01x15 - Episode 15

[bunniefuu]

[newscaster] The National Assembly
has held an emergency plenary session,

calling for the immediate resignation
of President Rhee.

They've determined March 15th's
presidential election to be invalid.

An overwhelming majority
of the National Assembly

has voted to approve
the reform of the parliamentary system.

There have also been in-depth discussions

regarding the formation
of an interim government.

College professors
have been spearheading demonstrations,

an effort to seek restitution
for student deaths

during the bloody April 19th Revolution.

Citizens are petitioning for the severe
punishment of those responsible for,

and who benefitted from,
the stolen election on March 15th.

There have been many spirited campaigns
to raise funds for the wounded

and for the families of the deceased.

Citizens have shown
their generous support for the cause.

Spurred by passionate citizen request,

Assemblyman Kim Daewoo
of the Democratic Party

has expressed the importance of holding
those who benefitted accountable.

If we don't punish those who benefitted
from this political foul play,

South Korea will not have a future.

We'll be able
to hold officials accountable

for their corrupt deeds.

-[reporters clamoring]
-[camera shutters clicking]

[Professor Hwang] Hmm.

[Professor Hwang groans]

[sighs]
Um...

With the Development Bank loans

and the ill*gal
presidential campaign funds,

everyone at this table
is going to be subject to indictment.

That g*dd*mn Kang Seongmin,
he'll be the ruin of us all!

-[clicks tongue]
-Why bring a dead man into this?

-[Cheongwoo member clicks tongue]
-Where's Samsik now?

Still in the hospital?

[Professor Hwang smacks lips, sighs]

[newscaster]
The Punishment of Corruption Act

will target the businessmen

who were involved
in the fraudulent election.

-The interim government appears steadfast...
-[Doochill sighs]

...in its determination
to completely eradicate

corrupt businesses using this bill.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

Uncle Samsik

[♪ theme music playing]

Uncle Samsik

Rice Cake

[car honking in distance]

-[knocking on door]
-[Seongmin] Uncle!

Uncle Samsik!

Uncle.

Are you okay?

[Doochill] Here, sit down.

[heavy breathing]

-[Seongmin] Thank you.
-Don't worry about anything right now.

The Cheongwoo Federation...

Without it...

I... I'm nothing.

How can you say something like that?
That isn't true at all.

You are way more valuable
than the Cheongwoo Federation.

Don't lose hope now.

Uncle, I should've...

I should've treated you better.

I'm sorry.

[sighs]

[crowd clamoring]

[Taemin] Kang Seongmin.

-Taemin, don't!
-[g*nsh*t]

[shouts]
Kang Seongmin!

[♪ tragic music playing]

[bicycle bell ringing]

[sighs]

Are you all right, sir?

Ah, my wages...

May 2, 1960
Seoul, South Korea

National Assembly

Hold on. You aren't seriously proposing
a civilian National Defense Minister?

Ah...
[chuckles]

Cutting the National Defense budget?
The soldiers would never agree to that.

-[chuckles]
-So you want to take National Defense

and establish
a National Reconstruction Bureau?

That goes against the 50-50 agreement!

You're claiming all the economic sectors,

first, it was Reconstruction,
and now, National Defense?

[groans]

Okay, how about this?

Here's what we'll do.
You can take the Ministry of Land,

and we'll call off Reconstruction.

Just do it. Cross it out.

[Sun] Happy now?
[chuckles]

Ministry of National Reconstruction

-[Sun] That's how we'll handle it.
-[assemblyman chuckles]

[slurps]

[exhales sharply]

Are you feeling any better?

-[liquid sloshing]
-Yes, sir.

Have a seat.

[grunts]

Why did you try to steal
the Sineui Alliance Code of Conduct?

I'm sorry, sir.

[Kichul inhales deeply]

[Kichul] He used to stand right here

and tell me to observe.

My father, that is.

He told me not to talk or even think

but instead,
learn to just watch and listen.

Like I was his dog.

But can anyone really do that?

When you see and hear something,

you'll always analyze and react to it.

What I'm trying to say is...

that day I overheard you
describing your "great plan",

there are two things I became certain of.

Firstly, that parliamentary reform
will never be possible.

And secondly, that Uncle Samsik...

[inhales deeply]

...will never turn his back
on Kang Seongmin.

[♪ tense music playing]

[Kichul exhales deeply]

Don't even think about
going up against me.

Kang Seongmin and I
are very different men.

The Punishment of Corruption Act.

You can thwart it, can't you?

Of course.

After all,
I'm the An family's bloodhound, aren't I?

-[tapping]
-I'll leave it to you.

[♪ tense music continues]

[slurps]

Ministry of Home Affairs

[crowd clamoring]

I'm sorry. Let's go.

[door opens]

[employee] How may I help you, ma'am?

-[staff] We, uh...
-Over here.

It'll be announced soon.

You'll contact us once the National
Reconstruction Bureau is established?

Of course, I'll need you both on my team.

I had no idea we'd be getting
a National Reconstruction Bureau.

I'd really like to see you
become Minister too.

Let's go out for drinks...
once they've announced it.

It's been a while.

[both chuckle]

[newscaster]
The country is quickly recovering

from the damage
caused by the April 19th Revolution.

A continuous stream of aid
is reaching the victims nationwide.

There is now a growing interest
in Korean politics' return to normalcy.

The interim government
has agreed to reduce

the inflated National Defense budget

in order to invest
in economic development.

They've announced
that along with the reduced budget,

they plan to appoint a civilian
as the new Minister of National Defense.

They've stated that this appointment
befits our changing times.

It has been determined
that ministerial positions

will be shared equally
between the old and new factions

of the Democratic Party.

The Prime Minister
has released a statement

detailing the new Cabinet formation.

Through a series of discussions,
we have all agreed

that it is time to now form
a brand new Cabinet.

[prime minister] We need to focus
all of our efforts on economic revival.

This can only be done
through the cooperation of all parties.

In order to redirect funds
from the inflated National Defense budget

towards much-needed economic development,

we will appoint
a new Minister of National Defense.

The discussions
concerning the establishment

of the National Reconstruction Bureau
will continue at a future date.

[newscaster] The government
plans to appoint the nation's

first civilian
Minister of National Defense

as part of their new Cabinet.

The planned establishment
of the National Reconstruction Bureau

has been tabled.

As such, the Democratic Par...

[♪ gloomy music playing]

[sighs]

[Sun chuckling]

Ah, well done.

Sir, wait. Assemblyman.

Ah, Yeojin. Hello.

Why was
the Reconstruction Bureau scrapped?

Hey, it wasn't scrapped at all,
we're still in discussions.

Is it because of
the new National Defense Minister?

Not at all!
It doesn't have anything to do with that.

[chuckles]

Are you sure it's not a result

of the factions
fighting over Cabinet seats?

How could you say such a thing?
[clicks tongue]

Did you hear
of any of the rumors about the coup?

Enough!

[crowd clamoring]

[protestor 1] Defend democracy!
Defend democracy!

[protestor 2] Protect democracy!

Protect democracy!

We must protect democracy!

You'll do it?

Workers' Party Directive No. 29

-[Youngki] Pak Wonil.
-Yes, sir.

[Youngki] You know
Labor Party Directive 29, right?

"Infiltrating the military
to win over diplomats."

No, General Hong.

I'm not familiar with that, sir.

You're being investigated by
the Counter Intelligence Corps, correct?

-[camera shutters clicking]
-What's the nature of the investigation?

It's regarding
Workers' Party Directive No. 29.

What is that?

Well, it's a term for...

for the Northern regime's spy operations

to win over
high-ranking Southern officers.

[crowd murmuring]

[Inho] Yoon Palbong was receiving orders
from the North is what I heard,

then was able to distribute keys
to decipher the codes in the broadcast.

Distribute to who?

I heard he relayed it...

to Pak Wonil,
the Captain of Capital Defense.

[Youngki] Have a smoke.

It'll help you think.

[coughs]

[Youngki] Hmm?

[chuckles]

How about a trip downstairs?

[breathing shakily]

I haven't been able to sleep since then.

Youngki's a son of a b*tch.

All right.

[sighs]

Let's go out with honor.

Okay.

[breathes deeply]

Aemin Daily

This is a list of all the groups
that have held protests this week.

The National Unemployed Union,

the Association of Patriotic Women,

the National Association of Entrepreneurs,
and the Political Reform Advisory Union.

Uh, does each one...
[sighs]

...need its own report?

So, should I look into
the Ministry of National Defense?

I'm betting people have a lot to say.

Hey. You met the Prime Minister?

I only talked to Assemblyman Sun.

Why'd they scrap
the Reconstruction Bureau?

I couldn't get a straight answer.

Who wants to cover
the Punishment of Corruption Act?

[Inwoo] I'll do it.

[Hoyeon] No.

You focus on the general election article.

I'll do it.

Are you sure?

I reported
on the Reconstruction Bureau too.

All right!
I trust you heard the announcement?

-[Sun chuckles]
-Assemblyman Sun.

-What just happened?
-Oh! Chairman Kim.

[chuckles]

I intended to give you a full explanation.

What kind of explanation?

-You put in National Defense instead?
-Hey!

It's not like that, eh?

Here, here. Let me explain.

[Sun chuckling]

I'll get you nominated
for the Dongdaemun seat.

-Dongdaemun?
-Yes.

-Nominated?
-[chuckles]

That's right. It's all been planned.

Assemblyman.

Do you...

Do you honestly think that I care
about a National Assembly badge?

[chuckles]

Hold on. You'll get an explanation.
[chuckles]

I don't care about the assembly.

I don't care about getting a badge.

I don't want your pathetic nomination.

[shouts]
And I don't want to be an assemblyman!

Do you know how many citizens...

shed their blood for us out there?

[♪ tense music playing]

I said, do you know how many citizens
shed their blood in the street for us?

And what did you people do?

What did you do?

[shouts]
What did any of you people do?

I don't want to be an assemblyman.

[♪ pensive music playing]

You didn't visit me in the hospital.

I was disappointed.

Oh, I brought us this steamed rice cake.

You want some?
I just got it, so it's piping hot.

You heard about the Reconstruction Bureau?

I told you not to believe
what they said during the election.

The Military Academy used to rank us,

in sh**ting, strategy, and fitness.

I was first in everything.

Even those snooty Americans respected me.

They never doubted me, not for a second.

They thought I would change South Korea.

But now...

just look at me now.

Fast forward a few years...

and... I'm nobody.

This rice cake here.

[Doochill] Hmm.

To the naked eye,
it... doesn't look like much.

The flour takes quite a while to rise,

and it looks unrefined.

[sighs]

But the moment you try it,
you can't believe what you're tasting.

It melts in your mouth
and makes you come back for more.

[inhales deeply]

[exhales deeply]

This rice cake...

My dear Minister,
this cake's a little bit like you.

Eat some. It's nice and hot.

They're criminalizing business people

all in the name of political reform.

They're defunding our soldiers
to try and save the economy.

How long
can this administration last, Minister?

Let's turn the world upside down.

I'll take over the Cheongwoo Federation.

The Cheongwoo Federation?

I thought that us breaking bread together
meant we were family.

But those b*stards,
they've never considered me

one of them, not once.

I'll destroy the Cheongwoo Federation

and after that,
I'll take the industrial complex.

You should do the same.

South Korea is too small
of a vessel for us.

It's a tiny bowl
that can't contain our potential.

So let's shatter it,

build ourselves a bigger one.

[sniffles]

[sobbing quietly]

You're right.

It really does melt.

But it...
[chuckles]

...tastes pretty great, huh?

[sobbing continues]

[newscaster] The government has reduced
the inflated National Defense budget

to 20 percent
of the total government budget.

It has also announced
plans to reduce the military

by more than 100,000 personnel.

Major General Ko of the 89th Division

addressed the National Assembly
to denounce the proposal.

The US government is worried

about the reduction
in the size of the armed forces,

which would, in turn,
lead to a decrease in combat capabilities.

[camera shutter clicks]

Any more questions?

At this rate,
a coup might actually be in order!

Destroying the military
won't fix the economy.

There's a rumor a civilian
will be appointed Defense Minister.

That'd be insane!

[newscaster] During his visit,
Major General Ko Wonwoong mentioned

the possibility of a coup
and expressed his strong disapproval.

There are growing concerns
that the military's fury

at the proposed budget cuts
may lead to a coup d'état.

[door closes]

Have you met with General Ko?

-Yes, sir.
-And the Second Infantry Commander?

Yes, of course.

Office of First Infantry Commander

Oh.

Who do you think would be suitable?

Major General Ko is far too indiscreet.

He keeps mentioning the coup.

The Second Infantry Commander
used to be a leftist.

Will the US approve?

You keep mentioning that.

Isn't that the reason

we need the Albright Foundation
on our side?

How do you think I've come this far?

All right.

Let's meet
with the Second Infantry Commander.

Are there, uh...

other revolutionaries in the military?

The Second Infantry Commander,
and Major General Ko of the 89th Division.

General Choi.

Major General Ko
and the Second Infantry Commander...

they're already being closely monitored
by politicians.

The Military Academy's eighth class
supports the Second Infantry Commander.

I can meet with them if you want me to.

Who in that class supports him?

Do you know any officers
from the eighth class?

Yes, sir.

I know Captain Lee Sooil
of the 55th Howitzers.

The 55th Howitzers, Captain Lee Sooil,

his father is the CEO of Samjin Textiles.

Samjin Textiles is a subsidiary
of Mr. An Yosub's company.

[Kim San] Eighth graduating class
of the Military Academy.

May 6, 1960
Seoul, South Korea

[car door opens]

[car door closes]

[soldier] Sir.

[Hyunseok]
They say the eighth graduating class

often holds meetings
at the Chinese restaurant, Chungmujang.

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

Chungmujang

We should assume the 55th Howitzers

are allied
with the Second Infantry Commander.

[breathes sharply]

We don't have the numbers.

General Choi, we've formed
an alliance with General Jang.

Jang Doosik of Capital Defense.

Before we act, let me go meet with Hanmin.

These deposits are listed by date.

These are the loans
from the Cheongwoo Federation.

These are Democratic events

and money sent to the party.

[Doochill] 120 million to Geoim Steel.



Mm.

I'm glad you've kept
such detailed records on everything.

Make a separate ledger for Wooseok
and the Democratic Party's New Faction.

All right?

-Yes, sir.
-[knocks on door]

Yes.

What are you doing here?

Um... I need to ask you for a favor.

A favor?

Sir...

can you officiate our wedding?

Uh, ca... can I do what?

Officiate.

I'll make a good life for us.

You two...

[♪ comical music playing]

[worried grunt]
All you've done is hand him some bread.

You know, he doesn't even have a job.
How will you survive?

[Doochill] Hey, kid.

Do you swear she won't go hungry?

-Yes.
-What are you doing for work?

Nothing at the moment, sir.

[groans]

[sighs]
Hmm.

[Doochill] Use this.

I appreciate it.

[♪ light background music playing]

Are you threatening me?

Assemblyman, have you heard
about the new makgeolli on the market?

They're saying,
"Wow, that's really good rice wine."

But I suppose
you're more of a whiskey drinker.

How about we...

go somewhere nice
and try some of this new stuff?

What do you say?
Perfect in this heat, huh?

All right.

I'll leave that with you.

[sighs]

I'll be in touch.

Tell me what you're thinking.

Right now,
whoever makes the first move will win.

Jang Doosik and Jeong Hanmin.

[inhales sharply]
Can we really trust them?

-You also defied my orders.
-[sighs]

Respectfully, sir.

If you can't trust your own troops,
you'll never achieve anything.

Punishment of Corruption Act

Hold on a minute, what's all this?

Why are we amending the bill?

"Those who provided over 10 million hwan

in ill*gal funds
to politicians or political parties."

"Those who obtained
over six million hwan in total in bribes."

I mean... that'd be over 50,000 people.

That's right.

Now... let's make a slight amendment, hmm?

"Individuals who voluntarily contributed

to campaign funds
found to be ill*gal." Huh?

"Individuals who
voluntarily contributed." Hmm?

[Professor Hwang]
"Individuals who voluntarily contributed

to campaign funds found to be ill*gal."

Nobody here
voluntarily contributed, right?

Who on earth would voluntarily contribute

-to an ill*gal fund?
-[soft laughter]

[chuckles]

"Those whose donations to political funds
exceeded three million hwan."

It has to be
more than three million, huh? Yeah.

Did anyone donate to a political fund
that exceeded three million hwan?

-No. No one.
-[Professor Hwang] All right.

Now, how about that?

That sounds great.

[laughter]

All right, in that case,

given the new Punishment
of Corruption Act, no one's at fault.

It seems that Samsik has saved us
once again.

[laughter]

He's done us a huge favor.

[Cheongwoo member 1]
That's right, he always does.

-[Cheongwoo member 2] Right?
-[laughter]

On May 16th,

the Democratic Party will host
an economic conference

when they announce
the Punishment of Corruption Act.

The Prime Minister and the financial
department ministers will be there.

I hope to see
each and every one of you there.

We've all made it through this.
[chuckles]

[indistinct happy chatter]

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

Chungmujang

[Sooil] No need to worry
about Capital Defense.

Just focus on General Choi Hanrim.

The Second Infantry Commander,
what'd he say?

That he's ready to die for this.

I think he just arrived.

Speak to him yourself.

Why are you here?

Do you have a minute?

Excuse me.

-[sighs]
-Is everything okay?

Look, things are getting complicated.

The Democratic Party,

they're going to host
a policy conference on May 16th.

-Yes, I've heard about it.
-The Prime Minister

and all the economic sector ministers
will be there.

I think it might be a good time
to discuss the...

Korea-US Economic Agreement.

But the Democratic Party
had a really negative response...

Rachael.

Could you...

arrange for the Prime Minister
to meet me that day, in room 806?

-Why?
-I'd like to go over it in detail,

on your behalf, of course. Hmm?

That's sweet of you.

[sighs]

What on earth took you so long?

Did everything go okay with Rachael?

Yeah.

Let's head to Taepyeonggak.

Taepyeonggak

[door opens]

Welcome, General.

On May 16th,

they're going to announce the details
of the Punishment of Corruption Act.

And the Democratic Party will host
an economic policy conference.

May 16th, that's it.

That's the day of reckoning.

What do you think?

If we subtract all those idiots
who've joined the...

the Second Infantry Commander
and the 89th,

what do our numbers look like?

Our numbers are good.
We have Capital Defense.

We have Army Headquarters
and the 3rd Marines.

That's not enough to fend off the 15th.

There's no need to fend off the 15th,
General Jang.

On the day, I'll lure the Prime Minister
into room 806 at the Banya Hotel.

In accordance with the statutes...

"Democratic Party
Economic Policy Conference"

...in the new bill, I present...

Prime Minister, sir.

I'd like to show you the draft
of the Korea-US Economic Agreement.

Kim San is waiting for you
in Room 806 right now.

Kim San?

Once he's there...

General Choi Hanrim will report
that the 89th Division is staging a coup.

[prime minister] Oh, General Choi.

What are you doing here?

The 89th Division
has mobilized its forces.

I have summoned the 15th Division.

You'll use the 89th
to lure away the 15th Division?

[scoffs]

You really think it's possible?

Of course it is.

We have an expert on our team, a real one.

An expert?

Hong Youngki?

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

You're an expert, aren't you?

-[liquid sloshing]
-I'll tell you what you need to do.

You need to rattle the officers
in the 89th Division,

just enough to get their confessions.

[Doosik] Once you have them,

General Choi will mobilize
the 15th Division to dismantle them.

You'll use the 89th

to lure away the 15th Division?

[chuckling]

And if US troops make a move?

We received intel regarding a coup.

We will provide counterinsurgency forces
if the Korean government wishes.

Thank you. Just a moment.

General Choi, the US is offering
counterinsurgency forces.

Right.

It's me, General Choi Hanrim.

The 15th Division is on it.

So, please do not worry.

The Prime Minister may reject it.

That's why General Choi must speak
to the US Commander himself.

Will Choi Hanrim be able to defy
the Prime Minister?

Well, we'll have to hope for the best.

We're still short on numbers.
[sighs]

-We have enough.
-We can pull this off...

if Capital Defense infiltrates the city.

The Han River Bridge?
The streets will be unguarded?

[Kim San] You just need to block them.

Hold them off with troops
from the two battalions that we have.

Colonel Baek and his 30 troops,

they'll protect
the Army Headquarters for us.

The National Assembly,
broadcasting stations, and the Blue House.

Our remaining troops can take these over.

The Ministries
of National Defense and Home Affairs...

The 3rd Marine Regiment can handle that.

Before I head to the hotel,
I'll check on the Ministry of Home Affairs

and the major departments.

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

-[Kim San] Thank you for your hard work.
-Thank you.

Chairman Kim.

Within the next 30 minutes,
we plan on sending two platoons

-straight to the Banya Hotel.
-All right, good. Start with those two.

-We're all set then.
-I'm on it, sir.

[♪ suspenseful music continues]

[exhales deeply]

[Kim San] Once we're there...

I'll do everything within my power

to hold the Prime Minister
and General Choi hostage.

Can you manage
the entire hotel on your own?

Once we move out,
I'll join you at the hotel.

Thank you, Hanmin.

What about the 55th Howitzers?

Those troops, they've gone over
to the Second Infantry Commander's side.

They meet up every single day
at Chungmujang.

-Chungmujang, huh?
-[liquid sloshing]

Have you ever joined them there?

Chungmujang?

Why would I do that?

Why not?

You like Chinese food
but you won't eat there?

No, I'm not a fan of the food there.

Oh.

Hmm.

Listen, if we pull this off...

what are you hoping to get out of it?

[scoffs]

Something quite trivial.

What's the point in presenting the new
Punishment of Corruption Act on May 16th?

[camera shutter clicking]

[Doochill] The Cheongwoo Federation's
ill*gal campaign donations

will be printed in the papers
the next morning.

If you propose
another amendment to the Act,

and then were to seize
all of the Cheongwoo's assets...

They'll be transferred back
at a lower value?

Trivial, isn't it?

Yes, trivial.

On May 16th...

if you have even the slightest inkling
that something is off,

go to Sail Developments right away.

I've arranged a boat to Shimonoseki.

I've put aside cash and found us a hideout
for two to three years.

[Kim San sighs]

You're going to the hotel unarmed?

[exhales deeply]

I'll keep it just for the time being.

Use it if you need to.

If things don't go as planned.

[♪ ominous music playing]

[Doosik grunts]

The Cheongwoo Federation said
they want to spare Kim San's life.

All right, and?

The revolutionary army doesn't like
that a civilian was involved in a coup.

They think he's...

an arrogant and dangerous man.

[lighter clicking]

[sighs]

Kim San...

he's one lucky b*stard.

[♪ somber music playing]

[♪ closing theme music playing]