yes. She’s a colleague lawyer.”

“She seemed very polite. Even with how busy she must be, she came to visit a colleague’s mother. Is she married?”

“She’s single.”

“Her age?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“Same age as Soeun.”

A deep sigh from Madam Kim Malhee could be heard through the door.

“She’s really pretty. It feels like a waste…”

At her trailing words, Soeun, who had been about to grab the doorknob, let go.

“You have so many pretty and smart girls around you. With both parents alive and good family backgrounds.”

“Girls with both parents alive and good backgrounds don’t donate their liver to my mother.”

Soeun quickly raised her empty hand and covered her mouth.

Madam Kim Malhee’s lament continued.

“I’m the sinner. I gained a liver at the cost of my son’s bright future…”

“Don’t say that. Being sick isn’t a sin, Mom.”

“……”

“Just think positively and focus on your recovery.”

Heeuk comforted his grieving mother.