Original subtitles

THE PLACES, CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS

AND CASES DEPICTED ARE FICTIONAL

NAMWON BAEKDUDAEGAN ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION MUSEUM

CHEONWANGBONG

For a very long time,

for as long as this mountain has stood,

countless people have visited here, Jirisan Mountain.

FIRST PIAGOL MAPLE FESTIVAL

To some,

this place held their dreams.

It was a land of hope.

To others,

this place was a land of resentment and death.

Many people still continue

to climb this mountain with their own stories.

But not everyone returns home with hope.

This place continues to exist along a boundary.

The boundary between hope and harsh failure.

Where new beginnings and the smell of blood coexist.

The boundary between life and death.

Jirisan is

a land placed

between life and death.

2018

EPISODE 1

KOREA NATIONAL PARKS

-Team One, heading to rockslide area. -Arrived at scenic trail entrance.

-You the new recruit? -Yes, sir. Hello.

-I'm the new recruit-- -Jeong Gu-yeong!

Yes?

-Follow him. -Where to?

The mountain. We have a missing person.

Yes, sir.

What? You wearing that?

Move it, okay?

RANGER

Come on, quick. Quickly, quickly.

Quick, quick, quick.

This is the situation room.

Rangers, listen carefully.

Name, Yeom Seung-hun. Age, 14.

Time of entry,

yesterday at 11:45 a.m.

at the scenic trail entrance.

DISAPPEARED 23 HOURS AGO LIVES WITH GRANDMOTHER

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES BULLIED

Wearing a white shirt and blue pants.

His middle school uniform.

White sneakers.

Blue backpack.

Last phone signal was at Jirisan's Samheungbong repeater.

The statement of the last person to see him corroborates this.

Primary search area, three-kilometer radius from the Samheungbong repeater.

Haedong Ranger Station…

Bidam Shelter…

BYEOKSORYEONG SHELTER JANGTEOMOK SHELTER

…and Jangteomok Shelter rangers make up Search Team One.

JANGTEOMOK SHELTER

Seseok Shelter.

Usong Shelter.

Mujin Ranger Station.

Search Team Two's rangers conducted a search

with no success.

Widen search area to a ten-kilometer radius and resume search.

The volunteer fire department

will search area A, the authorized scenic trail.

The 911 Mountain Rescue Team will search area B.

Unauthorized danger zones C and D

will be tackled by Search Teams One and Two

of the national park rangers and the support unit.

The missing person is unequipped for mountain climbing,

so the golden hour is around 30 hours.

Twenty-three hours have passed.

Seven hours left.

We must find him before then.

Any weather changes?

The typhoon is moving north faster than expected.

Rockslide! Watch out!

Stand back.

Hey!

Are you okay?

Quick!

Get the stretcher and start the vehicle.

Hey!

Min-seok!

-Is he all right? -I think so.

Are you all right?

Search Team One, we have one rockslide injury.

Hey,

are you okay?

Who are you?

My name is Gang Hyeon-jo. I'm the new recruit.

Min-seok is going to the hospital.

Take him with you instead.

Hey, one more thing.

Her nickname is Seo Devil.

-Careful, she bites. -What?

We search in pairs. You know that, right?

Tie your shoelace and follow me.

I won't wait for you.

Understood.

NORUMOK BAEMSAGOL SHELTER

HWAEOMSA TEMPLE VALLEY

DANGSEONG

This is Civilian Team One.

Seven kilometers into the trail. No sign of missing person.

KALBAWI

Rescue One at Kalbawi.

No sign of missing person.

The category-three Typhoon Vitak is heading north faster than expected.

Originating from the southeast region of Okinawa,

Typhoon Vitak is moving at 15 kilometers per hour.

At 10:00 tonight,

it'll make landfall at Jeju Island and along the southern coast.

Jeju Island and Jirisan are expected to get

up to 300 millimeters of rainfall.

Watch out for damage to facilities that could be caused by the strong winds.

Seung-hun!

He isn't here!

We're at Yangseokbong. The missing person isn't here.

We'll head to the Seonghwang Tree.

Seung-hun!

Seung-hun!

What's this Seonghwang Tree?

Many people died there.

Have we been searching suicide spots all along?

Correct. Once a suicide spot, always a suicide spot.

Does this mean we're searching for a dead kid?

Stop talking nonsense.

Who says he's dead?

We're doing this to stop him from dying!

Wait up!

Search Team One, due to the weather,

we'll join forces and resume searching.

Search Team Two, location, Dosang Waterfall.

Will soon join the search.

At 50 meters per second, Typhoon Vitak is expected

to arrive in Korea around 10:00 tonight.

A typhoon watch

has been issued for Jeju and Jeonnam, areas within its orbit.

They haven't found him yet?

No.

The search dogs and rescue team have withdrawn.

Search dogs are useless in the rain.

I understand.

The missing person's family member is here.

Search Team Four.

He's the one leading the search.

I apologize for troubling you with Seung-hun.

I'm so sorry.

No need to apologize.

Get some rest. You probably came a long way.

If we hear anything,

we'll inform you right away.

-Yang-seon. -Yes?

-Escort her to the night duty room. -Yes, sir.

-Come with me, please. -Follow her, ma'am.

WIND VELOCITY, WIND DIRECTION

Search Team Four, the weather is terrible.

What should we do?

Search Team Two, the water level has risen.

We'll make a detour.

Civilian Team One, we're evacuating to a shelter nearby.

Gyeong-min!

Hold on! Hold on!

Tighter!

One, two!

One, two!

Search Team Four, man down!

-Get rid of those. -What?

We'll come back later, so get rid of them.

What's the matter?

This area gets a lot of lightning.

You must have a good reason

for crossing danger zones in this weather, right?

It's a shortcut. It'll save us an hour.

We have to join the search before the weather gets worse.

Stay away from big trees. They attract lightning.

Keep hold of something, even if you slip.

Or you can just roll down.

At least you'll get down faster.

Wow.

Hey, wait up!

You okay?

Yeah.

Hey.

Over there.

Look.

Search Team Five, we found an item

presumed to be the missing person's below the Bidam cliff.

Are you sure?

It's a blue backpack.

2008

BOKSEON MIDDLE SCHOOL 1-5 YEOM SEUNG-HUN

We can confirm it's the missing person's.

And the kid?

Did he fall with the backpack?

No, he isn't here.

No sign of a fall either.

Only his backpack seems to have fallen.

I-gang, isn't this Jirisan?

Captain, there's a photo of the wildflower field above the cliff.

This is where he is headed.

That's where we must search.

WIND VELOCITY, 18.9 M/S

Even with good weather,

it takes three and a half hours to get there.

It'll take twice as long under these weather conditions.

We'll go.

Please, give us your permission.

Withdraw.

NATURAL DISASTER SITUATION ROOM

Who's that?

Commissioner, the golden hour is 30 hours.

Time is running out.

Plus, the missing person is unequipped.

If he is alive, we must go find him now.

He might already be dead.

He came here to die.

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

You want to risk your lives finding a corpse?

What if you get injured?

Your team will have to cover for you.

You want to be responsible for their lives?

The wind velocity is above 20 meters!

There is no time. Withdraw right now!

That's an order!

Withdraw the other teams.

Are we really withdrawing?

You said if he is alive, we must find him now.

-We're withdrawing. -I-gang.

Newbie, you okay?

Seo Devil sure is tough, isn't she?

How dare she enter a danger zone during a typhoon warning?

What about Seung-hun?

You worry about yourself. Your safety comes first.

You say that and you call yourself a ranger?

Watch what you say to newbies.

Rangers protect the mountains at all costs, understood?

Let me say one thing as the team leader.

Get your act together.

Oh, how tiring.

You tire me out.

-You tire-- -Yes, team leader, I understand.

Get your act together or you'll get hurt.

This place is uncomfortable no matter what I do.

DISAPPEARED 32 HOURS AGO

The commissioner was right.

We'll resume the search tomorrow morning after the typhoon passes.

So rest up until then.

What do we tell his family?

The truth.

Hello, Korea National Parks.

I made a bet with my friends.

How tall is Cheonwangbong?

It's 1,915 meters.

Including the stone marker?

That would make it 1,916 meters and 35 centimeters. Goodbye.

Get some rest.

You'd better eat well.

What kind of ranger faints like that?

He isn't dead.

How do you know?

He's alive. I'm sure of it.

We can't resume the search just on speculation.

BOKSEON MIDDLE SCHOOL 1-5 YEOM SEUNG-HUN

HOMEWORK

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

PARENT OPEN CLASS AND LECTURE NOTICE

DAILY SPENDING RECORD

LIVES WITH GRANDMOTHER

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

BULLIED

STINKS LIKE POOP

DUMBER THAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS

HELP ME

Help me.

I-gang.

I don't know what to tell her.

The search has been halted.

We'll resume once the typhoon passes.

I'm so sorry.

GRANDMA, I'M SORRY

JIRISAN NATIONAL PARK HAEDONG RANGER STATION

WIND VELOCITY 32 MS

TIME OF INCIDENT

TIME OF ENTRY

PLACE OF INCIDENT

I-gang, you all right?

Are you crazy? Did you follow me?

How dare you climb up here!

If I'm crazy,

you're crazy too.

Guess I won't be lonely then.

I came because I don't want to regret anything.

Isn't that why you're here too?

If there's a chance he's alive,

he'll die if we don't go now.

I'm here, so take me with you.

We search in pairs, right?

Don't you dare beg to return.

It's not like you'll care anyway.

It's much more dangerous than you can imagine.

Our job is to brace for danger, right?

Our job is to survive danger and get back alive.

We have to support each other.

If you fly off, I fly off.

If I fall, you fall.

So let's be careful.

Sure thing.

What do you think you're doing?

You heard the commissioner.

I'm sorry, sir.

I tried to stop them, but--

The velocity is down.

It'll be sunrise soon.

Please, let us go.

The search resumes after the typhoon completely dissipates.

Take off your equipment.

Seo I-gang is gone.

So is the newbie.

Their equipment is gone.

These punks.

Um…

the missing person's grandmother has something to say.

Seo I-gang.

I-gang, where are you?

Seo I-gang, answer me!

Search Team Five, this is Seo I-gang.

Where are you?

-I'm sorry, but-- -Have you arrived?

At the wildflower field above the Bidam cliff.

We have.

The kid…

GRANDMA, SORRY FOR UPSETTING YOU

…sent a text.

The text we saw wasn't his last text.

REMEMBER THIS PLACE? I CAME HERE WITH MY PARENTS

Remember this place?

I came here with my parents.

I like it here.

Next time, let's come together.

GRANDMA, I AM SORRY.

Grandma, sorry for upsetting you.

NO SERVICE

The kid is still alive.

He found his way into a cell coverage area.

He hasn't picked up our calls yet.

His phone might be dead.

I dispatched a support team, but they'll take over three hours.

You two are our only option.

The pair of you must find him.

Let's split up.

Search the network coverage areas marked on your GPS.

This time, we are looking for a survival spot.

Understood.

Find a network coverage area

somewhere between the wildflower field and the Bidam cliff.

He should be there. Hurry.

We're well past the golden hour.

Even if he is alive,

he'll be in a critical state.

People instinctively look for certain places to survive.

Spaces between large boulders.

Under large tree trunks.

In between thick bushes.

Spaces under large boulders shaped like caves.

Places they can escape the rain and maintain their body heat.

This kid climbed this mountain to survive.

He must've found a survival spot.

BATTERY 2%

Any luck?

Nothing yet.

He isn't anywhere.

I searched everywhere marked on the GPS, but he was nowhere to be seen.

The kid is still alive.

He must be here somewhere.

But where?

People instinctively look for certain places to survive.

Places to maintain body heat.

Spaces between large boulders.

I-gang, where are you?

What is it?

Did you see the weird sign made from tree branches and rocks?

-No. -It was square. Ring any bells?

No, I didn't see anything like that.

Stop the trivial questions and search for the kid.

What about a black boulder?

-What are you playing at? -A sangsuri tree should be nearby.

Sangsuri leaves were piled on the ground.

Gosh.

Are you talking about the Sangsuribawi?

Such a place exists? Is it nearby?

But that place has no phone service.

-It's there. He'll be there. -Weren't you listening?

If he were there, he couldn't have sent his texts.

We've already looked everywhere else.

So, let's search that place as our last resort.

I-gang, over here!

We found him!

Missing person found under the Sangsuribawi.

What's his condition?

Seo I-gang!

He's unconscious. His body is cold.

-Check his pulse. -Seung-hun. Yeom Seung-hun!

Seung-hun, open your eyes.

Hey, stay there!

-You all right? -Yeah.

You okay, kid?

It'd be best to carry him.

Set him on my back.

-Be careful. -Careful on your way down.

You take your time.

Seung-hun.

You all right?

-Over here! -They're coming.

MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM

Hurry, check his vitals.

His pulse and breathing are normal.

Good job. Head to the hospital and take her with you.

Yes, sir.

Take good care of her.

-We'll be heading out. -All right.

We made it down. His vitals are normal. Ambulance on the move.

Climb back down safely.

Good work.

Yeah.

Where's I-gang?

She's probably passed out.

I-gang, good effort.

Answer me!

Hey, can you hear me?

I-gang!

Don't you dare turn off your--

Will you hurry up?

We've got to train!

Wait, wait. I can't.

One minute.

You on a picnic? How can you save people like that?

Jirisan is unique because of how huge it is.

People will die if you take this long.

I'm really dying here.

You've been assigned a patrol area, right?

-Have you been there? -No, not yet.

Our main duty is to protect this mountain.

You must memorize the place names, tree species

and vegetation of your patrol area.

Damn you, Seo Devil.

Got a death wish?

I'll die when I die, but first…

may I drink some water?

Yes? I'm at Sonbawi.

All right, I'll head over there now.

This place is called Sonbawi? Is it shaped like a palm?

How inefficient is that?

If you want to go on dates, just go to bars or something.

Why strain yourself here?

Do you want me

to hold your hand?

Shut up and just follow me.

Let's stop a while longer!

How did you find this place?

It wasn't me.

He did.

-Newbie. -Yes?

How did you know?

Oh, that.

Let's just say I heard whispers from the mountain?

The mountain?

Now that sounds plausible.

People have worshipped Jirisan since before the Three Kingdoms Period.

Considering how long it has been worshipped,

it's difficult to regard it just as a myth.

Meaning this mountain contains some sort of supernatural energy.

That's exactly what I mean.

If you think about it,

the boy sent a text from this place with no signal.

So the mountain saved him.

Stop speaking nonsense.

Tell me. What is that?

That?

It's a means of communication North Korean partisans used.

Either when they fell behind or lost contact.

Using this, they contacted each other in code.

Such a thing still exists?

Someplace unknown to others where only they know,

where it won't get swept away by rainstorms, like here.

What about those trees?

We're guessing they mark these locations.

Anyhow, I have to get going.

Thank you for calling, I-gang.

Oh, yeah.

One moment.

Here.

I'm Kim Sol from Culture Resources Research.

If you ever find historical sites like this again,

please contact me.

-Sure. -All right, then.

I guess this is invaluable.

You know,

wouldn't this come in handy

in unauthorized and no-service areas?

It'd be great for locating missing persons.

I-gang, look.

The rocks can signify the Bidam cliff.

Then you stick

a tree branch right here.

Look. It looks exactly like Sangsuribawi.

Tell me the truth.

How'd you know this place?

I saw it.

It wasn't the first time.

I constantly see things.

Places on this mountain where people go missing.

You really are crazy.

Are you going on patrol? Wait up!

Slow down!

2020

MISSING PERSONS SEARCH RESULT REPORT

As of today, the Iseokjae missing person search

has officially ended.

You're ordered to return to your stations

and resume site operations.

Excuse me.

If we call off the search like this, what happens to him?

Many have been searching for over a month with no luck.

It doesn't look promising.

The fall foliage season begins next week.

Visitors will increase severalfold.

Check the safety facility and stay alert on patrols.

-Yes. -Yeah.

But, sir,

when are we getting reinforcements?

There's been a vacancy for some time.

Well,

one person is coming.

Really? Who is it?

Can we get experienced people? Not newbies like her.

You know her.

Who's that?

Seo I-gang?

Yes.

The Seo I-gang I know?

Correct.

Unbelievable.

She hasn't quit yet?

She applied for reinstatement.

Anyway, I object.

Who is she to cause such tension?

It's been a while.

Yes, it has.

How have you been? Good?

Hey, you--

Why did you come back?

What do you mean, "why"?

She's Seo I-gang, the ranger who knows the mountain best.

-You know what I'm-- -Aren't you going out on patrol?

-Stop gawking. Let's go. -Coming.

JIRISAN NATIONAL PARK

MISSING PERSONS SEARCH RESULT REPORT

Is it a missing persons case?

Yes.

He was headed to Iseokjae? As in over by Iseok Valley?

Where did he go missing?

We have no witnesses.

Why did you return?

In the previous search,

did you search around the Gyeam Waterfall?

Gyeam Waterfall and Iseok Valley are on opposite ends.

You're well aware of that.

Can you just search it this once?

Did you get a tip?

Please, do me this favor.

Give me the chip.

Hold on, please.

Gu-yeong.

About before,

did something happen to her?

What do you expect in the mountains?

Someone went missing.

Missing?

Why would you climb the mountain in a blizzard?

We almost died trying to save them.

Wait, "them"?

Does that mean

someone else went missing with her?

Why?

This is the situation room.

Yes, I'm listening.

I just don't understand.

Not one bit.

Why go there?

-It's slippery. Careful. -Okay.

What is this place?

Gyeam Waterfall.

An unauthorized area famous for its view.

I don't see anything. What was he expecting us to find?

Gu-yeong.

What's that?

Illegal hiking.

They just continue coming when we tell them not to.

We have to stop them because they always litter.

What is it?

YANG GEUN-TAK

NAME: YANG GEUN-TAK AGE: 66

It's him.

The guy we searched for.

The missing person.

How on earth did you know?

Hundreds looked for him and failed. So how did you know?

You just arrived here.

I'm curious about that too.

How did you know

where to find him?

This is the Jirisan Volunteer Fire Department website.

You knew from this?

JIRISAN SEARCH SKETCH

These are photos taken of the Iseokjae search party.

So?

Isn't this the sign you guys found

by the Sangsuribawi?

No, this one's different.

Only Hyeon-jo and I knew this signal.

We suggested using this in unauthorized and no-signal areas

to mark the missing person's location.

You're saying this

signaled towards Gyeam Waterfall?

MUJINDONG MISSING PERSONS SEARCH PARTY

This was taken three months ago, and I saw the same thing.

It was pointing at the Yangseokbong seonghwang tree.

You found the body over there, right?

Correct.

This was six months ago, during the Jeonmukgol incident.

This was taken at the Oerae Valley incident.

Even here,

it directly points to the missing person's location.

That's impossible. This must be a joke.

I left it exactly where Hyeon-jo and I promised.

Someone's sending me a signal.

If only you and this Hyeon-jo knew its location,

wouldn't it be him?

No.

Hyeon-jo is--

He can't come here anymore.

GANG HYEON-JO, MALE, 36

HOSPITALIZED ON DECEMBER 20TH, 2019

Someone is calling

from above that mountain.

They're sending me a signal.

I want to know who it is.

That's why I returned.

Why did you climb the mountain that day?

There's something I need to find.

-What's that? -Human remains.

-Go back. -We'll inform you if we find something.

I just saw it.

The sign.

This was the only way.

Who is he?

Why are you asking about the yellow ribbon?

Pine grove in Mujin Valley.

Missing person.

Gang Hyeon-jo.

A park ranger!

Subtitle translation by: Jisu Park