All language subtitles for CHIEF.DETECTIVE.1958.E08

[♪ theme music playing]

Chief Detective 1958

This series is unrelated to any places,
persons, settings or events.

Scenes involving animals were filmed in
compliance with animal welfare guidelines.

[anchor] Looking into our nation's
five-year plan to produce steel…

Self-Reliance Pioneer Corps

300 children and unemployed persons

who lived their lives in dishonor

will plow the land
and find a new lease on life.

The land, stretching 240 jungbo,
is annually scheduled to produce

about 1,000 seoms of rice
and 1,500 seoms of barley.

Episode 8
Regarding Guilt

[car horn honking]

[drunk 1 mumbling]

[groans]

[dogs barking in distance]

[♪ foreboding music playing]

-[thwacks]
-[groans]

[robber] Let's go!

[drunk 2 grunts]

[♪ ominous music playing]

-[thwacks]
-[drunk 3 groans]

[groans, breathes heavily]

[sighs deeply]

Did you go to the temple to pray
early this morning?

Well, yes.

You really don't have to worry.

If the heavens give us a child, then good.

If not, then it'll just be us two
living happily.

You don't mind not having a child?

Of course I don't mind.

Passing on my family name
doesn't matter to me at all.

What matters to me is us two.

Are you saying that just to comfort me?

No, I mean it.

Let's eat.

The soup is unbelievably good today.

[soft chuckle]

[Yeonghan sighs]

Episode 8

[Chief Yu] My goodness. Hey.

You'll blow the window open.

[Yeonghan] I'll make sure
I don't blow toward you.

What's weighing you down?

Nothing. Life is amazing.

Come on, tell me.

[Yeonghan sighs deeply]

How did you feel
when Eunyoung was born, Chief?

[Chief Yu] I just felt dazed.

It hit me like a truck
that I was actually a dad.

That's just how it was.

The world is a scary place,

and it'll only get worse.

Would it be right for me

to bring a child into this world?

[inhales deeply]

Hmm…

I'm afraid…

[sighs]

…of passing on such a cruel world
to my child.

Am I making sense?

We're used to seeing
how dark the world is,

so it makes sense
for you to feel that way.

I'm able to bear the brunt of it…

but my child may not be like me.

[soft chuckle]

It's the parents' job
to give their children the world,

but it's on the children
to accept that world.

No parent worth their salt
is full of fear.

It takes a lot of guts
to be a parent, you know.

[scoffs]

[clicks tongue, inhales deeply]

[Hojeong] Chief Yu!

It's an emergency, sir.

Three in one night?

Yes, and at 30-minute intervals.

And the location?

The second street
of Sangbeon in Jongnam, sir.

They were all assaulted
with a blunt weapon

and robbed in a drunken state.

All three of the victims
were also middle-aged men.

They picked seemingly well-off victims
unable to put up a fight.

How hurt are the victims?

Two are seriously injured but conscious,

and one hasn't yet regained consciousness.

What kind of a bold prick

commits a serial snatching
in the middle of Seoul?

Considering the crime,
the victims were assaulted very heavily.

Crimes against the drunk
have a strong chance of repeating.

We need to catch the perp at once.

All right.

Hey, snatchers are as quick as lightning.

It's like trying to catch a rabbit.

[Nansil] Pardon me, Chief Yu.

Here's a fast rabbit. What is it?

A woman in her thirties
was murdered in Hwasin-dong.

But we need to go catch a snatcher.

The other units are all working security
for a National Police event.

Do those National Police punks think
they're the president?

Detective Seo and I will take a look
at the murder case.

All right.

Let's go catch that rabbit, Gyeonghwan.

I hope the snatcher has big bunny ears
so I can bite them right off.

[door closes]

Goodness, there's never
a peaceful day in this city.

Look for any witnesses first.

Question the victims too.

Would they even remember anything
if they were drunk?

They just might remember
the moment they got hit.

One time I was drunk,
I hit my foot on the door sill.

That sobered me up right away.

If you're plastered,
you could get beat by 10 guys

and not remember a thing.

They're taking a lot today.

[member] One at a time.

-Come on, get on.
-[teen] Where are we going?

Gosan Pioneer Corps?

What in the world is that?

[Yeonghan] Kwangyoung and Gosan
are running a land reclamation project.

Those kids are heading over to work.

It used to be called
the Self-Reliance Pioneer Corps.

They give you money and land
and let you settle down there.

Maybe I should join them then.

Come on, are you strong enough
to even lift a shovel?

All I need to do
is bite the shovel, Yeonghan!

[both chuckle]

You'll end up in a circus
showing off your feat of strength.

[laughter]

Oh, no. Never mind.

[Gyeonghwan] Do you know anything
about the snatchings from last night?

-[vendor] No.
-[Gyeonghwan] Is that so?

Well, thank you.

Did you hear about the snatchings
or know anyone who did?

-[Gyeonghwan] Hello.
-No.

No? Thank you.

It's the same story in that back alley,
the front of the theater,

and this place right here.

Even right before curfew,
these places aren't so empty.

And yet we can't find any witnesses

whether they be merchants or residents.

But I mean,
we're not even on the outskirts.

This is the heart of the city.

The culprit is one lucky guy.

Either he's lucky

-or there's more of them.
-What?

Someone acted as a lookout,

and the other struck
while no one was looking.

Why would they put so much effort
into robbing people here?

Do you know where the richest neighborhood
in Korea is?

Well…

Right, it's this neighborhood.

[indistinct chatter]

-Greetings, sir.
-[Yeonghan] Yes.

[softly]
Who's that?

He's the victim's son.

He discovered the body
and reported the murder.

[sighs]

-Let's go.
-All right.

[Yeonghan] Hello, sir.

[examiner] Hello.

This is the bloodiest murder
I've seen recently.

What can you tell us?

The stab wounds
are concentrated on her chest.

I can roughly count
about 10 to 12 punctures.

The cause of death is hypovolemic shock
due to multiple punctures.

Roughly estimating

based on the state of rigor mortis,

the time of death
is between 4 to 5 a.m. this morning.

That's right after curfew was lifted.

Was that the murder weapon?

[examiner] Yes. According to the son,
it's a fruit knife they use at home.

[Hojeong]
I barely see any signs of resistance.

Yeonghan, it seems
she was murdered in her sleep.

Is there anything else we should know?

[examiner] Well,

she has a cut on her left forefinger,

which was probably
from four or five days ago.

I'll let you know any other details
after the autopsy.

[Yeonghan] What's your name?

It's Kim Mansoo.

Okay, Mansoo.

Did you hear anything
out of the ordinary last night?

So you found your mother like that
as soon as you woke up?

[soft sob]

Yes.

Usually,

she wakes me up in the mornings.

But she didn't come this morning,

so I went to her room and…

[sighs]

I assume
your gate is always closed at night.

Was it open this morning?

Yes, it was open when I checked.

And your father?

He passed away last year.

He drowned while fishing.

You go to school, don't you?
Are you on vacation?

Yes, but…

I can't go to school even if it starts.

Why not?

I have…

lung problems.

I've taken time off of school
since last year.

[Officer Nam clears throat]

[Officer Nam] Detective Park.

I think you should step outside
for a moment.

All right.

Just a moment, Mansoo.

Right here.

It seems the perpetrator came through here

and entered over this wall.

Then after the murder,

they escaped through the gate.

Were there any signs of robbery?

No, her wallet was untouched
and the house was clean.

The motive must be a grudge then.

In that case,

it's likely the victim was killed
by an acquaintance.

[♪ pensive music playing]

[bird cawing]

[victim 1]
It all happened in the blink of an eye.

I felt a flash of pain

and immediately blacked out.

So you couldn't see any faces?

Not at all. I was struck from behind.
[groans]

Where did you drink?

At the Royal Beer
on the second street of Sangbeon.

Jeez, that's one luxurious pub.

[victim 2] I was plastered.

I only remember something hitting my head.

Rack your brain and try to recall
even an ounce of detail,

perhaps the perp's clothes
or what weapon they used on you.

Just an ounce of detail?

This is all a bit blurry,

but I think they beat me with a club,

one of those short bats you see in films
that old prison guards used.

It felt like one of those.

Do those even exist nowadays?

I guess there are some nasty prison guards
that are out and about.

-[both] Thank you.
-[victim 2] No problem.

It was an ordinary, peaceful family.

I know that Mansoo is a good kid.

Was there any bad blood that you know of?

Goodness, not at all.

Mansoo's father was also a gentle soul,

not to mention rich.

Do you happen to know

anything more about the family's wealth?

Rumors say

Mansoo's father owns
a large plot of land in Chungcheong-do.

-Land?
-They found a hot spring on it

and now it's worth its weight in gold.

[neighbor 1] I've heard that rumor too.

But I don't know if I should say this.

Wouldn't it be better to tell them?

You're killing me right now.
Please just tell me.

You see, Mansoo's mother…

She had another man.

Was this while her husband was alive?

No, of course not!

They started seeing each other
shortly after he died,

-so you can't call that an affair.
-[neighbor 2] That's right.

He was something like a boyfriend to her.

[neighbor 1] He used to meet her secretly.

But lately, he would frequent it
like it was his house.

[whispers]
Goodness, look at that.

Do you know who the man is?

He manages the Chungtap Grill
in front of Jongnam Hall.

[boyfriend] What?

How could this happen?

When did you last see her?

Yesterday afternoon.

We had lunch nearby.

-And after that?
-We said goodbye around 2 p.m.

I didn't see her after.

We had promised to meet tonight.

Where were you last night?

I went home and slept after work.

Is there anyone who can vouch for you?

Yes, my boarding house lady can.

You can ask her.

How long had you been together?

A little less than a year.

She was a customer at the restaurant
when I first saw her.

How was your relationship?

Did you often fight at all?

We had small quarrels now and then.

But otherwise, we were on great terms.

How was your relationship
with her son, Mansoo?

Mansoo?

Naturally, he wasn't too happy
about me at first,

but we were slowly growing closer.

He would even visit my place,

and we've gone on trips together.

Do you normally wear those shoes?

Excuse me?

No.

I only wear them at work.

-Could you write down your address?
-[boyfriend] Yes, sir.

To what do I owe the pleasure, sir?

Listen, I have
a very important job for you.

A very important job, sir?

Your wish is my command.

This weekend, the Supreme Council
and the ladies of the KCIA…

Yes?

…will be visiting the Jongnam
Department Store for some shopping.

Shopping, sir?

Yes, shopping.

As they are the wives of important men,
we need capable security guards.

A few ladies of the Sinkwang Society
will also be joining.

I see.

How many men would be required?

I'd say about 20.

-Sir.
-Yes?

I ask that you don't take this

-the wrong way, sir.
-Go on.

[inhales deeply]

You see, 20 bodyguards

make up quite a number of men.

And we have a backlog of cases

-that we need to--
-Wait a minute.

Since when did you talk back?

My apologies, sir.

Some might think

that you actually dedicate yourself
to the safety of Jongnam.

[dry chuckle]

-Forgive me, sir.
-No buts about it.

Protect the ladies.

That's your job.

Yes, sir.

-[Choi] I'm off.
-[Baek] Yes, sir.

Right, you don't have to come out.

-No, I should--
-Hey.

-Yes, sir?
-Do a good job.

Yes, sir.
[soft chuckle]

-Take care, sir.
-Take care, sir.

Hey, Chief Hwang.

Yes, sir?

Didn't you tell me once about a problem
at Jongnam Department Store?

Right, yes.

I discovered

that some of the imported goods
were smuggled, sir.

Go and find all the smuggled goods
and round up the culprits immediately.

Also, make sure to suspend
their operation for two months.

[Chief Byun] Sir?

But make sure you do it quietly.

Right. Understood, sir.

May I ask why the sudden ambush
on Jongnam Department Store, sir?

It's Deputy Director Choi's orders.

I see.

-Understood, sir.
-[Baek] Okay.

All of you, come with me.

Follow me. Let's get ready to roll.

-Hey.
-[Chief Byun] Yes, sir?

Make sure they keep things quiet.

Yes, sir.

Take care, sir.

[Baek] If you keep this up,
Deputy Director,

we must go our separate ways.

He returned at about 10 p.m.,

and he seemed utterly exhausted.

Did you see him leave
once the curfew was lifted?

[boarding house owner] I wouldn't know
since I'm not awake at that time.

I'm usually up by 6 a.m.

How far is Mansoo's house
from here on foot?

From the entrance to Honghwajang
to the entrance to Jongnam Bakery,

it should take about 20 minutes at most.

Round trip, it's 40 minutes.

That's still within 5 a.m.

[Nansil panting]

-I'm here.
-Do you have it, Officer Bong?

Yes, I took great pains
to trace the marks.

-Good job. Let's compare them.
-[Nansil] Okay.

[Yeonghan] Just a moment.

[Nansil] Pardon me.

Take a look at this.

Look for any other bloodstains.

All right.

Detective Park.

Go arrest her boyfriend.

I need to stop by at Mansoo's first.

Legal profession

The basics of law

Pure law

[Yeonghan] Wait.

How do I read this again?

I know how to read this.

It's "Boys, be ambitious."

Right. That's the famous quote, right?

Yes.

[Yeonghan]
It's a nice quote to have on your wall.

[coughing]

Hey, are you all right?
Do you need some water?

No, I'm all right.

Okay.

[Yeonghan] Look, I'm just wondering.

Will you be all right alone?

My aunts will be here later tonight.

I see.

Make sure to do your duty
as the chief mourner.

I'm used to it, being it's my second time.

Right, I see.

What grade are you in this year?

I'm 15, so eighth grade.

You're still so young.

By the way…
[clears throat]

…why did you drop by?

Here's the thing.
[inhales sharply]

It's about Dukyong.

Yes?

We'll have to investigate further,

but as of now,

he's a suspect
in the murder of your mother.

There's no way.

He wouldn't hurt a single fly.

I know it's hard to believe,

but he's the prime suspect for now.

He's a good man.
I've even gone over to his place a lot.

[Yeonghan] I understand.

And according to him,

he and your mother barely quarreled.
Is that true?

Yes, they were on good terms.

Actually,

that one day,

-they did have a big fight.
-That one day?

[Dukyong] Let's just sell a fourth of it.

[Mansoo's mom]
How many times do I have to say no?

The land has to stay intact
until Mansoo becomes an adult.

[Dukyong] It's not like I'm asking for it!

I'm just asking you to lend it to me.

All right, but later.
Once Mansoo becomes an adult--

Wait.

Are you using Mansoo as an excuse
to refuse to lend it to me?

[Mansoo's mom] What did you just say?
Why do you have to put it like that?

And when was this?

It was last week.

[Sangsun]
How have we gotten no information all day?

I'm starving.

The perps just vanished into thin air.

[Gyeonghwan] We can't even find a trace.

[drunks mumbling]

Aren't those the Gosan Pioneer guys?

-I think so.
-[drunk 1] Are you serious?

Hey! Where's my apology?

[Gyeonghwan] You little…

Okay, I'm very sorry.

I didn't mean to run into you.
[chuckles]

It's my bad. Just go on your way.

What if I don't want to?

[groans]

My shoulder!

My shoulder's injured,

-so you better pay for my treatment.
-[laughter]

Your bones aren't made of styrofoam,
are they?

It's too much to ask for medical fees
for something like this.

Hey, look.

I need treatment, okay?

-Give me 40,000 hwan.
-[laughter]

-I need to go to the hospital.
-Yes, we'll take you.

You want 40,000 hwan?

All right, fine.

But first, I'll give you a beating
worth 40,000 hwan!

[yelps]

-[drunk 2] Hey!
-[drunk 3] Hey!

That little prick.

You're both dead tonight.

-[drunk 1] Come at me.
-Bring it on.

[Gyeonghwan] Come on.
I'll sober you all right up!

Hold on, hold on, hold on!

All right. Just calm down a minute.

We're cops.

You should've told us sooner!

Sooner when?

I couldn't even get a word in.

Anyway, just go home.

-Thank you!
-[Sangsun] Go on.

-[drunks] Thank you!
-Just go.

-Come on.
-Let's go.

[groans]
What's with those clubs?

Do they think
they're some old-timey prison guards?

[shouts]
Freeze!

[♪ comical music playing]

[Hojeong] So you killed her

in a fit of rage
when she refused to lend you money, no?

T-That's not true.

Didn't you two fight over land?

Mansoo told me what he heard.

It's true that we had a quarrel,

but I apologized the next day,
and we made up.

Then how do you explain
your footprints by the wall

and this blood-stained shirt?

Well…

I truly have no idea
how my footprints got there.

And this shirt…

I really don't know
how the blood got on it either.

Please believe me.
I-I swear it wasn't me.

Put this shirt on.

Sorry?

Now.

It was you guys, wasn't it?

You beat drunk men
and robbed them with this club.

That wasn't us.

Why on earth would we do that?

You punks asked for hospital money
just for a slight hit.

You would definitely do this!

I was just too drunk
to think straight earlier.

We're recruiters
for the Gosan Pioneer Corps.

Right, so why would the recruiters
for the Gosan Pioneer Corps

carry something so menacing?

Do you recruit people by beating them up?

We need that to keep order.

And it's not just us who carry these.

The recruiters in Gosan and Kwangyoung
also carry them around.

[Chief Yu] You little punks.

Why would you need a club to keep order?

You see, in order to keep order--

-[door opens]
-[leader] Excuse me.

[footsteps approaching]

This shirt is mine, it's true.

But I had put on some weight,
and it got too small for me.

I haven't worn it…

since last year.

-[knock on door]
-[door opens]

The boarder in the room
next to Lee Dukyong is here.

Park!

What brings you here, sir?

I wanted to tell you
that he was in his room until morning.

[loud snoring]

[shouts]
Dukyong! Dukyong!

[Park sighs]
I really need to move out of this place.

[sighs]

[snoring continues]

And what time was that?

It was two in the morning,
and he snored until seven.

[both sigh]

These three men

were with us all of last night.

We drank the night away at Jongnam Hall
to foster unity as a group.

All our members can vouch for them.

[exhales deeply]

[Chief Yu] What are these for?

At times,

the hot-blooded youth we recruit
tend to cause trouble.

We don't hit them,
as they're just enough to scare them.

We'll ask around at Jongnam Hall and--

Stop barking up the wrong tree

and investigate the real culprits.

What do you mean?

Recently, some of our members
have come under attack.

Who attacked them?

If we knew,
we wouldn't ask you to find out.

How many were there then?

How many was it?

Three, sir.

[member] Right.

Those guys took our members' clubs too.

So the assailants have their clubs.

That's right.

[Chief Yu sighs]

[Sangsun] This night is a bust.

You got nothing, and we got nothing.

Jeez, I feel busted.

So the snatchers could be the same guys
who stole the clubs?

It looks like it so far.

How do we catch those damned rabbits?
[annoyed groan]

About the murder.

If the victim's boyfriend
isn't the killer,

then someone tried to frame him.

They may have tried

but made a foolish mistake.

I don't think they imagined
the shirt would be small on him.

Seeing they had easy access
to his shoes and shirt,

they must have
freely hung around his place.

That's why they say
friends are worse than enemies.

If you want to live a long life,
you've got to be a hermit.

These snatchers have had
a taste of money here

and most likely won't leave soon.

-We'll go on a stakeout.
-Mm.

[♪ pensive music playing]

[Dukyong] Naturally, he wasn't too happy
about me at first,

but we were slowly growing closer.

He would even visit my place,

and we've gone on trips together.

[Mansoo] There's no way.

He's a good man.
I've even gone over to his place a lot.

[drunk groans]

[sighs]
We don't know if they'll be here.

Should I go to a different pub?

Just stay.

How do you expect me to catch them alone?

We can't catch them
if they've left Jongnam already.

You can't be on a stakeout
with all those doubts in your head.

Just hope that you'll catch them,

waiting for ages and ages.

-Eventually, you get them.
-[scoffs]

"Ages and ages"?
[chuckles]

[yawns]
All right.

In period of mourning

[snickering softly]

[♪ ominous music playing]

[gate squeaking]

[gate clanks]

Don't wake her up. Just let her sleep.

-Is she your aunt?
-Yes.

I was worried you might be alone.

I'd like to pay my respects
while I'm here.

Thank you.

[♪ pensive music playing]

[Yeonghan] No.

There's no way.

There's nothing wrong with him smiling.

[door opens, closes]

[Nansil] Detective Park.

I contacted Pajung Police Station,
which was in charge of the case then.

Kim Mansoo's father was Kim Geunseok.

He drowned last March
in Jungnam Reservoir while fishing.

Kim Mansoo, his son,
was with him at that time.

-What about Mansoo's mother?
-She wasn't with them.

And I also learned something strange.

Kim Geunseok used to be
a professional swimmer in Gangwon-do.

So a former swimmer
somehow drowned to death?

[Nansil] Yes.

[♪ tense music rising]

Goodness.

Detective Jo.

Detective Jo.

-Detective Jo!
-[snoring]

Jeez.

-[shouts] Detective Jo!
-[yelps]

What's going on?

Did the snatchers appear?

The third victim of the snatchers

has regained consciousness.

All right, let's go.

-[Nansil] Come on.
-Where is he?

-Come with me.
-[Sangsun] Okay.

Let's go. Go.

[Baek] Sir.

Greetings.

You little prick!

[♪ tense music playing]

[Choi pants]

[exhales deeply]

What could be the matter, sir?

Don't you know?

[shouts]
The Jongnam Department Store!

I don't seem to understand, sir.

You shut the place down

to get out of guard duty, didn't you?

Deputy Director Choi,

-there seems to be a--
-I should have known.

It's never wise to take up
baseless morons like you.

Hey, you.

You should be extremely worried
about the days to come.

Just wait and see
where your damned pride takes you.

[exhales deeply]

[door slams]

[exhales deeply]

Isn't the procession tomorrow?

Don't get up, Mansoo.

[exhales heavily]

My aunts…

wanted to keep the funeral short.

Goodness, I didn't even
get to pay my respects.

You did good, Mansoo.

[exhales heavily]

I heard you were with your father
when he passed away too.

Why would you bring that up?

I was.

We heard he used to be a swimmer.

How unfortunate for him.

I'm sorry for bringing it up abruptly.

That day…

he had one too many drinks of liquor.

I was asleep on the fishing platform.

If only I hadn't fallen asleep…

he wouldn't have died.

[coughing]

Are you okay? Should I get you water?

It's all right.

I can get it.

Hojeong.

Head over to Seo Jongtaek Clinic
where Mansoo used to go

and check his medical record.

I'll stop by his school.

All right. Got it.

DONGSAN TEXTILE CO., LTD.
JONGNAM MILL

Better productivity, reduce defects,
and improve work environment

[indistinct chatter and laughter]

I wonder where Yangja is.

[Yangja] Nansil!

-[chuckles]
-[Nansil exclaims]

It's been so long!

[Yangja] I missed you.
[chuckles]

Ta-da.

-What is it?
-Your favorite red bean bread.

Really?
[chuckles]

I can't wait to eat it.

-Thank you, middle school best friend.
-No problem.

This looks so good.

Mmm!

-It tastes amazing.
-Eat up.

By the way…

have you heard anything about our mill

at the police station?

Like what?

The mill called in a report

that a worker has been disappearing
every month.

That's news to me.

How do they disappear?

At the start of each month,
someone vanishes into thin air

without any signs of quitting.

Come on, I'm sure they just quit.

Well, that's a possibility,

but they disappear suddenly,

leaving behind all their stuff at home.

Normally,

they'd pack their stuff
or mention that they're quitting.

Who reported it?

Me.

But I was scared,
so I didn't leave my name.

Okay.

I'll try to look into what's going on.

Thanks.

[teacher] He was a model student,
one of the top five at school.

He dreamed of becoming
a legal official too.

How was his behavior?

He was quiet and reserved,

but a warmhearted boy nonetheless.

Once, I saw him
holding a cat in the schoolyard

which turned out to be dead.

Why was he holding it?

Apparently, he found it
frozen to death on the way to school

and was hugging it out of sadness.

And this might be slightly trivial,

but there's something he doesn't know.

There is?

Yes.

Dongsan Textile Co.
Missing Female Workers Report

[♪ pensive music playing]

Missing workers were confirmed
to have returned home.

Thus, the investigation into the case
has been closed.

[softly]
"Unit 2."

[Sooman] As soon as possible.

We questioned everyone
but found no one with a grudge.

It's ridiculous.

Perhaps we should start over
from the beginning.

[♪ tense music playing]

Listen.

What if…

What if the culprit is someone…

we least suspect?

Mansoo, the son?

There's no way.

That can't be.

It's a bit harsh
to name her son a suspect.

I hate to even entertain the thought.

But who had the chance to weave
the murder and the fake suspect

while manipulating
an alibi for themselves?

The same goes for sleeping pills.

They were prescribed in January

and his father died in March.

A weak teenager would need such pills

to mask his father's murder…

as an unfortunate accident.

Sleeping pill prescription

[shocked gasp]

All right.

I get how he could
easily access the shoes.

But what about the blood?

If he stained the shirt
with his mother's blood,

he had to take it back
to the boyfriend's house.

Did he have the time to do that?

What's more,
at the estimated time of death,

the boyfriend was asleep in his room.

Perhaps he stained it
with some random blood?

No. Mansoo is smarter than we think.

He knows that simple blood analysis
is somewhat possible now.

He could have obtained
his mother's blood beforehand

and left the shirt prior to the crime.

But how would he have obtained
his mother's blood?

[examiner]
She has a cut on her left forefinger,

which was probably
from four or five days ago.

[Yeonghan] Hojeong.

Let's go.

-We'll be back, sir.
-What?

I'll be back, sir.

[snickering]

[snickering continues]

[Yeonghan] Is the paper that funny?

Dukyong told us that you caused the cut

on your mother's finger.

Goodness, the apples we had last time
were too soft and tasteless,

but they were still so expensive.

Fruits these days
are worth their weight in gold.

-Mom, let me try.
-What?

No, let go. You'll get hurt!

-[knife slashes]
-[Mansoo's mom] Oh, my!

[Mansoo's mom groans]

He said she got cut
when you insisted on peeling the apple.

Well, yes.

I acted like a child.

When you wiped her blood on a shirt…

were you also acting like a child?

I'm not sure…

I understand what you mean.

You know best…

what we mean.

[♪ tense music playing]

[telephone ringing]

This is Senior Superintendent Baek.

Yes?

I've been well, but who are you?

What?

Yes, sir.

I see.

My apologies, sir.

Yes, please speak freely.

Pardon? Me, sir?

[♪ tense music playing]

-Where?
-It's here.

Here?

Go ahead.

I rushed over as quickly as I could.

Forgive me for being late.

Have a seat.

You all can step out for a moment.

[♪ foreboding music playing]

Sangsun.

I'm getting tired of waiting
for ages and ages

on this stakeout.

How many days have we done this,
Detective Jo?

This is our second night.

[sighs]

So those rabbits only target people
with heavy pockets.

-That's right.
-I guess we're left with no choice.

Detective Jo,

we'll have to approach this case
from a new direction.

A new direction?

Sangsun.

Where was I?

A new direction.

Right.

Let's go.

Let me ask one more time.

Why did you kill your parents?

[breathes shakily]
I swear…

I didn't do it.

Detectives.

Why are you doing this to me?

Even without your confession,

we have enough circumstantial evidence
and physical proof.

This is simply a chance
for you to explain yourself.

We don't need a confession.

I-It wasn't me.

I swear it wasn't me.

I bet on my life that it wasn't.

Refute our reasoning.

Case Notes

Take it.

When you knew my father was a swimmer…

I knew I'd been found out.

[groans]

I've been here for three hours…

and I still can't come up with an excuse.

[scoffs]

You won, Detectives.
[soft chuckle]

[scoffs]

You little prick.

Why did I kill them?

Well,

I hated my father for saying

that he wouldn't pass on his land
to an ill son like me.

And I hated my mother

for dating another man
less than a year after he died.

Did you also hate the cat
for crying every day?

Wait.

[scoffs]

How did you know I killed the cat?

[♪ unsettling music playing]

Jeez.

You really got me dead to rights.

[soft chuckle]

[clicks tongue]

What's wrong with you?

You call yourself a human?

I've actually given that question
some deep thought.

[snickering]

I am a human.

It's just that…

I'm a little different from the others.

Being different
doesn't justify your crimes.

Come on.

I wasn't born this way
because I wanted to, you know?

It's not my fault.

Look, would you ask a left-handed kid

why they eat with their left hand?

Or would you ask a curly-haired kid

why their hair is so frizzy?

Of course you wouldn't.

Why can't you just accept
that I'm different?

I try to consider
the circumstances whenever I can,

but you're too far gone.

Go to the juvenile detention center

and let the older boys there
teach you a painful lesson.

We're done here.

[Yeonghan] Let's go.

[snickering]

[Mansoo] Ah!

Why would I go to a detention center?
[snickering]

In the worst-case scenario,

I'd be taken into youth custody
and reformed or whatever.

What on earth do you mean?

I'm saying

that I'd be a juvenile offender.

I haven't turned 14 yet, you know?

I'll turn 14…

in six months.

This means that through the end

of my trial and sentencing…

I'll still be a juvenile.

Is that how you were bold enough
to kill your parents?

I wouldn't say I was bold.

I just did my research.

Come on.

You're looking at
a prospective legal official here.

Oh, right.

Once they consider…

[groans]

…my lung disease…

[soft chuckle]

…and if I pretend I'm crazy,

I'll barely get a slap on the wrist,
won't I?

[Hojeong] You can run away from the law,

but not from the heavens' wrath.

Remember that.

[scoffs]

Sure, sure.

I might as well test

whether justice really prevails.

Instead of testing that,

why don't you see whether you're putting
your own head into the noose?

Thank you for the great time!

Wait a minute.

I almost forgot to pay my bill. Jeez.

And I'm someone who's drowning in money.

Thank you so much!

-Goodbye now.
-Take care.

-I'll be back again.
-Thank you, sir.

[Sangsun] My goodness.

-Take this.
-Thank you!

I wish you luck.

[Sangsun groaning]

[Sangsun] Sorry about that.

I'm drunk out of my mind.

Where am I even?
I feel sick to my stomach.

[♪ mischievous music playing]

-[metal clangs]
-[Sangsun groans]

[groaning]

Jeez.

That hurt like crap.

I would've died
if it wasn't for this thing.

You little punks.

-[Gyeonghwan grunts]
-[groans]

You all look younger than I expected.

Put the clubs down and come with us.

-[yells]
-[robbers groaning]

Stay down, stay down.

-[grunts]
-[club clatters]

[grunts]

[Sangsun] Hey, hey!

-You little punk!
-[groans]

[metal clanking]

Nice, I got him.
[laughing]

[Sangsun] Kneel and put your hands up.

[Mansoo sighs]

You can't keep a juvenile in lockup
for this long without a guardian.

Sure. We'll keep things legal.

Let him go.

Hurray.

[Mansoo snickering]

-[keys jangling]
-[lock clicks]

[Mansoo grunts]

[exhales sharply]

[Sangsun] We'll start with you.
How old are you?

I'm 17.

I'm 17.

I'm 16.

[Gyeonghwan]
How could you harass people for money?

It was you three who attacked
the Gosan Pioneer Corps members, no?

Is that when you stole these clubs?

[slams on table]
Spill it!

Bashing people's heads with these things

isn't something a human should do.

Well, we're not human.

W-What did you say?

We don't get treated like humans,

so we're not humans.

[teen] Just send us to jail.

At least we can eat there.

You shameless punks.

Fine. Let's say you aren't humans.

Who is it that treated you like subhumans?

No one cares about us.

We're all orphans.

Not all orphans go around
committing crimes, okay?

We're not asking you
to cut us slack for being orphans.

[Gyeonghwan sighs]

What's that?

What?

-Take a look at his wrist.
-Okay.

Give me your arm.

[♪ unsettling music playing]

[Mansoo] Are you walking me home?

[sighs]
You really don't have to.

It gets boring walking alone.

We'll take you home. Let's go together.

So those are your number tags
in the Gosan Pioneer Corps?

Why would they brand you like cattle?

Stop acting like you don't know.

You cops and soldiers are all in on this
with the Pioneer Corps!

We don't work with them, all right?

Just tell us what happened.

We ran away from Gosan…

because they treated us worse than cattle.

Don't they give out land
and help you settle down?

[teen] Those are all lies.

First, the recruiters beat us.

Then, the soldiers beat us.

-All for no reason.
-[♪ somber music playing]

We even saw nine-year-old kids…

beaten mercilessly too.

[inhales deeply]

Go on.

We had to shovel all day in our underwear

and only got
three balls of old rice to eat daily.

If anyone got sick,

they waited for them to die
and just buried them.

I should've just gone
to an orphanage instead.

So…

this was all revenge against Jang Sechul,
the leader of the Corps?

Yes.

We all suffered…

because of his lies.

[♪ somber music continues playing]

[teen] Detective.

When the government cheats us…

who do we turn to for compensation?

[Yeonghan]
Mansoo. Stand right there, will you?

Ta-da.

Whoa. Whoa.

[Mansoo breathing nervously]

What are you doing?

I'm thinking of directing a play
just like you did.

[breathes shakily]

"A cop walks home
a juvenile offender who committed murder.

It just so happened
that the juvenile had a knife hidden

and attacked the detective."

I have the prop right here.

[exhales shakily]

"Feeling threatened,

the detective aimed
at the juvenile's head…

and shot him."

[breathes shakily]
Can a detective do this?

You can't do that!

I can…

to a scum like you.

[Mansoo's mom gasps, groans]

[♪ ominous music playing]

[satisfied exhale]

[Yeonghan] Though your mother
had just died an unnatural death,

you were giggling your socks off
reading the funny papers.

You weren't being childish.
You were just out of your mind.

Little pricks like you

should be eliminated early on
for everyone's sake.

Spare me.

Please don't do it.

I heard you dream of becoming
a legal official.

Personally,

I don't want my descendants
to live in a world

where scum like you
get to be the wielders of the law.

So you need to die.

If you spare me,

I'll give you half of my father's land
when I inherit it.

Look at you
trying to strike a deal with adults.

Half?

No, I'll give you all of it!

I don't want your land.

I just want

-to put a bullet through your head.
-[gun cocks]

[breathing shakily]

[Mansoo] Please forgive me!

I know I deserve to die for my sins.

But please forgive me.

Are you sincerely repenting for your sins?

Yes, I'm genuinely sorry.

Please don't kill me.
[whimpers]

[♪ tense music playing]

It's too late now.

[♪ music swells]

-[gun clicks]
-[yelps]

-[gun clicking]
-[yelps]

[Yeonghan] Hmm?

-What?
-Come on, Yeonghan.

Darn, I forgot to load my gun.

[gun clicks]

Damn it! I knew you were lying.

Detectives can't just shoot people.
I'm going home.

What more do you want?

-[clicking]
-I told you I'm a juvenile.

[Mansoo] Let me go now!

You're not a juvenile.

[teacher]
But there's something he doesn't know.

-There is?
-Yes.

It's a secret only his mother and I knew.

Due to his illness,
Mansoo started elementary school late.

His mother worried that he'd get bullied
by the kids at school,

so she told him he was younger by a year.

He's a year older in the family registry.

[♪ intriguing music playing]

[Yeonghan] As such,
you're currently over the age of 14.

[breathes shakily]

And you destroyed

any hope I had
that you would sincerely repent

when faced with death.

Now,

you can proudly go
to the juvenile detention center.

"Boys, be ambitious"?

More like, "Boys…"

How do you put it in English?

[in English] "Boys,

feel guilty."

"Boys, feel guilty."

-[in Korean] Let's go.
-Okay.

[♪ thrilling music playing]

[Gyeonghwan] Was it Mansoo?

What will happen to him?

He's not a juvenile offender,

so he'll go to a correctional institute.

He would've been executed
if he was an adult.

He killed his parents.

His sentence won't be that heavy.

They'll consider his age
and give him about 15 years in prison.

I know the Juvenile Act was passed

to give young criminals a second chance,

but Mansoo is an exception.

He matured too terribly.

When bad kids get smarter,

they'll manipulate the law

with absolutely no shame.

I'd say the Juvenile Act
was meant for kids like the snatchers.

That's right. It was the abusive adults
that made them turn to crime.

That should be considered.

Let's all turn in a petition
for those kids.

-All right.
-We give it to the judge, right?

Yes, our petition should be enough
to lighten the sentence.

Should they still be punished at all?

Of course. Do the crime, do the time.

I couldn't answer
that one kid when he asked,

"Who do we turn to
when the government cheats us?"

The government should compensate them,

but they're all too busy
looking out for themselves

to give a damn.
[scoffs]

If the government won't compensate…

then I guess we need to take matters
into our own hands.

Gosan Pioneer Corps

-[teen groans]
-[member] Knees up, higher!

-[whimpers, groaning]
-You punk.

[teen whimpers, groans]

-[member] You punk.
-[teen sobbing]

[member] Get up. Get up!

[♪ upbeat music playing]

[Sangsun] Stop beating them up,
you pricks.

[groans]

Hey!

[groaning]

We're police.

We received a report that you're luring,
assaulting, and abusing

teenagers and vagrants.

We're the Gosan Pioneer Corps.

This is a national project
pursued by the chairman!

What national project
involves beating kids, you scum?

All you do in Gosan is beat them

and abuse the girls and the kids!

[Sechul] Those are all wild rumors.

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs
and the chairman can vouch for us.

So you're saying
they're all accomplices in your crimes?

What?

How dare some cop like you
insult the chairman?

If he's done something worth insulting,

then even the chairman
deserves a healthy mouthful.

Why discriminate?

You know what?

Detectives or not,
you all deserve a beating.

Get them!

-[member] Beat them!
-[Sangsun] Hey!

[gun cocks]

Freeze, or I'll put a hole
through your heads.

Why do I keep having to pull my gun out,
Detective Seo?

It seems too many people
are lacking guilt and shame.

I'll give you one more chance
since this is a national project.

But listen carefully.

If we ever find out
that you're doing this again,

you're all going to jail,
and this national project be damned.

-Got it?
-Yes.

Don't let the position get to your head,
you fraud.

Get up, boys.

-Don't be afraid.
-Let's go, boys.

[Sangsun] It's all right.

[Gyeonghwan] Take it easy.

[Sechul] That little…

[gun cocks]

-[gunshot]
-[all yelp]

[Yeonghan] Sorry for startling you, boys.

You guys will be fine now. Get going.

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

[teen] Thank you.

-[Yeonghan] Let's go.
-[detectives] Okay.

Jongnam Police Station

[Choi scoffs, chuckles]

How dare that cocky prick Doseok
tell me to come to him?

-[investigator] Mr. Choi Dalsik?
-What?

What are you doing?

We're from
the Special Prosecutor's Office.

The Special Prosecutor's…

What for?

-You are under arrest for violating…
-[handcuffs clicking]

…the Illegal Wealth Act
and the Special Crimes Act.

That's ridiculous! Take these off me now.

Do you know who I am?

I'm the Deputy Director
of the National Police!

[Choi] Let me go!

Baek Doseok!

-Honey.
-[Hyeju] Yes?

I learned something
while dealing with the last case.

What is it?

It might not come as a surprise…

but there are people who are born evil

as there are people who are born good.

Those good people

are the ones who help make
this hellish world a bit more like heaven.

[Hyeju] Mm.

[inhales deeply]

Our baby would grow up
to be a good person, don't you think?

Of course. I'm sure…

Honey.

What did you just say?

[soft chuckle]
I'm pregnant.

[♪ gentle music playing]

What? I…

R-Really?

-My goodness. Wait.
-[soft chuckle]

When did you find out?

I went to the hospital this morning.

Why didn't you tell me?

You were busy beating up
the Gosan Pioneer Corps.

-You're right.
-[soft chuckle]

I knew the heavens would bless us
right about this time.

Honey.

Is our baby really…

Yes, our baby is right here.

-I can't believe this, honey.
-[chuckles]

Thank you so much.

I can't express how happy I am.

-Are you sure you're happy?
-Of course.

I'm the happiest man
in the world right now.

I'm as happy as when I first met you.

Hmm.

I'll take good care of our baby.

I hope our child grows up to be like you.

We'll do it together.

We'll help our child
make it through this dangerous world.

-[Hyeju] Of course.
-Honey.

[Yeonghan] I love you so much.

-[Hyeju] I love you too.
-[both chuckle]

Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl?

[Yeonghan] Hmm…

Maybe twins?

-[Hyeju] Twins?
-What should we name them?

The Juvenile Act of Korea
was legislated on June 22, 1953

and enforced beginning on January 1, 1954.

Initially, juvenile offenders
were classified as those aged 12 to 14

but was revised to ages 10 to 14 in 2008,
as it remains now.

Juvenile offenders do not receive
criminal punishment

and are instead placed
under protective disposition.

[crows cawing]

[cawing continues]

[cawing continues]

How strange.

Those things
have been circling like that for days.

[♪ foreboding music playing]

Dongsan Textile Co., Ltd.
Jongnam Mill

[♪ somber music playing]

Chief Detective 1958

[Nansil] A girl named Kim Soonjung
has gone missing.

[Sangsun]
What on earth did you do to your workers?

[Yeonghan] How did you get this picture?

[Chief Yu]
Their fathers are all men in high places.

[Gyeonghwan]
This is all the evidence we need.

-Let's get them right now.
-[official's son 1] Are you sure?

You're a killer.

[official's son 2]
I want that prick dead.

[Baek] Could you get rid of him?

In what world
does a cop help out a suspect?

-[Baek] How do you never change?
-[groans]

[detective] Are you all right?

[Sangsun] Bring me a stretcher!

[Yeonghan] We're going to arrest
those punks today, no matter what.

Translated by Jihun Lee