(All characters, organizations, places, cases, and incidents...)
(in this drama are fictitious.)
- Send it and ask them to hurry up. - Okay.
Ms. Gong.
- I need to tell you something. - What is it?
The lung X-rays of the humidifier disinfectant victims...
coincide with the symptoms of the foreign worker I treated.
What happened to the foreign worker?
He died.
From acute respiratory distress due to pulmonary fibrosis.
The substance must have been used in many products.
If it's TL Chemical,
Moh Sung Kuk must have known about it.
This isn't the end of it.
(Research on the Risk of TL Chemical's New Substance)
(Researcher: Kim Yang Hee)
(Doctor Detective)
Due to the ban and recall on the products...
by the Ministry of Health,
the household poison has finally disappeared after three years.
Up until now, there have been 100 deaths nationwide...
which were diagnosed to be due to...
the humidifier disinfectant.
People are outraged at TL Chemical and TL Group...
So, the substance that was used in the humidifier disinfectant...
was also used in other products?
Yes, that is correct.
Shouldn't we be collecting all those products as well?
I'm sure there's too many.
If we can't find the causative agent,
they'll be fighting over it in a discussion for months.
Ms. Byun, did you print out the materials?
Yes, I did.
Here.
I already checked the MSDS.
Nothing is stated to be toxic...
when inhaled.
So what are you trying to say?
TL Chemical must have fabricated the test results...
in order to increase the sales of Humi-Mate.
Either that or they omitted it.
Moh Sung Kuk.
He's the key suspect.
But Moh Sung Kuk works under Oshem.
Would he have been involved?
I'm sure of it.
Three years ago, TL Chemical's sales shot up.
There were countless new products, including Humi-Mate.
Then we should get Moh Sung Kuk...
and beat him up to make him confess.
Do you really think he'd confess it?
- What are your plans? - We have to find what's missing...
regarding the relationship between Humi-Mate and Moh Sung Kuk.
We need to review the development process...
of TL Chemical's new substance in 2016.
You mean we need a search and seizure on TL Chemical?
Do you think that's possible?
Even if we keep picking on this case,
we won't be able to do that easily.
It might be faster to run a proper toxicity test on this...
and gather the data.
There is a way.
He wants us to credit him for solving the case...
in return for access...
to TL Medical Center?
I guess he wants the public's support...
to secure himself as the successor for TL.
Why didn't you tell me?
I'm sorry.
I only had my mind on solving the case.
Il Sun, let's accept it.
We need to solve the case, anyway.
It's your turn to keep the promise.
What do we need to do?
The humidifier disinfectant case.
Mention it on air yourself.
And Ms. Gong needs to be there, too.
Ms. Gong?
The UDC has to bring it up first.
That you wouldn't have been able to solve it...
if it weren't for Mr. Choi Tae Young.
Are you sure about that?
Your father, Moh Sung Kuk, and even your sister...
won't just remain silent.
That's why I need the public's support.
If I don't bring in power from elsewhere,
I don't have a weapon to fight with.
Tae Young...
I'll let you know when we set the date for the broadcast.
All right. Goodbye.
Tae Young.
Let's make another deal.
After solving the case of the humidifier disinfectant,
she has become the national heroine.
We have invited Ms. Gong from the UDC.
(Gong Il Sun, Chief of the Undiagnosed Disease Center)
- She should have... - Please introduce yourself.
- tied her hair back. - The humidifier disinfectant...
I know. And wear something bright, too.
- That would've been better. - She looks amazing.
Maybe it's because she went to the hair salon this morning,
but she looks great on TV.
The household item murdered people right in the living room.
Did she go to a salon in her neighborhood?
I heard you had a hard time.
It wasn't easy for us to get access to the patients.
We are suspecting that TL launched the products...
even when they were aware of the danger.
Is that accurate information?
Someone from TL has reported it to us.
"Someone from TL"? Who was it?
It is Vice Chairman Choi Tae Young of TL Group.
- Wait a minute. - She's...
- good at acting. - We have a newsflash.
Vice Chairman Choi Tae Young is about to hold a press conference...
at the office lobby of TL Group.
Let's see what's going on at the site.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am the vice chairman of TL Group, Choi Tae Young.
First of all, I am feeling the deepest sense of responsibility...
regarding the humidifier disinfectant case,
as a representative of TL.
We immediately started arranging a compensation policy...
for the victims of the humidifier disinfectant case,
and we have also found out that there was a scandal...
in the process of developing the product.
(Vice Chairman Choi Announces to Take Responsibility for the Case)
Therefore,
we will be officially requesting...
a search and seizure on TL Chemical to the UDC.
I guess he's gone too far.
Mr. Moh.
Is this true?
I...
I just did the job that was given to me.
That means you knew.
It's true the product was launched without being certain of its safety.
As you know, we were in a hurry.
It will be solved without any problems.
All you need to do is handle the prosecution's side, sir.
Please trust me, sir.
Just like three years ago,
when you trusted me to change our holding company.
(Certified by the Ministry of Health)
Dad, I'll take care of this myself.
I know a simple way.
The person who was involved in that incident...
can take full responsibility.
Who do you mean?
Who do you think?
Moh Sung Kuk.
You need to approach this carefully.
Our tool may turn into a knife and stab you in the back.
My goodness.
Who let you in here?
They said you gave them orders.
To let me in the office if I ever came.
Oh, right.
I see.
What's this about?
Will you be able to handle...
the search and seizure on TL Chemical?
I'll make it work.
Okay.
I put everything on the line for this press conference.
You must find the substance Moh Sung Kuk hid at all costs.
Don't worry.
We're absolutely certain that he fabricated the results...
of the safety test.
It's not that I don't trust you.
If we don't come up with results soon after the search and seizure,
this will backfire at us for sure.
I'll take care of my father and Min.
Get rid of everything.
Move faster!
Mr. Moh.
Will this really take care of it?
Don't worry, Mr. Yim.
All the relevant data has been discarded already.
We need to buy time for now.
No, don't even think. Just do as I tell you.
What?
Yes, okay.
The warrant has been issued.
What?
Let's move!
Find every single piece of data on the humidifier disinfectant...
at TL Chemical. Don't leave anything behind.
- Yes, ma'am. - Yes, ma'am.
I am in front of the headquarters of TL Chemical.
The doors of TL, which seemed impregnable for years,
has finally been opened due to UDC's search and seizure today.
This is the first time TL has been investigated by...
an outside organization since its establishment.
This search and seizure will be carried out...
with an internal investigation led by Vice Chairman Choi Tae Young.
They will focus on investigating...
the cover up of the humidifier disinfectant incident.
We're from UDC.
Please cooperate with us.
Let's begin.
- Mr. Ha, catch him! - Stop!
As long as you cooperate, this will be over soon.
Please don't move.
Hurry up! Get rid of everything.
Wait, it's locked.
I'll do it.
Move over.
What are you doing?
Hurry up!
- This way. - Come on, follow me.
It's open.
Wait! Stop right there.
We're from UDC. Please cooperate with us.
This is all the data from 2016.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Let's go.
But...
When you watch detective dramas...
Music cue.
In spots like this,
there always seems to be...
a safe hidden.
Or...
A secret door...
is always hidden.
Il Sun, jump.
There's something down here.
Open it.
(Patents on Toxic and Prohibited Substances)
I can't believe you guys.
Aren't you all educated people?
My gosh.
What is all this?
Tae Young, what is this?
I heard you're the one who allowed...
the search and seizure on TL Chemical.
Well, say something already!
Is it because Min became the hospital director?
Kook Shin.
I know you're hiding something.
Tell me.
Hide what? I'm not hiding anything.
Are you telling the truth?
Of course, I am!
Tae Young.
You're making a mistake.
This search and seizure incident...
You'll have to take responsibility for it.
Gosh, look at all these comments.
"TL will really go through with a search and seizure?"
"UDC is amazing."
"I never imagined TL losing a battle."
"Since this is actually happening, make TL pay for good."
"Vice Chairman Choi Tae Young is so cool..."
- Pretend you didn't hear that. - Come on.
Don't read out stuff like that.
- Let's continue searching. - All right.
I know it's tiring, but until we find proof,
- let's keep going. Let's go! - Okay.
- Okay. - Okay.
- Mr. Ha, give that to me. - Let's move.
Here, take this.
(Choi Tae Young is a nuisance to TL, and he should resign!)
(Choi Tae Young is responsible for TL's crash in the stock market!)
(We support Choi Tae Young for revealing the truth of TL Chemical!)
(Choi Tae Young should resign!)
Where is everyone?
They all said they had plans.
You may leave.
- Sorry? - You can go too.
("Will an Era of Reform Begin? Choi Tae Young's Confession")
The search and seizure on TL Chemical.
Are you going to sit back and just watch?
Yes. Doing nothing will put us in a favorable position.
What do you mean?
They'll find nothing at TL Chemical.
While the UDC wastes their time,
we need to take over the media.
After the search and seizure ends,
and when they don't produce any results,
this issue will be forgotten soon.
Naturally, Vice Chairman Choi...
and the UDC will lose their power.
- And after that? - After that,
you can do what we've always done.
Meet the prosecution, media,
and government officials.
Eat, talk, and shake hands with them.
And before you know it,
people will forget about the humidifier disinfectant.
After that, everything will go back to the way it was.
The only thing to remain will be memories.
All of this...
will become the foundation of TL.
Dad, what is wrong with him?
It's because he is very sick.
He's very sick?
He might still be sick even after he becomes an adult.
Why?
Because me, your grandpa, and our company...
have done something very wrong.
Hang in there. Don't touch it.
You need to stay strong.
It's okay. Don't worry.
Don't worry.
Yes, it's me.
The executives have announced a statement?
No, I have no intentions of accepting it.
A different result will come out soon.
Yes.
Do Yoon.
If you continue to focus on your treatment,
you'll be able to run around and have fun like them.
So cheer up, okay?
Okay.
I want to do it.
Good night.
Ms. Gong, drink this.
Thank you.
I'll do it.
- Thanks. - Ms. Doh, go get some sleep.
You haven't slept for three days.
Hey, did we find anything from the data we got out of the floor?
No.
Ms. Suk. Wake up Ms. Byun and Mr. Ha.
Let's have a meeting.
In 2016,
TL Chemical applied for patents on 35 substances.
Among those substances, eight of them are included...
in Humi-Mate.
But among those eight,
you have found anything that is toxic when inhaled?
We searched nonstop for three straight days...
but found nothing at all.
What should we do?
We requested for another toxic experiment test,
so maybe we should wait.
- It's a battle against time. - No.
A battle against time is exactly what TL wants.
It'll take a long time for the results to come out.
And even if they do, TL will come up with another result...
and try to buy more time.
They'll keep dragging this fight for years...
and make people grow dull to this issue.
That is TL's strategy.
Hold on.
CAT...
Let's enlarge these letters.
These are the places that handled the toxic substances.
The labs are located in the same place.
Let's change our strategy. Instead of searching through papers,
let's go and search through people.
- Mr. Ha, Ms. Suk, move together. - Okay.
Joong Eun, you can go in Min Ki's car.
What is it?
Seoin University.
- What about it? - It sounds familiar.
The chemistry department in that university is famous.
For joining up with TL Chemical to carry out substance testing.
Why?
It's nothing.
He went to the US?
Yes, he moved to the US last year.
Then do you know his contact number or address?
No. I haven't kept in touch with him since then.
What is this about?
(Search: Park Chang Joong)
(The Effect of Chloromethyl on Preventing Microbial Activity)
The research records from three years ago?
We did a lot of research,
but there probably aren't any records left.
All our work with TL Chemical was confidential,
so the data was all discarded after the research.
Then do you remember the name of the new substance...
that was developed or the name of the project?
If not that,
any people that were involved in the research back then?
I'm not sure.
I wasn't on Professor Park's research team.
There was one person.
Then you can tell me that person's contact number.
Well... Even if I tell you, you won't be able to reach her.
She died three years ago.
What?
Ms. Doh, where are you?
I think I found something for sure.
The incident from three years ago connect at a certain point.
From Moh Sung Kuk, TL Chemical, the labor union,
and even to you.
There's one person that you're all connected to.
I know. I just checked.
It's Researcher Kim Yang Hee.
Ms. Gong, Researcher Kim Yang Hee attended Seoin University.
She worked under Professor Park who was close with TL Chemical.
So you're saying Kim Yang Hee was researching...
the ingredients for the humidifier disinfectant?
Yes, that's right.
All right. I got it. I'll tell everyone to come back,
so let's talk later.
CAT, PRMG, PHIT.
It must be one of those three.
Did you find anything from the dissertation?
I doubt he wrote anything that would be unfavorable...
to TL Chemical.
What's up with your face?
Kim Yang Hee came to see me one day.
She said this to me that day.
That she needed to work.
That she had something important to do.
I have something to do.
It's very important.
If I had...
listened to her more that day,
this wouldn't have happened.
You're right.
If you helped Kim Yang Hee back then,
the humidifier disinfectant incident may not have occurred.
But can you guarantee...
something like that wouldn't have happened again?
I doubt that.
There are still people like Moh Sung Kuk...
and companies like TL.
No matter what you did back then,
Moh Sung Kuk and TL would not have collapsed.
Eventually, the same thing would have repeated itself.
We don't have superpowers and can't solve everything.
We just need to focus on what's in front of us now.
Let's try our best until the end.
- Aren't you getting off? - I have to check something.
Please explain to Il Sun for me.
All right. I'll see you later.
I'll be back.
(2016, TL Researcher Kim Yang Hee Case)
You're back. Where's Min Ki?
He needed to check something and is on the move.
Ms. Gong, this is the material on Kim Yang Hee's case.
When I met her,
she was diagnosed with acute pneumoenteritis,
but there's a chance TL Medical fabricated this data.
Is there a way we can check?
Ms. Byun.
You have the report on the victims...
of the humidifier disinfectant, right?
Yes.
Here.
(Report on Lung Diseases of Humidifier Disinfectant Victims)
Excuse me...
Do you think I can pay you later if I leave my ID with you?
Nice.
- Ms. Lee. - Yes?
- Come here for a minute. - Yes, sir.
Normally, in these cases,
the password...
would be somewhere near.
(Password, mido302)
Okay.
(Patient Medical Records)
(Search: Kim Yang Hee)
(Not Found)
(Search: Moh Sung Kuk)
(Not Found)
(Search: Kim Yong Deok)
The symptoms are the same.
She died of a lung condition, not suicide due to depression.
She must have been exposed during the animal experiment.
- What about her doctor? - He left the country.
Moh Sung Kuk must have gotten to him.
Of course.
Great. We've narrowed it down to three substances.
CAT, PRMZ, and PHIT.
Ms. Suk,
ask them to run the toxicity test...
and request for it to be done as quickly as possible.
Yes, ma'am.
One of those three...