I have to recreate the timeline because it’s not as straightforward as we think they are. I’m going to separate Taesul’s timeline from SeoHae’s timeline and explain things as I go. Please bear with me until the end because that’s when it gets tough. 🙂

Taesul’s Timeline

August 11, 2010

1. Date of “Quantum & Time” listing.
2. Dinner with investors
3. Taesan interrupts dinner with wild ranting. He said he saw “them.”

Taesan: I saw them. Remember what I told you?
TSul: Hyung!
Taesan: I’m serious. They were holding a suitcase.
TSul: Did you drink again?

His hyung had a drinking problem.

Taesan: A little. But that’s not why I’m telling you this.

They were interrupted by Seokbong. Then they continued talking.

TSul: This is an important–
Taesan: This is important, too. It concerns you as well.

Note: he was worried about his younger brother’s safety.

Taesan: We’re not the only ones in this world. People who aren’t from this world are living among us. Even now. They’re hiding somewhere, watching us.

To me, it was clear that he was talking about the aliens hiding and watching them. He wasn’t talking about the Control Bureau. The Control Bureau, according to the Chief, was only formed in 2019.

Of course, somebody could argue that the Control Bureau is made up of aliens. But that wouldn’t make sense because why would they kill one of their own aliens, SeoHae? 🙂  So for now, let’s just say that the Control Bureau is a legit government agency with covert operations.

TSul: Hyung, please. Enough of this crazy talk.
Taesan: Listen to me. They’re looking for you.

Yes, it would make total sense that the aliens were looking for him. Taesul was either:

A. their savior who created the time machine so they could return home or
B. the devil who caused a nuclear holocaust and made the lives miserable for everybody. They would want to stop him if he was the origin of their misery.

TSul: Why are you doing this?
Taesan: Believe me, please.
TSul: They’re looking for you. They’ll keep coming.
Taesan: Who’s coming? And from where?
TSul: That’s not important. Remember –

There we go again. Even his hyung was spouting the same that the “where” wasn’t important. You know who else said this?

The men from the Control Bureau.

The Chief was asked by the restaurant owner, “Who are you guys? You’re not from the Immigration Office are you? Where are you from?” The Chief answered him, “Sir, what’s important isn’t “where.”

Taesul also asked the Chief where did these illegal immigrants come from. His Assistant barged in and said that the “where” was not important. The “where” wasn’t important because these people were from the same location. The relevant question was “when.”

Going back to Taesul’s conversation with his hyung…

He offered his hyung money to go away since he had his investors waiting for him.

Taesan: This isn’t about money, you know. It won’t take long. Just spare me five minutes.
TSul: Hyung, I know you went through a lot, but must I put up with this forever? I’ll repay you everything.
Taesan: No. I’m just so worried about you. What if something happens —
TSul: Hyung, if you really care about me, drop this and go home.
Taesan: (grabbing him) Hey, let’s step out for a moment.
TSul: Seriously, enough.
Taesan: I’ll explain outside.
TSul: I’ll call you.
Taesan: No, our phones are tapped!

They tussled and Taesan ended up on the ground. Taesul threw him an envelope of money. This was the last time they spoke to each other.

The interesting part here is that this falling-out with his brother happened a decade ago. So for ten years, Taesul survived despite the aliens looking for him — as his brother said. But Taesul wasn’t hiding; he was in plain sight these past years. So if the aliens kept coming to look for him, as his brother warned him, then he must have a guardian angel protecting him all this time.

August 12, 2010

Taesan’s death.
Taesan’s Date of Birth: December 12, 1976
He was 34 years old.

July 10, 2020

Taesul’s birthday. Where did he spend his birthday?
His hyung’s passcode for the door and suitcase was his birthday. 820710.

July 15, 2020

TaeSul is on his way back from Saipan; he deliberately misses his board meeting.
His aircraft is hit first by a suitcase, next by his brother Taesan flying in the clouds. His brother may have sustained a concussion and/or head trauma because blood was on the windshield.

August 12, 2020

Noteworthy: This was the 10th year death anniversary of Taesul’s hyung, Han Taesan. He died August 12, 2010. But nobody made a memorial ceremony for him. Did anybody remember? It’s ironic that Taesul’s therapist wanted him to move on, on his death anniversary.

Taesul is released from hospital. He returns home and has a lot of gifts and mails from fans.
Seokbong lectures him for not visiting the therapist, their friend SeoJin.
Taesul goes to visit therapist.
On the way home, they nearly run over the copilot,
CoPilot gives him a USB stick.
Taesul watches it and realizes that the suitcase and his brother, Han Taesan, slammed against the airplane.

My notes:

a. Here’s the conversation between the copilot and Taesul.

TSul: What happened? Who did this to you?
Copilot: The Control Bureau. Are you on their side?
TSul: What?
Copilot: That was not a bird. I saw it.
TSul: What exactly did you see?
Copilot: (looks around him) The suitcase. (somebody seems to be watching them from the bushes)
TSul: What?
Copilot: (Gives him a USB stick then runs away)

b. The Control Bureau already beat him up badly. Why didn’t they just kill him instead of letting him go? Especially when they were going to boobytrap his car the following day, anyway? Rigging the car to explode upon ignition was EXTRA work when they already had him in their CUSTODY and could dispose of his body without the police getting involved.

He was a lone wolf. The Control Bureau always an army of men. 

c. If somebody was watching them from the dark, it wasn’t the Control Bureau.

Why?

Because the CB Chief had no idea Han Taesul was involved in the case. When the Chief was informed that SeoHae called up Taesul and heard the recording, “Han Taesul? Don’t open the suitcase,” he was visibly surprised so the Assistant reassured him that he didn’t hear it wrong.

Chief: Han Taesul? The Han Taesul?
Assistant: Yes. The CEO of Quantum & Time.

If the CB agents had been shadowing the copilot, the Chief would’ve gotten a report.

d. The following day, the copilot’s car was boobytrapped after he had finalized a meeting with a reporter. Starting an explosion wasn’t the Control Bureau’s style.

When they went off to hunt down Seohae, the Assistant ordered the men to put on their silencers. He said, “there are eyes watching.” It’s assumed that he was talking about the neighbors, but I say he meant the aliens as well. It was important for the Control Bureau to keep their operations covert in order NOT to alarm the citizens and NOT to alert the aliens that they were onto them.

e. I say it’s the alien or an agent from the future. They’re the ones killing the people who had been  contacted by the Control Bureau, like the restaurant owner.

I don’t believe he was killed by the Control Bureau. He was killed by an agent from the future.

But of course, there could be a rogue agent among the CB team.

August 13, 2020

Taesul leaves house to search for suitcase that dropped from the sky.
He misses another meeting.
He finds suitcase. It contained camera, key, some vials.

He also finds an old phone. He gets a call from Mr. Park.

Note: According to the subs on Netflix, the date on the phone was “January 22, Tuesday.” The time shown the phone was 2:19.

I don’t know if the date is relevant, given that this is a burner phone. Taesan was probably given the phone so he could contact his “broker” upon arrival but Taesan didn’t know how to reset the time. He didn’t want a digital camera because it lacked “humanity.”

Taesul’s friend SeungBok calls him because he missed meetings, then tells him to go home asap.
His house was broken into. Nothing was taken but message was left behind a Mondrian painting. The message said, “Don’t look for your brother. If you do, you’ll die.”

FYI. That Mondrian painting is called “Trafalgar Square.”

That night, Taesul develops the film in Taesan’s camera. Discovers weird pictures, including his conference on the 15th and a wedding photo.

Aug 14, 2020

He goes to crematorium and takes out Hyung’s ashes.
He tests DNA of hyung and finds that it’s not a match to his DNA. (*the DNA machine had wrong month. It said NOV 14, 2020)

Note: You can get DNA from ashes if there are some bone or teeth fragments left since these don’t burn easily. However, there’s usually a machine that grinds these. A good crematory wouldn’t want to hand survivors some bone fragments with the ashes in case the ashes were to be scattered. But whatever…

On the way home, Taesul’s memory is jogged by Bongseon. He remembers the safe the mysterious key unlocks.
He goes to the old lab that his brother built for him. Bongseon waits outside.
Mr. Park calls him again and gives him heads-up that the CB team is on the way.
Taesul is captured. He’s taken to the Immigration CB headquarters for interrogation.
CB chief shows him picture of SeoHae and asks him if he knows her.
He’s released after he’s knocked unconscious.

Here’s the interrogation scene:

Chief: Have you met this woman before?
TS: (looks at it and recognizes SeoHae as his bride in the picture) No. Who is that?

He’s speaking the truth. He hasn’t met her yet.

Chief: Where’s the suitcase?
TS: (he looks at the Assistant who flashes his gun)
Chief: Let me ask you again. Where’s the suitcase?
TS: Who are you guys?
Chief: I told you that we’re the Immigration Control Bureau.
TS: Managing immigrants coming from where? What does that have to do with me?
Assistant: (interrupting) Mr. Han, the important thing isn’t where they come from.
Chief: (eyeing the Assistant with disapproval for his remark) We don’t want to harm you, Mr. Han. Normally, we should’ve taken care of you already, but because of your social status…You know what government business is like. Please cooperate. I’ll ask you one last time. Where’s the suitcase?
TS: I don’t know.
Chief: Alright. You seem to be quite a playboy. It’s best to stay out of trouble in these unsettling times, don’t you think? There’ll be a “Me Too” article released tomorrow.

They won’t kill him. They’ll have a smear campaign if he doesn’t cooperate with their investigation. As for the armed men when they brought him in from the shack, I thought that was overkill. lol. But they needed that many men to “escort” him in because they didn’t know if he was a dangerous fellow.

TS: What?
Chief: I guess your stock prices will drop about 10 percent. And for the day after tomorrow…Yes, this will be nice. Retinol, diazepam…Habitual use of illegal psychotropic drugs. If there’s an article about the CEO Han Taesul being a drug addict, you’ll have to give up your position. Shall we meet again? If you sit in that chair after you become a normal citizen, you won’t be able to say things so confidently like “I don’t know. I don’t remember” again.
TS: Whatever you want.
Chief: Everyone starts out as confident as you. But they all act the same eventually. They say “Please let me live, I’ll tell you everything. Please just don’t kill me.” Like your brother, Han Taesan.

August 15, 2020

Taesul wakes up after being knocked out.
He decides to go to Busan a day early with his bodyguard, Bongseon.
He looks at a picture of his brother.

While waiting for the train, Bongseon asked if it wasn’t dangerous to go the conference. The Control Bureau could be there.

TSul: What if they do?
Bongseon: Maybe they’re the ones who wrote that on the wall. The Control Bureau or something.
TSul: No. they’re not.
Bongseon: How would you know that?
TSul: If they wanted to kill me, they’d have done it yesterday.

He walks to his 10:30 am train to Busan. He spots SeoHae.

Seohae’s Timeline

As I commented in another thread, Taesul’s timeline is easy to follow. However, SeoHae’s timeline is an entirely different matter. If we use logic, the timelines prepared by @miracle23 and @GrowingBeautifully are perfect. Thank you, ladies!!

 

However, if we just follow the script, and just go with the confirmed dates, then you’ll notice the gaps and anomalies.

August ?? 2020*

*We don’t know the exact date she left the future. All we know is that she was there at the departure building when it opened for business. And since this is time-travel, I’m assuming that she traveled at quantum speed and arrived on 2020 Earth on the same day that she left post-apocalyptic Earth.

Control Bureau troop is waiting for her at the train depot.
She hides on top of the train and waits.

Note the imagery. The men surround her, forming a clock.

August 12, 2020

August 12 is a verified date. We have the TV news to confirm this date.

She forages for food outside the Chinese restaurant, and Jaesun discovers her.
She eats at Jaesun’s restaurant.
Jaesun reports her to the police while she eats. He describes her as weird because she’s wearing pajamas and has no shoes. (There! She couldn’t have been walking for days without street clothes and shoes.)
She and Jaesun watch lotto.
She hears news that Taesul was released that day from the hospital following a month-stay.
She glitches. There’s a brief power outage. She collapses. She has a nosebleed.

Note:

I’m assuming this is either from the radiation from the quantum travel, stress from finding out that Taesul had been hospitalized, or her time delay catching up with her.

August 13, 2020

SeoHae wakes up.
Jaesun comes in with her breakfast.
She opens her suitcase. Code: 120930

It contained two jars, one notebook with a diary, and her lady’s M16 rifle.
She puts on her locket.

She eats breakfast prepared by Jaesun. He bought a bunch of bananas, saying, “Here. I believe you enjoyed this yesterday.” He teaches her how to eat one.

This is how we know it’s August 13. He said “yesterday.” Note: he bought at least 5 of them.

She tells Jaesun to call up Han Taesul.
She mistakes a voice recording to be Taesul’s voice.
She warns him about the suitcase after reading her diary entry:
“2020.08.13. Do not open the suitcase!! (Call Han Taesul!) Take it and run?”

August ?? 2020*

*Here’s when the timeline breaks down in earnest. It’s commonly assumed that this is a start of a new day, August 14. But it isn’t.

She wakes up from a nightmare. She dreamt she was shot on her wedding day.

Note: the gun is unlike the firearms issued to the CB team.

She sits up and has a nosebleed.

She’s blinded by the sunlight through the window and goes out to investigate.

She marvels at tomato plant and enjoys the sunny day and fresh air.
She has a flashback of her dad telling her not to breathe the poisonous air.

To me, this must have been when she made the decision to go to Busan to save Taesul. She can’t let this beautiful place be destroyed again.

Somewhere in the city, the Control Bureau visits Jaesun’s restaurant. The owner says the restaurant isn’t open yet. (Hmmmm…this is inconvenient. I can’t tell if the restaurant opens for lunch or for dinner.)

Here’s part of their conversation.

Owner: Now, I never hire anyone who seems the slightest bit suspicious.
Chief: It’s not about that. We received a report.
Jaesun’s recording: It’s the police right? Some strange woman entered our restaurant….She doesn’t seem to be a foreigner. She speaks Korean. But something smells fishy.
Chief: That’s Sun’s voice! That lousy jerk. I knew he’d cause trouble.

The assistant takes out his detector and find signs of contact. The Chief starts the interrogation.

Chief: Where were you last night?
Owner: I was at home.
Chief: Are there any other security cameras besides that?
Owner: No, that’s the only one.
Chief: Were you with friends or family last night?
Owner: No, I live alone.

Please note: TWICE, the Chief asks about “last night” so this isn’t a mental lapse. But Seohae was at the restaurant on August 12 and Jaesuk made the call to the police on August 12.

This tells me that the “last night” the Chief is referring to is August 12 (and not August 13) and so the current date is August 13. This also means that it’s still the same day as when Seohae made the phone call to Taesul. She must have taken just a short nap because it’s still the same day.

Just a power nap. 

Now, let’s continue with the events of the day…

After Control Bureau visit the restaurant, they go to Jaesun’s home.

Jaesun is on his way home. He’s again on the phone talking about a money (just like he did on the night of August 12).
He has a bunch of bananas AGAIN.

Don’t you find that weird? If this is still August 13, then he bought bananas for SeoHae TWICE in one day. What’s this? What happened to the bananas he bought earlier? Is Seohae a banana eating monster?

His landlady nags him about his female guest.
He glances up to see Seohae outdoors. He mumbles, “Why is she out there when she’s sick?” And he rushes to meet her.

His concern is sweet. And it tells us that he’s still concerned because she just fainted the night before, August 12.

I’m including their conversation because it sounded like their bickering like noona-donsaeng.

JS: You shouldn’t be out here when you’re sick. (Awwww. He’s taking care of her after she fainted.)
SH: You’re here. Let’s go.
JS: That bag…
SH: I got it from your closet. Let me borrow it.
JS: Gosh. That’s expensive. But where are you going?

He’s reluctant to lend her his expensive bag, but he’s willing to buy her bananas.

SH: Busan.
JS: Like that? Why?
SH: If Han TaeSul opened the suitcase, they’re going to kill him.

By “who,” I think he’s asking “who” will kill Taesul.

JS: Who?
SH: You don’t have to come. Just get me a ticket.
JS: No way. You have to pay me first. You said you’ll give me the numbers if I made the call.
SH: I never said I would.
JS: What? Hey. I let you stay the night and even fed you.

Note: he’s only talking about ONE night. August 12.

JS: (continuing) Plus you’re taking my bag. That’s worth a lot. I didn’t report you, even if you seemed a bit strange. (This is lie, of course. He called the police.) And you do this? I could just report you. Give me back my back. (He tugs on her sleeve and it rips off.) Oh, sorry. I’m really sorry. (She grabs his throat) I said I’m sorry. (She glitches and he falls down.)

lol. I noticed that cross again. This is a trope in kdramas. A Christian cross in the skyline to symbolize a moment of truth or introspection.

JS: (shocked) What? Who are you? Are you a ghost? You’re a ghost, right? Please spare me. Just this once! I have an elderly mother and a younger sibling. My family will starve without me. Please don’t kill me. Please have mercy.
SH: (Gets lotto paper) I’ll tell you the rest when we’re in Busan.

Then, she borrows his clothes.
He calls up his boss to take a day off. I don’t know what time the restaurant is supposed to open but I know that they’ll be at train station later for the 10:20am train.

JS: Hang on. I need to take the day off. Why isn’t he answering? Is he still not at the restaurant? He’s never this late. Hang on one more minute. Let me call once.

But the Control Bureau arrives at Jaesun’s place.
There’s the shoot out.
Note: SeoHae keeps a hand on Jaesun practically the whole time.

I think this is her way of keeping Jaesun in her “time bubble.”

She throws him over the roof, and she leaps after that. She glitches (listen to the sound) in midair.
The CB team catches up with them.
They jump off the rooftop.
The Chief lets them go, saying that SeoHae won’t survive long without a broker anyway.
Assistant tells them that they received word from headquarters. He plays recording of SeoHae’s earlier call to Han Taesul. She was warning him, “Han Taesul? Don’t open the suitcase.”
The Chief sounds surprised.

Chief: Han Taesul? The Han Taesul?
Assistant: Yes. The CEO of Quantum & Time.

August 15, 2020

SeoHae goes to the train station with Jaesun.
Jaesun and the bodyguard Bongseon cross path at the ticket booth.

This is how we know it’s August 15: Seohae encounters Taesul at the train station. We know the approximate time. It’s before 10:20 am.

But what happened to August 14?? One whole day was just skipped over.

Jaesun buys the tickets while SeoHae’s at the restroom. She inspects her wound. This is a fresh wound, meaning that the shoot-out just occurred.

When SeoHae joins him, Jaesun starts complaining about the price of the tickets because:

SeoHae’s train leaves at 10:20am, but arrives later.
Taesul’s train leaves at 10:30am, but arrives sooner.

JS: Gosh, these thieves. They always try to make you buy the expensive ones. Isn’t it funny? Look at the screen over there. The KTX Train leaves ten minutes later than the Mugunghwa Train, but it arrives three hours earlier. Doesn’t that resemble our lives? People who have wealthy parents get to ride KTX Trains and arrive earlier than other guys even when they leave later than them. Life is so unfair.
SH: (says nothing)
JS: (spots blood) What? What is that?
SH: Yes.

His surprised reaction verifies that they went directly to the train station after the shooting encounter. He can’t stop talking about the encounter because it’s still fresh in his mind.

JS: But who were those guys? They said they were the Control Bureau. Are you an illegal immigrant?
SH: None of your business.
JS: Hey.
SH: What?
JS: Who were they? They even had guns!
SH: The Control Bureau!
JS: What kind of government bureau carries guns around like that? My gosh, I almost died, you know. I can’t die. I told you. I’m the breadwinner of the family. If you don’t tell me the lottery number… I can’t even go home, and my boss isn’t picking up my calls. I don’t even have money for the trip back.
SH: Just report me.
JS: What? Jeez. What do you take me for? But why are you looking for Han Taesul? Do you know him? Or is there money involved? Or is this a love affair? (she gives him a death stare) Is he really going to die? Is he an illegal immigrant too? Or is he in the Control Bureau?
SH: No.
JS: Then what?
SH: (silence)

Jaesun goes to the restroom and Seohae completes the lotto number.

After completing one column, she leaves it behind.
She goes to her train. She senses someone looking at her. She turns around.

********************

Now, earlier today, @Janey asked me about this second lotto ticket. I already explained how Seohae figured out the numbers on the August 12 lotto (and it made sense, right?) but I can’t explain EXACTLY how this second lotto ticket works. You see, there’s still a lot of unknown variables I needed to know.

For example, I don’t know how lotto works because I’ve never played it in my whole life. Was she supposed to complete all 5 columns by the end of the week? Or just do one column a day? If she’s only required to give August 15’s number, then I think she could do it.

Also, I don’t know how long she can slow down her time. It seems like she was able to slow it enough that she skipped August 14 in normal time. That’s 24 hours unaccounted for or “lost.”

Note: For those who are still confused, when I say she “slows down” time, I mean she’s able to prolong, lengthen, and extend the minutes and hours of a day, that when she came out of the “spacetime” it’s already August 15 in real time.

And I don’t know how she resets her time. She flows in and out of her spacetime. To me, her glitches are the outward signs of her internal clock booting up or catching up with the current time. She isn’t a hologram or a ghost. She’s physically there.

But one thing I do know for sure is that her time is very elastic and it shows in her timeline as I explained it. 🙂