Pinocchio: Season 1
The idealistic Choe In-ha works to become a broadcast reporter while managing Pinocchio syndrome, a condition that causes her to break out into hiccups whenever she tells a lie. In-ha aspires to follow in her mother's footsteps, while her rookie colleague Gi Ha-myeong seeks to do honest news. Ha-myeong's shabby appearance masks his true eloquence and sharp memory. Other rookie colleagues include Seo Beom-jo, a wealth
Season 1 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- A young boy's life and family are destroyed by new media.
- The boy is found lost at sea and gets adopted by a family in a rural area.
- He conceals his past for 13 years.
- The girl he loves, a reporter, eventually finds out the truth.
Season overview
The idealistic Choe In-ha works to become a broadcast reporter while managing Pinocchio syndrome, a condition that causes her to break out into hiccups whenever she tells a lie. In-ha aspires to follow in her mother's footsteps, while her rookie colleague Gi Ha-myeong seeks to do honest news. Ha-myeong's shabby appearance masks his true eloquence and sharp memory. Other rookie colleagues include Seo Beom-jo, a wealthy heir who has had everything handed to him in life, and Yun Yu-rae, whose fangirl knowledge comes in handy in covering the news. Together, these twenty-something newbie reporters pursue justice as they try to discover themselves in the process. The 20-episode television series aired on SBS from November 12, 2014, to January 15, 2015, and stars Lee Jong-suk, Park Shin-hye, Kim Young-kwang, and Lee Yu-bi.
Episode Guide
Season 1 Progress Shield
Pinocchio
Nov 12, 2014 · 59 min
Gi Ha-myeong's family is shattered by an unethical reporter's story falsely implicating his father, but he takes on a new identity as Choe Dal-po.
The Ugly Duckling
Nov 13, 2014 · 59 min
Dal-po keeps up the façade as the school's worst student but when he gets a perfect score on the quiz rumors run wild and he sets out to prove himself.
The Snow Queen
Nov 19, 2014 · 58 min
After struggling for three years to become a reporter, In-ha informs Dal-po that she finally got an interview -- at MSC, where her mother works.
Romeo and Juliet
Nov 20, 2014 · 59 min
In-ha's father asks Dal-po a delicate question. Dal-po and In-ha both decide to apply for a spot at YGN. Dal-po's father has a surprise for him.
The King Has Donkey Ears
Nov 26, 2014 · 59 min
Unable to find his brother, Dal-po learns that he's been chosen by YGN. In-ha keeps hiccuping, but he tells her he meant what he said during the debate.
Two Years' Vacation
Nov 27, 2014 · 58 min
The rookies get sent out to cover their assigned districts and brace themselves for a long night. Dal-po sees In-ha coming out of MSC with Seo Beom-jo.
The Frog in the Well
Dec 3, 2014 · 59 min
Dal-po and Yun Yu-rae feel certain they have an exclusive -- but so do In-ha and Beom-jo. Upon probing further, Dal-po makes a disquieting discovery.
One Lucky Day
Dec 4, 2014 · 58 min
Dal-po is reluctant to divulge his real name or what he does to Gi jae-myeong. He notes how much they look alike but can't shake off a bad feeling.
The Pied Piper
Dec 10, 2014 · 59 min
Dal-po sees his family making the news again in a different way and begs In-ha not to talk to Jae-myeong. In-ha gets the awful truth about her mother.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Dec 11, 2014 · 59 min
Stupefied by her mother's adamant insistence that she did nothing wrong, In-ha presses her to take responsibility of her misconduct at the lecture.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Dec 17, 2014 · 59 min
Dal-po reveals his story to Jae-myeong as Ha-myeong, but he's taken aback by his brother's request and learns the full extent of what Song Cha-ok did.
The Magic Flute
Dec 18, 2014 · 58 min
Jae-myeong's revelation catches Song Cha-ok off guard during the interview. Ha-myeong resolves to resume his life by reclaiming his real identity.
The Gift of the Magi
Dec 24, 2014 · 58 min
Ha-myeong takes on Song Cha-ok. Beom-jo makes up his mind over In-ha but gets indignant when Ha-myeong pursues a story that hits too close to home.
Hansel and Gretel
Dec 25, 2014 · 55 min
To Ha-myeong's disbelief, In-ha takes Beom-jo's side and causes a mishap when he tries to piece together evidence for the department store story.
Don Quixote
Jan 1, 2015 · 57 min
Seeing Song Cha-ok's misleading story on An Chan-su, Ha-myeong vows to protect his friend. But Jae-myeong worries this will dredge up bad memories.
The Emperor's New Clothes
Jan 7, 2015 · 57 min
Recalling how Song Cha-ok jeered at the new evidence, Ha-myeong fears that the waste-disposal plant fire story will get buried in the news cycle.
The Scarlet Letter
Jan 8, 2015 · 59 min
Appalled by their mothers' actions, In-ha and Beom-jo confront them respectively about the truth. Song Cha-ok criticizes In-ha for being so foolish.
The Red Shoes
Jan 14, 2015 · 59 min
Choosing to forgo the text messages, Ha-myeong relies on an informant who comes forward against Park Ro-sa, but YGN and MSC come under attack.
The North Wind and the Sun
Jan 14, 2015 · 59 min
As Ha-myeong's story exposes Song Cha-ok's role in manipulating the media and her ties to Park Ro-sa, Beom-jo makes a stunning statement to the police.
Peter Pan
Jan 15, 2015 · 58 min
Park Ro-sa goes to the police on behalf of Beom-jo but loses her control when Ha-myeong asks how she feels about the media reporting on her son.