Original subtitles

The Queen of Office

The winner is...

Ms. Kim!

What?

No way.

Any last words?

What?

Wait. Wait.

Ma'am!

Ma'am, wait. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

No!

Wait!

This is cheating.

This was left out.

So hot.

My noodles.

Ow!

Apologize.

What's keeping you?

Don't tell me you thought I would let you off the hook.

Do you think she'll really do it?

Mr. Jang,

I am...

Sorry.

I apologize.

Ms. Kim,

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

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.

What's...

What's this?

Us?

This...

Is a sweaty palm.

Did I startle you?

Yup.

How has your kissing not improved?

Aren't you too old now

to pretend you're innocent and lack experience?

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's 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 her three month contract period, she always leaves Korea.

But no one knows how she's come to call herself "Ms. Kim"

and chosen to be a serial contract worker.

[Analysis of Chasung Group's Soy Sauce Advertisement]

Chasung, our competitor,

has hired top star Cha Chisu as this season's spokesperson.

They're already very close to taking our place as the top soy sauce brand.

At this rate, we won't stand a chance with Choi Ganghyeok, our current model.

They're blatantly out to lure the ladies.

Do they think consumers are that stupid?

Right, Ms. Yeo?

What do spokespeople have to do with selling soy sauce?

I heard you skipped the company dinner last night

to see Cha Chisu's TV drama.

Mr. Jang is right.

He's one of Korea's top three thieves.

We can't beat Chasung.

Top three thieves?

You don't know the famed top three thieves of Korea?

Cha Chisu, the thief of women's hearts,

Yeon Jung Hoon, the thief who stole actress Han Ga In,

and lastly,

crabs marinated in soy sauce,

the thieves of rice.

Crabs in soy sauce.

Oh.

That reminds me.

I saw a program called "Finding Masters" last night.

Maybe it was a rerun.

Anyway, the master of crabs in soy sauce was on the show.

He cleaned and prepared 300 crabs and made crabs in soy sauce on the spot.

It was quite something.

Was it "Edward Scissorhands"? The movie about the guy with scissors for hands?

Like Edward Scissorhands, this guy prepped the crabs in the wink of an eye.

People flocked to his restaurant from all over Korea to see it.

He's really amazing.

You guys should see it sometime.

What about this?

Soy sauce crab marketing.

If there's no way to get a hotter star than Chasung's spokesperson,

why don't we get that crab master

and organize a live marketing event?

Soy sauce crab sales promotion.

Go on.

We'll grab that crab master to put on the grand soy sauce crab show.

Soy sauce crab show?

The crab master cleans and preps 300 crabs

and makes soy sauce crabs with our light soy sauce.

People who buy the soy sauce crabs get 50% off our soy sauce.

What we'll be doing is attracting an audience for a show and then

turning them into consumers.

That sounds good.

We might hit the jackpot if this goes over well.

If we can get the crab master, it would be worth a shot.

Mr. Mu.

Yes?

When did that show air?

I can look it up.

"Finding Masters: Episode 327,"

featuring the father of blue crabs, Master Kim, or "Claw Man."

He is the master of crustaceans. He's caught diverse sea creatures

with his bare hands for 28 years.

He's currently in Anmyeondo, making over 300 soy sauce crabs a day.

His savory soy sauce crabs are said to stimulate the appetite,

making people eat at least three bowls of rice in one sitting.

His crabs are considered Korea's "rice thieves."

Here's the rough budget and process for the soy sauce crab promotion.

I emailed it to the team as a file attachment.

When did you...

Thank you, Ms. Kim.

Well then,

may I be excused, Mr. Hwang?

Oh!

Is it lunchtime already?

It's actually a minute and 20 seconds past the start of my lunch break.

I'm sorry.

You can go, Ms. Kim.

Excuse me then.

That woman is the contract worker who almost shaved Mr. Jang's head, right?

I'm surprised she didn't get to do it.

What took you so long?

I'm hungry. What should we eat?

What would you like?

There's a restaurant Ms. Kim always goes to.

Yeah? Let's go there then.

Please have your sorority meeting elsewhere.

There's no use in acting all tough anymore.

You're on our side, Ms. Kim.

How shrewd.

We were all very moved by how you came to Juri's rescue yesterday.

We thought contract workers had no affiliations or colleagues,

but we've come to realize

we have something even better.

Our...

Our friendship.

Which we can rely on...

I did do it for Juri,

but I never said it was free.

[Request for Overtime Pay]

You never did say it was free.

But I still owe you for the forklift work.

Well then,

why don't the rest of you pitch in as well?

In the name of love, friendship and camaraderie?

Juri.

Thank you so much for helping me.

You're welcome.

Oh?

What's this for?

I thought you'd like it, so I bought it for you.

I heard they're friends.

You shouldn't have.

I'm so sorry about the Home Mart order slips.

You were only trying to help me, but then...

Why are you sorry?

It's all because of that jerk, Mr. Jang.

Gyujik's a jerk?

Are you on a first name basis with him?

Yes. He was an upperclassman at my school.

Oh...

We dated briefly, too.

Are you okay? Have some water.

You two dated?

Yes,

but he dumped me.

Who does he think he is?

Like you said, he's a jerk.

I'll take care of this invoice.

Why? You're buying me lunch. There's no need.

This is the least I can do. I owe you a lot.

Please?

But still...

I can't just keep taking from you.

In that case,

will you do something else for me?

What is it?

Be my friend?

Will you be my friend?

[Master of crustaceans catches marine organisms with his bare hands]

Wow.

He's really amazing.

Yup!

This is going to be huge.

We have to pull this off to keep Chasung at bay.

Don't worry.

My fine tuned sales instincts tell me this will be a huge success.

His friend?

Yeah.

Yeah. The friend who managed the restaurant with him took everything and ran off.

You don't know where the crab master went?

No.

I got here in the morning and he was gone without saying a word to anyone.

His soy sauce crabs were divine.

[Master Kim Byeongman Father of Blue Crabs]

Man, no wonder no one answered my calls.

I wonder if there's any way to find him.

Maybe Ms. Kim would know a way.

I should call and ask her.

No.

Don't get her involved in this.

Why not?

All I'm going to do is call and ask her.

Jeonghan, look at this.

This is what happens when that woman gets involved.

Don't worry, Gyujik.

Your hair grows really fast.

Everything's gone awry since she showed up.

Last night, my jigsaw puzzle fell apart.

The one you spent six months putting together when you were in the States?

Yeah, that one.

I'm telling you, she's bad luck.

And she doesn't know the very basics of office life.

This isn't America.

How dare she force everyone to call her "Ms. Kim"?

Who does she think she is?

Really?

But still,

let's not give up.

It's such a great idea. We can't let it go up in smoke.

No, sir.

We will track him down.

Must we search all the seafood markets in Korea?

Don't worry. I know lots of people and have access to lots of information.

You just trust me and come along for the ride.

Hey, Kim.

Mr. Mu, have a good evening.

You too, Ms. Kim.

Hold on.

You can see Mr. Mu, but I'm invisible to you?

The thing is,

you seem like a completely different person today.

You were so polite at Home Mart.

You courteously bowed and said,

"Mr. Jang, I apologize." Remember?

Don't lower your head.

I can see the bald strip.

What? What?

Hey, Kim!

Stop right there! Kim!

You'd better watch it! You'd better not get on my bad side!

I'm...

Hey, Kim! Stop right there!

You need to watch it!

Don't mess with me!

Oh, man...

Kim!

How dare a lowly contract worker treat me like that?

I want to push her into a vat of soy sauce.

Gyujik,

couldn't you smooth things over with Ms. Kim for my sake?

Jeonghan,

do you know what my favorite three words are at work?

"Let's sign now," as in a deal?

"See you tomorrow."

Those are my favorite words.

When people say "see you tomorrow" at the end of the work day,

it's so reassuring.

I think to myself, "I'll get to see them tomorrow."

Mr. Hwang, Mr. Ko, and you...

It's a reminder that I'll be able to work and eat and spend time

with my colleagues the next day.

Jeonghan, I want to work with people who I know I'll see the next day,

the day after that, and even 10 years from now.

I'm talking about people who will always be around.

But as for those who will leave after a three month contract is up,

what's the point of getting along?

This must be it.

I'll just go home.

It's a gathering for new employees.

I don't think I belong there.

You can't just leave.

I already told them I was bringing along a colleague.

A colleague?

Bitna's told us so much about you.

I heard you two were appointed to the same department.

Yes.

Are you this year's new recruit like us?

I don't think I saw you at the orientation.

Oh. Maybe she got in last year,

but the appointment was deferred, right?

It's not quite...

You see,

I'm a contract worker.

Oh...

But you said that she was your colleague.

Hey,

we work together, and we joined the department at the same time.

Plus, Juri went to our school.

She's the class of 2011, just like us.

- Really? - Oh...

So you went to Yeomgo, right? What was your major?

Korean literature.

Really? I was a Korean lit major, too.

Why haven't we met before?

Well, that's because

I didn't study at the Seoul campus.

Oh...

Juri.

What are you doing out here?

I found him.

Master Kim Byeongman.

Hey.

That's him, right?

Sir. Sir.

It'll only take a minute.

Good grief.

I told you to leave me alone if you're not buying any crabs.

Sir.

It won't take long.

- Please. - Good grief, miss.

- Move. I need to tie this. - Sir!

Sir! Hang on, sir.

I'm Jang Gyujik from Y.Jang's Marketing & Sales department.

So?

I've seen countless swindlers like you.

Sir, we desperately need these hands of yours.

Snow crabs? They're way beneath you.

Please trust us and let us restore your title as master of blue crabs.

We are

your friends, sir.

Friends?

Quit yapping. It sounds as useful as farts to me.

Sir!

Sir, please spare me a few minutes of your time.

Please.

It won't take long, sir!

Gyujik, where are you going?

I don't know.

I'll call when I get there.

Mr. Jang's the bomb.

I had my doubts,

but he brought in Master Claw Hands.

Mr. Jang just has that golden touch.

While you have the rotten touch.

That wacko sure has all the luck.

Master Kim was going to take off, so Mr. Jang jumped into his truck.

Mr. Jang sure is something.

But where did he manage to find Master Kim?

I heard his restaurant Jungle Soy Sauce Crabs closed down.

It was Juri who spotted him.

Juri saw him selling snow crabs out of his truck.

She kept him from leaving and called Mr. Jang.

Really?

Wow, Juri. You came through big time.

Bitna and I did it together.

I couldn't have done it alone.

What are you talking about? I didn't do a thing.

You pulled it off by yourself.

We did it together.

No.

How sweet.

It's heartwarming.

Thank you

for coming all this way to meet with us.

What choice did I have?

This fellow here snuck into my truck and started selling my crabs

when I made a stop on the Gyeongbu Expressway.

In any case,

you got yourself a fine employee.

Right?

You're embarrassing me.

Thank you.

The coffee smells nice.

Do you work here now?

Do you know Ms. Kim?

Of course.

How do you know that woman, sir?

We used to work together way back when.

Anyway, where do I sign?

Oh, right.

Here.

You can go ahead and sign right here.

Sir, then

do you know what her given name is?

Her name? Of course. I know her full name.

You know her name?

What was that, sir?

These are the Great Scissors, right?

The Great Scissors? What's that?

You watched the show, didn't you?

In the interview, Master Kim said it was all thanks to the Great Scissors

that he became the master of crabs.

He's had them for 16 years. They're like a part of his body now.

He always keeps them with him.

Yeah. He puts them by his head even when he goes to bed.

What was that thing Gollum kept looking for?

The Ring of Power.

Yup.

The Scissors of Power.

Y.Jang's "300 Rice Thieves" featuring the Crab Master himself

is expected to be the biggest hit since "101 Dalmatians."

Wow.

Home Mart just called.

The promotional soy sauce package we put up online is sold out.

You've done a great job, Mr. Jang.

I'm so flattered, sir.

You can up the volume when you're flattering me.

Say, who did you say was the first to spot Master Kim?

- Oh, it was Ms. Jeong... - Ms. Geum Bitna, sir.

Ms. Geum spotted him when she was at a dinner gathering.

Really?

Good job.

Thank you.

I knew I had picked a winner.

All of you, congratulations on a job well done.

Mr. Ko, bring me that report.

Mr. Jang,

it was Ms. Jeong who...

I know

it was that missy who first spotted him.

But you were there, too,

so you can get credit for it.

But I don't want that.

What?

Bitna, I'm fine.

I don't want to take credit for something my friend did.

Friend?

Ah, so you two are friends?

Yes.

I see.

You're friends.

You make $30,000 a year,

while she makes $12,000,

and yet you're friends.

I didn't know

that someone who'll only be here for three months

could be friends with someone who'll be here for 30-some years.

Mr. Jang, that's enough.

This missy is acting cuter by the day.

It's fun working in an office, right?

Now that you have a friend,

the office is like Pororo's cartoon world, right?

Missy,

do you know how Pororo's world ends up?

Well? You're a Pororo fan. Answer me.

You don't know? Huh?

As per laws of the food chain,

Pororo the Penguin will first be eaten by Eddy the Fox.

Eddy the fox, Loopy the Beaver, and Harry the Hummingbird

will be eaten by Poby the Polar Bear.

But even Poby the Polar Bear

will be done for once Crong the Dinosaur reaches maturity.

This is a realistic end for Pororo's world.

We're on the same wavelength for once today, Kim.

I wasn't trying to strike a chord with you, Mr. Cabbage.

I was merely explaining facts about the ecosystem.

Listen, Kim.

For someone so well versed in the natural ecosystem,

you certainly are clueless when it comes to the office ecosystem.

I may not be your direct supervisor,

but should you address me

as Mr. Jang or Mr. Jang Gyujik?

And have you, Mr. Cabbage,

ever referred to any of the contract workers by their full names?

Oh, yeah.

You're right.

Now that I think about it,

I've never addressed any of those missies by their full names.

Sorry.

I'll do better from now on,

Kim Jeomsun.

Why have you been hiding your precious name,

Jeomsun?

We should name our next soybean paste after you.

What a perfect pasty name.

I never hid my name from anyone.

It's simply not specified in my contract.

I know. I know.

Why didn't you include something so important in your contract?

If you had, I would've addressed you by your full name from the get-go.

No, thanks.

Hey, Jeomsun.

Jeomsun!

Ow, my stomach.

Jeomsun. Jeomsun.

Her name's Jeomsun, Jeonghan.

Hey!

Up more. More, more, more, more.

Slightly more. More, more, more, more.

Stop.

Perfect!

Sir.

Hello, sir.

It's a lot of work, isn't it?

Don't get me started.

The higher-ups are all eyes and ears.

Even the executive director stopped by earlier.

My Q1/Q2 performance assessment rides on this.

So that means

you'll get promoted this time around.

Promoted?

Say, Mr Kim will be here tomorrow, right?

No. Why would that woman come?

This is an event I planned, so she won't be here.

She won't?

Really?

There are no plans yet for Ms. Kim to be here tomorrow.

Ah, I see.

Will you really be able to handle everything, Mr. Jang?

Don't worry, sir.

I'll make sure that everything goes smoothly.

I told you I could drive myself. You don't have to be my chauffeur.

My goodness, Master Kim.

These are your hands we're talking about.

Until the event, put those treasures in your pockets for safekeeping.

I'll wait on you hand and foot.

I'll do anything and everything except wiping your bottom.

You're such a freak.

Say, Master Kim,

about that woman...

That woman?

Jeomsun.

What kind of work did you and Jeomsun do together?

We helped one another with our back zippers and shared bath water.

You know...

What?

Hey! Hey! Hey!

What? Car accident?

Fortunately, he's not seriously hurt.

He only fractured his right arm.

If we start looking for a replacement right away...

What in the world were you thinking?

What's Prophet Jang going to do now?

He might lose his revered status.

Mr. Jang.

Come up with a list of chefs who can put on a cooking show and start calling.

I'm going to ask around at seafood markets.

The event is tomorrow. Who will agree to do it?

And with 300 live crabs, no less.

If we get about 10 homemakers...

No!

We made a promise to our customers.

We must do whatever it takes to put on the show as planned.

Our team should look up chefs and start calling as well.

Yes.

Ms. Kim,

you can help too, right?

Yes, but only during work hours, sir.

I don't need your help.

So he says.

Please get on it as soon as possible.

- Excuse me, sir. - Ma'am!

We'd like to ask for your help.

It's a promotional event...

Sir!

It's a promotional event...

Couldn't you at least give it some thought?

No way.

Please, sir. Please reconsider.

Sir. Sir.

Move. I have to get the phone.

Ma'am!

- Sir. - I said no!

No, thanks.

Let me help you with that.

Good heavens.

My goodness!

You just don't know when to give up, do you?

Ma'am, I don't care that my suit is wet.

Ma'am!

Ma'am, you're so impatient.

Stop!

Are they finally here?

Wow.

Let's see.

They're alive. They're alive.

Um...

Well, sir?

So? Who's coming in his place?

You see...

You told him to come by 10:00, right?

You said not to be late, right?

Wow. Easy does it. Easy does it.

Why haven't you found a replacement yet, you twerp?

Sir. Sir.

- I... - Sir.

I'll end up getting the boot, and it's all your fault.

Why me?

You have no idea what I went through to become a manager.

We're sorry. We're sorry. We're so sorry, sir.

You have no idea. You have no idea, you little freak!

My job...

Please calm down.

You don't know how much this job means to me.

You have no idea, jerk!

Darn it.

We're sorry. We're sorry.

Let go!

Are you heading home now?

Did you find a replacement?

Not yet.

But we've called potential replacements as far out as Yeosu and Gwangyang...

Gwangyang?

At this hour?

The soy sauce crab show is tomorrow morning.

I'm sorry, sir.

Things aren't looking good.

It seems Mr. Yu, Home Mart's executive director, caught wind of it.

Mr. Yu?

We have to do whatever we can.

Gyujik.

Oh...

Thank you very much.

Jeonghan.

Would you like a drink with me?

Next time. I'm really tired tonight.

Oh, right.

Yeah. You've had a long day. Go home and unwind.

Gyujik.

Yeah?

See you tomorrow.

Yup. See you tomorrow.

[Letter of Resignation]

Ms. Kim!

Please help Mr. Jang.

I heard

you were Master Kim's apprentice and you worked with him.

Please help him.

You're capable of doing the crab show.

Just because I'm capable,

does that mean I have to help?

It's not stipulated in my contract.

Also,

please refrain from such a thoughtless act of encroaching upon

my private and personal space outside of work hours.

Please help him!

I saw Gyujik

drafting his letter of resignation,

but there's nothing I can do for him.

To you, Y.Jang may be just another company,

but to Gyujik, Y.Jang is his life and his family.

To Gyujik,

it's everything.

I'm asking you

to help not the company

or your superior,

but my friend.

Do you know why I never disclose my name at the workplace?

A contract worker is at a company

for three to six months and at most, two years.

Why go through the trouble of making friends?

An office is not where you make friends.

It's where you compete to survive.

And Mr. Mu,

how can you tell me to help Cabbage Patch Head?

If you were me,

would you help him?

What's the matter with you?

I have to go in. I have to help them.

Are you out of your mind? You're not going anywhere.

The doors are locked.

They'll all die.

I have to help them.

Jeomsun!

Byeongman?

Yeah.

My arm will be as good as new in three weeks.

The real problem is that I lost the Great Scissors.

But an even bigger problem is that wacko guy.

He may be a sorry loser and all,

but he's not a bad person.

That's what makes a really bad person.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Yes?

That's a shellfish diver in the Han River, right?

What?

How can you be so incompetent?

This is absurd. The show's canceled?

I woke up at the crack of dawn

to come all the way here from Bundang for the crab show.

We're so sorry. We're so sorry.

But instead,

we will offer these fresh blue crabs at 50% off.

Only $7.50 for five crabs.

Are you kidding me?

I can get crabs at my local market.

This is maddening!

This is completely unacceptable!

I'm going to sue.

Please. Please.

Sir?

You need to get this under control.

This will affect the whole store.

We're sorry, sir.

We'll take care of any losses you sustain.

But something like this

isn't just about money.

It's a complex problem.

Maybe it's time for Y.Jang and Home Mart

to go our separate ways and find new partners.

But sir, that...

Please hold me alone accountable for this, sir.

Attention, Home Mart shoppers.

In a few moments, a soy sauce crab promotional event

will be held in the food section on the first floor.

Live crabs fresh from Anmyeondo

will be cleaned and prepped by a seasoned master.

Don't miss this wonderful event.

Attention, Home Mart shoppers

You found a replacement?

Attention, everyone.

Fresh blue crabs! Only $15 for five.

You can get five fresh, plump female crabs

from the sea by Incheon for just $15.

Please gather round.

You don't want to miss this, ladies.

For only $15,

we give you a chance to take home

one of Korea's top three thieves.

Gather round. Gather round.

Who are Korea's top three thieves?

You don't know, ma'am?

First is your husband, who stole your heart.

Second are your children, who robbed you of your svelte figure.

Third are soy sauce crabs, which will rob you of your rice.

How about a song?

I'm rather preoccupied here.

Come on. Just one song.

So we not only sold all 300 crabs,

but got orders for more?

Wait.

So this means Mr. Jang won't have to resign, right?

Resign?

He might even end up being rewarded for this.

Thank you, sir.

Good job.

Good job, everyone.

Thank you.

See you tomorrow.

Yes. See you tomorrow, Mr. Hwang.

How about a drink?

Huh?

Oh, um...

How about tomorrow?

I have an important engagement tonight.

You're playing hard to get these days.

Are you seeing a girl?

Mr. Jang.

We've gotten the last odds and ends sorted out.

Good job, Mingu.

See you tomorrow.

Ms. Jeong Juri.

Yes?

Good job today.

See you tomorrow.

Right.

See you tomorrow, Mr. Jang.

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

But then we realize that we're only one

of the many bulbs lighting the tree.

[Bitna]

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

A penguin and a dinosaur can't ever become friends.

And there's no knowing who's the penguin and who's the dinosaur

until they go head to head.

I came by to ask you something.

Why didn't you ask for overtime pay today?

I heard Mr. Hwang offered but you said no.

I only said no because the pay for today's work wasn't for me to take.

Are you planning to ask for double or quadruple the amount later,

by filing a complaint to the Ministry of Employment and Labor?

You ask for overtime pay to attend company dinners,

so I don't get why you didn't ask for that today.

Do you know

how long shellfish divers

can stay underwater?

10 minutes?

20 minutes?

One minute.

Just one minute.

After a minute, their lives are at risk.

To shellfish divers, who must

risk their lives every minute, friendship is a mere luxury.

But they don't take all the abalone they see.

They don't want the next diver to go home empty handed.

That's the only way we show loyalty to one another.

That is why I am not asking for overtime pay for today's work.

Hold on a second.

Ow.

Why is this stupid thing...

Hey, Kim!

Oh, man.

- I'm sorry. - I'm fine.

Are you sure?

Your pants.

I'm fine.

You're hurt.

Don't touch me. I'll take care of myself.

Don't you think you might need something for that?

I told you not to touch me!

I told you to keep your hands off.

They're off.

Subtitles by KBS World

Accounting is up in arms.

This is ridiculous, Mr. Hwang.

This isn't something that can happen in Korean society today.

Wouldn't you like to draft your very own proposal?

I can do this. An earnest dream can beat a fancy resume.

Listen, Jeong Juri.

You're a contract worker, always at risk of getting the axe.

All you can rely on is that scrawny body of yours.

That's charisma alright.

You take the dreams of contract workers hostage

for dirty, fraudulent dealings.

Why? Why?

Is a company merely a place where you squeeze out every penny possible?

No.

I would like to do some other yanking if that were possible.

How dare you, woman?

Go ahead and yank.

If I lose, I'll let you slap me.