Season 1 Plot
The idealistic Choe In-ha has her work cut out for her when she becomes a broadcast reporter, especially when she suffers from a condition known as “Pinocchio syndrome", which makes her break out into hiccups whenever she tells a lie. Her rookie colleagues include Gi Ha-myeong, whose shabby appearance masks his true eloquence and sharp memory; 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. The 20-something newbie reporters pursue justice as they try to discover themselves in the process.
Pinocchio Season 1 aired on November 12th, 2014.
Season 1 Episodes
1. Pinocchio
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.
2. The Ugly Duckling
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.
3. The Snow Queen
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.
4. Romeo and Juliet
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.
5. The King Has Donkey Ears
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.
6. Two Years' Vacation
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.
7. The Frog in the Well
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.
8. One Lucky Day
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.
9. The Pied Piper
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.
10. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
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.
11. A Midsummer Night's Dream
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.
12. The Magic Flute
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.
13. The Gift of the Magi
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.
14. Hansel and Gretel
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.
15. Don Quixote
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.
16. The Emperor's New Clothes
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.
17. The Scarlet Letter
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.
18. The Red Shoes
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.
19. The North Wind and the Sun
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.
20. Peter Pan
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.