Chief of Staff (보좌관 – 세상을 움직이는 사람들)

(THIS DRAMA IS PURELY FICTIONAL AND IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH)

(ACTUAL PEOPLE, PARTIES, LOCATIONS, CORPORATIONS OR INCIDENTS)

Why did you apply for this position?

It's better to join the police.

There's no pension, and it's a contract position.

Because I want to change the world.

Look at you making such a cheesy remark without even batting an eye.

Doesn't it make you cringe when you say things like that?

No, because I mean it.

(5 YEARS AGO SECRETARY, JANG TAE-JUN)

You can refer to this. Like this.

Just check this part.

Got it, sir.

You call this a speech?

Rewrite the whole thing.

Train him well, for God's sake.

You see...

You're doing a great job, so don't be discouraged.

It's just that Assemblyman Lee can't see the potential in you yet.

I heard you received an offer

from Assemblyman Song's office to join them as the Chief of Staff.

Yes, I did.

That man, Mr. Song...

Everything he does irks me,

but he has such a keen eye for talent. I've got to give him that.

You got an offer from a big shot in one of the opposition parties,

so you should be proud of yourself.

You're all grown up now.

What about you? When will you join the Assembly?

You should start preparing for it.

I should give it a shot next year.

I see.

Do you have someone who can help you?

I'll start looking.

So when are you joining Mr. Song's office?

Well...

How can I go anywhere when I know all you can do is poke your nose

into other people's business?

Even when I'm here looking after you, I'm still worried about you.

What's with that look?

I guess you weren't planning on taking me.

Fine. Forget it, then.

I guess I counted my chickens before they were hatched.

Forget it. Don't take me if you don't want to.

Goodness.

Gosh.

I'm touched.

What are you doing?

Seriously? Look at me.

What the hell?

I'm not crying. It's just that the chili is spicy.

Come on. What are you doing now?

Seong-min.

Both you

and I...

should get elected as an assemblyman with a badge on our chest

and walk in there triumphantly!

A fair, corruption-free nation!

A country where all of its people can prosper!

Let's work together to create such a world!

Yes!

Like you said,

let's make a change in this world!

- Let's make a change! - Let's make a change!

Let's make a change!

Stuck in a place where the skies can't be seen

while having to fight against time that can't be measured,

you must push the rock upward so that it doesn't fall down the hill.

My apologies, sir.

To survive in this disgusting world,

I had to lower my head

and swallow my pride.

It's about time you were introduced.

I...

Come in.

Hey, Mr. Jang.

Hello.

I am Jang Tae-jun.

Just like that, I managed to climb up the ladder.

With my dogged persistence and tenacity, I survived.

However, there is nothing

in my hands now.

If I’m given the opportunity to serve as the Minister of Justice,

I will work hard to serve my country and its people

in the best way that I can.

Thank you.

Mr. Ahn is one of Mr. Song's closest men.

He wouldn't have added this question without discussing it with Mr. Song.

Your name is mentioned here.

It's weird enough that Mr. Lee got picked as a witness.

They're trying to blame you for all the suspicions regarding Mr. Song.

They're going to make it seem like it was all your own personal doing.

We will now accept questions

for the Minister of Justice nominee.

Each committee member will have

up to seven minutes to ask the questions that they have prepared.

This confirmation hearing is being broadcast live,

so please make sure you don't exceed your speaking time.

Assemblyman Ahn Hyeon-min, you may go ahead.

I'm Ahn Hyeon-min from the Daehan Party.

First and foremost, congratulations on your nomination.

Thank you.

From what I've observed over the years, I know that the candidate

always does his best

to protect the law and never compromise his morals.

I asked many people's opinions while preparing for this hearing,

and many of them agreed with me.

It's pretty quiet so far.

It won't last long. It'll get noisy very soon.

Assemblyman Lee Seong-min, you may go next.

I'm Assemblyman Lee Seong-min, a nonpartisan.

First, I'd like to mention something regarding the submitted materials.

We requested documents regarding the social groups

and organizations you were part of during your tenure as a prosecutor,

but we were told they can't be submitted as they're considered personal matters.

I think such documents are crucial in determining your eligibility.

We did our best to submit everything that you requested.

If there is anything that's missing,

I'll answer whatever questions you may have, right here.

That won't suffice.

I'd like those documents immediately.

Please submit them before noon.

Chairperson Lee, please tell him.

He is clearly underprepared.

This will set a bad precedent.

Mr. Song, would you be able to submit all the requested materials?

Yes, I will submit them.

You just made a promise before the people of this country,

so I trust that you will submit them.

Yes, sure.

I'll explain why it's important. When a new Minister of Justice is appointed,

all the corporations change their law firms.

To the ones where those who are acquainted with the new minister.

That is why I believe it's important to find out

who aligns interests with the candidate.

- Am I wrong? - I agree.

And that being said,

I'm sure you're aware of the recent conveyor belt accident

at Joojin Constructions, a subsidiary of Joojin Chemical.

Yes, I am.

It was a truly unfortunate accident.

From what I know, you and Mr. Lee Chang-jin,

the CEO of Joojin Chemical, are very close. Am I right?

Yes. We met at an entrepreneurs' forum,

and we're still quite close.

The documents you submitted tell us how close the two of you are,

so you probably can't deny it.

When you were a prosecutor,

you handled five cases related to Mr. Lee Chang-jin,

and he was acquitted of all charges.

Mr. Lee

did apologize for the unfortunate accident,

but he's completely ignoring the aftermath of the accident.

Isn't this because he's counting on his friendship with you?

Let me say this again.

Mr. Lee Chang-jin is my personal acquaintance,

but I've never helped him benefit or profit in any way.

However, some unsavory deeds

recently came to my knowledge.

What are they?

I recently found out

about some unsavory transactions between Mr. Lee

and one of my closest aides, who has been meeting him personally.

It only came to my knowledge recently.

Please be more specific.

Who is that person?

I do not think it's appropriate to disclose his name here, but...

Since all of you want to know who it is, I will tell you.

I'm ashamed to say this,

but it's my chief of staff, Mr. Jang Tae-jun.

What? What's he talking about?

Oh, dear. Jang Tae-jun is in deep shit.

Ms. Kang.

He wants the hearing to be all about Mr. Jang,

not about his eligibility to be Minister of Justice.

The number you have dialed is not...

Gosh, why isn't he picking up?

Mr. Jang!

Were you aware that Mr. Lee and Mr. Jang

had been meeting privately?

I only found out recently.

According to a report we received,

Mr. Jang threatened Mr. Lee using the fact

that he works for you to illegally obtain stock information

and even asked for a director position.

Is it true?

Yes, as far as I know.

Chairperson Lee, we'll have to find out more about this allegation.

We'd like Mr. Lee Chang-jin to take the witness stand.

Please proceed.

What is happening?

Mr. Song wants to use me to make sure he is appointed.

He's trying to put all the blame on me.

If Lee Chang-jin testifies against me, I'll be finished.

But it'd only be words without evidence...

Evidence can be crafted.

He's so close to becoming a minister.

Everyone in the prosecution is at his disposal. He has the power.

Destroy all the documents I have.

Who knows what he'll use?