Original subtitles

(The following content may not be suitable for viewers under 15.)

(Viewer discretion is advised.)

(Episode 1)

This land used to be 20 cents per 3 square meters.

Do you know how much it goes for now?

4 dollars. Some lots go for 5 dollars.

I need to buy up as much land as I can...

before they really start developing the area.

Do you plan to buy and sell land?

They built a dam...

and highways, so it's time...

to build housing.

I plan to build apartments.

Apartments?

There's this really gifted seer named Mr. Jung, and he said...

for the next 20 years,

I have luck in land.

Luck in land?

He says my fortune lies in digging up land for 20 years.

Then what should I do?

We must buy the land before the government announcement.

As much as possible.

Yes, sir.

Is there a problem?

A simple bowl of soup would've sufficed.

You're being too kind.

How long have you been with Yangji?

I started right after graduating high school...

and finishing military service,

so it's been five years.

You became our accounting manager in only five years?

You've succeeded.

I agree.

Do you want to succeed more?

It's overly generous,

just like this feast.

Are you willing to accept it?

I love and cherish her...

more than anyone in the world.

If you'd take her...

I will.

Most definitely.

Jung Hee?

I'm Choi Tae Joon.

I met you a few times before.

Can you handle it?

You'll regret it.

I will not.

What's taking Kyung Sook so long?

Why isn't she back yet?

Mother.

They look so pretty.

We need the table so that we can set it.

Tae Joon should be here soon, right?

Gosh. I hope the table comes before he does.

We'll make it work somehow,

even if we have to eat on newspapers.

She's the company president's daughter.

You're her mother-in-law.

Goodness. Girl.

Mother. The table is here.

Tae Joon.

I ran into them on the way back.

It isn't much, but please enjoy.

Is it a boy or a girl?

You don't know yet, right?

I heard you were building apartments in Gangnam.

Then will we get one...

Hey.

Don't startle her. She'll lose the baby.

Are you all right?

Yes.

My gosh. Don't mind them.

They're uneducated, so they have no manners.

- Mother! - Mother!

Be quiet.

We don't want anything.

Just...

please give Tae Joon a son. You know he's the only son...

for three generations.

Don't worry about what my mother said.

I won't have any more children...

after this one.

It isn't too late.

Call off...

I consider this baby mine.

It is my child.

I will do anything and everything...

for you and this child.

Whatever it may be.

Do you have a date for me?

Yes, luckily.

I checked for a date based on her due date,

and it was like looking for a needle in outer space.

It was a lot of work.

That is why back in the day,

noble families scheduled weddings in order to plan the pregnancy.

How could you be so reckless...

and get someone's precious daughter pregnant?

You are practically a thief.

We're getting Jung Hee...

a Caesarean section.

A Caesarean section?

This is your grandson's fortune.

Is this really...

Yes.

Your grandson will succeed you...

and make Yangji a global company.

He is fated to be king.

I will create a kingdom.

This is the era of construction.

I'll use this land as my stepping stool...

and make Yangji Construction...

a large conglomerate that includes...

steel, electricity, electronics, oil,

every possible field out there.

You are amazing.

I need your help.

Yes, sir. Just give the order.

I'll do it all.

My grandson...

will become the king...

of the kingdom I build.

Make him...

a king.

That is why chose you.

Yes, sir. Your grandson...

No. My son...

will become king.

I will make it so.

(2 years later, 1997)

(I keep running towards a dream)

(Moving on)

(Moving on)

(Like a branch on a tree)

(I keep reaching to be free)

(Moving on)

(Moving on)

(There's a place in the sun)

(Where there's hope for everyone)

I'm on my way to open Pandora's box.

Pandora's box?

You're going in for an audit, aren't you?

You'd faint if you knew where my first field assignment was.

Where is it?

I can't tell you. It's confidential.

Meanie. Why did you ask then?

To make you curious.

You brat.

Don't waste your time teasing me.

Just complete your first mission.

I'm sure you'll do well.

I'll be super busy during the audit. What will you do?

So?

I know you'll miss me like crazy, but you'll have to deal with it.

I wish you had audits 365 days a year.

So I can cheat like crazy.

Cheat?

Listen to this woman talk.

How could you say that?

Are you laughing?

I have no time to cheat.

Our company is on red alert right now.

You know that.

I hope our company doesn't go bankrupt too.

What if it goes under?

What else? You'll have to marry me right away.

Whatever. Bye.

The chairman is here.

Okay. Work hard.

(Yangji)

Okay. Yangji Group.

Let's see whether or not...

it'll go bankrupt.

Excuse us. Step aside.

How dare they treat me like some peddler?

- Hello, sir. - Hi.

It's Chairman Jang Wol Chun.

Hello, sir.

Hi.

44 people?

So that's what it means to be a conglomerate's chairman.

Now, that's a king.

Did the bank call?

Yes, sir.

They refused?

Since we have only 10 percent in assets and 90 percent is financed,

they can't give us any additional loans.

Tell them we have plots of land in Gyepo and Gayang...

just waiting to be parceled out.

Tell them we're guaranteed the plots.

Perhaps you should ask the president of Hashin Bank again.

They're the only bank...

we can depend on at this point.

Gosh. Seriously.

Perhaps you should ask...

Jae Yong to ask again...

Gosh.

We're being audited starting today, right?

Yes, sir.

Every time a document is sent to a bank,

I get a migraine, so do it right.

I already spoke with the senior managing director at Samjin.

He said they sent newbies who know nothing,

so we need not worry.

What are you doing?

Pardon? Yes, sir.

You should always be careful.

Monitor them closely.

Yes, sir.

It's confidential? He can't tell me?

You brat.

(Yangji Chemical, Yangji Steel, Yangji Construction)

Why are there so many?

Goodness. I'm dead.

Look here, Mr. Auditor.

What are you doing here?

Are you a criminal? Why are you sneaking in?

I'm trying to separate business from pleasure.

You applied here to see me, right?

How did you figure it out?

I've committed a grave sin.

I shouldn't have seduced you so thoroughly.

You're right.

What are you doing?

I mean, you seduced me,

so you need to take responsibility.

For what?

Oh my gosh. Hey.

Hey.

Oh my gosh. That hurt.

That hurts.

You told you to be so pretty?

It's not my fault I'm pretty.

Since you're so pretty,

how about a kiss?

You've lost your mind.

Hello?

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

I need to go.

What about my kiss?

You said you won't mix business with pleasure.

Get to work.

Wait for me.

(Auditing Department)

I'll be late, so go home first.

Okay. Work hard.

That's right.

Here.

- What's that? - A bribe.

The company is struggling right now.

- Please be kind. - Gosh.

You call this a bribe? How lame.

Happy now?

Yes.

I'm here, sir.

Sit down.

I have an assignment for you.

Learn how to read ledgers.

Why must I...

You must know numbers if you're going to manage a business.

You need to know what those numbers mean.

But I can't understand a thing.

Plus,

why must I know all these little details?

He made his start in accounting.

I think the vice chairman is right.

Whatever.

Anyway, I need your help.

What do you mean, my help?

You majored in business management, right?

Then you must know a little about accounting.

Well...

I did take an accounting class as a prerequisite,

but I don't know it well.

Furthermore, I am not your secretary.

My secretary doesn't know how to do anything.

Even her coffee tastes gross.

I'll ask Accounting...

- to send you an expert... - No.

I'll talk to the vice chairman,

so don't you worry about anything else.

Just teach me how to read ledgers.

You have a degree in business management from Seoul University.

You can do that much.

It's your first day, so I'll go easy on you.

You'll need time to prepare for my classes.

- Sir. - Hey, hey.

Would you please bring me some coffee?

Your coffee is famous...

among the executives for being delicious.

(Evidentiary Documents)

(Evidentiary Documents)

(Balance Sheet)

That can't be.

1995. 1996.

They were all unsold at the time.

You're working late.

How's it going?

I don't know what's what.

- Are you going home? - Yes.

There's something the numbers guru Kim Yoo Wol doesn't know.

Stop teasing me.

It's different when you do it for real.

I'm not teasing.

It's your first audit.

It's only natural that you don't know.

Anyway, why don't people at your company work?

What do you mean?

Everyone is working late and pulling all-nighters.

It's code red right now.

Is that right?

Then why is no one at their desks when I need documents?

Some are supposedly even on vacation...

for a week although it's code red.

Does that make sense?

You should always be careful.

Monitor them closely.

Just wing it.

What?

Don't kill yourself.

Don't stay up all night struggling because the numbers don't match.

You'll get sick.

You asked what if your company goes bankrupt, right?

I feel like it's going to go bankrupt.

Is it that bad?

I don't know how they got bank loans in the past.

They've got skills.

That's bad. What do I do?

What else?

Like I said, just marry me right away.

You want me to live in your rooftop apartment?

You don't like it?

It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

Why would I like it?

You said you'd be happy living in a tent in Siberia...

as long as you were with me. That was a lie, wasn't it?

That's when I was a clueless little girl.

I'm old now.

I want to live in a home...

that's cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

As soon as I get a home that's cool in the summer...

and warm in the winter,

you have to marry me, okay?

Sure.

Get up.

- Honey. - What?

Let's just eat at home.

This is exhausting. Every single morning.

You used to drag me there when I said I didn't want to go.

What's wrong with you lately?

Are you seriously asking because you don't know?

Because of Father?

That's right.

I know the position he's in.

How could I eat in front of him?

I won't go for the time being,

so make an excuse for me and go with Min Jae.

Don't be like that.

What is family about?

You should help each other in times of trouble.

And you know my father always repays people.

Regardless, I'm not going.

I can't kill my father in order to save yours.

Honey!

I said no!

Plus, I lived in the US for so long,

I don't like having Korean food for breakfast.

Breakfast without coffee? No thank you.

(Hanshin Construction Bankrupt)

Did you sleep well?

Yes.

Gunyoung, Mosong,

and now even Hanshin Construction filed for bankruptcy.

I'm afraid to give...

the newspapers to the chairman now.

I'll bring them to him.

That's right.

Please grind the beans and make some coffee.

He doesn't drink coffee before breakfast.

Jae Yong likes Colombian coffee.

Yes, ma'am.

I'll make some Colombian coffee.

They couldn't pay a promissory note for 18.5 million dollars.

Hanshin Securities presenting the promissory note as evidence...

was the root cause.

It would be great if we can get an additional loan from Hashin,

but if not,

we should find another...

Let's eat.

You prepared a separate breakfast for Jae Yong. What got into you?

I know he hates Korean food,

but I was insisting on it anyway...

because Korean food is good for you.

And it's a family tradition.

As if.

You don't fool anyone with your lies,

you witch.

I see.

I never expected you to be so considerate of him.

Uncle, you must have been hurt.

Just say what you want.

That's not so hard.

Min Jae, you too.

It looks like our family is begging for food.

Min Jae, that's inappropriate.

My apologies. I didn't mean anything by it.

I'd like to meet with your father.

Set it up for me.

Persuade your father for us.

We won't forget this.

Tae Joon.

If we get the construction funding,

we can get past this easily.

I won't watch my father...

go to prison.

Yangji Construction is fine.

The powerhouses are dying. Yangji is nothing.

Yangji will not die.

We never should've gotten into steel.

- Honey. - How much money...

did we dump into Steel?

If we hadn't gotten into steel,

Construction wouldn't have fallen.

Shut it!

Let's talk after breakfast.

Just say it now.

I have a busy morning.

Anyway. Kwang Il, are you studying business management now?

Of course. I'm working hard.

Your father worked hard to make sure you were well-educated...

ever since you were a child,

in order to make you king.

So, what is he having you study nowadays?

He said I need to know numbers if I'm going to manage a business,

so he said to study accounting.

Accounting?

Yes. I'm going to learn how to read ledgers.

You said you'd make him king.

Are you going to make him the accounting manager like you?

This is why what school you attend is so important.

- Min Jae. - Yes, Father.

What do other countries say about Korea lately?

That the Korean economy is in danger.

They do? Who?

Dow Jones. It's the world's largest financial news company.

You know what that is, right?

Of course, I do.

What did Dow Jones say?

They investigated some Asian countries,

and it was shocking.

That's enough.

Set up a meeting.

Think of Min Jae.

How could you disgrace your father like that?

I'm too ashamed to face the chairman because of you.

I brought college professors,

financial analysts, and top scholars as tutors for you.

How could you speak like a grade schooler?

In front of your grandfather too.

The company's survival is on the line.

What's wrong with you?

What use is a famous scholar?

I can't understand a thing.

What?

I'm studying economics with Ms. Yoon.

So give her to me.

This is insane.

This is the auditor Kim Yoo Wol.

When will you bring me the detailed documents I requested?

And when is that?

When will the person in charge be back?

What?

He resigned?

Hello?

Hello?

What's with these people?

- Detailed documents? - Yes.

We're making excuses and stalling,

but he's such a pain.

He's too young and doesn't know better.

Buy him a drink and work on him. Goodness.

I tried.

But it won't work at all.

Why did Samjin send a knucklehead like that?

I have enough headaches to deal with.

Must I deal with him too?

Follow the manual.

Don't make me waste my energy on something so stupid.

Yes, sir.

Really?

Yes. Since they're unsold,

I got it at a 30-percent discount.

That's amazing.

Now that I found a home...

that's cool in the summer and warm in the winter,

we have to get married, okay?

Once we're married, quit your job...

and keep studying as you always wanted.

Study?

Your dream was to become a professor.

That is ancient history.

It's okay.

I know you gave up on your dream to support me.

I'll support you now.

So just study from now on, okay?

No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Okay?

So that's why you're rushing the marriage.

Solve this problem.

It takes 7 minutes and 45 seconds to walk to the train station from here.

It takes 21 minutes and 59 seconds to walk to the library.

And it takes...

10 minutes and 30 seconds to walk to the supermarket.

Isn't that awesome?

Stop it. Stop it already.

Hold on.

Hello?

Yes, sir.

Hello?

Yes, sir.

Right now?

Sorry, but I need to go in right now.

Me too. My GM wants me.

(Traveling Around Italy)

Sit.

Why did you want to meet here instead of the office?

It's too nice out to be trapped in the office.

And their coffee here is good.

Although it doesn't compare to your coffee, of course.

Let's begin.

What's the rush?

- Sir. - Why you...

What's wrong?

You punk.

Why are you making trouble for us?

What trouble did I make?

You demanded detailed documents.

Are you a prosecutor?

But sir.

You'll know once you see them,

but there are so many things that don't make sense.

And no one will answer any of my questions.

They are so uncooperative, it's driving me mad.

I'm the one going mad because of you.

I got chewed out by senior managing director for training you poorly.

The senior managing director? Why?

Don't you watch the news?

They're always talking about companies shutting down.

What if Yangji falls too?

Do you think our company will survive?

We're walking on thin ice as it is.

Why are you leading the way and causing trouble? Why?

Sir. Calm down.

Please hear me out.

I crunched numbers all night last night.

And?

Do you know how high Yanji Steel's debt ratio is?

It's 900 percent.

Isn't that insane?

All the big corporations are like that.

They leveraged themselves to death to get bigger,

which is why the economy is where it is now.

Exactly.

That's why CPAs like us...

should audit them strictly.

We don't want innocent people to suffer.

Why do you care about that?

Shouldn't I?

The senior managing director...

said to fire you, and I barely talked him out of it.

What?

Close it out.

(A Place in the Sun)

Do you want to go with me on my business trip to Italy?

Unless someone stops it...

The tragedy you experienced will repeat itself.

So become an accountant that I won't be ashamed of.

Stop saying it's impossible.

Do whatever it takes. Just bring the funds.

Why don't you ask that person?

I refuse to enter into an arranged marriage.

Think of the company.

Don't order me around.

The ledger?

I need to know about our company's finances.

A whistleblower? Who?

What do you need me to do?