01x03 - Episode 3

[bunniefuu]

FRANKLY SPEAKING

-Toady, toady, I'll give you an old house
-Toady, toady, I'll give you an old house

-Give me a new house
-Give me a new house

Toady, toady, I'll give you an old house

We will build you a house

Mom.

It's raining.

-What? Is it?
-Let's go home.

Those scary men must've left by now.

Ki-baek, how about we sing the song
just two more times?

Dad will come and get us once they leave.

I'm a blue belt.

If you get scared, I can protect you.

No. If you see those scary men again,
pretend you don't know them.

If you ever run into them,
just tell them you do not know me or Dad.

But lying is bad.

Lying isn't always bad, Ki-baek.

If you have to lie to protect me
and your brother, it's not bad.

You're a big brother, Ki-baek.

You can do that, right?

Yes!

At first, it started with a white lie.

My parents are very busy, so I don't think

they can attend
the parent-teacher conference.

It wasn't even about anything big.

Your mom called.

She told me she and your dad work
in the countryside.

She was very worried.

I told her to put her worries to rest
because you're so good at everything.

From your tuition fees
to your lunch money,

there are ways to get practical help...

Jesus, that was
a long-a*s counseling session.

Hey, top student.
What is this, special treatment?

Let's go.

By the way, Ki-baek,
is it true your tutor tells you

what to expect on every test?

This punk will never tell you.

I think he also goes
to a cram school in secret.

I either didn't correct
people's false assumptions about me...

Hey, newbie.

Where do you live?

I live in this area.

You do? Where?

Over there.

Nice. Do you live with your parents?

No, my parents have their own place.

Where do they live? Gangnam?

I knew it.

I thought you looked like you came
from money, you know?

Nice.

I just gave people
the answer they wanted to hear.

-Bye.
-Did you go to school in this area?

Are you heading out?

I bought another bed.
Stop being stubborn and just use it.

I'm already so grateful that you let me
crash here from time to time.

I'll take care
of this month's maintenance fees then.

The maintenance fees here are
way more than your monthly salary.

Just look after my car and this place
when I have to work abroad, okay?

You're hosting the news next week.
You need to look dashing.

This is a bit much.
I'm still new, you know.

You should wear expensive clothes
so you can have it easier at work.

The office is like a b*ttlefield.

Wear good armor,
and no one will dare to mess with you.

Everyone will want to be your friend.

Call it the art
of protecting yourself, socially.

All right?

Swallowing what you want to say
and saying what others want to hear.

I mean, that's not a bad lie, right?

THE ART OF PROTECTING YOURSELF

EPISODE 3:
THE ART OF PROTECTING YOUR HEART

Mr. Song Ki-baek!

Ki-baek!

What just happened? Am I hurt?

Am I alive right now? What is this?

Ms. On! Are you all right? Are you hurt?

Are you alive? I mean, are you okay?

I said it was dangerous.
I told you to stay away. We nearly died!

Have you gone totally insane?

What did you say?

-Have you gone totally insane? Get a grip!
-What?

You can't seem to snap out of it.

Whenever I see you like this, I feel bad
because I feel like it's my fault.

God, why are you being like this?

Well, I mean...

Why did you try to jump into the water?

I had no intention of jumping, whatsoever.

That's why I said it was dangerous
and told you to stay away, numerous times.

Because of you, we both slipped and fell!

We nearly died!

Also, you asked me if I'd gone insane.

What I have is called disinhibition.

It means I can't control
my emotions or actions.

I'm sick! That is what the doctor said!

Is it very serious?

Do they have to open your skull?

My head is about to split in half
because of you. Do you hear me?

-What?
-Fine.

If it's difficult for you
to pretend not to know me

because of your personality,
let's just be total strangers.

Don't follow me. Really, don't.

Seriously.

What a freak.

Where is he?

My phone got all wet
and isn't even working now.

God, Yoon Ji-hu.

What is this? What a mess.

Seriously, what is this?

But I saved someone's life...

Whatever.

This is nuts.
My car seats will get all ruined.

Damn it.

Huh?

What?

What now?

The car's gone.

The guy I came with
vanished without a trace.

Okay, so?

Well, practically everyone
in the country knows me,

thanks to the unsavory incident
that happened recently,

so I cannot use public transit.

What are you, a top-tier celebrity?

So?

Give me a ride.

You know it's absurd, right?
The two of us and this situation.

Let me get a ride, please.

Fine, get in.

Wait!

It's brand-new. I haven't even made
my first payment yet.

Are you going to push the car
down the road instead of driving?

Well, I would if I could, but I can't...

That's right.

Korean wrestling.

What?

I mean, I'm good at it.

This won't do.

Oh, yes. This will work.

I can't wear this.

Right, you can't wear this.

That won't even fit.

I've got something for you.
I have something you can wear.

MEN ON THE RUN

I thought you guys only played ball games
on Men on the Run.

Well, we played all sorts of games
in the early days.

Why do the youngsters
these days like cropped tops so much?

Isn't it uncomfortable?

Let's wear our own clothes.
I'll pay for you to wash your car.

They're soaked in salt water.
It won't wash out.

Just find your own way back then.

What kind of psycho
walks around like this?

FULL OF LOVE

Do you know what I had to go through
to find this costume?

Here, have some water.

-Oh, hello.
-Hi.

Isn't it about time
you took off that spandex suit?

You're supposed to be
the ideal son-in-law.

What put me on the map when I was trying
to decide between music or variety TV?

This saved me from nearly ruining myself
while trying to keep up with Young-woong.

-Do I look cute?
-Sure do.

Are you going to take on
Director Jang's new show on GBS?

-Nope.
-What about the MBS pilot?

No, I won't do it.

I see you're busy posting photos
of yourself in that spandex suit.

Oh, "On Woo-ju, JBC"?

"On Woo-ju"? You mean the writer?

Is she doing a JBC show?
Did they confirm a time slot for it?

They will if I do the show.

You're expressing your interest in a show
that hasn't even been confirmed yet?

-I need to put this wig on you.
-Okay.

Just wait. I'll explain
what's going on once I know for sure.

Ms. On, are you all right?

Your face looks pale.
It looks blue, actually.

I'm fine.

Hang in there. There's no traffic,
so we'll get home in no time.

Anyway, why did you go up there?
I don't think you were trying to drown.

Just because.

Normally, I never do things for no reason.

But these days, I can't help it.

I remember thinking to myself,
"I want to look down at the ocean."

The next thing I knew,
I was already climbing the rocks.

Ms. On, are you really okay?

I'm fine.

I don't have indemnity insurance.
I can't get into an accident.

Let's pull over onto the shoulder.

Yes, right here. Slow down.
That's it. Careful.

I'm really okay.

Do you accumulate points
for repeatedly saying that you're okay?

You keep saying you're okay
when it's obvious that you're not.

But you keep saying, "I'm not okay,"
I mean, "I'm okay"?

Huh? Ms. On.

Ms. On Woo-ju?

What?

Hey...

Ms. On Woo-ju. Hey...

Help! Over here!

We need help!

Sir, open your eyes.

-What happened?
-He suddenly collapsed while on a trip.

Man, she clearly isn't okay.

Excuse me.

-My little brother is...
-Hold on. One moment.

Are you all right?

Oh, you woke up.

What's with the blanket and the mask?

I don't want anyone to recognize me.

Anyway, who's that boy?

I don't know.

Hey, worry about yourself first.

I'm okay.

Help!

He's not breathing.

Help!

Please save him.

Hey, kid. Are you all right?

They told me to wait until Mom gets here,

but my brother is sick.

Once upon a time, a famous man
named Confucius said this.

"When in need, birds can peck the grain,
dogs can bite people

and people can lie."

-Pardon me?
-What do you think you should do

to grab people's attention?

You saw that earlier.

Oh, boy.

You had temporary hypothermia.

We brought your temperature
back up to the normal range.

You can go home once the drip is finished.

Thank you.

I really am okay now.
You can go. Get going.

Hey, you need to lie down.

Wait until the drip is finished.

My goodness.

Wow, nice place.

It's your fault that this happened,
so I won't thank you for the ride.

Can you drive yourself home?

Oh, sure.

You can go.

You had hypothermia
and had to go to the emergency room.

Do you not eat? What are you, a kid?

You're as light as a feather.

Cover your stomach. It's cold.

I'm off.

Wait, Mr. Song Ki-baek.

Thanks for your help earlier.

ANNOUNCER SONG KI-BAEK'S
FIRST NEWS SEGMENT

The system will undergo a total makeover
to allow children's meal tickets

to be used at any eatery.

Currently, children's meal tickets can
only be used at registered eateries,

which are mainly limited
to convenience stores.

The City of Gyeongmun has announced
that the tickets can be used

at any place that accepts credit cards
once the change takes effect.

The tickets are issued
for children under the age of 18

who are likely to be food insecure.

Inflation will be taken
into consideration in...

Sweetie pie, have you got a girlfriend?

Her name is...

I can hear it.

Su...

A?

SU-A, GU-WON

You see, I know everything.

I pray my mom will never have
to work late again.

I'm home.

You're home.

-Did you have dinner?
-I'm not hungry.

-You need to give him a proper meal.
-You look a mess.

What's that? A wrestler's belt?

Oh, this is the latest trend.

I told you not to teach him these things.

Grandma Bok-ja knows everything.
She really does.

The two of you will ruin everything.

-What?
-The tower's on fire,

and it's been struck by lightning. Whoa.

I'm going to wash up.

WOO-JU THE PRETTY WRITER

Man...

Get going.

Hey,

you need to lie down.

Wait until the drip is finished.

You had hypothermia
and had to go to the emergency room.

Cover your stomach. It's cold.

Hello, ladies and gentlemen.
It's Monday, May 15,

and welcome to JBC Morning News.

The sinkhole that occurred in Ilyeon-dong,
Seonggok-gu last weekend was caused by

the wastewater
in the sewer pipes in the area.

BOSIN BATHHOUSE

The Korea Motorsport Race
will take place on the 25th to the 26th...

Even taking pictures...

GIVING A LIFE-CHANGING SPEECH
BEGINNER'S CHINESE

I sincerely promise you

that I'll only report the truth
and never lie to you.

For JBC News...

This is Song Ki-baek.

God, what am I going to do now?

What are you talking about?
We have so many things to do.

Just get them together in one place,
and we'll have tons of things to do.

"We Live Together."
This will work, I'm telling you.

But the thing is...

Think young people prefer to live alone?

Kids these days are lonely
and want to be around people.

That emotional ambivalence...

-We'll satisfy their conflicting needs.
-Hey, emotional what?

Be quiet.

-I get that, but...
-It's okay if it feels familiar.

If the setting and cast are different,
we can craft fresh stories.

Hey, Ms. On.

What did the chief say?

Don't add or take out anything.

Tell me verbatim.

"It's outdated. She's lost her touch.
No one will want to be on the show."

Me?

Shake, shake, shaking my head.
I'm hopping mad.

Shall I go ballistic on her?

-What?
-It's "Shake, shake, I'm so mad.

Do you have a death wish?"

Be quiet, okay?

It's what youngsters say these days.
You need to learn these things.

It feels so damp in here.

What are they, moles?

Anyway, speaking of which,
we're understaffed and...

Bonjour!

Hello.

My goodness, Ha-young is here.

I thought we were meeting tomorrow.

-You came a day early.
-Yeah.

It's been a while.

Yes. Hi.

You're my adorable honey bunny

I'm your raccoon

I'm Na Yu-jeong, your beauty manager.

Here, take one.

I do house calls too.

Give me a call.
They're skincare products. The best!

Give me a call.

You rock, lady. Stay healthy.

Wherever we go, we're stars

-We're Mr. and...
-Ms. Popular!

-Let's hold hands and have some fun
-Na Yu-jeong, beauty manager.

Spin, spin, spin around and look cool

Look cool!

Sparkle, sparkle, I see no one but you

Hop, hop, my adorable lady

Come to me, softly and quietly

Stop drinking that thing
and pack some rice cakes.

Rice cakes? Why?

This is Ki-baek's favorite rice cake.
He likes it steamed and grilled.

He'd rather have this than rice.

Should I call him to come
and pick up the rice cakes?

Make way, all of you, here I come

Hello, I'm Na Yu-jeong,
your beauty manager.

Thanks.

-Are you the newbie?
-Hello.

-Nice to meet you.
-Likewise.

You said their pre-recording was today.
You can go.

Oh, thank you.

Being supportive
of the newbie's fan activities?

I heard you were in a tight spot.
Guess that's not the case.

I-na, you can get going.

-It's okay.
-Thank you.

Well...

Ha-young is joining the team.

Chief went through hoops to persuade her
as soon as she returned to Korea.

Woo-ju as our head writer
and Ha-young to back her up.

Now we have nothing to worry about.

After my divorce,
I lived in Cali for a year,

then in Paris the following year,
so has it been about two years?

Yeah.

You haven't changed one bit.
You still have such fair skin.

You must've spent
all your time planning shows.

What are you talking about?
It's because I use an expensive sunscreen.

Haven't you been watching TV?
I've worked on a number of shows.

Better keep up. You'll lose your touch.

I only watch shows that do well.

I feel like my brain is rotting
when I watch unpopular shows.

I was so happy for you
when you left the team

to jump on the opportunity
to work as a head writer.

Nice to see you after just two years.
It's like my runaway child is back.

And that runaway child can pull
the family out of the gutter now.

Who is she, really?

Writer Lee Ha-young.

-But who is she?
-The legendary newbie.

The uncontrollable, unimaginable,

and the worst newbie.

HOMETOWN REPORT AT NOON

Gwangju in Gyeonggi?

TV CREW

It's Gwangju in Jeolla.
How could you confuse them?

You said you scouted a school there.

There's a school
with the exact same name in Gyeonggi.

What should we do?

Call city hall and ask if we can sh**t.

Find out if we can do
something like a pottery experience.

Stay out of the senior writers' sight.

If someone says something to you,
just keep talking on the phone.

Hey, hide.

That's how the legend began.

What should I do? You see, this is...

Woo-ju.

Woo-ju!

-Pour them in here.
-Okay.

Sorry, we'll be quick.

-Hurry up and pour.
-Okay.

Hey, Ha-young.

What? You forgot their passports?

You've got to be kidding me.

Woo-ju had just graduated
from newbie status,

so she had a lot on her plate too,
but Ha-young was really something.

She always had Ha-young right by her side,
like a mother hen nurturing its egg.

It's not that heavy.

But if they struggled
and learned things together,

shouldn't they be pretty close?

What's with those two?

Woo-ju trained Ha-young so well

that Ha-young got an offer
to be another team's head writer.

Woo-ju was getting ready
to debut as a head writer too.

Not long after she had assembled the team,

Ha-young suddenly left.

When Ha-young was a subwriter,
she was a legend in a different sense.

She had a knack for casting
and had brilliant ideas.

Let's get along, okay?

If I were Woo-ju, seeing her again
would make me uncomfortable.

Will Woo-ju be all right?

Hey, have you grown taller?

I've got a casting meeting.

Oh, they've agreed to meet you?

Yes, of course. Who'd turn me down?

Have some coffee before you go.

My ears feel clogged.

This is way too high for me.
I feel like I'm getting motion sickness.

I told you we should call first.

The security guard always treats us
like we're solicitors.

My goodness. Be quiet, will you?

What? He could be home now.

That's exactly why.

Do you think he'd want to see us?

He has a lot of pride, you know.

Just hang this here.

You want to leave without seeing him
after coming all this way?

What are you doing?
You can't see anything through that hole.

He took it.

Let's go.

I won't even eat this stuff.
Why do they always...

This is good.

ANNOUNCER SONG KI-BAEK'S
FIRST NEWS SEGMENT

One plus one equals...

Two. Damn it.

Song Ki-baek isn't screwed...

I'm screwed.

It's not working.

Man, it's not working. What is going on?

I'm sorry. Oh? I'm sorry.

DONKEYS THE DODGEBALL KINGS

What is this?

It worked, right?

It did work a few times.

Mr. Song Ki-baek!

-Have you lost your mind?
-Oh?

Ki-baek. What are you doing?

WRITER ON WOO-JU

Where are you?

What?

I'm at Forever C&C.

Why do you ask?

Huh?

What's with this guy?

Yeah, I'm coming. I'm on my way now.

Just tell them
I'm running a few minutes behind.

Hey, Mr. Kwak.

-Gosh, what the...
-Finally, I get to see you.

Hey, you're still here?

Come on. I waited for you, as I should.
Hey, Mr. Kwak.

We've been through
thick and thin together.

Could you help me, please?

I'll accommodate your schedule, pay,
food preferences, mood and lifestyle.

What do you say? Are you in?

Listen, Woo-ju.

If I want to live, I must eat and poop.

I don't eat
because I have no time to poop.

And I can't poop because I don't eat.

I won't take up a lot of your time.

Ms. On, I hear you're having a hard time.

You haven't even secured
a time slot for it yet.

You expect me to do
We Live Together just to help you?

No, no way.

I want to live at my place.

Let's go to my place.

-Hey, come on.
-Writer On Woo-ju.

I came over here to see
if it was really you, and here you are.

-Hey.
-Sorry to interrupt.

You're not interrupting.

You haven't been
in the office for a while.

I'm supposed to have a meal
with the CEO today.

Oh, really?

Anyway, Ms. On.

It's so hard to get a meeting with you.

-Sorry?
-I told you I wanted a casting meeting.

-Well...
-A casting meeting?

Hey, why didn't you tell me?

Hey, Jeong-heon. Woo-ju.
Let's go grab a coffee or something.

No, Mr. Kwak.

I get what you're trying to say.
I'll be in touch.

Come on! Hey.
Don't be all business with me.

Drop the "Mr." Just call me Beom. We good?

Beom, I'll be in touch then.

Call me, Woo-ju.

Hey, Jeong-heon.

We're represented by the same agency,
so we'll be like a package deal.

You get the idea, right?

Shall we do it?

But if I'm the main item,
I don't need a freebie to seal the deal.

-What's with you?
-I'll see you around then.

Let's do it!

-That's not even funny. Don't do that.
-Hey, but...

Huh?

Did you call me after a few days

and ask me where I was
to come and find me?

I think I've figured it out.

Figured out what?

That mysterious link
between inhibition and disinhibition?

Do you mind putting it in layman's terms?

Hey, come here.

I'm not in the mood to joke around
with you today.

Well, I'm dead serious right now too.

All right, what's three times six?

Eighteen.

What?

I mean, I'm 20...

I'm 40.

I'm 33. Damn it.

What the heck are you saying?

Whenever I saw your face in the past,
I got this strong feeling and felt okay.

Was this not the reason?

Why not?

God. Let go, will you?

It's my son-in-law!

Hop, hop, my adorable lady

Why is he your son-in-law?
He's everyone's dream son-in-law.

Goodness, isn't he so cute?

He's well-spoken and a great dancer.

Your daughter works
at a broadcasting station.

Ask her if you can see him.

I asked her to get me his autograph,
and she flat out ignored me.

That brat is such a snob.

But you know what?

Every time I see him,
I feel like I know him personally.

He and Ki-baek went
to high school together.

-Huh?
-What?

Your forever soul mate

Again? You didn't have to bring anything.

It's nothing compared to
the peaches you gave us.

Anyway, thanks.

-The front gate works now.
-Okay, thanks.

Hey, Un-baek.

Did you know that Ki-baek

and Kim Jeong-heon were friends
in high school?

"Friends"?

Here comes your raccoon

I doubt that.

Do you guys know each other?

I believe you said hi to each other
at the award ceremony too.

Oh, we went to high school together.
We're friends.

We just went to the same school.

Back in high school, Ki-baek was
the top student, and he was athletic too.

He was perfect in every way.

Are you talking about yourself?
You were Mr. Perfect.

You were athletic and rich,
and you had lots of friends.

That is true.

Go on and catch up, you two.

-No.
-No, wait.

What are you doing? Let go.

Wait, it's weird.

-Woo-ju.
-Just go. I'm not interested.

MADAM ON

HANGUK MILK
STRAWBERRY

I bet you got chewed out again
or something like that.

If you're upset about something,
just sleep it off.

Why do you have to make such a fuss?

Nothing gets resolved
if you just sit around.

I must do something.

Then while you're at it, wash these too.

YEON

-What's up?
-Hey, why didn't you tell me?

I hear Kim Jeong-heon has taken the bait.

"Taken the bait"? What is he, a fish?

On Woo-ju.

Hey, Woo-ju.

So you have no interest in me. About that...

-But aren't you here to work?
-Yeah, exactly.

So, why did you have to butt in
and ruin everything?

You think I ruined your project?

I am Kim Jeong-heon, you see.

I'm genuinely interested in your new show
as a show host, not as your ex-boyfriend.

So decide wisely. You're a pro.

I pulled all sorts of antics
to do a good job but got no work done.

I'm so embarrassed.

You can promise me
you'll keep it to yourself, right?

It's crucial that I get to the bottom
of it if I want my job back.

A doctor must keep
his patients' personal info confidential.

But this is no hospital.

I suggest making an outpatient appointment
in the afternoon.

Is it possible though?

You mean, symptoms of disinhibition
suddenly disappearing or returning?

That's right. So I tried to look
for some patterns, but...

Well, that failed.

It could be caused
by an imprinting effect.

If a certain situation
or action at the time of the incident

left a lasting imprint on your mind,

it could turn your symptoms on and off,
like a switch.

So you're saying there's a switch
I don't know about inside my head?

Now I'm even more confused.

Hey, don't do it like that.

Watch me, okay?

-One second.
-Fold it over.

Pick it up using the center point,
then shake it once.

I have a problem staying calm because
I don't know when the symptoms will come.

What if the switch turns on
when I'm at work tomorrow?

It'll be helpful for you
if you can find out what that "switch" is.

For now, let's wait and see how it goes,
while hoping it won't turn on again.

All right.

SONG KI-BAEK

Hello.

-Hello.
-Oh, yes. Hello.

-Hello.
-Oh, hello.

-Hello.
-Yes, hello.

LOOKING FOR A NEW FACE
TO HOST JBC NEWS 8

-He couldn't hold back?
-He should write an apology.

What's he going to do?

He'll get fired at this rate.

Hello, Mr. Kim.

I'm back, as of today.
I apologize for causing you concern.

What?

What do you want?
Go do what you need to do.

Yes, sir.

He came to work? Wow, he's got thick skin.

Those who should voluntarily resign
never do.

Mr. Kim. I'm here.

Hey, Mr. Choi! Give me a hug.

So you're back?

Yes, after completing my job
at the overseas branch.

Nae-jeong, it's been so long.
You look great.

I thought you were coming next month.
What a surprise.

Plans changed.

-Let's sit down.
-Welcome back.

-You need a chair.
-I brought you something small.

You didn't have to get me anything.
Oh, cookies?

I didn't have time
to pick out proper gifts.

-Guys, eat up. They're all cookies.
-Have a seat.

-Open this and have a taste.
-Sure.

So, how have you been?

-I've been well.
-So you're back for good?

-Yeah.
-Not going someplace else?

Where?

This makes me so happy, seriously.

ANNOUNCER SONG KI-BAEK

SONG KI-BAEK: SUSPENDED

We'll start drinking in broad daylight
and drink until we drop.

-I'm done for the day.
-Okay.

-Have a great time.
-Join us if you can.

-What shall we eat?
-Pork bone soup would be nice.

Pork bone soup, it is.

JBC NEWS 8 ANCHOR AUDITION

He came to work? Wow, he's got thick skin.

Those who should voluntarily resign
never do.

-What?
-He came to work?

-He's really something.
-Way to go.

What's he going to do if he gets fired?

-He's brazen.
-If I were him, I wouldn't come.

Go do what you need to do.

Mr. Song Ki-baek.

You're breaking out in a cold sweat.

Are you all right?

Hey. I asked you if you were all right.

Come on in.

Over here.

Come this way.

Wait, can we come in here
without permission?

There's no sh**t until the evening,
so it's fine. Sit here.

Okay.

You can't stay here.

We have to change the desks.

Oh, you have to change the desks today.

Come here. It's okay.

They definitely don't need this set today.

We have to dismantle the set.

Oh, that's why they're dismantling it.

Well, come with me.
I know of another studio.

About yesterday. What was that?

You said you'd figured out something
but made no sense.

It was nothing.

-Do I have food on my face?
-Nope.

I do. Why did you lie?

I guess you feel like your normal self,
seeing how you can lie like that.

-Thanks for the food.
-You barely touched it.

I have to go. Throw this out for me.

Mr. Song.

Just sit down for a moment.

Maybe it's not a bad thing
that you've become so honest.

It could be helpful for you.

The moment the switch turns on,
I turn into a ticking time b*mb.

But does that "switch" really exist?

Is it turned on now?

I think it's off.

But you're so honest right now.

You already saw everything.
I don't need to hide it from you.

Oh, right.

You know...

Do you think I can host a news show?
I mean, in this state.

A news show? That might be a little too...

Right?

You see,

I've put up with everything and held out
until now to be a news anchor.

There were so many false rumors about me,

and I used them

because I wanted everyone to think
that position was rightfully mine.

Ki-baek, what does the news mean to you?

To me, it means...

I'm not sure.

I have to go. I'm sorry.

Ki-baek.

I don't really know what's going on,

but I do know you're going through a lot.

But if you let yourself get depressed,
it'll only make things worse.

You have to cheer yourself up
during tough times.

Okay?

I'm struggling because I've got no energy,
but I'm supposed to cheer up?

You know what self-defense is.
Protecting yourself physically.

But do you know what's more important
and powerful than that?

The art of protecting your heart.

You must protect your own heart.

"The art of protecting your heart"?

-Is the team dinner at Bongbong Pub?
-Yes.

But Mr. Kim said everyone
who reports to him should be there.

Let's just go.

BONGBONG? BONG...

Hey, Song.

I was going to call
but thought you might be here.

And here you are.

LOOKING FOR A NEW FACE
TO HOST JBC NEWS 8

Hello.

-Oh, hello.
-Hello.

-Hi.
-Hello.

Oh, Ki-baek...

Look at you, Song Ki-baek. I knew it.

He's trying to cheer himself up
even though he's got no energy.

I should cheer up too!

APPLICANT: SONG KI-BAEK
APPLYING FOR: JBC 8 NEWS ANCHOR

Hey, Ki-baek. Come out.

Did Mr. Kim tell you to audition?

Rumors are running rampant
that Mr. Choi is getting the position.

They asked rookie announcers to audition

so it'd look like
they had enough applicants.

What are you doing here?

For God's sake, hey.

It's a total sh*t show. It's all rigged.

No one will say anything even if
you ditch the audition and leave now.

Mr. Kim is just using you.

-I know.
-Then why are you here?

I must do this.

I have to let him use me this time
to seize my next opportunity.

Hey, Ki-baek.

I will do it.

I have to.

Here for the audition, Ki-baek?

-Let's both do our best.
-Yes.

This way, please.

-Hello.
-Hi.

-Thank you.
-We're ready for the third applicant.

Jin-ju, we need the script.

Over here.

Who's next?

Number three, Song Ki-baek, is next.

Song Ki-baek?

NAME: SONG KI-BAEK

Hey, isn't he

that guy from JBC News at Noon?

When I think about
what I had to do to clean up that mess...

But I admit I laughed my head off
when I watched that clip afterward.

Guess there weren't a lot of applicants.

I just see a bunch of losers.

Let's make this quick. Give him a cue.

All right. Ready?

Will you wait if I'm not ready?

Pardon me?

All right, ready.

Hey, On Woo-ju.
You're going to make the floor collapse.

Even when I start my morning feeling good,
it doesn't even last half a day.

JBC NEWS 8 ANCHOR AUDITION

Camera, we're rolling.

You can start when you're ready.

But seriously.

Who told Song Ki-baek
he could participate in this?

This is just embarrassing.

Who's emb...

-Embarrass...
-Come on. He can hear you.

So what? Who cares?

It's not like he'll get
the anchor position.

Hey, let's make this quick.
Let's not waste our time.

Who's embarrass...

Embarrassing...

Number three?

You can start. Please start.

One moment.

The switch is turned on, isn't it?

Neither of us knows how to turn it off,

but I know that this audition is
very important to you.

I asked you what the news meant
to you, remember?

I think you're here because you know
the answer to my question.

Remember the art of protecting your heart?

Protect your heart.

You're the only one here
who can protect yourself.

Excuse me.

Can't you see we're holding an audition?

I'm sorry. I'm his stylist.
I just noticed that his tie was crooked.

Sorry about that. All right.

-Please get out.
-I'm sorry!

One, two, one, two.

Mr. Song. Do you want to continue?

Yes.

Get ready again.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome to JBC News.

The National Human Rights Commission
and the Journalists Association of Korea

co-published the 2023 Human Rights
Report Casebook.

This was done in compliance

with the Human Rights Practices
Reporting Standards,

which were enacted in 2011 and amended
in 2014 by the two organizations.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic,
standards on reporting infectious diseases

and human rights practices
have been strengthened...

-Well, I must say, not bad.
-Right?

It reflects the media's neutral gaze
on the reporting of sex work.

The media outlets' heated competition
over viewership ratings has resulted

in reckless reporting,
which has been an issue lately.

All eyes are on whether

the media's efforts to shift away
from such trends will be fruitful.

Song Ki-baek, JBC News.

We'll move on to the anchor briefing.

NS-2 ANCHOR BRIEFING

Why was Choi Nae-jeong suddenly summoned
from the overseas branch?

The higher-ups flipped out
over the main news' rock-bottom ratings.

Choi Nae-jeong has a huge fandom.
It all comes down to business.

We need ads and better ratings.
The news must be marketable to be saved.

Man.

What happened to the honor
and dignity of the news?

They all know
such things do not exist here.

Actually, I bet they aren't
even interested.

Look, that's why he volunteered
to be part of this sh*t show.

Ki-baek, what do the news mean to you?

To me, it means...

A city with a beautiful name, Bangkok.

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

As adults,
it is our duty to protect children.

And it's important to pay attention
in your day-to-day life.

To me, the news is...

In my life filled with lies,
it was the only real thing.

Ki-baek, what do you want to be?

You get good grades, you're popular.
I'm so jealous.

How am I going to support myself?

Ki-baek isn't like you.

I'm sure he already has a plan.

Hey, Ki-baek, what do you want to be?

Announcer.

I want to be an announcer.

NEW ANNOUNCER TRAINING
IN SESSION

I sincerely promise you that I'll only
report the truth and never lie to you.

Song Ki-baek, JBC.

Here, I don't have to lie.

No, I must not lie.

NS-2 ANCHOR BRIEFING

I cannot lie.

Truth, fairness and justice.

I trust that news programs devoid
of these values aren't worth existing.

That is the reason I must be
a man who cannot lie,

and the reason why I've decided
to leave this corrupt news studio

that reeks
of such a disgusting, rotten stench...

which I cannot stand any longer.

Let go of me! What did you say?

I let a loser like you audition, and what?

What's rotten? What stench?

You little...

What?

You.

You stink.

You rude b*stard!

Oh, no.

Where do you think you're going?

Hey! You little...

If you leave now, you'll get fired.

Woo-ju.

Today, my heart and my dream...

I managed to protect both.

"The art of protecting your heart."

Thank you.

Un-baek, don't let it drop like that.

Here, like this. Taekwon!

-Now you try.
-Taekwon!

-Okay. Pow!
-Pow!

I knew it. You are a genius. Well done.

-Mom!
-Mom.

Mom, want me to teach you too?

No, thank you.

Mom, I will protect you, Dad
and Un-baek once I get my red belt.

Self-defense moves.
My master said he'd teach me those too.

Gosh, you.

Self-defense moves!

You see, before you become
someone who is physically strong,

I want you to be someone
who's mentally strong.

It's important
to protect yourself physically,

but protecting your heart
is more difficult, and it's more precious.

I will protect your heart.

Your heart.

I'll protect your heart too.

Goodness, my babies.

All right. Ki-baek, Un-baek.
You can do it.

Yes, we can do it!

-We can do it!
-Yes!

We can do it.

-Let's go.
-Let's eat something delicious at home.

Okay, we'll have a nice dinner.

ANNOUNCER SONG KI-BAEK

FRANKLY SPEAKING

It was cool how you left.

I've never seen anything like it.

Throw your shoulders back
and always talk with confidence.

Wait, hold on.

You'll starve to death
trying to protect your dream.

I knew you had it in you, Woo-ju.

How did you get
Kim Jeong-heon just like that?

What's your deal with Kim Jeong-heon?

Ms. On Woo-ju.

-Lately Woo-ju seems...
-You're worried, right?

That was a close call.

Why is his phone off?

-Where were you?
-Where were you?

Let's give this a shot.