(All the characters, organizations, places, and happenings...)
(in this drama are all fake and are not based on a true story.)
(Organ donations and transplants are processed fairly under management.)
(The plot regarding this matter is purely fictional.)
I'm sorry, Suk Min.
I'll take care of it.
But I have to be the one to end this.
I ruined everything,
but I don't want to hurt people I love.
So run when you have the chance.
Don't ever step on this path I'm on.
(Episode 21)
Chul Ho...
wouldn't have wanted to see you get hurt because of him.
So stop here...
before you ruin everything...
to get revenge.
Please let go of Chul Ho's case.
Let's make one thing clear.
Are you the one who wants to give up on his case?
- What? - If that's not the case, don't...
make excuses and tell me the truth.
You want me to give up now? This doesn't make sense at all.
They murdered my brother.
Those jerks who trampled on Yoon Seon Woo...
and Kwon So Ra and ruined my life are somewhere out there.
How can I live with myself if I run because I'm afraid they'll hurt me?
Is that the noble mind of journalists you insist on?
Is your hobby pretending to be righteous?
You pretend you are doing this for a good cause and for others,
but the reason why...
you're doing this isn't because you want to right an injustice.
You're doing this for your own revenge.
Whether it was an accident or not,
because of the article you wrote, people got hurt and died.
With that alone,
you are disqualified.
So go back.
Before it's too late,
go get your life together.
No.
I won't give up on this.
I started for my brother,
but this fight is no longer just about him.
Don't you think Chul Ho...
wanted someone...
to recognize his mistake?
He wanted to fix everything.
So he approached something that shouldn't be revealed.
That became the last...
(Daehan Newspaper)
Of him.
Han Chul Ho, you fool.
Because of the article you wrote, people got hurt and died.
With that alone,
you are disqualified.
So go back.
Before it's too late,
go get your life together.
(Emergency Medical Center)
No one can be as foolish as you.
You must have known that you were hurt badly.
What would've happened if I didn't drag you in here?
You think it would heal itself when you give it time?
I'm fine.
It's not that serious anyway.
Goodness, you haven't changed.
I thought you might've changed since you managed to keep your job.
However, you're still bad at apologizing...
and flattering your superiors.
It must be my destiny.
I can't change who I am.
Follow me.
So the real murderer of Seo Chong Su...
was in the USB?
Yes, that's my speculation.
What do you think the motive was?
He was involved in the smuggling business while he was a coast guard.
And he openly spoke of the identity of the people he helped smuggle.
The real culprit must have tried to stop his identity getting revealed.
He helped someone sneak out of the country.
I believe it's my turn now.
I'm sure there's a reason why you're asking me these questions.
Please tell me your intentions first.
I'm sorry, but I will be the only one asking questions today.
Let me ask you one last thing.
That guy you were with earlier...
He's not just any reporter, is he?
Who is he really?
He's a reporter who works for Aeguk Newspaper.
He's helping me investigate this case.
You're working with the press again after what happened five years ago?
Plus, that newspaper company is just a group full of media jackals.
It's different from how it was back then.
I'm confident that I'll do better this time.
No. You're already mistaken by thinking that...
a reporter can make any changes in the world we live in today.
People think of...
prosecutors the same way.
No one trusts that we can do anything.
So there's no other way than to give it a try.
I'm sure...
we'll be able to find something on the way.
That's what I believe.
But...
are you seriously not going to tell me...
why you asked me those questions?
I don't know.
I guess this is where our connection will end for now.
Pardon?
I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again soon.
Chul Ho left you that kind of message?
He was nervous, and he wasn't making any sense.
But he made one thing clear.
He didn't want us to get involved in the mess he was in.
He didn't want us to be in danger too.
Chul Ho must've been crazy.
How did he take things that far?
So what do you plan to do now?
I don't know.
What do you think we should do?
We should keep going. What else are we going to do?
Yoo Kyung.
Chul Ho was serious when he warned me about how dangerous it could be.
- So you should... - What?
What?
You're not going to tell me to step out of this since I'm a mom, right?
- Am I not allowed to say that? - Of course, you're not.
That'd be very rude.
That would mean you're looking down on my competence and intelligence.
Starting from Gu Tae Won and Chul Ho,
there are many other factors that are warning us to get out of this.
Suk Min.
We're not Chul Ho's friends nor are we his family.
We're just obligated to reveal the truth about what happened.
To be honest, I also want to take this...
until the very end regardless of how dangerous it may be.
The evidence and situation are all too clear to ignore.
They keep lingering in my head.
Then let's just do this.
(Nam Kang Myung, New Harvest, Who's Nam Kang Myung's right-hand man?)
Are you saying So Ra...
has started to dig into Nam Kang Myung's case?
That's right.
She won't listen to me even if I tell her to stop investigating.
But it'd be too dangerous to let her get involved.
(Nam Kang Myung)
What should I do about her?
(Kwon So Ra, Prosecutor at Incheon District Prosecutor's Office)
I'd like to meet them in person and explain everything to them myself.
Hey, reporters are always trying to threaten us with headlines.
Gu Tae Won won't be able to do anything about Nam Kang Myung.
He knows it'll backfire on him.
No. I'm never going to have to bow down to him.
I've sacrificed myself to keep my power for 20 years.
I'm sure my father spent his whole life to do the same.
Need I say more?
I was told to take further measures if this doesn't work on you.
He also told me to tell you that you will not be given a second chance.
Do you think...
you'll be safe after doing this?
Have you forgotten?
I've been taught not to think of any kind of consequences.
(Cho Young Ki)
My gosh, I knew you'd come home in that state.
What are you doing here?
I came here to slow you down.
You and Suk Min don't seem to know how to control your speed.
What is it this time?
What is it that's making you look so down?
Chul Ho was involved in writing all those fabricated articles?
Yes.
Then Suk Min might be telling you to get out of this...
because he's actually really worried for you.
False reports...
exist in every newspaper company, and it's sort of like...
an illness. But there's a reason why no one tries to uncover that...
Is because one article is enough to make everyone lose their trust.
Exactly.
But you're taking part in this when you're his younger brother.
If you keep digging into this,
your trust in Chul Ho will break into pieces.
It's too dangerous, Mu Young.
But what if I want to keep going?
What if I want to find those people who did that to my brother?
Then you need to find a good reason.
Find a good reason to back up why you, of all people,
have to be the one to investigate this case and find out the truth.
Forget about taking revenge for your brother.
It needs to be something that's worth way more than that.
That's the only way nobody involved in this case will get hurt,
including you...
and the ones you need to fight against.
Why do I need to unveil Chul Ho's wrongdoings?
Don't you think Chul Ho wanted someone...
to recognize his mistake?
("High School Girl Gets Hit by a Gasoline Bomb Thrown by Strikers")
The person who got harmed by Chul Ho's fabricated article.
I want Aeguk Newspaper to prove my innocence.
The man who has a duty...
("Law Firm Noah Joins the Defense in Geumwoo Automobiles Recall Case")
To answer our questions.
(Cho Young Ki)
An unsolved case.
But we're facing a hidden case,
and there are victims who got murdered because it.
If you and I are the only ones who can solve that case,
it's only right for us to do so.
It means that the tattooed man killed Lieutenant Jeon...
and Seo Chong Su to cover for Nam Kang Myung's death.
Why is that?
Why go that far for him? Who is he?
Nam Kang Myung.
It's highly possible that he's connected to the tattooed man.
("The Reason Why Nam Kang Myung's Death Is True")
But I still need more evidence.
I need something more clear to help me find that guy.
(Incheon District Prosecutor's Office)
(Crime Site Photos of Incheon EM Holdings' Warehouse)
Park Eung Mo.
(Hae Young)
The buried woman.
The initial case that brought all of us here.
Seo Hae Young came to Seoul after she graduated...
a nursing college in 1997.
630, Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul City.
This is her last known address.
She told people that she intended...
to move into the company dorms because of her credit card debt.
But...
there are no records of her getting a job anywhere,
and her bank accounts were all closed.
- To sum up... - She's nowhere to be found.
Okay, I'll call you back after I look into it.
Wait. How do you feel today? Are you really okay?
How long are you going to ask me that?
You won't be able to forget.
From my experience,
it will scare and frighten you.
So let me know...
if what happened yesterday bothers you.
What happens if I do?
There isn't a specific solution.
I can drink with you, or we can talk about it.
Well... I'll do something. So let me know.
Okay.
- Sorry? - I'll let you know.
- What? - Should I not?
No, let me know.
Let me know if you really want to.
Okay.
Goodness, men are always chasing after women.
Gosh, I guess even you...
are starting to date.
How can you make her fall in love with you if you talk like that?
Perhaps, you should've yelled at her instead.
So at least you can leave a strong impression on her.
Sir,
how can someone insignificant like him ever understand you?
Don't put your effort into him. It's a waste of time.
But still.
I'm the romantic in this area. I ought to at least give him advice.
Why did you eavesdrop on my conversation?
I...
was talking about work.
It was an official business.
Liar, liar. A total liar.
- That little... - I was thinking out loud.
Okay, okay. I'll believe you.
You look like a cool guy,
but when I observe how you behave... How should I put it?
He looks like he's from Gunsan, the countryside.
It looks like he never got his heartbroken.
- He's talking trash. - He's like lugworm in the valley.
No, that's not it. He's like a mudskipper.
Hey, you!
How dare you walk away when my boss is talking to you?
Do you want today to be your last day?
- Hey, hey. Leave him alone. - How dare he...
Yes, sir.
He's walking away because he knows.
He knows how hopeless he is.
Handsome people like you and I won't ever know how he feels.
You're right, sir.
I like him, but he's just too ugly.
He won't ever get to date.
You want...
to look into this woman, Seo Hae Young, who disappeared 20 years ago?
Yes.
Hey, Mu Young. I think I told you this a few times.
I've been traumatized by Park Eung Mo case.
Don't you remember me telling you?
Yong Shik.
You're asking too much.
You know Mu Young isn't that considerate.
Don't touch me.
Let me ask you a question.
Is this another attempt to find the man with the tattoo?
The motive for this case is to take your revenge this time again?
I can't deny my revenge is irrelevant.
However, it's not just about my revenge.
What other reasons do you have then?
Think about the stories we worked on for the past year,
and eliminate the stories about me and my brother.
Then what do you have left?
Then a mysterious organization who committed countless crimes is left.
Those men instigated journalists to write false articles.
They will even kill people in order to get what they want.
- Then... - You're telling us our end goal...
is exposing this organization.
They are constantly committing crimes. Shouldn't we...
at least know who these scumbags are?
This kind of story doesn't suit the mind of a media jackal.
However, it won't be easy for us to turn our backs on this.
Since we are born human, we ought to follow our heart at least once.
Let's find traces of Seo Hae Young.
You really think so?
How would the culprit have known...
that I was...
going to retrieve the USB at that exact time?
This proves the information leaked from the police and the prosecution.
Who could that be?
They took a shot at me, and it's my turn to return the favor.
We, humans,
should return the favor.
Let them know...
- how long it takes to Daejeon. - Yes, sir.
Pause.
Enlarge the mirror over there.
This is the best I can do.
Can't you do better?
No, I can't. Oh, my.
Hold on a minute.
What is this?
Someone must have already edited out this part.
What?
Take a look.
Between these two frames, the mirror completely tilted.
His face must've been on the mirror.
Someone cut that part out completely.
Anyway, what are we going to do?
Things will move much faster once we know who gave us the tip.
If our source got on the boat with him,
he or she must be very close to him.
Goodness, the problem is how we are going to nail this guy.
Nam Kang Myung's funeral.
Did we have photographers at his funeral?
At his funeral?
These are the photos Seung Hwan took at his funeral.
These won't be that much of use since it was a private funeral.
Anyhow, Nam Kang Myung had only one family member who was his ex-wife.
During the funeral service was held,
these three were the chief mourners.
This is Kim Yoon Soo, the finance director of New Harvest.
Jang Min Ho, Nam Kang Myung's friend of 20 years.
Kim Sun Hong, his brother-in-law who acted as his doctor.
According to his acquaintances,
Nam Kang Myung doesn't trust people easily.
So he didn't keep a lot of people around him.
Which means it's highly likely...
1 of these 3 got on to that boat to smuggle him out of the country.
Who could it be?
Who found this video...
and reported this to Gu Tae Won?
Since there aren't a lot of smugglers in the west sea,
the possible routes narrow down to 5 or 6.
I heard there are a few brokers. Should I search them out?
Some of them might remember who got on the boat.
No, even if we find them,
they won't testify.
In addition to the tight regulation,
since everyone knows the real killer of Seo Chong Su is someone else.
People who are involved in this case might be scared of being retaliated.
We need a way...
to catch this guy at once.
What if we put out bait?
Bait?
If we can't find this guy,
we must...
make him come to us.
How's business these days?
I heard you manage a few media outlets.
Do you even have time to sleep at night?
Well, we have a lot of competent reporters.
How many reporters write abusing articles in each media outlet?
Each outlet doesn't need their own reporters for it. We need 3 or 4...
diligent journalists to print a few hundreds of articles each day.
The more attention we get, the more profits we make.
You're being humble,
in this day and age, traditional news and online news agencies...
aren't that different.
This is what I think.
We have to provide a united front...
for us to get our points across and form public sentiments.
We should work harder.
Actually, why don't we work together?
Pardon?
Why would Daehan Newspaper want to work with us?
You know the scoop on Park Eung Mo case Aeguk Newspaper delivered?
I heard you helped Aeguk Newspaper in filming the video. Is that true?
It is true, but...
Why are you curious about that case?
- Bye. - Take care.
- Take care. - Goodbye.
Director.
Could I just tell you one thing?
Sure, tell me.
You know you mustn't look down on them...
because they print online articles.
They don't care how they deliver their articles.
They only know how to print stories. They don't take responsibility.
I'm telling you that...
once you work with them, you can't get out of this partnership.
I know. That's why I want to make use of them.
They fire cannons without thinking twice about it.
Where could I find that much firepower in this state of war?
What is it?
I've tried to reach you several times, but it wasn't easy.
That's why I'm here. Sit down.
I've told them what you want.
I'll pressure the organ transplant center.
They've come to a decision, and your wife will...
When I first started working for this company,
this is what the chairman said.
"A journalist is the brain that leads the war of this country."
"Therefore,"
"no journalist should ever forgive any kind of mistake so easily."
Hey, Cho Young Ki.
What kind of person do you think I am?
Did you think of me as someone who'd have enough time to...
fight with you over who's stronger?
I was careless.
But, sir... No, I mean...
- For the benefit of the company... - Forget it.
I'm not here to listen to your excuses.
That scar on your neck will last for quite a while.
You should be careful not to go through anything like that again.
Just think of it as your punishment.
Why? Did you think you were the only one who could...
send a complaint to those with power?
Starting from today,
you just need to remember one thing.
If you try to fight me, it'll only backfire on you.
Do you know this?
The time I spent to put a strain on your ambition...
was less than 48 hours.
Then...
what do you plan to do about Nam Kang Myung's case now?
Because of you, Splash Team and the prosecution are already on it.
You know that it's going to be hard for you to stop them both.
Nam Kang Myung?
Prosecutor Kwon, they're on their way here.
Right now?
You remember what we practiced, right?
Don't act like your normal self. You need to act sad.
I need to act sad.
Let's act sad.
What happened? Are you okay?
I heard you got attacked while you were on a field investigation.
- Is that true? - Yes.
I think it was the real culprit of Yoon Seon Woo's case.
He was waiting for me to get caught.
I just couldn't win him.
You got attacked by a murderer. Of course, you couldn't win him.
I'm sorry.
My goodness.
Gosh, I'm sorry. I really didn't want to cry.
It scares me the more I think about it.
I keep getting scared and wonder if I'll be able to continue...
working as a prosecutor.
It's sad to see that no one's taking initiative even after what happened.
I guess we just have to let this go without being able to do anything.
What do we need to do?
What can we do to help?
Well...
Sir, let's carry out an internal investigation.
I'm going to check the call history and do a complete investigation.
"Internal investigation"? What are you talking about?
The culprit already knew...
what Prosecutor Kwon was looking for and where she was heading.
I can only think of this as evidence to show that someone from...
the prosecution or police is cooperating with the culprit.
Please help us come up with a proper countermeasure for this.
This is both a threat and insult towards the prosecution.
We must find out who's cooperating with the culprit...
no matter what.
Okay. Considering the seriousness of this incident,
it's hard to just let this slide.
Hyun Suk, you should take charge of this case.
I want everyone to cooperate with this investigation.
I want you to directly report to me regarding the investigation, okay?
I knew you'd take initiative, sir.
Yes, let's try digging this up.
Kwon So Ra.
She had the guts to make you walk on thin ice when you're her boss.
That means she'll be of great use.
"She'll be of great use"? What does that mean?
Are you saying we should just let her be?
Hey, you're here.
Sit down.
Here you go.
How do you feel?
I'm okay.
Is there anything you'd like to say to me?
I'm more curious about why you're asking me that question.
My gosh. When I got the report about what happened yesterday,
I started regretting everything I said to you until now.
But don't you worry.
I'll make sure to find whoever it is that's cooperating with the culprit.
I'd like you to fully trust me on that.
You've suddenly changed so much...
that it's making me feel more uncomfortable.
Is there something you want from me?
What would I want from you?
I'm only doing this because I feel sorry for what I've done.
By the way, I've looked over some materials, and I've noticed that...
the guy who attacked you must have some kind of connection with...
the guy who Seo Chung Soo smuggled out overseas.
Yes, that's right.
Here. Take a look at this.
I've been investigating this with the coast guard for several years.
I'm sure it'll help you.
(Investigation Data on Nam Kang Myung)
(Nam Kang Myung)
Please think of this as my apology.
What's this?
You've heard about Nam Kang Myung, right?
Apparently, the guy that who Seo Chung Soo smuggled out was him.
I heard that he's planning to come back to Korea soon.
What do you say? I've given you all the materials.
So would you like to try rowing the boat now?
If you can't push her down with money or power,
you need to tame her by giving her what she wants.
- What? - Show her some kindness.
Then make her walk into a pit of fire on her own.
Just when she'll feel like she has achieved justice in this world,
she'll start to realize that...
the intention to change the world...
will only have left her powerless with no arms and legs.
Why aren't you answering me?
Don't tell me you're thinking of...
giving up on such a huge case like this.