Jang Tae-sang, played by Park Seo-joon, is the owner of Gyeongseong’s largest and finest establishment. His life takes a dangerous turn when he is tasked with finding a missing woman.
Everyone in Gyeongseong knows Jang Tae-sang as the master of the House of Golden Treasure, a pawn shop.
It took Tae-sang years of hard work to acquire all the riches he owns today, which is why he values and takes pride in his wealth and status.
Tae-sang is also known as the information king of Gyeongseong. As a rich man with connections, even with the Japanese, it is easy for him to obtain all kinds of information.
Whenever people need anything, be it information or favor, they seek him out. When the mistress of the police commissioner goes missing, he asks Tae-sang to find her.
Tae-sang has no choice but to take the assignment because if he refuses or fails to find Myeong-ja, he will lose the House of Golden Treasure.
Tae-sang’s past
Tae-sang’s mother was a rebel; she fought against the Japanese rule for the freedom of Joseon. When Tae-sang was a child, his mother was captured.
His mother knew that the Japanese were coming for her, so she hid Tae-sang and asked him to stay hidden until the next day.
She did not trust anyone to protect her son, so she told him that he will have to fend for himself once she is taken. She told her son to stay alive, no matter the cost.
The Japanese then stormed into Tae-sang’s house, physically assaulted his mother, and took her for further interrogation.
Tae-sang waited alone in the cold for her to return, but she never did. Mrs. Nawol was also a rebel who was captured, but the authorities let her go after torturing her.
When she was released, Tae-sang showed her kindness, and Mrs. Nawol went on to become his loyal employee.
Due to his mother’s last wish, Tae-sang only focused on surviving. For that, he grew his wealth, kept the Japanese happy, and stayed away from the freedom movement.
A good man
When Tae-sang is tasked with finding Myeong-ja, he makes a deal with Chae-ok and her father. They will help each other find the people they are looking for.
Rumors spread about Tae-sang losing his wealth, and a group of Japanese men attempt to kill him. A police officer arrives at the scene but turns a blind eye.
The incident leads Tae-sang to realize that their colonizers do not care about the lives of his people, who are oppressed in their own country.
From then on, Tae-sang changes; he no longer cares about just his own survival. Additionally, while working with Chae-ok, he develops feelings for her.
To save her, he sneaks into the Ongseong Hospital. He also sacrifices his escape route to rescue a group of children who were being held as prisoners there.
He repeatedly risks his life to rescue his people at the hospital. Tae-sang stays behind to fight the Japanese soldiers, ensuring the prisoners’ safety.
He makes an elaborate plan and uses his wealth and connections to help the prisoners not only escape the hospital but also leave the town. He proves that he is a good person who cares about his people.
Through his selfless actions, Tae-sang, who never joined the rebellion and was not trusted by the people of his country, wins the trust and respect of all the prisoners.
However, Tae-sang is deprived of a happy ending. He loses Chae-ok, who dies protecting him. In time, Tae-sang reverts to his old self, yet he continues to mourn Chae-ok’s death.
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