Chief Detective 1958
This series is unrelated to any places, persons, settings or events.
Scenes involving animals were filmed in compliance with animal welfare guidelines.
Looking into our nation's five-year plan to produce steel…
Self-Reliance Pioneer Corps
300 children and unemployed persons
who lived their lives in dishonor
will plow the land and find a new lease on life.
The land, stretching 240 jungbo, is annually scheduled to produce
about 1,000 seoms of rice and 1,500 seoms of barley.
Episode 8 Regarding Guilt
Let's go!
Did you go to the temple to pray early this morning?
Well, yes.
You really don't have to worry.
If the heavens give us a child, then good.
If not, then it'll just be us two living happily.
You don't mind not having a child?
Of course I don't mind.
Passing on my family name doesn't matter to me at all.
What matters to me is us two.
Are you saying that just to comfort me?
No, I mean it.
Let's eat.
The soup is unbelievably good today.
Episode 8
My goodness. Hey.
You'll blow the window open.
I'll make sure I don't blow toward you.
What's weighing you down?
Nothing. Life is amazing.
Come on, tell me.
How did you feel when Eunyoung was born, Chief?
I just felt dazed.
It hit me like a truck that I was actually a dad.
That's just how it was.
The world is a scary place,
and it'll only get worse.
Would it be right for me
to bring a child into this world?
Hmm…
I'm afraid…
…of passing on such a cruel world to my child.
Am I making sense?
We're used to seeing how dark the world is,
so it makes sense for you to feel that way.
I'm able to bear the brunt of it…
but my child may not be like me.
It's the parents' job to give their children the world,
but it's on the children to accept that world.
No parent worth their salt is full of fear.
It takes a lot of guts to be a parent, you know.
Chief Yu!
It's an emergency, sir.
Three in one night?
Yes, and at 30-minute intervals.
And the location?
The second street of Sangbeon in Jongnam, sir.
They were all assaulted with a blunt weapon
and robbed in a drunken state.
All three of the victims were also middle-aged men.
They picked seemingly well-off victims unable to put up a fight.
How hurt are the victims?
Two are seriously injured but conscious,
and one hasn't yet regained consciousness.
What kind of a bold prick
commits a serial snatching in the middle of Seoul?
Considering the crime, the victims were assaulted very heavily.
Crimes against the drunk have a strong chance of repeating.
We need to catch the perp at once.
All right.
Hey, snatchers are as quick as lightning.
It's like trying to catch a rabbit.
Pardon me, Chief Yu.
Here's a fast rabbit. What is it?
A woman in her thirties was murdered in Hwasin-dong.
But we need to go catch a snatcher.
The other units are all working security for a National Police event.
Do those National Police punks think they're the president?
Detective Seo and I will take a look at the murder case.
All right.
Let's go catch that rabbit, Gyeonghwan.
I hope the snatcher has big bunny ears so I can bite them right off.
Goodness, there's never a peaceful day in this city.
Look for any witnesses first.
Question the victims too.
Would they even remember anything if they were drunk?
They just might remember the moment they got hit.
One time I was drunk, I hit my foot on the door sill.
That sobered me up right away.
If you're plastered, you could get beat by 10 guys
and not remember a thing.
They're taking a lot today.
One at a time.
- Come on, get on. - Where are we going?
Gosan Pioneer Corps?
What in the world is that?
Kwangyoung and Gosan are running a land reclamation project.
Those kids are heading over to work.
It used to be called the Self-Reliance Pioneer Corps.
They give you money and land and let you settle down there.
Maybe I should join them then.
Come on, are you strong enough to even lift a shovel?
All I need to do is bite the shovel, Yeonghan!
You'll end up in a circus showing off your feat of strength.
Oh, no. Never mind.
Do you know anything about the snatchings from last night?
- No. - Is that so?
Well, thank you.
Did you hear about the snatchings or know anyone who did?
- Hello. - No.
No? Thank you.
It's the same story in that back alley, the front of the theater,
and this place right here.
Even right before curfew, these places aren't so empty.
And yet we can't find any witnesses
whether they be merchants or residents.
But I mean, we're not even on the outskirts.
This is the heart of the city.
The culprit is one lucky guy.
Either he's lucky
- or there's more of them. - What?
Someone acted as a lookout,
and the other struck while no one was looking.
Why would they put so much effort into robbing people here?
Do you know where the richest neighborhood in Korea is?
Well…
Right, it's this neighborhood.
- Greetings, sir. - Yes.
Who's that?
He's the victim's son.
He discovered the body and reported the murder.
- Let's go. - All right.
Hello, sir.
Hello.
This is the bloodiest murder I've seen recently.
What can you tell us?
The stab wounds are concentrated on her chest.
I can roughly count about 10 to 12 punctures.
The cause of death is hypovolemic shock due to multiple punctures.
Roughly estimating
based on the state of rigor mortis,
the time of death is between 4 to 5 a.m. this morning.
That's right after curfew was lifted.
Was that the murder weapon?
Yes. According to the son, it's a fruit knife they use at home.
I barely see any signs of resistance.
Yeonghan, it seems she was murdered in her sleep.
Is there anything else we should know?
Well,
she has a cut on her left forefinger,
which was probably from four or five days ago.
I'll let you know any other details after the autopsy.
What's your name?
It's Kim Mansoo.
Okay, Mansoo.
Did you hear anything out of the ordinary last night?
So you found your mother like that as soon as you woke up?
Yes.
Usually,
she wakes me up in the mornings.
But she didn't come this morning,
so I went to her room and…
I assume your gate is always closed at night.
Was it open this morning?
Yes, it was open when I checked.
And your father?
He passed away last year.
He drowned while fishing.
You go to school, don't you? Are you on vacation?
Yes, but…
I can't go to school even if it starts.
Why not?
I have…
lung problems.
I've taken time off of school since last year.
Detective Park.
I think you should step outside for a moment.
All right.
Just a moment, Mansoo.
Right here.
It seems the perpetrator came through here
and entered over this wall.
Then after the murder,
they escaped through the gate.
Were there any signs of robbery?
No, her wallet was untouched and the house was clean.
The motive must be a grudge then.
In that case,
it's likely the victim was killed by an acquaintance.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
I felt a flash of pain
and immediately blacked out.
So you couldn't see any faces?
Not at all. I was struck from behind.
Where did you drink?
At the Royal Beer on the second street of Sangbeon.
Jeez, that's one luxurious pub.
I was plastered.
I only remember something hitting my head.
Rack your brain and try to recall even an ounce of detail,
perhaps the perp's clothes or what weapon they used on you.
Just an ounce of detail?
This is all a bit blurry,
but I think they beat me with a club,
one of those short bats you see in films that old prison guards used.
It felt like one of those.
Do those even exist nowadays?
I guess there are some nasty prison guards that are out and about.
- Thank you. - No problem.
It was an ordinary, peaceful family.
I know that Mansoo is a good kid.
Was there any bad blood that you know of?
Goodness, not at all.
Mansoo's father was also a gentle soul,
not to mention rich.
Do you happen to know
anything more about the family's wealth?
Rumors say
Mansoo's father owns a large plot of land in Chungcheong-do.
- Land? - They found a hot spring on it
and now it's worth its weight in gold.
I've heard that rumor too.
But I don't know if I should say this.
Wouldn't it be better to tell them?
You're killing me right now. Please just tell me.
You see, Mansoo's mother…
She had another man.
Was this while her husband was alive?
No, of course not!
They started seeing each other shortly after he died,
- so you can't call that an affair. - That's right.
He was something like a boyfriend to her.
He used to meet her secretly.
But lately, he would frequent it like it was his house.
Goodness, look at that.
Do you know who the man is?
He manages the Chungtap Grill in front of Jongnam Hall.
What?
How could this happen?
When did you last see her?
Yesterday afternoon.
We had lunch nearby.
- And after that? - We said goodbye around 2 p.m.
I didn't see her after.
We had promised to meet tonight.
Where were you last night?
I went home and slept after work.
Is there anyone who can vouch for you?
Yes, my boarding house lady can.
You can ask her.
How long had you been together?
A little less than a year.
She was a customer at the restaurant when I first saw her.
How was your relationship?
Did you often fight at all?
We had small quarrels now and then.
But otherwise, we were on great terms.
How was your relationship with her son, Mansoo?
Mansoo?
Naturally, he wasn't too happy about me at first,
but we were slowly growing closer.
He would even visit my place,
and we've gone on trips together.
Do you normally wear those shoes?
Excuse me?
No.
I only wear them at work.
- Could you write down your address? - Yes, sir.
To what do I owe the pleasure, sir?
Listen, I have a very important job for you.
A very important job, sir?
Your wish is my command.
This weekend, the Supreme Council and the ladies of the KCIA…
Yes?
…will be visiting the Jongnam Department Store for some shopping.
Shopping, sir?
Yes, shopping.
As they are the wives of important men, we need capable security guards.
A few ladies of the Sinkwang Society will also be joining.
I see.
How many men would be required?
I'd say about 20.
- Sir. - Yes?
I ask that you don't take this
- the wrong way, sir. - Go on.
You see, 20 bodyguards
make up quite a number of men.
And we have a backlog of cases
- that we need to-- - Wait a minute.
Since when did you talk back?
My apologies, sir.
Some might think
that you actually dedicate yourself to the safety of Jongnam.
- Forgive me, sir. - No buts about it.
Protect the ladies.
That's your job.
Yes, sir.
- I'm off. - Yes, sir.
Right, you don't have to come out.
- No, I should-- - Hey.
- Yes, sir? - Do a good job.
Yes, sir.
- Take care, sir. - Take care, sir.
Hey, Chief Hwang.
Yes, sir?
Didn't you tell me once about a problem at Jongnam Department Store?
Right, yes.
I discovered
that some of the imported goods were smuggled, sir.
Go and find all the smuggled goods and round up the culprits immediately.
Also, make sure to suspend their operation for two months.
Sir?
But make sure you do it quietly.
Right. Understood, sir.
May I ask why the sudden ambush on Jongnam Department Store, sir?
It's Deputy Director Choi's orders.
I see.
- Understood, sir. - Okay.
All of you, come with me.
Follow me. Let's get ready to roll.
- Hey. - Yes, sir?
Make sure they keep things quiet.
Yes, sir.
Take care, sir.
If you keep this up, Deputy Director,
we must go our separate ways.
He returned at about 10 p.m.,
and he seemed utterly exhausted.
Did you see him leave once the curfew was lifted?
I wouldn't know since I'm not awake at that time.
I'm usually up by 6 a.m.
How far is Mansoo's house from here on foot?
From the entrance to Honghwajang to the entrance to Jongnam Bakery,
it should take about 20 minutes at most.
Round trip, it's 40 minutes.
That's still within 5 a.m.
- I'm here. - Do you have it, Officer Bong?
Yes, I took great pains to trace the marks.
- Good job. Let's compare them. - Okay.
Just a moment.
Pardon me.
Take a look at this.
Look for any other bloodstains.
All right.
Detective Park.
Go arrest her boyfriend.
I need to stop by at Mansoo's first.
Legal profession
The basics of law
Pure law
Wait.
How do I read this again?
I know how to read this.
It's "Boys, be ambitious."
Right. That's the famous quote, right?
Yes.
It's a nice quote to have on your wall.
Hey, are you all right? Do you need some water?
No, I'm all right.
Okay.
Look, I'm just wondering.
Will you be all right alone?
My aunts will be here later tonight.
I see.
Make sure to do your duty as the chief mourner.
I'm used to it, being it's my second time.
Right, I see.
What grade are you in this year?
I'm 15, so eighth grade.
You're still so young.
By the way…
…why did you drop by?
Here's the thing.
It's about Dukyong.
Yes?
We'll have to investigate further,
but as of now,
he's a suspect in the murder of your mother.
There's no way.
He wouldn't hurt a single fly.
I know it's hard to believe,
but he's the prime suspect for now.
He's a good man. I've even gone over to his place a lot.
I understand.
And according to him,
he and your mother barely quarreled. Is that true?
Yes, they were on good terms.
Actually,
that one day,
- they did have a big fight. - That one day?
Let's just sell a fourth of it.
How many times do I have to say no?
The land has to stay intact until Mansoo becomes an adult.
It's not like I'm asking for it!
I'm just asking you to lend it to me.
All right, but later. Once Mansoo becomes an adult--
Wait.
Are you using Mansoo as an excuse to refuse to lend it to me?
What did you just say? Why do you have to put it like that?
And when was this?
It was last week.
How have we gotten no information all day?
I'm starving.
The perps just vanished into thin air.
We can't even find a trace.
Aren't those the Gosan Pioneer guys?
- I think so. - Are you serious?
Hey! Where's my apology?
You little…
Okay, I'm very sorry.
I didn't mean to run into you.
It's my bad. Just go on your way.
What if I don't want to?
My shoulder!
My shoulder's injured,
so you better pay for my treatment.
Your bones aren't made of styrofoam, are they?
It's too much to ask for medical fees for something like this.
Hey, look.
I need treatment, okay?
Give me 40,000 hwan.
- I need to go to the hospital. - Yes, we'll take you.
You want 40,000 hwan?
All right, fine.
But first, I'll give you a beating worth 40,000 hwan!
- Hey! - Hey!
That little prick.
You're both dead tonight.
- Come at me. - Bring it on.
Come on. I'll sober you all right up!
Hold on, hold on, hold on!
All right. Just calm down a minute.
We're cops.
You should've told us sooner!
Sooner when?
I couldn't even get a word in.
Anyway, just go home.
- Thank you! - Go on.
- Thank you! - Just go.
- Come on. - Let's go.
What's with those clubs?
Do they think they're some old-timey prison guards?
Freeze!
So you killed her
in a fit of rage when she refused to lend you money, no?
T-That's not true.
Didn't you two fight over land?
Mansoo told me what he heard.
It's true that we had a quarrel,
but I apologized the next day, and we made up.
Then how do you explain your footprints by the wall
and this blood-stained shirt?
Well…
I truly have no idea how my footprints got there.
And this shirt…
I really don't know how the blood got on it either.
Please believe me. I-I swear it wasn't me.
Put this shirt on.
Sorry?
Now.
It was you guys, wasn't it?
You beat drunk men and robbed them with this club.
That wasn't us.
Why on earth would we do that?
You punks asked for hospital money just for a slight hit.
You would definitely do this!
I was just too drunk to think straight earlier.
We're recruiters for the Gosan Pioneer Corps.
Right, so why would the recruiters for the Gosan Pioneer Corps
carry something so menacing?
Do you recruit people by beating them up?
We need that to keep order.
And it's not just us who carry these.
The recruiters in Gosan and Kwangyoung also carry them around.
You little punks.
Why would you need a club to keep order?
You see, in order to keep order--
Excuse me.
This shirt is mine, it's true.
But I had put on some weight, and it got too small for me.
I haven't worn it…
since last year.
The boarder in the room next to Lee Dukyong is here.
Park!
What brings you here, sir?
I wanted to tell you that he was in his room until morning.
Dukyong! Dukyong!
I really need to move out of this place.
And what time was that?
It was two in the morning, and he snored until seven.
These three men
were with us all of last night.
We drank the night away at Jongnam Hall to foster unity as a group.
All our members can vouch for them.
What are these for?
At times,
the hot-blooded youth we recruit tend to cause trouble.
We don't hit them, as they're just enough to scare them.
We'll ask around at Jongnam Hall and--
Stop barking up the wrong tree
and investigate the real culprits.
What do you mean?
Recently, some of our members have come under attack.
Who attacked them?
If we knew, we wouldn't ask you to find out.
How many were there then?
How many was it?
Three, sir.
Right.
Those guys took our members' clubs too.
So the assailants have their clubs.
That's right.
This night is a bust.
You got nothing, and we got nothing.
Jeez, I feel busted.
So the snatchers could be the same guys who stole the clubs?
It looks like it so far.
How do we catch those damned rabbits?
About the murder.
If the victim's boyfriend isn't the killer,
then someone tried to frame him.
They may have tried
but made a foolish mistake.
I don't think they imagined the shirt would be small on him.
Seeing they had easy access to his shoes and shirt,
they must have freely hung around his place.
That's why they say friends are worse than enemies.
If you want to live a long life, you've got to be a hermit.
These snatchers have had a taste of money here
and most likely won't leave soon.
- We'll go on a stakeout. - Mm.
Naturally, he wasn't too happy about me at first,
but we were slowly growing closer.
He would even visit my place,
and we've gone on trips together.
There's no way.
He's a good man. I've even gone over to his place a lot.
We don't know if they'll be here.
Should I go to a different pub?
Just stay.
How do you expect me to catch them alone?
We can't catch them if they've left Jongnam already.
You can't be on a stakeout with all those doubts in your head.
Just hope that you'll catch them,
waiting for ages and ages.
Eventually, you get them.
"Ages and ages"?
All right.
In period of mourning
Don't wake her up. Just let her sleep.
- Is she your aunt? - Yes.
I was worried you might be alone.
I'd like to pay my respects while I'm here.
Thank you.
No.
There's no way.
There's nothing wrong with him smiling.
Detective Park.
I contacted Pajung Police Station, which was in charge of the case then.
Kim Mansoo's father was Kim Geunseok.
He drowned last March in Jungnam Reservoir while fishing.
Kim Mansoo, his son, was with him at that time.
- What about Mansoo's mother? - She wasn't with them.
And I also learned something strange.
Kim Geunseok used to be a professional swimmer in Gangwon-do.
So a former swimmer somehow drowned to death?
Yes.
Goodness.
Detective Jo.
Detective Jo!
Jeez.
Detective Jo!
What's going on?
Did the snatchers appear?
The third victim of the snatchers
has regained consciousness.
All right, let's go.
- Come on. - Where is he?
- Come with me. - Okay.
Let's go. Go.
Sir.
Greetings.
You little prick!
What could be the matter, sir?
Don't you know?
The Jongnam Department Store!
I don't seem to understand, sir.
You shut the place down
to get out of guard duty, didn't you?
Deputy Director Choi,
- there seems to be a-- - I should have known.
It's never wise to take up baseless morons like you.
Hey, you.
You should be extremely worried about the days to come.
Just wait and see where your damned pride takes you.
Isn't the procession tomorrow?
Don't get up, Mansoo.
My aunts…
wanted to keep the funeral short.
Goodness, I didn't even get to pay my respects.
You did good, Mansoo.
I heard you were with your father when he passed away too.
Why would you bring that up?
I was.
We heard he used to be a swimmer.
How unfortunate for him.
I'm sorry for bringing it up abruptly.
That day…
he had one too many drinks of liquor.
I was asleep on the fishing platform.
If only I hadn't fallen asleep…
he wouldn't have died.
Are you okay? Should I get you water?
It's all right.
I can get it.
Hojeong.
Head over to Seo Jongtaek Clinic where Mansoo used to go
and check his medical record.
I'll stop by his school.
All right. Got it.
DONGSAN TEXTILE CO., LTD. JONGNAM MILL
Better productivity, reduce defects, and improve work environment
I wonder where Yangja is.
Nansil!
It's been so long!
I missed you.
Ta-da.
- What is it? - Your favorite red bean bread.
Really?
I can't wait to eat it.
- Thank you, middle school best friend. - No problem.
This looks so good.
Mmm!
- It tastes amazing. - Eat up.
By the way…
have you heard anything about our mill
at the police station?
Like what?
The mill called in a report
that a worker has been disappearing every month.
That's news to me.
How do they disappear?
At the start of each month, someone vanishes into thin air
without any signs of quitting.
Come on, I'm sure they just quit.
Well, that's a possibility,
but they disappear suddenly,
leaving behind all their stuff at home.
Normally,
they'd pack their stuff or mention that they're quitting.
Who reported it?
Me.
But I was scared, so I didn't leave my name.
Okay.
I'll try to look into what's going on.
Thanks.
He was a model student, one of the top five at school.
He dreamed of becoming a legal official too.
How was his behavior?
He was quiet and reserved,
but a warmhearted boy nonetheless.
Once, I saw him holding a cat in the schoolyard
which turned out to be dead.
Why was he holding it?
Apparently, he found it frozen to death on the way to school
and was hugging it out of sadness.
And this might be slightly trivial,
but there's something he doesn't know.
There is?
Yes.
Dongsan Textile Co. Missing Female Workers Report
Missing workers were confirmed to have returned home.
Thus, the investigation into the case has been closed.
"Unit 2."
As soon as possible.
We questioned everyone but found no one with a grudge.
It's ridiculous.
Perhaps we should start over from the beginning.
Listen.
What if…
What if the culprit is someone…
we least suspect?
Mansoo, the son?
There's no way.
That can't be.
It's a bit harsh to name her son a suspect.
I hate to even entertain the thought.
But who had the chance to weave the murder and the fake suspect
while manipulating an alibi for themselves?
The same goes for sleeping pills.
They were prescribed in January
and his father died in March.
A weak teenager would need such pills
to mask his father's murder…
as an unfortunate accident.
Sleeping pill prescription
All right.
I get how he could easily access the shoes.
But what about the blood?
If he stained the shirt with his mother's blood,
he had to take it back to the boyfriend's house.
Did he have the time to do that?
What's more, at the estimated time of death,
the boyfriend was asleep in his room.
Perhaps he stained it with some random blood?
No. Mansoo is smarter than we think.
He knows that simple blood analysis is somewhat possible now.
He could have obtained his mother's blood beforehand
and left the shirt prior to the crime.
But how would he have obtained his mother's blood?
She has a cut on her left forefinger,
which was probably from four or five days ago.
Hojeong.
Let's go.
- We'll be back, sir. - What?
I'll be back, sir.
Is the paper that funny?
Dukyong told us that you caused the cut
on your mother's finger.
Goodness, the apples we had last time were too soft and tasteless,
but they were still so expensive.
Fruits these days are worth their weight in gold.
- Mom, let me try. - What?
No, let go. You'll get hurt!
Oh, my!
He said she got cut when you insisted on peeling the apple.
Well, yes.
I acted like a child.
When you wiped her blood on a shirt…
were you also acting like a child?
I'm not sure…
I understand what you mean.
You know best…
what we mean.
This is Senior Superintendent Baek.
Yes?
I've been well, but who are you?
What?
Yes, sir.
I see.
My apologies, sir.
Yes, please speak freely.
Pardon? Me, sir?
- Where? - It's here.
Here?
Go ahead.
I rushed over as quickly as I could.
Forgive me for being late.
Have a seat.
You all can step out for a moment.
Sangsun.
I'm getting tired of waiting for ages and ages
on this stakeout.
How many days have we done this, Detective Jo?
This is our second night.
So those rabbits only target people with heavy pockets.
- That's right. - I guess we're left with no choice.
Detective Jo,
we'll have to approach this case from a new direction.
A new direction?
Sangsun.
Where was I?
A new direction.
Right.
Let's go.
Let me ask one more time.
Why did you kill your parents?
I swear…
I didn't do it.
Detectives.
Why are you doing this to me?
Even without your confession,
we have enough circumstantial evidence and physical proof.
This is simply a chance for you to explain yourself.
We don't need a confession.
I-It wasn't me.
I swear it wasn't me.
I bet on my life that it wasn't.
Refute our reasoning.
Case Notes
Take it.
When you knew my father was a swimmer…
I knew I'd been found out.
I've been here for three hours…
and I still can't come up with an excuse.
You won, Detectives.
You little prick.
Why did I kill them?
Well,
I hated my father for saying
that he wouldn't pass on his land to an ill son like me.
And I hated my mother
for dating another man less than a year after he died.
Did you also hate the cat for crying every day?
Wait.
How did you know I killed the cat?
Jeez.
You really got me dead to rights.
What's wrong with you?
You call yourself a human?
I've actually given that question some deep thought.
I am a human.
It's just that…
I'm a little different from the others.
Being different doesn't justify your crimes.
Come on.
I wasn't born this way because I wanted to, you know?
It's not my fault.
Look, would you ask a left-handed kid
why they eat with their left hand?
Or would you ask a curly-haired kid
why their hair is so frizzy?
Of course you wouldn't.
Why can't you just accept that I'm different?
I try to consider the circumstances whenever I can,
but you're too far gone.
Go to the juvenile detention center
and let the older boys there teach you a painful lesson.
We're done here.
Let's go.
Ah!
Why would I go to a detention center?
In the worst-case scenario,
I'd be taken into youth custody and reformed or whatever.
What on earth do you mean?
I'm saying
that I'd be a juvenile offender.
I haven't turned 14 yet, you know?
I'll turn 14…
in six months.
This means that through the end
of my trial and sentencing…
I'll still be a juvenile.
Is that how you were bold enough to kill your parents?
I wouldn't say I was bold.
I just did my research.
Come on.
You're looking at a prospective legal official here.
Oh, right.
Once they consider…
…my lung disease…
…and if I pretend I'm crazy,
I'll barely get a slap on the wrist, won't I?
You can run away from the law,
but not from the heavens' wrath.
Remember that.
Sure, sure.
I might as well test
whether justice really prevails.
Instead of testing that,
why don't you see whether you're putting your own head into the noose?
Thank you for the great time!
Wait a minute.
I almost forgot to pay my bill. Jeez.
And I'm someone who's drowning in money.
Thank you so much!
- Goodbye now. - Take care.
- I'll be back again. - Thank you, sir.
My goodness.
- Take this. - Thank you!
I wish you luck.
Sorry about that.
I'm drunk out of my mind.
Where am I even? I feel sick to my stomach.
Jeez.
That hurt like crap.
I would've died if it wasn't for this thing.
You little punks.
You all look younger than I expected.
Put the clubs down and come with us.
Stay down, stay down.
Hey, hey!
You little punk!
Nice, I got him.
Kneel and put your hands up.
You can't keep a juvenile in lockup for this long without a guardian.
Sure. We'll keep things legal.
Let him go.
Hurray.
We'll start with you. How old are you?
I'm 17.
I'm 16.
How could you harass people for money?
It was you three who attacked the Gosan Pioneer Corps members, no?
Is that when you stole these clubs?
Spill it!
Bashing people's heads with these things
isn't something a human should do.
Well, we're not human.
W-What did you say?
We don't get treated like humans,
so we're not humans.
Just send us to jail.
At least we can eat there.
You shameless punks.
Fine. Let's say you aren't humans.
Who is it that treated you like subhumans?
No one cares about us.
We're all orphans.
Not all orphans go around committing crimes, okay?
We're not asking you to cut us slack for being orphans.
What's that?
What?
- Take a look at his wrist. - Okay.
Give me your arm.
Are you walking me home?
You really don't have to.
It gets boring walking alone.
We'll take you home. Let's go together.
So those are your number tags in the Gosan Pioneer Corps?
Why would they brand you like cattle?
Stop acting like you don't know.
You cops and soldiers are all in on this with the Pioneer Corps!
We don't work with them, all right?
Just tell us what happened.
We ran away from Gosan…
because they treated us worse than cattle.
Don't they give out land and help you settle down?
Those are all lies.
First, the recruiters beat us.
Then, the soldiers beat us.
All for no reason.
We even saw nine-year-old kids…
beaten mercilessly too.
Go on.
We had to shovel all day in our underwear
and only got three balls of old rice to eat daily.
If anyone got sick,
they waited for them to die and just buried them.
I should've just gone to an orphanage instead.
So…
this was all revenge against Jang Sechul, the leader of the Corps?
Yes.
We all suffered…
because of his lies.
Detective.
When the government cheats us…
who do we turn to for compensation?
Mansoo. Stand right there, will you?
Ta-da.
Whoa. Whoa.
What are you doing?
I'm thinking of directing a play just like you did.
"A cop walks home a juvenile offender who committed murder.
It just so happened that the juvenile had a knife hidden
and attacked the detective."
I have the prop right here.
"Feeling threatened,
the detective aimed at the juvenile's head…
and shot him."
Can a detective do this?
You can't do that!
I can…
to a scum like you.
Though your mother had just died an unnatural death,
you were giggling your socks off reading the funny papers.
You weren't being childish. You were just out of your mind.
Little pricks like you
should be eliminated early on for everyone's sake.
Spare me.
Please don't do it.
I heard you dream of becoming a legal official.
Personally,
I don't want my descendants to live in a world
where scum like you get to be the wielders of the law.
So you need to die.
If you spare me,
I'll give you half of my father's land when I inherit it.
Look at you trying to strike a deal with adults.
Half?
No, I'll give you all of it!
I don't want your land.
I just want
to put a bullet through your head.
Please forgive me!
I know I deserve to die for my sins.
But please forgive me.
Are you sincerely repenting for your sins?
Yes, I'm genuinely sorry.
Please don't kill me.
It's too late now.
Hmm?
- What? - Come on, Yeonghan.
Darn, I forgot to load my gun.
Damn it! I knew you were lying.
Detectives can't just shoot people. I'm going home.
What more do you want?
I told you I'm a juvenile.
Let me go now!
You're not a juvenile.
But there's something he doesn't know.
- There is? - Yes.
It's a secret only his mother and I knew.
Due to his illness, Mansoo started elementary school late.
His mother worried that he'd get bullied by the kids at school,
so she told him he was younger by a year.
He's a year older in the family registry.
As such, you're currently over the age of 14.
And you destroyed
any hope I had that you would sincerely repent
when faced with death.
Now,
you can proudly go to the juvenile detention center.
"Boys, be ambitious"?
More like, "Boys…"
How do you put it in English?
"Boys,
feel guilty."
"Boys, feel guilty."
- Let's go. - Okay.
Was it Mansoo?
What will happen to him?
He's not a juvenile offender,
so he'll go to a correctional institute.
He would've been executed if he was an adult.
He killed his parents.
His sentence won't be that heavy.
They'll consider his age and give him about 15 years in prison.
I know the Juvenile Act was passed
to give young criminals a second chance,
but Mansoo is an exception.
He matured too terribly.
When bad kids get smarter,
they'll manipulate the law
with absolutely no shame.
I'd say the Juvenile Act was meant for kids like the snatchers.
That's right. It was the abusive adults that made them turn to crime.
That should be considered.
Let's all turn in a petition for those kids.
- All right. - We give it to the judge, right?
Yes, our petition should be enough to lighten the sentence.
Should they still be punished at all?
Of course. Do the crime, do the time.
I couldn't answer that one kid when he asked,
"Who do we turn to when the government cheats us?"
The government should compensate them,
but they're all too busy looking out for themselves
to give a damn.
If the government won't compensate…
then I guess we need to take matters into our own hands.
Gosan Pioneer Corps
Knees up, higher!
You punk.
Get up. Get up!
Stop beating them up, you pricks.
Hey!
We're police.
We received a report that you're luring, assaulting, and abusing
teenagers and vagrants.
We're the Gosan Pioneer Corps.
This is a national project pursued by the chairman!
What national project involves beating kids, you scum?
All you do in Gosan is beat them
and abuse the girls and the kids!
Those are all wild rumors.
The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the chairman can vouch for us.
So you're saying they're all accomplices in your crimes?
What?
How dare some cop like you insult the chairman?
If he's done something worth insulting,
then even the chairman deserves a healthy mouthful.
Why discriminate?
You know what?
Detectives or not, you all deserve a beating.
Get them!
- Beat them! - Hey!
Freeze, or I'll put a hole through your heads.
Why do I keep having to pull my gun out, Detective Seo?
It seems too many people are lacking guilt and shame.
I'll give you one more chance since this is a national project.
But listen carefully.
If we ever find out that you're doing this again,
you're all going to jail, and this national project be damned.
- Got it? - Yes.
Don't let the position get to your head, you fraud.
Get up, boys.
- Don't be afraid. - Let's go, boys.
It's all right.
Take it easy.
That little…
Sorry for startling you, boys.
You guys will be fine now. Get going.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Thank you.
- Let's go. - Okay.
Jongnam Police Station
How dare that cocky prick Doseok tell me to come to him?
- Mr. Choi Dalsik? - What?
What are you doing?
We're from the Special Prosecutor's Office.
The Special Prosecutor's…
What for?
You are under arrest for violating…
…the Illegal Wealth Act and the Special Crimes Act.
That's ridiculous! Take these off me now.
Do you know who I am?
I'm the Deputy Director of the National Police!
Let me go!
Baek Doseok!
- Honey. - Yes?
I learned something while dealing with the last case.
What is it?
It might not come as a surprise…
but there are people who are born evil
as there are people who are born good.
Those good people
are the ones who help make this hellish world a bit more like heaven.
Mm.
Our baby would grow up to be a good person, don't you think?
Of course. I'm sure…
Honey.
What did you just say?
I'm pregnant.
What? I…
R-Really?
My goodness. Wait.
When did you find out?
I went to the hospital this morning.
Why didn't you tell me?
You were busy beating up the Gosan Pioneer Corps.
You're right.
I knew the heavens would bless us right about this time.
Honey.
Is our baby really…
Yes, our baby is right here.
I can't believe this, honey.
Thank you so much.
I can't express how happy I am.
- Are you sure you're happy? - Of course.
I'm the happiest man in the world right now.
I'm as happy as when I first met you.
Hmm.
I'll take good care of our baby.
I hope our child grows up to be like you.
We'll do it together.
We'll help our child make it through this dangerous world.
- Of course. - Honey.
I love you so much.
I love you too.
Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl?
Hmm…
Maybe twins?
- Twins? - What should we name them?
The Juvenile Act of Korea was legislated on June 22, 1953
and enforced beginning on January 1, 1954.
Initially, juvenile offenders were classified as those aged 12 to 14
but was revised to ages 10 to 14 in 2008, as it remains now.
Juvenile offenders do not receive criminal punishment
and are instead placed under protective disposition.
How strange.
Those things have been circling like that for days.
Dongsan Textile Co., Ltd. Jongnam Mill
Chief Detective 1958
A girl named Kim Soonjung has gone missing.
What on earth did you do to your workers?
How did you get this picture?
Their fathers are all men in high places.
This is all the evidence we need.
- Let's get them right now. Are you sure?
You're a killer.
I want that prick dead.
Could you get rid of him?
In what world does a cop help out a suspect?
- How do you never change?
Are you all right?
Bring me a stretcher!
We're going to arrest those punks today, no matter what.
Translated by Jihun Lee