PLACES, CHARACTERS, BUSINESSES,
AND INCIDENTS IN THIS TELEVISION SERIES
ARE USED IN A FICTITIOUS MANNER.
Reporter Han.
Yes.
Put your belongings in here.
Excuse me.
Please wait in the room on the right.
Reporter Han.
How long has it been? A decade?
It's been 13 years.
13 years.
You want to be in the executive office?
Yes.
Why do you want that?
What reasons would I have other than my salary?
I want to live a better life.
He has a broad vision,
and most of all, he knows how to write.
He was once...
Sir, "No Gain, No Pain".
I'll make it disappear for good.
Hasn't it quieted down?
Yes.
Until now, Chief has been defending us well.
But now, I think we have to remove it completely.
When you said you'll take care of it
for good, you meant Reporter Han?
Yes.
I was thinking about Reporter Han.
I see.
Chief taught me well.
I used to do these kinds of tasks very well.
Start the course.
Restaurants make profits with knives,
and the press with their pens.
I'll recover Daily Korea's lost honor with my pen.
Enjoy your meal.
Eat before the juice is drained off.
Okay.
Look.
It's like us.
You should climb higher when you are still juiced up.
No use if you are drained.
Some get more ambitious when they get older.
That also makes sense.
Enjoy.
Yes.
EPISODE 10 - BEEF VS PORK.
THE DAY OF SOO YEON'S FUNERAL
Ji Soo?
Hello.
I interviewed you two years ago
about your father, right?
Yeah.
I'll never stop being grateful to you.
No need. I did what I had to do.
Are you here to cover Soo Yeon's story?
Yeah.
It's a big one.
By the way, you are something.
How did you enter Daily Korea?
Well...
Like father, like daughter.
Here.
So, what are your plans?
Plans?
Get an apology and compensation.
Wasn't it your plan to clear your father's name?
What?
Who wrote your father's misreport... Han Jun Hyuk?
Did you meet him?
Put your signature here and here.
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
SALARY CONTRACT
The confidentiality agreement is to...
To hold me responsible for criminal and civil matters
if I disclose anything that happens here.
Right?
You know well, being a law graduate.
You are his chief secretary, right?
Together, we...
Okay.
Use that phone only for 15th floor's matter.
You also can use the internet
with only the given tablet PC and laptop.
What thorough security.
Almost like an undercover agent...
I sent you an email regarding the details.
Learn everything until today.
Prepare your brief until tomorrow afternoon.
Can I ask you a personal question?
Yes, go ahead.
You have been a reporter for a long time.
I hear you are very skilled.
Why here?
You should know with your journalist experience.
It's not fun to sell stories.
Most of all,
the number is different here.
He stabs our back like this?
Don't jump to conclusions.
He must have an intention.
Intention?
Don't you know when you see it?
He sold off our story to Chief to climb up higher.
There's no other intention.
Are you okay with this?
I didn't know.
I thought he was a stubborn rebel,
not a devious backstabber.
That's what I'm saying!
I want to twist his neck right away,
but his father is sick.
I guess he had his reasons.
Reasons?
Everyone has reasons.
MUST LISTEN WITH EARPHONES - KANG JU AN
I can't stand one in my newsroom.
It's your job to sack her.
Did you listen to it?
Yeah.
Did you really record this?
Yeah.
I did it just in case.
I was filming a vlog of my internship,
thinking I might not get a regular position here.
That's why I was continuously filming.
I stopped after Soo Yeon died.
Reporter Han must have used that
to suggest a deal or blackmail Chief.
I gave it to Reporter Han.
But you told me to stay put.
Why now?
I don't know.
I don't know why I did that.
If I did nothing, I would have nothing to lose.
When I did something, I felt like I lost something.
So, Ji Soo.
Don't do anything from now on.
Do as what they say.
You were the nark among us.
Right?
How could you do this to us?
At least give us an excuse!
Ki Ha.
Let's go.
Let's drink it off.
I know why you are doing this.
Why?
There's no why.
Don't be smart.
Don't you think I know you?
Sorry to disappoint you.
But it's nothing like you imagine.
Han Jun Hyuk.
You know,
the road I've walked...
It's all fallen in ruins.
I had no shame.
I abandoned my family,
let alone earn a living for myself.
What an absurd dream I had
to become a great reporter and write a great story.
Ki Ha is wrong.
I can see that
there's no "in the middle" in the world.
Either you hold on to it dearly,
or climb up with your life at stake.
One of these two.
So?
You are climbing up to save yourself and no one else?
Do you want me to believe that?
That's disappointing.
It's up to you.
I don't care if you don't believe me.
I haven't done anything,
and you are already disappointed.
For me, that's more disappointing.
What?
Do you want to call me a backstabber too?
I wouldn't say I'm disappointed.
It's despair and regret.
-But... -No more.
If you don't want to regret anymore,
stop there.
Are you going there, Ki Ha?
Why? Do you know her?
Don't you know her?
I don't know.
She's...
An Ji Yoon, CEO of V News.
V News?
Is it an online press?
It's more like an advertising company.
They get paid to write stories for the big companies.
Like Baekje News and Saesong Group.
They had a deal for planned stories.
They did?
Then why is she here?
Beats me.
What's more, she's so confident.
15th floor?
WE HOPE FOR YOUR SUCCESS / NAMMOO GROUP
CEO Nam managed to get it from China.
What was the name?
-Cymbidium. -Cymbidium...
That's the name of my gym.
Anyway, it's Cymbidium.
I see.
I don't know much about orchids.
This is really rare.
It's a very rare species,
only found in Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou.
Its price...
Go outside, Mr. Oh.
Ma'am?
Yes, ma'am.
He's obsessed.
He is a good guy,
but I guess he always leaves his senses at home.
How's CEO Nam?
Don't get me started.
He's drowning in his worries,
it feels like a funeral home.
Minimum wage increase
and survival of small business...
There's no solution if no one's giving in.
So the criticism is targeting the big companies.
They have no one to blame
but big business owners.
That's why our economy is in the dump...
I am talking out of my place, aren't I?
I expect you to know this well.
Management is not charity.
You know, right?
This is not a problem of a penny or two.
It's the problem of outlook.
Editor Yoon, what are you...?
Why?
While you climb up here,
should I be stuck in the bottom?
I'm not a Desk Editor anymore.
Call me Director.
Do you mean "No Gain, No Pain"
messed up the outlook?
I didn't realize you were talking about me.
It's not that.
But...
What are you going to do with "No Gain, No Pain"?
I found the right man for it.
Right man?
I'm the Director of Planning & Coordination.
And you are...
The Strategy Manager below me.
So serve me well.
STRATEGY MANAGER, HAN JUN HYUK
I heard what you said.
You are going to eliminate "No Gain, No Pain".
I guess you really wanted to come up here.
I know, right?
I crammed up for my own sake.
I'm already here,
so help me be worthwhile.
Do you think you can do this?
Listen carefully.
This is nothing compared to your old task.
You might get the ax for this.
CEO An.
Say hello.
Hi, Reporter Han.
I'm An Ji Yoon from V News.
Hello. I'm Han Jun Hyuk.
This is my secretary, Mr. Oh.
I'm Oh Min Ho.
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
CEO An is...
I know Editor Yoon well.
We've seen each other's worst.
Now you and I are on the same boat.
Let's get along, yeah?
Yes.
But I'm no longer a reporter.
I'm a Manager.
You are.
Yeah.
He betrayed so many of his colleagues.
He should be a Manager.
Congratulations.
URGENT PERSONNEL
YANG YOON KYEONG - CITY DESK EDITOR / HAN JUN HYUK - STRATEGY MANAGER
Reporter Han messed it up like always.
Right?
What can he do up there?
He's a reporter, not an accountant.
I envy him a little.
They just look better.
I heard they get the latest phones...
I think you are right.
All he did here was click-baiting.
What can he do up there?
Currently, "No Gain, No Pain" has a million followers,
which were gained in a short time.
Especially, after MP Jung's son's accident with a delivery man,
many platform-mediated workers
in social media were added.
The number of followers is expected to increase.
Wait.
That's last week's story.
Why would you make a non-problem into a problem?
For now, the increase has slowed down.
But if the least related issue comes up,
it might be spiked again.
So I suggest this countermeasure.
We should facilitate "No Gain, No Pain",
and make it into a forum for exposing unfair treatment.
What on earth are you doing?
You want to increase its followers
when we need them to unfollow it?
Let him finish first.
Ma'am?
Yes, ma'am.
Go on.
Yes, sir.
First,
Digital Daily Korea should collect stories of young part-timers
who were treated unfairly at their jobs
and post it on the "No Gain, No Pain" page.
What?
We do that?
Yes.
Then its first keyword, intern reporter,
becomes non-regular workers and part-time jobs.
After that, we abuse multiple keywords,
such as power trip, minimum wage, and small business.
If we tweak the keywords just a little bit,
people from different social classes will follow.
It will also create diverse issues and debates.
So, you are suggesting...
Yes.
We put a lot of fish in a small pond.
Then the water becomes muddy.
In that muddy water,
unexpected incidents happen.
Incidents?
What do you mean?
Some people might translate fair difference
as unfair discrimination.
If this goes further,
it might spark fake victims with alleged discrimination.
"When the well is full, it will run over."
It's a cute idea.
For now, it might sound risky.
Pain for gain.
We can't gain anything without pain.
He is better than I thought.
Okay.
Let's try his countermeasure.
Yes, sir.
You made my heart flutter.
What?
Unlike your first impression, you are sick.
It's "chic", ma'am.
Huh?
Sick means vomit. It's "chic".
Chic means refined and sophisticated.
It's you that's sick.
Go outside.
Ma'am?
Yes, ma'am.
I sometimes get confused with words.
Anyway, Manager Han.
I have high hopes for you.
Thank you.
See you tomorrow.
Okay.
Goodbye, ma'am.
I don't know what you are up to,
but don't forget I'm higher than you.
Okay.
If I keep up with you enough,
even if I get an ax or not,
something will work out for me.
Smiling?
Okay.
Let's see how long that smile lasts.
Do you think Jun Hyuk is serious?
It's suspicious for a rebel like him to suddenly...
How frustrating.
What on earth is going on?
I thought you would become the Executive Editor.
Didn't I tell you?
If I don't tell you everything...
Yes.
It's better if I don't know.
But right now, I think I don't know too much.
How about calling Reporter Han and Editor Yoon
to the 15th floor?
I understand Editor Yoon.
But can I really trust Reporter Han?
With all due respect, do you trust me?
Of course, I do.
You trust my experience and insight.
Like you, I trust Reporter Han's scale of thinking.
I can only trust you, Chief.
You are too kind.
If it works out well,
you should lead Daily Korea for me.
You want my position, don't you?
You joke too much, sir.
I'm too old for that.
Why?
You said you get more ambitious when you are older.
That was a joke.
I want you to do it.
You keep this position well,
and turn it over to Kyu Tae smoothly.
From a journalist to another journalist.
It looks natural, doesn't it?
Yes, sir.
If that's what you want,
I'll do my best to make it happen.
Okay.
Chief.
How far are you going up?
Where else would I go if not the top?
The top?
The CEO?
Shush!
Amazing.
Welcome, sir.
Did you wait for me?
Of course.
Daily Korea's future owner's coming up.
I have to greet him.
I still have a long way to go.
Long? It's right there.
You know.
When you think you are there, you'll face a wall.
A wall?
Is there a problem?
No.
But if there is one,
I'm going to fix it.
Don't worry.
Let's go.
Lead the way.
V NEWS AN JI YOON
AN JI YOON - BUSINESS OPERATION DIRECTOR & CEO OF V NEWS
V NEWS SIGNS A BUSINESS AGREEMENT WITH SPORTS DAILY
Han Jun Hyuk.
How does a reporter think of something like that?
I thought he copied your idea.
You seem to feel good about it.
Yeah.
I've finally met someone I don't have to act stupid to.
His crude plan doesn't look so crude.
It looks pretty.
It might be because it's his first non-reporter job.
Don't you know how reporters work?
Their intention is more than eliminating an online page.
You are right.
Then...
Either he is a born trash reporter,
or he suddenly got ambitious.
Do you want me to poke him a bit?
No need.
If I've guessed right,
he will approach me first.
Sorry.
Captain... No.
Editor Yang, you don't need to be.
I am sorry to not be able to congratulate you enough.
He's right.
We've got to celebrate the riddance of Editor Yoon.
I didn't get rid of him.
He walked out himself.
And he reached where he wanted to be.
Okay.
It's not the best situation,
but also not the worst.
The fact is our Captain became City Desk Editor.
And we only need to celebrate that.
Let's give it up!
Give it up for her!
Congratulations, Desk Editor Yoon. Exclusive!
Me too, congratulations on your promotion.
Of course, her promotion is our priority.
Congratulations, Desk Editor Yang.
You should treat us properly for that.
Barbecue! Barbecue!
Okay, I'll treat you to a full course barbecue tomorrow.
Cheers.
Man.
His empty seat really stands out.
If it was not for him...
No.
He must have a reason.
Something's up.
Something? What do you mean?
I told you before.
When Soo Yeon died,
Jun Hyuk tried to expose what Chief said.
I managed to stop him then.
But now...
What are you saying?
Jun Hyuk went up there
to expose the CEO's weakness?
I think it's more than possible for him.
Never!
You might not understand.
Not because of my dad.
If he really had a reason,
he didn't need to cause you to misunderstand him.
Right!
He told us not to say anything until it's finished.
HUSH.
HUSH?
He also said it's his last chance
to become a real reporter.
You mean this?
He threw it away.
Said it's his last chance to be a real reporter and did this.
What do you think he meant?
My sweeties.
Today, I got...
Are you crazy, mom?
Hangover soup is expensive, you know.
Drink up.
You know...
How about we immigrate?
Why suddenly?
We can take care of our son.
It will be good to live together.
Of course.
But how will we make a living?
What's up with you?
Yoon Kyeong...
She's been promoted to Desk Editor.
What?
How about Deputy Editor Jung?
He tried not to show it,
but I guess he's feeling miserable.
Of course.
Moreover, that jerk Han Jun Hyuk.
He betrayed us and went up to the 15th floor.
With Editor Yoon.
What?
With Editor Yoon?
Because of that,
Ki Ha must be angry at Jun Hyuk.
I understand.
Manager Kim endures it.
So you should hang in there too.
Don't be distracted.
You've been a Deputy for a long time.
Are you comforting me or offending me?
You have to work until Parker graduates!
You are right.
Darling.
If it's too hard...
You can quit.
Dad!
Sweeties.
Did you earn a lot of money at work?
What?
Not much?
Why'd you say that?
Dad brought a lot of money!
Dad, let's play.
What do you want to do?
How can you do this to me?
What's up? Tell me.
Soo Hyuk told me everything.
His mother offered a study-abroad opportunity,
and you said no.
Seo Jin, it's...
No.
You always care about yourself, not me.
What on earth is this?
What do you think it is?
It means we...
From now on, we support "No Gain, No Pain" too.
What do you mean by that?
So...
Never mind.
If I don't explain it in detail,
it's better for you to not know it.
I told you multiple times.
You never told us that.
Really?
I see.
I just did.
Bear it in mind.
I hired some part-timers for this.
Manager Kim, teach them well about this.
What's bothering you?
You told us that at Digital Daily Korea,
we won't do this anymore.
I...
It's an exception.
It's not for the traffic.
It's for a good intention.
Something positive...
No.
Spill it, Editor Um.
Before we start, we have to know your real motive.
Just do as I say!
Lazy bums.
How dare you defy your boss?
Darn it!
What do they want?
They are watering it down.
Attract everyone online
and make it blow itself up.
WRITTEN BY STRATEGY MANAGER HAN JUN HYUK
What? Reporter Han wrote this.
You're right.
Acting like a rebel, my butt.
SOLUTION FOR "NO GAIN, NO PAIN" SITUATION
CONVENIENCE STORE PART-TIMERS CAN'T GO TO THE RESTROOM DURING WORKING HOURS
PART-TIMERS' HUMAN RIGHTS EXPLOITED
CONVENIENCE STORE PART-TIMER ASSAULTED FOR REQUESTING DELAYED PAYMENT
Hiring part-timers to bury part-timers.
Why?
Do you feel sorry for them?
What?
3-month part-timers for copying-and-pasting.
You were supposed to do that too.
I told you before.
You guys are so lucky.
Honestly,
you got regular positions because of that incident.
So lucky.
Reporter Lee!
Yes?
What are you doing?
What do you mean?
I'm working.
Is bullying your work?
It's not...
Stop!
I know your work is crap.
But you can't say that to the hard-working juniors.
I never...
Lee Jae Eun!
Stop right there.
Don't sneak to other Desks unless it's work-related!
Reporter Jo, don't get distracted.
Concentrate on your work!
Yes, sir.
Listen carefully.
After we finish this junk,
we do a focus meeting tomorrow at 8 in the morning.
If you don't want to be left behind,
search for items.
No click-baits and no copying-and-pasting.
We will only write real stories.
Hey, Lee Ji Soo.
What are you doing here?
Perhaps...
Did you miss me?
You want a drink, right?
It's because of Reporter Han, right?
I don't get it.
Everybody's the same.
No, it's the opposite.
How can they blame him?
What?
You know.
He's the hardest one among all of us.
But our bosses killed it. What can we do?
Push it ahead like a crazy person?
Will our bosses say okay?
If we did that, it's lucky to keep our job.
Faith and truth are indeed important.
But being a reporter is a job.
No one is free from their livelihood.
You are.
Me?
Well...
There are exceptions to every rule.
Why do you work here?
Why?
In my job interview,
this was my definition of a reporter.
A reporter keeps his faith
and makes the worst scenario into the best.
I said that.
Your parents must be proud.
They got a son who can talk out of any situation.
I guess so.
It wasn't sincere at all.
Like me.
I lived a cushy life.
I don't know any worst scenarios.
Editor Um...
He made us copy-and-paste articles on "No Gain, No Pain".
Why?
Manager Kim said it's called "watering down".
They are making it overflow.
Digital News Desk is supposed to do that.
I was supposed to do that.
But thanks to Soo Yeon...
That's harsh. Who said that?
What's worse is...
The person who suggested it...
It's Reporter Han.
Reporter Han?
His first job up there?
Ji Soo.
I didn't hear from you, so I got worried.
What are you talking about?
Han Jun Hyuk went up to the executive office?
Yes.
Literally.
Then...
Reporter Han... No.
Manager Han can't give you any materials from now on.
I see.
Anything else happened at Daily Korea?
It's your job to sack her.
Reporter Ku.
Reporter Han didn't write my dad's story.
He wrote it, but Chief altered it.
It's too late to discuss who wrote it and who altered it.
What?
What I mean is,
fabrication and concealment of crimes
have become very common.
What we tried was to expose them.
You should see it from a reporter's perspective.
From my perspective,
it's whistle-blowing, not an exposÃ©.
From a reporter's perspective,
it's your exclusive, not mine.
Exclusive?
What happened to my dad was a long time ago.
There's no use to distinguish right and wrong now.
Yeah, that's what I mean.
So give me recent ones.
What? Recent ones?
Yeah.
For example,
Oh Soo Yeon's personal issues that led her to kill herself...
Soo Yeon didn't kill herself.
What?
She didn't kill herself?
Then what?
No.
Let's talk when I get the facts.
I'll go now.
Wait, Ji Soo.
I know it's hard for you.
If you can't stand it, just quit.
I can offer you a position if I talk to my Chief.
Yeah.
Thanks to Han Jun Hyuk,
we are back to the old Digital News Desk.
"No Gain, No Pain" is inevitable.
Then how about Go Su Do?
We put an end to it?
"HUSH" does not disappear with him!
We didn't reveal any facts.
Yes, we did.
Editor Yoon went in and out of MP Go's office.
Chief uploaded the correction report right before the trial.
There's reasonable doubt.
Even if we write it,
the Chief will never allow it.
Unless we distribute it online.
We should do that then!
Too late.
Someone already did.
Didn't you see the tabloid?
Tabloid?
Go Yu Seop made a false confession for MP Go.
Prosecution planned a scenario for Go Yu Seop
and forced a false confession.
Go Yu Seop denied.
His son was recently hired as MP Go's aide?
Who leaked it?
Jun Hyuk did this?
Jun Hyuk was investigating these things.
Didn't you hear who leaked it?
It was a prosecutor from the same office.
Prosecutor?
He was a colleague in the office next door.
He must have witnessed the investigation by chance.
He confessed his conscience on NewTube.
Confessed his conscience?
I think it's a friend of Reporter Han.
His prosecutor friend exposed it while risking everything.
Who's the reporter, I wonder?
Han Jun Hyuk will never blow the whistle.
No way.
He is pretending to be the press with a provocative title.
"The whistle-blower in the Prosecution".
The mainstream press is not paying any attention.
You can ignore it.
But other press will find it out someday,
that we affected the trial with our correction report
even if it wasn't a misreport.
You are right.
We should take the initiative...
Why would you make a non-problem into a problem?
What?
But just in case...
That's why I suggested the countermeasure.
For this kind of issue.
Don't bring that in.
That didn't help at all.
Of course, it helped.
It decreased the damage for now.
That's right.
If we left the "No Gain, No Pain" page alone,
only hostile followers would have remained.
This issue could have been their fuel,
overflowing the page with related issues.
Their criticism toward us
would have become much stronger.
What about now?
There's really no article related to MP Go.
Thanks to his aggressive countermeasure.
Literally, "Pain for Gain".
You taught him well.
Good work, Manager Han.
It was nothing.
I'm just beginning.
CEO An.
Yes?
It's my first time, so I'm clumsy sometimes.
Thank you for taking my side every time.
It's nothing.
Your pitch was too good.
You flatter me.
So I want to...
Buy dinner?
What? Yes.
Okay. I like barbecue.
Barbecue? Good.
I'll treat you to the best.
Are you okay with pork?
Meat is meat.
Manager Han.
Do you remember the beef crisis from the 70s?
Yes.
Beef was so scarce at that time,
it was more expensive than gold. Right?
Yes.
People didn't really eat pork until then.
Yes, the government spread a rumor
that pork is more nutritious than beef.
That's what all the newspapers said.
"Beef is unhealthy, eat pork."
Yes.
That's how pork belly barbeque was created.
No one cares about that anymore.
Why? Because it's delicious.
For me, this is the power of the press.
Power of the press?
Whatever the intention,
they didn't lie about the taste.
They just didn't know it was that delicious.
Like you, Manager Han.
Now,
spill the beans.
Why did you quit being a reporter
and start doing this crude job?
No more.
Let's not give a darn about him.
Desk Editor?
A word, please.
Stop it.
Why?
Honestly,
I came all the way up here
while being a bad mom for my daughter.
So I'm not super delighted.
I know I shouldn't say this.
Not in front of Sae Jun.
I'll just be happy and thankful.
Sae Jun.
Thank you again.
And I'm sorry.
How cringey.
Stop!
I'm going to fill my stomach with this expensive meat,
so that I become one with the meat.
You are going to pay for this.
Cheers.
Congratulations, Desk Editor Yang!
Congrats!
I told you, stop doing that!
It's...
It's not because of Jun Hyuk.
It's HUSH.
I wanted to guess the meaning,
for a full course steak dinner.
He should have told us before he went away.
Right.
Reporter Han is really bad.
You should eat and drink.
Eat it while it's still juicy.
I wanted to enjoy the money and position
before I lose the juice.
I want a beautiful life,
before I'm too old.
So you suddenly got ambitious?
Is that it?
Yes.
So please guide me.
Guide me to the place where the flowers bloom.
You are sick alright, not chic.
-Editor Yang? -Yes.
Delivery for you.
Sign here.
Thank you.
SALARY CONTRACT
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
HUSH
An ex-colleague of yours?
Do you have x-rays for eyes?
I can see it in your face.
DAILY KOREA
You're the one who preached about how a reporter should be.
But look who you sold your integrity to?
NAM WOO GROUP ADVERTISING PLAN
You became the director's lapdog for a few pennies.
I'll make his life hell starting today.
You mean Mr Han?
REPRESENTATIVE AN HERE TO SHED LIGHT ON THE FACTS.
If you delete No Pain No Gain completely,
EMPLOYER THREATENS TEMP WITH KNIFE FOR QUITTING SUDDENLY.
I'll make sure you're rewarded.
Can I trust you?
Just this once.
Of course there's a hidden agenda.
Who here doesn't have a hidden agenda?
This is Representative An's request.
What about our principles?
Last time, you acted as if you never wanted to see me again.
-What do you want? -Have you got the materials?
Why should I tell you?
Because what you see now isn't necessarily the whole picture.
You mustn't write your own opinions and feelings.
Only the plain truths.
Do you seriously want to die?