(Characters, incidents, and period depicted are purely fictional.)
(Magistrate Yoo Ji Sun)
I did not expect to meet you like this, Your Royal Highness.
I hear reproof in your tone.
If the royal court and the Royal Family find out...
you had been meddling with the lawsuits of the people,
not only will it put you in trouble, it will trouble His Majesty.
(His Majesty: The King)
Is that not great news for Executive Minister Yoo and Hungu?
I am sure you do not do this for my father and the Hungu.
No. Hence, I plan to carry on without getting caught.
Therefore, treat me as a stranger from now on.
How am I to turn away from a woman whom I am betrothed to?
Scholar Yoo. No, Lord Yoo, your betrothal to the princess...
would stop your father's power from passing down to you.
That is why my father made such a decision.
However, he has passed.
And I believe his blood...
is on the hands of Executive Minister Yoo.
Do you still wish to honor this betrothal?
Please excuse me.
Thank you for your boundless grace, Your Majesty.
(Sowongak)
I hear...
you operate a merchant house to help the poor.
This is not much, but I wish to help the best I can.
I wish to remain anonymous.
From your supporter.
Lord Yoo, there is trouble.
(Hanseongbu)
When one strangles oneself,
the mouth of the dead is usually opened,
hands clasped, and teeth show.
The wound on the neck is severe and crimson-colored.
Just an observation.
Excuse me.
Commissioner Park...
did not take his own life.
He was forced to look as if he took his own life.
Who did this, why did they do this,
and to hide what?
Have you deserted him?
He deserved to die.
This is murder.
- Suicide. - Father.
If you wish to turn this into a murder case,
I will not stop you.
A few suspects will suffer as a formality,
then the most adequate one will get framed...
and beheaded.
That is how we lose yet another life.
That is the thing with law.
It is much easier to kill one than to let one live.
Precisely.
According to the law, Commissioner Park was to die soon.
So I do not understand why you went out of your way to do this.
The longer I let him live, the more he will tell.
Then he will bring more shame...
upon Hungu's name.
However, do not take this the wrong way.
Among many things I can do in this land of Joseon,
that was a rather easy task.
- One, two! - One, two!
One, two!
Hey! I will do the rest.
You may leave.
Thank you for your help.
Mother.
Commissioner Park died...
the same way you did.
This does not feel as gratifying or refreshing as I thought.
Both Master Jang and Commissioner Park...
are all nothing but minions.
The true power must be someone else.
Our foe is much higher than we thought.
What must I do?
(Bundle Lady)
And where should I go...
to find out the truth?
(Bundle Lady)
(Episode 5: The Brutal History of Cheongsan 1)
(Joseon Attorney: A Morality)
Han Soo!
- Han Soo! - What?
Where have you been? I have looked everywhere for you!
I have looked everywhere for you too...
on the ship, all day long,
as I got hit by bird poop.
Gosh, do not be so petty.
So? What?
Look!
What?
I found this in Commissioner Park's sleeve.
I have his wife's consent, so let us go check now.
Let us go.
- Start over there. - Okay.
Darn it.
Hey!
- Goodness. - Move aside!
There it is.
(Land Deed)
How much does this add up to?
It looks like Park Jae Soo...
was the fence for Hungu.
House deed.
- Thank you. - Sure.
He must have exchanged these for silk, rice,
jade, silver, and gold,
He must have exchanged it for gold and put it in the Hungu's storeroom.
- Yes, of course. - And this one.
Please take good care of this.
He was a fence and kept a bribe ledger as well.
He even acted as a bookkeeper.
The dead Master Jang...
would have been the merchant he worked with.
It has been seven years since Park Jae Soo came to Hanyang.
Lord Chu also entered the central court around that time.
And Master Jang settled down in the Hanyang markets.
If all of that was in return for my father's life,
the one who provided all of these generous favors...
would be the person who ordered to kill my father.
Let us see.
If we follow Master Jang, Commissioner Park, and Lord Chu...
all the way back up, at the end is...
It is the executive minister, the leader of the Hungu.
Right.
Come on, you went too far.
Gosh, I hope that is not true.
If that is the case, it will be too hard for us.
How about...
we just catch Lord Chu and beat it out of him?
That man is practically the mastermind.
He will never talk.
Then what do we do?
Now, other than Lord Chu,
all we have is that mysterious bundle lady.
We tried to track her down for years but never succeeded.
I guess Park Jae Soo's soul still had some conscience left.
He even left us a present.
Who gave it to him? Look it up.
Why?
It says it is from the governor of Cheongsan.
Cheongsan...
(Sowongak)
Indeed.
This is the plum wine from before.
You cannot do this while out in disguise.
- I will pay enough for the drinks. - What?
What is all this?
Did I not say that in order to make Kang Han Soo act,
we will need quite a lot of wealth?
Thank you for your boundless generosity...
But...
Even for you, Your Majesty, you would need permission...
from the executive minister to take money from your private vault.
That is why...
I have brought my personal wealth that I had kept aside.
Thank you...
Thank you again, Your Majesty.
Enjoy the food and drinks.
What are you looking at?
I thought you were going to make Kang Han Soo your man.
It seems...
you are becoming more like him somehow.
I am?
I thought I saw more.
Why is it Cheongsan, of all places?
- Hey. - I know, right?
This is driving me crazy.
Do you still have something to say to me?
Master Jo asks to see that face of yours.
We let you keep your life, but you do not know to be grateful.
You just had to...
show up in court?
This time,
I will show you the afterlife.
I ought to show you the real deal this time.
- Dong Chi. - Yes, Han Soo.
- Let us use the bear tactic. - Right.
I am Daddy Bear!
I am Mommy Bear!
Then shall I attack after you?
Do you think you will run away on your own?
You sure are quick-witted.
My lord!
What is this?
Han Soo.
Hey!
After them!
Get them!
Take a different horse.
Your Highness!
- Wait... - Your...
Your Majesty.
Have a comfortable journey.
But what...
- Come on! - Wait!
Get them!
Move!
I am going to kill you all!
We are going to get you! Move!
Han Soo, they are gone.
Gosh, I am tired.
Since things have come to this, let us head to Cheongsan right away.
What? Right now?
Yes, get dressed.
- What about the meat? - Toss it.
And the knife?
- Toss it! - Okay.
Let me go to Cheongsan with you.
- Find them. - Chu Sal!
There they are. Run.
Run!
Han Soo.
Move!
Hey, keep the ledger safe. I will meet you in Cheongsan.
What about me?
Let us go. Please survive!
Han Soo!
Darn it.
This girl always appears in times like these.
When I am in the most embarrassing state.
And...
when I desperately need her.
Where are they?
- Oh, my foot. - Look for them.
Gosh, it hurts.
Oh, it hurts so much.
Oh, it hurts.
Oh, dear.
- Chu Sal. - Yes?
- Let us go. - Oh, it hurts.
Oh, dear. It hurts.
Come on out.
That was close.
You sure are the best, Lady Hong.
You gave us drinks,
fed us food,
and even gave us a room.
Now, did you even...
give me your heart?
Did you just say...
my heart?
You are indebted to me.
I will write it down in my ledger,
so do not forget.
Gosh.
You are lying.
Lady Hong.
Wait for me.
You lost them?
He must have felt guilty about something.
He ran off the moment he saw my men.
The attorney who did that to Commissioner Park.
I wanted to see his face.
I heard the news.
That he killed himself.
For our old friendship's sake,
I gave him numerous chances.
But he could not even keep his wife under control...
and ended up dying.
Send his family enough condolences money.
And take everything he left behind.
Before someone else gets their hands on it,
make a move yourself.
Yes, my lord.
Darn him. How could he not do better than an attorney?
Let me be excused.
Why are we going to Cheongsan?
You have a line of clients in the merchant house.
And you? Have you decided to be my assistant again?
Does that mean I passed?
Well...
You saved my life,
so I guess I can give you that much of a chance.
No way!
I have to risk my life to work with you?
I am just saying I am that grateful.
Help us, please.
Look who this is. Han Soo, right?
My mother and father...
You should have known better.
Had you thrown a feast with the money you got,
it would not have been this miserable.
What a filthy family.
(Dabok-ri, Cheongsan)
Come on.
Ready or not, rock-paper-scissors.
Yes!
Goodness.
Do it. Harder.
It is too weak. Do it with both hands.
It feels so cool.
Seven, eight, - I want strong winds.
- Nine, ten. - How cool.
Let us go again.
Play rock.
Ready or not, rock-paper-scissors.
- Come on. - Han Soo.
- Father is here.
Where are you going?
Hey, Han Soo!
Goodness, you brats.
- Darn you! - Gosh.
Got you!
Hey, Han Soo.
- Do not run. - You are so cheap.
- Be careful. - Goodness.
My lord, look.
I guess a family of four lived here. Is it not interesting?
No, it is not. Let us go.
My lord.
Do it meticulously.
So this was what you were doing.
Is this the doorplate of our house?
Goodness.
I said that was not it. Look.
- No. - Gosh.
Gosh, must I really do this?
A single man and woman should stay apart from each other.
If we go around together, people might spread weird rumors.
A countryside village like this tends to be...
very closed and conservative.
All right. Turn around.
Well, you could disguise yourself as my servant.
Why must I dress up like this?
That is because...
This suits you way better than me in my disguise.
Are you kidding me?
All done. You look cool, my So Won.
All right. I should also...
How annoying.
That so-called compliment almost pleased me.
No, only foolish amateurs do this.
What, a secret investigator?
Lower your voice.
He looks pathetic and dirty...
with dirt all over his body as if he has starved for days.
But his eyes are sharp and clear.
And his voice sounds dignified.
Who are you?
Me?
If you are to know who I am...
Anyway, we are exhausted and hungry...
from a long journey.
Is there an inn worth staying?
Just a moment, please.
Anyone could tell he is a scholar official.
A scholar...
Of them all, one who manages the Royal Court.
The Royal Court?
Of them all, a secret investigator. I am sure of it.
A secret...
As he was requesting to stay at an inn,
he took a sharp look around, unintimidated at all.
It seemed like he was checking...
if the officials were not slacking off.
I wonder where the toilet is.
He is coming.
His back and shoulders are bending more than earlier.
He has become polite.
I guess your idea worked.
Of course.
I apologize for not recognizing who you are.
- That way, please. - Let us go.
Stay here, Bang Ja.
Unbelievable.
Well,
I know I should introduce myself first,
but given my situation...
No.
Please take your time and enjoy.
Words are spreading all the way to the government office street...
that this village is free of crimes.
I hear the local magistrate will be promoted...
to higher than two levels, at least like the former ones.
It is just as I hear.
It is too kind of you to say so.
Anyway, who told you what?
The truth is,
I must check one thing regarding this.
That is why I asked to see you.
What is it?
That man wanted me to return this to you.
He promised to give me a nice position.
So I thought he appreciated my sincerity.
Since he has given it back to me, what now?
By any chance...
Will I not get the position he promised as well?
Most likely.
But I was trying to break free from this countryside.
Knowing it was a stolen good,
it would not have felt right to accept it.
"Stolen good?"
No way.
That was...
"That was?"
That was...
a gift I had received.
So he got it as a bribe.
I knew that would happen.
In the end, she just had to get her husband killed.
Goodness. What an unlucky fate.
That wench who killed her husband...
could kill yours too.
Keep him under control.
From whom?
Gosh, must I tell you that much?
Well, if you do not want to clear up his misunderstanding.
No, wait a minute. Sit.
Gosh. All right.
Well...
I will tell you.
A persimmon tree.
Is this the place?
What?
Good grief.
There are over ten stab wounds visible to the naked eye.
A daring criminal act in broad daylight...
despite the witnesses present.
This is murder for revenge.
One that she even risked her life doing.
The house just below the persimmon tree...
in Dabok-ri, Pyeongan-myeon.
She is called Lady Park.
Should I thank her for killing her in my stead?
Or...
should I ask her why she did such a thing?
Why did you grab that with your bare hand?
- What is it? - What is all the fuss?
- Goodness. - This is driving me nuts.
- How could this happen? - Oh, dear.
Good grief. A murder?
How could someone get killed in our village?
Who was it?
Who was it that did such a crazy thing?
Did you report this to the government office?
If not, I will go and...
Catch him.
What is it?
- What are you doing? It was not me. - Oh, no.
My lord.
It was not us.
We know.
The criminal...
is that girl, Young Sil.
Then why?
Because you saw it all.
Excuse me?
Are you going to kill her?
What to do with you two...
will be determined at a village meeting.
Keep that in mind.
What are you waiting for?
I heard ten years was an epoch.
But in this countryside,
nothing changed a bit.
Lock them in the shed.
- Understood. - Understood.
None of them are in the right mind.
A day later...
No. You should have killed her a bit later.
If only I finished my business... No.
If only you had done it after we left.
My lord. Why would you say that?
That woman deserved to die.
I killed her...
because she deserved it.
Then...
I will trust you and wait.
Goodness. You are a big spender, are you not?
It will be a waste to lose...
such a fine man. Yes, indeed.
Oh, please. Well then.
Trust my words and just meet him once.
In my eyes, you two are a perfect match.
No, please.
Bride.
Bow twice.
- Goodness. - How pretty.
- Gosh. - She is so pretty.
Look at her bowing.
Man, the groom got himself a young wife.
Groom.
Bow back.
This is not a problem of wealth.
She should have gotten the message when I gave her the hints.
So how dare that wench get married in secret?
Is it true? The rumor about that newlywed bride.
But she did not look like that kind of a person.
Did she not lead a modest domestic life?
You are right.
Such a rumor only started spreading after her marriage.
- It sure is strange. - Right?
But that...
only proves...
what a good job that cunning fox did of hiding it.
Granny?
I, too,
have seen it once.
Seen what?
I went out to use the toilet shed at night,
and I saw her with my own eyes.
Why would she walk out from the mill that late at night?
That was not the first time I have seen her.
So that is why she suddenly got married.
And with a man from a neighboring village!
This means she had already been with the men in our village.
That was why she got married so soon!
- My gosh! - So there was a reason.
Do you want me to tell you more?
- Yes. - Come closer.
That is not all...
Goodness, really?
- I have seen her. - I heard this.
- That newlywed bride? - Really?
- Is this true? - Yes!
- Oh, my! - That is preposterous!
I heard it is so.
Whenever her husband goes out to work,
she goes out every night.
Men line up 40km out just to see her.
Goodness, of course, you would. I would stand there for 100 days.
If I can hold her in my arms, I should stand in the line!
You son of a dog!
What?
You son of a gun. Say that again.
Say it again!
Hey, you are the one who did not control your woman.
Why are you taking this out on us?
What did you say?
You son of a gun! What did you say?
- What did you say? - Darn it!
You jerk!
Get him!
My husband.
My husband!
No...
No, my dear...
No... Please do not leave me.
No...
Goodness.
I do not regret anything.
Even after I leave this world,
everyone will continue to spread this nonsense.
Do not let the words...
of that wicked old woman get to you.
No matter what anyone says,
I trust you.
Goodness.
- So did you do that? - Of course.
Goodness.
Look.
My goodness.
You are next.
Okay.
Goodness.
That wench who killed her husband could kill yours too.
Keep him under control.
I do understand...
how you feel.
But it was too harsh to kill someone.
I am asking if she could have done this another way.
If the governor of Cheongsan refused to hear your case,
you could have asked the governor of Chungcheong Province.
You also could have gone to the capital...
and complained to His Majesty.
(Complaining to the King: People bang on a gong loudly...)
(when the King would walk by to lodge a complaint.)
How is she going to trust them?
A servant is only as honest as his master.
If the county governor of this rural village is that corrupt,
how much more corrupt...
will the officers of bigger offices be?
No, even those who are in the royal court.
You can only trust yourself.
Revenge is something you do alone,
and your trust in the King or officers to do your bidding...
is just a fantasy.
But not everyone kills another as their revenge.
Then share a better option.
Anything is better than murder.
This is a rationalization for becoming a monster...
to catch a monster.
That will end up killing everyone.
Nobody is going to die.
Our law says someone who killed another...
must pay the price with one's life.
That is only the case for offenders who have not met me.
What?
Let us file a lawsuit.
I will make you innocent, then released.
- Innocent? - Yes.
That is impossible.
An attorney is someone who makes the impossible possible.
And I am not just another attorney.
I am the best attorney in Joseon, Kang...
I am the most competent attorney in Joseon.
An attorney?
Yes.
First off, we must leave this place.
Is there an opening?
Can I break this?
Goodness.
Some stupid novice came here.
Good grief.
- Goodness. - What is this?
Should I just go?
I will not save you.
Good grief. Come on.
Young Sil!
Mother.
Let us go while they let us leave.
I will take my girl and leave.
Thank you, Village Head.
Let us go.
One second.
Where are you going?
Who are you?
Kang...
He is Attorney Kang.
- What? An attorney? - He is an attorney?
An attorney?
Are you saying that woman who murdered someone...
will be defended by an attorney?
What? Defended by an attorney?
Are you saying you will file a lawsuit?
Yes.
Through a lawsuit, we will reveal the hidden truth of this case...
and make it known to the county.
What hidden truth?
In broad daylight, a county elder died...
because she was stabbed by the hoe that girl wielded.
What hidden truth could there be...
in such a clear-cut case?
We will have to listen to her side of the story as well.
I do not know what great story there is,
but the fact that this girl committed murder...
does not change.
We do not seek to hide or change that fact.
It is because...
this is the correct procedure according to national law.
National law?
Do you see Joseon here anywhere?
Pardon?
As you can see, here in Dabok-ri,
we do not produce food as it is not a grain farming region.
It is not an important crossroad,
- so we do not get much trade. - I have heard it so much already.
And it is not even a strategically important location,
so there is not even a common military base here.
I see.
This country was nowhere to be seen when we were facing...
all sorts of diseases and disasters.
The Joseon that only showed up when they came to collect taxes!
What right does it have to ask us to be rightful?
- That is... - Sure.
During the lawsuit, our villagers will get called here and there...
as witnesses and suspects and get tortured.
And if someone is wrongfully blamed,
who will take responsibility for that?
- That is right! - He sure is.
There will be people here to conduct an autopsy...
and a horde of officers and soldiers.
They will take up room in the best houses.
They will ask for food and water every mealtime,
complain about the side dishes,
and demand us to slaughter chickens and pigs.
If we put on a scowl from the exhaustion,
they will say we look suspicious...
and arrest us as the suspect.
Who will take responsibility for our households being drained...
and the people left to starve?
We do not want to see that happen,
so we gave you all the money we had.
So you should just take it and leave.
You even took the money, so why are you causing a fuss?
- Right, they took the money. - They should leave.
- How ridiculous. - Right.
- Money? - Did you perhaps...
already accept money as a settlement?
Well...
Your brother...
already took the money.
My goodness.
Let us go now.
Come on.
- Just a minute. - Get out of the way.
What do we do? Do we just let them go?
What can we do? They already accepted money.
How can we beat money?
This is unbelievable.
- Hands up. - What is this?
Consider yourselves lucky that we did not take things further.
I dare you to try and come back. Got it?
If you do, we will seriously...
- Let us go. - Darn it.
I really cannot believe this.
I know, right?
How could they do this to innocent outsiders?
But why did they leave?
How could they leave?
I, Kang Han Soo, said I would file a lawsuit on their behalf.
I said I would have her found innocent,
not even a sentence of banishment or hard labor!
(Hard labor: A legal punishment of doing manual labor)
Are you angry at the young woman right now?
I just cannot believe it, you know?
It is better than taking her case and things not going well.
I said I would save her because I knew I could do it.
How?
The law is meant to save people,
not kill them.
I wanted to give her that experience.
The experience that the innocent live,
and the guilty...
eventually pay for their crimes.
If she realizes that obvious truth,
she would not make such a foolish choice like she did today...
even when faced with another hardship.
That was how...
I wanted to root for the young woman...
who chose to kill...
rather than die herself.
Gosh, but what does it matter?
She threw away her own good fortune.
What if she comes back?
Then will you save her as promised?
Are you still against it?
I believe that the crime of murder...
cannot be forgiven for whatever reason.
So?
Do you want that young woman to be punished?
I do want to hear...
how you will defend her side.
Yes, I want to be persuaded by you.
If you can persuade me,
you could even persuade the King himself.
The King, my foot.
What are you two doing right now?
Will you not try to untie these ropes?
Do not waste your energy.
When the sun is about to go down, there will be a few peddlers...
to come across from the Sanneomi Village over there.
That is right.
They will pass by.
But I do not know if you remember this.
From the Haeneomi Village on that side,
a band of thieves show up after the sun sets.
Oh, right.
Oh, gosh. Hurry!
The band of thieves!
Oh, Hong... I mean, Lady Hong!
Lady Hong!
Why are you in this state?
Thankfully, Lady Hong came alone.
Unlike someone, who brought a group of people along.
Mom.
Yes?
I want to have seasoned deodeok so badly.
The deodeok in our village is the sweetest and tastiest.
Young Sil,
are you perhaps pregnant?
When I was pregnant with you,
I munched on deodeok roots so much.
They say women take after their own moms for morning sickness.
When did you last have your period?
Did you have it in the past month?
Mom...
- What do I do? - Oh, dear.
What do I do?
What else can you do?
Mom.
I want to live.
Of course.
You should live.
You are leaving now so you can live.
If you go somewhere...
and live off of the wilderness or something...
Not like that.
I want to live properly.
I want to live like a human being.
Sweetie.
I want to file a lawsuit.
I want to file a lawsuit...
and pay for my crimes with pride.
And I want to live properly again.
You will die if you file a lawsuit.
Did you ever see someone live after committing murder?
He says he can save me.
That attorney says...
that there is a way for me to live.
How can you believe him?
It will only be a gamble with your life at stake.
I cannot make my child live its whole life in hiding...
because of me.
When it grows up, it will have to get married too.
Still, what can we do now?
We have already accepted money as a settlement.
We can give it back.
Where is my brother now?
Mom.
No.
I cannot tell you.
Your brother must live too.
You are already...
Already...
What?
- Goodness. - I am already a lost cause?
I am already a dead woman?
Wait, Young Sil.
Mom.
You do not believe...
that I can live.
No.
You do not want me to live.
You just want me to die, right?
No!
Young Sil! Sweetie!
No!
No...
Where are they?
Who do you mean?
The secret investigator.
Out of the blue, he asked where the jade dragon was from...
and left to meet Lady Park.
We have not heard from him since then.
- Maybe in the village... - He is no secret investigator.
You got deceived.
Then do you know who they are?
- We are here. - Gosh...
- Goodness. - I am so tired.
- Madam. - We are here.
Finally.
Madam, give me some water.
- We are closed. - What?
We have no rooms available nor do we have any food left.
Just leave.
Goodness.
It is unusual for a merchant to turn down customers.
Why? Is it because we are not from this village?
Have rumors spread already?
That my people stirred up the village...
or something like that?
Goodness.
Given the shoes on the racks,
the corner room is empty.
And smoke is coming out from the kitchen.
My guess is that you are in the middle of cooking.
Gosh.
Share the room or whatever.
I am too tired, so have dinner on your own.
We will do so.
It is hot by the furnace.
Do it outside.
Oh, okay.
Han Soo.
What could be here? The granny is dead, and the house is empty.
If we get caught,
we will be done for.
I should have taken that woman's lawsuit.
Only then, I would have used that as an excuse...
to search the government office and village.
Is that why you wanted to take it?
- If not? - I mean,
it is so different from what you said to So Won.
What was that?
"I wanted to root for the young woman..."
"who chose to kill rather than die herself."
- Gosh. - Goodness.
I almost thought...
an admirable attorney came from this poor village.
I meant what I said.
It is just that I meant more than what I said.
Keep looking. I will check the room next door.
"I meant what I said."
Gosh.
I knew you would come again.
Gosh, I got the wrong room. I apologize.
Han Soo.
It has been a long time.
I am surprised you became an attorney.
I thought you would despise the law.
"You live on what you have learned."
People say that for a reason.
Father!
Father.
Young Sil ended up coming back.
You should just leave.
Stay out of this business.
Why do you want to hide it so much?
Jeong Wol.
Come here.
Come over here.
Gosh, that startled me.
You know better than anyone else...
that the government office, the law,
and the country cannot be trusted.
The court of laws...
is where your father died.
Were you aware?
You should have told me.
If you still want to know,
leave quietly.
Then,
I will tell you everything.
- No, Han Soo! - Why are you doing this?
- We did nothing wrong. - No! Han Soo!
(The animal scenes were filmed under protection and safety.)
(Special thanks to Kang Shin Il for his guest appearance)
(Joseon Attorney: A Morality)
Are you insane?
Are you not even curious about what the village head knows?
And to be honest, we are not even sure...
whether we can save that woman or not.
Young people these days do not know when to stop.
They act up without knowing their place.
You promised. That we will be each other's calming medicine.
That we will always be together.
When did you...
let Attorney Kang in your heart?
If it has not been long,
get him out already.