Original subtitles

[Jung Ryeo Won]

[Wi Ha Joon]

[The Midnight Romance in Hagwon]

[Episode 12]

It takes me less than a minute to get here.

In that short time coming here after seeing both of you,

- I had all sorts of thoughts. - Mr. Lee.

Who suggested meeting first?

Why do you have to see each other more?

What's Director Choi doing this time?

I suggested that we meet.

What else did you need to talk about?

Why do I have to tell you that, Mr. Lee?

Wait at the academy, Mr. Lee.

I think I should leave first.

Can you just finish

the rest of what you wanted to say?

I don't want the two of you to meet again.

Leave now, okay?

You two...

You've been a student and teacher for a long time.

I know you've taught a class together.

But what you're saying sounds strange. As if-

I think you're being more strange.

You keep giving me the wrong impression.

Aren't you confident you could beat her?

Is that why you're trying to provoke her instead?

Someone apparently took all of my class files.

- What do you mean? - Don't be rude.

Mr. Pyo is here to tell me that now.

Seo Hye Jin!

I'm here.

Assistant Director Woo apparently has a USB of my files.

It's all of my files, but no one's actually seen it.

What's with them at that table?

- Is he an academy teacher? - I don't know, either.

I wanted to eavesdrop because I didn't think Mr. Lee would be here.

Let's do it later. I misjudged the situation.

Have a seat.

No one has seen the files. How can we believe that?

She might be trying to confuse and attack you psychologically.

It's not like that.

It's coming from the Assistant Director Woo.

What will you do now?

I'm not sure.

This has never happened before.

First of all, Director Choi can't find out that you told me.

You don't have to worry about me.

Not showing up to my meeting with her

probably left a mark on me.

Mr. Pyo didn't show up.

No, I'm not offended at all.

Do we have another reason to meet?

The worst thing I can do now is to sue her.

"Woo Seung Hee stole Seo Hye Jin's files."

To hear that one sentence in court,

I have to put my career and everything I have at stake and fight.

I'd be entering the endless battle myself using my own money.

What would be the point even if I win the case?

I'd be completely forgotten in this town by then.

Isn't that what Assistant Director Woo wants the most?

What will you do, then?

I'm still thinking about it.

Can you just not think about it?

No matter who she gives it to...

and however they end up using it, just forget about it.

- What do you mean- - This is for the better.

We can create something great from scratch together.

Are you saying my work hasn't been great?

Don't play ignorant.

I'm saying you can make something much better.

Not stuff like exam-taking skills and question prediction.

Let the kids read on their own.

- I thought we finished that conversation earlier. - No.

We're just getting started.

Are you avoiding it again?

Mr. Pyo, please excuse us for a moment.

Sure.

Okay.

I'll explain gradually and slowly.

I won't repeat myself.

Focus.

First of all, I'm not saying you're wrong.

Of course, I've thought that, too.

Telling them which part will be in the exam

and teaching them exam-taking skills made me sad, too.

"This is such a great text. This is such a great work of literature.

But they'll forget it the moment the exam ends."

Thinking that got me upset, too.

But look. We need to send them to college.

You also came here to make money in a short amount of time.

But what did you say just now?

I said I'll teach them how to read.

Unless we follow them to the exam room-

We don't have to repeat what we said earlier.

One. That method hasn't been proven.

That means you'd use the students as test subjects.

Two. Even if it works, the result would show very slowly.

You said we don't have to repeat ourselves.

Lastly, even if we overcome all that,

you can't apply that to the school exams.

Each teacher teaches content differently.

Team Leader Seo.

One. I'm offended that you accuse me of using the students as test subjects.

Don't you feel sorry for them?

They're worried the questions the teachers picked out won't be on the exam.

Don't you feel sorry for them?

- Are exams a game of chance? - I know.

- I'm not finished. - Don't interrupt me, then.

I'm your colleague, not the Grade 8 student right now.

Okay, two.

You're insulting the students when you say it'd take too long.

Kids that age are very fast learners.

- Enough. This would never end. Let's stop. - Three.

The school exams and entrance exams are different?

- The principles are the same. - Understand your job and position.

You're the one who needs to understand.

You're not a government worker who has a secure job forever.

Think of your future objectively.

Do you really believe that you resemble Director Choi?

You think you could do this for 20 years just like the Gray Witch?

I think you should watch what you say.

How dare you compare me to her?

That's not the point I'm making.

I'm telling you to think of your future.

Who do you think makes me angry the most?

Assistant Director Woo, who stole my files?

Or Director Choi, who's trying to use that?

No, it's you, Mr. Lee.

They at least value the work I've done.

But what are you saying?

Is it okay to find my life's work so useless?

They value your past 10 years.

I'm talking about your future from now on.

Gosh, let's stop.

I've worked hard enough, so I don't need to rely on others.

Am I "others" to you?

You aren't just undervaluing my files.

You're undervaluing my efforts, knowledge, and achievements right now.

I wouldn't be asking for your permission if I did.

I can just do whatever I want to do.

It'd be my responsibility whether I succeed or fail.

- Of course, I won't fail. - You think I will, then?

- I take that back. That was childish. - No.

I think you might fail.

Unless I stop you from being stubborn now.

I told you to watch what you say.

What have you been building all this time?

Isn't it a sand castle that would collapse if someone stole your files?

- Are you crazy? - No, I'm totally sane.

It's a pity that no one's as sane as me in this town.

What would you get from provoking and insulting me like this?

Our eternal love?

This is my first time wearing this after dry cleaning it.

Gosh.

You think the top of the class or school would be enough?

Don't you want to make someone the top of the country?

I'm suggesting we live well for eternity with that.

I'm sorry. Today, we should-

You want to make a student the top of the country?

Yes.

I thought your academy was known for improving school grades.

I heard Ms. Seo analyzes my breathing pattern, too.

I want to help students breakthrough any questions.

Leave now.

I'd like to talk more if you're free.

With Mr. Lee.

[The first period determines your grade]

[Reading is a must]

Gosh, this bastard. I told him not to do this.

Have you two talked about something?

Yes, I gave him a piece of advice.

I told him to focus on memorizing skills to build a skyscraper in Gangnam.

So you mean this is no good?

Not exactly.

What?

Ms. Seo's early method.

This is how I learned, too.

That means it's no good anymore.

Why do you keep saying, "no good"?

Ms. Seo became the gatekeeper of Chanyeong High after evolving for 10 years.

But Joon Ho is going for a different strategy.

Instead, there's no guarantee this would succeed.

Explain simply. You're confusing me.

If I had a child, I would've told him to take Joon Ho's class.

Why?

All the reasons are written there.

You'll develop a high-level thinking habits

and it'd affect all the other subjects. Stuff like that.

Is that so?

But the question is whether he'll have chemistry with the students or not.

Even if it didn't, it's just an academy.

You can get a refund.

There are no refunds.

How interesting.

It's irresponsible nonsense.

It's not nonsense.

Sounds like passion.

Do you know what I was told right before I submitted my resignation letter?

Can you...

just do nothing?

Please.

I'm sorry.

I didn't bring that up to make you feel bad.

Instead of lining the students up according to their grades,

making them read and enjoy literature properly.

And teaching them in our own way to achieve that.

That's...

probably every teacher's dream.

Although, ironically,

the academy is the place for it, not school.

Looks like your friend waited too long.

I'll get going now.

Please leave that there. We'll take care of it.

- Let me pay. - No, it's okay.

Good night.

Mr. Pyo.

I apologize...

for being rude earlier.

It was fun.

I haven't had so much fun in a while.

So, his solution to defeat Choiseon Korean and

your assistant director who are trying to destroy you is-

Right? He must be crazy.

Or am I the crazy one?

Everything he said makes sense.

What I told you today...

I won't apologize for that.

Fine.

We'll stop by somewhere.

Where?

A beach.

A real beach.

I'm really tired today.

Lean the seat back.

I'll show you the sunrise when you wake up.

You could sleep since the car is quiet.

Who goes on a trip like this without any prep?

When you threatened me not to get me a job-

I never threatened you.

You made me come to Namsam then.

You said, "Have a bigger perspective."

Yes, I did.

This is similar to that.

I want to show you something big and refreshing.

You have such a nice car,

but you can't even remember what the ocean looks like.

We can come back by tomorrow evening.

I'm not going to drive.

I think I made a mistake.

With what?

Hye Jin almost switched jobs around last fall.

Yes, she did.

I should've persuaded her to switch then.

Why didn't you?

I think it was a morning on a weekend.

She said she won't join Choiseon Korean.

And she came by to thank me for reviewing the contract.

She was humming, by the way.

- Hye Jin was? - Yes, can you imagine?

No.

I've never seen that.

The air around her felt softer.

I thought it was thanks to Mr. Lee. It was nice.

She never had anyone to lean on.

She's the money-making machine at the academy

and for the students, she's the grade-improving machine.

It seemed like she was finally able to breathe.

You were right.

I didn't know her old student could change her that much.

I don't know much about college preparation,

but wasn't Mr. Lee right?

That doesn't mean he could make a profit that way, though.

You said you pitied her for being a money-making machine.

Gosh.

Someone at the training institute begged me to introduce Hye Jin to him.

I should've set them up.

Come on. What a cocky lady you are.

Me?

You can't just force people to fall in love.

How come you keep saying the right thing today?

Right, the battery.

Geez Louise!

Did I wake you up?

You should've woke me up.

I wanted to see the sunrise.

How pathetic.

You aren't pathetic.

I should've set an alarm.

It's okay, I said.

Let's get out.

I wanted to get off, but I waited so I didn't wake you up.

Seriously.

This feels surreal.

I was walking on the rainy streets of Gangnam a few hours ago.

This feels like a different world.

- Aren't you glad you came? - Yes.

I didn't know I could just come here like this.

I remember when we met in Namsan.

I tried to change your mind, but it backfired.

Backfired? Because of me?

You threatened me, saying,

"Is it okay if the academy knows you're doing this?"

I failed in Namsan, but your strategy worked.

If so...

Do what you want to do.

Teach however you want.

I knew you'd be on board.

Although I would've kept pursuing it even if you weren't.

You were planning to go rogue?

No. I would've kept persuading you.

No matter how many days it took.

I won't nag a lot.

Be responsible.

The students' lives are at stake.

Of course.

Do you need help with anything?

You'd need a textbook first.

No, not stuff like that.

I want to do research and develop textbooks with you.

I'm sure it'd be fun and amazing.

No.

It wasn't easy to achieve what I have, and I won't be persuaded by a few words from you.

I definitely didn't build a sand castle.

I never said it was easy.

I'm suggesting we make it more fun and meaningful.

We can make the smartest students to come to us.

Wake up. We aren't trying to raise students who'd be in textbooks.

Just send them to Seoul National Univ. or medical school.

I already have truckfuls of students like that.

But you have nothing. All you do is argue.

The beginning is always the hardest part.

So, stop wasting time trying to seduce me.

There are many more things to do.

♫ Oh, the greatness I foresee ♫

♫ Just don't forget about me ♫

How pretty.

One. Be very careful when setting someone apart in an organization.

Once you do that, you don't know what they'll demand in the future.

Yes, that's true.

Two. Mr. Lee hasn't proven anything yet.

He did a great job with the demo lecture.

Most of all, he started a Heewon High class.

The demo was just a 10-minute lecture.

And he had no chance of starting a Heewon class without Seo Hye Jin.

Lastly...

This is the biggest problem.

Is it regarding the class focus?

Expand the understanding of humanity and the world

by learning how to understand literature.

What kind of utter nonsense is this?

You're right.

If the academy allows a classroom for a class like this,

other lecturers would feel disappointed. Don't you think?

Many count on you and follow your lead, Manager Kim.

My goodness.

I always learn so much from you, Assistant Director.

You're too generous.

I'll relay the message to Mr. Lee then.

I need to go meet someone.

Yes, of course.

By the way, the class proposal...

Did Team Leader Seo approve it, too?

I'm not sure.

The Seo Hye Jin I know wouldn't have allowed that.

Team Leader didn't get to see it.

I came up with it on my own.

I'll report to the Director directly.

It's not that she thinks it's no good.

She just thinks it's not the time yet.

You need to listen to the higher-up for now, okay?

Don't rush into things and get singled out.

I'm not disappointed.

I knew she wouldn't allow it immediately.

Yes.

Yes, I know you tried your best.

Not at all. I'll see you tonight. Okay.

You scared me.

- Why? - I thought you disappeared.

We should leave now.

Seo Hye Jin.

What?

If we leave now, this would be basically a work trip.

You're right.

This is our first trip as a couple. We can do this much, right?

I thought you would've left notes.

This was neither homework nor an essay.

You don't need my notes.

Okay.

But instead...

I wrote something at the end of each review.

Pardon?

Your goal is to do well in exams.

Modern literature, poetry, classic literature, lyrics,

and essays. I wrote about how I recommend reading it

and how I would've interpreted it if I were you.

I wrote stuff like that.

Read it later. Don't read it here.

By the way, Mr. Pyo,

I gave this to you yesterday. How did you already finish it...

I stayed up all night.

Thank you.

It was still fun.

You can leave. I'm busy.

I take back the offer.

What a shame.

What will you do now?

You've been enduring pain for eight years and seven months.

Do you want to wait a few more months?

Only the order was changed.

Instead of making a move after striking Seo Hye Jin's neck,

I can aim for her neck from the outside.

Korean department. Lee Myeong Joon, Nam Cheong Mi, and Kim Chae Yoon.

English department. Yoon Ji Seok, Jang Il Do,

Cheon Yi Chang, Kang Ki Ho, and Lee Geum Hyang.

Social studies. Min Hee Joo.

Lastly, there's Lee Joon Ho of the Korean department.

But since he's on Seo Hye Jin's side, he's an exception.

Is that pretty much it?

The ones you'd be putting in your ark.

Will Nam Cheong Mi or Kim Chae Yoon take those files?

Didn't I tell you?

In the long run, we're competitors, too.

How could I disclose something like that?

Don't think of me as your competition.

Try using me in a more constructive way.

If you bring those teachers to my academy,

I'll do a lot for you in return.

What would Choiseon Korean do

with the English and social studies teachers?

I should embrace all of them.

It will be Choiseon Academy, not Choiseon Korean.

But before that, how about you add another person to the ark?

Do you mean Seo Hye Jin?

Looks like I still can't get over her.

Your goal was to separate Seo Hye Jin from Director Kim, anyway.

Wouldn't that be good?

Why? What is it?

I have to see someone.

You need to do something while I'm meeting this person.

It's homework.

After you drop me off,

go straight to your parents' house. Sleep there tonight.

I don't want to.

It's homework, I said. You have no choice.

Why do I have to do that?

Tell your parents what you think calmly and nicely.

Make them feel better, too.

I can manage that myself.

I want my boyfriend to be a good person.

I'm tall, handsome, and rich. Doesn't that make me a good one?

You said you'd teach the students how to read and enjoy literature properly.

What does that have to do with me being a good boyfriend?

Imagine a money-obsessed terrible son teaching the meaning of literature

and the author's interiority.

Wouldn't that be absurd?

You'll do the homework, right?

Why does my girlfriend have to be a teacher?

Yes.

Welcome, Team Leader Seo.

- Am I late? - No, I just got here, too.

I'm sorry to make you come a long way.

There was traffic, right?

No, I took the subway to avoid it.

You really are thorough.

- Let's sit. - Okay.

I said we'd order food later. That's okay, right?

Yes.

I should do this more often. But it's not easy.

The teachers are so busy, and you're all a competitor.

It's hard to just hang out causally, too.

Since it'd create rumors.

You know how jealous everyone gets.

So, I was surprised that you wanted to see me.

Not only that, we're meeting far away from the academy

so openly and suspiciously, right?

You must've calculated everything already.

No need to beat around the bush, right?

No.

I'm preparing for retirement.

I thought you could handle another decade easily.

I can't.

I used to know all the students' names, but I can't do that anymore.

And it's not like I've done this forever like Director Choi, either.

Does Director Kim know, too?

Not yet.

But interestingly,

I received my retirement pay already.

What do you mean by that?

What is that?

The entire class material of yours.

Including the pop quizzes.

Well, who...

- How... - That's not important right now.

What's important is that it's in my possession.

Take it with you.

You need to confirm if I'm bluffing or not.

You're proudly telling me you made copies, too?

I don't just have copies.

You must have other ideas, too.

You aren't as shocked as I thought you'd be about the USB stick.

Did you know, by chance?

I wonder who tipped you off.

Does that matter?

No. The possible candidates would be...

the one who gave me these files

and the one who wanted them badly. It's those two.

What's important is that no one can use them.

Shall we think about how we could make the most out of

the work you created with blood, sweat, and tears?

I...

should leave the academy with you.

Otherwise, these files will be given to someone else.

Let's eat.

I'm hungry since I didn't have a proper lunch.

I hope you respect it.

I will.

I thought you'd say more.

You said it's about conscience and responsibility as an educator.

How could I argue about that?

I should honor it, no matter how disappointed I am.

Okay, thank you.

You can leave.

You must be busy preparing for the free lecture.

If I were Kim Hyeon Tak, I won't treat you that way.

He was able to buy my academy

and get paid while loafing around, thanks to you.

But I still owe him.

It's not so easy to stab him in the back-

You poor thing.

Who stabbed you in the back first?

You saw him trying to split up the Chanyeong High class.

That was really...

disappointing.

I think I need time to think about it.

Of course.

Did you decide who you'd take with, by chance?

I'd only tell you that if you sign a contract with me.

Will you include Mr. Lee, too?

If you want.

There's something I want to test beforehand.

I know there's a class he wants to teach.

Yes, I was told about it. I said no.

How about you let him teach that class?

What would be the reason?

I want to decide if I'd take him with me or not.

He's a breath of fresh air,

but it's a bit hard to control him as a subordinate.

Not only you can't act, you can't lie, either.

Everyone knows how tight you two are.

You haven't heard the rumor yet?

Mr. Lee and I...

had a huge fight.

Everyone is desperate to get a job there.

How does it make sense to turn it down?

Tell me. You're a good talker.

You probably don't know, but-

What do I not know?

Just listen.

He's talking.

I respect both of you.

Who told you to respect us?

Just do what I say.

I said a lot of hurtful things to you when I quit my job,

but I'm not disregarding the lives you've lived.

I know you've only been focused on raising us three brothers.

But?

"How could I possibly get more from them?

Is there a way to live more easily riding their coattails?"

I don't want to think that. I'm sad you don't understand that.

Please trust me just this once and watch how I do.

It's because I love and respect you.

Okay.

Get it together. What do you mean, "Okay"?

He said he was disappointed.

Mom, are you crying?

Yes, she gave it to me.

I did find out a few things.

I think it was copied all at once recently.

I can kind of tell when, too.

I can try to catch the culprit by making it public,

but I won't.

Why not?

I'd just be catching her henchman by doing that. There's no point.

It's more important to get what I want and stop her from using it.

Since we're on the topic, we need to look like we don't get along for a while.

Officially, we're colleagues who had a fight and haven't made up yet.

I have faith in you.

- Please print it nicely. Thank you. - Sure.

Let's go.

Can we go get food now?

I need to stop by one more place to get promotional products made.

Are you hungry?

No, I'm okay.

So, what are the promotional products for?

I'll get pens with my name printed on them.

They're the swags for the students.

Wow, you do all that yourself?

It's easy to hire someone to do it, but it's expensive.

I get to save money by doing it myself.

How clever.

I hear that often.

Geez!

Gosh.

Did you see me just now?

Yes, I did. Yes.

Thank you.

I deserve to be complimented.

Didn't I look cool?

You weren't too bad.

I got a lot of brownie points earlier, right?

It must've been more effective than using words to seduce you.

I agree.

We'll have a few more dates, right?

Let's.

I'm so curious.

When will be our Day 1 as a couple?

Today...

Why are you so free today?

Aren't grad students busy?

I thought you meant today was our Day 1.

It's winter break.

It's okay to take a short break.

By the way, that street is dangerous.

You should go there with me or someone else.

I don't go there that often.

Is Lee Joon Ho done making his textbook?

He made a kind of a strange one.

There was a bit of a situation.

Look.

Team Leader.

Mr. Lee Joon Ho.

They exploded on each other.

I don't want to know who won at all.

I'm sure Lee Joon Ho won.

No one can stop him once he makes up his mind.

Let's go there afterward, then.

Deal.

Hello.

Manager Kim, hello.

[Wednesday morning, small classroom No. 2 by the lobby]

The Assistant Director changed her mind.

Thank you.

You should've prepared it sooner.

You'd have a disadvantage since the students already scheduled their classes.

That's why I wanted to start a small class.

You would've had to give me a big classroom if I advertised it sooner.

I like how confident you are.

- Good day. - Thank you.

- Hello. - Welcome.

Manager Kim, what made you visit my team?

I needed to speak to Mr. Lee.

Have a nice day, then.

Hold on!

Thank you.

Welcome.

Won't people say we favor Mr. Lee?

I liked him as a student.

I do want to help him out,

but why during the break?

I think it has potential.

I think the Manager Kim checked out the content, too.

You never know which class would become a hit.

I hope it works out.

Well, then.

Have a look at it.

You said our free lecture was your favorite lecture ever.

Can this really prevent me from feeling anxious about exams?

You're the one who'd be studying.

I'll just be teaching the way I think is right.

Take it with you and think about it.

No, I'll take it.

Mr. Pyo is really quitting his job at school.

But I'm not interested in switching academies.

Why are you telling me to check out a different class?

I did all the homework...

and I get good grades, too.

Mom likes you, too.

That's why.

You've taken my class since the prior learning class, right?

After your mom did tons of research.

- Yes. - But I think...

you think, make judgments, and act on your own.

You're very good at that.

Am I?

I've never been told that before.

No, you look quiet, but you don't get affected by your peers

and you're good at finding what you need.

That's how I see you.

Thank you.

No one ever told me that.

That's why I thought you should check out other classes

and make a decision yourself. I thought that'd be a good experience for you.

If you're nervous, take it with Jeong Soo and Ye Eun, too.

Do you want to check out Mr. Pyo's free lecture?

You don't have to if you don't want to.

No, I'll check it out.

[No. 1 formula, Daechi Choiseon Korean]

[Aim for the Grade 1]

It's Ms. Seo.

- Yes. - What if she gets mad at us?

She's not like that.

[No. 1 formula, Daechi Choiseon Korean]

Let's go.

Nice to meet you.

I'm the pyosang* of Grade 1, Pyo Sang Seob.

Today's lecture will be an hour and a half.

It will be on trends in modern Korean literature.

It's a free lecture, but from this point on,

I'll make sure you never forget about what you learned.

I make you stand in the back if you're late.

But let's give her a pass since this is the first day.

- You're okay with that, right? - Yes.

Are you ready?

Yes.

♫ Father rode the donkey to the market ♫

♫ Grandmother went to Uncle's house in the nearby town ♫

♫ Eat chili and say, mam-mam ♫

♫ Eat chive and say, mam-mam ♫

♫ Grandmother carried the doltteok on her head ♫

♫ Until she walks the windy path and comes back ♫

♫ Eat chili and say, mam-mam ♫

♫ Eat chive and say, mam-mam ♫

Who knows the original title of this song?

The original title is "Song of the House Sitting Child."

It came out in the 1920s

but it's a children's song that is spread orally in all regions.

The keyword in this song is "chive."

This chive isn't the herb we know of.

It's actually supposed to be tobacco.

You can look it up later.

What you need to do now is to imagine.

Okay.

Let's imagine starting now.

All the adults are gone to run errands.

It's impossible to imagine now,

but the child was left alone in the house.

There was no TV, cellphones, storybooks, or toys back then.

The child is bored to death.

He needs to try his best to find something fun.

What caught his eyes was the chilies and tobacco

lying around in the house.

The child starts mimicking the adults.

He tries eating the chilies

and smoking tobacco.

They're so powerful that it's making him dizzy.

They're so spicy and strong. He can't handle it.

That's why he spins around where he was.

Mam-mam-mam-mam-mam-mam.

After eating the chilies, he goes, "Maoe*! Maoe! Maoe! Maoe!"

After eating the chilies, he goes, "Maoe*! Maoe! Maoe! Maoe!"

♫ Eat chili and say, mam-mam ♫

♫ Eat chive and say, mam-mam ♫

What do you think?

The verse that used to be meaningless suddenly became a vivid story. Do you agree?

Yes.

By switching "chive" to "tobacco,"

the textbook producers tried to make it wholesome. Can you understand why?

Yes.

Okay.

I said we'll learn about trends in modern Korean literature today.

Try to answer me.

What does "sa" in "sajo*" mean?

Sa as in death.

Sa as in death?

Spare me.

- Me. - Feel free to guess.

Sa, as in history?

Sa, as in history?

[Sa]

- You mean this, right? - Yes.

Does everyone agree?

Yes.

Good.

Korea-Japan Treaty of 1910. Lee Gwang Soo's "Heartless," 1917,

"Tae Seo Literary Magazine," 1918. "Creation," 1920.

"Poetry and Literature," 1930. Etc, etc.

You must've thought of this letter since you memorized all that. But...

this isn't the correct letter.

Sajo.

This won't be in the exam.

Don't try to copy the letters.

Just pay attention to what I say.

Sajo.

If you look at each letter,

sajo means the flow of thoughts.

Studying trends in literature means...

following the flow of the thoughts of the time.

And it will also...

allow your worlds to expand.

Whether it's a poem or a novel,

you have to get sucked into the author's world the moment you encounter a text.

You need to have the same eyes, language,

and thoughts of the author to face their world.

Between you, who's able to imagine a child

who's eating the tobacco and chilies, and you, who can't,

there's a river you can't cross. Which will lead to...

I'm sorry to say, but it'd lead to a difference in grades.

Since you're high-schoolers, let's start with something fitting.

We'll start with Lee Gwang Soo's "Heartless."

Open the first page of the handouts!

You need to know this.

A piece of literature in the textbook.

A line of essay in the exam. All of them were chosen for a reason.

The great scholars of Korea, college professors,

and school teachers with decades of experience. Those experts

deliberate and debate for a long time

to choose the texts you absolutely need to read.

For you, who only have middle school degrees.

Describe "Heartless"!

Published on Maeil Daily in 1917. The author is Lee Gwang Soo.

The first modern novel series in Korea.

Modern individuals and discovery of identity. Etc, etc.

Geez.

They don't want you to read this, so you blindly memorize stuff like this.

The teachers who teach you now

and the professors who will be teaching you

want you to empathize with the conflicts and anguish of the people who lived in that time

and expand your understanding of humanity and the world.

When you encounter this piece,

before you remember the facts about this piece,

you need to get sucked into the protagonist, Lee Hyeong Shik's agony.

Of course, it's not easy.

I still can't forget how shocked I was when I first read this.

It was freaking boring.

But then...

I decided to see this piece from a different perspective.

I decided to sneak a peek at my eldest brother's diary, who was lost in thoughts lately.

What's the protagonist, Hyeong Shik, worried about?

Who does he love at the moment?

Is it Seon Hyeong or Yeong Chae?

You know what?

What's more entertaining than the diary of your brother who's in a love triangle?

Don't you agree?

When I read this piece imagining that... Oh, my God.

It was hella fun.

There's no novel more entertaining than this.

A piece of literature is like...

a diary the author kept in detail after

reflecting on their interiority for a long time.

Let me ask you for the last time.

What you learned today is...

Flow of thoughts.

- What did you say? - Flow of thoughts.

Yes.

Today, you swam in the thoughts of the public and great authors

between 1910, the year the Japanese occupation started,

and 1945, the year of Korean independence.

I'm curious if you had fun.

- We loved it. - It was fun.

Thank you.

That was the symbol of Grade 1, Pyo Sang Seob.

What was that?

I was really worried since I heard he was quitting.

I don't think I need to.

Will you take his class?

I'm not sure.

Will you ask your mom and decide?

No, it's not that.

I can think and decide for myself.

That was really fun.

I should check the class schedule.

- Should we check the schedule? - Let's.

I learned so much today, Mr. Pyo.

Thank you.

It's not nonsense.

Sounds like passion.

When are you coming back?

I finished the first part of the textbook.

It's just two weeks worth, but I want to show it to you.

You're finally starting the class you wanted to teach so badly.

The class has five students.

It's the beginning of a legend.

I wonder why you don't get scared.

Get started.

Okay.

What are you doing?

Mr. Lee.

Starting now, don't make any noise, and look at that light.

Model student, Seo Hye Jin,

what did you see just now?

A fox?

And?

A moth or a gnat.

What did you hear?

The wind.

Those are the senses required from "How to Cross the Desert" by Seo Yeong Eun.

This piece lets you experience the protagonist's perspective using various senses.

You just experienced your senses getting

very sensitive while feeling extremely nervous.

Do you want me to prove it?

Be quiet.

What's "appreciating"?

The dictionary says it means enjoying,

understanding, and assessing a piece of art.

By "hieroglyphics," it means they modeled the characters based on shapes.

Based on what shapes?

That was my favorite Korean lecture I've ever attended.

But...

she's been keeping that the entire semester.

I felt so humiliated.

Joon Ho.

Focus on the sound of the wind.

Lee Joon Ho,

you win.

You win.

I want to finish the puzzle before the new semester starts.

Of course, it might happen sooner or later, depending on your plan.

Please give me a bit more time.

I think I waited long enough.

We're waiting for one more person.

What?

Who is it? I'm excited.

You won't be disappointed.

There she is. Another big fan of mine.

Have a seat, Director Choi.

Over here.

We'll start our meal now.

Okay.

I told them to prepare two servings of food.

I didn't think I should be here.

I hope you two take your time and enjoy yourselves.

Oh, and this.

Discuss what to do with it.

You can give it to someone, or you can put it on a billboard.

Having my files won't mean a teacher could teach as well as I do.

But you two are experts in discovering talents.

I believe you can figure it out.

I understand your position.

Let's hear the reason.

This...

is no longer my treasure.

You must've thought the game would be off if you gave up on these files.

But we're just getting started.

Did you get caught?

There'd be nasty rumors because it's me.

- Seriously. - Seo Hye Jin can't come back.

Would I have had a chance if I confessed my feelings?

It means this academy will become a wrecked ship soon.

Will you deny it?

That it's a false rumor or something like that?

You'll get covered in poop water.

I'll splash it on myself.