CONTEST PASS
Mom
is looking for you.
That's why I entered you
in Yoogyeong Cuisine Book Apprentice Selection Cooking Contest
without telling you.
I entered you under the name Mi-ok Kim,
so if it's too much to talk to her,
just see her from a distance and leave.
I trust that you'll grant me
this last wish.
Honey, I love you.
Honey...
Honey.
Mom.
Aren't you supposed to be asleep?
Mom.
Geum-hee.
What are you doing at this hour? You should be in bed.
Mom,
about that cooking contest Master Park is holding...
I know it would be tough for you to enter,
but I've done a lot of thinking
since Dad passed away.
Geum-hee...
Did...
your father tell you anything by chance...
I'm sorry, Mom.
I thought about it.
I know what you are trying to say.
Geum-hee,
I'll tell you everything.
Mom.
I don't know what your father said to you,
but I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.
Mom,
did you already know about what Dad told me?
Your father
was afraid that I wouldn't enter the cooking contest
and that I would hide for the rest of my life,
so he must have asked you as well.
Geum-hee,
the truth is...
I know Chairman Hyun-myung Kim
and Master Gye-hyang Park...
too well.
Mom.
Yoogyeong Hospital
and the head house in Panam-dong...
I used to be a part of their family.
Master Park
is almost
like a mother to me.
When I was young,
I grew up in her home.
If that's the case, Mom...
Not Yoogyeong Hospital!
Why not Professor Park's hospital?
Your mother has a good reason for doing this.
Listen to your mother.
This is an invitation to the annual event Master Park hosts.
She gave one to me, too.
But I can't go without bringing a gift.
I'm thinking of taking some food with me.
Would you help me cook it?
No, I can't help you.
That's right.
That's why
I didn't like how you kept getting involved in that family's affairs.
I was also afraid.
Why would you be afraid?
Why did you pretend not to know them?
That's because...
What happened was...
When I was about one year old,
someone came
and left me on their doorstep.
Mom...
Master Park cared for me,
an abandoned child,
with as much love and compassion as she would her own child.
From kimchi
to all my other recipes,
Master Park taught me everything I know.
But why...
That's...
because I was wrongfully accused of something I couldn't disprove,
I had to run away from the family.
What were you accused of so that you had to spend your life hiding?
For the time being,
I can't tell you the full story.
I'll tell you
the rest later.
So Mom was just like I am.
Your father
was afraid
that I would hide forever,
so he entered me in the cooking contest hoping that I would resolve everything.
But I can't do it.
I really can't do it.
Mom.
Dad,
why have you been keeping so many secrets from me?
Why are there so many things that I didn't know?
Master Park, Master Park,
I've been told
that San-hae might be living in Daejeon.
What?
Are you sure?
Are you sure about this?
Yes, I heard it
from the same source that told us of San-hae's marriage.
Let's go. Lead the way.
We'll find her even if it means to search through all of Daejeon.
Master Park,
It's just a possibility.
It hasn't been confirmed.
No, there's no doubt.
I always thought she was watching us from somewhere nearby.
We must find her this time.
There's not much time left.
Are you okay?
Of course.
Are you skipping your hospital interview?
Do you have time to do this?
The interview is next week, not today.
Is it?
By the way, Mom.
Is there a reason why you won't take part in the cooking contest?
Is it because you were falsely accused?
Then what's the reason?
I can't tell you under these circumstances.
That's all I can say.
Mom,
I thought long and hard before deciding this.
I'd like to postpone searching for a job at the hospital
and learn cooking from you instead
while helping you with the restaurant.
What?
Starting with how to ferment kimchi, I'll learn everything one step at a time.
Put that nonsense to rest
and look for hospital work.
Do you think anyone can just cook?
But Mom, I'm not just anyone.
I'm a guru when it comes to healing food.
You won't get anywhere with that level of skill.
Sook-ja.
That's why I want to learn cooking from you
and enter the cooking contest that Master Park is holding.
You were her student, after all.
Master Park told me that she would like me to enter.
She said so when I visited the head house.
How many children do I have? Ten? Twenty?
Your troublemaking brother is causing me enough pain
and now you're joining him?
Mom.
Just commit yourself more to your career as a doctor.
I'm not asking this out of some impulsive curiosity.
Mom, I also...
have something I've been keeping from you.
There's a good reason for my determination to learn cooking.
What about hospital work?
I might quit.
What?
You...
Do you want to see me collapse?
Just what are you trying to do?
Mom, calm down.
Mom, are you okay?
Mom.
I...
don't want you to live like me.
I don't want that.
I don't.
Has the list of judges for the cooking contest been announced?
Yes, President.
Chairman Gab-soo Lee of INH is on the list.
-Really? -Yes.
Also, Professor Yoo-jin Kang from Yoosung University,
Ms. Jong-im Lee, a royal court cuisine expert,
and Master Gye-hyang Park will be judging.
So Chairman Gab-soo Lee is also a judge?
Yes, the deadline for applications is next week.
Ms. Choi, are you entering the contest?
If Chairman Gab-soo Lee is judging, I should enter.
Young-joo Seo will make a fuss when she finds out.
But that's not the problem at hand, right?
-Ms. Choi. -Come in.
About the duck dish my mom makes for my birthday.
-Healing steamed duck? -Yes.
That duck isn't just any duck, right?
I tried making it a few times, but it doesn't taste the same.
Thanks to that dish she developed to improve your health,
your mom became a popular chef.
Ms. Choi, do you know my mom's recipe by chance?
I need you to help me out a bit.
Because I'm preparing healing steamed duck
as my secret weapon for the cooking contest.
This is a secret,
but I'm telling you this since you're not entering the contest.
Young-joo, about that contest...
I did talk to you before
about the reason for entering the contest.
I'm not interested in becoming her apprentice.
No matter what your reasons might be,
you're determined to face me in the contest?
I have no intention of becoming your rival.
Since Chairman Gab-soo Lee is a judge,
I just want to make a good impression--
It looks like you didn't understand what I meant when I asked you not to enter
because I was being too polite.
What's wrong with you?
I just need Master Park
to acknowledge our kimchi in front of Chairman Lee,
so that we can win the contract.
You might as well be honest
about your desire to marry into the family and be her successor.
If you become her successor, you can achieve anything you want
without needing help from my father.
Just tell me that's the reason you're entering.
At least that way you don't look like a coward.
MEDICAL REFERRAL LETTER
PRIMARY PHYSICIAN GEUM-HEE HWANG
Hold on.
The assigned doctor changed long ago, but this still says Geum-hee Hwang.
She said she couldn't stop thinking of me after seeing me smile,
but she hasn't called once.
NEUROSURGEON SUNG-JOON KIM
Geum-hee Hwang.
MEDICAL RECORDS
Should I call her?
But what should I say on the phone?
RESPECT THE ANCESTORS AND LIVE HARMONIOUSLY
CLUMSY GUY
-Hello? -Dr. Hwang?
It's Sung-joon Kim.
Hello.
Why did you call?
What?
Why?
It's about your patient, Jin-ho Lee.
I don't have any records from your department.
Really?
That's weird. I reviewed the file and gave it to Dr. An.
If you did, then why is there no record?
Even if you are leaving, you need to wrap things up properly.
We are not able to treat the patient.
I thought he was discharged from the hospital.
Yes, but he is still coming for outpatient services.
You should have left a proper record.
I'll look into it and sort that out.
But why are you so angry?
Stop using Dr. An as an excuse.
You should have filed this yourself.
What are you going to do?
What should I do?
Are you coming back to the hospital or not?
I've already moved everything out. How can I go back?
I'll look into it and take care of it.
How have you been?
I've been all right.
Are you okay?
Is something wrong?
No.
I'm hanging up.
What was that? Who ends a phone call like that?
Is something going on?
He has no business making me worry like that.
REGISTRATION
Oh, my.
Take the applications for me.
Hello.
You're Dr. Geum-hee Hwang, right?
Wow, it's such an honor to have you remember my name.
It's good to see you.
Wait, are you applying for the contest?
Look who's here!
Hello.
I see you're applying for the contest, right?
Yes.
I now have the courage, thanks to your words.
I'm not skilled enough, but I'll do my best.
Well done.
You made the right choice.
Sung-joon.
Sung-joon!
Hi.
I came to listen to Gun-woo's lecture
on medicinal herbs, for the cooking contest.
Really? Good luck.
Sung-joon, do you want to have dinner together later?
I'll call you afterwards.
I have a surgery scheduled later.
Really?
It can't be helped then.
You must be tired.
I'm on my way to an urgent call.
I should get going.
Go on, then. Keep it up.
How long is he going to test my patience?
There's Siberian Ginseng,
matrimony vine, arrowroot, and peony.
You know your stuff. There's nothing left for me to teach you.
With a little more studying, I'll pass the Eastern medical school exam.
EASTERN INTERNAL MEDICINE GUN-WOO OH
I can't believe
that I'm doing this for love of Sung-joon Kim.
You are doing them for yourself. You can't blame him for that.
Gun-woo, about what I said last time,
I was serious.
If you marry Geum-hee Hwang,
I'll buy you an apartment as a wedding gift.
You asked how I could lack so much confidence,
but you seem to be the one lacking it now.
She worries you to the point of offering me an apartment?
It's not that I'm worried.
It's just a matter of pride.
CHIEF GUN-WOO OH
I can't believe Sung-joon is attracted to a woman like that.
Anyway,
I'm not just going to sit around and wait any longer.
Then what?
I'm going to make him come to me on his own.
Young-joo.
That's what you want, too.
You want Geum-hee Hwang to come to you.
So, work with me here.
They're kimchi rolls.
These aren't half bad. It's a good idea.
And they taste great as well.
I'm unveiling this at the contest.
You're the only one I'm revealing it to, so don't tell anyone.
Are you confident about the cooking contest?
Of course.
You know how important it is to the two of us, right?
Don't worry, I'll succeed.
Once the contest is over, both Mr. and Ms. Seo will be done for.
What about the company?
I have a plan for everything.
Hyun-myung,
will you keep
letting Young-joo linger around Sung-joon?
I grow more fearful of Young-joo the more I see her.
I'm really against their marriage.
Jin-mi,
I keep thinking about what Mom said last time.
What do you mean?
Were you really not involved?
-What? -I'm talking about my father.
Hyun-myung,
even if you come out like this, I--
Mom's not the type
to cause a fuss over nothing. You know that best.
So,
you're suggesting that I was somehow involved?
No, what I mean is...
I'm still short of $13,000.
Where can I find that kind of money? This is driving me crazy.
Oh, good to see you.
I don't have a lot of free time on my hands.
You can't just call me out of the blue.
I have a good reason
for needing to see you so suddenly.
Did you figure out the secret to the kimchi recipe?
How did you know?
That's exactly it.
If I just open my mouth this wide,
the whole world will know about the secret recipe
passed down through three generations.
How can I tell you that for free?
I'll hear what you have to say and pay you more if it's worthwhile.
First, let's hear it.
Yes, of course.
You'll be shocked once you hear it.
The secret to our family's kimchi recipe
is in the water.
Water?
What kind of water do they use?
It looks like I'll need to explain
the mystical mineral water that flows through our kimchi storage.
No one knows the components of this water.
That's why my father
never tested it on purpose.
We ferment all of our kimchi with this water
and wash all the vegetables with it.
We even wash the jars with it.
Is that all?
Of course not! There's more.
-But I-- -That can't be the full story.
I need to know more.
I'd also like to see the kimchi storage myself.
Understood. I'll make arrangements
for you to see it this week.
Bring me a sample of each type of kimchi in the storage as well.
Okay.
But our storage
is still not open to the public,
so it will be very difficult to get you inside.
Exactly how much more money do you want?
Take a look around the storage
and then we'll figure out how much more you owe me.
How spectacular could a kimchi storage be?
Geum-hee,
why did you enter the contest?
Personally,
I'm highly curious about the contents of Yoogyeong Cuisine Book.
I appreciate your honesty.
If you want to study its recipes,
you must be placed first.
I'm worried
that I lack the basic skills to do so.
Follow me.
Excuse me?
Oh, okay.
Wow!
It feels so much like my house.
Really?
Then why don't you pick out the ingredients
that will be used for dinner tonight?
What will you cook?
That's up to whoever chooses the ingredients.
You might be tempted to decide based on the ingredients themselves,
but you must imagine what you'll be cooking,
who it's for, and how you'll be cooking it,
and choose the ingredients as if you're digging buried treasure.
The best way to study cooking
is trial and error.
If you make the same dish over and over,
you'll naturally find the best way to prepare it.
Does that happen to everyone?
Of course.
All right, then...
shall we start preparing dinner together?
Will I really be cooking with you, Master?
Of course.
Dr. Kim, we might need to postpone this evening's surgery.
-Why? -The patient has eaten without telling us.
That patient's condition is already poor.
Put him under your exclusive care.
He needs to undergo surgery in two days.
Understood.
I see you still haven't operated yet.
No.
It's been postponed due to a problem with the patient.
Gun-woo,
let's grab a drink tonight. I want to discuss something with you.
I'm sorry. I have dinner plans with the Eastern medicine staff.
Really?
Then let's meet after you see them.
I can't. I need to go somewhere else.
Gun-woo.
I saw Young-joo here earlier.
Is it really over between you two?
At least for me, it's over.
Sung-joon,
have you fallen for someone else?
I think so.
What should we make first?
Bellflower root salad.
How about bellflower root kimchi?
What's wrong?
Don't you like bellflower root salad?
Master!
Master, are you all right?
Master, wake up.
-Master! -Master!
-Oh my goodness! -Master!
-Please wake up. -Master.
-Oh no! -Wake up, Master.
You must have been terrified.
I'm sorry.
I've been experiencing severe dizziness lately.
Grandma, what's wrong?
What happened? Are you here to treat her?
Not exactly,
but I think I bothered her too much so that she strained herself.
She briefly lost consciousness.
Grandma, I told you to get treated in the hospital...
Her pulse is back to normal.
I told you that I'm okay.
I invited a participant in the upcoming cooking contest
to eat dinner with me,
but all she has been doing is nursing me
instead of eating with me.
Are you entering the contest?
Yes.
Do you even know how to cook?
Don't say such things.
I'm much better than you, Sung-joon.
What does that prove?
Sung-joon,
Take Dr. Hwang to a nice restaurant.
Don't worry, Master. I'll get going.
Wait a minute.
Mother, I'm here.
Oh, no!
Go on.
Wait up.
Hey, Dr. Hwang.
Did you upset my father? Why did you run away?
I'm ashamed of speaking to him.
Come on.
As my Grandma requested, I'll take you somewhere nice for dinner.
Let's go.
I'll also be happy to get some fresh air.
Let's go.
I don't need to eat.
I won't allow it.
Give me the car key.
Sung-joon,
I must be seeing things.
As you can tell, I'm going to dinner with Dr. Hwang.
Didn't you tell me you had surgery this evening?
The surgery was postponed.
Is it okay for you two to be seen holding hands in public?
It's perfectly fine.
-Sung-joon! -Listen up.
I can't go back to you.
I've fallen for someone else.
Go home.
Get inside.
Sung-joon.
Sung-joon!
Sung-joon Kim...
Why aren't you eating?
I didn't know there was food you don't like.
There's none.
Why aren't you eating either?
I'd look cruel if I enjoyed this meal too much
after what just happened.
How could you just leave her after saying that?
Shouldn't you call her or something?
If I'm not taking her back,
she needs to stop expecting anything from me.
I thought
the two of you would end up
getting married.
You still had feelings for me despite thinking that?
When did I say...
You're face can't seem to deny it.
Why don't you ask?
I said I've fallen for someone.
Don't you want to know who it is?
I don't.
Are you serious?
I'm not curious
because I already know.
About Gun-woo,
what do you think about him?
We're like siblings,
who spent twenties together.
Did you ever
had feelings for him?
No.
You know Gun-woo
sees you as more than a friend, right?
I know.
But you're still just friends?
Yes.
That's all I need to know.
Can food
really cure diseases?
Of course.
Have you ever cured pancreatic cancer with healing food?
I've cured around 50 cases of cancer,
3 of which were pancreatic cancer.
Why do you ask?
Teach me
how to make healing food.
I must help my grandmother no matter what.
Does she have cancer?
Is that why earlier...
How can that be?
Only Mr. Kwon and I know.
Grandma
asked that we keep it a secret.
You must be so worried.
Don't look at me with such pity.
It was hard to deal with it alone,
but I feel much better now that I can talk to someone about it.
Cheer up.
Let me drive you home.
It will be hard to catch a taxi at this hour.
I'm okay.
I told you I'll give you a ride. Why did you come all the way here?
I can't help but worry.
Still, this was our first date,
so I should take you back home.
It wasn't a date.
Then what was it?
Just act like you normally do.
You're acting so unfamiliar now.
So this is Geum-hee Hwang's house?
I'll finish surgery early, so I can come and learn healing food from you after.
Get going. I'll head inside after you leave.
You go inside first.
Do what I say. That's how it's supposed to be.
Hey, it's Gun-woo.
I'll do as you say. What do I need to do now?
Medical records?
To whom?
All right.
SUNG-JOON
We don't even have to ask Sung-joon about it.
Just release the article announcing our engagement next week.
Did Sung-joon, that punk,
say that he'll never take you back?
Sung-joon Kim, that little...
Who the hell is he to judge my daughter?
-That punk. I'm going to-- -Sung-joon
could never go astray
and smear his family's name like that.
If it gets out in the press, he'll have no choice but to be with me.
Young-joo.
Traditionally, a woman
should live with a man who likes her.
Do you think you can live happily
with someone you have to force in marrying you?
Once the article is released,
he'll accept me and treat me well.
For the time being, release the article before the cooking contest begins.
Gun-woo.
Gun-woo!
Gun-woo.
Why did you get so drunk when you can't handle it?
Sung-joon Kim,
am I really like your brother?
Gun-woo Oh.
I asked if you really think of me as your brother.
What's wrong with you?
Do you really not know?
How could you do this to me?
I didn't want to hurt you.
I'm sorry.
I can't do anything about my feelings.
You already have everything.
For as long as I lived,
the only thing I wanted for myself
was Geum-hee.
Geum-hee was the only thing.
That was really all.
Sung-joon,
please give her back to me.
-Gun-woo... -Don't make me hate you.
I can't bear
to hate you.
I can't do that either.
But,
I can't change how I feel
about Geum-hee Hwang.
Why are you doing this to me, Sung-joon?
Why are you doing this?
Sung-joon.
Sung-joon,
I can't go on without her.
Sung-joon.
Get up.
Do I
really look like I have it all?
Gun-woo!
I'm...
so sorry.
SEAWEED SALAD
CANCER-FIGHTING FIVE-ELEMENT PORRIDGE
LOTUS TEA
CONTEST PASS
Mom.
So, you will waste away the studies that you've done for half of your life?
Mom, please let me do this.
You could live a different life. Why are you doing this?
I don't want your life to be like mine.
It scares me.
What are you talking about? I can't understand you.
Mom,
are you still hiding something from me?
Don't make any healing food.
Don't even step foot in the kitchen.
CANCER-FIGHTING FIVE-ELEMENT PORRIDGE A MEAL FOR A PANCREATIC CANCER PATIENT
A meal for
a pancreatic cancer patient?
Who is this for?
Who...
is so important that you pray for them every morning
and show such goodwill?
That's for...
a patient of Dr. Sung-joon Kim.
So why are you involved with Dr. Kim's patient?
Tell the truth!
Who is it?
-Is it a relative? -Oh...
Yes.
Who?
Is it Chairman Hyun-myung Kim?
No.
Then,
is it...
Master Gye-hyang Park?
Mom.
How bad is her condition?
He said it was a secret, so you need to act like you don't know.
I asked how bad it is!
She's in the early stages of pancreatic cancer.
Honey,
it seems that Mom is very sick.
What should I do?
What should I do, Honey?
Honey.
It's Geum-ho Hwang.
Leave your place when you receive my call.
So I can finally see the kimchi storage?
Yes, I'll get you some more. Just wait one moment.
-One more, please. -Okay, sir.
Can I have some dongchimi broth?
Alex, bring some dongchimi broth to table number two.
Enjoy your meal.
-Welcome. -Are there any empty tables?
-Yes, over there. -Ah, over there.
Thank you.
-More radish kimchi! -Radish kimchi?
-Fetch me some radish kimchi. -Enjoy your meal.
Welcome.
Why is the seolleongtang taking so long?
-Seolleongtang? -If your stomach hurts,
we can make a special type of seolleongtang for you.
-It'll be ready in a moment. -One white kimchi please.
-Radish kimchi? -Enjoy your meal.
Radish kimchi?
Why is the seolleongtang taking so long?
Seolleongtang?
-We're making it now. -I'm coming over
for class tonight.
I'll get it for you now. Wait a moment.
Get us some quickly.
Can we have some dongchimi broth?
Alex, bring some dongchimi broth to table two.
Okay.
-By the way... -Enjoy the food.
Never mind. See you later.
Give them some more radish kimchi.
I should have played dumb to the end.
Seolleongtang? Yes, we're making some now.
EMPRESS KIMCHI
PRESIDENT JIN-MI CHOI
Yes, this is Jin-mi Choi.
All right, I'll leave now.
He's here.
-Geum-hee! -He's here.
Geum-hee!
Hello...
Hello.
Come in.
We've all met before, right?
Yes.
What brings you...
I'm sorry for showing up so suddenly.
I'm here to learn something from Dr. Geum-hee Hwang.
Right, welcome.
What are you doing? Are you going to make him stand there?
Have you eaten dinner?
No.
I skipped my meal so I could try your cooking, Mrs. Kang.
Come in.
We'll start class right after dinner.
-Here you go. -Oh, yes.
Bo-ram, enjoy these.
Thank you.
He sure is strange.
He seems to have brought a good fortune as soon as he stepped through the door.
What did you say?
Oh, nothing.
I didn't say anything.
Man-jae, you shouldn't be like that.
THIRD GENERATION SEOLLEONGTANG
I'm going crazy here. What's taking her so long?
Ma'am.
Just follow me.
THIRD GENERATION SEOLLEONGTANG
This sure is stubborn.
The pancreatic cancer patient
should be eating calorie-dense foods to help their digestion regularly.
Root vegetables are full of nutrients that help digestion, so they're perfect.
I see.
Why don't you start by trying to cut these root vegetables?
-Watch me first. -Okay.
After you grab it like so,
do this.
You sure are quick.
Try it.
All right.
No.
That's not how you do it.
Put your hand down straight like this.
Fold your thumb inside.
After that, go slowly.
This is fun.
Oh, my gosh. Are you okay?
Wait a second.
I'm okay. It doesn't seem deep.
Wait a second.
Hold on.
I can see why Geum-ho Hwang fell in love
with this place at his first sight and asked for money.
Oh, my!
It really is something.
From the temperature to the humidity, it's all perfect.
There might not be any better conditions to make kimchi in.
I know.
I know how great our family's kimchi storage is.
I'll bring you back again another time,
so please hurry up and finish looking around.
I can't believe it.
This taste like Mom's recipe,
but it's deeper and refreshing.
KIMCHI WITH RED PEPPER SEED
Grinding sun-dried chili peppers,
using halves instead of whole seeds
is their family's secret technique.
Over here!
Thief! It's a thief!
Alex! It's me, I'm not a thief.
I brought this guest with me.
Geum-ho, you...
Geum-ho, escort her out.
Okay, Mom.
I think there's a misunderstanding.
Hello, I'm Jin-mi Choi, the president of Chansol Foods.
I'm so sorry.
But how does your kimchi taste so much like my teacher's?
Please, wait...
San-hae...
You're San-hae, right?
Don't come here if you want to keep talking about this.
Sung-joon, if you keep doing this,
many people will suffer.
It's not my fault.
It's all your fault, San-hae.
Mom,
are you really going to teach me how to cook?
You can compete in the contest, too.
Since you have a very good palate,
you must remember its texture,
foretaste and aftertaste.
You are under suspicion of tax evasion and other illegal acts.
This incident...
has nothing to do with you, right?
Do you know what the newspapers reported this morning?
Dr. Sung-joon Kim Engaged To Director Young-joo Seo
Next time, you'll be reading about our wedding.
Subtitle translation by Christopher Shea