Parts of this article (those related to the remake of a South Korean channel) need to be updated.(March 2023) |
Misaeng: Incomplete Life[1] (Korean: 미생 - 아직 살아 있지 못한 자; RR: Misaeng - Ajik Sara Itji Mothan Ja) is a 2014 South Korean television series based on the eponymous webtoon series by Yoon Tae-ho. It aired on tvN from October 17 to December 20, 2014, on Fridays and Saturdays at 20:30 (KST) for 20 episodes.[2][3][4][5][6]
Misaeng: Incomplete Life | |
---|---|
Also known as | An Incomplete Life |
Genre | Workplace Drama |
Based on | Misaeng by Yoon Tae-ho |
Developed by | Choi Jin-hee and Park Ji-young for tvN |
Written by | Jung Yoon-jung |
Directed by | Kim Won-seok |
Starring | Im Si-wan Lee Sung-min Kang So-ra Kang Ha-neul Byun Yo-han Kim Dae-myung Shin Eun-jung Park Hae-joon |
Composers | Kim Jun-seok Park Seong-il |
Country of origin | South Korea |
Original language | Korean |
No. of episodes | 20 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Kim Mi-na Lee Chan-ho |
Producers | Lee Jae-moon Ham Seung-hoon Lee Esther |
Production locations | Korea, Jordan |
Cinematography | Choi Sang-mook |
Editor | Kim Na-young |
Running time | 65 minutes |
Production company | Number 3 Pictures |
Original release | |
Network | tvN |
Release | October 17 December 20, 2014 | –
The title translates to Go terminology meaning "an incomplete life" (literally "not yet" (미) "living/birth" (생), meaning "not yet alive"). Misaeng: Incomplete Life was the first Korean drama to film on location in Jordan, where actors Im Si-wan and Lee Sung-min shot the series's prologue in Amman, Petra, and Wadi Rum.[7] Yim reprised his role as the protagonist, which he played in an earlier film adaptation, Incomplete Life: Prequel (2013).[8][9][10]
The series became a cultural phenomenon and recorded high viewership ratings for a cable network program in Korea. tvN is known for its record-breaking dramas.[11][12][13][14][15][16] [17]
Synopsis
editSince he was a child, the board game baduk has been everything to Jang Geu-rae (Im Si-wan).[18] But when he fails at achieving his dream of becoming a professional baduk player, Geu-rae must leave his isolated existence and enter the real world armed with nothing but a GED high school equivalency diploma on his resume. Through an acquaintance's recommendation, he gets hired as an intern at One International, a large trading company.
There, Geu-rae meets his boss, manager Oh Sang-shik (Lee Sung-min), who's a workaholic and has a warm personality; fellow intern Ahn Young-yi (Kang So-ra), who attracts her colleagues' ire because of her impressive educational credentials and by being extremely competent at any task; and Jang Baek-gi (Kang Ha-neul), a geeky co-worker whose anxious nature masks his inner ambition. Geu-rae learns to navigate and adapt to corporate culture, with baduk as his guide.[19]
Cast
editMain
edit- Im Si-wan as Jang Geu-rae[20][21]
- Kim Ye-jun as young Jang Geu-rae[22]
- He formerly aspired to be a professional baduk player, to which he had devoted his life since childhood, but, unable to achieve this goal, he joins One International, although he has no formal skills or training. He joins Sales Team 3 as a two-year contract employee at One International.
- Lee Sung-min as Oh Sang-shik
- Kang So-ra as Ahn Young-yi[23] She joins Resource Team as permanent employee at One International.
- Kang Ha-neul as Jang Baek-gi[24] He joins Steel Team as permanent employee at One International.
- Byun Yo-han as Han Seok-yool. He joins Textile Team as permanent employee at One International.
Supporting
editOne International Sales Teams
editTeam 3 (to which Geu-rae is assigned)
edit- Kim Dae-myung as Kim Dong-shik
- Park Hae-joon as Chun Kwan-woong
- Kim Hee-won as Park Jong-shik[25]
- Seo Yoon-ah as Lee Eun-ji (ep. 14)
- Kim Won-hae as Park Young-ho (ep. 20)
Team 1
edit- Shin Eun-jung as Sun Ji-young
- Kim Sang-won as Mr. Um
- Shin Dong-hoon as Cha Soo-jin
Team 2
edit- Ryu Tae-ho as Go Dong-ho
- Park Jin-soo as Assistant Manager Hwang
- Kim Ga-young as Jang Mi-ra
Others
edit- Yoon Jong-hoon as Lee Sang-hyun
- Yeo Eui-joo as Jang Ki-seok
- Kim Jong-soo as Kim Boo-ryun
- Shin Eun-jung as Sun Ji-young
- Kim Kyung-ryong as Lee Shin-tae
- Nam Kyung-eup as CEO of One International
- Lee Geung-young as Choi Young-hoo
- Son Jong-hak as Ma Bok-ryul
- Jung Hee-tae as Jung Hee-seok
- -- as Cha Jung-ho
- Jang Hyuk-jin as Moon Sang-pil
- Choi Gwi-hwa as Park Yong-gu
- Shin Jae-hoon as Yoo Hyung-ki
- Jeon Seok-ho as Ha Sung-joon
- Oh Min-suk as Kang Hae-joon
- Tae In-ho as Song Jeon-shik
- Park Jin-seo as Shin Da-in
- Hwang Seok-jeong as Kim Sun-joo
- Jo Hyun-sik as Kim Seok-ho
- Kim Jung-hak as Lee Seok-joong
- Kwak In-joon as Audit team leader
- Han Kap-soo as One International Jordan branch manager
- Choi Jae-woong as One International Jordan branch employee
- Sung Byung-sook as Geu-rae's mother
- Nam Myung-ryul as Geu-rae's baduk teacher
- Lee Si-won as Ha Jung-yeon
- -- as Senior colleague Kim
- Oh Yoon-hong as Oh Sang-shik's wife
- Lee Seung-joon as Shin Woo-hyun
Cameo appearances
edit- Cho Hun-hyun (cameo)
- Yoo Chang-hyuk (cameo)
- Oh Jung-se as Husband of Chungsol's CEO (cameo, ep. 20)
- Yoo Jae-myung as Factory worker (ep. 16)
Original soundtrack
editPart 1
editNo. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Roman" (로망) | Taibian | Vladimir Vysotsky | Rose Motel | 4:05 |
2. | "Roman" (Inst.) | 4:05 | |||
Total length: | 8:10 |
Part 2
editNo. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Tomorrow" (내일) | Seo Dong-sung | Park Seong-il | Han Hee-jung | 3:34 |
2. | "Tomorrow" (Inst.) | 3:34 | |||
Total length: | 7:08 |
Part 3
editNo. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Fly" (날아) | Park Asher | Park Asher | Yi Sung-yol | 4:46 |
2. | "Fly" (Inst.) | 4:46 | |||
Total length: | 9:32 |
Part 4
editNo. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hidden Road" (가리워진 길) | Yoo Jae-ha | Yoo Jae-ha | Bolbbalgan4 | 4:22 |
2. | "Hidden Road" (Inst.) | 4:22 | |||
Total length: | 8:44 |
Part 5
editRatings
editEp. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share | |
---|---|---|---|
Nielsen Korea | |||
Average rating | Peak rating | ||
1 | October 17, 2014 | 1.7% | 2.8% |
2 | October 18, 2014 | 2.5% | 3.1% |
3 | October 24, 2014 | 3.4% | 4.6% |
4 | October 25, 2014 | 3.6% | 4.9% |
5 | October 31, 2014 | 4.6% | 6.0% |
6 | November 1, 2014 | 3.7% | 5.4% |
7 | November 7, 2014 | 5.2% | 6.4% |
8 | November 8, 2014 | 5.0% | 6.6% |
9 | November 14, 2014 | 5.2% | 6.7% |
10 | November 15, 2014 | 5.9% | 7.0% |
11 | November 21, 2014 | 6.1% | 7.1% |
12 | November 22, 2014 | 6.3% | 7.8% |
13 | November 28, 2014 | 7.9% | |
14 | November 29, 2014 | 5.8% | |
15 | December 5, 2014 | 7.2% | 9.4% |
16 | December 6, 2014 | 7.4% | 8.6% |
17 | December 12, 2014 | 7.6% | 9.7% |
18 | December 13, 2014 | 8.0% | 9.5% |
19 | December 19, 2014 | 7.6% | 9.3% |
20 | December 20, 2014 | 8.4% | 10.3% |
Average | 5.6% | 7.1% | |
Awards and nominations
editYear | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 9th Cable TV Broadcasting Awards[31] | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Misaeng: Incomplete Life | Won |
Star Award - Best Actor | Yim Si-wan | Won | ||
Kang Ha-neul | Won | |||
51st Baeksang Arts Awards[32] | Best Drama | Misaeng: Incomplete Life | Nominated | |
Best Director (TV) | Kim Won-seok | Won | ||
Best Actor (TV) | Lee Sung-min | Won | ||
Best New Actor (TV) | Yim Si-wan | Won | ||
Kim Dae-myung | Nominated | |||
10th Seoul International Drama Awards | Best Miniseries | Misaeng: Incomplete Life | Won | |
Best Director | Kim Won-seok | Nominated | ||
8th Korea Drama Awards | Best Drama | Misaeng: Incomplete Life | Won | |
Best Production Director | Kim Won-seok | Nominated | ||
Best Screenplay | Jung Yoon-jung | Nominated | ||
Top Excellence Award, Actor | Yim Si-wan | Nominated | ||
Excellence Award, Actor | Kim Dae-myung | Won | ||
Special Jury Prize | Yim Si-wan | Won | ||
4th APAN Star Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Lee Sung-min | Won | |
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Yim Si-wan | Won | ||
Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Kang So-ra | Nominated | ||
Best Supporting Actor | Kim Dae-myung | Nominated | ||
Lee Geung-young | Won | |||
Best New Actor | Byun Yo-han | Won | ||
Kang Ha-neul | Nominated | |||
2016 | tvN10 Awards | Best Actor | Lee Sung-min | Won |
Best Content Award, Drama | Misaeng: Incomplete Life | Won | ||
Made in tvN, Actor in Drama | Yim Si-wan | Nominated | ||
Made in tvN, Actress in Drama | Kang So-ra | Nominated | ||
Scene-Stealer Award, Actor | Byun Yo-han | Nominated | ||
Kang Ha-neul | Nominated |
Source material
editWith his webtoon, author Yoon Tae-ho drew an analogy between life in modern society and the game of baduk, a chess-like strategy board game. He also wrote vivid descriptions of the everyday life and struggles of Korean corporate culture as his flawed characters deal with the fierce competition for survival, interpersonal work relationships and office politics. Misaeng: Incomplete Life gained immense popularity among Korean white-collar workers in their twenties and thirties largely because its realism resonated with their experiences. It drew 1 billion hits when it was published on online portal Daum from September 2012 to October 2013, and the nine-volume paperback version sold 900,000 copies. It is now considered a must-read comic in the country.[33][34]
Remake
editThis section needs to be updated.(October 2020) |
- HOPE〜期待ゼロの新入社員〜
- Ordinary Glory; starring Bai Jingting, Mark Chao and Qiao Xin.[35][36]
References
edit- ^ "Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014)". CJ ENM. CJ ENM. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- ^ An, So-hyoun (September 1, 2014). "ZE:A's Im Si Wan, Kang Ha Neul, Kang Sora and More Gather for Misaeng Scripts Reading". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ Lee, Sun-young; Chung, Joo-won; Ahn, Sung-mi (September 16, 2014). "New TV dramas to look out for". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on September 17, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ "Misaeng Teasers Revealed; Im Si Wan, Kang So Ra, Kang Ha Neul Pose For Cosmopolitan". KDramaStars. September 24, 2014. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ "Office grunts clock in at Misaeng's press conference". Dramabeans. October 6, 2014. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
- ^ Baek, Byung-yeul (October 12, 2014). "Cartoon-inspired TV dramas on the way". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ "Misaeng teases realistic portrayal of salaryman's life". Dramabeans. September 22, 2014. Archived from the original on September 27, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ Chung, Ah-young (June 5, 2013). "Webtoon give inspiration to films". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ "Incomplete life: Prequel". PiFan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ Sung, So-young (November 17, 2014). "K-pop stars find success on screen". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ "New Soap Becomes Instant Hit Among Salarymen". The Chosun Ilbo. October 30, 2014. Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ Baek, Byung-yeul (November 11, 2014). "Misaeng soars in ratings: Webtoon-based TV drama gains explosive response from office workers". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ Ahn, Sung-mi (November 12, 2014). "Misaeng syndrome grips the nation". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ Park, Hye-min; Kim, Hyung-eun (November 19, 2014). "Office drama strikes a chord with workers". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ "Im Si-wan, Kang So-ra to Promote Trade". The Chosun Ilbo. December 12, 2014. Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
- ^ Ahn, Sung-mi (January 16, 2015). "Weekender: Office theme prevails on TV". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- ^ "Who Won the Grand Prize at the Korea Drama Awards?". October 9, 2015. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ Geu-rae could either mean 그렇다 ("yes"), or 그래 of 그래도 ("nevertheless" or "however").
- ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (August 7, 2014). "ZE:A's Im Si Wan, Kang Ha Neul, Kang Sora and More Confirmed for Misaeng". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ "Yim Shi-wan: "I had to take Misaeng"". Dramabeans. January 4, 2015. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
- ^ Park, Hyun-taek; Sung, So-young (January 5, 2015). "Misaeng star stays modest amid hype". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ^ '아스달 연대기' 김지원, 송중기 아역 김예준 향한 '다정한 말'…"은섬이 돼줘서 고마워". Top Star News (in Korean). June 19, 2019. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ "Kang So-ra Gets a Taste of Salaried Workers' Life". The Chosun Ilbo. January 3, 2015. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
- ^ Park, Ji-ryun (December 27, 2014). "Interview: Misaeng Kang Ha Neul Expresses His Love for ZE:A's Im Si Wan, Kang Sora and Byun Yo Han". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
- ^ "Kim Hee-won Comes Out of Obscurity with Villainous Characters". The Chosun Ilbo. December 16, 2014. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
- ^ 미생 OST Part 1 (tvN 드라마). Genie (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ 미생 OST Part 2 (tvN 드라마). Genie (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ 미생 OST Part 3 (tvN 드라마). Genie (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ 미생 OST Part 4 (tvN 드라마). Genie (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ 미생 OST Part 5 (tvN 드라마). Genie (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ "Cable TV Awards: Incomplete Life and producer Na Young-seok sweep awards". Hancinema. March 13, 2015. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ Lee, Hoo-nam; Kim, Hyung-eun (May 28, 2015). "Baeksang honors new, veteran stars". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ^ Lee, Claire (March 28, 2014). "Telling stories of 'incomplete lives'". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ Ki, Sun-min (February 19, 2013). "Misaeng creator makes art from company malaise". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ 《平凡的荣耀》曝海报 赵又廷白敬亭联手进阶职场. Sina (in Chinese). June 12, 2018. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ "Ping fan de rong yao". IMDb. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
External links
edit- Official website (in Korean)
- Misaeng: Incomplete Life at HanCinema
- Misaeng: Incomplete Life at IMDb
- Misaeng webtoon on Daum (in Korean)