Title: 미생 | Incomplete Life | Misaeng
Genre: Drama
Episodes: 20
Broadcast Network: tvN
Broadcast Period: 2014-Oct-17 to 2014-Dec-20

Synopsis:

This K-Drama is about the challenges that each characters encounter in their work and personal lives. It highlights the struggle of Jang Geu Rae, a 26 year old introvert yet very talented and hardworking young man. He has the quick ability to analyze problems and provide solutions to it. He got it from the strict training of playing “Go” since he was 7 years old. Due to unfortunate circumstances he has to give up becoming a professional player. He has difficulty of finding a white collar job as he only pass a GED (General Equivalency Diploma) and didn’t finish school. He was given an opportunity to do so when one of the top executives of One World International, a trading company, enable him to do so. Due to this connection, he ended being at first an outcast from his peers. He has to tackle all the challenges given to him to prove his worth. In the end, the journey of Jang Geu Rae in the corporate world affected the people around him in more ways than one will expect.

Characters:

• Im Si Wan as Jang Geu Rae
• Lee Sung Min as Oh Sang Shik
• Kang So Ra as Ahn Young Yi
• Kang Ha Neul as Jang Baek Ki
• Byun Yo Han as Han Suk Ryul
• Kim Dae Myung (김대명) as Kim Dong Shik
• Lee Kyung Young as Choi Young Hoo
• Sung Byung Sook as Geu Rae’s Mother
• Park Hae Joon as Chun Kwang Woong
• Shin Eun Jung as Sun Ji Young
• Ryu Tae Ho (류태호) as Go Dong Ho
• Kim Jong Soo (김종수) as Kim Boo Ryun
• Kim Hee Won as Park Jong Shik
• Kim Kyung Ryol (김경룡) as Lee Shin Tae
• Park Jin Soo (박진수) as Assistant Manager Hwang
• Yoon Jong Hoon as Lee Sang Hyun
• Yeo Eui Joo as Jang Ki Suk
• Nam Kyung Eup as One International CEO
• Son Jong Hak as Ma Bok Ryul
• Jung Hee Tee (정희태) as Jung Hee Suk
• Jang Hyuk Jin as Moon Sang Pil
• Choi Gwi Hwa (최귀화) as Park Young Goo
• Shin Jae Hoon (신재훈) as Yoo Hyung Gi
• Jun Suk Ho (전석호) as Ha Sung Joon
• Oh Min Suk as Kang Hae Joon
• Tae In Ho (태인호) as Sung Joon Shik
• Park Jin Seo (박진서) as Shin Da In
• Hwang Suk Jung (황석정) as Kim Sun Joo
• Jo Hyun Shik (조현식) as Kim Suk Ho
• Kim Jung Hak as Lee Suk Joong
• Kwak In Joon (곽인준) as Audit Team Leader
• Han Kap Soo (한갑수) as One International Jordan Branch Manager
• Choi Jae Woong as One International Jordan Branch Worker
• Nam Myung Ryul as Geu Rae’s Baduk Teacher
• Lee Shi Won (이시원) as Ha Jung Yun
• Oh Yoon Hong (오윤홍) as Oh Sang Shik’s Wife
• Lee Seung Joon as Shin Woo Hyun
• Seo Yoon Ah as Lee Eun Ji
• Cha Jung Ho Character (Chief of Steel Team)
• Cha Soo Jin Character (Resources 2nd Team Employee)
• Senior Kim Character (Former Employee at One International)

My Review:

The thought of watching 20 episodes about corporate world K-drama initially doesn’t interest me. I keep reading great reviews about this K-Drama, so, finally I caved in to check it out. Honestly, there’s nothing left interesting for me to watch, so, I took a peak of this K-Drama. I must say the road less traveled is truly the best road to take to make a mark in this world. Misaeng I believe definitely without a doubt made a mark. It is the best K-Drama I’ve ever seen or watched. Surprisingly, Misaeng only has a hint of romance or none of the typical melodramatic revenge or dying story but it still made me feel so many emotions and even made me really cry. If you watch often enough K-Dramas you get to a point that you feel numb with their melodramatic romantic scenes that even if you feel a tinge of emotion on a given scene you don’t have anymore tears left but Misaeng especially on Episode 19 made me cry a river.

I normally say I don’t make reviews based on the technical aspects of a film or drama but more on how much it entertains me. However, Misaeng is flawlessly executed in both. There’s no episode that you will not connect with the stories and the characters in it no matter who you are. The writing was exceptional, the director brilliantly able to capture the very essence on how the story should be relayed to its audience and all the actors without exception from the lead and supporting down to the extras are totally without a doubt spectacularly made this K-Drama just simply perfect.

To base ones judgement solely through synopsis what this K-Drama is all about will never be enough to convey what it truly is. Misaeng is a K-Drama that resonates our lives. The hardships we encounter as we make decisions not only for ourselves but for the people we love. That we all struggle to survive and make sense of who we want to be. I always say that being a good person everyday is the most difficult challenge we face as a person. We think that being good is easy but really it isn’t. Because life gives us situations that will test what we are really made of. We are very fallible human beings and we are motivated by what is important to us. So, in our journey through life we sometimes end up in a road that will define who we are. So, philosophically speaking that is the story of Misaeng.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) I must bow to the outstanding manner of execution of the director, Kim Won-Suk. He didn’t use typical K-Drama clichés. Misaeng just relates the story and will successfully draws you into their world. It will make you care about the characters.
(2) Superb acting of all the actors especially Lee Sung Min as Oh Sang Shik and Im Si Wan as Jang Geu Rae. I’ve seen Lee Sung Min in a lot of K-Dramas. Normally, he is in the supporting role but in Misaeng, I can’t help but be amazed at how great he is as an actor. Hands down both Lee Sung Min and Im Si Wan made Misaeng superlatively wonderful to watch.
(3) Each episode give independent stories and allows the characters to shine on their own. Their backgrounds though briefly shown but executed very effectively. It never drags a situation and it gets resolved in a matter of 1 or 2 episodes. Even if it is not an action flick it will keep you in your toes to want to know what happens.
(4) The resolution of each challenges per episode is never how you will expect it to be. Of course, there are some predictability but it never ends to what you believe will happen especially if you are a K-drama addict like me.
(5) The characters are wholly developed. They decide and act on a given situation based on who they are. The characters are done like any other normal people like you and me. That’s probably the reason why you will connect with the stories of each character even if it is fully about the ins and outs of working in a big corporation.
There are so many things I like about this drama that I don’t want to bore you with the details because watching it is much more fun and interesting than reading my review.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

There’s really nothing I don’t like about this K-Drama from start to finish. It was worth doing a marathon of watching it for the entire Saturday and only taking a break to wash, eat and brush my teeth. Although, it is very realistic it never made me feel depress. On the contrary Misaeng will actually make you feel rejuvenated and hopeful to face your own challenges in life.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? A Resounding YES

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) Definitely a perfect 5/5 Stars

OST:
01. Romantic Ideal – Rose Motel (장미여관)
02. Tomorrow (내일) – Han Hee Jung (한희정)
03. Fly (날아) – Lee Seung Yul (이승열)
04.Hidden Path (가리워진 길) – Red Cheek Puberty (볼빨간 사춘기)
05. But Still… So…(그래도…그래서…) – Im Si Wan
06. Cheer (응원) – Kwak Jin Uhn (곽진언)
07. Hidden Path (Band Ver.) – Red Cheek Puberty (볼빨간 사춘기)
08. Title of Misaeng – Various Artists
09. The Office Junior – Various Artists
10. 하루 – Various Artists
11. 외로운 시간을 견디며 – Various Artists
12. 급할수록 서둘러라 – Various Artists
13. 신입사원 – Various Artists
14. Jordan Fantasy – Various Artists
15. 승부수 – Various Artists
16. Okay? Okay! – Various Artists
17. 출근길 – Various Artists
18. 착수 – Various Artists
19. 피해갈 수 없는 눈 – Various Artists
20. Tears (눈물) – Various Artists
21. 썩은 미소 – Various Artists
22. 눈치 작전 – Various Artists
23. 오늘 한잔? – Various Artists
24. 위로 – Various Artists