Through the Darkness (Those Who Read Hearts of Evil / Akui Maeumeul Ilneun Jadeul / 악의 마음을 읽는 자들)

All people, organizations, locations, and incidents...

in this drama are fictitious.

It was filmed in accordance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Staff ensured child actors' safety in the filming of this drama.

All the scenes with animals were staged...

and filmed in accordance with the animal welfare guidelines.

Cotton candy

Mom.

May 1975

Today Is Children's Day

Over here!

Children are our country's treasure.

Romance

Romance 11

Gosh. Look over there.

Come closer.

Should we peddle all the way there? What do you say?

Sure. Let's go.

Peddle.

- Darn it. - Hey.

Hey.

Romance 11

- Hey, look out! - What? Over there!

- No! - Hey.

Oh, no. My balloon!

Ha Young!

Please help!

Please help! I need help over here!

- What happened? - Gosh.

Someone died in there?

- Step back. - Please move back.

- What happened? - You must step back.

- In that cold water. - Are you serious?

- Come on. Hurry. - The boys were playing.

And that kid fell into the water.

- My goodness. - That's how they found her.

Ma'am.

Excuse me. Ha Young.

Ha Young.

You really scared me today.

- Goodness. - I was so worried.

What happened?

Through the Darkness, Episode 1

March 1998

Hey, did you get anything?

Brief me.

I haven't seen even a single ant over here.

Closing news.

There had been many reported cases of break-ins...

at multiplex houses for the past 10 months since 1997.

The culprit sexually assaulted women and robbed their values.

- The Red Cap Incident... - None.

continues to take place.

- How much longer? - But the police...

haven't made any progress.

So the public has become more frightened for their safety.

The police announced that they will reinforce patrol...

in dark alleys and residential areas...

and they would do their best to arrest the culprit.

Gosh. This is killing me.

It's March. How come it's still freezing?

It's always cold when we're on a stakeout.

Hey.

You don't know the first thing about stakeouts.

Assistant Inspector Song Ha Young of Dongbu Police Station

I can't believe we can't even go home...

because we have to catch a horny sex offender.

What is this?

This has been going on for ten months.

And there are 12 victims.

Besides, this is our job.

Think about the victims. Stakeouts are nothing.

Gosh. That's why we must catch him.

What if he doesn't show up...

now that we're waiting for him here?

This kind of sting operation has no foundation.

We'll put this one-dimensional approach behind...

in the 21st century and move forward with more futuristic methods, right?

- What do you mean by futuristic? - I don't know.

I'm just frustrated. So I'm spitting out ideas.

I'm frustrated too.

Gosh. You have to speak up now.

I come here every day. But I only saw one cat.

Right. We'll be back tomorrow anyway.

- Take out the walkie-talkie. - Okay.

Let's see.

Captain, we'll wrap up for the night.

Captain, it's snowing. Let's call it a night.

Okay. Let's wrap it up.

Come back here tomorrow at 10pm.

- See you later. - Bye.

Gosh. It's freezing out here. Let's try again tomorrow.

- We're done. Go home. - What?

We can go home?

It's so cold.

Why is it snowing in March?

- Let's go. - It's too early.

It's 3am already. Okay? Gosh.

Here's what I think. He must know that we're here.

So we should rest up too.

Let's come back when he least expects it.

So does crime.

Gosh. I know that.

Who's going to know all the work we do here?

You know, we're not making any progress with our investigation.

Darn it. People just call the cops incompetent.

You should go home then. I'll stay out here for a bit longer.

If you do anything on your own,

Captain Park is going to give me an earful.

Will you stay then?

See you later.

Don't tell Captain Park that I went home before you.

Sure. Go home.

- Bye. - Okay. See you later.

- What do you want to eat? - I'm not going to eat.

Come on. Just show up already.

Top Pub

Red Cap.

That doesn't look like your house.

Come here.

It won't take long.

Darn it.

Hey!

Are you okay?

You little... Come here.

Gosh, it always rains on days like this.

It always does.

- Let's go. - Darn it.

He was just pretending to be Red Cap?

He has five prior convictions for rape and assault,

but he has an alibi for every Red Cap incident.

He did it because the red cap...

terrified the victims and made them surrender.

Dongbu Police Station

Take good care of him.

Criminal Investigations

What is it?

Why do you think he did it?

What do you mean?

Hey.

I don't even want to know what scumbags like him are thinking.

Why?

That's just the way they are.

He's not thinking.

Exactly. We caught him, so why let him mess with you?

Mess with us? How?

With this.

Gosh, we already have enough to worry about.

Once the case is closed,

stop thinking about it for your mental health's sake.

I didn't know you actually used your brain for thinking.

Let's go eat something.

What do you feel like?

- You're not coming, right? - No, enjoy your meal.

Copycat crimes imitating the Red Cap are running rampant,

adding further complications to the investigation.

A special promotion offer...

is on the table for the officer who catches the culprit,

but the police are still struggling to gather enough leads on him.

The 1st Red Cap Incident took place on May 11, 1997.

He broke into a woman's home in Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul,

raped her, and fled the scene.

To date, 12 sexual assault victims have been reported.

The culprit is known as "Red Cap"...

- Ms. Choi Hwa Yeon. - Yes.

I booked your next appointment for the date the doctor suggested.

Next time, make sure you bring the father too.

Okay, I will.

- Thank you. - Get home safely.

Regarding the Red Cap Incident, the police...

They still haven't caught him?

When will he be caught?

Right? It's so scary.

Serial Rapist Red Cap's Whereabouts Still Remain Unknown

Bookstore

Turtle Supermarket

Mom!

My gosh. You should've just bought an umbrella.

You're soaked!

- When did you get here? - Goodness.

I brought you some winter cabbage and green onion kimchi.

My gosh, your fridge was so messy.

I threw out all the spoiled food and organized everything.

I made some barley tea too.

I can do it too. You always do everything and nag me.

Go inside. Go on in.

It's raining. You should just sleep here.

Don't stay out too late. My goodness.

This world is a scary place. You're old enough to know that.

- Just sleep here tonight. - I have to go to work tomorrow.

Then take a taxi. I'll give you money for the fare.

Why waste money on a taxi ride when I can take the bus?

- Forget it. - Wait!

All right, fine.

Leave the kimchi out for two days before putting it in the fridge.

- That way, it'll age well. - Okay.

Bye.

You're making me uncomfortable. Just go inside.

Get going.

I'm not a kid, you know.