THIS SERIES IS INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY
BUT CHARACTERS AND EVENTS HAVE BEEN REIMAGINED FOR DRAMATIC PURPOSES
The drugs aren't mine. You know.
I'm a businessman.
I'm not guilty.
You will be transferred to Sint Maarten and put on trial.
Drag him out.
PRISON, SINT MAARTEN
Sir, may I have access to a phone?
You've been arrested for drug smuggling.
No phone, ever.
Please check my wallet. I have 200 dollars. You take it.
You'll get more after my phone call.
How many times do I have to repeat myself to you?
I promise I didn't smuggle drugs.
How am I supposed to know how they got there?
Listen. You're the Korean embassy.
Isn't it your job to figure out what happened here
and assign me a lawyer or something?
Wait a sec. What the hell do you mean "paperwork"?
I'm stuck in prison right now!
Is this the reason why you went to Suriname?
Trying to smuggle drugs? What were you thinking?
I didn't do it, okay?
Darling, please believe me.
Has anyone from Suriname tried to call you?
Have you heard at all from Eungsoo?
No. No one's called me.
Sweetheart,
I'm gonna look for a lawyer.
Get working on your appeal, okay?
Ah.
A lawyer would cost tens of millions of won.
We can't.
We'll have to come up with it.
I'll break the apartment lease.
No, you can't do that.
Don't break the lease, please.
I don't want the kids to lose the apartment.
Anyway, it won't be easy to overturn the charges from what I've seen here.
Don't waste any money.
But, honey…
What do I do? I'm so scared.
Hey, it's going to be okay. I promise.
You know me, honey. Come on.
I'll figure something out. I always do.
All right?
Let me talk to the kids.
Hey.
Hang up now. The warden is coming.
Okay. One minute, one minute.
No! Hurry up!
-Okay. -Dad!
Hey, Hyungju.
Listen, son. I'm on a business trip,
and I won't be able to call for a little while.
So please, look after your mom and sister. One more thing--
Get my money.
Aw. Papa hung up.
Minseo, Daddy's busy right now.
He'll call back when he can.
But until then, let's pray for him while we wait.
-All right? -Okay.
You have to pay me today.
Borrow from your friend.
Friend?
You have a visitor. Come out.
Yes, I understand.
I just need a little more time.
I'll… I'll call you back soon.
Uh, hello.
Ingu.
Hi. What happened to you, my man?
-Ah! You look horrible! -What's going on?
I can't believe you, bud. What have you gotten yourself into?
I'm from the National Intelligence Service.
Act like we're friends.
Here… here we go, sir.
For you.
Give me one more.
Like I said, I'm NIS. My name is Choi Changho.
Is this about the cocaine?
I didn't do it. I really don't know anything.
And I called the Korean embassy, but I--
Yes. I'm well aware.
I'm here to help you, Mr. Kang. So please, don't worry.
What makes you so sure I'm not guilty?
Because I know who's smuggling drugs in Suriname.
You're familiar with Pastor Jeon.
Yeah. So what about him?
Jeon Yohan is a smuggler. He's why you're in jail.
Look familiar?
He's a pastor at a Korean church in Paramaribo.
But he's really a drug trafficker.
He controls 60% of all of Europe's narcotics distribution and trade.
In Suriname,
they call him the cocaine godfather.
What the hell are you talking about?
1990, INCHEON
Eighteen years ago,
there was a massive operation to arrest a meth-smuggling gang in Incheon.
The operation was successful, and the network was shut down.
But the man in charge of distribution managed to evade us.
Taking with him ten kilograms of meth.
That man was Jeon Yohan.
Much later, the police discovered his escape route.
He had crawled more than 14 kilometers through the sewers.
It would appear as though he's continued his meth-dealing operations.
But that wasn't the reason he showed up on our radar again
three years later.
GEOJE CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT CONTRACT
Geoje Construction is embarking on an exciting new journey.
We're investing in foreign earners.
Or really, the top five percent in Asia, to be exact.
We've been working behind-the-scenes with the government for some time now.
So, it gives me great pleasure to introduce…
UNESCO World Heritage Site Geoje Mongdol Beach.
Tell me.
How on earth did he pull something like this off?
He certainly has many friends, if that's what you're asking me.
Did you know the president was born in Geoje?
I'll put it like this.
Who else grew up right here with our president?
I don't need to tell you…
GEOJE CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT CONTRACT
Yohan never planned for the deal to go through.
In fact, the investor's money never even made it past his bank account.
But his victims couldn't report him to the police.
Because before they knew what was happening,
he had them hooked on meth.
Eventually, despite the fraud, they all came crawling back for more meth.
-Mr. Jeon. -Hmm?
These fine gentleman don't even plan to press charges.
Perhaps they'd be interested in further opportunities.
Yeah. A Cambodian used-car business, right?
We can invest.
Just give us more champagne, please.
My family's rich. No problem.
They can afford it.
Hand it over.
Here. Take it. An initial investment.
BANK BOOK
The number of addicts increased.
And Yohan became bolder. He let his guard down.
Here.
For you.
What? This is all of it?
Hey.
You expected more for just having to say a few lines?
It's that plus your bonus. Hmm?
I'm exhausted.
-Come here! -Hey!
Come on, you sons of bitches! Ah!
Ah!
AGENCY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY PLANNING
Aw.
It sure takes a lot of nerve.
You go and pretend you know the president too?
Don't kill me!
Please!
No, no, no! I'm sorry!
I'm… I shouldn't have done that, but…
Don't kill me! I'm begging you!
I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything.
Please don't kill me. I'm sorry.
I'm so, so, so sorry, sir!
You know about us.
You know about this place, right?
And you've heard about how creative we can be.
Pretty much nothing is off the table.
Yes.
How much cash was it?
Shit.
Ah!
The air is so fresh out here.
After that,
Jeon realized he wouldn't be able to pull off his old tricks,
so he moved on to different methods.
Hallelujah!
"You are my little sheep." That's what God said.
Come forth and be cleansed by Him.
Please come forward, one by one.
Amen.
With a congregation of 12,000, his church prospered.
And behind all that success
was Jeon's winning smile, sharp tongue, and, of course, his meth.
-Do you love your God? -Amen!
God loves you too!
Amen.
Let us praise him. Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Ten million, 20, make that 30.
Ooh!
Wow!
You've got a whole church.
You should've told me sooner. Huh?
We could've had a party to celebrate,
tell everyone about the pastor who used to deal meth.
Shit!
Son of a bitch! Nobody steals my money!
It's great seeing you so much.
We should meet more often. Maybe twice a month? Yeah?
You bastard.
You are a tool of Satan himself!
Die, you asshole!
Do you know who you're dealing with?
It was becoming more difficult for Jeon to stay in Korea.
So he decided to find a new base of operations.
Somewhere small where there wouldn't be any Koreans who knew him.
But it would need to be a place where he wouldn't stand out.
In a country rife with corruption.
Yeah?
KOREAN CHRISTIAN DAILY
SURINAME, A SMALL SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY MISSIONARY HAN YONGSU
SURINAME
Suriname?
Suriname. Population 500,000.
Near Colombia, access to high-quality cocaine,
fighting between small gangs,
and nonstop military coups destabilized the country.
Best of all, it had never signed an extradition treaty with Korea.
Suriname.
Hallelujah.
JOHAN ADOLF PENGEL INT'L AIRPORT SURINAME
Drugs, gangs, and a corrupt government.
Suriname had everything Jeon could ever want.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING, SURINAME
General Delano, who had seized power in the country during a coup,
became his close ally.
This is a traditional Korean piece. A beautiful treasure.
I took it from the Korean National Museum.
And this belonged to General Yi Sun-shin.
One of the three greatest generals in the world,
along with Caesar and Napoleon.
I'm sure you've heard of him.
-Don't shoot! -Drop the weapons!
-I surrender! -Down!
During the unrest, Delano really needed cash.
So he agreed to work with Jeon, the ever shrewd businessman.
Number one!
Everyone, remember to pick number one.
There is a large Chinese population in Suriname.
If we get on his bad side,
we could lose a lot of Chinese votes to the, uh, opposition.
But he only deals meth, so not a problem.
Only you will have the exclusive right to deal cocaine.
Stop!
-Shit! -All of them here!
With Delano's help,
Jeon wiped out all of the small gangs in Suriname.
And after acquiring the exclusive rights to cocaine from Colombia,
he got straight down to business.
Here. You will each swallow ten of these.
Remember, this is God calling you to help build his kingdom.
He used his female followers as mules to smuggle drugs to Europe.
And even when some of them were caught,
they kept their mouth shut.
Loyalty and faith will do that to you.
He trained the men to be his own private army.
And even though he had moved from meth to cocaine,
he kept forcing his followers to take his drugs.
I guess he found it was the best way to keep them obedient.
And just like that, Jeon had an army of hundreds of zealots
willing to die for him.
Before long, he became known as Suriname's cocaine godfather.
The final judgement is coming, my friends!
And so is the heaven on earth,
promised to us in the bible,
a place where Noah's descendants will rescue troubled souls
from their hardships right here in Suriname!
We will make heaven!
Hallelujah!
What you're saying is that Pastor Jeon
was the one who put the drugs in my skate and got me locked up?
Yeah.
Jeon's main smuggling route is currently limited to Europe.
We believe that he plans to expand his operations into Korea
and that your shipping containers were his initial test route, Mr. Kang.
Oh shit.
You know my friend Park Eungsoo?
I don't know where he is.
We took these messages from your personal voicemail.
Ingu, it's Eungsoo.
Call me when you get this.
Hey, man. Where are you?
You disappeared. Call me back.
I got no idea what's going on, man. Listen to this.
I was in Chinatown today, and I heard something crazy.
You know Pastor Jeon?
According to these guys, he's a drug dealer. Crazy right?
I mean, we actually met him.
He's still in Suriname then?
I want to call him. Make sure he's okay.
Your friend Mr. Park is dead. I'm sorry, Mr. Kang.
When?
How could this happen?
We believe that he was killed by the pastor's men.
My condolences.
We'd like to arrest him,
but Suriname and Korea don't have an extradition treaty in place.
Without one, it's impossible for us to take him down.
Which is why we need you to help us with this, Mr. Kang.
My help?
You're here to ask me for my help?
Well, it's more than that.
We could help each other.
If we want to arrest Jeon, we have to get him out of the country.
And since our operation to do just that has already failed,
the only option left
is to somehow get him to transport his product to the US.
If he does,
then they will mobilize their military against him.
Anyone caught smuggling to the US
can be arrested without foreign interference.
If we could get him to start shipping product to the States,
it would be easy to get the DEA involved in Suriname
to arrest Yohan.
So where do I fit in to all this?
We want you to get closer to Yohan back in Suriname.
And convince him to sell his cocaine in the US.
We can help you, Mr. Kang.
Our agent there will ensure your safety.
And most importantly, when we catch him,
all of the charges you're facing will be dropped, of course.
I'll be honest with you. It sounds like suicide.
You expect me to risk everything?
Mr. Kang.
Look. We're all out of other options here.
Please help us.
Help us get him behind bars.
Agent Changho,
you're saying I'm the only person who can do this for you?
Let's assume that's true.
Why appeal to my sense of honor?
Treat it like a business proposal.
What?
I used to have 500 million won. That was my life savings.
That money was supposed to be for my kids.
Honestly, I don't care at all about my life,
but that money is something I need to get back.
Let me be straightforward here.
You're hoping that I'll go back and risk my life for you.
And I'm prepared to do it, but you've gotta give me something too.
You get me 500 million, then…
yeah, I'll help you.
You got it. We'll do that deal.
I hereby promise to Mr. Kang, for his services,
200 million upon release,
and a further three once Yohan is in custody.
This is Choi Changho of the NIS.
That's done. Where do I start?
Yohan's personal bodyguard from Nigeria is also serving time here.
For the next seven months, until you're released,
we're going to use him to deceive Yohan.
How do I do that?
As soon as we get you the drugs,
start distributing them in the prison.
Sir.
Convince them that you've become a pusher.
You want more money?
CABBAGE KIMCHI
Isn't it food?
It's not allowed in here.
Then take it.
This is good for your intestines.
Son of a bitch. Selling drugs on my turf?
Now you have to pay me.
Remember to act nice. Act like angels.
If the French refuse to pay up,
what did I tell you?
Fight for the money!
Right.
Tomorrow, go to the French, and fight for the money.
REPORT CARD: KANG HYUNGJU GRADE 6 HOMEROOM 1
KOREAN: EXCELLENT MORALS: EXCELLENT
SOCIAL STUDIES: EXCELLENT MATHEMATICS: EXCELLENT
This kid…
RECORD CARD: KANG MINSEO GRADE 3 HOMEROOM 5
KOREAN: NEEDS IMPROVEMENT MORALS: NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
MATHEMATICS: NEEDS IMPROVEMENT SCIENCE: NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: EXCELLENT
Hey, Ingu!
Wow! You made it out! Look at you!
Quit your acting.
This is one of my colleagues. She'll be helping us.
-Hello. -Hello, Mr. Kang.
The money will go to your wife's account.
Two hundred million won.
It'll be deposited in monthly installments over the next ten months.
No, that wasn't our agreement.
-Give me what I asked for. -Hold on. We've got to be smart.
Caution is required when transferring this much cash.
I hope you understand.
You don't trust me enough to pay all at once, huh?
Okay.
But we make it five months, and 40 million a month. Yeah?
I don't want to stay in Suriname for a year.
Of the 40, you'll send 30 million to me and the rest to Eungsoo's family.
I'm sure they're having a tough time.
All that sounds reasonable.
The first thing we'll do is review the steps we're going to take.
In order to catch Yohan, he'll need to export to the US.
Whatever you say. You're the one signing my paychecks.
Pastor Jeon has control of the Surinamese government,
the police, and the army. They're all in his pocket.
He's in the process of building his empire with the help of his followers,
but he needs more cash, so exporting to Korea is now his goal.
This son of a bitch.
This bastard stuffed my skate with cocaine to try it out,
but that blew up in his face.
He still needs a way to export to Korea.
Chen Zhen. Head of the Chinese gang in Suriname.
He does it all. Smuggling, casinos, karaoke bars,
extorting local fisherman, anything that makes money.
Primarily, he focuses on smuggling meth to Chinatowns in Europe.
But he's looking to increase his earnings, and he's hoping to get into cocaine.
And he just hasn't figured out how.
So our plan is to use this point to our advantage.
How'd I do?
Once you get through the first step,
you'll be under direct threat from Jeon Yohan, Mr. Kang.
If things ever get too dangerous for you,
drop everything and run to the US embassy.
I won't get paid if I run.
Hi, honey. It's me.
Where are you? At the airport?
Are you on your way home?
Sweetheart, the thing is something's come up.
I need to stop by Suriname for work before flying back to Korea.
What do you mean?
Why would you ever want to go back there?
A publisher sent me 30 million won yesterday.
Is it because of that?
Yeah. They contacted me.
They want me to help write a book about my experiences
on doing business in South America.
They want me to go to Suriname with the author to do research, honey.
I don't believe you.
Tell me what's really going on!
I am telling you. They've offered me really good money.
How are the kids?
Honey,
I don't understand.
Why won't you tell me what's going on?
Who is she?
Did you meet someone else?
Oh no. Of course not.
Then what's the real reason you're going back there?
I promise I'll explain everything once I get back to Korea.
You trust me, right?
I have to stay behind for five more months,
so you use that money for the lease.
I'll send more soon.
Please keep the apartment for now.
I want to talk to the kids. The flight's gonna be boarding soon.
Hi, Dad!
Hyungju, Minseo. You both studying hard?
Yes!
Good. Now, Minseo, don't forget. You're tae kwon do is going well,
so be sure to practice.
With practice,
you'll be able to make a living one day doing what you love, honey.
Yes, Dad. Tae kwon do!
I'm working on it really hard.
Daddy, why are you not at home?
It's because I want us to have a happy life.
So Daddy needs to take a tough path.
At least for a while.
Okay. Good luck with your tough path.
Oh! Thank you, dear.
I can't explain right now, but I'll tell you when I can.
I'm gonna tell you everything when I get back.
Until then, I want you to be good and work hard.
I'll know if you don't.
I'm checking both your final report cards, so you be good, yeah?
Um, Dad.
Just come home safe, okay?
Of course I will.
I'll be back with a lot of money for you.
Bye.
JOHAN ADOLF PENGEL INT'L AIRPORT SURINAME
GOLDEN LIGHT CASINO
Tell your boss the Korean fishman has a great deal for him.
Call him.
Some Korean called Fishman is here.
He's looking for the boss.
What should I do?
Follow me.
Son of a bitch. He's adorable!
Fucker.
Wow. Fishman.
Looking cool, huh?
Long time no see.
You got out of jail so fast.
But,
why are you here?
What's going on?
I asked you a question.
Why are you here?
Mmm.
Why do people from different countries meet?
For war, or money.
You want a war?
No. Money.
Shit!
I have tons of money!
Why would I work with you?
How much are you really making killing people?
I see now why you always lose to Pastor Jeon.
What dirty plan did you have in mind? Hmm?
Did Pastor send you?
If you fuck me over, I'll gut you like one of your skate fish.
Because of the pastor, I went to prison.
He killed my best friend.
Not interested in money? Forget it.
Your friend?
I heard soldiers killed him.
Tell me what you're getting at.
I'm sorry.
I feel fucking bad. Can't talk anymore.
Just keep cutting.
Boss is talking to you.
Will this help you talk?
Please forgive me, I beg you!
What a fucking trader.
Hang him up in Chinatown to set a good example.
-Sure. -Sure.
Come here.
Let's talk again.
You play blackjack?
Sure.
So…
What's your plan?
I want to sell dope in Korea.
If you got it.
Sure, I got it.
You know I deal meth.
I need cocaine.
My meth can sell like crazy in Korea.
Long ago, Korea made money on three commodities.
Cars, ships, and meth.
But now…
plenty of drugs come from Taiwan, North Korea, Japan…
Boss.
Let's listen to what he has to say, what do you think?
No cocaine, no deal.
I need one ton.
You're crazy.
Do you know how much a ton of coke costs?
Sure.
Call me when you get it.
And…
I need a gun.
Chen Zhen says it'll take a few days, but he's on board.
Hey, you believe he's gonna give up on the Korean market?
Wow. It's been a while since I've drunk this much.
NIS SAFE HOUSE, BRAZIL
Him selling cocaine will be like a license to print money in Korea.
Chen Zhen won't be able to stop thinking about his profits.
That's exactly what I'm saying.
There's too much for him to gain.
Anyway, go get a foot bath and rest up while you're in Brazil.
Okay. Take care, Sangman. Bye.
You can all head out until we hear back.
Go get some rest.
Yes, sir.
GED MATHEMATICS PARK EUNGSOO
Chen Zhen. You get the cocaine?
I think he's heading into Chinatown.
Follow me.
Too small.
You think this is one ton?
Look.
How can I trust someone who was friends with the pastor?
I should just hand you a ton?
You can trust money, yeah?
This is way too small.
You buy your coke in Paramaribo backstreet?
That's none of your business.
Are you new to this? Huh?
I want to know if the supply and price are okay.
Walk me through your setup.
I told you, it's my business.
You decide.
Take it, or fucking leave it.
CLOSED FOR THE DAY
Byun Kitae! What do you think you're doing?
-Move out of the way. -What?
You're not my boss.
What are you doing!
Hey, hey, come on.
Put down your gun.
You are the one who broke our agreement.
What the fuck did you say?
The pastor let you sell meth.
But now, you want to stab him in the back by dealing coke too?
It's not for Europe.
Our target is Asia.
You crazy bastard.
Are you serious right now?
All right.
You and I still have matters to solve.
What do you say we fight it out?
You dirty traitor!
You should be grateful that we let you live!
Fuck you!
Hey, put your gun down.
Stop.
Breaking the agreement means war.
Relax. None of us are looking to start a war today.
Byun Kitae.
Listen to me carefully.
If any of my boys lose so much as a drop of blood today,
I promise that'll be the start of a war.
Hang on.
Who the hell do you think you are just barging in on us? Huh?
We're working here.
Mr. Kang, you need to come with us.
To see the pastor.
In Suriname, only the pastor is allowed to deal coke.
You broke our agreement.
So, call it even.
Got it?
No one ever said I couldn't sell to Korea.
I'm sorry, sir.
Just admit you're a cult and cut the bullshit.
Who are you to go messing around with his business?
You'll accept the pastor's calling.
And if I hear blasphemy coming from your mouth ever again,
you will be struck down.
Mr. Kang, you need to come with us right now.
If you don't, you're dead.
You don't want me to have to ask again, okay?
Hmm.
Come on. Get him out of here.
Fucking Koreans!
What are you doing on my turf, huh?
Fishman.
Choose right now.
Who will you do business with?
To fix the situation,
I will talk to them. Yeah?
But don't forget.
Our deal comes first.
Fuck off.
Okay.
I don't know what the pastor wants, but let's go.
Good stuff. You made the right call.
Do you know what you're getting yourself into?
Hey, I know you! Remember me?
We were in the same prison. Right?
No?
Good.
So, uh, were you in Suriname last year?
Have we met before?
For a while.
I was in Colombia. Business trip.
Ah, the cocaine supplier is of there, right?
I'd be happy to tell you everything.
Except I won't.
This kind of business intel is need-to-know.
If I told you,
it could be dangerous.
Hmm.
Let's go.
Oh good! Look at this. It's Brother Kang!
It's been too long.
Have you been doing well?
You fucking serious?
You think I've been doing well this year?
You know I've been in jail?
Brother.
"Amen." Do you know what that means?
It comes from the ancient Hebrew.
In essence, it's, "I hope that it comes to pass."
Day in, day out, with all my heart, I hoped and prayed
that we would meet once more in this life.
And then my God answered my prayer. Amen.
-Amen! -Amen.
See? That is why you're here.
Right in front of me.
Brother Kang.
Let me ask you one thing.
And if you're not honest with me,
you will be struck down in the glorious name of the Almighty.
What is it?
Why'd you come back to Suriname?
Why do you think? For money, Pastor.
I'm going to ask you that again, and you will be truthful.
Who can say?
Why the fuck did you come back, you little shit?