If you take a plane from Seoul to Jeju Island, you'll find the Jeju Naval Base. After entering the naval base and submitting the application documents for the underwater base, you can board a ship after a lot of verification and waiting. Just when you feel like you're about to die from seasickness, vomiting, and despair, they will tell you to disembark from the large ship and board a helicopter.
I had never ridden a helicopter before in my life. It was only after riding one that I realized it was like a motorcycle that flies around. During the long, bumpy helicopter ride, I wondered hundreds of times if this helicopter would crash into the sea and why I hadn't taken out a life insurance policy before getting on it. Eventually, the helicopter landed.
It takes more than four days to reach the artificial island. I spent two days vomiting and felt my legs go weak as I barely managed to get off the helicopter. When I was barely able to regain my senses, someone supported my arm.
"Welcome to the underwater base. You must have had a tough time."
A woman, who seemed to be about two meters tall, was holding my wobbling arm. Surprised, I looked up to see a short-haired woman with brown hair smiling.
"I'm Kang Soo-jung. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Park Mu-hyun."
As we shook hands, Kang Soo-jung naturally took the suitcase I was holding.
"Are you the new dentist? We've been waiting for you."
"Does Ms. Soo-jung have bad teeth?"
Seeing my pale face, Kang Soo-jung shook her head. I felt like I would vomit if someone poked my side.
"It seems you don't have a very strong vestibular system. You look quite seasick. Do you need any medication?"
"I'll feel much better now that I'm off the helicopter."
"First, all medical facilities on this island are free. If you need medical assistance, you can go to the hospital anytime."
I asked for my suitcase back because it was heavy, but Kang Soo-jung carried my 30kg suitcase as if it were a handbag. We walked from the helipad towards the buildings. It felt like I could survive by walking on my own two feet.
"Shuhyeok drives the helicopter a bit roughly."
It seemed she was talking about the person who had flown the helicopter. I didn't know his name, but now Shuhyeok was my enemy. I tried to suppress the urge to vomit and managed to say:
"The helicopter did a 360-degree spin?"
"It seems you impressed him."
What does that mean? I had never seen a helicopter do a 360-degree spin and then drop vertically. Even a roller coaster at an amusement park wouldn't move like that. From the moment the pilot, who was grinning, told me to buckle up and promised a good show, I had to scream my lungs out. The person in the co-pilot seat thought I was screaming for fun and joined in, raising both arms.
"Sometimes the naval base sends helicopters to the underwater base. You can go back to Korea when they come. If you buy bread from the bakery in 3 Underwater Base, the pilots will be happy."
I see. I noticed that Kang Soo-jung was greeting the helicopter pilots and exchanging something in a large paper bag, which must have been bread.
"What's that?"
I asked about the large shopping bag that looked like it could fit two people. Kang Soo-jung smiled.
"This is a delivery for the Koreans staying at the underwater base. The helicopter brings it along when it comes. I don't know how long they've been waiting for you, just like they wait for the delivery truck."
"So the delivery was the main purpose?"
"Of course not. Both you and the delivery were the purpose."
But Kang Soo-jung couldn't hide her pleased smile as she looked at the large shopping bag filled with several cardboard boxes.
"Can I ask what you bought?"
What could be lacking in this underwater base? I didn't bring much luggage because I was told most things could be obtained here.
"I bought some cosmetics and a few manga. Others bought Korean snacks and ramen. Ae-young bought some earrings and clothes, and Ji-hyeok also bought clothes. Jae-hee bought sterilized banana milk in a box, but it doesn't seem to have come this time."
Kang Soo-jung stopped searching through the large shopping bag with her big hands, perhaps unable to find her items.
"Can you order food deliveries?"
"It's better not to, as you never know when they'll arrive. The cost of the helicopter trips is quite high. For urgent deliveries, you can ask the Americans, and they'll send it quickly. They seem to fly helicopters all the time."
"Does being here make you miss Korean food a lot?"
"I always miss it. I secretly make tteokbokki at night. If you really can't stand it, I can give you a cup of ramen when you come to my room."
"Thank you."
As we moved away from the helipad, I saw two large buildings that looked like hospitals and another large building next to them. Kang Soo-jung pointed to a building in the distance. However, I was busy looking at Kang Soo-jung's muscular arms, which were exposed in a short-sleeved shirt despite the cold sea breeze. Isn't she cold? Only after Kang Soo-jung urged me did I look at the hospital.
"The three buildings in front are the hospital buildings. The one next to them is the administrative building. Mr. Mu-hyun, you'll need to fill out some forms for your first visit. After that, go to Bakhodong 38. I'll put your suitcase in the room. Go to the one-story building over there and meet Ms. Priya Kumari. She's probably waiting for you."
Forms, Bakhodong 38, one-story, Priya Kumari. It seemed she wasn't planning to go with me. I asked Kang Soo-jung, trying to memorize the information she was rapidly providing.
"What do you do at the underwater base, Ms. Soo-jung?"
"I'm an engineer. Most people here are engineers, natural gas and oil extraction personnel, or marine researchers. I'm part of the engineering team. Just go straight. There's a central elevator on my side. Remember to take it down. See you later!"
"Thank you! See you later!"
Without really listening to my thanks, Kang Soo-jung started walking towards the hospital building at an incredible speed. My suitcase and the large shopping bag were dragged along and quickly disappeared. Soon, I was left alone next to a building painted light green. Feeling cold from the sea breeze, I quickly entered the one-story building and found Ms. Priya Kumari's room.