Summary
Designated Survivor: 60 Days Season 1, Episode 13, “Presidential Candidate” presents the true test of being a candidate for Park Mu-jin, with his campaign underway.
This recap of Designated Survivor: 60 Days Season 1, Episode 13, “Presidential Candidate” contains significant spoilers. The Korean Netflix Series will be running weekly every Monday and Tuesday until season 1 ends. You can read the recap of the previous episode by clicking these words.
Now that Park Mu-jin (Jin-hee Ji) is running for President, Episode 13 gives the audience the chance to see how the well-educated man deals with a new type of pressure. As he returns to the office, Yeon-seok gives Park some cutting words — it’s on; it’s campaigning time.
The first choice Park Mu-jin has to make as a Presidential Candidate is to choose a party — he decides to stay independent, not wanting to become part of the tense partisan lines.
Episode 13 sees Chief Presidential Secretary Cha prepare his candidate; how to shake hands, smile and look at someone. “Every vote counts” he says, but even I’m not convinced he is strong enough to strive in this campaign. The first event he attends since his announcement is meeting a famed director at the opening of her new movie. It’s an awkward exchange, and then she announces that she’s in a same-sex relationship, while Park Mu-jin stands awkwardly on the sidelines.
And like always, when Park Mu-jin gets an idea, he stands by it. He learns that his country has still not passed the Discrimination Act Bill, and the UN are chasing for a response. He decides to make it his mission to push it through, knowing that past Presidents have failed for 10 years. His team look bewildered by his actions. Yeong-seok delivers a statement about Park’s intentions, spinning the media into his favour.
As for Na-gyeong, she visits Han-mo in prison. She reassures him that everything is okay, but he must reveal what he knows about Tae-ik. He makes a demand — save his son Jae-min, and then he can safely disclose information knowing his family is safe. Luckily enough, Na-gyeong gets a tip that his son is in hospital after an allergic reaction from his captor.
“Presidential Candidate” shows that Park Mu-jin is still well behind in the first poll results, which is not good historically. Surprisingly, Assemblywoman Yun asks Park to put a motion on the table for the discrimination act, meaning the Acting President now has to decide whether to go ahead with it. Secretary Cha believes it is a ploy and heavily suggests that he should leave it to the next administration.
As Designated Survivor: 60 Days Season 1, Episode 13, “Presidential Candidate” ends, Yeon-seok demands to see the VIP or he will withdraw his presidency. The director that we met at the start of the episode meets Park Mu-jin, explaining she is inspired to vote for him since his plans for the Discrimination Act. This encourages Park Mu-jin to go ahead and call a cabinet meeting, much to the horror of Secretary Cha.
Episode 13 is an excellent chapter, highlighting that Park Mu-jin is hoping a genuine approach will prevail in the end.
Presidential Secretary Notes
- Na-gyeong has planted a microphone on General Eun, and they eavesdrop on a conversation he has with Yeon-seok — they learn about the elusive name “VIP”.
- Park Mu-jin keeps holding his side caused by the assassination attempt — will this hamper his campaign?
- Park learns that running for President means he cannot open an investigation against Yeon-seok — it’s a conflict of interest.
You can read the recap of the fourteenth episode by clicking these words.
