Original subtitles

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

(in this drama are fictitious.)

Ji Soo.

I'm Joyce from HK Private Equity.

Let's get the meeting started.

(Projected Income Statement)

(Projected Business Cash Flow)

As mentioned in our report,

the demand for construction that requires 3D printing...

will only go up considering...

the prime cost and convenience.

If we apply this technology to just ten percent...

of future annual housing constructions,

Soma Tech would be more than capable...

of repaying what they owe Jisan Bank.

So I believe forcing Soma Tech, a company with a high possibility...

of surviving on its own, into a workout is wrong.

- Accountant Jang Ho Woo. - Yes?

An accounting firm doesn't decide right from wrong.

It decides whether something will be a profit...

or a loss to our client.

According to your report,

Soma will need cash injections at each step of the process.

Aren't you just saying...

they'll borrow more money to make a product to sell?

Jisan Bank, our client,

has no intention of loaning Soma Tech any more money.

Have you forgotten we're here because they failed to repay...

what they already owed?

Is that all?

Thank you.

There's a demand for the product,

but your report doesn't say...

how much will sell and at what price.

If it's a crime to tacitly encourage people...

to do business with other people's money,

this would equal murder.

The output would affect the price,

but you offer no rational presumptions.

You didn't even state how much this venture will tie down.

Do you expect us to save the company...

without checking the cash flow?

Even if Soma Tech's product sells well,

will they use down payments to solve the cash flow problem?

What if the buyer pays with a promissory note instead?

Will you run to a bank again?

You have a habit of asking to be bailed out.

A blind racehorse only cares...

if the doctor will put it down or not.

Even if it can never fathom...

the mind of a better who reads the big picture,

out of the many options,

we're stuck with a tech-savvy craftsman.

Why should we help Soma Tech and take on the owner risk...

of a CEO who doesn't know business?

Isn't it obvious you should've come up with a reason?

A brand new technology?

Are you wanting compliments...

and not money?

Please help Haebit Construction.

I beg of you.

I know you don't like me.

But please help them out.

Tell your father...

it was a reasonable decision.

Sir.

Mr. Han.

Mr. Han!

HK Private Equity...

will have no problem taking over Soma Tech.

One must take what they bit.

Am I wrong, Mr. Han?

Ji Soo.

"Ji Soo?"

What are you doing?

Let go of me.

I get if you never wanted to see me again,

but you could've called me and let me know you were fine.

Do you know how worried I was?

I don't need you to worry about me.

You didn't already forget what you did...

to my dad and his company, right?

Ji Soo, back then...

The Jang Ji Soo you knew has gone.

You must know that by now.

Ji Soo.

What are you doing here?

What happened to you? Why did you disappear?

Later. I have nothing to say now.

HK Private Equity's Joyce Jang...

is the daughter of Haebit Construction's Jang In Ho?

Soma Tech's in the same position Haebit Construction was.

I bet she came here...

to kill it off and take it.

If she were...

to realize I swapped the Haebit Construction report,

what happens then?

Are you worried...

you'll get singed...

when the whole deal might fall though?

Ji Soo.

She always came to...

my grandma's cafeteria with her father, Mr. Jang.

To me, Mr. Jang was a father figure.

I had no blood relatives,

but I had a huge family.

She disappeared the way she did,

only to reappear like this.

When did you realize I knew her?

I saw a photo the day I went over for some wine.

You won't...

leave her like that, will you?

Ji Soo, let's talk.

Let him be.

Ji Soo, open the door.

I didn't think she'd leave you outside.

What are you doing here?

She has changed a lot.

Don't mess with her.

I really won't hold back this time.

Watch how I open a door that you can't open.

VP Han Je Kyun is here.

If there's something you want,

you need to change too.

This is my warning to you as your father.

I couldn't find her anywhere when I was looking for her.

Why did she have to...

show up like this now?

What other reason could there be?

Of course, I came to work.

If this is about you and President Jang In Ho of Haebit Construction...

and about me and Mr. Han Seung Jo,

I'm disappointed.

Just like what you said to me before,

this is just business for me too.

It's not anywhere else...

but HK Private Equity of all places.

I didn't realize you had a talent for surprising people.

I heard that you majored in English literature.

It's not like people work at private equity firms.

Money does all the work.

Such a little thing is getting on my nerves.

You must be busy.

I'm sorry to intrude.

Just treat me the same way...

as any other client.

Will do.

Be polite...

and respectful.

Well, that's not too hard.

We're stuck with a tech-savvy craftsman.

Why should we help Soma Tech and take on the owner risk...

of a CEO who doesn't know business?

A brand new technology?

You have a habit of asking to be bailed out.

Hey. You've tormented us enough.

Just tell us!

Were you fired?

Hey, just tell us the truth.

Did you beat someone up?

Just say it!

- Gosh, isn't he so obnoxious? - He is.

If, by chance...

If you guys meet Ji Soo,

what would you say to her?

Ji Soo.

You've gotten even prettier.

I'll say, "My grandma's food tastes a little better."

Hey, what I said was better.

I wanted to tell her that I became an accountant.

I wanted to brag that I work at a huge accounting firm.

And there was something...

I had to do with her.

Do it.

You can do it. What's the problem?

Do it.

Gosh, you punk.

It's okay.

Everything will get better.

You have to do everything you want to do.

I know that. You just have to do it.

Gosh, Ji Soo is a great drinker too.

Seriously, she drinks so well.

Joyce Jang is well-known among our firm's Hong Kong branch too.

She started as a part-timer who ran errands like serving people tea,

and within a few years, she went all the way up to C-level.

Is there really a need for all this?

It's a Ricardo.

Please. Those are the only three left in this world.

What in the world are you doing?

There is only one now.

And I can ask whatever I want.

Seeing how she achieved the impossible,

she must've lived such a dogged life.

But is there something going on at the Seoul headquarters?

I just asked because several people asked me about Joyce Jang today.

What?

I think that's good.

You should stop poking around at Ji Soo.

Had I known...

that girl had such guts,

things might've turned out a lot better than now.

That sounds like...

Ji Soo can't be my partner...

but Joyce can.

If the person has changed,

she should be treated differently as well.

I didn't know you were here. I was looking everywhere for you.

- For me? - Yes.

I have a question.

You weren't looking for me. You were looking for a mentor.

What's your question?

Why didn't HK Private Equity attempt a hostile M and A right away,

and why are they trying to send Soma Tech to bankruptcy court?

(Bankruptcy court: Where a company undergoes structural reform)

It's a hassle, and it would take much longer...

for them to acquire Soma Tech.

You don't know what you're saying.

If you take a bite, not knowing something is hot,

you'll end up burning your mouth.

What is an M and A?

It means you're willing to take on that company's responsibilities.

If a creditor that wasn't even listed in the books shows up...

and demands to be paid the amount the company owes them,

you'd be left in a sticky situation.

It would be an even bigger problem if they decide to sue.

And if there are delinquent taxes on top of that...

We'd only be criticized by people,

saying that we swallowed a company whole and whatnot.

We wouldn't get anything out of this.

But...

once this goes to bankruptcy court and comes back...

All the messy traffic would get cleared up at once.

But why the bankruptcy court?

They truly want this company to come back to life.

"We'll reset all your wrongdoings."

"Do a better job one last time." It's like an encouragement.

But some people are conveniently using that generosity...

like it's a service.

Like a dry cleaner's.

("Sustainable Modular Architecture," "EED, Architecture of the Future")

("3D printing architecture will open up a new trend worldwide.")

So some people try to send a company they want to acquire...

to bankruptcy court on purpose sometimes.

No company runs its business without loans.

So it's no big deal to deliver a huge punch to a company,

as long as you can get the banks to cooperate.

You just wait quietly,

and when the company falls,

you swallow it whole.

Hello, sir.

Mr. Jang, we're in big trouble.

I've been told the prep work is done.

All that's left now is the cooking, so let's relax and have a drink.

Thanks, Jae Ki.

As you said,

that woman, Joyce,

changing her mind would be troublesome for us too.

In case we need to get another customer,

we need to cover our bases to feel at ease.

Did you hear about Soma Tech's overdraft account getting blocked...

by Jisan Bank?

Really?

That money was supposed to be used for paying their employees.

If they can't pay their employees,

that makes them fall under conditions of a workout.

Doesn't that mean Soma Tech could be sold to someone else...

even if Ji Soo were to change her mind?

Are we going to keep sitting around like this?

The only way to save Soma Tech...

is to invest new funds.

Where are we going to get that kind of money?

Everyone in the market must know...

that Jisan Bank cut off Soma Tech by now.

You should admit it.

Our solution may not be the answer.

The numbers say so.

Those darn numbers.

Do you still think numbers always tell the truth?

Then why did you do an implementation check?

We need to try our best, even if we end up losing.

It's obvious to me how you gave up...

on Haebit Construction.

What did you say, you punk?

If you were going to be like this,

you shouldn't have acted like you were all that.

That's not the answer.

If there's a problem, you should try to get rid of it.

Why are you trying to solve it?

Jang Ho Woo.

I was crazy...

to expect anything from you.

Calm down and hear me out. Please?

I'm going to burn Jisan Bank down...

and die with them!

Move. Move now!

They say you get a death sentence when things start to look up.

You're a smart accountant. Tell me.

Did I do something wrong?

Did I do something wrong?

I know you're feeling uncomfortable because of Joyce Jang,

but nothing worrisome will happen,

so you should relax.

HK Private Equity left Joyce in charge...

of the Soma Tech purchase because she's in Korea.

Taeil Accounting is in luck...

because Joyce happens to be our top manager.

What we're expecting and hoping for with this purchase...

is a win-win result for both of our firms.

If they had other intentions, they would've done something by now.

They wouldn't be doing nothing.

For now,

let's keep still and watch.

Taeil Accounting Firm will think...

you were assigned to their account through pure coincidence...

while handling the restructuring.

It's not a lie. Just a different sequence.

Still, thank you.

Joyce.

We're not interested in anything else...

as long as you get the results for us.

But hurry back.

Don't forget you have your man here waiting. All right.

Okay, then.

I told you I had nothing to say.

I have something to give you, Ji Soo.

Do you know why tigers die at the hands of hunters?

Because of their leather.

If you have something to give me, give it to me and leave.

You're still impatient as ever, Jang Ji Soo.

I thought about why HK Private Equity would want Soma Tech.

What they really wanted wasn't Soma Tech.

It was the technology that Soma Tech had.

Just like how hunters aren't after the tigers' lives.

They're after the leather.

This blueprint of a nozzle that can build the outer wall...

of a building in just a few hours.

If I press enter,

this will become open source for the world to see.

For free.

What are you trying to do?

Are you trying to self-destruct?

A tiger is going to take off its own leather...

because it wants to live.

Without patented technology,

no one will want Soma Tech.

If you want the technology, change your mind.

Instead of taking it by forcing them into a workout,

you can become an investor.

You can...

do that.

I don't want to.

What?

If you post this blueprint on the internet for free,

Soma Tech will become an empty shell...

that no one wants, as you said.

So?

I can't set a precedent.

If word gets out...

that Soma Tech survived by threatening to self-destruct,

everyone will copy that.

Wouldn't it be easier to get rid of Soma Tech,

who thought of such a thing, than to deal with all of that?

Why are you doing this?

Why did you suddenly show up here?

Is this because of guilt?

Is it because the person you loved ended up pushing your dad to death?

Guilt?

Someone else should be feeling that. Why should I?

It's not your fault that Mr. Jang died.

It's not Mr. Han's fault either.

Are you taking his side now because you're also an accountant?

I'm not taking his side.

It's a fact.

Hello. Did you look over the materials I sent you?

Oh, that part.

I can provide additional explanation about that part.

Yes.

(Excellent Company Selected by Ministry of Science and ICT)

Sir.

Sir. Are you here?

Sir.

Sir!

Mr. Jang!

Sir!

Is anyone there?

Is anyone there?

Sir. Please!

Someone help!

Sir!

Sir!

(Jang In Ho, we miss you.)

Did you read the report that Han Seung Jo actually wrote?

Don't expect that report to change anything.

Nothing will change.

That's not true.

It will change how you feel.

Strictly speaking, Han Seung Jo is also a victim.

While his mother's funeral was being held,

without telling him,

Han Je Kyun ordered to alter the report on Haebit Construction.

Jisan Bank pretended not to know.

They turned a blind eye to it.

Since I joined Taeil Accounting, Han Seung Jo reminded me of you...

based on what I have seen.

I don't care.

It'll all be over once Soma Tech is forced into a workout.

The CEO of Soma Tech...

got over the hump last night.

It would have been dangerous if I had found him too late.

So he proved himself to be weak.

He's not only incompetent but also irresponsible.

No,

you're wrong.

It's not what you think.

Due to overworking,

his illness got worse.

He wasn't trying to run away.

He endured and fought until the end.

It must have been the same for your father.

You have a huge connection.

I didn't know you were close to Joyce Jang from HK Private Equity.

I acted like a show-off in front of her,

but I don't know how to save Soma Tech.

I feel terrible.

We're accountants, not troubleshooters.

We can't find solutions every time.

Like pawning a watch at a pawnshop,

would anyone lend money for pawning a technology?

A pawnshop?

Why didn't I think of that?

A pawnshop.

What's the matter?

- Thanks to you, I think I found it. - What?

Are you talking to me?

Thank you so much.

(Conditions for a Workout)

Once it's submitted to the bankruptcy court,

it's over for Soma Tech.

Here you go.

That's not true.

It's revived by HK Private Equity.

It's a new start.

I see.

Is that how we should see it?

While his mother's funeral was being held, without telling him,

Han Je Kyun ordered to alter the report on Haebit Construction.

Jisan Bank pretended not to know.

They turned a blind eye to it.

I told you not to call.

What are you talking about?

Soma Tech repaid...

the loan in a lump sum?

How was it possible...

for them to pay such a huge amount?

(Korean Intellectual Property Office)

I'm from Taeil Accounting Firm.

Taeil Accounting?

- They already came by. - Pardon?

Aren't you here for the funds for Soma Tech?

That's correct.

How did you know?

It has been approved,

so they received the money and related documents a moment ago.

Hold on.

From Taeil Accounting, who else...

Soma Tech's debt from Jisan Bank.

As of 3:40pm today,

the entire debt has been paid off.

(Jisan Bank)

(Debt Repayment Certificate)

(Details of debt and repayment)

Here is...

the termination of collaterals.

(Debt Repayment Certificate)

(Certificate)

How did this happen?

This means...

that Jisan Bank lost its right as a creditor...

to force Soma Tech into a workout.

Taeil Accounting...

can no longer justify the sale of Soma Tech.

Mr. Han.

Could you please explain what's going on?

All of you work at Taeil Accounting.

What's this fuss about?

Please say something, Mr. Han.

No bank would have given a loan to Soma Tech.

Exactly.

You worked very hard on it.

How is it possible that all banks refuse it?

Did you get a private loan?

Soma Tech's patent...

has been sold.

Sell the patent?

I don't mean for good. It'll only be temporary.

After selling the patent, pay off the debt from the bank...

to get rid of the risk.

When you're drowning, shouldn't you let go...

what's in your hand to float back up?

When things get better for the company,

you can repurchase the patent.

Until then, as long as you pay a small fee,

you can use the patented Soma Tech's technology...

as much as you want.

I may not know how the world works,

but who in the world would let someone take such an advantage?

I know someone.

Throughout your career as an accountant,

have you seen the accounting firm bringing losses to a company...

that has money?

Have you?

Even by giving them the priority to buy back the technology?

Who would make such a deal?

Selling so many Korean technologies abroad...

for a very low price is...

a national loss and embarrassment.

Intellectual Property Office wouldn't let such a thing happen.

Intellectual Property Office?

Sale and lease back.

(It allows the company to sell an asset to raise capital.)

Usually, it refers to selling real estate...

and renting it for one's use.

(It lets the company lease that asset back from the purchaser.)

In Soma Tech's case, it's patent instead of real estate.

That's the difference.

A master engineer who only knows about technology.

He suffers because of a CEO...

who doesn't know how the world works.

This will no longer happen to my clients, at least.

One mistake is enough.

Ji Soo.

Just because you saved Soma Tech,

it doesn't change the past.

I know.

Can we talk for a minute?

Saying a few words...

will never be enough to make me feel at ease.

Please listen to me...

so that at least you can feel more at peace.

Because of me,

you went through bad things when you were innocent.

This wouldn't make me feel any better.

I mean it.

I'm not interested in whether you mean it or not.

All right.

Keep hating me like that.

Don't hate yourself. Just hate me.

With this, you've hurt yourself all along,

not anyone else.

Why do you have to...

It wouldn't take long.

There's someone waiting for me too.

Using the patent law to pay back all the debts?

I haven't thought about it. I'm sorry.

What can I do?

It's because I have a competent son.

Hello, VP Han Je Kyun.

(Trust, Confidence, Honesty)

It's been a long time.

I heard you took sick leave.

I was afraid I might disturb you,

so I didn't visit you.

Thanks to your consideration,

I could get better, I guess.

By the way,

what brought you here?

Now that I'm not lying in my sickbed, I should come back to work,

where I belong to.

I just came to see how it is here before I officially come back,

but I don't see some of my people.

I heard Kang Hyun suddenly quit.

I don't think he's that irresponsible.

I wonder...

if you have any idea about that.

I'm not so sure.

Of course,

you wouldn't know what happened in the audit department.

Well,

regarding the discipline slackened while I was away,

I will tighten it again.

Find out about the VIP client of Han Je Kyun.

Since he fired one of my people,

I should pay back twice for it.

Yes, ma'am.

Usually, when you're done with a case,

you keep the related materials in the filing room...

as an accountant, don't you?

That's true.

Then...

why am I doing this...

instead of you?

I'll do it.

I heard you went to Ji Soo and threatened her...

that you'd distribute the blueprint for free.

- Are you being a gangster or what? - A gangster?

That's harsh. I didn't expect things to turn out this way.

Anyway, I'm glad we won.

I found Ji Soo again,

and Soma Tech doesn't have to go to the bankruptcy court.

- Don't get too excited. - Okay.

They rid out a crisis like this, but next time it happens,

you might have to send Soma Tech to the bankruptcy court yourself.

Come on. Don't curse it.

But that's what an accountant does.

Soma Tech went through a workout...

because it had lax management.

They didn't think about their financial condition...

and lent excessive research funds. That was the source of trouble.

However,

you can't guarantee they won't do that again.

People don't change,

and it's the same with companies.

An accountant...

is not a savior for companies in trouble.

An accountant is someone...

who makes money works where it should be.

An accountant is not a justice warrior.

I'm the one who knows it too well.

- I'm back. - I'll get that.

Move over. It's heavy.

I brought all these by myself.

I'm sure you appreciate it.

I could have done it myself.

When I was a new staff, whenever a case was done,

I had to organize this file cabinet, and I hated it.

You wouldn't have to open it unless there's a problem,

so I didn't know why I had to work so hard on it.

I was told to keep even a single scratch paper at work,

but it wasn't as easy when you actually did it.

It just gives the new hire a hard time.

That's when I decided this.

"I won't give the new hire a hard time."

By the way, you said you were going to a pawnshop. Was it all right?

Yes, we won, thanks to you.

What's with this pawnshop?

You don't need to know.

I'm asking as a senior colleague, and that's your answer?

I should teach you manners.

Well, it's...

We kind of helped one another.

That's right. We helped one another.

One was a step ahead, though.

What? What do you mean?

There's one.

What?

Let me take care of this.

(2023 Soma Tech Workout Implementation Check)

How's Grandma?

How about you?

HK Private Equity? I can't imagine.

There's a reason,

which you don't need to know.

I think I need to.

He traded his life...

for Haebit Construction's patent, and it was taken...

by HK Private Equity.

Just don't do anything about it. It's fine.

You never know. I might be helpful.

I'm an accountant, you know.

I'm an insider, but I can't get the information. You can't either.

Yes. Wednesday?

The one who sent the money to HK Private Equity...

is AN?

I'll stay in Korea for a while.

I have things to take care of.

When would this nightmare end?

Where did our plan leak?

First, utilize all our resources as we planned...

to pressure Jisan Bank.

- All right. - Yes.

If the audit department becomes Jisan Bank's external auditor,

the advisory department must take our hands off...

of any work for Jisan Bank.

The projected impact on sales based on the most recent year...

is ten million dollars,

but if we also add in work-related to troubled assets acquisition...

derived from the Jisan case,

its an annual loss of over 30 million dollars.

Asking for a piece of someone else's pie?

What is this uneducated behavior?

We didn't ask for a piece of your pie.

We're saying we'll eat our own pie.

If you ruin our pie...

in order to make yours,

that's the same thing.

What did you say?

Hey. What class are you in?

What year are you, you punk?

I think I'm higher than you.

Oh, sure.

I think they're going to fight.

They are fighting. It's a turf war.

They must be sensitive because their bonuses hang on this.

Bonus?

Are performance evaluations happening soon?

They need performance evaluations...

to calculate performance-based bonuses.

Right?

Performance evaluations.

Who is that?

The VP of Audit.

I see.

I brought you two here despite your busy schedules...

for an independence review regarding Jisan Bank.

It's not like there were any issues.

You know better than anyone what kind of relationship...

the advisory department has had with Jisan Bank.

Now you want to steal Jisan Bank.

How should I interpret that?

Steal?

We only followed the Financial Supervisory Service's advice...

reconsider the transparency of Jisan Bank's accounting...

and engaged in proper sales activities.

Sales activities?

An accounting firm...

trying to perform audit work,

the root and foundation of an accounting firm,

isn't something to be laughed at.

Auditing Jisan Bank.

How much do you get paid for that?

What?

The advisory department makes 30 million in a year,

and 60 million in 2 years, in consulting fees from Jisan Bank.

Can you make that much...

from audit fees?

Do you think...

sales is a persimmon that ripens...

and falls by itself?

You have to grab the tree trunk with your two hands...

mercilessly shake it...

for barely one or two...

to fall at your feet.

Activities?

VP Han Je Kyun.

That's how we gathered our 30 million dollars.

Go ahead and give it a try.

It'll be very different from the dignity of an accountant...

that you like so much.

These are the sales percentages...

of each Taeil Accounting department from the past year.

The advisory department makes up 42 percent of Taeil's total sales.

The audit department makes up 34 percent.

The tax department makes up the rest.

So if the audit department takes the external audit of Jisan Bank,

the audit department's share will increase slightly,

but total sales for the firm as a whole...

will decrease significantly. That's what you mean, right?

And 30 million dollars a year, at that.

That means we should show that black cats are better...

at catching mice than white cats.

It's natural to want the dividends right before your eyes more...

than transparency in accounting, which no one cares about.

It's not over yet.

The audit department will work harder...

to lighten the load for the advisory department.

We're a family that works together.

Why does it matter who earns more?

We just need to do well together.

If only people really felt that way.

Even with married couples that both work,

the person who earns more has a bigger say.

What are you going to the tenth floor for?

Oh, well...

I see.

To see the firm's handsome man?

No.

Isn't Mr. Han...

working out of the office today?

What?

What are you talking about?

See you in the conference room.

To see the firm's handsome man?

I'm not.

Mr. Han Seung Jo...

Dad.

It's not like that.

A neat and flawless life.

Her husband is a visiting professor,

and her son is in the US for his doctorate?

Yes.

President Jin Tae Soo of Jisan Bank?

(Audit Leader An Seung Yeon)

(Jisan Bank FY2022 Financial Audit)

(Auditor's Report on Financial Statements)

(Numbers)

To be realistic, it'll be hard to figure out...

who the financial backer is.

First, we need to find out...

who these rich and shy people are.

Even if Joyce Jang gave the order?

- She said to listen to her... - They're killing franchise stores!

to get what money we could get.

It's not Ji Soo's fault.

I got this information...

by mixing...

a favor...

and a request.

Working at a company is like being in a play.

Predators even eat zookeepers if they don't get enough food.

Who gave you the right to break up the contract?

Mr. Jang. What happened?

I would like you...

to leave Taeil Accounting.