Original subtitles

North Korea

is going to attack Seoul.

It's a war.

America said that they are going to attack Pyongyang.

Pyongyang would attack Seoul right away.

Where's Hang Ah?

Where's Hang Ah?

I can't!

I can't go back to the country like this!

Comrade Lee Jae-ha!

Dad!

I can't leave Comrade Lee Jae-ha!

Then?

Are you okay with never seeing me again?

It took 35 years for people

to reunite after the Korean War.

Do you think we'll be any different?

My heart

can wait for you for decades.

But my body can't.

I'm too old.

Even if you come looking for me,

I would've already been six feet under.

Go ahead.

Stay if you must.

Who invoked DEFCON Three?

The joint chiefs and the ROK-US CFC decided.

But in short, the US president and...

Who? You? Without me, the commander-in-chief?

The US took on an intimidating demeanor.

So you went ahead without my approval?

DEFCON, out of all things?

Come with me, will you?

COMRADE LEE JAE-HA

-Don't answer that. -Dad.

The South betrayed us.

They sided with the US.

No.

They would never do that.

They reassured us, then prepared for combat.

That happened during our visits abroad.

Now that Jae-ha is back, he'll clear the misunderstandings.

He's still a South Korean.

He's different.

Your Majesty.

Hang Ah, where are you?

Did you hear about what happened?

The administration ran amok while I was gone.

Where are you? You didn't cross the border, did you?

Not yet,

but the misunderstanding has become bigger here.

How long will it take to set things right?

I'm not sure.

First, I have to find out the US' intent.

But the North disconnected the hotline.

The emergency hotline was disconnected?

Do you think it was my idea? The Party decided it.

So there is no communication with the South right now?

Who communicates during a war?

Any chances of getting it reconnected?

We're in a war!

Hello?

Hang Ah! Kim Hang Ah!

I'm here.

Come here. I'll send a car right now.

I...

I...

I will return to the North.

At this rate, reconciliation will become impossible.

With no means of communication,

what's left is war.

Our lines are always open.

It was the North that disconnected.

Exactly.

I'll get them reopened.

I'll tell them about your true intentions.

I'll persuade them to stop this war.

There will be no way to communicate between us.

Who knows how the situation will change, yet you want...

Your heart lies where mine does.

The situation might change,

but our hearts won't.

You're really going back to North Korea?

When we might go to war?

I want my father in my life.

And I want you too.

That's why I'm going.

I want to be able to see you again.

Hang Ah.

You'll stop the war, won't you?

I will do my part.

As long as we don't change, we'll meet again.

I love you.

Good job.

There were 2.7 times more informal meetings held

in Washington D.C. and Virginia this week.

Our administration, Ministry of Defense and Intelligence Bureau...

They're in a state of emergency.

I understand. Find out more about that.

Bye.

Hello?

Did you see?

Who's this?

Jeez, I haven't called recently and you forgot my voice?

Check the e-mail I just sent you.

You'll regret it if you don't.

It's the very thing you want to know.

The US decided to attack North Korea at 1600 hours on May 24.

That's the final approval.

If you doubt it, verify the authenticity of the president's signature.

Why did you charge me through the ICC?

I started preparing this move then.

Remember on the cliff?

I told you to choose between your life and your country.

And you chose your life.

What king lets his country go to war to save himself?

If war breaks out and even one person dies,

you'll be to blame.

You would've killed them all, brat.

No, you'd be the murderer.

Stop trying to guilt trip me with your illogical points.

I'm simply trying to judge you by the law.

And you think I'll be punished?

You will.

Oh, jeez.

Listen, there's going to be a war.

Your countries will be ruined, and I'll go free.

No.

I will stop this war, and you will be brought to justice.

You're nothing but a puppet king.

Mr. Eun, I'm sending you a top-secret document.

Keep it tightly under wraps and verify whether it's true.

What document?

It's for the US.

An approval to attack North Korea.

Did you check it?

Yes, it's true.

The ROK-US CFC wants to raise DEFCON to level two.

It was an issue since they didn't receive your approval.

So, this time, they're asking for it.

It's not like they won't do it if I say no.

Precisely, it's just a formality.

They want to justify their actions by receiving your official approval.

If the US' attack is confirmed, North Korea will attack us, right?

Yes.

It's impossible for them to attack the US.

If war is imminent, protocol requires DEFCON Two.

The royal family's first priority is to protect the people.

What will you do?

Initiate it.

DEFCON 2 has been invoked as of May 1, 2012.

DEFCON Two is invoked when the enemy shows clear signs of preparing for war.

Organic units are reinforced 100%, and ammunition is assigned to individuals.

This is the first time DEFCON Two has been instated since the ceasefire.

The partial reserve forces of DEFCON Three will be increased to full reserve forces--

Load your weapons with live ammunition.

And always maintain active status.

We'll escort the royal family to the bunkers in three weeks.

As of now, the defense is raised to the highest level.

Informal talks are out of the question right now.

Due to DEFCON Two.

We don't want to fight with the North.

We need to communicate.

Yes, I'll keep trying.

Does Hang Ah know that the US plans to attack on May 24?

I don't believe she knows the exact date.

Returning to North Korea is a smart choice.

The Party highly commends your unwavering loyalty to the republic.

I'm sure you heard things

about their national defense while you were there.

Particularly about the bunkers for the royals and the administration.

You're an exceptional military officer.

I'm sure you haven't forgotten what you heard in passing.

You want me to disclose their defense secrets?

We're in a war!

The South is so generous.

We one-sidedly disconnected all lines,

yet they keep their lines open and ask for informal talks.

We need to reconnect the lines and talk to the South.

Why should I listen to you?

Everything was caused by not knowing each other's intent.

But once you confirm that the South doesn't want war--

Do you know what the first thing Lee Jae-ha did once he returned?

He raised the DEFCON level. He prepared for war!

We threatened to attack first!

As the king, he had to ensure national security--

Comrade Kim Hang Ah!

You're nothing but a weak woman.

So in love with a man, you've lost all sense of reason.

You're grasping for straws.

If that was true, would I return here?

I had the opportunity to stay with the man I loved.

Why do you think I chose to come back?

Get out.

I won't listen to a woman who lets love sway her allegiance.

Prime minister.

I'm not on their side. I'm suggesting peace talks.

Reconnect the hotline and set up an informal meeting--

It's too late!

Talks are impossible when we've invoked Tempest Level Two.

Tempest Level Two?

The South raised their alert first!

You ordered that we prepare for war?

We can't let them wipe us out, can we?

We will face the traitorous Lee Jae-ha

by invoking Tempest Level Two.

Lee Jae-ha supported the US's decision to trample us.

The moment they attack Pyongyang, Seoul will face a rain of fire.

Did you write your statement?

Putting on the final touches.

The people are nervous about the North's announcement.

Show them that you are not shaken.

We will confront them with merciless retaliation

and bring their unacceptable anti-national rebels into judgement.

The US must explain its announcement to attack Pyongyang.

We urge the North to cease the hostility

and begin communicating in peace.

If the North insists on attacking Seoul...

South Korea will use any and all means possible...

...to ensure that the North rightly pays for their attack.

I didn't intend on arguing with the prime minister.

I just told him my opinion.

I didn't put you in hot water, did I?

What in the world is the Party thinking?

If both sides don't stop--

Are you free next Sunday?

I was thinking that we could take a trip abroad.

Dad, you aren't...

We can live together if we go to Berlin.

And the king could come to visit you.

It'll work out.

Dad, are you considering defecting?

War is inevitable at this point.

You were engaged to the king.

I pushed for peace with the South.

Do you think they'll let us live?

The Party made up their mind to attack South Korea?

All we're doing is trying to survive.

The US started this--

Has it been decided?

Of course.

Besides, do you know what Jae-ha said today?

He'll attack and make us pay.

How could he say that when he knows you're here?

He's saying that he'll kill you.

When I heard that, I saw red all over.

Goodness.

Let's go somewhere else, not Berlin.

A place where the king will never find us, okay?

What he said was just his official statement.

We often bluff to the South too.

It's the same thing--

Even so, you're up here.

And official announcements are all we have to go on.

He fanned the fire.

I'd choose...

A preemptive attack.

-A preemptive attack? -It's not certain yet.

We're going to strike South Korea first?

We're going to ambush them?

He should've declared an all-out war. "Make them pay" was too weak.

An all-out war?

What's the point of riling up the North Koreans?

Victory.

We can win this war in three days max.

Together with the US, we'd drop bunker busters on their key facilities.

The North has prepared for bunker busters.

Even if it succeeds, there would be radioactive fallout.

Chernobyl, for both Koreas.

What are the estimated damages in the case of war?

Within a day, 200,000 soldiers.

And 1.5 million civilian casualties in the capital.

What?

If it lasts a week, at least a million soldiers.

With five million civilian casualties.

100 billion dollars in damages, 300 billion dollars in damage restoration.

Hold on.

Come again?

Based on 1994 standards.

Right now, it would be twice of that.

I suppose we'll probably win if the ROK-US CFC keeps fighting.

But the North won't just take it.

Both will recede to the economy we had in the 60s and 70s.

As for the men in the age of 40s or younger,

consider them all dead.

The extinction of our people.

You know what I always say.

I want people to live in peace, without fear of war.

Don't you ever give up.

Because you're the king.

Still!

You should've risen above that. You're a royal.

If war breaks out and even one person dies,

you'll be to blame.

You'll stop the war, won't you?

I want to be able to see you again.

But I have you now.

So, thank you.

Trust me.

And...

I will trust you.

Lee Jae-ha of Republic of Korea

and Kim Hang Ah of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

That even in the face of an unavoidable war,

both of you will combine forces

until the last moment and stop it?

I moved into the building yesterday. A gift to say hello.

Are you from China? Your accent--

HANDMADE BY LEE JAE-HA I'M SORRY, THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU

What do you mean Lee Jae-ha contacted you?

If you're bluffing, you will...

It's the official US document outlining their attack.

Operation Morning Calm.

It was approved by the leaders

of the US National Security Council.

With the president's signature.

-When's the date? -First, set up a meeting.

If you want to know the date, agree to informal talks.

I will represent North Korea.

You want to strike a deal with me?

Yes.

I suppose you know that Lee Jae-ha will be their representative.

You didn't know?

I guess you'll want to go even more now.

It'll be exciting to reunite

with your lover.

Okay then.

I guess we'll all die now.

By the way,

about our preemptive attack...

May 30, is that right?

I'll tell you one thing.

It'll be too late.

Hold it!

Tell me the date first,

and I'll consider letting you go.

I'll tell you after the talk.

I'll need some leverage, right?

True, you will.

But you'll agree that I need leverage as well?

DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The official document agreeing to the engagement with Lee Jae-ha.

ENGAGEMENT OF NORTH AND SOUTH

The only official copy left in North Korea.

Tear it up.

You shouldn't be engaged when you are meeting the enemy.

Now, what does North Korea want through these talks?

I will fulfill the duty.

Have them rescind DEFCON Two.

I'm going in order to stop the war by discussing our true feelings.

Shouldn't someone of your rank

aim for a goal that's just as high?

Aim high? Then get the South and the US to surrender.

I'm not going there to fight.

We're hanging by a thread here.

With our lives on the line, why shouldn't we resist?

Bring me the official US document as soon as the meeting is over.

When it's over. I hid it where only I can find it.

Meanwhile, I'll be holding onto your father.

I can't have you demanding more after the meeting.

Not my father.

He's the Minister of Unification.

We'll treat him accordingly.

Do you realize

we'll be watching through the security camera?

I'm counting on it.

You'll see for yourself what the king has to say.

You can decide after seeing his true intentions.

Go on inside. They'll be here in ten minutes.

Who's the North Korean representative?

I'm not sure, but we agreed to accommodate all their conditions.

Dad, I'm sorry.

If the prime minister threatens you--

I'm a person of authority. He won't mistreat me.

Isn't it time for the meeting?

Go on in.

Okay.

Don't talk about overly sensitive matters.

Keep it light and spend the time catching up, okay?

Your daughter is quite cheeky.

She turned out well. Dauntlessly.

Hang Ah.

Good to see you.

Begin the talk.

It wasn't easy getting here.

Please talk about your true feelings and not your official position.

Why did you invoke DEFCON Two?

You weren't planning on attacking us with the US,

were you?

Why are you so chatty while he's not talking?

Ask only the necessary questions.

Comrade Lee Jae-ha.

Is your leader

watching through that camera?

You agreed to accommodate our conditions if we agreed to a meeting.

Do you know that the US

is planning to attack on May 24?

May 24?

Search Kim Hang Ah's home and anywhere else she's been.

If it's May 24,

it's less than a week away.

Get your daughter to tell us where the document is.

It's going to happen soon.

Why did you mention the date?

I asked you to calm them down.

Do you really want to start a war?

What are you doing on May 24? Going to war?

-Comrade Jae-ha! -I want to get married

to you.

Let's push up the wedding date a little.

What? Is he crazy?

Get out now.

The South Korean king is messing with you.

Leave the room now!

Talk to me directly.

Hang Ah isn't your doormat.

There are plenty of ways for us to talk, through the phone or the hotline.

So, why do you hide behind Hang Ah and torment her?

I really don't understand why you're going to attack us.

Are we your real target? Of course not.

Either attack them directly, or pipe down if you can't.

Why are you always throwing us under the bus?

We weren't behind the terrorist attack!

Threatening to bomb South Korea is an act of terror!

Either way, you're dead.

And we'll die too.

The US will bomb you, and you'll bomb us.

And if China gets involved...

Do you think

a single person will survive on the peninsula?

By pushing for war, you're pushing

for our race's extinction.

So?

You think that

if the two of you hold hands and get married,

the US will say, "Oh, good!" and give you their blessing?

They won't if we get married in secret.

But...

What if we use the marriage against them?

A wedding is an event of celebration.

And we're the only divided country in the world.

If we announce our marriage,

the entire world will congratulate us.

You think they'll launch missiles on the day of the wedding?

They can't do that.

They can't, it wouldn't be justified.

You know how important justification is when it comes to war.

I'm not trying to save just the South.

I want this wedding to save us both, the North and the South.

He's right, you know.

If the South publicly announces the wedding,

the US can't touch us.

And there's only a week left until May 24.

We can't attack the South like we had planned anyway.

So please...

Come back.

I'll think about it.

Send Comrade Kim Hang Ah home.

Wait! What are you doing?

Everyone is pointing guns.

Let's settle this now.

If you want to use the wedding, lower your security alert in five minutes.

Or just go ahead.

Shoot me.

Comrade Lee Jae-ha.

If you decide to refuse, you'll bomb us anyway.

It makes no difference if I die later or now.

You have five minutes.

Yeong Bae.

You're a sniper.

A single shot, make it good.

Right here.

What are you going to do?

Did you make a decision?

I take that as a no.

So it's war?

Shoot me.

Your prime minister wants to go to war.

So shoot.

I'm the king, so this shot will start the war.

Don't you dare.

Sir, I can't do it...

Comrade Kim Hang Ah.

Shall I shoot?

Why?

You don't think I can shoot the person I love?

I'll kill him.

Then I'll join him.

Comrade Kim Hang Ah.

I'll be right behind you.

Comrade Lee Jae-ha.

Lower that gun!

Do you promise to help us?

Of course.

With determination,

today, we rescinded the security alert.

We will not use force of arms to fight US oppression.

We will embrace peace, completely unarmed.

We dare the US to attack us.

Pierce the hearts of people who love peace.

What's with the North? Have they lost it?

But you'll still attack them, won't you?

May 24.

Then...

Just bomb Panmunjeom, okay?

Kill them all.

Forget later!

Bomb them!

Otherwise,

I'll disclose all the bribes you took!

There he is!

Congratulations on your marriage!

US control has been tightened since yesterday.

The North has rescinded their security alert.

Did you miss the announcement?

I'm getting married here today.

The king of this nation is trying to get married.

And a foreign military officer dares to block him?

Let's go.

MILITARY POLICE

Present, arms!

Congratulations, Your Highness!

It's the US.

They keep trying to contact us for confirmation.

Don't answer it.

We sent a wedding invitation and asked for a blessing as an ally.

If they want to watch, they have the CNN live broadcast.

No word from the US?

Should we issue a warning or something?

It's all good.

Even the Chinese military withdrew this morning.

I thought the wedding

would be fancier than the engagement.

What the heck is this?

It had to be rushed.

I'm fine with it.

But you only get one wedding.

Dad.

I'm sorry.

I'm a terrible daughter, aren't I?

I'm fine as long as you're happy.

My goodness.

I wish your mother were here today.

Thanks.

For accepting my request to see you in person.

I'm so considerate.

I knew you'd want to see me locked up like this.

I won, you know.

I forced you to the brink of war.

Terrifying, wasn't it?

You people already have a mass PTSD.

You jump at every firework you hear.

Your hearts drop at every siren.

Only in Korea, a country ravaged by war.

You'll grow more uneasy by the day.

Fear will drive you to buy more weapons.

Toughen up national security.

We prevented the war.

We did it together.

We gained confidence from preventing it.

War is supposed to be the scariest thing in the world.

We overcame that, so we have nothing to fear.

Thank you for making us stronger.

You think you won because you locked me up?

Club M is still out there!

Its name and its leader might change.

But Club M will always be Club M!

They'll keep shaking you at the core!

They'll threaten and torment you!

A united front?

It won't last five years! It'll fall apart!

The contract is valid for five years.

4 YEARS LATER

I look forward to working with you.

Your Majesty.

I'm behind schedule. Please excuse me.

Sir, Junior Lieutenant Rhee Ho Jun of the Korean People's Army.

Sir, Lieutenant Nam Seok Jin of the Korean People's Army.

Nice to meet you.

Sir, Captain Kim Jin Ho of the Korean People's Army.

I'm Lee Jae-ha, king of South Korea.

No female member this time?

For the fifth WOC, the South is supposed to appoint a female officer.

-Is that right? -Yes.

Our ladies are quite beautiful.

Make a move during training.

I already saw her.

What's with him? Already in love?

It's a serious problem.

He refuses to train her because she's pretty.

You loony!

I look forward to working with you.

Go on inside.

You...

We're all finally together. How about drinks later?

That's a grand idea.

We're not all together.

We stopped by his grave and poured him a drink.

That's enough to get Comrade Eun Shi-gyeong drunk.

Not just drunk, knocked out.

Are you done with the preparations?

All right, I'll be there.

No, I can go by myself.

Goodbye.

It's too cloudy to see any stars.

Right?

I have a blind date tomorrow.

What to do?

Should I go or not?

I hear he's handsome.

You should meet him.

What?

Are you mad?

I'm not. Meet him.

I can't promise to die alone,

loving only you for the rest of my life.

You shouldn't do that.

But

you'll always have a place in my heart.

Like a shadow.

Let's go.

Oh, so pretty, my boy.

Just like his mom.

Dad, accept our video call.

My goodness.

Hi, Grandpa!

That's my boy!

I love you!

It's me, Grandpa!

THE FIRST BRANCH IN NORTH KOREA

We are the first Korean bank to enter the North Korean market.

I feel immense pride and responsibility.

I am positive that it'll help our economic development.

Up next...

KUMHO BRANCH IN NORTH OPENING

His Majesty, the King.

You're cutting it close.

I was running behind schedule.

Ready.

One, two, three.

Dad!

There's my boy.

Forgive me, he slipped away from me and ran.

It's fine.

He takes after his mother and is very athletic.

-He's beautiful, just like you two. -So elegant.

He looks just like you when you were young.

Mum.

The crown prince saying "mum"?

Isn't the North Korean queen a bad influence on him?

I believe they should send him abroad for his education.

The prince will be king one day, and his education is our nation's foundation.

Don't mind them.

I'm sorry.

No need to apologize. Really, it's okay.

It'll blow over soon.

You said "mum?"

What would you call me?

Mom, can you give us a moment?

Sure.

I'll be resting.

Mum?

Mum instead of Mom, of all things.

I swear I only said it once,

but he must have understood.

You speak so beautifully like your pretty mum.

Dear Crown Prince,

you'll be a wonderful king just like your dad.

Gosh, what is this?

Hello?

What?

Why is the foreign press in an uproar?

Like they know the difference between mom and mum.

They think it's a matter of dialect.

"Mum" is the standard in the North.

Club M--

I mean, M Society's Ryan Drex is acting up again.

Arrange a press conference, I'll explain things.

Just ignore it.

It's an item on the National Assembly's agenda, right?

If we ignore it, they'll badger me to divorce Hang Ah.

They're just a small minority.

They're not interested in hearing anything from you or the queen.

They're opposing just because.

You might make things worse--

But they're my people, too.

I want more people to accept my Hang Ah.

I'll persuade them until the end.

It isn't looking good.

They'll be attacking from all fronts.

If he says "mum" again, we might start a war.

We prevented the last one.

So we did.

As long as we don't give up.

Are you ready?

Yes.

I love you.

Let's go.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE KING 2 HEARTS

Hurry.

I'm coming.

-Hello. -Hello.

-No! -Cut.

Subtitle translation by Youngju Kim