Here’s a collection of quotes from the Korean series, Tempest (2025):
Episode 1
“I had a dream. And in the dream, I was a man. He served warm soup to the elderly, reaching out first, hugging first. He sang with children, opened his heart before the world, and inspired the younger generation. People would even follow him to war. There was also a woman he loved. That woman was taking her last breath.” – Woman
“The only time a politician prays is when someone’s listening.” – Jang Junik
“When you’re married, you accept your husband’s weakness as your own.” – Seo Munju
“There’s something called a widow’s succession in American politics. People will always vote for a politician’s widow. That’s how we win this.” – Lim Okseon
“I am not worthless trash. I had a mother who gave everything to raise me with love and care.” – Seo Munju
“My mother taught me not to feel inferior and to never be ashamed of who I am or where I’m from.” – Seo Munju
“This isn’t about the money for me either. It’s about the pride I have as a mother. And I’m going to fight until the end.” – Lim Okseon
“Do whatever you want. I’m not afraid of you.” – Seo Munju
“The only ones who get hurt in lawsuits are the ones in the wrong.” – Seo Munju
Episode 2
“I had a dream. In the dream, I was a woman. Even in a storm, I wanted to run.” – Paik Sanho
“We decide who spies are. And what constitutes as evidence.” – Junsang
“I don’t know about world peace but I’ll do what it takes to find peace of my own.” – Seo Munju
“Think back on your life. When were the challenges insurmountable?” – Lim Okseon
“Keeping our spouses from worrying, that’s a wife’s duty.” – Lim Okseon
“There are bugs planted throughout the mansion.” – Mr. Yu
“If you really thought I was dangerous, then it’s very curious that you would follow me down here.” – Paik Sanho
“You’ll be putting yourself in a lot of danger. Are you ready for that?” – Paik Sanho
“Diplomacy is done. This is war. A game of chicken.” – Madam Pres. Chae
“You know what your problem is? You are always too honest. For a diplomat, that’s a disadvantage.” – Madam Pres. Chae
“In order to get results in this world, one must use deception, betrayal, scheming, lying, and slander. So we replaced you. Because you couldn’t do it.” – Madam Pres. Chae
“Don’t think of this as advice. This is an order.” – Madam Pres. Chae
“Even though you don’t like me, I may be your only chance to finish what you started.” – Seo Munju
Episode 3
“People in this country love hate more than peace. They’re obsessed with faction and division, and I just don’t want to live here anymore.” – Mr. Im
“First of all, I’m going to turn her into a spectacle. Then the spectacle will grow into a phenomenon. And eventually, she’ll become a legend.” – Lim Okseon
“The public sees you as Joan of Arc. The woman who stood unarmed in front of her husband to protect him from a gun.” – Lim Okseon
“A diplomatic attempt will fail if it’s rooted in lies.” – Seo Munju
“If I survive this, then the first thing I’ll do is have a cold beer.” – Seo Munju
“I don’t know why people are trying to stop us, but I know that I’m not afraid and I swear that I won’t give up this fight, as I keep on running towards the goal for hope and change. For peaceful streets, happy families, a world where people have each other. And also for a nice cold beer to drink at the end of a long, hard day.” – Seo Munju
“Looks like a superstar is on the rise.” – Mr. Hwang
“She just landed her triple axel.” – Lim Okseon
“Every night in my dreams, I walked as lightly as a leaf. And death never scared me. But I had no idea that someone had been holding me up this whole time.” – Paik Sanho
“No one is able to protect you as well as I can, Ms. Seo. You should hire me as your bodyguard.” – Paik Sanho
“I had this dream. And in it, I believe that I could do it. In my dream, I was you.” – Paik Sanho
Episode 4
“Their desperation to kill me just shows that I have power.” – Seo Munju
“Every human is foolish. But if they’re lonely, they become irrational. Give in to your emotions and it will ruin everything.” – Lim Okseon
“Keep pushing forward. Stay strong. We’re only at the start.” – Paik Sanho
“Reality feels more like a nightmare.” – Seo Munju
“You can keep saving my life but no matter how often you do, I’ll never trust you.” – Seo Munju
Episode 5
“It’s insulting that you don’t know me but I know you.” – Kang Hanna
“Real grief will always be graceless. It makes you scream and thrash like a wild animal.” – Kang Hanna
“Grieving takes a lot of energy. It starts with anger, then humiliation, then resentment, regret, and guilt. And once you’ve gone through all those emotions, the real grief sets in. The real grief is terribly quiet and as heavy as a ton of bricks.” – Seo Munju
“You stood your ground the whole time without wavering.” – Paik Sanho
“The water is vast and powerful. It sweeps away everything in its path. It’s futile to resist it. It’s foolish to think that mere mortals can bend the will of the heavens.” – Chinese Ambassador
“Pray the war ends swiftly like a summer shower, fierce but fleeting. Because if things go wrong, it could escalate to World War III.” – Chinese Ambassador
“So stubborn. So beautiful, so smart. And yet, you will die.” – Chinese Ambassador
“When your people stand at the crossroads of life and death, will you really just remain hidden inside a bunker?” – Seo Munju
“This gun has taken over 20 lives already. It understands the human urge to kill the enemy.” – Paik Sanho
“I think this gun likes me.” – Seo Munju
“I want you to become a dangerous person, Munju.” – Paik Sanho
“If a nuclear bomb were coming, I’d wanna be with the person I love.” – Paik Sanho
“We couldn’t stop this war after all.” – Seo Munju
“For one last time, I want you to pretend this is just an ordinary day.” – Paik Sanho
Episode 6
“Who are you really? Why did you come to me? Would you really take a bullet for me? And why did I see you in my dreams?” – Seo Munju
“I’ve never been afraid of anything until I felt the fear of something happening to you.” – Paik Sanho
“I was scared you’d get hurt and I wouldn’t be there in time. That’s why, even in my dreams, I held on to you. I was afraid I’d lose you there, too, when I had nothing left in this world.” – Paik Sanho
“I really don’t care about the war. I only want to run away with you, Munju.” – Paik Sanho
“Whenever I looked up at the sky, it felt like nothing else existed, just me and that star. It didn’t matter that I had no family, no homeland. I felt like I could go anywhere I wanted.” – Paik Sanho
“War starts with public opinion.” – Mr. Hwang
“I thought he had really come to save me. I was a fool. What do I do now? I have nowhere left to go.” – Seo Munju
Episode 7
“I was the one who needed you. I wanted to run away with you.” – Paik Sanho
“I was at my weakest when I trusted you. I refuse to be weak again.” – Seo Munju
“There are only those who want war, those who want to stop them, and those who stand to gain from the chaos, whether there’s a war or not.” – Paik Sanho
“Going after someone who’s trying to start a war for their own benefit would be far more beneficial than taking her down. For this nation and its people.” – Paik Sanho
“Don’t trust me. Just know I’ll be right behind you. Always.” – Paik Sanho
“I had a dream. There was something in the water. I wished I could get close enough to see it clearly. Who killed my husband? Why did my mother have to live her entire life in pain? Why can’t I let go of the child I lost, and why does my heart still yearn for that man? It felt like seeing it could answer all these questions. If only I could get close enough to see it. I thought I’d finally have the answers to all my questions.” – Seo Munju
Episodes 8-9
“I feel like I’m dreaming. I’m suddenly called a murderer, and you’re some North Korean spy.” – Seo Munju
“I was curious as well, why war never stops in this world, and who benefits from those wars.” – Seo Munju
“What do you know about women? Women want to have the biggest and the most powerful thing in the world. And I am about to get my hands on it.” – Lim Okseon
“I’m not South Korean or North Korean, or American. I came here to deliver a message to make sure no nuclear bombs fall on any land. Madam President, you have to make that happen.” – Paik Sanho
“I can commit the most destructive act in human history without ever leaving my name behind.” – Lim Okseon
“I wanted to become the most powerful person in the world. And how would I make that happen? By quietly pressing a button.” – Lim Okseon
“I’ve spent my life dreaming of this moment. Ten minutes, Munju. As soon as I’m dead.” – Lim Okseon
“If I have eight minutes to live, I want to spend all eight of them with you.” – Seo Munju
“I think I had a dream. A dream where I met a woman I could die for. I wish I could stay asleep forever.” – Paik Sanho
“That’s the type of president I want. Someone who’s suffered deeply, but still has the strength to push through it, and becomes stronger from it.” – Madam Pres. Chae
“Think about it, not from a personal perspective, but from a historical perspective.” – Madam Pres. Chae
“I had a dream. I was this woman. I didn’t believe in God, but there was a church in my heart. A place built with pillars made from my father’s bones, walls plastered with my mother’s flesh, floors washed clean with my husband’s blood, and where I sent the soul of my previous little child up to heaven.” – Seo Munju
“Before I came here, I buried my love in the black hills and prayed. Take my place, and bestow it upon this land. And when there is enough peace for everyone, enough that no one needs it anymore, then please, return to me my poor, lost love.” – Seo Munju
Genre: Spy, Romance
Also known as: The North Star; Polaris
Synopsis: The story of spies who try to recover their true selves after losing their identity.
No. of episodes: 9
Cast: Jun Ji Hyun, Gang Dong Won
Writer: Jung Seo Kyung
Director: Kim Hee Won
Network: Disney+
Date: September 10, 2025
English subtitle translation / Images: Disney+
KORB 