Why?
Oh, Mom
Looks like Mom’s going to work
Oh, that’s Mom
Must be a work day for her
Yeah, I guess so
Today is…
Yeah?
Thanks for the ride
I’ll head off now
Thanks Really
No, for what?
You’re leaving?
Yeah
So what are you going to do Here, then?
Right Take care
See you next week
Yeah, see you next week
You okay?
Huh? Yeah, I’m fine
Smoke a cigarette
Yeah, I think I will
Is that her house?
Yeah
Whoa The house is huge
Wow I didn’t think it’d be like that
Huh?
Wow, seriously It’s so big, that house
It’s really like… What is it?
It’s just a really nice house, huh?
My dad built all of this
For Mom— No, for Grandma
He put thought into it So Grandma would be comfortable
He built this for your grandma?
My dad’s really devoted
A true devoted son
I see
But after Grandma passed
We don’t come much either
The house is too big Just for the two of them
So it's just your mom and dad Living here now?
Yeah
Must feel kind of empty
So they built all this Just for Grandma?
Yeah
She had lung cancer
They thought it’d be better For her health here
So he bought a mountain
We used to live in Icheon, actually
Dad designed this whole place himself
He really went through a lot
What a devoted son
You don’t see people like that anymore
Dad’s seriously a model son
Like from a book or something
Want to take a quick look inside?
Yeah, sure, should we?
Yeah, if you want to take a quick peek Go ahead
Yeah, I’d like to see it
Then let’s have a quick look
Is your dad home right now? If we go up?
No, we’ll just stop by the parking area That’s enough
Okay Let’s do that
Hello
Hi
- You’re here? Oh - Yeah
Right But who’s this?
Oh, he gave me a ride From Seoul
Oh, I see
Wow, that car That’s an old model
Yeah, anyway, thank you For the ride
Oh No problem
How are you?
Good
Who are you, By the way?
Well, since you brought Junhee All the way here…
We’re actually dating
He’s my boyfriend.
Ha Dong-hwa.
Oh, is he the one you mentioned before?
The lawyer’s son— Mr. Ha’s son?
Yes.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you. - Likewise.
Sorry to just show up out of the blue like this…
That’s okay.
So how long have you been dating?
It’s been just about 3 years now.
I see. So 3 years.
Wow, that’s a long time!
Yeah, I kept saying I’d come meet you, but I kept putting it off…
I finally made it.
- Sorry for the delay. - Oh no, that’s fine.
No one really does that anymore.
It’s just boyfriend and girlfriend, you know?
Anyway, welcome.
Yes, thank you.
By the way, that car— it’s a really old model, huh?
It’s really beautiful.
Yes.
How old is this model?
This car? It was made in 1996.
Oh, wow.
How much do these usually go for?
Well, I bought it used—someone had it repaired and put it up for sale.
I got it for 2.3 million, four years ago.
I see. That’s more expensive than I thought.
Yeah, I heard they’re in demand these days.
The price tends to stay high for its age.
Yeah, it’s a great car, right?
Lots of headroom inside, solid build.
And it’s beautiful, too.
Yeah, love the design.
- Absolutely. - Right?
I liked it so much, I just had to get it.
You made a good choice. Love the color too.
Mind if I sit in it for a bit?
Of course, go ahead.
Really?
Yes.
Are you sure it’s okay?
Yes.
Thank you very much.
Where’s he going?
He’s going out? Huh?
Wow, your dad must really love cars.
Yeah, he’s kind of into them.
Haha, that’s funny.
Mind if I smoke?
Oh, sure.
I might be a while, just have one.
Okay, yeah.
If your dad comes back,
since we already introduced ourselves, I think he’ll invite us inside.
Yeah.
- Right. - Is that okay with you?
Sure, I mean, it’s just meeting your dad.
You sure?
Yeah.
Don’t feel pressured.
Just have a coffee and go.
Of course. He’s your dad, after all.
But right now, I think my sister is inside.
Oh, your sister’s home?
Yeah, she’s staying here these days.
It’s kind of hard to explain.
She’s going through a tough time.
Yeah? She is?
Yeah.
I don’t want to explain it badly and cause misunderstandings.
But anyway…
She’s having a hard time mentally.
Yeah.
She’s a bit depressed, maybe.
Anyway, that’s how it is.
That’s why she’s staying here now.
Yeah.
So just…
Keep that in mind, okay?
Got it.
But really…
It’s kind of nice.
How’s the car? Feels okay?
It even has a cassette deck.
Have some coffee.
Thanks.
Me too.
Thanks for what?
Just… thanks.
You can rest your feet here— It’s like a carpet.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
Oh, okay.
Got it.
Comfy?
Yeah, really comfy.
Dad said Mom’s coming back soon. Guess he called her.
He said we should stay for dinner. Are you okay with that?
Oh, really?
Is it okay if we eat dinner here?
Sure, sounds good.
All right, then.
But what’s that sound?
Is that a gayageum?
Yeah, my sister’s playing it.
She’s been learning gayageum lately.
I think she just started studying it.
She’s studying gayageum?
Yeah, she got really into it all of a sudden.
But it hasn’t been long since she started.
It’s only been a month or two since she bought it.
Neung-hee
Yes?
Hey, Jun-hee’s here. She came with a guest.
- Okay. - All right.
Ah, please make yourself comfortable.
Have a seat, have a seat.
Take this.
You smoke, right?
Oh, this— the cigarette tastes pretty nice.
- Oh, uh, th-thank you. - Yes.
Thank you so much.
No, I mean— the car smelled like smoke.
Oh, I see. Ah…
So, would you like to step out and have a smoke with me?
Oh, sure.
Yeah, let’s do that.
Ah, you can leave your bag here.
Oh, should I?
- Yes. - Okay.
Then I’ll just grab my lighter.
No need— here’s a lighter.
Ah, thank you.
You want to come out too?
- They’re smoking. - Ah, sure, let’s go.
- See you in a bit. - Yep, we’ll be right back.
Unni?
Unni, what are you doing?
Oh, come upstairs a sec. I’m doing something.
Okay.
There are two of them.
This is a mountain area—
so they give signals when someone comes. It helps.
Ah, I see.
This is fun.
Yeah, it’s… nice.
I really like it.
You’ve improved a lot, unni— it hasn’t been long.
Really?
Yeah.
The way the sound rises up—
and fills the room…
It’s so fascinating.
It’s an amazing instrument.
You’ve improved a lot, unni.
It sounds clean. I like it—really.
Maybe 10 years?
If I practice for 10 years—
I’ll be able to move my fingers however I want.
That would be so fun.
Yeah, that’s great.
Good buy.
Right?
Yeah, I think so too.
Those chickens are so handsome.
Yes, they’re Cheonggye.
Cheong… Cheonggye?
Yes, Cheonggye.
Ah, Cheonggye—got it.
They really are good-looking.
So pretty— the chickens, I mean.
I get fresh eggs from them every morning.
That must be nice.
I see.
Mr. Dong-hwa, you’re a poet, right?
Huh? Oh—no, no…
I’m just—
I write by myself because I enjoy it.
It’s just something I like.
But I heard you’ve been published?
That’s what Jun-hee told me.
Ah, no, not really.
It was just a small magazine— really nothing special.
Oh, come on.
Jun-hee’s mom is a poet too.
Yes, I know— I heard about her.
- Oh, really? - Yes.
Those poems hanging in the hall— aren’t they hers?
Yes, they are.
I made the frames, actually.
I loved them so much.
Jun-hee’s mom has a lot of talent.
Oh, is that so?
Yes.
Well, she’s also a much wiser person than I am.
Is that so?
See, I gain knowledge by reading books and learning from them,
then I go around talking about those things.
But she’s different.
She experiences things directly in life,
and from those experiences, she seems to gain wisdom.
Yes, firsthand.
So I think— she was born with
an innately sharp mind, really clever.
I understand, yes.
I'm telling you— Junhee’s mom has a lot of talent.
She originally studied acting.
Then she met me and gave it up— after having kids.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
When a woman has a child,
that becomes pretty much the center of everything.
Anyway, when it came to major decisions in life,
she was always the one who was right.
You're being modest—truly.
No, no— I am not a modest person at all.
I'm someone who brags and lives off my own brilliance.
- Is that so? - Absolutely.
You’ll see soon enough— really.
But your mustache is really nice.
It’s grown in beautifully.
I don’t grow facial hair at all— never have.
Oh, really?
Yes.
But this— wow,
it’s coming in so neatly— that beard of yours.
- Thank you. - Oh, sure.
But why grow it out?
Ah, well, actually I only started growing it recently.
I just wanted to try it once.
Yes.
I’ve been wanting to try it for a while—
but I was too self-conscious about what others would think.
Now, though, I’ve decided I’ll just go for it.
Yeah.
But honestly—
your beard looks great. It’s grown in really neatly.
And now you’re a poet, right?
- Thank you. - Hold on—
how should I put it? That old-fashioned dignity of a poet, you know?
Yeah, that sort of thing might come through now.
The beard— yeah, I think it suits you well.
Yes.
Then shall we head all the way to the top—
and have one more smoke before heading down?
Sure.
Yes, let’s do that.
You don’t have to speak so formally.
Yeah, yeah— I’ll handle it, don’t worry.
All right.
Really, just speak comfortably now.
Haha, sounds good.
- Let’s go, yeah? - Yeah.
Feel free to speak casually.
Got it. Okay, I got it.
We made this dirt path for my mother originally—
but it collapsed, so we completely redid the whole thing recently.
It’s a dirt path.
Yeah—so you can walk barefoot.
My mother used to walk this path every day. Even when it was cold, she walked every day.
You should try walking it sometime. I’ll bring you some slippers.
Yes, thank you. I will.
Do you like baeksuk? How about baeksuk?
- Baeksuk? - Yeah.
I love baeksuk. It’s delicious.
- Yeah? - Yes.
Okay, got it.
Good.
But really, this mountain— it’s so beautifully maintained.
You think so?
Yes, you’ve done such a wonderful job. Truly.
I started it alone because of my mother—
and it took quite a while.
But now that she’s gone, I feel like I’m the only one enjoying it.
You did all of this yourself?
Of course.
But now it’s too tough to do it like I used to.
Still, lately Neung-hee
seems to really like this place. Thankfully.
Oh, your older daughter?
Yeah, the eldest.
You’ll see when we go up—
we placed her memorial up in the trees above.
This mountain—it feels like... How can I put it?
Like the mountain itself is a place that holds my mother.
To me, anyway.
When I walk here every day,
I think of her, and it feels so natural. It brings me peace.
That’s what I like.
Yes.
Let’s head up.
Okay.
That guy—was it two years ago?
He said he’d come back then and didn’t. Now he finally shows.
What changed?
I wonder, all of a sudden.
It’s nothing. He just came along because he gave me a ride.
He didn’t come to formally visit?
So it was sudden? Without even letting you know?
Yeah, he just came.
Still, it’s about time— it’s been three years.
Somehow, it just happened.
Didn’t you once tell me you were even talking about marriage?
Are you still thinking about that?
Yeah.
But we’re not ready yet, so we’ve been thinking through everything—
but does anyone ever really “feel ready” in life?
I don’t know. We’re just... taking it day by day.
Just deal with each thing as it comes, that’s all.
Being fully ready—
That doesn’t exist.
Do you love him?
I do.
Really?
Yeah, of course.
Now I want to see his face, all of a sudden.
See how different he is from the photo.
He looks the same.
Actually, better in person.
Mom’s gonna be so happy.
She’ll really like him, right?
Yeah, yeah, probably.
He’s Attorney Ha’s son— he’s got quite the glow.
Seems like Dad likes him too.
When we met in person, he was really kind.
Dad probably likes him too.
Though he didn’t say it outright.
Attorney Ha isn’t just some ordinary guy, after all.
I bet Dad’s secretly very happy.
I don’t know—somehow we ended up meeting like this.
Thank you!
Oh, I happened to have two bottles.
If that’s not enough, there’s one more.
- Thank you. - You can go over there.
Okay.
You brought a container here?
It’s my hideout.
Wow.
You really have a place like this at the top?
A little blurriness is okay for me.
I’ve lived like that for so long.
I didn’t even realize my vision was bad. I just lived.
When I first got these glasses—
Yeah?
I was shocked. Seriously.
Totally shocked.
Well— then you should keep wearing them.
But, yeah, having things a little blurry—
It’s fine. For me.
I’m just a little weird.
But those glasses really suit you.
Thank you.
So when you take them off— can you see Junhee’s face clearly?
Oh, yes. Of course.
Wait—
Do you see her even prettier that way?
No— no, sir.
So? What do you think of Junhee?
What do you like about her?
Um…
Is she pretty?
She’s truly beautiful.
I think she’s a really wonderful person.
Yeah?
Junhee—
She’s a really kind person.
Yes, I agree. She’s genuinely kind.
I call her my angel, usually.
Yeah?
She’s someone you can truly trust.
Junhee—
I’ve never had a reason to worry about her.
She was just born—
upright and strong.
And most of all, her thinking is healthy.
There’s nothing crooked in her.
She never even starts down the wrong path.
Ah, yes.
That’s right.
Here, have a smoke too.
Thank you very much.
See that mountain over there? That one far off.
Yes.
The sun sets right over there.
And when it does—
it’s truly beautiful.
You really should see it.
Really.
It’s breathtaking.
Oh, is that so?
I see it every day.
I must be a truly lucky man.
Yes, you really must be.
That’s wonderful. Truly.
Really.
On some days—
the sun goes down as this red orb—
bright crimson.
And in that moment— it’s just breathtaking.
Ah, I’d love to see that too.
I used to sit here with my mother every day.
We watched a lot of sunsets together.
Do you come up here often?
This space—right here—it's really nice.
Yeah, I come up almost every day.
Well, there’s always something to do up here.
And I drink a bottle of makgeolli or beer— whatever I’ve got.
I have one bottle every day.
I see.
And I sleep over there sometimes too— that’s my hideout.
Hey, don’t worry about it— I’ll bring out one more bottle.
Oh, okay.
Just a sec.
Yes.
Make sure you watch the sunset before you go, okay?
Yes, I will.
Good.
Writing something?
Ah, it’s nothing.
What did you write?
Ah, I just jotted something down.
Do you always carry that notebook?
Yes. This notebook— I always have it with me.
What were you thinking about? I’m curious.
Just…
I was thinking a little about filial piety.
Why is it such a passionate— a burning feeling?
It’s something that can reshape an entire mountain— something like that.
That sort of thing.
Well...
Let’s see…
Inside my heart,
there’s no one who’s let me experience a love deeper and purer than that.
No one else has given me that.
Honestly, you can’t beat it.
It’s an experience. Just that—an experience.
So, a truly pure experience of love?
That’s how I see it.
Me too.
Sir, I—
I truly know just how much you love Junhee.
She’s told me so much over the years.
Since she was a kid—
she’d always say her dad loved her so, so deeply.
She said that to me so many times.
That every night, you’d sit by her bedside—
and tell her you loved her—
again and again, so many times.
I really know that well.
Oh, really?
Meeting you today— I think I understand a little.
What kind of person that love came from.
I think I see it— just a little.
I can feel it.
Thank you.
I’ll love Junhee—
the way you love her, sir.
Then that would make me so happy.
I really hope you do. That would be wonderful.
I love my Junhee so, so much.
Just like you’ve loved her—
I’ll love her just the same.
Okay.
All right.
I’ll put her on speaker— Junhee, Junhee—
Ah, yes.
Hey, Junhee.
We’re up here right now, just having some makgeolli.
Sorry— you were waiting, huh?
No, no—it’s okay. You did well.
Yeah.
You just weren’t back for a while, so I thought I’d walk a bit and maybe grab lunch.
Ah, yes, lunch.
Time to eat lunch.
I’m not super hungry right now.
Come on— you should eat lunch.
Hey, Junhee— but actually,
I’ve got something I need to take care of.
So I think it’d be better if you two went and ate together.
How about it? Mom said she’d be back before six.
She might even get here sooner.
Anyway, I think that’d be good.
Okay, we’ll do that.
We’ll head to Songbaek, then.
Since Donghwa likes bibimbap, that place would be good.
Yeah, sounds good.
Hey— take your sister too.
Huh? She should say hi to Donghwa too, right?
I’m not sure if she’ll come, but I’ll ask.
Yeah, ask her.
Come on, hey— at least she should eat lunch.
Like I said, I’ve got things to prepare here.
So, you three—
go have lunch together.
And maybe check out Shilleuksa or the Sejong the Great Tomb—
somewhere like that.
That should line up with six o’clock.
Got it.
Okay.
Going to Shilleuksa sounds nice.
- Right? - We’ll go then.
Okay.
Is Mr. Donghwa with you there?
Yeah, of course he is.
Yeah, after you eat—
Yes?
Take a little tour around the area.
Shilleuksa is really lovely.
And the river in front of it— just amazing.
- Oh? - Okay, got it.
Yeah, he said he’s going— he likes the idea.
Got it. Then we’ll go eat now.
All right, then.
Okay.
That place is really nice.
Okay, let’s eat.
So for the accelerator—
you’ve got to press it a little harder than with newer cars.
Like, this car’s engine is a little weaker, you could say?
Yeah, exactly.
So if a newer car gets up to speed with a power of 5—
then with this car—
you need to press it around 7 or 8 to get the same speed.
So yeah, press a bit harder.
Okay.
But you’ll figure that out once you’re driving.
Right, right.
Now, about the brakes—
the response is a bit sluggish compared to a new car.
So if you want a full stop—
you need to press it all the way down.
You have to press harder than in imported cars.
You’ll get it once you try.
Oh, for sure.
So the brakes feel a bit soft, then?
No, no—if you press it fully, it stops. No problem at all.
There’s nothing wrong with it.
The brakes aren’t faulty or anything— not at all.
Got it. I’ll give it a try.
Close the door. Let’s go.
I should’ve driven, but I drank—sorry.
No, it’s fine.
I actually wanted to try driving this car.
Close it firmly.
Unni, get in now.
Yeah.
You’re okay, right?
Of course, of course.
I’m totally fine.
Go on inside.
Okay.
This place is pricier than I thought.
From the outside, you wouldn’t expect it.
It’s a popular spot lately. Prices are all like this now.
The food is really great.
Same. I came once and had to come again.
You’re eating really well.
Ah, yes.
I think I ate all the stir-fried pork.
No, no—don’t worry.
I finished mine too.
Ah, okay.
Wow, I ate so much today.
Right? But it was seriously so good.
It’s rare to find a place with bibimbap this good.
And the stir-fried pork too.
Don’t eat too much though— we still have dinner.
Right, right. Good point.
You ate half of mine too.
But honestly—
It was so good.
I think Dad’s making baeksuk.
Yeah, he asked me about it earlier.
He did?
Yeah.
It’s fine—eat. You can walk it off after.
Go ahead, eat.
Okay.
Whew— I should stop eating now.
I’ll slow down.
Why’d you grow a mustache?
You didn’t have one in your old photos.
Just trying it out, really.
I’m a bit older now, so…
I think it suits you.
Historically— all men had beards, globally.
It’s only in Europe that they started shaving recently—
and that spread all over the world.
Worldwide, basically.
But do we really have to follow all of that?
Our ancestors too—
they all grew beards and lived like that.
But honestly, it looks good on you.
- What a relief. - Really?
- Yeah. - Then that’s great.
Sorry if I’m asking too much.
Oh, not at all.
As for your car—
I think something better might suit you more.
But to me, that car’s the prettiest.
And I don’t have much money either.
Still, your father could probably help, right?
I’ve moved out on my own now.
These days, I barely get any help.
He’s totally independent.
He earns everything himself now.
Really?
Yeah.
What do you do?
What’s your work?
I’m working at a wedding venue.
A wedding venue?
Yes.
At the wedding hall— on weekends, I...
I do part-time work filming wedding videos.
Ah, I see.
So that’s what you do.
Yes.
He earns just enough to live on—
just enough for the bare minimum.
No savings at all.
But you have your father, right?
So, what do you find beautiful about Junhee?
If you don’t mind me asking.
Ah, sure.
Junhee—
is just an angel.
Really?
Yes.
Come on, no way.
Back when we first met—
we really did love each other, but
there were like ten things we didn’t understand about each other.
Things I just couldn’t grasp.
Like, why does she think this way?
Things like that.
But now it’s been about three years—
and I love her even more than before.
But—
those issues— maybe just two or three left?
That’s about it now.
Yes.
To have things work out like that with someone—
that’s really rare. Truly rare in life.
What are those two or three things?
Hm?
Ah, well—those things are kind of fading away now too.
Yeah, it’s amazing.
But I feel the same way.
Me too.
That’s such a good thing— for both of us.
I don’t know if I should say this, but…
Junhee has a strong will and very clear values.
Ah, yes.
She was like that since she was young.
When she first got on stage and started dancing—
she was still a kid, right?
Maybe around twenty? Twenty-one?
At that performance, someone saw her—
and actually sent someone to ask her out.
Like, formally.
Turns out—
he was the second son of some semi-chaebol family.
That guy—
he was really smitten with Junhee, I think.
Even after she turned him down once, he came to the house.
He showed up at our house.
Came all the way to the door—
and rang the doorbell late at night.
We didn’t even live there at the time.
We were really shocked back then.
It was kind of arrogant too—
but anyway, do you know what she did?
She didn’t even step outside the door.
She just told her dad to send him away.
For me—
that was honestly really surprising. Not easy, right?
I see.
She was so young then—
and to be able to completely reject that kind of temptation—
She just cut it off without hesitation.
And the guy wasn’t even bad-looking or anything.
You never told me about that.
Why would I tell you that?
I mean, money or whatever—
that had nothing to do with me anyway.
It was just kind of a weird situation.
What did he even know about me?
That—
That’s really not an easy thing to do.
So what I’m trying to say is—
Junhee—
it’s not because you’re Attorney Ha’s son—
that she came to like you. It’s nothing like that.
Yeah, I know.
Yeah.
Just—
I really wanted to say that.
She’s my sister, so I know.
Yes.
Thank you. That’s really—
a great story. Thank you.
I’ll remember it well.
Okay.
Unni, you’re being dramatic.
You’re the one who said it.
That’s the kind of person you are.
All right.
Lunch was good, wasn’t it?
It was so, so good. This place really knows what they’re doing.
Yeah, it was great.
Have a cigarette.
Yeah, should I?
It’ll take a while to get to the restroom.
Go ahead and smoke.
Okay.
This is so nice.
Yeah, it really is.
Have some coffee.
Huh? Oh—thank you.
It’s nice here, right?
Yeah.
Where’s Unni?
Oh, she went to the bathroom.
Oh, really?
She got something on her pants.
Ah, I see.
But the restroom here is really clean, isn’t it?
Doesn’t smell at all.
Really?
Still, the pants are white, so it might not wash out easily.
No, it barely got on— you can barely see it.
But still, she cares.
But Unni—
seemed a little brighter today.
Am I wrong?
She’s a little different in front of others.
Ah, I see.
Anyway—
I just hope she feels at ease.
Yeah.
She’s your only sibling, after all.
Yeah.
She was always known for being smart since she was young.
She was really good in school.
Oh, yeah?
She speaks three languages.
Oh, really?
Which ones does she speak?
Chinese, Japanese, and English.
Wow, that’s a lot.
Dad really had high hopes for her.
She was seriously good at studying.
But now she’s not doing anything?
Yeah.
Yeah, just—
I guess she doesn’t want to do anything.
Then what do you do?
I don’t know, really—
It’s nothing. I just said too much for no reason.
I think I just talked a bit too much.
It’s okay.
Anyway—
Resting for a while might help.
She’ll get better.
They have a roof tile wish offering here.
Yeah, I know.
Oh, there are two pagodas.
Ah, is this your first time here?
No, I’ve been here before.
But I don’t think I noticed this pagoda before.
It’s so small—I must’ve just missed it.
Ah, this pagoda is so pretty.
Honestly, it’s way prettier than the one up there.
Really?
That one seems like it took a lot more effort though.
Yes, but I really think this one is beautiful.
Ah, it’s so lovely.
I think it’s just your taste.
Yes, this kind of thing— I really like it more.
You should live according to your taste.
That’s why you love that kind of car, right?
It’s really beautiful, unni.
Yeah, it’s a good day.
They said he’s a poet, but he looks like he’s meditating.
He’s always been good on his own like that.
He even does meditation at home.
He seems introverted, right?
Yeah, kind of.
That’s why he’s a poet, I guess?
Isn’t it hard being around someone introverted?
But he really tries to stay positive.
Just because he’s a poet—
doesn’t mean he’s lazy or decadent— he’s nothing like that.
He’s really someone who puts in effort.
He works hard.
Oh, really?
Honestly, it’s surprising.
Choosing to live without his dad’s money—
that’s impressive.
Not easy.
He really lives without taking a cent?
Yeah.
If things get really tough, he’ll go home—
but he really hates it.
He seems to hate talking about money with his dad the most.
I see.
He says he wants to live pursuing beauty, for his whole life.
And die pure, someday.
That’s a lofty dream.
That’s a big ambition.
Well, I mean—
I guess time will tell.
Is it vanity, maybe?
But even if he stops writing poetry—
he’ll be someone who works really, really hard until the end.
That much I know.
Oh, yeah?
Living while pursuing beauty— that’s a good thing, right?
Yeah.
I mean, even without writing poetry, doing regular work—
you can still write poems if you want to.
Mom does that.
Yeah—Mom does exactly that.
And Mom’s poems are really good too.
Right.
Even if he stops writing…
he has his father behind him.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
Yeah.
Should we head somewhere else now?
Huh? Yeah, yeah, let’s do that.
Do you like that pavilion?
Yeah, I like it.
Watch your step.
Yeah, okay.
Think back to when you first sprouted and pushed up out of the earth.
Fluttering in the breeze—
those pale green
cotyledons gently swaying.
What was it, back then?
Back then—
did it know it would become something untouchable?
How could it have known?
It really knows nothing at all.
But still—
shouldn’t we know at least a little?
To live?
Yeah, sure.
We learn what we can, yeah.
Things like skills we need to live— we need to know those.
But really—
really—
we don’t know anything.
We don’t even know why we were born.
True.
Growing up, getting sick,
dying—we don’t do any of it. It just happens.
It’s just happening now.
We don’t know anything.
No matter how hard we try to understand, we just don’t.
We never will.
So—
just feel things deeply,
be grateful—
that’s all there is.
Yeah.
What?
Just don’t speak so absolutely— about anything.
That’s also claiming to know something.
Do you know everything?
No, I’m not saying it’s certain.
I’m just saying I don’t know anything— that I don’t get it.
That’s still a conclusion.
Why do you love not knowing so much?
What about everything you do know?
Sometimes—
it just feels like you’re using “not knowing” as an escape. You always say that stuff.
Junhee—
these are just thoughts I keep circling back to.
I mean, you’re the one I talk to about this kind of thing.
Who else would I say this to?
I know, I know.
Let’s stop now.
Where did unni go?
Yeah, I wonder.
Come on— let’s go find her.
Okay.
Hey— where’s your coffee?
I left it behind the pagoda.
Let’s go get it.
Yeah, okay.
Oh, you were waiting?
Why were you bowing like that?
Temples just put my mind at ease.
I got this over there. You can have it.
You seem like someone who writes a lot.
Thank you so much.
Lucky you.
It’s so pretty.
You like it that much? Getting a gift?
Yeah, I like it.
Wanna go that way?
Sure.
Beautiful.
The one in front’s prettier, right?
Yeah.
It looks really nice.
Yeah.
That one in the back—
It wasn’t originally here. They brought it from somewhere else.
- Yeah, yeah. - Yeah.
There’s no name.
They say both of these stupa towers— no one knows who they’re for.
Huh.
How could they not know the name—
not know who it belongs to?
Yeah, apparently no one knows. Either one.
The glasses suit you nicely.
Thank you.
Wait— there’s a tower, but they don’t know the name?
So the tower remains— but the name’s forgotten?
That’s kind of funny, right?
You think that’s funny?
No, I mean—
The tower is still standing here,
but—
no one knows who it was meant to commemorate.
No one knows— no one at all.
That actually makes it more compelling— because we don’t know the name.
Yeah, that’s true. It feels a little more free, huh?
Like these people—
I hope everyone could feel that free.
People leave behind names even after they die.
But we’ll all vanish like these people.
So there’s no need to worry, right?
What, do you have some kind of death wish?
Oh—no, not at all.
I actually think it’s good that death exists.
It makes life feel a little less burdensome.
It adds some freshness to life— like it gives it bounce, or something?
Yeah.
Hey, are you doing okay? How are you?
Yeah, I’m doing fine.
Shilleuksa is nice. Coming back here after a while—it’s fun.
Yeah? Glad you went with them, then.
When are you guys coming back?
Mom’s already home.
She’s going wild in the kitchen right now.
Oh, really?
Then we should probably go.
Hmm, maybe in about an hour?
Yeah, 5:30 should be good.
Right? Yeah, okay.
Then be back by 5:30.
Or even 6 is fine. Either’s okay.
Okay, got it. We’ll head back soon.
Okay.
Yep.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Sure thing.
Yep.
- All set, right? - Yeah, yeah. Take it.
Whoa, this…
This is amazing. Seriously impressive.
Yeah—eat as much as you want.
Thank you so much.
Is this— is this Cheonggye?
- Yeah, Cheonggye. - Mm-hmm.
Did you make it yourself?
Yeah—Dad made it.
No—Dad just helped prep. Mom did all the cooking.
Ah, I see.
Whew, I rushed it— hope it still tastes okay.
This dish is something you’re supposed to take a full day to make.
But I really had to hurry today.
Ah, got it.
Here you go—please eat.
Amazing, right?
Feels like the son-in-law came over.
Huh?
Really? I guess so.
They say when the son-in-law visits, the mother-in-law even cooks the best hen.
True that!
Don’t be shy—eat as much as you like.
Hey, it could happen, right?
Why not? Right?
- Yes. - Let’s eat.
Here we go.
Where’s your sister?
She said she’s coming down after washing up.
Go ahead and eat first— she’s always a little late.
Ah, okay, okay.
Let’s move this over.
Who’s here? Why is the dog barking like that?
Huh?
Good question.
Okay—start with the meat.
Your earrings are pretty.
Really?
- Yeah. - Yep.
They’re cute, right?
Yeah, very.
Dad gave them to me for my birthday last year.
- Really? - They suit you.
Yeah.
I heard you write poetry?
Ah, yes.
Yeah.
I write poetry too.
I know.
Oh?
I read all the ones you posted in the hallway.
Oh wow— you read them already?
Yes, of course.
I write just because I enjoy it.
No, I really liked them.
They’re beautiful poems.
Thank you.
Ah—I’m not sure how to put this...
I’ve been writing poems since I was very little.
Yes.
So I guess I’ve just kept on doing it.
It really felt like—
you captured what you felt so delicately, so clearly.
Yeah?
Yes.
The format is really simple—
and sincere.
I really liked that about them.
Oh wow—thank you.
I’d love to read your poetry sometime too, Mr. Donghwa.
Ah, sure.
Have you published in other places?
Quite a few.
Yeah, various small magazines.
Just little literary journals and such.
- I’ve been published a bit. - Oh please, you’re being modest.
There’s actually a poet group here in Yeoju—
they publish a quarterly journal. I submit to them regularly.
Ah, I see.
But personality-wise—
I don’t think it really suits me.
Rather than presenting things publicly—
or getting together with people to do something—
I just prefer writing alone.
I write like I’m keeping a journal, really.
Yeah, that suits me better.
That’s nice.
That sounds—
like me too, I think.
Yeah, exactly.
If you write because you enjoy it—
when you write like that—
that moment—
it feels different somehow, right?
Just everyday life—
I mean, I work really hard—
take full responsibility, don’t cut corners, really do everything right—
but how he keeps writing like that, it really amazes me.
Right? How does he manage that?
Yes.
Go ahead and eat more.
So, how is it? The taste?
It’s so delicious—really.
Everything else is great too— even the kimchi.
Come by often— I’ll cook you lots of good food.
Thank you.
But you really can speak comfortably now.
Huh?
You’re Junhee’s mother, after all—so yes.
Okay, I’ll ease into it.
Eat.
Shall we drink?
- Oh, should we? - Yeah.
Yeah.
Here we go.
This is a bottle I’d been saving—
it’s a bit of a premium drink.
Maybe I saved it for this exact occasion!
This worked out, right?
I mean—he probably drinks even fancier stuff regularly, right?
Ah—no, not at all.
These days, I mostly just drink soju.
This one’s a bit strong—
- so let’s sip lightly. - Okay.
So, how are you with alcohol?
I’m okay. I can drink.
In moderation, yeah.
That’s good.
What do you think of the house? It’s kinda shabby, isn’t it?
Oh no—not at all. What do you mean?
Actually, I mentioned this to your husband earlier—
I think you’ve made the place so wonderfully.
I was really surprised.
How did you manage all this on your own?
I didn’t do it alone— contractors built the house.
Still—like the design and layout,
your husband said he did all of it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And the mountain out back— it’s so beautifully maintained.
Seriously—how do you keep all of that up on your own?
Yeah. We really love this place.
Honestly, it’s a house that fits us just right—
and in the whole world, this place feels the most comfortable.
That’s all that matters, right?
Yes.
Thank you.
- Oh! - Hm?
He said earlier he wanted to bow to the tree we buried Mom by.
So he bowed—really did it.
You really bowed?
Nice, right? Our mountain?
Yes.
This mountain is just—
truly, really—
Yes.
Right.
But we’ve lived here so long we forget to feel grateful.
Yeah—true, true.
Oh, not at all. I’m honestly jealous.
Truly jealous.
Jealous? Come on—cheers!
Thank you.
This is nice.
Eat. Another glass?
I’ve been saving this just to drink today.
Eat a lot.
Okay.
This guy—he only likes drumsticks.
Oh yeah?
So how’s your father, Attorney Ha— is he doing well?
Yes, he’s doing well.
That’s good to hear. He seems so busy lately.
He’s on TV a lot these days.
Ah, yes—he probably is.
But you’re not living with your dad right now?
No, not at all.
I see.
So—
you just wanted to live on your own?
Well, not exactly—
I just felt it was time to be independent, so I’ve been doing that, yeah.
It’s been a while now— over three years, I think.
Ah, I see.
Yeah, you’ve got to be independent.
Right, exactly.
- Yeah, just trying— - Of course.
So, Donghwa—do you have any siblings?
I have an older sister and a younger one.
Oh really? So you’re the only son?
Yeah, just one son in the family.
Yes, that’s right.
So, hey— while we’re eating—
Yeah?
we should keep an eye on sunset time.
We might have to get up mid-meal.
Absolutely. We have to see the sunset.
Yep.
Yes.
What time does the sun set?
What time’s sunset?
Sunset? Let me check.
It’s after 7 p.m. here.
Take a look— check it.
7:00, no, 7:40 actually.
Right?
Pretty late, huh.
So we’ve got about 30 minutes left?
Yeah.
So we’ll keep eating, then head out, and come back to eat some more.
- Okay. - Yeah.
You two can go. I don’t have to, right?
- Oh yeah— - Yep, yep.
Go on ahead. I’ll stay and finish up some things here.
Yes, of course.
This way is the shortcut.
Oh, if we go this way— we don’t pass the chicken coop.
Yeah.
Okay.
Let’s go.
Here, let me take that.
Oh, really?
- Let’s go now. - Thanks.
Today the sunset—
Yeah—it’s really nice watching the sun set.
Yeah, right?
Yes.
At night here, the moon is so beautiful too.
The moon?
Yeah.
I love watching the moon from here.
Even more, actually.
Oh really?
Then we’ll have to come back again later.
Should we?
Yeah.
Yeah—let’s do that.
So, Neunghee was saying— do you drive a used car?
Why? Do you like that kind of car?
Yeah, I guess I do.
But it hasn’t had a single problem yet.
Still—you should drive a new one.
A used car is still a used car. Safety’s the most important.
The car is safe.
But yeah— when I’m on the highway,
I can feel it’s a little underpowered.
But otherwise it’s fine.
No issues with it any other time.
Right? The car’s okay?
- Yeah. - Yep.
Still, drive a good car. Safety always comes first.
Of course.
Yeah.
Okay.
No issues with the car, right?
Yeah—totally fine.
And, well— I don’t have much money either.
But you have your father, don’t you?
Yeah, but he’s not giving me any money.
Why would he?
He’s just someone a bit freer than we are.
I think he tries to avoid living excessively or lavishly.
Sure—maybe he just values living with more freedom.
I’m trying to live with only what I truly need.
Yeah, that feels right for me.
I see.
And—
it doesn’t seem like you need that much to live anyway.
Actually, I really like that container house up there.
That’s why you need a space like that, right?
You know— getting that approved
took me ten years. Ten!
So yeah, it’s all necessary stuff.
- Right. - It really is.
And of course—having abundance comes with great things.
I mean, people—
they wish and work so hard to have that, right?
But I just—
I try to earn only
what I actually need— the bare minimum.
Yes.
Doing that—
not depending on others— letting myself truly live—
that’s what makes it possible—
to live the life I actually want.
Yeah?
Yes.
Still, having enough is a good thing.
You only realize that once you’ve lived it.
Why else would everyone work so hard?
Right?
Yes.
Everyone puts so much importance on money—
and they want to earn endlessly,
without limit. Always wanting more.
As for me—
just what I really need—
I try to figure out exactly what that is,
not forget it,
and just work to fill only that space.
The rest—well—
I let it flow however my heart moves.
I want to move through life that way.
Everyone places so much importance on living in this world.
So seriously.
But I—
I don’t really—
find much that I truly like about living in this world.
But still, your father’s there for you.
Sorry?
What are you talking about?
I mean, she means your father’s still there.
Why do you keep bringing that up like that?
Just saying— your father’s still around.
It’s not like he’s going to disappear all of a sudden, right?
Do you really think my father’s going to do something for me?
I don’t know… Will he?
But Donghwa— looking at you up close, you’re really handsome.
- Really? - Yeah, totally.
The beard looks great— it suits you so well.
But you really are handsome— just your face.
I always say that in this world, aside from my husband,
there’s not a single good-looking guy— that’s what I believe.
But you are! You’re handsome, Donghwa—really.
You’re good-looking. Honestly—very good-looking.
Thank you.
So what kind of poems do you want to write?
I mean—what are you writing right now?
Well—
like—
when something I see feels strange or new,
when that hits me emotionally,
I try to really look at it— to see it fully.
As much as I can.
Those moments—
those become my poetry, I think.
So then…
What moves you? For example?
For example—
today, when I bowed by your mother’s tree—
Yeah.
Then later this afternoon, I visited that temple—
and I saw this really big ginkgo tree.
Yeah? And?
And those two trees—
Yeah?
somehow in my mind—
they kept merging. Like they were connected.
I kept seeing and feeling it that way. Yeah.
And that kind of thing—
it feels magical. Like a mystery.
And that’s what draws me in, pulls me toward it.
Ah, yeah— so that’s how it is for you.
Those two trees—
Yeah?
How could they… Today, just like this—
Maybe those trees are connected through me somehow.
It’s really mysterious— truly.
So, in your own heart, right?
But why is that mysterious to you?
I really don’t get it—honestly.
Yes, well, that’s—
Yeah.
Yes.
It’s mysterious, truly.
Yeah.
I know most people don’t see it that way.
But I do. I see it that way.
And I try to accept it.
Yes.
When I do accept it—
this world—
this life we live—
it feels like I can breathe a little easier.
The air feels fragrant— like a scent is floating.
Come on, then— recite one of your poems.
Something you’ve written recently—yeah?
All right.
Yeah.
Something I wrote a few days ago. I’ll just recite it from memory.
Oh?
Okay.
- I mean, I should read it, but— - No, go ahead.
Reciting it’s even better.
Are you really going to?
Oh please—of course I am.
The flowers bloom.
Flowers bloom at night.
When the flowers bloom—
everything brightens.
It’s not scary.
The flowers bloom.
They bloom at night.
When the flowers bloom, it brightens.
And it’s not scary.
That’s all I’ll recite— there’s more, but…
That was lovely.
Such a beautiful poem.
Isn’t it too short?
Huh?
Do you even know—
what I feel in life?
Do you understand even one-thousandth of what I feel?
Not even one ten-thousandth?
Do you?
So what do you mean my father is "behind me"?
Is my father being behind me supposed to mean something?
So what—he’s there.
Then what does that change for me?
Does that mean I get support, become happy, get some guarantee?
Am I supposed to feel lucky just because he’s there?
No.
Then what is it?
Stop it. What did I even say?
Do you even know what my relationship with my father is?
I—
Me and my father—
how I’ve felt about him since I was young, how I’ve thought about him—you don’t know any of it.
Yet you try to judge me based on that?
Do you even know what kind of person he is?
Is that really the only way you can see me?
Stop. That’s enough. You can stop now.
Really—it’s okay. Enough.
You said what you needed to say, right?
Did I go too far?
You’re a lightweight.
Oh—it’s not that I’m a lightweight. I just drank too much, that’s all.
Yeah, I overfed you, didn’t I?
- Yes. - I’m a bit drunk too.
We all drank too much.
But I’m totally fine.
No, you’re not.
You’re definitely not fine.
You have to admit it—okay?
Admit it. I already said I’m drunk, didn’t I?
You have to admit it too.
Come on, get up.
Take a break.
Dad— I’ll just go rest a bit.
Okay, okay.
No, no—I’m drunk, Junhee. I’m really drunk, okay?
I’m not drunk at all.
I’m not drunk. I mean—am I drunk? No, right?
You’re drunk.
Come on—get up, get up.
You’re in front of Mom and Dad, okay?
Get up—please.
I love you, okay?
Get up.
Get up—come on.
Man, this is nice.
Hey—but you know—
If 10,000 people want to be poets—
Yeah.
Only one or two can actually live as poets with their names on it.
Not even one or two, maybe. Right?
You know that, don’t you?
Yeah—I know, I know.
So it’s not really a profession, then.
So what are you going to do?
You’re already in your mid-30s.
Doesn’t seem like he’ll become a poet.
His technique is lacking.
Really?
It’s just—he doesn’t have the talent.
His thoughts are too extreme.
He seems to lack wisdom.
He has none of your wisdom.
He just lives on what he’s read in books, that’s all.
- Yeah. - True.
But still—you never know. When he gets older...
Hey, he’s thirty-five.
By that age, you can already tell what kind of person someone is.
Right?
Yeah, you’re right.
He’s just—
Yeah.
His mind—
Yeah?
It’s just—
His thinking is skewed too far in one direction.
He’s trapped in his own words— can’t get out of them.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
And even those words— they’re not even his own.
You do that sometimes too. But—
What are you talking about?
Don’t say nonsense. Come on.
We need to talk more.
He’s someone who matters to Junhee.
Right?
Yeah.
So? Tell me what you think.
Maybe it’s just that—
he hasn’t realized yet what’s truly out of reach.
Yeah?
So maybe he still hasn’t truly...
He’s never really faced anything hard.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
But hey—
Yeah?
Becoming a poet—
doesn’t that mean never needing to face anything?
What are you talking about?
I mean— as long as you’ve got some money—
seriously—
you can just keep running away, calling yourself a poet till you die.
Living in self-satisfaction, pretending you’re special, yeah?
Surrounding yourself with like-minded people and hyping each other up.
Right? And on top of that, he’s got family money.
Spending his parents’ money—
that’s how he lives.
Ugh, seriously—
the only thing he ever worries about seems to be his relationship with his parents.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
He knows nothing about life.
At this rate, he’ll never become a real poet.
You’ve got to risk your life— fight fiercely for it.
But—
Yeah?
He’s not destined for that kind of struggle.
He’ll just keep living however he pleases.
No way. Junhee couldn’t handle someone like that.
Maybe you’re right.
She loves him now—
Yeah.
Hey.
Yeah?
But listen—
Yeah?
That type— he’s the real player.
Really? Seriously?
Yep.
There’s an old saying—
the quiet cat’s the first to climb the stove.
Yeah.
Guys like that—
they stir up the deepest, longest-lasting trouble.
Yeah.
Come on—he seemed so calm.
Of course he’s calm.
He’s quiet, thoughtful— but that’s the thing.
Yeah.
That’s exactly the kind of guy women fall for.
They act all reserved, then bam—
snap you up.
Just sitting there, when you get close—
bam—
they grab you.
Right? All quiet-like…
I’ve seen guys like that.
They act all serious, full of inner turmoil,
idealists, and yet—
Yeah?
They’ve got—
zero will to control their carnal urges.
They just give in to those desires. No shame.
Why? It’s true— I’m telling you, they exist.
No, I mean—
- You know what I mean, right? - Yeah, yeah, totally.
- Right? - Yeah.
Yeah, they exist. Totally.
They’re out there.
Attorney Ha is so smart—
Yeah.
It’s rare for children to be better than their parents. Right?
Right. Maybe—
maybe a generation or two later, a gifted grandchild could appear.
Someone really talented might be born.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
That person— he had everything.
Even suffered through a lot of hardships.
From a young age.
- Right. - Mm.
Frighteningly smart.
And a great sense for things.
Even lucky.
- Huh? - Yeah, totally.
Exactly.
But Donghwa—
Yeah?
He doesn’t have a single one of those things.
Hey, don’t be so definitive.
We can keep watching.
- If we keep watching— - I will. I will watch.
- I’ll keep watching. But tonight— - Yeah, let’s watch. Okay.
We’re just— just talking tonight.
Okay? I’m just saying, right now—
he’s not it.
Not it?
That’s how I feel.
So basically—
he totally failed your secret test, right?
What are you talking about? I didn’t run any test.
I don’t do that.
What are you even saying?
What are you talking about right now?
What test— No.
Just—
Yeah.
That’s how I feel.
Still, our Junhee’s smart, and strong.
She’ll figure it out and make her own decision.
Yeah?
Of course.
It’s all just experience.
Whatever happens— it’s fine.
I just hope it doesn’t hurt.
Hm?
Why didn’t you wake me?
Hmm.
You’re heading out— this early?
Yeah, I thought you were sleeping with your sister.
And I wasn’t sure which door to knock on.
So I just didn’t.
Mom and Dad too—
they seemed to drink a lot last night. I didn’t want to wake them.
Just tell them I’m sorry, okay?
Sure, I will.
Oh—last night,
I got a little hurt, and it swelled up.
I think I should go to the hospital— before it gets infected.
Is it cut?
Might need stitches?
No, just a small cut— I cleaned it, but…
after sleeping, it got really swollen.
No, that’s really bad.
What happened? Where did you get hurt?
I went up the mountain last night.
The mountain?
Yeah—you said the moon was beautiful.
So I thought I’d see for myself— and I went up…
but I fell on the way down.
You fell?
Yeah.
Why would you go up there at night?
You said it was beautiful.
I’ll go now. I should get going.
Okay.
Yeah—go quickly.
Go to the hospital—hurry, okay?
Yeah, yeah.
Uh…
I think you should say something careful to your parents.
Don’t say I got hurt or anything like that.
Just…
How should I put it—
Just say I got a call from Seoul.
It was something urgent, so I had to go. Just that.
Please explain it well.
Okay.
Okay?
Got it. Don’t worry.
I’ll explain it right.
Okay.
I’m off.
Yeah.
Go ahead.
I love you so much—you know?
I love you so much.
I know.
Thank you.
I love you.
Thank you for what?
See you next week, okay?
Yeah, see you next week.
I’m going.
Okay.
I’m leaving now.
Okay, go.
Yeah—then I’ll just leave it open, okay?
I just left it on the side of the national road.
It’s just before Yeogang intersection, I think.
Yeah—won’t it show up on the GPS?
Yes.
Uh…
Right in front of me there’s a place called Mimi Super.
Yeah—Mimi Super.
It’s just before Yeogang intersection.
Yes, yes.
This isn’t anything dangerous, right?
Right.
Yes, okay. Thank you very much.
I think it’s time to sell this car.