Episode 1
How have you been this week? Check-check-check it out, this is Eun Kyung Choi.
Today we have with us author of the 6-week #1 bestseller, High Kick: Revenge of the Short-Legged, Juk Lee.
- Hello, nice to have you with us today. - Hello.
High Kick: Revenge of the Short-Legged, I sense an ironic metaphor in the title.
Yes.
Though this is a novel, a large part of its success is because it is a true story based on your life.
And I heard that one of the characters is your future wife.
Yes...
One of the fun parts of this novel is trying to figure out which of the characters is his future wife.
I'll start out by reading an excerpt from the first part of the novel.
This story begins 41 years ago, the summer of 2011...
I was 35 and 36 years old. This is the true story about the people I knew and myself.
The year 2011 was not a special year. Japan had a huge earthquake, Africa was swept by protests,
Osama Bin Laden died, and there was a stream of terrorist acts. But that didn't make the year any different.
At the time, almost every year was just as eventful.
South Korea experienced 2011 as well.
High prices, Twitter, Hyun Bin, TV audition programs, Chul Soo Ahn, and of course money, were all included.
That year, my friend Kye Sang's older sister's family was making a lot of money and living in Seoul.
Hey honey! Yoo Sun Yoo!
What?
Why are none of my shirts ironed?
What do you mean? There's some in the wardrobe.
There aren't any, they're all wrinkled!
That's impossible, I ironed and hung them in the wardrobe yesterday. You probably didn't look hard enough.
I did look hard and these were all I found.
-Look inside, you didn't look hard... -I said I looked all over! This was all I could find!
-What's wrong with you? Why are you so crabby this morning!?
There are no ironed shirts! I said there are no ironed shirts but you keep telling me to look for them!
-Look harder! They're there! -You scared me!
You must be going blind...
What? Going blind... The things you say to me...
-Throw it. I dare you. -What?
-I said I dare you to throw it at me!
Hello. Yes, I'm Nae Sang Ahn. Where? Hotel?
Should I make dinner reservations at a Korean restaurant?
Why would you do that?
Today's your birthday...
-Where at? -Two Seasons
Why a Korean restaurant? Buffets are better.
Buffet?
I'd like to change our reservation for the buffet...
-7? -7:30.
No, 7:30 for 4. Do you by chance do anything special for birthdays?
-Why are you up so early? -Weren't you two yelling just now to wake me up?
-What time did you say your match is today? -I have to be there by 8.
Is that seaweed soup? Why did you make that when I have an important game today?
I'm sorry that today happens to be my birthday. (Koreans eat seaweed soup on their birthdays)
Oh yeah. Happy birthday.
How am I supposed to find it when she's hiding them...
Soo Jung!
-Are you at the airport? Are you departing soon? - Yeah, I'll get there around 5. You're picking me up, right?
Of course. My princess is coming home.
-I'm going to go to the airport right now and wait for you. -Liar.
Ji Won, are you still sleeping?
Did she leave already?
-Hi, what's up? -You left early.
Yeah.
You should have waited for me. It's boring alone.
Sorry! I'm already on the bus!
Why do you keep yelling? You didn't take your scooter did you?
I didn't so don't worry! See you at school!
Make sure you always watch where you're going. Don't be careless and fall down, okay?
-Hey! You couldn't wait for me to start eating?
-Why are you hitting him? He has a match to go to.
You have to make it to the finals to get a college scholarship. You better win today.
I can't make any guarantees.
Don't you know that sports are all you can do?
Yeah, Woo Hyun. You said you're going to the bank to take care of the big payment today, right?
Can you deposit a few checks for me while you're there?
Is dad still running the company with Woo Hyun?
I told him not to. How much can he possibly make by sharing that small company.
You're in front of my house? Come inside! Have breakfast.
Why are you inviting him in? I don't even have makeup on.
Come in, the door's open. You can eat here and go to the bank.
-I told you I haven't even put on makeup! -How can I just tell him to pick up the checks and leave?
-Nae Sang, I'm here. -Hey, come on in.
-Can you set the table so we can eat and leave for work? -Tell him I'm not here!
-Just do it. -Let go.
Let go of me.
I'll do it.
-Where's Yoo Sun? -Right here.
Hop in place 20 times. I can't hear you! LOUDER!
-Why is he so loud so early in the morning... -HEY YOU!
Come here right now.
Yes, I'm talking to you. I said come here right now!
Me?
Yes, you! Come here!
How dare you try to hide behind a teacher! Good morning Ha Sun.
Mr. Yoon, please just give me one more chance.
Are you wearing pants or tights?! Violation of dress code! Hop in place 20 times, NOW!
Do it properly! Like this, like this!
Dress code violation! Dress code violation! Dress code violation!
-Good morning. -Good morning.
-Who closed these thick curtains...
-Ha Sun, leave them. I did that. -Excuse me?
You know, I'm allergic to the sunrays.
Oh that's right...but don't you think these are a bit too dark?
Is that so? Then go ahead and open them up, I can just put a hat on.
I'm sorry, I thought you'd understand. I must have been crazy.
Don't worry about whether or not I burn to death from the sunrays. Go ahead.
It's okay Ji Sun. I can do without sunlight.
All right. Thanks for understanding. You know how sensitive my skin is.
Yes...
By the way, about finding housing for the new English teacher, I can't because of my allergies.
So the vice principal asked you to do it instead.
So you mean I need to find a place for him to live?
That's what I just said.
So...what is the new teacher's name?
Excuse me, do you have shikhye? (shikhye: sweet rice drink)
-Excuse me? -Shikhye. Do you have it?
I'm sorry, we don't have Shikhye.
Oh...well then, do you have dongchimi juice? (dongchimi: white kimchi made of radishes)
-Alright, we're going to play according to plan from the first period. Understood?
Yes!
You know the plan right? Always pass to Jong Suk, whether you're on offense or defense. Okay?
Yes!
Jong Suk, you have to make at least 10 goals no matter what. Or else!
Sure.
Pass it to Jong Suk!
-Oh my gosh! So what did you do?! -There was nothing I could do but to hide behind the counter until he left!
Completely naked?!
Unbelievable!
Didn't you say your son has a game today? Don't you need to go?
He doesn't do well when we're at the games so he doesn't like us going.
You're so lucky your son will go to college with a sports scholarship.
Our kid is just now starting to...
Oh my gosh I'm so sorry! Are you okay?
First my clothes rip and now the teacup breaks... This is not a good sign...
Nae Sang.
You're...
Farewell, you jerk.
How dare you swear at me...
I was just trying to make it realistic.
It doesn't seem like you're just acting.
It seems so much more realistic with the bullets coming out consecutively.
You think so?
I'm going to the airport to pick up my daughter. Should I take this and play a joke on her?
-That would be so funny! - It would be epic!
Let the producer know that he can�t start using it the next time they're filming.
Will do.
Woo Hyun, I was about to call you. I got a call from the bank earlier.
Why didn't you stop by to make the payment?
Hurry and make the payment. And did you deposit the checks I gave you this morning?
Nae Sang, I'm sorry.
Sorry? For what?
I'm going to leave for a bit and I'll be back.
What do you mean leave? To where? Where are you right now?
I'll tell you exactly where later. I'm really sorry. I promise I'll come back...
Sir, please turn off your cellphone. We will be taking off shortly.
Taking off? Where are you? Are you on a plane? Where are you going?
I promise to pay you back when I get back. The vendors probably know by now so you should run away too.
Where are you? Hello? Don't hang up! Woo Hyun!
Is that my phone? Can you check who it is?
It says Gye Sang.
That's my brother, can you put him on speakerphone?
Sure.
-Hello? -Hey, Gye Sang.
It's a good thing you called. I meant to call you.
About what? I called you to wish you a happy birthday.
That's not what I want to hear. What is this I hear about you going to volunteer in Rwanda next year?
-Oh that... -What do you mean "oh that?"
It's upsetting enough that you quit your job at the hospital for a health center.
You're just kidding about Rwanda, right?
We can talk about that later. How's Nae Sang doing?
Nae Sang is always doing well so don't change the subject.
Where's the president?! Nae Sang! Nae Sang Ahn! Where is he?!
Tell them I'm not here.
Where is he? Come here! Don't try to hide from us!
Give us our money back!
Hold on. Just a moment.
The company's VP just took off with the company's money.
What are you going to do about our money?!
-Give us our money back! -Hello? Yes, we caught the president!
Hold on... I'm a victim too...
Please don't do this. Stop. Please.
My blood type is RH- so I can't lose any blood! I asked you to stop!
Get him!
-We crashed it during filming. -You're better off getting rid of the car...
-Move! Get out the way! -No you can't! The car is totaled! You can't take it!
Get out the way and close the door!
Right now? I'm making a house call.
Well aren't you a saint.
Not quite. But really, happy birthday. I feel bad I can't do much else for you today.
Do you want me to at least sing you "Happy Birthday?"
-Sing? -Yes please!
You're with other people?
Yes I am. You have an audience here. Why don't you go ahead and sing?
You really want me to? You're making me nervous.
Hold on...let me find a quieter place...
He's really singing!
- Your brother is a really great singer! -He can be a singer! Sounds just like Lim Jae Bum.
It's not that he sounds just like him. It is Jae Bum Lim...
Isn't that my ringtone?
You're right, it is. Your call got disconnected. I must have turned your ringtone on earlier.
Hello?
Why did it take so long for you to answer the phone?
-What? -Where are you right now?
-I'm at the massage clinic, what do you want? -Why aren't you at home?!
Hurry and come home now!
What does he want?
He's not at home either.
-There he is! In the car! -Hey! Stop right there!
Yoo Sun? Hello? Hello?
I sang that well too...
What the heck? He made a fuss I wasn't at home and now he's not picking up.
-Did he come home early because he missed his wife? -I think he loves you too much!
What are you doing? Why aren't you picking up your phone?
I'm going to borrow my wife for just a moment.
-Why?! -We don't have time. Let's go to the car.
The car?
What are you doing? What's wrong?
I'll explain later. Where is Jong Suk's game at today?
-Jong Suk. -Dad!
-Soo Jung! -You said you'll wait all day for me here you liar!
-Let's go. We have to go! -What's wrong?
-Soo Jung! -Mom!
-How are you? How have you been? -What are you wearing?
I don't know. I'm not sure what's going on right now.
Hey Stupid. How have you been?
You want to die...
Hurry and get in the car!
Whose car is this? Why is it so ghetto?
That's what I want to know! Explain what's going on now. You said you'll tell us.
Get in the car first.
- What's wrong with you Dad? - Just get in. I'll tell you later.
You've been saying later this entire time! Tell me now or I'm not getting in!
Get in please! My employees might have told those people that I'm coming here!
Who are "those people?" What is it? Did your company go bankrupt or something?
Yes, the company went bankrupt. Woo Hyun took off with the company money so now we're bankrupt.
So we need to hide immediately. Hurry and get in!
-What? -I knew this was going to happen.
I told you! I told you to not work with him anymore so many times!
Right now is not the time to talk about that. Hurry and get in!
You should have listened to me!
Hurry and get in the car! Are you going to stand here all night?
Why are those people yelling and running towards us?
They're the creditors! Hurry and get in!
This isn't going to work. Everyone get out and push the car now!
Everyone hurry push the car now!
I'm going to go crazy...
-Push harder! -We're pushing!
It works! Get in!
-Hello! -Hello!
-Are you on your way home? -Yup. You?
I just made a house call. Can you give me a ride to the intersection down there?
-Hurry! -Stop the car!
Hurry! Drive faster.
This isn't going to work.
What are you doing?
What's going on? What are they doing?
Why are you working so much? We should put up a statue of you at the clinic.
We were both working in the surgery department at the renowned Myung In University Hospital.
We left the hospital on the same day.
Gye Sang left because of his personal beliefs but I left because I wanted to earn more money. A LOT more.
Fortunately in 2011, because of the diet and lifestyle at the time,
infections and diseases related to digestion were more prevalent than ever.
To me those were all opportunities and the clinic was successful as expected.
However, making a living off looking up a person's anal passage wasn't always easy.
One anus after another, and another, and another.
I became depressed.
Looking back now, my one saving grace was singing at the top of my lungs at night.
-Yo! You want to get your ass beat? -Are you crazy?
Singing like a mad man at the fishing pond...
Your dinner reservation has been cancelled. -Two Seasons
I'm really sorry.
There's only 20 minutes left to celebrate mom's birthday. Should we go get a cake?
Cake?
It seems that this account has been closed. Do you have any other credit cards?
I'd like to pay in U.S. Dollars.
It's okay, you don't have to do this. This is all useless in this situation.
Our situation is only temporary so don't worry so much. Woo Hyun is going to come back soon.
What do you mean soon?! Why would he run away in the first place if he intended to come back soon?
What are we going to do now? What are we going to do without a home or anything?
I'll take care of it so don't worry.
Take care of it my ass.
What are you doing?
Throw it. I dare you to throw it at me.
I'm sorry.
Let's sing.
Happy birthday to--
The cake looks so sad without any candles.
You need to think before you talk. Where are we going to get candles in this situation?
We don't have candles but... Should we set off fireworks as part of the birthday celebration?
Do you want to celebrate us going bankrupt while you're at it?
Hold on a sec.
Hold on. Where is the equipment to set this off...
Don't you just need to light it?
No! You can't just set that off like that!
Subtitles by DramaFever
We've got nothing. What are we going to do now?
I'm going to kill myself.
Come to your senses!
What is this?
I don't know what happened, but this looks like a bruise.
I said that's not true!
Should I show it to you again tomorrow?
What? Show her panties?