Original subtitles

ALL CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, PLACES AND EVENTS ARE FICTIONAL

ACTING PRESIDENT NOW A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

ACTING PRESIDENT OH TOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

THE YOUTH HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A POLITICIAN LIKE THIS

DONGBUK DAILY, GUKIL NEWS

Minister Oh is pretty impressive.

He managed to fill President Park's shoes in just one day.

And after that one day,

he's the favorite presidential candidate.

It's hard to believe that he has never done this before.

Reopening the stock market and gunning down the sniper

weren't easy decisions, but he didn't hesitate at all.

He almost looked like a student taking an exam with all the answers.

He naturally knows how to charm the public.

Minister Oh is a natural-born politician.

Are you implying

that you're giving up on President Park as the presidential candidate?

Isn't he who you were looking for? The one who knows how to win.

Minister Oh has a better chance of winning than President Park.

It's only a temporary symptom. You don't need to worry.

The Acting President...

I mean, Acting President Park just regained consciousness.

I was worried as his doctor was concerned about possible brain damage.

Thank god, right? Very soon, he'll be back to his charming, intelligent self.

When can he return to work, then?

When do you think I can return to work?

I'm not sure, sir.

You need absolute rest for now,

so I think we'll have to keep you here and monitor you for about a week.

-Excuse me. -Thank you.

Well, Ms. Jeong.

Does he have to return to the Blue House?

You know,

he's unable to perform his duties at the moment

as described in Article 71 of the Constitution.

And the Blue House already has another Acting President.

Well, that's...

Then you should rest up

and register as a presidential candidate right away, sir.

"A presidential candidate"?

As in, running for president?

Honey.

Can you

go talk to my doctor?

-What? -Ask him if I can get some painkillers.

Are you in a lot of pain, sir?

On a scale of one to ten,

how would you rate your pain, sir?

Seven?

Mr. Park.

Yes, sir.

Would you accompany my wife?

Sure, no problem.

Oh, sir.

Here. I got your glasses.

There.

Let's go, ma'am.

Okay.

We'll be back shortly, sir.

I tried to dissuade Minister Oh from gunning down the sniper

so that we could find out who was behind him,

but he went ahead and gave the order to shoot to kill.

What if...

he did that to conceal the mastermind behind the assassination attempt?

Minister Oh has already garnered overwhelming support from the people.

I'm worried about

what he'll do until you return

with all that confidence he has now.

But he isn't the only one

at the Blue House. The secretaries are there to keep him in check.

And one of the secretaries...

colluded with the bombers.

The person who called the Minister of National Defense...

I found out who it was, sir.

Are you the Minister of National Defense?

This is Secretary Cha Yeong-jin.

Please revoke Commander Lee Gwan-muk's security clearance

for the file titled OP 5015-18.

DAY 37: ANSWER EPISODE 12

Let me give you a word of advice.

If you're handed over to the prosecution now,

being tight-lipped and exercising your right to remain silent

as you're doing now won't help you in any way.

The sniper was...

shot dead while he was being chased.

It means the only witness who could attest to whether or not you're one of them

is now dead.

Conspiracy to kill Myung Hae-joon

and assassinate the Acting President.

On top of that, you'll continue to exercise your right to remain silent?

That attitude will only increase your sentence.

I'm thinking you'll probably be sentenced to about 15 years.

Just admit it.

Let's do our best to get your sentence mitigated, okay?

It'll be a waste

to spend the prime of your life in prison.

Where are you taking me?

This isn't the way to the Prosecutors' Office.

Mr. President is waiting for you, Agent Han.

NIS will be told that you're being held in custody by the prosecution Services.

Agent Han, I heard that you've been investigating this for some time.

Minister Oh Yeong-seok...

Is he really connected with the mastermind behind the attack?

He knew about the attack in advance.

He evacuated to the air raid shelter

right before the explosion, thus becoming the only survivor.

Would that have been possible if he had no connection with the bombers?

Are you able to prove that, Agent Han?

I'm sorry, sir.

All the evidence we had gathered were stolen by Tae-ik...

I mean, the sniper took them from us

on the day of the hearing.

They deleted all the videos of Minister Oh evacuating to the air-raid shelter

on the day of the explosion.

I'm speculating that's why Minister Oh unreasonably ordered

that the sniper be killed.

So you're saying it's impossible.

I'm letting you know that

I'll be starting again from scratch, sir.

The two of you are very much alike.

It'll be hard,

but you're talking as if it's not a big deal at all,

just like Agent Kim Jun-o.

It's probably because

Agent Kim Jun-o was my mentor and my role model

whom I emulated.

I have to say,

this position makes you utterly shameless.

It requires me to demand the kinds of sacrifices

that I can never repay as if it's not a big deal.

You are

also making a sacrifice, sir.

Then let's start...

with finding the accomplice in the Blue House first.

The North Korean defector, Myung Hae-joon, admitted to executing the attack.

However, he was murdered by Tae-ik.

After Agent Kim Jun-o met with President Park,

Tae-ik tried to assassinate President Park.

And the person who gave the order to gun Tae-ik down

was Minister Oh Yeong-seok.

Does that mean Oh Yeong-seok is the mastermind behind the attack?

No, it isn't him.

Then who is it?

Jeez, you scared me.

Na-gyeong!

"Operation Plan 5015-18"?

Are you saying the person who handed this OP file

created by the NSC over to the bombers

is in the Blue House now?

One of the President's closest aides with the authority

to revoke a security clearance with one call.

And the only person who knows about this file at the moment.

It's the best lead to find the accomplice on the inside.

NAME: CHA YEONG-JIN

Thank you.

We need your signature, Mr. Cha.

All internal communication recordings have been restored.

You mean, the recordings had been damaged?

Yes. When the firewall breach occurred last time,

all the communication recordings were damaged.

Secretary Jeong Su-jeong came by and checked.

She didn't report it to you?

She asked for your call recordings,

so I assumed she had already reported it to you.

I don't think we should today.

Do you have work left?

Take your time. I'll wait.

No, don't wait. You can go.

I'm tired.

What brings you to the Data Processing Office?

Secretary Jeong.

It's nothing important.

People say that President Park benefited the most from this bombing,

and some say it's Minister Oh,

but they're wrong.

It's you.

Had it not been for the attack,

you wouldn't have even dreamed of a chance

to recreate the government

as none other than a kingmaker.

I wanted to bring President Park some books to read at the hospital.

Why did you look up my call logs?

Are you suspecting me of something?

Answer me. Why?

Why me? For what reason...

Did President Park order you to do it?

Or was it something that you did on your own?

Answer that first.

Will that change anything?

Apparently, the National Security Council called a meeting.

Did you know about it?

How could there be an NSC meeting without your knowledge?

You didn't hear anything about this either?

No, nothing.

You cannot go in, sir.

I'm Minister Oh Yeong-seok's chief secretary.

I'm the National Security Adviser, and he's the Chief Secretary.

We're members of the NSC as well.

Why can't we go in?

We apologize, sir.

We're simply following the Acting President's orders.

Gosh, this is... I'm speechless.

You didn't know at all either?

Jeez, what is going on?

All right. Shall we begin, then?

It's not like North Korea did anything to provoke us.

Why hold an NSC meeting

and exclude the Blue House staff?

What the heck are they trying to do?

Find out who from the military and NIS are at the meeting.

-Got it. I'll call you. -Great.

Okay.

What brings you here?

Secretary Cha. May I talk to you for a minute?

What's the matter?

You're now the subject of the Security Team's investigation

according to the security regulations.

I'm Agent Han Na-gyeong of the NIS Terrorism Task Force.

Agent Han, why are you here?

She was commissioned by President Park to lead the investigation

-to find out who was behind the bombing. -"Behind the bombing"?

How long will it take?

The Blue House's security situation is volatile.

There's no time to waste--

And this is about national security.

A co-conspirator of the bombing is in the Blue House.

That's nonsense.

Are you the Minister of National Defense?

This is Secretary Cha Yeong-jin.

Please revoke Commander Lee Gwan-muk's security clearance

for the file titled OP 5015-18.

That was you, right?

Is there a problem with that?

I was just doing my job as a secretary.

Is this a re-enactment of the bombing?

What is this?

OP 5015-18.

This is the file

for which you revoked the security clearance

of Commander Lee Gwan-muk in June of 2018.

And on March 4,

there was a bombing at the National Assembly building.

Exactly as it provides in this file.

All NSC members who participated

in the top-secret project were lost in the attack,

and Commander Lee Gwan-muk had lost access to the file.

The only person who knows about the existence of the file--

I also had no access to the file.

Back then, I was only a grade-three administrator.

-Then why-- -I called the Minister of National Defense

because I had to pass on the work orders from higher up.

And who was that?

Han Ju-seung, the Chief Presidential Secretary at the time.

Shouldn't you join the NSC meeting? Better late than never.

We need to know what's going on.

We tried to figure it out using our military and NIS connections,

but we have no clue.

I'm not even the Chief Secretary. I'm not qualified to join the NSC.

You should go.

I'm sure Minister Oh will listen to you.

You're the most senior here.

Let's wait. I'm sure we'll find out once the meeting is over.

-Mr. Han. -Mr. Han.

Minister Oh

is the head of our administration by law for now.

It's not right to disregard the regulations

and the system.

However,

Mr. Han wouldn't know the contents of this file either.

Why is that?

On the day the top-secret file was completed,

Mr. Han was visiting the States for the coordination

with the White House before the inter-Korean Summit.

Top-secret files are available

only in the Blue House, due to security reasons.

Then after he came back--

When he got back, this file didn't exist anymore.

It was the President's order.

He ordered that we collect all the files and dispose of them

on the day they were completed.

"Dispose of them"?

Now I see why he ordered that.

The mere existence of the simulation

can be a great threat to national security.

In the end,

what the President feared came true.

HAN JU-SEUNG?

I got this from the Immigration Office.

Secretary Han left Korea on June 18, 2018

and came back on the 21st.

Here's President Yang's orders to the Secretary

to dispose of the NSC top-secret project.

DELETE NSC'S TOP-SECRET FILE 5015-18

SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT

Mr. Cha told the truth.

Suspicions toward you have been confirmed to be unfounded.

You may go now.

I will escort you.

Let me ask you one thing.

So...

President Park thinks

I might be the mole

who handed over the classified file

to the bombers, is that it?

I...

don't trust myself.

So...

I have been relying only on whatever the data says.

For now, all the data

indicates that Mr. Cha is the accomplice to the bombing.

But even now,

I must want

to trust Mr. Cha rather than the data.

Could you please clear up the suspicions

surrounding Mr. Cha,

Agent Han?

If he had suspected you as the traitor,

he would have had you relieved of your duties first.

Are you here to visit the President?

He just fell asleep.

He did?

Agent Han...

updated me.

Okay.

Well.

Look.

I would have done the same.

You just did what you had to do.

It was your duty.

So

you don't have to look at me like I'm your teacher

making you write an apology.

I don't intend to give you demerits.

Even so,

I guess we will never grab a beer...

in Gwanghwamun.

Who could it be?

Who's the mole in the Blue House?

Who relayed this top secret file to the bomber?

When a nation is going through a crisis,

there's no other way.

The military should lead.

To have a former member of our own military in this position

gives me much relief.

There is still

no Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman,

so report to me for the time being.

Is that an order?

My good man, of course not.

All members of the military have the same purpose.

You said so seven years ago as well.

Seven years ago?

During the Battle of Baengnyeong,

the Joint Chiefs of Staff and operations command

ordered an army-centric military operation

which resulted in many casualties.

You, who were in charge of the operation at the time,

said the exact same thing.

The army, navy, and air force are the same when it comes to defending this nation.

-Minister Oh-- -Someone told me

that authority

gives you the power to not take orders from the person you loathe.

That was why

I left the navy immediately thereafter.

I put down the guns and worked to gain power instead.

Don't ever give me an order again.

What were you talking about so affectionately all this time?

The obvious.

He asked me for future guidance and advice.

EAST ASIA MILITARY BASES

Have the reporters said anything?

Did any rumors start flying after the NSC meeting yesterday?

Not really.

I can't ask any of them

since they might write about how the Blue House

has inadequate communication.

What on earth did they talk about here yesterday?

Yeong-jin, did you hear?

I found out

why the NSC meeting was held yesterday.

The Gasan Island Naval Base.

While President Yang was in office, the naval base was constructed

because it was a favorable location for a naval port.

In preparation for China and Japan's recent expansion of maritime power,

there were talks about expanding the base,

but it is being delayed due to opposition from the residents and environmentalists.

I propose

that we finally move forward with the expansion.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place this morning with the

Ministry of National Defense, Navy Headquarters and the construction company.

-What about the residents there? -Of course they were livid.

Over 300 people gathered

to protest against the expansion.

The police had to use force

which resulted in many receiving major injuries.

-Yeong-jin! -Mr. Cha!

May I help you, Secretary Cha?

Mr. Cha, come on in.

Secretary Cha?

I only realized it just now

that President Park never once sat in that chair.

I doubt you came all this way to tell me that great realization.

Right. Well...

Why did you order

the groundbreaking ceremony of the naval base expansion

without a word to the secretaries?

During President Yang's regime,

the Naval Headquarters and the residents

already signed a legal agreement on the matter,

so what's the issue?

Due to opposition from the residents and environmentalists,

the project was stopped temporarily.

President Yang was going to hold a public hearing to discuss

-and persuade-- -So?

Did discussions and persuasion accomplish anything?

National security

must be what the community values the most

above anything else.

I am currently this nation's Commander-in-Chief

and I did what was necessary as head of the administration

in the fastest and most effective way.

Also,

you report to me, not the other way around.

Right.

Where did you go

after leaving the Blue House yesterday?

As Chief Presidential Secretary,

I expect you

to fully carry out your responsibility.

Understood, Secretary Cha?

Yes, sir.

I apologize.

Seeing you like this

may be too shocking for Si-wan and Si-jin,

so I told them not to come.

They must feel betrayed.

I wouldn't go that far.

I'm sure they're just worried.

Since the tenth, the people of Gasan Island...

The residents of Gasan Island must feel betrayed.

They were promised a public hearing to hear their thoughts,

so they must think the government lied.

They could've negotiated and reached an agreement,

but the Blue House kicked away that opportunity.

What are your thoughts on this?

He was right.

It's true.

Are you really considering running for President?

Me?

You might be here physically,

but your mind is in your office at the Blue House.

You almost died when you were just the Acting President,

but you want to become President?

Aren't you terrified?

Of course I am.

That's why

you don't have to worry about that.

The expansion of the Gasan Island Naval Base...

And that concludes this morning's briefing.

Mr. Kim?

Why was the groundbreaking ceremony of

the naval base expansion rushed out of the blue?

It wasn't rushed.

"Promptly" is a much nicer way to put it.

Details regarding this matter will be provided

in a press release.

Is it because Minister Oh was formerly in the navy?

Why was there need

to use excessive force in order to break up the protest?

The fact that Gasan Island is a conservation area

hasn't changed.

How will the administration handle the backlash from environmentalists?

When will President Park be back in office?

What are his thoughts on this matter?

Did he also take part in making this decision?

Answer them one by one. We've got all day.

I noted them all.

Right.

What do you think is Minister Oh's intention?

Why are you thinking about that?

It's pretty obvious.

He's making his own brand.

"I, Oh Yeong-seok, was able to do what President Yang couldn't

while showing formidable charisma which President Park lacks."

Mayor Kang?

After announcing your candidacy,

your first official act was to formally visit Assemblywoman Yun.

May I ask why?

Hostility between the ruling and opposing parties is a thing of the past.

Our people have been desperately demanding harmony,

and it's now our turn to meet that demand.

Like this.

There.

The naval base expansion won't be a problem only in Gasan Island.

Environmental groups across the nation will throw a fit.

Minister Oh won't be able to handle it.

He'll finally realize

that what he thought was a jar of honey

was actually a beehive.

After he loses all the supporters he gained.

So you were at the Blue House after all.

I must have done something to upset you.

The naval base on Gasan Island.

The groundbreaking ceremony was rushed out of the blue,

and the police used excessive force

in order to suppress the protesters.

It never once happened

while you were here in the Blue House

during President Yang's and President Park's regime.

Procedural democracy and democratic legitimacy.

Aren't those what you value the most as a politician?

This way, ma'am.

Hold on.

Did this happen without your knowledge?

Did Minister Oh make the decision alone?

None of this changes anything for you though.

Whether it's President Yang, Acting President Park,

or Minister Oh,

you'll oppose anyone sitting in that chair.

Keeping one's authority in check

is what I value most as a politician.

Minister Oh is waiting for you, ma'am.

I didn't expect to see you in the Blue House so soon.

Please have a seat.

Conflicts are rising.

The naval base expansion should've been a project for the next president,

so many are wondering why you carried it out at this time.

Is it because you used to be in the navy?

Or did you expect to win over

the people of that region

by boosting the economy by creating jobs?

I only did what was necessary for national security

since I'm in a position to.

What are you hiding this time behind that justification?

Everyone predicted that the stock market would crash,

but you opened the market saying

that we needed to show we're confident in our market.

The stock market tumbled as predicted

and only Sim Yong-hwan of Naseong Group benefited from it.

He was able to solve the succession issue

by buying Naseong Chemical's stocks at a low price.

So what is it this time?

What's your hidden agenda

behind that patriotic justification of yours?

You can't fool me, Minister Oh.

Fine then.

Give it a guess.

What do you think I'm hiding?

Whatever it is, you won't get what you want.

I'm sure you're aware of this,

but Gasan Island has favored my party for a long time.

From the governor and Assemblymen to local government leaders,

the majority in office are from Seonjin.

I will shake public opinion

with the help of the residents and environmental groups.

From administrative litigation to constitutional petitions,

I will do whatever I can

to oppose the naval base expansion, no,

whatever scheme you're concocting.

No,

you won't be able to.

Hello, this is Kim Dan with the afternoon news.

Protests from the people of Gasan Island

as well as environmental groups have been quickly spreading...

Quickly spreading...

Boss, the report has been revised.

Why? What happened?

The residents of Gasan Island who were against the expansion

have been starting to approve it.

How could they change their stance

in such a short time?

It's because they're human.

The Ministry of National Defense and the construction company

offered the residents a stupendous compensation.

Not just the area around the naval base,

but the entire Gasan Island will be a battlefield now.

Think about it.

Up until this morning, the residents

were all on the same side.

But the additional compensation

made them

either a traitor or a dormant traitor.

Right.

Their hatred toward the navy and police

will now be directed at each other.

There will now be no need for the police to forcibly suppress protests.

What about other environmental groups?

If they're still against the expansion,

it could lead to a big conflict.

I highly doubt there will be any objection to a national scale.

Take a look.

WAS COMPENSATION THE ANSWER?

Comments on online communities, social media,

and web portal sites were already

moving in a weird direction.

Weird direction, as in hate comments?

Are people accusing them of nimbyism?

No, ideological disputes.

IT'S BECAUSE YANG JIN-MAN DIDN'T STOP PRO-COMMUNISTS

THANK GOD FOR ACTING PRESIDENT OH

NOT PUNISHING COMMIES...

THOSE IN MYEONGIN-RI ARE RUINING THIS NATION

THOSE OPPOSING ARE COMMIES

NOT PUNISHING COMMIES...

THOSE IN MYEONGIN-RI...

OPPOSING THE NAVAL BASE...

COMMIES, LEAVE GASAN ISLAND!

The public will now call on those who are opposed to the expansion

commies impeding national security

who only want what's best for North Korea.

Will you still oppose it regardless?

Do you believe people of this nation will question my views on national security?

If you're up against me, then yes.

The nation's hero who shed blood to secure the NLL.

The miracle survivor who still stands after the nation's most tragic bombing.

Between you and me,

who do you think the people will believe?

Ma'am.

Mr. Cha,

how much do you know about Minister Oh?

Sorry?

Be careful.

He's much more dangerous

than you can possibly imagine.

I heard that the residents of Gasan are quickly changing their opinions.

It's just as I predicted.

Your approval rating is also at its highest.

That's as expected too.

From this day on,

the people of Gasan will hate and suspect each other.

They'll ask whomever they meet which side they're on

and force them to answer.

The larger navy base was at the expense of their hometown.

Was this also something you predicted?

We needed a larger navy base,

and I chose the quickest and most effective way.

The best outcome for you

has become the worst for the people of Gasan Island.

Without the process in politics,

it just becomes abuse with the help of the law and system like now!

The law and system are always abusive

to those that are against the nation.

Without that power,

governing is impossible.

Also,

the law and system

has appointed one person to government administration,

which is me, not you, Secretary Cha.

I've learned something after meeting you, sir.

President Park...

was someone who knew to fear this position.

That...

is the reason I can trust him.

While you are at the Blue House,

I will do my best to carry out my duties as Chief Presidential Secretary

to make sure nothing like this happens again.

Good day, sir.

You should've done better in the first place.

It was the President's order.

He ordered that we collect all the files and dispose of them

on the day they were completed.

Ji-won.

If all the files were collected and disposed of,

doesn't that mean there is a digital footprint of the disposal?

It would be possible at a place where classified information was shared.

Damn it.

I'll start with the files transmitted on June 20, 2018.

Who keeps the meeting minutes

during an NSC security meeting?

The head of the Crisis Management Center.

He also records everything that happens in the bunker...

and manages it.

That means although he isn't part of the NSC,

he can see all the information the NSC possesses,

as well as what occurs at their meetings.

There was one more person that knew

about the top secret file.

The naval base on Gasan Island will now be built without problems.

Once the naval base is completed,

the U.S. will have a Northeast Asian base

for the Aegis to come and go freely.

With the expansion of the Northeast Asian base,

the ROK-US alliance will become even stronger.

NORTHEAST ASIAN MILITARY BASE INFORMATION

NORTHEAST ASIAN MILITARY BASE INFORMATION

You plan to go this late at night?

The naval base matter has been decided already.

What difference will going at this hour make?

-Na-gyeong. -It isn't about the naval base.

Then what?

I get it.

I finally understand

the reason for the bombing.

The expansion of the naval base on Gasan Island

will proceed as Minister Oh wanted.

It's Agent Han, sir.

I have something to tell you, sir.

That means I should leave, right?

I'll let you talk.

What is it?

Seeing that you came this late,

it must be something serious, right?

Ms. Choe,

would you like to get some rest?

No, I'm fine.

You look tired.

I must be worried.

Excuse me?

I'm worried...

he might muster up the courage.

There was a reason

Minister Oh rushed the groundbreaking ceremony for the naval base.

If the US uses Gasan Island as its Northeast Asian base,

not only North Korea,

but also China will be in an uproar.

The Korean Peninsula

will become the center of military conflict in Northeast Asia.

This could mean...

that the peace treaty

President Yang was working on

will never come true.

President Park, that may be

what the bombers wanted to achieve.

They want to take Korea and the Korean Peninsula

back to before the peace treaty.

The bombing occurred right before the peace treaty signing,

and they made Myung Hae-joon confess to it,

making it look like North Korea was responsible.

Now, they're expanding their naval base on Gasan Island.

Their objective was clear

and precise from the start.

They're bringing

a new Cold War system to the Korean Peninsula.

And?

What do they get out of it?

Fear.

We inculcate fear,

so no one can defy us.

In this divided nation,

ideological disputes are still the best cure

to shut up the troublesome people.

You saw what happened with Myungin Naval Base.

Only after an ideological dispute began

was it easily settled.

We cut the people of the island off from the rest of the nation,

and had them become suspicious of one another.

It doesn't matter

where the conflicts began.

"Whose side are you on?"

They just need to take sides.

If it's that effective,

we'll have to continue using it for a long time.

That's patriotism.

The VIP

thinks so as well.

Minister Oh

is a presidential candidate

that was designed meticulously from the beginning...

in order to create a country the bombers want.

-Hold the bottom. -Move slowly.

Until the day the Republic of Korea

becomes so strong that no one will dare mistreat our country...

-No! -It's a gun!

-Get down! -Watch out!

We will never condone any threat to the safety

or lives of our people.

And just as they planned,

he's become the most favored presidential candidate.

He might really become the next President at this rate.

That's why Secretary Cha

wasn't at the Blue House that day.

Is he trying to cover up his wrongdoings?

When I'm at the Blue House,

that won't ever happen.

-Good morning. -Vote for Kang Sang-gu.

Thank you.

-Good morning. -Good luck!

Thank you.

-Can I take a selfie with you? -Of course.

-Good morning. -Vote for Kang Sang-gu.

-Good morning. -Vote for Kang Sang-gu.

-It's an honor. -Good morning.

-Thank you. Bye. -Bye.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

People know you the most,

but your approval ratings are so...

Good morning.

Mr. Yun,

you don't know until the ballots are counted.

Come on. You should've dyed your hair or something.

Kids nowadays say that your looks make up for welfare.

Park Mu-jin and Oh Yeong-seok are both good looking.

Dye my hair?

The presidential election isn't a popularity vote.

You people should be ashamed.

If the media verified the candidates like it should have,

unqualified people wouldn't be the top two candidates.

Hello, vote for Kang Sang-gu.

Hello.

Hello, vote for Kang Sang-gu.

Who? Who is unqualified?

Park Mu-jin? Oh Yeong-seok?

Whom do you mean?

Good morning. Vote for Kang Sang-gu.

This is simply a tip that I'm giving you

with the purest of intentions so the media can verify it.

I don't know how to do negative campaigning.

Good morning. Vote for Kang Sang-gu.

The Chief Presidential Secretary.

You know him,

the one that always sounds like a jerk.

Me?

What do you mean?

It's just as I said.

I heard you were investigated by the security team

regarding the bombing.

Who told you that?

So you were in fact investigated,

seeing that you're asking for the source.

I was proved not guilty.

I thought you knew everything about the world of politics,

but you can't seem to watch your own back.

Until the real bomber is found,

there will constantly be talk about you just for being suspected.

People don't care about the truth.

They believe what they want to.

-Ms. Woo. -You are President Park's

Chief Presidential Secretary and closest advisor.

And President Park

is the biggest beneficiary of the bombing no matter what anyone says.

It's the perfect setting for those who like conspiracy

to imagine all they want.

REPORTER LEE YONG-WON, REPORTER JUNG BONG-HEE

What is going on this early?

Did you know, Secretary Jeong?

Secretary Cha was being investigated by the Terrorism Task Force.

Even the Blue House didn't know.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION

Is that why you plan to leave the Blue House?

It's the best I can do.

It's better to stay at your job

and fight against the media's attack,

considering your political career.

Considering the presidential election,

it's better for me to quit

as soon as possible so I don't burden President Park.

Did President Park give you an answer?

Did he decide to run for President?

I'm sure...

he won't answer you to the end.

It's important for him to remain a good person.

He can't stand getting dirt on his hands.

He's clean

and distant.

President Park...

will end up running for President.

Since he's a good person.

Please take good care of President Park, Secretary Jeong.

But...

Are you saying Secretary Cha quit?

Yes.

He said he didn't want to be a burden on you, sir.

That's why I'm here in his stead

to hear your answer.

You haven't decided, have you?

If this keeps up,

Minister Oh will become President.

Then it will become impossible to find the people behind the bombing.

Tension will escalate on the Korean Peninsula as they wish,

and what happened with Gasan Island will happen

wherever there is a conflict with the government.

Is that okay?

President Park,

will you be okay with that?

I...

am not qualified.

Secretary Cha...

sacrificed his political career.

He believed you'd run for President...

since you are a good person.

Secretary Jeong, why don't you...

You're being stubborn and trying to fight with your bare hands

on the battlefield because you're scared you'll get your sword bloody.

There can be two outcomes.

You either die bleeding or surrendering.

I...

don't want to fight under a commander like that anymore.

I want to win.

Even you said

that I'm not cut out for this position.

I wanted to see, just once,

a world in which the good person wins.

I am Park Mu-jin,

the Acting President.

President Park is back.

He's holding a press conference at Chunchugwan.

We heard the security team investigated Secretary Cha Yeong-jin.

I heard he violated safety regulations regarding terrorist attacks.

Is this true?

-Please verify this, sir. -Is it true?

-Please give us an answer. -Please comment.

-Is this true? -Please answer us.

-Did he-- -It's true.

I heard Secretary Cha handed in his letter of resignation.

Does that mean he admits he was involved?

The internal investigation proved

that all suspicions surrounding Secretary Cha

were not true.

I would like to make this clear to everyone.

Secretary Cha

was not involved in the attack of the National Assembly building.

Notwithstanding your statement,

until the real bomber is found,

the fact that he was suspected of involvement itself

will raise the people's suspicions.

What do you say about this?

When did the Blue House become aware

that Secretary Cha was being suspected?

Were you going to cover it up although you knew?

Did the Blue House intend to replace him

because of the pressure?

-Please explain it to us. -Sir.

-Please answer us. -Please give a comment.

-Please tell us. -Sir.

The reason why Secretary Cha submitted his letter of resignation...

was because

he feared the media's reports, based on mere speculations

in the interest of gaining attention

regardless of the facts at hand,

would incite distrust between the people

and the Blue House.

We did not accept

his resignation.

It is because

the Blue House and I believe

the media's suspicions

and verification are solely to support

the people's right to know and to serve the public interest at all times.

I trust that you will protect

our nation's dignity.

I will be straightforward.

Will you run for President?

-He's running for President? -Really?

Were you aware of this?

You're the one in charge of public information.

Exactly. What's Ms. Woo's problem?

She's so direct.

I'd like you to ask me

a completely different question and distract the reporters

so that the press won't be fixated

on Secretary Cha.

Then

please grant me

an exclusive interview.

Will you announce your candidacy

for the presidential election?

-Please answer the question. -Tell us, sir.

I'm sorry...

for the late reply.

I will be

running for President.

The people want a leader who has the will for power.

But they do not trust a politician with a lust for power.

Minister Oh is your rival.

He's the strongest candidate.

Would you be able to oppose President Park if it were you?

Are you planning to legislate the Discrimination Act?

Given the situation?

Let's turn the tables during this election.

I need to prevent President Park from running for President.

I'm curious to find out

who will be sitting here in 30 days.

Subtitle translation by Soo-ji Kim