(All characters, places, institutions, incidents,)
(and organizations portrayed in this drama are fictitious.)
(Episode 2)
Baek Seung Yoo.
I found you.
Eco-bag?
Yes, that's me.
I see you're a student at Asung High School.
Allow me to introduce myself.
I'm Ji Yoon Su, a junior math teacher at Asung High School.
And you are...
(Baek Seung Yoo)
Baek Seung Yoo.
Do you like math?
No.
You solved this, didn't you?
No.
This is how they write vectors in university.
Are you still going to tell me that you don't like math?
I'm going to have to scold you.
You're lying.
You shouldn't lie to a teacher.
This is your punishment.
I want you here by 7:30am on Monday.
Bring your camera.
Why do you want me to bring my camera?
It's part of your punishment.
I'll see you on Monday.
You'll receive demerit points if you don't show up.
(Father)
Show up by 6pm. Don't be late.
(Show up by 6pm. Don't be late.)
This is a trick question.
The kids would've found it hard to solve it...
the way she intended them to.
Apparently, she told the kids that they won't be...
solving math questions that come out on tests or the CSATs.
What's the point of all this? How does it help the kids?
I think Ms. Ji is preparing the kids for the Math Olympiad.
Numbers 3 and 6 are known to be...
the hardest questions to solve.
They're hard to solve with just common knowledge.
I heard Ye Rin solved this math question.
Gyu Yeong told me that it wasn't Ye Rin who solved it.
It wasn't?
- Then who was it? - He doesn't know.
Then why would he say that?
Sometimes, it feels like Gyu Yeong thinks of Ye Rin as his rival.
Gosh, it's hot in here.
I heard the weather is nice there.
Hello, sir.
My son will be taking your class starting from today.
I'm Baek Seung Yoo's mother.
Oh, I see. But first, he needs to pass the placement test.
Do you give everyone permission to take the placement test?
I should send my kid to a different academy.
The kid with the lowest grades is going to come and take the test?
Unbelievable.
You must be proud that your daughter has the best grades.
In the past, she barely even managed to catch up with Seung Yoo.
Did you just say she barely managed to catch up?
Well, it's true. Would you like me to remind you?
Sure. Go ahead.
Your daughter got 28 in her test.
- Don't you remember? - What?
- That's enough. - You threw a fit.
- Okay, stop. - You know what I'm talking about.
(Perfect Math Academy, Premium English and Math Academy)
(POP English Academy, Daehan SKY Academy,)
(J and Y Math Academy, Jung Yeo Joo Tutoring Academy,)
(Global Sigma Academy, Beta A Mathematics)
(2016 College Acceptance, CSAT Prep Class Enrollment)
Goodness, I'm so sorry, sir.
I'll give him a good scolding.
Please give him one more chance. I promise I'll...
Hello? Sir?
Hello?
Did he not show up?
No.
(Kindergartener, Baek Min Jae, Beats University Student)
("Meeting Ji Yoon Su, a Mentor to Math Geniuses")
(It's more rewarding to see students feel differently about math.)
I'll have a Chateaubriand.
Okay.
The marbling is great.
Where's my father? Did he go somewhere?
Did he go fishing?
Well, he left early at dawn...
You were amazing.
Goodness, I did a great job today.
Hey, you're here. We went fishing at dawn.
Give me a second.
Dad was amazing.
He caught a really huge one.
- Prepare some fish stew. - Sure.
Let's drink.
Cheers.
Jung Ah, it's such a pity...
you don't appreciate this taste.
She has the taste buds of a baby.
Shall I make some sushi?
No. You eat all you want.
Are you managing the trial running of the high school credit system?
It's going very well.
- By the way... - We're working on it too, Dad.
Okay.
The high school credit system...
will put more focus on logic and essay writing.
Right. And?
I'm watching the International Baccalaureate.
Our International Middle School...
will strengthen the debate and essay writing programs.
How to create better members of society...
that are internationally more competitive.
That should be the focus of our education.
Right. I expect a lot from you.
We're planning something huge with the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Education?
We're trying to get registered as a specialized school.
- Yes. - The evaluation's coming up,
so we're working on something that will help us.
I don't know what that is,
but I hope you don't give the wrong impression.
The Ministry of Education working with a private high school?
It could look bad.
Yes, Yeon Woo's right about that.
You should be careful.
I agreed to play golf with Vice-minister Shin.
I might have to postpone that.
Let's drink.
How about I have that sushi?
It's done.
Take it.
Thank you.
I might have put too much wasabi.
You don't do spicy food. Sorry.
It's fine, then.
I just won't eat it.
- What is it now? - Yeon Woo.
Will you bring your kids up to our level?
"Level"?
The Hangok-dong residents say...
Asung International Middle School isn't what it used to be.
Are you aware of that?
Fewer of them get into my school each year.
Jung Ah.
How long will you tiptoe around, trying to appease the moms?
Are you a salesperson? Let's act with dignity.
My little sister is so naive.
Getting into university went from being education...
to sales long ago.
Do you think you're...
The result of the entrance exam is honor, prestige,
and power.
Figure out the clients' needs and get some results.
That's how you uphold the dignity of a family of educators.
Why do I find it so hilarious when you talk about...
our family of educators?
Think about it. Since when were you family?
It's good to work hard.
My mom's dad Han Sung Pil, Asung's founder and first chair...
liked people like you.
Staff who worked hard with a sense of ownership.
Ji Yoon Su joined Asung High, right?
- You know her? - We're Asung High classmates.
But don't mention me to her.
Ms. Ji's fiance?
Administrative Official of Planning at the Ministry of Education.
Isn't it a small world?
I wondered why Vice-minister Shin kept him close,
and he's ex-prime minister Ryu Hyun Il's son.
My gosh.
The International Mathematics Olympics...
with a middle and high-school category?
Yes. It'll be a good opportunity for students...
who are into natural sciences or engineering.
The Mathematical Society and Ministry of Education will co-host.
That's a win-win.
The Mathematical Society will gain prestige,
and the Ministry of Education will benefit at the performance review.
My point exactly.
He's a smart man and get things done fast.
What an unlikely couple.
How so?
How will you decide who will judge?
To make things sure,
we should put a few allies in there.
But before we do that,
how will you select who will represent our school?
People will complain if we let the principal pick them.
Just for show, we should have...
a school-wide math competition.
For all the students?
The previous English Language Competition.
We only let the advanced kids compete and there was an uproar.
We can't openly discriminate who can participate.
Are you sure you like the new math teacher?
You don't seem to.
It's not the teacher that I need.
What do you need, then?
A vessel to display our students in.
Here.
What's that?
Give me a moment. The application deadline is today.
- What? - I have a surprise.
A surprise?
- What is it? - The Mathematician Olympics...
will have a competition for middle and high-school kids.
For teenagers?
We're going to create and co-host...
with the Mathematical Society.
That's great.
- Are you that pleased? - Of course I am.
Can my students enter too?
They'll pick a representative.
How is school now that you started?
Did you meet...
the chairman's daughter, the Director of School Affairs?
Yes.
She's a bit odd.
Their whole family practically rules the kingdom,
so she has even more clout than the principal and vice-principal.
There's talk that despite being born out of wedlock,
she still has a chance at taking over.
They say she as good as controls the foundation.
Are you listening?
That competition. When will you announce it?
What I'm saying is more important than that.
- This is the perfect competition. - For whom?
I told you that there's a Ramanujan at our school.
Baek Seung Yoo?
Yes. Can I see his file for the previous semester?
Sure.
But why? Is he in trouble?
No. It's not that.
I want to know about him.
(Academic Records)
(Student File)
(Math: Math 2)
(Level 9)
(Math: Probability and Statistics)
(Level 9)
A math competition?
The Ministry of Education...
will co-host the International Mathematician Olympics,
and open it up to teenagers.
(International Mathematician Olympics)
Oh, right.
Did your boyfriend tell you?
How do you know that?
He's in the Ministry of Education?
Only one student can represent each school?
- Yes. - You want to select that student...
with an internal math competition?
Discuss the matter with the other math teachers...
and come up with some good problems.
I will get right to it.
I found the student...
who correctly said the premise is false.
Oh, did you? Who was it?
I won't tell you.
You will find out soon enough.
A student like that will soon shine.
(International Mathematician Olympics)
(Youth Mathematics Speech Competition)
You've heard, right?
The moment that excites every mathematician in the world.
International Mathematics Olympics.
It'll be held in Korea for the first time.
The great news is, you can participate.
- How? - There will be...
a math competition for middle and high school students.
We'll have a school competition...
to choose one rep for Asung.
Based the results of that competition,
we'll select students who will join the club.
So, if you want to join the club, make sure to participate.
- Yes, ma'am. - Yes, ma'am.
Memorize it all by the next class. Okay?
- Yes, sir. - Class dismissed.
- Thank you! - Thank you!
Sleep after I leave, you punk.
- Goodbye. - Goodbye.
Seung Yoo.
Wow. This is nice.
What's your problem? Don't touch that.
Ms. Ji Yoon Su says to come to her classroom...
and to bring this.
Hey.
Come in.
- Will you connect your camera? - What for?
At first, I considered using your photos in a lesson.
But I think we can do something much more fun.
Hold on.
Let's paste your photos in here.
Which ones?
Cycloid, fractal, tessellation...
(Cycloid: curve traced by a point on a circle as it rolls on a line)
I told you, I saw them.
(Fractal: a perpetual pattern)
There. Next.
These are not photographs of roofs, branches,
and windows.
Type it in under the photos.
(These are not photographs of roofs, branches...)
If you look at them from a mathematical perspective,
you will see something new.
Hold on.
(These are not photographs of roofs, branches, and windows.)
(If you look at them from a mathematical perspective)
Done.
Now type under the photographs.
Open quotation marks.
We are selecting...
Asung High School's representative to participate...
(We are selecting Asung High School's representative)
in the 2017 International Mathematician Olympics.
Date and time.
September 9, 2017, 10am.
Place. Asung High School auditorium.
Qualifications.
Everyone may participate. No restrictions.
Close quotation marks.
Let's see.
Do you want to apply?
No.
All done.
May I go now?
Why didn't you come this morning?
Why are your math grades so low?
Why do you pretend to hate math when you actually like it?
Those questions are running through my head, but I won't ask.
In exchange...
(When selecting a random point n within a circle,)
(what is the probability that it is a point of a convex n-gon?)
Try solving this.
Let's meet here same time tomorrow morning.
Why should I?
A mathematician becomes honest when they prove something.
I want to see your honesty.
Exactly.
Why must I be honest?
Do you think I'll help your resume...
Do you think you're special?
Do you think you're smart?
Plenty of kids have your talent.
Know something?
Some famous mathematicians have low IQs.
Exactly. Why are you doing this to me?
It's not because your talent is special.
Your mathematical perspective of the world.
That's what's special.
It's because I like that.
Make sure to come tomorrow.
(When selecting a random point n within a circle,)
(what is the probability that it is a point of a convex n-gon?)
(Teachers' Office)
Excuse me.
You're Ms. Ji Yoon Su, correct?
Yes, I am.
I'm Baek Seung Yoo's father. He's a junior here.
You're Seung Yoo's father?
So, he's...
You remember, don't you?
The math genius who started at MIT when he was ten years old.
But his name was Baek Min Jae.
We changed his name.
When he returned from the US,
so many people called him "the failed genius".
What do you think?
- He's very different. - Pardon?
You mean from now?
It's because he's going through puberty.
- Puberty? - Everyone is like that at this age.
He's rebelling like crazy.
Why did you want to see me?
I heard you discovered many gifted kids.
But I'm sure you've never seen anyone like Seung Yoo.
He makes you enjoy teaching,
so please take him to competitions like olympiads.
Please lead him toward a bright future.
I still don't know anything about his past.
You can learn about that slowly...
Do you know what happened to him?
Even if something did happen,
it was eight years ago already.
Eight years?
Yes, but it's not like you lose what made you a genius.
If you'd lead him...
I don't think he needs me...
to lead him right now.
Then what does he need?
I'm not sure yet either.
I'm sorry I can't help you.
But...
What do you mean?
I don't think it's necessary for all the students to compete...
to represent the school at the math olympics.
Why?
It's unnecessary competition.
"Unnecessary competition"?
It'd be a waste of energy to compete with kids...
who aren't even going to enter the competition.
How do you know who does and doesn't get to enter...
the competition?
Who makes that kind of decision?
Me? You?
Or your dad?
I'm sorry. I was out of line.
Ye Rin.
I guess you feel pressured...
because the entire school and your parents...
expect a lot from you.
Am I right?
Ye Rin.
Even so, you have to do well.
If you don't,
I will give up on you.
I'm sure you know that you're not...
the only smart student at Asung High School, right?
Answer me.
Yes, Ms. Noh.
Okay, you may go now.
(When selecting...)
(a random point n within a circle, what is the probability...)
(Baek Min Jae)
("The Young Genius Who Failed to Soar")
("Melancholia, Depression That Comes to People With Genius Minds")
("The Genius Kid Who Ended Up Becoming a Failure")
("The Young Genius Who Failed to Soar")
(He won all sorts of math competitions...)
(When selecting...)
(a random point n within a circle, what is the probability...)
Your mathematical perspective of the world.
That's what's special.
It's because I like that.
(Math Lecture Room)
(When selecting a random point n within a circle,)
(what is the probability that it is a point of an n-convex polygon?)
Why don't you try it like this?
When...
(Math Lecture Room)
Goodness.
You're...
going to keep solving this, aren't you?
Because we don't have the answer yet.
Will you promise me just one thing?
Don't fall in love with this math problem.
The life of a mathematician...
doesn't become brighter because they solve a problem,
or become darker because they don't.
Then why do mathematicians...
keep solving and proving?
While they're solving the problem,
they tremble,
they feel excited,
and also anxious.
Whether you get the answer or not,
couldn't it be about those moments you only feel...
when you're concentrating?
The sun is rising.
I came in early to erase the question.
Why?
It felt like forcing you.
I want you to be free.
This.
I found it.
Oh.
You found it.
Thank you.
What?
They spent the night together.
Ms. Ji Yoon Su and that student.
I think it's the student you told me to look into.
Junior year Class 8, Baek Seung Yoo.
Baek Seung Yoo.
Bring me his student file.
Sure.
The punishment is over.
You don't have to come early anymore.
This was exciting.
But I'm also afraid.
Either way, Baek Seung Yoo, nor Baek Min Jae.
I'm glad we met.
(Winner, Race 2 Lane 5: Golden Venus)
Yes!
Okay! Nice!
Did you see that?
I told you Golden Venus would win.
I know horses, don't I?
My horse could've won. It came in second.
- Number three? - Yes.
You're wrong. That horse never managed to get ahead.
You can't say it could've won. It lost, pure and simple.
Listen.
Half of the winning horses win because of their bloodline.
They look different.
They have strong shoulders,
thick chests, and shorter backs.
Then you must be born to win.
If you're not born with it,
however hard you try, you can never win.
What?
If we have different starting points,
and different conditions, I can't win.
Can I?
Hello. You made it.
Sit.
Why did you call this late?
It's busy early in the semester.
Make an appointment and get some rest.
How is planning going for the school's math competition?
There's not much to do. Exams are a norm.
Do you have to open it up to the whole school?
- Why? - It's just a hassle.
Too many answers to grade.
Why torture students with hope?
- "Torture with hope"? - It wouldn't happen,
but if someone random wins...
and we must rectify that...
"Someone random"...
Baek Seung Yoo?
You know the punk?
Mr. Sung. Don't call one of my students a punk.
That punk is...
I know the kid.
He's troubled.
He was called genius,
but it turned out to be a lie.
You know he gets the worst grades in his year.
What are you so worried about, then?
I'm not worried.
We could end up with an annoying situation.
We have a well set-out plan.
Just because we have a plan...
doesn't mean the match is over.
What do you mean?
What about my daughter, then?
What got into you?
You're like a child begging for something.
What?
"A child"?
Do you know...
what the easiest way to get something is?
It's not to say what you want.
It's to listen and find out what the other person wants.
- Did you enjoy that? - Yes.
So, what happens in the next episode?
Oh, hello, Ms. Noh.
Ms. Yu.
What are you doing here?
I'm here with my drama staff.
I had a meeting.
Oh, did you? Why are you alone, then?
I'm busy and must leave first.
Are you?
I should invite you to dinner one day.
- Shall we go? - Sure.
Let's go.
Goodbye.
I'll treat you to something nice.
Thank you.
- Goodbye. - See you.
Bye.
You know how hard it is to get approved...
as a specialized school.
Only one school in Seoul will get the honor.
But 15 autonomous private schools are competing.
The judging committee...
will be put together soon.
You want me to rig that...
in your favor?
If you have a specialized school in your constituency,
wouldn't that benefit you in the upcoming general election?
I'll see what I can do.
But you have to make sure you come through with that.
Not just with this competition.
Make sure there's no problem with Ye Rin's rank at school.
(Vice Principal Choi Sung Han)
("Kindergartener Baek Min Jae")
("Math Genius Baek Min Jae Wants to Study College Math")
(Your loan interest is due on the 20th.)
(Asung High School)
Asung High School?
Hello?
Is this Baek Seung Yoo's father?
Yes, it is.
Hello. I'm Asung's vice principal, Choi Sung Han.
Hello, sir.
What...
Can you come to the school tomorrow?
Pardon?
Sure.
But what is this regarding?
I'll tell you the details tomorrow.
- I'll see you tomorrow. - Yes, sir. Good night.
What's going on now?
(Descriptive Science)
(Natural Science)
("A Mathematician's Apology" by G. H. Hardy)
("The Music of the Primes")
(Hangok Library)
(Ramanujan said "No, it is a very interesting number.")
("A Mathematician's Apology" by G. H. Hardy)
("Mathematics in Western Culture" by Kline, Morris)
(Hangok Library)
- Here you go. - Thank you.
Congratulations.
But...
Seung Yoo was...
That's right. I think he's back.
You must act wisely...
given the situation.
He can't experience failure again, can he?
That's right. No, he can't.
Naturally, we want a genius student...
like Seung Yoo.
But the school can't be greedy right now.
The child's future is what matters.
Yes.
The basic method to determine the equation...
for a parabola...
Min Jae, do you like math?
Yes.
How much do you like it?
I like it 100 percent.
You like it 100 percent?
Min Jae, have some fried chicken.
You must like math more than chicken.
- I do. - Eat.
People say he's a genius who became stupid,
and a failed genius,
but Seung Yoo was alive.
Right, honey?
That's right.
Our Min Jae was alive.
Min Jae.
Ms. Ji.
Seung Yoo.
Do you live here too?
Yes.
- Is he a student? - Yes. He's in my...
Please give me my umbrella back.
Umbrella?
You took my umbrella that time.
That's right, I did.
Right now?
Yes, right now. I need it.
Okay. Sure.
Wait here. I'll get it.
Hey, Seung Yoo. Where are you?
I'm almost home.
You are? Okay, then. Hurry up.
Okay.
So you were the one whose bag got switched with hers on the train?
And you're a student at Asung High?
What a small world.
Please be nice to Yoon Su...
What a punk.
I'm home.
Seung Yoo.
My gosh. My son.
I'm so proud of you. I'm so very proud.
Get ready.
To go to the specialized science high school.
Let's start over.
Your teacher told me everything.
Why did you rebel so much...
if you were going to do it anyway?
Your teacher even sent a letter of recommendation for you.
I'll get you a tutor,
so prepare for the entrance exam.
I don't want to.
- Seung Yoo. - No.
I won't do it.
- But Seung Yoo... - No?
- Oh, no. - You punk.
Honey.
- Honey. - Look!
Look at that!
We waited eight years.
There were times when I thought you were dead.
There were times when I would've preferred that.
Fill this cabinet!
You can't do anything you want until this is full.
You understand?
I want you to fill this cabinet again!
Tell me that you will.
Give me an answer!
What's all this?
I'm going to take them to school.
("A Mathematician's Apology")
Didn't they used to belong to your father?
Yes.
What are you going to do with them? Why not just throw them out?
Actually, you should donate them to the school library.
They're hard to find these days, right?
Right.
When are we planning to check out the wedding dresses next week?
- Thursday. - That's right.
I'll be off now. Go on inside.
Seung Yoo.
What is it? What's the matter?
A specialized science high school?
What? What are you talking about?
Either way, Baek Seung Yoo, nor Baek Min Jae.
I'm glad we met.
Liar.
Seung Yoo's father?
Yes. He called earlier.
He asked us if Seung Yoo could leave early...
for an interview at a specialized science high school.
By the way, I had no idea...
that Seung Yoo was the famous math genius.
Is that why you were interested in him?
(Class Schedule)
That's wrong.
Seung Yoo, Ms. Ji wants you to come to the math lecture room.
("Geometry and the Imagination")
("A Mathematician's Apology" by G. H. Hardy)
Take a seat.
Let's do it.
Let's study math together.
Don't go to another school. Just study here.
I heard you recommended me to go to a science high school.
I don't know how things led to that.
But I'll convince your father to change his mind.
It doesn't matter whether or not you're a math genius.
It doesn't matter whether or not you're still good at math.
But...
you and I both know.
That moment when you're so focused...
that you can't hear...
or feel anything else.
The freedom you feel in that very moment.
Don't let go of that freedom, Seung Yoo.
Hello?
Right now?
Okay.
- I need to go. - Seung Yoo.
I couldn't solve it.
That math problem.
I thought I could.
But I failed.
I'm going to give up.
You said so yourself that some problems can't be solved.
(We are selecting...)
(Asung High School's representative to participate...)
(in the 2017 International Mathematician Olympics.)
Hurry up and get in.
Wait.
Mr. Baek, let me take care of Seung Yoo.
But you refused.
Do you not want to lose him...
now that he might go to another school?
I'm sorry, but we're late.
- Get in. - You need to get out of his way.
- What? - You need to set him free...
if you want him to spread his wings.
Let's study math together, Seung Yoo.
I can't believe this.
Please move aside.
Get in the car.
Get in.
Bye, Ms. Ji.
Is she out of her mind or what?
She was the one who refused to help you when I asked.
When did you meet her?
Who?
Her?
On Monday.
It felt like forcing you.
I want you to be free.
Thanks to the letter of recommendation...
that Ms. Noh sent to the specialized science high school,
they called right away...
and asked you to come for an interview.
Then are we...
I've been waiting.
I've been praying for this very day.
Win a Nobel Prize.
There's no Nobel Prize for mathematics.
I'm sure there's something similar.
Go to NASA and launch rockets.
Go to Cambridge or MIT...
to become a professor.
Create a mathematics institute...
and name it after you.
That's the kind of life you should live.
Don't end up like me.
Can't I do that at Asung High School?
What will you do there?
Math. I'll study hard.
We put our house on sale.
We're also going to close the cafe soon.
The specialized science high school has dorms,
so you'll be living there.
Your mom and I will pay off our debt...
and move to the suburbs.
I'm just letting you know.
(Math Lecture Room)
Don't you think number two is too hard?
What's wrong with that? It's a contest.
This problem requires too many complicated calculations.
Then should we use one problem to ask multiple questions?
How about we reduce the number of questions?
No, it'll be fine.
They'll pick whatever they can solve.
It'll be really hard, grading all those essays.
and figuring out a point system.
Darn it.
(You are the hero.)
(Winner of Nobel Prize in Chemistry)
(Winner of Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine)
(Winner of the Abel Prize)
- Let's get some food. - I'm starving.
Good job. Wait up for me.
What are we eating?
(Math Lecture Room)
(Asung High Math Competition)
You'll ace the transfer exam today, won't you?
Try to relax. Call me when you're done.
Okay.
(Asung High School)
Ye Rin.
I sorted things out.
It's all up to you now, okay?
Okay.
(Lecture Room)
(Asung High Math Competition)
(2017 Science High School Transfer Exam)
(Question 3. On a two-dimensional plane...)
(1. Triangle ABC's each apex...)
(In the situation of number 1...)
(Asung High Math Competition)
We don't yet know who will enter...
the International Mathematician Olympics.
It's a rare opportunity,
so I hope you all do your best.
Good luck, students of Asung.
Shall we begin?
There's still...
a little time.
Okay. We should start on time.
Shall we distribute the answer sheets first, then?
Let's do it.
Hand them out.
(Asung High Math Competition)
Shall we...
close the door?
(Asung High Math Competition)
I found it.
The answer to that problem.
I found it.
(Asung Hall)
(Melancholia)
Don't mind Baek Seung Yoo.
He's not in the race.
See what you can do.
You stubbornly insist,
and I wonder how he will turn out.
Are you sure you won't regret it?
You need to brace yourself.
You might no longer be the best at math.
I'll explain later.
It's really important.
More important than our wedding preparations?
Why are you suddenly like this?
It's not sudden.
I want to see more of the real you.
Can I do that? Can I show it all?