The Villain's Fate
Woojin was among the first to arrive at Kim Soolim's office, joined soon after by Lee Kang-sik, Woo Seung-hyun PD, the assistant director, the martial arts director, and other key cast and crew members.
With just one week left until crank-up, this was the most precarious moment—the end drawing near, when complacency could easily set in. To keep the tension high until the very last take, Woo PD had proposed this comprehensive production meeting.
Woojin, Lee Kang-sik, and Woo PD had visited the place several times before, but the others couldn't hide their awe. "Whoa, check this out. The scale is insane…." "As expected from Writer Kim."
One entire wall of the living room was plastered with the intricate character relationship charts and casting board for the 20-episode drama. It was a sight you could only see in Justice writer Kim Soolim's office—a true spectacle. First, they marveled at the unexpectedly massive workspace, then gasped again at the wall-to-wall production status board. It was only natural.
"Hello." "Oh, Woojin! Get some good rest?" "Of course, Director. You?" "Aigoo, did everyone enjoy their lunch~?" "Ah, Senior Kang-sik! You're here?"
It had only been two days since they'd last seen each other, but the faces were as welcoming as ever. They exchanged busy greetings before naturally settling around the living room table. "Alright, let's sit."
The office was so spacious that even with everyone gathered, it didn't feel crowded like a bustling set. Instead, it had a cozy, intimate vibe.
A moment later, Kim Soolim approached with a tray full of teacups. "Is everyone here?!" "If anyone's missing, raise your hand!"
"Hahaha!" Seo Min-kyeong's excited shout right behind her sparked warm laughter all around.
The aroma of fragrant tea and light banter eased the atmosphere. Soon, Kim Soolim cleared her throat and stood before a prepared whiteboard. "Shall we cut to the chase?"
At her words, all eyes sharpened, focusing on her like actors poised for Woo PD's "Ready, action!" just before the camera rolled.
"Hold on." "……?" "You all look ready to charge into battle right now. Relax a bit!"
Though their roles and positions differed, they were all pros united by the shared goal of making the drama a success. Kim Soolim quickly calmed the rising excitement and anticipation.
"Today, I'll only incorporate what's essential from our discussions. After the weekend, no more revisions. It's too exhausting—I can't do it anymore. Or rather, I won't!"
Her playful tone carried a strong undercurrent of sincerity.
She continued. "You've all reviewed it, so let's talk. What did you think of the content?"
The conversation opened with the script—the core and foundation of the work. With the previously secret ending now revealed, her question about the content was essentially asking if they liked the finale.
Coming straight from the writer, it made offering opinions on the ending far easier from the start. For Woojin, who had planned to broach changing the ending per Lee Jin-tae's request as gently as possible, it was a relief. He held back, letting others speak first.
Then, "Hmm, the twist was unexpected, so it was pretty shocking."
Thankfully, Senior Lee Kang-sik broke the silence. "I thought it'd end with the National Assembly terrorist attack. The Blue House? Never crossed my mind. Am I the only one?"
"No, I thought the same. I agree."
Woo PD chimed in, and most others nodded along—including Woojin himself.
"Looking at Lee Jin-tae's buildup, it makes sense… but isn't it a bit over the top? Honestly, I'm on the fence."
Lee Kang-sik wrapped up. Kim Soolim, having listened intently, responded. "Thank you for that insight. I agree with you, Senior Kang-sik. It was the part that worried me most while writing. The National Assembly wasn't enough—they go for the Blue House. It's the ultimate final boss, right?"
With a relaxed expression, she began explaining the backstory and setup for the story's climactic ending. It delved into the writer's concerns, rarely touched on in prior discussions.
"I worried it might veer too unrealistic—revenge has its limits, after all. I agonized over it hundreds of times. But it's essential."
Her voice brimmed with conviction in her creation.
"In 9/11, only the World Trade Center and Pentagon were hit in the end, but among the hijacked planes, some surely targeted the White House or Capitol. Governments have no sacred ground when it comes to terrorism. The Blue House is no exception."
The directors and actors' job was to transform the writer's "primary work"—the completed script—into a "secondary work" on screen. That meant any story-related concerns had already been wrestled with countless times during writing.
So when the writer explained in detail why the script had to unfold this way, listeners couldn't help but be convinced—especially with the rock-solid confidence Kim Soolim exuded.
"Personally, I hate the word 'unrealistic.' Nothing restrains a writer's imagination more. If everything unrealistic is off-limits, there's nothing left to write. Why? Because reality is where the 'unrealistic' happens. Like 9/11. Who in the 21st century imagines hijacking civilian passenger planes and slamming them into the U.S. mainland? And yet? It happened."
Her voice and expression grew impassioned as she poured her heart into the explanation. Random as it seemed, Woojin loved this scene, buzzing with high-level focus.
Ah, but that bit about 'unrealistic events becoming reality' hit a little too close… okay, a lot. No secret there. For someone who'd leaped ten years back with a single diary, external forces storming the Blue House? They'd already trashed the National Assembly(?). Whatever. Justice's script felt grounded in reality from start to finish.
"The scene where Lee Jin-tae and his Reclaim subordinates storm the Blue House openly, clashing with the Presidential Security Service, police, NIS, and guards inside, culminating in his one-on-one with President Son Min-seok. In the Justice world, it's entirely plausible—even if based on reality."
Kim Soolim smiled brightly. Lee Kang-sik nodded back, a grin spreading as he playfully raised his arm in mock surrender before her logical, convincing explanation.
"Director, so from when Reclaim breaches the Blue House main gate, it's the showdown scene. You'll run A-cam and B-cam as basics, right?"
"I'm thinking at least C-cam too. As Reclaim pushes in, the front line retreats bit by bit toward the central grounds, with nonstop action."
"Wow…."
"To catch high-angle full shots, we might have to…."
"Aigoo, my martial arts team and I are doomed…."
The martial arts director shook his head with a quiet sigh.
"All-nighter confirmed—congrats!" "Hong, let's live to see each other." "Puhaha!"
Hands patted his shoulders and back in teasing consolation. The martial arts director chuckled.
The discussion continued on various topics. Starting with the script, it shifted to directing elements via the martial arts director's question, naturally covering coordination with the shooting team, SFX team, and props team.
Woojin, who had been observing quietly from the sidelines, whispered to Lee Kang-sik beside him. "Dad, about the script…."
"Yeah, what?"
"Writer Kim switched topics earlier, so I haven't said my piece yet."
Lee Kang-sik turned toward him, eyes sparkling again. Even "Dad" had grown a tad bored with the non-acting talk.
"The revenge culminating at the Blue House and President fits the story perfectly. But what bugs me is what comes after."
"After… you mean Lee Jin-tae?"
Sharp as ever.
Woojin spoke softly. "Yes. Does he have to die?"
In the drama's 1983 timeline, the day thirty-one North infiltration agents, led by Lee Jin-tae, gathered off Incheon to avenge the North's Rangoon bombing. Those seeing them off to the last were the very ones slaughtered earlier by Reclaim: Choi Il-man, then ANSP Anti-South Operations Director; Lee Tae-hwa, ANSP Special Operations Chief; Go Jin-gyu, Defense Minister. And… Son Min-seok, ANSP Director at the time.
At the send-off for the Justice project infiltrating the North's heart, "Hey, Jin-tae." "Yes, Director." "Take care out there. Revenge matters, but your agents' safety comes first. Remember that." "Sir! Understood. Any last words?"
Whispered privately into Lee Jin-tae's ear: "Tit for tat."
Lee Jin-tae never forgot. Justice's other name: Tit for Tat. He'd sharpened his blade for thirty years to return those words—storming the Blue House gates felt perfectly in character.
With the backstory breadcrumbs resolved at once, the one-on-one became inevitable yet dramatically permissible. Still, Woojin wondered: Did Lee Jin-tae really need to die? Especially shot by a hidden gun from Son Min-seok's waist during their talk….
It felt too pathetic an end for the villain carrying the drama's core "blood revenge."
"It bugs me too. If he's dying like that, maybe spare him? Or if killing him off, make it more heroic."
No sooner had he finished than, "Excuse me, Writer Kim?" Lee Kang-sik shot his hand up.
Those wrapping up directing talks turned at his voice. The topic shifted once more.