01x09 - Episode 9

[bunniefuu]

[lively music playing]

2 OH KYUNG-SOOK

[singing in Korean]

A BETTER TOMORROW, OH KYUNG-SOOK
A NEW FACE, A NEW SEOUL

Dear citizens of Seoul,
this is Oh Kyung-sook.

New Seoul,

new politics!

I might be the newest face on the ballot,

but I promise to make politics
serve the common people

and make Seoul
a better city for our children!

- [all chanting] Oh Kyung-sook!
- [lively music continues]

[Oh Kyung-sook] Now, as you probably know,
I also have a son who is around your age.

And when I started all of this,
I promised him one thing.

I promised him
he would have a bright future

in a better world that his mother
was able to build because of your support.

Dear teens,

our future voters, I love you all!

Have a great day!

[dramatic music playing]

[grunts]

[crowd cheering]

[grunting]

[chanting] Oh Kyung-sook!

Oh Kyung-sook! Oh Kyung-sook!

[theme music playing]

[siren wailing in background]

What do you have against my son
to make you hurt him like that, huh?

Did you see him? [gasps]

Hyun-woo...

[sighs]

[gasps]

Oh my gosh.

[Oh Kyung-sook] Oh, gosh.

This must be a shock for you both.

First, let's find out
exactly what happened...

Isn't it obvious?

Oh Kyung-sook.
Is that son of yours a thug?

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I really am.

Save your apology.

You should be at home,
educating your brat,

instead of gallivanting around,
trying to be a politician.

How can you be in politics
when you can't even raise a child right?

Can you tell me what happened?

I don't know. It was a one-sided fight.

[scoffs]

How was it one-sided?

I didn't do anything,
but then Kang Hyun-woo went nuts

and just started beating me up.

[mother] Do you see now?

Oh Kyung-sook, your son beat up my child
on the street for no reason at all.

My son says that he's so upset

that he doesn't think he can go outside
or go to school anymore.

Hyun-woo.

Tell me. Is this all true?

Why won't you say anything?

How could you do such a thing, huh?

How? [gasps]

Why?

You scared?

Scared you might lose the election
because of me?

Hey, Hyun-woo...

- Hyun-woo.
- What, are you're worried about me?

You're only worried
that I might cost you this election.

You could be a mayor,
if not for a little sh*t like me.

Too bad I'm in your way, huh?

How? How? How could you say
such a thing? How?

Didn't I teach you better than that?

When did you ever teach me anything?
Tell me one thing you've taught me.

[dad] Hey, Hyun-woo.
Don't talk to your mother like that.

That's enough.

So I think Gyeong-min needs
to be taken to a hospital this minute.

Our staff will drive him there,
so tell us if there's anything you need.

[mother] Why?

So you can settle
and sweep this under the table?

Of course not, ma'am.

Are you trying to bribe us with money
so your hoodlum won't end up in jail?

No, no, that's not it at all.

We don't have the slightest
intention of settling with you,

so don't even dream about it.

We're done being questioned,
so we'll be going.

[shouts] Got that?

Let's go.

[Oh Kyung-sook] I'm sorry.

- I'm so sorry.
- [sniffles]

- [husband] Here. Take a seat.
- [sighs]

This is all my fault.

How could I let him get this bad?

[husband] Oh, don't say that.
It's not your fault.

Has Hyun-woo had problems
at school before now?

I still find it strange that he would
beat up someone like that for no reason.

Well, I did notice something strange
a few days ago.

Yeah. He had blood on his uniform.

It startled me,
so I asked him what happened,

and he told me that he got into a scuffle
with his friends while hanging out.

Oh! [gasps]

Moon-bok!

You should have told me that then.

I don't understand
why you didn't say anything, huh?

When could I?
You're so busy with your campaign.

You hardly have time to eat.

[moaning]

I know it's not easy,
but you have to be strong.

I know being a mother
makes it especially hard,

but it might also make things hard
on the political front too.

[sighs]

I'll try to reach a settlement
with the parents as quickly as I can,

so please look after Hyun-woo.

And keep me updated on the investigation.

I'm sorry. I know you're busy enough
already without our son causing trouble.

We'll have to see, I guess,

whether he caused the whole thing
or was unwittingly dragged into it.

I'll go talk
to Hyun-woo's friends from school

and find out exactly how the fight began.

Make sure it doesn't get out.

Definitely.

Not to anyone on Baek Jae-min's campaign.

Never.

Wow! What a good boy.

Like mother, like son. Am I right?

He's throwing himself right into trouble.

So now we start
leading the bull to its final death.

Ms. Guk.

[Ji-yeon] In two days,
the blackout period will begin.

That's when official opinion polls
are no longer released,

and the time when most of the indifferent
or shy voters shift their support.

It also means that if Oh Kyung-sook
is still in the race by then,

there's no telling how many
of my vital votes she'll chew through.

She'll have already resigned.

When we're done with her,
her image will be in tatters,

her campaign along with it.

But she might dig her heels in
and refuse to resign.

Well, that won't hurt us.

After all, she'd just be humiliating
herself for the remainder of the election.

Has any politician

ever been elected
after a family scandal came to light?

Of course not.

And

family issues can be even worse
for female politicians.

You're right about that.

Whether she resigns
or decides to fight to her death,

all that's left for us to do is

sit back and watch how Oh Kyung-sook
falls behind the rest of the field.

- Continue.
- [Ji-yeon] Yes, sir.

Already in a trap.

[reporter] It's being reported
that the student in the video online today

of a bully assaulting a fellow student,

according to sources,
is actually the son of Oh Kyung-sook,

the mayoral candidate for the
People's Reform Party in the election.

The victim is receiving treatment after
being hospitalized for serious injuries.

He's said to be suffering from
devastating mental trauma

that will require psychotherapy sessions.

Beloved for her righteous
and down-to-earth image,

Candidate Oh has become a serious
contender in this election.

But voters are now expressing their
growing anger and disappointment in her.

As far as her resignation is concerned,
it's too early to consider.

Uh, the party is looking into it, however.

We'll be holding
an official press conference

after getting to the bottom
of this incident,

so please wait until then.

Oh, and if you would,
no speculative articles, please.

REFORM PARTY OF KOREA

[reporters talking at once]

Call the campaign headquarters
and ask what happened.

BEATS UP A CLASSMATE

[woman] "Powergate," huh?

[scoffs]

You're kidding, right?

I mean, this is just
distorting the truth beyond reason.

They're trying to frame this issue

in a way that will associate
Ms. Oh with power and abuse.

Ms. Hwang. We should send out
a request to the press

to stop farming for clicks
while this case is ongoing.

That's not the main issue here.

It's strange how this story
continues to grow.

This fight occurred spontaneously,

yet the footage has been filmed
meticulously to show Hyun-woo's face.

The police showed up right away,
as if they had been waiting.

And the footage has been spreading
abnormally fast. It all just fits too...

Neatly to be a coincidence.

[mysterious music playing]

As soon as the footage spread,

media outlets that favor Baek Jae-min
began churning out their articles.

They're trying to frame our candidate
as this powerful figure

whose son is abusing her authority
to smear her public image.

This tactic is frequently used
during the blackout period.

They're using provocative propaganda
to lure in swing voters.

A last-ditch effort.

[Hwang] So...

Hyun-woo...

Is likely to have been set up.

Very likely.

[cell phone vibrating]

IBC REPORTER KIM CHO-RONG

PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSING
CANDIDATE OH'S SON'S as*ault CASE

PUNISH THE VIOLENT JUVENILE OFFENDER
WHO'S HIDING UNDER THE PROTECTION OF LAW

[tense music playing]

[man] We will now begin
the press conference addressing

Candidate Oh's son's as*ault
of another student.

[mother] Our son was beaten up
by Candidate Oh's son,

despite doing nothing wrong.

The police accused our son
of being the assailant,

and they only seemed to care about
protecting Candidate Oh's son.

I begged them to at least let us
take him to the hospital, but...

[mother sobbing]

[father] The police,

along with Candidate Oh,

have been trying to coerce us
into settling with them.

For our son, who fell victim
to such horrible school violence...

[woman] Ms. Hwang.

Are you just going to let this go on?

Shouldn't we publish something, too,

so we can at least
set the record straight?

Ms. Hwang.

Look at this.

THE POLICE ARE WORRIED ABOUT CANDIDATE OH

THE PROTECTORS OF THE PEOPLE
BECAME THE RHINO'S SHIELD

What is going on here?
Why is the press targeting us?

We can't understand this either, sir.

The officers arrested him
not knowing he was Oh Kyung-sook's son,

and they had only just begun
writing the report on the case when...

- Sir.
- What is it now?

There's a new article.

"Candidate Oh suspected of pulling strings
for Commissioner General Heo Cheol-gyun."

"Oh offers Heo free pass at confirmation
hearing to cover up her son's case."

What?

Where is this bullshit coming from,
and who's writing it?

[Heo Cheol-gyun] Hand over the case?

Why would we give it to the prosecution
when our officers are doing just fine?

[scoffs]

You think it still works like that?

The police being lackeys
for the dirty prosecution?

Things will only get worse for you,
my friend, the longer you don't play ball.

"The four-starred commissioner general

abuses his power
in order to protect Oh Kyung-sook's son."

"The police rigging
the dirtiest election."

"The protector of the people
reeking of corruption."

You'll be up to your neck
with more disgusting headlines like these.

I'm the commissioner general, dammit!

Do you have any idea who the hell you're
threatening right now? How dare you?

Your term ends very soon, or am I wrong?

- [suspenseful music playing]
- A minister working for the police.

That's exactly what the force needs

if it wants to grow beyond its role
as the prosecution's lackey,

don't you think?

When Baek is appointed mayor,

he will begin to prepare
for the upcoming presidential race

and pick a new Administration Minister.

That position is waiting,

and it could be yours,
Commissioner General.

[Oh Kyung-sook] Wait.

The prosecution?

[sighs] But the investigation isn't over.
What do you mean the prosecution?

It's done, ma'am.

Your son's case was
given to the prosecution.

Seeing as a major crime is involved

and the victim strongly wants
to press charges, the prosecution...

I've... volunteered to defend
juvenile offenders for over ten years.

Ten!

I can't tell you how many kids I saw
who were charged unfairly

because of missteps
during police investigations.

Are you saying
your son is being accused unfairly?

[groaning]

I am not denying
what my child did was improper. Yeah.

He should receive
the punishment he deserves.

But don't you think that his investigation

should be as just and transparent
as it can be?

Hastily ending the investigation
without telling his guardian,

and sending the case
over to the prosecution.

Detective, that's a violation of...

This isn't the time
to be nitpicking over regulations, ma'am.

This

is an attempted m*rder.

[Moon-bok] My gosh, attempted m*rder, sir?

I mean, how could you
possibly say such a horrible thing?

Look here.

The victim was struck
with a bag filled with glass bottles.

So you see,
this isn't just regular as*ault.

This is as*ault with a deadly weapon.

But you're a lawyer, so you know that.

Special as*ault cases must be prosecuted,
even if a settlement is reached.

Anyway, the prosecution
is handling this case now,

so if you feel anything's
being handled unfairly, talk to them.

- [reporter 1] They're here!
- [reporter 2] How do you feel?

[reporters shouting questions]

[reporter 3] How violent are you
normally at home?

[Oh Kyung-sook] Hyun-woo!

Move! Get those cameras away!

The Juvenile Act!

The Juvenile Act, Article 68, Clause 1.

The law against broadcasting juveniles.

For juvenile cases under investigation,

any fact or picture that may identify
the juvenile concerned in the case

shall neither be published nor broadcast.

This is a clear violation
of the Juvenile Act.

This is a breach of human rights.
Get those cameras away!

Why should we? We'll blur out
your son's face when we air this.

Go on, take the photos!

[reporters clamoring]

Remove the coat!

What do you think you're doing?
Go inside, now!

[on TV] Candidate Oh Kyung-sook's
son is now under official investigation.

He's currently facing charges of as*ault
and attempted m*rder on another youth.

He was presented before the prosecution
in handcuffs and will continue...

[Ji-yeon] Thank you very much,
Prosecutor General.

We'd appreciate you
seeing the case through to the end.

Of course.

Well, then. If you'll excuse me,

I have a meeting to get to.

I'll leave the two of you
to talk as freely as you'd like.

[side door opens, closes]

You're late.

How sad for you, isn't it?

The Hwang Do-hee technique
finally didn't work.

[scoffs]

[chuckles]

Stop trying to mimic me
when you're so bad at it,

and just tell me what you want.

Not much time left

until Candidate Oh's son is indicted.

Twelve hours, to be exact.

You know he won't be able to avoid
criminal charges after he's indicted?

His case will be sent to
and judged in court,

and until he receives his sentence,

he'll be sent to a center for pretrial
detainees or a juvenile detention hall.

Guk Ji-yeon!

Since this is a major case
involving a politician's son,

the court will not go easy on him,
I assure you.

And Hyun-woo will end up
receiving a hefty sentence.

If he receives ten years,

he'll be incarcerated in a juvenile hall
until he becomes 18.

Once he's an adult,

he'll live out the remainder
of his sentence in a prison cell

alongside all manner of violent criminals.

[exhales deeply]

You...

Do you have any idea
what you're doing right now?

How could I not?

The press the Eunsung Group has
in its pockets

published what we told them word for word.

And the prosecutors we have influence over

have worked swiftly
to get him in front of the press.

We've made all the preparations needed

for him to live the rest of his life
as a convict.

It's unfortunate, but what can we do?

They're just... getting their payback.

What did you just say?

This is the price that she needs to pay

for having raised her son wrong.

Have Oh Kyung-sook

resign her candidacy.

Then we'll convince the victim's parents
to agree to a settlement,

make the prosecution drop the charges,
and say it was a misunderstanding

and that it was adults overreacting
to a minor squabble between kids.

We'll release a corrected article
to the press and let him off easy.

[scoffs]

Let him off easy?

I can't give you much time.

The clock is ticking as we speak now.

What a tear-jerking
display of motherly love.

You're going to end the life
of another mother's child

without any remorse at all

to protect the child you are carrying.

[tense music playing]

[Hwang] I wonder if Baek Jae-min knows

that you're going to such great lengths

for the sake of his child.

If anyone knows about great lengths,
it would obviously be you,

coming up with a story like that.

[laughing]

I'm disappointed.

A girl as smart as you
in a situation like this.

I mean, I expected
a halfway decent comeback

that would make me
doubt myself a little bit.

Looking at you, I'm surer than ever
that there's no way we're going to resign.

We're going to fight until the end
and expose to the entire world

that you would sacrifice a child
in order to rig and win an election!

You're going to regret it.

It seems you'll be the one
left with regrets,

giving birth to a child no one wanted
and watching the Eunsung owners crush it

the same way
they'll probably crush Hyun-woo, yes?

[dramatic music playing]

[Hwang] Open the photo

from the parking garage
of Guk Ji-yeon's apartment.

Ms. Hwang, what's this all about?

We're going to destroy Baek Jae-min.

So a full-on attack, then?

Cha-sun.

There's no turning back now.

No matter what happens,
we'll fight until we win.

That's really the only possible way

to save Hyun-woo.

She won't resign?

No.

She's more determined than we thought.
It seems we'll have to speed up our plan.

We need to fan the flame, that's all.

It's a parent's duty
to live for their child in life

and to protect their child in death.

A mother who couldn't
even protect her own child

doesn't deserve a peaceful trip
to the afterlife.

The Rhino, Oh Kyung-sook,

is going to choke on her own blood
in the grave.

Candidate Oh's son, Mr. Kang,

who is being investigated
over a violent as*ault charge,

now faces allegations
of sexual harassment,

shocking the public even further.

Kang is reported to have lured
female students at his middle school

to karaoke and private barrooms
to sexually harass them repeatedly,

while coercing them
to drink and smoke with him.

Kang's classmates allege that they had
reported Kang's sexual harassment

to the school numerous times,
but they were silenced.

- We reached out to the administrative...
- No! [gasps]

It's all nonsense. Hyun-woo isn't a kid
who would do any of that.

This, all of this, it's fake news.

We're looking into it, I promise.

First,

we have to find out
what evidence the reporters might have.

- And where...
- [Dong-joo] That won't be necessary.

[TV continuing in background]

Hyun-woo didn't harass anyone.

The others did.

[on TV] ...victimized by Mr. Kang's
alleged inappropriate acts...

[gasps]

[Dong-joo] I found this
while talking to Hyun-woo's acquaintances.

I think the fight broke out when that kid,
Gyeong-min, uploaded that doctored photo

on Hyun-woo's social media page.

[woman] Oh my gosh.

Then Hyun-woo didn't beat up
that kid for no reason.

Right. According to the other kids,

Hyun-woo has been having a hard time
due to the attacks on Ms. Oh.

Lately, he's been constantly receiving
malicious comments online about Ms. Oh,

which was causing him
to really be on edge.

[sobbing]

Weren't you monitoring his social media?

We were. We've been
monitoring it every day,

and everything seemed good.

Oh, this is from a different account.

He had another account? [gasps]

Yeah. He had an alt account,
only shared with his friends.

He didn't want the campaign staff
monitoring his activity.

Hurry up and log in.

LOOK AT THAT SMUG FACE
AFTER BEATING THOSE KIDS UP

LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE
HIS FAMILY IS HOPELESS

I SEE THAT b*stard HYUN-WOO AT SCHOOL
AND HIS MOM ON THE STREET. IT SUCKS

HE'S SCREWED
IF HIS MOM DOESN'T BECOME MAYOR, RIGHT?

DAMN IT, THOSE ASSHOLES LOOK SO HAPPY

ATTENTION ADDICT, PIECE OF sh*t
DISGUSTING JUST LIKE HIS MOM

I SAW HER CHEATING LAST NIGHT

WAS HYUN-WOO A b*stard?
WHAT A f*cked UP FAMILY

POOR YOU, LIVING WITH A MOM LIKE THAT

GUYS, STOP, HYUN-WOO'S GOING TO CRY
OH KYUNG-SOOK ARMPIT BEAM, FIRE!

IS YOUR MOM A prost*tute NOW?
I KNEW I'D SEEN HER SOMEWHERE

[Oh Kyung-sook] Hyun-woo put up with that?

He's been taking

all those attacks alone.

He's been going through all of that alone.

How could this have...

[sobbing]

How could something so horrible
happen to him?

How?

Resign?

What do you mean?

You know exactly what I mean.
Don't make me say it again.

Imagine what'll happen
with a sex offender's mother

as our party's candidate.

In order to save the party, we need
to cut our losses and sever ties with her.

[leader huffs]

You take charge

and convince Hwang Do-hee
to make her resign.

Then we'll let you back in the party

and put your backstabbing
of Seo Min-jung behind us.

- Thank you, but no.
- What?

I'm not here
because of my ambitions in politics.

I'm just here
to help Oh Kyung-sook win this election.

Look here, Ma Joong-seok.

Snap out of it, you idiot!

You think anyone will nominate you
up on that high horse

when you're down here in the muck?

Moron!

It's over for Oh Kyung-sook.

It's not over yet, I'm afraid.

Because I'm going to prove to you

that the real deal always perseveres,

even in a cesspool like this one.

- [Joong-seok] Turn on the monitor.
- Yes, sir.

We've analyzed the traffic
on Hyun-woo's alt account.

Only his close friends visit this account,

so he usually only gets
around 30 hits a day,

but he's been getting 150 simultaneous
visitors a day as of a week ago.

Simultaneous?

So I tracked the IP addresses

and looked into
the visitors they belong to.

Their history showed
they all visited a specific URL.

See, the dark web is
a sort of ghost network

devised to prevent
your IP from being tracked.

It's mostly used for criminal purposes.

Over a hundred kids
visited his page simultaneously,

which suggests they were paid
somehow to do it

through a deal made on the dark web.

[claps] Game money!

I saw them playing video games
at an Internet café earlier,

and they were decked out
in all the best gear.

So I asked them,

"How are you able to afford this?
Buy it all, you know?"

They said they earned money
working part-time.

Then those kids all must have...

They went on the dark web,
got paid in in-game currency...

And wrote those nasty things

on Hyun-woo's social media account
as part-time work.

In other words, that means

they aimed to destroy Oh Kyung-sook's son.

They bribed those children
to leave malicious comments

and provoke him into starting a fight,

then colluded with the prosecution
to make him stand before the press.

All just to smear
Oh Kyung-sook's positive image.

So...

all of this had been planned out...

from the beginning.

They roped in all those innocent kids
just because of the election.

Hyun-woo became the scapegoat

to eliminate Candidate Oh
by framing her as a sex offender's mother.

Those sons of b*tches!

- [Dong-joo] Ms. Oh!
- [Oh Kyung-sook] Let go of me!

Let me go! Let go!

I'm going to k*ll them all!
I swear I will!

I'll k*ll them all!

Those b*stards! [sobbing]

My poor Hyun-woo!

That poor thing.

Honey, I...

I...

I ruined everything.

My Hyun-woo, I ruined his life.
It's all my fault. It's all my fault.

[Hwang] Oh Kyung-sook.

Get a hold of yourself!

Forget how bad you feel about your son.
You need to focus on saving him.

Are you just going to let them ruin
Hyun-woo's future like this?

We still have a chance.

We can still save Hyun-woo.

They want me to resign?

[Hwang] Mm-hmm.

Guk Ji-yeon gave me a final warning
at the Prosecutors' Office.

If you resign right now,

she said she would make
Hyun-woo's case go away.

She said it'll end up being seen
as a squabble between children.

And so?

I refused her offer.

I told her we would keep going.

I even pressured and threatened them
so they'd be the ones to resign first.

I got us into this craziness.
It was because I provoked them.

No, you didn't.

You just did your job.

Tomorrow morning...

the prosecution will indict Hyun-woo.

They'll stop if you tell them
that you'll resign before then.

If I keep going?

They'll keep pushing
until we fall off the cliff,

until Hyun-woo's life

can never go back to the way it was.

Ms. Oh!

They've finished questioning Hyun-woo.

Kang Hyun-woo.

Look at me.

You're not going to look at me?

You won't look at me?

Please turn around. Right now.

[Hyun-woo sighs]

[Oh Kyung-sook sighs]

Whatever the reason was,

it's wrong to hit people.
You know that, don't you?

That's what you're being punished for.

But if I were in your shoes,
if I saw them do that to my mom's picture,

mocking her, I wouldn't have been able to...
to hold back either.

How could I? I'd have gone crazy.

This is all because of me. I'm sorry.

You're going through so much,
and it's my fault.

Why do you keep saying that?

Hey, you know...

The other candidates I'm facing
used your friends to provoke you

so you would end up in here,

just so they could

win this stupid election.

Adults live in such a cruel world,
don't they?

I've been so infuriated by these cowards.

That's why I've been holding on until now,
so I could teach them all a lesson.

But I'm going to stop now.

I am

resigning from the election.

After putting you through all this,

being mayor of Seoul
and all that would just...

I don't want it anymore. I won't do it.

After all this?

It's going to be okay, you know?

Yeah, I know it's a little late,
but I'll try to be a proper mother.

Well, if you think I can?

I am

the one who gave birth to you,
and... I would sacrifice everything for you.

How could I let you sacrifice your life
for me instead? It's not right.

[Hyun-woo] Who says I'm doing that?

All you have to do is win.

If you give up,

they'll keep doing things like this
to other kids.

And you can't teach them a lesson
and bring about change unless you win.

- Hyun-woo...
- I'm Oh Kyungsook's son.

I'm the clone of the Rhino

who went to protests
while she was pregnant,

who's spent 15 years
fighting for labor rights.

You think I'm scared
to be locked in here for a little while?

I know that you'll win in the end
and get me out.

Oh, Hyun-woo.
I'm not that amazing person at all.

I might not even win the election...

[Hyun-woo] You promised me

that you'd create a better world for me.

That promise was what kept me and Dad
holding on all this time.

Are you going to let us down?

Are you going to make me live in
a society run by the scum of the earth?

[sobs] Hyun-woo...

Oh.

I really wasn't going to cry.

Why did you have
to go and make me cry, huh?

I'm sorry, honey.

[Oh Kyung-sook sobbing]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[sighs]

Fine.

Let's do this.

It's your way from now on.

[tense music playing]

We have to keep going.

Starting now,

we'll do whatever we have to.

We'll fight to the end,

and we will win.

[rousing music building]

THE 39TH SEOUL MAYORAL BY-ELECTION D-7

[lively classical music playing]

[operatic singing over record player]

[music fades]

[Yoon] We have this game
completely in our pocket now.

You can sit. [exhales]

How did we do in the most recent poll?

We were clearly dominating,
with 55 points.

[Yoon] Okay.

Keep flooding the press
with that final poll.

Make sure our rating
stays right where it is for the next week.

Because when it comes to the swing voters,

they'll end up voting for the candidate
who seems the most likely to win.

Of course, sir.

But

what should we do about Oh Kyung-sook?

Leave it alone.

Whether she resigns or not,

it's over for Oh Kyung-sook.

[inhales deeply] Now,

if Chairperson Son would kindly share
some of her gold with the starving people,

this election will be
wrapped up nicely, hmm?

Good job, everyone.

[operatic singing crescendos]

[song ends]

[chuckles] Of course.

It's my turn to support Jae-min,

now that he's advancing
and doing so well in the race.

And the duty-free shop's opening?

I've got everything ready to go.

I used my connections to invite
both Korean and international celebrities.

All of the media outlets that owe us
will be there to announce the opening,

and I will give a speech as the shop's
new CEO. Is everyone good with that?

Focus the event around Jae-min.

Don't try to hog the entire spotlight.

Uh, starting tomorrow, see that the store
stays open 24 hours until election day.

Leave it open so that anyone can shop,
as long as they're citizens of Seoul...

- [Seo-jin] Mom!
- Ma'am.

I know that you're feeling generous
at the moment, but that's something...

And the shop's official opening

will be held on the day
Jae-min becomes our newest mayor.

[unsettling music playing]

What are you doing here?

[Chae-ryoung] Why?

Am I not welcome here?

I may have left my position, but I'm
still an executive at the Eunsung Group.

Our chairperson's lifelong dream,
the Eunsung Duty-Free Shop,

will have its preopening event tomorrow.

I should be kept up to date, of course.

The election is coming up.

What is it?

In order for the store to officially open,

my husband has to be elected.
Isn't that right?

You need him to cover up
every ill*gal thing we did,

from getting a permit for the land
to its construction. That true?

He needs to use his power as mayor

to make sure we're exempted
from the final safety inspection.

Whether the shop opens or doesn't...
nothing proceeds if he isn't elected.

Have you lost it?

What are you going on about?

That Oh Kyung-sook is
really something, isn't she?

We've done everything
to k*ll her campaign,

even ruined her son's life,
and she's still holding on.

If she were to find out now
that this new store of ours

is a hunk of metal
built on all sorts of corruption,

the tables just might end up turning.

If Oh Kyung-sook somehow becomes mayor,

what do you think
will happen to us, ma'am?

Wait.

Maybe I should ask
the Eunsung Duty-Free Shop's future CEO.

I can't help wondering, though,

if your figurehead is
really up for the job

when she can't even offer a solution
in an emergency like this.

I'd like to hear
what the chairperson thinks about it.

I think that it's time we both sat down

and had a little conversation privately,
Director Eun.

[dramatic music building]

[Ms. Son] My youngest has come a long way.

You even know
how to threaten your mother now.

[Chae-ryoung] It's always been this way.

I couldn't get your attention unless
I did something crazy in this manner.

Were you scared

about me giving your sister
the duty-free shop?

More like offended.

I've even put up with Baek Jae-min
sprinkling his seeds everywhere

to get where I am.

It still amazes me,

him having an illegitimate child
at a time like this.

A seed planted outside
the walls of my home can just be dug out.

I'll deal with that problem myself,
so there's no...

That child,

I intend to raise it as my own.

Just like how you took me in

when I was father's illegitimate child.

Chae-ryoung!

He'll have to make an honest confession,
given that he's seeking public office.

[unsteady breathing]

I'll have him come clean to everyone
that he has an illegitimate child...

and make him drop out of his campaign.

You...

Are you trying to k*ll me?
Because that's exactly what you're doing.

You think any daughter
would want to do that?

I lived my entire life...

doing my best to become your daughter.

I wanted people to say
that I took after you more than Seo-jin,

even though she was your actual daughter.

That's why I insisted on being taught
how to run this company.

I held on, thinking that even though
I didn't inherit your blood,

if I were to inherit the company,

you would finally see me
as your real daughter.

So give me the same chance
that you give Seo-jin.

To become the Eunsung Group's owner.

Promise me that one thing,

and I'll give this election
as much attention as you want.

[Chae-ryoung sniffles]

I'll do whatever it takes...

to make that b*stard mayor.

[Ms. Son] All right.

I'll do what you want me to do.

My dear daughter.

[Chae-ryoung sobbing]

[soft music playing in background]

[Seo-jin] How did it go?

Director Eun will be in attendance

for the duty-free shop's preopening event,

as will her husband.

And CEO?

It seems Chairperson Son
will be giving Director Eun the position.

HWANG DO-HEE

[Seo-jin scoffs]

You seem okay to me.

Sounded so urgent,
I thought you'd be half dead.

Why would I? I have no reason to be.

Well, that just makes my heart flutter.

Why would the high and mighty Ms. Hwang

ask to see a nobody like me
when she isn't in mortal danger?

Your previous offer,

is that still good?

Twenty billion.

Can you get it by tomorrow in cash?

[tense music playing]

[laughs softly]

Just look how the mighty have fallen.

You left like you wouldn't even take
an umbrella from us in the pouring rain.

But now that Oh Kyung-sook
might end up losing,

you're crawling back for a handout?

How humiliating!

This is too good
to enjoy on my own. [laughs]

Ms. Hwang, of all people,

is begging me for money!

[laughs raucously]

[Hwang] This stupidity is
why you always lost to Chae-ryoung.

Private life, marriage, business...

Isn't there anything
that you're better at than Chae-ryoung?

You're afraid to lose your mom's favor,

but you always knew
you were no match for Chae-ryoung,

so you kept running away,
pretending to be tough,

trying to hide
your inferiority complex. [scoffs]

That's quite enough.

The only advantage you have
against Chae-ryoung

is that you are
the chairperson's legitimate daughter...

[yelling] I mean it. That's enough!

You should really watch your tone.

I'm the one who's giving you the chance
of your lifetime. Hear that?

Whatever it takes,

I'm winning this election here.

Then Baek Jae-min

will be discarded by your mother.

Chae-ryoung will fall out of favor
with her too.

And meanwhile, you will end up
with a direct connection

to Mayor Oh Kyung-sook's office.

Then...

you'll be the one at Eunsung

who has all the power.

You really think you can win?

Even though you don't
stand a chance in hell?

[music building]

You forgot already?

I never lost, not even once.

Oh, yes.

So let's say I inherit Eunsung,

and Oh Kyung-sook wins the election.

What then, huh?

I'm curious then.

What do you get out of it?

Get the cash ready.

[mellow music playing]

[music building]

[music intensifying]

[woman] Have some of this.

Come on. I told you
to stop playing those games.

[sighs] Just leave me alone.

[knock on door]

What are you doing here?

I wanted to see
if Gyeong-min was recovering okay.

I also really wanted to ask him something.

If you have problems,
I recommend you talk to our lawyer.

We have nothing more to talk about,
so just get out.

[Hwang] Are you sure about that?

If I were to go to the prosecution
with what I'm about to discuss with you,

Gyeong-min will go from being the victim
to being the assailant.

[curious music playing]

You said that Hyun-woo beat you,

even though you hadn't
done anything, right?

- Are you sure?
- Now, wait.

What do you think you're doing
with my kid?

[Hwang] I heard that you posted this

on Hyun-woo's social media page.

[rock music playing]

According to the testimony
of the kids there that day,

you and Hyun-woo started fighting
because of this photo.

Which means that you lied when you said
Hyun-woo beat you up for no good reason.

Th... That's not...

Perjury, dissemination of p*rn*graphy,

and provoking violence
through willful negligence.

Do you know how serious these charges are?

What exactly are you saying to us?

Are you seriously trying to blackmail him?

Yes.

Absolutely. So you'd better
listen carefully too.

Gyeong-min.

Life is about to become
very difficult for you.

Why is that?

I'm going to make you pay for your crimes
for the rest of your life.

What?

At every single important moment
that'll occur in your life,

I guarantee you
that I'll be there to remind you

of what you did
to Hyun-woo and his mother.

If you're lucky enough
to get into college,

I'll expose the things that you did
all over the school's website.

If you get a job,
I'll hack into the company's intranet

and tell everyone
what an evil monster you truly are.

[mother] What did you say?

Marriage won't be easy either.

I'll tell your wife-to-be
that you've been disseminating p*rn*graphy

and sexually abusing women
without any remorse since middle school.

And when you have children,

I'll upload this photo you doctored
of Hyun-woo's mother

on to your kids' social media pages

and make them pay
for the sins of their father.

You think I won't?

Hmm, think again,
because that's what I do for a living.

You should know
if you ruin your friend's life,

the same thing will happen to yours.

How else are you going to grow
into a good person?

In-game coins.

They promised them to us
if we posted nasty comments...

on Hyun-woo's social media.

[mother] Oh!

They said we'd get five times the amount
if... if we posted that photo for them.

That's why I did it. For the coins.

So they'll settle and testify?

PRIORITIES
RECOVER APPROVAL RATE

LOSE THE IMAGE OF A CORRUPT POLITICIAN
REEVALUATE CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES

[upbeat rock music playing]

Then let's move on,
but let's be quick about it.

We wasted three days of our valuable time
getting played by those evil b*stards.

And we're less than a week away
from the election.

Should we then schedule a public apology
or something first?

There's no need to do it all in steps.

We'll do everything at once,
apology and campaign.

That's the fastest way
to boost our poll numbers.

She's right.

How do we carry this out?

First...

we'll have to appease
all the disappointed mothers out there.

CENTRISTS, TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Hello and welcome to the "Let's Send
Centrists To The National Assembly"

YouTube channel.

Here today we have with us
Candidate Yook Seung-cheol,

who has served three terms
as Superintendent of Education.

Candidate Yook. Many parent communities
online are outraged

because of the behavior
of Candidate Oh's son.

If you look here,
it says he "craves affection

due to his mother's continued absence
since childhood."

Obviously, these symptoms resulted
in hatred of and violence toward women,

as well as distorted sexual expression,

ultimately causing him
to commit sex crimes.

Mr. Yook.

Ever think about

changing your toupee
to better suit your age?

Keeping a youthful hairstyle

when your face has liver spots all over it

isn't going to make
your political career last any longer.

You really are as insolent
as the rumors say.

You're out spying on other people's hair

when your own candidate
is practically dead.

Mr. Yook.

You threw your support
behind Candidate Baek Jae-min...

so they'd sponsor
your next campaign, didn't you?

Are you accusing me of...

I know candidate Baek set up Ms. Oh's son,

and I have all the evidence
I need to prove it.

I've also obtained evidence
that will show you

you supported it,
and that you were the one responsible for

manipulating her son's records
from school,

as well as his psychiatric counseling.

[suspenseful music playing]

Now you have to choose.

Will you offer your support
to Candidate Oh,

like a true educator of Korea, and live
out your remaining years peacefully,

or will you spend
the rest of your life in prison

for trampling a kid
young enough to be your grandson,

all because you couldn't
let go of your political ambitions.

[sighs deeply]

Ms. Hwang Do-hee.

This election is already over.

[tense music playing]

Even if I openly criticized Baek Jae-min
and told everyone the truth,

no one in their right mind
would vote for a sex offender's mother.

Do you still not understand

that the winner's words becomes
the truth in the game of politics?

Candidate Yook, listen to me...

You know how high the youth suicide
rate is these days, don't you?

Have Oh Kyung-sook

quietly resign her candidacy.

Unless she wants to hold a funeral
for her son sometime soon.

[Yook laughing]

Uh, Camilla Song. Does that ring a bell?

[Yook] What?

[Hwang approaching]

Your 42-year-old lover
living in California.

It began as an affair,
and for the last ten years,

you've basically been in
a common-law relationship with her.

Correct me if I'm wrong,

but you also have quite a fortune
in the US under her name.

[playful music]

Twenty billion.

It's exactly ten times the amount
you received from Baek Jae-min's camp.

If you retire, I'll have the money
wired to Camilla's account right now.

Where do you want to spend
your latter days?

The filthy world of politics,
or the warm California sun?

[funky music playing]

Dear citizens!
I have something to show you!

[audience gasps]

This is the reason

that I requested
this emergency press conference today.

These horribly offensive photos

were uploaded to Candidate Oh's
son's social media page.

The classmate who claimed to have been
beaten senselessly by candidate Oh's son

has admitted that he uploaded this photo
to provoke a violent response.

If that's the case,

did he just suddenly decide
to upload the photo on his own?

Absolutely not.

He was instructed
to upload the photo by adults,

who bribed him and other students
with in-game currency,

pressuring them to post malicious comments

and sexually suggestive photos online,
just in order to take her out of the race.

NATIONAL CENTRAL PARTY PRESS CONFERENCE
REGARDING CANDIDATE OH

[continues on TV] Dear citizens.

They say that children are
our hope and our future.

As someone who has been
an educator my whole life,

I cannot forgive such despicable people
who used an innocent child

to try and steal the election
for themselves!

- [woman] Yes!
- [all murmuring]

So I've decided

to give my full support

to People's Reform Party Oh Kyung-sook.

I, Yook Seung-cheol,

will unite camps with Candidate Oh
and the People's Reform Party

and continue my part in this battle
as a true educator of children

by relinquishing my candidacy.

[dramatic music playing]

Dear citizens.

As you have seen today...

my son...

was targeted and used as a pawn

by monstrous political forces.

And I was...

laid bare before the world.

Before I'm a politician,
I'm a human being.

I'm an involved parent.

I'm a woman.

And all of those were trampled on.

But no matter what his reasons were,

I cannot justify my son's violence
towards his friend and school peer.

I believe it should never be justified.

Fellow citizens.

That is the type of world

I would like to build.

A world where you pay for your crimes,
and no one is above the law,

Not the child of a politician,
or an heir to a corporate fortune.

A fair world for everyone.

That is the world

I want us to build.

[applause]

Like a lion that doesn't flinch
at a loud noise,

like a wind that nets can't catch,

like a lotus flower
that's never tainted, even in the mud,

I'll overcome hate and corruption.

And I promise

to fearlessly walk my path,

as you'd expect from a rhino.

My beloved

and esteemed citizens of Seoul.

Please...

I'm asking you to give me a chance.

[rousing rock music playing]

[cheering]

[chanting] Oh Kyung-sook!
Oh Kyung-sook! Oh

Oh Kyung-sook!
Oh Kyung-sook! Oh Kyung-sook...

Time for the next phase.

[chanting continues]

[rock music playing]

ALL CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, LOCATIONS

INSTITUTIONS, AND EVENTS IN THIS DRAMA
ARE FICTITIOUS