Please let me introduce Beak Hee-soo, Korea's most prolific woman writer.
Hello.
Welcome.
This is your fourth best-selling book in a row.
Personally, I envy the fact that you write a new story every time.
Could you please give us a hint? On how you write your books?
I always jot down notes.
I write the people and places first and then think about them.
That's how I build them.
If I have an idea to write a story, I would attach the right characters.
Then they become like real people, With behaviors and thoughts.
I just write the story.
You must be very busy, With no time to rest.
Even my daughter and husband are in my notes.
They're all materials.
Some people I met today. Could also be included.
This new book has been a bestseller for three weeks in a row.
Apart from your previous works, How did you write?
Cut!
What's going on?
What's the matter?
How could you do this?
You really don't trust me?
I've told you many times already. Please trust me.
Don't bring that up again.
You never even tried to listen.
I've never read that book. I swear!
How long will you keep this up?
You could've made a mistake.
Mistake?
I never make mistakes.
Want me to tell you again?
It was submitted for you to judge.
You read that book!
So you're saying that I plagiarized?
Quiet! Shut up!
Let's stop.
I'm asking you out of all people.
- Please, stop this. - Don't you understand me?
You get too obsessed with things.
Just say that you didn't know, or that it was unintentional!
Written and directed by LEE Jeong-ho
Baek Hee-soo has written many Bestsellers for the last 20 years.
But it's been confirmed that she has plagiarized her latest work.
It was one of the books she read during a writing competition.
Two years later
It'll be okay once we get there.
Did you see the picture?
This is very important to Mom.
I need a quiet place with no people.
You understand, right?
Are you going to divorce Dad?
Is it because of me?
No.
Grown-ups, you see...
Sometimes they don't want to live together.
Then is it because of Mom?
What are you doing?
Nothing.
Your daughter is very pretty.
By any chance, are you the writer from Seoul?
But I thought you were coming here tomorrow.
Oh no!
Don't worry about this.
Dad...
You bastard, the memorial are already over.
The writer is here!
Hurry!
The writer! She's here!
How are you, Ma'am?
What a surprise!
When did you come?
It's the writer from Seoul!
She's beautiful!
Please come have some food.
Stop talking and go set up a seat.
Hurry and get the food ready.
We ran out of meat.
What do you mean we ran out?
I told you to prepare it in advance, you idiot!
Shut up and escort her.
We prepared some food for a memorial service.
Take a look at this!
I told him to hang that up yesterday.
Welcome, Writer Park Hee-soo!
The wind is blowing too much.
We planned to have that ready before you came.
What's the use now?
I fixed up the house as much as I could.
It looks old, doesn't it?
This house is over sixty years old.
After Korea's independence,
an American missionary named Bates
raised orphans here during the war.
There's no villa like this in Korea.
So many writers from Seoul came here.
The house repairs are almost done.
The roof needs a little work.
When it rains, it may leak.
That plastic is only temporary.
Our youth group will come fix it in a few days.
Please don't let anyone interrupt me while I'm here.
But we don't know when it'll rain. No one can defy heaven's will.
Yeah, can't deny the will of heaven.
You damn woman!
I told you not to come here!
Why'd she come here again?
Don't pay any attention to her.
When no one's here, she comes here and sleeps.
This is a very nice town to live in.
This town got an award for being crimeless, you see.
Have you seen my daughter?
Yeun-hee.
Yeun-hee!
How could you disappear like that?
It's dangerous.
Yeun-hee.
It's a very old place.
It'll be a bit uncomfortable.
No, but I'd like to stay.
Okay.
How long are you going to hide?
It's been two years!
I gave you enough time.
Don't worry about those bastards who claim that it's plagiarism.
Who said it's plagiarism?
Yeah, no one pays attention to people like them.
You know better so what's wrong with you?
Everyone is on your side. They're waiting for your next book.
That's not it.
The problem is me.
I can't think of anything.
You mean going blank in front of the monitor?
That's because you're always cooped up in your house.
Writer's block? That's made to overcome.
Hard to write at home, isn't it?
At the committee meeting last week, I learned of a great place.
Writers said that it's the best place to write.
Oh yeah, the next literary award is still up for grabs.
I've already talked with the committee.
I assure you that all that talk about plagiarism will disappear this time.
Where's that picture? Here it is.
Here.
Despite what people say,
I want you to know that I still believe in you.
There isn't an editor out there who cares for you like me.
Missionary John Bates Orphanage
Do you live here?
What's wrong with your head? It doesn't hurt?
What song is that?
Why does he always get on my case?
Why are you taking my picture?
Oh, it's the writer lady from Seoul.
Is that villa okay?
Be careful. A ghost lives there.
Yeun-hee.
Hurry and go inside.
My mom is very busy.
Really? She'll like the story?
A dragon? What's a dragon?
Is it still alive?
But does it hurt if you die?
Don't laugh.
A lost baby bird
Cries because it misses its mom
What are you doing here?
I'm playing with my friend.
Your friend?
Where's your friend?
She's gone.
Where did she go?
Another hypothesis is that it's an unconscious hypnosis phenomenon.
A book read or a situation seen before
is recorded in the subconscious.
We delude that it's our own thought.
Unconscious plagiarism is quite common.
More cases exist where the person is unaware of the plagiarism.
Then that must be true for writer Baek Hee-soo.
- Stop it. - Why?
That prick.
Change the topic of your lecture.
What brings you here?
Do I always need a reason to be here?
Why'd you do such a useless thing?
You heard?
Hee-soo needs to make her comeback. We can't let her rot like that.
Don't pull her back in for money.
Hey, I told you that's not why!
A writer who plagiarized ends up doing it again.
Who says so?
Mozart plagiarized and so did Einstein.
Hendel is supposedly the king of plagiarism.
Who hasn't plagiarized once in their lives?
Writing is medicine for Hee-soo.
Regretting ruins people.
Two years have passed. It's time to forgive her.
I'm not interested.
Frankly, you're also worried!
For someone who wants to divorce, why do you run to her when she calls?
With the passing wind
My mother's voice is being carried
Tweep, tweep
The baby bird stops to rest
As the tree friends open their arms
Stop it.
Where did you learn that?
My friend sang it.
A lost baby bird
- Cries because it misses its mom - Don't sing it when we eat.
You want to listen to my friend's story?
Yeun-hee, I have to work now.
I can't work if you keep saying strange things.
I'm serious!
My friend came here, too.
You want me to punish you?
Why?
Stop eating and go to your room.
You're strange!
It's me. When will you come here?
What are you talking about?
Lately, Yeun-hee is...
I have to go to class now.
Okay.
But what's the matter?
Nothing!
Forget about it.
1988.10.26 Choi Soo-jin (female), age 26 Disappeared on Sept. 26, 1988
751 Please contact Montessori Nursery
Yeun-hee!
Are you alright?
I told you not to talk to strangers.
I didn't say a word. I didn't even answer her questions.
I saw everything. Don't lie to me.
I didn't say anything!
I hate you!
That woman lives in the nursery behind the station.
She's hard to talk to.
Tell her I don't want to be interrupted.
She won't hurt you so don't worry.
The locals are so excited to have a visitor they’re having a feast.
Mr. Yang is going to catch a hog and cook it.
But I doubt he'll catch one.
We used to have a lot of visitors long time ago.
But not many these days since we don't advertise much.
It's hot.
People want to change this place into a fishing area.
But my dad is against it.
Ouch, it's hot.
My dad turned this town. Into a tourist attraction.
He was the sheriff here.
People still call him 'sheriff'.
This used to be the police station.
1988, Repair Work Commemoration
Stop spreading around dumb rumors.
And what's with your hair?
Oh, hello Mrs. Baek.
Can I help you with anything?
It gets boring over there. Come visit the town sometime.
Drinking will help you come up with some ideas.
No one can get creative by drinking with you.
Mrs. Baek, ignore him.
Ask Chan-shik if you need anything.
We're all like neighbors and family here.
You know that I love you very much, right?
Do you want to tell me?
Okay, tell me the story.
I want to hear it.
What did your friend say?
Do you really want to hear it?
You're serious, right?
Now let's hear what Yeun-hee has to say.
My friend lives upstairs.
She planned to meet someone here, but that person was a bad man.
That man loved her very much.
Yeun-hee.
Mom.
Mom, what are you doing?
Yeun-hee, where did you hear that story you told me yesterday?
My friend told me.
Don't lie to me.
Who told you?
I told you that your friend doesn't exist.
She doesn't exist, understand?
That's okay. You don't have to believe me.
I like it when you smile.
You always smile a lot when you win first place.
No, that's not true.
All I need is you, Yeun-hee.
I love nothing more than my Yeun-hee.
So, don't play with your friend.
Promise me.
My friend lives upstairs.
But that person is a bad man.
Why is it so hard to see you lately?
I've been busy.
Yesterday was the faculty meeting.
It reached the final evaluation, but many were against it.
It won't be easy.
What's the reason this time?
It's obvious.
No one likes controversies here.
I didn't know your wife's problem would have such an effect.
She has nothing to do with me anymore.
Don't get so excited, man.
You should've divorced her already.
Don't you know what the university wants?
Yeun-hee,
do you still meet your friend?
I don't play with her any more.
I'd like to hear more about your friend.
She's weird. She keeps saying the same stuff.
Same stuff?
What could it be?
Yeun-hee, what does she keep saying?
What does she say?
Yeun-hee, I'm going through a hard time.
Please tell me more about her.
I won't play with her any more. It's no fun.
Yeun-hee.
What did your friend say?
Yeun-hee, wait a minute!
Yeun-hee, please wait.
Wait...
Yeun-hee, please wait.
Wait...
What are you doing?
Are you okay?
Why are you here?
It's time to finish the repairs.
It'll be over soon.
But are you really okay?
I shouldn't have let the sheriff turn this place into a tourist spot.
He invested everyone's savings into this place.
How many tourists stayed at this house in the past 20 years?
I sold all my land.
I really don't know why the sheriff is against the fishing business.
Why'd you stop talking?
Did you talk behind my back?
We were just talking between us.
What about?
I'm not supposed to hear it?
I told you it wasn't important.
Please tell me.
You were saying some fun stuff, huh?
You meathead!
We were talking about you! Satisfied?
Going to stay in this tiny town?
Your friends seem to make good money.
Why'd you bring that up again?
Can people only make money in the city?
Head of the Youth Group is the best.
I acknowledge it.
Whatever.
Did you forget the staple again?
Ah, the staple!
That dumb boy.
Where is the staple?
Yeun-hee, do you want to go home?
Can we go?
Okay, after I write this. It's almost finished.
So tell me more about your friend, okay?
I'm not playing with her anymore.
She's putting you through a hard time.
No, I'm okay.
I'm totally fine.
So tell me more about her, okay?
No! No!
Mommy will get mad.
Tell me what happened that day!
Let go of me!
Stop being such a brat!
I hate you!
Artists are so unusual.
Writing isn't an art!
That's fantastic!
Live in luxury now that your son is a doctor.
If my son wins a gold medal at the Olympics,
he won't even look at you all.
You all are full of crap.
Your son doesn't even show up at your ancestral rite.
Dad! Dad!
Sheriff, you're the luckiest of us all.
Having your son by your side is the best, right?
Why are you so clumsy?
You see...
Really?
She's writing about our town. I saw pictures of it on the wall.
Okay, I understand.
- Go sit down and eat. - Chan-shik, come have a drink.
Right then. A sound was heard...
I don't play with you anymore.
Let go! It hurts.
Do you keep in touch with your friends?
Your four-friend gang was famous at one time.
We don't keep in touch anymore.
Damn it, let me talk, too.
What's wrong with him?
Let me go!
I have the right to talk!
You all want me to speak anyway!
Sheriff, why are you against the fishing business?
Hide some gold there or something?
Cut it out!
Change it into a fishing spot, but what value will it have?
If it doesn't work out, we change it again.
Do you know who's staying in that house?
A best-selling writer.
Do you know what that means?
Think all you want.
I'm way ahead of you all.
Just wait and see. This writer will feed our town.
Just wait!
Yeun-hee!
I can't work because of the noise!
I'll get mad!
You think I can't open this?
You...
Yeun-hee.
Who is it?
Yeun-hee.
Yeun-hee!
Yeun-hee! Yeun-hee!
Yeun-hee!
Open the door, Yeun-hee!
Yeun-hee!
What happened to you?
Are you okay?
My friend told me the story.
Mom, I'm scared.
Let's go.
Let's go, Yeun-hee.
Just a little longer.
It's okay to tell me.
Tell me.
Mommy will be by your side.
Go ahead and tell me.
She turns with a bright smile...
The four shadows wearing a mask in the dark...
If my leg breaks, can I make it to Seoul?
Great!
I told you that you'd do it!
This will be a big hit!
Our Baek Hee-soo is still alive!
Especially, this part here.
"Anyone can be the criminal, and anyone can't."
This is the tagline!
"A horrible secret hidden in a peaceful town.
How cruel can a person get?"
Is it a true story?
Let's say that it is.
Then it'll be more controversial.
Let's sign the contract!
Fax it to me.
Fax? Sure!
The same number as before?
I'll send it right away!
I'll make it right this time!
Baek Hee-soo makes a successful comeback after two hears in hiatus.
She holds on to the top spot again this week.
Through a murder in a town,
she's been praised for examining human morals and group centralism.
Her book has been a bestseller for the fourth week.
The streak doesn't end.
The incident takes place at the John Bates Villa.
Missionary John Bates saved many during the Korean war and...
Why do you like that old boat so much?
You bought it for me.
I did?
Yes, when I was three.
Yeun-hee, do you want anything?
Mom.
Yes?
What about my friend?
Your friend?
Yes?
How could you do this again? Are you trying to ruin me?
What are you talking about?
What am I talking about? You don't know?
MBN! Turn on the TV! Channel 28! MBN!
Hello?
Writer Baek Hee-soo allegedly plagiarized a book before in 2005.
Do we still have a writer with a conscious left in Korea?
Jung Eun-gab reports.
Best-selling book, 'Abyss', is being accused of plagiarism.
It supposedly copied 'Tragedy's End', which was published in 1992.
The book wasn't a bestseller.
But those who have read it claim that it's been plagiarized.
It's exactly the same.
A villa by the lake and the song are the same.
The main character's name and even the ending are the same.
Wait a little more!
How did this happen?
I need to figure things out before I have a press conference!
Are you trying to kill me?
Why are you attacking me? Hello?
You son of a bitch!
Let me ask you myself.
You really haven't read that book?
It could've been stuck in your shelf!
I didn't!
Have you seen the news? Did you read the article?
Everything's over!
Something's wrong.
There's been a misunderstanding!
I didn't plagiarize it! My daughter Yeun-hee knows!
Stop it with the Yeun-hee thing!
Stop it. She's innocent.
Anyway, let's not see each other again.
Yeun-hee!
What happened?
Yeun-hee, where are you?
Are you trying to kill me?
You saw that book and told me, didn't you?
Where are you Yeun-hee?
Answer me!
Yeun-hee!
Open the door!
Give Yeun-hee back to me!
How could you take her away without telling me?
How could you!
Open the door! I won't let this slide!
Stop it!
Stop what?
Who told you to take my daughter?
Yeun-hee, where are you?
I heard about the book.
Stop blaming it on Yeun-hee.
I never plagiarized anything.
Yeun-hee knows it! Bring Yeun-hee here!
Please stop it!
It's hard to face the truth when it's hard to deal with.
Because we can't endure the pain.
So we deny and distort the truth.
We opt to choose our belief rather than the painful reality.
Then many problems could be solved.
Whose idea was it to go there?
Although he recommended it, I also needed a change.
In here it looks like your editor had recommended it.
Is that important?
Do you sleep well?
Why can't you?
Let's get straight to the point.
Fine.
Do you still believe that Yeun-hee told you?
Why do you repeat the same question?
Where is Yeun-hee now?
Why should I answer that question?
Answer me! Where is Yeun-hee?
I don't want to.
Answer me!
Yeun-hee is...
I never read that book.
I swear. Are you listening?
Hello?
Do you remember Yeun-hee's accident?
Mistake?
I never make a mistake!
How could you say that to me?
I stole that story?
Do you think so, too?
You don't know?
You don't get what I'm saying?
The accident occurred in the bathtub. Remember?
Be quiet!
Your daughter is very pretty.
What are you doing?
Yeun-hee, I'm having a hard time.
Tell me more about your friend.
Don't go out without telling me. It's dangerous.
Yeun-hee.
Yeun-hee...
Does she believe that Yeun-hee is alive?
She's making excuses.
Such as, "I didn't plagiarize." "I heard it from my daughter."
She must've said it often in her condition.
She never mentioned Yeun-hee during that time?
'Abyss’ was plagiarized
Writer Baek Hee-soo plagiarized her new book, 'Abyss'
Can we still allow plagiarism in Korea?
Out Kim Young-joon, get out!
Get your damn boss on the phone!
Do I have time to talk to you, you bastard!
Her dead daughter told her the story? Baek Hee-soo, a patient?
Who is Choi Soo-jin?
You keep asking me the same question.
Choi Soo-jin disappeared in 1988.
The accident occurred at that villa.
Why do you think that?
I know it's hard for you to believe me.
So someone killed Choi Soo-jin while the villa was being repaired.
And someone buried her there.
It's the same story in your novel.
I swear that something happened in there.
And I heard it through Yeun-hee.
Why can't you trust me?
I never read that book!
What do you think?
She's been saying the same thing the last few days.
So do you think the story in that book is real?
If it's real, then the plagiarism is ungrounded.
But the problem is the plagiarism.
The fear of not being able to write anymore has blinded her.
I met your editor.
They can't suffer anymore damages because of this case.
Do you trust me?
Because they promoted this, they've suffered some heavy blows.
They put the company up for sale.
All that's left is for you to admit it.
Yeun-hee was there.
Do you even know Yeun-hee's birthday?
What color or food that she likes?
Stop this.
When did you ever pay attention to Yeun-hee?
It's true.
Don't involve Yeun-hee into this nonsense.
Please.
But what about my friend?
Tragedy's End
This book is based on my wife's encounter with a girl.
- July, 1999. From the Bates Villa.
Who is it?
Does Lee Gab-jae live here?
Lee Gab-jae?
He died pitifully.
It's been over ten years.
A run-down hospital had called me.
There was no funeral service.
He left his wife and went around writing.
His wife suffered terribly.
He's a rotten man.
Know what's funny?
Even when his wife called, saying that she was sick,
Choi Soo-jin disappears Her murder is concealed Even when his wife called, saying that she was sick,
he didn't answer and didn't come when she passed away.
After months have passed, he brings that book.
He said that he was with his dead wife.
It's insane.
Here you go.
We can never forgive him.
Who could we when he used his dead wife to sell his book?
She won't listen to me.
Where are you going?
The writer wrote 'Tragedy's End' by listening to his dead wife.
So you're going there? What are you going to do?
Something's in that house.
It made me write the same story. I didn't plagiarize it.
Don't you realize that Yeun-hee is asking for help?
Stop it!
I'm sick and tired of you doing this.
How long do people have to suffer because of you?
After Yeun-hee's death, I never said anything to you.
- Why can't you admit it? - Yeah!
I can't admit it.
I don't want to!
Our daughter, Yeun-hee,
was there.
I never read that book. It's okay if you don't believe me.
I'm going to find some proof.
Proof?
What proof?
Fine, let's say that you found it.
What will you do next?
I don't know.
What don't you know?
Only one thing is important to you.
You're doing this so that you won't hear that you've plagiarized!
If you do this, I will never see you again.
When I first met you,
you told me this,
"If there was one last person who'd trust me, it would be you."
Remember?
You don't have to worry about me.
I don't think you would anyway.
Since our lives are apart now.