01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

[K-pop music playing]

["Heartless One" playing]

EPISODE 1

IMPERIAL PRIN

You're closing up again?

I just have two things left to do!

Handle the reprint request yet?

Yeah, switched to rough-gloss paper.

-Good call! Well done.

-Thanks, man.

[worker grunts]

-[employee] There you are!

-Hi there!

-Come on, guys! Fried chicken. Have some.

-[employee 2] All right! Fried chicken.

-Hey, Hwang!

-Fried chicken. Yes!

-I gave you my heart, my love, my all ♪

-My love, my all ♪

But now you're leaving

Like a stranger ♪

-Take the pain of goodbye with you ♪

-Take the pain of goodbye with you ♪

[exclaiming]

-You heartless one ♪

-You heartless one ♪

-You made my ears bleed, seriously.

-Listen.

-[music continues faintly]

-What do you call a big, proud chicken,

like one that's full of itself?

Any idea? Hmm?

-Pride chicken! [laughs]

-[chattering]

-Looks good.

-Yeah, pride chicken!

I heard you, sir.

Dude, I thought it was really funny.

-[employee] Thanks for the chicken though.

-Oh, man.

Oh, well. Hey, hey, hey. Wait. Hang on.

[Hwang] Looks amazing.

Damn, it's already cold.

sh**t, how did you even see that?

Let me explain

[sighs]

IMPERIAL PRIN

[Hwang] I got so much done today.

There, finished.

Hey, this this.

Can't you just deliver this yourself?

[sighs] I get it.

You don't want to do it, right?

If you were me, would you want to do it?

It's just, it's Chae-bin's birthday

[groans] Wow.

Okay, it's all good. It's nearby,

so I'll do it. It's all right.

Ah, it's Chae-bin's birthday?

-[sighs] Just go home. I'll do it.

-Oh, no way.

What if you run into Se-na?

That'd be so awkward.

Hey.

What if I go like this?

I won't be recognized.

You think your ex won't recognize you

in that stupid dad hat of yours?

[Hwang sighs] Ah, man.

I wonder if she even knows

that this is your life now.

You sure you wanna do this?

You better go before I change my mind.

-Thanks, man. See you!

-Hey!

[sighs]

THE QUEEN OF MELODRAMA

15 YEARS AGO

[sighs]

[scoffs]

Just get out of here, all right?

I've got to get home.

[gasps] Mr. Hong.

This is all a misunderstanding.

It's true we met through Sad Waltz and

were seeing each other for a while then,

but I swear we broke up a long time ago!

So, if this dating scandal gets out,

I'll have to drop all of

the commercials, romantic movies

and mini-series I signed on for.

And on top of that, I'll have to pay

huge penalties, so please!

Okay, okay. Listen.

This whole thing

is your problem, isn't it?

Why should we care? I mean,

come on, the proof is right here.

Don't lie to my face.

No, you're wrong.

He was still totally hung up on me

and kept begging to meet, so I gave in.

He said he'd show up at my sh**t

if I didn't, and I couldn't risk that.

So I really didn't have a choice.

Say something. Come on, please.

It's true, right?

Tell him that's what happened. [cries]

Please.

[Mr. Hong] Oh, come on.

Why are you kneeling? [groans]

This is so awkward.

-Will you just get up?

-Sir, that's what happened.

I

It's true. I threatened her.

Mr. Hong.

-You can't. Please, don't run the story.

-See?

I told you. We really aren't involved.

I swear, it's not true at all.

I promise, Mr. Hong.

Please, you have to believe me.

Aren't they all hotshots?

Why meet in this dump?

[jazz music plays]

[both grunt, gasp]

-Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.

-I'm sorry.

[secretary] Mmm.

[sighs]

Ms. Wi, you made it.

Why are you alone, if I may ask?

-And the congressman?

-I don't think a journalist like you

is on the level to have

a private meeting with him.

Have a seat.

I'll be in the US for about eight months

filming the second season of Save Zone,

-so I guess the timing won't work out.

-Of course.

Time always flies

when we're prepping for a new sh**t,

so eight months will feel like nothing.

If I know for sure you're on board,

I'd gladly wait even eight freaking years.

[laughs]

-[knocks]

-Yeah?

Hello. I'm here to drop off the script.

Hey, Mr. Lim. That was quick. Thanks.

Oh! Why is this all wet?

It-It's raining outside.

All right.

What's this?

The script we had custom-printed for you.

Well, I'll be off, then.

[Se-na] Wait.

Thank you.

This print looks good.

[manager laughs] You think so?

It's a special edition we had

custom ordered just for you!

[manager laughs]

[Ms. Wi] Sir!

-[sighs]

-[door closes]

[sighs]

So let me ask you something.

Does Mr. Ha Gee-wan hire aides

just to use them as a shield?

Are you saying he really has nothing to do

with Cheongwon City's redevelopment?

That it was just his aide who

took all that money and spent it?

Yeah, I know why you're upset.

The nerve of that guy, right?

Mr. Woo Young-suk,

I was supposed to meet him tomorrow.

So how come he's dead right now?

[news anchor] Breaking news. This morning

at a private parking lot in Seoul,

Woo, an aide to congressman Ha Gee-wan,

who proposed a special law tied to

the Cheongwon City redevelopment project,

was found dead.

Charcoal briquettes and a note,

believed to be a suicide letter,

were also discovered at the scene.

Look, Ms. Wi, I guess you're upset

about missing the exclusive,

young and passionate

journalist that you are,

but that's just a fact, okay?

You think I'm upset? Are you kidding?

Well, even Mr. Woo's family

doesn't want to make this a big deal.

So if you keep poking around,

a lot of people are going to get hurt.

I hope we have an understanding, Ms. Wi.

Open it.

[scoffs]

A journalist needs to be mobile.

That should be enough for a decent SUV.

Maybe even

with all the bells and whistles.

[chuckles]

Now get the hell out.

What are you doing?

Thanks to you, I have learned so much.

This pays for the lesson.

[belches]

[sighs]

[sighs] Seriously?

Is it something to be embarrassed about?

What's so embarrassing

that I had to throw on this stupid hat?

[sighs]

-[knocks]

-[sighs]

[Se-na] I had a feeling it was you.

It's been a while.

Gotta say, you haven't changed much.

[chuckles]

You haven't changed one bit.

So why did you come here?

I'd like to know.

You knew I'd be here tonight,

so you shouldn't have come.

You thought I'd feel bad or guilty,

seeing you like that? That what happened?

-What?

-Or what? Life's that hard?

Struggling to survive?

[scoffs]

I think I'll just ignore that.

Take care.

[sighs]

[Se-na] You knew I'd be here tonight,

so you shouldn't have come.

15 YEARS AGO

[director] And cut!

[chuckles]

[chuckles] Give me that.

[laughs] Hey. Don't.

I got it. [laughs]

Hmm?

[Ms. Wi] Who are you?

-[groans]

-Oh, my God!

-What the

-You scared me.

-Who are you?

-Who are you?

-What?

-[gasps]

I almost died. How did you get in the car?

-What car? What are you talking about?

-You're freaking me out.

Yes, hello. I think I'm being

kidnapped right now.

What is she talking about?

What do you mean kidnapped? Hey!

-Watch out! Don't open that door!

-Yes.

I think we're driving

over a bridge right now.

Excuse me. What is the bridge

we're on now?

It's the Yeongdong Bridge!

Yeongdong Bridge! It's the Yeongdong

-Please come to the Yeongdong Bridge now!

-What? Is this woman crazy?

-Yeongdong Bridge.

-Oh, sh*t.

It's a tall bridge. You can't miss it.

A RELIABLE POLICE FORCE,

A SAFE NATION

All right. Since you both came

in voluntarily over this misunderstanding,

we'll take a look

at the dashcam footage together.

Here, look.

[clears throat]

-[Ms. Wi vomits]

-[gasps]

[groans]

Great. Seriously.

All right. This is the footage

from the front camera.

Okay, next one.

[Ms. Wi groans on computer]

-Unbelievable.

-[Ms. Wi] I feel like death.

Look at the footage, detective.

I'm not the one lying.

This confirms she got into my car

on her own, right?

-So I didn't do anything wrong.

-Let's keep watching.

I mean, who knows? He could've known

I was in the car all along.

[scoffs, laughs] Wow,

what's wrong with you, lady?

Okay, fine. Go ahead, hit play.

Let's keep watching.

-All right, sure.

-[clicks]

[Mr. Lim] That b*tch. Seriously.

[Mr. Lim scoffs]

"You shouldn't have come"?

-No. That By "that b*tch," I meant

-I mean, who does she think she is?

I swear.

Obviously I lied when I said

she hadn't changed one bit.

Her face is all sagging now,

with wrinkles around her damn eyes.

And how is it that your acting

hasn't shown any improvement at all?

You haven't gotten any better.

Not one bit.

No progress. None! [scoffs]

That same long straight hair, same

lousy acting, the exact same expression.

[groans] How boring! I'm sick of it!

I'm so freaking sick of it! So lame!

[groans] It's pathetic!

[Ms. Wi] Who are you?

[officer clicks]

[groans]

[sighs]

-See, that was

-[officer] Well I guess

you were just really angry, yeah?

Anyhow, that being said, you two

are good now, aren't you?

-Oh Uh

-[sighs]

Um, I'm

I'm I'm really sorry.

If you're sorry, then we're fine.

I can't believe you said

I kidnapped you, though

[scoffs] Oh, my God. It's like

-I know, right?

-[sighs]

An innocent man died because of me.

And you're here because of me.

[groans, sighs]

I don't know what the hell

is wrong with me.

-[groans]

-So, Dete

You're so dumb! Such an idiot!

[cries]

Detective, just arrest me now. Please,

someone like me deserves to be arrested.

If I keep wandering around like this,

I don't know what stupid thing I'll do.

I'd rather just be put in jail.

Please, please.

Oh, please just put me in jail!

Please, just lock me up. Take me away now.

-I can't take it anymore.

-She's just drunk and rambling.

So, I'm going home now, okay?

-I'm free to go, right?

-[crying continues]

Thank you, sir. Bye.

[Ms. Wi] Just put me in jail, please.

Please. [crying]

[siren wailing in distance]

[sighs]

Drink that. It'll help you sober up.

Stay out of other people's cars.

Hey, don't you know

it's a scary place out there?

Honestly, lady, you're really lucky

that it was my car.

Thanks a lot.

You look like you have an office job.

So I really don't see why you

drink so much in the first place.

There's one thing I know for sure.

Even when bad things happen,

more often than not, it's not your fault.

So stop beating yourself up

and just move forward.

Because you need to succeed

[Se-na] Or what? Life's that hard?

Struggling to survive?

Or people will think less of you.

Hold on just a minute.

-[bag unzips]

-[rustling]

THANK YOU

EUNSEONGILBO

Uh, if you ever

need my help with anything,

feel free to get in touch.

All right, sure.

Come on, don't give me that look.

You're creeping me out.

Anyway, I'm off. Bye-bye.

[sighs]

[engine starts]

[Ms. Wi] Mr. Woo Young-suk.

I was supposed to meet him tomorrow.

So how come he's dead right now?

[widow sobbing]

GWON SE-NA NAMED MUSE

FOR LUXURY BRAND

GWON SE-NA'S SAVE ZONE

IS A GLOBAL HI

[sighs]

[knocks]

Hello.

Yes? Hello.

I had a screenplay

printed here a while ago,

and I just noticed

there's a small problem with it.

I need to show you.

What kind?

GOOD DETECTIVE KANG PIL-GU

Ah, this.

I believe it was Mr. Hwang

who took care of this.

I heard it's an indie film,

a college graduation project,

so we didn't take any profit,

just cover the cost.

-Is that right?

-That's right.

He was kind enough

to offer a discount for printing it.

And even though the schedule was tight,

he still managed to meet

every single deadline

and handled more than

ten revisions for the cover.

Thanks a lot for that.

Ah, yeah.

Mr. Hwang went out of his way for you.

He came through for sure.

I'm genuinely grateful

for everything he did,

but this is business, and it didn't feel

right to just ignore all the mistakes.

[snickers]

If you're really grateful,

you can look past the little things.

But this is my first feature,

so with all due respect,

I don't think I can just let them slide.

[exhales shakily]

[scoffs, chuckles]

Fair enough, all right.

What are the mistakes?

Yeah, hold on.

Well, first, the best boy electric's name

is Na Yun-seon,

although right here,

it's written as "Na Un-seon."

Also the cover has a slight reddish tint,

but I was actually hoping

for something softer

and a little more neutral in tone. [huffs]

Overall, the left/right balance is off.

There's about a 2 mm difference

between the sides. See this?

I asked him to use Hamchorong Batang

Extended Bold as the font,

but he used Extended Non-bold.

Could you please switch it

to Hamchorong Batang Extended Bold?

[sighs]

-That's it? Are you done?

-Yeah.

Didn't you mention

your timeline was tight?

True. I'm sorry to spring this on you,

but I need it done by tomorrow.

I swear, that place is so cool.

[groans]

No, not you, him.

What now?

Hamchorong Batang Bold is what he needed.

Bold.

All right, see you. [chuckles]

[groans] That dude's worse

than the guys at the TV station.

I thought you were gonna punch him.

That's why I called you over.

I was worried I might.

It was definitely a close call.

Glad you didn't. That jerk

would've only made you hurt your hand.

Oh, hey!

-[chuckles] See you later.

-Why is this font guy still here?

-Man, that guy is weird as hell.

-Why is he doing this to us?

Should I sprinkle some salt?

Maybe that'll chase his creepy vibe away.

[scoffs] Seriously.

[whispering] Why is he familiar?

[Mr. Lim] "Good Detective Kang Pil-gu"?

Seriously, that's a weird title.

Really freakin' weird.

[sighs] That jerk.

He's a genius.

[grunts]

-[gasps, shrieks] Hey! What the hell?

-[laughing]

Could you please switch it

to Hamchorong Batang Extended Bold?

Hamchorong? You Have you lost it?

-You scared the hell out of me.

-[chuckling]

I remember you now.

Spit it out.

[gasps, swallows] I was sure

I'd seen you somewhere,

but I couldn't remember until I got home.

I kept racking my brain while eating,

walking my dog,

even taking out the trash,

though nothing came to me.

I thought I was gonna lose my mind,

then as soon as I went to bed,

I knew who you were.

[gasps] You were in the movie Sad Waltz.

-[sighs]

-[shrieking] You're an actor!

Did you go home and come all the way

back here just to tell me that?

Oh, no.

I'm here to cast you.

[chortles] Is that right?

I'd like you to be in my film,

Good Detective Kang Pil-gu,

as the main character,

the good detective, Kang Pil-gu.

[laughing]

[chuckles]

Come on. Let's go. What the

GOOD DETECTIVE KANG PIL-GU

[sighs] Get in, get in.

Come on, move aside.

Move, we're busy. Come on.

We're busy, man, damn it. Come on, move!

-[horn honks]

-I don't have time for this!

So basically, the color didn't hold?

-[writer] but he figures it all out.

-[employees exclaim]

Come over.

Oh, I see, right.

Then we should reprint it for you.

Yeah, for sure.

Ah, sh*t! You scared me.

Leading Man. Heading home now?

[sighs] Seriously?

Why the hell are you still here?

-Come on, go home.

-I'm going, I wanted to give you this.

Just go, man. Come on, leave.

Just this once? Would you please consider?

I already told you I wasn't interested.

Get out of here.

You didn't have to lock yourself in.

This is harassment.

-I won't change my mind. Get out!

-Help me this one time, please?

[urinating]

Leading Man.

[scoffs] Seriously?

-He's driving me nuts.

-Leading Man, come on.

Cut this sh*t out! Stop calling me

Leading Man. Get out of here now, okay?

Look, Mr. Lim,

I really want you to star in my movie.

[scoffs] Your school

is one of the best, right?

Must be full of actors.

Why do you need me to do it?

What makes you think

you can trust me with that role?

Hey! I get it's just a graduation project,

but you don't want it to fail.

I'm doing this to make it successful.

[clicks tongue] Okay, fine.

I'm really curious too.

So why do you want me?

Why me for that tough detective?

-Because I know you'll do a great job.

-[sighs]

I'm not good with words, so it's tough

to explain, but I'm sure you get my point.

It won't fail. If you just give me

a chance, I know we can pull it off.

I know we'll make it, sir.

There's so many chase and fight scenes

one after another.

But, hey, I can't fight!

I've got a pacifist's DNA.

It's in my bones, in every part of me.

I'm busy. Just get out of here.

-[whines]

-Go. Just go. [grunts]

Whoa! Come on, wait.

Don't throw it around like that.

Read it carefully.

[owner] Ah, Mr. Hwang.

Don't drink too much.

[Hwang chuckles]

Don't worry, I'm fine. Thank you.

Come on, man. Just do it already.

[groans] You're being so difficult.

I mean, who'd watch an indie film directed

by a college student anyway? God's sake.

What if someone I know actually sees it?

I'd just die of embarrassment.

Plus, if no one's going to watch it,

why bother making it in the first place?

[sighs]

See, I read it too, all right?

And, wow! That story's one in a million.

Look, an experienced director

or not, who cares?

It's definitely the kind of story

that, like, fires you up.

Come on, you know I'm right. Don't you?

Yeah.

[sniffs]

Hey. When I was doing stage plays

and got recruited by the agency,

you were the first manager that I had.

Yeah.

What was I like back then?

You?

You were

different.

I thought you had the potential

to make it to the top.

[scoffs] You're bluffing, man. [sighs]

[sighs] If only

you never dated Gwon Se-na,

you wouldn't be in this mess now.

That heartless, ungrateful brat.

Dude, you broke up with her

for her own good.

So she should be grateful,

but instead she betrayed you to save face.

[chuckling] What's up with that look, man?

No way are you thinking this indie film

could suddenly turn you

into some kinda world-famous movie star

or something. Seriously? Come on. [laughs]

I wasn't thinking that!

-No need to scream at me.

-Why would you say that?

Why are you getting

so worked up? [clears throat]

Hey. It's all right.

The two of us started the print shop

with nothing, but business is stable now.

Things are pretty good.

Even people who make less than you

are buying new cars and going golfing.

They're living it up. What about you?

What do you do for yourself?

Hey, come on.

Just think of it as a hobby.

Something fun, no pressure.

It's okay to do what you want

every now and then. Am I wrong?

Don't worry about the print shop, okay?

I've got it covered.

Imperial Print!

[phone buzzes]

MR. LEADING MAN,

I'LL ASK YOU ONE LAST TIME.

PLEASE BE IN MY MOVIE. IF YOU

TURN ME DOWN AGAIN, I'LL STOP.

BUT I URGE THAT YOU CONSIDER I

WITH A POSITIVE MIND-SET.

[Mr. Lim] Are you gonna pay me?

[cheers]

[crew] "He spins the handcuffs and

swiftly fastens them on to X's wrists."

[grunts]

"They say you can't really fix people,

but [breathes heavily]

I know that I can."

[crew] "Then he stretches out

flat on the floor, right next to X."

Okay, we'll wrap up here.

That's it for today's table read.

-[sighing]

-[crew] Good work today.

[writer] Good work, everyone.

Oh, good job.

Good job, everyone. Good job.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

-[crew chatters]

-Can I talk to you for a minute?

-Sure.

-[crew] He's so good in the role.

I can't wait to see what he does next.

[smacks lips, chuckles]

I went a little overboard

earlier, didn't I? [chuckles]

-Hyeon-jun.

-Mm-hmm?

What I'm about to say

is entirely for the sake of our movie,

and I just want to make it clear I'm not

trying to teach or lecture you at all.

Oh yeah, of course. Just tell me already.

You can talk openly.

Don't worry. Go ahead.

Before that, I think we should first

decide how to address each other.

To show respect for our roles.

[sighs] Okay. Respect. [inhales] Respect.

You're right. Let's do that.

Sounds good, Director. [chuckles]

So, Hyeon-jun, how would you analyze

or describe your character?

Mmm, well,

he's the type who thinks a good beating

fixes bad guys, you know?

[inhales sharply] Plus, he also definitely

has that rough, thug mentality.

-Mmm.

-That's what I think.

Director. [chuckles]

So what do you think about the idea

of punishing violence with more violence?

Well, um, it kinda depends

on how serious the violence is though.

Hmm? Case by case, right?

So it all depends on the situation then?

Mmm, mm-hmm! [chuckles]

Right. I can really see that come through

in your performance.

You're not sure if this is right or wrong,

but you're trying to make all the punching

and beating feel as natural as possible.

That's how it comes across.

This guy values fists over the law. Why?

Everything he went through as a kid helped

shape his own unshakable set of values.

So he doesn't feel guilty

when he beats up bad guys.

For this character to be authentic,

he needs to truly believe that his way

is the right way without a doubt.

You need to become one with the character.

-[exhales deeply]

-[tapping script] Huh?

[sighs]

Yeah.

GOOD DETECTIVE KANG PIL-GU

[Hwang] Hey, what are you doing?

Come on, man, we're swamped today.

-Drop off the orders.

-Oh, yeah, okay.

They say you can't really fix people,

but I know I can.

But I can. I can do it.

But I can! I know I can!

I can do it! [shouts]

[blows raspberry, trills] I can!

Stop right there! [grunts]

But I can. I can. [sniffs]

[grunting]

[straining, panting]

[groans]

[yelps]

"Stop right there!"

Stop.

Hey, you. Stop right there!

[panting]

-[writer] Cut!

-[panting]

[wheezing] He's freaking crazy, right?

My God, three days for one chase scene?

[pants, groans]

Two and a half, in fact.

All we see on camera

is that you're completely wiped out,

ready to pass out.

[sighs] Isn't that natural?

I mean, Kang Pil-gu

would also be exhausted, right?

Hell no. It's brutal, sure,

but you gotta show grit,

that determination

to make that b*stard pay no matter what.

Mm-hmm? Again, from the top.

[panting, groaning]

All right, ready? Action!

All right, cut, cut, cut!

-Action!

-[actors pant]

[writer] Cut, cut, cut, cut!

Action!

-[grunts]

-You all right?

Are you all right?

-Yeah, yeah, thanks.

-[writer] Don't stop.

If I don't call "cut," keep going.

-Just let it play out.

-[snarls]

Come on.

[writer] All right,

let's get right back into it.

Okay, ready? Action.

[panting]

[grunts, groans]

-Aw, sh*t. Damn. [sighs]

-Cut.

[exhales deeply]

Hyeon-jun, one more take. Right away.

[panting] That little snake.

[writer] Ready? Action!

-What?

-[writer] Cut.

[sighing] What the hell?

We're done for the day. Thanks.

-Thanks.

-You can wrap it up.

[sighs]

[sighs]

Let's call it a day for the sh**t.

Huh, but we're not done yet.

It seems like you haven't had enough time

to fully analyze your character,

so let's call it a day

and reshoot the scenes another time.

-Pack up. That's a wrap.

-Huh?

Hey, h-hey, hey, hey! No, wait. Come on.

Hey! Okay, look, Director,

have you lost your mind?

It's not like

you've got some crazy budget here.

It's a freaking indie movie,

so sh**t it like one.

Do you have any sense of balance

or what's appropriate?

Are you that incapable

of reading the room?

You seriously think this masterpiece

of yours is Cannes material?

Even Bong or Park

wouldn't sh**t like this.

How would you know that?

Don't flatter yourself. You never worked

with Bong Joon-h* or Park Chan-wook.

What do you mean? Repeat that.

What did you say, you little prick?

Come here!

Say that to my face again. Seriously?

I called you sir to show you respect

as the director, now this?

I felt sorry for you

seeing you practically begging,

so I've agreed

to be in your little movie without pay!

And now [stutters]

what the hell did you just say?

Honestly, sir, I wouldn't have begged if

I'd known you were such a terrible actor.

Okay. So you wanna cross the Rubicon now?

You go ahead

and knock yourself out, you moron.

I'm out of here, damn it!

[chair clattering]

-[Hyeon-jun grunts]

-[all gasp, clamor]

[writer] Cut. Let's try that again.

-What?

-[writer] Cut. Again.

We'll pick it up right from here.

All right, ready?

Action!

-What?

-[writer] Cut!

All right. Ready?

Action!

[panting]

-What?

-It's all your fault, Detective Kang!

-[writer] Let's try that again.

-[screams] Are you kidding?

He's freaking nuts!

[grunts]

[panting]

[both grunting]

[grunting continues]

[groans]

[panting]

[thug shouts]

[grunts]

[shouts]

[grunts]

-[handcuff lock clinks]

-They say you can't really fix people.

But

[grunts]

I know I can.

[writer] Cut! Okay!

[crew cheering, whooping]

All right, that's a wrap on the filming of

Good Detective Kang Pil-gu. Well done!

[cheering continues]

-You wanna grab a beer?

-[writer] All right. Yes! Absolutely.

All right, everybody,

fill up your glasses.

Thank you for all your hard work

on Good Detective Kang Pil-gu.

Enjoy yourselves and drink up.

Come on, let's toast!

[all whooping, cheering]

-[crew] Good sh**t, good sh**t.

-[writer hums]

-All right, here's to that!

-To surviving another director from hell.

[crew] Next time, I'm doing sound.

Finally, it's over, right?

You can breathe now, Hyeon-jun.

I know I've been a real pain in the a*s.

I pushed too hard, said the wrong things

and, yeah, that's on me.

I'm still learning.

I'm an inexperienced director

trying to get it right.

I'm sure there's a lot

you're still mad about,

but please, please take this drink

and forget it all.

Ah, ah, ah, ah!

Oh!

Oh!

Drink up.

[writer] Big applause

for our leading man, everyone!

[cheering]

Lim Hyeon-jun! Lim Hyeon-jun!

[all chanting]

Lim Hyeon-jun! Lim Hyeon-jun!

[sighs]

-[shushes]

-[chanting stops]

I'm gonna drink this, okay?

Hmm. [inhales sharply]

-[gulping]

-Whoa!

[all applauding, cheering]

-One more thing.

-[crew] Oh, no, here it comes.

You little b*stard! I never want

to see your freaking face again!

[all clamoring]

[presenter] And the award for Best Actor

goes to Lim Hyeon-jun

from Good Detective Kang Pil-gu.

All right, let's hear

his acceptance speech now.

Thanks to this miracle of an opportunity,

I've made my comeback.

And I'm going to make the most of it.

I want to continue

to be an actor for a while.

Never forgotten.

[sobbing]

And I hope I can keep doing this

for many more years.

-Thank you very much! Thanks!

-[audience cheering]

And just like that,

my life completely changed overnight.

Thank you! Thank you!

I'll do my very best.

Thank you!

Thank you very much.

[cheering]

My life, which felt like

a black-and-white documentary,

has suddenly turned into a vibrant,

colorful romantic comedy.

GOOD DETECTIVE KANG PIL-GU

CONFIRMED AS DRAMA

HIGHEST RATINGS: 24.3%

GOOD DETECTIVE KANG PIL-GU

SEASON 2 CONFIRMED

HIGHEST RATINGS: 26.5%

GOOD DETECTIVE KANG PIL-GU

SEASON 3 CONFIRMED

HIGHEST RATINGS: 27.3%

EVERYONE LOVES PIL-GU

AND HYEON-JUN

STEADY STREAM OF AD OFFERS

#1 MAN FANS WAN

TO SEE AGAIN: KANG PIL-GU

RETURNING IN SEASON 4

OF GOOD DETECTIVE KANG PIL-GU

JUST HOW FAR WILL IT GO?

HIGHEST RATINGS: 28.5%

Ah [chuckles]

[sighs] Oh, boy.

-Hey!

-[gasps] What the hell, man?

You wanna take this out?

Man, I just started it up

to see if the battery's dead, that's all.

-Uh-huh.

-Hang on.

Hey, I bought this with my money,

so why can't I drive my own car

whenever I want?

Come on, you know there are eyes

on you everywhere.

When you have work,

just take the company car.

This is exactly why

I need to start playing roles

like a rich heir,

hotshot lawyer, or doctor.

So no one will say anything

if they see me driving a car like that.

I'm always playing broke detectives.

It's like my curse.

No wonder everyone is shocked

when they see me in that kind of car!

Now people don't see me as me anymore.

I'm Detective Kang Pil-gu to them.

Sometimes, even I get confused and think

I'm him, not Lim Hyeon-jun.

Okay, boss. I hear ya.

For your next project,

let's make sure it's something

where you can really transform your image.

Yeah. Let's please do that, Mr. Hwang.

And don't call me "boss"

in front of people, okay?

What? Why the hell not?

You-You love acting like my boss.

If you call me boss,

it'll just make me look older.

Don't you want to help your artist

improve his public image?

[stammers] Wh-What about my public image?

Hey, sweet thang. You got a k*ller body.

Let's go to my room.

I'll make sure that you get a nice tip.

Wow. You're so hot, seriously.

-Don't touch me, as*h*le.

-as*h*le?

-Get lost.

-Oh. Let's go, let's go.

Man, they need to train

their girls better here.

[narrator] Name: Wi Jeong-sin,

36 years old.

With 12 years at Eunseongilbo

and a stellar track record

on the political desk,

her career speaks for itself.

Top of her class in Media

and Communications at Hankuk University

and fluent in four languages,

English, Chinese, Arabic, and Korean.

With a steel-like mentality,

she managed to stay one step ahead

of the police and find crucial evidence.

Even as a 20-year veteran detective

was throwing up, fainting,

and breaking down

at a dismemberment scene.

She climbed to the top of

a 300-foot crane to interview protestors,

playing a major role in getting

all unfairly dismissed contract

construction workers reinstated.

-[coughing]

-Take cover, take cover!

As a w*r correspondent,

she was the first to report the horrors

of the Serian Civil w*r to the world.

[coughing, gasping]

And she barely survived

a life-threatening operation

after being hit by shrapnel

from a shell expl*si*n,

which almost cost her her leg.

And that made her the youngest ever

Korean Journalist of the Year.

This year's Journalist of the Year

is Ms. Wi Jeong-sin.

[applause]

KOREAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

AWARD CEREMONY

ONNURI JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION

KOREAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

AWARD - WI JEONG-SIN

DESK CHIEF

YUN HWA-YEONG

-This report, did you write this?

-[journalist] Yeah.

What is this? A fairy tale?

I don't buy everything, either.

-You have to tell her!

-I don't wanna. You do it.

But she's moving to

the entertainment desk at a sister paper,

not even the main one. What's going on?

What do you think?

Someone's getting fired soon.

Conference room now.

-Wha Now?

-What?

-Oh, God.

-All right.

[model] See you later.

Oh. Your new hair color looks amazing.

Where did you get it done?

At a salon downtown.

Are you new?

Not really.

-Are you Bahn Soo-jung?

-Yeah.

-How do you know who I am?

-You have that video, right?

On February 20th,

you went out with those VIPs

and shot a video, just in case

it ever turned out to be worth something.

-Who are you?

-Well

a journalist.

[line ringing]

Chief.

I got a scoop for you.

[Hwang laughs] 28% in viewership

and then it just kept climbing, stayed

close to 30% through all four seasons.

-Never lost steam. Nearly 30% at its peak!

-Wow.

-Can you believe that? 30%, 30%.

-So our production company hit it big

with Good Detective Kang Pil-gu,

and even bought a building.

[Hwang] The networks said their

drama business wasn't profitable anymore,

so they almost shut it down completely.

Thanks to Kang Pil-gu,

we were brought back to life.

-Saved when everything seemed over.

-My gosh.

Might sound funny coming from me,

but Kang Pil-gu saved a lot of lives.

[executive] Yeah, it really did!

So you've got to keep writing dramas

like this, okay?

Oh! Remember? Country Diaries?

From way back. It ran forever.

This should run too,

like, ten, 20 years at least!

I mean for sure, look at those

American shows like CSI, NCSI.

Las Vegas, Miami, New York!

If you add them all up, you can't even

count how many seasons there are!

So, why can't we produce ten or 20 seasons

of Good Detective Kang Pil-gu?

-Yeah, yeah.

-You're absolutely right.

But, you see, it's really up to

our leading man here, isn't it?

Are you up for that?

[dramatic music plays]

Are you telling me to only play

a detective until I die?

Even Chief Gil Grissom

from CSI: Las Vegas stepped out

because he wanted to try other roles!

He didn't wanna be stuck!

Kang Pil-gu is the only thing

people remember

about my freaking acting career!

I'm done, all right!

[chuckles, smacks lips]

Yeah, I would

I'd like that too. More than you know.

-Right, right?

-I knew he'd be on board.

Detective Kang Pil-gu forever!

[executive] No point doing some

mediocre rom-com with 2% ratings,

-just stick with Kang Pil-gu

-Yeah, totally.

Yeah.

-Really no point.

-Mm-hmm.

[stomach grumbles]

But I have to say

I've been kind of nervous

the past few weeks.

To have a long career as an actor,

I think it's best for Kang Pil-gu

to stop here,

even though I feel sad ending

[executive] It's because you're such

a great actor!

I mean, you know, when an actress plays

the mistress on those morning dramas,

people take it so seriously,

they end up slapping her on the street,

and calling her names!

-[stomach grumbling]

-It's a badge of honor.

-It is a badge of honor.

-It really is. Yeah.

Hello?

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. One second.

Oh. Right.

Yes. Yes.

Oh, I see.

-[sighs, gasps]

-[stomach grumbling]

Uh, oh, excuse me, where's the men's room?

-It's that way. You can't miss it.

-Oh.

-It's that way? Thanks.

-Yes, sir.

[sighs]

sh*t. Why the hell is this broken?

[stammers]

[groaning]

[groaning continues]

[sighs]

[laughs]

-[clears throat]

-[door closes]

[writer] What if he's adamant

and refuses to do it after all?

[executive] Right now

he only gets vague supporting roles.

At his age who's casting him

in a rom-com or drama?

Kang Pil-gu's all he's got.

What else can he do?

He's probably just trying to up his rate,

so let's just play along

and act like we're accepting it.

[door closes]

Hey, yo.

Did you hear a journalist snuck in?

A journalist? What's going on?

-[server] Did you see this person?

-What are the bouncers doing?

Hey, hold on a second!

-Hey!

-Hey!

[panting]

[sighs]

[grunts, sighs]

[pants]

[gasps]

[gasping]

-What the hell are you doing?

-Uh, sorry about that!

Please be quiet. I'll be gone in a sec.

-Okay. This is the men's

-I said be quiet!

-Quiet.

-Why? What the hell's going on?

I'm really sorry.

I'm going to step over you.

Huh? [screams]

My leg! My leg!

[grunting]

My neck! My neck! My neck!

-Oh, God!

-[bones crack]

[groans]

Hey! My shoes! My shoes!

My shoes! My shoes!

Quick, hurry. My shoes!

-Here.

-Thank you.

I'll pay for your phone.

0259-2151. Call me.

My phone? Um.

[gasps] Oh, no! My phone!

[stutters] God damn it!

What the hell?

Oh, sh*t.

Hey!

There's a crazy woman wandering around.

Just now, she walked right

into the men's room and

Wait. Is she a stalker?

Anyway, she attacked me

and totally freaked me out!

My stomach growled,

so I went to the men's room,

then she barged in, pushed me around

-Ooh.

-stepped on me. [scoffs]

Next thing I know,

my phone's in the toilet

You're Kang Pil-gu!

Good Detective Kang Pil-gu, right?

-[groans]

-Wow, Detective.

Can't believe I'm meeting you here.

Big fan.

I've seen every season, every episode.

Ah, I appreciate that.

-So she barged in there?

-[sighs]

-No, she didn't. Don't worry about it.

-Oh.

Wow. I'm with you, Kang Pil-gu!

-[sighs]

-Wow.

[executive] Right now

he only gets vague supporting roles.

At his age who's casting him

in a rom-com or drama?

Kang Pil-gu's all he's got.

What else can he do?

[sighs]

-[bones crack]

-[winces]

[groans]

[sighs]

What, are you upset about something again?

Honestly, I wouldn't have come

if I'd known it'd be like that.

Let alone to a hostess bar.

Yeah, I know.

That's precisely why I didn't mention it.

About earlier

I'm not just saying it to make a point.

I've had enough

of Kang Pil-gu for real, all right?

[sighs] All right, I hear ya.

We can talk about that later.

By the way, are you nervous

about the award ceremony?

You keep popping

those calming herbal pills.

[sighs]

Do I really have to go

to the award ceremony?

It's not like I'm getting an award.

[sighs]

You won one last year, didn't you?

So this year, you get to be a presenter.

But I'm sick.

I swear, man, I don't feel well.

All right. Just keep popping those pills.

-[music playing on laptop]

-Baby, whoo!

-Baby, give me a kiss.

-[laughs]

You're such a good dancer. [chuckles]

Blown away ♪

In the wind ♪

[sighs]

[sucks teeth]

OBTAINED HOSTESS

ENTERTAINMENT VIDEO

NO CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

WOO YOUNG-SUK, AIDE

[Jeong-sin] Are you saying

he really has nothing to do

with Cheongwon City's redevelopment?

That it was just his aide

who took all that money and spent it?

Woo, an aide to Congressman

Ha Gee-wan, was found dead.

Charcoal briquettes and a possible suicide

note were discovered at the scene.

[secretary] Even Mr. Woo's family

doesn't wanna make this a big deal.

So if you keep poking around,

a lot of people are going to get hurt.

I hope we have an understanding, Ms. Wi.

WOO YOUNG-SUK

Hello, Ms. Wi. Small world.

It's been a long time, ma'am.

It's already been seven years.

Ms. Wi, you don't need to come anymore.

Thank you for

all you've done over the years.

It's not over yet though.

What Mr. Woo wanted to say and

how his death was staged as a suicide.

I'll uncover the truth, I promise.

EUNSEONGILBO

My apologies, sir.

[chairman] I trust you'll

take care of that journalist.

Yes. Understood, sir.

[Jeong-sin] A sports tabloid?

-[groans] Whoa.

-What do you think that is about?

Everyone, back to work.

Just switch to entertainment for a year.

Entertainment?

Moving me to

a sports tabloid isn't just a switch.

But, Chief, you saw the video, right?

It's a major story!

The video barely shows the guy's face,

and you can't even hear the voice.

How is that a story?

All right. I totally get that you wanna

act like you didn't see or hear anything.

But come on, Chief.

You did recognize who it was, didn't you?

Listen.

Do you really wanna drag us all under

with your petty ambitions?

I have a newsroom to run!

Do you want to see

this department wiped out?

Did you really become a journalist

to cherry-pick for a paycheck?

What did you just say?

You You've crossed the line.

How dare you?

-[coworkers gasp]

-Oh, my gosh.

I'm a political journalist.

I refuse to be transferred

and forced out against my will.

[coworkers whispering]

-I don't wanna get fired.

-What a piece of work. Jesus.

[journalist 2]

Why is she transferring here?

Apparently, they've been waiting

for any chance to get rid of her.

I hear she's a total workaholic

with zero social skills.

A real pain to deal with.

Just a total headache.

-Are we the b*mb disposal squad now?

-God.

That's enough. Why make such a fuss

over one person transferring here?

After your lousy reporting today,

you should be worried about your own jobs.

The Geumsang Arts Awards

is tonight, right?

Find out who's wearing similar dresses

and who's dressed horribly,

and get the story out

before the ceremony begins.

The dress w*r on the red carpet.

Who are the winners and losers?

[presenter 2] Two guests have just arrived

on the red carpet to kick off this event.

First, the host of this award ceremony

and the one

who made today's event possible,

Chairman Lee Dae-h*, a young leader

-guiding the industry forward.

-Mr. Chairman!

Stepping onto the red carpet

with an aura that could rival any actor.

-And by his side, this year's most talked

-Mr. Chairman!

-about star

-I'm from the political desk!

Mr. Chairman! Chairman Lee!

a bold gown. You can feel the energy

Excuse me, Chairman Lee!

I'm from the political desk!

Ooh, Mr. Chairman! Chairman Lee!

You definitely can't miss the man making

an appearance on the red carpet right now.

He's the male lead

who successfully led the drama

Good Detective Kang Pil-gu

all the way through to season four.

And the winner of last year's grand prize

at the Geumsang Arts Awards

in the drama category for Best Actor.

And now the

Mr. Chairman! Can you please comment

on the retaliatory personnel decisions

taking place at Eunseongilbo?

-Where did you say you're from?

-I'm Wi Jeong-sin from Eunseongilbo!

You've ignored my calls

and meeting requests,

so I had no choice

but to come here myself!

-Let's talk later, okay?

-Mr. Chairman!

Please cancel my transfer!

We'll talk later.

Sorry. Move, please. [grunts]

[gasping]

[comedic music playing]

-[music stops]

-[grunts]

[screaming]

[crowd gasping]

[attendee] Hyeon-jun!

[crowd clamoring]

[groans]

[K-pop music playing]

[groans]

[groans]

[groans]

SPECIAL THANKS TO OH YEON-SEO

FOR HER GUEST APPEARANCE

-[laughs]

-How can I be sane after all that?

[Jeong-sin] You must have

a terrible memory.

We've met twice before.

Two very dramatic encounters.

[Hyeon-jun] There's no way

this woman is a journalist.

You can't just mess

with the press like that!

-Do you want to bury Lim Hyeon-jun?

-Yes!

Everyone has their dirty laundry,

and where there's smoke, there's fire.

[emcee] Ms. Wi, I'm very sorry

but I will have to ask you to leave.

[Hyeon-jun] She should be apologizing

to me on her knees, if anything!

[Jeong-sin] I just wanna give him

the same in return.

Come on, is this journalist

actually crazy or what?