Snowdrop Quotes – Lee Gang-mu

“It’s D-day. Be sure to capture him alive.”

EP01

얼굴도, 이름도, 나이도 오리무중이지만, 다음. (스크린에 ‘대동강1호’ 표시된다) 놈의 공작명입니다. 서울로 잠입해 들어왔다는 첩보를 입수했습니다. (…) 동서독을 종횡무진 암약해 오던 놈이 갑자기 서울로 잠입해 들어왔다는 건 포섭할 상대가 서울에 있거나, 국내 고첩망은 감당할 수 없는 미션을 받았거나. 아무튼 놈이 미션을 완수하기 전에 우리가 반드시 먼저 잡아야 합니다.

“Though we’re in the dark about his face, his name, and his age–next.” (‘Daedong-gang 1’ appears on the screen) “This is the bastard’s code name. We obtained intel that he entered Seoul under the radar. (…) If a guy who’s been operating covertly all across East and West Germany suddenly entered Seoul under the radar, it means he either has a target to suborn in Seoul or he’s been given a mission the domestic spy network can’t handle. In any case, we have to catch the bastard at all costs before he accomplishes his mission.”

일당백 따위 필요 없으니까, 제대로 일할 놈들만 따라와.

“I don’t need the likes of Il-dang-Baek,* so just the guys who can do their jobs properly follow me.”

[*n.b. This is Han-na’s nickname around the office. ‘Il-dang-Baek’ (一當百) means ‘one who does the work of/is equal to a hundred.’ This became ‘One Hundred Warriors’ in the Disney+ subs.]

임수호. 최근 한이섭 교수 근처에 부쩍 눈에 띄기 시작한 인물이야. 베를린대학 경제학과 대학원생으로 알려져 있는데... (…) 현재로선 이 자가 대동강 1호일 가능성이 농후해. 24시간 임수호를 밀착 감시해.

“Im Soo-ho. He’s a POI that’s started cropping up in Professor Han Yi-seop’s vicinity lately. He’s known as a graduate student from the University of Berlin’s Department of Economics, but... (…) As of now, there’s a strong chance this individual is Daedong-gang 1. I want close-range surveillance on him ’round the clock.”

EP02

오늘이 디데이다. 반드시 생포한다.

“Today’s D-day. Capture him alive at all costs.”

30분이면 돼. 서부지원까지 30분이면.. 가서 영장 받아 와. (…) 이 안에 놈이 숨어 있다면 어차피 놈은 독 안에 든 쥐야. 어서.

“It’ll only take 30 minutes. If it’s just 30 minutes to the western branch office.. Go and get a warrant. (…) If the bastard’s hiding in here, he’s a rat in a trap,* anyway. Go on.”

[*Literally: ‘a rat in poison.’ Gang-mu uses this phrase a lot.]

당신 우리가 지금 데모하는 학생이나 쫓는 줄 착각하는 모양인데. 이 안에서 놈이 잡혔다간 당신부터 체포할 줄 알아.

“You seem to be under the misapprehension that we’re chasing some student protestor or something, but if we catch him in here, know that I’ll arrest you first.”

알겠습니다. 그럼 저도 원칙대로 말씀드리죠. 간첩을 감춰 주거나 기타 편의를 제공한 사람도 징역 10년에 처한다는 사실만 알아 두십시오.

“Understood, sir. Then let me also inform you, as per the rules: know that someone who harbors or provides other amenities to a spy can also be sentenced to ten years in prison.”

접긴 뭘 접어? (…) 그 새끼가 대동강 1호 맞다니까?

“Drop it, why would I drop it? (…) That son of a bitch is Daedong-gang 1, I tell you.”

EP03

상명하복? 이렇게 증거가 명확한데도 덮으라고요? 증거도 없이 엉뚱한 사람 잡아 간첩 만들 때도 상명하복 철칙을 따르셨던 겁니까?

“‘Submission to our superiors’ orders’*? Even though the evidence is this clear, you’re telling me to cover it up? Were you also following the principle of submission to our superiors’ orders when you rounded up random people without any evidence and made them out to be spies?”

[*n.b. The phrase used here is ‘sanggmyeong habok’ (上命下服), which means something like ‘if [those] above order, [those] below submit.’ It not just about submitting to superiors’ orders though; it connotes a rigidly hierarchical organisation–in this case, couched within a hierarchical society. It’s worth noting that, while Gang-mu’s talking back to Gyeong-hui, his superior, he’s using jondaetmal (polite language) to do so.]

종양은 도려내야 조직이 굴러가는 겁니다.

“Tumours have to be excised for an organisation to function.”

여기는 블랙타이거, 지금부터 오공산 드보크 수색한다, 이상.

“This is Black Tiger. Starting now, search for the Mt Ogong dvoke. Over.”

[n.b. A ‘dvoke’ (드보크), as the chyron reads, is a stash of weapons and other espionage equipment used by North Korean operatives deployed to South Korea/North Korean sleeper agents stationed in the South. The term is supposedly borrowed from Russian, which makes sense, given that North Korea was administered by the Soviet Union from 1945-1948. In Russian, the word ‘duboke’ (дубоке) means ‘deep,’ but the etymology explanation I found claims that the word was derived from the Russian for oak, ‘dub’ (дуб), because marked oak trees were used as dead-drops in Siberia during WWII. The bag Soo-ho goes to dig up would have been planted for their use by a North Korean sleeper agent — my guess would be Haegeum-seong 1, based on its location.]

EP04

대단히 사적인 감정으로 요원이 되었다니 유감이군. 안 들은 걸로 하지.

“What a shame to hear that you became an agent for such an incredibly personal reason.* I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

[*Literally: ‘out of such incredibly personal feelings’]

미심쩍은 걸 캐랬지, 누가 두들겨 패랬어?

“I told you to dig up anything suspicious; who said to rough him up?”

생포가 목적이다. 단, 놈을 놓칠 경우엔 사살해도 좋다, 이상.

“Capturing him alive is the goal. But, if you’re going to lose him, you can kill him, over.”

EP05

총 내려. 임수호. 그냥 어린 학생이야. (…) 좋아 내가 남을 테니까 학생들은 풀어줘.

“Lower the gun. Im Soo-ho. She’s just a young student. (…) Fine, I’ll stay, so let the students go.”

어차피 놈은 독 안에 든 쥐야. 가능한 생포해.

“He’s a rat in a trap, anyway. Capture him alive if possible.”

어이 대동강 1호. 결국 이렇게 만나네. 너를 잡으려고 베를린, 뮌헨, 프랑크푸르트, 바르샤바...바르샤바에선 널 쫓다가 죽을 뻔했어. <회상 씬> 자네 베테랑이잖아. 박금철이 하나 죽었으면 됐지. 승산 없는 싸움에 나머지 부하도 죽이고 싶어?

“Oi, Daedong-gang 1. So this is how we finally meet. In order to catch you, [I went to] Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Warsaw...I almost died in Warsaw chasing you. <flashback> You’re a veteran, aren’t you. Isn’t it enough that Park Geum-cheol died? Do you want to get the rest of your men killed in a fight you can’t win?”

나는 자네한테 듣고 싶은 말이 참 많아. 죽은 진성이 앞에 무릎도 꿇려야겠고. 그 전에 대간첩 작전에 동원된 군대가 자넬 죽일까 봐 걱정이 돼서 그러지.

“There’s a lot of things I want to hear from you. And I’m gonna have to get you to kneel before Jin-seong-ie, who died, too. I’m just worried the army that’s been mobilised for this counter-espionage operation will kill you before that, is all.”

EP07

지금 나보고 우리 회장에 대해서 브리핑을 하라고? 간첩 새끼한테?

“Are you telling me to brief you on our director now? A bloody spy?”

조원들까지 모두 데리고 자폭을 하시겠다? 너 조장 맞아? 박금철이 죽인 것도 모자라서 나머지 부하 둘도 죽이겠다고?

“You’re gonna blow yourself up along with your men? Are you really their CO? It’s not enough that you got Park Geum-cheol killed; you’re gonna kill the rest of your guys, too?”

EP08

...진짜 타이밍 주, 죽이네. 좀만 늦게 들어오지.

“Wow...Your timing’s seriously k-killer. Come in a bit later, would you?”

왜, 또 자폭하겠다고? 이성조 씨 알지? 청와대 습격하겠다고 내려왔던 사람. 그 양반 여기서 사랑하는 여자 만나서 아주 잘 살고 있는데. 너도 여기서 사랑하는 여자랑 살고 싶지 않아?

“Why? You gonna threaten to blow yourselves up again? You know Lee Seong-jo, right? The guy who came down to attack the Blue House. The gent met a woman he loves here and is living the good life. Don’t you want to live here with the woman you love, too?”

[n.b. The Blue House is the South Korean presidential residence, so named because of its blue roof tiles.]

그 여자? 누구? 아, 걔. 걔는 내 부하야, 부하. 저스트 동료.

“‘That woman’? Who? Ah, her. She’s my subordinate, a subordinate. Just colleagues.”

[n.b. ‘Just’ here is in English, heightening the offhand delivery he’s failing at miserably haha]

의사 선생이 고첩? ...우리 회사에서 보낸 의사가 간첩이라고? 남북이 짜고 대선 공작? 그럼 한이섭이 사건도...인질극도...?

“The doctor’s a spy? ...The doctor our agency sent is a spy? The South and North have conspired to run an op for the presidential election? Then both the Han Yi-seop case...and the hostage situation are...?”

[*n.b. Gang-mu actually uses two different terms for ‘spy’ here. The first is ‘gocheop’ (고첩), the second ‘kancheop’ (간첩). When most of the Southerners say ‘spy’ they’re using ‘kancheop,’ a term none of the Northerners use to refer the themselves or their colleagues, whom they call ‘operatives’ (공작원). In contrast, Gang-mu, Soo-ho, and Cheong-ya will all occasionally use the word ‘gocheop’ – a shortening of the term ‘gojeong kancheop’ (고정 간첩) i.e. ‘fixed/resident espionage agent’ or ‘sleeper agent.’ Gang-mu tends to use ‘gocheop’ when speaking to the Northerners and ‘kancheop’ when speaking to the Southerners for whatever reason.]

어차피 인질들을 구출할 생각이 없어. 대선에 활용할 생각일 뿐인 거지. 그렇다면 인질들도, 나도, 저 간첩들도...

They’ve no intention of rescuing the hostages, in any case. They’re just thinking to use them in the presidential election. If that’s the case, then the hostages, and I, and the spies will all...

이 새끼가, 씨. 그 여자 건들지 마.

“You damn son of a bitch. Don’t touch that woman.”

니놈이 여기서 살아 나갈 수 있을 거 같아? 동서독에서 활동했던 공작원이니까 니놈도 잘 알겠지. 이거 남북 웃대가리들이 짠 대선 공작인 거. 선거에서 압승하려면 기숙사에 갇힌 인질들을 모두 구출해서 국민들을 기쁘게 하는 게 유리할까? 아니면 모두 죽여서 국민들을 분노케 하는 게 유리할까? 당연히 후자겠지. 모두 죽여야 대북 경각심이 커져서 여당을 찍을 테니까. 무고한 학생들을 전부 죽이는데 간첩 새끼들을 살려준다? 말이 된다고 생각해? (…) 개소리 좀 작작 해. 아직도 모르겠어? 남북 합작 대선 공작에서 너나 나 같은 졸개들은 그냥 이용당할 뿐이라고.

“Do you think you can get out of here alive? Since you’re an operative who was active in East Germany, I’m sure you know as well as I do. This is a scheme for the election planned by the top brass of North and South Korea. In order to win a landslide victory in the election, is it to their advantage to save all the hostages trapped inside the dorm and please the public? Or is it to their advantage to kill everyone and enrage the public? It’d be the latter, of course. They have to kill everyone to increase the anti-North sentiment so people will vote for the ruling party. They’re going to kill all the innocent students, but let the bloody spies live? You think that makes sense? (…) Cut the bull. Do you still not get it? In this joint North-South scheme for the election, pawns like you and I just get used.”

EP09

투항? 지금 널 투항시켜 봤자 밖에서 받아줄 거 같아? 자기들 권력 유지하자고 국민들 목숨 가지고 장난치는 새끼들이야. 그런 개자식들한테 이대로 당할 순 없단 말이 그렇게 알아듣기 어려워? 인민을 자식처럼 보살피는 당이 너희들을 버릴 리 없다고? 과연 그럴까? 남북 합작 대선 공작에서 거액의 돈이 오갈 텐데 일개 공작원 셋의 목숨을 구하자고 천문학적인 거액을 포기한다? 말이 된다고 생각해?

“Surrender? You think if I got you to surrender right now they’ll accept it out there? They’re bastards who toy with the citizens’ lives to remain in power. Is it so hard to understand that I can’t just let those sons of bitches have their way? You said there’s no way the Party that looks after the people as if they were its children would abandon you guys? Is that really the case? In this joint election scheme a huge amount of money is bound to change hands, but they’ll give up that astronomical sum to save the lives of three mere operatives? You think that makes sense?”

오케이. 그 증거 가져오면 그 격발기 부숴 버리고 나랑 손잡을 건가? 여기서 함께 살아 나갈 방법을 모색해 볼 거냐고.

“Okay. If I get you that proof, will you bust that detonator and join hands with me? I’m asking if you’ll look for a way to get out of here alive together.”

이강무: 이거 공작이야. 남북 합작 대선 공작. (…) 한 교수 사건 때부터 공작이었어. 그래서 한 교수 주변엔 얼씬도 못 하게 했던 거야. 한 교수가 죽는 바람에 인질극을 플랜 B로 삼은 거고.
장한나: 인질극을 선거에 이용한다? 설마…학생들 다 죽일 생각은 아니겠죠?
이강무: 아니길 빌고만 있을 거야? (…) 선거에 압승하기 위해서라도 간첩들은 물론 인질들까지 싹 다 죽이려 들 거야. 놈들이 그럴 계획이란 증거가 필요해. (…) 섣불리 움직였다간...갈 기자도 너도 다 죽어. 증거 확보하는 대로 나한테 가져와.

Gang-mu: This is an op. A joint op between North and South for the big election. (…) It’s been an op since the Professor Han case. That’s why they made it so we couldn’t even get near Professor Han. Since Professor Han died, they’ve made the hostage situation Plan B.
Han-na: They’re using the hostage situation in the election? Don’t tell me...surely they don’t intend to kill all the students, do they?
Gang-mu: You just gonna pray they’re not? (…) In order to win by a landslide, they’ll try to kill the spies, of course, and all the hostages, too. I need proof that’s what the bastards are planning. (…) If you’re hasty about it...both you and reporter Gal will die. As soon as you secure evidence, bring it to me.

독 안에 든 쥐끼리 싸워 봤자 지레 죽기밖에 더해? 일단 살고 봐야지.

“If two rats in a trap fight, are they gonna do anything but die? For now, we’ve gotta try and survive, don’t we.”

동무~ 내 약혼녀야. 단둘이 1분도 안 돼?

“Comrade~ She’s my fiancée. Can’t we get even a minute alone?”

한나가 들켰나 봐. 너 때문에 한나만 위험해졌어! 증거는 무슨 망할 놈의 증거. 너도 알잖아. 9일 후엔 다 죽일 거라는 거. 너도 짐작하잖아.

“Looks like Han-na’s been caught. Because of you, now Han-na’s in danger! Evidence, what bloody goddamn evidence? You know it, too. That in nine days they’re gonna kill us all. You suspect it, too, right?”

아직도 상황 판단이 안 돼? 대가리가 그렇게 안 돌아가나? 아 9일 후엔 떠날 거라고 은영로한테 얘기했다며? 왜 하필 9일 후냐고 묻길래, 인질극이 대선 공작이라는 걸 얘기했지. 지 아버지가 인질들을 다 죽일 수 있다는 걸.. (…) 왜? 가슴 아파? 오빠까지 죽었는데 지 아버지 손에 친구들이 죽어나갈 수 있다는 걸 알게 됐으니 아마...미쳐 버릴 거야. 가뜩이나 저 때문에 이 사달이 벌어졌다고 자책하는 애인데 얼마나 죽고 싶겠어? (…) 괴롭지? 너도 괴로울 거야. 은영로를 사랑하니까.

Have you still not grasped the situation? Are you that thick? Ah, I heard you told Eun Young-ro you’ll leave in nine days. Since she asked why it had to be nine days, I told her the hostage situation was a scheme for the election. That her father could kill all the hostages– (…) What? Does your heart hurt? Her brother’s already died, and since she’s learnt her friends could all die at her father’s hand...she’ll probably lose it. The kid’s already blaming herself that this whole mess happened because of her; how much must she want to die? (…) Painful, right? You’ve got to be in agony, too. Because you love Eun Young-ro.”

널 살려준 여자를 사랑하는 게 변절이야? 그럼 당에 충성한 공작원들의 목숨을 돈에 팔아넘기는 건...뭐지?

“Is loving the woman who saved your life treason? Then, selling the lives of operatives who’ve been loyal to the Party for cash is...what?”

따지고 보면 다 똑같아. 북송이란 이벤트로 재일 교포들을 속여서 수많은 교포들의 인생을 짓밟은 북한 정권이나, 공안 정국 만든 남한 정권이나. 임수호, 제발 정신 좀 차려. 우리 같은 졸개들 목숨은 우리가..

“When you get down to it, it’s all the same. The North Korean regime that fooled and trampled on the lives of countless Japanese-Koreans with their repatriation campaign, and the the South Korean regime that established a security state. Im Soo-ho, wake up the hell up. Pawns like us, our lives are–”

EP10

기숙사 전체가 터질 거라고? 속은 내가 등신이지.

“‘The whole dorm is gonna blow’? I’m the idiot for being fooled.”

한국중앙의료원 외과 과장이, 어? 고첩이라니. 더구나 안기부에서 보냈다면 국가 정보기관까지 뚫었다는 건데...너도 짐작하지? 자기 정체가 탄로 날까 봐 인질들을 다 죽이려 들 거야.

“The head of surgery at Hankuk Central Medical Centre is, huh, a spy? What’s more, if the ANSP sent her, that means she’s even infiltrated our national intelligence agency... You know what that means, right? She’ll set about killing all the hostages to keep her cover from being blown.”

너도 은영로를 살리고 싶지? 나도 영로 학생 살리고 싶어. 너도 인질들 죽이는 거 원치 않잖아. 나도 이하 동문이라고. 지금이야 베테랑 고첩 답게 북을 철석같이 믿겠지만, 남측에 공작원들 목숨까지 팔았다는 걸 알면 아마 의사 선생도 생각이 달라질 걸? 야, 한나 좀 불러봐. 증거 확보했다잖아. 뭐, 놈들한테 붙잡혔더라도 니가 한나를 딱 지목해서 부르면 놈들도 어쩔 수 없을 거야. 설사 녹음테이프를 빼앗겼더라도 뭐 들은 게 있을 거 아니야, 어? 불러서 말이라도 한 번 들어 보라니까?

“You want to save Eun Young-ro, too, right? I want to save Young ro-haksaeng, too. You don’t want the hostages killed, either. I agree with all that. Right now, like you’d expect of a veteran spy, her belief in the North is probably iron-clad, but if she learns they sold the lives of their operatives to the South, I bet the doctor will change her mind, too? Hey, call in Han-na. She said she’d gotten proof, didn’t she? Well, even if she’s been detained, if you insist on calling in Han-na, they won’t be able to do anything about it. Even if the bastards took the tape off her, she’ll have heard something, right? Call her in and at least listen to what she has to say.”

[n.b. ‘haksaeng’ = student; he’s using it the way you might tack someone’s professional title onto their name.]

EP11

오케이, 다 같이 살아 나갈 방법을 한 번 찾아보자고.

“Okay. Let’s see if we can find a way to all get out alive.”

부딪쳐 봐야죠. 죽으란다고 곱게 죽을 순 없잖아요.

“We have to give it a shot. We can’t just roll over and die because they tell us to die.”

[Literally: ‘We can’t just die prettily/nicely because they tell us to die’ haha]

어이. 생사를 같이한 동지를 죽이라는데 그딴 소리가 나와?

“Oi. They’re telling you to kill the comrade who’s been through life-and-death [situations] with you* and that’s the kind of crap you spout?”

[*n.b. Can also more generally mean ‘to share one’s fate/throw one’s lot in with someone.’ The Disney+ subs used ‘comrade-in-arms’ here, which I quite like.]

황당하고 믿어지지 않겠지만 명백한 사실이야. 그것도 모르고 어제 낮에 여러분들을 구할 사살조를 들여보내려고 간첩들 몰래 탈출했었는데 밖에서 나한테 총을 쐈어요.

“You’re probably bewildered and unable to believe it, but it’s the undeniable truth. Not knowing that, I escaped yesterday without the spies knowing in order to send in SWAT to save you all and the guys outside shot at me.”

그럴 일 없길 바랍니다. 하지만 그럴 가능성도 있으니까, 우리 손으로 우릴 지키자는 거예요. 지금은 남한이고 북한이고 웃대가리들 머릿속엔 우리들 목숨쯤은 안중에도 없으니까요. (…) 출입구마다 부비 트랩이 설치돼 있다는 거 명심하세요. 다들 힘든 거 알지만 우리가 모두 힘을 합해야 저들을 무너트릴 수 있습니다. 혼자만 살겠다고 섣불리 탈출을 꾀하는 사람은 없길 바랍니다.

“It’s our hope they won’t do that. But since that is a possibility, we’re saying we should protect ourselves with our own hands. Since right now, be it South Korea or North Korea, none of the top brass care a whit about our lives. (…) Be advised that we’ve installed boobytraps on all the exits and entryways. I know you’re all having a tough time, but we can only bring them down if we all work together. I hope none of you will make a rash attempt at escape in order to save just yourself.”

간첩질 한 게 들통났으니 보험이라도 하나 들어 놔야겠다 싶어? 너 아까 그 총에 총알 있었으면 사감 선생 죽었어. 그런 파렴치한 짓을 저질러 놓고도 반성은커녕...사감 선생이 널 봐달라고 간청만 안 했어도 널 지하실에 가뒀을 거야. 자유롭게 놔뒀더니만 또 이런 짓을 저질러? (…) 니가 지금 얼마나 많은 죄를 저질렀는지 아니? 국가 보안법 위반에, 협박죄에, 총포 소지 금지 위반에 뭐, 살인 미수죄까지 더해야 되나? 기숙사 내부 정보쯤 흘린다고 해서 안기부에서 널 봐줄 거 같아? 간첩 하나 잡을 때마다 승진 심사에 반영되고 성과급이 달라지는데. (…) 한 번만 더 허튼짓 했다간 널 간첩으로 취급할 거야. 올라가.

“Since it got out that you were playing at being a spy, you reckoned you had to lay down a bit of insurance? You, if that gun had been loaded earlier, the hall director would have died. You pulled that underhanded stunt and yet, not only are you not reflecting on your actions... If the hall director hadn’t pleaded for us to let you off, I’d have locked you in the basement. So we let you roam about freely and you do this? (…) Do you have any idea how many crimes you’ve committed? Violation of national security law, coercion and intimidation, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and what, do I have to throw in attempted murder? Do you think just because you leak them a bit of intel from inside the dorm the ANSP will let you off? When every spy they catch is reflected in their promotion evaluations and changes what they get for a bonus? (…) Do one more useless thing and I’ll treat you like a spy. Go upstairs.”

장한나: 나한테 왜 약혼녀라고 했어요? 할 말 있었던 거죠?
이강무: 약혼...했었던 거 맞잖아.

Han-na: Why’d you call me your fiancée? You had something to say, right?
Gang-mu: It’s...true we were engaged.

인질극이 대선 공작이라는 것만 사람들한테 알리면 충분히 승산 있어. 더구나 체육관 선거가 아니라 직접 뽑잖아, 직접. 정권 교체 가능해. 혁명이니 임무니 그따위 것들 벗어던지고 자유롭게 살고 싶지 않아?

“If we can just let people know that the hostage situation is a scheme for the big election, we’ll more than have a shot. What’s more, it’s not an indirect election*; they’ll be electing [the president] directly, directly. A regime change is possible. Revolution and missions and whatnot, don’t you want to shuck off of that sort of dross and live freely?”

[*n.b. The term he uses here is ‘gymnasium election,’ referring to the Jangchung Gymnasium where the National Assembly would cast their votes for president. However, thanks to the June Struggle of 1987 (which took place during the 6 month time-jump in EP01) the 18 December election will be South Korea’s first truly democratic presidential election and the people will be the ones to cast their votes. So, he’s saying if they can get the public on their side, they have a real shot at overturning the regime this time.]

EP12

날 빨갱이로 몰겠다? 그렇게 따지면 총장님이야말로 골수 빨갱이시네. 북한 괴뢰 정권의 핵심 실세들하고 공작까지 하시니. 안 그래요?

“You’re gonna accuse me of being a red? In that case, you’re a red down to your bones, Mr. Secretary General. Since you even run operations with the core bigshots of the North Korean puppet regime. Isn’t that right?”

이강무: 어이, 임수호, 들었지? 밖에다 폭탄을 설치해서 기숙사를 콩가루로 만들겠다는데, 될까? 폭발력이 분산될 텐데.
임수호: 그럼. 맞아. 건물을 날려 버리려면 기숙사 내부 기둥 같은 곳에 설치해야 힘을 받지.
남태일: 이 새끼들이 진짜. 대용량 폭발물로 세팅했거든?!
이강무: 어, 그 정도면 폭음이 장난 아닐 텐데 잘됐네. 안에서 터진 건지 밖에서 터트린 건지 삼척동자도 다 알 텐데. 우리가 굳이 대선 공작이라고 뿌득뿌득 밝힐 필요가 없겠는데? 서울 시민들 똑똑하니까.

Gang-mu: Oi, Im Soo-ho, you heard him right? They’re going to set bombs outside and blow the dorm to smithereens. Think it’ll work? The blast power will be dispersed.
Soo-ho: Of course. You’re right. If they want to blow the building to kingdom come, they’d have to set them somewhere like the pillars inside the dorm to generate force.
Tae-il: You sons of bitches, really– We set up high power explosives, you know?!
Gang-mu: Oh, if they’re that big, the sound of the blast’ll be no joke; that works out great. Even a mere child would know whether they were set off from inside or detonated from outside. We won’t have to bother going about revealing that this is all a plot for the big election. Since the citizens of Seoul are clever.

제 아버지 간첩을 쫓다 총에 맞아 돌아가셨습니다. 그런 아버지 뒤를 이어 빨갱이 잡자고 안기부에 입사했는데...간첩을 잡기는커녕 실적 올리려고 죄 없는 사람들 간첩 만드는 거 보고...도망쳤습니다. 그래, 난 진짜 빨갱이만 잡으면 되니까. 여기저기, 여기저기로 떠돌았는데...이젠 제가 어떻게 해야겠습니까? 아무 죄 없는 학생들을 다 죽이겠다는데. 이번엔 어디로 도망쳐야 합니까?

“My father took a bullet while pursuing a spy and passed away. I joined the ANSP to carry on his legacy and catch reds, but...not only did we not catch spies, when I saw how they made innocent people into spies in order to produce results...I ran. ‘Fine, I just have to catch actual reds.’ So I wandered about here and there, here and there...Now what should I do? You’re saying you’re going to kill all the innocent students, but...where should I run to this time?”

EP13

허튼짓할 생각이면 관두는 게 좋을 거야. 난 당신 등 뒤에서 당신만 겨눌 거니까.

“If you plan on pulling something, you’d better give it up now. Since I’ll be aiming only at you.”

좋아, 좋다고. 아주 탁월하신 강 동지께서 그 거금을 가로챘다고 쳐. 그걸 들고 여기로 다시 들어온다? 믿는 거야? 아니, 믿는 척하는 거야? 강청야가 나가는..! 강청야가 나가는 즉시 기숙사는 폭파된다고.

“Okay, fine. Let’s say the prodigiously gifted Comrade Kang does intercept that massive sum. She’s going to bring it back here? You believe that? Or, are you just pretending to believe it? As soon as Kang Cheong-ya lea–! As soon as Kang Cheong-ya leaves, the dorm’s gonna get blown up.”

야, 누가 회사로 넘기래? 씨.. 무조건 그 돈이 기숙사로 들어와야 대선 공작을 무너트려. 그걸 무너트려야 학생들도 살리고, 대동강 1호와 그 일당도 체포할 수 있어, 이상.

“Hey, who said anything about turning her over to the agency, damn it? That money has to make it into the dorm no matter what in order to topple the presidential election scheme. We have to topple that in order to save the students and arrest Daedong-gang 1 and his men, over.”

EP14

여우 새끼든 쥐 새끼든 배신감 느껴도 할 수 없어. 난 널 체포해서 전향시킬 생각이니까. (…) 어차피 변절자로 찍혀서 북으로 돌아갈 수도 없잖아. (…) 좋아 알았어. 알았으니까. 일단 총부터 내려놓자고. 이 안에서 우리끼리 싸워 봤자 얻을 거 없잖아. 안 그래?

“A sly bastard* or a rat-bastard, even if you feel betrayed, it can’t be helped. I’m planning to arrest you and have you defect. (…) Since you’ve been branded a traitor, you can’t return to the North in any case, right? (…) Fine, I got it. I got it, so for now let’s start by putting the guns down. Even if we fight amongst ourselves in here, we gain nothing. Right?”

[*Literally ‘fox-bastard’ or ‘child of a fox.’]

만약 강청야가 정말로 돌아온다면, 인생 한 수 배워야겠는데요?

“If Kang Cheong-ya really returns, I’ll have to learn a lesson about life.”

지금은 상황이 이러니까 다들 예민해져서 그래. 언젠간 너의 진심을 알아줄 거야.

“The situation being what it is, they’re all sensitive right now, that’s all. One day they’ll recognise your sincerity.”

위중하시다더니, 또 가짜 뉴스였습니까?

“They said you were in critical condition; was that more fake news?”

학생들이 인질극이 대선 공작인 걸 다 아는데 석방하라고요? 학생들 안전 책임질 수 있습니까? (…) 차라리 회장님이 직접 인질극은 대선 공작이라고 언론에 밝히시는 게 어떻습니까?

“Even though the students know all about the hostage situation being a plot for the presidential election, you’re saying to release them? Can you take responsibility for their safety? (…) How about you just disclose to the press that the hostage-taking is an election scheme yourself, director?”

Gang-mu: Wenn es Ihnen nichts ausmacht, können Sie mir Ihren Namen verraten? Sie haben mir doch das Leben gerettet.
Soo-ho: Ich habe mehr als einen Namen. da ich für meine Geschäfte in viele Länder reise.
Gang-mu: Ach, so. (Fauststoß) Viel Glück.

이강무: 실례가 안 된다면 성함을 여쭤봐도 될까요? 생명의 은인이신데.
임수호: 이름이 한두 개가 아니라. 물건 판다고 이 나라 저 나라를 떠돌다 보니.
이강무: 그렇군요. (주먹을 맞댄다) 행운을 빕니다.

Gang-mu: If you don’t mind, may I ask your name? I owe you my life, after all.
Soo-ho: I haven’t got just one or two names. Since I’ve wandered from country to country selling things.
Gang-mu: I see. (fistbump) I wish you luck.

EP15

이강무: 그나저나 참 이상한 분이시네. 이렇게 돌아올 걸, 우리 장한나 요원은 왜 치고 간 겁니까?
강청야: 그렇게 끔찍하게 위할 거면 애초에 험한 일은 시키지 말았어야죠. 장한나를 왜 붙여 가지고 일을 더 꼬이게 만듭니까?

Gang-mu: But you know, you’re quite the odd one. If you were going to return anyway, why hit our Agent Han-na on your way in?
Cheong-ya: If you’re going to care so terribly much about her, you shouldn’t have assigned her a dangerous task in the first place. Why would you have Jang Han-na tail me and complicate things further?

[n.b. The ‘our~’ is a function of how in-group/out-group conventions are expressed linguistically in Korean. It can be used in reference to anyone you consider to belong to you/a group you belong to, or to express affection, the way you might call someone ‘my ~’ in English. Since she’s one of his team members and they’re an unofficial item besides, he’s tacked it on before her name here. There’s a very marked progression in how Gang-mu addresses/refers to Han-na over the course of the series that’s fairly indicative of where she stands with him. By this point, he’s given up trying/pretending to keep distance between them since they all know how he feels about her anyway.]

어차피 학생들 안전은 내 몫이야. 한나가 갈 기자 데리러 갔으니까, 걱정 말고 가. 우리 다시는 만나지 말자.

“The students’ safety is my lot, after all. Han-na managed to get Reporter Gal out, so don’t worry; just go. Let’s not meet again.”

EP16

어떻게 죽은 자식 이름까지 걸고 우릴 또 속여?

“How could you swear on the name of your dead child and deceive us again?”

[n.b. As disillusioned as he is with the ANSP, Gang-mu still consistently speaks to his superiors in jondaetmal, even when criticising them, but this line in in banmal — he’s that disgusted with Eun Chang-soo.]

걱정하지 마. 베테랑이잖아. 무사히 빠져나갈 거야. 회장이 우릴 또 속였어. 서른세 명의 목숨이 위험해. 이제는 너하고 내가 은창수 회장과 싸워야 돼.

“Don’t worry. He’s a veteran. He’ll make it out safely. The director deceived us again. Thirty-four people’s lives are in danger. Now, you and I have to fight with director Eun Chang-soo.”

한나야, 대답 좀 해. 장한나. 한나야. 이 바보야. 그렇게 무모하면 어떡해?

“Han-na-ya, answer me. Jang Han-na. Han-na-ya. You dummy, how could you be so reckless?”

제발, 제발 학생들 좀 살려 주십시오. 남태일이 쳐들어오면 당장 기숙사부터 폭파하려 들 겁니다. 그 전에 학생들 석방하겠습니다. 애들 입단속이야 안기부 특기인데 못 할 것도 없지 않습니까? (…) 저는 평생 입 닥치고 살겠습니다. 필요하시다면 거짓 증언도 해 드리겠습니다. 안기부는 흉악무도한 무장간첩들의 손에서 시종일관 학생들을 구하려고 최선을 다했다. (…) 아무 죄 없는 선량한 청춘들입니다! 예? 그 학생들을 살릴 수 있다면 제 양심 따위 신념 따위 얼마든지 팔겠습니다.

“Please, please spare the students. If Nam Tae-il barges in, the first thing he’ll do is set about blowing up the dorm. I’ll release the students before that. If it’s about ensuring the kids’ silence, that’s the ANSP’s specialty; it’s not as though you can’t manage it, right? (…) I’ll keep my silence my whole life. If needed, I’ll even provide false testimony. ‘The ANSP did their utmost to rescue the students from the ruthless armed spies from beginning to end.’ (…) They’re innocent, law-abiding adolescents! All right? If it will save them, I can sell my damn creed and conscience to whatever degree necessary.”

임수호, 니가 여기 왜 있어? (…) 이 새끼, 씨...보지 말쟀더니, 씨..

“Im Soo-ho, why are you here? (…) You damn punk...and when I said let’s not meet again, dammit..”

한나야. 낙오자가 있어. 먼저 출발해.

“Han-na-ya. We’ve got stragglers. You head out first.”

그래, 죽어도 니 손에 죽을 거니까, 걱정 말고 먼저 출발해, 어서. 이상.

“All right, even if I die, I’ll die by your hand, so don’t worry and head out first, quickly. Over.”

임수호. 내가 엄호할 테니까 영로 데리고 나가. (…) 영로 데리고 나가라고 이 새끼야! 내 말 안 들려? 형 말 들으라고.

“Im Soo-ho. I’ll cover you, so get Young-ro out of here. (…) I said take Young-ro and get out, you bastard! Do you hear me? Listen to your hyung.”


Image credit and permissions belong to JTBC.
All source materials belong to the parties to which they are licensed. All translations are our own.

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