Harbor

Chapter 2: Clash

The sun was setting low over Seorak, casting long shadows across the village square, where children usually played and elders exchanged stories over tea. But today, the air was thick with tension. The villagers had gathered, forming small, tight-knit groups, murmuring amongst themselves. Min Hwan stood at the center, hands clenched, eyes fiery with frustration. Beside him, Kyung Won remained calm, his posture relaxed, yet his jaw was set in quiet resolve.

It had all started when Min Hwan proposed a new system for the village's healthcare—baseline health checks for all residents, followed by the creation of personal medical records. It was standard practice in the city, a way to ensure early detection and treatment of illnesses. But here, in Seorak, the idea wasn't met with the same enthusiasm.

"You want to keep records of our lives?" an elderly man named Mr. Han had scoffed earlier that day during the village meeting. "I've lived 70 years without needing a doctor to write down my every cough."

Min Hwan had smiled politely then, explaining the importance of preventative care. "It's not about invading your privacy," he had said. "It's about ensuring you're healthy, and if there's something wrong, we can catch it early."

But that explanation didn't sit well with most of the villagers. Now, as more gathered in the square, the murmurs of discontent grew louder.

"We've survived this long without needing fancy city doctors telling us what's wrong," Mrs. Park chimed in, her arms crossed over her chest.

Kyung Won stepped forward, his voice steady as he addressed the crowd. "We have to consider everyone's opinions. The elders have a point. They're used to their ways. You can't force them into something they don't understand."

Min Hwan spun around to face him, incredulous. "So, what? We just sit back and wait until someone's on death's door to do something? This isn't about the past, it's about preventing the future!"

"It's about respect," Kyung Won said calmly, though his eyes flickered with something sharper. "You're a newcomer here. You can't just bulldoze your way through their lives."

"Respect?" Min Hwan snapped, his frustration boiling over. "I'm trying to help them! Can't you see that?"

The crowd shifted uncomfortably, sensing the rising tension. They weren't used to this kind of confrontation. Seorak was a quiet place, where disagreements were settled over a bottle of makgeolli, not public debates.

"Help them or control them?" Kyung Won asked, his voice low but pointed. "They don't want a stranger writing down their medical history like they're in some hospital database."

"This isn't about control!" Min Hwan shot back. "This is about protecting them. What if someone has high blood pressure or diabetes and doesn't know? What if—"

"We've survived this long without your tests and records," Mrs. Park interrupted, her voice rising above the crowd. "What makes you think we need them now?"

"Because things are different now!" Min Hwan yelled, his voice cracking slightly. "You don't have a doctor here. You don't have access to proper healthcare. You think herbal teas and rice wine can cure everything? That's not how it works!"

There was a collective gasp from the crowd. The villagers exchanged glances, their faces hardening at the insult to their traditional remedies.

Kyung Won's gaze darkened as he stepped closer to Min Hwan. "That's enough." His tone was quiet but commanding. "You don't understand the bond these people have with their traditions. You can't just insult their way of life."