Sungkyunkwan Scandal
Park Yoo-chun
Park Min-young
Song Joong-ki
Yoo A-in
Seo Hyo-rim
Ahn Nae-sang
Kim Kap-soo
Jo Sung-ha Lee Jae-yong
Banchon: akin to a college town today
Don't loiter in front of my stall!
Not yet?
I need it now.
Why isn't the transcription of the juhaebon ready?
What am I to do?
It should be finished.
Then, where is it?
It's on its way.
Coming past the rice store, most likely.
Be careful!
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
If I don't have the juhaebon in time,
I'll be done for at the high exam once again.
Doesn't this madden you?
Say something!
Of course I'm angered.
Listen, Hwang.
This is not right.
If the top went off, so should the skirt.
You can't leave the reader hanging.
Isn't the second volume to this done yet?
That's on its way, too.
I'm going to kill the scribe!
Here comes the dead man.
You're the scribe?
I need two nyang extra.
Just hand over the juhaebon.
You moved up the due date at the last minute.
Two nyang. You owe it to me.
You're too young to be so hung up on money.
I'm old enough to know how much I deserve.
Fine. Give me the juhaebon.
Now let's get that skirt off.
Where is it?
Where's my juhaebon?
Swindler!
What if I don't make it?
What if I don't pass the high exam?
Now, now. Let's not argue.
Let's try to find a solution.
We have no choice.
We did put in a rush order at the last minute.
Just give me half an hour.
You're nuts.
Half an hour? That's impossible.
You've never taken any of our classes. And from memory?
Done.
You actually know this by heart?
Did you just scribble down nonsense?
If you can't read it, would you like explanatory notes?
That'll cost you five pennies.
Good job.
Not a single mistake.
But I see a girl.
How dare you call me a girl?
I meant, in your handwriting.
- Give me my money. - I'll be generous this time.
Two nyang, including the extra five pennies.
- You owe me three nyang. - What?
You're Sungkyunkwan students.
My tax money pays for your education, room, and board.
And yet you have someone else do your homework.
I need some of my wasted tax money back.
Are you okay?
You got some on your hat.
Let me clean it for you.
It got on your hair, too.
This is unacceptable. Who could it have been?
Do you want to know?
A fool who believes he can pass the qualifying exam and get into Sungkyunkwan
if he uses a brush made of human hair.
Please help me out!
We're classmates, aren't we?
Look.
I'm so close.
I have hair from the best students in the nation.
All I need are ten, no, just three strands of your hair.
And then I'll pass.
For you, it's just hair.
But for me, my life depends on it.
It'll give me a sliver of hope.
No! No! My hair! My hair!
I went through so much to get all that hair!
I worked so hard.
That's not hard work. You just want to get lucky.
It's normal to get anxious before an important exam.
You should be more understanding.
What can you solve with cheap pity and sympathy?
Bastard!
I don't care if you hate me.
But I won't let you tell me what I said was wrong.
Why won't you take the qualifying exam?
You'll pass with the highest score.
Your calligraphy is so beautiful. All you'd need to do is write your name.
That's why I don't want to do it.
I don't want to study with people who don't even want to do their homework.
I'd rather make a few less pennies than waste my time.
A few pennies won't do.
There's something that can make you ten times more than that.
Come.
Be a man.
Come.
We live in a world where only good writers can succeed.
It's time we turn things around.
And create a world where only the rich succeed?
Are you asking me to create answer sheets in advance?
No.
You can get ten nyang per head,
so that could mean 100 nyang for the day.
That's three years' pay in a single day.
Cheating is illegal.
Are you asking me to take the exam in someone else's stead?
Are you a man?
You need to think big to make big money.
There are two things I never do,
no matter how big the money.
One is stealing someone else's livelihood,
and the other is writing what I don't mean to flatter government officials.
If I take the qualifying exam as a proxy,
I'd be doing both
simultaneously.
A real man doesn't do such a thing.
He's coming.
One, two, three.
Excuse me.
Yes, sir?
How about one nyang?
Goodness gracious.
We haven't even spent the night together.
We can negotiate the fee later.
I'm Seom-seom from the Peony Pleasure House.
Let's talk more in bed.
It's about the verse on the fan.
There are a lot of mistakes on it.
For one nyang, I can correct the mistakes.
If you're interested, leave it at the bookstore.
He won't fall for us.
He may fall for Choseon though.
Who might fall for me?
We lost all our bets today.
He has the face of sunshine,
but his heart is as cold as the winter moon.
Tell us.
Why are men
so taken with you?
Don't give him anything.
If you want a man's heart, don't give him anything.
Neither your glance, your heart, nor your caress.
Don't give him anything.
There's a sick person here.
We'll pay you back. We promise.
Get out of the way.
What's the meaning of harassing a weak woman?
And what's the meaning
of not paying back money you owe?
Have you forgotten?
The due date is today.
Is this what you do, taking away the household goods of the poor?
Don't worry. The household goods will stay.
I've finally found something that's actually of value here.
Sir.
She didn't mean what she said. Please don't be angry.
I won't be angry
if you just pay back the 100 nyang you owe and ten nyang in interest.
You can pay in cash, or sell your daughter to us.
I'm warning you.
If you run away in the middle of the night,
we will come after you to the end of the earth.
We'll pay you back.
I'll get the money somehow,
so stop harassing us.
You have to finish everything.
Please eat, mother.
And you, sister?
I ate so many snacks at the market
that I can't have another bite.
Yunhui...
I must be really good, mother.
I got a lot of transcription work from the bookstore.
Hwang will pay me a year's fees in advance.
Thanks to Master Confucius, we can get all the medicine Yunsik needs.
Really?
So don't worry about money.
I'll take care of everything.
I'll do it.
I'll take the qualifying exam as a proxy.
Sir.
Let's make some big money.
We inform the ancient sages.
Sungkyunkwan, the national institute of higher learning,
will be welcoming a new class of students.
Please send us the wisest and the most righteous
for the stability of our nation and the peace of our people.
That is our wish.
The chosi of the qualifying exam
Bumun: fierce scuffle at the entrance to get the best spot
Chosi: preliminary test of the qualifying exam
- lf you pass... - That's right!
- Paradise on earth awaits. - That's right!
Seonjeobggun: burly men paid to fight for a spot in an applicant's stead at the bumun
it's the bear that puts on the show.
But it's Mr. Wang who collects the money.
That's the secret code?
Yes!
Do you have the seating chart and the portrait of the client?
All you need to do is find the client and then do your thing.
It's as simple as that.
Should we be doing this?
Is that silly little thing called "conscience" bugging you?
Who studies to take exams these days? You take them with money.
Are you sure it'll be okay?
You mean, if you get caught?
100 lashes.
If you're very unlucky, 200 lashes.
Or so it used to be.
The officials don't care. Guess how they got to their posts?
This job is a lot easier than you think.
Testing site of the chosi of the qualifying exam
Jaengjeop: intense competition for the best spots
Sasu: transcriber for a test taker at the qualifying exam
Ipmunyurin: the entering of non-test takers into the test site
Hyeokjegonghaeng:
cheating through a prearranged setup between examiner and test taker
Sorry.
Three pennies for good luck pumpkin taffy!
Mr. Wang
For switching answer sheets, 200 lashes.
For copying from a book, 200 lashes.
For a proxy test taker, a ban from the exam for life.
Don't let a single cheater get away.
If you do,
you'll get 200 lashes yourself.
Take it easy.
Why be so serious?
Physical punishment is not an effective threat anyway.
Are you gambling at this sacred test site?
Who do you think you are?
I'm Dr. Jeong Yakyong. This is my first day at Sungkyunkwan.
Quite befitting a man demoted for corruption and bribery.
How dare you gamble on your first day at work, especially on exam day?
What are you thinking?
It's no worse than the cheating and dealing going on out there.
I got swept up in the mood.
This is Sungkyunkwan. Sungkyunkwan!
Go out there
and catch the cheaters then!
The subject of the verse!
It's the bear that puts on the show.
I said, it's the bear that puts on the show.
And it would be Ho-in who collects the money.
Ho-in: a dignified literary word for Mr. Wang.
Ho-in? Ho-in: a dignified literary word for Mr. Wang.
Ho-in: a dignified literary word for Mr. Wang.
You know your letters.
30 nyang.
Is this your first time?
I understand. This is my first time, too.
But I do know...
that you have to pay upfront.
30 nyang.
Second tier, first tier, highest score: from 30 to 50 nyang.
Take your pick.
50 nyang.
You've made the right decision.
It's the reward I can get for reporting a proxy test taker.
50 nyang.
Look here!
Where's the bear that puts on the show?
Mr. Wang will collect the money.
I'm sorry.
Please believe me. This really is the first time.
- Look here! - Please.
I have family to take care of.
My father died when I was young. I have to put food on the table.
And my brother is gravely ill.
I had no idea.
So it's all the more important for you to become a better man.
There is cheating going on, tarnishing the sanctity of this test.
Who's sullying the sanctity of this test?
Myself and all the other test takers.
Some don't know the shame in selling verses
and care only about money.
Some only focus on their test
and turn a blind eye to cheaters.
All the officials here consider cheating common practice.
And the top examiner...
the director of Sungkyunkwan,
is at fault, too.
How dare you?
Take him out and restore order to this test site!
Yes, sir.
What do you say we do?
Compare the name on the answer sheet and the identity tag
and remove all those who are not test takers.
We can then restore order to the test site.
Also, all the examiners should go to his majesty and ask for punishment.
He must not be right in the head.
Did you not understand me, Dr. Jeong?
How dare you?
Your insolence will not be forgiven!
The list!
Who is your father?
My name is Lee Seonjun.
Lee Seonjun?
You're...
Are you the honorable son of
the prime minister?
What are you waiting for? Restore order!
I said, restore the order!
From now on, no cheating will be permitted
on this test site!
Confiscate all books!
What is this?
How dare you?
Leave the site this instant!
Resume the test!
Thanks to you, this place looks like a real test site now.
I only did what I had to do.
But...
Is that a new way to cheat?
A man of letters, his spirit soars high.
But he doesn't know how the common people live.
If selling verses for rice makes one a thief,
does selling verses for power make one a king's loyal servant?
Put a sword in such a man's hand,
and he becomes an inept official.
Are you the one destined to become an inept official?
Are you the one destined to become
an inept official?
Please don't.
Mr. Wang?
You gave me your verse, so I should pay you for it.
You should greet your Sungkyunkwan seniors.
So you think you're a hero?
Quite a show at the test site.
But now you’re running like a commoner.
You can't wait to have your father pat you on the shoulder, eh?
I suppose I was out of line.
My scholarly integrity
would not allow me to sit back after what I saw at the test site.
Yet I am but an applicant.
It seems as if Sungkyunkwan students have no shame.
As a matter of fact, you are all very proud.
You're right.
You did the right thing as a scholar.
I'd like to learn a thing or two from you when you get into Sungkyunkwan.
I'll be waiting for you.
However, this is the last time I'll tolerate your insolence.
And this is the last time I'll tolerate an upperclassman
who doesn't act like one.
What did you say?
I'll teach you how to treat an upperclassman.
And I'll teach you not to stop someone in his path.
Get him, Gobong!
Who was that?
Lee Seonjun, the prime minister's son.
He writes well and is handsome. His family is of the Noron faction.
I'm growing fond of him.
Not the second fellow. The first...
fellow.
Hey!
My fish and octopus?
Oh, no!
You have to pay for this.
What does it say on his robe?
What an outrage.
A man of nobility should not harass a woman.
I'm sorry.
Lee Seonjun...
The boy causes a scene on his father's turf.
Interesting.
But his family is of the Noron faction, Your Majesty.
The son of a Noron member...
It was the Noron faction that demoted you to Sungkyunkwan.
Are you warning me...
against the boy?
Your Majesty.
That's why I like the boy more.
Bull's-eye!
I'm glad you liked him.
But of course.
Fostering talented individuals like your son
is what makes my job so rewarding.
I trust that you will understand my boy's youthful passion.
I hope the incident doesn't stain the reputation of the other children
of the Noron faction.
One doesn't just learn from books.
The best lessons come from the home.
I've already talked to the office of protocol.
Gee...
The talented & scholarly director is
out of the palace for a very long time.
This is a loss to the nation.
Tell me about it.
Our Majesty will be so lonely.
Bull's-eye!
10 nyang, 20 nyang.
15 nyang.
And this one is 30 nyang.
I'm rich.
Are those wedding gifts from the minister of war?
She's being sold off as a concubine.
What a shame.
This is for the better.
You won't have to worry about going without food.
But Yunsik is getting better,
and I will find the money to pay off the debt.
By doing this?
An official came by.
He said he found them at the test site.
Do you have any idea what you did?
You used someone else's identity tag, and worse yet, you are a girl.
There is what men do and what women do.
You'd have nothing to say if you were put to death for this.
I'm sorry.
I'm the one who should apologize.
When you said you could get the 100 nyang to pay off our debt...
No. When you started earning money for Yunsik by assuming his identity,
I should've held you back.
I put you in danger
because I wanted to save Yunsik.
No more.
Live as a girl from now on.
Let a man protect you.
Mother, this won't happen again.
I'll do more transcription work and pay off the debt.
Don't you get it?
The only girls who make money off writing are courtesans.
Your talent in writing is your own poison.
How is a fellow so fair?
He could even seduce other men.
You must find him even if you have to search all the bookstores in the city.
I have a debt to settle with him.
I'm here to pay off the debt.
- Really? - Take me to your master.
Brother.
This is just terrible.
Do you see a rash?
You should show it to a doctor.
But I am showing it to a doctor.
I got the rash because I wanted to see you.
You're so silly. What is it this time?
My friends will go to the Wolchul mountain to see the first full moon of the season.
But I am excluded from going. Can you please help me so that I can go?
Huh? Huh?
Hold on!
Lower a bamboo blind.
I'm the daughter of a noble family.
I've come to repay you for your immeasurable kindness.
Immeasurable kindness?
You saved my brother's life.
But now the people will say the minister cares not about the nation,
but spends time with a young girl he bought.
I don't want our family's savior to be sullied in such a fashion.
I don't have the full amount yet,
but I promise to pay back every penny we owe.
Did you think I'd fear your threat?
According to Liu Tao,
it's best not to fight if the fight is avoidable.
A wise warrior is one who knows how to avoid battles.
The only thing you have to fear is public sentiment.
I only thought that as the minister of war,
you would prefer to avoid a fight with the people.
A girl who knows the art of war...
I'm impressed.
You're right. I should've known better.
Thus, I think it best you pay back all the money you owe right now.
That is, before the public finds out.
And I like your confidence and courage.
But a man wanting to get the girl he desires is no cause for shame.
I'm going to make you mine.
I'll send for you in three days.
My father seems to really trust you.
What do you mean, young sir?
Otherwise, a lowly lass like that
would not be conversing with him.
Not in this house.
I'm not like my father. I don't give people second chances.
Give it back.
Give it back to me!
Treat her with care, boys.
She's quite a prize.
I beg of you.
That money means more to me than my life.
So please give it back. I implore you.
I just want to take a nap.
What is all this ruckus?
We're all have-nots. Let's be good to one another.
Is there anyone who still doesn't know what he did wrong?
If there is, come on out!
Shucks. I wanted to buy them a round of drinks.
Saves me money.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Please let me repay you for your kindness.
Repay me?
Then don't show your face in front of me again.
I don't want to see a fool like you again.
Don't lower your head so easily.
And don't go down on your knees, either.
It becomes habit.
You know how hard it is to break a bad habit.
That...
Repaid.
You couldn't find him?
Don't you have any street smarts?
Who would serve his head on a platter?
But whether you like it or not,
enemies are bound to run into one another again.
The main section of the qualifying exam is in a few days.
You'll find him feeding someone answers there.
That's why I need to get him before then.
I'll have to search for him myself.
Pardon?
I'm no scholar if I can sit back...
after how he treated me.
Dear son.
Father.
I heard about what happened at the test site.
Did you think you were being an upright scholar?
Fool.
Now the world will watch your every move,
hoping you will err.
And when you do err, you will be reduced to that mistake.
That's how politics is.
Keep this is mind.
There's nothing more foolish than flaunting your wisdom.
If the way of the scholar is cultivating his wisdom,
the way of a public official is hiding it.
But I don't want to hide it.
You said being a public official is serving the will of the government.
But if I have to hide my wisdom and principles,
I'd only be chasing after government titles.
So you want both power and honor.
That's not a bad thing.
But you must remember, you're the eldest son of this family.
You must always be careful in your words and actions.
I will keep that in mind.
Lee Seonjun.
We need to teach him a lesson.
But how?
A fellow who talks nonsense should get a beating.
How about having a woman seduce him?
You two shouldn't use your heads...
ever.
Then we'll use our bodies. Just give us your order.
What say you?
Lee Seonjun?
I know of a way.
Get out of here.
I told you.
I looked for him everywhere.
- Have you seen this man? - Nope.
- Have you seen this man? - I don't know.
See. I told you so.
Have you seen this man?
Don't you believe me?
I need your help.
But of course. Do you need a book?
I'd go to hell for 100 nyang.
A tour of hell and money. How swell!
Take me with you.
The main test is in a few days. I need an advance.
An advance?
I almost lost this store over your debacle at the preliminary test.
The young man who got dragged into the incident is looking for you.
Mr. Wang! We must've been enemies in our past lives.
In any case, you're not cut out for this.
Please leave.
You're right.
I'm not cut out for this.
So I'm thinking of going to the government office
to confess my crime.
Unfortunately, your name will have to come up in my confession.
So let's meet again at the government's office.
How much do you need, my dear sir?
100 nyang.
Is this a joke?
I have plenty of transcription work at five nyang a piece...
200 lashes.
But we all die one day anyway.
Let's keep each other company on our way to the afterlife.
50 nyang.
You have to deliver a banned book. Is that okay?
I told you I'd go to hell.
Whose side are you on?
What side?
You're hiding the fellow the prime minister's son is looking for.
I'm Gu Yongha.
I know everything.
Lee Seonjun's looking for him, so you can't have him work in public.
And test proxy, that's too risky.
Will he be delivering a banned book?
How much for you to keep your lips sealed?
It's your lips that need to be sealed.
I think I can help you
find the fellow you're looking for.
Delicious.
Have a glass.
Why are you helping me?
I thought you'd be thankful.
I can just go, you know?
It's just
that I don't see any reason why you'd help me.
Reason?
Do you really want to know?
For friendship between two fellow scholars?
For fostering trust between two like-minded men?
For the sake of my pure kindness...
my desire to help a man?
Of course not.
For fun.
The fun of seeing how far you will go.
There's only one way to find him.
But it's extremely risky.
Are you still in?
If a scholar sets his mind to it,
there's no turning back.
It's a book banned by the government.
Make sure you're not being tailed.
If you're not careful, you may really get to go to hell.
As soon as the banned book is handed over to Lee Seonjun,
arrest him on the spot.
Yes, sir!
Secrets told in daytime are heard by birds.
When the guy says that...
But secrets told at night, even the mice can't hear.
Secrecy is key, so don't show your face to him.
Mr. Wang?
I've been looking for you.
I am painfully aware.
- Because of you... - Get them!
- They have a banned book! - Yes, sir!
And you brought soldiers?
- What's going on? - You should know.
- Arrest them! - Yes, sir!
- I'll take the book. - You need to pay!
What a letdown.
He's going down too easily.
So Lee Seonjun's getting arrested right about now, right?
And he won't be able to take the main test?
You need to pay for the book!
Mr. Wang! What a piece of work!
It'll be hemlock for you if you mess up this time.
How dare you?
Did you expect to deceive me
and get away with it?
Congratulations on your acceptance.
He's as beautiful as a lass.
Come on in!
You must know Lee Seonjun.
I know he's annoying.
Isn't this exciting?
Can you imagine the state that girly little fellow is in right now?
Pluck the most beautiful of lotuses?
Aren't you looking forward to seeing what Kim Yunsik and Lee Seonjun
have in store for Sungkyunkwan?