Political Fever (Going to the Blue House Like This / Ireohke Doen Isang Cheongwadaero Kanda / 이렇게 된 이상 청와대로 간다

(All characters, organizations, and events in this drama are fictitious.)

(The animals used were filmed under strict supervision...)

(with the utmost concern for their handling.)

I am in front of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Sejong.

Many reporters are here, eagerly waiting to find out...

Minister Lee Jung Eun's official response...

to the recent issues surrounding the ministry.

All eyes are on this press conference at the moment.

Yes. Are you here now?

Hello.

I am Lee Jung Eun, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Today, I stand before you to provide answers...

to the recent issues...

surrounding the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

But before that,

I'd first like to address the personal issue,

which has been troubling me for the past few days.

My husband, political commentator Kim Sung Nam,

was abducted by a group of unidentified men on Tuesday,

and I still do not know his whereabouts.

May we ask questions?

- Could you please tell us more? - Any idea who might be behind this?

- How did it happen? - Minister!

- May I ask just one question? - Minister!

Finally, the cat is out of the bag.

This is neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Why is it that we must experience...

such a crazy commotion every time we get a new culture minister?

I know. When you work for the government, it can't always be sunshine and rainbows.

But politics...

All this, for the sake of politics?

This year, the culture and sports industries truly suffered...

due to the unforeseen circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

I sincerely hope...

that the situation improves in the new year.

Let's all work hard and do our best.

Minister Min, we can still see you.

Minister Min, we can see you.

Minister Min.

Go ahead and turn off his camera.

- Minister Min! - Come here.

- Come here. - Minister Min!

Stop! We have an emergency.

We received a tip-off that North Korea may have launched a DDoS attack.

Sir, we need you to approve the special memo at once.

Five, four, three, two... No!

He said that was how they trained dogs in Northern Europe.

No one will buy that, right?

How about we say that it was a deepfake video...

and get the media to blast it out?

First, tell that idiot to pack up his things and leave at once.

We've been dealing with this mess for days now!

He unashamedly asked...

if he could receive his severance pay as part of his pension payments.

All right. We don't have time.

We must find his successor as soon as we can.

You've already compiled a list, right?

First, let's check out the candidates.

(Kim Boo Joong, Lee Myung Jun, Yoo Ji Woong)

There are so many.

We can use the method of elimination to narrow them down quickly.

Okay. First, let's eliminate all male candidates.

And if their sons were exempted from military service.

Multiple home ownership, fake resident registration.

Tax evasion, thesis plagiarism.

Those who posted pictures from team dinners...

when social distancing was raised to level 2.5.

Those who'd use the minister title...

as a stepping stone for the presidential election next year.

- All out! - All out!

Now, there is no one.

Bring them all back!

(An Geun Ho, Kim Boo Joong, Lee Myung Jun, Yoo Ji Woong)

Then why don't we revisit the candidates who own multiple homes?

We can tell them to sell the houses.

What kind of idiot would sell their houses...

in exchange for the minister title?

If we really want to sort out this unprecedented situation,

a mediocre appointment won't do.

We need a sensational figure.

Do you have someone in mind?

Why don't we try to think outside the box?

There was a girl.

How long is this video?

Seventeen minutes, sir.

You may remove your mask.

We don't have time, so please try to make this quick.

So who is this girl?

Lee Jung Eun?

She was a member of the opposition party up until a few months ago.

You think she should be our next culture minister?

Then the opposition party will lose an ally,

and we'll gain one.

So it'll help us out.

- Fire! - Keep watching.

A three-time Olympic medalist.

After serving in the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps,

she volunteered to be deployed overseas.

Next.

From Angola to the Zaytun Division, she's experienced it all.

She's a seasoned gunnery skills trainer.

Rumor had it that she was an NIS agent,

but it turned out to be a groundless rumor.

Anyway, no wonder the conservative party wanted to join hands with her.

She is an icon of patriotism.

They recruited her and made her a member of the National Assembly,

but they practically neglected her for the past four years.

To them, she was nothing but an extra hand.

She wasn't even nominated for the most recent general election.

At the height of her distress, she fell in love.

Ironically, with Kim Sung Nam, a liberal commentator.

There were some articles that called them the Romeo and Juliet of Yeouido.

Kim Sung Nam? Is he an actual commentator?

He was on par with the members of Naggomsu, the progressive podcast.

And he's very close to Chin Jung Kwon.

He appeared on TV a few times...

because he was the best-looking one out of them.

Well, who cares?

At least her husband is on our side, you know?

Okay, that's all great.

But will people think we're appointing a puppet who lacks expertise?

(We will launch a separate investigation unit!)

That was one of our election slogans.

Lee Jung Eun had proposed a bill concerning a similar issue.

And she is still staying in touch with the student she helped back then.

Min Jung, what do you want for lunch?

I don't have much of an appetite these days.

How about super spicy tteokbokki and fried rice?

I could eat that.

Hey. Your mom's here, Min Jung.

Mom!

She still hardly smiles...

even though plenty of time has passed.

We may never get to see her smile brightly again.

And the thing is, there are many more kids like her.

I served as an assemblywoman for four years...

but couldn't change a thing.

I told you. You were in the wrong political party.

You were a magnanimous lady trapped in the world of the small-minded.

Just think of it as Gulliver's first journey.

You use the Gulliver analogy all the time.

You like this analogy.

Go, Gulliver!

How about you embark on your second journey as a minister?

The current administration only has a year left.

Do you think I can achieve anything if I get a free ride now?

Honey, history is written...

in injury time.

You can do it.

She is like a model student who will diligently work...

to carry out the campaign promises that remain unfulfilled.

And even if that fails,

we can blame it on her incompetence, so I'd say she is a safe choice.

We shouldn't work too hard but can't slack off at the same time,

so I think she is the perfect person for the role.

Okay. Get ready to report this to Mr. President.

The administration handled real estate issues...

in such an amateurish manner. Am I wrong?

What? "Amateurish?" Are you done?

No, I'm not done yet.

- What? - You need to get to the bottom of it!

What did you say?

- How dare you... - Order!

- You're one to talk! - Gentlemen!

Comparing politics to pro wrestling...

is such a cliche.

But seeing this ridiculousness after a whole year,

I can't help but be reminded of what the two have in common.

They only fight when there's an audience.

It's a scripted show.

But it's a show...

that not everyone can do because you could get hurt.

Gentlemen!

This is a confirmation hearing...

for the culture minister nominee.

Please don't forget why we're here today,

and let's focus on evaluating the nominee's qualifications.

- Can we... - Please be quiet!

Why are you yelling?

At times, they even drag the moderator into their brawl...

and focus on their roles.

- Okay! Please sit down. - Let me talk!

- I did! Please sit down. - I yield the floor.

But once they hold the microphone,

they don't have anything new to say. It's a symbiotic relationship.

I will speak.

Hello, I am Assemblywoman Cha Jung Won representing Yeonmi-gu, Incheon.

I will ask a few questions.

However, not all villains...

are the same.

Ms. Lee Jung Eun and I used to be in the same party.

Ms. Lee, you're like a national hero.

First and foremost,

I'd like to congratulate you on your nomination.

You didn't accomplish a lot...

during your time as a member of the National Assembly,

but I do not think it was your fault.

You were just wearing clothes that didn't fit you.

I thought you were going to...

start a new chapter in your life as a stay-at-home mother.