01x05 - The Law of Death

[bunniefuu]

(Taebaek, Jeongseon)

I'm going back to the very beginning.

In Taebaek, where we were both born and raised,

I will find a clue to lift her curse.

(Episode 5: The Law of Death)

Welcome.

Hey.

Give me a minute.

How pretty.

Our flowers have a 100 percent success rate.

- Is that so? - Yes.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Bye.

Take a seat.

He's proposing today.

Proposing. I see.

I hope it goes well.

You came earlier than expected.

It's a weekday, so there was no traffic.

Do you want some tea?

No, I'm good.

I have another place to be.

Hey. How long has it been?

Let's see.

Three years after my mom passed away.

You're so indifferent.

- I'm sorry. - No. I'm the same.

But will everyone be free?

Min Jae and h* Young will be happy to see you.

Remember Da Eun?

Yes, I do. Da Eun from liberal arts.

Yes. She's going to come, too.

Midong High's Korean teacher.

- She also lives in Taebaek. - Really?

That's good. As a matter of fact, I have to drop by school.

I'll see you again tomorrow.

- I'll get going. - Lee Dong Jin.

What's this?

Explain what's going on if you've called up all your friends.

You left your hometown. So why are you back all of a sudden?

Did something happen?

I'll tell you tomorrow when we all meet up.

I patrolled and cleaned the house every now and then.

But it might not look as nice.

Thank you for looking after an empty house.

You really don't have to.

By the way, are you going to keep that pretty place empty?

It's where I was born and raised.

And my mom's and dad's memories live there.

No matter how grand a palace is,

if no one lives in it, it soon collapses like scaffolding.

The same goes for the Park's house in Jeongun-ri.

Speaking of which,

there's some good news around here...

in Jeongun-ri.

I heard a resort would be built.

Land prices have nearly doubled.

It's the talk of the town.

How about it? Should I put it up for sale?

That house. Near that house...

Yes, right here.

There. That should be it.

This whole area, surrounding this house.

Right. It's quite large.

You've heard of KG Construction, right?

The biggest construction company in Korea.

Rumours have spread like wildfire that they won...

the contract or whatnot.

Did anyone get injured or die in this area?

What's this out of the blue?

To be precise, from the early 1990s to 2012.

What?

If it's you,

you must know everything that has happened in this town.

You're the village chief,

the long time respected elder, and a native of this town.

- Right? - Well...

I'm sure people die everywhere.

But there were a number of strange incidents in that town.

All because of that pretty daughter of Park's.

Sir. That's totally groundless.

Anyway, it might've been a coincidence.

But after Park's daughter left this town,

nothing happened.

That is if I remember correctly.

The wild boar attacking Hyun Kyu,

the dry cleaner's son, was the last incident.

Are you, by any chance, in touch with Hyun Kyu?

That's it. Roll back. Lie on your side.

Lie on your side again.

Now pull your butt back.

That's it.

One last time.

Go back to the other side...

and pull your butt back.

That's it.

You're doing great.

Hey, Dong Jin.

Don't kick me.

- Take this. - You're out.

No, I'm not.

Hyun Kyu. Can I record our conversation?

Go ahead.

(Voice Recording)

Are you writing a thesis or something?

You see...

Yes, it's sort of a thesis.

It's already been ten years.

Time really flies.

- Right? - Yes.

Back then, after what happened to Mi Jung's father,

I got worried she might not be eating...

and headed over with some bread.

That was everything.

Mi Jung. It's me, Hyun Kyu.

I thought you'd be refusing to eat,

so I brought some bread for you.

How long were you at Park Mi Jung's place?

Let's see.

I soon left after some words of consolation.

It wasn't that long.

Mi Jung.

I...

Stay strong.

Hyun Kyu was at Mi Jung's place...

for about 12 minutes and 35 seconds.

Darn it. What's that?

In three, let's run. Okay?

One,

two.

Seriously.

Is it even possible?

Of all times and places, a wild boar was there.

Did you also have feelings for Park Mi Jung?

Come on. That was all in the past.

You must've confessed to her that day.

No...

Must I even tell you that?

Oh, right.

I'm sorry. You don't have to if it bothers you.

No, it's not that.

I'm just embarrassed.

I couldn't confess my feelings,

and that happened in front of her house.

Gosh.

But...

After what happened, I got scared.

Like the rumours, I wondered if she was a real witch.

Name, Choi Hyun Kyu.

He had a crush on Park Mi Jung but couldn't confess.

Lived in the same town.

Got into a serious injury, taking 20 weeks to heal,

after a boar attacked him.

- Goodness. - Look at all of these.

Hurry up and give it to us.

Give what?

Your wedding invitation.

It's always the quiet ones who bring a baby home.

We understand. Now give it to us.

It's not that. How many times must I say it?

Then are you here to shop for land because of the resort development?

Gosh, Min Jae.

Do you have no brain?

Does Dong Jin seem the type?

What about your nonsense?

We'll soon be turning 30, but a baby?

Really, you two.

That's enough. We're sick of it.

Give me a second.

Did you even write a book, Dong Jin?

"Park Mi Jung?"

Don't tell me it's the Park Mi Jung we know.

(Translated by Park Mi Jung)

It's her.

I haven't heard that name in years. Park Mi Jung.

Wasn't she with Park Sang h* when he got an electric shock?

She's the one Min Jae went on about being a witch, right?

The late Jung Hwan also had a crush on her, didn't he?

The same with Hong Mo.

"Hong Mo?"

Kim Hong Mo. Don't you remember him?

Back in the first year of middle school,

he was on crutches for the whole semester.

He transferred to Yeongwol right after the semester ended.

I've heard about it, too.

He got into a motorcycle accident on his way back...

from giving Mi Jung some candy.

Did you hear it from Hong Mo?

No.

From Mi Jung.

There was a moment when I was close to her.

h* Young. Are you in contact with Hong Mo?

Not at the moment.

But I bet I could find him if I made some calls.

Dong Jin. We haven't seen each other in ages.

But why would you bring up the Witch?

So...

you still call her Witch.

Let's stop calling her that.

It's something I couldn't bring up in the past.

Honestly, there were many incidents and accidents around Park Mi Jung.

The male students got hurt, needed stitches,

or broke their bones.

Both the late Jung Hwan and Sang h*...

were also involved with her.

He's right, Dong Jin.

Weren't we all scared back then?

Unexplainable events kept happening.

People just needed someone to blame because they were frightened.

But they meant no harm.

Why are you bringing Park Mi Jung up out of the blue?

Not long ago,

I coincidentally bumped into Park Mi Jung on the subway.

I hoped she was living a happy life.

But like a cursed person, she lived in hiding.

It looked as if life itself was still a burden.

We may have forgotten everything,

but it's still ongoing for Park Mi Jung.

Dong Jin. We were kids back then.

You're right. Everyone was immature.

But Mi Jung was also too young to endure it...

all by herself.

Either way,

it's in the past.

We can't turn back time, can we?

Exactly. If this were golf, we could take a mulligan.

"Mulligan?" What's that?

If you make a bad swing in golf,

you pretend it never happened and take another.

That's nice.

It'd be great if there was a mulligan in life. Right?

You're right.

As you said, those incidents can't be undone.

But if you guys can help me a little,

maybe she can come out of hiding and lead a normal life.

Help me.

What...

can we help you with?

Collecting data.

"Data?"

All the data on the incidents and accidents that happened...

around Mi Jung. I believe...

there's a pattern in it.

"A pattern."

Yes, an accident pattern.

If we can find the pattern, we can predict it.

And if we can predict it,

we can prevent unfortunate accidents from happening.

(Donated by Oh Mi Sook)

Since 2014, everything has been digitized...

and stored only on the server.

But back in our days,

a lot of records were still handwritten.

Most of what you need should be here.

The regulations require us to store them.

Da Eun.

Thanks.

Don't mention it.

It's a relief that I work here.

I'll be in the teachers' room.

Search through them and if you need anything, call me.

I will.

Big data.

I must extract the essential information from here.

(2011, Year 2, 2nd Semester)

(2012, Internal Official Documents)

(2012, Faculty Meeting Minutes)

Goodness.

(Attendance Book)

(Attendance Book)

(2011 Attendance Book)

I found it.

(Student Record)

(Allow)

(Storage at Midong High School)

(Student Record)

(Details of Student Record)

(Personal Information)

(Details of Student Record)

(Personal Information)

(Details of Student Record)

(Name: Kim Jung Hwan)

(13: Park Da Jung, 15: Choi Ju Hyun)

(Year 2011)

(List of Accidents and Incidents at Midong High School)

In 2009 and 2013,

there wasn't a single accident at Midong High School.

In 2010, 14 people were in accidents.

No deaths.

In 2011, 19 people were in accidents.

One died.

In 2012, 5 people were in accidents.

One died.

(Year 2013: 1st-years, 2nd-years, and 3rd-years)

(None)

The accidents that occurred here...

are concentrated primarily from 2010 to 2012...

when Park Mi Jung was enrolled.

Bang Ju Sung, the 2nd-year from Class 3,

was injured on the fall picnic on Mount Yeonhwa.

(Bang Ju Sung)

(Missed his footing)

(Serious injury)

In October of 2011,

a student fell during the gym class...

- and sprained his shoulder. - Are you okay?

- Where does it hurt? - Heo Il Kyun.

(Heo Il Kyun, minor injury)

Most of the accidents from all those years ago...

centered around Park Mi Jung.

(The location where Kim Jung Hwan died)

(Park Mi Jung's house)

(The location where Park Sang h* died)

(Jeongun-ri)

(h* Young)

(h* Young)

- Hello. - It's me.

- Well, - Yes.

there's this guy named Do Hoon.

He lived in Jeongun-ri when he was in elementary school.

So I casually asked him if he heard of Park Mi Jung.

He had a story about Park Mi Jung.

(Consultation Counter)

So he's your friend?

Yes. You don't know him? He's Lee Dong Jin.

I don't. I went to a different school.

Right. Didn't you go to a commercial high school?

Tell us about that.

(Kim Do Hoon)

I tried to be in her vicinity whenever I could.

I wanted to tease her, so I used to cut the elastic band.

- What are you doing? - So...

you had a crush on her, right?

I didn't know since I was only a kid.

I realized after I grew up that I might have liked her.

That's how boys are.

Name, Kim Do Hoon.

Park Mi Jung's hometown friend from Jeongun-ri.

He had a crush on Park Mi Jung but couldn't confess.

He fell into a manhole and suffered a minor injury.

(Address Book of Midong High School)

The number you dialled is not in service.

- What? - Please check again...

This number...

(h* Young)

Hey, h* Young.

Dong Jin, I got some news about Hong Mo.

He lives in Chuncheon.

He lives in Building 101 of Segyeong Apartment in Chuncheon.

Okay. Do you have his number?

Well, Sung Sik...

You know Sung Sik, right?

Yes. He was the class president when we were first-years.

Park Sung Sik.

Sung Sik went to visit his older brother in Sokcho.

He ran into Hong Mo by chance.

He couldn't exchange numbers or know his unit number.

What do we do?

How can I help you?

I'm looking for Kim Hong Mo.

What?

What's that? Are you here to sell me study guides?

My family doesn't need study guides.

What?

(Under maintenance)

Is anyone home?

Is anyone home?

- How can I help you? - I'm looking for Kim Hong Mo.

- Who? - Kim Hong Mo.

You got the wrong house.

- Who is it? - I'm looking for Kim Hong Mo.

Wrong house.

Hello.

(Unit 505, no answer)

The elevator is under maintenance.

Darn it.

- Excuse me. - What?

Do you know a guy named Kim Hong Mo?

- Who? - Kim Hong Mo.

- I don't know him. - Okay.

- What's this about? - Well,

is this Kim Hong Mo's house?

Yes. Who is this?

Are you...

Lee Dong Jin, the son of Poongnyeon Agrochemicals' owner?

Hold on.

Do you recognize me?

Of course. You were close to h* Young.

Hey, how did you find me here?

It's a long story.

Anyway, I heard from Sung Sik.

I see. Okay.

What's this about?

I have some questions for you.

Okay.

It's about Park Mi Jung from middle school.

Park Mi Jung?

Hey, hold on. There's a playground in our apartment complex.

Could you wait there? I won't be long.

Okay.

- Hey, Dong Jin. - Gosh.

Hey.

- I'm sorry for making you wait. - No.

My baby kept crying because of you.

I see.

Well... Mi Jung.

You know tomorrow is White Day, right?

Here. This is for you.

Are you okay?

Can you get up?

Oh, no.

My body flew up in the air.

- Then I fell to the ground. - Are you all right?

Who knew my bones could break that easily?

Then...

did you give her the candy because you liked her?

Yes. That's right.

She was quite pretty.

So you must have stayed in front of her house...

for about ten minutes.

Well, probably. Yes.

By the way, the insurance policy my mom bought for me...

didn't cover any of the treatment for fractures.

My gosh. Just thinking about that scares me.

But nowadays,

there's this insurance policy that covers simple fractures...

as well as cancer diagnosis.

(Clean Comprehensive Insurance)

Hey, I'm just giving it to you, so you can take a look.

I'm not trying to sell it to you.

I don't know why you're curious about that incident.

But I'm just worried about you. Okay?

I know that not a lot of people in their 30s get injured.

But once it happens to you, there's no avoiding it.

Here.

You said you weren't trying to sell the policy.

I'm not. Just give it a read.

Name, Kim Hong Mo.

He liked Park Mi Jung when he was in middle school.

He stayed with her for about ten minutes.

He needed seven weeks of medical treatment...

after a car accident. A minor injury.

(Fight as one)

(Let's fight as one, our fellow coal miners.)

(Let's fight as one, our fellow coal miners.)

(Let's secure our right to survive.)

(Analytical Manufacturing Office)

Hello. Do you know where Bang Ju Sung is?

Bang Ju Sung?

Oh, him. Why don't you check all the way over there?

- Okay. Thank you. - Check over there.

(Raw Coal Unit 4)

Bang Ju Sung?

Was it the spring picnic?

The fall picnic.

Right. I do remember seeing the fall foliage.

The fall picnic.

No wonder. The gimbap is so good!

- My gosh. - Can I get some kimchi?

Mi Jung.

Why are you eating alone?

Well...

No.

I don't want to hear it.

I'll get going now.

I get goosebumps just thinking about that day.

What do you mean?

Imagine if I actually confessed my feelings to her that day.

I would have ended up like Sang h* or Jung Hwan.

Name, Bang Ju Sung.

He tried to confess his feelings to Park Mi Jung but failed.

He broke his ankle and needed ten weeks of medical treatment.

Park Mi Jung was watching me.

I wanted to make a good impression, and that's when it happened.

- Hey. - Hey. Are you all right?

Oh, right.

I think that might have happened because Park Mi Jung...

was farther away.

I was merely in the school infirmary with Park Mi Jung. That was all.

But I smashed my head the next day while playing basketball.

- Stop him. - We have to stop him.

We weren't in the same class.

No one really noticed my presence.

I doubt she knew my name.

It's a bit of a stretch to say...

that the accident occurred because of her.

Park Mi Jung?

I'm not sure.

My crush tends to change quite quickly.

I'm not sure if I had a crush on her...

- when I got injured. - Hey. Are you okay?

- Hey. How bad is it? - Are you all right?

In 2011, 28 students were in Year 2 Class 3.

In the first semester,

our numbers were assigned based on our height.

The columns of desks were rearranged every month.

(Park Mi Jung, Bang Ju Sung)

Her number was five.

The people in the accidents were in the same room as her...

and within 10m of her.

The space isn't limited or confined only to the classroom.

Up, down, left, and right. Space in all directions...

counts.

The people in the accidents were about 10m away from her.

(List of Accidents and Incidents at Midong High School)

The collected data was converted into statistics.

To find differences and similarities among the people in the accidents,

I categorized them by severity.

Minor injuries, serious injuries, and death.

(Food poisoning, minor injury)

(Space, time, name)

Based on the data I analysed,

I found a common pattern.

Space, time, name, conversation, and expression.

(Space, time, name, conversation, and expression)

Based on the pattern, a hypothesis was established.

One.

Being in the same space with her is dangerous.

(1. Being in the same space with her is dangerous.)

Two. Holding...

Holding a conversation with her is dangerous.

(2. Holding a conversation with her is dangerous.)

Three. Being...

Being acquainted with her is dangerous.

(3. Being acquainted with her is dangerous.)

Four. Confessing your feelings to her is dangerous.

(4. Confessing your feelings to her is dangerous.)

Five.

Breaking all of these rules...

Breaking all of these rules...

could result in death.

(5. Breaking all of these rules could result in death.)

(Breaking all of these rules...)

Breaking all of these rules...

will...

result in death.

(Breaking all of these rules will result in death.)

(Hypotheses)

However, the precondition for all these hypotheses is...

that one must have feelings for Park Mi Jung.

Da Eun.

Did I come at a late hour?

(Space: Midong High School, Jeongun-ri Village Hall, downtown)

(Time spent with Park Mi Jung: 5 to 50 minutes, over 10 minutes)

(Had conversations between 5 to 10 exchanges)

(Park Sang h*, Kim Jung Hwan: Dead)

(Name: People Park Mi Jung knew the names of)

(Did they confess their feelings to her?)

Here.

Thank you.

Let's sit down.

Are you all right?

Why are you asking me that?

Did you look in the mirror?

The mirror?

Oh, this? I couldn't shave. That's all. I'm fine.

What brought you here this late at night?

Well...

After Mi Jung...

quit school,

I felt so uncomfortable.

I saw you in front of her house...

on the graduation day.

You put our yearbook in her mailbox.

I see.

I liked...

Ik Jong a lot.

The day...

when Ik Jong got into an accident,

he gave his reference books to Mi Jung...

and encouraged her.

I hated her so much.

My mom said...

her mom had died giving birth to her.

I told you.

Mi Jung is really a witch.

I hated her so much.

Actually,

I was the one who started the rumour...

saying that she was a witch.

I see...

I didn't know things would get out of hand like that.

When I realized that I put a heavy rock...

on a drowning person,

I regretted it a lot.

If you meet Mi Jung,

please...

tell her...

that I'm truly sorry...

for what I did.

I came to say this.

It'd be nice for me to deliver the message,

but it'd be better...

if you told her directly.

I still don't have the courage to do so.

You'll have a chance.

Maybe...

Mi Jung is waiting for you too.

Right.

Did you find the pattern you wanted?

Well...

I did find a meaningful pattern,

but there are too many variables.

There's no data on Mi Jung from 2012 to the present.

Ik Jong told me...

that Mi Jung was accepted into Hanguk University...

and ended up majoring in the same department.

Im Ik Jong?

Yes.

(Lee Seo A, Nam Ye Bin)

(Park Seong Hun, Lee Min h*, Ju Han Sol)

(Heo Il Kyun, Bang Ju Sung)

You're here.

A visitor has been waiting for you.

Oh, hello.

I'm Lee Dong Jin, your junior from Midong High School.

I heard it from Da Eun.

Come on in.

(Attorney Im Ik Jong)

So...

what brought you here?

I know it's strange.

But I came to ask about when you were stung by a wasp.

A wasp? Me?

Yes.

I heard you had been stung by a wasp around February 2011...

in front of Jeongun Church.

In front of Jeongun Church?

I think that's right.

But I don't remember it clearly...

because it was a long time ago.

Why is that important, though?

Do you perhaps remember Park Mi Jung?

Mi Jung?

Well, we often met because we went to the same church.

Later, we met again when she joined our department.

That's all.

How was her college life?

She dropped out soon,

so I don't remember clearly.

Name, Im Ik Jong.

He went to Jeongun Church with her.

He doesn't remember the wasp incident clearly.

Mr. Lee Hyeon Cheol.

Do you know Park Mi Jung?

Yes.

(Recording)

She usually came late at night.

The movie that is screening at 12:30am will start shortly.

Please enter the theatre.

I wondered if she had come...

only after checking that there was no audience.

Because I found it odd that...

she always came...

when there were just a few people or no one.

Have a good time.

- Where are you going? - I was going to meet you.

It's open only during the day. So if you set the tables...

and open a food stall here at night, it'll be successful.

Did you have a crush on her?

Yes.

Did you stay in the same place with her for a long time?

Yes.

Did you talk a lot?

Yes, we did.

Did she know your name?

Yes.

Did you follow her in the subway and tell her your feelings?

Yes, I did.

You could've died, but you didn't.

The doctor said...

it would've been very dangerous if they had been any later.

The rules of death in my hypothesis didn't apply to him.

What variable...

saved him?

Is it a serious crime?

Sorry?

The fact that I followed her.

I also know I shouldn't have done that.

It feels like I almost died as punishment for that.

She reported me, right?

- No. - What?

Why would you, a police officer, come then?

Pardon?

I'm not a police officer.

I was scared for no reason.

Who are you then?

I'm Lee Dong Jin.

That's not what I asked.

Does Mi Jung...

still come?

No.

I haven't seen her since then.

(Manager Brad)

"Brad?" Is that your English name, Hyeon Cheol?

This?

We use nicknames in the theatre.

And I like Brad Pitt.

That's why I'm Brad.

Did Mi Jung know your nickname,

not your real name?

Come to think of it, yes.

I didn't tell her my real name.

(1. Being in the same space with her is dangerous.)

(2. Holding a conversation with her is dangerous.)

(3. Being acquainted with her is dangerous.)

(3. Being acquainted with her is dangerous.)

(3. If she knows...)

If she knows your name,

it is dangerous.

(3. If she knows your name, it is dangerous.)

(3. If she knows your name, it is dangerous.)

It's not simply being acquainted with her.

If she knows your name, it is dangerous.

Being in the same space is dangerous.

Then what's the range of that space?

Got it.

Let me see.

It's about 8m.

Okay.

The range of dangerous space is approximately 10m.

It's just an estimate.

The distance from my room to the rooftop rail is about 8m.

Considering the distance from the rooftop rail to her room,

it's roughly 10m away.

This should be safe, right?

What's wrong with this?

Is it broken?

She takes a walk...

in such a small space.

I'm facing her.

I see her,

but she can't see me.

It's 10m.

Being within a 10m radius of her is dangerous.

(1. Being in the same space is dangerous.)

(Being in the same space)

(Being within a 10m radius...)

(of her is...)

(1. Being within a 10m radius of her...)

(is dangerous.)

Being...

within a 10m radius of her...

is dangerous.

The scratch made me realize...

that I...

meet all the prerequisites...

of this hypothesis.

(The Witch)

Someone came to see you earlier.

He said he would be waiting at the nearby cafe.

Who?

I'm Lee Dong Jin.

(Lee Dong Jin)

"Data analyst?"

Mi Jung.

Can I get your number?

Park Mi Jung?

You're talking about that freshman girl, right?

But she's quite popular.

People from other departments come to see her too.

Seriously. Why do you have to live in the slums?

And all alone as a woman, to boot.

This is the only way I can live alone.

Please stand there for a moment.

What an odd guy he is.

What am I even doing right now?

There's only one way...

to minimize errors.

How?

It's to...

test out the rules myself.