(My Perfect Stranger)
(Kim Dong Wook)
(Jin Ki Joo)
(My Perfect Stranger)
Two days before the first murder.
One of the three suspects has already been arrested by the police.
And the other two suspects...
aren't showing any unusual movements.
When everything seemed to be getting more perplexing,
she arrived.
She was the first victim of the serial murder in Woojung-Ri.
It's her.
She will be your student teacher for a month.
Her name is Lee Ju Young.
- She's a fourth-year student... - Where did I...
at Seoul National University, - see her?
What's the matter?
I just received a call from Principal Yoon.
He was supposed to meet Ms. Lee, but he can't get in touch with her.
I know this situation.
That day, I picked her at first sight.
My beautiful first victim.
Is she going to die?
How did you know that?
It hasn't even happened yet.
How did you know that, right here and right now?
(My Perfect Stranger, Episode 5, A Certain Confession)
Explain what you just said.
(Episode 5)
Why did you say our encounter was not a coincidence?
If everything turns out to be true,
tonight...
So two nights before the death of the student teacher,
she suddenly disappeared.
Luckily, someone from the village found her.
People thought that she had simply gotten lost.
So it was just considered a small incident. But the truth was,
it seemed as if she was being chased by someone.
Do you know where...
she was found?
By the riverside.
It was close to the general store. So it should be around here.
Wait.
Ms. Lee.
- Ms. Lee. - No! It wasn't me!
Darn it.
What was that?
Were you trying to get yourself killed?
Mr. Yoon? You again?
Darn it.
Messing it up once wasn't enough?
Do you want to repeat that over and over again?
You let Ko Min Soo go?
Why?
I was just following orders.
Spoken like a responsible cop.
No wonder it happened. You did a shoddy job.
Let this be your only mistake.
You'd better hope this is the last mistake you make.
If luck isn't in our hands,
someone's life will be in danger again...
because of the jerk you released today.
Was that Ko Min Soo?
That jerk again.
You and the police have no excuses...
for whatever crime that jerk commits. You see that?
I'm well aware that releasing him was the stupidest idea!
So answer my question.
- Was that Ko Min Soo? - I don't know.
What? You don't know?
I don't know who that was or what this person tried to do.
Had I caught this individual, I could have found out.
Thanks to you, this individual got away. So I got nothing.
Even if I had known anything,
I wouldn't have shared it with an irresponsible cop.
So I truly hope that we don't run into each other again.
You...
were just lost?
Yes. I...
My sense of direction is bad at night.
I got scared for no reason.
No, there must have been a good reason.
Someone was there.
That someone even ran away.
I'm not sure. I didn't even know someone was there.
To say that you didn't know, your reaction was quite particular.
Don't you remember?
You said it yourself that it wasn't you.
- Ms. Lee. - No! It wasn't me!
What did you mean by that?
Did someone blame you for something?
The jerk who ran away?
Do you know who that was?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Ms. Lee.
I know that it's not easy to believe me,
but I'm trying to help you.
You must tell me the truth, so I can stop this.
If you were threatened, chased by someone,
or whatever this was,
you must tell me everything.
- Ms. Lee. - Thank you for...
Thank you for looking out for me.
But you're truly mistaken.
No one chased me...
or threatened me.
My relatives are worried about me.
Can I get going now?
Wait.
Okay. You should go home for the night.
Let's head back home, Yoon Young.
See you tomorrow at school.
But it's dangerous. How can you...
Why don't we buy twisted breadsticks, your favourite?
Twisted breadsticks? Now?
It was obvious she was hiding something.
Are you sure she should go home alone?
Besides, she has no clue...
what's going to happen to her in two days.
But is this the way home?
(Donghwa Clothing Altercations)
(Inn Entrance)
(Woojung Inn)
(Inn)
You followed her to make sure she went in safely.
In case there was an incident I didn't know about.
Will there be?
From what I know, nothing will happen tonight.
But I'm not sure if that's the right answer.
I don't know what you know and what you don't know.
You probably have the same thoughts about me.
Why don't we find out now?
Let's go. I know the perfect place to talk.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Park, tilt the right side slightly.
This way. Tilt it.
- Sir, take a look. - Kim, tilt the left side.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
The left side.
Get the left side. This way.
The letters fell last summer after getting hit by lightning.
They're only fixing it now,
and it shows how indifferent and insensible the owner is.
It wasn't H Teahouse?
I'm sure you're familiar with the name already.
It's the hometown of those darn matchboxes.
Let's wrap it up.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Let's go now.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
I'm not sure if you know already,
but serial murders occurred here in Woojung-Ri in 1987.
As you assumed, I've been following those cases.
You were a detective?
You could've recognized me if you ever tuned in...
to a news show at night on weekends.
Were you a criminal?
Like those who have to stand in front of reporters for photos?
Wouldn't it make more sense to assume that I was an anchor?
Oh, right.
So you were a TV personality.
I don't watch news shows much. Sorry.
Is that how you thought of me?
No, it's not that.
I was just being imaginative.
I wanted to be in a safe home, although I'm staying there for free.
Is this for news coverage?
It's something like that.
Then when does the first case occur?
On the 14th, which is 2 days later, 1 of them will occur.
And another one will occur on the 16th,
two days after the first murder.
A total of two women lost their lives.
- And on the 20th... - One went missing.
Because of a note she left behind,
she was thought to have run away from home.
But she died.
What did you just say?
She died.
Because there were three murder victims in total.
For over 30 years,
none of their bodies, let alone any traces, were found.
Even the police and the families of the victims don't know about it,
so how do you...
It may be hard to believe,
but I only told you the things that were written here.
("The People I Killed")
It's a novel...
written by Ko Mi Sook.
Ms. Ko, can you give us a spoiler...
for the novel you're currently writing?
It's sort of like a confession.
A confession?
The main character...
is someone who reveals the perfect crime...
someone committed 30 years ago.
They thought it was a waste to keep it to themselves...
their whole life.
If it was 30 years ago,
it must be around the timeline of this novel.
("Small Door")
I'm going to talk about myself for real this time.
I'm just kidding. Of course, they're all made-up.
I wrote it all there.
Of course.
You're so silly, Ms. Ko.
I was the editor in charge for Ko Mi Sook,
and I worked with her for a long time.
For Ko Mi Sook?
Thanks to that, I could read the manuscript of her novel...
that wasn't released.
I forgot all about it after coming here,
but I kept feeling this weird deja vu...
after seeing the student teacher.
So you reread the manuscript,
and everything was just like the content of the novel?
I couldn't imagine that it was based on a true story.
Anyway, that's what was written in the manuscript.
Starting with that student teacher,
three women died.
And that the real culprit couldn't be caught until the end.
It talks about the real culprit?
The last sentence of the last paragraph on page two.
Go ahead and see for yourself.
"The truth wasn't revealed in the end."
"The one responsible for all these murders..."
Was me.
Even that joyful truth wasn't revealed.
Not having you around in this house...
is so nice.
("The People I Killed")
Do you really think Ko Mi Sook was behind them?
The real culprit wasn't caught in the end in real life, right?
He was caught.
He denied it to the end,
but we can never know what the truth is.
Right. That must be why she said such a thing.
She stole the story of her first novel from Mom.
And this was her actual story.
Then this could be a new piece of evidence.
We can be certain about that.
In any case, this is a novel,
and even if it's based on a true story,
she could've used her imagination to develop it further.
And the narrator of the novel...
We can't guarantee that she's Ko Mi Sook.
But we can't guarantee that she's not either.
You saw it too.
It even tells where the student teacher was hiding.
Someone who knows more than you about the cases.
That someone must be the culprit.
Since she's from the same town,
she could've written down the things she had heard and seen.
I did look into the cases,
but they were only official records.
Why do you keep saying that she's not the culprit?
Why do you keep trying to make her the culprit?
Do you want Ko Mi Sook to be the culprit?
You know her, so why do you...
That's why I'm suspicious of her.
The Ko Mi Sook that I know...
is more than capable of doing all of that.
What did you just say?
Are you asking me to marry you?
Sorry? When did I say that?
What? What was that about?
What? Marry her?
You haven't even dated her. What marriage?
You're still wet behind the ears.
That's why you made a mistake at such a young age!
When did you call her out to meet you alone?
- And at this hour! - Yoon Young!
What's wrong with you?
What mistake did I make? This is driving me crazy.
- I never said that! - Oh, my!
You said we should have a son and a daughter and live happily.
A son and a daughter?
- Soon Ae. - What's wrong with you?
Do you have a hard time understanding things?
When did I say we should live happily?
I said I wanted to live happily.
You asked me what my dream was, so I just said...
that I wanted a family of my own!
I'm sorry, but I'm already seeing a man.
So I can't accept your feelings.
- You're seeing a man? - You're seeing a man?
We're going to meet later in front of the teahouse.
There he is!
Are you saying that punk...
is your lover?
I thought he was her first love.
He is, and I just came to tell you that.
Bye, then.
Also, I don't like flowers.
Bye.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Soon Ae.
You'll have to explain what I just saw.
I was going to tell you soon.
Is it...
your family?
In that earlier talk about 1 son and 1 daughter,
it looks like I'm the daughter.
You're the daughter of the suspect, Baek Hee Sub?
Gosh.
I'm so scared.
(Inn)
How could I report this?
I can't get involved with the police.
I don't think I can stay here for long.
Yes.
Who on earth knows about me?
Okay.
(There is someone who is watching you.)
You must be confused.
I was quite shocked too.
It's ridiculous enough how I travelled back to 30 years ago.
The person who hit me is a time traveller,
and in front of his house, my mom's side of the family lives.
Goodness.
Why did you get into the school?
No.
Why did you do that at the teahouse?
Well, it's a little complicated.
I was at the teahouse to separate my mom and dad.
Separate who?
I just wanted to prevent my parents from meeting.
Then I got to stay there...
- Are you stupid? - What?
Fine. Let's say everything was a coincidence.
You got hit by a car out of the blue...
and woke up to your young parents in front of you.
And you thought of splitting them up?
Haven't you thought about the consequences of that?
- You might not exist... - So what?
I'm sorry?
What about that?
You don't think I knew that?
On the first day I came here, you said my minor action...
could completely change someone's future.
So what?
You asked me...
what I was doing at the river before I got here.
(Police)
On that day at the river,
my mom abandoned us.
We had no right to resent her.
It might have been us...
who abandoned her first.
She only loved unrequitedly like a fool.
(Soon Ae)
She was naive enough to let her name be ignored.
(Soon Ae)
Maybe...
she realized one day...
that there were too many moments she couldn't undo.
That it was too late.
That day at the river, I desperately wished...
that I had one chance.
"How nice would it be if I could change at least one moment?"
I might look stupid.
But I really don't care what happens to me.
My mom couldn't do anything...
until she went to that river.
I wouldn't have endured the thought, anyway.
I'm sorry. I wasn't going to tell you all this.
Get inside.
You better get some rest today.
Okay.
I should've asked about this.
No way.
On that day at the river,
my mom abandoned us.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
You picked that up by chance?
(Women who read are dangerous.)
Where and when?
I saw this floating around by the riverside in this village.
I picked it up without thinking much about it.
Why was it there?
(Woojung-Ri Serial Murder Case Suspects)
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Where did you pop out of?
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
I have something to know.
(Woojung-Ri Fishing Spot)
If this is about what I told you yesterday,
don't worry about it.
It's my personal business,
so I will be careful not to affect what you're doing.
The word mom...
is not a heartrending word for me.
My mom gave birth to me...
and ran away without ever hugging me.
So I don't know how a mom feels.
I don't even have a remote idea...
if her love is special or sentimental as others say.
I've never wanted to either.
But I do know...
that the person who is loved always knows, whoever they are.
You cared so much for your mom that you didn't care...
what happened to yourself.
You don't think your mom knew that?
What do you mean...
Do you think she ended her life, knowing how much she loved you?
- What are you trying to say? - Listen carefully.
The first murder will take place tomorrow night.
And you will see an item you recognize.
The matchbox.
And the note inside it.
(Women who read are dangerous.)
This is...
Back then, the police thought that the culprit left this note...
on purpose as the signature...
because the second victim...
also had this note in possession.
It's the culprit's signature?
Then why...
Why did an item that was found at a murder scene 34 years ago...
show up at another murder scene in 2021?
Of all places,
why did it show up by the riverside where your mother died?
Are you saying...
I don't have any definitive proof.
Yes. It's possible that your mother didn't know...
how much you loved and treasured her.
But if...
there's a chance...
If your mother happened to see someone...
by the riverside that night...
And if that was the real culprit...
who was never caught 34 years ago...
Then you're making a terrible mistake.
It's unfair of you to hate yourself, and you were ready to give up.
Shouldn't you try to save your mom...
until the very last moment?
Yoon Young.
You were surprised last night, right?
Sorry.
I wasn't trying to lie to you...
or date that guy, Baek Hee Sub.
Right.
How did I miss this?
I would like to play with you...
for the rest of my life until I become a white-haired granny.
With love, Mom.
It wasn't a suicide note. It was a letter.
She promised me that...
she would forever stay by my side...
just like always.
How could I have misunderstood her intention this badly?
How could I...
fail to understand her until the very last moment?
Yoon Young.
Were you that disappointed?
I'm sorry.
Why do you always apologize to me?
It's me who didn't understand you.
No. I really didn't know either.
It was written on the note inside the matchbox.
He wanted to meet me at Bong Bong.
Don't worry.
I will...
protect you,
so you never have to go through a horrible thing like that.
I'll protect you no matter what.
Thank you.
But was it that horrible?
Isn't it okay to drink some juice with him?
It's not like I'm going to marry Bum Ryong.
Ji Eun. What are they doing?
I don't know.
Our report cards are out. Maybe, Soon Ae's grades went down.
- Thank you. - Have a good day.
- Mr. Choi. - Yes.
Take it and eat it.
- Thank you. - Sure.
- Okay. - You see,
Yes. - my son sent this from the US.
From the US?
What do you think? Doesn't this look fancy?
- Goodness. - Right?
It does look different. Is it because it's from the US?
- You can feel it too. - Thank you.
Then you're making a terrible mistake.
It's unfair of you to hate yourself, and you were ready to give up.
Goodness.
Oh, my. This feels amazing!
I didn't have to be that harsh.
I should have been nicer to her. Goodness.
- Right. - That's a huge country indeed.
Because it's a big country, the flowers are big too.
- The leaves are big too. Nice. - Yes.
- Hello. - You're here.
That's what I thought too.
By the time you have to throw this out...
Why would I throw it out?
Ms. Lee, come over here.
I'm going to give you some precious jelly.
It flew over to Korea on a 14-hour flight. Come.
Okay.
I didn't tell anyone about last night.
Can you grab one for me too?
Pardon?
The jelly from the US.
Sure.
Thank you.
- It's sweet, right? - It is definitely from the US.
Come here. All right.
- Try some of this. - Thank you.
- My grades went down. - Mine stayed the same.
- I might get scolded. - Seriously. Am I ranked last?
I guessed a lot of questions.
(Midterm Rankings for Seniors: Lee Soon Ae, Ko Mi Sook...)
- I can't believe this. - I did a good job at guessing them.
First place?
- First place. - His ranking stayed the same.
I'll go back to the classroom.
- This is a miracle. - Goodness.
No way.
I had no idea you were at the top of your class.
Goodness. I'm so proud of you!
How did you get first place?
- First place in the entire school! - Gosh.
First place!
- First place! - Goodness.
- Our rankings are up. Darn it. - Gosh.
You got the highest grades!
I guessed most of them.
Hey.
Soon Ae won first place?
Of course, she's upset.
Gosh, I'm so proud of you.
Goodness. Seriously?
What a way to make students with bad grades feel awful.
Get out of my way.
You pretended as if you bombed the exams.
That's what Lee Soon Ae does.
Are you that happy?
Should I put this poster on your forehead...
for everyone to see?
- That crazy... - Yoon Young.
That crazy girl. Kim Hae Kyung!
Hey, you're in trouble - Hurry.
Kim Hae Kyung!
Get back in your classrooms.
- I hate her. - I'm so sick of her.
- What's wrong with that girl? - I know, right?
- Let's go. - I'm so sick of her.
Bring that back!
(School Regulations)
This is an interesting school.
I guess there's only a notice for the student ranked last.
Why would she like someone like him?
What does she see in him?
(College Entrance Exam Part 1)
I didn't know I could use this math expression for this.
This is so fun.
Yoo Bum Ryong, you ranked last.
Please get a grip.
Gosh. Darn it!
This guy is such a loser! Unbelievable.
What's wrong with you?
Nothing.
Forget it.
I don't want to lose a friend.
Don't tell me...
things didn't go well last night.
The flower I gave you didn't do the trick?
What is that?
Why go through so much trouble to pick them yourself?
Flowers from the store are way prettier.
Gosh, seriously.
Take it.
Women don't like such things because they're pathetic.
Is that so?
By the way,
you're really not going to tell me...
to whom you're confessing your feelings?
Well, I told you...
that I'd tell you if things worked out.
Okay. Good luck.
Thanks for this.
- Hee Sub, good luck. - Yes?
Flower, my foot.
Did your... What is it?
Did your girlfriend like it?
Of course.
She always says she doesn't like it,
but it actually means she likes it.
She's just being coy.
No means no. Why don't you take her word for it?
Wait. You said you'd give her just one flower.
You gave me one. Where is the other one?
Oh, that?
Well, I...
used it well.
Hello.
Why do you think it's not Ko Mi SooK?
If the culprit of the serial murder case...
committed a murder again 34 years later...
and caused my mom's death,
then I think there's a higher chance that Ko Mi Sook is the culprit.
That could be the case.
But what about the man...
from last night who was stalking the student teacher but fled?
Who could he be?
I think that's the guy I've been waiting for.
All this time,
I waited, thinking the answer lay in the path that Ms. Lee took.
The path Ms. Lee took the night she was murdered.
(Forward with our autonomy, creativity, and intelligence)
That night, after she was done with her work,
she left school at 10pm.
(Woojung High School)
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
The place she headed straight to...
was Bong Bong Teahouse, the teahouse we went to last night.
Welcome.
She stayed there for 20 minutes, and at 10:30pm,
she left the teahouse.
Naturally, she headed to Woojung Inn next.
But that night, Ms. Lee never made it to the inn.
(Payphone)
(Woojung Inn)
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Even if you walk slowly, it takes only three minutes...
to the inn from the teahouse.
She disappeared within that short distance.
And her body was discovered the next day.
There were no witnesses within that short distance?
There's no one who saw whom she ran into or met.
That's why I'm planning to witness that myself.
At the same time, in the same place,
and on her path,
I'll be right behind Ms. Lee.
Then I'll be able to run into the man in a blue hat again.
A blue hat?
The 20 minutes Ms. Lee spent in the teahouse.
The only person she met there.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
They were arguing?
He was very suspicious,
but the police couldn't find out who he was until the end.
But the man I was pursuing last night was wearing a blue hat.
I'm not saying I'll leave Ko Mi Sook out completely.
I'll keep her in mind and keep an eye on her.
But...
we can't suspect her yet.
I'll make sure to catch the culprit here the right way.
The culprit won't be able to kill anyone...
either in 1987 or 2021.
That's what I'm here for.
So please trust me and give it some time.
Gosh, Yoo Bum Ryong.
(Let's be united as a nation...)
(with self-esteem, independence, and cooperation.)
I'll go and see if she gets home safely.
Do you want me to come with you?
It's my job. And it's not a big deal.
Also...
Don't go home by yourself. Go home with your mom and uncle.
(Twist Jelly)
Yoon Young, let's go home together.
Gosh, this is jelly from the US.
(Detective Division 1)
But you're truly mistaken.
No one chased me or threatened me.
She was definitely hiding something.
Why don't we buy twisted breadsticks, your favourite?
He knew I was following them,
but he said that on purpose so I could hear it.
As if to tell me that woman was in danger.
All right.
Where are you going?
- It wasn't that nice. - Then why did you finish it?
Hey, Baek Dong Sik.
Where are you going all by yourself again?
(Woojung Police Station)
Oh, I had something to check.
What are you going to check again?
If you're going to bring in trouble...
like the son of the hospital director,
please spare us. I beg you.
Right. A new student teacher came to Woojung High School,
and things are looking bad. I'll be right back.
Hey.
What do you mean things are looking bad?
You didn't know who she was?
(Inn Entrance)
(Woojung Inn)
She has three previous convictions.
We were just pretending not to know,
but she's one to look out for.
It's tonight.
If nothing else comes up, it'll happen tonight.
Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help?
Now it concerns me too. I can do anything.
I'm used to doing things by myself.
What if something comes up?
You should head in first.
- Hello. - Hello.
- Hi.
Your name tag.
- Look at that. - Hello.
What's going on?
- Hello. - Hi.
- Hello. - Hello.
I asked what this was about.
I also asked you to make way, didn't I?
I gave you a chance to do your job...
with your last ounce of decency.
You're not here to help Lee Ju Young, are you?
You want me to help...
someone like her?
Mr. Yoon,
you could've died because of that woman.
Do you know that?
Hey, go and get her. Don't let her get away.
- Yes, sir. Let's go. - Yes, sir. Come on.
Darn it.
My foot.
Why is she so fast?
She's tiring me out. Gosh.
I swear. They said I could become Miss Korea...
if I paid 500 dollars.
What the...
Five hundred dollars, my foot.
Even with 5,000 dollars, you could never...
become Miss Korea, you brat.
Why not?
Why can't I?
Father,
I'm the Kim Wan Sun of Woojung-Ri. Got that?
Don't I look like her right now?
What did you say?
The oriental melon is laughing, you brat.
You're so annoying.
- Oh, my gosh. - When can I catch...
the quickest bus to Seoul?
You startled me.
It'll be here in five minutes.
- Can I get a token? - A token?
Hold on.
- Gosh. - Let me see.
Please hurry.
Why is everyone running around all sweaty?
What?
- Darn it. - Ms. Lee, hold on!
Hey, grab her!
How dare that weasel order me around?
- That hurts. - But I'm going to listen to her.
- Gosh. - Let go.
Let go. Hey!
- Oh, my. - Ms. Lee.
- Let go! - Hold on!
- Please, Ms. Lee. - Let go!
Please.
I don't know why you're acting like this,
but you have to stay here tonight. All right?
That way, we can catch the criminal.
Obviously.
That language teacher is coming too.
Oh, my.
Oh, my goodness.
- So it was you guys. - Ms. Lee.
I knew you were watching me every night.
It's also not a coincidence that you guys found me...
under the bridge that night.
You planned this all from the start...
in order to hand me over to the police, didn't you?
There's a misunderstanding here.
Please calm down and put down that knife.
I can't trust anyone.
You dirty spies.
You have to believe me.
We're...
trying to help you.
What in the world?
Let go of me!
Ms. Lee, please!
The cops are coming, so please be quiet.
Sir, is there a place we can hide?
Go inside here.
Go ahead.
Are you okay? Did you get hurt?
I'm fine.
Are you?
Yes, I am.
I'm not sure.
The bus has already left. I don't know who you're talking about.
We just kept talking about Miss Korea here.
Hello.
I told you, didn't I? You can never become Miss Korea.
Well didn't I tell you that I'm the Kim Wan Sun of Woojung-Ri?
Let's check the inn again.
- What? Okay. - Yes, sir.
- Gosh. - I cut it for you, you brat.
Why did you...
It's all because of me.
I made a wrong judgement, which led to an unexpected issue.
I think it'll be dangerous to send her back to the inn tonight.
You're right. We should take her somewhere safe first...
I thought I was alone.
I was so scared.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Will you be okay alone?
I'm just going to see his face.
(Bong Bong Teahouse, Coffee and Tea)
If we're lucky,
even without Ms. Lee,
he could appear...
at the same location and time.
If you get lucky,
please...
get a glimpse of his face.
Because he'll become...
the person who kills my mom in 34 years.
Darn it.
(Women who read are dangerous.)
(My Perfect Stranger)
He was one of the suspects...
and the hidden owner of the blue cap.
Even his movements...
make him the prime suspect, Baek Hee Sub.
If the owner of the blue cap is the real criminal,
that means...
he killed her mother and his own wife.
The blue cap is...
I know. I saw it with my own eyes.
I never imagined he would do such a thing.
He's just one of the suspects.
Are you saying the man with the blue cap is my father?
What?
No way.
(Epilogue)
How could you...
How...
How could you deceive everyone after doing such a thing?
Don't come near me.
Don't come near me!
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
(My Perfect Stranger)