Money Game (Meonigeim / 머니게임)

Byung Hak? Tobin tax?

Yes, I was surprised as well.

He always a supporter of the free market.

But that tax system uses the law to control the market.

Is that really true? - Yes.

He must've also thought it was contradicting...

because he studied it in private.

Maybe he knew he was going to die.

What are you talking about?

People say you're about to die if you act out of the ordinary.

I just recently moved, so the place is a mess.

There's nothing here.

This is all I have to offer.

But what brings you here so early in the morning?

Tobin tax.

Why don't we get ready to implement that?

Tobin tax?

Are you talking about...

the tax that was first introduced by James Tobin...

in order to prevent the extortion of our country's speculative capital?

That's right.

We can change it to fit the current situation.

A Korean version of it.

Once the restructuring is over, Eugene Han will...

try to sell Jungin Bank and leave the market.

And later on in the future,

he'll return and try to take things over.

But do you think...

we can catch him with the current Foreign Exchange Control Law?

No, we can't.

But if we tax them,

they'll be more careful in trying to siphon money.

That could worsen the market liquidity.

We can't burn down the house just to catch a bug.

We'll catch the bug and make sure the house doesn't burn down.

Our country is a member of the OECD,

so we need to stick to the Code of Liberalization of Capital.

Just tell them it's a macro-prudential policy.

So you want to catch Eugene Han?

Yes, why? - Do you think I'll do it?

Do it.

The FX Fund Bureau should do it.

I work in the International Finance Bureau.

Once I become the deputy prime minister,

I'll appoint you as the director of the International Finance Bureau.

And you'll have my full support.

Keep it discreet. That's all you have to do.

If it goes public, people will start to do unnecessary things.

Why me?

Your father once came up...

with a Korean version of the Tobin tax.

But it was never implemented.

Why?

Because if he had proposed the idea,

he would've contradicted his beliefs as an economist.

He was a full supporter of the free market.

If you use what he studied, it'll save you some time.

Are you trying to use me...

to confirm that my father was wrong?

You have...

absolutely no idea how much effort it took...

for me to come here.

I'll see you at the MOEF office in the afternoon.

I haven't given you an answer yet.

Let's see.

Okay.

You've done enough.

I don't want to be a coward anymore.

That's why I wanted you to stay as a professor.

You don't have what it takes to become a minister.

That job has no honor,

and you're nothing but a salaryman.

You always told me...

that economics is the best subject that one can study.

Yes, I did.

You told me that it teaches the history of man...

and that the history of man is equivalent to the history of greed.

You told me to study greed...

saying it will eventually help me understand mankind.

And what about that? - As a bureaucrat,

I wanted to implement the right economic policies...

and get acknowledged by you.

No.

I wanted to be better than you.

There are conditions.

I'm not doing it as Professor Chae's son.

I'm doing it as Chae Yi Hun, a government official of MOEF.

I want that to be the premise.

I'll also choose the people I want to work with...

regarding the implementation of the Tobin tax.

And? - I will decide on the details...

such as the tax rate.

I will make a decision based on my team's research.

I'll see you later then.

Mr. Chae Yi Hun.

I will appoint Mr. Chae...

as the director of IFB.

I hope you'll help him with whatever he needs.

I look forward to working with you all.

What deal do you think they struck?

Who knows what happens behind closed doors?

I honestly believed that he was different.

Begin the project then.

Yes, sir.

Get to work.

He's Professor Chae's son. Maybe that's why.

It's good to see you.

I guess so.

Also, you know how calculative Mr. Heo is.

Did you forget who made him the chairman of FSC?

Within government organizations, the model employees...

usually get cheeky behind your back.

That sums up who Chae Yi Hun is, right?

If my job was on the line and someone offered me...

a position as a director, I'd take that deal.

No matter what it is, I'd take it.

I'm happy for you. Congratulations, sir.

Thank you.

Chief Jo. - Congratulations.

Thank you.

Could you accompany me to Gwanghwamun?

Why Gwanghwamun? - There's someone we need to meet.

Sorry?

The order came from soon-to-be DPM.

Of course. Let me get my coat.

Sir!

This is unfair.

Get back to work.

What's the issue? - You can't just promote him...

to my position in the office.

Why did you choose to become a civil servant?

You've never thought about that, have you?

I got good grades in college...

and passed the state exam.

That's why I became a civil servant.

So what?

What?

It's not like I'm the only one!

Tobin tax?

By just the three of us?

We can't afford this getting out,

so the team must be kept small.

That's the first reason.

Second, Chief Jo's specialty lies with tax...

and in terms of international business...

I really hate admitting this, but that's what you're known for.

All I know is what I learned in college...

through textbooks.

All right. Let's say it's not a bad idea.

However, we can't implement one without the help of other nations.

It's just impossible.

I mean, think about it. If we impose the Tobin tax,

which country would voluntarily deal in foreign exchange with us?

None of them would.

Once that happens, the exchange rate will skyrocket.

It won't benefit us in any way.

Brazil once implemented it. - And now it's been scrapped.

Well, 11 member states of the EU and China...

are trying to make it happen.

Thoroughly analyzing case studies will help us draw a better picture.

Also...

Here you go.

This is what Professor Chae was working on.

We can draw a basic sketch off James Tobin's model,

but it should be altered to fit Korea's economy.

Rebuilding a healthy macro-prudential policy is the key.

So rather than calling it the Tobin tax,

we'll put it as...

a Korean model of the Tobin tax.

From there, we'll add on.

Yi Hun, there's no way Professor Chae worked on this.

Regulating the market by implementing man-made systems?

It goes against his beliefs.

Well, on the back of that...

is a consent form. Read the document and sign it.

Still,

doesn't this mean...

that you're taking the side...

of the soon-to-be DPM, Heo Jae?

How am I supposed to react to this mind-blowing revelation?

Just sign it. - Mr. Heo...

and you...

came up with an idea that is beyond my wildest dreams.

Here.

I was told not to sign just any document.

Can we talk? I'll be waiting outside your apartment complex.

What are you going to do with the recording...

of Director Seo's conversation I gave you?

What kind of a person do you think I am?

Let me rephrase that.

You think I bargained the recording of Mr. Seo's conversation...

for a directorial position within the MOEF.

Isn't that what you came to confirm?

Yes, that's right.

Then I'll ask again.

What kind of a person do you think I am?

I'm not sure. - Am I a scumbag?

No.

I didn't strike any deal with Mr. Heo...