Empire of Gold (황금의 제국 / The Golden Empire / Hwanggeum eui Jegook)

Congressman Kim Gwang Se, nominee for the Minister of Infrastructure...

expressed his intent of voluntarily appearing at the prosecutor's office tonight.

I'm done taking a shower.

I can't delay much longer.

He'll leave now.

Go for him one more time.

Tae Joo...

Why? Can't do it?

Did he ever deny your body?

Deliberate bankruptcy of a shopping mall, tax evasion on the sale of the apartment lot...

That's right, don't miss a note on Jang Tae Joo. Gather everything.

Look, Secretary Choi, is this your first time dealing in Yeouido?

The straw is the prosecutors...

and the target is Jang Tae Joo.

I'm leaving now, so wait in front of the Seoul Prosecutors' Office...

Tell Prosecutor Park to postpone the meeting for 30 minutes.

Here is a ticket to Macau departing at four today.

I also prepared a secret key to the Macau Bank.

There should be about one million US Dollars in the account.

If you're using it as pocket money for now, I'll send a proper amount soon.

It's one-way.

What about a return flight?

I'll get it ready within two years.

To a four-term congressman and a nominee for the Minister of Infrastructure...

you're suggesting to flee overseas?

I have to live.

I believe it was raised in the hearing and leaked from the prosecutors' office.

And the financial investigation team of the prosecution knocked on your door to catch me.

- So? - So!

You're about to...

hand me over to the prosecutors.

Why would you think that?

Because I know you well.

You think I'll get on this plane?

You will end up on the plane.

Look, Mr. Jang.

I still have a dream I want to achieve on this land.

I will buy that dream from you.

It's a registration certificate of a shopping complex in Yongin.

You can't buy a dream with money.

It's valued at two billion won.

Really now...

For your wife, I prepared a luxury department store in Sogong-dong.

Secretary Choi.

Cancel my trip to the prosecutors' office.

And burn all the documents on Jang Tae Joo.

I'll go get some air.

Politics?

If I can't, I can just run a store.

If I have cobwebs in my mouth because I become too poor...

then I'll eat the spiders to survive.

Hey! If you keep worrying so much, it'll become a habit. Alright.

Come see me in Macau when you have time.

You know me too well.

The one I know well is Secretary Choi.

Do you like your new apartment, Secretary Choi?

Did you just get a call from Congressman Kim about canceling his trip to the prosecutor?

And you didn't get the order to burn the documents either?

Of course you didn't hear about getting some air, either.

Sure.

I'll leave.

You shouldn't lie to me.

We decided to fool the world together.

Even if you throw me into the sewer, if you just become a minister...

you'll pick and choose who’d offer you money...

Is that what you thought, you bastard!

No... I'll go to Macau. Just trust me this time.

When politicians say 'trust me'...

doesn't it mean, 'Be fooled one more time'?

I'll really go.

Listen carefully...

I have... what you have.

I have a dream... and power as well.

I said I'll go.

So when I wave good-bye, leave.

Okay. My neck...

Tae Joo...

He's dead.

Congressman Kim called you here to talk to you.

He's drunk. He wanted you.

You refused.

He tore your dress.

He hit you. With his hand. With the golf club. And then!

Tae Joo...

You...

stabbed Congressman Kim.

Hello? Hello?

You decide.

Turn me in...

or... turn yourself in.

I killed... someone.

I...

I killed someone.

Lord, bless this ring they exchange as a symbol of love and faith.

- Amen. - Amen.

Please accept this ring as a symbol of my love and faith in you.

Please accept this ring as a symbol of my love and faith in...

Episode 1

1990

Convergence.

Convergence.

Mom, he got it again.

I'm sorry to test you.

Not every law student from a top university is competent.

Of course.

Please start next week.

Please be extra careful since it's the enforcement period on private tutoring.

Hi Sook Ja! Tomorrow?

But it's hard to make a reservation there.

Excuse me... What you promised...

Byung Soo, give him the thing from the second drawer in the closet.

- Let me finish this round first. - Now! Teacher's waiting.

You bought the membership there?

How much is the membership at World Country?

Must be nice.

Sure, thanks to my friend, I'll get to play 36 holes.

Mi Ran? She can't!

She's just been practicing, but she's never been out on the field.

I'm paying you in advance because I trust you.

Please take good care of my son.

I will. Thank you.

Our Tae Joo is here!

He passed the first round of the bar exam!

You're my son starting today!

Father...

Why do you keep coming here?

You don't have much time until the exam.

You should be studying more.

Wipe it on that side. Maybe it's the birds, it's all dusty.

Remember the ramen shop across the street from Hee Joo's school?

It's available now.

The location is good... if we just get this sign up there...

We have no money.

I checked it out.

If we get the whole prepayment back... We could barely...

We won't get it back.

There is no law against taking someone else's money for free in the world.

We put in 90 million in that store...

And he's telling us to leave after giving us the 10 million security deposit back?

It's part of the national project, developing five new cities.

Give it up, Dad.

Tae Joo... my life has always been about giving up.

When the rich made a face, I gave up because I got scared.

When the one with power yelled at me, I gave up because I got scared...

Tae Joo, if I give up now, there is nothing left for me.

You said you'd become a judge...

and you have time to help someone study? When do you have time to study for yourself?

Give it back right away!

I have two months before the second round of the bar exam...

But we haven't paid our rent for three months. And Hee Joo's tuition is...

Give it back right now!

If the negotiation goes well today...

That negotiation has been going on since winter.

They're only giving you the security deposit. Everyone else left!

And you're the only one! Except for this building!

Father...

Let's buy a cart and start again.

Hee Joo and I will help on weekends.

I pulled a cart for 30 years... and finally put this sign up.

At the age of sixty... with my empty hands...

I'll do it. I will make money.

The house, the store, I will...

Enough! Are you telling me to be a burden on my child? I can't do that!

Even now...

Even now... you're a burden, Father.

I'm sorry.

Let's go home, Father. Mom is...

There is a place called Busan Noodle Shop...

It's a famous noodle shop under Youngdo Bridge.

When I was dating your mom with no money...

I made a promise to her as we were sharing a bowl of noodles...

that if she'd marry me, I'd open a noodle shop like that for her some day.

It's taken 30 years to open a noodle shop for her.

Until I get that money back, I can't face your mom.

Tae Joo... I'm definitely getting that money back.

Tae Joo, I didn't do anything wrong.

You don't get to judge what's wrong.

The winners get to judge in this world.

Is that right?

If that's the case, Tae Joo, I'll to try to win this time.

Right here, on the left side inside the scalp, there is a lump about the size of 1.5 cm.

Surgical removal of steatoma in our hospital...

You called in Dr. Park yet why do you keep staring at me?

You look good in suits and traditional clothing...

But this really doesn't look good on you.

Don't wear this again!

Securing the auto manufacturing plant site is a mid to long-term plan...

- so you can approve after the surgery... - Let's finish it.

I sent some kimchi to Eun Jung. I hear Won Jae has no appetite these days.

He doesn't earn his keep, so why does he need appetite?

Send some herbal tonic. He gets sick when he travels abroad.

He's weak in every possible way.

I already sent it to them, for Won Jae, Eun Jung and Myung Hoon.

I'm sure you have a press release ready for the surgical removal of steatoma?

- Well... - Please check the security of the medical team.

If people outside find out about Dad's illness...

the stock price will crash.

Well...

Yes, ma'am.

What measures were taken to deal with possible accidents during surgery?