[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters] Professor Choi Sang-rim "Learning Life and Writing from Go Game Review"

'22nd Hanmi Essay Literary Award' Grand Prize Winner
Writing is Reflecting on the Past and Present
Frequently Writing Short Pieces Amid Busy Daily Life

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] "Writing is an act of reflecting on my past and present. I hope Asia Economy readers also take time occasionally to 'review' their daily routines."

At the beginning of this month, Professor Choi Sang-rim, a radiology specialist at Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, who proudly won the grand prize at the 22nd Korea-America Essay Literary Award and officially debuted in the literary world, spoke about the charm of writing. The person who inspired him was his cousin, who became a professional Go player in the first year of middle school. At that time, Professor Choi, then in his late 20s, was fascinated by how his cousin always reviewed the Go games he played at home after each match. Professor Choi said, "I was always amazed at how he could remember all the moves and replay the game from the beginning," adding, "I think it was because he carefully considered each move. I also realized how important the review process is for professional Go players." For Professor Choi, writing is like the Go game reviews his cousin always did. It provides an opportunity to look back on oneself and grow through the repetition of daily life.

The work that won the grand prize at the Korea-America Essay Literary Award also emerged from this process of reflection. Professor Choi's piece, "The Military Song of a Breast Cancer Patient," recounts an episode where a woman in her 50s undergoing treatment for breast cancer sang a military song. Generally, radiology is associated with diagnosing painful areas using various imaging devices, but Professor Choi specializes in 'intervention,' a procedure where radiation is administered to patients in real time. When chemotherapy drugs are repeatedly injected into peripheral veins, the harsh chemicals damage the blood vessels. This makes it difficult for medical staff to perform intravenous injections repeatedly, so a device called a 'chemoport' is implanted in cancer patients starting chemotherapy to facilitate future drug administration. This relatively simple procedure, which does not take long, was just part of Professor Choi's ordinary routine.

However, this woman in her 50s changed his perspective completely. While waiting under anesthesia for the chemoport insertion, the sound of the "Torch of Anti-Communism" military song struck Professor Choi's ears. When he asked why she suddenly sang a military song, she replied, "Military songs are sung when you are scared and need strength. I learned it from my son yesterday to sing during today's procedure." While he had often seen patients cry from the sorrow and confusion of being diagnosed with cancer and starting chemotherapy, this was the first time he saw a patient overcome fear by singing a military song. Professor Choi recalled, "At that moment, I realized that my repetitive daily actions were breaking the patient's routine," and "This experience led me to reflect on the hospital as a place where the doctor's routine and the patient's extraordinary experience meet, and to reconsider my relationship with patients."

Professor Choi Sang-rim of the Department of Radiology at Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, who won the Grand Prize at the 22nd Hanmi Essay Literature Awards for "The Military Song of Breast Cancer Patients." Professor Choi describes writing as "a time to 'review' daily life."
[Photo by Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital]

The judges praised Professor Choi's work, saying, "The subversion that occurs when a military song, usually sung by healthy bodies in chorus, is transformed into a song sung alone by a frail woman blends two people who were divided like black and white, creating a single color called 'life.' The piece shines with careful observation of the patient's mind facing a grueling treatment process and reflection on the hospital as a space where the doctor's routine and the patient's extraordinary experience intersect (source: )." Professor Choi smiled and said, "It was an honest piece, but the result was more than I deserved."

Despite his busy schedule, Professor Choi continues writing. During procedures that last from 10 minutes to 3 hours, there are moments when a patient's brief words or actions feel particularly meaningful. He said, "It's not easy to write with intention," but added, "I sometimes jot down short notes on my phone's memo app while moving around or lying in bed before sleep. I then expand those brief notes into full pieces." He also continues efforts to improve his writing. Although he no longer reads as much as before, during his university days he would sit alone in a corner of the library reading books. Professor Choi said, "I write, repeatedly read, and revise. I don't edit immediately after writing but read it the next day to fix awkward parts and supplement lacking areas. After many repetitions, the writing becomes more natural and readable."

Writing helps maintain not only physical health but also mental well-being. It is an optimized activity for personal growth. Professor Choi praised writing, saying, "Writing is reviewing my daily life, which makes me want to become a better person." He concluded his essay "The Military Song of a Breast Cancer Patient" with, "Of course. We will do our best too."