Benex Investment and Sidus FNH presents
A Sidus FNH Production
Executive Producers SUH Beum-seuk, PARK Joong-soo
Produced by TCHA Sung-jai, KIM Mi-hee
RYOO Seung-bum
LEE Jong-hyuk
KIM Sa-rang
KIM Rwae-ha
OH Jung-sae
HWANG Bo-ra
GOH Ah-sung
Cinematography by LEE Tae-yoon lighting by HONG Seung-chul
Production Designed by CHO Geun-hyun art direction by KIM Min-jung
Sound by IM Dong-seok, Sound Supervised by LEE Seung-chul, LEE Sung-jin
It's here! It's here!
Wow, you are right on time!
Good work. Have a drink.
Now, shall we start?
Screenplay by KIM Hyun-jung
Producer KIM Sang-min
Directed by HA Ki-ho
This is the Seoul Broadcasting Station, JODK.
And that was a rooster to wake up our sleepy listeners.
The world's first daybreak broadcast to celebrate the birth
of radio broadcasting in Korea.
We'll see you next time.
JODK.
This is the Seoul Broadcasting Station.
RADIO DAYZ
1930s, Seoul
Extra! Extra!
Dual language broadcasting!
Special rate offer for the opening of JODK!
Extra!
Myung-wol.
How many times have I told you that no one can see your face?
That's because she's not an amateur.
She's professional all over, huh?
Come, come now
Come pick some mulberry leaves
The hill here, the hill there
It must kill her to not be able to show all of that.
Spring has come, spring has come
On the fluttering mulberry leaves
Spring has come
Spring is here
Are you sure it's today?
Got a sure tip. Trust me.
What time is it now?
Two in the morning.
It'll be here soon.
It relieves tension.
Yes, and the heart has to be cooled.
Hell, this damn truck puffs out smoke all the time!
Open it up.
Damn piece ofjunk's on fire.
Let's get some water.
It's hot.
It's getting angry now, isn't it.
Damn, it's getting hotter all the time.
Go!
I told you we should've brought a handcart.
Quiet. Let's go.
Anything useful?
Not yet.
Look hard.
There must be some important documents from Japan.
I was wondering...
What do we do with letters exchanged between Koreans?
No harm should come to our own people.
Don't burn them.
Comrade.
What about letters Koreans sent to Japanese?
Don't burn them.
Then how about those sent by Japanese to Koreans?
What about Chinese?
Damn, why the hell is it so complicated?
What are you waiting for? Make another basket.
We'll deliver the letters sent by Koreans to Koreans.
Yes, sir.
What kind of a letter is this?
Looks like English.
Cali...
California?
You are listening to JODK.
Here is the 12 o'clock news.
And again, we don't have anything special for you today.
Oh, why don't I tell you about today's weather?
Today will be cloudy and then sunny.
Cloud and sun, coming and going.
Just like the heart of a woman, if you know what I mean.
The sun will rise from the east and set in the west.
Have a great day.
You stink of liquor.
Wake Man-chul up.
There's breaking news.
News.
Sit tight. I'll take care of it.
Come on!
I said I'll take care of it.
Breaking news has just come in.
At around two this morning,
The Seoul postal truck was robbed by guerrillas
as it climbed over a hil in Mangwoori.
The attackers were four men. They raided the truck when it
stopped to cool the engine.
They stole all of the mail in the vehicle.
They also painted Korean emblems on the driver and mailman's foreheads.
Will stealing a few letters start a revolution?
Instead of starting a revolution, it will bring a lot of heartaches.
Most of it is probably love letters anyway.
I can just see couples breaking up everywhere.
Don't be so cynical. It's our only news in a long time.
It's in chaos, this world.
I'm just gonna let it be.
Hopeless bastards! And they call themselves artists!
It's trash like them that rot our lands.
Don't mind them.
They just need an outlet.
Anyway, you know that letter from L. A?
It doesn't seem like anything special.
A guy named James sent it. Itjust says he loves music.
And one day at 4am,
he was listening to the radio and heard the JODK call sign.
Someone in America heard the broadcast from Seoul?
Is that possible?
Look at the postmark. It's from the US.
It's not a fake letter.
You launched our broadcast with a damn rooster!
Do you know what the essence of radio is?
Telling time.
Telling time accurately.
You don't even know the basics.
It's been barely a week. Things will gradually get better.
'Gradually'? Is that all you have to say?
You think this is a joke?
Don't you have a program that can captivate the listeners?
What do you do everyday, Lloyd?
You're being a bit too harsh there.
But remember, I made the rooster crow.
Cock-a-doodle-doo.
That's your proud achievement? You think that's so big?
Well, it's kind of like the Columbus' egg.
Seems simple once it's done, but before that it's quite tricky.
Don't you talk back to me like that!
Boss, why don't we broadcast a recital?
A recital?
You see, in the countryside,
people think radio broadcasts are evil spirits' plays.
So we should make it so fun that people lose track of time.
Let us first do away with such resistance to radio.
And song and dance is the best way to achieve that.
Sir, do you know Miss Marie?
Korea's top jazz singer?
What is all this?
This is Korea's first live broadcast of a concert.
And so I thought it had to star you, Miss Marie, Korea's top singing star.
What do you think?
Well, I guess you have a point.
Who are all these people?
I won't accept having Miss Marie sing without an audience.
I close my eyes
And listen to your voice
Close my eyes
To feel the memory
The long shadow of sunset
And the last train
Carry this heart of mine
Love travels miles
We believed we would last forever
But now
You are away wandering the wasteland
Open my eyes softly
To see you once again
I look on at your back, so sad it makes me cry
Stop the car.
It's time for the Korean broadcasting.
Marie's live concert is very popular.
More people will buy radios.
And the revenue from subscriptions will increase substantially.
What a sweet voice...
To the radio station.
This radio is the problem.
What?
People are no longer interested in regaining independence.
No one listens to our cries.
They are all listening to the radio.
What's more, this evil radio can reach as far as America.
So?
We take over the radio station.
What?
- Make a radio drama? - Something that the elite
as well as the lowly peasants, men, women, young and old, can all enjoy.
- I'm not at all capable. - Then who else?
Make it like you made the recital.
Excessive modesty borders on arrogance.
But sir, I don't think...
You know what the drama has to deliver, right?
It should exalt the superiority of the Japanese Empire and Emperor.
It should arouse loyalty, but not be too obvious.
And still be very entertaining and exciting!
Do you follow me?
Boss, why don't you just get Shakespeare to do it?
How long have we been together?
About 10 years.
In those 10 years,
none of our attempts were successful.
It's shameful.
But we will be successful one day, Comrade K.
Yes.
We must.
Now listen.
We will soon carry out a major operation.
Get the lunch box ready when I tell you to.
Got it?
- Yes. - Yes.
At last, I've met someone who speaks the same language.
Please.
I don't think I deserve such a compliment.
Could you possibly turn that novel into a drama for broadcasting?
There's no need.
It's originally meant to be for broadcast.
I already feel something hot shooting up my prostate gland.
Ah, a series is the jewel of broadcasting.
What am I saying?
I'm saying if you hear one episode you have to hear the next.
That's the serial addiction, scarier than getting hooked on opium.
A series?
Yes, a series.
You air it every other day or two.
We can have five or six episodes, 20 minutes each.
The average radio drama
airs for a full one hour or even two hours straight.
Listeners get bored after awhile, and they fall asleep.
And if you study this carefully you'll see that this
is all a description of action, not the psychology of the characters.
But doesn't that mean you lack the necessary writing skills?
No, it doesn't.
It means that I'm more talented in writing for radio
than some dumb novel.
In sum, I was born to be a script writer!
You see.
That bum, Noh Bong-al.
A bum? He's a writer.
All right, a writer.
Well, he used to write comic plays.
Which played in some theaters, none of them successful.
And, his wife caught him cheating with an actress.
He's now history, long gone.
In other words, he's a... you know what I mean.
'The Flame of Love'.
In English, can it be called 'orgasm'?
Myung-wol.
Why do you keep bowing?
They can only hear you.
How many times have I told you?
Now, let's try reading the script for practice, okay?
In Seoul, Jang-hoon falls in love with Arisu at first sight.
My beautiful goddess.
Were you speaking to me, sir?
No, don't think of it as acting. Just relax and try again.
Oh my! Were you speaking to me, sir?
Much better!
Now keep that feel going.
How stupid I was to blurt out what I felt at the sight of you.
I apologize if I have offended you.
I am an educated modern girl.
I'm not afraid to falling in...
It's 'afraid of falling'
You are doing okay.
I am Jang-hoon, the poet.
I am Arisu.
But how playful is fate!
Their families were practically sworn enemies.
Why is your name not Kim Arisu, but Park Arisu?
Miss Marie.
What?
So it's Marie playing Arisu?
You are here. Please do come in.
Get ready.
'The Flame of Love'.
Miss Marie, you have the lead role, Arisu.
It's a great role I can assure you.
As I said before,
I'm not interested in this kind of thing.
If so, allow me.
Now, let's see. Do I start from here?
'The Flame of Love'.
You have just become the heroine of the new drama series.
Ajazz star and now a voice actress.
You just got your chance to become a truly versatile artist.
Miss Marie.
Congratulations.
- Hey, Lloyd. - Yes?
We have an unexpected problem.
- What problem? - The narration.
Maybe Man-chul can be the narrator as well as the lead actor.
But we also have the night school student.
And the owner of the cafe.
We don't have enough voices for the small parts.
Goodness.
Why don't you all have a drink?
The first broadcast of 'The Flame of Love'
Forced by her determined father, Arisu boards the ship bound for Japan.
Jang-hoon is full of tears as he waves good-bye.
Arisu, I will wait for you 'till the end.
Arisu, I will wait for you 'till the end of time.
My love, I cannot hear you.
Arisu, I will wait for you... forever.
My love...
Let me start over.
My love, we part today, but we will meet again... soon.
Until then, do take care.
And the ship carried Arisu away and away over the horizon.
Only after the ship disappeared
did a tear shed from Jang-hoon's eye...
Raise your hand if you want to order!
Jang-hoon leaves the port and gets on the train for Seoul.
A girl vending coffee passes by.
Miss, I'd like a cup of coffee.
The train speeds away from the Busan Port.
How come you have so few customers?
Yeah, it worries me.
As you know, we sell coffee and tea in the daytime and alcohol at night.
So?
There's no business during the day. They all come after dark.
Then turn on the radio.
With so little business we can't finance our activities.
The radio doesn't work anymore.
The station has played the same music everyday.
Then just yesterday, they aired a ridiculous drama.
That put all my customers to sleep.
And naturally, very little business.
Anyway, how are things going?
An opportunity will come.
It always does to the person who prepares for it.
It's strange.
If they read it as I've written it,
it should be exciting.
But something's missing.
It's plain. No, it's downright dull.
You scared me.
I know what's missing.
What?
Realistic sounds.
What was that?
- No, it wasn't me. - Yeah, it was you.
No, I swear!
It's funny. I can't smell it.
Oh my! How did you make that sound?
How? Like this.
We are looking for a master of sound mimicry.
No other qualifications required. Apply now!
Seoul Broadcasting Station, JODK.
No qualifications required?
Making sounds?
What is an audition?
You, son of a bitch!
You don't own this land!
What was that?
That was the voice of our village chief.
- I sounded just like him. - How are we to know if you do?
Next!
This is the sound of Maiden Chun-hyang getting flogged.
And what was that?
It is the sound from the bedroom after the lights go out.
Why have you come again?
I've brought our village chief.
You, son of a bitch!
You don't own this land!
You, son of a bitch!
You don't own this land!
You, son of a bitch!
You don't own this land!
You, son of a bitch!
You don't own this land!
You, son of a bitch!
You don't own this land!
A frog croaking?
A cannon fire.
A pigeon flapping its wings?
A rain shower. Horses running.
Now this is sound mimicry.
Okay, let's get ready now.
The first radio series of Korea.
'The Flame of Love'.
Scene one.
Jang-hoon is back in Seoul, after seeing Arisu off.
He walks the streets thinking about the day before.
Though I'm forced by my father to leave you to study in Japan,
I will never forget you.
So promise you will not forget me.
I will wait for you, Arisu.
Even if you were to go to America, I'd wait for you.
And Tokyo is so near!
Only after the ship disappeared into the distance
did he begin to shed tears.
Because a real man does not let his love see his tears.
I got a job.
Comrade, what are you talking about?
We've been cracking our heads trying to come up with a grand plan.
And you were nowhere for ten long days...
And you got a job?
Do you even know how hard it was for us
to deliver all those love letters?
Yeah, me too. I can't stand this any longer.
I quit. I'm going back home.
Listen to me.
Our revolution has to be different from Gandhi's.
Ignorant fools.
You wouldn't know Gandhi.
Of course we do.
You think too little of us.
I know Gandhi! A revolutionary leader in India.
He starves himself when he's upset.
But do we starve ourselves for independence?
No, we need a strategy that is more aggressive.
'The Flame of Love'.
What is this?
Have you been writing novels or something?
I got a job at the Seoul Broadcasting Station.
Also known as JODK.
The Japanese took that hill during its first invasion.
Now I'm taking it over.
Comrades, as you're aware, our operations never succeeded.
Perhaps the fault is not entirely our own.
The times changed too fast for us.
So you're saying we should adapt to the times and get ourselves a job?
'The Flame of Love' is the nation's first radio series.
I'm going to take advantage of it to launch a major operation.
How?
Arisu, a modern girl, Jang-hoon, a lung-diseased poet,
and Young-shin, an old-fashioned girl are in a love triangle.
Arisu, who was in love with Jang,
is forced by her father to go to a school in Japan.
Meanwhile, Jang-hoon stays and starts a new love with Young-shin.
Then, Arisu returns from her studies.
The three lovers meet in the streets of Seoul.
What a bastard!
That's what you get for ditching your girl.
The key thing is who he chooses.
How do Jang-hoon and his new girl fall in love?
She nurses the sick Jang-hoon with such devotion.
In the countryside, where there's fresh air.
- What an angel she is! - Since they're in the country,
shouldn't they start a movement?
What about Arisu?
Yeah, he can't turn his back. That's not the way of a real man.
Anyway...
I don't know how it will go because the script isn't finished.
What I do in this program is to make different sounds.
- Wow. - Wow.
From now on you are to listen to the drama every day.
The radio frequency even reaches Manchuria and America.
And I'm going to use it to send codes.
Then we can connect with a network of organizations across the country.
The code will signal an all-out attack
on all the core buildings held by Japan and its army.
Let's do it on...
A scale.
Yeah, let's do it on a big scale this time.
But what kind of a signal?
The name of the operation...
The name of the operation is 'The Flame of Love'.
Since 'flame' is in the title, there will be a spark.
And the sound of the spark will be our attack signal.
But...
In my opinion,
he should choose Young-shin.
I totally agree.
Never seen a relationship go right with them modern girls.
Wait, what about Arisu? She did nothing wrong.
You don't know what love is.
What do you know about love?
What makes you think I don't?
Honey.
Oh, honey, honey. Please, stop.
What?
I can't concentrate.
Concentrate?
As if you're doing anything important, you lazy bum.
How could you call your husband that?
Consider yourself lucky that I'm letting you be.
For awhile you seemed real quiet.
Back to your old habits again?
This time it's different.
This is the fist radio series being aired in Korea's history.
How would I know? We don't even have a radio!
And, do you know this time how you'll end it?
You always get fired because you can never finish the ending.
Quit it now while you're ahead.
Don't go making innocent people into fools like yourself!
This time I've thought out an ending.
Yeah, you must've conned some dumb asses.
Well, birds of a feather flock together.
They must be some asses if they fell for you.
Be quiet!
I'm so sorry.
But you have very good speed.
Speed, a modern concept.
I was curious about something.
Where did you learn to make sounds like that?
I just played with some walnuts and it happened.
Oh, then what did you do previously?
Nothing much.
Traveled around selling things.
Well, you know, talent is so mysterious.
We might have it inside us and not even know it.
Ah, and your name is K?
Is that a pseudonym?
Well, let's just leave it at K.
Anyhow, it's very unique and has a nice ring to it.
K, you have made our series so much more real.
And I'm grateful and very happy.
Please, help yourself.
In great sadness at parting with Arisu,
Jang-hoon tries to soothe his aching heart with a drink.
He looks on as two of his countrymen fight
when a Japanese policeman appears and people start to flee.
What chaos.
Someone might get killed.
It was then that Jang-hoon saw her.
A young woman who had fallen among the crowd.
Are you all right, Miss?
Your legs are hurt.
I'll be fine, sir.
No, I don't think so. You can't walk like that.
I will carry you home, Miss.
Thus began their fated encounter.
Young-shin is a young country girl who has just moved to the city.
She stays with Jang-hoon to treat his illness.
I have brought some mushroom extract I heard is good for lung disease.
You must've gone to so much trouble.
I just hope you get well soon.
She tries to hand the cup of medicine to Jang-hoon,
but loses her hold and it breaks.
Be careful. Leave this to me.
No, no, Mr. Jang.
A flame of love sparks as the two stare into each other's eyes.
Suddenly, the lovers reach for each other's hands.
Jang-hun gently presses his hands against Young-shin's blushing cheeks.
It's all right. It's all right.
Jang-hoon, my love!
Where are you?
Your Arisu is here.
I have returned to you.
I have graduated from Tokyo University in only six months.
Which means I'm the most beautiful and intelligent modern girl.
It is I! Arisu is back!
Dear listeners.
We'll break for commercials.
I told you I didn't want to.
Chocolate...
Morinaga Chocolate!
If you're with your love, Morinaga Chocolate.
If you need a break from stress, Morinaga Chocolate.
Chocolate. Chocolate.
Is it the chocolate Arisu the modern girl brought home?
Yes, it's that chocolate!
With Morinaga Chocolate even solitude can be...
Sweet!
Wow, must be real yummy, huh?
How dare you change the script like that?
Ever heard of ad-libbing?
Seems like you don't know much about broadcasting.
Crazy bitch.
How can somebody come back so quickly from her studies?
She must've gotten expelled after screwing some guy in the dorm.
My! What vulgarity!
Obviously you have no trouble understanding my vulgar language?
Oh, princess, I can see right through your crap.
One has to understand the character!
Isn't Arisu an intelligent modern girl?
Six months is more than enough for her to get a B.A.
But of course,
character analysis is too much to ask of a cheap entertainer like yourself.
What did you just say?
Mr. Noh, please do explain.
Lloyd says I'm the heroine,
but how can I be sent to Japan as soon as the story starts?
Where's the story going?
Miss Marie, you see...
I cannot tell you, Miss Marie.
And why is that?
Which two will kindle the flame of love in the end?
Don't you know?
Wait, does that mean there is no sound of a spark?
I practiced a lot.
- We will have that spark. - Please, everyone!
Well, things happened the way they happened.
So now we have Arisu back home from Japan.
And the important thing is how the story will go from here.
Please explain Mr. Noh.
Well, you see...
That is the writer's domain, and I cannot disclose it.
At least tell us what will happen in tomorrow's episode.
No, anyhow the premature return has created a major problem.
What sort of a problem?
We have to let Young-shin and Jang-hoon develop their feelings.
That's right. I have to appear more often.
Tuberculosis is not cured in a day or two, you know.
Now we've got a doctor here.
You think you're the heroine?
No, you are, but I have more lines.
So people will naturally think I'm the lead.
Unbelievable.
Mr. Noh, please tell me.
Could there be a leading role with fewer lines?
I want to know what role I will be playing.
From beginning to the end!
Stop pressuring Mr. Noh, Marie.
It is you who have ruined today's episode.
Why is itjust because of me?
I'm a pro!
Can't it happen if I'm so immersed in my role?
You need lines to 'immerse' yourself into the character.
Can we have the sound of the spark earlier in the drama?
Don't! Stop!
Please remember me.
I will wait for you, Arisu.
Even if you were to go to America, I'd wait for you.
And Tokyo is so near!
Morinaga, the chocolate Arisu brought from Japan.
Is this the chocolate that was in 'The Flame of Love'?
Yes, of course. Here you are.
Only after the ship disappeared did he begin to shed tears.
Why? Because a real man does not let his love see his tears.
What are you doing so early in the morning?
Have a seat.
Be careful.
This is an unauthentic transmitter-receiver.
This enables users to pick up radio waves without paying.
This is from China. And it can also send signals.
But why are we?
Let me explain.
We thought about how we can send out our own message over the air.
We find an electric wave the same as the radio frequency.
And let it carry our voice. We can go on air nationwide.
I have already set the frequency.
610 KZH.
HZ, HZ, dummy.
Say something.
This is...
A radio station better than the Seoul Broadcasting Station.
The time is...
10:10 a.m.
The end.
What is that?
Mr. Murakami, the managing director of Number One Seasoning brought it.
He said it is a gift.
He wants me to eat all of this and die?
What a weirdo.
Hello?
Yes.
Honey, you've got a call.
Hello?
Yes.
Yes, I understand.
Wait, those are my things...
Ah, you're early.
Who are you, sir?
He is an observer here to help you from now on.
He was dispatched by the postal office.
Which means you're now under supervision.
What kind of supervision, sir?
Don't you know about this morning's radio wave interception?
We don't know who made the prank, but what if guerrillas were to use it?
Now that would be a disaster.
I have ordered Noh to revise today's episode.
Why does seasoning pop up out of nowhere?
Why not? It makes it more real.
This drama lacks reality.
The characters are always drinking coffee!
You think that makes sense?
They should use stuff like spices.
To make things seem like it's really happening.
That's reality. Know what I mean?
But it disrupts the flow of the story.
You think this is some grand masterpiece?
Do as I say or the transmission will be cut off immediately.
Remember that!
Marie is a modern girl, with a charm that's both pure and sexy.
And she's got boobs too. So she's the perfect woman.
And how come her lover is a poor sick bum?
- Talking about me? - Yeah!
Is this drama being made for Marie?
No, this is a drama for all of us.
But how come you're so pitiful when she's got everything?
Just think about all the roles you play.
You do the narration, play Jang-hoon, tell the time, and do the news.
Honestly, you're the busiest man in this whole radio station.
- Yeah. - So?
You are not recognized.
But I have to follow the script. Plus, I can't improvise like Marie.
Yes, you can.
Why not?
Arisu, you must be tired from such a long journey.
Cold noodles?
Yes, perfect in this hot weather.
Oh, Arisu!
Young-shin has been so kind as to nurse me while you were gone.
Young-shin, I'm most grateful.
The soup tastes wonderful!
What did they put in it?
In this modern world, you can't use the traditional broth.
Just half a spoon of the new artificial seasoning by Number One.
Artificial seasoning?
It's really popular in Japan, too!
It's the basics of cooking.
All modern women use it.
Restaurants get more business once they start using Number One.
And it saves them costs.
It's the spice for success.
Oh, this Kimchi tastes extraordinary!
They must've used Number One.
- So good! - Miss Arisu said it tastes good.
The three finished their noodles flavored with Number One.
Young-shin is doing the dishes in the kitchen.
While Arisu and Jang-hoon
are enjoying themselves at a scenic spot in Seoul.
Oh, how I missed you!
I, too, did not imagine you would return so soon.
Let's get married.
But, uh...
Excuse me, Arisu and Mr. Jang.
May I join you?
Of course.
Since we are all gathered here, I have an announcement to make.
I, Jang-hoon, am now liberated from tuberculosis.
I am indebted to Miss Young-shin's devotion and care.
And so, I would like to tell you about an important decision.
I will apply to The Imperial University of Seoul.
I will no longer sit idle like a sick man.
I will enroll in the university,
and study Economics.
Then join the Commercial Bank and become the best bachelor.
The most attractive bachelor in town!
- What the hell was that? - What was it?