01x03 - Episode 3

[bunniefuu]

[exhales]

LETTER OF RESIGNATION
HWANG DO-HEE

[computer chimes]

INTRANET NOTIFICATION

LETTER OF DISMISSAL, HWANG DO-HEE
CORPORATE STRATEGY TEAM

[inhales sharply]

[knock on door]

What the hell is going on?
I'm being terminated?

Well, I don't really know
the details either.

Also...

What?

[sighs]

Unfortunately, you will not
be given your severance pay.

As you know, in cases of dismissals...

Stop telling me what they told you,
and move!

If I leave this company or clear my name,
I'll be the one deciding.

[tense music playing]

Are you on your way
to see the Chairperson?

Or

are you going to call a meeting
with the personnel committee?

[sighs]

You...

You may leave right now.

You bit off more than you can chew.

Stiletto heels covered with glitter.

That's a world
you are not ready to be a part of.

I didn't bite off too much.

I can bite and chew as much I want to.

I can also completely
wipe away every trace of you

and climb higher than you ever did.

You keep telling yourself that.

Is this because of the severance?

Or is it...

Is it just your pride?

You can't accept that your ten years
with Corporate Strategy

are ending with a dismissal.

You think firing little old me
will cover everything up just like that?

Don't tell me

that you're going to become
a beacon of justice all of a sudden.

Are you going to expose the truth
behind I-seul's death?

[suspenseful music playing]

This pen

contains an entire audio recording
of the last when you and I-seul met.

When this goes public,

I-seul's mother will find out everything.

Her now dead daughter's shameful past,

how you used that information
to blackmail her,

and how her story
about being sexually assaulted was a lie.

- Guk Ji-yeon!
- [Ji-yeon] That's not all.

In the end, the whole world will call
I-seul a con woman who deserved to die.

Is your honor worth going that far...

[Ji-yeon grunts]

"Attack your target's weakness to shake
them up and make them destroy themselves."

I suppose I should thank you for allowing
me to learn such a valuable lesson.

[laughs softly]

That greed will turn you into a serpent.

A monstrous beast

that would chew
its own tail off completely

just to survive.

You have until the end of today
to return the company car.

And within the week,
you must vacate your company residence.

[soft rock music playing]

[music building]

FOR A BETTER FUTURE

[theme music playing]

What happened?

We tried calling you,
but you didn't answer,

so I had to call
his other guardian immediately.

It's been advanced
to a highly urgent matter as of now.

What's going on?

Why's he suddenly being discharged?

[somber music playing]

Director Myeong,

exactly what is it you're telling me now?

My father's... transplant surgery's
been called off?

The kidney donor

has retracted his offer.

Are you sure
that's what actually happened, Director?

Yes, unfortunately.

You have two days for him to vacate.

A sick man

who needs daily dialysis and has dementia...

You're just going to throw him out
with no place to go?

We've been notified
that the benefits we offered him

as the Eunsung Group's VIP
ended as of today.

As a result,
we cannot offer him a room here anymore.

[exhales]

Ah, it practically melts in your mouth.

- But I shouldn't enjoy myself too much.
- [chuckles]

Or I could end up like Sa Jae-gon,

feasting on a bin meal that was prepared
by Chairperson Son. [laughs]

Mr. Kim. You're so much more timid
than you used to be.

Mr. Sung.

Seriously, what are you going to do
about the upcoming by-election?

[inhales sharply]

Who to send up to the plate?

[exhales deeply]

- [dark music playing]
- [Kim clears throat]

Why don't I take care of that for you?

The player that's stepping down
was someone whom I had chosen,

so it is my duty to fill the vacant spot.

Ms. Son,

can you tell us if there's anyone
in particular you're thinking about?

[mysterious music playing]

[Sung sighs, laughs softly]

Not too bad. Wouldn't you all agree?

Ms. Son.

The entire country is fully aware

of what a great man
your son-in-law is, but...

And with that,

we're already halfway to claiming victory.

I know, but...

He may lack political experience,

but I have no doubt the party officials
here are more than capable

of guiding and leading him
throughout his endeavor.

Correct me if I'm wrong,

but... didn't you say
you needed libraries in your districts?

I think that one for each neighborhood

should be enough
to secure a victory in your next election.

Wouldn't you agree?

Ms. Son.

Mm?

Tell me,

why should we trust you this time?

What if you change your mind
like you did with Sa Jae-gon?

I won't be changing my mind.

I can't be pulling tricks like that,
not with a family member at least.

[all laughing]

Mr. Sung, you can rest
a little bit easier.

With Ms. Son's charisma,
combined with Mr. Baek's fresh blood,

no one in this country

will be able to beat us.

- So...
- [all laughing]

Shall we?

[all laughing]

- [Sung] Cheers!
- [Kim] Yes, cheers!

[men laughing]

You fire me,
and now you're k*lling my father too?

He's your father.

He should pay the price
for raising a beast like you.

Ma'am.

The only reason I even tried
to help that father of yours at all...

was because I trusted you fully.

I believed

you would never do
anything that would offend me as you did.

[scoffs]

And the thing
that would make you feel better

is putting an end to my father's life?

I'll feel somewhat refreshed.

I've been so generous
to such an ungrateful beast,

giving you the best possible amenities,
and what happens?

You betray me in the end.

I think I deserve this much consolation.

Are you trying
to turn me into an actual beast?

You could start to crawl around
on all fours right now,

and I still wouldn't give a damn.

I wonder...

if the problem is that I let you stand
on two feet in the first place.

Call me when you hold
your father's funeral.

I'll send some flowers.

[Ms. Son coughs lightly]

Do you know how many people's blood
I washed my hands with

to make your son-in-law stand up straight

when he wasn't even ready
to crawl on all fours?

I've had too many people stabbed,

innocent people k*lled
and buried over the years,

all for the benefit
of your wicked corporation!

[sobbing]

So what?

I'm going to destroy it.

This world of yours,

built upon the blood and the bones
of the people I've buried.

Everything you love most in this life...

will be obliterated,

and it'll happen
right before your very eyes.

[chuckles softly]

I'm going to make you feel pain
like you've never felt before,

The pain of being buried alive.

Pain my father feels every day.

Do your worst, please.

[dramatic music playing]

[somber music playing]

[music building]

HAN I-SEUL, DECEASED

[music softens]

I hope you'll watch me.

I'll have that animal
on his knees crawling,

begging you for your forgiveness
like I am now.

Only then...

will I truly be able
to stand before you again.

HAN I-SEUL, DECEASED

[dramatic music playing]

[Baek] People of Sangah-dong.

You've all been through so much.

[choral music playing]

[Baek] It was your sweat and tears
that paved the way for this.

What a glorious moment.

Imagine a world where honest,
hardworking people

can reap the just rewards
of all their efforts.

That world begins here, in this place.

Right here, on this spot.

Congratulations to all of you

on the redevelopment

of the Sangah District.

[cheering]

[chanting] Baek Jae-min!
Baek Jae-min! Baek Jae-min!

Baek Jae-min! Baek Jae-min! Baek Jae-min!

Baek Jae-min!

Also,

I'd like to make you all a promise.

I, Baek Jae-min,

will serve everybody,

all you citizens of this great city,

who are living in fear,

amidst ever-growing uncertainty,

just as I have wept
and laughed while right beside you all.

[crowd murmuring]

Mr. Baek. So is it fair
for us to consider this

to be the announcement of your candidacy?

- Yes.
- [crowd whispering]

I'm running for mayor of Seoul.

[cheering and whooping]

- [man 1] Why did you decide to run?
- [man 2] Which party will you run for?

[chanting continues]

Everyone!

The first thing we need to do is
take care of ourselves.

Only then

can we offer others a helping hand.

It is when we have
stability and prosperity

that we can work hard
and also dream of raising a family.

Wouldn't you like that?

To live in that kind of world?

Seoul sets the very pulse
for Korea's economy.

However,

its citizens aren't prospering.

If elected mayor, I promise you
that Seoul will always be a city

where its citizens have prosperity!

[cheering]

[chanting] Baek Jae-min! Baek Jae-min!
Baek Jae-min! Baek Jae-min!

Baek Jae-min! Baek Jae-min! Baek Jae-min!

- [chanting continues on video]
- [beeps]

Look at that. Huh?

He's tearing up.

You can tell he used to be a clown.

No doubt about it,
that's a master actor right there.

- [man scoffs]
- Sir.

Don't you think we should start
getting ourselves prepared?

He already has great brand value,

and his campaign will be loaded
with his in-laws' money.

Losing is just not an option
we want to look at.

We have an incumbent candidate

who's served in Gangdong
for three straight terms.

She's a professional who's been through
everything over the last decade.

She's on a different level

than an amateur like him who has to put on
a show for sympathy votes.

You think money is
all it takes to win an election?

My apologies.

All right. All right.
That's enough of all that for now.

Let's come up with a plan
for our campaign.

Okay. So, as our policy director,

we want you to keep tabs on
Baek Jae-min's election camp,

uh, given your wife's connections
with the Eunsung Group and all.

Mr. Kim.

Mr. Ma has been divorced
for some time now. That's all in the past.

You're right. My goodness.

I'm sorry, Mr. Ma.

Yeah, I appreciate it.

But still, isn't your wife in charge of
Chairperson Son's political donations?

- If you could just give us an idea of...
- She actually quit.

My ex-wife, Hwang Do-hee,
is no longer a part of the Eunsung Group.

ATTORNEY OH KYUNG-SOOK
LABOR LAW SPECIALIST

[steady rock music playing]

- [woman] Hello, Ms. Oh. Have some coffee!
- No, thank you. Oh, I love your hair.

- Thanks! I just did it.
- [Oh Kyung-sook] See you.

- [woman] Bye.
- [man] Ms. Oh, hello!

Hello!

[rock music continues]

- [man] Hello, Ms. Oh.
- [Oh Kyung-sook] Hello! How are you?

- I'm good.
- [Oh Kyung-sook] All right.

- Goodbye!
- [Oh Kyung-sook] Bye!

[music ends]

What do you want?

Long time no see, Oh Kyung-sook.

Or rather,

Attorney Oh Kyung-sook, I mean.

Yes, Toilet Hwang.

I see you're still alive.

I'm pretty hard to k*ll.

At least so far.

Saying "k*ll" around me
isn't the best thing to say.

Not after you tried pushing me off
that building and I almost died there.

Thanks to you, I've suffered quite a bit.

I see.

It seems we have quite a few

misunderstandings to resolve.

[Oh Kyung-sook] Misunderstandings, my a*s.

Forget it.

I'm just here as Hwang Do-hee.

As a free woman

who has nothing to do with Eunsung Group.

[keys jangle]

A free woman?

So you were fired.

Have you had breakfast?

I saw there was a good-looking
soup place near the market.

[scoffs] "Good looking soup place!"

Forget it.

I don't have any business
with the Eunsung Group or you.

Just leave.

Oh.

If you're that hungry, here you go.

It's all yours.

- [man 1] Welcome!
- [man 2] You're here!

[workers] Yay!

Thank you, everyone.

- [man 3] We can do it!
- We can do it!

- Yeah, let's do this!
- [cheering continues]

REJUVENATE SEOUL
BAEK JAE-MIN, DREAM MAKER

Good to see you. Thank you for coming.

[dramatic music]

- Thank you for your hard work.
- [man 4] Oh, hey!

- [man 5] Bravo!
- [overlapping chatter]

Thank you.

I'll try not to disappoint you.
I look forward to working with you all.

Shall we get started?

Welcome, everyone,
to our first campaign meeting.

We have exactly 85 days
until the election day arrives.

Our top priority during this campaign

is for Mr. Baek to engage with the people
as much as possible.

By the end of this month,
we will finalize the list of mentors

who will accompany Mr. Baek
on the campaign trail.

It should go without saying,

but the mentors need to be
people with whom regular folks can relate.

The kind of people
no one has ever seen before in a campaign.

Like Ms. Oh Kyung-sook.

[Ji-yeon] Yes.
We're already in contact with her.

Well, be quick.
Before some other candidates get her.

I need Ms. Oh working for our team,
and not for anyone else's team.

[Ji-yeon] We will get it done
as soon as possible.

And my gift...

Has it arrived yet?

[sighs]

Who the hell? [grunts]

Who else, you idiot?

Oh. Hello, Ms. Oh.

Why would you spend the night here? Huh?

Remember what I told you?

Your life will only get worse
if you keep sleeping away from home.

Didn't I say that? You little freak face.

Jeez!

Seriously, keep wandering around like that
and you'll end up a vagrant in no time.

- Got it?
- [scoffs]

Ms. Oh,

why are you calling me a vagrant
first thing in the morning?

I only slept here
because I was working all night.

These are the new cases
we received just this week alone.

The entire pile?

There's more.

I mean, you're getting
some serious cases pouring in,

now that your
popularity is totally skyrocketing.

Wait a sec.

Look here.

We're even starting to get clients
all the way from Gangnam.

Seriously, Gangnam.

Like...

- This client's husband is a former...
- Yoon Dong-joo.

Don't get too ahead of yourself.

Now that all the aunties
at the department store are back,

things are gonna be quiet
for the time being.

So you... should go get your own work.

But we're surrounded by work here.

- [man] Ms. Oh!
- [woman] Ms. Oh!

- [man] Come on out! Hurry. Hurry.
- [woman] Hurry up!

[man] Hurry! Everyone's waiting. Hurry!

Get out here!

FUN TIME WITH SANGAH MARKET
AND EUNSUNG

- [man 1] Wow, look at this. Come on!
- [man 2] Ms. Oh, over here! Here!

[man laughing]

[Oh Kyung-sook] Hi! Oh, hello.

- Oh Kyung-sook!
- [Oh Kyung-sook] Hey!

Oh, Ms. Oh! Hi!

- Hi, Dong-joo!
- On-sil, you look great in that uniform.

[giggles] Yeah?

But why would Baek Jae-min
do something like this? I'm confused.

[woman] It's all thanks
to our dear Ms. Oh.

And all because
she joined hands with Mr. Baek Jae-min

and got on the same boat!

[woman laughs] I'll go from being
an old lady at the marketplace

to being a rich store owner.
I made it! [laughs]

- [man] Auntie, come join us.
- Oh, all right!

Ms. Oh, you gotta try this!

- Hey, Hwa-soo!
- [Hwa-soo] Dong-joo, come here.

This is our bestseller. Come on.

- On-sil, go give them this. All right.
- [On-sil] Okay!

[sighs]

EUNSUNG DEPARTMENT STORE FOOD

EUNSUNG GROUP

Here's your food. Enjoy.

- [Dong-joo] Thank you!
- [woman] Enjoy!

Ms. Oh, here.

What's this for?

Mr. Baek requested your order
be done separately from the others.

Oh...

[Baek] I wanted to treat you
to a nice meal on this good day.

I can't be there because of my schedule,

but I will be having
the same thing for lunch,

cheering you on from afar.

Give me a call anytime.
Regards, Baek Jae-min.

This seems like
a sign from Baek Jae-min, doesn't it?

What sign?

That he wants you
to be a member of his campaign team.

He's trying to woo you.

[sighs]

- Dong-joo.
- Yes?

Hold this.

Don't get the wrong idea.

It wasn't my doing,
bringing those cheerleaders here.

[sighs]

So you really got fired.

Look at you, sitting here day-drinking.

You look like an abandoned dog.
You know that, right?

Maybe I'll call you Doggy Hwang
instead of Toilet Hwang.

- Want a shot?
- No.

That day,

why'd you do it?

Do what?

That night,

on the roof of the department store.

Why'd you have to come up in the middle
of the night and cause such a ruckus?

Because I wanted to protect
what little conscience I had left.

[scoffs]

Conscience, hmm?

Really, I mean it.

I have a lot of blood on my hands.

I was hoping to finally wash it away.

[scoffs] Oh, come on. That's such
a bunch of crap, and you know it.

Get to the point so I can just go now.

Why did you come to see me today?

[exhales]

Oh Kyung-sook.

Become a mayor.

Wait. What?

Become the mayor of Seoul.

[sighs]

[curious music playing]

[Oh Kyung-sook sighs]

The Eunsung Group fired you.

- [Hwang] Mm.
- And you're resentful.

And you want to use me. Is that correct?

You're furious about
their son-in-law running for mayor,

and you want to get your bloody revenge
on all of them. Am I right?

Wow. You really are
the nutcase of the century.

I heard this market is being redeveloped.

The kind shepherd, Baek Jae-min,

seems to have sent
his many sheep into the area.

Hmm, a flock of sheep.

Well, if it's lamb chops you're after,
go ahead and join them then.

The redevelopment isn't real.

Everyone here will be broke
by the end of it.

Now, you listen here.

You think I'm going to take your side

if you tell me
that the redevelopment isn't reality.

You think I'll be all,

"Is that so?
Those people are horrible." Huh?

Are you expecting me
to set myself on fire, screaming,

"Be gone, oppressors
of the common folk! Be gone"?

Go sell your lies
to someone else this time.

People from the bank
will be here this afternoon.

They'll tempt the merchants
with seemingly great offers on loans.

Then the Sangah Market
will start trending on social,

and articles about the market
and Baek Jae-min will flood the Internet.

Everyone here will be ecstatic.

At that moment,

the news will knock down every door.

Yeah, yeah.

You should get yourself a crystal ball,

open a fortune-teller stand, eh?

- [overlapping chatter]
- [man] Okay. This way, everyone.

We'll explain all the details.

[chatter continues]

SINWOO BANK
LOAN RECEPTION DESK

[woman] Yes, hi. Step forward.

- [excited chatter]
- [woman 2] Sign here.

[camera shutter clicking]

- [woman 3] Thank you.
- [man 2] Yeah, yeah.

[Dong-joo] How many cameras are there?

One, two, three...

[Hwang] People from the bank
will be here this afternoon.

They'll tempt the merchants
with seemingly great offers on loans.

I was the one who created the plan.

The goal is to dazzle everyone

so they would agree to the redevelopment.

You know,

the soup here really is amazing.

Knock yourself out.

And get some sense back into you.

Open it when you have time.

I'll be waiting here
in case you have questions.

What is it?

What's that?

LAYOFF PLAN OF THE EUNSUNG
DEPARTMENT STORE WORKERS

[Dong-joo] "Plan to remove Sa Jae-gon,
Mayor of Seoul, from office"?

DRAFTED BY HWANG DO-HEE

[tense music playing]

[reporter 1] There are rumors Mayor Sa
has been using ill*gal slush funds.

It was said that he was given cash
in the total of 600 million won...

[reporter 2] The wife of the mayor
was spotted

wearing 300 million won worth of jewelry
from a global luxury brand...

[Sa Jae-gon] I hereby resign
as this great city's mayor.

EXPECTED TO COST TWO BILLION WON

So this is how they did it?

Ms. Oh.

Where did you get these files?

Where did you get such ridiculous...

There were a lot more cameras
than I expected.

Is this the Rhino Effect?

Who do you think you are?

How dare you step into her office?

Ms. Oh, why is this woman...

You look like you might be in shock.

What are you trying to do, huh?

Are you showing off?

"I'm the Great Toilet Hwang."

"This is how hard I worked
for Eunsung's owners."

- Is that the reason you're doing this?
- No.

I just wanted to show you

the lengths Eunsung's owners will go
to get what they want.

[inhales sharply]

Look at these merchants.
They're already taken in.

[crowd murmuring below]

Completely hypnotized
by Baek Jae-min's dinner stunt.

They are just prey.

This redevelopment project is
just a trick to fatten Eunsung's purse.

Then there's you, of course.

Oh Kyung-sook,
the cherry on top for their little show.

What the hell are you talking about?

Baek Jae-min was able to enter
this mayoral race without any resistance,

all because you raised your hand
and shouted "hurrah" for everyone to see.

The blood and tears
your people will shed over this,

you'll be partly to blame for that.

[sighs]

GIVE ME A CALL ANYTIME
REGARDS, BAEK JAE-MIN

sh*t. [grunts]

Get out!

If you want to spew nonsense,
do it on the news, not here!

Did you leave your brain at home today?

What?

Okay.

Let's say I tell the media
everything I'm aware of.

Eunsung would sue me immediately.

I will have violated my terms
of employment and the NDA I signed.

They'll throw in libel and slander
for spreading falsehood,

and the lawsuit will last
at least five years.

The election is
less than a hundred days away.

While we throw mud at each other
to win a lawsuit,

Baek Jae-min will become mayor and destroy
this market and everyone in it.

And by then, it will be much too late.

Ugh, enough!

Okay, so what?

What are you saying then?

I'm saying, let's bring it all down.

This world that
Chairperson Son has created.

Let's end her once and for all

so she can never get back up again.

And why should I be the one
to do that, huh?

With you, no less.

Why does it have to be me anyway?

Because that's how we create
a world as envisioned by Oh Kyung-sook.

[sighs]

Just leave, okay?

You can pretend
to have a conscience all you want.

But don't think
that's ever going to have an effect on me.

Go.

Dong-joo.

Let's go.

Come on.

[Dong-joo] Yes, ma'am.

A young woman is dead!

[tense music playing]

And I'm the one responsible for that.

I, Baek Jae-min,

have a lot to learn as a politician.

But... I jumped into this world headfirst.

[camera shutters clicking]

To make this a city

where citizens are
successful and respected.

Now, I might be a little shaky on my feet,

but I am not alone.

I am fortunate to have
many esteemed friends

who will be with me on this journey
and support me.

With them right there by my side,
I, Baek Jae-min,

vow... to leave victorious footsteps
behind me!

[cheering]

Thank you. Thank you so much.
Thank you for coming.

We've prepared some snacks in the back.

The interview will be happening
a little later, so enjoy yourselves.

I'll see you in a bit.

Thank you all for coming. Thank you.

Mr. Kim, it's an honor to have you.

- Mr. Baek, you have my support.
- Thank you so much.

Mr. Jang, do you know
I'm a big fan of yours?

I've read every single one of your books.

I'm responsible for driving her
to her death.

To hide the blood on Baek Jae-min's hands.

And because of that,

he's managed to keep himself spotless,

rising up higher than ever before.

[exhales]

I finally found
the person I, uh, wanted to see the most.

Is that so?

Yes.

[Oh Kyung-sook sighs]

Yeesh.

You find places like this
awkward, too, don't you?

Less awkward and more strange.

That girl's family
must still be wailing at her grave,

but here the trumpets blow loudly.

Are they that loud because they're meant
to drown out the wails of her family?

Is that what you think?

- I don't understand.
- You know I-seul, right?

[tense music playing]

Ms. Han I-seul

sadly decided to end her own life.

[Oh Kyung-sook] Oh,
I never said anyone k*lled her.

Wait!

Did some son of a b*tch
somewhere k*ll her?

Oh!

Just so you know, I'm telling you
all this because it turns out

that Ms. Han I-seul and I have
a lot in common.

As you know,

I've also fallen from the top
of the Eunsung Department Store before.

Actually pushed off. Yeah.

So, naturally, the thought
did cross my mind

that maybe Ms. Han could have suffered
the same cruelty I experienced,

but, you know,
if I'm wrong about this, then I

sincerely apologize.

Oh, come on.

We're family. Don't apologize.

I'll just take it as the concerns

of someone who doesn't need to worry
about herself anymore.

Why is that?

Whatever made you fall from that roof,

you've managed to survive

and helped 500 people get their jobs back.

You've become a hero
and your life has gotten better.

So now you can afford to look back
on all those who have passed.

It's definitely better
to be alive than dead.

It's too bad about Ms. Han, isn't it?

Anyway.

They say that the real hell is
here on earth and not below us.

I'm sure you have no desire to drive
all those people back to hell, do you?

[indistinct conversation]

[woman] Okay, look over here, please!

[man] Ms. Oh, could we have a smile?
How about with both of you?

- Whoo!
- [man] Thank you.

Sorry, but it's just we're so happy to see
you two on the same team like this.

[laughs] Mr. Baek, we the workers
will always support you

as long as Ms. Oh is here with you. Truly.

- Cheers for Baek Jae-min!
- Cheers.

- [cheering]
- [man] Baek Jae-min!

- Thank you. Thank you.
- Yes, of course!

- [woman laughing]
- [Baek] Thank you.

Ms. Oh, what's your reason
for deciding to become

one of Mr. Baek's Campaign Mentors
in the first place?

I don't have one.

I'm not gonna do it.

[crowd murmuring]

[tense music playing]

I'm withdrawing my decision

to join his campaign.

[camera shutters clicking]

[reporter 1] Why are you doing that?

[reporter 2] Are you sure
you're not being let go?

[reporter 3] What made you
change your mind?

I don't think he has what it takes
to, uh, be the mayor of Seoul.

[reporter 4] Then who is suited
to be the mayor of Seoul?

As long as it isn't him,
they have my vote. Thank you.

[reporter 5] Have you considered running
for mayor yourself, Ms. Oh?

You mean, would I do everything
in my power to stop him?

Sure. I'll go for it. Why not?

- [woman 1] What?
- [woman 2] Wait.

[overlapping chatter]

[rock music playing]

- [woman] Excuse me, sir...
- [overlapping voices]

[sighs]

[Oh Kyung-sook] Mad! I must have gone mad!

God, what am I going to do now? Oh God!

[groans]

Ugh, you had to open
your damn mouth, didn't you?

[Oh Kyung-sook sighs]

Oh Kyung-sook.

I'm impressed.

TRENDING SEARCHES
OH KYUNG-SOOK

Speaking as a PR expert,

I'd say you were born
to be in the spotlight.

OH KYUNG-SOOK NEVER DIES

OH ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY

Oh, I'm done for.

[groans]

You're a natural when it comes to grabbing
the public's attention and keeping it.

You have an instinct for creating
dramatic and captivating moments,

and you speak without a filter at all.

Even your face fits the bill perfectly.
That defiant look, perfect to lead a coup.

From a show business standpoint also,

you're a priceless talent.

Show business? I mean,
show business? Are you serious?

I mean, do you have any idea
what a fool I've made of myself?

[wails]

- [knock on door]
- [man] Oh Kyung-sook! Get out here!

[people shouting]

[man] Oh Kyung-sook!

- [all shouting]
- [Dong-joo] Back off!

- Jeez, seriously!
- [woman] Come on!

[shouting continues]

Ms. Oh hasn't come to work yet, okay?
She might not even come in at all today.

Then, tell us, where the hell is she at?

She upended the entire market
and now is scared to face us?

Where the hell has she got to?
We deserve to know!

Sir, what do you mean, "upended"?

Dong-joo, we just want to know
what happened, okay?

Baek Jae-min said
he'd redevelop our market.

So why on earth did she decide
to just stab him in the back?

I don't think that's what happened.

She must have had a good reason, I'm sure.

What good reason could she possibly have?

[shouting continues]

[man] Yeah! Kick this door down!

- Kick it down!
- [man 2] What's wrong with her?

Oh, this is insane!

[Hwang] Why don't you go out there
and do something?

They seem to be very upset.

And do what exactly?

Just sit them all down
and explain the whole thing?

One by one? Who did what and why?

Reveal everything about what
Baek Jae-min's up to, and about I-seul?

You can at least go out
and offer them a legitimate apology.

- Just to try and calm them down.
- Calm them down?

Rile them up, I could do that,
but there's no calming them down.

They've had so many rich people

try to sweet-talk them
into all kinds of things.

They wouldn't accept any apology.

Don't act like you know everything
when you don't have a clue!

- [man banging] Get out here!
- Oh!

God, I'm gonna be sick. [whimpers]

Whatever, whatever!
What do they want from me?

Ugh, I'm not here!

[Oh Kyung-sook wails]

There was a turn of events
at candidate Baek Jae-min's

Campaign Mentors
Inauguration Ceremony yesterday.

Attorney Oh Kyung-sook, who was
selected as campaign manager...

[Sung] Mr. Baek,

I'm greatly disappointed.

The election hasn't even started,

and you let that woman
stroll right in and stir up a shitstorm.

You said that handling Oh Kyung-sook
wouldn't be a problem.

[inhales]

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

We'll publish our press release through
the outlets we have influence over,

and it'll all blow over
after I give them a few interviews.

My loyal supporters...

Elections are about momentum!
A temporary measure won't work.

You have to take the momentum
away from her!

Right.

I'll take your advice to heart.

Mr. Baek, don't let this get you down.

I bet our opponent is
much more anxious than we are.

"The People's Servant."

[man] Last night, during candidate
Baek's Jae-min's announcement

for his Campaign Mentors,
an unexpected incident took place.

With about 80 days remaining
until election day,

the Seoul mayoral election has taken
a turn that has surprised everybody.

Assemblywoman Seo Min-jung
of the People's Reform Party

is here to discuss
these latest developments. Welcome.

Welcome and good evening.
Thank you for joining us.

As you know, I am Seo Min-jung,
the People's Servant.

[host] I believe Oh Kyung-sook's
unexpected announcement

could be considered by some
as her challenging you,

since you're also a mayoral candidate
of Seoul in the upcoming by-election.

Your thoughts?

[laughs] Is that so?

You have served three terms already,

and you are the face
of the People's Reform Party.

Not only that, you made your mark
as an irreplaceable female politician

who is beloved by everybody.

However,

last night's incident could change
a lot of voters' thoughts, yeah?

Oh. Do I think she could be mayor?
Is that what you're asking?

[host] Yes.

[chuckles]

Uh, if I'm being honest,

I'd like to think that I'm
the only servant the Korean people need.

Viewers, what's your opinion?

[chuckles]

- [man 1] Great work.
- [woman] That was wonderful.

- [man 2] Great job.
- Thank you.

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

- Great work, ma'am.
- That was good.

Come on. To the mountain.

Sorry?

You have to prepare your campaign
announcement speech.

Then what? Let Oh Kyung-sook take away
my supporters and end my career?

I'll make the announcement
on the mountain to attract attention.

Am I the only one thinking
of these sorts of things?

Sorry, ma'am.

If you really mean that, why don't you get
Oh Kyung-sook and stuff her in a coffin?

[gong chimes]

Sorry I'm late.

Don't touch that.

[places pot down]

You said I should trust you.

You said that if I set the board for you,
you'd remove the queen, the king,

push everyone out,
and rise to the top with ease.

I did everything
you asked me to do for you, Jae-min.

And you messed it up because of some woman

who isn't even worth using as a pawn.

Did you drive out Hwang for this?

I'm sorry, ma'am.

You can leave now.

You have managed to bring enough shame
to my late husband's memorial.

[tense music playing]

If you have the time to bow to him,

you should go and find Hwang
and instead bow to her.

Fall down on your knees and beg.

Ask her to save you.

[gong chimes]

- Stop Hwang Do-hee right now.
- Stop her? But how?

Exactly how should I?

You.

You said you could do
everything better than she can.

So tell me, do you think
she would've asked me that?

Guk Ji-yeon.

You said you wanted
to rise higher than Hwang Do-hee.

If we lose the election
and the Chairperson's favor,

that'll be the end of everything.

You and I

will end up in the gutter and washed away
with the rest of the garbage.

Get it together.

[sighs]

[Dong-joo] Uh-uh!

Don't you kiss up to her.

How is everyone?

Still furious. Asking why
you would ever do such a thing.

[Oh Kyung-sook sighs]

So what are you gonna do about it?

What?

Well, now that this has happened,
you might as well run for real.

Enough!

Okay, but if you don't run
after everything you've said,

you'll look super lame.

Come on! We'll gather your supporters
and run a campaign!

Yoon Dong-joo!

Drop it.

Yoon Dong-joo, is it?

You seem very resourceful.

I think I could use you
as a mid-level manager, yeah?

Use me? What gives you the right?

My power as Oh Kyung-sook's
mayoral campaign manager?

- Oh, yeah right!
- [Hwang] Too old-fashioned?

Um, hmm.

"Director general" has a nice ring to it.

By all means,
call yourself anything you want. [scoffs]

Then let's begin.

It won't be easy at all.
I'm going to push you both hard.

Just curious. Why would I work under you?

I'll run her campaign, not you.

I'll make Ms. Oh the mayor
if I have to do it barehanded.

Knock it off, you idiot!

Hey, why are you only picking on me?
She's the one who started all this.

This is such crap!

Would you look at that? Ugh! [sighs]

[door closes]

Gosh, when will that little punk grow up?

[tense music playing]

Anyway,

this is as far as I go, okay? I...

[sighs]...will be stopping here.

So stop provoking me.

You saw for yourself
what kind of monster Baek Jae-min is.

- And that's exactly why you...
- [Oh Kyung-sook] Went off.

I looked so cool doing that.

"Baek Jae-min must not become the mayor."

"I won't stand by if he does." Is that
what you're really saying to me, huh?

Then why would you stop now?

Living your life
only doing what looks cool...

you end up as nothing but an empty shell.

I've spent my whole life
fighting an endless battle

to make the world a better place
however I could.

And soon, I ended up a bad wife,
and even worse, a bad mother.

Abandoning my family and being a busybody,

saying I'll change the world
for the better.

I've already done enough of that, so...

I almost died once.

And you know,

that's more than enough.

- Yes, but...
- Let's be frank here, okay?

I was pushed off

from the roof of the Eunsung building.

You were there.

That's how I got caught up in all this
and came this far.

But people call me the godmother
of workers and a hero,

but nobody really knows the entire story.

It's just too much pressure. Okay?

It weighs on my conscience.

So it ends here. Done.

I gotta go.

Quit smoking, you idiot.

Let's go.

[Hwang] I'll wait for your call.

[sighs]

Let's go.

[cell phone vibrating]

Hello, Joong-seok.

- [Oh Kyung-sook] Yoon Dong-joo.
- Yes, ma'am.

Let's stop being such dreamers
and live quietly down here.

Take better care of our families.
You know? Yeah?

[tense music playing]

Let's do this.

[engine starts]

Hwang Do-hee!

[theme music playing]

♪ Take me to the sky ♪

♪ Breaking down the wall ♪

♪ When you hold my hand ♪

♪ Dreams are coming true ♪

♪ Is this a fantasy? ♪

♪ This is a real life... ♪

[singing continues in Korean]

♪ This is a mastery ♪

♪ I never give up ♪

♪ On my own ♪

♪ I don't wanna fly high ♪

♪ I just wanna stay with you ♪

♪ I don't wanna break down ♪

♪ We can all get down ♪

♪ I don't wanna fly high ♪

♪ I just wanna stay with you ♪

- ♪ I don't wanna break down ♪
- ♪ Ohh, ohhhh ♪

♪ Take me to the sky ♪

♪ Breaking down the wall ♪

♪ When you hold my hand ♪

♪ Dreams are coming true ♪

♪ Is this a fantasy? ♪

♪ This is a real life... ♪

[singing continues in Korean]

♪ This is a mastery ♪

♪ I never give up ♪

♪ On your life ♪

ALL CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, LOCATIONS

INSTITUTIONS, AND EVENTS IN THIS DRAMA
ARE FICTITIOUS