Original subtitles

The Queen of Office

[Welcome, New Y.Jang Recruits of 2013]

On behalf of our 2013 recruits, I, Geum Bitna, on this day, April 2,

pledge to support the management principles

of accountability and self reliance and strive to be the best I can be

as an employee of the leader in the Korean food industry.

You'd have to give up food altogether for a body like that, right?

I wonder where she got that outfit.

It's definitely a designer label.

And now, a special lecture by one of Y.Jang's best and brightest.

You are Y.Jang's chosen ones for 2013.

You are the little lambs of the Y.Jang family.

You made it through cutthroat competition

to enter the promised land, otherwise known as Y.Jang.

Welcome!

That's Y.Jang's living myth.

Y.Jang's legend.

Y.Jang's fourth flagship product after soybean and chili pastes and soy sauce.

That's right.

The one and only Gyujik Jang.

My new brothers and sisters,

if you think this is just any old graduation gown,

do away with your narrow minded and modest assumptions now that you've joined Y.Jang.

Why?

Because this gown is what I wore

when I graduated from HBS, Harvard Business School.

Here's my story.

I had never been able to join an overseas language program,

but I ended up with a Harvard MBA that cost $65,000 a year.

I used to live in a tiny studio apartment in Sillimdong,

but I now live in Les Palmes in the ritzy Cheongdam area.

I used to say no to blind dates just to save on the bus fare,

but I now drive a luxury sedan.

So what happened?

[Employee Pass Jang Gyujik/Team Head]

It's all thanks to the blessings of this permanent employee pass.

Are you at church?

Where's that woman on your team?

You mean Ms. Kim?

This is your savings account for your children's education.

This is your corporate credit card and your retirement plan.

In the cutthroat jungle of capitalism,

those who have no employee pass may drown in the river of loan payments

or may become ensnared in the vines of credit card bills.

Ma'am, you can't do this here.

I can do this here.

Can't you see that there's a ceremony underway?

I can see that.

But you need not worry anymore about your bills and loans.

Brothers and sisters,

as of today, you are proud employees of Korea's top food company.

Who are you?

Someone who works here.

Let me see your employee pass.

I don't have anything like that.

So who do you work for?

Y.Jang!

And my name is

Ms. Kim!

My name is Ms. Kim, not "ma'am."

It's been 16 years since the Asian financial crisis.

Korea now has 8 million contract workers.

South Koreans foremost dream is no longer national reunification.

It is getting a permanent position.

While everyone else yearns for a permanent position,

there is someone who has consciously opted to be a contract worker.

Ms. Kim is Korea's first ever contract worker by choice.

Ms. Kim never works for free.

She doesn't forge cumbersome interpersonal ties.

After the three month contract period, she always leaves Korea.

But no one knows why

she's come to call herself "Ms. Kim" and deliberately chosen to be

a serial contract worker.

[(Left)Entry Pass - Ms. Kim] [(Right)Employee Pass - Jang Gyujik, Team Head]

It's thanks to the blessings of this employee pass.

Do you believe? Do you believe?

I don't believe.

Man, I don't get why I don't have Mr. Jang's charisma.

He went all the way to the States and paid money for that charisma.

A nobody like you shouldn't even dream of it.

Mr. Ko.

Let me try it on.

This?

It doesn't suit you.

Thank you, dear Ms. Kim.

It's just "Ms. Kim."

Coffee.

What?

Mr. Hwang.

Isn't it awesome? What did I tell you?

This is the mecca of salsa dancing.

It's not that. Over there...

Ms...

That woman. That woman.

Here you go. This round is on the house.

Wow.

Mr. Mu, your coffee.

Thank you.

It was her, right?

She was the woman we saw last night, right?

Yup.

It was definitely Ms. Kim.

Did we get new coffee?

No.

So why does it taste...

So good?

Mr. Ko,

the new recruit we're getting is a woman.

[Shin Mingu (29) Second year at Y.Jang Lowest ranking employee of Marketing & Sales team Annual salary: $32,000]

This employee pass grants you a life of brown nosing and pretension.

[Yeon Dara (24) First year contract worker Annual salary: $15,000]

I bet Mr. Jang finds a way to make his farts sound like flattery.

[Oh Jirang (25) Second year contract worker Annual salary: $16,000]

But still, Mr. Jang's amazing.

What?

I mean, his employee pass is amazing.

But what's the difference between an entry pass and an employee pass?

They look the same to me.

They look the same because they are.

But one of them's dung,

and the other is soybean paste.

[Park Bonghui (29) Fifth year contract worker Annual salary: $18,000]

[Employee Pass Geum Bitna]

[Geum Bitna (26) B.A in Food & Nutrition, Yeomgo University Passed Q1/Q2 open recruitment]

Is her bag an authentic Channel?

Can't be, right?

It's authentic Channel,

limited edition in classic pink.

What's this?

You're making a great impression on your very first day.

It can feel stuffy being in your office all day.

I figured these might lift your spirits.

So Bitna really did get appointed to our department.

Do you know her? How?

We went to the same school.

Really?

She was an underclassman?

Okay.

Why don't you say hi?

These are the newest members of our Marketing & Sales Department.

Say hello. He's your boss, the head of the Marketing & Sales support team.

I'm Mu Jeonghan. Welcome.

Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Gye Gyeongu.

[Gye Gyeongu (27) B.A. in Public Administration, Hanguk City University Salutatorian of his graduating class Passed Q1/Q2 open recruitment]

My name may sound funny, but I'll take my job very seriously.

That's what I like to hear.

And this beautiful young lady here is your newest staffer, Mr. Jang.

I picked the best of the best buds, so make sure she blossoms.

I'm Geum Bitna.

One can't tell dung from soybean paste unless one tastes it.

Oh.

Sorry for my belated congratulations.

We're all one family here, so welcome.

I'll work very hard, sir.

Your feet, Mr. Hwang.

This is my job.

Oh!

Sure.

Of course.

We should get to work, too.

Oh yes.

Ms. Kim,

did you get home safe and sound last night?

Yes, I did, Mr. Mu.

I see.

Ms. Kim,

what did you do when you got home?

I washed my feet and went to bed, Mr. Mu.

I see.

Sure.

I'm sure it took you a while to wash your feet nice and clean,

since they were on fire

going like this and that all over the dance floor.

What's wrong?

This must be doing something for you.

Yes. It's making me disgusted.

I saw you

and your lewd secret life.

I saw you

trying to seduce men by doing this.

I'll get to the bottom of your base existence

and make sure the entire office finds out about it, too.

[Sexual Harassment Prevention Seminar]

I'll hand out the fliers when I return from lunch.

That little...

Are you okay, Mr. Jang?

You could go to jail for what you just did.

Do you have a cramp?

Easy, easy, easy...

[Mom's Home Cooking]

I'll have what she's having.

That's all we serve anyway.

Ma'am...

About this...

Can't I pay it over the course of six months?

No.

Then how about three months?

Please pay it by the specified due date.

This isn't fair.

I considered you a colleague and took on the work for you.

And yet you can't even let me pay you in installments?

Did you just say you did the work for me?

You listen carefully, as I won't repeat myself.

I never

work for anyone else.

I only work for two things.

My pay and lunch break.

So...

Quickly pay me what I'm owed.

And eat lunch elsewhere from now on.

That's rather salty.

Are you okay?

That was a close call.

Thank goodness for Ms. Kim's precise marksmanship.

If the stapler had been even a centimeter off...

You would have ended up with a second snipping.

How do you know whether he's even had his first snipping?

Dude, are you going to let that woman get the better of us?

Forget staplers, she might use a forklift to wipe us all out.

I don't think so, Mr. Gu.

Ms. Kim may be a bit eccentric,

but she's not mean...

Give me a break.

Dude, lowly contract workers are wreaking havoc

because you managers aren't doing a good job of keeping order.

Hey, Yeongsik, you're grossing everyone out. Eat with your mouth closed.

And who calls their superior "dude"?

Was that meant for Mr. Mu?

No, sir.

I was talking to Mingu.

That's a relief.

I thought you were confusing soybean paste for dung.

Mr. Mu may not be your direct boss, but he is your superior.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mu.

It's okay, Mr. Gu.

[(Left)Mu Jeonghan (32)Fifth year at Y.Jang Team Head Annual salary: $39,000] [(Right}Gu Yeongsik (34) Seventh year at Y.Jang Assistant Manager Annual salary: $37,000]

Eat, eat. This is good.

Hey, Gyujik,

Mr. Gu's been at Y.Jang longer than us.

He's just used to being on casual terms with us.

I wasn't comfortable with how you talked to him today.

Then will you set him straight?

You don't have to go out of your way for me.

You're such a softie.

I'm good at telling people off, so you just do your thing.

I'll make sure order is restored.

We can't let Chaseong do this to us.

- Jinuk. - Yes?

- Fetch me the product dad. - Yes, sir.

Mr. Jang.

How's the soy sauce promotion going?

We were actually just about to head out to Home mart.

Oh, really?

Then get a definite answer about securing a special promotional corner.

Yes, Mr. Hwang.

Mr. Hwang,

may I take Ms. Kim as my assistant?

Everyone on my team is rather busy.

They are?

Go for it then.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Jang.

I'm not busy. I'll come with you.

You'll be very busy now,

because you have to organize all of this.

Yes, sir.

Hey, why Ms. Kim?

This will be good.

I'll teach her exactly

how low a position she's in

with my amazing salesmanship.

Hey, are you going to a funeral?

It's Sales 101. Smile.

What are you doing?

I was smiling as ordered. What is the problem?

Don't smile. Don't talk. Don't do anything.

Just stand next to me with your mouth shut

and learn what sales is and how things are in the real world.

Hello, sir.

Assistant Manager Jang.

Wait.

You're now the head of your team, right?

Please.

I told you to just call me Gyujik.

Here. Let me do it.

No, no.

I can't let someone of your caliber do something like this.

You are the emperor of Korean condiments.

You're being too generous, sir.

Oh, my goodness!

Ms. Kim!

How are you, Mr. Ha?

Very well, thank you. What brings you here?

Oh! Are you working for Y.Jang this time around?

Yes, I am.

You're an important guest.

Please have some tea in my office.

What about me, sir?

You can put these away.

What would you like? Ssanghwa tea as usual?

I'd like to shop first, Mr. Hwang.

The plunger at Y.Jang is rather old.

I see. So which plunger would you like?

Oh. The one you used here?

Yes. The red one.

Of course. The red one.

It's on the second floor.

A legendary cashier?

Yeah.

She worked here for three months last year.

You gave me the cold shoulder for a stupid cashier?

A stupid cashier?

Mr. Kim's no ordinary cashier.

She holds the record for the most items scanned in the shortest time.

She also streamlined our layout and work flow,

enabling us to post our highest ever sales.

To our store, she's a savior.

What in the world did that woman do before?

No one knows.

But there's one thing I do know.

She's the Joan of Arc

of large discount retailing.

Mr. Jang

how did you pull it off?

Mr. Ha called and said he'll double our promotional space.

Really?

But he had said no just last week.

Why the sudden change of heart?

Wow. Mr. Jang's expert salesmanship

can make top grade sauce even out of rotten soybean paste.

You're amazing.

We can clock out soon!

- Any plans? - No plans.

- I'm going home. - How about window shopping?

- Yes, let's. - Count me out.

Come with us. Please.

Well then,

how about a company dinner

to welcome our new recruits?

Yes!

We'll get on it right away.

What?

Company get-together?

$&%^)&#^)$&%!

Mr. Jang. Mr. Jang.

A beef barbecue place just opened behind the bank.

I'll see you tomorrow.

See you.

Hey!

Didn't you just hear what Mr. Hwang said?

There's a company dinner tonight.

Attending company dinners is not stipulated in my contract.

Listen, missy,

dinners are an extension of work.

Don't you even know the very basics of office life?

That only applies to employees with permanent positions.

As I do not hold a permanent position,

I do not have to engage in

useless socializing, drinking, and brown nosing at the expense of

my health, liver and time.

And my name

is not "missy."

It's Ms. Kim,

Mr. Cabbage Patch Head.

You! Stop right there!

Mr. Jang. Mr. Jang.

- I'll go. - Stop right there!

- I'll go. I'll go. - You can't handle that woman.

She must be set straight before she gets any worse.

I'll do it. I'll do it!

I'll go and teach her a lesson and bring her back.

Teach her a lesson?

Yes, I'll teach her a lesson.

She's going down!

I'll give her an earful. I'm going to do it!

See?

Even that gentle soul is all riled up.

She's going to really get it today.

Ms. Kim!

You can't do this.

Everyone is attending.

It's our first company dinner this year.

You can't bail without my permission.

I can.

Are you really not coming?

I told you. It's not stipulated as my job responsibility or duty.

That may be,

but can't you attend as part of the Y.Jang family?

I don't think family is limited to people with blood ties.

Whether you're a contract worker or not,

I think people who work with you for the same dreams are family.

So couldn't you attend for your family tonight?

Mr. Mu.

Yes, Ms. Kim.

Y.Jang is not a church for me.

It's a workplace.

Mr. Hwang! Mr. Hwang! Mr. Hwang!

Now, "Woman in the Rain"!

Are you okay?

You might want to slow down a bit.

Slow down?

This is what I came back from the States for.

She doesn't know

what company get-togethers mean

or what a company means.

To her, a company is where she gets paid for what she does,

and colleagues are strangers who happen to sit next to her.

A wandering worker like her

doesn't know

what colleagues are

or what real work is.

Mr. Jang.

Yes, Mr. Hwang.

Here you go. You can give it to someone.

Didn't Mr Kim from your client firm just give this to you?

Wait.

It's a Grada.

But wouldn't your wife like to have this?

My wife has more than enough already.

If you can't think of anyone, how about someone in our department?

A Grada scarf...

Grada.

It's light and soft. It's perfect for you, missy.

Ms. Geum Bitna,

are you done with the files I gave you yesterday?

I'm working on them right now, sir.

Finish and bring them in an hour.

Yes.

Hey, aren't you being kind of cold to Bitna?

She has to learn that work is no picnic.

I can't cut her slack just because she's pretty.

Is this because of what happened between you two?

What?

What happened between us?

You two used to go out.

Oh, that.

What about that?

I'm wondering if that's why you're being especially tough on her.

Listen, Jeonghan.

I'm Jang Gyujik.

I'm Geum Bitna's direct superior and the head of her team.

Do you think I'd still hold a grudge over a little fling way back when?

I'm not that petty.

I need Home Mart's orders organized by lunchtime.

All these?

Why? You can't do it?

It's not that.

I'll get it done.

It's light and soft. It's perfect for you, missy.

We're all one family here, so welcome.

Juri.

Yes?

Do you have high blood pressure?

No.

You can suffer from a stroke if you leave it untreated.

Could you...

help me with this?

No.

Please read this manual before making any work requests.

[Direct supervisor's authorization required for nondepartmental work]

Are you swamped?

Shall I help you later?

No.

I heard you had an outside lunch meeting.

Let me know if I can help.

Um...

Shall I help you?

Really?

Thank you so much. Thank you very much.

Don't mention it. We're all one family.

Could you move aside? It's lunchtime.

Sure.

These are last year's Home Mart sales files,

and these are order slips for today's delivery.

Juri, I'm so very grateful. Thank you so much.

Don't mention it.

Let's have something delicious for lunch tomorrow.

And I'll make sure Mr. Jang knows how great a help you've been.

Take it easy then.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Phone.

Yes, Mr. Ha. This is Jang Gyujik speaking.

You got our soybean paste, right?

Right.

Pardon?

Pardon?

Ms. Geum, was it you who sent over the Home Mart order slips?

I did send them over, but Juri helped organize everything.

What?

Why did you let someone else do something so important?

There was a mistake with the order quantity.

We have to go and retrieve 1,000 boxes. 1,000 of them!

1,000 boxes?

Hurry up!

Head over to Home Mart and load our trucks.

Darn it.

Easy does it. Easy does it.

Make sure you keep count.

221, 222, 223.

Mr. Jang.

What?

I'm sorry, Mr. Jang.

Okay, so get out of the way.

You may think I'm making an excuse,

but I think something happened after I submitted the files.

I could have sworn all the numbers matched up.

I was very thorough.

I wanted to help you.

I agreed to help out for your sake.

For my sake?

Why did you agree to help out for my sake, missy?

Because we're one family, working together.

Who?

Us? You and me?

I don't have family like you, missy.

Pardon?

But you told me we were one big family.

Do you take everything people say at face value?

Good grief!

What do you mean?

Let me tell you why I call contract workers "missy."

It's like how you call waitresses and ladies you encounter in the street "ma'am."

I don't even want to waste time memorizing the names of people

who join our family to do grunt work.

I merely gave you a little something so that you'd do a good job at our office,

but the first thing you did was cause a monster size fiasco.

On top of that, you seem to think you can develop feelings for me.

Don't tell me you can't tell the difference between soybean paste and dung.

Check out the classified ads.

Because you, missy, will get the axe.

Mr. Jang,

how did you manage to slip up so royally?

1,000 boxes?

And wholesale boxes, no less.

I'm sorry, sir.

We'll take these out and take care of any cleanup work involved.

That's not what I'm worried about right now.

It'll be evening peak time soon,

but we're short two cashiers because of your slip up.

On hurt her wrist moving your boxes,

and the other up and left,

complaining this wasn't her job.

That's how contract workers are.

They have no sense of responsibility or teamwork.

All they do is cause problems.

Don't worry, sir.

I'll have my staffers man the empty cash registers.

How do you expect to pull that off?

They've never had to scan a single bar code in their lives.

But if someone who's experienced would help...

Don't worry, sir. Our staffers can...

I will

man a cash register, Mr. Ha.

Do you mean it, Ms. Kim?

Thank you. Thank you.

But there's a condition.

You will not hold anyone accountable for the soybean order mishap.

You have my word as long as you help us, Ms. Kim.

She's the big wheel here.

That's true sales.

Golden sales performance in the office can mean nothing on site.

Then I'll man the other register.

You?

Manning a cash register is a lot harder than it looks.

It's me, Mr. Hwang. I'm Gyujik Jang.

All you have to do is scan bar codes. A monkey can do it.

You should automate the whole process, you know?

It's a waste of money to have people doing this.

Humans and machines aren't the same.

What's so different?

You can always find replacements to do menial labor,

like stapling, sorting trash,

and the slew of other menial duties you perform.

What about you and those like you?

Aren't you pimping contract workers

because you can't perform what you call "menial duties"?

What? Pimping?

Missy, that's what's called industrial sophistication.

We live in a world where software rules over hardware.

Why are you so behind on the latest trends?

No wonder you still wear that goofy hairnet.

What? So you must know that it looks strange.

Who wears something like that these days?

Wasn't that thing briefly tolerated circa 1988?

Aren't you ashamed to be wearing that in the 21st century?

Stop it, Mr. Jang.

Then what about you?

Aren't you ashamed to be wearing that

in the 21st century?

What?

Wear what?

This?

I'm not wearing anything. This is my hair.

I paid an arm and a leg for this perm.

The head stylist at a salon in Cheongdam-dong did my hair!

This hair...

Apologize!

Apologize right now!

I will apologize

if you, Mr. Cabbage Patch Head,

prove that you're better at menial work than I am.

Fine.

Let's do it.

But if I win, you will bow to me

at a 90 degree angle

and apologize in front of everyone.

Fine.

But if I win,

you, Mr. Cabbage Patch Head,

will shave your head.

Deal.

She's way ahead.

Will we get to see Mr.Jang shave his head today?

It's only the beginning.

You never know until it's all said and done.

Welcome.

Do you need a bag?

Do you have a store point card?

That's cheating.

But you can't waste time during peak hours.

A direct, no nonsense method is acceptable.

Wait. What's she doing?

That's the grouping method.

She's scanning the heavier items first for the customer's convenience.

Wait. Mr. Jang is using a new technique.

But that's...

It's the one-for-five bird pecking method.

That would be the light speed two handed method, right?

You can't see her hands.

This will be a very tight race.

Welcome. Do you need a bag?

Do you have a store point card?

What's up with Ms. Kim? What's she doing with her legs?

Oh, that's the crane leg method.

It's an advance technique enabling you to massage your legs on the job.

What's wrong with Mr. Jang?

It's the greatest challenge for all cashiers.

A tsunami is imminent.

So what do cashiers do when they have to use the restroom?

They just hold it in.

Do you need a bag?

Do you have a store point card?

Please go to the customer service desk if you'd like a store point card.

Huh? Yes, Mr. Hwang.

Here's the invoice you asked for.

Good.

Thanks.

I heard there's an interesting race underway.

Yes, sir.

Do you think we'll win?

I don't know, sir.

Excuse me.

Hello?

Pardon?

Lost?

It was so close.

We found it right as he was putting the clippers to his head.

Otherwise, Mr. Jang would've ended up with a reverse mohawk.

Ms. Kim really lost?

Yup.

She forgot to scan this.

It's not like her to make a mistake like this.

Maybe a kid didn't put it properly on the counter.

In any case, Ms. Kim lost.

Who Pooped on My Head?

My workday is over.

Why did you do it?

What do you mean?

Why did you deliberately lose?

Ms. Kim,

you were never out to beat Mr. Jang in the first place, were you?

If one has to be dung

and the other, soybean paste,

it's best for the person with less to lose to be the dung.

Is that why you intentionally let him win?

For Mr. Jang and the company?

I don't do anything for anyone else.

I only lost because I'm dung.

Ms. Kim,

you're not dung.

My hair in the back...

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

But then we come to realize that we're only one

of the many bulbs lighting the tree.

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

Even the many lowly bulbs come in different grades.

Also, you can only tell dung apart from soybean paste...

by tasting it.

What's...

What's this?

Us?

This...

Subtitles by KBS World

Please help him!

This is going to be huge.

You just trust me and come along for the ride.

Do you know my three favorite words at work?

"See you tomorrow."

Those are my favorite words.

Gyujik, where are you going?

I found him.

Master Kim Byeongman.

The coffee's nice.

Do you work here now?

Do you know Ms. Kim?

Of course.

Do you know what her given name is?

Why have you been hiding your precious name?

You're telling me to help Cabbage Patch Head?

If you were me, would you help him?