9 a.m.The lights in Truck City's administrative building hadn't even fully turned on yet.Next to a monitor displaying server status, TF Team Leader Han Seo-jin set down her coffee.
"First… let's start taking calls."
Before she could finish the sentence—Riiiing—riiiing—riiiing—The first call came through.And that was just the beginning.
The phone lines exploded9:01 a.m.The main number blinked.9:03 a.m.Seventeen calls waiting.9:05 a.m.Every phone in the administrative office started ringing at once.
"Is this Truck City?""Can I apply now?""Do I qualify—?""Is this for sale or rent?""I'm out of town—do I need to be there today?"
Before one call ended, another came through.Someone paused mid-note to plug in their headset;someone else typed frantically while shouting:
"What's the server load?"The IT staff called back:"Right now—over 11,000 simultaneous connections!""Compared to yesterday?""Six times more!"A colleague murmured:"…This isn't just people applying for a home."
Kim Young-ah stared at the numbers accumulating in Excel."They've been waiting for this," she said.
Numbers that speak10 a.m.Applications attempted: 18,742Successful submissions: 4,103Waiting for consultation: over 9,000
Someone laughed."With 3,100 units, we'll be done by breakfast."
It was a laugh, but no one felt at ease.This wasn't about competition.It wasn't about eliminating people.It was a measure of how desperately people needed this city.
From the perspective of the first applicantHe had woken at 5 a.m.Turned off his phone alarm and immediately checked the screen:'Truck City Resident Application Announcement'
He had read it three times the night before.Security deposit.Loan limits.Parental support.None of it was available to him.
So he had hardly slept until morning.At exactly 9 a.m., his hands shook."Apply"Loading.Loading.Then the screen froze.
"Please…"
He refreshed. And then—Application complete.
He sat frozen for a long moment.It wasn't confirmed.He wasn't selected yet.And still, he breathed.For the first time, he thought:
"This is the first morning my heart hasn't sunk over a home."
Carefully, he sent a message:MomI applied for a homeThis time, it really feels like one
The reply didn't come immediately.But he didn't mind.For now, that was enough.
Back at the administrative officeNoon.The server was being upgraded for the third time,and the phones continued to ring.
"Is the medical center only for residents?""Does Dr. Truck operate at night too?"
The call center agent hesitated, then replied:"Yes. Even at night."
A brief silence.Through the line, a tearful breath:"…Then I'll apply."
The city began accepting peopleIn the operations meeting room, Kang Do-yoon silently watched the status board.
Someone asked,"Sir, with numbers like this—"
Do-yoon shook his head."Not yet."
"This isn't a success. It's not even a result."He wasn't looking at the application numbers.He was reading the notes on the calls:
"Living in a container with two kids.""Lost monthly rent every time we moved hospitals.""Had to quit work because we had no home."
Do-yoon spoke softly:"This isn't an application for residence…"
He paused."It's a request to return."
That day, the city officially began accepting people.And that fact weighed heavier than any number.
On a monitor in the administrative officeRemaining units: 3,100 → 2,947
Below it, a small line of text:From today, Truck City records people, not addresses.