(Birthday Letter)
(Episode 1)
Wake up! Wake up!
Have a good day today!
Wake up! Wake up!
Have a good day today!
Oh, hi, grandpa.
Why are you awake already?
You're the one that's up early, grandpa.
Can you open this for me?
Here you go.
Let's take a look.
Wow, Mr. Kim Mugil. I can tell you used to be
handsome now that you're all washed up.
Are you making fun of an old man?
Is there anything I can wrap around my neck?
That can be photoshopped.
The computer can get rid of anything.
Even your wrinkles.
- Really? - Yeah, look. Like this.
You sure laugh a lot.
Isn't this funny?
(To Kim Mugil)
Wow, you look a bit more natural
in the photos with me.
Do you like me that much, grandpa?
I really do.
Impressive.
Hello.
Did you bring it?
Geez, what would you do without me?
Stop joking around.
Oh, this. This was in the yard.
Huh? This is a letter for grandpa.
Do you know Yeo Ilae?
Who?
Yeo Ilae.
(From Yeo Ilae, to Kim Mugil)
Read this to me.
- Who is it? - Now.
"To Mugil."
"Mugil, it's my birthday today
and it's also yours.
I couldn't bring myself to face you,
so I'm writing you a birthday letter instead."
Everything has changed.
But the zelkova where we promised to meet
is still the same.
And...
You too.
I'm so happy that you stayed in our hometown.
(1945)
Boo!
I thought I'd run into you here,
so I was waiting.
Are you that happy to see me?
Mugil, did you think I was Ilae?
I left my bike behind.
You're on your way to my house, right?
This color looks magnificent.
Tell her she did a great job.
Thank you.
And this...
I got some art supplies for your drawings.
My mom will yell at me.
That's not for free.
I want you to teach Yeonggeum how to draw.
But I've never learned how to draw properly.
Your natural talent is more impressive.
She's a foolish girl,
but she'll try her best to keep up.
Hey!
Don't tease your child in front of other people.
From now on, I'm going to call you teacher
instead of Mugil.
Mr. Kim Mugil.
Teacher.
I told you not to laugh for no reason.
Why are you picking a fight?
You always tell me not to laugh or cry.
Big bro.
- Did you get in a fight again? - Get off me.
Is that what happened?
I think I already told you this.
I told you not to talk to me.
And I told you not to be mean to Mugil.
Why are you always angry when you see him?
Shut your mouth.
Nobody listens to you.
This fool never listens to you either.
Let's go inside.
Let go! Alright, alright!
Geez!
Bye, Mugil!
Do it myself?
Yeah.
Writing her back isn't that hard.
But delivering the letter myself...
I would've gone if it wasn't for this fever.
Go on my behalf.
Say hello to her.
And tell her how I'm doing.
And if you can, bring her back with you.
But Namhae is so far. It's a 4-hour trip.
Can't you do this for your dying grandpa?
Stop threatening me that you're going to die.
Gosh... Fine.
So who is this Yeo Ilae?
A hidden girlfriend?
She's a friend from my hometown.
A friend from your hometown?
- Well... - What?
Why are you looking again?
It's not going to get that many views and comments
in a day.
You're right...
But I thought people would be more interested
towards the end.
But...
Stop looking at this.
Come up with a new story.
Something the people will like.
I can't come up with anything if I'm pressured.
Check grandpa's temperature every hour
and make sure he takes his medication.
And work on that.
Jaeyeon, am I your boyfriend
or am I your assistant?
You're both!
You can do this!
Ow, my arm...
Anyone home?
Is anyone home?
Hello.
I'm Kim Mugil's granddaughter, Kim Jaeyeon.
You're Yeo Ilae, aren't you?
- Who? - Yeo Ilae.
Does Yeo Ilae not live here?
There's nobody like that here.
Huh? But this letter was sent from this address.
That's the right address,
but there's nobody that would send this from here.
May I ask when you moved in here?
Around 10 years ago.
Pardon my intrusion.
Here, take this.
What's this?
Goodbye.
What do I tell grandpa?
Wait!
It was a failure!
Why? What happened?
Huh? Why did you bring this back?
It was a totally different person living at the place.
Yeah? That's weird.
It has to be Yeo Ilae that sent this letter.
Maybe she wrote the wrong address.
Oh, maybe that's it.
So how do I find this person?
We must find her.
Grandpa is really excited about this.
He told me to bring her to him.
My cousin is a police officer.
Let me try asking him.
Yeo Ilae, born in 1929, lives in Namhae.
He can find her with a background check.
Just don't tell your grandpa about it yet.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Wow, that was pretty clever.
We'll do things your way for once.
They said she wouldn't be home for a few days.
It's a good thing her next-door neighbors told me.
I could've just stood in front of an empty home.
That would've been a waste of time.
They didn't say when she'd be back?
They wouldn't know that.
What about the letter?
I left it in her mailbox.
Just give it a bit more time.
You've waited decades, so wait a few more days.
But what if...
I die in a few days?
I can barely remember your father's face.
But I can still remember Ilae's face clearly.
Mugil!
You get in trouble at school
if you're caught speaking Korean.
I was going to tell my deskmate
that I packed scorched rice,
but I didn't know what it's called in Japanese!
So I asked the teacher.
She didn't know either.
She just told me to never say scorched rice again.
Isn't that ridiculous?
Mugil.
You know my deskmate Sunim?
I think she's going to get married.
Getting married means she doesn't have to be
a comfort woman and the guy doesn't get drafted.
I want to get married soon too.
Hamdeok was right!
You never listen to me.
I'm listening.
- What were you drawing earlier? - Give it back!
Yeonggeum...
Nope. I'm not going to listen.
I'm going to wait until Ilae returns.
So stop struggling over me...
Ilae is not coming back!
She's coming back.
Do you know why I said I wanted to get married?
It's because I don't want to be forced to become
a comfort woman like Ilae!
You'd better shut your mouth!
That's a terrible and false rumor.
Why are you spreading it too?
I warned you not to upset me.
Why are you threatening my sister?
I just said what I had to say.
Are you trying to make me angry?
Don't! This is my fault.
He has no interest in you at all.
Why are you wasting your time with him? You fool!
Go apologize.
I've done nothing wrong.
Don't you know we're only getting by
because of Hamdeok's father?
Your father left to be a freedom fighter.
Your older brother is sick and bedridden.
Mugil, you're the only one I can rely on.
So listen to me.
Tell your mother
that she doesn't have to worry about it.
I should get going.
Mugil.
Yes.
Hamseok sent a letter after he was drafted.
He said he saw Ilae in Hiroshima.
Pardon?
She does the odd jobs at a bar.
Look here. You came to the countryside
to ransack my home.
How can you send my sick son to Japan too?
They told me to even make up stories
to gather men. I have no choice.
Just be thankful that he'll be doing labor
instead of fighting in the war.
- What happens if he doesn't go? - Mom...
That's enough.
You know he'll be thrown in jail. Come on.
Ma'am, going to the labor camp
isn't all that bad.
I heard you get paid
and you get plenty of rice.
Mr. Park across the street
volunteered to go to Hiroshima himself.
Does my older brother have to go to Hiroshima?
Yeah, they pay pretty well in Hiroshima
and they treat you better.
I'll go instead of my brother.
You can't, you fool.
I can't let you do something like that.
I'm going.
You stay out of this.
Did you not hear him?
They pay you and they give you rice.
You actually believe that?
I'm not doing this for you.
I'm doing this for myself.
Why? You'll have to work like a slave.
Ilae is in Hiroshima.
Hamdeok's father told me.
Hamseok saw Ilae in Hiroshima.
I'll go to Hiroshima, make money...
And bring back Ilae.
Dad isn't around.
So I can't let anything happen to the eldest son.
While I'm gone...
Take care of mom.
Mugil...
It will be easier for you to survive there than Mujin.
Mom...
That was your father's.
Wear it like a good luck charm.
Just please don't die.
Whatever happens...
You have to come back alive.
You understand?
I bet I'm the only person in Korea my age
that does her nails with balsam.
Done.
Do you call your mom often?
I never call first.
Once I'm gone, sell this place
and use your savings
to move closer to your mom.
What?
You're going stay here even after I'm gone?
Aren't you going to move to Seoul with Giung?
Well, yes.
Your mom is very unlucky.
Her husband died. What girl that young would want
to take care of her single father-in-law?
I'm glad she found something to do in life.
Jaeyeon.
Family ties can't be broken.
Try calling your mom first.
You got that?
Oh, whatever! I didn't want to do this
because I didn't want to hear nagging.
Is that a letter?
It's Giung.
Hey.
Did you check the mail?
Did anything come?
No, not yet.
This seems strange.
It shouldn't take her this long to write back.
This won't do.
I'll have to go to her myself.
Nonsense!
We just got your fever down yesterday.
If you were in the hospital, they wouldn't let you out.
Then can you try going again, Jaeyeon?
I don't want to go there again!
It's so far... Geez.
Jaeyeon...
I'll go yell at her.
What? Say that again.
He did a background check and found nothing.
Did she pass away?
And what's stranger is that there has never been
a death reported from Yeo Ilae born in 1929.
What's going on?
Is she alive or dead?
Was it even Yeo Ilae
that sent that letter?
I'm home.
Grandpa!
Oh, no!
Grandpa, are you okay?
- Sir. - Grandpa!
Should we call an ambulance?
I'm fine.
So you don't want to be left at home alone?
You were protesting?
You found out.
It looks like...
I'm a big burden to you. I'm sorry.
Not this again.
You don't have to go there.
When I dozed off earlier...
I dreamed that I got the letter.
The letter will come soon.
It's coming.
Look for Yeo Ilae again.
If not her, find someone else.
Someone must've sent that letter.
It's not like I'm a cop.
My cousin is, so...
"I did Jaeyeon's nails with balsam
for the first time when she was 8.
I also learned how to braid her hair.
I worry that people will find out she has no parents."
Did your grandpa draw this?
Yeah.
He drew that when he was 61 after he was
diagnosed with an illness where his muscles stiffen.
He was diagnosed with a rare illness at age 61?
That illness usually occurs at a late age.
And it's genetic.
I might end up like grandpa when I'm old too.
You'd better not leave me then.
Gosh...
Grandpa drew the things he wants to remember.
It should be in here...
Huh? I found it!
"1945, Hiroshima.
I finally found Ilae.
I thought I was dreaming when I saw her.
I couldn't even speak."
Here... Put this in my room.
What is it?
What happens if the letter never comes?
I'll go to her myself.
When did this get here?
Earlier when you were washing up.
See?
I told you she'd write back.
You made me all antsy.
"To Mugil."
"I was late to get back to you.
Something urgent came up,
so I don't think we can meet anytime soon.
Let's keep in touch by writing letters.
I'm reminded of when you came to
Hiroshima to find me."
Heave-ho!
Hey! Hurry up!
Koreans, you'd better work fast!
Who's slacking off?
There's a lot of work today, so work fast!
(The next episode will continue soon.)
(Birthday Letter)
(Episode 2)
Geez...
They said we'd get plenty of rice
and be paid 3 yen a day.
But they charge us for room and board.
All we get is 1 yen.
Those evil bastards.
We should consider ourselves lucky.
Some Koreans are forced to mine.
They don't even get to work in shifts like us.
They die from being trapped and buried in mines.
How old are you, kid?
I'm 14.
What brings a young boy like you here?
I'm an orphan and they caught me.
Guys.
I'm going to go make some money. Want to come?
Collecting and selling these is pretty decent money.
Don't look at me. Look at the ground.
Won't we get in trouble for being out here?
No problem as long as we get back before roll call.
Not as many people run away these days.
They barely feed us and pay us.
This is a great way to make money.
I'll be back before roll call.
I hope you're not trying to run away!
They'll kill you if they catch you!
Leave him be. It's not like that.
He has to go look.
I'm so sick of that guy.
Who are you? What are you doing?
Get out of here. This place isn't for kids.
Get going!
I'm sorry.
You're all subjects of the Japanese Empire.
Your duty is to pledge your loyalty to the Emperor.
You will recite the oath for subjects of Japan.
- One! - One!
- We are all subjects of Japan. - Bastards.
They want to suck our blood and skin us too.
Why does your face look so pale?
Maybe because I kept throwing up yesterday.
My stomach is so empty, I have nothing to poop out.
Mugil, you must be really strong.
You seem just fine after being out all night.
Did you have that dream again last night?
If she's here, you should've found her ages ago.
Maybe my brother made a mistake.
Who knows where that girl Ilae really is?
I bet it's eating you up inside.
Are you worried about me?
Are you insane?
What are you doing?
You young punk. You're laughing during training?
Stand up straight!
Get in position!
I think those Japs wear wooden shoes
so they can kick people.
Spears out!
Hey, where are you going? Stop!
You bastard!
Get that guy!
Ilae!
Ilae.
Ilae, it’s me!
Do you know long I looked for you?
Why are you guys here?
We're being forced to work here.
It's been around a month.
I should get going.
Listen up!
You two left without notice.
Starting now, these Koreans will have a slap battle.
The person that hits harder wins.
It goes on until there's a winner.
You got that?
Go!
Do it!
Hit him harder.
Like this!
Hit him.
Hit him!
This is my fault, so I'll hit myself.
You insolent fool!
Hit him.
Hit him!
You insolent fool!
Are you enjoying this, you bastard? Huh?
Die, you bastard!
I'm going to kick you more!
Is this fun to you?
Stop. That's enough.
Dismissed!
Get to work!
Mugil.
Stop being such babies. You're grown men.
Where did you get this ice?
You can get anything with money.
I spent all the money
I got from collecting metal to buy this.
Thanks.
I'll save up my pay to pay you back.
This was pretty nice of you, kid.
Just say thank you.
And stop complaining so much.
What? Get over here.
I'm going to go earn some money.
- Hey... - So...
You go first.
I understand why you hate me.
But I still want to be your friend.
It's not because of Yeonggeum.
My father...
Do you know what he says
whenever he gets mad at me?
He says you're better than me at everything.
Hey, but I'm still better than you
at making people angry. Right?
This is the way I was born.
That silly girl Yeonggeum...
The fact that you don't like her...
And the way she waits like a fool...
I think it's all fate.
But she'll stop liking you one day.
Yeonggeum will get over you
once she sees you and Ilae together.
But I should still avenge Yeonggeum
as her older brother.
What was that?
Massage your body with it.
Rub it on your body.
Rub it!
Geez...
So are you happy that you finally got to see Ilae?
Well...
She didn't seem that happy to see me.
Give me that. Let me.
Let go.
What did you wish for earlier?
Did you wish for me to show up?
How did you know I was here?
Hamseok said he saw you at a bar in Hiroshima.
That's how.
Did he say anything else?
About what?
I'd even be happy to see a Korean crow.
Aren't you happy to see me?
You never thought about me?
I came to Hiroshima because of you.
I came to find you.
You shouldn't have.
I totally forgot about you.
Don't lie.
I'm not lying.
I'm not happy to see you.
This makes me uncomfortable.
Stop acting like you changed.
What's wrong with changing?
Don't ever come back here again.
Fine.
You're right.
People change.
People forget.
But...
I'm still the same.
And I remember everything, so it doesn't matter.
I'll visit every day.
Why was she so mean to you, grandpa?
Did she meet another guy?
Did she really have a change of heart?
So it was here.
What's this?
This belonged to my father.
I looked for this a while back and couldn't find it.
I thought I lost it for good.
I finally found it today.
Cherish it.
I prefer gold bracelets.
Hello?
Yes, this is she.
The real estate agency?
Give it here.
Hello?
How old is this home?
It was built before my granddaughter was born,
so it's over 30 years old.
Alright, thank you.
I'll be in touch.
It's a great location and gets a lot of sunlight.
It'll look amazing once it's remodeled.
Why would I do any remodeling?
I'll tear it down and build a commercial building.
With three floors.
Oh, I see.
Grandpa, aren't you sad that this house will be gone?
It's not like I'll live here as a ghost.
Why would I be sad?
Jaeyeon.
I really want to write back to Ilae.
Kid! Wake up, kid!
Kid...
Wake up, kid!
Out of the way.
What's going on?
He's dead?
Hey.
Get up.
Geez...
Hey, get him out of here. He's in the way.
He's only 14 years old...
Get him out of here!
- I'll go bury him right away. - Mugil...
What did you say?
I would like to go bury my friend.
Get him out of here.
Get him out of here!
You bastard!
You bastard...
Some Korean guy wants to talk to you.
He wants to see you.
I did my part and told you.
I think you should know this.
Mugil...
He wanted to bury one of our dead friends,
but they beat him and locked him up.
Huh?
The boy that's locked up...
He's my hometown friend.
Is my friend still alive?
Please don't kill that boy.
I'm begging you!
Just... Just a moment, please.
Please just let him live.
I'll...
Do anything. Anything.
He'll be released soon.
Go before my colleague comes.
Thank you so much!
Thank you! Thank you!
Have you lost your mind?
Why would you try to argue with the Japanese?
They could've easily killed you!
Do you know how many Korean corpses
are thrown out here?
Don't ever do something so foolish again.
Did you come to the office?
Did you beg them to let me live?
Why would you do something that foolish?
A girl going to a Jap...
Have you lost your mind?
You're lucky it was that guy.
If it was one of the others...
Something terrible could've happened to you!
So what if something terrible happens?
What?
Are you really the Yeo Ilae I know?
What was it?
What made you change like this?
Why did you change so much?
Do I have to tell you myself?
Don't act like you don't know!
I know everyone's talking about me back at home.
And those rumors are true.
There's a tattoo on my stomach.
Impossible.
It's not true.
You want to see it?
Will you believe me then?
Don't! Don't! What are you doing?
Ilae! Why are you being like this?
What do you think I wished for?
I kept wishing that
you and my mother wouldn't find out.
But you showing up here...
I can't even hide it or deny it!
You have to know!
I...
Can't be your wife anymore.
I would've done the same thing.
I would've done anything to save you.
Thank you for saving me.
And thank you for telling me everything.
No matter what anyone says...
You're my soulmate.
So don't avoid me.
I'll treat you better.
You fool.
How can you treat me better than this?
I have more work next month,
so I get tonight off.
I should give you and Hamdeok a haircut.
Buy a comb and a pair of scissors.
You'd better not give me a bald spot like last time.
Alright.
Say ah.
Why?
Just do it.
I don't want to.
Ah!
See you later!
It won't take that long.
You have to take Masato and come right back.
Masato! Come with mommy.
Just wait and I'll be out with the stuff.
Sure.
Mom.
Huh?
What's that?
What?
Subtitles by KBS World
(Birthday Letter)
It was a bomb.
- Ilae. - Mugil!
You're not going to die. I'll save you.
I think all of Hiroshima is like this.
We have to be prepared, okay?
I'm going to live.
I'm going to survive and make it home with you.
She's going to die at this rate!
Mugil.
Let's never be apart again.