Recap: Pinocchio Episode 17
Unlike her mother, In Ha is ready to wear the scarlet letter labeling her a traitor.
Episode 17 “Scarlet Letter”
Cha Ok once was a real journalist, but 14 years ago, she made a choice that turned her journalism yellow.
In Ha confronts her mom with the evidence she has now of the connection between her, Beom Jo’s mom, and the politician 14 years ago. In Ha shakes in anger as she slams the envelope containing her mom’s old cellphone and a print-out of the retrieved text messages on the table. She demands to know if Cha Ok is really a journalist. She thought her mom might have really believed that Ki Ho Sang was the culprit 14 years ago, or it was just a mistake on her part. No, she wanted to believe that about her mom. But how she knows Cha Ok was only Ro Sa’s puppet. How could she? How could Cha Ok, as a reporter, no, a human being do such a thing?!
In Ha declares she will make sure that this story is made known to the world. Cha Ok asks if In Ha thinks she has the power to do so or that MSC will let her report this story. In Ha replies that she knows she doesn’t have the power or the support of MSC so she will give the information to YGN.
Cha Ok reminds In Ha that to do so is to become a whistle-blower and that she will be fired by MSC. In Ha has conviction, though, and she declares she will start over at another network.
Cha Ok reminds In Ha of the foolishness of her words. No company will accept a whistle-blower. In Ha will never be able to become a reporter again.
Cha Ok reveals that she was just like In Ha 14 years ago. She had learned of the connection between her boss, who is the current YGN news department head, Yeon Do Young, and Park Ro Sa. She had threatened to blow the whistle on them, but just as she is doing now to In Ha, Do Young made it clear to her what happens to whistle-blowers. But if she doesn’t become one, he can help her become big, like the first female to become the metro news captain. What she can offer In Ha now is a permanent place at MSC after her internship ends. If In Ha just reports (or not report) one story that “they” want her to, she can report on 99 other stories she wants to.
Cha Ok wants In Ha to make the best decision, not as her boss but as her mom. Cha Ok saw what happened to whistle-blowers personally. She reveals the story of In Ha’s dad, who used to be a rising section chief at a bank way back when. But he blew the whistle on his boss providing illegal loans and found himself without a job.