Thief and Bong Pal dance around a table. As thief rounds the corner, he runs into someone and falls to the ground. Instead of stopping, Bong Pal keeps on running. He stops for a moment and then we see people being shoved out of the way… by nothing. Oh, wait. Black mist appears and it’s a really ugly looking ghost in a suit. He expels what as got to be some nasty breath. Bong Pal narrates that there are ghosts. Ghost like him that are part of this world. Bong Pal yells at Suit Ghost to stop.
Bong Pal ends up in an empty building. There’s a growl. Bong Pal looks up to see Suit Ghost drop down to the ceiling to attack him. Instead of screaming or trying to scoot out of the way, Bong Pal the ghost right in the face. I watched it three times and it made me laugh every time. The look of shock on the ghost’s face. Heh.
[Episode One]
Next day, Bong Pal is curled up on his bed facing the wall. Phone’s alarm wakes him. He staggers into the bathroom – and I already know I am going to like this show. He’s scratching his butt. That's totally a real person thing to do, but it just strikes me as funny, too. He’s barely awake as he sits on his toilet and brushes his teeth. The bathroom door creaks open slowly (and loudly). Bong Pal stops brushing and looks in its direction. He narrates that he sees ghosts, as the ghost *floats* in the doorway.
They make eye contact and he mentally curses. He looks at the floor straight ahead and starts brushing faster. He eventually looks up and the ghost is a few inches from his face. She says that he saw her, didn’t he? He looks away again and brushes. She waves her hand in his face to get him to acknowledge her, but he keeps looking in another direction. And, again, I am laughing. She stops and smiles. “You saw me.” Black mist starts to flow from her mouth. Bong Pal is annoyed. He yells that it stinks and punches her in the face.
She Ghost clutches her cheek as Bong Pal narrates that he can beat up ghosts. She yells at him about her jaw. Bong Pal stands and does a fake lunge at her. She starts to milk the jaw-thing so he won’t hit her. Waving his toothbrush at her, he warns her not to come back or she’ll get hurt. She Ghost, clutching her jaw with both hands, promises she won’t. Bong Pal turns around so he can spit in the sink. In the mirror, we see She Ghost give him a polite bow as she says that she’s leave first. Bong Pal adjusts his neck as he tells us not to get the wrong idea. He’s didn’t just hit a girl. He hit a *ghost.*
Bong Pal heads out, wearing his backpack.
Flash back to Bong Pal at work: He needed money, so he beat up ghosts whenever he needed it. Bong Pal is grinning widely as he enters a karaoke room. He stops smiling when the ghost turns around. Ghost not in a good mood and is a head taller than Bong Pal. Bong Pal slowly looks up. Next thing we see – and again I chuckle – as Bong Pal high tails it out of the room.
Back to his stroll. He narrates that, of course, he only beats up the weak ones. Bong Pal fighting various ghosts, who explode into gold coins. The words [ONE MILLION WON] appear with each ‘kill,’ giving it an even more video game feel. Bong Pal… Korea’s Super Mario. He strikes a Bruce Lee pose as 100M won appears. He says that exactly 100 million won is his goal in life. There’s got to be a reason for that. Small smile from our hero.
Bong Pal stops by a bank. His savings book shows 1.27M won. Just a little more to go… He calculates how long it will take him. At this rate, it’ll take 12 years and 9 months. He sighs because he still has a long way to go. He says that just catching the weak ones isn't cutting it. Should he start catching the strong ones and hike up the price? He sighs.
Bong Pal arrives at school. Economics. Teacher has assigned group projects. Class is over and Bong Pal starts to leave. A girl calls his name. He’s in their group and they could really use his help this time. And why is she pouting as she says it? He erases his name from their group and creates a 6th group, with 1 member: Park Bong Pal. He wishes them luck. The rest of his group isn’t happy.
Man on bus. He’s writing on his hand. He’s also wearing beads around his neck, is unshaven and looks like he hasn’t bathed in a week. Cast list says he's Monk Myung Chul (Kim Sang Ho). Myung Chul notices a little girl staring at him. He flashes her a big smile. She looks over at her mother’s phone. Myung Chul looks like the drawing on mom’s phone. Little girl looks back at Myung Chul and he smiles again. He starts to make faces but little girl cries anyway. He starts laughing awkwardly and begs for the driver to let him off.
Funeral hall. Myung Chul is loudly thumping a moktak and chanting. He looks down at his hand so he knows what to say next. Chuckle #4. Man comes over and interrupts him. Myung Chul thinks he’s one of the family members. But man uncomfortably says that Myung Chul’s at the wrong funeral. Chuckle #5. Myung Chul looks behind him. Church choir sound effect and it’s a bunch of people with hymnals. “I have always praised the Lord as I lived my life.” Hearty laugh from me. This show is cracking me up.
Myung Chul makes to the right funeral and stuffs his face. He also drinks quite a bit of soju. And I can tell that’s a mistake. Man brings him an envelope with his payment and Myung Chul says that he’ll be back in 49 days. Man politely tells him not to. Across the hall, some people are muttering about him and how he’s past his prime. They call him pitiful. When he looks at them they smile widely and bow. He belly-laughs.
Bong Pal is eating. Alone, of course. He's watching a pretty girl read. The wind blows her hair. Bong Pal sighs happily. Two guys arrive: Choi Chun Sang (Kang Ki Young) and Kim In Rang (Lee David). They give him a hard time for sitting by himself. Chun Sang says how pathetic is it to be alone on this romantic campus. College life shouldn't be lonely like this. But why is Bong Pal all by himself? In Rang says that Bong Pal’s totally clueless as to why. Bong Pal says nothing.
Chun Sang slides closer. Even though they’ve never met before… Hold on. He points is index fingers at Bong Pal’s eyes, about 2 inches away from Bong Pal’s face. Bong Pal blinks. Chun Sang tells In Rang that Bong Pal has got dark bags under eyes. In Rang says that there must be a reason. Chun Sang takes Bong Pal’s arm so he can check Bong Pal’s pulse. And Bong Pal looks like he’s humoring them, but the humor is starting to wear off.
Chun Sang declares that Bong Pal’s pulse is weak. He starts waving his hands and declares that it's because there's darkness surrounding Bong Pal! If he only knew. Bong Pal didn’t know that, did he? In Rang is making hand motions in the background. Bong Pal blinks at Chun Sang, pretending that he’s interested. Very serious, Chun Sang asks if Bong Pal believes in ghosts. Bong Pal blinks. In Rang starts to laugh and Chun Sang hits him a couple of times. He might not believe in them!
Chun Sang tells Bong Pal that there is a lot of darkness in this world that we don't know of. There's so much darkness surrounding you that it's making you weak. Much hand motions and In Rang helps. What are these guys doing? This is so random. Bong Pal looks at In Rang and then at Chun Sang. He definitely looks like he’s wanting Chun Sang to get to the point. Chun Sang leans in and says that he knows that this might be scary to hear. Mysterious music plays. But ghosts are all around us. He’s almost whispering. He’s so serious. Chun Sang says, that, in fact there's a ghost right behind Bong Pal.
Bong Pal – because he deals with ghosts all the time – starts to look but Chun Sang grabs his neck with both hands and screams. So does In Rang. Bong Pal’s face looks like Chun Sang needs to stop touching him. Chun Sang tells him not to look or it might come and haunt him. What *are* these guys doing? Selling something? This is so random.
Chun Sang asks Bong Pal what he’s going to do. Will he continue to live in this darkness? Chun Sang says that they can shine light upon Bong Pal. I fall over laughing because of how both Chun Sang and In Rang are dramatically reaching for the heavens, reaching for that light that they can shine on Bong Pal. Crow cawing sound. Bong Pal shades his eyes and looks in the direction they’re gesturing towards.
And now we get to it… Chun Sang says that Bong Pal can go here if he wants to know more. In Rang passes Bong Pal a piece of paper. An address? It’s registration for a Ghostnet Club. They’re recruiting for a club? And they actually think that that technique is going to get people to join? I shake my head. Fighting fists by In Rang and Chun Sang as Chun Sang declares that they can fight through this darkness together!
Bong Pal blinks at them. He wordlessly returns the piece of paper, frowns, grabs his backpack and leaves. These guys are killing me. In Rang and Chun Sang don’t lower their fighting fists until Bong Pal is long gone.
In Rang and Chun Sang head down into a building, muttering about Bong Pal’s response. The door of their destination has an eviction notice posted on it.
[Your club doesn’t have enough members. Please vacate the room.]
That really explains it. They need to get club members or they have to get out.
Chun Sang makes a face a rips it off the door. They enter and In Rang grumbles that they’ve been recruiting for a week and no one wants to join their club. Wow, that’s a huge student club room… And no wonder you’ve been unsuccessful if you’ve been trying to recruit like that. He mutters that, at this rate, they're really going to get kicked out. He worries where he’s going to live, since he doesn’t have the money to pay for room and board somewhere.
In Rang yells, startling Chun Sang, and then proposes they sell some equipment they have. Chun Sang doesn’t want to. Those are precious assets. In Rang screams, “hyung!” at him and furiously asks what they’ll gain from keeping it?! They haven’t captured anything with it. What… a dog pooping in a deserted house. Can they catch ghosts with this thing? They can. Chun Sang asks In Rang if he’s been deceived his whole life? They just need one shot! Seriously, just one shot! Finger wagging for emphasis. In Rang’s face says that he’s tired of hearing it.
Chun Sang declares that if they get the one shot, then they'll get more members and can get money by selling that video. In Rang is nodding with a frustrated smile on his face. In Rang sits next to Chun Sang and asks when that’s all going to happen. Chun Sang avoids looking at him. Finally Chun Sang slaps his leg and declares that they should go! Go and do it properly this time! In Rang’s eyes widen. Do what? They’ll make it a live broadcast!
Fearfully, In Rang asks ‘where?’ Still looking at In Rang, Chun Sang points to the wall. Over there. A girl’s scream. They look at the article. Camera zooms in on it. It reads: SEOYI GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL IS HAUNTED. Both of them look terrified. And I am cracking up. I love the comic relief! Why are they in a ghost club if they’re afraid of ghosts?
Nighttime. Why is it that ghosts only seem to come out at night? Seoyi Girls High School. Lighting and thunder crashes. There’s a guard at the gate. Chun Sang and In Rang are sneaking into the school. They pause as Chun Sang readies their equipment. In Rang says that it's really menacing. Both of them will be okay, right? Right, hyung? Chun Sang doesn’t answer. After saying ‘hyung’ a couple more times, In Rang looks at him. Chun Sang is applying make up.
What are you doing? Chun Sang replies that he’s preparing to go live. This way, he'll look good on camera. Right. It’s a night camera. I shake my head. Chun Sang starts to pat In Rang’s face as In Rang protests that said six girls died there. Will they be okay? Chun Sang’s face says that this is news to him. But then he confidently says that they will be fine. After all, he served in the Marines. He slaps In Rang and tells him not to be scared. In Rang notices Chun Sang eating something and asks about it. It’s a sedative. And you can’t share with In Rang? He really seems to need it right now. Chun Sang hops the fence but In Rang is too short.
Bong Pal sighs, exhausted. He closes the books he’s been studying: The Seoul Civil Service Exam. He opens his laptop and looks at his email. There’s an unfamiliar email: Ghostnet? He clicks the link. That’s how you get viruses, dude. It opens to a live webcam feed of Chun Sang and In Rang. And they are doofy as ever. Doofy = goofy + doofus.
Chun Sang is holding the camera. In Rang is right next to him. He welcomes the audience to Ghost-net (net is emphasized by holding up 4 fingers). In Rang declares that it’s an exclusive live broadcast. And how did they get Bong Pal’s email? Or did they just send it out to everyone at school? Chun Sang asks where they are. Creepily – with clawing hand emphasis – In Rang says that it’s a place that will stop your heart. As Chun Sang says the location – Seoyi. Girls. High. School. – In Rang makes frightened sound effects which end in a scream which scares Chun Sang. He tells In Rang to cut it out.
Chun Sang tells the camera that not too long ago, seven people fainted after seeing a ghost here, which made the school close temporarily. In Rang pokes Chun Sang, who reads the online message. He assures Mr. Sadako that it's not a different school. Other commenters join in with their doubts. Chun Sang zooms in on a sign with the name of the school on it. Commenters:
Sadako: CRAZY BASTARDS, YOU REALLY WENT THERE.
Pimple: WATCH YOUR BACK.
Sin: WE'LL SEE GHOSTS?
Chun Sang assures his viewers that they will. Of course they’re going to show real ghosts.
The pair heads down the hall, getting more and more nervous as they go. How does In Rang have wireless service so that he can use his computer? Hotspot through his phone? Chun Sang says that they're really going to see something scary here. Creepy horror music plays. Chun Sang bangs his hand against one of the lockers, which makes In Rang scream. And then repeatedly hit Chun Sang for scaring him as Chun Sang covers his mouth to stifle his laughing. So wrong.
He’s still laughing as In Rang tells him not to play around like that. In Rang grabs his chest and breathes, saying that Chun Sang scared the crap out of him. Chun Sang’s still laughing. They don’t notice the girl ghost that’s appeared in the hallway behind them.
They head into a science lab because ghosts tend to appear in there. It’s so scary. You always see ghosts come out in horror movies. In Rang looks freaked out. Chun Sang less so. Chun Sang starts to interview In Rang. And I crack up at how dorky they are. They shine the flashlight on an anatomy dummy and both scream and run out of the room. They don’t see the ghost that’s gotten closer. With such creepy music as she does.
Bong Pal looks at his screen more intently as Chun Sang zooms the camera in. There’s a pounding at the door, which scares him. He exhales and closes his laptop.
The boys decide to head upstairs.
Bong Pal opens his door and Myung Chul scurries in. Myung Chul doesn’t even take off his shoes before running to the bathroom and loudly has a bowel movement. Bong Pal’s face echoes mine – gross. By the time that Myung Chul gets out of the bathroom – I hope he lit a match – Bong Pal has the ddukbaegi cooking on the stove.
Those things are used all the time in Korea and, folks, they are really hot. And stay really hot for a long time. Like cast iron skillets but it’s earthenware.
Myung Chul calls Bong Pal a punk for not opening the door more quickly. He almost crapped in his pants. And fix the doorbell. It's been three years.
Shot of food boiling away in the ddukbeogi. It’s so good. I miss it so much!
Bong Pal mutters that Myung Chul’s the only one who ever comes there. Myung Chul mutters that Bong Pal is such a loner. At least Myung Chul isn’t that annoying monk from ‘Gu Family Book.’ That guy seriously got on my nerves. Myung Chul removes his socks as he declares that he has to leave tomorrow. Bong Pal notes that his business trips are getting shorter and shorter. Is it time to retire now (because people have stopped believing in you)? Myung Chul says that he’s just taking a break. There are still tons of people who look for me.
Bong Pal puts the ddukbeogi on the table. Myung Chul asks about sausage, but Bong Pal is out. Myung Chul tsks his disapproval but samples the food. Delicious! Bong Pal looks down and smiles. And that crackling noise you heard is the stuff boiling in the ddukbeogi. Like I said, it stays really hot for a while. Burnt myself slightly on one.
Myung Chul asks if Bong Pal is keeping his promise. Keeping his distance from ghosts. Pretending not to see one even if he does. Pretending not to listen even if you can hear it. Bong Pal makes a face but doesn’t answer. Myung Chul tells him that he has to keep away from them to live a normal life. It’s kind of hard to ignore when they get two inches from your face to make you look at them. Bong Pal says that he’s got it and offers Myung Chul some Soju.
Soju is made all over Korea and there are over 120 different types. The type I had reminded me of Nyquil, without the cherry flavoring.
Myung Chul remembers and pulls out a letter from Bong Pal’s dad. He clucks at Bong Pal for not giving his father his new address when he moved. Bong Pal asks why he should. It's not like he's going to come and visit. Bong Pal’s phone chimes. Myung Chul shakes the letter at Bong Pal and orders him to take it. Bong Pal gets up from the table to look at his phone and tells Myung Chul to leave the letter there. Myung Chul sighs in annoyance but keeps eating.
Bong Pal heads into his room and closes the door. He sits at his desk and opens the message.
Help me: Sir, are you the exorcist? Sir, can you get rid of a ghost?
Bong Pal: Yes.
Help me: There's a legendary evil ghost at our school. Is it possible to help?
Bong Pal: OK!!! What kind of ghost is it?
Help me: A high school girl. Is it possible?
Bong Pal chuckles that it’s a piece of cake.
Bong Pal: Of course.
Help me: But is there a price?
Bong Pal considers and then texts: Two million won.
No answer.
Bong Pal: Hello?
Help me: Are you sure you can get rid of it?
Another confident chuckle from Bong Pal.
Bong Pal: 100 percent!!
Help me: Can you come this instant?
Bong Pal: The location?
Help me: Seoyi Girls' High School.
Bong Pal thinks that the name sounds familiar.
Help me: If you do it right now, I'll give you 10 million won. Deal?
Bong Pal frantically texts: Deal!!!!!! I'm on my way right now.
Myung Chul is looking through the drawer where Bong Pal has stuck all the other letters from his father. He mutters that Bong Pal hasn't read a single one. He could have burned them or thrown them away. Stubborn punk. Bong Pal comes out of his room and when Myung Chul asks, Bong Pal searches for an answer. Since he’s about to not keep him promise. Again. He chuckles and grabs his backpack. Study hall. Myung Chul wants to know why he’s going to study hall this late at night? Bong Pal says that it’s for the civil servant exam. Myung Chul mutters that Bong Pal should study to become a high level official with that smart head of his.
As Bong Pal goes to leave, Myung Chul calls after him to be careful of ghosts. Then he sternly calls Bong Pal’s name. It sounds like Bong Pal’s busted, but Myung Chul just wants him to get some sausage on his way home.
From inside the school, a lit computer screen shows the chat with Bong Pal. From inside the school… hmmm…
Chun Sang and In Rang still haven’t found a ghost. They’re now in the restroom where a ghost supposedly appeared. Chun Sang asks if they can hear the sound of his heart beating? The atmosphere here feels quite threatening. He tells everyone to take a deep breath. So do Chun Sang and In Rang. And I am on I-don’t-know-what-number chuckle so far in the episode. Breathing heavily, Chun Sang enters, with In Rang filming him.
Chun Sang says that they’re inside. It's time to check the scene of the incident and witness the horror.
Sadako messages them: You perverts, why are you going in there? Are you crazy? I'm going to call the cops.
Chun Sang tells Mr. Sadako that they are not perverts and please do not call the cops on them. It’s a strange use of pervert. They only came there to get shots of real ghosts. He tells the audience to brace themselves. And please refrain from responding. They both yelp when one of them knocks over a spray bottle.
Creepy music. Chun Sang lunges into one of the stalls. He grabs his chest as he reports that there’s nothing inside. He tells In Rang to calm down. Don't be afraid. They check another stall and the third stall door opens slightly. They slowly push the door open. A cat hisses and jumps out. They scream and run terrified from the school. Reminds me of Shawn and Gus. They just ran right past that security guard. Who didn’t even notice them.
Bong Pal arrives at the school. He texts that he’s arrived. Where is she? No answer. He decides to head inside. As he creeps past the security guard – who does not look up from his desk – is he asleep? Seriously, this guy should be fired – he lightly calls out ‘Miss Help Me. Miss Help Me!’ Not only is Bong Pal *walking* past him, but he’s making noise.
Bong Pal continues to call for her as he wanders around the school. He hears a noise in the computer lab. Peering inside, he sees a girl. She turns to look his way and he hides. She continues to look in his direction.
Out in the hall, Bong Pal has concluded that this is the 10 million won ghost. She looks tough. He peers back in the room and she’s gone. Because she’s now standing next to him in the hall. He jumps backward and swings at her. She asks who he is. He asks who she thinks he is. He’s the exorcist who's going to get rid of her. She shakes her head slightly like she doesn’t follow.
Bong Pal declares that he doesn’t go easy on female ghosts, so she should be prepared. She shakes her head and her hand no, as she tries to say something, but Bong Pal puts her in a headlock. She tells him to let go. It’s not her. Yeah right. He flips her over his shoulder and onto the floor. She lays there and whines.
He tells her to stop acting like she’s weak. She’s a freaking ghost. She makes a face and protests that it really hurts! She knows she’s a ghost, but she’s still a girl! Bong Pal laughs derisively at that one. How can you hit a girl?!! He answers that he warned her ahead of time. Get up, 10 million won.
As he steps forward, she grabs her chest, saying “Oh, my heart.” She ‘collapses’ on the ground. Bong Pal tells her to stop playing around. Weakly she says that her heart really hurts. She died from a bad heart. She’s whimpering, her eyes close and she sags limp. Bong Pal – looking at little concerned – squats down and nudges her. She smiles and rolls over, poking him in the eyes as she does. Bong Pal yelps with pain – As he should – and staggers backward.
Squaring her shoulders she asks who the heck is he to be beating up ghosts, huh? She declares that he’s so dead. The fight begins in earnest. She uses the wall to flip around one of his grabs and ends up throwing Bong Pal down the hall. When he starts to stand up, she jumps on his shoulders and grabs his hair as she asks if he wants to die. He slaps at her and tells her that he’s going to kill her! He throws her down on the ground, but she’s able to grab his hair before they stand up.
He grabs her hair and pulls. They roll down to the ground, lying face up, pulling each other’s hair. She calls him a weasel and demands he let go! He yells at her that she’s already dead! She flips her whole body so that she lands, seated, on his stomach, and starts slapping his head as she taunts him to block her slaps. She seems to let up for a minute but then she grabs his hair and bites his head. Bong Pal screams.
The girl has one of his books: Myeongseong University?
Not a real university. But it’s names after Empress Myeongseong, the first official wife of Gojong, the 26th king of Joseon and 1st emperor of the Korean empire. She advocated stronger ties with Russia to block Japan’s influence in Korea, so the Japanese had her assassinated on October 8, 1895.
He’s a student from an elite university? She’s impressed. She looks out the window. Bong Pal is staggering away, complaining about his bleeding nose. She tosses his book at him and it hits him in the head. He looks back to glare at her. She laughs and tells him not to come there ever again! She’s really going to kill you if you do! He glares at her, pick up his book and walks away, fuming. Watching him go, she wipes her hands of him, muttering that he can’t even fight and he calls himself an exorcist. She cracks her neck both sides and her shoulders.
Bong Pal gets home. Myung Chul is sleeping on his couch. The closing door wakes him. Bong Pal stomps into the bathroom and slams the door. He starts brushing his teeth and winces because of his split lip. He thinks about being beaned in the head and her laughing and begins to furiously brush his teeth, ignoring any pain from his lip. The noise from Bong Pal keeps Myung Chul awake and he’s annoyed.
Coffee shop. Man is furiously scratching his head, like he has lice. He doesn’t. It’s a female ghost who thinks he’s cute. She scratches his head and kisses him, which makes him scratch again. School ghost – I hope we get her name soon. I mean, I could look at the cast list, but I’m waiting – walks by and spots her. She walks through the window to talk to her Unni. Subtitles name her Kyung Ja. Kyung Ja is happy to see her, but asks what’s with her face. School ghost makes a face and says that she got into a fight with some weird guy. Kyung Ja is worried that she killed him. She won't be chosen if she does that! Girl protests that she doesn’t kill people! She just beat him to death, that's all. Kyung Ja smiles and says that it’s all good, then.
Girl asks Kyung Ja how long she’s going to keep following this person? It’s been 2 years now. Wow, this guy has been dealing with this for two years?! Poor guy. Kyung Ja says she knows. He won't die quickly. The sooner he dies, the sooner she can introduce myself. She makes a face and declares that it was all lies. Making him lose all his hair isn't going to kill him. Girl nods.
Kyung Ja asks how the semester is going. Did she find something? Girl answers that she hasn’t yet. She’s going to have to go back again tomorrow. Kyung Ja sighs and says that she hopes Girl finds it soon. There's not much time left until final exams. It's been five years, right? Yes, it's already been five years.
Girl sighs and asks Unni why she isn’t able to move on. How come she’s in this state? You either go to heaven or hell if you die. Kyung Ja answers that she either has unfinished business or... Or? Ominously, Kyung Ja says “Or you were wrongfully killed by someone.” They say you linger if that happens to you. Kyung Ja asks if Girl really doesn't remember how she died? She doesn’t, not even her parents. All she know is this... Pointing to her nametag, she announces that her name is Kim Hyun Ji. Finally! But she doesn’t even know if it's her name.
Hyun Ji says that she tried to look for her school but who knew there are this many high schools in Korea? Kyung Ja suggest Hyun Ji take the College Entrance Exam. The first day they met, Hyun Ji had come in to take it and didn’t even realize that she was dead. Maybe that’s her source of regret. Kyung Ja encourages her to take the exam. It might be her source of regret.
Hyun Ji asks Kyung Ja why she’s still wandering around? What regret does she have? She pauses and asks her poor human what he thinks. He squirms. Unni decides that she needs to go to church and pray that Man will dies soon. She bids farewell and pops away. I expected Man to show some sort of relief now that she’s gone, but he just sips his coffee and keeps looking at his laptop. Hyun Ji is not excited at the thought of taking the college entrance exam.
Bong Pal has set out a small feast the next morning. Myung Chul complains about the wait as he lies on the couch. Bong Pal says he had a good night when Myung Chul asks. He turns around, but Myung Chul is distracted by the lack of sausage. Bong Pal still has a split lip and a cut by his eye. When Myung Chul complains, Bong Pal tells him that he’s losing your sense as a monk because he keeps eating sausage. He needs to eat vegetables.
It takes Myung Chul a minute to notice Bong Pal’s face. He looked fine last night. Why does he have a black eye? Where did he get beaten up like that? Bong Pal tells him to please just eat. Myung Chul indignantly tells Bong Pal that this is why he needs to eat meat and sausage. Then he will be too strong to get beaten up. Bong Pal starts to take Myung Chul’s food, but Myung Chul grabs it back and stops his clucking.
Bong Pal’s using round chopsticks. All the chopsticks I used in Korea were flat. They are much harder to grip things with.
Bong Pal considers and then asks Myung Chul about female ghosts… Do they usually have equal power too? Myung Chul says that female ghosts with a lot of regret are strong. Other subtitles call her a virgin ghost. A saying goes that woman's vengeance knows no bounds. Someone like Bong Pal should be careful. They will suck his energy out.
Bong Pal says that they should have a weakness. Myung Chul agrees that they do, but before he says what that is, he gets suspicious. Why the sudden interest in ghosts? Bong Pal tries to say that it’s for self defense, but Myung Chul knows his black eye is from a ghost. He starts to yell at Bong Pal for not running. Bong Pal counters that he can help it if they chase him. If Myung Chul had handled it right that time, this wouldn't have happened. Handled what right? Myung Chul answers back that the ghost was so strong! Bong Pal counters: It wasn’t that Myung Chul was too weak?!
Myung Chul yells at Bong Pal to stop it. Silence. Myung Chul looks into his bowl and says that it’s all his fault. Bong Pal, with persuasion in his voice, says that for that reason, Myung Chul should tell him how to fight back. What if he gets beaten up like this again? Myung Chul considers that and sighs.
They’ve gone to an old, run-down, abandoned apartment complex. Myung Chul whistles – to call a ghost, I guess. Like summoning a puppy. Dramatic drumming and… nothing. Bong Pal nods his head toward a corner where there’s some Soju bottles. The drunk ghost appears. Myung Chul leans in, staring in the wrong spot, and says that if you keep looking at them, you will see their weakness. Drunk Ghost snorts at him. Myung Chul squints and mutters that he used to be able to see it right away. Bong Pal sighs loudly because he knows Myung Chul isn’t seeing anything.
Bong Pal asks if the stuff he’s carrying for Myung Chul really helps at all. Of course it does. There is this divine energy around. Myung Chul smiles and says that considering how calm the energy is, it must be a little kid. Drunk Ghost looks at him. And I laugh loudly. Bong Pal stifles a smile. Myung Chul reaches into his pocket as he says that rice works the best when it comes to a kid ghost.
Myung Chul tosses the rice over the ghost’s shoulder. Bong Pal grimaces. Myung Chul starts laughing and getting more rice. He accidentally hits Drunk Ghost, which makes him catch a whiff. He starts hitting Drunk Ghost in the face with the rice, causing sparks. I wonder why rice does that? Drunk Ghost does not like that and smoke flares from his nostrils. Myung Chul yells loudly.
Back in their room, Chun Sang and In Rang are deleting messages off of their site. So many messages. Chun Sang is super annoyed. What are these people doing on his homepage?! This person Sadako is terrorizing him! In Rang asks what they’re going to do now. Chun Sang says that they’re going to show them what they’re made of.
That night they return to the school. Chun Sang signs a cross before entering. And they both take a sedative. They mount cameras in several places and then start talking to the camera. They’re going to stay there until ghosts appear. He encourages the audience to go get their popcorn and snacks to help them wait. Like it’s a movie. And also go to the bathroom and empty yourselves. In Rang tells them to have sensibility, too. (Bookmark their site.)
Bong Pal arrives at the school, carrying Myung Chul’s sword. It’s thundering and lightning. He draws the sword, face full of determination, and says that it’s the perfect weather to fight ghosts.
Hyun Ji is looking through a yearbook. She’s not in it anywhere. Did she not go to school there? Old Western music plays as Bong Pal walks forcefully down the halls. He throws down his bag and declares, “Here I am!” He yells for the ghost again. Hyun Ji smiles. He's back again. She was in a bad mood, so it's perfect timing. She shuts the book with emphasis.
Western high noon music plays. She is not threatened at all by Bong Pal and his sword. She beckons him with her index finger. Bong Pal charges forward with a yell. She just snickers. He slices the sword at her and she poofs away. She appears behind him and kicks him in the pants. He swings the sword again. Same result and another kick in the pants, shoving him to the floor. He looks at her a little worried. She leaps and he holds up his arm to protect himself, but she poofs away… and appears at his shoulder.
Friendly-ish ‘Ya.’ Bong Pal runs several feet away. Hyun Ji says that she told him not to come there again. Did she say that or not, huh? He swings at her with his fist and she grabs it. Several tries later and only Bong Pal’s gotten hit. They roll down some stairs and end up – because this always happens in real life – lips to lips, with him on top of her.
Hyun Ji’s eyes widen. Bong Pal staggers backward, clearly uncomfortable at just kissing her. Hyun Ji just lies there, staring straight ahead. Memory of lying in the middle of a street, a large pool of blood under her head. It’s raining. She sees a sign: Academy for Language Arts. Back in the present, she shakily reaches up and touches her lips. Bong Pal sputters that he didn’t do it on purpose. She shouldn’t take it the wrong way. Awkwardly pointing, he tells her she knows how it happened. They were rolling around. She’s still just laying there.
He gives her a ‘ya!’ and asks why she’s acting so strangely? She probably kissed people many times before. That gets her attention. She stands up and indignantly asks, “What?” He tells her not to try saying that she’s never kissed anyone before. She grits her teeth. What, was that her first kiss? She laughs bitterly. It was. It was her first kiss, you bastard! She leaps forward and gives him a knee to the groin. Painful screaming from Bong Pal.
The screaming wakes a sleeping Chun Sang. In Rang didn’t hear it because he had his headphones in. In Rang has pulled up on his phone a list (with pictures) of all the people who have died at the school since it opened. It’s a long list. In Rang comments on the number of students. Is this site cursed or something? Their video feed crackles as a creepy girl ghost walks down the hall. We get a shot of her really close to the camera and she does not look happy. At least they caught something on camera.
Chun Sang and In Rang haven’t noticed. Chun Sang asks why it’s so quiet there tonight? Is the camera working properly? They both yawn. Lighting strike. They both jump. They try to say that they weren’t scared. Chun Sang decides to get some shut eye. Something – black smoke – tickles his neck. He notices it and then looks up into the face of the girl. He immediately starts screaming hysterically. This makes In Rang start screaming hysterically. The ghost paws at them – over the stall and under it. I’m just laughing at how they made sure to grab their stuff before they ran out of the bathroom.
They scream as they run down the hall. The ghost is chasing them. Chun Sang drops his backpack and grabs it, getting shaky footage of the ghost. She is really creepy, jerking her neck back and forth, like it’s being snapped, as she follows them. They run screaming past Bong Pal and Hyun Ji, who start screaming and running when they see the ghost. Hyun Ji splits off from the rest of them.
Chun Sang and In Rang have called the elevator – instead of running down the stairs. Luckily, it opens and the 3 boys run in. Bong Pal furiously pounds on the button to close the doors. Lots of screaming. The doors close, right as she gets there. The boys breathe a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, an arm reaches through the doors and grabs Bong Pal by the throat, strangling him. Chun Sang pushes the open button and there she is. She is starting to suck the life out of Bong Pal. But he has enough awareness to punch her straight in the face. She falls backward to the ground, but quickly gets back up, breaking all over as she does. It’s really creepy. Then her face changes to a man’s face. What the heck? Bong Pal squints as the ghost turns it attention to Hyun Ji, who is hiding in the hall behind them. Slow motion camera of them looking at each other as the doors close.
The boys run out into the rain, Chun Sang and In Rang still screaming. Chun Sang asks who that ghost was! In Rang recognized him. It was the English teacher. The one who died on the job 18 years ago. Flashback to girl in a stall, looking up. Perverted teacher looking down at her, cackling. She screams and throws the trash can at him. It hits him in his head, he loses his footing on the mop bucket he was standing on, falls backward into the sink and breaks his neck. Well, that explains all the girls who have died over the years. Chun Sang yells that he was just a pervert, not a teacher. Hearing that, Bong Pal hurries back into the school.
In the art room, Pervert Ghost has thrown Hyun Ji to the ground. He’s on his hands and knees and crawls forward, leering over her, licking his lips. He reaches out to stroke her cheek and then starts to choke her. He throws her into something. Dazed she doesn’t move. He sits on her and looms over her. Bong Pal yells, “You pervert!” Pervert Ghost looks behind him. Bong Pal is there, ready to fight, holding Myung Chul’s sword.
Bong Pal hurls the sword at Pervert Ghost, but he moves. It smashes a plaster bust. With a yell, Bong Pal charges forward. He gets thrown into some easels. Ghost kicks him in the gut. Bong Pal rolls across the floor and lies still.
Outside, the boys wonder if they should get some footage. Glass breaks and they see Bong Pal fall through it and get pulled back inside. More screaming.
Inside, Hyun Ji is hiding behind a banner. Bong Pal is on his knees, rubbing his hands in forgiveness. Sir, I might have been wrong about you. Continue what you were doing and let me go. She's right over there. I can’t believe he just did that. He’s smiling widely to persuade Pervert Ghost. When Pervert Ghost turns to look at Hyun Ji, Bong Pal tries to knee him in the jewels, but Ghost clamps his knees shut and then grabs Bong Pal by the throat. He spins Bong Pal around and around. Hyun Ji wonders what to do and then does what Bong Pal tried to do, kick him between the legs.
Pervert Ghost screams in pain and anger. *That* wakes the guard outside, who’s confused. Bong Pal and Hyun Ji struggle with the ghost and then Hyun Ji sees the back of his head glow. In the spot where he struck his head and died, it looks like. I bet that means something. She tries to hit it, but he counters. They start to fight together. Hyun Ji yells at Bong Pal to hit the back of Pervert’s head. Bong Pal grabs the sword and leaps forward. He swings and the Pervert Ghost disappears into black smoke, vanquished.
Bong Pal and Hyun Ji exit the elevator, looking worse for wear. He tells her that she’s not so bad. She agrees that she’s all right. He wasn’t that bad himself. He asks what her name is. Kim Hyun Ji. And him? He hesitantly says that it’s Park Bong Pal. She starts to laugh. His name Park Bong Pal? He glares at her as she says that it’s a relief that his name isn’t reversed: Pal Bong. I'm sure if I knew Korean, it would be funny. She’s laughing so hard, she’s crying.
Bong Pal wonders, since he caught the ghost, who’s he supposed to get the money from. He asks if she knows what happened to ‘Help me’? Her eyes get big and, looking away, she says she has no idea who that is. He looks at her more intently and she grimaces slightly. What was that? She won’t look at him. Is she "Help me" by any chance? Looking at him, she shakes her head and says that she isn’t. He knows it’s her and demands his 10 million won. She argues she’s not. What kind of ghost has money? He loudly asks why she asked for his help if she had no money!
She sputters that it was because she was scared of that ghost. That's what it was. He’s skeptical. When you're a ghost, you were scared of other ghosts, huh? He tells her to forget it and get him his 10 million! She yells at him that she said she didn't have it! Then she points out that he didn’t do it by himself. They caught it together. She shoves him and asks why she should pay him, since they caught it together. He was so weak.
He huffs at that insult and tells her to forget it. Why is he wasting his time with her. He firmly orders not to ever show up again. Slicing noise and he says that she will die by his hands then. Not to lose face, she says that she’s fine with that. That’s what she wants. He yells a ‘huh!’ at her and they storm off in opposite directions.
As he exits the building, he’s greeted by 2 policemen. Tinkling glass from the upstairs window he was thrown into and Bong Pal smiles an ‘oops.’
Hyun Ji is back at the café, pulling things from her hair. Kyung Ja arrives. It’s interesting that unlike all the other ghosts we’ve seen Hyun Ji doesn’t glow or have a vapor-like quality. Kyung Ja clucks at her for fighting again. Kyung Ja’s been off praying. Her prayers don't seem to be heard. Kyung Ja asks who Hyun Ji fought today. Hyun Ji answers that it’s this weird guy. Kyung Ja says that Hyun Ji may be cursed. Such guys keep showing up in her life.
Kyung Ja asks about Hyun Ji’s lips and asks what happened. Hyun Ji says that she ran into something. Kyung Ja looks at her, suspicious. Hyun Ji says that when she did bump into something, she suddenly saw all these memories. Kyung Ja’s excited but when Hyun Ji tries to remember what she saw, she can’t. Kyung Ja tells her to bump into the thing again! It's the first time seeing memories after five years. Kyung Ja wants to know what it was. Hyun Ji says that it mushy and soft... and warm too... Kyung Ja wonders if it was a blood sausage.
At the police station, Bong Pal tells the policeman that he’s a college student. So why was he at that high school, then? And, gosh, there aren't any books in his backpack. Detective holds up the sword. Does her study at Shaolin Temple instead? Bong Pal says that he borrowed it. Someone brings Detective the camera. It’s video of the girls’ bathroom. Why did he do that? Bong Pal awkwardly smiles and says that it’s not his. Of course, it wasn’t.
Detective pulls out Bong Pal’s bank book, that was in Bong Pal’s pocket. Why was he carrying his bank book around? What kind of student has this much money? It's as much as the security deposit for Detective’s house. Bong Pal claims the bank book. Detective demands to know how Bong Pal made such a large amount of money? Bong Pal says that he understands that everything points to him being a weirdo. But Detective doesn’t think that such money came from the camera, does he? He’s not that weird. Detective says that Bong Pal looks like someone who would do that.
Bong Pal gets locked in a cell. Phone call? Detective2 tells Detective that Bong Pal doesn't have any video files on his cell phone. He has no photos. Detective finds that interesting. He asks if Detective2 was able to get in touch with Bong Pal’s guardian. Detective2 says that Bong Pal’s mother passed away a long time ago. His father is still around, but Bong Pal doesn't have any contact information. Detective finds that odd. Bong Pal’s contact list is 1 person. Detective looks – Old Monk – and says that Bong Pal is an interesting one. Bong Pal lies on the couch to sleep. At least it’s got padding.
Hyun Ji is wandering down the street. She sees a couple kissing and thinks about that kiss with Bong Pal, and the memories. She decides to go find him.
Myung Chul arrives at the police station and starts hollering Bong Pal’s name. The detectives bow a greeting at him. He asks about Bong Pal. The motion towards the cell. Bong Pal doesn’t want to have to explain this.
Bong Pal and Myung Chul leave the police station. Bong Pal asks why Myung Chul came. Myung Chul replies that the police called him. He asks why they didn’t call his father. Bong Pal says that Dad’s number must have been deleted somehow. What is the deal between him and his dad? It’s got to be something to do with his mother and maybe seeing ghosts. Uncomfortable silence. Myung Chul pulls out the bank book. Bong Pal reluctantly says that he earned it. Myung Chul asks if Bong Pal’s been doing exorcisms. Bong Pal looks away and doesn’t answer.
Myung Chul yells a ‘Ya!” at him and Bong Pal jumps. Myung Chul asks how many times he’s told Bong Pal not to do such a thing! Bong Pal wants to know why Myung Chul had to yell at him like that. He needed the money. Myung Chul wants to know what for. Bong Pal doesn’t answer. Myung Chul kicks him in the rear and asks again. Bong Pal protests that Myung Chul told him. His eyes could be fixed with 10 million. That's why he did that. What operation are they going to do? Myung Chul can’t believe it. Bong Pal adds that he was being careful.
Myung Chul replies that he wasn’t careful enough. If you deal with ghosts, you might become one too. Bong Pal responds that it’s not like he’s normal right now... Myung Chul doesn’t like him saying that. Bong Pal declares that he’ll leave first. And when Myung Chul comes to visit next time, he’ll make Myung Chul a stew with top-quality sausage.
College campus. Hyun Ji is looking for Bong Pal. She’s enjoying being around all the people near her age. She hears a dog barking. There's a crowd. She stands on a bench so she can see.
A dog is trapped in a drain. A man in white remarks that they should get the dog out. His coat looks like one a doctor would wear, He reaches for the dog and it snaps furiously at him. Policeman admonishes man since someone got bitten earlier. Dog growls. Cute dog! Police suggests gloves. Man replies that it frightens the dog more. He reaches in and it looks like the dog bit him, but he doesn’t pull back his hand. He’s able to grab the dog and pull it out. He hugs the dog and pets it, telling it that it must have been scared. Dog is whining.
One of the girls points out that the Professor’s finger is bleeding. He passes the dog to the policeman. One of the girls passes him a hankie. Hyun Ji smiles at how cool he is. She reads his name on his lab coat: Professor Joo Hye Sung in the Department of Veterinary Medicine. Hyun Ji is impressed because Hye Sung looks really young. She croons that even professors at this school are cool. Hye Sung is going to take the dog and take care of it.
Hyun Ji declares that she likes this school more and more. She sighs and says that she shouldn't be there doing this. She steps off the bench and disappears. It also makes a broom fall over, which Hye Sung notices. Now why was that important? I feel like it’s going to be important later.
Student Service Center. Hyun Ji is looking for something/one. A girl walks through her. That has to be weird. She hops on the girl’s computer and looks up Bong Pal's information.
Unit 402, 946-1 Joomin Apartment, Sopa Road, Jung District, SeoulShe smiles and is there waiting for him when he gets home. What took him so long? She’s been waiting a long time! He asks why she’s there and how did she know his address? Did he forget? She’s a ghost. And I chuckle at her holding her hands up like a ghost ‘does.’ He asks why she’s there. She asks if he thinks she’s there because she missed him. He repeats that he told her not to show up ever again. He sighs and says that he’s not in the mood to fight. She replies that she’s not either.
Bong Pal asks why she’s there then. She says that she just needs to confirm one thing, so if he could just stay still for a minute. She adds that she doesn’t want him to misunderstand and take it the wrong way. She doesn’t want to do this, okay? Bong Pal has no clue what she’s talking about. She closes her eyes and braces herself. Then she floats toward him. As she zeroes in on his lips, his eyes get big… and the episode ends. Of course it does.
Thoughts
I’m so glad I stumbled across this one! It is the perfect thing to get me through the non-Sweet Stranger days! I can’t remember another k-drama where I have laughed quite so much. I don’t like horror, but this really didn’t feel scary to me. I still crack up thinking about Bong Pal punching that first ghost in the face.Both Bong Pal and Hyun Ji are really likeable. And there’s plenty of unanswered questions:
- How did she die? Did she get hit by a car? Why was she in the street?
- Why can’t she remember how she died? Was it the trauma not only of her death but who she was killed by?
- Why did touching lips with Bong Pal bring back a memory?
- Why is Bong Pal such a loner? Why is his only friend Myung Chul? He intentionally stays away from people. Why?
- What happened with his father? Why is their relationship so strained? When the Detective was surprised at Bong Pal not having his father’s number, it struck me that it has to be even more odd in Korean culture, considering how filial it is.
- What happened that one day that Myung Chul messed up?
- How did Bong Pal’s mother die? Is his strained relationship with his father the result of that?
- Did Chun Sang and In Rang – I want to call them Tweedle Dum and Dee – get the ghost on tape? Why are they a ghost club when they are terrified of ghosts? How is it that they can live in their club room?
- How is 10 million won going to get Bong Pal’s eyes fixed?
- Why is Myung Chul so adamant about Bong Pal staying away from ghosts?
- Why is Myung Chul losing his abilities? Is it because he does eat sausage and other meat? Buddhists are not supposed to eat any animal flesh, because those things mean killing a sentient being which has the potential of Buddha-hood.
- Why did we come across Hye Sung rescuing a dog? He seems to be really popular with the female students. What was the significance of him noticing the broom?
- Why hasn’t Kyung Ja moved on? She was awfully evasive about answering Hyun Ji’s questions.
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