Last Episode 41
Man-chi.
Gom-bae.
Merchant Hwang.
Everyone stop.
I chose to go to the prosecutor's office myself.
With my own feet.
Don't lie to us, Bong-Sam.
Gom-bae.
Do you think I'll abandon our peddlers just to save myself?
Look, my fellow peddlers.
Just because the Headquarters is closing down
doesn't mean our minds disappear.
Hwan-nan Goo-seul.
Business benefits citizens,
and peddlers shall help each other in times of hardship.
Does that mind disappear?
I'm not sad.
As long as that mind stands firm in all of you,
even if you cut my throat with that awfully cold and sharp blade,
I am not scared.
I don't feel wronged.
We made the Headquarters for all of us.
It wasn't made for us to stay close to each other so we can all die together.
In your hands,
there are goods that will save the citizens of this nation
and there is money that will save your families.
those weapons that harm and kill people,
don't hold them in your hands.
Now.
Put down your weapons.
That is the Headquarter's leader
Chun Bong-sam's
last command.
What are you all doing?
Obey the leader's command.
I hereby...
from today on,
disperse all the peddlers.
I can't obey that one.
We're following you to the prosecutor's office.
He's right.
We peddlers are going to send you off.
Let's go!
Disperse them now.
Go.
Go back now.
Leader!
I have three things to say to you.
First.
Other than me,
regarding the opening ceremony incident,
you cannot hold anyone else responsible.
Second.
Whether they work for Do Seung-ji,
or work in Yook-ei-jeon,
or hold their own business,
you have to leave that up to the peddlers.
Alright.
And lastly.
Choi-dol, who's locked up after being injured...
please let him out as soon as possible.
Sun-dol.
He needs urgent care.
That's not that hard.
Take the criminal.
Yes, sir!
Sun-dol, please.
Hey, hey!
How is he?
He says it's too late.
Thanks.
What did the doctor say?
He says you're fine.
He said he got rid of the pain first.
He'll give you medicine for the scar that's festered.
I want to be next to Bong when I die.
What do you mean die?
How would you take out a bullet deep inside the body?
If you don't get it out, you get metal poisoning and you die. I know that much.
Don't say anything to Bong.
He's going to be sad if he finds out.
Criminal Chun Bong-Sam
has intentionally disturbed the business between the nation and Japan
and has hurt the life of a Japanese merchant by agitating peddlers working for him.
Criminal has ruined the relationship between Joseon and Japan
and will be sentenced to death by hanging.
Do Seung-ji.
You knew this was going to happen.
Take him!
Bong.
How did it go?
Is it really...
No, right?
You didn't do anything wrong.
Can't be.
It's okay.
I expected this.
It's okay.
Oh no, oh no.
Do Seung-ji.
You expected this.
Expected? Our leader....
you're... killing him?
If you were going to kill him,
why did you become friends with him
and why did you come to Song-pa stable?
Really....
our brother....
if he dies,
I'm going to...
I'm really going to...
You won't believe me but...
Gom-bae, I, too...
I, too...
I, too, am hurting as much as you.
Please save him.
Please spare his life.
Your Majesty.
How dare you be so frivolous about a man's life as a mere shaman?
Please spare his life.
All of Japan is watching over this.
This could possibly cause a war.
Jillyeonggun.
Let this one go.
Your Majesty.
You and Do Seung-ji started all this.
Even without you telling me,
I already know it's my fault and I'm hurting enough about it.
Enough?
Isn't it so that you can stop being guilty about killing your friend?
Jillyeonggun!
If you didn't plan that evil scheme,
we could've saved Merchant Chun with the hwangcheop.
Then what should I do now?
We have to save him.
How in the world would I stop a death sentence?
If we offer our lives,
we can save him.
Sun-dol!
Take our brother out.
Now!
If I really have to leave,
I'm going to send you off and then leave.
Brother, the doctor is waiting for you outside.
Let's go.
What doctor? I'm not leaving!
Come on, go.
Bong-Sam, Bong-Sam!
You said doctor but it's Honorable Mama.
We brought you to talk about Merchant Chun.
What is there to talk about when he's already gotten a death sentence?
If there is someone in the prosecutor's office who will die in place of Merchant Chun,
we might be able to save Merchant Chun.
But there is not a single person in the world who doesn't fear death.
Once that rope is on their neck,
they'll say "I'm not Chun Bong-Sam."
If that happens, we will all die, including Merchant Chun.
I can do it.
Even if you put something worse than a rope on my neck,
I can die in place of Bong-Sam.
I can do it!
Look, look at this.
Look at this! Take a look!
How long would I live with this body?
How long would I live? Please.
Please, Mama.
Please let me go in place of Bong-Sam.
Please, I beg you. I will do it. I can do it!
I can do it.
Thirty-three.
The bell stopped ringing.
Why does the bell sound so sad today?
You didn't sleep at all?
I won't be able to see Yu-su grow.
I won't be able to see him get married.
When my son is having a hard time,
I won't be able to be there for him.
Who says men shouldn't cry?
You can cry, Bong-Sam.
Choi-dol.
When my father passed away,
he must've felt like this.
I now know.
Sir Merchant.
Yu-su.
You have to grow up healthy.
When you grow up, be like your grandfather, my father,
and be a good merchant.
My son.
Alright.
Wol, you can take him now.
I gave the guards your clothes to change into.
Go.
Yu-su.
Open the door.
Choi-dol, come out.
You've been pleaded innocent. Come out.
Hurry up!
Hold on one second.
I have to say bye to Bong-Sam.
You still have to say goodbye to me?
My life was so fun thanks to you.
Since the day I first met you,
I loved the little boy Chun Bong-Sam.
You were like my little brother and my friend.
Because I met you when I was little,
I turned out like this.
But thanks to you, my life was so exciting and I had a blast.
I was going to wait for you to leave
but I gotta go first.
I'm sorry.
Choi-dol.
Thank you.
Choi-dol is coming out!
Wait, wait.
This time at least,
I'll go on my own.
Giggle and shrug.
Giggle and...
shrug.
It's your favorite food, bean sprout soup.
Have some.
People need to eat to gather up some courage.
It's delicious.
It's really good.
Sun-dol, you have some too.
Don't you hate me?
I remember that time we ate bean sprout soup in Jeonju.
You, me, Bong,
We made a contract with the merchants and ate some really good bean sprout soup.
Those were good times, huh?
I'm sorry.
No, no.
I'm fine.
I'm really okay.
I'm a nobody and I'm about to become Chun Bong-Sam.
That's great.
It's so delicious.
But it's hard trying to eat it with my left hand.
I don't even know how to use a spoon.
What a dummy.
Gae-ddong.
I owe you beyond expression.
And I have grudge against you that I cannot express.
Yes.
I'm about to go meet someone great.
Why not have a drink?
I'll let go of all that grudge with this drink.
From the beginning,
if it had just been me next to you,
if it was so,
would I have been able to have your heart that I wanted so dearly?
Would you have been my man?
My gratitude towards you,
and all that I owe you--
I'll keep it all within me as I go.
Gae-ddong.
Be a good person.
I--
to you....
Let's go.
I'm sorry.
Forgive me.
Say your name and title.
You criminal!
Say your name and title.
Chun's Gaekju, Song-pa stable's owner.
And the Peddlers' leader, Chun Bong-Sam.
Execute the sentence.
Yes, sir.
Who are you taking?
Choi-dol.
He was injured from gunshot and he died.
Take him out.
Let's go.
Be careful.
Move him.
How brave of you, Jillyeonggun and Head Merchant.
I checked the body.
I couldn't let Merchant Chun die like that.
Are you serious?
You tricked the guards, switched up the criminals,
and mock the King?
You have two choices.
I planned all of this myself,
so either save me
or kill me.
Hey, Jillyeonggun.
Hello.
Is anybody there?
Hello.
Is anybody there?
Hello!
Man-chi!
Merchant.
Jillyeonggun told me you were here.
What about Choi-dol?
Choi-dol...
He's at the stable, right?
Gom-bae.
He's getting treated at the stable, right?
Why aren't you answering me?
No way...
No.
No...
No.
Choi-dol.
This is Dokmong-cheong, right?
If you learn here, you can become a peddler, right?
Yes, you're right.
What?
Don't giggle and shrug up there.
Strut, strut.
Walk straight.
Strut, strut.
Walk straight.
15 Years Later
Gyeongin Line that connects Hanyang and Jaemulpo.
We, Haedong Company, must invest in that construction.
If we can have our hands on Noryangjin where railroad will be constructed,
we can grow as big as Japanese companies.
The problem is...
finding who is buying in the land before us
and who the owner of Noryangjin is.
You still haven't found out?
Sir Head Merchant!
Sir Head Merchant.
I found out who the landowner is.
Let's go.
Anybody here?
Excuse me. Let me ask you something.
Jillyeonggun.
Is that you, Jillyeonggun?
Noryangjin land?
I still had land under my name?
I thought they took care of all the land that the Queen gave me.
I know you used that money to save Merchant Chun.
Time has passed.
You've paid enough price for your sins.
Sell Noryangjin to me
and live freely in Dosung.
Do you need that land that badly?
It's desperate for me.
I owe you for the past days
so if you need it, just take it.
That's not right.
Long time, Head Merchant.
How long has it been, Merchant Chun?
Do I have to call you Teacher now?
Call me whatever you'd like.
Long time, no see.
I saw your name on the list.
Yoon Hae-ju.
I didn't believe it but it really was you, Gae-ddong.
Have you been well?
Was it you?
The ones that kept buying before us the land where the railroad is being built?
Yes, it was me.
Come inside.
Let's go in.
Merchant Chun, think about it.
If railroads are built, trade will become easier.
Joseon's economy will prosper.
Then this country and all its citizens will prosper.
You're right.
But I don't think it's time yet.
Think about it this way.
That much of Joseon's resources
will be sent to countries all over the world
and will be scattered.
You will not be able to block railroad construction.
You can't stop the generation and the trends just by buying in some land.
Sun-dol.
I'm not trying to stop the generation and the trends.
I just--
Yes.
If railroads are built right now,
peddlers will be born on those railroads, walk that road,
and want to end their lives on that road.
What will happen to them?
All I want is...
for them to adapt better.
And to compete against merchants of other countries.
I just want to earn some more time for them.
Peddlers Headquarters was closed 15 years ago.
If they still haven't adapted, when will they be able to?
Sun-dol.
During the time we were separated,
you are standing so far away.
Let's go.
Sir Head Merchant.
What about Noryangjin?
We're going to have to think of another place for the railroad construction.
Next to Jillyeonggun's land are mountains.
How would you build railroads on mountains?
Were you living alone here like this?
I wanted to live quietly
where others couldn't find me.
Are you sick somewhere?
Have some of this.
I won't survive out of this winter,
I won't survive next spring.
But winter passes and spring comes.
And then I forget about seasons.
So I'm still alive.
Hey.
Let me ask you a favor.
I won't tell you to sell me the land.
But please don't give it to Haedong Company.
Do me a favor.
Hey.
Can I see...
Yu-su once?
I want to see...
just once how he grew up.
You know what?
You seem really happy right now.
Just like the first time we met.
You look just like your father.
People say I look like my mother more.
Have some.
Since long time ago, this bean sprout soup shop
has been a place that sells hearts instead of doing business to make profit.
Eat a lot, it'll warm you up.
Yes, ma'am.
What is this, Honorable Mama?
I heard you guys are trying to expand the school that's in your stable.
I want to donate my land for that.
I'll make a bow.
No.
You can't, Yu-su.
I don't deserve a bow from you.
Father!
Yes.
Thank you...
for letting me love someone with all my heart.
Goodbye.
I will bury you, Chun Bong-Sam
and all the past years of my life,
in my heart.
The Head Merchant is pretty late.
Yeah, he is.
You've been to Japan, to America...
If railroads come in, what do you think will happen to Joseon?
Many things will change.
Merchants walking around will disappear first.
This is getting too delayed.
Is it true that Noryangjin went to Merchant Chun?
We even checked that the documents went over to him.
Who are you?
Mak-bong.
Bang-dae.
You are..
an evil merchant who teamed up with Japan and squeeze the life out of Joseon.
How do you--
Joseon's prosperity is all thanks to me!
You are a shame to Joseon's merchants.
Pay the price with your life.
Sir Head Merchant!
Arrest them!
Let's go.
Get them!
Sir Head Merchant!
Get them!
Get those bastards!
Let's go.
So what happened to Sun-dol?
I don't know whether it's good news or bad news,
but he'll live.
What about Mak-bong and Bang-dae?
They weren't captured,
but all the little front shops in Namdaemoon went to Haedong Company.
There are so many of them in Joseon.
The kids are waiting.
Alright.
Peddler.
We will have a time to find out who you are today.
Teacher.
If railroads get built, peddlers are all going to disappear, right?
Yes.
The generation of walking around is over.
A new technology generation is opening.
But the fact that you are peddlers
does not change.
Long time ago, my father
bought something called aloeswood from Beijing.
What is an aloeswood?
You cut a 100-year-old juniper
put it where the lake water and ocean water meet
and keep it for 500 years.
That's what an aloeswood is.
You fool.
I know you're a Chinese merchant but you're exaggerating it too much.
500 years?
This aloeswood was put in the water personally
by my ancestor 500 years ago specially for me.
My father gave me that aloeswood as a gift.
I apologized a hundred times for underestimating this
and bought it for you.
This isn't just any piece of wood.
This is the symbol of the family's bond that kept this wood for 500 years.
Our peddlers and our ancestors,
their tears that carried them through 1,000 years.
Laughter.
And sorrow.
Overcoming those is the spirit of us peddlers.
Business benefits citizens
and we help each other in times of hardship
and continue on our culture.
That is the spirit of a peddler.
Repeat after me.
No thoughtless words.
I carry out my words
with my actions.
No harmful actions.
Respect your elders.
And lastly, no stealing.
Do not greed over others' possessions.
This is the spirit of us peddlers
that has been passed over to us.
It is the spirit of today's merchants.
Understood?
Look around.
How beautiful is it?
Is everyone ready?
Yes, Sir Merchant!
Let's go.
The cheer that we used to say when we were on our way out.
Let's say it together.
Let's go!
Let's fly!
Thank you for watching The Merchant: Gaekju.