Chapter 16

Chapter 16Old steel(6)

The color drained from Joo Hanas face as she looked at the screen. She turned her serious gaze towards Yoon Jaegil and asked, Could it be that the color looks different due to a simple spoofing?

Yoon Jaegil was also paying attention and immediately responded, Its impossible for bolts used for this kind of bridge to have their surfaces peeled off due to external corrosion. And we did apply coating materials during the construction this year.

Right. So that means.

Joo Hana and Yoon Jaegil spoke almost simultaneously.

There might be a problem with the bolt manufacturing process.

It was because defective bolts with different levels of iron content were mixed in from the beginning.

Joo Hana began typing on the keyboard to find the company that supplied the bolts, while Yoon Jaegil immediately picked up his phone and called the head of the railway construction technology department.

Watching the two busy individuals, Song Boyeong tapped Jeong-woos shoulder.

Mr. Parachute.

What?

Have you found the cause?

I found it in the morning. And those two are now convinced.

Well, congratulations. Pat yourself on the back.

Jeong-woo smiled contentedly, thinking that all he had to do now was calculate the consulting fee.

Song Boyeong, who had become very quiet since getting on the bus, stood quietly next to Jeong-woo and watched Joo Hana and Yoon Jaegil work.

Has it been about five minutes?

Jeong-woo, who had been waiting patiently, asked Song Boyeong.

Senior, what do you usually do at the research institute?

Just this and that.

What do you mean by this and that?

I surprise the team leaders with innovative ideas at weekly meetings and work on various projects like a chief research scientist Oh, if youre curious, why dont you share one secret too, Mr. Parachute?

I wont ask.

But youve heard everything already!

At that moment, Yoon Jaegil, who was on the phone, suddenly raised his voice.

A press conference?

Yoon Jaegil, who had a surprised look on his face, whispered into his phone, holding it with both hands.

Im trying to find the cause and analyze it. To conduct a full inspection, we need at least a week for the results. Its impossible right now

Yoon Jaegil turned to Jeong-woo, who was standing still, and said,

Please wait. Mr. Han Jeong-woo, can you identify any problematic bolts on the site right away?

Probably.

How long will it take?

Just walking past it shouldnt take more than 30 or 40 minutes.

The movement of Joo Ha-na, who had been typing, froze. Someone was expecting a week and making hasty plans, but it was only 30 minutes. Yoon Jaegil also suppressed a groan and spoke into his phone.

Ill go there. Ill see you at the entrance, sir.

Yoon Jaegil, who ended the call, looked at Jeong-woo.

Yes, I heard hes going to help with that problem.

Coincidentally, related news was being broadcast on a flat-screen TV on one side, breaking news.

Turn up the volume a bit!

News Channel JVN

Today, just before the weekend, two incidents of structure collapse occurred on the Han River Bridge. Although there were no casualties, there were subway delays in the morning, and in the afternoon, two cars were damaged while trying to avoid falling debris on Gangbyeonbuk-ro.

As the anchor spoke, an interview with one of the victims appeared on the screen.

-After the subway passed, something suddenly fell in front of my car. I was startled and turned the steering wheel.

Lets connect with our reporter on the scene for more details. This is Reporter Son Seung-ho.

[Yes, this is Son Seung-ho. Im here at the site where the safety management team of Eugene Chemical, which has been delegated the maintenance work on the Han River Bridge from Korail and Seoul City, is stationed. Eugene Chemical is known to be managing a total of 20 bridges nationwide, including this one]

As soon as Yu Jin Chemical was mentioned, other researchers also showed interest and gathered in front of the TV.

That bridge repair was a major project. Was it Total Care?

Yes. The team leader there is quite famous. Even though she could have gone to the Chemical Research Institute, she chose Yu Jin Chemical.

Is it your junior colleague, Joo Hana? Shes a total drama queen.

But she was popular in college because shes pretty.

Osungju turned her head towards the noisy people.

Can you guys be quiet? Our colleagues might be there.

What? Why would our colleagues be there?

At that moment, a slender woman appeared on the screen.

Its Joo Hana.

[The interview with the relevant personnel has started. Lets listen to the live broadcast.]

-First of all, we apologize to the drivers who suffered from the unfortunate accident. In addition to the efforts of the local authorities and the railway company, Yujin Chemical will also compensate sincerely, and we plan to start inspections quickly to prevent such accidents from happening again.

[Citizens have great concerns about inadequate safety inspections. What measures do you have in place?]

-Fortunately, we expect that swift action can be taken with the help of experts.

[Who is the expert?]

-Lets meet him in person. Mr. Han Jeong-woo.

-What? Me? Oh, okay. Can I speak into this microphone? Hello, I am Han Jeong-woo from KG Chemical.

Hey, isnt he our intern? We saw him at the weekly meeting.

Look, isnt Boyeong also there?

What are they doing there?

-The inspection process is simple. Its just corrosion that occurred only in a specific rainwater collector, so you can tell right away after seeing it once.

[Is it true that Mr. Han Jeong-woo can find the places that even Yujin Chemical couldnt find in their two-month thorough inspection?]

-Well, honestly, Im not so sure about it myself.

[Are you saying that such accidents will happen again?]

-Im confident that I cant find them.

At that moment, the faces of all the researchers in Research Room 1 froze.