Original subtitles

Defendant, you may make your final defense.

Ko Hye-ran.

That name represented...

a symbol for a successful woman

and an honest reporter.

However, people don't know

how hard she fought

to get to where she stands now.

Like a swamp,

her poor family dragged her down.

For people without a bright future, they only have two choices.

To give up

or to shake it off and stand up.

The defendant, Ko Hye-ran, chose the latter.

She lived fiercely, determined

and at times heartless.

To achieve her dreams as a reporter, she just pushed forward.

Twelve years after she started as the local news reporter,

she became an anchor for News Nine

and gained the reporter of the year award for five consecutive years.

As a reporter,

as a wife,

Ko Hye-ran fought harder than anyone.

As time went by,

Kevin Lee was casted for a special episode in News Nine.

A professional golfer, Kevin Lee, was suddenly involved in a car accident.

While this incident should have been filed as a car accident,

suddenly it took a turn...

and became a case.

All the fingers pointed to Ko Hye-ran.

Why did this small minor incident, something the prosecutors

didn't even care about,

become a murder case?

From the bidding corruption of the Kanghae Construction

to the witness subornation of perjury.

Was this series of events...

just a coincidence?

The detective in charge

designated Ko Hye-ran as the culprit even before

the start of the investigation.

The media didn't check up on the facts and just selected the story

and broadcasted it indiscriminately.

Even without any concrete evidence,

the prosecutor in charge put my defendant on trial.

Going so far as to give a false testimony,

the witness wanted an outlet for his frustration.

Next,

a family member wanting payback

for losing her husband.

Not one of these individuals

cared about the truth.

Everyone had their share of grudges, rage, and interested parties.

They all walked away from their conscience and turned a blind eye.

They fabricated a lie to make it look real.

This is the result...

of values such as truth and lie, right and wrong,

justice and injustice,

being tossed aside

as they all set out to morally kill my defendant.

Your honor,

Ko Hye-ran,

from the beginning of all of this, has repeated these words over and over.

"I didn't kill him".

"It wasn't me".

That's right.

The defendant Ko Hye-ran

didn't kill anyone.

That...

is this case's

only truth.

Oh, my god.

TRUTH

Breaking news.

I will pass the sentence now.

Anchor, stand by.

Anchor, cue!

The first trial was held for Ko Hye-ran for the murder of Kevin Lee.

The defendant's brooch that was found in the victim's car

isn't definitive evidence to the murder of Kevin Lee.

Although Ko Hye-ran was supposedly seen

by the eyewitness Oh Min-chul,

his testimony

has been found to have inconsistency

with the objective situation on hand.

Without any definitive evidence

to back up their testimony,

I hereby judge

that due to the lack of evidence,

she is not a murder suspect.

Thus, I pronounce her innocent.

JUDGES' BENCH

Meanwhile, the prosecutors

have arrested Oh Min-chul for providing a false testimony.

Oh Min-chul has provided a false testimony

in order to give Hye-ran a disadvantage.

Shin Min-seo will cover this story.

Hello?

Hello, Mr. Kang.

I'm sorry for calling you when you're so busy.

The result of the trial...

has turned for the worse.

What should we do?

Ko Hye-ran's side is going to sue me for false testimony.

Just do as the manual says.

The manual we talked about when we first met.

It'll be for the best.

Wait! Mr. Kang?

Mr. Kang?

What happened?

Did you say Dong-hyun?

Are you sure he is Dong-hyun?

It's what we have from the first tests.

There is no one else that we can ask for identification.

That's why we called you in these circumstances.

If it's too hard for you...

MORTUARY

Oh, Dong-hyun.

What should I do?

Dong-hyun... Oh...

KANG TAE-WOOK

DETECTIVE KANG KI-JUN

Did you finish showering?

What are you doing?

Let's have a glass in celebration of your honesty winning this trial.

Thank you.

So far,

you've said thank you exactly 23 times.

You were keeping count?

It makes me feel good when I hear it.

Thank you, Tae-wook.

From now on,

let's just forget everything that happened.

Do you think it's possible?

Yeah.

I can forget everything.

Starting tomorrow morning,

I will erase everything that happened up until today.

As if nothing happened.

I will live on like that.

Like it's the first time that I met you.

Like what the young couples say,

it'll be like our 'Day 1'.

I will start all over.

I've been thinking.

I've done nothing for you,

but how come you'll go so far for me?

What am I to you?

You're still the one that I want.

Someone...

that I still want as mine.

I have a lot of thorns.

You'll constantly get hurt.

I don't care.

All you need to do...

is just be yourself.

I'm so scared.

What are you scared about?

This is so great...

and that's what scares me.

You're thinking too much.

Today...

today, let's just focus on us.

Yeah. Let's just focus on us.

Let's do that.

DETECTIVE KANG KI-JUN

"Where did you get your eyewitness?"

"An extra?"

"There's not much to trials. Anyone can become a witness."

"We should replace all of them and reform the prosecution."

"The entire country is your witness."

Prosecutors...

have become fools,

thanks to you.

The Korean Bar Association...

has filed an official complaint.

We have been too focused on getting the culprit

that we've broken formalities and customs.

In addition, we've lied in the court of law

and have to bear the consequences.

Do you know what that means?

If that is problem,

I will talk with Kang Yul Law Firm in order to find a solution.

Kang Yul Law Firm?

Hey.

The one that is accusing us

is Kang In-han from Kang Yul Law Firm.

With the whole country watching,

the number one law firm in Korea has accused us.

It's all because of you that the prosecutors have fallen so low.

There must be a misunderstanding.

Misunderstanding? Misunderstanding, my--

Because of you,

everyone, including me and the deputy head might have to resign.

Do you understand?

-I have no excuses. -Enough!

Just...

take responsibility and back off.

Are you going to take the fall alone

or are you going to take my offer?

Why aren't you replying?

Please... give me one day.

What?

Did you sleep well? I didn't want to wake you, so I left first.

I hope you enjoy the first morning of your new life. I love you.

Thank you for breakfast.

What are you here for so early in the morning?

Dong-hyun was found in the Han River.

So?

It's not a missing persons case, but now a murder case.

So?

It's not been long since Kevin Lee died, but now his manager...

we have found a dead body and now we have to investigate.

His boss Kevin died.

He loses his sister too.

I also know that he has a lot of debt from gambling as well.

Don't you think it's more plausible it was suicide?

You know a lot about Dong-hyun.

My wife was threatened by that man.

That's when I did some digging.

Dong-hyun's time of death

is presumed to be between the 19th and 20th.

Can you tell me what you were doing on those days?

The 19th...

was my wife's first trial date.

I fell down the stairs and I was taken to the emergency room.

Other than that, I was at the court. And I went back and forth

between home and my office to prepare for the court hearings.

Do you have anything else that you want to ask?

No. That's all.

Well, then...

From now on...

I would ask of you to not come to me for something related to Kevin.

We were already...

judged innocent by the court.

It means that we are not connected.

"We"?

Not Ko Hye-ran, but...

we?

Yes.

We.

I'm just curious about one thing.

When you were interrogating the witness...

Regarding the car that Ko Hye-ran was in,

do you remember which side it was on?

Was the car close to the car with the corpse or a bit further out?

Is there something wrong?

Why did you use the word "corpse"?

The witness didn't say anything that would let you think that he was dead.

He hit his head on the wall. He didn't seem to move after that.

He put the man

in backseat of the car.

It's because Kevin was dead at that point in time.

That's why I said it subconsciously.

Subconsciously?

Didn't you think that he died from a car accident?

Furthermore...

you knew that the witness was lying

and you subconsciously said "corpse"?

What would that mean?

Are you trying to discuss the topic of criminal psychology with me?

Criminal psychology? This gets more and more interesting.

You're saying...

that your expression of "corpse" has something to do

with criminal psychology?

I apologize. I have work to do.

Of course you do.

This was a fun conversation.

My goodness, you scared me.

Hello.

Why is he here so early in the morning?

The trial is over.

Yeah.

HA MYUNG-WOO

Good morning.

JBC IS DIFFERENT FIRST IN CREDIBILITY FOR TWO YEARS

-Hello, Hye-ran. -Hye-ran!

Welcome back!

-Wow. -Thank you for your hard work.

-Wow. -Hye-ran!

Wow.

We always believed in you.

The truth always prevails.

-Welcome back. -Good to have you back.

You're here.

I thought you would take a few more days off.

Why? You liked how I wasn't here during the court trials,

but now that I've come back, you don't like it?

Why would you say that? You're so heartless.

I can never seem to like you.

Girls don't need to earn men's affection.

Oh, my goodness. I get it.

You are right. You're always right. Good for you.

What is this?

It's a replacement for tofu. Soy bean milk. I bought it.

You wouldn't eat tofu even if I bought you one.

Do you think I was locked up? What is all this?

Don't ask so many questions and just drink it.

People like us who work as reporters,

we have the responsibility to report the truth to the public.

That's why our lives are always on the line.

However, even if that's the case, this is going to far.

Just because you covered something that bothered them,

they think it's okay to screw someone over.

We as a group... or me.

It's not that I worry about you...

or it's not that I care about you.

My goodness. Just spit it out.

You went through a lot.

She keeps going somewhere.

That Han Ji-won.

Maybe she uses the bathroom a lot.

I think I should use it as well.

The trial stemmed from the corruption of the bidding of Kanghae Construction.

Since you've been pronounced innocent,

our opponents will start cutting ties.

If we play this wrong,

we might not be able to shake them to their core like we planned.

Are you listening to me?

I thought that the road I needed to take

is always in front of me.

That's why I never looked back or around me

and just ran forward the whole time.

There must have been a lot of things that I missed.

That's what I realized.

That's what you realized?

To think that I would live long enough

to hear Ko Hye-ran say such words.

Right?

Are you going to keep going?

No.

I just need to finish what we started.

Kang Yul.

Are you confident?

It's all thanks to you that you laid out the ground work.

I think it'll be easy.

Okay.

Sweep the floor with them and come back.

I hope you stay in that seat

for a long time.

I'll be going now.

Wow, Hye-ran...

just put a curse me.

You don't know how hard it is to stay in this seat.

Reporter Kwak, what happened?

The eyewitness tends to stay near Kanghae Corporation,

but I can't get a two-person picture.

I think they keep contacting each other through their mobile phones,

but we can't just get a warrant to check their phone usage log.

In terms of Kang Yul Law Firm, they have already started

to cut ties with Byun Woo-hyun.

The bar association must have sued them,

but Kang In-han is the one that is leading the team in Kang Yul.

If this continues, it might just end with Byun Woo-hyun getting fired.

Excuse me...

Hye-ran.

What's wrong?

Well, here you go.

Mr. Jang assigned me to come up with ideas for the 70-minute investigative piece.

That's why I went around and collected some articles.

I was wondering if you might need this,

so I brought it along.

From my perspective,

I think Byun Woo-hyun

has been tricked by Kang Yul.

That's why I'm here to ask...

Could I ask for your help this once?

I'll bring anything that you might need for the trial itself.

If you need it, I'll get an interview from my husband too.

If something goes wrong for him,

I won't be able to live with it.

I'm not afraid of him not being able to be a prosecutor.

If he can't be a prosecutor, he can be a lawyer.

It's a different story if he gets punished for dishonorable conduct for perjury.

That won't end with him quitting his job.

That is just burying him.

What is Byun Woo-hyun doing?

Can I meet him right now?

I'm sorry. The meeting is taking a bit longer.

I think you must come back later today.

Honey.

Where have you been?

You didn't receive my calls.

Why are you here?

-What is it? -Do as she says.

Say it was Kang Yul, say you didn't know.

What about me?

I didn't even check if the witness is lying or telling the truth.

That's the kind of prosecutor I am?

-You want me to admit that? -Why can't you?

Your life is on the line here and you can't do that?

Enough. Move out of the way.

Prosecutor Byun Woo-hyun.

Currently, you're still a prosecutor.

Are you not?

If you're a prosecutor, act like one.

When you first started this job,

you didn't just think of career advancement.

Didn't you start wanting to catch the bad guys

and make this world a bit better?

What difference does it make?

It's all over now.

Even if it's all going to be over,

finish doing your job as a prosecutor.

Don't let someone like Kang get away with

doing as he pleases and wielding his power.

That is what the law is for

and what the media is for.

We have evidence that the corruption of the bidding of Kanghae

is led by Kang Yul.

We will give you that evidence

and you go after Kang Yul.

In return, I want you to give me the files that mention that Kang Yul

fabricated the witness.

With that in hand,

I'll sue them for oppression of the media for their own gain.

Are you offering a trade?

I'm asking you to make a choice.

Are you going to be used and abandoned?

Or are you going to end it on your own terms

and do your job as a prosecutor?

I will resign.

Leave it there.

It's about the corruption on the bidding of Kanghae.

In order to allow Kanghae to get exclusive bids on Valley City,

individuals like Kang In-han

and Jung Dae-han have met to make the agreement.

In order to hide this fact,

Kang Yul weaved together a story and framed Hye-ran for murder.

So, you've been made a fool.

I have no excuse.

I was a fool.

That's great.

Get out.

My resignation won't make a difference.

Use me as your sword.

I will act as the prosecutor that I am and dig into their corruption.

I will restore honor to our name.

Then and only then... will I resign.

What happened to our headline?

I got a recorded interview of the witness from Woo-hyun.

I got a photo of Kang Yul Law Firm and the witness meeting.

When Kang Yul gets brought to light, Kanghae's corruption will also come up.

That's what you should know when you prepare this.

Hye-ran, are you going to do this one?

No, Han Ji-won will do this one.

This article is hers and hers alone.

She started it and she will end it.

You're going to give her this one?

This is going to win an award for the year.

You can make a new record for six consecutive years--

All right, Han Ji-won.

You take this case.

The incident with Kanghae Corporation was connected to the law as well.

To block this from getting out, they messed with two things

they shouldn't have. Law and order and the media.

This is breaking fundamental principle and social common sense.

You don't even need to make it big.

Just deliver the hard facts and that, at the very least,

we should follow principle and common sense.

We need to drill that point.

-All right. -Okay.

-News... -Is fact!

You are dismissed.

You can't do this.

-You must bring a warrant-- -Here it is.

The warrant.

Kang In-han, for the corruption of bidding of Kanghae Construction,

we will search and seize evidence.

Do you really think you can beat me?

-Begin your search. -Yes.

Why did you give it to me?

This article would go a long way

in helping you return to your seat in News Nine.

You've come back to the company.

I was just a temporary replacement.

Did you work so hard to just become a temp?

Whatever the reason might be, there was an opportunity and you took it.

You worked hard for it and you protected it.

That makes News Nine...

Han Ji-won's News Nine.

Didn't you say before...

if that seat was always mine?

I'm so sorry.

I was a bit rude, right?

No one in the history of the media...

has confronted Kang Yul head on.

There's nothing they can't do. They are outside the rule of law.

That is what Kang Yul is.

Those deeds of corruption,

you will be the first anchor

that brings it to light.

That's why you must show responsibility

and do it from start to finish.

Don't lose...

and don't be scared.

Understand?

Yes.

Everyone.

Is news a joke to you?

Their act of false testimony isn't proven,

but before you even check the facts, you will broadcast it?

We've checked the facts with the prosecutor in charge.

Hey, Ko Hye-ran.

Is JBC Ko Hye-ran's broadcasting station?

The false testimony isn't ours to worry about

but the job of the prosecutors.

We broadcast the results.

That's just dictating the words of the prosecutors.

Paving our own is also the role of the media.

Regardless of what you say, this all started because of you.

It will go out under my watch.

Vice president, ideas for broadcast are under my jurisdiction.

The truth behind the Kevin Lee trial

and why they tried to frame a murder on a person of the media,

-News Nine will reveal that tonight. -Is that so?

Mr. Jang. Are you on their side too?

All right, I see.

From this moment, you'll be moved to Cheongju.

The members of News Nine are all on standby for replacement.

-All of us? -Yeah.

Today's directing...

will be done by another department.

Vice president.

You, Han Ji-won.

If you want to be an anchor,

you should first learn how to pick your articles.

If you're an anchor, you should be responsible as well.

Keep this in mind.

From this point on, don't broadcast without my permission.

That bas--

It's okay. Just stay calm.

Just stay still.

Everyone get back to work.

Dae-woong, you too.

Hye-ran.

Han Ji-won.

You get ready as well.

What are you doing, Mr. Jang?

Don't you know I'm your senior?

-Hey, Mr. Jang. -Hey, Sung Nak-jun.

Has it been two years

since you've come to JBC by pulling some strings?

You don't see the severity of the situation, do you?

Are you crazy?

Who do you think you--

Do you know who I am?

I'm the bureau chief of JBC, Jang Kyu-seok!

For the last eight years, the government has changed twice.

I've changed numerous chiefs and vice chiefs in my time.

How, you ask?

Like this!

In this field of profession,

I know everything that goes on.

What are you saying?

I'll take care of the newsroom.

You should worry about your son.

It won't be so easy for him to quit drugs,

but should he be involved in so many vile parties?

I think there are some celebrities that are pretty famous.

Jang Kyu-seok, how dare you touch my family?

That's why you shouldn't touch my family!

Like you care about your son,

the people of the newsroom...

they're like my children.

If you really want to block the news,

then we don't have a choice.

Why don't we put your son on?

Maybe this will get more viewers.

You love viewer ratings, right?

Good evening, everyone. This is Han Ji-won's News Nine.

After our last report about Valley City and suspicions about its bidding process,

Kang In-han of Kang Yul Law Firm

has tried to conceal taking bribes

by instructing the use of a fake witness

in the Kevin Lee public hearing.

This is the exclusive video that News Nine acquired

of the witness's recorded interview.

Server one, start!

The representative told me to say that Ko Hye-ran instructed me to kill.

If I said that, he told me that he would do the rest.

Wow, with this out to the public,

nothing will save them now.

No wonder she was framed as a murderer in a split second.

I didn't want to trick the prosecutor. I'm really sorry.

In relation to Kanghae's bidding, this is connected to the reformation

of the government and the law.

In order to hide that fact, they have manipulated a witness.

All of these events will be covered

in more detail in our investigative report.

Good work.

Yeah.

I really worked hard this time.

That's why I want to get some time off.

For the last seven years, I didn't use any vacation days.

I want to use them all right now. Is that okay?

No, is what I want to say, but...

all right, you should get some rest.

Thank you.

Ko Hye-ran.

It's nothing.

That's enough.

I won't stop.

I don't care if it's an obsession, but I will succeed.

Wherever it takes me, I will make it to the top.

This is more than enough.

You're being desperate now.

You'll only last no more than a year.

Is that year so important to you?

How low are you willing to go?

You've worked really hard, Ko Hye-ran.

You didn't need to go that far.

We won the trial and so we didn't need to create a mess.

He would have been a nuisance in the long run,

so I took care of it for you.

How long will you linger around us?

-Until I'm convinced. -Convinced of what?

That you'll protect Hye-ran.

What do you mean?

You knew from the start...

that the witness was fake.

You knew from the start that she would be pronounced innocent.

However, you dragged this trial on.

If you drag this on, who would be in distress?

It has to be Hye-ran.

Then why...

would you want to torture her?

You were angry,

most likely mad and frustrated at Hye-ran.

You've always led a flawless life,

but she left a dent called Kevin Lee.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I know you love Hye-ran.

However, loving her and protecting her are different.

That's why I'll be watching.

Are you going to keep...

causing problems for us?

If you were a bit more patient,

all of this wouldn't have started, Kang Tae-wook.

What happened?

The doctors say it's due to stress.

After a good night's sleep,

she will be okay.

Thank you.

We will head out then.

Oh!

I heard Kevin Lee's manager committed suicide.

If nothing else changes,

we will just send out a short report.

All right, I understand.

What do you mean?

According to the autopsy, nothing points to murder.

After seeing a large amount of zolpidem on the clothes he was wearing,

the detective in charge and the doctor have deduced

that he wanted to escape his situation.

What about you, Detective Kang?

Do you also think that Dong-hyun

committed suicide?

I know you're going through a very hard time.

A lot of that has to do with the fact that I did a bad job.

I'm very sorry.

My husband is dead.

Dong-hyun is dead too.

Unfortunately, one person died by a car accident...

and one person committed suicide?

You want me to believe that?

Answer me.

If you tell me to believe that, that is what I'll do.

My husband and Dong-hyun...

are all victims of accidents and suicide.

That's what I will believe and live on.

If something comes up in the investigation, I will contact you.

Why can't you answer me?

Just...

let me live in peace and tell it to my face.

Is my husband a victim

of a car crash?

Did Dong-hyun commit suicide?

Is that what it is?

I...

don't think that's the case.

I...

don't agree with the court.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I can't say it's an accident.

I'm sorry for not being able to console you.

I'm really sorry.

No.

I'm really thankful...

that at least you agree.

That you said what you just said.

I'm really thankful.

KO HYE-RAN KILLED MY HUSBAND! SHE IS GUILTY!

Tae-wook, you didn't go to work?

Mother.

Go and get dressed.

Your father-in-law is here as well.

Were you home?

No, I was outside, but I heard they arrived, so I came back.

If you're uneasy,

should I go and tell them to come at a better time?

No, it's okay.

I'm okay as well.

I can tell them. I'll do as you ask.

I'm really okay.

Are you almost done?

Your father is waiting.

Let's go.

I'm so sorry for making you worry.

I didn't know it would get out of control.

We're just relieved to hear the result.

Right, my dear?

I'll work harder from now on.

Though in your eyes, I may never be worthy.

So...

how far will you go?

What?

Jung Dae-han of Hwanil Steel and Kang Yul.

They all had vested rights.

You removed them from the table

and showed them who you are.

Doesn't that mean you have more plans?

Father.

How far should I go?

Hye-ran.

How far should I go in order to satisfy you, father-in-law?

How dare you...

Are you willing to go up?

Yes.

Do you have the confidence?

Yes.

Bring me another bowl of soup.

You're going to eat some more?

I haven't enjoyed a meal like this in a while.

You look unwell.

We'll get you some medicine.

Did I pass your father's test?

It's still cold out here. Go back up and rest.

What about you?

I have some things that I must finish.

After I finished your case, I just have so much work piled up.

You benefitted thoroughly from my case.

All right, go back in.

Tae-wook.

Be careful behind the wheel.

See you tonight.

All right.

If you had been a bit more patient,

all of this wouldn't have happened.

YONGSAN POLICE SUPERINTENDENT

KO HYE-RAN KILLED MY HUSBAND! SHE IS GUILTY!

I'm going to do anything.

FACT OF VIOLATION AND PENALTY NOTICE

HANNAM INTERSECTION

VIOLATION OF THE SIGNAL

SIGNAL VIOLATION EQUIPMENT IN OPERATION

This person is...

This person is...

the only person that took me in

and put up with everything that I am.

He understands me better than I do.

He stood by my side, do you understand?