Original subtitles

What are you doing here?

The Queen of Office

[Winter of 2007]

Juri.

What's this?

Come on. Get a room.

PDA should be fined like smoking in public areas.

It has been 16 years since the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Korea's economic growth was once touted as "the miracle on the Han River."

In 1997, however, the economic bubble burst,

and Korea was faced with the greatest crisis since the Korean War.

Lifetime employment and job security became obsolete

due to corporate restructuring and outsourcing,

giving rise to a new class of workers called "contract workers."

Paid half the salary of regular workers for the same amount of work,

they live in constant fear of being fired during their two year contract term.

But there is someone who has willingly and consciously chosen this precarious existence.

[2013, Ronda, Spain]

Ssun! Ssun!

My friends.

Ssun, you got a message. What does it say?

[Contract for first half of year concluded. Return to Korea immediately]

Fernando, you said you wanted this hat, right?

Are you giving it to me?

But don't you need it for your next corrida?

I have to head back.

Where to?

To a real bullfight.

Don't mess with us.

Why always blame Marketing & Sales when a product doesn't sell?

We need more time. If we wait...

Sit around and wait?

So that Chaseong can get the better of us again?

Can't you see that?

But we put a whole year into this soy sauce.

We can't give up yet.

It's just that consumers are still unfamiliar with low sodium soy sauce.

If you just stay patient and wait...

Unfamiliar?

Mr. Mu, with that mindset, how are you the head of the Marketing & Sales team?

Shouldn't a salesman be able to sell air conditioners in Alaska,

or go to a Swiss cheese village and sell this fast fermented bean paste?

What if we make the sales?

If we hit the sales targets in three months, will you let us be?

If you make the sales, of course.

But I don't know if this team really has what it takes.

I know just the man for the job.

He can sell fast fermented bean paste in a Swiss cheese village.

You don't mean...

The wacko?

It's nice.

2006 Chateau Boutisse.

How did you know? This isn't on the wine list.

The steak is Korean beef that has been aged for three weeks.

And the soy sauce in the dressing is three month fermented...

Sir, is...

Is there a problem with the soy sauce?

There's a huge problem.

I can't believe people still use this stuff.

Are you a chef?

I'd say I come close to being a chef if a discerning palate is a criterion.

[Marketing & Sales Department Team Head Mu Jeonghan]

Poor Mr. Mu.

He worked his butt off for two years,

but in the blink of an eye...

Just how great is this new team head coming in from the States?

Did he go to Harvard or something?

Yup.

What?

Jang Gyujik.

Joined Y.Jang Group as the top pick of applicants in the first have of 2008.

Since joining Y.Jang, He's always had the highest sales record.

He's the Steve Jobs of the Korean condiment industry.

Y.Jang employee of the year two years running.

Youngest ever to be promoted to assistant manager.

He even went to Harvard through Y.Jang's MBA assistance program.

He is what they call the chosen one.

Wowee.

I had no idea there was such a great catch at our company.

But why is a man like him still single?

Hi.

Sir, you can't go up there.

It's the first class cabin.

I was looking for the restroom.

It's right here, sir.

Oh, okay.

Wow.

Nice to meet you.

One meeting with the owner of this seat,

and I'll make our company's annual sales target in one fell swoop.

I wonder who the owner of this seat is.

Real wood.

1999.

Very nice. Very nice.

Who are you?

This is a rice cake.

Is this...

Is this your seat?

Are you going to keep sitting here?

Get out now.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

What's up with her?

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are experiencing turbulence.

For your safety, we ask that you return to your seats and keep your seatbelts fastened.

Can't breathe.

Get up.

Wait. Wait.

Thank you.

I don't know how I can repay you.

Don't repay me.

Just throw these out.

Sir, you shouldn't be here. Please return to your seat.

Oh, um, sure.

She's not to be disturbed.

Please return to your seat.

Ma'am, if you could just tell me your name...

Kim.

Ms. Kim.

Kim.

Ms. Kim.

Hello?

Ms. Jeong Juri?

Yes?

It's been two months and yet nothing.

When are you going to repay your student loan?

Please give me a little bit more time.

I have an interview today. I'll pay as soon as I get a job.

Thats what you always say, but we're not getting any payments from you.

I'll pass the interview this time.

If you keep this up, you won't be able to work even if you pass the interview.

No one hires people with bad credit.

Hurry up and get in.

[Jeong Jun (26), Job Seeker Annual salary: -$17,000 (student loan)]

[Resume]

You said this is your first time working with us, right?

Yes.

So could you please tell me what exactly a temp agency is?

Simply put, it's a revolution in the job market.

We're overthrowing the bygone paradigm of lifetime employment and job security

to place the right job seekers in the right positions at the right time

for a more streamlined labor paradigm.

[An Jongcheol Sixth year job manager, Respect Temp Agency Annual salary: $32,000]

So you find jobs for people like me who keep getting rejections and make money off us.

That's what people call a service charge.

So that makes you my broker, right?

I'm what people call a job manager.

Since you have no job experience,

consider this interview a learning experience and...

No!

No, what?

I have to get this job.

Why did you do it? Why?

It's not like our company is swimming in money.

For a business class seat, we must sell hundreds of bottles of soy sauce.

Harvard MBA and a business class seat. We must be well off.

They weren't giveaways.

I'll work you like a slave and get my money's worth.

Of course.

Why are your hands so cold?

You need to take better care of yourself.

What a load of crap.

You all know how difficult reorganization is for the company, don't you?

You all will bear the consequence if the Product Development Team rejects even a single product.

[Hwang Gapdeuk (54) General manager Marketing & Sales of Y.Jang Foods Annual Salary: $82,000]

Would the support people be set up upstairs?

I did see an empty office up there.

[Ko Jeongdo (57) Manager Marketing & Sales Support Annual salary: $62,000]

No. It'll be set up here.

Pardon?

But why here?

Welcome back, Mr. Jang.

Let's get to work.

Thanks, Mr. Mu.

Another load of crap.

[(left)Jang Gyujik (32) Fifth year at Y.Jang Team Head Marketing and Sales Annual Salary: $57,000] [(right)Mu Jeonghan (32) Fifth year at Y.Jang Team Head Marketing and Sales Support Annual Salary: $39,000]

Okay, thank you for coming.

No, right?

The real deal breaker was that she hates soybean paste stew.

That's not the important thing.

What was it for you?

She should be pretty.

Don't laugh, dude.

Why are you always grinning and laughing like a moron?

You always seem to be sorry toward me.

What are you talking about?

Whether it's in terms of performance or track record,

you deserve to be head of Marketing & Sales.

I only had the position because you were away,

but it wasn't the right fit for me.

I feel much more comfortable now.

Gyujik, I prefer being able to clock out with you every day than having a title I don't deserve.

This is why I don't have time to find myself a woman.

Come in.

Ms. Jeong Juri?

Yes. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you, too.

Please sit down.

First, we'd like to know why...

Do you have a boyfriend?

Pardon?

No.

Why not? You're quite pretty.

I broke up recently.

Why?

Um...

Now, if you end up working for us, you'll start with a three month contract.

Then if you do well on the performance assessment, we can extend the contract for another three months.

You may eventually be offered a permanent position,

but it won't be anytime soon.

And that potential offer may never even materialize.

What do you think?

I know the terms of the contract.

That's why I applied to Y.Jang.

I'm just a lump of fermented soybeans.

I went to a no-name college outside Seoul.

I barely got 700 points on the TOEIC English exam.

I've never been abroad for an English language program.

I have no special talent.

I'm just an ugly lump of fermented soy beans that's neither salty nor spicy.

But I believe at Y.Jang, even a lump of fermented soybeans

can be made into excellent soybean paste.

Whether it takes three months or six months, I plan to make that happen.

But we don't know whether you'll turn out to be soy bean paste or a pile of dung.

The only way to find out is to give it a taste, right?

She was pretty, wasn't she?

Is that why you hired her?

Isn't that a given?

Gyujik, if you hired her with an ulterior motive...

Why do you take things so seriously?

As pretty as she may be, a contract worker won't do it for me.

My ideal woman flies first class dressed like a bag lady,

drinks $3,000 wine straight from the bottle,

and slaps me if need be.

That's the kind of woman I want.

Do you think a woman like that even exists in Korea?

She does. I'm sure of it.

She's here, somewhere in Seoul.

Why is it so windy this morning?

Good morning.

You're here early. What's up?

We're hiring another contract worker.

We have to interview her.

Wait. Here she comes.

Why so many interviews for a stupid contact position?

Ma...

Ma'am?

Ma'am.

What are you doing here, ma'am?

I'd been desperately hoping to see you again,

but I had no idea how I'd go about finding you.

I thought of going on that TV show where they help you

find long lost family or friends.

I even thought of looking into Kim clan gatherings.

Words can't express how happy I am to see you.

Mr. Jang, do you know our Ms. Kim?

Our Ms. Kim?

Mr. An!

Yes?

How do you know this fine lady?

Ms. Kim is here for the contract...

Contract? She's here to sign a deal?

Pardon?

I had a hunch you were a mover and shaker.

Is it the joint tuna deal with Japan?

Or, wait a minute...

Is it the Southeast Asia food service deal?

Mr. Jang, let's go to the conference room to conduct the interview for...

Who cares about interviewing a petty contract position applicant?

Do you have any idea who this woman is?

She's none other than...

Ms. Kim, a seasoned contract worker who has been with

Respect Temp Agency for five years.

Contract worker?

This position isn't exactly her cup of tea,

but Mr. Hwang was very insistent, so here she is.

Nice to meet you.

Could you tell us why you're interested in...

Where did you work before here?

Was I inaudible?

Huh?

I thought you spoke loud enough.

I said, where did you work before here?

Who brewed the coffee?

From now on,

I will brew the coffee.

Pardon?

Listen up.

You're in the middle of a job interview,

and for a contract position, no less.

You can't tell us what you want or don't want to do.

Here you go.

[Ms. Kim User Manual]

What's this?

"Ms. Kim User Manual?"

I'm sorry, sir, but this isn't a job interview.

Then what is it?

Mr. Hwang has already authorized her employment.

We're here to explain to you the terms of Ms. Kim's contract.

So let me start off with our terms.

The contract period is three months. Work days are Monday through Friday.

She reports to work at 9:00 a.m. She has lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m.

She leaves work at 6:00 p.m.

Under no circumstances will she extend the period of her contract,

do anything that is not stipulated in the contract,

or work on weekends or before or after the aforementioned work hours.

For further details, please refer to the user manual.

That is all.

Wait. So she will clock out at 6:00 no matter what?

Listen, Jongcheol.

Do you want us to stop hiring your temps?

Pardon?

But Mr. Hwang, your boss, has already signed off on this.

If you don't want to hire me,

you can just get three non-contract employees.

But if you want to save money, you can just use me.

For three months, you'll get your money's worth and more.

Is that the one?

The contract worker Mr. Hwang insisted on hiring?

What's up with that two button suit circa 1995?

She's just your run of the mill spinster.

They probably needed someone to do grunt work for next to nothing.

Okay.

Our work space is now set up.

We still have to get settled in,

but let's all do the best we can...

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Let's all do the best we can to make this work.

Mr. Mu!

Goodness gracious, Mr. Mu.

This chair...

I'll call to get the chair repaired...

This is my job.

[Ms. Kim User Manual]

[Repairing broken office furniture and equipment]

It's okay. That's heavy.

This is my job.

You should focus on your job, Mr. Mu.

Mr. Mu, what would you like me to do?

Oh, right.

Here you go.

These are the quarterly soy sauce sales stats we need for tomorrow's meeting.

Please organize them using Excel.

Yes, I'll do my best.

I'll do my best, too.

The water cooler's out of water.

Can one of you men replace the bottle?

[Water cooler bottle replacement and maintenance]

Get up!

Ma'am?

What are you doing here, ma'am?

I'd been desperately hoping to see you again.

Words can't express how happy I am to see you.

How embarrassing. How embarrassing.

Look, Kim.

Yes?

While there was an unfortunate mishap on the airplane, this is a workplace.

This is our workplace, so there should be no misunderstandings between us.

What do you mean misunderstandings?

Are you talking about how you snuck into my seat?

Yes, that..

Or how you almost choked to death on my rice cake?

That, too.

Or are you talking about how I slapped you across the face?

Everything! I mean everything!

A piece of trash is a piece of trash to be burned.

What?

You mean a penny saved is a penny earned, right?

Don't drag outside trash into the workplace.

The trash you make outside should be dealt with outside.

And so,

have we...

ever met before?

Nope.

A piece of trash is a piece of trash to be burned.

You're more reasonable than I expected.

I'm only asking you this as I believe it's work related.

How did you fly first class?

Those tickets cost almost as much as what I make in a year,

so how could you afford it when you're a contract worker?

Are you from a rich family?

Stop right there!

I was talking to you!

But it's lunchtime.

Excuse me.

Excuse me, ma'am.

May I join you for lunch?

No.

Okay.

And I'm not "ma'am."

I'm Ms. Kim.

What a weirdo.

It'll be a rocky ride for you.

But at least you're reporting to Meek Mu rather than Prophet Jang.

Prophet Jang and Meek Mu?

That's what people call Mr. Jang and Mr. Mu.

"Prophet Jang" because he worships this company like a cult.

"Meek Mu" because he has no backbone.

I see. Prophet Jang and Meek Mu...

Don't get in Prophet Jang's bad books,

because he'll make your life here unbearable.

What's your contract period?

Three months.

Oh...

So you'll have to work hard for three months and get it extended, right?

Yes, I should.

And if I manage to stay on for two years,

I'll get a permanent position, right?

You might.

Or you might not.

Hurry up and eat. Lunch break is almost over.

The consumer survey questionnaires are squared away, right?

Not yet, sir.

What?

They're not organized yet? We need the data for the meeting tomorrow.

But we've had so much else to do.

How long have you been here?

Are you still having trouble prioritizing?

I'm sorry, sir.

Do it when you finish this.

But honestly, it's not the kind of work we should be doing.

Isn't this the kind of thing the support team was created to do?

Hey, organize all these into Excel by the end of the day.

Hey, are you deaf?

These are to be organized.

Mr. Mu.

Yes?

Cabbage Patch Head isn't my boss!

Cabbage Patch Head?

According to Article 1 of "Duties and Responsibilities,"

I only do work for my department upon the orders of my direct boss.

This is not my department's work,

and Cabbage Patch Head is not my direct boss,

so this is not my job duty or responsibility.

- I see. - Cabbage patch...

Easy does it.

- Hey, let go. - Come on.

Cabbage Patch Head!

Could someone else please help out?

I'll do it.

Thank you, Juri.

Cabbage... Cabbage...

Wow. She's something else.

How could she say no to the high and almighty Prophet Jang?

Who is this woman? It's not like she's a microwave.

How can she come with a user manual?

Poor thing. You got dumped with a lot of work on your very first day.

They need the figures for tomorrow's meeting, right?

Yes.

So I was wondering, could you maybe help me?

- Oh... - Oh, no.

I completely forgot. I have that thing to finish up.

The soybean paste quality survey chart.

Me, too. Me, too. Red pepper paste. Let's go.

Fast fermented bean paste for me.

Sir, we shouldn't have to undergo this kind of humiliation

at the hands of a lowly contract worker who's only here to do grunt work.

Ms. Kim's really good at what she does.

You can always count on her.

Go and smooth things over with her.

She says she's Ms. Kim, but she acts like Queen Kim.

Please annul her contract.

You're the one acting like a queen, a drama queen!

You two are the big guns here at Y.Jang.

You should be able to control a three month contract worker.

Whining like kids when we have a briefing tomorrow?

We're sorry, sir.

Stop wasting time and just ensure the meeting tomorrow goes well.

Otherwise, you'll be crying over

something that matters, like your jobs.

Juri?

Yes?

Are you sure you can do all this alone before the meeting?

I have to somehow.

Ms. Kim?

Mr. Ko and I have a meeting this evening,

so could you help Juri with the data for tomorrow's meet...

It's 6:00. Goodbye.

It's okay. I can do it alone.

I didn't need your help, Ms. Kim.

I did it all by myself.

You'll see.

I'll walk into the office with this with my head held high...

Good morning.

Good morning!

Juri,

did you get all the data organized for the meeting?

Yes. I got everything done.

- Wow. - It's right...

Where is it?

The license plate number ended with 40.

It's a Pororo USB.

Juri, is Pororo a chick? A duck?

A penguin.

It's a penguin.

Yes. Please get back to us.

Okay.

What about a back up file? It wasn't backed up?

No. The only copy is on that USB.

I called the taxi company, so let's wait a bit.

What about Mr. Hwang?

He's not back yet from a meeting with a client.

Good grief.

Hey, this isn't the time for you to be doing stupid things like that.

Can't you see we're in crisis mode?

Stupid things like this are what I was hired to do.

Ms. Kim, stop with the paper recycling and help us find the USB.

How can I be of assistance, Mr. Mu?

Why don't we all go to the taxi company...

According to Article 4 of "Duties and Responsibilities,"

I can call the taxi company,

but I can't go there in person.

If I am dispatched to the taxi company,

I am entitled to a personal expense allowance...

Never mind! Forget about it!

Mr. Jang, are you okay?

This is why you're a contract worker.

You have no sense of responsibility, teamwork or consideration.

[Request for Overtime Pay]

And that's why you're a non-contract worker.

They pay you more for all those useless qualities.

A contract worker does only what he or she is contracted to do.

Doing anything more out of a sense of responsibility

merely puts one's job at risk.

Hello?

Yes, it's been found?

It's been found, but the cab's been taken to a car wash?

UFO? What's that?

No. A USB.

Did you see a Pororo doll?

Oh, that little chick?

Yongpal took it.

Oh, that duck?

I gave it to Gyeongsik, the delivery guy.

I found something nice and put it on there for him.

What do you mean, something nice?

- Oh, that chicken head? - Yes.

I gave it to Sucheol at the construction site.

Why? Why?

He was having a bad day, so I thought he could watch something nice.

Good grief.

Hey, delivery boy,

keep your "nice" stuff to yourself from now on.

Nice things should be shared.

What?

The Pororo USB!

What?

There's this animation character called Pororo.

He's a chick, no, a duck...

He's actually a penguin.

What the "nice" thing is on!

Oh...

This?

Yes! That!

We're okay now.

Stay right there.

We'll be right up.

Okay. Got it!

Here you go!

- But... - Oh, man...

Oh, no.

Why did you throw it?

You're welcome. Don't mention it.

Take it easy.

Juri, that's dangerous.

Be careful, Juri.

We can't get up there.

Juri.

No, no. Just give it up.

Let's go. Come on.

Yongpal,

Gyeongsik, Sucheol,

why couldn't you watch that "nice" thing alone?

Why did you have to keep passing it on?

Mr. Mu.

If I get fired, they'll help me find a part time job, right?

Mr. Ko.

Please let Mr. Hwang know that we have to cancel the meeting.

I'm sorry.

What?

Why are you doing that?

Why? Why?

It's lunch break.

Give me a break!

[Request for Overtime Pay]

Did we get new coffee?

Pardon?

We will first look at the market survey figures.

Ms. Kim.

I heard you came through big today.

How did you know where to go, and how did you learn to drive a forklift?

I knew where to go because you were absurdly loud when you took their call,

and I learned to drive a forklift with my hands.

Why do you ask?

Just because.

Ma'am?

I'd like to thank...

I'm done for the day.

We can talk tomorrow.

It's impossible to like her.

Everything she says is so cold and biting.

No.

Maybe that's not what she's really like.

Ms. Kim

just may be

a very tenderhearted

and warm soul.

Pardon?

$900?

Ms. Kim is billing me $900?

The rate is a bit steep because it involved the use of heavy machinery.

Ms. Kim's overtime rate is very high.

Yeah, but still,

$900 is a lot of money.

It only took her 20 minutes out of her lunch break.

This is insane.

But what choice do you have?

If we bill the company,

and Mr. Hwang sees this, you'll get fired on the spot.

Then of course I'll pay her.

I'd have to even if she asked for $9,000.

It's a letdown.

The camera angles weren't great, and the actors weren't all that.

I've seen much better.

There are better ones than this?

What have you been doing for about 30 years now?

Good grief.

Will you keep something that nice to yourselves?

Mr. Hwang.

Shut that off and come with me.

Where are we going, sir?

You two had a long day.

I'm taking you to a very nice place.

Is this supposed to be nice?

Our night is shot.

Hey, Gyujik,

about Ms. Kim...

I wonder what she's really like.

What's there to wonder about?

She's a spinster who has no life apart from work.

Think about it. What girl has time to get a forklift operating license?

You think so?

I get the feeling she's very special.

Special?

Hey, she doesn't look like that.

With her outdated fashion sense,she's obviously never been in a relationship.

She's holed up in her apartment after work watching soap operas.

She's your average old maid who can't get a permanent position.

Oh, no.

What do you think? Awesome, right?

Salsa dance?

You never fail to surprise us.

There's more to life than condiments.

We all think we're special like a Christmas tree.

But then we come to realize we're only one

of the many bulbs lighting the tree.

[2007 Daehan Bank Fire]

[Daehan Bank Fire Female contract worker dies]

And then we're hit with an even harsher fact of life.

Even the many lowly bulbs come in different grades.

What?

Subtitles by KBS World

What in the world did that woman do before?

No one knows.

But there's one thing I do know.

She's Joan of Arc.

The woman we saw last night.

I saw you going like this and like that all over the dance floor.

Y.Jang's living myth and legend...

One of Y.Jang's four flagship products...

The one and only Gyujik Jang.

Hey! There's a company get-together tonight.

Attending get-togethers is not stipulated in my contract.

Will you let that woman get the better of us?

I'll teach her exactly how low a position she's in.

Hey, Gyujik, where are you going?

She doesn't know what colleagues are or what real work is.

I never work for anyone else.

For whom?

Ms. Kim!