Dae Wang Sejong (2008): Season 1, Episode 75 - Episode #1.75 - full transcript
Father!
Chundoong that bastard!
Haven't you found him?
It's murder!
My young master has killed my master!
Son has killed his father!
What happened?
An unpardonable atrocity!
Tell him to leave!
But...
How dare a servant accuse
his own master of a crime?
It's against the law.
Goodness gracious!
I'm telling you.
My young master killed his own father!
Get out of here!
But he's trying to kill me,
too, because I saw him.
How dare you!
First you kill your master then
accuse someone else of the crime?
Kill my master?
Me?
I have proof that you're the murderer.
Don't try to deny it.
What is that?
You put your handprint right here
and you don't know what this is?
What are you waiting for?
Arrest this man!
- Stop right there!
- Get him!
What happened to you, fellow?
Can you read?
Aren't you hurt?
You're wearing that robe, so
you must know how to read.
Yes, I do.
Then you're going to have to help me.
If you refuse, I'll kill you!
You bastard!
Don't come any closer!
He'll be in greater danger
if you provoke the man.
But...
I can't help you.
You want to die?
Have you ever killed a man?
You don't think I can?
Then do it.
What?
Kill me!
Father!
What are you doing, fellow?
Sleeping?
Get a proper weapon next time
if you want to threaten a man's life.
Now let's hear your story.
You said you needed help
from someone who can read.
They're saying I killed a man.
Killed a man?
I'm not the one but
they're saying that I am.
There he is!
Get him!
You miserable bastard!
You're under arrest!
What did this man do?
He killed his own master in cold blood.
He told me a different story.
No! This is wrong!
I didn't kill anyone!
I'm not the murderer.
My young master is!
You little...
Stay out of this!
This man is claming he's innocent.
He butchered his own master to shreds.
We have a witness and clear evidence!
Take him away!
I didn't do it! I swear!
Help me! Please help me!
We should get back to the palace.
No, I'm going to the local agency.
Director Yun, there's someone
else want you to do.
The scene of the crime?
Magistrate!
Magistrate!
Why are you harassing us?
This is called an appeal,
not harassment.
Magistrate!
What's wrong with you?
Are you related to that slave or something?
All people of this land Joseon are my...
"This land Joseon"?
That's a pretty fancy talk.
So what about this land Joseon?
I'm just saying that we're all
Joseonese, so we're all brothers.
That's all.
So you're going to swear brotherhood
with that servant boy or something?
I have nothing to say to you,
so just call the magistrate for me.
Magistrate!
Magistrate!
Who is this man anyway?
He does appear to be a nobleman,
so I can't easily deal with him.
One little slave boy is turning
this agency upside down!
Are you sure it isn't you?
I told you to wait outside!
I think you're the one who
is disturbing public order,
not that slave boy named Chundoong.
Who the heck are you?
On what authority are you meddling
in government business?
I'm...
What's your occupation?
I'm a holder of the Classics
Licentiate Degree Yi Doe.
A Classics Licentiate?
You look about my age and you still
haven't passed the Grand Exam?
If you want to meddle in government
business, go back and hit the books.
Slave Chundoong came to you
and reported a murder.
But you ignored it.
I guess you don't know
the law well enough,
but slaves are not allowed to make
accusations against their masters!
The law I know makes exceptions for
murder and high treason.
Am I wrong?
You think you know more than I do?
Please confirm the law.
If I'm right, I don't think your punishment
will be light for ignoring a crime report
since you've neglected
your duty as a local magistrate.
No, master!
This is a mistake!
There is no mistake!
Who is that woman?
It's Chundoong's wife, of course.
The slave that killed his master?
I thought Chundoong couldn't hurt a fly.
Who knew he'd be capable of this?
Stay away from my property!
My lord!
He's rather vivacious for
a man who just lost his father.
Do you think he did it?
Slave Chundoong didn't look like the
kind of man who is capable of murder.
But a son killing his own father?
It's unfathomable.
The problem is the evidence.
Take a good look.
This is irrefutable proof.
"... One-hundred yangs
for Lord Park's life..."
Chundoong committed a contract killing.
This handprint, are you sure this is his?
Bring him!
I'm letting you confirm this because I'm
such a generous shepherd of my people.
No, I didn't do it!
Then explain this handprint!
Young master came to me a few days
ago and told me to stamp it, so I did.
How can you put your
handprint on something
without checking to see what it is?
Check it?
How can I when I can't read?
There's a witness, too, so stop denying!
There he is.
I'm the witness.
I saw him killing my father
with my own two eyes.
And this is what he did to
my arm when he saw me.
You're a monster!
There is your evidence and your witness.
Do you have more to say?
You should go.
What are you saying?
You don't need to trouble
yourself for me anymore.
Are you acknowledging your guilt?
They got you with evidence and
witness so now you're admitting it?
What's the use of fighting
when I can't win?
I'm a powerless slave.
There's no way I can clear myself when
it's a nobleman's word against mine.
I'll see what I can do.
It's too late for me.
But if you could, would you look
in on my pregnant wife for me?
I was going to try to be a proud father.
It's bad enough being born a slave,
but now my child will have to go
through life as a murder's child.
Oh, my poor child...
Slave Chundoong doesn't
appear to be capable of murder.
I find Park Gyeum very suspicious.
Above all, Chundoong is contending
that Park is the murderer.
Then you should reveal your identity and
order an arrest and
interrogation of Park Gyeum.
I can't to that.
Father.
The King is not to command
the people directly in person.
Proper thing to do is to have
his men relay the command.
But this magistrate doesn't
even know the law correctly.
Even if he does reveal his identity,
he cannot order Park Gyeum's arrest.
Why not?
Because he can't violate his own law.
The Arrest Clause.
"No one shall be arrested or interrogated
without tangible evidence of guilt,
and conviction shall not be
rendered on confession alone."
His Majesty is the one
who instituted this law.
Is that more important than
an innocent man's life?
King who violates his own law
does not deserve to be King.
I will find a better way.
Your Highness...
Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Leave me alone!
Have you been drinking?
Yes.
Why?
There're too many reasons.
Hyang...
How was your outing?
You're drunk.
Go back to the East Palace.
Wouldn't you like a drink?
You don't look too happy either, Father.
What happened?
It's... nothing, Your Majesty.
You should be more
watchful of your behavior.
If yu must drink,
drink at the East Palace.
And do not drink in access.
A lesbian lover?
That's absurd!
Perhaps we should tell the King.
Are you out of your mind?
Do you want to get the
Crown Prince deposed?
Deposed?
Things aren't so good between His Majesty
and the Crown Prince as it is right now.
What do you think will happen if he
finds out about the Crown Princess?
Your Highness!
Is what I just heard true?
I thought you had left.
I came back to discuss
about something with you.
Oh?
Your Majesty, may I come in?
Enter.
It's from the Queen.
What did you want to talk about?
"Commentary of Forensic Medicine"?
Why don't we perform an autopsy
on the victim?
An autopsy?
Yes.
If we can't decide who the real
culprit is between Chundoong
and Park Gyeum, perhaps we
can let the dead man tell us.
Let the dead man tell us?
It's not a bad idea.
Your Majesty, perhaps we have
the case transferred to the Capital
Magistracy and order an autopsy.
No, I'm going to have the local
agency see this case through.
They might refuse to perform the autopsy
on the grounds that their case is solid.
I'll have to find a way to make
them perform the autopsy.
Will you be taking
another trip into the city?
I want to give Gyoha Magistrate a chance
to become a compassionate civil leader
who pays as much heed to an appeal of a
common citizen as an order of the King.
Are you going back to your villa?
I'm going to the Hall of Worthies.
I'd like to do some more reading.
Are you interested in attending
the autopsy yourself?
I found out the capital police is the
only agency that has a pathologist.
On the local level, autopsy is
performed by a credible physician.
I figure I can be a useful observer if
I have some knowledge about pathology.
His Majesty wants to trust the magistrate,
but I guess I'm not as trusting as he is.
Are you still drinking?
Sit down and join me.
What is this about the Crown Princess?
How did you find out?
I guess that's the nature of the palace.
Rumors will spread like
cotton soaks up water.
That's the palace...
Get out.
Your Grace, please calm down.
I said get out!
Your Grace, what has happened?
How dare you barge in here unannounced!
This is unbecoming of the future Queen.
Future Queen?
How is the Crown Princess doing?
Forgive me, but she may not have what
it takes to be the mother of the state.
Drastic measures may be
necessary, Your Highness.
We cannot depose another Crown Princess.
I know.
And I'm sure that is why the Crown Prince
chose to cover this up.
But the rumors are spreading.
Even Prince Jinyang has
found out about it.
Then...
Sosang and Danji, the two girls
must be removed from the palace.
But if this is done hastily,
situation will get even worse.
What are you trying to say?
We must find a way to shut
them up permanently.
Shut us up?
What if they kill us?
No way!
We have the Crown Princess in our hands.
What do you mean by that?
It means I'm not going to let
them have their way with us!
I'm not worthy, am I?
I can't even control my own wife,
but I pounded on the Petitioner's
Drum and criticized the King.
I probably look like a crazy lunatic.
Don't I?
Your Highness...
Do you want this robe?
Should I take it off and give it to you?
Father will be going out of
the palace again tomorrow.
Take care of this before he gets back.
And don't blame yourself.
Don't think that you're
responsible for everything.
Some things are beyond our control.
Yu...
Is there anything else I can do to help?
Brothers confide in each other
in times of need, Your Highness.
Is his Majesty inside?
He didn't come
to the Hall of Worthies today.
We have an urgent report from Ming.
Where could he be?
I'm requesting an autopsy, sir.
I don't think so.
I've already closed the case
and reported it to the central.
I've gathered the leaders because an
urgent report has arrived from Ming.
AD 1435, Forbidden City, Beijing
A new Emperor has risen
to the throne of Ming?
Your Majesty, your time has come!
Long live the Emperor!
The Emperor is only nine years old.
For the next few years, Ming
is almost certain to become a
political battleground over control
and favor of the child Emperor.
Then this will be the perfect time for
Joseon to aggressively proceed with
Four Counties and Six Forts project
without much interference from Ming.
By the way, where is His Majesty
at an important time like this?
Why don't you take this up
with the King if you can?
What are you trying to say?
That an order from the top is
more important to you
than a citizen's appeal or welfare?
Cocky bastard!
Do I look like chopped liver to you?
I may not look it, but I'm a busy man.
I have 21 petitions and 17
litigations to resolve just for today
and 50 different bills
to vote on by tomorrow!
I don't have enough time in a day to keep
up with our nosy King who has made
a career out of creating more work!
People not numbers!
21 petitions you have to handle
today are not simply numbers but
problems that involve someone's future.
There will be no autopsy!
We have evidence and a witness!
I will not indulge a slave's lie!
Are you sure you won't regret this?
Stay away from here if you don't
want to have anything to regret.
If I see as much as your shadow in this
agency again, I'll have you arrested
for interference with a government
official in execution of his duties!
It is the order of the King to transfer
your deceased father's body to the
capital police agency
and perform an autopsy.
You didn't have to rush here so quickly.
I believe it is a Royal subject's duty
to answer the King's call immediately.
If only you were as
committed to the public
you'd be able to see names and faces
in the 21 cases on your desk today.
21 cases?
Do you recognize me?
I'm sure we've met because
I have never appointed a local magistrate
without a personal interview.
If I had known in advance...
Why, in plain clothes...?
A scholar in plan clothes or even
a slave, if they live in your district,
should be just as important
to you as the King.
I made a mistake deserving
of death, Your Majesty!
Yes, you have.
If an autopsy reveals that
the slave is innocent,
I believe you should be punished
before the true perpetrator.
Let us begin.
The blade marks do not suggest
it is a professional job.
Ruler.
21/2 inch.
3 inch.
31/2 inch.
1 inch.
This one pierced straight
through the heart.
Judging from the angle of the penetration,
the perpetrator is left-handed.
Left-handed...
This is survivor's authorization for
the autopsy. I need your signature.
He's right-handed...
Slave Chundoong is the perpetrator?
It's clearly not a professional job
and Chundoong is left-handed.
You mean he deceived me
with that innocent face?
You see?
Even the autopsy says he's the culprit!
So what?
So why am I getting
dismissed from office?
Shut up and listen carefully!
I'm so embarrassed and ashamed
to have appointed a man like you
to a magistrate position that
I want to quit this job myself.
You're out regardless of
the outcome of this case.
Why?
Because you don't deserve to be
an official of the government.
Sir...
When you make a report to the Royal
Court, especially when it's a murder
case like this, you do it only after you
have conducted a through investigation.
You're not a government official if
you don't care about the people
at least as much as you care about yourself!
We have to redo the autopsy.
What do you mean?
We may only have heard half of
what the dead man has to say.
Now would you tell us what the
dead man didn't tell us last time?
We had rushed to conclusion
based on his external injuries and ignored
the decisive evidence, Your Majesty.
The decisive evidence?
The cause of this man's death
is poisoning, not stab wounds.
Poisoning?
These stab wounds were
made postmortem.
If these lacerations were
made when he was alive,
acid, reaction will reveal bloodstains.
You mean he was stabbed to frame
the murder on someone else?
By someone who is meticulous enough
to calculate the fact that the man he's
setting up is left-handed.
Who could that be?
Park Gyeum, of course.
He acquired large amount of herbal poison
from this man not long ago.
Why did he kill his father?
He confessed that he committed the
crime to pay off his gambling debt.
A world where a son
kills his father for money...
Oh, she's so adorable!
You did it, honey.
You id it.
Only because I have you.
Hang on. I'll bring you some
seaweed soup in a jiffy.
My lord, you're here.
Is it a boy or a girl?
It's a girl.
You look happy.
Yes, but I don't know if I should be.
I got lucky because you were there
at the right time, but bringing a new
life to this cold, hard world...
I don't know if it's such a good thing.
She's a lowborn like me with no hopes
of having anything or learning anything,
so I worry for her future.
I just happened to be there.
The King just happened to
be there at that moment.
So a precious life of a man was saved.
Your Majesty...
But if I had not been there,
if I'm not there when my people
are suffering for the reasons they
are lowborn, poor or uneducated,
what is to happen to them then?
How when we don't know how to write?
Because we had no time for
storybooks or even to learn to read.
We got up at dawn and worked until dusk,
but we couldn't even pay the taxes
let alone have enough to eat.
Young master came to me a few days
ago and told me to stamp it, so I did.
How can you put your handprint on
something without checking
to see what it is?
Check it?
How can I when I can't read?
That's a letter "Gu", I tell you.
It means they're going
to give us 500 yangs.
Darn, talk about bad luck...
I was hoping to be able to write
a decent letter in my lifetime...
My people are mute
although they can speak.
And I have ears but I cannot hear them.
It is the King and his men
that govern the people,
but it is the people with ability to preserve
their own rights that guide and
teach the King and his men.
I will give voice to my people.
What Joseon needs now is a system
of writing that embodies our sounds.
In 1432, Sejong published
"Illustrated Conduct of the Three Relationships"
to enlighten the public.
In 1440, Sejong compiled "New Commentary
on Forsenic Medicine" and established
a systematic autopsy procedure with an
objective of preventing wrongful deaths.
Most of all, Sejong wanted the people to
preserve their own rights by having and
understanding these information.
That was the inspiration for
creating a new system of writing.
Ninth of October, Hangeul Proclamation Day, celebrates
the publication of Hunmin Jeongeum
(The Proper Sounds for the Education of the People).
On October 9, 2008, Hangeul (Korean Alphabet)
becomes 562 years old.
Chundoong that bastard!
Haven't you found him?
It's murder!
My young master has killed my master!
Son has killed his father!
What happened?
An unpardonable atrocity!
Tell him to leave!
But...
How dare a servant accuse
his own master of a crime?
It's against the law.
Goodness gracious!
I'm telling you.
My young master killed his own father!
Get out of here!
But he's trying to kill me,
too, because I saw him.
How dare you!
First you kill your master then
accuse someone else of the crime?
Kill my master?
Me?
I have proof that you're the murderer.
Don't try to deny it.
What is that?
You put your handprint right here
and you don't know what this is?
What are you waiting for?
Arrest this man!
- Stop right there!
- Get him!
What happened to you, fellow?
Can you read?
Aren't you hurt?
You're wearing that robe, so
you must know how to read.
Yes, I do.
Then you're going to have to help me.
If you refuse, I'll kill you!
You bastard!
Don't come any closer!
He'll be in greater danger
if you provoke the man.
But...
I can't help you.
You want to die?
Have you ever killed a man?
You don't think I can?
Then do it.
What?
Kill me!
Father!
What are you doing, fellow?
Sleeping?
Get a proper weapon next time
if you want to threaten a man's life.
Now let's hear your story.
You said you needed help
from someone who can read.
They're saying I killed a man.
Killed a man?
I'm not the one but
they're saying that I am.
There he is!
Get him!
You miserable bastard!
You're under arrest!
What did this man do?
He killed his own master in cold blood.
He told me a different story.
No! This is wrong!
I didn't kill anyone!
I'm not the murderer.
My young master is!
You little...
Stay out of this!
This man is claming he's innocent.
He butchered his own master to shreds.
We have a witness and clear evidence!
Take him away!
I didn't do it! I swear!
Help me! Please help me!
We should get back to the palace.
No, I'm going to the local agency.
Director Yun, there's someone
else want you to do.
The scene of the crime?
Magistrate!
Magistrate!
Why are you harassing us?
This is called an appeal,
not harassment.
Magistrate!
What's wrong with you?
Are you related to that slave or something?
All people of this land Joseon are my...
"This land Joseon"?
That's a pretty fancy talk.
So what about this land Joseon?
I'm just saying that we're all
Joseonese, so we're all brothers.
That's all.
So you're going to swear brotherhood
with that servant boy or something?
I have nothing to say to you,
so just call the magistrate for me.
Magistrate!
Magistrate!
Who is this man anyway?
He does appear to be a nobleman,
so I can't easily deal with him.
One little slave boy is turning
this agency upside down!
Are you sure it isn't you?
I told you to wait outside!
I think you're the one who
is disturbing public order,
not that slave boy named Chundoong.
Who the heck are you?
On what authority are you meddling
in government business?
I'm...
What's your occupation?
I'm a holder of the Classics
Licentiate Degree Yi Doe.
A Classics Licentiate?
You look about my age and you still
haven't passed the Grand Exam?
If you want to meddle in government
business, go back and hit the books.
Slave Chundoong came to you
and reported a murder.
But you ignored it.
I guess you don't know
the law well enough,
but slaves are not allowed to make
accusations against their masters!
The law I know makes exceptions for
murder and high treason.
Am I wrong?
You think you know more than I do?
Please confirm the law.
If I'm right, I don't think your punishment
will be light for ignoring a crime report
since you've neglected
your duty as a local magistrate.
No, master!
This is a mistake!
There is no mistake!
Who is that woman?
It's Chundoong's wife, of course.
The slave that killed his master?
I thought Chundoong couldn't hurt a fly.
Who knew he'd be capable of this?
Stay away from my property!
My lord!
He's rather vivacious for
a man who just lost his father.
Do you think he did it?
Slave Chundoong didn't look like the
kind of man who is capable of murder.
But a son killing his own father?
It's unfathomable.
The problem is the evidence.
Take a good look.
This is irrefutable proof.
"... One-hundred yangs
for Lord Park's life..."
Chundoong committed a contract killing.
This handprint, are you sure this is his?
Bring him!
I'm letting you confirm this because I'm
such a generous shepherd of my people.
No, I didn't do it!
Then explain this handprint!
Young master came to me a few days
ago and told me to stamp it, so I did.
How can you put your
handprint on something
without checking to see what it is?
Check it?
How can I when I can't read?
There's a witness, too, so stop denying!
There he is.
I'm the witness.
I saw him killing my father
with my own two eyes.
And this is what he did to
my arm when he saw me.
You're a monster!
There is your evidence and your witness.
Do you have more to say?
You should go.
What are you saying?
You don't need to trouble
yourself for me anymore.
Are you acknowledging your guilt?
They got you with evidence and
witness so now you're admitting it?
What's the use of fighting
when I can't win?
I'm a powerless slave.
There's no way I can clear myself when
it's a nobleman's word against mine.
I'll see what I can do.
It's too late for me.
But if you could, would you look
in on my pregnant wife for me?
I was going to try to be a proud father.
It's bad enough being born a slave,
but now my child will have to go
through life as a murder's child.
Oh, my poor child...
Slave Chundoong doesn't
appear to be capable of murder.
I find Park Gyeum very suspicious.
Above all, Chundoong is contending
that Park is the murderer.
Then you should reveal your identity and
order an arrest and
interrogation of Park Gyeum.
I can't to that.
Father.
The King is not to command
the people directly in person.
Proper thing to do is to have
his men relay the command.
But this magistrate doesn't
even know the law correctly.
Even if he does reveal his identity,
he cannot order Park Gyeum's arrest.
Why not?
Because he can't violate his own law.
The Arrest Clause.
"No one shall be arrested or interrogated
without tangible evidence of guilt,
and conviction shall not be
rendered on confession alone."
His Majesty is the one
who instituted this law.
Is that more important than
an innocent man's life?
King who violates his own law
does not deserve to be King.
I will find a better way.
Your Highness...
Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Leave me alone!
Have you been drinking?
Yes.
Why?
There're too many reasons.
Hyang...
How was your outing?
You're drunk.
Go back to the East Palace.
Wouldn't you like a drink?
You don't look too happy either, Father.
What happened?
It's... nothing, Your Majesty.
You should be more
watchful of your behavior.
If yu must drink,
drink at the East Palace.
And do not drink in access.
A lesbian lover?
That's absurd!
Perhaps we should tell the King.
Are you out of your mind?
Do you want to get the
Crown Prince deposed?
Deposed?
Things aren't so good between His Majesty
and the Crown Prince as it is right now.
What do you think will happen if he
finds out about the Crown Princess?
Your Highness!
Is what I just heard true?
I thought you had left.
I came back to discuss
about something with you.
Oh?
Your Majesty, may I come in?
Enter.
It's from the Queen.
What did you want to talk about?
"Commentary of Forensic Medicine"?
Why don't we perform an autopsy
on the victim?
An autopsy?
Yes.
If we can't decide who the real
culprit is between Chundoong
and Park Gyeum, perhaps we
can let the dead man tell us.
Let the dead man tell us?
It's not a bad idea.
Your Majesty, perhaps we have
the case transferred to the Capital
Magistracy and order an autopsy.
No, I'm going to have the local
agency see this case through.
They might refuse to perform the autopsy
on the grounds that their case is solid.
I'll have to find a way to make
them perform the autopsy.
Will you be taking
another trip into the city?
I want to give Gyoha Magistrate a chance
to become a compassionate civil leader
who pays as much heed to an appeal of a
common citizen as an order of the King.
Are you going back to your villa?
I'm going to the Hall of Worthies.
I'd like to do some more reading.
Are you interested in attending
the autopsy yourself?
I found out the capital police is the
only agency that has a pathologist.
On the local level, autopsy is
performed by a credible physician.
I figure I can be a useful observer if
I have some knowledge about pathology.
His Majesty wants to trust the magistrate,
but I guess I'm not as trusting as he is.
Are you still drinking?
Sit down and join me.
What is this about the Crown Princess?
How did you find out?
I guess that's the nature of the palace.
Rumors will spread like
cotton soaks up water.
That's the palace...
Get out.
Your Grace, please calm down.
I said get out!
Your Grace, what has happened?
How dare you barge in here unannounced!
This is unbecoming of the future Queen.
Future Queen?
How is the Crown Princess doing?
Forgive me, but she may not have what
it takes to be the mother of the state.
Drastic measures may be
necessary, Your Highness.
We cannot depose another Crown Princess.
I know.
And I'm sure that is why the Crown Prince
chose to cover this up.
But the rumors are spreading.
Even Prince Jinyang has
found out about it.
Then...
Sosang and Danji, the two girls
must be removed from the palace.
But if this is done hastily,
situation will get even worse.
What are you trying to say?
We must find a way to shut
them up permanently.
Shut us up?
What if they kill us?
No way!
We have the Crown Princess in our hands.
What do you mean by that?
It means I'm not going to let
them have their way with us!
I'm not worthy, am I?
I can't even control my own wife,
but I pounded on the Petitioner's
Drum and criticized the King.
I probably look like a crazy lunatic.
Don't I?
Your Highness...
Do you want this robe?
Should I take it off and give it to you?
Father will be going out of
the palace again tomorrow.
Take care of this before he gets back.
And don't blame yourself.
Don't think that you're
responsible for everything.
Some things are beyond our control.
Yu...
Is there anything else I can do to help?
Brothers confide in each other
in times of need, Your Highness.
Is his Majesty inside?
He didn't come
to the Hall of Worthies today.
We have an urgent report from Ming.
Where could he be?
I'm requesting an autopsy, sir.
I don't think so.
I've already closed the case
and reported it to the central.
I've gathered the leaders because an
urgent report has arrived from Ming.
AD 1435, Forbidden City, Beijing
A new Emperor has risen
to the throne of Ming?
Your Majesty, your time has come!
Long live the Emperor!
The Emperor is only nine years old.
For the next few years, Ming
is almost certain to become a
political battleground over control
and favor of the child Emperor.
Then this will be the perfect time for
Joseon to aggressively proceed with
Four Counties and Six Forts project
without much interference from Ming.
By the way, where is His Majesty
at an important time like this?
Why don't you take this up
with the King if you can?
What are you trying to say?
That an order from the top is
more important to you
than a citizen's appeal or welfare?
Cocky bastard!
Do I look like chopped liver to you?
I may not look it, but I'm a busy man.
I have 21 petitions and 17
litigations to resolve just for today
and 50 different bills
to vote on by tomorrow!
I don't have enough time in a day to keep
up with our nosy King who has made
a career out of creating more work!
People not numbers!
21 petitions you have to handle
today are not simply numbers but
problems that involve someone's future.
There will be no autopsy!
We have evidence and a witness!
I will not indulge a slave's lie!
Are you sure you won't regret this?
Stay away from here if you don't
want to have anything to regret.
If I see as much as your shadow in this
agency again, I'll have you arrested
for interference with a government
official in execution of his duties!
It is the order of the King to transfer
your deceased father's body to the
capital police agency
and perform an autopsy.
You didn't have to rush here so quickly.
I believe it is a Royal subject's duty
to answer the King's call immediately.
If only you were as
committed to the public
you'd be able to see names and faces
in the 21 cases on your desk today.
21 cases?
Do you recognize me?
I'm sure we've met because
I have never appointed a local magistrate
without a personal interview.
If I had known in advance...
Why, in plain clothes...?
A scholar in plan clothes or even
a slave, if they live in your district,
should be just as important
to you as the King.
I made a mistake deserving
of death, Your Majesty!
Yes, you have.
If an autopsy reveals that
the slave is innocent,
I believe you should be punished
before the true perpetrator.
Let us begin.
The blade marks do not suggest
it is a professional job.
Ruler.
21/2 inch.
3 inch.
31/2 inch.
1 inch.
This one pierced straight
through the heart.
Judging from the angle of the penetration,
the perpetrator is left-handed.
Left-handed...
This is survivor's authorization for
the autopsy. I need your signature.
He's right-handed...
Slave Chundoong is the perpetrator?
It's clearly not a professional job
and Chundoong is left-handed.
You mean he deceived me
with that innocent face?
You see?
Even the autopsy says he's the culprit!
So what?
So why am I getting
dismissed from office?
Shut up and listen carefully!
I'm so embarrassed and ashamed
to have appointed a man like you
to a magistrate position that
I want to quit this job myself.
You're out regardless of
the outcome of this case.
Why?
Because you don't deserve to be
an official of the government.
Sir...
When you make a report to the Royal
Court, especially when it's a murder
case like this, you do it only after you
have conducted a through investigation.
You're not a government official if
you don't care about the people
at least as much as you care about yourself!
We have to redo the autopsy.
What do you mean?
We may only have heard half of
what the dead man has to say.
Now would you tell us what the
dead man didn't tell us last time?
We had rushed to conclusion
based on his external injuries and ignored
the decisive evidence, Your Majesty.
The decisive evidence?
The cause of this man's death
is poisoning, not stab wounds.
Poisoning?
These stab wounds were
made postmortem.
If these lacerations were
made when he was alive,
acid, reaction will reveal bloodstains.
You mean he was stabbed to frame
the murder on someone else?
By someone who is meticulous enough
to calculate the fact that the man he's
setting up is left-handed.
Who could that be?
Park Gyeum, of course.
He acquired large amount of herbal poison
from this man not long ago.
Why did he kill his father?
He confessed that he committed the
crime to pay off his gambling debt.
A world where a son
kills his father for money...
Oh, she's so adorable!
You did it, honey.
You id it.
Only because I have you.
Hang on. I'll bring you some
seaweed soup in a jiffy.
My lord, you're here.
Is it a boy or a girl?
It's a girl.
You look happy.
Yes, but I don't know if I should be.
I got lucky because you were there
at the right time, but bringing a new
life to this cold, hard world...
I don't know if it's such a good thing.
She's a lowborn like me with no hopes
of having anything or learning anything,
so I worry for her future.
I just happened to be there.
The King just happened to
be there at that moment.
So a precious life of a man was saved.
Your Majesty...
But if I had not been there,
if I'm not there when my people
are suffering for the reasons they
are lowborn, poor or uneducated,
what is to happen to them then?
How when we don't know how to write?
Because we had no time for
storybooks or even to learn to read.
We got up at dawn and worked until dusk,
but we couldn't even pay the taxes
let alone have enough to eat.
Young master came to me a few days
ago and told me to stamp it, so I did.
How can you put your handprint on
something without checking
to see what it is?
Check it?
How can I when I can't read?
That's a letter "Gu", I tell you.
It means they're going
to give us 500 yangs.
Darn, talk about bad luck...
I was hoping to be able to write
a decent letter in my lifetime...
My people are mute
although they can speak.
And I have ears but I cannot hear them.
It is the King and his men
that govern the people,
but it is the people with ability to preserve
their own rights that guide and
teach the King and his men.
I will give voice to my people.
What Joseon needs now is a system
of writing that embodies our sounds.
In 1432, Sejong published
"Illustrated Conduct of the Three Relationships"
to enlighten the public.
In 1440, Sejong compiled "New Commentary
on Forsenic Medicine" and established
a systematic autopsy procedure with an
objective of preventing wrongful deaths.
Most of all, Sejong wanted the people to
preserve their own rights by having and
understanding these information.
That was the inspiration for
creating a new system of writing.
Ninth of October, Hangeul Proclamation Day, celebrates
the publication of Hunmin Jeongeum
(The Proper Sounds for the Education of the People).
On October 9, 2008, Hangeul (Korean Alphabet)
becomes 562 years old.