In Episode 9, Hong Deok-su strikes a deal with Tae Sang Bangju (the head of Yongcheonru), Chun Mak-dong. The agreement? To showcase her skills in exchange for returning to Yongcheonru. Her plan? Open a gambling house within Yongcheonru, the most prestigious guesthouse in Joseon. But here’s the twist: gambling is prohibited by law in Joseon. How does she intend to pull this off? This intriguing premise piques viewers’ curiosity.
If we were to describe Yongcheonru in modern terms, it would be akin to a world-class luxury hotel located in the heart of Seoul—a five-star establishment of the highest caliber. And what’s synonymous with such luxury hotels? Casinos. In the present day, casinos in South Korea are classified as gambling establishments, and only those with government approval can admit local patrons.
Proposing to open a gambling house in Joseon, a time when gambling was forbidden, was nothing short of revolutionary. Chun Mak-dong, a visionary with bold ambitions, must have found Hong Deok-su’s proposal fascinating.
With the help of the “HaHaBang Quartet,” Hong Deok-su successfully launches the gambling house, aptly named “Bulrakho.” On opening day, the police raid the establishment, but since the gambling was conducted with Qing Dynasty envoys rather than locals, the authorities quietly withdraw.
Bulrakho: A Playful Name
The name of the gambling house is both clever and amusing! “Bulrakho” translates to “Isn’t this delightful?”—a reference to Confucius’ famous saying:
“學而時習之 不亦悅乎”
(“To learn and practice what you’ve learned from time to time, is that not a delight?”)
True to the whimsical nature of this fictional historical drama, even Confucius’ wisdom finds a cheeky reinterpretation as the name of a gambling house.
Following the successful launch of Bulrakho, Chun Mak-dong invites Hong Deok-su and the HaHaBang Quartet, who worked tirelessly on the project, to a celebratory dinner. Also present at the dinner are Lee Eun-ho (Moo Yeonggun), Chun Jun-hwa, and Go Soo-ra. Recognizing Hong Deok-su’s talents, Chun Mak-dong expresses his admiration and even asks Deok-su to bring her mother to Yongcheonru for a meeting in the near future.
“Come by sometime! Let’s have a meal together!”
This phrase is a quintessential example of Korean “empty words”—a friendly yet often noncommittal way of expressing familiarity. But every now and then, someone unexpectedly takes it at face value! Perhaps you’ve experienced saying, “Feel free to visit my place anytime,” only for a friend to show up unannounced, leaving you flustered.
At first, I thought Chun Mak-dong’s invitation to Hong Deok-su’s mother was just a friendly gesture—a “polite empty word.” But much to my surprise, Deok-su’s mother is actually invited to Yongcheonru.
Of course, it’s not entirely unheard of for someone to receive such an invitation if their child works at a high-end hotel or has made significant contributions. A hotel chairman could even extend a formal invitation to their parents as a gesture of respect. Watching “Check-in Hanyang” with a casual mindset, I assumed this was just polite banter. But when the invitation turned out to be genuine, I was reminded of a similar moment from my own life when a friend casually said, “Come over to my place anytime!”—and someone actually did.
Koreans often use “empty words” like this. However, distinguishing whether such words are truly insincere or heartfelt can be tricky. Spending more time with the person usually reveals whether they mean it or not!
