When I started,
I was appointed to the Central Prosecutors' Office.
The Chief Prosecutor gathered the new prosecutors, like myself,
and asked us this question while making us drink.
"A serial killer and the chairman of a conglomerate
were arrested together.
You can indict only one of them.
Who will you indict?"
The responses were amusing.
Some said they would indict the chairman and build their careers.
Some said, "Of course, you must lock up the serial killer.
What are you talking about?"
They even started to fight amongst themselves in front of him
over who was right.
Then, it was my turn.
It was my turn, so...
I asked the Chief Prosecutor
if I could be totally honest, and he said I could.
So I was totally honest and said exactly what I felt deep inside.
This...
This is what I said.
"I would lock up the chairman and turn him into a serial killer."
That's what I said.
Do you understand what kind of a person you've been sitting with, Chairman Jo?
Me.
I can accomplish it if I put my mind to it.
Get them.
You know
how firmly the current VIP feels about conglomerate reform.
Come in for questioning
and take your punishment before things get bigger.
You started as a gangster
and became the owner of a conglomerate. You achieved your goal.
You're a part of a deeply rooted evil.
You know about the movement to uproot the evil.
Mr. Lee.
You know how I got to where I am,
don't you?
I started to get in shape at Samcheong Reeducation Camp,
made money during the 3S Policy,
gained power during the war against crime, made connections
during the Asian financial crisis,
and hung in there for last 20 years.
This won't be all that different.
I won't go down that easily.
I'm prepared.
No. It'll be different this time.
That's how the nation's sentiment is.
The people want what you've made
to come crumbling down.
Don't you get why the President wants conglomerate reform?
You keep mentioning the President's conglomerate reform,
but you know he wishes to reform the prosecutor's office as well.
Should I pull some strings too?
It's the President's orders.
You started as a public security prosecutor,
and now you are a Chief Prosecutor.
You are also a part of a deeply rooted evil.
The world changed in May.
Now, you don't need to get hit anymore just because the prosecutor hits you.
What the heck?
Damn it. Hey!
Prosecutor's authority?
That doesn't exist anymore.
You're lucky if you aren't cursed out.
We're both part of the deeply rooted evil anyway.
Shall we play dirty and fight?
Who do you think will get out first if the two of us fight?
Yeong-guk Jo.
Do you want to die?
I don't know who you'll choose to hold the dagger,
but don't choose someone you cherish
and want to keep close to you for a long time.
I may kill that person.
Je-mun?
Let's work on
something together.
EPISODE 1
PUBLIC OFFICIAL, JIN-PYEONG NOH
The arrest warrant for Chairman Yeong-guk Jo of Hyeonseung Group
for embezzling 60 billion won
was dismissed on the 17th.
Uproar against the Prosecutor's Office is expected regarding the court's decision.
Chairman Jo's warrant...
MUSIC
CONTENTS BANNED TO BE ADVERTISED
Prosecutors Can't Submit Evidence
It Raises Suspicions of Malicious Prosecution
STOP THE MALICIOUS PROSECUTION! EMPLOYEES OF HYEONSEUNG TRANSPORATION
MR. YEONG-GUK JO, CHEER UP! RESIDENTS OF INBUK-DONG
Hi. It's my first day on the job, so I didn't get to call.
I was assigned to the Seowon District Prosecutor's Office.
Congratulations.
But still...
You'll still...
Mommy, water.
You'll still work on my husband's case, won't you?
Yes, of course. I will.
Thank you.
Please let me know if there's any update.
Yes. Okay, I will.
-Thank you. Have a nice day. -You too.
Stop the malicious prosecution!
-Stop! -Stop!
Drop the charges against Chairman Yeong-guk Jo!
-Drop the charges! -Drop the charges!
We oppose the malicious prosecution!
LADY JUSTICE
Cease the illegal investigation...
They never even skip a day.
Why do you think they do that?
Stop the malicious prosecution!
They think Yeong-guk Jo is the reason they have jobs.
They don't think it's because they work hard.
Money, power.
It's so easy to be a good person if you use those in Korea.
People shield you on their own, like that.
We oppose malicious prosecution!
-We oppose! -We oppose!
You're the prosecutor Jin-pyeong Noh, correct?
Yes.
I'm Ju-myeong Shin, an investigator.
It's a pleasure to work with you.
-I see. -Yes.
-Mr. Shin. -Yes.
-Yes. It's nice to meet you. -Same here.
Shall we go? Our assistant chief prosecutor is waiting for you.
-Sure. -Okay.
-This way. -Okay.
WORK FOR THE CIVILIANS' HAPPINESS MAKE SEOWON A BETTER PLACE
You were shocked to be sent here when you applied there, right?
-Yes, well... -Mr. Woo worked hard
to bring you here.
What do you mean?
Didn't you hear?
About what?
You really must not know.
Oh, boy. This isn't good.
There's something we're working on. That's why.
I'll let Mr. Woo tell you the details.
What is he like?
What do you mean by that?
Well... Just overall.
He used to be a cop.
He's a good person, but he has a foul mouth.
He's a good person, but he likes to use his fists.
He's a good person, but he has no manners.
He's a good person, but he doesn't like to spend money.
He doesn't keep his promises either.
He sounds like a very good person.
Yes, he's a good person.
-Is he new? -I'm Jin-pyeong Noh.
Nice to meet you.
He's a deputy chief prosecutor.
-Mr. Woo is eating nearby. -Okay.
This is the back door.
Isn't it very different from the front door?
Yes, it is.
-This way. -Okay.
If you look around our office, it's just like Seowon.
-In what way? -They care only about what they see.
They have no idea what's happening behind the scenes.
-This is it. -I see.
Where did he go?
Wait inside. He must be in the restroom.
Aren't you coming in?
I can't intrude when the higher-ups are talking.
I'll wait out here.
Okay, then.
WATCH OUT STAIRS AND GLASS
The Prosecution Delays Submitting the Evidence
Does It really Have The Evidence Or Not?
CAUSE OF DEATH: HOMICIDE
THE WITNESS PERSONAL INFORMATION
Granny, clean the bathroom a little. It's dirty.
-Mr. Noh? -Yes. Nice to meet you.
-Sit. -Thank you.
Have you eaten yet?
Yes, I've eaten. Go ahead and eat, boss.
Who says I'm your boss?
I'm not your boss.
I'm on leave, so I don't have an office.
That's why I'm meeting you here.
Where did you go to school?
I went to one outside of Seoul.
It's okay. So did I.
What do you want to specialize in?
Planning and Coordination.
Do you hate crime scenes?
That's not it...
I think I'm more cognitive, that's all.
You'll make a decision and make the evidence fit.
Why are you a prosecutor then? You should be a writer.
You must've misunderstood.
Jin-pyeong.
Why do you think I requested you?
-I'm not sure. -Really?
Yes.
Do you have your wallet?
Pardon?
I forgot mine. Pay the bill.
-Let's go. -Pardon? Where to?
To work. Come with me.
-Let's go. -Okay.
What the...
Mr. Woo. Why don't we go in one car?
What about after work? Bring him with you.
-This way. -Okay.
First, take off your I.D.
Pardon?
You'll get stabbed if you keep that on in these times.
Gosh.
Okay.
Seowon City. Population 1.5 million.
It hosted the Asian Games a few years ago.
It's the fourth, fifth highest in collecting taxes
among 243 local governments.
The people here are well-off, although I'm dirt poor.
Everyone well-off around here had help from Yeong-guk Jo.
This is Inbuk Complex.
Most of the people protesting earlier are from here.
If you count their families, it's about 150,000...
Anyway, that's the size of the Hyeonseung Group's family.
Wow, 150,000.
People who work for Hyeonseung Transportation,
Hyeonseung Development, Hyeonseung Chemical,
Hyeonseung Techwin, Hyeonseung Life, and the like.
Here, the law isn't the law. Chairman Jo dictates the law.
SEOWON PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS THREATENING OUR LIVELIHOOD
WE DENOUNCE SEOWON PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
This is the Innam Red Light District.
Where people get drunk and party.
This is the East Gang's turf.
If you include all the scrubs, there are about 1,000 members.
If you add all the drugs that are sold here
in one weekend, it'll weigh three times more than you.
Ketamine, cocaine, philopon, LSD,
PCP, GHB,
spice, rush, marijuana, ya ba.
Anyway, every drug in the world
is distributed in this town.
And the East Gang controls the distribution.
Sang-mo Ha is the boss.
He inherited it from Yeong-guk Jo.
He's a gangster to the bone.
Ignorant and cruel.
He's a scum of the earth.
Hello? Yes, Mr. Woo.
Yes, sir. We'll go there. Okay.
Wait here. Mr. Heo said he located the suspect.
Yes, sir.
-Who's Mr. Heo? -A restaurant owner.
I looked into it, and...
Who's that?
A rookie prosecutor.
Here come the East Gang kids.
They must've just eaten. How adorable.
Get going. Introduce him to Seong-cheol Jang.
Yes, sir.
Get in.
It looks like a fight is about to break out.
A fight? No way. It'll be a one-sided beat down.
Don't you know him? You should stop them.
Who said Mr. Heo will be beaten up? I never said that.
But...
This is Inseo.
This is where the poor people with no power of connections live.
Those who were born into poor families,
those who reached the end of their rope,
missing persons, illegal immigrants,
people not on any family registry.
This is where people like that live.
Murder, missing persons, rape...
These disgusting incidents never stop happening in this disgusting neighborhood.
Oh god.
Isn't it amazing that towns like this still exist?
Hyeonseung Development is working on redeveloping this town.
If he goes to jail, the redevelopment will go down the drain.
If he doesn't go to jail, everything here gets bulldozed,
and a new city gets built, so the people from Inbuk will move here.
That's why some want to send him to jail, whereas others don't want to.
That's how it's been lately.
To whom should we listen to?
I don't know.
We should follow the law.
Then this town will be redeveloped.
Then that happens.
Stay still.
-What's wrong with you? -Let go.
What do you think the lawmakers thought after making the laws?
Do you think they predicted those results?
Heartbreaking events keep happening.
Okay, we're here.
This is the old city center. Injung.
This was the hot spot just ten plus years ago.
That's when that subway was built.
It was hopping then.
But once Innam was developed, all the young people migrated there,
and this is what happened.
The town is quiet thanks to that.
-Is this the office? -Yes.
Why do we work in a place like this?
It's a good place to avoid people.
When I was looking for the office,
it was seriously no joke.
You have no idea.
-I just walked right in, like this. -I see.
This way, sir.
Hey. This is the new prosecutor. Mr. Jin-pyeong Noh.
You heard, right? Introduce yourselves.
Hello, it's nice to meet you.
I'm Jin-pyeong Noh from Seowon District Prosecutor's Office.
Hello.
Good. I've been starving all day.
Would you like some noodles?
No. Please, eat.
-Okay, then. -Sure.
PUBLIC OFFICIAL
Are you a detective?
SOCCER BETTING
Hey.
-Do you have five million? -What?
Do you have five million to spare? I'll pay you back tomorrow.
You mean five million won?
It's not five million dollars.
I'll pay you back tomorrow.
How would I have that much money? I don't.
You punk.
Seriously.
Do you have five million?
-Me? -Lend it to me. I'll return it tomorrow.
Are you kidding?
Sir.
No. Are you?
Are you kidding?
Shit. What bullshit. He wants to die.
-What did you just say? -Mr. Noh.
That's just how he greets... Just a minute.
Wait a minute, okay?
Yes, Mr. Woo.
It isn't done? Right now?
Okay, I'll leave now.
Mr. Woo wants to track down the suspect.
That's why you should've listened from the start.
It's me. Pil-sun will send you an address.
Bring the guys there. Make sure to tape them up
Send them the address.
Dang it. What a waste of money. How annoying.
Damn it!
Let's go.
Where are we going?
-I'll tell you on the way. Let's go. -Where are we going?
I'll tell you.
You know what I do.
Why do you keep saying the same things over and over?
It's not like I'm just hanging out.
-Mr. Shin. -Yes?
-Where are we going? -Just a minute. After this call.
Don't you get tired of saying the same thing year after year?
-Honey, come on. -If you know where, will you drive?
Why does he keep asking? He's so annoying.
Were you talking about me?
So, you want to join Planning and Coordination.
What do you want to specialize in?
Planning and Coordination.
Do you know why Mr. Woo brought you?
I'll call you back. Hey, Seong-cheol.
I'm sorry.
Seriously. Shit.
Goodness. Mr. Heo is always early. He's so quick.
Stay in here.
What? Mr. Shin.
Shit.
What the...
You won't die.
Hey.
We have to catch this bastard.
Mr. Heo. Tell Noh to stay in the car.
Mr. Woo, this is Jin-pyeong Noh.
Damn it.
Who said Mr. Heo will be beaten up? I never said that.
-Hello. -Yes.
Hello.
What's going on right now?
Mr. Woo will let you know later.
You should just stay here.
It's your first day on the job.
Hi. It's my first day on the job, so I didn't get to call.
Shit.
Hurry on upstairs.
It's quiet in the back.
I can't go through the fourth floor.
I'm going up to the fourth floor.
How? They're swarming out.
There are too many. I can't go through.
Where is he hiding?
Excuse me...
What the...
Excuse me.
Hello. We're in Inseo...
By the redevelopment area.
A person just dropped and...
Please hurry!
Detective. Are you okay?
Mr. Shin!
Is anyone there?
Mr. Shin.
Is anyone on the fourth floor?
Fourth floor...
Is anyone on the fourth floor?
-Hey! -Get them!
Hey!
-Hey! -Get them!
Hey!
Take this.
You rats!
Come at me!
Come at me, you sons of bitches!
Hey!
Hey! Go through! Go!
Shit.
What the...
Kyeong-ho! Woo-jeong!
Mr. Noh!
Go! There!
Hurry up!
Hurry up and take him!
Hurry.
Come with me.
Who are you? Get over here.
Get over here.
Now!
Shit.
This is Jin-pyeong Noh.
Things look bad.
The women... They keep screaming.
Please, hurry. Please.
Third floor.
Hey. What are you doing? Come out.
Hurry.
Shut up!
Quiet!
What are you?
Are you okay?
You're bleeding.
Detective Kim, take the back exit.
Mr. Heo, go with him.
Get up.
-Do you know how to drive? -Sorry?
Drive, you bastard. Get in.
-Let's go! -Okay.
Stop!
Why you...
-Go! -Hold on.
I said to go, you bastard!
-Where's Jae-pil Joo? -I don't know!
Jae-pil Joo!
Shit.
Mr. Woo. Where are we...
Just go, you bastard!
-Please explain what's going on... -Drive, you bastard.
What's going on?
Just drive!
Where is Jae-pil Joo?
-Tell me! -Just go!
Mr. Woo!
Stop the car!
You!
-I don't know! -Hey!
Let me go!
Shit!
Here's 500,000 won each.
Here's 500,000 won. Take it.
This is men's clothing, but put it on.
You should've been like this from the start.
Look at what happened to your pretty face.
I'm sorry.
Okay. Call him and say you want to meet up.
But why do you want Jae-pil?
Are you awake? Why did you come in? I said to wait outside.
Why did you bring me here?
I said tell me! Or I'll send you all to jail!
I can't just ignore this.
I'll report all of you!
I'll report everything you did with these bastards!
-Mr. Noh. -Let go!
Are you with him? Should I report you too?
-No, I... -Do you want to rot in jail?
Hey, Noh.
You want to stop getting that call
from Chang-jun Park's widow, right?
Don't you?
But still... You'll still work on my husband's case, won't you?
Why can't you tell her?
Just say it.
Tell her it isn't your fault that her husband died.
Why can't you say he got himself killed for being reckless?
I think we have the wrong guy.
You were so scared that you requested a transfer.
Please, sir.
You're so afraid of crime scenes that you wanted a desk job.
Chang-jun!
Someone call an ambulance!
Tell her to stop calling.
What?
What? What do you know?
Does Gu-tak Oh in jail know Chang-jun died?
The three of you were close.
This is our new prosecutor.
I'm Jin-pyeong Noh. It's nice to meet you.
If you want to catch Chang-jun's killer,
stay still.
He'll be here soon.
Mr. Noh.
We all know what you did with Detective Oh.
That's why Mr. Woo called you here.
What are you people trying to do?
We're going to strike Yeong-guk Jo.
Mr. Woo holds the dagger.
He's the one who will strike Yeong-guk Jo.
Did that Jae-pil Joo guy kill Chang-jun?
Remember the file you peeked at in the restaurant?
Don't act dumb. I know you looked.
Yes, I did.
Our chief prosecutor is a real prick and an opportunist.
But for some reason, that bastard went after Hyeonseung.
I think he wanted to uproot them once and for all.
But Yeong-guk Jo cut off his branches in order to protect the root.
His lawyer Chang-hui Kang.
He was found dead in a motel.
Hyeonseung Group's CFO, Jeong-guk Shim was struck from behind.
Yeong-guk Jo's driver, Seok-su Kim was buried in concrete in his car.
They all died within days.
Jae-pil Joo killed them all.
Who do you think ordered him to kill them?
Yeong-guk Jo. That bastard gave the orders
because he had something to hide.
Jae-pil Joo always did all of his dirty work.
Killing people and stuff like that.
Are you trying to catch him
to prove Yeong-guk Jo's murder instigation?
Why else would I be doing this here, getting beat up at my age?
If we get his testimony that Yeong-guk Jo gave the order,
and then get a warrant, what can he do?
Even the chief judge can't cancel the warrant.
He's guilty of too much.
Are you sure Jae-pil Joo killed Chang-jun? Do you have proof?
We have no proof.
We have a witness, though. You saw.
You saw him kill Chang-jun.
Right?
Weren't you keeping your mouth shut in case the East Gang came after you?
That's my understanding.
Hey. I know you're afraid.
I know you want to run away.
But you know,
if you run now, you'll have to keep running until you die.
Is that how you want to die?
It's comfortable to ignore,
but uncomfortable to confront.
But hey, given what has happened,
shouldn't you keep your pride and follow it through to the end?
You're a prosecutor after all.
If you don't think you can do it, tell me now, and you're out.
Don't hurt yourself for nothing.
-What did he say? -He's scared.
Let's give him time to think.
He can't take too long. Jae-pil Joo will be here soon.
Ju-myeong. We've thought about this for three years.
We can give him three hours.
Mr. Woo. Here.
Mr. Woo. Thank you for coming.
How's that prosecutor, Mr. Min?
I heard he was badly injured.
The doctor says he'll be on crutches for the rest of his life.
Goodness. The poor man.
Maybe he'll be okay, since he's a prosecutor.
Prosecutors don't need legs.
He can sit at a desk and write.
Let me ask you something.
Did you know you would win?
Did you know it would end like this from the start?
Come, now.
Well...
I was lucky.
Tell me, you bastard. Don't laugh.
You must have drunk a lot.
Of course, I knew I would win.
That baldy.
He was Hyeonseung Capital's president and is now on the city council.
The guy wearing glasses over there studied with my money and became a judge.
The mustache became Chief of Criminal Investigation thanks to my recommendation.
Do you understand?
If anyone tries to lock me up here in Seowon,
they'll end up like you two.
One became a cripple,
and the other...
Do you have money for alcohol lately?
Everyone knew.
Everyone knew that you had us except Tae-sik and me.
Mr. Woo.
Next time, if you want to send me to jail,
don't bring a master of the pen, but a master of the sword.
Rather than someone who reads the law in a corner somewhere,
someone who's been active in crime scenes is better.
Rather than someone who uncovers the truth,
someone who manipulates it is better.
Someone who is ahead of me
and quicker than I am would be better.
Someone more vicious and unrelenting than I am.
Someone who has done more bad things than I have.
Someone who did and will do much more.
Bring someone like that.
Law? Order? Justice?
You can't catch me with those things.
You see, I am above the law.
I establish order.
Justice?
I've never seen it, so I don't know much about it.
Regardless, that's how I am.
Do you understand now, just who you're up against?
Mr. Woo.
Oh, no.
Hurry.
Mr. Noh!
Sir. Mr. Noh!
Mr. Noh!
Honey!
No.
I'm his wife.
Mister.
Oh, no.
We should follow the law.
Then this town will be redeveloped.
As a result, that's what happens.
It's comfortable to ignore,
but uncomfortable to confront.
But hey, given what has happened,
shouldn't you keep your pride and follow it through to the end?
You're a prosecutor after all.
You were right.
As you said earlier...
I knew everything.
I see you. Hey!
I didn't know his name,
but his face...
I saw the face of the bastard that killed Chang-jun.
Yes.
I knew, but I pretended not to.
After Detective Oh went to prison
and that happened to Chang-jun,
I was afraid
that I would be hurt too.
You know,
I don't think I can run away anymore.
I have no...
I have nowhere to go.
What you did with Detective Gu-tak Oh
is what you need to do from now on.
That special investigation team that he formed.
If they catch the culprits,
you indict, prosecute them,
and clean them up nicely.
Then no one will say they're just criminals
trying to reduce their sentences.
You can do the exact same thing you did with them.
If there's something I can't do for any reason, you do it.
That's why I called you.
Then...
I'll stab him with the dagger
from behind his back.
Yes, okay.
I'll call you back.
Mr. Jin-pyeong Noh.
Did you know what Detective Oh had been doing with a bunch of criminals?
I didn't know.
I'm sorry.
He went through the front door.
Don't touch him until he's completely inside.
Mr. Noh.
Relax. It won't be like earlier.
He's climbing up the stairs.
Excuse me.
No weapons. Get on him.
He said, "no weapons."
Hey. You made it. You should've said so.
-Why did you call the cops? -What? What cops?
What?
Where is he?
Jae-pil Joo.
That's enough. It's over.
Let's talk to him after we beat him up.
You bastard!
Come here.
Seok-su Kim, Chang-hui Kang,
Jeong-guk Shim.
You killed them, right?
Who ordered you to kill them?
You bastard.
Hey.
Did Yeong-guk Jo give the order?
You bastard.
Hey.
Still, how could you kill people?
Get over here. Get over here, you bastard.
Hey.
You bastard. How humiliating.
You're not bad.
Shit.
Bastard.
Get over here.
Get over here, you bastard.
Bastard.
You bastard!
Hey! Jae-pil Joo went down! Catch him!
Mr. Noh. Don't do what you did earlier.
Using your body isn't your forte.
Let's do our own parts. That way, we can catch Yeong-guk Jo.
Don't you agree?
It's been a while, Jae-pil.
Hey bro, I heard you opened a restaurant.
Are you working with them?
Hey.
If you run now, you'll have to keep running until you die.
Is that how you want to die?
Hey.
You bastard!
It's you, isn't it?
Freeze!
Find out what he was trying to hide.
I'll staff my crew.
They're all daggers.
Come at me, bastard.
Then I'll tell you
what the chairman and mayor are trying to hide.
He's probably looking for the one who ordered his sister's death.
Is there no other way?
Wait!
Let's get the warrant and make it bigger.
We'll get Gang-ju Han, catch Jae-pil Joo,
and go after Yeong-guk Jo and Sang-do Bae.