(Artificial City)
(All people, places, organizations, and incidents appearing in this series are entirely fictional.)
(Episode 13)
LEAVE THE TRAGEDY OF HYEONGSAN-DONG OUT OF POLITICS
Let's go.
Jun-hyeok, you eat such rustic food.
Rustic?
I'm sorry we couldn't serve you something better.
It's fine. I'm just glad that this isn't the emergency room.
- Enjoy. - Thanks.
Thanks.
Jun-hyeok, I've always wondered.
Why do you do that?
This?
You cover the brand name when you pour.
Old manners from my prosecutor days.
My seniors were very strict.
Oh.
It seemed stupid at first.
I thought they were making a big deal out of nothing.
- It is nothing. - Maybe not.
But they use such manners to show that they have hegemony.
That's an exaggeration.
And I don't care about such things.
Have you ever been to the Majang-dong Meat Market?
My dad took me there when I was young.
They'd sell pork hock in big iron pots.
Have you ever tried boiled pig tail?
Pig tail?
You eat that?
It's a delicacy only true pork-lovers know about.
I have a question.
Why did you assume that I wouldn't eat such foods?
Well…
Why did you think I wouldn't eat such lowbrow
and common foods?
What was your logic?
It's because you are acutely aware of society's status quo.
You just don't want to admit it.
That's why you despise
the etiquette practiced by those in power.
But Dong-min,
the sad thing is
that those who are in power
don't give a thing about what you think.
Why?
Because you are not a threat to them.
They recognize that.
So if you want what you think to truly matter,
you have to earn the recognition of those who have power.
It's… quite ironic,
isn't it?
Here.
Have a drink.
Cheers.
Come with me, Yi-seol.
Take that bandage off.
You should take it off since it's wet.
Let me see.
It's almost healed. You won't need ointment.
Why are you doing this?
You could have been
in serious trouble if things had gone south.
Just play along.
I have to do this.
You said you were on my side.
(Artificial City)
Good work.
This isn't for you,
so just take it.
Take your staff out to dinner.
Thank you, sir.
If only I hadn't heard that
No Yeong-ju gave birth to a kid,
then,
I would have tried to stand my ground.
Things went awry
just because of the money.
Nowadays,
my knees are killing me.
Jeong-ho,
you should have gotten to the bottom of things.
You only found out half the truth.
The kid's not No Yeong-ju's.
It belongs to the girl Yeong-ju was rooming with.
Was it because of the child?
Was that why you wanted to make Jae-hui and Jun-hyeok get divorced?
What were you going to do after the divorce?
What?
You're asking me if
I wanted to become Jun-hyeok's wife?
You think I wanted to
steal Mrs. Yun's husband and find my child,
is that it?
Is that the kind of person
you think I am?
I don't care what your true intentions were.
You won't be able to bring back your child.
Your child died
two years go.
Why did you marry such a man?
You should have married a man who would never do such a thing.
You're a good person.
And
I had a child.
Can't you just divorce him?
Please stop.
It's all over now.
No.
It's only the beginning.
There's no reason for me to hesitate.
What are you going to do?
You shouldn't involve Jae-hui
in a matter that's between you and Jun-hyeok.
What difference will it make if you tell Jae-hui everything?
Will you help me?
If you promise
- that you'll leave quietly. - If you won't help,
then don't interfere.
Yi-seol!
[WE HOPE THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS A SUCCESS!]
How likely
is it for a man
to be unable to remember the face of a woman he slept with?
Or,
was I too stupid to notice it?
Jae-hui,
it's not your fault.
What the hell.
Did you know about this?
Don't try to understand it
or do anything to resolve the situation.
Since when?
Since when did you know about it?
First, take a seat.
I'll explain it to you.
Why did you pretend you didn't know?
How could you do this to me?
How could you betray me like this?
- Congratulations, Dong-min. - Thank you.
- Congratulations. - Thanks.
- Thank you! - Dong-min!
"Excellence in reporting."
"Han Dong-min of JBC."
This is fantastic.
What are you preparing for your next story?
I'm going to report on the real estate speculation of government officials.
I'm getting so many leads.
It seems that lots of people are angry about it.
Now,
Dong-min will replace Jun-hyeok
as the star of our newsroom.
I wouldn't dare presume…
Why not?
You have a passionate sense of responsibility
and you're not too bad to look at, either.
Will you please stop, director?
Laughing?
What's so funny?
Get to work, now!
Get me a story.
Hey! Where do you think you're going?
Come over here!
[KIM YI-SEOL]
The phone you dialed turned off. Please leave a message…
Serendipity.
That's the perfect word to describe this situation.
It's perfect timing
for the Minister of Land scandal.
Korean reporters
are quite excellent, aren't they?
This could be the source of unnecessary misunderstandings.
It would be a travesty
if people begin to suspect
that Prosecutor General Cho and Mr. Jung Jun-hyeok are in cahoots.
That's--
That seems like an unnecessary concern.
Who in the world knows
that we're behind the investigation into Minister Park?
Unless,
the Chief Editor of the Hanju Daily
leaks the secret.
Stop talking nonsense!
I know you obtained the rights to redevelop
Hyeongsan-dong by offering to stop the investigation
into the Minister of Land.
But…
you can't let anything like
the incident from 7 years ago happen again.
While Mr. Jung Jun-hyeok was
able to overcome the negative sentiment over his father's past misdeeds,
if such a travesty were to recur,
that would sound a death knell to Mr. Jung's presidential aspirations.
That would be a catastrophe.
We can't let
Congressman Min's sacrifice for our greater goal
go to waste. That's something that
we cannot let happen.
Chairman Jung,
please be careful of your actions.
Okay?
If
such a thing were to…
I've heard enough!
Since we're on the subject,
let's go over exactly what happened.
See exactly what happened seven years ago
and who's truly at fault.
Is there anyone here
who can claim innocence
and has the right to point fingers?
I'm sorry.
I'll make sure that
what you're worried about
doesn't happen again.
I don't care
what others say about me.
I can just let it slide.
But how could you apologize for me?
You should have stood up for me.
You said you needed funds for Jun-il to expand
Sungjin Trade and Apparel.
So in order to obtain those funds,
I did everything I could,
even kowtowing to those bastards.
I know
that you feel deeply wounded
because of all the ridicule
you've received in your life.
I know that people say
you struck it rich
by marrying an unwed mother.
How could I not?
It's not like I'm deaf.
If you know that,
how could you be so harsh on me?
But that's why you were so ambitious.
All this time, you wanted to
reach a position of power and influence
in this family.
But I won't be held responsible
for the mistakes you made because of that ambition.
So, don't drag me down
to your level
ever again.
It was that day
seven years ago
when you had a gathering with them over the Hyeongsan-dong demolition?
I'm going to check out some desks.
I don't think I can go with you.
Everyone is on standby because of the Hyeongsan-dong demolition.
Just focus on your work.
I'll take care of everything.
It hasn't been that long since you became the main anchor.
Focus on work.
But it's our wedding anniversary.
I'll take you somewhere nice for dinner.
Jae-hui,
why don't you just get a divorce?
No!
I can't do that.
Jung Jun-hyeok is mine.
I made him.
I won't let anyone else have him.
Yi-seol might not be trying to take him.
She might have been sincere
when she said she'd protect you.
Did she get to you, too?
If Yi-seol reveals everything,
that we created a fake alibi for Cho Gang-hyeon
and closed the case on No Yeong-ju's death…
Yi-seol
knows everything.
She could even reveal
that she had a child with Jun-hyeok.
She sold her body
in order to make money.
She's in no position to reveal anyone's wrongdoings.
Didn't she say she'd protect me?
Tell her to keep her promise.
Hi, honey.
Is something the matter?
[HAN DONG-MIN]
Hello, Dong-min.
Hi.
Have you talked to Yi-seol today?
Why do you ask?
I wasn't able to get through to her.
So, I came to her place,
and her door is open, but no one is here.
It's strange.
I'm sure there's a reason.
But I don't know everything about her.
Who is it?
What's going on?
Yi-seol!
What is it?
Who's there?
What is it?
What's going on?
Yi…
Yi-seol!
Wake up!
- Let's get her inside. - OK.
Wake up!
[LEAVE THE TRAGEDY OF HYEONGSAN-DONG OUT OF POLITICS]
She'll be fine. She just needs some rest.
Thank you, doctor.
Was it those bastards that assaulted you?
I don't know.
We'll have to find out more.
But they must have attacked Yi-seol.
They're using the people around you to pressure you.
Yi-seol hosted the talk concert with Jun-hyeok so…
Excuse me.
[LEAVE THE TRAGEDY OF HYEONGSAN-DONG OUT OF POLITICS]
Do you know how late it is?
What?
What are you saying?
Kim Yi-seol?
Who is that?
Hello?
Why don't you answer me?
She's a staff member at the gallery.
She appeared in the talk concert with Jun-hyeok.
So?
What does she have to do with me?
You didn't tell Mother
about what we did together, did you?
I'm not stupid.
You told me that Han-suk was pretending to be for Jun-hyeok
but she had Ju-yeon secretly plot against him.
That's why you wanted a truce
so that we could protect Jun-hyeok together.
I said that
I wouldn't let Mother use me again.
No. It's nothing serious.
I'll tell you after I resolve the matter.
Open the door.
Yes, I understand, Father.
I'll call you later.
What's going on?
What?
Why would you lock the door
and call Father in the middle of the night?
Hasn't everything been resolved?
You received permission
to redevelop Hyeongsan-dong by threatening to leak
your files on Park Man-jae and pinning the assault on him.
What happened today has nothing to do with that.
Then what's the meaning of this?
Someone must have found out it was fake.
What?
I was behind
the assault.
It was Father and I
We did it together.
Hello, detective.
I'm sorry for calling you so late.
Something urgent came up.
Someone close to me was assaulted
but I can't report it
through official channels.
Yes.
Are you crazy?
What do you think will happen
if Dong-min were to find out about it?
So,
I should have just stood by
as Ju-yeon plotted against you with Congressman Min
and waited to see how Mother would react?
All the while, worrying about whose side Mother would take?
You should have discussed it with me!
I know about the child you had
with another woman.
Mother told me.
She knew that Father was
desperately searching for the whereabouts of the child.
Mother might even know
the identity of the woman who gave birth.
Today's incident
is most likely a warning from Mother.
To have Yi-seol assaulted and left outside of our place
could be a warning from Mother to me,
so that I don't try to assert my independence.
Or it could be a warning to you so that you'll stop acting in a way
that will dent her plans for you.
I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.
I'll get going now.
How is Yi-seol?
She's sleeping deeply.
I called a detective that I know.
I asked him to help me find the bastard that attacked Yi-seol.
I thought it would be better than calling the police
since I didn't want Jun-hyeok to be fodder
for any unpleasant gossip.
It's probably better than to
call this into the police officially.
Yes, you're right.
Yi-seol
really likes you a lot.
She says that you've been nice to her
and helped her out a lot.
She said that she wanted to repay you.
You must be tired. Get some rest.
I'll call you tomorrow.
Okay.
I'll see myself out.
Good night.
I'm leaving, Jun-hyeok.
Good night.
Drive safe.
Jun-hyeok,
don't let this weaken your resolve.
I'll protect you.
Okay.
Get up. I know you're not sleeping.
Did you see who did it?
No.
It wasn't anyone from Sungjin.
I checked.
Jun-hyeok doesn't seem to recognize you at all.
Do you have feelings for him?
Or
did you plot with No Yeong-ju
to blackmail men you've slept with?
Don't say such things.
I know you're the one who sent the sex video
to Madam Kwon.
Do you have videos of Jun-hyeok, too?
You just wait
until I decide what I'm going to do with you.
In the meantime, you can
mourn for your dead child.
Hyeon-wu,
I'm sorry I can't take you to kindergarten, honey.
It's all right.
Daddy is taking me.
- I'll see you at dinnertime. - Okay.
Bye, Mom.
Bye.
- Please give her her meals on time. - Yes, ma'am.
Excuse me.
What are you doing in here?
Your meal is ready.
Come with me.
Okay.
Yi-seol was kidnapped and assaulted?
This neighborhood
is full of vacancies, and people only care about redevelopment.
It'll be tough to find out who did it.
So, where is Yi-seol right now?
At my house.
What are you trying to do?
Please find out who's behind this.
I have my suspicions,
but I want to be sure.
Chairwoman Seo knows who Kim Yi-seol is?
Maybe she just found out or maybe she knew all along.
I'm going to ask her.
So please hurry.
[LEAVE THE TRAGEDY OF HYEONGSAN-DONG OUT OF POLITICS]
How did it go?
Nobody's reported the assault to the police.
She hasn't reported it even though a staff member was
kidnapped and assaulted?
She's a scary girl.
What's he
doing there?
Well,
Mrs. Yun told me to leave him alone.
Let me see that.
Can you explain this to me?
How did you…
Jae-hui seems to know that
I was the one who sent her the present.
I'll have to call her in and talk to her.
I want to know
why she's doing things without my permission again.
It's been a long time.
So, what's the occasion?
Why did you want to see a nobody like me all of a sudden?
I'll take the same.
How was it the first time
you met Madam Kwon?
Is that why you called me here?
Why do you want to know?
You're so mean.
You know what she said?
She said she couldn't believe
what she was going through.
Yet, she was smiling as if it wasn't bothering her at all.
I'm just wondering how she felt as she took her husband's mistress
and child into her home.
There's just one reason she took me in.
She didn't want her husband going behind her back.
She wanted her
husband to be open about his affairs.
That made me feel so pathetic.
When we were going behind her back,
I felt a sense of superiority.
Like I was better.
I was completely taken because Gang-hyeon
told me that I was his love and that he didn't care for his wife.
How pathetic.
You're right.
I regret it.
I was pathetic and stupid.
But you know what's even worse?
Gang-hyeon had no sense of guilt.
He became bold about his indiscretions.
Before, he was scared to get caught.
But he completely changed overnight.
He knew that she would never divorce him
so he became confident
and took on even more mistresses.
What an ass!
That's how power is.
You become confident
even when you do wrong.
No matter how badly you behave
and how much you lie,
it doesn't affect you a bit.
You probably won't divorce him because of all the effort you put in.
It's your choice.
You can keep him by your side and harass him
or you can send him away and feel anxious.
Your husband will behave differently depending on what you choose.
Don't forget that.
Okay?
What's the occasion?
I'm just thinking of old times.
Jun-il, you, Eun-jeong, and I used to come here to drink.
It could still have
been that way if you hadn't married Jae-hui.
- Jun-hyeok! - Hi, Sis.
You're disappointed that I'm here, aren't you?
Is Ju-yeon bothering you again?
- You want me to scold her? - Yes.
I'm just joking.
It's not like that.
Where's Jae-hui?
She's in no mood to be drinking with us right now.
You're so clueless.
It must be tough for you, Ju-yeon.
Now isn't that the truth.
Jun-il,
you should take care of Ju-yeon.
She's going around causing trouble
because you don't pay enough attention to her.
Hey!
What are you saying, Jun-hyeok?
Did something happen?
You shouldn't try to stab me in the back.
You and I are family, after all.
What will people say if they find out?
I'm not running for president
purely for my own interests.
It's just a role I have to play
for the good of the Sungjin family business.
Just as Jun-il
has to become chairman even though he doesn't want to.
Am I wrong?
Well, am I?
Nobody forced you to marry a woman like Jae-hui.
She's my woman and I chose her.
If you don't like it, then you get a divorce.
- Are you done? - I'm sorry, Jun-hyeok.
I'll make sure
that such a thing never happens again.
Mommy!
Is she in the room?
She went out with Han Dong-min, the reporter.
You can get CCTV footage without a subpoena.
All you have to do is put in a request.
If you give me power of attorney,
I can put in the request for you.
Thank you.
I'm sorry that I can't do
anything more for you.
I hope you don't mind
if I become someone that
you can rely on
and ask for help.
- Mommy. - Yes?
Let's play dominoes after dinner.
Okay.
I hope Yi-seol comes back soon.
What do you mean?
There aren't any CCTVs?
The area's been slated for demolition.
So, there aren't any CCTVs around that area.
How about the CCTVs in front of my home?
There must be footage of the man who left Yi-seol there.
I sent you a video, so take a look.
It's from a dashcam of a car in front of the manager's office of your home.
The manager
said that the CCTVs were down
temporarily last night because of a malfunction.
That's all I need to know.
Now, I just need to hear Mother's explanation.
I'll ask her
why she is treating me badly again.
Yi-seol!
Come play dominoes with me!
You should brush your teeth first, Hyeon-wu.
Come on!
Do as I say.
Okay.
What did Dong-min say?
He said we could find
the assailant even without reporting the incident to the police.
He seemed very worried for you.
So, why didn't he report it to the police?
Why didn't you report it?
That's because
me and my husband are more important than you.
It's more important
that everything goes according to plan.
It's more important
that we don't become fodder for rumors.
That's also why Dong-min didn't report it to the police.
He may be concerned for you,
but he knows that Jun-hyeok is far more important for him.
Mommy is a liar.
Are you mad, Hyeon-wu?
You can play tomorrow.
I wanted to find Yeong-ju's killer
and take revenge.
If Madam Kwon killed her,
she wouldn't have killed herself
when she received the text from you purporting to be No Yeong-ju.
If it wasn't her,
I thought it would be you.
But you accepted me without a sliver of suspicion.
I played into your hands completely.
That's why I was going to tell you everything.
Did you think that telling me
about my husband's infidelities
and making me divorce him was truly for my benefit?
Yes.
I still think that.
I don't care what kind of man he is.
I told you that I accept it and I'm going to live with him.
It's none of your business.
You seem to have taken the moral high ground.
But then,
instead of pretending to care about me,
you shouldn't have slept with my husband to begin with!
You made me feel so pathetic.
How could you apologize to Jun-hyeok?
How could you apologize to him when you knew fully well
that Jun-hyeok called everyone together in order to embarrass me?
Did you have to play the good guy?
What do you mean?
I don't know how I have to behave
to play the good guy.
Is Jun-il home?
Yes, ma'am.
Tell him to come visit me.
Yes, ma'am.
Actually,
I shouldn't talk to him while my husband is around.
I'm no different from you.
Just as you're going after Jae-hui
in order to protect what's important to you,
I'm
trying to protect what's important to me
by refraining from saying things even when I want to.
So,
what you're saying is
that I'm not important to you.
Fine.
Now that I know how you truly feel,
it's fine.
Ju-yeon,
should we
get a divorce?
Tell Jae-hui to come visit me tomorrow morning.
Yes, ma'am.
Chairwoman Seo wishes to see you tomorrow at 9 AM.
Don't be late.
[DNA PATERNITY TEST RESULTS]
[RESUME, KIM YI-SEOL]
What is it?
Well…
I'm afraid I can't make it.
Please tell Mother that I'll contact her later.
I've solved my problem.
How about you?
Me, too.
I talked to Jun-il and Ju-yeon.
Good.
It would have been better if that hadn't happened at all.
That's how it'll be in the future.
I'm going to make sure
that no one dares to disrespect you or me in the future.
Just trust me.
If
that hadn't happened at all…
(Artificial City)
I had no other choice.
I trusted you so.
He didn't die.
Jae-hui
doesn't know the truth.
Everyone gets what they deserve.
You have to be responsible for your actions.
Say hello.
No one knows
how you've lived until now.
The game is over.
Jae-hui has everything.
Mother, you're finished.
I don't want to live
fearing what would happen if you decided to use
Jun-hyeok's problems against me, Mother.