The President's emergency address began at 01:17 a.m.
It wasn't a scheduled time.There was a script, but not a finished one.
It was that urgent.And that frightening.
Under the studio lights,the President's face looked paler than usual.The camera stubbornly held a straight-on angle,careful not to catch the sweat running down the back of his neck.
"Regarding today's emergency deployment incident,we take seriously the concern and distresscaused to the people."
The words were cautious.
But it was already too late.
Thirty seconds into the address,live viewership passed ten million,and comments poured in by the hundreds of thousands per minute.
— "Name the person responsible, not apologies."— "Is saving a child a crime?"— "Discipline him and we impeach you."— "Bring out whoever gave the order."
The President failed to read the next line.He paused to steady his breath.
In that pause,another breaking headline appeared at the bottom of the screen.
[Constitutional Court considers emergency review]
The control systemhad just been draggedonto the table of constitutional law.
Same time — Ministry of the Interior, basement conference room
The Minister threw the papers onto the table.
"Disciplinary action— suspended. All of it."
"Minister, then the chain of command—"
"The chain is already broken!"
His voice cracked.
"The public watched it live.A child's heart stopped.And saving him is what we're calling 'violation of orders'?"
The room fell silent.
No one answered.
The silence was brokenby a junior official.
"Citizens are… moving with the Doctor Trucks."
"What?"
"Spontaneous gatherings are starting nationwide.Securing ambulance access routes,traffic control,even medical professionals volunteering on site…"
He turned the screen.
On the map,lights began to appear.
One.Two.Ten.A hundred.
The entire countrywas connectinglike an emergency deployment route.
Hospital waiting area
Song Jaemin sat on a plastic chair.
The child's parentscouldn't speak.They only bowed their heads.
Song spoke first.
"He'll live."
It wasn't a medical declaration.It was a human promise.
Kang Doyun stood by the window.
Outside the hospital,people were already gathering.
No placards.No chants.
They were just standing there.
As if to say,We are here.
Then his phone rang.
Caller ID: Unknown.
He answered.
"This is Kang Doyun, correct?"
The voice was low.Authoritative.
"This is the Blue House."
A brief silence.
"There will be no disciplinary action."
Kang asked,
"And instead?"
The voice hesitated, then said—
"Instead…from now on,you are the standard."
The call ended.
Song Jaemin looked up.
"What does that mean?"
Kang Doyun replied slowly.
"When we move,the country follows."
At that moment,the TV caption in the hospital changed.
[BREAKING] Deployment Suspension Order Under Full Review— Emergency medical system shifts toward public–private joint operation
Song Jaemin closed his eyes.
And quietly said,
"So it begins."
That dawn,someone wrote in a record.
The day the state abandoned its order.
And at the bottom of that record,one final line was added.
"That day, the truck movedbefore the Constitution did."