Original subtitles

The Queen of Office

What's this? Hey, Kim.

What are you doing here?

What about yourself, Mr. Cabbage Patch Head?

Me? I'm here...

I asked you first.

It's personal.

It's none of your concern.

Forget it then. Who said I was concerned?

Fair enough.

Then let's go our separate ways.

I'll go right and you go left.

Fine.

Let's each go right.

It was an understandable mistake.

Trying to look intellectual, eh?

What do you want?

I caught you looking at me.

Why don't we share this dried squid and keep each other company?

I don't care for dried seafood.

Please eat that yourself.

Say Kim, why were you there?

I told you it was personal.

Personal?

Wait.

Are you

working for overtime pay on the weekend as well?

Do you have

a license in cremation that you're putting to use for a part time gig?

What? You like overtime pay.

Having to deal with you during the week is hard enough.

Please return to your seat.

I will. That's what I was planning to do anyway.

Even on the weekend, you're wearing long pants.

Wow. Bell bottoms.

Who cares if you have cankles?

You go diving and operate forklifts.

You need extra support for all that heavy duty work.

You don't need to keep your cankles hidden.

Look at how wide these are.

Do you

want to die?

Pardon?

Go back to your seat while I'm still being nice.

Where are your manners?

We're not at the office. I have no reason to mind my manners.

Do you want to get hit again like on the airplane?

Get hit?

How dare you talk to a man like that?

I was cutting you slack since you're a woman.

I was in a search and rescue squad in the military.

Do you have any idea how notoriously tough we are?

If we went at it fair and square, you'd be dead meat.

Then let's take it outside.

What?

Let's get off the train

and go head to head.

Fine. Let's do it.

Let's go all the way today.

Kim, you're going down today.

I've been holding back because you're a woman, but you asked for it.

What will it be this time? Flick on the forehead?

No. That puts me at a disadvantage.

Flick on the wrist! Anything!

Hey!

Why aren't you getting off?

Kim!

What are you doing?

Hey!

Why didn't you get off?

Kim!

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.

So?

You took the night train?

Yup.

And just barely, since the train is almost full on weekends.

I wonder why Ms. Kim was at the columbarium.

Maybe her parents' remains are kept there as well.

Parents?

Do you think a wild dog like her would have had parents?

Good morning.

Good morning, Ms. Kim.

Yes. It's a fine morning, Mr. Mu.

Kim,

do you know how long I had to wait in the cold because of you?

No, I don't.

What happened on the weekend shouldn't be dragged into the office.

Kim!

Mr. Mu, may I have a word with you?

Me?

Here, sir.

But why?

As you may have seen in my manual,

I do not accept any goods or gifts from my employers or colleagues.

I only take my hourly and overtime pay.

Yes, I did see that,

but couldn't you just accept it?

No, I cannot, sir.

It goes against my manual for me to accept this.

I understand your effort to engage your staff,

but you need not worry about a mere contract worker like me.

I'm not giving this to you as your colleague or boss.

Pardon?

I'm not doing this in a work capacity.

It's a personal gift for you, Ms. Kim.

You can keep it or throw it out, but that's up to you.

I never take back anything that I've given someone.

I guess you can't force someone to take a job they don't want.

Ms. Kim's just as stubborn as she's always been.

Mr. Hwang, are you done already?

I have a meeting. You stay and finish your lunch.

See you at the office.

Mr. Jang.

Good grief.

Does she think she's a princess?

How dare she reject an offer of a permanent position?

It's just that she specializes in contract positions.

Specializes in contract positions?

What kind of specialization is that?

She really is something.

She likened working at Y.Jang to slavery in front of Mr. Hwang.

But she's right.

We're slaves to our paychecks.

You always say you'll quit once you get this month's paycheck,

or the next month's paycheck, but you never act on it

and always end up back at work.

Then you wait until your first child is married off, and then the second...

So you never leave.

Wasn't it kind of cool what Ms. Kim did?

Mr. Ko, when do you think we'll be able to just up and leave like the movies?

Just quit if you want to.

So many people out there would do anything to be corporate slave.

When she said she didn't want to become a slave

to any company, it was so exhilarating.

Yeah, but she shouldn't have said it to Mr. Hwang.

Right? I thought it was a bit much.

Why? She made me realize that maybe

I don't have to live like everyone else.

If I'm competent enough, I can pick and choose

where I want to work and enjoy my freedom.

I don't have to desperately cling to a company just because I'm a contract worker.

I'll get going now. Enjoy your lunch.

My stomach's upset today.

What? It's been five years?

Yeah. She started working when she was about your age,

so she's been doing this for about five years.

So she's been a contract worker for five years now?

But how?

What do you mean, how?

She kept at the daily grind, and here she is.

But aren't people offered a permanent position after two years?

You really are clueless about how things work, aren't you?

That law simply means you can get fired after two years.

Then you get a job elsewhere and spend another two years there.

I think this is Bonghui's third company.

So do you understand now?

In the future, we won't be living like Ms. Kim.

We'll be like Bonghui.

All that pomp just for using a Swiss Army knife...

[Vacation & Sick Days]

[Type - Menstrual leave]

Ms. Park Bonghui.

Yes, Mr. Jang?

What is this?

You're taking

menstrual leave tomorrow?

Yes.

I didn't even know we offered such a thing.

But wait. You took a day off last week as well.

I'm not feeling very well these days.

That's still no excuse to take a day off every week.

Don't you know we have a lot going on at the office?

Why do you have to not feel well at a time like this?

I'm sorry, sir,

but I really have to go to the doctor tomorrow.

What do you mean, you have to?

There's no day off that a contract worker "has" to take.

Withdraw this request.

Pardon?

But...

But seriously,

she followed the protocol. Just let her take the day off.

What?

It's not fair to keep her

from taking legally authorized leave.

It would be a violation of the labor laws.

Mr. Gu,

since when have you been such a legally conscious person?

And why are you so worked up over someone else's business?

It may not be my business,

but I think that we should observe the law.

Please.

How can he humiliate her like that in front of everyone?

She said she wasn't feeling well.

I know.

Just think how terrible she must be feeling to ask for menstrual leave.

Bonghui must have felt so embarrassed.

I know.

It's such a sensitive time of the month for women.

I have five older sisters.

I'm the only son.

Five older sisters?

Whoever marries you won't have it easy.

No, my sisters are all very sweet.

But has Bonghui really take that many days off?

Come to think of it, she actually has.

She had a cold, then gastritis,

and she even had her wisdom teeth removed.

She's been so bloated and tired as of late.

Why can't he just let her go?

Mr. Jang deserves to be born as a fly in his next life.

Why do you all look so startled?

Were you badmouthing me?

No, sir.

No, sir.

Hey, missy,

bring a coffee to my desk.

You know how I like it, right? One teaspoon of syrup.

Yes.

Hang on.

Wait.

All set.

Now you take it to Mr. Jang.

But this is way too obvious.

Not anymore.

Mr. Jang, here's your coffee.

Put it there.

Mr. Jang,

could you look at this?

What is it?

It's from the meeting with Development just now.

They keep taking issue with the low sodium soy sauce sales.

Oh, really?

They're being unreasonable, huh?

I must have talked too much at the meeting.

I'll be back with a coffee.

Hang on. Have this.

It's just been brewed.

Thanks.

And what

do you think you're doing?

Juri.

I got really thirsty all of a sudden.

Are you feeling okay?

Yes, Mr. Mu.

It looked like you had an upset stomach all afternoon.

Shall I walk with you to a pharmacy?

No. I'm fine.

Mr. Mu,

may I ask you a question?

Yes, of course.

Why do you always let Mr. Jang win?

I don't.

Whether it's muscles or looks, I'm the all around winner.

Truth be told, everyone hates Mr. Jang.

And yet you always let that jerk,

I mean, you always let Mr. Jang win. The ladies think it's weird.

You see,

I'm not letting him win per se. I'm just looking out for him.

Ever since we were in college, I've just always wanted

to let Gyujik win and let him have what he wanted.

You see, he's not as tough as he lets on.

Plus, I'm all he has.

Sometimes it pains me to see him.

I don't know why I'm blabbering.

Relax and enjoy, will you?

Yes.

Is this the first time since you joined Y.Jang that I'm buying you a drink?

Yes, Mr. Jang.

It's also the first time since we broke up.

I'm sorry

that I disappeared without telling you.

I heard you took it very hard.

I'm sorry.

You still

can't tell me why?

I was so busy then trying to get a job.

That's your excuse?

That's your sorry excuse for dumping me and disappearing?

Sorry excuse?

You wouldn't know since you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth,

but to someone like me, getting a job meant everything.

It was absolutely everything to me.

Since you work under me now,

learn how things are in the real world.

For whatever it's worth, I do take care of my people.

Juri, do you have a lot?

I have to get these copied.

I'm almost done.

Do you have a cold?

No. It was just a sneeze.

You should be careful. The flu is going around.

You be careful, too.

Huh?

What's wrong with this all of a sudden?

I didn't press anything.

I know.

Maybe it's overheated.

Oh, my god!

What's this?

So? Is it fixed?

The pad is damaged so you have to replace the entire main system.

There's not much more I can do.

What? Then replace the main system.

You do everything.

Are there things you can't fix?

Yes, there are.

So Ms. Kim, can't you replace the damaged component?

As big as my satchel is,

I don't have spare copier parts in it.

Oh, right. SO how much do you think it'll cost to repair?

Considering the model and the extent of the damage, I'd say at least $1,500.

I think it would make more sense for you to get a new copier.

Pardon?

You broke a $2,000 photocopier?

Well, I didn't intentionally break it.

In any case, if you help me just this once,

I'll work very hard and pay you back in three months.

Will you even be able to last three months there,

when you keep getting in trouble?

At this rate, they might not even renew your contract.

Pardon?

But they have to.

I have to get a permanent position here at Y.Jang.

This has been confirmed, so make a copy...

Oh, no! The copier!

They have a copier in General Affairs.

Why don't I go down and...

I'll do it.

I'll be back in no time.

Yeah?

Then go for it.

Here you go.

That was quick. Thank you, Juri.

Don't mention it. Just let me know if there's anything else you need copied.

Juri,

then can you make 50 copies of this?

Sure. I'll be right back.

Wait, Juri.

Since you're going down anyway,

could you give this to Mr. Kim Cheongryeol in Marketing?

Sure. I'll be right back.

Thank you.

You don't have any?

- No smokes? - Nope.

Darn it.

Juri.

You sure are busy today. Are you heading back down to General Affairs?

Yes. Mr. Jang said he had left something out to be copied.

Oh, really?

Since you're going down anyway, could you get me a pack of smokes?

Cigarettes?

Yes. Since you're going down, that won't take long.

Sure. I'll get a pack for you.

Maison Black for me.

Hesse Classic for me.

Then get me a pack, too. Mild Nine.

Hang on.

May I use this?

Sure. Go ahead.

Maison Black. Maison Black.

Hesse Classic. Mild Nine.

Victoria for me.

Why are you here?

Why else would I be here?

Huh?

Fancy seeing you here.

Are you alone?

Yes.

Do you know the owner well?

Of course.

I've been coming here for 10 years.

Give me a bowl of warm rice water.

Get it yourself.

Talk about bad manners. Good grief.

Eat, eat. Don't mind me.

I'm a nonentity anyway, at the office, at home and outside.

I'm the invisible man.

The thing is, Mr. Hwang and I joined Y.Jang at the same time.

We used to be really close, like Mr. Mu and Mr. Jang.

But given my sorry situation,

our friendship is awkward at best.

Back in the day,

I'd call him by his first name

and ask him difficult favors.

Are you listening to me?

Yes, I am.

Alright.

Oh, and that poor Juri.

Why did she have to go and break a $2,000 copier?

I was thinking,

since you're a contract worker, too,

couldn't you help her out?

Mr. Hwang loves you. Talk to him on her behalf.

Contract workers are not a sorority.

A contract worker must take care of her own mess.

I'll get going then.

No, no.

It's my treat.

No, I don't let anyone buy me lunch.

Oh...

One more thing.

Please get your own table next time, Mr. Gu.

My goodness.

She must have a lot weighing her down.

We do understand that you're in a predicament,

but watching you earlier was unbearable.

Yeah.

How could you let them send you on a cigarette run?

You should have refused.

I didn't mind.

It was just a little errand.

It may be fine for you, but we aren't fine.

Don't you have any pride?

When you let them treat you that way,

it's putting all of us in that position.

Sorry that everyone's picking on you.

You'll waste your lunch break.

If I were you and had time to stare into space,

I'd be eating lunch.

Did I do something terribly wrong?

I have no money, and I broke the copier.

I was told that my contract might not be extended,

which means I might not be offered a permanent position.

You always make excuses, Jeong Juri.

Jeong Juri,

money, the copier... They're all just excuses.

Your problem is that you just have no pride.

All you think about is getting a permanent position.

You have no pride in being a contract worker.

Must I have pride in being a contract worker?

What pride?

How should I know?

Hey, dig in. It's my treat.

I wasn't worried about that...

Shall we start eating then?

How long has it been?

I don't think we've seen each other since graduation.

You've changed a lot.

Really?

Your style hasn't changed a bit.

It's exactly the same.

I can't afford to worry about my style.

Between loan payments and rent, I barely have enough for lunch.

Juri,

there's something I've come to realize since I started working.

You don't make your way up in life one step at a time.

People like us in particular must make it to the top

in one fell swoop, or we'll end up stuck in the same place for life.

For life?

Do you want to interview for a job at our company?

Interview?

This is great timing.

An associate manager in our department just wen to maternity leave.

We have a vacancy, so if you work hard,

you might be associate manager in just three months.

Do you know how much an associate manager makes?

How much?

That much?

What does your company do?

How should I put it?

They take gemstone ore like us

and turn us into diamonds.

When gemstone ore comes together, it turns to rubies,

and rubies come together to become emeralds,

the emeralds become diamonds,

the diamonds find new rubies,

and then the rubies work passionately

for this new group of diamonds.

Do you work at a jeweler's?

Marketing.

It's an innovative marketing company.

About Ms. Kim...

You guys try coaxing her into taking a permanent position here.

Coax her? Must we go that far, sir?

Ms. Kim may be playing hard to get simply out of pride.

Just try talking to her.

We could save a lot of money by getting her to sign on.

Of course we can.

Her overtime rate is ridiculously high.

Ms. Kim.

What is it, Mr. Mu?

Ms. Kim,

would you reconsider our offer of a permanent position?

I thought I made my decision very clear to Mr. Hwang, sir.

Mr. Hwang would like you to reconsider as well.

And I think it would be a great opportunity for you,

so please reconsider.

I just reconsidered,

but I still

have no desire to be part of an organization, Mr. Mu.

Ms. Kim,

I want to keep working with you.

I want you to be here a long time so that we can work together,

so please give it some more thought.

What?

She said no again?

Yeah.

She said being a contract worker was more important to her

and totally rejected the offer.

What in the world is she saying?

Is contract work a specialized profession?

Sun.

Welcome back.

Thank you.

I'd like to have a word with you.

What is it?

Why are you rejecting the offer of a permanent position?

Like I said, I don't want to be bound to an organization.

Not that. What's the real reason?

What do you mean?

Is it

because of me?

Is it

because we kissed...

Let's take this outside.

So is it because of what happened between us?

Does it make you uncomfortable to be working with me?

And what if it does?

What?

In that case,

I'll keep you from feeling uncomfortable.

Are you here to talk me into taking the offer?

Are you going to say it's in everyone's best interests

for me to just go along with the company's wishes?

I've seen many corporate lap dogs like you.

What? Lap dogs?

You assume all contract workers are pushovers.

Lap dogs get what they want from us and abandon us

when we're no longer useful.

What?

So you think that's how I am?

What's the matter with you?

Why are you so cynical?

What's going on in that head of yours?

How dare you disregard the kindness of others and of the company?

Kindness?

I don't need that sort of kindness.

To me, it's much more

important to live day by day as a contract worker.

What kind of nonsense is that?

You sneezed on me, too!

Juri, we can both become dazzling diamonds.

So do you understand now?

Our future isn't that of Ms. Kim. We'll be like Bonghui.

Will you even be able to last three months

when you keep getting in trouble?

At this rate, they might not renew your contract.

It's a diamond development company.

My friend told me about a job vacancy

and asked me to come for an interview.

What should I do?

What's there to think about?

If they're offering higher pay,

you should go for it.

But the interview's tomorrow morning.

They say they can't do it on the weekend.

Just say you have to go home because your mom got sick.

That's what everyone does when they go for interviews.

Hello?

Juri.

Is something the matter?

Pardon? Your mother?

All of a sudden... A car accident?

So you have to take the night train to Busan?

Yes, I'm sure it's the truth.

Okay. Have a safe trip.

Good grief.

This is the sixth mother's car accident excuse today.

[Dream beats resume!]

[For the dream of a permanent position at Y.Jang Go Jeong Juri!]

So what then?

It's just an interview.

I can't get up.

Ms. Kim,

good morning.

Good morning, Mr. Mu.

Ms. Kim.

Yes, Mr. Mu?

Did you run to work?

You're sweating.

It's my sweat. I'll take care of it, sir.

Of course.

Good morning.

Mr. Mu.

Yes?

Mr. Jang says he has a bad cold and is taking the day off.

Really?

Yes.

My goodness.

Thanks for telling me.

Some of us can't even take menstrual leave,

but others can stay home and still get paid.

What a great company.

So jealous.

Oh, really?

Okay.

Juri's not coming in. Her mother was in a car accident.

Really?

Is her mother badly hurt?

Fortunately, she's not badly hurt.

What's going on today?

I have a feeling that something even worse is brewing.

Please, Mr. Ko. You're making me nervous.

Ms. Kim, could you please help me today in Juri's place?

I have a lot of work today for the cafeteria presentation.

Of course, Mr. Mu.

Um...

You're holding your mouse upside down.

So I am.

Ms. Kim, your monitor isn't even on.

So it's not.

Ms. Kim, could you turn on the light for the reference room?

Of course.

Turn it on, not off.

What's going on?

Who turned off the lights?

Ms. Kim, are you okay?

Are you not feeling well?

I'm fine, Mr. Mu.

I'm just fine.

Mr. Mu! Mr. Mu!

We have a major problem.

The presentation for the cafeteria bid has been moved up to this afternoon.

But why all of a sudden?

I think Chasung was behind this.

Those jerks.

Since Mr. Jang isn't here, you'll have to do it.

Everything's in order, right?

Yes. I'll do my best.

Mr. Mu, here are the food references you asked for.

Thank you.

Ms. Kim.

Yes?

Are the menu samples I asked for ready?

Here you go, sir.

Thank you.

So all we have left to do is the hygiene section.

Oh, Juri said she finished that.

Huh?

[Password]

[Mr. Mu]

[Power Off]

What is Juri's date of birth?

March 20, 1988.

No.

What are the last four digits of her cell phone number?

7601.

Rats.

Maybe it's her favorite movie or something like that.

"Les Miserables."

Rats.

Favorite food.

Chicken.

Rats.

Hobby.

Cleaning and organizing.

Rats.

Say, how do you know all this?

No luck.

There's been an internal hacking incident,

so the IT security team is working on that.

Rats.

Why now?

We have to head out soon.

Do something.

Why did she have to set a password?

Is this Ms. Jeong Juri's house?

Hello, ma'am. I'm the head of Ms. Jeong's team at work.

Yes. The company where Ms. Jeong currently works.

Yes.

I'm sure you're all frazzled after her mother's car accident,

but something urgent came up here.

I'm sorry to bother you.

Um...

You're Ms. Jeong's mother?

I hope Juri's gotten to her interview okay.

She should at least nail the interview given the chaos she's caused here.

Who cares about the chaos here? We won't be here forever.

If that company pays more,

maybe I'll go there, too.

Should I interview there as well?

Does a diamond development company pay that much?

I guess it does.

Where is that place?

Ms. Kim, did you hear everything we said?

Tell me.

Where is that diamond company?

Jeong Juri!

I'm so sorry, Ms. Kim.

I didn't mean to lie...

What's your password?

Pardon?

Give me the password to your work computer!

It's "I Love Y.Jang."

"I Love Y.Jang"?

Love?

Shame on you, Jeong Juri.

Is it that shameful?

Working is fun for you, right?

You can operate a forklift, make soy sauce crabs and speak Russian.

And the company's begging you to stay on permanently.

Slaves, you say?

Do you have any idea

how many people out there are hanging on for dear life

for a chance to become corporate slaves?

I'm scared to death every day

that I might slip up again,

that I might cause another fiasco,

or that Mr. Jang will chew me out again.

But still,

I'm putting up with everything, hoping that maybe I can become a slave.

Do you know what's even more unnerving?

Even after all this,

they say I'll end up just like Bonghui.

They say nothing will come of this.

So am I not allowed to do this?

Can't I ashame myself in the hopes of becoming a diamond?

Do it.

Okay.

- Ms. Kim! - Don't.

[I'll bring it back in 15 minutes]

What is this?

What in the world...

We're good to go!

- Hurry, Mr. Mu. - Yes.

You're amazing, Ms. Kim.

[Diamond Health Foods]

Mom?

Where would I be at this time other than the office?

Juri,

is something wrong?

Juri,

your father and I don't want you to feel pressured in any way.

We just want you to be healthy

and always be our dear daughter.

You can always come home if things get tough,

okay?

Okay.

Here you go. It's warm tea.

I'm sorry to barge in like this.

Isn't it scary

to return to the office?

But then, you have nowhere else to go.

Yes.

But how do you know so well?

That's how Sun and I met.

Ms. Kim?

She brought things like these a few times as well,

crying her eyes out about how she'd been conned.

Ms. Kim?

Really?

Of course.

She wasn't always the way she is now.

She got in a lot of trouble, got yelled at a lot...

She cried quite a bit.

Nevertheless, she always made sure

she stayed on until the end of her contract.

She said if she ran away once, she'd always be on the run.

- Ms. Kim. - Yes?

Thank you for another day of hard work.

Right.

Good evening, sir.

How did the presentation go?

Why come here when you're sick? Everything went well.

Once again, it was thanks to Ms. Kim.

I heard you came through again while I was gone today.

Apparently the presentation went well thanks to you.

I didn't do it for you.

I only did it because it came up during work hours.

But of course.

Hey, Kim, why are you sweating so much?

Are you feeling sick?

You've got a fever.

Why did you come to work?

It's my own fever.

It's none of your business, sir.

What? Your own fever?

Juri.

Mr. Mu.

When did you get back? That was a quick trip to Busan.

You see...

I'm sorry, Mr. Mu.

The truth is...

The truth is, I...

You took the KTX, right?

It's really fast, isn't it? Only three hours from Busan, right?

Back in the day, it used to take half a day.

It's an amazing world, isn't it?

Oh, your mother must have gotten that for you.

It must be heavy. Let me help you with it.

Juri,

would you like to go on a drive?

A drive?

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

[Medicine]

Are you dead?

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

of the many bulbs lighting the tree.

And then we're hit with a more important fact of life.

Hold on tight, or you'll fall off.

As insignificant as we may be,

since we're together,

today is worth living.

Subtitles by KBS World

Love isn't all there is to marriage,

especially for contract workers like us.

Fermented soybeans are much prettier than diamonds.

Office romance?

Listen, Kim.

Our company's most uneven match.

Mr. Jang and Ms. Kim?

You know about the company sports day tomorrow, right?

Wrestling is the highlight of the sports day at Y.Jang.

Wrestling?

Don't you get the feeling that Ms. Kim's probably really strong?

How strong can a woman be?

Ms. Park can be the referee, and Ms. Kim can take her place.

It would be perfect.

Is that thing charging toward me?