In the fifth episode of ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Scarecrow', aired on the 4th, Lee Ki-beom (played by Song Geon-hee) was identified as a prime suspect in the Kangseong serial murder case. However, Kang Tae-joo (played by Park Hae-soo) was not fully convinced of Lee Ki-beom's guilt, as he was presented with 'two pieces of evidence telling opposing truths'. These were a photo proving Lee Ki-beom's alibi during the third incident and the handbag of survivor Park Ae-sook (played by Hwang Eun-hoo) that was kept at Kangseong Bookstore. In his confusion, Kang Tae-joo shifted his suspicion towards Lee Ki-hwan, hinting at a new phase in the investigation.
The fifth episode achieved an average nationwide household rating of 6.3%, with a peak of 7.0%, setting a new personal best for the series. The average viewership rating up to the fifth episode is the highest ever for an ENA drama, showing a remarkable upward trend. The 2049 target audience rating also reached a peak of 2.5%, ranking first across all channels. (Nielsen Korea, based on paid households)
On this day, Kang Tae-joo's suspicions towards Lee Ki-beom deepened. As soon as Kang Soon-young (played by Seo Ji-hye) regained consciousness, Kang Tae-joo inquired about Lee Ki-beom's whereabouts, suspecting his sister of lying to protect him. However, Kang Soon-young only knew that Lee Ki-beom was being pursued by the police for assaulting Jeon Kyung-ho (played by Kang Jung-woo). Seo Ji-won (played by Kwak Sun-young) suggested that if Lee Ki-beom were the serial killer, he wouldn't have locked Kang Soon-young in a warehouse. Despite this, Kang Tae-joo resolved to conduct a fair and objective investigation, saying, "The Ki-beom I knew will be erased. Whether he's the culprit or not."
Meanwhile, another tragic news reached the Kangseong Police Station. A young girl was strangled to death in her home while everyone was asleep. The frequent murders led to growing distrust and dissatisfaction among residents towards the police. The National Police Agency held the Kangseong Police Station responsible for the unsatisfactory investigation of the serial murders, resulting in the reassignment of the station chief and team leaders. Newly appointed Chief Inspector Cha Joon-young (played by Heo Jeong-do) announced plans to launch a new investigation headquarters, bringing significant changes to the Kangseong Police Station.
Kang Tae-joo, on the other hand, judged the recent murder as a separate incident unrelated to the serial killings. The crime occurred after a home invasion, differing in victim age and crime pattern from the serial murders. Detective Jang Myeong-do (played by Jeon Jae-hong) then revealed an unexpected story: Lee Ki-beom was seen near the victim's house around the estimated time of the crime. With all evidence pointing to Lee Ki-beom as a suspect, Kang Tae-joo found it difficult to maintain his stance.
Ultimately, a search warrant was issued for Lee Ki-beom. When the police arrived at his house, Seo Ji-won and Kang Soon-young were there to check on him. However, Lee Ki-beom's mother (played by Seong Ye-jin) seemed unaware of the situation, and his brother Lee Ki-hwan and his wife only knew about the assault case involving Jeon Kyung-ho. Upon hearing that Lee Ki-beom was a suspect in the serial murders, his mother expressed her shock and frustration to Kang Tae-joo. Kang Tae-joo firmly responded, "If Ki-beom is falsely accused, I'll prove it. If he's the real culprit, I'll catch him."
The search yielded crucial evidence from both the house and the bookstore. The first piece of evidence found at the house was a photo of Kang Tae-joo and Lee Ki-beom together, dated December 13, 1987, the day the third victim, Choi In-sook, went missing, providing a decisive alibi for Lee Ki-beom. The second piece of evidence found at the bookstore was the handbag lost by survivor Park Ae-sook on the day of the incident, which could only be explained if Lee Ki-beom was not the culprit.
At the end of the episode, Kang Tae-joo looked at Lee Ki-hwan standing before him and thought to himself, 'There is another suspect.' Lee Ki-hwan was a third person who could freely access Kangseong Bookstore, apart from Lee Ki-beom. Meanwhile, it was revealed that Lee Ki-beom was captured during his night escape by detectives Jang Myeong-do and Do Hyung-gu (played by Kim Eun-woo), who forced a false confession through confinement and assault, causing shock and sympathy. The appearance of Lee Ki-beom's friend, Im Seok-man (played by Baek Seung-hwan), who witnessed his last moments, added to the anticipation for the next episode.
Reporter: Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr