Lee Gon said this,
“The architect Richard Fuller said, ‘When I find a solution to a problem, I know that I am wrong if the solution is not beautiful’….You are all proud mathematicians of the Kingdom of Corea. Whatever problem you are working on, I hope your solution and your answer are both beautiful.”
How many of you frowned and asked “What? Is there a difference between a solution and an answer? Why does he mean?”
I’ll share with you the three ways I understood Lee Gon. There may be more interpretations out there, but for the sake of brevity, I’m limiting myself to the Liberal Arts point-of-view, Mathematical angle, and Kdrama connection.
First, the Liberal Arts point-of-view.
We have to start with Richard Fuller. Who the heck is he?
He actually went by his second name: Buckminster Fuller or “Bucky” for short. Bucky was the architect, inventor, and designer of the geodesic dome.
This is a geodesic dome.
He designed this Montreal Biosphere in Quebec Canada.
A geodesic dome looks like half a soccer ball. lol.
Kidding aside, the geodesic dome looks like a very lightweight architectural structure but in fact, there’s NO stronger shape than a geodesic dome when it comes to supporting snow or resisting wind. (Math Facts for Bitches!!!)
Bucky was also famous for his environmental concerns. He aimed to save the planet, even before “Save the planet!” became a buzzword. He believed in looking for solutions to world problems with a holistic approach. Take for instance world hunger. He thought this problem should be understood from a broad spectrum and on a global scale, rather than on an individualistic, country-by-country level.
And oh! I almost forgot! “Spaceship Earth” in Epcot, Disneyworld was inspired by him. He coined the phrase “Spaceship Earth” because of his mission to save the planet. Earth is like a spaceship that needed to be maintained like a vehicle.
He considered himself a “futurist” because he was worried about the problems of the future. Personally, though, I think he tried too hard to be a Leonardo da Vinci.
Sorry, Bucky! Leo is still the quintessential Renaissance man for me.
Anyway…
That’s how I understood Fuller’s concept of problem-solving. He saw a problem, and then he imagined — and created — a beautiful solution like the geodesic dome.
So, what’s the difference between a solution and an answer?
A solution is the MEANS to solve a problem. It’s the “how” aspect of problem-solving. Bucky would ponder: how does one solve world poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and the Coronavirus? And then he’d analyze the problem and design a solution (a beautiful one!) in order to fix and overcome the problem.
On the other hand, an answer is a RESPONSE to a question.
The questions are countless. To name a few:
Who do you love?
Can we end world poverty?
Will you fight to preserve world peace?
What’s the meaning of life?
Will you marry me?
The answer is countless too: Yes. No. Perhaps. Depends. 42. Unequivocally. Nope. Why should I? Later. My country first. #TaeEul. #LeeMinHoForever.
Do you see what I mean?
When you take a closer look at what Lee Gon said, you’ll discover that a solution is very much different from an answer. As a liberal arts person would say, the “nuance” is different. 🙂
Second, the Mathematical angle.
lol. This perspective is the easiest of all three to explain. I should have started with this one.
Anybody who’s ever had a math test would know that an answer isn’t sufficient. You ALWAYS have to show your solution. That’s why the teacher always ask you to “SOLVE” the math problem.
Your answer might be the correct one. But if you just write the answer and don’t show your solution, then your professor might suspect you of merely copying your answer from a classmate or you’re guessing.
Just like the Prime Minister here. She said she always guessed the answer when she was clueless. She couldn’t come up with the SOLUTION.
If I were her math professor, I would have been annoyed with her.
So, what’s the difference between a solution and an answer?
In the mathematical world, a solution shows the calculation involved to derive an answer. It provides the explanations or theorems to support the answer. It demonstrates the process so anybody who wants to study the mathematician’s methodology can see the steps taken to reach the logical conclusion. A solution is very important in math.
But there’s a caveat. There are times when a mathematical solution can be too abstract or theoretical. We know this, right? Sometimes, a solution can meet all mathematical constraints and logic, BUT whether feasible is entirely another matter. Sometimes the solution cannot be implemented. That’s why when adapting a math solution to a real-world problem, it’s often suggested to determine whether the solution is do-able….
Or humanly possible.
Now, in contrast, what’s an answer then?
An answer is the key to a problem but it carries no explanation. There’s no rhyme nor reason given. It stands alone.
But mind you, having no explicit or stated explanation does not mean that the answer is wrong.
Third, the Kdrama connection.
And so we’ve come to my third explanation of Lee Gon’s statement, “Whatever problem you are working on, I hope your solution and your answer are both beautiful.”
In the kdrama, Lee Gon used the word “beautiful” two times in Episode 3.
He was in the park to meet TaeEul when the time stopped.
We knew — but he didn’t — that time stopped when his uncle crossed the portal. When time resumed again, he told TaeEul about his discovery.
LG: Time stopped for a bit just now. Didn’t you feel that?
TE: Why would time stop? Did you decide to get weirder?
LG: Everything stopped except for me.
TE: Why not you?
LG: It’s a theory but I think it might be a side effect of using that door. But thanks to that, I saw something beautiful.
Here, he meant TaeEul. She was a beautiful sight to behold.
Using TaeEul’s car, he then went back to the forest. He heard the sound of the flute, the rustling of the bamboo leaves, and his flute shook in his hand. There was a flashback of the broken half, the one with the mouthpiece, falling to the ground. The two stone pillars appeared. There was thunder and a flash of lightning. The glass portal shattered.
He thought to himself, “On that day, I should have realized it once I found out that Manpasikjeok is the key. That traitor Lee Lim has the other half of the Manpasikjeok. And that he is probably alive moving back and forth from the two parallel worlds. I should have known before seeing the beauty I have been looking for.”
Here, the beautiful thing he was referring to was the portal.
He’d been searching for this portal between two worlds. Remember? That’s why he’s been studying Einstein’s quantum mechanics; he was looking for a parallel universe. And he’s found it.
From here on, the viewers can already make an educated guess as to which one is the solution and which one is the answer for Lee Gon.
🙂
Based on my explanations earlier — from both the liberal arts perspective and the mathematical angle, (lol see that? I don’t explain for no good reason) — I say that in Lee Gon’s mind, the solution is the portal, and the answer is TaeEul.
Beautiful solution = portal
Beautiful answer = TaeEul
He’s been saying that his answer is TaeEul. Remember?
He designated her as his “zero”
She thought he was being facetious when all along he was serious. That’s why she said sarcastically, “Do I? Who would have known?”
She was thinking, “Really? Gosh! I’m thrilled! Thank you for that great honor. I would looooove to be called a zero! I could die now.”
Then, he told the Prime Minister, in his usual cryptic manner, that his answer was zero.
But what does this all signify? So what if solution is the portal and the answer is TaeEul???
To me, it’s this: it indicates his priorities, or his hierarchy in life. This is a big deal because when the problem arises with his Uncle in the future, he’ll know what to do because he already has his priorities straight.
The portal is his solution. As beautiful as it is, the portal is ONLY his means or method to solve the danger ahead of him. The essence (or the “nature” as Lee Gon would say it) of a portal is that it functions as a pathway. It’s only the means to an end/destination.
If he has to choose between the portal or TaeEul, he will choose her. He’ll sacrifice the portal for TaeEul, and not the other way around. That’s because TaeEul is his endgame or the answer.
Of course, there’s no rhyme or reason to his decision. To be ruler of two parallel worlds would have been better, mathematically, than to be a lover of one girl.
But she’s his answer, nonetheless. 🙂
And that, to me, is what he meant when he wished the audience, “Whatever problem you are working on, I hope your solution and your answer are both beautiful.”
‘She’s his answer.’
😍 That’s so cool. I thought his speech was special not only because it’s meant to inspire the young mathematicians of KOC but because he is a mathematician as well, he’s filled his office with lots of formulas, equations and lots and lots of numbers all his life. I knew too that a solution is not the same as the answer, whew! This one I know at least 😂
We just need to wait how it all unfolds. Thanks! 😊
Right?
I’m glad you mentioned his office. I was going to mention that but I was in a hurry to get this post out of the way, before you sleep.
His room was full of equations and his hotel room, too. He filled all the windows with scribbles. But despite all those solutions, he needed only answer. The zero.
And the “Zero” at that time, didn’t even want to share her popsicle stick with him. lol. It was hilarious when he sulked that she didn’t even want to give him a popsicle stick. “Waaaaah! What about me?”
Then, he went home because he had to attend to his country’s affairs.
That was cute and it goes to show that yeaaah, mathematical or not, reality is still hardcore learning.
…I freakin’ love this show. Thank you for the analysis.
One of the moments that hit me the most was Prince Buyeongs admission of guilt for the deception re: the death certificate. He felt guilt and carried that weight for years- yet by doing so it created a safe space and allowed LG to grow up strong and fearless, without the threat of the LeeLim looming over his childhood. That was his ‘answer’ to the unsolvable problem of LeeLim.
Thanks @pkml3. Blew my mind when you connected it like that. It’s like every thing means something but I’m not always aware what’s significant and what’s not. It feels so good when everything falls into place! 😁
@Beantown – Yes that confession was heartbreaking. You can feel the burden of the Prince.
However, as LG stated, it was a major crime for him to have withheld that information. Not only on a legal plane but the ramification of the length of time the secret was made — it afforded LL to fortify his diabolical plan… That’s why in the ending of Epi 6, LG says he is now a threat to TE… And on a larger scale, to both of their worlds
I’m not there yet! I haven’t watched Ep 6!! Sorry, I’m such a slowpoke. 😂
But did it make sense? lol. I’m always asking “did it make sense?”
I didn’t want to mention my FOURTH interpretation but I just “snuck” it in just now with an edit. The fourth interpretation is philosophical and ethical. I didn’t want to bore people here with Kant. 🙂
In the “Metaphysics of Morals,” there’s this famous quote, “So act that you use humanity, whether in your person or in the person of other, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means.”
That means you must not (that’s an imperative! CANNOT EVER EVER EVER) use people as a means to an end. but as ends in themselves.
For example: in the story, the bad uncle wants power. That’s his “ends” or his endgame. His goal is to achieve Power. Become Supreme Overlord and the Big Kahuna. He uses people as a “means” or as his instrument to achieve his endgame. He recruits the weak and the disgruntled. He killed his brother. He killed many people. All in his pursuit of his goal.
That’s what Kant means — in kdrama version. lol. That’s immoral. He can’t use people as a means to his end.
That’s why I said that TaeEul would always be Lee Gon’s #1 consideration. Sure, he could get himself killed in the process of his showdown with his Uncle. But he shouldn’t knowingly endanger TaeEul in order to achieve his goals. Even if romance doesn’t enter into the equation, the ethical and moral duty dictate that he protects her. 🙂
@Packmule3, and I never, ever, ever want to take for granted you, your amazing mind, and your willingness to share with us Bitches so we gain clarity. Thank you.
And my favorite class during my Master’s program was philosophy, specifically logical fallacies. Bring on the ethics and philosophy!
@packmule3, I agree with this: But he shouldn’t knowingly endanger TaeEul in order to achieve his goals. Even if romance doesn’t enter into the equation, the ethical and moral duty dictate that he protects her. 🙂
I don’t think that he would knowingly endanger Tae Eul. Protection is a loving act. I hope that LG doesn’t have to choose between his ethical and moral duty to protect the whole of the KoC and to protect Tae-Eul.
@packmule 3-You are brilliant. The connections you make are so absolutely delicious! da Vinci would be proud. I love this drama mainly because there is so much to decode. This is a drama for people who,love symbolism and world building. I think that’s why it is not the ratings blockbuster some have hoped it to be. Part of the joy is that one has to work to enjoy it. Nothing is spoon fed. Nor is it for the lazy. Thanks for the time you take to enlighten us with the riches packed into it. Bravisima!
@pkml3 Yes, it made sense because everything fits in beautifully LOL. The solution and the answer are both beautiful! Ah yes, did you sneak in the Kant philosophy at the end of your post? 😆
I do have a question, though, when you say
Do you mean he’s been studying it for like 10-20 years? What clue gave him the impetus to think there was a portal or another world?
Prince Buyeong (a doctor and on the science side too) was only puzzled how the corpse of ‘LL’s double’had the attributes that made it both LL and another person, but he never came to the conclusion that there could be a parallel world.
Or was it the inexplicable ID Card that should not have existed in his world? He, like HCL Noh, could have come to the ‘logical’ conclusion that it had been a false card, made as a hoax. It had not been dropped though, the child LG had dragged it out of the pocket of his saviour.
So what did the child LG know or see that made him search for a portal?
I don’t know how long he’s been studying quantum mechanics. He didn’t say. 🙂
For you,I fast-forwarded to the scene with Lady Noh and the scene with Prince Buyeong.
They’re lying. I don’t have time to explain so don’t ask me more than what I’ll say right now….
With Lady Noh, LG knew that she was lying. Listen to how he approached her He said, you’ve tasted my phone, you checked my room blahblahblah…then safeguarded the flute for me….
This was the same approach he used when he talked to Prince Buyeong. He didn’t come out ATTACKING. No, he lulled them with his loving memories of the past. He told them how grateful he was to them. Then, after that, he started probing.
He knew that Lady Noh had good intentions for him all along. But just like with Prince Buyeong, he wanted to know if she was hiding something from him.
To me, Lady Noh was lying. First, she couldn’t look at his eyes. Also, she changed her tone; she suddenly spoke to him in formal language, instead of the usual warm and loving way you’d expect when reminiscing of the past. Formal language is often a sign that speech has been rehearsed. 🙂
Then, there’s something else…
As for Prince Buyeong, he admitted that he falsified the report and that he couldn’t comprehend the different physical conditions. However, he omitted things, too. Like, he didn’t tell LG that he and Lady Noh had been in on it together. He also didn’t tell him WHY he hid the truth. When did he think was the appropriate time to tell LG about it? 30 years later? 35 years later? 40 years?
(lol. And why did LG ask for the autopsy report anyway? What made him confirm the report?)
To me, his apology was rehearsed, too. He didn’t show up at the palace grounds right away. He had time to prepare his speech or how much to reveal.
Anyway, got to run. I’ll have to watch the whole thing later.
Thanks a lot. It’s help me understand more about this drama. For me it’s very interesting theories. So, now just wait how about writer nim wrap these stories. It’s so excited to watch whole ep for this drama.
“And the “Zero” at that time, didn’t even want to share her popsicle stick with him.”
Gosh! I haven’t heard of popsicle sticks in yonks! LOL. That’s what we call it back home but here it’s called ice block. I thought that scene was funny too and the thing was LG couldn’t do anything about it. heheheh
“mathematical or not, reality is still hardcore learning.”
So true! Theory works but the practical side of it is the important too. 🙂
I saw an IG post re the possibility of having two sets of shoes during the palace murder. So to find a SOLUTION & ANSWER, I re-checked epi 1 and definitely saw two different shoes!
A – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z1yORfxb3y8Fk7nN0T2OHpB3d3A1gFsF/view
B – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NLPaJDgZfUzKhP7440dlIN1vPRUWns7i/view
But previous to this, I have been bugged by this scene. Specifically, the LULL in the entry of the “saviour/s”. Take note that all timestamps I will indicate are based on the Netflix version
1. At counter 9.29 – “A” enters the hallway, takes a gun from one of the killed guards then the next thing we see is LR strangling young LG,
2. Then at 10. 46 – a loud bang like a gun, then glass dome above shatters, prompting the traitor-guards to aim at the dome ceiling.
3. At 11:05 – masked saviour – could be “A” or “B” – enters the room and more firefighting ensues
4. At 12:20. – “B” enters or re-enters the room firing away at the remaining traitors. He reaches young LG to check his pulse and this is where young LG got the ID.
Based on the figure & silhouette, one is definitely male, bearing LMH’s City Hunter look, which makes the popular guess for the saviour to be the adult LG.
But IF the two different set of shoes is not a wardrobe goof, is it possible that “A” created a diversion by shattering the glass dome so that “B” could have a better chance of fighting the rest of the guards? Otherwise I cannot understand why it would take “A” that long to start fighting off the guards upon his entrance..
Could the masked saviour/s be actually a pair — LG & JY?
LG & TE?
LG & SJ?
SJ & JY?
JY & TE?
Hmmmmmmmm…..
@mychoiyoung, very interesting. A savior duo? Or even two different attempts in a time loop?
@Fern @mychoiyoung Great that you noticed the difference! Did the camera ever focus for a bit on the shoes? I’d be more inclined to say it was not a wardrobe gaffe if they did.
Yes, could it mean 2 different people or 2 different attempts by the same person?
Don’t mind my questions… I’m just putting them out here and anyone can answer them:
One thought I keep having is that, if LG was going to come back to 1994, why didn’t he time it for before his father got stabbed, or even before his father was in the room with the flute. Why not come back earlier to warn everyone and have the flute put away, and have LL watched like a hawk or exiled under some trumped up charge or other?
What was so important about that moment that he had to come back at that time, only in time to save himself? Was it because that was when the flute was cut? Would there have been a cataclysmic illogical problem if he’d chosen any earlier time?
Ah for a brain for physics or string theories or stuff like that!!!
YES! upon re-watching, you will notice the inordinate amount of time on the shoes
@Growing Beautifully (GB), I certainly don’t have that sort of brain – language major, me. Lol. I am pulling guesses out of my hat.
LG said that he is looking for a solution. Someone said it may be in the inter-portal land – we will see. @packmule suggested that he might not be able to carry memories with him when he goes back in time. He may have to try several times before he gets the timing right, or try forever. 😑 I hope not.
Wooah then! @mychoiyoung, you’re onto something. If the shoes are singled out for camera work, then they are important. Good catch! Let’s see if we can get more memories out of LG on whether he can recall the heights or other details of those shadowy figure(s). Of course, it would be great if the show, would just show us a bit more and keep us from guessing so wildly!!!
@Fern, I’m definitely not a science or math type at all. Dabbled in humanities and arts and I remember nothing!!! LOL.
Still I like what TE said. It’s the Liberal Arts students who come up with creative things and it’s the Science students who have to make those things a reality. TE may really have to dig deep into her well of creativity to help LG when it comes to the crunch. 🙂
Good point about Tae Eul digging deep. She may be a liberal arts type, but she depends on logic, proof and linking bits of evidence in her job, so she’s not simply about intuition and may have some engineer-type talents. LG and she will work well together.
@mychoiyoung, I hope @packmule3 gives you an award for excellent detective work. Yes, the shoes do get a lot of focus in the assassination scene, and maybe we missed this clue because there’s a lot of focus on feet: the Evil Prince leaving bloody footprints as he ascends the stairs, the young Crown Prince stepping barefoot through puddles of blood. I did note that the canvas sneakers are the style of shoe we see TE wearing a lot in ROK. At one point during the focus on the savior’s sneakers, stars are visible on the sides. So there’s a second pair without stars? I join you in your hmmmmmm….
I like that theory!!
Now that I know that Lee Gon couldn’t shoot very well at the arcades, I wouldn’t mind having “another shooter” theory. 😀
@packmule, in my experience, arcade ‘skill’games can be quite dodgy and involve weighted balls, not quite straight barrels, etc. Otherwise, too many people would win. LG may or may not be that bad – I think this will be revisited.
I looked at the shoes. Both appeared to be similar slightly high-top black sneakers. Pair A had a very deep rubber sole with small bumps along the bottom side; Pair B the other had smooth sides, so I think that this hint was valid.
@packmule3 and @Fern, LG is not a good shot. This from ep. 4 when LG is talking to his former commanding officer at the funeral:
CO: I should’ve stopped you from leaving the army. [Wait…what? I thought LG was in the Navy. Subtitle translation error?] Right. You wouldn’t have been promoted because you’re not talented in combats. You came in last place.
LG [looking surprised]: Last place…I wasn’t…[with a little smile, CO breaks gaze and looks down; LG heaves a big sigh] Hasn’t it been classified as a national secret yet?
This could mean 1) LG really is bad at combats, including his shooting skills; or 2) LG is better than he lets on, “throwing” his participation in combats for some reason.
I’m going with with #1, because I don’t think his pride would let him come in last place intentionally. This is a man proud of his athletic accomplishments. He bragged to TE during his police interview, as she forcibly took his fingerprints: “Don’t think that you just overpowered me. I have trained my body with all kinds of exercises. You seem to not believe me. I hope to be able to prove it. Rowing, horse riding, taekwondo, fencing, boxing…”
I note that LG must love rowing. He lists it first here, and also when answering TE’s question about what kind of king he is: “A rower, a mathematician, a well-grown orphan, and the owner of the Four Tiger Sword. The kind of king who has never been asked such a question and is trying his best not to panic.”
I see you point, @welmaris, and that’s what I thought, too, but he did well at hand-to-hand in the alleyway when Shin-Jae and Tae-Eul were out-numbered and out weaponed. I must have been blinded by his slick moves with the shades and crop. 😎
Howdy! 🙂
That’s interesting about having two people who help saved young LG back in 1994. I do remember a lot of the shoe scenes yes. I clearly remember having a recall scene on it with TE as the one in black, just can’t remember which episode. I’m sure it was her at that time.
Also yeah I expected LG to be good at shooting but the arcade shooting game made it a dud. LOL. I guess when he did say what he’s good at, shooting should have been one of them?
@Fern, I imagine LG’s skills in taekwondo, fencing, and boxing led to his success in fighting with his riding crop. Highly trained reflexes, and all that… Just don’t put a gun in his hands and expect the same level of proficiency.
I do suspect shooting games in arcades have diminished accuracy, likely on purpose, and yet TE believed anyone with military service in their background should do well.
@Welmaris, I’m like TE 🙂
@agdr03, good with guns? 😂😂😂😉
When LG & TE were talking about mini Minomi dolls, LG said, “I knew it! Everyone in your country is a swindler!” , I took that to mean that the shooting game was rigged.
So he could be a good shooter after all.
But then again, as I have mentioned in my previous post, there could be more than 1 saviour, so it seems.
@Fern, yeah good with guns and good with shooting it. 😱🤣
HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE JY? (better of you sing it, hehe)
MYSTERY #1
I found a couple of March 2020 articles from IBT and they seem to point out more twists in this series involving JY —
And another one
MYSTERY #2
#1 MYSTERY
In Epi 1, what does this exchange mean during the Mourning Ritual?
Young JY: Hey, eat this! I’ll give it to you.
Young LG: Put that away!
Male Figure: He is not moving an inch.
Ok Nam: Right
Male Figure: He should not talk like that to the King
Ok Nam: It’s all part of a plan. Just wait and see.
HMMMMMMMM….
Is this why JY has not told the King that LR was spotted during the rowing game?
Hmmmmm….
@agdr03, I’m scared now. Be kind.
@mychoiyoung, thank you for this information on JY. I don’t want either him or Eun-Seop to be bad. 😶 I want them to work as brothers/twins and same with Na-ri. But that’s just me being sentimental and not looking at clues.
@mychoiyoung, ref: Minomi dollsI didn’t know that this was a thing so I googled it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGKZ7fYMMjY
Dear oh dear. What next?
@Fern, lol I wasn’t referring to me, I was referring to TE believing that anyone from military should be able to shoot accurately. 😂
I’m not good at shooting woth guns at all. 😂
@agdr03. I know. I was teasing.😂 Personally I’ve never tried shooting, so I can’t say if I’d be good or not.
Oh 😄 I wouldn’t mind trying but then it depends because isn’t it loud? I guess it depends too what sort of shooting it is. 😁
I think you have to wear ear protection. I may try one day. I’m probably a natural. Pfffft. 😁
Of course! Natural! 😁
You have a beautiful site here, I was trawling all over the internet searching for someone who would explain the mathematics side of this drama, not holding a lot of hopes as most people only focus on the love story and got put off at how confusing the storyline goes.
lo and behold… I found this site! The wonders of the internet.
Keep up the great works!