Original subtitles

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

The King's carriage collapsed?

You'll be even more shocked when I tell you who is responsible.

Why did you destroy the King's carriage?

How else am I to expel my rage for the King who has forsaken me?

Arrest Deputy Commander Jang Youngsil at once.

I will personally decide his punishment.

Put him on trial?

Why are you trying our prisoner who is to be taken to Ming?

Jang Youngsil has committed a crime equal to high treason.

How would your government deal with such a criminal?

Branding?

A crime against the King is a crime against the country.

He must be branded a traitor and sentenced to a lifetime of forced labor.

Forced labor!

The King will attempt to send Jang Youngsil to forced labor.

You mean send him to a labor camp for life?

That's the only way to keep Jang and his valuable talent in Joseon.

Father, you can't do this! You can't do this to him.

How can I put a shackle on a man who has my daughter's heart?

I'll just have to give him something better.

What are you going to do?

Don't! Don't do this!

No, Father! No!

The King set this up.

It's a ploy to keep Jang Youngsil from being taken to Ming.

Isn't it?

It's a waste of energy trying to second guess the King at a time like this.

Don't you know that?

Wang Zhen will see right through this.

Of course he will.

What were you doing?

What's this?

Jang Youngsil?

I made a drawing of him just in case he tries to escape.

Good.

You wish to observe Jang Youngsil's trial?

It's Venerable Wang's order.

His Majesty won't mind.

This is a political charade!

A show to avoid having to send Jang Youngsil to Ming and divert attention

away from the writing system development!

His Majesty won't be able to get through this predicament unless

he can erase all suspicion from the Ming envoy and the government.

That will depend on how far he is willing to go with Jang Youngsil.

King's degree of cruelty that will be the key.

I will not enforce branding.

But Your Majesty...

Branding as punishment has been outlawed by national law.

He will not be sentenced to forced labor either.

No forced labor?

He's being much to lenient, don't you think?

Treasonous heart deserves a much harsher punishment.

Then...

I am hereby sentencing Jang Youngsil to one hundred lashes harshest flogging

punishment allowed by the law.

Father!

Guards, what are you waiting for?

One hundred lashes could kill him!

Tie him to the flogging rack!

Flogging?

That's absurd!

Oh, dear...

One hundred lashes?

It will crush his bones and rip his skin.

I've never heard of anyone surviving after one hundred lashes.

Killing his own man in tears...

That's quite a move the King is making.

Should I call Choi Manli?

He's the one that can give you what you need to one-up that move.

You're a good judge of character.

There's only one thing that can change where this is going.

The writing system development?

We have to turn over the evidence to Ming.

Where is Jeong Inji?

Are you going to the tribunal?

Where else should I be going?

That is not where you should be going.

What do you mean by that?

What are you doing?

What have you done?

I got rid of a piece of paper we don't need.

What?

Was it the King?

Did you fall for him again? How did he coax this time?

Jang Youngsil's entry to government office was a meaningful event for us.

Don't change the subject.

"A slave cannot be one of us."

"A peasant cannot hold rank above nobles no matter how talented he is."

What's your point?

It wasn't easy, but we overcame that false consciousness.

Jeong Inji!

There were times when we were unafraid of such revolution.

So what are you saying?

Are you going to join the King's revolution?

Are you going to be the vanguard of his writing system development?

I haven't decided anything.

All I know is that what's worse than false consciousness is stagnation

treading water in silence and indecision out of fear of change.

If you turn against me now to support the King's high and mighty revolution,

you and I will become irreconcilable enemies.

I'm afraid of myself more than I am of anyone or anything else.

And I think I should be as the Hall of Worthies leader.

This is the last lesson that my one-time superior and

long-time respected colleague Jang Youngsil has taught me.

Forth-nine!

Fifty!

Fifty-one!

Fifty-two!

Fifty-three!

Fifty-four!

Fifty-five!

Fifty-six!

Fifty-seven!

Fifty-eight!

Fifty-nine!

Sixty!

Sixty-one!

Continue.

Is there no other way?

Restrain yourself.

Please stop the flogging.

This could kill him, Father!

Prime Minister.

Continue the flogging!

This is insane!

My man!

Let go! Let go of me!

Youngsil!

He's possessed by evil spirits!

Your Majesty, you of all people can't do this to him!

Leave us!

Is this how you return his thirty years of loyalty?

Continue the flogging!

You use him like a dog and now this?

Let go! Let go of me!

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Youngsil! Youngsil!

Youngsil, you poor kid!

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!

It's my fault.

I should've never noticed you.

I should've never told you to use your talent for that horrible man!

I should've never asked him to give you a chance to develop your talent!

I should've had you rip off that uniform!

Let go of me! Let go!

Kill me! Kill me instead!

This is a beautiful place!

Don't you think you are being a bit indifferent when one of the

most important men in Joseon is dying?

Indifferent?

What are you trying to do?

Can you resume work today?

I'm going to Deputy Commander Jang Youngsil!

What do you think you can do there?

I'm going to die with him if there's nothing else I can do.

That's the least I can do for the man who worked so hard to give us our own calendar.

You're going to give up the research?

Yes.

Very well.

Men, blow up the ganui!

Yes, sir!

Do it.

What are you doing?

These are useless if you're giving up the research.

What's the point of continuing the research?

What was all that talk about pride if you were going to give up like this?

Was it because of pride?

Were you afraid Joseon would descend to barbarian race?

No, I was angry.

You should take that up with the King.

He's the one who put our pride down in the dumps first.

The servant's safety and welfare is the master's pride;

are you angry because I'm giving that up as well?

Are you giving up Jang Youngsil?

Are you going to use the evidence of writing system research to save Jang Youngsil?

What would you be giving up then?

Can you give up on the calendar science?

The only way to fight the stars and win is to have our own calendar.

The King is refusing to protect his faithful servant!

Very well.

Go die with Jang Youngsil!

Ignite!

No!

If that's your pride, do it!

Ignite!

No! Step back! Stay away!

No.

No!

Remember what you're feeling right now.

Passion that transcends rage don't forget your passion for astronomical knowledge.

When we built this ganui, when we first observed the stars,

Deputy Commander Jang was with us every step of the way...

What would you be giving up?

My desire to serve the people, Your Majesty.

And don't forget the legacy.

The noble heart of Jang Youngsil who sought to protect the people

although the King could not protect him.

To serve the people who will reap the benefit of his inventions for years to come.

That legacy is now yours to carry on, Yi Sunji.

Why did you bring us here?

Yi Sunji and Jang Youngsil.

I don't believe your passion is any less than theirs.

Would you return to the writing systems research office in Jingwan Temple?

Seventy-four!

Seventy-five!

Seventy-six!

Seventy-seven!

Seventy-eight!

Seventy-nine!

Eighty!

Eighty-one!

Eighty-two!

Eighty-three!

Eighty-four!

Eighty-five!

Eighty-six!

Eighty-seven!

Eighty-eight!

Eighty-nine!

Hang in there, Majesty.

It'll soon be over.

Condemn me for forsaking you.

I would've made the same decision in your shoes.

Ninety-nine!

One hundred!

Back to the palace.

Your Highness...

You must stop, or Jang Youngsil's sacrifice could end in vain.

So you're going back to Ming.

It's time.

Why did you do it?

Why did you deal with Jing Youngsil yourself?

Out of courtesy for Ming, of course.

He acted in contempt for my intent to send him to Ming

thereby displaying contempt for Ming.

I couldn't take that lightly.

Will you indeed be giving up astronomical research?

I will have to wait until Ming becomes as magnanimous as the size of its land.

Stay away from dangerous ventures.

I have hardly enough time to

pursue ventures that will benefit my people.

You must give up your dream of developing your own writing.

Oh dear...

I know you retired from Dongchang years ago,

but you must be losing your political acumen.

Your Majesty!

Putting pressure on a neighboring state with groundless accusations?

That's rather amateurish. You really should be more careful.

Have a safe trip home.

How dare he mock me!

Sir...

I am Wang Zhen, the man who practically controls the Emperor!

How dare a petty King of this miniscule country patronize me!

He will pay for this!

Do you want to stop the writing system development?

Yes.

It's Venerable Wang's opinion that it will require replacing the King.

I am the King's servant.

Don't you want to serve a better king?

One that will maintain friendly relations with Ming.

Not one that will take Joseon down the path of cultural decline

by creating a crude alphabet, but...

Little China!

One that will make us a true civilized nation?

We are willing to give you full support if you decide.

First I need a guarantee that

Ming will refrain from excessive interference in Joseonese domestic affairs.

He's a businessman.

Deputy Commander Jang left it for you.

He was worried about your deteriorating vision.

It's... no use.

Father.

Even with this, everything is too blurry.

I can't make out the words.

No records of Jang Youngsil can are found in the annals of Joseon subsequent

disappears from Gyeongbok Palace as well.

to his dismissal from government service for lese majesty in May of 1442.

About the same time, ganui(armilla)

But astronomical research continued in Joseon.

1442 AD, 24th year of Sejong's reign, Joseonese calendar was at last completed

by Yi Sunji, Jeong Inji and the others.

It was named "Almanacs of the Seven Planets".

1442 AD, Jingwan Temple

Turn.

"It's a mystery."

What is?

It's a mystery...

"It's a mystery."

Toward the rock one, two, three.

He takes it off.

"Dol."

And he turns around.

Royal Attendant.

- Young monks. - "Dol".

"D-ol".

"D-ol".

Louder.

"D-ol"!

Louder!

"D-ol"!

Longer!

"Our speech sounds".

Our speech sounds...

"I can't figure out the secret."

My Queen.

It's nice being out here.

What do you think is the secret?

Your Majesty?

I can't figure out the secret.

There! Now he's done!

What are you doing right now?

Memorizing the King's routine.

Don't you have anything else to do?

You try being here day after day. You'll have it down pat as well.

He's been repeating the same routine for over three months.

Please escort him inside. Breakfast will be served soon.

That will be a difficult task.

Your Majesty, the time is...

Walking around mumbling himself?

Passing time singing with the wind and admiring the moon?

Well, at least he didn't look like he was doing any research.

No, the King is more focused on the research than ever.

Sir.

Walking around waiting for a moment of inspiration...

It's an old habit of his.

Are you making sure no one knows that we're watching him?

Of course.

Why are you so startled?

Oh, we're just...

I guess you should be scared.

You're only half done with the footnotes.

We suddenly had a stomach ache, so...

Are you going to shape up or do I have to punish you for neglect of duty?

Why are you always picking on us?

Are you saying that it's wrong for me to give you assignments?

You're here.

It's past nine, Your Majesty.

Days seem so short.

Another unfruitful day has come to an end.

Wait a minute. Where was that list of phonemes I had?

Are you doing the reference research yourself as well?

I got used to it.

The physician is quite concerned.

It's their job to be concerned.

Your eyes are getting worse and so is the neuralgia.

I'm fine.

Saga Reading?

That's the only way to send Sung Sammun and Shin Sukju to His Majesty.

Saga Reading...

It's an academic furlough for scholars to pursue their own area of interest.

But won't that draw even more attention to the two scholars?

That can be easily resolved.

Give all of the young scholars an academic furlough.

We decline.

Decline?

We don't want to conduct any research out of the Hall of Worthies.

We can pursue our own area of interest on our own time.

Why are you trying to defy a superior's order?

Assistant Director Jeong.

We cannot accept you as our superior.

Wiji!

You had a chance to save Jang Youngsil, but you didn't. Isn't that true?

It's not that simple.

We will defy every order you give us.

If you don't value talent, you don't deserve to lead the Hall of Worthies!

A transfer to provincial government posts?

I'd like to send Gim Mun and Jeong Changson.

Hall of Worthies is a research institution.

For what purpose do you wish to dispatch them to provincial government?

Knowledge becomes stagnate trapped in an office.

I want them to learn how it applies in the real world.

That makes sense.

You're requesting a transfer to Gwangju and Andong?

Confucius scholars that settled there are known for their deep erudition.

And their strong influence.

Having strong influence means having deep erudition.

We intend to share our research with them and acquire their knowledge.

Very well. I will consider.

Shouldn't Choi Manli be removed from service?

That is not a good idea.

But he's interfering excessively with the writing systems research.

That is all the more reason to keep him near.

It's the opposing few,

not the silent majority that reminds the King the direction he must take.

The King cannot always be right.

It's through opposing opinion that policies are shaped and improved.

But men are gathering around Choi Manli.

If he's sending his men to regional governments,

he's branching out to regional forces to stop you from creating a writing system.

If we can overcome this hurtle, the policy could gain momentum.

Isn't that right, Prime Minister?

Then Your Majesty, let Choi Manli have the Hall of Worthies.

Assistant Director?

By direct appointment of the King.

He recognizes your academic capacity.

I'm sincerely humbled.

I'm counting on your good work, Assistant Director.

I will do my best.

I hate to put so much work on your desk on your first day of promotion,

but I really need you to take care of this.

Forbid double duty for the Hall of Worthies scholars?

His Majesty wants the Hall of Worthies to remain an institution for Confucius studies.

Putting the scholars to administrative work undermines that purpose.

What do you think?

You are quite right.

I will take care of this.

No more double duty for the scholars?

They mean to completely seal off our political involvement.

Yes.

They're trying to render you powerless!

I know.

Then.

Our goal is not political.

It's stopping the writing system development.

Have you forgotten?

Accept the Saga Reading?

I want all of you to go to Jingwan Temple first thing tomorrow morning.

But sir...

Go, and watch the King's every move.

I want evidence that he is working on writing system development!

The secret...

The secret of our speech sounds...

You've created some interesting words.

You should turn in and rest.

I'm here for a reason.

If my son didn't eat, ignored me and skipped his medication,

I would have whipped him.

My Queen...

Don't mind me and do what you're doing.

I'm not leaving until you've finished your herbal tonic.

I'm fascinated how you've put these two words together to express our sound.

"Do-l" for "Dol" (rock).

Then "Mul" (water) must be "Mu-l".

Do you find it interesting?

Not interesting enough to justify forgetting to take your medication.

Of all words that are pronounced "Mu" why did you pick the verb "to dance"?

Because of the way the water flows.

Like dancing waves, "Mul", "Mu-l".

Wait.

"Mu-l".

Your Majesty.

"Do-l".

"So-l".

- "Go-l". - Your Majesty.

Why didn't I separate the phonemes before?

It's so clear!

Your Majesty?

"Dol" is not "D-ol". It's "D-o-l".

Yes!

"Sol" is not S-ol". It's "S-o-l"!

The answer is "o", the center sound!

Chinese and Korean language have different sounds,

so the phonemic principle can't be the same.

Why did we keep trying to use Chinese phonetics where the

sound of each syllabic block is divided only into two?

Not two but three, there're three, my Queen!

Your Majesty.

There is an "o" in the middle.

That means there're three components in one syllable.

Initial, medial and final, these three sounds.

This is the sound of Joseon and the secret I've been looking for!

Initial, medial, final. Symbols that express these sounds.

All I have to do now is to come up with those symbols!

This is good, isn't it?

Of course it is!

You're the mother of Joseon.

And you played a huge part in creating our writing as well!