Seobok (서복)

Doctor Carl Anderson at Seoin Research Institute

was killed in a terrorist attack this morning.

Are you sure about this?

The problem is the grave danger it poses from this experiment.

Okay.

I will get back to you soon.

Just let me remind you, we don't have much time.

It's been confirmed. It was a terrorist attack.

Who could they be?

We don't have any leads yet,

but we're certain the project has been exposed.

What are you going to do?

The project needs to be moved to a safer location.

Moved? That's out of the question.

- We're in the final stages. - Isn't project security the top priority?

The chance of another attack is high

and the target is obvious.

You need to make a decision.

Okay, but under one condition.

You can't just show up like this.

I haven't slept in two days because of the headaches.

A man needs to sleep to live, okay?

I'm saying this because I'm worried about you...

- If you keep on this way... - Fuck, I'm not going to die!

I won't let this kill me. So don't worry about me.

What...

- What the... - Mr. Min Ki-hun?

I'm with the company.

Where are you taking me?

Who sent you?

WARNING WATER SOURCE CONSERVATION AREA

This way.

You're still alive.

Did you miss me?

I guess that's a no.

It's been two years. You're not happy to see me?

You brought me here? What is it?

What the hell do you want?

Don't get all jumpy. It's not a good look.

By the way, you look like shit.

Just tell me what you want.

I'm not the one who called you.

Ki-hun.

Long time no see. How are you feeling?

I'm fine.

I see. That's good to hear.

I need you to do a job for me.

What kind of a job?

A job for your country, of course.

I don't work for the company anymore.

Of course that's because I need someone I can trust.

Can you trust me?

Can't I trust you?

Remember the day Hyun-soo passed?

It's been three years, hasn't it?

Time flies, right?

What is the job?

It involves a classified project of national importance.

That's all you need to know.

Director Ahn told me about you.

You must be Mr. Min.

I'm Dr. Shin Hak-sun.

We raised the security level due to a recent terrorist attack.

We don't think they hit their real target.

Sir, the data is out.

What is all this?

Research for the future.

So this ship is a research lab?

Correct.

Why would you carry out work like this on a ship?

Consider it a kind of ark.

Let me introduce you to Dr. Lim. She's in charge here.

Ten years ago,

we successfully cultured genetically manipulated embryonic stem cells.

We inserted the hematopoietic stem cells

into a fertilized egg through nuclear replacements,

then the egg was implanted into a womb.

After a seven-month pregnancy, the specimen was created.

The male specimen grew at a speed twice the regular rate

- of an average human-- - Hang on.

Specimen?

What is that?

Can you open the window?

This boy is the first-ever human specimen created

through stem cell cloning and genetic manipulation.

Are you saying he's a cloned human?

I don't know if we can call him human.

If potato roots sprout from a tomato plant,

what should we call them?

He has special genes that are nonexistent in humans.

He's a new species, if you like.

He's our first successful case.

In the early days, cloning was simply creating exact copies of the original DNA.

But Seobok is different.

His genes were entirely modified through genetic manipulation.

Seobok?

Oh, that's the specimen's name.

Emperor Qin sent off his servant

to search for the elixir of immortality 2,500 years ago.

That servant represents humanity's desire to overcome death.

Seobok was named after him.

Seobok is an undying being.

His bone marrow produces IPS cells,

which are dedifferentiating stem cells.

His IPS proteins can cure any and all human diseases.

Through him, humans can conquer death.

With Anderson gone, Seobok is the only existing source of this technology.

He must be protected at all costs.

Damn it. This is...

I know it's hard to believe.

I mean, this is ridiculous. Don't you think so?

It's not like you can see that he doesn't die.

He looks like an ordinary kid.

He's anything but.

Let me show you something.

You may begin.

It's an unexpected side effect.

We don't fully understand how it's possible.

Seobok has brainwaves far more powerful than us,

so we can only assume he controls the pressure around him.

That's far from ordinary.

I guess it's interesting, sort of like magic.

You can stop now.

I guess it happens frequently.

And it gets worse when stressed or fatigued?

Loss of consciousness due to a brain tumor.

Is it glioblastoma?

I guess you have about six months to a year at best.

Mind your own fucking business.

I'm offering a clinical trial.

I can treat you using Seobok.

I can save your life.

When the Hwang scandal destroyed the stem cell research environment,

Seoin approached us.

They'd help us if we help them with their human cloning research.

Help you with what?

You know what happened that year.

The government then didn't think much of it.

They could use the money from Seoin

and take credit for the work if it succeeded.

But it produced an unexpected outcome.

An undying specimen.

They had to study the specimen to determine its nature,

and ten years passed just like that.

Frankly, we had forgotten about it

until Anderson was killed last night.

He was due to submit the final report next month.

Who's behind it?

It could have been anyone.

After all, this is a powerful weapon.

Weapon?

What do you think a weapon is?

The essence of a weapon is fear.

The fear that it can kill you.

A technology of immortality

is a powerful weapon for everyone who fears death.

And all men die,

just like you.

We're moving the specimen to a secret bunker in Wonju.

Seoin wants to conduct a clinical trial there.

We need a participant for the trial,

someone who's not a security liability.

That's why I contacted you.

So, what do you say?

I'll do it.

Let me be a part of it.

What are they injecting him with?

An inhibitor.

What for?

To suppress cell division,

which is too rapid.

Like an anticancer drug?

Yes, exactly.

He needs one every 24 hours.

He gets one every day?

Yes, otherwise the cell division process will spiral out of control.

What happens then?

He'll die.

But you said he can't die.

Of course he can.

Wouldn't he die if he was shot or hit by a car?

He's not invincible.

I heard you'll take part in the trial.

- Yes. - Congratulations.

I don't know if it's something to be congratulated for. By the way...

How likely are the chances of success?

Since it's the first trial, no one knows.

If it fails,

what happens to me?

Worst case scenario,

you will die, which will happen anyway.

Preparation for relocation ready.

Preparation for relocation ready.

People are so easily scared, aren't they? And greedy as well.

What the hell is she saying?

And she's smoking in a room and shit.

Don't worry, we'll be there soon.

We're going to be spending a lot of time together. I'm Min Ki-hun.

Mr. Min Ki-hun?

You don't have to be formal. Just call me Ki-hun.