Criminal Minds Episode 5: Piercing The Anthrax Fog

PIERCING THE ANTHRAX FOG

THE MYSTERY CODE BLACK In light of the evidence that had been gathered by the NCI, Team Leader Kang knew that he had to have access to Code Black in order to solve the mystery of the terrorist. Only one person could unlock his exact profile and that was the Chief Director of NCI, Baek San. Team Leader Kang urged the man in authority to retrieve Choi Ho Sung’s data in order for them to find out the next target of his terrorist attacks. Stonewalling would be an obstruction to solving the case so Baek San reluctantly obliged. It was a complicated process of accessing highly classified files in a restricted storage facility. Code Black’s sensitive data could only be accessed using passwords. It was like untying the Gordian Knot. First, the NCI Chief Director had to enter the special data  storage room by using a password. Then, he stood in front of a screen and typed a special password in order to gain access to the data. Subsequently, the image of his eyes was scanned and run through the database to find a match. The highly complex computer system was equipped with iris recognition biometric technology to identify him. When his eyes matched those in the computer system, he was able to access Choi Ho Sung’s secret file. CODE BLACK (CHOI HO SUNG) The Chief Director communicated the data to the Team Leader. ‘When Choi Ho Sung was young, he joined the war in Afghanistan. All his team members were killed in a biochemical attack. It turned out that the so-called attack was an accident, caused by a leak by an allied nation. All pertinent information about the fateful accident had been destroyed to hide that vital fact.’ The data on the criminal was inadequate. The question was, with terrorists like Choi Ho Sung, it was difficult to understand his motivation. The NCI profilers drew a blank about his intentions. How were they going to crack down hard on their enemy? Team Leader Kang guessed that he might aim for the most symbolic location - a public place. Nana Wang, a lifesaver with her ingenious hacking and computer skills, managed to decode some of the encrypted files in Choi Ho Sung’s computer.  One contained photos of the security cameras near the park that was   attacked. The other displayed security cameras in Dongan-gu in Cheonan. One was the conclusive evidence of the criminal’s crime, and the other was his next target. As luck would have it, Yoo Min Young instinctively knew his target – The Independence Hall. Her instincts alerted her because her young niece was visiting the place was her school field trip destination. Everything was getting more exciting. THE ACCOMPLICE LEE SEOK HAN Choi Ho Sung’s accomplice, Lee Seok Han, was waiting in a van for Choi Ho Sung to complete his mission of ‘Changing The World’. He had with him a RF (Radio Frequency) Video Computer System to monitor the situation. The NCI team had arrived in their huge bus.  The SWAT forces had surrounded the area and were attempting to charge into the Exhibition Hall. Kim Hyun Joon, having accustomed himself with NCI procedures, knew that they had to prevent the SWAT forces from moving in. The Special Task Force was told to be on standby but the head of the SWAT was upset. Team Leader Kang firmly told him that they were in the midst of profiling and were trying to have a full grasp on the attacker’s plan. They should not make haste lest they fail to catch the unsub. But, the SWAT leader was not happy to just sit and watch. That military man seemed to be in a hurry to attack without knowing who and where the enemy was. Kim Hyun Joon tried reasoning with him.  Team Leader Kang seemed unwell and had dropped his files.  The SWAT leader was adamant and wanted to take things into his own hands. ‘Send in Unit A in three minutes!’ he gave his orders to his team. Kim Hyun Joon and Ha Sun Woo refused to allow such rash actions. The hasty SWAT man demanded to know, ‘If things go wrong who will take responsibility?’ Team Leader Kang would not abdicate control and stated that he would take full responsibility. He reasoned that if they could figure out the attacker’s plan and predict his next move, they would have the edge. The NCI was still in the process of troubleshooting some CCTV connection problems. The surveillance cameras had been hacked from the inside.

PIERCING THE ANTHRAX FOG Being proactive, Kim Hyun Joon offered to search out the building with Ha Sun Woo while the rest were busy with the CCTV. The Team Manager urged him to request for back up if he sensed any danger. The snipers had already strategically positioned themselves. Kim Hyun Joon would scour the second (Br:first) floor while Han Sun Woo would investigate the first (Br:ground) floor. While looking down on the first floor, Kim Hyun Joon tried to think like the criminal. He rationalised: ‘If he was after the people inside, he has to be out in the open. If I were the unsub, I wouldn’t choose such an ineffective method.’ He remembered the unsub using the wind to release the anthrax bacteria in the park, an open space. But in an enclosed space in a building, the unsub needed air circulation to disperse the bacteria. Air flow was important to transport the aerosolized bacteria to his target areas within the building. Ha Sun Woo, on hearing his logical explanation, knew at once that he was right. She went immediately to the equipment room to find the control centre for the ventilation system. She postulated that the criminal had probably placed the anthrax bacteria in the ventilation duct. The team leader promised to send a team to the equipment room. Team Leader Kang requested Nana to check the schedule for the switching on of the ventilation fans. The fans turned on for 10 minutes exactly at every hour. Nana Wang informed him that they had 8 minutes to turn the system off. Team Leader Kang ordered the ventilation fans to be turned off immediately. The maintenance staff who was sent to do it manually was hit with a spanner by the unsub. Kim Hyun Joon ran to the control centre as if his life depended on it. The criminal threw the switch on but the NCI profiler stopped him. Kim Hyun Joon chased the unsub.  Upon realising that the game was up, the criminal Choi Ho Sung gave his accomplice orders to implement the alternative Plan B. Team Leader Kang suspected that the criminals might have another plan. He wanted to scrutinize the outside area of the building premises.  Nana Wang expanded the camera parameters of the CCTV and they spotted a familiar van belonging to Hanyoung Equipments. He knew instinctively that they needed backup to apprehend the accomplice.

THE THRILLING FIGHT AT THE ROOFTOP Choi Ho Sung had esaped to the rooftop and Kim Hyun Joon had closely pursued him. KIM HYUN JOON A LETHAL COMBINATION TAEKWONDO-CUM-SYSTEMA Upon reaching the top, Kim Hyun Joon, with a gun in his hand, moved cautiously on the rooftop level. He knew he must be versatile and flexible in his combination of martial arts moves in order to deal with the vicious and brutal killer. The criminal, who suddenly popped out and attacked him from his right, tried to wrest the gun from his grasp.  There was a brief struggle when Kim Hyun Joon twisted his assailant’s hands backwards. Loosening himself from Kim Hyun Joon’s grip, the criminal gave a kick which was aimed at his armpit, an important joint. His gun flew from his hands. The joint attack, a significant Russian Systema move, almost destabilised the profiler. This time round, unlike his previous fight with the terrorist, who had a thumping killer instinct, Kim Hyun Joon was more prepared. When the attacker’s next kick came, Kim Hyun Joon, having forseen it, quickly evaded it in the nick of time.  The man had not expected Kim Hyun Joon to be so swift in springing backwards. Kim Hyun Joon faced his foe again in a solid fighting stance. He knew that in order to defeat the terrorist, he had to use a combination of different martial arts moves.  Having studied the Russian martial art, Systema, Kim Hyun Joon concentrated on predicting his opponent’s moves.   He was going to reverse the previous fight outcome. In contrast to the previous confrontation, he now knew the fight tactics of his enemy. He was going to seal his ruthless opponent’s fate. He wasted no time in bringing him down by a series of Systema attacking moves to defeat him. To prevent any joint-attack, he grabbed his rival’s left arm with his right hand and forcefully pushed him to the floor.  The man’s legs caved in. Kim Hyun Joon’s left arm looped his head into a headlock, and as he took the man down, he gave him an iron-clad back choke, his right arm circling and tightening the choke. It incapacitated the criminal who had slumped to the ground. The profiler, having understood the Systema joint-attack pressed home his advantage. Pressed down in a lying position, the criminal could not attack his  joints.  Kim Hyun Joon squeezed and pulled at the criminal’s head to restrict his airways. It was not easy for the killer to struggle to free himself from the tight chokehold. Kim Hyun Joon’s heavy pressure on the choke hold took a toll on the other man. But in the end, the criminal managed to loosen Kim Hyun Joon’s choke. Both swiftly picked themselves up from the floor. They traded punches. The   fight was made more thrilling by the presence of square iron frameworks with sharp pins pointing upwards. Falling on one could be fatal. But, the determined profiler wanted to arrest the terrorist and he did not want to lose the opportunity of defeating him. He wheeled around. In one lightning move, he gave the killer a lightning-speed Taekwondo snap kick to the neck that was so explosive that both tumbled to the floor.  When Kim Hyun Joon jumped to his feet, he saw that the man had been thrown in between some large steel framework. Kim Hyun Joon did not hover over him ike a prize-fighter in a ring but had quickly retrieved his gun. Although the criminal was clearly injured, he rushed to the edge of the building. The SWAT had set up an observation point. The binoculars and the scoped rifles of the snipers, which were already positioned, were locked in on their target on the rooftop level. Despite knowing that the end was near, the criminal refused to concede defeat. His mindless plan was to be achieved at all costs. He swiftly whipped out the detonator to trigger the bomb in the van, his Plan B. Despite being warned by Kim Hyun Joon that his head would be blown off, he was unrepentant. The criminal veered into the line of sniper fire. He was on the verge of pressing the detonator button but unknown to him, the sniper had already pulled the trigger and scored bullseye.  Code Black’s obsession had been thwarted. The fight had unlocked Kim Hyun Joon’s powers and prowess in the two martial arts. It showed that he was equally at home using Taekwondo or Systema tactics.

KIM HYUN JOON THE BOMB EXPERT-CUM-INSTRUCTOR While all this was going on, Ha Sun Woo had her own problems to deal with. When Lee Seok Han, the accomplice knew that Plan A had failed, he went ahead with their second plan.  He was to drive the van towards the Independence Hall with the bomb attached to the anthrax bacteria. When the van exploded, the bacteria would settle in the air and be blown by the wind, infecting those present. The impulsive Ha Sun Woo, rushing in front of the van, pointed her gun at the driver.  Stopping the car, the accomplice fled but was intercepted by the police. By this time, Nana Hwang had already blocked all signals, so all electronic equipment would not work.  But Nana Wang, who was familiar with the nuts and bolts of computer transmissions argued that it would be futile   because the signals would be automatically connected again five minutes later. Ha Sun Woo was told to get out of the van. Being determined, the calm and collected profiler started the car and insisted to be directed out of the historical landmark to a safe place. Her idea was if the van exploded in an isolated place, the bacteria would not affect the visitors. Unfortunately, the traffic had slowed to a stop because of a sudden road accident. The only road out of the area was blocked and congested with cars. It was a really tricky situation. The lady profiler came out of the car and looked around to assess the situation. The accident had wasted much of her time. By then, the signals were automatically connected again. THE SIFU AND THE NOVICE How would the NCI profilers defuse the bomb? She had no other options. Desperate times required desperate measures. The quick-witted profiler took pictures of the bomb with her handphone and sent them to the former EOD operative, Kim Hyun Joon to solve the problem.  They had to work fast as a team. Though she was a novice when it came to bombs, the intelligent Bomb Expert Kim Hyun Joon drew comfort, though uneasy, from the fact that she was a determined learner.  Being clear-headed, he studied the crystal-clear images on his mobile phone and worked his magic. He gave her clear instructions to cut the different coloured wires step by step. While instructing her, beads of sweat appeared on his head, probably due in part to his physical exertion when fighting with the killer. Thanks to him, Ha Sun Woo successfully defused the bomb.

CONVICTIONS VERSUS LIES Meanwhile, at Dr Jang’s sealed residence, the disease control team who were wearing protective suits with breathing systems, had discovered the vaccine for the anthrax bacteria. It was fortunate that the criminal with dangerous convictions had not destroyed the vaccine. A spokesperson for the medical centre briefed the press on the control of the disease. The incident had created a huge buzz with the media.  The bacteria could have decimated a larger part of the population but with the vaccine, people were saved.  22 people died of acute lung disease caused by a new hemorrhagic virus and she confidently assured the press that they have succeeded in developing a vaccine for the disease. The statements about the exact bacteria strain and the vaccine were clothed in general or vague terms. Was there a cover-up to prevent public panic? Lee Han had been given a dose of the vaccine and was recovering. The vaccine did not work right away. It needed time to kick in because his bacterial infection was aggravated by his knife injury. Two weeks after the incident, the NCI profilers and some family members were having a picnic at the park.  Yoo Min Young thought that Kim Hyun Joon was a nice man based on the mistaken belief that he had helped her niece during the crisis. She was given the impression that on the pretext that maintenance work was being carried out, he had requested the field trip teacher to move her flock of children away during the anthrax scare. But Team Leader Kang clarified that it was Ha Sun Woo, not Kim Hyun Joon, who had broken protocol to save her niece. But, it goes without saying that he would also have done the same thing had he been in that situation. Kim Hyun Joon and Ha Sun Woo were discussing the crisis and he realised that the beguiling Ha Sun Woo had a warm heart. She did not reveal to Yoo Min Sun what she had done for her niece. 'She did what she was supposed to do.' It was no secret, on her part, that she admired him. She believed that he also had a warm heart and he would also have done the same thing if he were in her shoes. He eyed her for what apparently was a long moment and mused. They had their disagreements and run-ins but their trust in each other was mutual. He valued her professionalism. She could think coldly and logically but she was no iceberg. Then, a warm smile crossed his face. She walked off and he called after her, ‘Let’s walk together.’ It had become apparent that they would gel as a team. Kim Hyun Joon quoted Friedrich Nietzsche, ‘Convictions are more dangerous foes of truth than lies.’ Indeed, it is true if those convictions are dangerous and false.

EPISODE 5 FOOD FOR THOUGHT Criminal Minds Korea, like the original, really makes its audience think. The various episodes of Criminal Minds Korea have produced armchair thinkers. QUOTATION (Episode 5) CONVICTIONS ARE MORE DANGEROUS ENEMIES OF TRUTH THAN LIES. -      Friedrich Nietzsche - UNDERSTANDING THE QUOTATION 1. CONVICTIONS are dangerous enemies of TRUTH. 2. LIES are dangerous enemies of TRUTH. When it comes to the truth, of the two (Convictions / Lies), CONVICTIONS are more dangerous (enemies) than LIES. 3. CONVICTIONS are MORE dangerous than LIES. OXFORD DICTIONARY CONVICTION – A firmly held belief or opinion LIE – An intentionally FALSE statement CONVICTIONS are MORE dangerous enemies of TRUTH than LIES. THE TRUTH A conviction is different from an opinion. An opinion, which is a personal belief formed in the mind, can change.  A conviction, which is a strong persuasion or belief, can be ethical, moral or philosophical.  Convictions are part of our very being or soul. Some convictions (strong beliefs) can be demonstrated as true or false. Friedrich Nietzsche was convinced that convictions are equivalent to lies. What Friedrich Nietzsche probably meant was ‘A DANGEROUS conviction is more dangerous than a lie’. DANGEROUS CONVICTIONS BIOTERRORISM EPISODE 5 Episode 5 takes a close look at bioterrorism and how it can   affect an unprepared country. It has expanded one’s views concerning bioterrorism and the different ways bacteria can be a threat to lives. It is frightening that people with dangerous ideas like Choi Ho Sung could translate their ideas into reality. Choi wanted to create chaos in society as a wake-up call for the nation and to alert the people to threats.  His conviction, a DANGEROUS one, was to use anthrax to kill some people in order to make the nation take serious notice of foreign threats. He tried to kill on two occasions. And he succeeded on his first attempt. The second was thwarted by the NCI profilers. He wanted to succeed even at the cost of his life. In the end, some people recovered because of the vaccine taken from Dr Jang’s private laboratory. The drama underlines the importance of speed in finding the cause of the victims’ illness and the remedy for lives to be saved. WHITE LIES  The medical spokesperson, who briefed the press, obviously told a lie to them that they had already developed a vaccine for the patients. Dr Jang Ji Ho was working on his own because he had already been dismissed from the government service. The Medical Department should not have taken credit for Dr Jang’s achievement. The description of the victims’ illness was also clothed in vague terms such as ‘acute lung disease’ and ‘hemorhagic virus’. The population was not directly told that it was anthrax infection. Withholding or whitewashing the truth can also be considered a lie, even if the medical authorities wanted to prevent mass panic. So, in this case, Killer Choi’s (Dangerous) CONVICTION was more dangerous than the spokesperson’s LIE.

LEE JOON GI AND SYSTEMA THE RUSSIAN ART OF SELF-DEFENCE Perfect Casting. The very athletic Lee Joon Gi has been perfectly cast as Kim Hyun Joon, the action-oriented profiler. He has kept the audience on the edge of their seats with his brilliant performance, including his heart-thumping fights and athleticism. Lee Joon Gi has also done a wonderful job of playing the heartwarming profiler. Not one to shy away from learning new skills, Lee has added another achievement to his repertoire of martial arts skills. He has learnt Systema, the Russian Art of Self Defence. Lee has, with his exciting new skills, shown a different aspect of himself, and has increased the excitement and thrill in the drama. This is something that he should be saluted for. The audience’s blood must have been alive with the rush of adrenaline as they watched Kim Hyun Joon’s fight scenes with the criminal. It is magical to watch Kim Hyun Joon as he unloads some powerful punches and executes his chokeholds. It wouldn’t be surprising if his viewers could barely disguise their excitement. Most likely, they had nearly fallen out of their chairs while watching him. At certain points in the episode, the audience must have been shaking like leaves. Although the previous rooftop chase was the most thrilling action scene, this episode has added an exciting new dimension to the drama. Lee is no ordinary actor but a unique one. His unwavering resolve to continually learn new skills to present a fresh image of himself in his dramas has made him a very popular actor and entertainer in the showbusiness industry. Having made a lasting impression on viewers, he is now driving the Hallyu wave. http://www.vlive.tv/video/38316/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8CjW4Zxy4Q https://www.instagram.com/p/BYKTO3dF3zt/?taken-by=joon_ee417 Another actor in Episode 5 to be lauded is Go Yoon, who plays Dr Lee Han. His portrayal as the genius and the injured man on the other side of the door is interesting. Moon Chae Won's performance should also be higlighted. Her portrayal as the cool-headed and results-driven profiler is realistic and spot-on.

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