Workplace Drama ‘Misaeng’ Is A Surprise Hit

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

Watching 'Misaeng' could make you hate Mondays. You could hate the day because it means you have to wait a few more days for another episode of the drama, starring ZE:A's Im Si Wan and Kang So Ra. But you might also dread Monday because of the way the drama portrays a treacherous day in the office.

There's backstabbing, bullying, broken deals and fistfights. It's not a place you want to work but apparently quite a few people do work in such an environment.

Apparently that portrayal rings so true that young workers in Korea are tuning in and raising the drama's ratings. The cable drama resonates so well with younger viewers that it is being compared to the hit drama "Reply 1994."

The tvN Friday-Saturday drama reached over 5 percent in the ratings when its latest episode aired last week. Those numbers are similar to the ratings achieved by "Reply 1994," which reached 11.9 percent by its final episode. That is the highest rating ever achieved by a cable TV program.

The 20-part drama is based on the webtoon "Misaeng" by cartoonist Yoon Tae Ho. The hero of this unlikely drama is Jang Geu Rae, a young worker who never attended college because he planned to become a professional baduk player. Initially, his fellow interns look down on him because he has no academic credentials but he proved his worth to the company.

The drama may be successful because it portrays the struggles that some young workers face, especially those who take an alternate route to office life. Nor do Jang Geu Rae's superiors fare much better. They are under enormous pressure from their superiors to succeed, working long hours and ignoring their health.

And the drama is achieving its rating success without having a love story. The drama's producers have already announced that the production will stick close to the webtoon and that means no romance. Cartoonist Yoon Tae Ho rejected every offer to produce a drama based on his webtoon because he worried they would add a love line to his story. Kim Won Suk, the drama's producer, told reporters at a press conference that he promised Yoon he would not do that. His promise sealed the deal.

"We, instead, focused more on life of ordinary people like the original cartoon to give glimpse at office life," said Kim Won Suk.
The popularity of the drama has also boosted sales of the nine-volume cartoon. It sold one million copies within two weeks of the show's debut. That made it the most sold book in online bookstores.

"Misaeng" also stars Lee Sung Min, Kang Ha Neul and Byun Yo Han.
source: kdramastars

Comments

[ggumd.livejournal.com]

I'm on ep 3 so far and this might be the first k-drama i follow all the way through since 49 days lol quick question for those who watched it will there be a romance between jang gue rae and youngyi in the future? i ship em ngl

[love-keiko.livejournal.com]

no pls god no, lol.

And the drama is achieving its rating success without having a love story. The drama's producers have already announced that the production will stick close to the webtoon and that means no romance. Cartoonist Yoon Tae Ho rejected every offer to produce a drama based on his webtoon because he worried they would add a love line to his story. Kim Won Suk, the drama's producer, told reporters at a press conference that he promised Yoon he would not do that. His promise sealed the deal.

seriously it's 10 episodes out. once u get caught up u're going to be SO thankful that there is no love story because the friendship between the newbie team will become ur everything.

[ggumd.livejournal.com]

oh thank you I didnt read the article lol honestly i can't imagine the other interns being nice to siwan at this point I just want to clock all of them especially that beady eyed one (i forgot his name) they are so mean to him but "because the friendship between the newbie team will become ur everything." ill be happy if they'll accept them I feel so bad for him being the loner in the office with only the assistant manager helping out every now and thats why i ship him and youngyi because she's the only semi friend he has lol

[love-keiko.livejournal.com]

oh no it changes slowly as he starts to find his place and it's super uplifting to watch. keep going u wont be disappointed!

[woorijinki.livejournal.com]

That's great, honestly. Although, I wanted a love-line between them at first, I quickly realized that it's not necessary. The story is perfect as is. And it just has so much heart, I love it so much.

[achan123.livejournal.com]

hmmm
sounds like it would hit pretty close to home with the "working hard and late and ignoring health" conundrum thingy


guess i'll watch when its a few episodes in

[juhli.livejournal.com]

The drama is not a surprise hit in the traditional sense, the webtoon proved that there was a big audience for this story. It's the amazing execution that is surprising.

I hope the success of this drama opens doors for more stories dealing with real life, showing other occupations without chaebols and no love lines in focus.

[love-keiko.livejournal.com]

THIS!

i love a good romance but i didnt realize how much i need this drama until i actually got it!

[agoongprincess.livejournal.com]

i love this drama and TVN has been on such a ball this year with incredible dramas focused on people & their relaitionships instead of unnecessary trashy plots all over the place. My favs this year were Marriage not Dating, Plus Nine Boys and I loved Surplus Princess then they cut it by 4 episodes...... Miseang is incredible and I hope it keeps up being flawless

[woorijinki.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't call it a surprise hit either. tvN has been hyping this drama since the beginning of the year and the webtoon was very popular, so I sort of expected it to be pretty popular. I just didn't expect to be this GOOD. Like someone said above, the execution is what is surprising.

I've had so much trouble this year, connecting with dramas and simply finishing them. I've dropped so many, I've lost count. But Misaeng hits all the right notes for me even without a love-line (I'm a rom-com whore- they're pretty much why I love Korean dramas and stick to them). Lee Sung-min, Siwan and Kim Dae-Myung are gold. And Byung Yo-han is such a surprise (where did he come from??).

It's wonderful. I'm enjoying it so much, I don't want it to end :(

[jjang-intae.livejournal.com]

This is probably the most satisfying drama I've ever watched. I haven't found a single scene unnecessary and everything is just so well thought out, it's so good ;;

[konichiwacobra.livejournal.com]

i love this drama so much. It can't be that much of a surprise. the source material was super popular and everyone was talking about this before it premiered.

I love all the characters which is amazing. I don't think I'd ever seen Siwan in anything before, but omg he had me on the verge of tears in the first episode.