01x12 - Episode 12

[bunniefuu]

[Jung Ryeo Won]

[Wi Ha Jun]

[Scriptwriter: Park Kyeong Hwa]

[Director: Ahn Pan Seok]

[The Midnight Romance in Hagwon]

[Episode 12]

[Night Flight]

It's a one-minute walk
from that alley to the door.

During the short time it took
me to notice you and walk in,

I had all sorts of thoughts.

- Mr. Lee.
- Who asked to see whom?

What more could you have to talk about?

What is Choi Hyung Sun up to now?

I asked to see Ms. Seo.

What about?

Why should I...

tell you that?

Mr. Lee. Wait back at the academy.

I think I should leave.

Could you stay...

and finish the conversation?

The thought of you two
meeting again is displeasing.

Will you leave?

I know that...

you were a long-time student and teacher,

and that you taught a class together.

Even so, what you're saying...

sounds a bit strange,
Mr. Lee. It's almost as if you're...

I think you're the stranger one.

I keep getting ideas.

Are you unsure you're
good enough to beat us?

So have you decided to
try to shake us mentally?

Someone copied all my teaching material.

- What do you mean...
- Watch your manners.

Mr. Pyo asked to see me to tell me that.

Seo Hye Jin.

I'm here.

Vice-director Ms. Woo has it.

A USB flash drive with my material.

She says it's all there,
but no one has seen it.

What assortment is that?

- An academy gathering?
- I don't know.

I thought Lee Jun h* wasn't here
and hoped to hear Hye Jin talk.

Let's listen later. I read
the atmosphere wrong.

Sit here.

How can you believe it
if no one saw the files?

It could be a ploy to confuse us...

or ruin our mentality.

It's not.

Vice-director Ms. Woo is the source.

What will you do now?

I don't know.

This has never happened before.

First of all, Choi Hyung
Sun shouldn't know...

you told me about this.

You don't have to worry about me.

The fact that I didn't show up...

will have made me a marked man.

Mr. Pyo didn't show up.

No, I'm not displeased at all.

Do we have any more reason to meet?

The worst thing I can do is sue.

"Woo Seung Hui stole
Seo Hye Jin's material."

To hear that one line in court,

I must bet all I have,

give up my livelihood, and fight.

That's like walking
voluntarily into a disaster...

and throwing my money
away with no known end.

Even if I were to win in court,
what good would that do?

No one here will remember me by then.

Isn't that what Woo Seung Hui wants?

What will you do, then?

I'm still thinking.

Can't you...

not think about it?

Whoever Ms. Woo gives it to,

however the receiver
uses it, don't think or care.

- What...
- It's for the better.

We can start over together
and make something decent.

Are you saying my material isn't decent?

Don't ignore the point.

I'm saying you can make
something much better than that.

Forget about possible problems
and problem-solving skills.

I want students to be
able to read on their own.

I thought we finished
that discussion earlier.

No.

- It's just the beginning.
- Gosh.

Are you avoiding me?

- Mr. Pyo, will you excuse us?
- Sure.

Listen.

I'll explain it to you slowly and in steps.

I won't say it twice.

Concentrate.

I'm not saying your idea is wrong.

Do you think I never thought of that?

As I listed possible exam
questions and coached kids...

on how to decipher certain problems,

I felt bad too.

"Gosh, this is such a great passage."

"It's such a great novel,"

"but the kids will forget about it
the moment the KSAT's done."

I got upset whenever I thought of that.

But look. We must send them to university.

You quit your job to teach to
make a fortune in a short period.

And what did you say earlier?

I said I wanted to teach them how to read.

If you can't follow every kid into...

You don't have to say all that again.

First, that method was never proven.

All you're saying is that
you'll use kids as guinea pigs.

Second. Even if your method works,

the effects will appear very slowly.

You don't have to say
all that again either.

Lastly,

even if you overcome all the weaknesses,

your method can never
be applied to school exams.

It's okay.

Because every teacher teaches
different things in different ways.

Ms. Seo.

First.

Saying I'll use kids as
guinea pigs is an insult.

Don't you feel sorry for them?

They worry they'll come
up against a problem...

they're not familiar with or one
no one said would be in the exam.

Don't you pity them?

Exams aren't a game of chance.

- That's why...
- I'm not done yet.

Don't you interrupt me.

I'm not your eighth-class student.
I'm an instructor who's your equal.

Second.

Saying the effects will be
slow is an insult to the students.

Kids that age have brains that whizz.

Fine. It's a stalemate. Let's end it.

Third.

School exams and the KSAT are different?

They follow the same rules.

You need to get a good understanding
of your position and your job.

You're the one who needs
to understand your position.

You're not a civil servant
who's guaranteed a retirement.

Think of your future with a level head.

Do you actually believe
what Choi Hyung Sun said...

about you being like her?

Do you think you can do this...

for 20 more years like
the White Haired Witch?

Gosh. You should watch your language.

Who are you comparing me to?

That's not the point.

Let's consider your future.

Who do you think angers me the most?

Woo Seung Hui who stole my material?

Choi Hyung Sun who's trying to use it?

No. It's you.

They at least value my work highly.

What are you saying?

Can you treat all I
worked for like it's nothing?

What they value is your past ten years.

I'm talking about your future.

That's enough.

I didn't waste my life that I need
someone to worry about my future.

Am I just someone?

You don't just belittle
my teaching material.

You're belittling my efforts,
know-how, results too.

I wouldn't ask for permission
if I didn't think much of you.

I'd just do what I want.

Because succeed or fail, it's on me.

- I won't fail, though.
- Do you think I will?

I take that back. That was childish.

No.

I think this could ruin you.

If you don't quit being so stubborn.

I told you to watch your language.

What have you accomplished so far?

Aren't you a castle built with sand...

that falls if someone steals your material?

- Are you crazy?
- No. I'm perfectly sane.

I'm sorry no one around
here is as sane as me.

What do you get from
mocking and aggravating me?

A long life together?

Oh, dear.

Goodness.

It's the first time I wore this
after having it dry-cleaned.

Oh, no.

First in class, first in their
year. Is that good enough?

Don't you want to teach the
top student in the country?

Let's do that and live in
luxury for the rest of our lives.

I'm sorry. For now, do you think...

You want to teach the
top student in the country?

Yes.

Isn't your academy...

famous for helping kids
improve their grade class?

They said Ms. Seo even
taught where I paused to breathe.

I want to make it so kids can
tackle any kind of passage.

You should go.

If you have the time,

I'd like to chat some more.

With Mr. Lee.

[Lecture Plan]

[Focus on learning attitude]

This punk...

I told him not to do this.

Did you two talk about this?

I gave him some advice.

That he should focus on memory skills...

if he wants to be a Gangnam landlord.

I see.

Then is this a dud?

It's not a dud.

What?

It's how Ms. Seo used to teach.

It's how she taught me too.

That means it's a dud now.

Why do you keep saying "dud?"

Ms. Seo evolved over ten years...

and became a weapon
targeting Chanyoung High.

Jun h*'s aiming for a different market.

But there's no guarantee this will work.

Oh, dear.

Will you put it simply? I'm confused.

If I had a kid, I'd get them
to take Jun h*'s class.

Why?

The reasons are all there.

They learn to think at a high level,

and the skills apply to all other subjects.

Really?

The biggest issue is if
the students will feel him.

Even if they don't, it's just an academy.

They'll get a refund.

We can't allow that.

How interesting.

It's irresponsible nonsense.

I don't think it's nonsense.

It sounds more like an ideal.

Do you know what someone said to me...

right before I resigned?

Can you just...

not do anything?

Please.

- I apologize.
- Don't.

I didn't say that to get an apology.

Without lining up the kids
in order of their grades...

Teaching them how to really read...

and appreciate literature.

And to achieve that,

you teach kids your own way.

That's...

the dream of every teacher out there.

It's paradoxical...

that it can be done at an academy
and not at a school, though.

Gosh.

We kept your friend
waiting for long enough.

I should leave.

Excuse me.

Mr. Pyo. Leave it.

No, let me.

No, really. It's fine.

Go on home.

[Night Flight]

Mr. Pyo.

I apologize.

For being so rude.

I enjoyed it.

I hadn't had...

that much fun in a while.

So...

to mess with Choisun
Academy and your vice-director...

that's trying to take you down...

The idea he came up with...

Yes. I think he lost his mind.

No? Did I lose my mind?

Everything he said seemed to make sense.

I won't apologize for anything...

I said today.

Okay.

I'm going somewhere else.

- Where?
- The sea.

The real sea.

I had a really stressful day.

Lean back.

I'll get you there so you see
the sun rise when you wake up.

The engine's quiet enough so you can sleep.

Who goes on a trip like this...

with zero preparation?

When you threatened not to hire me...

I didn't threaten you.

You called me to Mount Nam.

You told me to see the bigger world.

Yes. I said that.

It's something like that.

I want you to see something
wide and refreshing.

You have such a nice car,

and you can't remember
what the sea looks like.

We'll be back before tomorrow evening.

I can't be a relief driver.

I think I messed up.

What? How?

Last fall.

Hye Jin almost moved to another academy.

Yes, she did.

I should've put more pressure on her.

To make the move.

Why didn't you?

I think it was one weekend morning.

Hye Jin came to see me
to thank me for reviewing...

her contract and to say
she wouldn't make the move.

She actually hummed a song.

- Who, Hye Jin?
- It's weird, isn't it?

Yes.

It was a first.

The air around her felt softer.

I thought it was just because of Mr. Lee.

I liked it.

She had no one to lean on.

At work,

she's a machine that
brings in more students.

To the students, she's a
machine that improves their grades.

I thought she had finally
found a way to breathe.

You were right about that.

I didn't think her young pupil
would shake her up so badly.

I don't know about the
KSAT and education system,

but isn't what Mr. Lee said right?

What's right...

doesn't always bring in money.

You said you felt sorry that
she was a sales machine.

Darn it.

There was a guy from
the training institute...

who pestered me to set him up with Hye Jin.

I should have.

Gosh. You're an arrogant lady.

Me?

- Do you think...
- Why?

You can make someone fall in love?

Why are you being so right tonight?

Oh, the battery.

My gosh.

Did I wake you?

You should've woken me up.

Oh... My gosh.

I talked about the sunrise, but...

I'm so pathetic.

You're not pathetic.

I should've set an alarm.

It's fine.

Let's go outside.

I'd been wanting to,

but I couldn't in case I woke you.

Gosh...

Goodness.

It doesn't feel real.

Just a few hours ago, I was
walking about Gangnam in the rain.

This is a different world.

Aren't you glad we came?

Yes. I didn't know it
was such a quick drive.

It reminds me of when we met on Mount Nam.

I tried to dissuade you and
got taught a lesson instead.

I taught you a lesson?

You threatened me back.

"Can the academy know about this?"

That's what you said.

I failed on Mount Nam,

but you succeeded.

Then...

Do what you want.

Teach however the way you want.

I knew you'd approve.

I'd have gone ahead even if you didn't.

You'd have just gone ahead?

No. I'd have kept on
trying to persuade you.

However long it took.

I don't nag for too long.

Have a sense of responsibility.
The kids' lives are at stake.

You bet.

Do you need help?

You need to make a textbook.

Not like that.

I want to research and
make the textbook with you.

It will be fun and incredible.

No.

I didn't achieve what I did
so easily that I'd give up...

after a few short chats with you.

It's not a castle made of sand either.

I didn't say you achieved it easily.

I'm saying we should have more
fun teaching and make more money.

I can entice the smartest
kids in the country.

Wake up.

We're not trying to teach
people who'll end up in textbooks.

Send them to the best university
and medical school. That's it.

I have a truckload of
students under my belt.

You have nothing.

Other than a fighting spirit.

The start is always the hardest.

So stop wasting energy
trying to persuade me.

You have much more to do.

How pretty.

First. We must be extra careful
when we make an exception...

within an organization.

Once you make an exception,

there's no knowing what
other demands will be made.

That's true.

Second. Mr. Lee hasn't proven...

anything to us yet.

Well...

He did well with the test lecture,

and he got enough students
to start a Heewon High class.

The test lecture was
just a ten-minute event,

and the Heewon class would've
been impossible without Ms. Seo.

And lastly.

Goodness. This is a huge problem.

Are the contents that big a problem?

"Training how to appreciate literature..."

"will improve understanding
of people and the world."

What kind of...

stupidity do you think this is?

Right?

If an academy were to
allocate a room to this class...

Wouldn't it upset the other instructors?

A lot of them trust and believe in you.

Goodness.

You always...

teach me so much, Ms. Woo.

You flatter me.

I'll pass on what you said to Mr. Lee.

[Daechi Chase]

I have plans as well.

- I see.
- Yes.

[Vice-director's Office]

That lecture plan.

Did Ms. Seo approve it?

I don't know.

The Seo Hye Jin I know...

wouldn't have let him get away with it.

I didn't show it to Ms. Seo.

I typed it up myself.

I'll talk to the director when I come in.

She didn't say it was an outright no.

She just meant it was not the right time.

You should do as the superiors say.

Don't take them on...

and get on their bad side.

I'm not disappointed.

I knew they wouldn't approve right away.

Yes.

Yes, I know you tried.

No.

See you in the evening. Bye.

You startled me.

- Why?
- I thought you'd disappeared.

We should get back.

Seo Hye Jin.

What was that for?

It would feel just like a work
thing if I didn't take a photo.

You're right.

Can I keep it as a
souvenir of our first trip...

as a couple?

I thought you would correct it for me.

It wasn't homework or an essay,

so it didn't need any correcting.

Okay.

Instead,

I wrote a few comments at
the end of each book report.

What?

Your goal is to score well in exams.

Modern novels and poems,
classical novels and old prose.

How you should approach and
read passages from those genres.

How I would read them if I were you.

I wrote things like that.

Read it later. Not here.

Okay.

Mr. Pyo.

I gave this to you yesterday.

When did you write all that?

I stayed up all night.

Thank you.

It was fun, though.

You can go now. I'm busy.

I'll take back the offer.

What a shame.

What will you do now?

You waited for your time
for 8 years and 7 months.

Will you bide your time
for a few more months?

I'm switching around the order.

Instead of taking down
Seo Hye Jin and moving out,

I'll move and take her
down from the outside.

Korean instructors Lee Myeong Jun,
Nam Cheong Mi, and Kim Chae Yun.

English instructors
Yoon Ji Seok, Jang Il Do,

Cheon Yi Chang, Kang
Gi h*, and Lee Geum Yang.

Social studies instructor Min Hui Ju.

Korean instructor Lee Jun h*
would be worth mentioning too,

but he's...

so loyal to Ms. Seo, so I'll skip him.

Did I guess correctly?

The people you want
to set sail within your ark.

The material you have.

Will it go to Nam Cheong
Mi or Kim Chae Yun?

Didn't I tell you?

In the long term, we're competitors too.

I can't tell you all that.

Don't think of me as a competitor.

Try to use Choi Hyung
Sun to better yourself.

If you bring those instructors
and join my academy,

I think there would be
a lot I could do for you.

But Choisun is a Korean only academy.

What would you do with English
and social studies instructors?

I'll take them all in.

And create an academy
that teaches multiple subjects.

Before you make the decision,

how about you invite one
more person onto your ship?

Are you talking about Seo Hye Jin?

I haven't completely given up on her.

Your goal is to separate...

Seo Hye Jin and Kim Hyun Tak.

Isn't it a good deal?

What is it?

Something came up.

I need you to do something while I'm away.

It's an assignment.

Take me home...

and head to your parents' for the night.

No.

It's an assignment which you must do.

Why must I do it?

Tell your parents about your idea...

in the nicest way...

and appease their anger.

I'll do that in my own way.

I want...

my boyfriend to be a nice person.

Tall, handsome, and rich.

That qualifies as nice.

Didn't you say...

you wanted to teach the kids...

how to properly read
and interpret writings?

What does that have to do
with being a good boyfriend?

A money-grubbing rebellious son...

teaching the profound
topics of literature...

and the writer's intent and views?

That's hilarious.

You'll do the assignment, right?

Unbelievable.

Why did it have to be you?

It as in my girlfriend.

Come in.

Gosh, come on in, Hye Jin.

- Did I make you wait?
- No, I just got here.

I'm sorry I made you take the long trip.

I bet you met heavy traffic.

I thought I might, so I took the subway.

Of course. Always so astute.

- Let us sit.
- Sure.

I said we'd take our time
ordering. Is that all right?

- Of course.
- Good.

I should make occasions like this often,

but it's never easy.

The instructors are always busy,

and you are each other's competition.

You can never grab a few drinks easily...

without people suspecting favouritism.

You all get easily jealous as well.

That's why I was
surprised by this invitation.

Having you meet me at a place
far away from the academy...

probably made it more suspicious.

Well,

you must have weighed the
options before coming here,

so I'll cut to the chase.

Sure.

I'm preparing for retirement.

I thought you'd be around
for at least another decade.

As if.

Back in the day,

I used to memorize the
names of all the students,

but it's now impossible.

And it's not like I've
been teaching students...

throughout my career...

like Choi Hyung Sun.

Does Director Kim know about this?

Not yet.

But funnily enough,

I received my pension in advance.

I don't follow.

What's that?

It contains all of your
teaching materials...

including your pop quizzes.

Who would...

- And how...
- As if that's the issue.

What's important is that
the flash drive is in my hands.

Take it with you.

You'll need to verify my words.

You're not even hiding the
fact that you made a copy.

Like a copy would be the only thing I have.

You must have something more.

You don't...

seem that startled to
know I have that flash drive.

Were you aware of this?

Who could have told you?

As if that's important right now.

It's not.

The only suspects are...

the one who gave me
the teaching material...

and the one who desperately wanted it.

Just those two.

But what's important is that
none of the two will get it.

Then,

let's think of the best way to
utilize the learning material..

You shed blood, sweat, and tears...

to compile.

I guess...

I should follow you and jump academies.

If I don't, the material...

will fall into someone else's lap.

Let's eat.

I only had a light lunch,
and now I'm starving.

I would appreciate your
respect on the matter.

Sure.

I thought...

you'd have other things to say.

You said it boiled down...

to your conscience and
responsibility as an educator.

How could I dare question that?

It may be upsetting to hear,

but I should respect your decision.

Right. Thank you.

You're free to leave.

You must be busy
preparing for your free lecture.

If I were Kim Hyun Tak,

I wouldn't treat you the way he does.

He was able to take over my academy...

and take home a salary while
strolling around doing nothing...

all thanks to a certain someone.

I still see him as my saviour.

Stabbing him in the back...

Poor you.

Have you forgotten who
first did the stabbing?

You've seen how he tried to
divide your Chanyoung High classes.

Yes, that incident...

was upsetting.

I'll need some time to think.

Of course you do.

Have you decided who to take with you?

That?

I can only let you in on that
once you agree in writing.

Is Lee Jun h* on the list?

He can be if you want.

There's something I'd like to test first.

Mr. Lee proposed a
lecture he'd like to open.

I was notified of it, and it was declined.

How about we let him go ahead with it?

For what reason?

To see if he's worth bringing with us.

He's an instructor with fresh views,

but he's not easy...

to control.

Not only are you a bad actor,

but you're a terrible liar as well.

Everyone knows of the special
bond you have as teacher and student.

Gosh. Hasn't the rumour spread?

Mr. Lee and I...

bit each other's heads off.

That job is one everyone wants a piece of,

so how does it make
sense to turn the offer down?

Tell us why. You're good
with words, aren't you?

You may not know this, but...

What don't I know?

Let him talk, will you?

He's trying to tell us something.

I respect you both.

No one told you to respect us.

Just do as we say.

When I quit my last job,

I said many hurtful things to you.

But I'm not undermining
the life you have led.

Other than raising your three boys,

you focused on nothing else.

You know that, but...

Why can't you understand...

that I don't want to live
my life thinking about...

what I can take more from you...

to make my life easier?

It's upsetting.

Just this once.

Please put your faith
in me and see how I do.

I only ask because I love and respect you.

All right.

Snap out of it! How
can you be good with it?

He just said we upset him.

Mom, are you crying?

Yes, she gave it to me.

Well, I was able to
figure out a few things.

The files were copied
in bulk quite recently.

I can also tell just about when.

If I publicized it to
find out who did this,

I could find out who did it.

But I won't.

Why not?

It will only lead me to
Ms. Woo's inside man,

and what good would that do?

Getting what I want...

and rendering these files
useless is more important.

That being said,

we'll need to remain on
the outs at the academy.

Officially, we're a
superior and subordinate...

who are still upset with one another.

- I'm putting my trust in you.
- Sure.

Please make sure they
come out nicely. Thanks.

Sure thing.

Let's go.

[Ness Printing]

Can we now grab a bite to eat?

What? Actually, we have
one more place to go...

to place orders for a promotional item.

Are you hungry?

No, I'm good.

A promotional item, did you say?

A ball-point pen with
my name printed on it.

It's for the students.

Gosh. Do you prepare those yourself?

I can hire someone to do the
work, but that'll cost me more.

I'm saving money by
doing the heavy lifting.

You're a smart cookie.

I get that a lot.

What?

My gosh!

Gosh.

- Behind you.
- Right.

Did you see me just now?

What? Yes, I did.

Thanks for that.

I should be complimented for that.

Wasn't I cool just now?

You were all right.

I bet I scored a lot of points.

I must've scored more points...

than I did trying to sweet-talk you.

To be honest...

We'll keep...

seeing each other, right?

Sure.

I'm dying to find out...

when we'll officially date.

Today.

Why are you free today?

I thought graduate students were busier.

And here I thought this
was our first day as a couple.

The university is on break.

There's no harm in kicking back a little.

That alley seemed dangerous though.

Whether it be me or not,

make sure you always have company.

It's not like I go there often.

By the way, did Jun h*
complete his textbook?

His textbook seemed different.

Watch.

This is Ms. Seo.

This is Mr. Lee.

Clash!

They went head to head.

No way.

I couldn't care less about who won.

I'm pretty sure it was Jun h*.

No one can stop him when
he sets his mind on something.

- We'll go after work, then.
- Sure.

Sounds good.

Hi, everyone.

Hi, Ms. Kim.

[Wednesday morning, Lobby,


Ms. Woo changed her mind.

Thank you.

You should've come up with this sooner.

You're at a disadvantage...

since most students have
already filled out their schedules.

That's why I said I'd start small.

If I had come to you sooner,

I would've asked for
a lecture hall instead.

I like how confident you are.

- Have a good day, then.
- Thanks.

Sure.

- Hi.
- You're here.

Ms. Kim, what brings you to our team?

Oh, that? I had something for Mr. Lee.

I see.

Have a good day, everyone.

Going up.

Just a second!

Thanks.

[Consultation room 2]

Welcome.

Won't people say...

we're giving Mr. Lee special treatment?

[Daechi Chase]

He's a student of mine that I adore,

so I want nothing more
than to do him favours.

But why did it have to
be during school break?

I believe it's quite promising.

Ms. Kim went over his
proposal and deemed it practical.

You never know which classes
will be your money-maker.

I hope it works out.

Then...

[Lecture Plan]

Read it through.

You said our free lecture
was the best you ever had.

Will this...

get rid...

of the anxiety I have before tests?

You're the one who studies.

All I do is teach in a way
that I deem as effective.

Take it with you and think about it.

Actually, I'll sign up right away.

Mr. Pyo is really quitting his job...

at the school.

But...

I don't intend to switch academies.

Why are you suggesting
that I take another class?

I've always completed
my assignments on time...

and have good grades.

My mom also likes your classes.

That's why.

Ha Yul, you've taken my
classes since the very beginning...

after your mom did extensive research.

Yes.

But I believe...

that you are someone
who can think for herself...

and make her own decisions.

Am I?

I've never heard anyone say that about me.

You seem docile,

but you don't let others sway you.

Also, you find what works best for you.

That's the person I see.

Thank you.

It's really a first.

So I thought you could try other classes...

and make decisions for yourself.

That kind of experience
might be good for you.

If you're worried,

take the class with Jung Soo and Ye Eun.

Would you like to check
out Mr. Pyo's free lecture?

I won't force you if you don't want to.

It's fine. I'll check it out.

[Eunma Arcade]

[Choisun Academy]

[Choisun Academy's Pyo
Sang Seob, Free Lecture]

Hey, it's Ms. Seo.

- I know.
- Will we get on her bad side?

Ms. Seo isn't the type to hold grudges.

[Choisun Academy, the 1st class formula]

Shall we?

[Choisun Academy's Pyo
Sang Seob, Free Lecture]

[1 seat per person]

Nice to meet you.

I am the symbol of First Class.
My name is Pyo Sang Seob.

My lecture will last 1 hour and 30 minutes.

And it's about the trend of
contemporary Korean literature.

I know this is a free lecture,
but I will make it my mission...

that you never forget what you learn today.

When my students are late,

it's my rule to have them
stand in the back of my class.

But it's my first class. So
let's cut her some slack.

Are you guys okay with that?

- Yes.
- Yes.

Are you ready?

- Yes.
- Yes.

Father went to the market on a donkey

Grandmother went to a
man's house in a nearby village

I ate the chilli pepper and gasped,
I ate the wild chives and gasped

Grandmother got the birthday rice cakes

And carried them on her head

Until she arrived home
after walking the winding path

In the mountain

I ate the chilli pepper and gasped,
I ate the wild chives and gasped

Who knows the original title of the song?

The original title of the
song is "The Baby at Home."

It was released in the 1920s.

It was actually a song...

that was passed down orally
from one region to another.

You must pay attention
to "wild chives" in the lyrics.

The wild chives here don't
mean the vegetable we're used to.

They actually meant cigarettes.

You can look it up on the Internet later.

What you need to do now is to visualize it.

All right.

Let's picture the scene now.

The adults left the house
to run errands of their own.

It's an unthinkable thing now.

But the child is all alone at home.

There's no TV or cell phone.

Children's books or toys
don't exist in this era either.

The child is bored out of his mind.

He must do his best to find
something fun to do. All right.

Then he sees chilli peppers
spread out around the house...

and a bunch of smoking pipes.

The child starts to mimic grown-ups.

He eats the chilli peppers.

Then he smokes with the pipe.

His senses are utterly stimulated
that he can't think straight.

They taste spicy and
bitter that he can't stand still.

So he circles around the same spot.

While gasping.

After having the chilli
peppers... "Gosh, it's spicy!"

After having the wild chives... "Spicy!"

He gasps at the spiciness.

I ate the chilli pepper and gasped,
I ate the wild chives and gasped

What do you think?

You didn't think much of
the chorus up until now.

But it's beginning to
look like a vivid picture.

Don't you agree?

- Yes.
- Yes.

The writers of the national textbooks...

switched out cigarettes with wild chives...

to make it suitable for students.
Can you understand their intention?

- Yes.
- Yes.

All right.

I said...

we were going to study
the trend of Korean literature.

See if you can answer this.

What's the basis of "literature" then?

- Life and death.
- Life and death?

Then I'll choose life.

- Me?
- Yes.

Just tell me what comes to your mind.

History?

History?

[History]

- Do you mean this?
- Yes.

Do you guys agree?

- Yes.
- Yes.

Great.

Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910.

"Mujong" by Yi Gwang Su in 1917.

The 1st publication of Taeseo
Literary Journal in 1918.

The 1st publication of the
magazine, Gaebyeok, in 1920.

The New Literary
Movement in 1930 and so on.

You guys spent way too much
time to memorize all these facts.

So naturally, you would
think it would be history. But...

that's wrong.

[Trend of literature]

"Trend of literature."

It won't be on the exam.

Instead of trying to copy the letters,

pay attention to what I'm about to say.

"Trend of literature."

If you look at each word separately,

it means "the flow of thoughts."

Studying the trend of literature...

is the process of following
the thoughts of the era.

It also means...

it will be the process of
broadening your world.

Whether it's a poem or a novel,

the moment you face a literary piece,

you must dive into the
narrator's world right away.

You must face the world with
the same perspective, language,

and ideology of the writer from that era.

Between the reader who
can picture a young child...

trying the chilli peppers and cigarettes...

while staying at home alone...

and the reader who can't
picture the scene at all,

there's an impassable river.

And this means...

I'm sorry to say this, but
it will affect your grades.

All right.

As you're in high school,
let's study a fitting novel.

We will begin with Yi
Gwang Su's novel, "Mujong."

You should have a printout
from me. Open the first page!

[Choisun Academy, the 1st class formula]

Here's what you guys have to know.

Every single literary
piece in the textbook...

and even a quotation from an
essay that appears on your exam...

are chosen with the utmost care.

Distinguished scholars with
master's and doctorate degrees,

university professors,

schoolteachers with decades of experience,

and education specialists...

spent considerable time and effort...

handpicking the texts
you must read as students.

Gosh.

All this work just for mere
middle school graduates.

Sum up "Mujong."

It was published in


The writer, Yi Gwang Su.

The first contemporary
full-length novel in Korea.

It explores the awakening
of modern ideology,

discovery of self, and so on!

They're not making you read this novel,

so you could mindlessly
memorize these b*llet points.

Your current teachers...

and the professors who
will teach you in the future...

want you to sympathize...

with the struggles and hardships
of the people from this era.

Moreover, they want you to
broaden your understanding...

of people and the world.

When you come across this piece,

before you recite all the
memorized b*llet points,

you must be sucked into the
main character's dilemma. Yes.

Of course, it won't be easy.

I still remember the shock I
had the first time I read this novel.

It was painstakingly boring.

Then...

I decided to tackle this novel
with a different set of eyes.

I pretended to secretly read
the journal of my oldest brother...

who seemed to have
a lot on his mind lately.

What's the main character,
Hyung Sik's dilemma?

Who on earth does he love?

Is it Sun Young? Or Young Chae?

Don't you see?

Nothing is more fun than secretly
reading your brother's journal...

about his love triangle. Don't you agree?

When I read this novel with that mindset...

Oh, my gosh.

What a page-turner.

No novel could be as
entertaining as this one.

[Literature]

Literary works...

are like journals...

in which the writers peer into...

their inner selves for a long time...

and subtly express their finding.

[Appreciation Training]

Here's my final question for you.

What did you study today?

- The flow of thoughts.
- The flow of thoughts.

What was that?

- The flow of thoughts!
- The flow of thoughts!

That's right.

Today, you navigated the sea of thoughts...

from the masses and
prominent writers of Korea...

between 1910,

the start of the Japanese colonial era,

and 1945, the year of independence.

[The flow of modern novels]

I'm curious if you enjoyed the journey.

- It was fun.
- It was good.

Thank you.

Thank you for attending my lecture.

I am the symbol of First
Class, Pyo Sang Seob!

What a surprise.

I was so worried when I
heard he was quitting school.

He didn't need us to worry.

Will you take his class?

- I'm not sure.
- Will you ask your mom and decide?

No, I won't.

I'll think about it on my
own and make my decision.

I can do it alone.

That was a fun lecture.

- I should check that out.
- Right.

- Really?
- Yes.

What do you want to eat after this?

I learned a lot, sir.

Thank you.

It doesn't sound like nonsense.

It sounds more like an ideal.

When are you coming back?

I finished the first part of the textbook.

It's enough only for two weeks.
But I can't wait to show it to you.

[Daechi Chase]

You've been dying to hold this class.

And it will finally start tomorrow.

Only with five students.

The start of the legend.

You know what?

How come you're not scared?

Go ahead.

Okay.

What are you doing?

Mr. Lee.

All right. Starting now,

don't make a sound. Just look at the light.

All right. Top Student Seo Hye Jin.

What did you just see?

A fox?

What else?

A moth. Like a mayfly.

I see. Did you hear anything?

The wind.

These are the senses
required to appreciate...

"How to Cross a Desert" by Seo Yeong Eun.

This literary work utilized
our physical senses to depict...

the main character's
experience in various ways.

You all...

just experienced becoming extremely tense,

causing your senses to sharpen as a result.

Should I provide some evidence?

Stay quiet.

What does "appreciate" mean?

The dictionary says it's when you enjoy,

understand, and criticize a work of art.

All right. Hieroglyphs
were stylized after objects.

They were modelled after some objects.

Could you give me an example?

Your class.

Out of all the Korean
classes I'd heard so far,

it was the best.

But...

she wrote that over the semester.

I felt so embarrassed.

Jun h*.

Focus on the sound of the wind.

Lee Jun h*.

You won.

You won.

I want to complete the puzzle
before the new semester begins.

Of course. It will be either expedited...

or delayed based on your position.

Could you give me a bit more time?

I think I gave you ample time.

I'm expecting someone.

Pardon?

Who could it be? I can't wait to find out.

You won't be disappointed.

She's here. Here comes
another big fan of mine.

Please sit down, Ms. Choi. This way.

We're ready for our meal now.

Yes, ma'am.

I told them to prepare
a meal for two people.

I didn't think I had any
business of being here.

I hope you will take your time
to enjoy the meal thoroughly.

Oh, right. Here.

You can discuss what to do with this.

You can give it to someone...

or make posters and put them up.

I don't think there's any instructor...

who could give a better lecture than I
am because they have my materials.

But then again, you guys are
very good at discovering new talent.

I'm sure you will have no problem
knowing what to do with this.

I understand your decision.

Let me ask you why then.

It's because...

I don't treasure this anymore.

[The Midnight Romance in Hagwon]

She must have thought...

it would be over once she
gave up on the materials.

But we're just getting started.

Did you guys get caught?

Because you're involved with me,

we'll face the nastiest gossip.

Gosh. Unbelievable!

- Seo Hye Jin's career is finished.
- What if I asked you out?

Would I have had a shot?

I'm saying that this academy
will become a wrecked ship soon.

Are you going to deny it?

Are you going to say it's a
rumour? That it's not true?

You'll end up disgraced.

[OST "Simple Melody" by
The Restless Age released]

I'll be the one disgraced.