[ Characters, organizations, incidents, and situations in this drama are fictitious ]
[ Episode 8 ]
This is a picture of the scene.
Take a close look at the gun.
Could I take a look at it?
Looks like it's someone with a medium to high ranking.
Salute!
Salute.
[ In the name of the father, part 2 ]
Inspector Bae, please go to the military hospital with me.
Deputy Director Bu, please look into the current status
- of soldiers at the recon. - Yes.
Inspector Lee, please contact Do Sang Gi, the one who got discharged
and Sergeant First Class Park who's on vacation and set up a meeting.
Okay.
Since we're close to the Military Demarcation Line
and Civilian Access Control Line,
we have to be prepared for unexpected attack
or danger at all times.
Isn't it so ironic?
The beautiful scenery is being preserved because of the war.
How about Sergeant Choi?
He refused the interview,
but I managed to persuade him.
He's giving us about 30 minutes.
It might be difficult to interview him because of the trauma from the accident.
He's emotionally unstable right now.
Please avoid questions that might provoke him.
All right.
I know it must be difficult,
but I'd like to ask you a few questions about what happened that day.
Yes.
You were on a night ambush operation at the DMZ
on the night of the accident, correct?
Yes.
Do you remember what time the ambush operation started?
Night ambush operations
always starts at midnight sharp
and ends at the BMNT.
By BMNT...
do you mean when the sun rises? [ BMNT: Beginning of Morning Nautical Twilight ]
Yes.
Do you remember about what time the accident occurred?
I don't remember so well.
Could you try to remember this then?
You use night vision goggles when you're on
night ambush operations, right?
Yes.
Were you wearing the night vision goggles at the time of the accident?
Yes.
I was wearing them.
That's why your vision was damaged by the flame from the explosion?
Yes.
But you don't normally keep the goggles on during ambush operations.
Pardon?
I was wearing them for a moment
because the platoon leader was on patrol.
Is that so?
What was Private Jung like as a junior?
Why do you ask me such a question?
It's a standard investigation I'm doing as the HRC
on the troop that had an accident.
What is it?
I'm sorry.
Could you get me water?
Yes.
Let me get that for you.
- Here you go. - Yes.
Are you okay?
Well, yes.
What was Private Jung like as a junior?
He was nice...
and well-adjusted to the military.
That's how he was like as a junior.
I see.
Let me ask you one last question.
Second Lieutenant Lee, the platoon leader, brought you
outside the gate as I understand.
- Do you remember? - I don't remember so well.
I heard Second Lieutenant Lee saved your life.
Are you in pain?
Should I get the doctor?
What are you doing right now?
Du Shik! Du Shik, Du Shik.
It's Mom. It's Mom.
What investigation are you doing with someone who's hurt this badly?
- Get out of here! - I'm sorry.
Just get out of here right now!
Du Shik.
Du Shik, it's okay.
Du Shik, it's okay, it's okay.
Du Shik, it's okay.
It's okay, it's okay.
It's okay.
Hello.
I'm Inspector Bae Hong Tae from HRC.
Have a seat.
You requested Private Jung Nam Soo's medical record?
Yes.
You're Private Jung Nam Soo's doctor, right?
No, his doctor is at a seminar.
I see.
Well, I don't think I could give you the record.
Why?
The higher squad prohibited us from releasing it to the public.
It's one of the documents we requested for the ex officio investigation.
It's not like you have a warrant.
I believe the troop has the right to refuse to hand in documents.
It goes against the Privacy Act too.
According to the Medical Service Act 2, Article 2,
the information can be disclosed with the patient's family consent.
You mean Private Jung Nam Soo's father consented?
Yes.
The time of the accident was definitely fabricated.
How did you find that out?
Sergeant Choi was wearing night vision goggles during the accident
and damaged his vision severely.
[ 04:32 - Explosion during the night ambush operation ] The time of the accident according to the military
is around 4:32 a.m.
[ 05:40 - Sergeant Choi sent to the military hospital ] And Sergeant Choi was sent to the military hospital
at 5:40 a.m.
The BMNT on the day of the accident was
4:07 a.m.
If it was past 4 in the morning, it must've been bright already.
[ 04:07 - BMNT ] He didn't need to wear night vision goggles then.
That means the accident occurred before that.
Yes.
That means it's important to know
what happened in those three hours.
Yes, Inspector Lee.
Yes, I texted Sergeant First Class Park because I couldn't reach him.
But I scheduled an interview with Do Sang Gi.
Yes, thank you.
Well...
How can I help you?
Well...
I'm Private Jung Nam Soo's father.
Hello.
Yes, come on in.
[ Forensic Science Department, Professor Hwang Seok Moon ]
Salute!
Hello, Professor.
Wow, look who's here!
Long time no see, Prosecutor Bae.
When did you leave National Forensic Service anyway?
Earlier this year.
It got too tough to keep working.
I should just teach and write books now.
Right, here you go.
What kind of favor will you ask me this time?
Mont Sauternes?
Du Mont Sainte-croix-du-mont.
Right, here.
- This is the document I mentioned. - Oh, yes.
[ Military Hospital ]
Does HRC... [ Issuance of Medical Record Copies ]
need to confirm stuff like this? [ Personal Information ]
I know. We shouldn't have to.
But we do.
What are you doing?
I thought that was a gift.
Aigoo, we shouldn't break the Anti-graft Law.
Come on, Professor.
Aigoo.
Here you go.
- Cheers. - Cheers!
Sir.
What do you mean exactly?
You want us to stop investigating?
I'd like you to...
stop now.
Well, sir.
I'm sorry,
but why do you want us to stop?
Please don't ask me anything
and just stop what you're doing.
This is no longer a normal appeal anymore.
The committee granted us to conduct an ex officio investigation.
It's not something us inspectors can just stop at this point.
Sir.
I won't go into detail.
I just don't want to bother the military anymore.
I beg you.
Please stop investigating my son's case.
I'm sorry.
Sir.
Could he have been blackmailed by chance?
We should report this to the Chairwoman, right?
No.
Are you okay, sir?
- Where... - Over here!
What came to your mind when you learned
of the mine accident?
[ Do Sang Gi: Discharged from the 16th Division of the recon ] I got discharged on the day of the accident.
I don't really know what happened,
but I thought it might not be a simple mine accident.
Why?
How should I put it...
it might not be about the mine explosion,
but something finally blew up among Sergeant Choi,
Private Jung, and Second Lieutenant Lee.
If I were to tell you one thing, Second Lieutenant Lee...
isn't that kind of person.
What do you mean, "not that kind of a person?"
The media is celebrating him as if he's a hero.
But he's not that kind of person at all.
Geez, I hate to get involved in stuff like this.
- Geez... - Everyone, attention!
Right wheel!
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Left wheel!
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
About face, march!
Right wheel!
One!
Two!
Sergeants, swing your arms!
One!
Two!
Three!
When Second Lieutenant Lee was first appointed,
there was a rumor that his father is the commander of the troop.
We thought we might have a tough time.
And as we expected,
he followed everything by the book and lacked flexibility.
He tightened up discipline immensely.
And he blamed everything on the regiment.
It was the regiment's fault if we couldn't shoot
and also if we lost a soccer game.
Also the regiment's fault if we're slower than other troops.
Keep a straight line!
He was even worse when...
company commander or battalion commander was around.
It seemed like...
he was always trying to impress someone.
Because of that, the platoon members had a lot of complaints.
I just let it go since I was about to get discharged,
but Sergeant Choi Du Shik felt differently.
Aigoo.
We'll never find it at this rate.
I've never seen anyone who loses a cartridge case.
This is what happens when we get a clumsy inductee.
How could you lose that?
I found it!
One day, Private Jung Nam Soo
lost a cartridge case during the shooting practice
and we managed to find it.
And he made Private Jung and his mentor, Sergeant Choi,
run 50 laps around the training ground all night.
On your feet.
You got bitten here, but not there?
Choi Du Shik.
On your feet.
I got bitten on this hand.
A
Since then,
Sergeant Choi started provoking the platoon leader.
Sergeant Choi completely ignored Second Lieutenant Lee
and didn't treat him as the platoon leader.
That's why Second Lieutenant Lee harassed Sergeant Choi
and tightened up his training schedule.
As I understand,
the ambush operation on the day of the accident
wasn't assigned to Sergeant Choi at first.
I see.
How was the relationship between Sergeant Choi and Private Jung?
Nam Soo is quiet and nice,
but he's physically weak and
tends to be slow and dull-witted.
So he wasn't well-adjusted to the military life.
- Get up. - Up.
Why are you still doing this?
The whole troop was blamed often because of Private Jung.
Sergeant Choi finally exploded one day.
Jung Nam Soo.
Private Jung Nam Soo.
Follow me.
Ultimately...
the fact that Private Jung
contacted the military helpline for the cruel treatment
blew everything up.
Do you guarantee anonymity?
I'm Private Jung Nam Soo of 16th Division of the Reconnaissance Battalions.
[ Cruel treatment ]
Do you know what's so ironic?
Sergeant Choi, that bastard, was treated cruelly
by the seniors when he was a private.
Although it was hushed and covered up,
he attempted suicide once too.
When someone like that becomes a senior,
they become scarier.
You might not know,
but the military is way different inside than
how it seems from the outside.
What controls the military
is not loyalty.
It's fear.
Yes, Professor.
Hey, hey. This isn't right.
- Pardon? You brought the wrong photo!
Where did you get this random photo anyway?
A random photo?
That can't be. That should be Private Jung's photo.
You said he's the victim of the PMD Mine Accident.
Yes.
What do you mean he was injured in a mine accident?
- What then? - You don't get
wounds like this with PMD mines.
A PMD mine can tear your skin,
but it doesn't create holes like this.
I've seen wounds like this over a dozen times.
Seeing how he got diamond-shaped fragment stuck on him
means it's 100% from a grenade used by the Korean military.
A grenade?
You don't get wounds like this with PMD mines.
A PMD mine can tear your skin,
but it doesn't create holes like this.
Seeing how he got diamond-shaped fragment stuck on him
means it's 100% from a grenade used by the Korean military.
A grenade?
Sergeant First Class Park hasn't contacted you yet, right?
Could you send me his address...
And the platoon sergeant?
He's on vacation right now.
- When is he coming back? - He's coming back tomorrow.
Never mind. Okay.
[ Mobong Gas ]
Hello?
This is Bae Hong Tae from HRC, sir.
I got Private Jung's medical record and...
Haven't you...
heard the news?
What news?
I asked the chief to
- stop the investigation. - Pardon?
But why?
I'm grateful for what you did,
but just keep that in mind.
I'm sorry,
but please don't call me anymore.
I don't know if you already know,
but Private Jung had a difficult time in the military.
I think he was depressed.
He joined the military after getting married and having a child.
He must've had a lot of worries.
And in the end, he decided to commit suicide.
He released a grenade at the ambush station.
No.
I don't believe that.
There's a record of him visiting a psychiatrist on his vacation.
He handed in the doctor's notes to the troop too.
You mean my Nam Soo did that?
Yes.
If people find out that this accident was actually a suicide by a grenade,
Private Jung will no longer be considered to have died on duty.
And if it's determined that it was a dishonorable death,
all the pensions provided to the family will get cut off too.
No one will benefit from the truth.
So...
please...
stop the HRC investigation immediately.
If it's true that it was a grenade, not a mine,
do you think it was Private Jung
who released the grenade?
We'll find out soon.
Did Private Jung's father
want us to stop investigating because he found that out?
That's also a possibility.
What will happen to our investigation then?
We can't stop the ex officio investigation.
Especially when we found out so much.
♪ I was born in this country ♪
♪ and became a soldier... ♪
Nam Soo.
Nam Soo...
Your leg bothers you a lot, huh?
It does bother me,
but this leg is like a medal for me.
Are you adjusting to the military life?
Yes.
The platoon leader and the seniors are nice to me too.
Yes, the military these days isn't like the olden days.
I'm sure it's not that bad.
Father!
Have some ramen!
Okay.
- Let's go. - Yes, let's go see my grandson.
Nam Soo...
I'm sorry, Nam Soo.
Hello.
How can I help you?
Did Sergeant First Class Park Sang Ho return from vacation?
Just one second.
He hasn't returned yet.
- Is that so? - Yes.
All right then.
Yes.
He hasn't returned yet.
Are you Sergeant First Class Park Sang Ho?
Yes.
I'm Inspector Han Yoon Seo from Human Rights Commission.
I thought you were done investigating.
We still have six hours left.
Could we talk for a second if you're available?
[ Park Sang Ho: sergeant first class of 16th Division of the Reconnaissance Battalions ]
Second Lieutenant Lee...
didn't seem so interested in the military.
He wasn't born a soldier like some people.
He once told me that...
his father does not accept mistakes and
that's tough on him.
How did the troop members know that
Private Jung called the military helpline
regarding the cruel treatment?
You think the military guarantees anonymity?
Were you aware that Private Jung was
being treated cruelly?
To a certain extend.
I warned the troop members at first,
but things don't change easily.
It's the unchanging system of the military.
If Sergeant Choi bullies Private Jung who isn't well-adjusted,
Second Lieutenant Lee bullies Sergeant Choi.
And Sergeant Choi bullies Private Jung for that.
It's a vicious circle of violence.
Is that why Second Lieutenant Lee forced
Sergeant Choi to participate in the ambush operation?
Yes.
It was the military police that entered the scene first
right after the accident, right?
Probably.
But why was your gun found at the scene?
I think the troop leader took it by mistake.
You mean you didn't participate in the operation in his place?
Please tell us the truth.
The truth you keep to yourself has no power.
This is for the change you wanted in the military.
I'm sorry.
Please ask Second Lieutenant Lee about everything.
Yes, Corporal Choi.
I'm in front of the base.
What?
Okay, I'll be right there.
I need to go back to the base.
Why?
Is something going on?
Second Lieutenant Lee is missing.
Pardon?
Father.
Nam Soo.
It's Nam Soo, right?
See?
I was right.
Nam Soo, you were alive.
You sent me a birthday card
and you sent me money too.
Nam Soo.
Have you eaten?
Father.
Nam Soo.
Nam Soo!
Sir.
[Viki Ver] OCN E08 'The Running Mates: Human Rights' -♥ Ruo Xi ♥-
This is Corps Commander.
Salute!
This is division commander of the 16th division of the recon.
Corps Commander.
Second Lieuteant Lee...
Speak.
left the base.
The entire troop is currently looking for him, but...
we haven't located him yet.
Hurry up and find him, so that it won't leak to the outside world.
Yes, sir.
All of this is...
my fault for not leading the troop members correctly.
I'm sorry.
The accident happened
because of me as well.
[ Operation order of command used for training ]
[ Private Jung Nam Soo ]
[ Operation order of command used for training ]
Sergeant Kim!
Sergeant Kim Nam Wook.
Platoon Leader.
Sergeant Choi participated in the day ambush operation.
I know.
Yes, sir.
Platoon Leader.
I'd like to take a vacation because it's my father's birthday next month.
Go ahead.
Hey, Jung Nam Soo!
Private Jung Nam Soo.
Did you tell your mentor that you're taking a vacation?
Well...
No, sir.
You haven't even told your mentor and go straight to the platoon leader first?
I'm sorry.
And you took a vacation recently.
You're taking another one?
Everyone is working their a**es off because we're short.
- It's my father's birthday... - A**hole, you're the only one with a father?
Go.
How did you lead your platoon to receive
such a low score for the combat power evaluation?
I'm sorry.
You always say your sorry!
You shouldn't do something to apologize for.
I'll correct myself.
Everyone struggles in the military.
If you don't, you're not a soldier.
If you can't overcome this as a man, what are you going to do?
Don't ever tell me that you're struggling.
Yes, sir.
You stupid idiot.
Sergeant First Class Park.
Sergeant First Class Park!
That platoon leader a**hole.
I was on the day ambush operation. Why make me do it again?
He tiptoes around the higher-ups.
I don't know how he became the platoon leader.
Hey.
Councilor. (nickname for dunce in the military)
This is all your fault.
Our entire platoon is taking the blame because of you.
You know that?
Seriously.
- I'm sorry. - You're sorry?
Put the night vision goggles on.
Now.
Yes, sir!
Huh?
How dare you close your eyes, you punk?
Open your eyes!
Keep them open.
Yes, sir.
Let's do this again.
Put them back on.
Put them back on right now.
I'll scalp you alive if you take them off again.
Understand?
You filed a complaint at the helpline, right?
- No, sir. - A**hole, what do you mean no?
The entire troop knows you asked for a transfer.
A man shouldn't snitch on his fellow soldiers.
You didn't know we'd find out?
You visited a psychiatrist and got a doctor's note.
You're trying to get early discharge by calling the helpline.
What a slacker.
It's not like that.
Did you miss your pretty wife that much?
Huh?
- No, sir. - No, sir.
No, sir.
- No, sir. - No, sir. (sounds like "inside")
We're outside, not inside.
Aigoo, seriously!
Freeze. Show your hands.
If you move, I'll shoot.
- Tuna. - Autumn.
- Who are you? - It's the platoon sergeant.
Salute!
Salute.
Everything's okay, right?
- Yes. - Yes, it is...
- Do you have a mosquito repellent? - Yes, I do.
Don't make them suffer too much.
What do you mean, sir?
I never bothered them.
Carry on.
Salute!
Sergeant Choi.
May I take a leak?
Go ahead.
Hurry up and go.
Where did this bastard go?
Hey, Jung Nam Soo.
What are you doing there?
Jung Nam Soo!
What are you doing? You a**hole.
You want to die, a**hole?
Hey, hey!
Hey...
Hey, put that down.
Put that down right now!
Would you be happy if I died?
- Put that down... - Would you be happy if I died, you a**holes!
Put that grenade down first. Please?
Let's just talk it out.
Since when did you want to talk?
Put it down, you a**hole! Listen to me!
I...
wanted to endure to the end
and get discharged.
But I don't think I can.
Hey.
Hey, you a**hole!
Sergeant Choi!
Private Jung!
Sergeant Choi!
I...
wanted to endure to the end
and get discharged.
Hey, you a**hole!
Private Jung!
Sergeant Choi!
Platoon Leader.
If I didn't include Sergeant Choi in the operation,
Nam Soo wouldn't have died either.
Only if I didn't waste time trying to cover up
Sergeant First Class Park taking my place,
Sergeant Choi wouldn't have lost his legs either.
One day, Nam Soo...
asked me to transfer him to a different platoon.
But I ignored his request.
My father got discharged due to an injury.
He's a great soldier and a great father to me.
So I wanted to adjust to military life better than anyone else.
But...
I find it difficult.
Platoon Leader.
I'm sorry, but could you transfer me to a different platoon?
Is it because of Sergeant Choi?
My father is a soldier too.
I'm not sure if he's a great soldier or a great father,
but he wanted me to become an officer.
He drove me to come all the way here.
I used to...
want to run away like you.
But...
that means you lose.
If it's because of Sergeant Choi,
endure even though it will be hard.
Otherwise, you'll lose.
As a man,
you're useless if you can't endure that.
[ Father ]
Yes.
Don't say a word.
We'll take care of everything.
No.
I'll tell the truth.
Idiot. What are you so proud of?
The honor of the Korean military depends on this.
It could be over for both you and me.
[ Karaoke ]
I had no courage
and I couldn't go against my father either.
I was never...
the son my father wanted.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry!
I'm sorry.
Hey, wake up!
[ Father ]
Yes.
Sergeant Choi.
Hang up, a**hole.
I'm sorry.
Second Sergeant Lee of Gangho Troop jumped into Han River
from Mabong Bridge this morning.
He was rescued when a pedestrian called 911,
but he's yet to gain consciousness.
Second Sergeant Lee was known to be a model soldier.
The reason why he jumped off the bridge is still unknown.
Let's hear the detail from the reporter at the hospital
Second Sergeant Lee is at right now.
The truth I want...
wasn't something like this.
I don't want my daughter-in-law
and grandson to know
what my son did.
I want my daughter-in-law and grandson
to keep receiving the pension from the country too.
Considering my daughter-in-law and grandson,
the option I just mentioned
is probably the best way to go, right?
But sir...
But...
my Nam Soo's death...
will become so futile.
As a father...
I don't want to lose my son that way either.
I thought about...
what my Nam Soo would've wanted the most.
I'm sure...
Nam Soo
would've wanted his son
to serve in a military
where human rights are protected,
not a military that caused him to kill himself.
In order to make that happen,
I should let the world know, right?
Making sure something like this never happens again
will be another way
to make the world remembers Nam Soo.
That's...
what I think.
I want you guys
to make the right decision.
This is the initial situation report from Second Sergeant Lee
and our investigation report.
What is the inspectors' opinion?
In every investigation we conduct,
we have to work for the benefit of the public,
rather than the benefit of the individual.
It might be difficult, but I think it's important.
One might say it's our duty to protect the interest
of Private Jung's family,
But like what Private Jung's father said,
we need to reveal the truth
in order to prevent tragedies like
Private Jung's case.
I don't think...
this case is about someone's interest.
A human
can only carry so much weight.
I don't think every truth
needs to be revealed either.
If the truth
will cause pain to someone
that's unbearable,
I think it might be better to avoid it.
I don't think we have the right to
add pain to someone who's already in pain.
Thank you for sharing.
You've accomplished the duties that were given to you.
I'd like you to
let me decide
how to relay this truth.
It was revealed that there has been false reporting
and tampering with evidence regarding
the PDM Mine Accident
in the DMZ area.
Therefore, the Ministry of National Defense
decided to
reinvestigate this case entirely.
The military will
conduct a thorough investigation without hiding anything.
They'll do everything according to the law
and handle everything fairly.
I promise that we'll try our best
so the military could gain people's trust.
As a minister,
I'd like to sincerely apologize.
The military held an emergency press conference
and admitted that they tampered with evidence
regarding the accident that's previously known as the PMD Mine Accident.
As soon as they finish their investigation
the military will look into the reason why...
It was revealed that Private Jung committed suicide
with a grenade, instead of dying from a mine explosion.
According to someone affiliated with the military,
Private Jung has been habitually bullied by his seniors.
The military summoned everyone who's related to the case
for the investigation including the commander who fabricated the case.
And Kim Bu Chul, the minister of National Defense
requested the Naitonal Assembly to pass the bill
regarding the protection of human rights in the military.
The military...
failed to...
fulfill our duty.
I'm sorry.
The Military Honors Review Board
decided that they'll still honor your son as a soldier who was killed in action.
I'm so sorry.
What did the Chairwoman say anyway?
How did the minister of National Defense
decide to reinvestigate the case?
I wonder.
I'd like to know too.
Geez, I'm so curious.
- Are you leaving? - Yes.
Should we get some drinks...
on the way out?
Minister.
The Human Rights Commission can present our investigation result to the media directly.
But I'd like to...
give the military a chance.
I think it's also the military's duty to
regain people's trust that has been lost.
Most people in this country either join the military
or send the family members to the military.
The military needs to change.
If the military promises that they'll change,
HRC is happy to step aside.
The DMZ is known for its natural ecosystem
that remains untouched
by human for 60 years.
But the tragedy of the separation of the country
affects the ecosystem as well.
The trees get cut off
as soon as they start growing so soldiers can track time.
A boar that lost its leg since it stepped on a mine.
An eagle that got its wing torn by getting caught on barbed wire.
A wild cat that starves to death
since it couldn't find prey in the land surrounded with barbed wire.
Maybe the tragedy of the separation is affecting
every living thing on in this country.
It's an arrest! Bring the defibrillator!
Yes, Doctor.
In life,
we sometimes fight a battle
that we all end up losing.
Although each person gets to decide whether they'll
acknowledge and accept the outcome.
Maybe I'm trying hard
not to lose
instead of winning.
Just like how I don't get my hopes up
so I won't be disappointed.
[ The plaintiff and the deceased's DNA didn't match ]
I'm sorry, Yoon Seo.
It's my fault.
♪ The moment I first met you ♪
♪ You were just a little girl ♪
♪ And you had a violet in your hair ♪
♪ You told me with a smiley face ♪
♪ I want to fly far away like a bird ♪
The police officers battered us.
The police officers?
I think you're mistaken.
What were the police doing then?
People were dying down there!
Is there a reason why you were there late at night?
Because that was my last night.
It's been reported that they used tear gas that contains carcinogen.
A lot of food contains carcinogen.
You mean it's true that you used violence,
but it was self-defense?
A person died and dozens of people got injured.
You're saying that's your job as a security?
It's like I came back from hell.
It was like hell there that night.
You mean no one knows what happened there?
[ The Running Mates: Human Rights ]