THIS SERIES IS INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY
BUT CHARACTERS AND EVENTS HAVE BEEN REIMAGINED FOR DRAMATIC PURPOSES
A believer in Daegu sends me these every month.
This month, they're extra crisp and juicy.
Here, have a bite.
Just cut to the chase and ask away.
Your soul is filled with anger.
Let's try and calm down a bit.
If it was you who lost every penny you owned
and just came back from doing time in a foreign country,
would you be able to calm down?
Look.
Why did you kill my friend Eungsoo?
Every part of life, including death, is planned by God Almighty.
What a load of bullshit.
That doesn't make any damn sense.
ON BEHALF OF GOD
All I did was ask you why you came back to Suriname.
But our conversation is dragging on.
I asked, so answer me. Let's get it over with.
How many times do I have to tell you? I'm here to make money.
I heard Suriname has loads of cocaine.
I plan on setting up shop and selling it in Korea.
You're telling me that you came back to sell cocaine in Korea?
I lost everything I have, so I can't even afford to raise my kids.
This happened unexpectedly because of some asshole,
so I need to make a lot of money, you know?
It's true. Cocaine is worth a lot of money.
But you'll need my help if you want to source any from Suriname.
I decided to collab with Chen Zhen. You know, the owner of the hot pot place.
Coming from a continental country, he's really straightforward.
No bullshit.
Chen Zhen only deals in meth.
Meth is synthetic, man-made. It's like Satan's phlegm.
Whereas cocaine
is a natural blessing from God.
And the only person who can handle that blessing in Suriname
is yours truly.
Shit, I don't give a damn about any of that.
Chen Zhen told me he has his own ways.
And a smart guy like you believed him?
His only way is to scrape a few crumbs off the streets of Suriname.
But even those tiny crumbs come from me in the first place.
Retail price is bound to be expensive, and your margins will be low.
You'll only get your hands on meth if you work with Chen Zhen.
How much would you make with meth in Korea?
Brother.
Now that you've heard my words, are you starting to see the light?
SANGMAN
Hey, Sangman?
Hey there, Kang. Have you been eating well?
How's business with the Chinese folks?
We have different tastes, so it hasn't been easy.
I think we're on the verge of a diplomatic conflict.
We can't come to an agreement.
China and Korea have been fighting for 5,000 years.
NIS SAFE HOUSE, BRAZIL
It'll be difficult to suddenly get along.
Yeah, I'm "fighting for the money" as we speak.
Now, I ran across a distributor here.
He's Korean. I know it may feel a bit sudden,
but can you talk business right now?
Yeah, sure. Put him on.
Go ahead.
Hello.
This is Pastor Jeon, and I lead a church here in Suriname.
Oh yes, hello.
I'm Goo Sangman in the trading business. It's a pleasure.
So you're a pastor?
I'm actually a church elder.
What a delightful surprise.
Indeed. Amen.
Let's continue our spiritual conversation at another time.
Mr. Goo,
I heard our goods can be delivered from here to Korea.
How does that work exactly?
I cannot give you details since it's my business know-how,
but to put it simply,
the US forces in Korea eat a lot of chicken,
and 60% of that is imported from where I am, Brazil.
Stuff the chickens with your goods and ship them out.
They'll go straight to Itaewon and Gangnam without passing customs.
That does sound like an interesting plan,
but I don't think it's right to talk business over the phone.
What do you say we meet up and talk about it in person?
That sounds wonderful to me.
The thing is, I have a lot on my plate at the moment.
Would you mind making a trip to Brazil?
If you do, I'll show you a good time and make it memorable.
Brazil is a great place to party.
It would be great
for me to get some fresh air,
but as a member of the clergy,
I couldn't miss out on any of our services.
Ah, I see.
Jeez. As a member of the church, I should've thought of that.
I apologize, Pastor.
How about you take a trip to Suriname instead?
I made a big mistake, Pastor.
Sorry?
Of course, I should be the one traveling to you.
Let me clear my schedule and head over to Suriname.
Hallelujah! Thank you!
Let me know about your travel plans. I'll treat you as a guest of the state.
Sangman, are you sure? Aren't you busy?
What are you talking about?
If I can help you make some money, one flight is not a big deal.
I'll clear my schedule and let you know right away.
See you soon.
Okay, then. Enjoy your in-flight meal, and we'll be seeing you soon.
All right. Why don't we discuss our business conditions now?
Let's keep it simple and go with the international standard of 50-50, okay?
Brother,
the book of James tells us that desire gives birth to sin.
And when sin is grown, it gives birth to death.
I take 70, you take 30. That's the way it goes.
Seventy?
Are you joking?
Let's just call it off.
Someone's obsessed with money.
Thanks to someone.
We'll discuss the split when Mr. Goo gets here.
Sir, don't you think this might be too dangerous?
If your identity is revealed,
the operation fails.
It fails if I don't go as well.
And I've always wanted to see that damn face of Jeon's.
Been chasing him for three years.
It'll break my heart if I don't see him at least once.
Let's get ready for a business trip.
INCOMING CALL KANG THE PROFESSIONAL
Hey there, Kang. Have you been eating well?
I'm eating alone at the hotel breakfast bar.
What time is your flight?
Yeah. My flight leaves at 9:30.
I had been meaning to call you before I flew out.
Here's the thing. I was planning to go out and meet you at the airport,
but Jeon told me to stay put because he was gonna take care of it.
Isn't that a bit strange?
It sure is. I wonder why he did that.
He said things would get complicated if I showed up.
Anyway, have a safe flight.
All right. Don't worry too much. I'll be okay.
Oh, I wanted to say this just in case.
You should be mindful of your attire.
You're supposed to be a businessman from the underworld.
It would be weird if you look like a straitlaced guy.
All right. I understand.
I'll dress appropriately.
Okay. I'll see you soon. Goodbye.
Bye.
JOHAN ADOLF PENGEL INT'L AIRPORT SURINAME
Hello, I'm David Julio Park, Pastor Jeon's legal advisor.
This is Deacon Lee Sangjun.
Goo Sangman, international trade businessman.
You guys are a bunch of good-looking fellas, aren't you?
If you'd give me your passport, I'll help with your entry.
Wow, I sure feel His power and glory. Here it is.
Salute!
Show him a good time, girls.
Make yourself comfortable, daddy.
-Awesome, fucking awesome. -Relax.
Hey there, Kang. Have you been eating well?
Aw, the food here is not that great.
Hey, this here is Pastor Jeon.
And this here is Mr. Goo.
So we finally meet under God's guidance. It's an honor.
I'm grateful that you made the long trip all the way out here.
Shall we?
Sure.
It would have been nice if you had come to Brazil.
It's a great place for men if you know what I mean.
As a clergyman, I try to abstain from those sorts of activities.
But I must say, I sure am curious.
As you already know,
the GDP of Northeast Asian countries has been on the rise in tandem
with China's economic growth.
As a result, the demand for narcotics is also increasing at a tremendous rate.
Yes, indeed.
But traditionally speaking,
isn't the consumption of cocaine rather low in Korea?
It's no surprise, given the poor quality of the products.
Koreans still line up to buy German Mercedes and French Chanel bags.
I call that the power of luxury goods.
Pastor, now it's time for Colombian cocaine to shine.
My plan is to unload the entire supply in one go.
Not just in Korea but also in China and Japan.
A synchronized launch.
Well…
Chinese folks still suffer trauma from the Opium Wars.
They're bound to have a fit at the first mention of drugs.
REPUBLIC OF KOREA GOO SANGMAN
You must be tired after the flight.
I flew first class, so it wasn't too bad.
Travel fatigue can lead to serious diseases.
Preacher Byun, would you take our guests
to get some rest?
Yes, sir.
Our guests need to rest.
Rest up, then.
Wow, this is fucking depressing. Not a single window in here. Dang…
Are we locked up in here?
Nah, he probably wants us to sleep well without any sunlight.
What should we do, Pastor?
Did you get some rest?
It's nice and cozy, without the sun bothering you.
Mr. Goo, let me ask you a few things.
Two years ago,
you were here in Suriname, is that right?
Can you explain?
You're right.
I came here two years ago in search of cocaine.
But try as I might, I couldn't get my hands on any, so I left.
He's right.
That was when Sangman came to Suriname
and told me about the skate business opportunity,
which went down the drain thanks to someone.
You came here for cocaine, but you visited the US Embassy?
A thief went to the police station to steal, is that right?
I'm busy, that's all.
Whether it's a lie or whatever it is, let's just hear it already. Damn it!
There was an employee…
who was in charge of trades and involved in smuggling too.
I reached out to him to find out if there's a way to move some coke,
but this asshole…
This fucking Yankee owed gambling debts to the Chinese loan sharks.
He was too scared to walk outside, so he called me to the embassy.
When I went there, all he was selling was fucking meth.
So I called it off and walked out.
The Yankee's name?
I think it was Douglas Harper?
Preacher!
You were rolling with the Chinese gang two years ago, right?
Do you know Douglas Harper?
There are a lot of white boys
who borrow money for gambling and meth.
I don't remember all of their names.
Come on, you guys.
We don't like doing business like countryside gangsters.
We're not filming an action movie, are we?
We can't always do what we like, you know.
Just tell the truth before I interrogate you guys for real.
What are you guys even doing out here?
Fuck it, then. I'm not taking any more of your bullshit.
Let's call it off.
No one is allowed to leave until the pastor says so.
Piss off, asshole!
Hey, Sangman, come on. You're scaring me now, Sangman!
Let's calm down, take a seat, and talk it over.
Hey, forget it. I don't want you to ever call me again.
You know I can't stand punks who don't make me money.
Where'd you find this group of fucking amateurs, anyway?
Hey, what was that? What happened?
No outs, a batter walked, and the next one hit a double.
Ah, come on, dammit!
That's it!
Let's get one more out, Chanho, okay?
We should support our fellow citizens living so far away from home, no?
Douglas Harper, was it?
You guys can sit tight until we check that Yankee out.
We can't do business together if things don't feel right.
What if I go back?
What are you going to do if I go back to Brazil?
Who are you to tell me to sit tight?
Either way,
you can't go back to Brazil without my permission.
Preacher!
-Take them to a hotel. -Yes, Pastor.
Well, well!
Gosh! That's a good ball. A really good ball, man!
David,
don't let those guys leave the country.
And check the US embassy for this Douglas Harper.
The list of employees at the US Embassy…
That's not going to be easy to get.
I don't care if you bribe them or roll a tank through their front door.
Figure it out by the end of the day.
Hey, David.
I asked you nicely, but an order is still an order.
Can we still salvage this situation?
You must have had a clean passport if you're a NIS agent.
Just like you said in your initial report, Jeon is overly skeptical.
If I showed up with a clean passport,
he would never give us the two tons of product that we need.
Wait, so it was your plan to make him suspicious?
Not necessarily.
But it's true Douglas Harper worked at the US Embassy,
and there were issues with his conduct.
If this works out, it'll be easier for you to work.
You should have told me about this before I came into the country.
You had me spooked back there.
You're not so different from Jeon when it comes to not trusting people.
I know you're going through a lot.
But I want to be clear
that everything is being controlled under the strategy of the NIS.
The NIS that's asking a karaoke bar owner to carry out their mission?
Hello. How did it go?
It's been five hours already!
David, just pull out.
It's a shame, but let's get rid of Kang Ingu and Goo Sangman.
Why don't we wait a bit longer?
Two Korean men found dead at a hotel will draw some attention.
Hey.
That's for me to worry about!
I'll take care of them as cleanly as possible, sir.
Shut off all the security cameras.
We're going in five minutes.
The CIA agent we used to work with introduced me to the guy.
We can trust him.
Douglas Harper's name is right here on the list.
And his performance reviews mention both smuggling and his debts.
PASTOR JEON
It's the pastor.
Mr. Kang.
I have an offer to make.
When I saw him watching a baseball game in the middle of a meeting,
I thought he didn't need any money.
Why don't you stick to cheering on Chanho Park?
Hey, die-hard baseball fans would rather starve
than ever miss a single game.
Let's respect his interests.
I have to admit, I may have been impolite.
To express my regret,
I will send the two tons of cocaine as we discussed.
You mean it?
But you need to deliver it in person to a spot near the Brazilian border.
Can you make it happen?
Yes, of course.
But since it's such a large shipment,
To get that weight from Colombia, pack it up nicely, and deliver it to you…
I'll need about a month.
One month?
It will arrive right before the ship departs.
The ball.
Then…
you can consider it a done deal.
How do you intend to make your advance payment?
Let's do this.
You import it from Colombia, right?
We need to take a look at the goods too.
If you show the goods to Mr. Kang after I return to Brazil,
I'll wire the money to an escrow account.
Sure, that sounds fair.
Let's do that.
Yes. Let's do it.
The ball.
I take 60, you take 40.
I'm afraid God won't allow anything higher than that.
Okay, fine. Let's talk about it again later on.
It's been a while since I last threw a ball.
Wow, you got a great arm!
To celebrate our deal, let's all have a meal together.
That sounds good.
Sure.
Hey, before you leave,
can you introduce me to your NIS agent in Suriname?
If undercover agents know each other,
it increases the chances of getting caught.
What? Am I an agent too?
Well, not exactly,
but trust me on this one.
Wait, you keep on saying trust this and trust that.
How can I trust you when you're all talk and no action?
They have raw beef there!
How's the food?
The chefs here are great at whipping up Korean food.
I heard you like Korean-style raw beef, so I had them prepare it.
Oh, the raw beef?
I mean, it's not bad,
but the texture of the meat is so soft.
It feels like the infamous American beef. Am I right?
It'd be more appropriate to say that it melts in your mouth,
thanks to the marbling.
Try some more.
Oh, Mr. Kang.
Yes.
Now that the major contract is closed, we're business partners.
Why don't you move into my house until the deal is finished?
You can save money on hotel fees.
You're still so suspicious that now you're trying to hold me hostage?
Oh gosh, no!
It will be nice for two baseball fans to root for Chanho Park together.
You see, when like-minded people spend time with each other,
that's how you create synergy.
I thought you and I were rather different.
I'm saying we should try to get along by staying together.
Ever since I saw you living in that shabby skate fish factory,
it's weighed heavily on my heart.
Yeah, right.
What about ruining my skate business? Do you feel bad about that?
I suffered losses from that too.
It was an unfortunate accident that I never intended to happen.
I'll send someone tomorrow, so move in.
To get two tons of cocaine from Colombia,
Jeon will to have to spend a lot of money.
We will use that point to our advantage.
There's one thing I don't understand.
My skates…
How did Dutch customs know that there was cocaine in the fish?
I heard this while I was in prison,
but the chances of anything being discovered without an insider tip
is less than a thousand to one.
So this whole time,
I just thought I got super unlucky.
Could it be
that the NIS made the tip-off?
That my skates were full of coke?
I mean, I thought long and hard about it, and that's the only explanation.
Am I right?
Wow, I am right!
And now you're forcing me to do all of this?
We were trying to stop Jeon's cocaine from making it into Korea.
We never intended to cause you any harm, Mr. Kang.
Hey, you punk!
If they find coke in my fish, of course, I would be affected.
Are you kidding me?
I poured all my money into the business, and you're the ones who wiped me out!
Mr. Kang.
I work for the greater good of our country.
We make the best call for the national interest and--
Are you being serious? National interest?
Are you playing with me? What is the national interest?
Is it ruining the life of an ordinary person like me?
We weren't trying to ruin your life.
But for all that's happened,
I feel sorry for you.
Gosh, you forced your way into my life, and you're still shameless.
How do you expect me to trust you and work for you?
I'd rather work with Jeon and make some real money.
What do you mean by that?
What's the difference between him and the NIS?
You're both doing the same thing,
backstabbing and exploiting people.
I'm saying I'd rather choose the side that actually makes money.
I'm going to think you said that in a fit of anger.
No, it's not out of anger.
Just as national interest is your number one concern,
my personal interests are my number one concern.
That raw beef must've gone bad. I feel so nauseous.
Kang. Make sure you eat well.
Let's have some fun while we make big bucks, okay?
Yeah, we'll be making a lot of money.
Go get some rest, and take a shower.
Sure.
Welcome!
Good morning. It's a good day.
All right. Let's start making some real money now.
When are the goods coming in?
I must say, I think your head is filled with cash instead of a brain.
Take a tour of the place first.
Enjoy a little jacuzzi time with us.
Show him a good time.
Whoa, no. I'm fine.
I'm a bit of a loner, so I feel more comfortable being alone.
You came here to be saved, and you run away?
Get your act together.
We pray to you, Lord. Please forgive this sinner.
Please forgive her.
Save your daughter from her greed.
Please save her.
We gave in to temptation. We repent of our sins.
Please embrace us.
Lord, protect us from evil!
We repent for our arrogance and pride!
Amen.
CHEN ZHEN
SENDING VOICE MESSAGE SENDING…
INPUT MESSAGE
CHEN ZHEN
NIS SAFE HOUSE, BRAZIL
Hey there, Kang. Have you been eating well?
Yes, I'm alone right now.
I found an area behind Jeon's house
that hasn't been bugged yet.
I've been waiting for your call.
First, there's something I'd like to say.
I sincerely apologize
for the tremendous damage the NIS operation has caused in your life.
Forget it. I don't wanna talk about it.
No, I'd like to express my apologies once again.
You're going through a lot more than we expected,
so we're discussing a possible reward in addition to the agreed-upon payment.
Now things are finally working out.
Thank you for approaching the matter in such a sincere way.
And I will generously accept your apology.
Is there anything else you want to report?
Chen Zhen keeps on threatening me to meet up with him.
How should I deal with this punk?
CHEN ZHEN CONTINUES TO THREATEN
If you end up arranging a meeting, let us know.
We will come up with a plan.
Also, about his followers…
Yes, you can speak freely.
I observed them like you asked me to,
and it seems they punish each other and beat each other up. It's wild.
They even hand out drinks laced with cocaine,
but the problem is that even children are drinking them.
The children?
SURINAME AIR FORCE BASE
Ah shit.
Welcome, my dear friend!
Everything is good, pal.
Here.
Yes.
The merch is ready.
It's pure, as expected.
Colombian cocaine truly is the real deal.
It's filled with the Holy Spirit. Yes.
Hey there, Kang. Have you been eating well?
I just arrived at Chen Zhen's casino. No one's around.
Wait, you can't just go there without a heads-up…
All right.
What's your plan when you meet with Chen Zhen?
What else is there to do? I'll stall for time and tell him to wait.
You don't think they'll hurt me, do you?
It's not easy for a Chinese and Korean guy to communicate in English.
Catch him. Grab him!
Mr. Kang.
What's going on? Mr. Kang.
Hey, Kang!
-Grab him! -Fuck!
-Kick him. -Knock him down!
Fuck!
Fucking bastard!
Goddamn it!
Boss, let's cut and feed him to the gators.
Sure.
INCOMING CALL KANG THE PROFESSIONAL
This is Kang Ingu.
Mr. Kang, are you okay?
Am I okay?
Chen Zhen's gang just released me.
I nearly got eaten by gators.
I'm so sorry.
We should've paid more attention to your safety--
Where's that agent who was supposed to help me
when things get dangerous?
Are they busy right now?
Do they even exist?
As you know, it's difficult for outsiders to enter Chinatown.
Are you telling me to be in danger only when I'm outside of Chinatown?
From this point on,
we'll pay more attention to your safety.
How did you know I was here?
We were unable to locate you, so Pastor Jeon ordered us to ask around.
Do you have some sort of beef with the Chinatown gangs?
No, I played baccarat at the casinos and lost all my money.
So I borrowed some extra cash,
and those bastards wanted to play dirty.
That's what happens
when you leave the house without saying a word, boy.
The pastor's been waiting a long time.
Let's go.
Track the location of K's phone.
-Put this on your head. -What is that?
Gosh, could you guys be any more old-fashioned?
It looks like Byun pulled a prank on you.
What's wrong with your face?
That's just from my gambling debts…
What is all this?
It just arrived today.
That's why we were being extra cautious,
so bear with it.
You're saying that this is our shipment?
That's right.
It's our cocaine, destined to wake up the souls in Asia.
What is it about this white powder that touches people so powerfully?
It's top-notch, that's why.
A total of 80 packages, each weighing 25 kilograms.
Okay. I'm done checking.
Let me take a photo to send to Brazil.
Let's see.
TWO TONS CONFIRMED
Okay. We finally got Jeon where we want.
Send the advance to Jeon's account,
and contact the ABIN so we can start working together.
We received the advance of eight million dollars.
Wow, that punk sure moves fast.
As for our route toward the Brazilian border,
try and make it through the Sipaliwini River area.
Somewhere as safe as possible for us.
We'll try and seize control of the rendezvous point.
I heard they found a route to the Brazilian border.
They want to know if you're available the day after tomorrow
for the initial meetup.
Jeon says he'll let us know the exact location later on.
It doesn't matter, as long as it's Brazilian territory.
If you do exactly as I tell you, you will be safe.
Okay, I'll keep that in mind. Don't worry.
Is there anything else I should be aware of?
There's nothing special,
but being in a foreign country hasn't been good for my mental state.
A long time ago, my father went to Vietnam to make money.
He probably felt the same way, right?
It's the same for me too.
I know how you feel after living overseas for years
serving our country.
If the Brazil operation is successful, the DEA will move in no time.
Please hang in there for just a little while.
All right.
One more thing.
Remember the bonus you talked about before?
Yes, are you talking about the reward payment?
Yes, the 20 million won.
Would it be possible to send that to Eungsoo's family today?
It's Eungsoo's birthday today.
Oh, I see. I'll try to make it happen.
Okay then, Mr. Kang. I'll see you in two days.
Yes. I'll see you in Brazil, Sangman.
Now…
Here.
Mr. Kang.
This must be your first time doing anything like this.
How do you feel? Are you nervous?
Not even. I'm thrilled to be making money.
An autographed ball celebrating Chanho Park's 100th win.
It's always been my lucky charm. I'm giving it to you as a gift.
Gosh. Chanho Park? You didn't have to.
I feel bad for not being able to go with you.
I have worship service.
It's just my way of saying go out there and break a leg.
All right.
SURINAME-BRAZIL BORDER
DAVID PARK
We got it.
We received the final coordinates from Jeon's side.
We're ten minutes out.
As I already mentioned, my team will be handling the deal.
As for the Venezuelan team, when the Brazilian border patrol shows up
and tries to confiscate the cocaine,
all you have to do is act sufficiently surprised.
The guns we provided should be thought of as props.
Our goal for this mission is to peacefully have the cocaine and money seized
without the use of any firearms.
Note that any further details cannot be shared due to our policy.
Thank you for your cooperation. Over.
That's a normal day at the office. Over.
Kang! Have you been eating well?
No rest stops on the way here, so I didn't get a single bite.
But it's fine. I brought something a lot tastier than food.
Great!
Mr. Park, all of you must be starving. Shall we get right to it?
Nice. That's a good habit.
Hey, come on.