The Merchant: Gaekju 2015 (장사의 신 - 객주 2015)

In Joseon, there were no other way to convey common goods except by "Street Peddlers."

They were some kind of experts who would travel all across the nation just to sell.

Brokers were hired as Head Merchants after earnings became lucrative. Qing "International Market" opened in the last 3 years of Joseon.

The Chun Merchant Group, an authorized dealer, began their trading journey of 480 km.

Here, here... and be careful!

Owner Chun Oh Soo Hey! What a nice day. Let's speed it up a bit!

You have to handle them carefully. -Yes, I understand. I understand.

Hyungnim!

Aigoo!

How long has it been?

The preparations are going well, right?

Of course they are! -Aigoo!

Come on, everyone! Let's wrap this up!

Gil Sang Moon(Chun Family's Merchant Broker)

Bong Sam!

Bong Sam! Bong Sam!

Ah, let me down! Ah!

Chun So Rye(Chun Oh Soo's daughter) Gil So Gae(Gil Sang Moon's son)

You are the son of a peddler,

but you don't like walking or selling.

Then, what do you want to do?

I'd like to just eat and play.

You'd like to just lounge around? Ha, ha!

What a wonderful life!

Other kids are not as lucky as I am, Chun Bong Sam(Chun Oh Soo's son)

that's why they were born poor.

I was very blessed, therefore

I was born into a rich family.

It's not like our family will live in poverty, if I just idle around.

You like working hard and making money, Father,

and so you keep making money.

However, I don't like selling, so I will keep doing nothing.

Wow, my son

has planned his life very well.

Stop saying nonsense and follow me, you rascal. - Ah!

It hurts, Father!

The Chun's Merchant Family of Gaesung...

The Head Merchant will say a word of prayer.

The 'International Market' which has been shut down for some time, ("Chak-Moon-Jhang-Si" is a temporary international market near the border of Joseon and Qing.)

has widely opened its' doors in three years.

Now, all the members of the Chun Family Merchant Group

are going to walk around 1,200 li (480 km/298 mi.)

to get to Chakmoon to sell dried sea cucumber in Qing.

Mountain Songak god, Grandfather of Samagui-gil,

and Grandfather of Syejae-gil!

All of the Family Chun Gaekju,

as we are now,

help us to be fine until the trip ends.

Please help us have a huge sale and make a large profit,

and take care of us.

Now, the Merchant Group owner

receives a farewell drink! *Chulhangju is a drink for wishing a safe trip

Hyungnim, please fill it up.

It tastes good!

My farewell drink is sweet as honey.

Therefore, this business trip will become a successful one, without a doubt.

Are you all ready?

Yes, Head Merchant!

Let's go.

Everyone, let's go!

Let's go! Let's go!

Jiwhaja, let's go!

Go, let's go.

This is very nice...

Head Merchant! Head Merchant!

Head Merchant!

Head Merchant!

Head Merchant!

On the hillside road over the village,

Kim Bo Hyeon! Elder Kim Bo Hyeon is there.

Elder Yoo Seo?

Sir, Yoo Seo what brings you out this far?

Kim Bo Hyeon (Chief of Police for Gaesung) I'm here instead, because you don't come to see me.

Surely, we receive a generous amount of taxes from the Chun's Family Merchant Business to the City of Gaesung's Police Bureau.

Make a lot of money.

I will drink to this after, I successfully complete my trading business at the International Market.

We just finished the 'safe passage ceremony' and are headed over to the market.

Until a deal is closed,

we are not allowed to drink alcohol.

Elder, if the Head Merchant ends up taking even a sip of alcohol,

it can be an ominous sign of unsafe passage.

You, bastard! How dare you interrupt when you're nothing but a low peasant merchant!

You interrupted me!

Come on!

Elder, Yoo Soo, the code and conduct of 'street peddlers'

are strict as the national law to us petty vendors.

Look here, Head Merchant Chun. I'll drop out of this trip this time.

Hyungnim, what are you talking about?

Elder, I will drink it in your honor!

You rascal!

You bastard! Do you wish to die?!

Here!

Elder, Yoo Soo?

Sir, I will gladly accept your drink after my business transaction goes well.

Elder... I will drink on behalf of him.

You...you rascal!

Elder Merchant!

Show mercy, please!

Please, spare our lives! Elder Yoo Soo.

Elder Yoo Soo! Show us mercy! Please . . . !

You rascal!

Elder Yoo Soo, please reconsider!

Chun Oh Soo, you bastard.

Because merchants dominate Gaesung, as soon as a rooster crowed at dawn,

I came all the way here and was waiting for you

to give you a drink with good intentions.

But you dare to reject my drink?

You completely disrespected me!

You bunch of bastards!

You...you rascal!

Drink.

Shove that drink down your throat! Now!

I said, "shove it down right now!"

Do it! NOW!

This business trip to the International market is something we have been looking forward

to earnestly for 3 years.

Our merchant of Chun's future may well depend on it.

Our livelihood is on the line.

After the international business trip is successfully over,

I will gladly come back to accept the drink. Sir.

Sam Sam! (nickname of Bong Sam)

Bong Sam! - Bong Sam!

Which one do you like, alcohol or money?

Bong Sam, why don't you just stay still?! My childish brat!

Wild ginseng is above ginseng, but the sea cucumber is even above wild ginseng.

You... who are you?

I am the son of my father;

Merchant Chun named Chun Oh Soo's son,

I'm Chun Bong Sam. Sir.

Bong Sam!

You...

are you a bit slow in the head?

The other day Chinese merchants

came to our house and said...

Compared to the cultivated ginseng, wild ones are higher quality. Nonetheless, sea cucumber ranks the highest even exceeding the wild ginseng.

Instead of the ginseng merchants of Gaesung,

it is us who sell the dried sea cucumbers.

And Merchant Family Chun is the very best!

By far, we are superb. So we're able to pay an astronomical amount in taxes.

So?

If he drank and didn't go to the International market, it would be good for me.

Because it's really hard to walk to Chakmoon.

However, if he failed in business, he couldn't pay taxes,

and then if he couldn't pay taxes, Gaesung would become poor.

Still, do you want it?

You're right! Gaesung shouldn't become poor!

You are Chun Bong Sam?

You must become the merchant who pays the most taxes in Joseon, when you grow up. Understand?

I don't want to sell things.

Bong Sam.

He's freaking intoxicated! He's drunk!

That cute rascal!

That person never learned to suck up to anyone, did he? After all, it's only one drink.

Hyungnim, you know that money can turn you into an aristocrat or a high ranking official, and even a king in this time and age.

The arrogance of Gaesung's petty vendors is reaching the sky.

So they're getting a puffy head and walking around. Which means they don't feel the need to suck up to anyone.

The new appointment of the Seonhyecheong will be announced soon. *Seonhyecheong is in charge of taxation in late Joseon.

I've heard about that, too. - Why do you think that I was passed on as the Secretary of Agriculture twice?

It's because there was a lack of cash endorsements for my campaign lobby. Lack of money! For a fair shot at that position,

I'll need at least 30,000 nyangs.

Didn't you hear what Chun Oh Soo's son said? *Kim Hak Joon: Kim Bo Hyun's half brother.

Wild ginseng is above regular ginseng, but sea cucumber is even higher than wild ginseng.

We have Family Chun Gaekju in our pocket. It's not hard to prepare 30,000 nyang (currency in Joseon).

100 rolls of Toju silk from Merchant Chang in Andong...

50 rolls of each Jineung silk and Nasuju silk from Merchant Kim in Gwangyang...

20 rolls of each raw silk and steamed silk...

Don't bother. Get on with it.

It's almost done.

Shin Seok Joo(Shin Family's Head Merchant) What brings a high status Police Chief of Gaesung for a stroll to Hanyang the capital?

I came to play.

A king of Joseon is in Gyeongbok Palace and a king of merchants is in Yukuijeon. *Yukuijeon is a huge store which has the privilege to provide six kinds of demand items

Head Merchant, you're status is quite impressive! Very impressive!

Oh, my! My! Don't mention it... And please come on in.

Here you are. Please enjoy it.

Please pardon our shabby hospitality. We have to make our budget for the month.

I should have brought you to Gangol.

I'm not interested in such a gisaeng house.

Eel looks good.

Eel is good. What brings you here?

I came here to sell some merchandise.

Then, let me see it.

It's not a thing that I can carry in my pocket

Why don't you buy a merchant?

Merchant Family Chun.

Do you mean the Merchant Family Chun from Gaesung?

Did Chun Oh Soo put the merchant business up for sale?

I have a brother from my father's concubine, who runs a small business.

Chun Gaekju borrowed money from him, but they haven't paid it back.

Oh, really?

Elder Merchant!

Move over! Move!

Merchant Chun!

You unpacked here.

Yes! Hyungnim. By the way, how is the road condition?

How is the road condition of Cheon-Do It's good, right?

Hey! You all... feed me some rice morsels first, then interrogate me with all those questions!

I'm starving to death!

Here, here. This way please.

Aigoo...

Hey, Utttong -Ugh!