Ransomed (비공식작전)

"This film is inspired by true events,

and the characters, story elements, and details are fictional."

"In Lebanon, also known as the Pearl of the Middle East,"

"over 170,000 people died in the civil war

between Christian and Islamic factions."

"In the capital city of Beirut, where public order had collapsed,"

"foreigner abductions and terrorist incidents occurred frequently."

"January 31, 1986. Beirut, Lebanon"

What's that?

- Look, Secretary Oh! - Stay still...

Don't provoke them.

Hands up and get out!

Out!

I'm...

a South Korean diplomat...

Ministry of Foreign Affairs ID of the kidnappers?

Ministry of Foreign Affairs We're checking that, sir.

- Any contact from them? - None so far.

Is it about money?

We're figuring that out now.

If we know nothing, what should I report then?

Give me that!

Minister, any contact from the kidnappers?!

What are they demanding?

Gimpo Airport

Gimpo Airport Return of Oh Jae-seok's family

How are you holding up, now?

RANSOMED

One year and 8 months later. Dept. of Middle East

You said I'd go to London as a sojourning officer,

you told me that right here!

How could it change only in a few days?!

Keep your voice down.

I thought you'd get the post.

Who knew it'd change so suddenly?

I want to be understanding, but this is all wrong!

HR is based on seniority,

and Kim Chi-yong is 3 years my junior!

Foreign service exam takers aren't all created equal.

He's the heir apparent.

A Seoul U Poli Sci grad.

This is for you.

Goddamn Seoul U pricks.

An Iraq post will open up in the second half, take that post.

Why should I go there?

Boosting your Middle East creds...

and focusing on regions

shunned by others will pay dividends later.

Never seen little drops of water make the mighty ocean.

I'm gonna request posts in America or Europe next year.

Leave the dreaming to your bedtime,

and stay practical when you're awake.

Deputy Kim, congrats.

You landed G7 right away.

Dinner's on me tonight. Let's go.

Lebanon

Iraq

I don't know, whatever.

Whatever...

Seoul U Poli Sci Congrats on London Post

Cockroach Pesticide

Son of a bitch.

Shit...

Dept. of Middle East, Lee Min-jun speaking.

Hello? This is Lee Min-jun!

Hello?

Hello?

I'm Korean diplomat Oh Jae-seok

Foreign Affairs Minister's Office

We lost contact over a year ago

after the kidnapping.

Then out of nowhere, he suddenly calls?

Is this a sure thing?

He used our verification code,

which only Foreign Affairs officials know about.

Secretary Oh Jae-seok is alive.

Minister, if we get this wrong, it'll only fuel the fire.

We could be ridiculed again for not even knowing the kidnappers.

But he's still alive,

shouldn't we bring him in?

If he's really alive, what if we looked for him ourselves?

Bypass KCIA and have FA bring him back?

Yes.

Honestly, after the announcement of direct election system,

he's nervous about losing the general election.

If we can somehow bring Oh back,

the administration will use it to be on media's good graces.

This would secure our position as well.

What if we fail?

That's why we should go through unofficial channels.

Until we verify that he's alive, we mustn't get involved officially.

You know Richard Carter.

I heard that ex-CIA is back.

If it's so important, send the Seoul U alum,

Why me?

You're the Middle East expert, and answered the call too.

The minister complimented you, saying you look like a smart chap.

So, meet him and get him on board? Unofficially?

Right.

Then if this works out, send me to New York or L.A.

How could you bring that up when a man's life is on the line?

"Song of Mokpo".

It seems you can speak Korean a bit.

If you're doing business with a man's life,

then how are you any different from the kidnappers?

Once you verify that Oh is alive through the arbitrator,

then Foreign Affairs will send an official request.

Until then, please...

please be patient.

Let me get a spoonful.

Hays Shaito.

He's a businessman who deals art in Switzerland

"Chief Secretary's Office"

he was instrumental in resolving

the recent German kidnapping case.

But do you have to go behind KCIA's back?

Aside from North Korea...

they're weak in foreign intelligence compared to us.

You saw what happened last time,

they blamed North Korea and the case collapsed.

Bring me the evidence that he's still alive,

I'll raise the money.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

This will be a big boost to the president.

Put Lee on the plane.

Get him to bring back physical proof ASAP.

And get him some art lessons!

Pardon?

Come on, Hays is an art dealer.

Lee has to know something to get on his good side.

But that can't be done instantly...

We Koreans are good at memorizing, right?

Gotta go.

Deputy.

Do you mind going to a bookstore?

Why?

To study art.

Picasso...

Why am I memorizing this?

Cubism... where are the cubes?

Geneva, Switzerland

Hays Shaito's Mansion

This piece is here?

Shit, I don't believe it...

Please wait a bit longer

Yes, I'll get this done as smoothly as possible.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

We got the president's go.

Good work.

Incredible, what did I tell you?

Sir, the KCIA director is here.

What brings you here, director?

What's wrong?

We're all civil servants, can't I drop in?

I guess Mr. Secretary wasn't aware,

that I get a call whenever the purse opens up.

As a fellow civil servant,

you've done a proper job of knifing KCIA in the back.

Please forgive our impertinence.

We did not want to disturb KCIA with a Foreign Affairs matter.

It's fine.

Sit down.

Yes, sir.

Is this a job that requires CIA involvement?

Don't translate that.

Sounds offensive.

So, who will deliver the ransom?

Vice Minister Lee will go? Weren't you stationed there?

Going there in person could expose additional liabilities...

So you'll allow a third party to carry that much money?

We were told to go ourselves...

Can bookworm diplomats fly out to such a place?

It's not too late to hand over the operation.

We always have hard labor agents on standby.

I'll go, sir!

Who was that?

It's deputy Lee Min-jun.

Good afternoon, sir.

Middle East division, Deputy Lee Min-jun, sir.

I just came back from meeting Hays Shaito, who is working as an arbitrator

with the kidnappers.

Here.

Here, sir.

You'll do the handover?

Ever shot a gun before?

I served in the Gimpo marine corps 2nd Division, 5th regiment, 53rd battalion.

This prick's got grit.

But will that work during the war?

I'm not volunteering to test my grit.

Article 34 in the FA guideline

states that whoever receives the verification code

must carry out the task to the best of his abilities.

On September 30, 1987,

as soon as I received the message from Oh Jae-seok,

I knew it was my assignment, sir.

Take care, sir.

You incompetent morons!

How could KCIA get intel later than Foreign Affairs?!

- You did good. - Thank you, sir.

- That was an amazing job. - Thank you so much.