The Man Standing Next (남산의 부장들)

Showbox presents

A hive media corp / gemstone pictures production

the film depicts 40 days leading up to

the president's assassination on oct. 26, 1979.

Although based on the story “kcia chiefs,” which was serially published in the dong-a ilbo,

for 26 months starting from 1990, we have taken creative liberties for certain settings.

October 26, 1979 presidential safehouse

Moving to b wing.

Vip and 2 envoy cars confirmed.

When the nation goes haywire, we all die.

Brace yourself.

Will you include the president?

We kill him tonight.

The castle has rundown,

only the tall grass remain...

On may 16, 1961, an army began military coup d'etat.

The third Republic was established

and Korea's first intelligence agency was founded.

Korean central intelligence agency utilized its absolute power

fo ensure president park's 18-year rule.

Based in namsan, Seoul, mere existence of kcia was a threat.

So-called 'directors of namsan, '

the kcia directors were park's right-hand men.

The man standing next

40 days ago, Washington D.C.

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

Former director of kcia yong-gak park

chairman Fraser, and the honorable representatives,

thank you for giving me the opportunity

to speak to the subcommittee on international organizations

of international relations that boasts tradition and authority.

I no longer have the ambition to be a politician in Korea.

I'm here only for the sake of my beloved country,

where human rights are violated and justice is nowhere to be found,

and for the sake of its democracy.

I was the head of Korea's greatest intelligence agency.

I was rotten with power too,

and the reason why I'm here to confess everything

is to accuse a man on top,

on top of that rotten power.

That man is president park!

He's the one who's making democracy a tragedy in Korea!

Is the president inside?

He's getting a trim, sir.

My men tried to stop him

director of kcia gyu-pyeong Kim from appearing at the hearing but...

Come on now.

Chief of presidential security sang-cheon gwak

the north Korean leader wouldn't say that, but our ex-kcia director said it!

What were you doing while park sold our country off!

What's this about a memoir?

He's been spilling it to the media and FBI.

Park believes that getting attention is his only way to survive.

What should we do with that traitor?

We must grab him and use him as fertilizer in the back.

I will...

Take care of it quietly in America.

Can this be solved that way?

Did you not hear what he said?

Which is why we must keep it under wraps.

America is watching this very closely.

Goddamn yanks...

Gwak, you may go.

I need to speak to director Kim alone.

How dare hel

proclaim that I am the man who must vanish

from Korea before anyone else!

What will you do with him?

I'll first bring back his memoir.

What if he doesn't hand it over?

I'll bring it.

- Director Kim. - Yes, Mr. president.

Do you also wish for me to step down?

I held this seat quite a while, no?

I will...

Always stay by your side.

September 18, Washington D.C.

Kcia agent dae-yong ham

Deborah shim was the broker.

- Ms. shim? - Yes.

Park is going around telling everyone that

we can't kill him because of the Americans.

I must return to Seoul with park's manuscript.

Yes, sir.

Gosh...

It's me.

You're a director now.

Do you even know what that position entails?

I hear gwak is head of security.

You got your plates full competing with an idiot.

Let's head back.

You know why I sought asylum.

Are you really that angry?

You'll suffer the same fate.

Writing a book, huh?

Churchill won nobel literature prize.

I found my talent in writing.

I'll give you the prize money for the manuscript.

Did I write it to make money?

Am I after money?

Even if the world thinks that way,

you of all people can't do that.

Give it to me.

Then beg the president for forgiveness.

If I give it to you, I'm a dead man.

You'll die if you don't.

Is that a threat?

I'm flying out tomorrow.

Decide.

Stay for a while, don't leave so soon.

Until tomorrow.

Park made a grave mistake he couldn't have

without your help, Ms. shim.

I'm the victim here. Lobbyist Deborah shim

you know how I worked to become a lobbyist here.

I suffered racism for coming from a poor country,

no one here can even tell North Korea from south.

I endured all that in service of our country.

But when koreagate blew up, you all shunned me,

and FBI threatens me to jail me if I don't cooperate.

What am I to do?

So you sold Korea with park as a front?

A good girl goes to heaven but a bad one goes anywhere.

Can't return home.

Even a bad girl can't go anywhere without money.

You're now responsible for ex-dir. Park.

Give my agent every detail.

Your family back home wants you to call them.

Are you threatening me?

It's peaceful.

So peaceful...

Gyu-pyeong,

why did you want the revolution?

And why did you?

I only did it because you wanted to.

I did?

It wasn't you?

Me?

Goddammit.

- I don't know... - Did you bring it?

Wait for this thing to blow over,

then return home quietly.

Director Kim.

Do you know why I'm giving this to you?

Even if I die, I won't die in your hands.

Let's walk.

Ever heard of 'lago'?

Iago from othello?

A pen suits you better than a gun.

What do you want to say?

President park has a 'personal intelligence agency, '

and that's what CIA's calling the man behind it.

Iago.

I'm saying there's someone with higher authority over us.

Give me a reliable source.

CIA has been digging into the president's money trail,

they found out that he's been funneling money

into Swiss accounts and slush funds behind kcia's back.

He's trusting his personal agency with it, not kcia.

Who is that?

- That I don't know. - Since when?

I believe it's since the revolution.

To the revolutionary comrades!

To the comrades!

He will be one of us.

The president only trusts those he knows intimately.

I'm sure it was no big deal then.

He did our background checks,

and did things the president was embarrassed of making us do.

Then the president's power grew,

so did his rivals, and the money piled up.

He couldn't lose any of it, but couldn't trust anyone.

Congratulations, sir.

The world thought we were second in command,

but no.

The real deal was someone else.

He had another man sucking on his tits beside me.

You and I were just errand boys!

Director Kim,

how long do you think the Americans will let him be?

It'll be over in a year.

He's making preparations.

He'll step down slowly, and I'll be helping him.

You believe that bullshit?

Look at it.

This is like the Greek temple.

But Lincoln is like god here.

He still got shot and died.

Gyu-pyeond.

Why did we go through with the revolution?

Why did we risk our lives for it?

September 20, presidential safehouse

park's book title is 'traitor of the revolution.'

so I betrayed the revolution?

'In the battlefield called “revolution”,

president park led us valiantly like a flag at the front.

But the war is over.

He alone remains on the battlefield.

A flag tattered and covered in blood,

as it dances in the wind,