Original subtitles

(My Perfect Stranger)

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

(in this drama are fictitious.)

The incidents that happened in our village...

The culprit... I saw him.

I saw the crime take place.

It was my brother.

(Previously)

- We finally caught this jerk. - Gosh.

Ko Mi Sook wasn't the culprit...

but a witness.

The culprit is a man,

and the only person who saw his face is Ko Mi Sook.

- Mr. Yoon. - Yoo Bum Ryong?

Soon Ae!

No.

Lee Soon Ae, get up!

Soon Ae, it's me.

Another person died.

It was a boy this time.

A boy died in an abandoned house out of nowhere.

If not, Lee Soon Ae would've died.

If it hadn't been for you,

I would've been caught by the criminal.

(Bong Bong Teahouse)

How long was this here?

(Bong Bong Teahouse)

(I'm glad you regained consciousness. I'll see you again.)

(My Perfect Stranger, Episode 14, Meeting You Will Bring Me Joy)

(Episode 14)

(Woojung Hospital)

That shameless, disgusting jerk!

How dare you come here?

How dare you threaten us with that stupid note?

I should have seen that brazen face of his!

- Please calm down. Get in. - Gosh.

That shameless jerk!

Yoon Young, get in.

You should come with us to our house for the time being.

Okay.

That crazy jerk.

That jerk has some nerve to show up here.

He came here and left a threatening note.

It means that he's not scared of getting caught.

This...

Is that what you think?

To me, it looks like the complete opposite.

This guy is utterly scared in case he gets caught.

He's trying to threaten her with this note,

so she stays quiet.

This was the first time...

he failed to kill his victim.

The fact that the victim is alive has shocked him.

But how come there are only two detectives on this?

- What? - Is there...

another important case in this village than this?

How come only two detectives came when we reported this?

Well, that's...

I bet the police don't want to turn this into a big case...

again.

What do you mean only two of us will go?

We need every detective we can get. And that still might not be enough.

The culprit was at the hospital.

Who said that was the culprit?

- What did you say? - What if some guy...

was playing with the note?

Why are you jumping to the conclusion that it was the culprit?

Don't alarm the residents. Just go quietly.

And bring that note to me right away.

I'll be the one checking it out. Understood?

(Case File on Lee Soon Ae's abduction case)

(Bong Bong Teahouse)

What choice do I have? He's been on my back about getting the boy.

Forget about getting promoted to commissioner.

He might lose his job over this. So he can't give us any more time.

So what could I do?

Since we already have Ko Min Soo in custody,

he'll have to be the culprit.

So Ko Min Soo killed Lee Ju Young and Lee Kyung Ae.

Then another guy is responsible for the latest incident?

That's right.

With that, we would have at least closed one case.

We didn't find any evidence on Yoo Bum Ryong.

But we found evidence on the girl, Lee Soon Ae.

The same sentence in the same handwriting.

"Women who read are dangerous."

Right. This would have made sense without that note.

Then the note from the hospital room today...

That should never have been there.

(Congratulations on hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics.)

Gosh. Thank you so much for driving us home.

Don't mention it.

By the way, you cannot tell anyone...

about what happened tonight for the time being.

It could interfere with our investigation.

You understand me, right?

Of course.

I just want you to do one thing. Catch that culprit.

Okay.

Why are you leaving?

The culprit could have been...

one of the people who came by today.

But how come you're not asking her...

who stopped by today?

Oh, that. There's a separate protocol.

Just wait a bit.

How much longer must we wait?

What do you plan to do going forward with this case?

She even got a threatening note from the culprit.

Sending her home like this cannot be everything you're doing. Right?

I will go to the station and check on that.

(Woojung-ri's 5th Firework Festival)

(Screen Adjustment Time)

Where have you been all night? You said you'd be back soon.

I needed to find a way to be able to face you.

They're inside, right?

Let's go inside and talk.

The news?

Yes.

We can tell what happened yesterday on the news.

I walked all over the village...

after leaving the hospital yesterday.

But the residents and the police...

were way too quiet as if nothing had happened.

This silence will not keep Soon Ae safe.

On top of that, the culprit left a threatening note to Soon Ae.

But no police officers are guarding your house.

We need to get the public involved in this case as much as we can.

The police must investigate more aggressively.

If the police don't want to do so,

we must make them.

I believe the surest way to get them to work is through the news.

If we disclose this case to the press,

the police will have no choice but to start investigating.

Once the police start investigating,

the culprit will think twice before approaching Soon Ae.

As of now, this is the only way to catch the culprit...

while keeping Soon Ae safe.

But...

To do that,

Soon Ae will have to be on the news herself.

For a victim's interview or whatnot.

I know what you are concerned about.

We'll have to make sure...

they don't recognize her voice or her face.

I know reporters who will do that for her.

I trust you, of course. But...

Even if we alter her voice and blur her face,

the culprit will recognize her.

Since it involves my daughter,

things could become even more dangerous.

Honestly, I'm not so willing to do it.

I have never...

cooked for you, have I?

I've always wanted to cook for you.

There isn't much because I had to prepare it in a hurry,

but please eat up.

Eat up, sweetheart.

All right.

No matter what happens...

Even if...

something heartbreaking happens to my kid,

I must feed the rest of the family.

That's how a mom feels.

Mr. Yoon, you may not be my son,

but I still think of you as my family.

Otherwise,

how could you have cared about us,

thought of us, worried about us, and helped us...

all this time?

Just as you said, it wasn't your matter.

It couldn't have been your business.

So if you...

think being on a news show is that important,

then I'd like to trust your words.

Will you be able...

to keep Soon Ae safe, though?

Honey.

Do you know what the police have told us the most?

"Calm down. Keep quiet."

Has anything been resolved for keeping quiet?

If we just stand idly because we are scared,

then what will we do about Soon Ae?

Until when will she have to stay hidden?

I want to be on the news show.

I want to be on it too.

I'm not the one at fault.

The one who should be afraid...

is the culprit, not me.

I know how difficult this must be for you,

but please do well since it's an important interview.

Focus on the mother and the daughter.

- Mr. Kim. Fix your shirt. - Okay.

Make sure to blur their faces properly,

and alter their voices completely.

The viewers should be curious about the assailant, not the victim.

Of course.

It'd be better if we could show it directly.

The police must've taken the matchbox...

and the note inside it, right?

Yes, we submitted them all.

All right, then.

We'll just start the shoot as is.

Mr. Kim. Let's start with the interview.

What are you doing here?

What about you? What are you up to in there?

(Bong Bong Teahouse)

How could you reveal the case the police are still investigating?

Without evidence, at that.

But is it okay to pocket a piece of evidence like this?

I just figured it'd be destroyed if it stayed in there.

You were right, after all.

I doubt that a man from the future lied to me.

Still, I didn't know we'd become that horrible.

There's another thing that actually disappeared.

(Case File on Lee Soon Ae's abduction case)

The note that was in Lee Soon Ae's pocket...

when she ran out of the abandoned house. It's gone.

You must know what that implies.

That's why you called them.

The journalists.

I will never let it go unnoticed.

It will cause quite a stir.

Captain!

- Captain! - What is it?

The reporters from a broadcasting company from Seoul...

are poking around here and there to investigate the case.

The whole village has been stirred.

A broadcasting company from Seoul?

In 1, 2, 3. Start.

At Woojung-gun, Woojung-eup, Woojung-Ri,

which has been chosen...

as a crime-free village for five years in a row,

a total of 3 murder cases occurred in the last 30 days.

The village will be stirred up even more from now on.

Last May, the culprit brutally murdered two women,

and they left their signature sign with the victims.

And one of them is the note where they left their message.

It was in this matchbox.

It was made by the teahouse...

that the youths of this town frequent the most.

Based on such facts,

the police assumed the culprit to be a young man...

from the same town who frequents the same teahouse.

They've been checking the customers who could be...

Everyone will be talking about the culprit every day.

And the culprit will be watching this from someplace.

The whole village is anxious...

because the culprit hasn't been caught.

On fourth, the victim who survived...

another incident,

was blackmailed by the culprit once again,

leaving the whole village in shock.

The moment I saw this handwriting,

I felt as if...

the culprit was watching me right next to me.

And the police aren't taking any action.

That can't be true.

We, the police,

will do our best...

to protect the victim.

Things will start to change little by little.

Report to me if you see anyone suspicious.

Hello, sir.

We'll be guarding the place around the clock,

so you can be reassured.

It's been a month since the investigation started.

Hasn't there been any progress?

Of course, that's not true.

We've already gotten our hands on the prime suspect.

We'll be forwarding him to the prosecution soon.

If things don't change, then we'll have to change them.

You can be at ease.

Even if they cover up the case,

it looks like they'll make Ko Min Soo the actual culprit.

As long as he's stuck in there,

a proper investigation seems impossible.

What about Ko Mi Sook? Has she not spoken yet?

What on earth are you saying?

I have never lied, Mr. Detective.

Ko Mi Sook.

Do you know how dangerous it is to lie to the police?

If you tell me honestly now, I'll look past your mistake,

but you must know that this is the last chance I can offer.

If we find the real culprit,

we don't know how much we'll accuse you of.

Do you think it's easy to confess that the only brother I have...

is a culprit?

I barely managed to confess...

after contemplating turning in my own brother...

thousands of times.

And you're accusing me now.

I actually saw it.

I saw my brother by the riverside that day.

Even if we provided her with evidence...

that Ko Min Soo isn't the culprit,

she'd say she couldn't see it.

It must've been the last resolution for her.

We can't just wait for her answer.

The more the reporters press,

the faster the police will try to reach a conclusion.

If we use our means,

we might be able to get the confession in a few days.

No matter how trash of a man he is,

we can't make him take a fall for something he didn't do.

And that'd be advantageous for the real culprit.

Ko Mi Sook isn't even budging at all.

How am I supposed to get Ko Min Soo out?

Is it okay...

for me to meet him?

(Storage)

Someone will be guarding the door,

so be done with it in five minutes.

Do you remember...

bumping into me at night on the 16th?

Goodness. What do I do?

He won't die.

Gosh. It hurts. I broke my arm.

I'm trying to get you out of here.

Don't try to get smart with me. Just try to remember.

What did you do, and where did you go after that?

About Lee Kyung Ae...

Are you going to tell the police?

That night...

you hurt your hand.

How did you treat that?

Did Mi Sook help you?

Mi Sook?

Oh, dear.

Gosh.

Hey, I'm dying of thirst.

Go get me something to drink.

Go.

I think we took a taxi...

and went to the hospital.

But I kept falling asleep.

Mi Sook must know...

where we went.

Taxi...

(Woojung-gun Taxi Driver List)

Stop.

Hello, excuse me.

I'm Detective Baek Dong Sik, who called you earlier.

So you drove some customers...

between the night of the 16th and the early morning of the 17th?

Yes.

Were they these people?

The police claim that Ko Min Soo is the prime suspect.

This is his alibi.

(Hospital Admission and Discharge Certificate)

(Medical Certificate)

Oh, my.

You're the one who tipped us off, but where do you get these things?

Do you really just teach Korean?

I don't think so.

By the look of him, he looks like one of us.

How many minutes do you think it will air?

To be honest, I thought of one minute and a half on the way.

Then it became 3 minutes and 5 minutes.

I became more ambitious as there seemed to be more to it.

How about 20 minutes, then?

Twenty?

Mr. Yoon, you don't seem to know how news works.

There's a certain format.

If you cover 1 story for 20 minutes, people will...

Will they get bored?

I don't know much about it,

but there must be viewers...

who are interested in watching in-depth reporting.

As reporters, you all must have dreamed of doing it as well.

Hey, isn't it the format you've been wanting to do?

How about covering the top 2 stories for 20 minutes each?

Well, it is, but I'm not really there yet.

You could push yourself.

Would it work?

I think so.

Gosh. The work environment in broadcasting got a lot better.

When I was younger, it was much worse.

It goes back to 1989.

I suggested covering two in-depth stories...

for 20 minutes each for the weekend news.

I was so young, but I insisted on doing it.

Don't you get tired of talking about when you were young?

Hey, do you know how ground breaking it was in our station's history?

That kid.

Will someone take out the one who wrote history, please?

That's what an anchor ought to be.

He's firm and adamant.

He's admirable.

Am I capable of that?

I think once you do it, it will be ground breaking.

Do you think so?

Why don't you talk to the director?

It looks like he used a fake name.

He was in the hospital from the night of the 16th to the 18th.

If that's true, Ko Min Soo can't be the murderer.

To confirm that fact,

I need you...

to wrap this up for me.

The police arrested and investigated Mr. Ko as a prime suspect.

However, we obtained proof...

that Mr. Ko had an alibi on the day of the incident.

Film the chief as soon as he comes out.

He's coming out. Record!

- Sir, can we interview you? - Excuse me.

Is it true that your prime suspect Mr. Ko had an alibi?

How do you already know that?

How will this change the direction of the investigation?

Do you have more suspects?

The residents are demanding measures...

to strengthen security in the neighbourhood.

The police will be able to overcome Woojung-Ri residents' distrust...

and win their trust back...

only by conducting a responsible investigation.

What?

What's wrong?

Can I stop by somewhere?

- Okay. See you at home. - All right.

I'll be quick.

Mi Sook.

Why are you standing there? Come on in.

What are you doing?

Hey, Mi Sook.

Who is this?

It's good to see you. It's been so long.

What are you doing? Did you forget to meet me today?

What? Are you two friends now?

That's good.

Why don't you come in with us?

Do you want to go back in as soon as you're released?

Aren't you coming?

I'll be back.

Okay. I'm in a good mood today.

Go. I'll see you at home later.

Why did you help me?

That darn necklace.

When you're nervous, annoyed, or bothered,

you fidget with your necklace.

And my stupid habit of spotting that before anyone else.

That's why.

How do you feel...

now that Ko Min Soo has been released?

You're finally crying now.

You weren't affected when you saw other people in pain.

Even when you saw Ms. Lee dying by this cold riverside...

without knowing why she deserved such a death,

and when you saw your classmate in agony after losing her sister,

you only treated it as a chance to make things better for you.

And this is when you're going to cry?

Wait.

I'll hold on to this.

Is that important?

You're not married. Why do you have baby clothes?

Gosh. Look at that.

Baby clothes and baby shoes. You have so much stuff in there.

Are you pregnant?

Gosh. It must be a boy.

I won't...

throw this box out.

Just throw out the rest for me.

Sure.

I was curious about how the case was going...

and concerned too. So I asked you to come.

I'm hearing a lot of chatter in the village. Is everything okay?

Your grandson is responsible for it.

You should have stopped him if it was going to be dangerous.

He's not even from here.

What if it puts him in the spotlight and they start wondering about him?

But thanks to him, we solved a lot of problems.

Soon Ae has protection from the police now.

And the police stopped framing an innocent guy.

You've done enough.

You should leave the rest to the police.

Are you listening to me?

Gosh. Look at that.

Baby clothes and baby shoes. You have so much stuff in there.

Are you pregnant?

I won't...

throw this box out.

Just throw out the rest for me.

My grandson.

Yes.

Sure. Okay.

Are you sure?

Don't insert yourself into dangerous situations.

Don't do anything. Okay?

Right. I have a favour to ask you.

Yes, go on. What is it? Tell me.

Soon Ae probably didn't get treated properly...

because she had to leave the hospital all of a sudden.

I wanted her to stay in a safe place with her family.

But not in this village.

Right. I was actually worried about her.

I'll look for a great hospital in Seoul.

I'll have the officers...

- accompany her. - Yes.

And...

can I borrow your car?

Yoon Young.

Were you waiting for me?

What's this car?

I'll answer questions on our way.

It will take a while anyway.

Are we going somewhere?

A beautiful place.

Get in.

What do you think about the sea from 1987?

The water seems clearer.

Is it just in my head?

You should check it yourself once you go back.

There are so many things to check.

By the way, what made you decide to bring me all the way here?

Come to think of it,

after bringing you so far into the past,

I had never taken you to see a pretty sight.

After discovering the time machine,

I lived as if I were racing against time.

I wanted to try out the future...

based on what I knew at certain times.

I was all over the place.

So I had never thought about what I wanted to do at those moments...

or with whom and where I wanted to be.

I never had the luxury to think about such things.

So when you gave that some thought,

you wanted to see a pretty sight with me?

I guess so.

- What else? - What else?

I wanted to order someone's favourite food,

sweet and salty food, and watch her eat with gusto.

What else?

I do want to listen to her talk on and on...

about trivial things like what she likes and hates.

I like all of your answers.

Should we do a trial run with each answer?

Sure.

The best sweet and salty dish is tteokbokki.

Next.

An old bookstore.

I like the smell of old books.

I like how it feels on my fingers...

when I flip through faded, yellow pages.

And I like the excitement of playing...

a treasure hunt with old, hard-to-find books.

What else?

Friday at 3pm.

It feels like I have the whole world to myself...

three hours before getting off work.

You know what I mean, right?

I used to run the weekend news.

I see. You worked on weekends.

Then you must hate Mondays.

Sunday at 9pm.

That's the exact time my mood gets spoiled.

That's the exact time I start appearing on TV.

I'll start liking Sunday evenings.

This must be a popular tteokbokki stall in 1987.

The rice cakes are so chewy. It's so good.

Have a bite.

I have my own plate of food.

I'll eat it from mine.

Bus 540.

When I feel gloomy, I just sit at a bus stop.

I just get on a random bus and sit there thoughtlessly.

I just look out the window.

Once the bus finishes the route, I feel somewhat better.

And among all the buses,

Bus 540 has the best view.

I should remember that. What else?

What else...

I want to stop here.

It was supposed to be a trial run.

I want to hear...

whatever you were going to tell me.

That's why you brought me all the way here.

The case isn't even closed.

There's no way you brought me here for no reason.

How tough is it for you to bring it up? Why are we here?

Whatever I do,

you will trust me, right?

What's this about?

I can't tell you what I plan to do right now.

But I can promise you that nothing will happen to me.

So don't worry. And just wait for me.

(Bong Bong Teahouse)

(Permanently closed)

(Bong Bong Teahouse)

Are you leaving now?

Yes.

I see.

Wait.

Can you walk me to the bus terminal?

It's scary because it's dark.

People have been filming this and that around the town.

I heard it was because you reported it.

I heard you've been providing information to them.

Everyone's been talking about it.

It's not even your business.

Aren't you even scared?

It is my business after all.

Living in a town with a murderer on the loose...

means someone close to me could be in constant danger.

And there are many people I want to protect.

You're a nice guy.

But I bet your mom wouldn't think so.

Did I cross the line again?

Sorry. I just...

If my son were to sacrifice himself to save someone,

I'd be so worried.

I don't think I've ever asked your opinion.

Okay, fine. I'm sorry.

I guess I've been having such thoughts a lot lately.

(Woojung General Store)

(Woojung General Store)

What are you holding on to?

The baby in me.

I've been collecting these for the baby.

I made some of them,

and I bought some of them because they were pretty.

Isn't this shoe really cute?

How can it be this small?

It's even smaller than my hand.

It feels strange to think of him walking in this.

Only those who are desperate...

to have a child collect those, don't they?

Yes, I've been waiting.

I've already named him.

Hae for "greeting" and Jun for "happiness."

Someone you'd be happy to see.

Hae Jun.

You were startled because he has your name, right?

I felt the same way.

Well, I bet the meanings are different.

I've really wanted to meet...

my precious baby I had with someone I loved.

If my child...

were to look at me with sparkling eyes,

I'd find them so beautiful.

You even had such thoughts.

So why are you leaving?

Because I'm not sure anymore.

I'm leaving.

Thanks for walking me.

Well, then.

Take care.

("KSBC 9 o'clock News")

"KSBC 9 o'clock News" will begin now.

Our news show will exclusively report...

on two cases, which is a format...

we have never taken before.

It'll be divided into two parts,

and each case was investigated in detail.

The first case is regarding a serial murder case...

in a town...

that had no crime for five years in a row.

- Hey. - Yes.

That's the report they filmed in our town for several days, right?

That's right. The punk who leaves a note in a matchbox.

Gosh.

(Woojung-Ri ticket office for intercity buses)

At Woojung-gun, Woojung-eup, Woojung-Ri,

which has been chosen...

as a crime-free village for five years in a row,

a total of 3 murder cases occurred in the last 30 days.

Last May, the culprit brutally murdered two women,

and they left their signature sign with the victims.

And one of them is the note where they left their message.

It was in this matchbox.

It was made by the teahouse...

that the youths of this town frequent the most.

Based on such facts,

the police assumed the culprit to be a young man...

from the same town who frequents the same teahouse.

They've been checking the customers who could be suspects...

by questioning them,

but there hasn't been any significant result.

The whole village is anxious...

because the culprit hasn't been caught.

On fourth, the victim who survived...

another incident,

was blackmailed by the culprit once again,

leaving the whole village in shock.

The moment I saw this handwriting,

I felt as if the culprit was watching me right next to me.

Goodness. What a creepy guy.

I know, right?

Could he really be someone from our town?

- What? - The police ought to give trust...

Maybe he's among us.

Goodness. That's such a horrible thing to say.

Don't you know how quiet this town is?

- I mean, it could happen. - That's right.

- Don't say such things. - I mean...

Next up is the exclusive report...

made by the witness...

that the reporters obtained.

The witness whom we interviewed...

is the additional witness...

who has made a report...

that could be crucial in catching the culprit.

Dear viewers. Please pay attention to it as you watch.

Wait.

I'm a Korean Literature teacher at Woojung High School,

Yoon Hae Jun.

On the night of the fourth,

I witnessed what happened at the abandoned house...

for the third murder case.

I chased the culprit...

and ran toward to the mountain at the back.

Mr. Yoon actually did an interview?

He said he'd blur my face,

but why didn't he reveal his?

According to what I saw,

he was wearing a black hat and a black jacket.

And the back of his back was torn vertically.

Is it okay to expose his face like that?

I know, right? He tried to cover everyone else's.

- But with his identity... - I know.

Yu Sub.

- Yu Sub? - Yes.

What are you thinking so intently about?

I was just...

I was just so mad.

Is there anything else you'd like to report on?

While chasing the culprit,

I saw his face myself.

If I run into him again,

I'm sure I'll be able to recognize him.

Can you go to Gyeonggi Province, Woojung-Ri as fast as you can?

Yes.

Since both houses are empty now,

we just have to wait until tomorrow night.

Do you think he'll really show up?

If he watches the news, he's bound to show up.

It'll be hard to resist after hearing that I saw his face.

What?

Why are you here?

What you said on the news...

How you said that you saw the culprit's face.

You were lying, right?

What?

What are you going to do if he comes and finds you?

Why would you do something so dangerous?

Let's get out of here for now.

How did you know?

How did you know I was lying?

How do you know...

that I didn't see his face?

How are you so sure?

Because if you saw his face,

there's no way you wouldn't know.

There's no way...

you could say something like that.

Do you know...

who the culprit is?

In that baby box,

there was also this.

He's supposed to be born...

in the winter.

I wanted him to stay warm.

I made it myself.

Do you think...

you can tell what this is?

Everything's mine.

The string that was used to tie those people up,

and the matchboxes...

They all belonged to me.

Our Hae Jun...

I wanted to see him so much.

But now I don't know what to do.

He...

That jerk...

That person.

The baby's father...

is the culprit?

And that's why you left?

I was scared.

It was horrific.

I could no longer stay next to a guy like him.

Even this baby that I've been waiting so long to see.

I don't know anymore.

I don't look forward to seeing my baby anymore.

I don't...

want to meet him anymore.

The fact that the baby is his child...

is so horrific...

and terrifying.

What in the world?

Why is he...

Darn it.

Yoon Yeon Woo!

(My Perfect Stranger)