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Radiant Office: Episode 11

Forget about romance — who knew that these two would end up having such an adorable friendship? After Woo-jin’s original inability to offer advice without also being extremely offensive, I never would have guessed that he’d turn out to be such a comforting and supporting presence to Ho-won. But he is, and it’s all due to her influence and positive outlook as she teaches him how to relate to people. The way they’re opening up to each other is just so sweet, I can’t get enough of them.

 
EPISODE 11 RECAP

Ho-won, Ki-taek, and Kang-ho arrive at work to see employees watching a television show in the lobby, and they realize that the author being interviewed is Hyun. He talks about his book, which highlights three patients who ended up in his emergency room after trying to commit suicide on the same night. He says they coincidentally showed up to interview at his father’s company, so he decided to hire them.

Hyun arrives with reporters and and unashamedly outs Ho-won and her friends as the subjects of his book. They’re too stunned to speak, so the reporter suggests that they pose for a photo with Hyun. They do, looking completely miserable, then Hyun moves on. Ho-won follows Hyun to confront him, but he casually brushes her off with a promise to talk to her later, asking Woo-jin to explain everything to her instead.

Betrayed, Ho-won asks Woo-jin if he knew about this. He leads the friends upstairs, where they file through the office with bowed heads as the other employees watch with pity in their eyes. Ji-na in particular stares at Ki-taek, having just learned that he tried to kill himself after their breakup.

Woo-jin explains that Hyun saw them on the day of their interview and got them their jobs. Ho-won asks why he didn’t tell them he knew about this, but he says that he didn’t feel there was a good reason. He reassures Ki-taek that he only found out recently before adding that what happens next is up to them.

The others leave, but Ho-won hangs back. She says accusingly that if Woo-jin had told her about this sooner, she wouldn’t have made a fool out of herself. She tells him truthfully that she’s angry with Hyun, but that she’s also angry with him.

The trio go outside to talk this through, ashamed that the whole company knows that they were hired through Hyun. It’s Kang-ho who puts the clues together and guesses that Hyun was the doctor who said that one of them was terminally ill. He wonders why Hyun never said anything to Ho-won in all the time they spent together, either about the illness or about getting them their jobs.

CEO Han comments suspiciously that Manager Park never mentioned knowing the chairman’s son, but Manager Park insists that his true loyalty is to CEO Han. CEO Han doesn’t believe him for one second, though he admits to himself that Park is more cunning than he thought.

Suk-kyung joins them, and Manager Park is impressed with how easily she lies to CEO Han, saying that she doesn’t really know Hyun. Manager Park suggests they use Hyun’s philanthropy to improve Hauline’s image, but CEO Han thinks the timing of the news of Hyun’s identity is awfully convenient.

Woo-jin and Gu-dong discus the exact same issue in Woo-jin’s office — Hyun suddenly showing up just after Chairman Seo’s collapse is a clear indication that he wants to take over. Woo-jin is reminded of Hyun’s request to help him take his father’s place.

Gu-dong reveals that Hyun’s older brother gave up his inheritance, which means that Hyun, as Chairman Seo’s legal guardian, is now in a position to make decisions about Hauline. Gu-dong thinks that company politics are about to change drastically.

They’re interrupted by Hyun himself, so Gu-dong leaves, muttering that he sees why Chairman Seo feels his younger son isn’t suitable to take over Hauline. Hyun asks Woo-jin why Ho-won, Ki-taek, and Kang-ho aren’t in the office, and Woo-jin defends that they needed some time to clear their heads after their shock this morning. Hyun argues that he needed to make an impact in order to counter his father’s in keeping him away from Hauline.

Woo-jin sarcastically asks why such an important person as Hyun has time to grace him with his presence, which makes Hyun repeat that this is why he wants Woo-jin on his side: his blunt honesty. He vows that he won’t give up until Woo-jin agrees, but Woo-jin tells him that his loyalty is to the company, now and in the future.

He makes his position crystal clear that he will never let Hyun put him in his pocket and use him. Hyun accepts this answer for now, saying that he knows what he needs to do next.

Hyun takes Manager Park and Suk-kyung to dinner that evening, and he muses that it’s time for there to be some strong leadership at Hauline. He says that the company’s finances are a shambles since his father’s collapse, insinuating that he plans to step up and lead the company himself.

Hyun mentions Hauline’s lack of competent female employees to Suk-kyung. He tells her that he respects and values her work, and that he plans to watch her closely and mete out rewards and punishments as needed. Whoa, that sounds so good on the surface, yet the chill in his voice gives it the tone of a threat.

Manager Park asks Hyun what position he plans to take in the company, but Hyun says he’s not sure before asking him to prepare an appropriate place for him. Both Manager Park and Suk-kyung say that that won’t be easy, so Hyun says that all they need to do is remove someone else.

At the office, Suk-kyung witnesses Yong-jae making snide comments that Kang-ho doesn’t think he should have to work hard because he got his job through a connection. Later, she brings Kang-ho a coffee and praises him on a project he finished, thanking him for making her job easier. She leaves him fighting back grateful tears.

As Ho-won runs an errand for Woo-jin, she thinks of all the time she’s spent with Hyun when he seemed so friendly. She remembers revealing her biggest secrets over spicy ddukbokki, and guesses that the thing he refused to tell her was that he’s been lying to her.

She even recalls the night that Hyun asked her not to change her mind about him being a good person if he hurts her in the future. A man accidentally bumps Ho-won and apologizes, and that loosens something inside her. She yells to nobody that people even apologize to a stranger, then decides to confront Hyun directly.

He meets her at a coffee shop where Ho-won wastes no time asking why he did what he did. When she just get a vague non-answer, Ho-won points out that Hyun had many opportunities to tell her the truth, but he just says that the timing was never right.

Ho-won complains that the Hyun she thought she knew was kind, so Hyun leans close to give her some advice: Kind people usually have an ulterior motive. He says that the only kind thing he’s done was to get her, Ki-taek, and Kang-ho their jobs and tells her to consider his revealing the truth a fair price.

Looking smug and superior, Hyun offers to take everything back if Ho-won doesn’t like his terms. At first, Ho-won looks shamed by Hyun’s words, but then she says that she really thought she was terminally ill. Hyun is confused, so she tells him how they overheard him discussing a sick patient and thought he meant her.

She says that she’d felt as if she’d traded her life for her job, which made the job that much more precious. She tells Hyun that while he may be seen as a hero for hiring three suicidal patients, she’s lost both the way she felt about that job and the amazing doctor she knew.

Ho-won heads back to the office, and when she arrives, she finds Woo-jin waiting for her. He fusses at her like he always does, but now she knows that it’s his way of showing concern for her, and she bursts into tears.

Woo-jin takes her to the river and asks if she’s still mad at him. She says that she’s not mad, she’s just embarrassed because she insisted to him that they were all hired because they deserved it. With a smile, Woo-jin praises her for realizing her mistakes right away, ha.

Ho-won muses that she’s not as happy now as when she thought she was dying, because now she knows why she was hired and feels like she’s done something wrong. She asks Woo-jin what she should do, but he doesn’t have an easy answer for her.

Ji-na takes Ki-taek aside to tell him that people will forget about this soon enough. She says that he should think of the job as a karmic reward for working hard, and she even urges him to get closer to Hyun and take advantage of knowing the chairman’s son.

Hyun visits his father, who’s still in a coma, to give him his doctor’s lab coat. He says that he only wore it to make his father proud, adding that every day since his father left his mother and didn’t take him with him, he’s been trying to make his father see him. He vows to show Chairman Seo that he can be as good as him.

Yong-jae is still swaggering around the office making nasty comments about how the temps got their jobs. Ho-won and Ki-taek say that they didn’t know, and when Yong-jae is all Of course you wouldn’t admit it, Ji-na tells him to shut it.

He saunters off to the break room, pulls out his phone, and flips through Ho-won’s social media page for clues as to how she met Hyun. He finds nothing, so he moves on to Ki-taek’s page, where he runs across a photo of Ki-taek and Ji-na looking very cozy together. Uh-oh.

Woo-jin requests that CEO Han decide which of the three temps to offer a permanent position, but CEO Han no longer thinks they’re qualified based on how they got the jobs. Manager Park gently reminds CEO Han that Hyun still backs them, and he even suggests they hire on all three.

Ho-won, Ki-taek, and Kang-ho are roped into picking up Manager Park’s dog from the vet, and they laugh that the wrinkly little thing’s name is Jung-tae, which is CEO Han’s name. The vet hilariously congratulates the dog on having three secretaries, ha.

They’re running late because they have to take the dog to Manager Park, so they try to hurry to his office without being caught. Unfortunately, they run into CEO Han and Woo-jin in the hallway and get yelled at for bringing a dog to work.

CEO Han asks how he’s supposed to give these people a permanent job, his anger at Hyun spilling out at the three people Hyun hired. Then he sees his own name on the dog’s tags and demands to know whose dog it is.

Manager Park is called to CEO Han’s office to find his boss holding his dog and asking which Jung-tae he came to see. HAHA, whoops. Manager Park stammers that he named his dog after CEO Han as a compliment, but the boss ain’t buying it. He coos at the dog (which looks completely blissed out from all the petting, hee) and calls Manager Park a jerk.

A bit later, Woo-jin catches Manager Park sending Yong-jae to take the dog home, and he fusses at him for not taking care of his own pet. He criticizes Manager Park for giving his employees his personal errands after swearing up and down that he hired them for their talent and passion.

Manager Park defends himself, saying that when the boss’s son tells you to do something, you do it without question. But Woo-jin argues that he should keep his personal and work lives separate.

Manager Park cuts the conversation short, then turns back to add that he’s changed his mind about hiring all three temps permanently. He says that now he thinks it’s better to fire them all when their contracts are up, though he’s really just taking his anger and embarrassment out on them.

Manager Park walks right into Ho-won, Kang-ho, and Ki-taek in the break room, and he asks them if they’re dumb or just thoughtless. Ho-won argues that they didn’t mean to get caught, but Manager Park thinks they should have said the dog belonged to them. He tells them that once their contracts are over, they’re gone.

Gu-dong informs Woo-jin that the kerfuffle with the auditing department was because Manager Park tried to frame him. Woo-jin decides that he’s had enough mistreatment from Manager Park, so he hatches a plan to reveal Manager Park’s wrongdoings.

Ki-taek is really down while they work at the store that night, and he tells Ho-won and Kang-ho that he thinks he should quit. Ho-won says that she’ll quit too, and Kang-ho quickly agrees that they may as well, since they’re fired after their contracts end anyhow.

Woo-jin comes to take them to dinner, but none of the three have much appetite. Ki-taek tells Woo-jin that they’ve decided to quit, but Woo-jin grows angry and says that if they don’t value themselves and their work more highly, then neither will anyone else.

The boys are despondent, saying that it will be hard to stay at Hauline another month knowing that people are talking about them when they won’t be hired anyway. Woo-jin tells them that what others say isn’t as important as what they say to others. He urges them to eat, joking that whoever eats the least has to pay, so they all dig in despite their tears.

Over their own dinner, Yong-jae gleefully peppers Ji-na with questions about her boyfriend. He says that he knows who her boyfriend is as he makes Ki-taek’s name into a stupid poem, then says that he should have guessed by the way Ki-taek always defends Ji-na. He promises to keep it a secret, then uses the information to extort Ji-na into paying for his dinner. What a dirtbag.

As Woo-jin walks Ho-won home, she says that she thinks Hyun is right about nothing in life being free. Woo-jin argues that everyone gives up their pride for things they want, even himself. Ho-won tells him that the thing she feels the worst about is that by getting this job through Hyun, someone more deserving didn’t get it.

They stop at a park and sit on the swings, where Ho-won expresses her shame that she’s always railing at the unfairness of the world, but in reality she took a job from someone else. And what’s worse, she says that even after finding out, she hesitated to give up that job.

But she agrees that she traded her pride for the job, so she’s decided to work hard to regain that pride. Woo-jin says that he likes her attitude and that she’s qualified for the job, earning a sunny smile from Ho-won as a reward. Before she goes home, Ho-won asks Woo-jin exactly how he found out about them, but we don’t hear his answer.

Ji-na asks Ki-taek to meet her at a cafe, and as she waits for him, she thinks of all the kind, thoughtful things he’s done for her even after their breakup. When he arrives, Ji-na asks why he doesn’t hate her when she’s only ever been mean to him. She sighs when Ki-taek puts all the blame onto himself, saying that he always does that.

Ki-taek explains that since he came to Hauline, he’s realized how hard her work life is. Ji-na blurts out that she wants to get back together, and Ki-taek’s mouth falls open. Ji-na continues that it doesn’t matter what other people say as long as he’s confident about himself, and Ki-taek confesses that he’s been thinking of quitting.

When he says that he’s not sure he deserves to work at Hauline, Ji-na tells him that she believes he’s got more strength than he thinks. She says that he can do anything once he makes up his mind, which makes Ki-taek smile for the first time all day.

Neither Ki-taek nor Kang-ho can fall asleep that night, unsure of whether to quit or stay. Kang-ho says sadly that either way, they won’t be hired on permanently. He admits that he hasn’t called his mother much since he moved out and that she doesn’t want to hear from him, but Ki-taek tells him to call her anyway.

They discuss Kang-ho’s original plans to move back home if he got the permanent job, and Ki-taek admits that if he moves out, he won’t be able to afford this place with its nice windows by himself. Kang-ho is surprised that apartments without windows even exist, so Ki-taek tells him how some people live without them to save money.

They realize that both of their lives have improved since moving here. But Ki-taek realizes that even if he kept this salary, he could never afford to marry Ji-na and provide for her, though he keeps it to himself.

Ho-won sits up late flipping through Hyun’s book and thinking about Woo-jin’s answer to her question. He’d said that he knew Hyun met her at a hospital, so he’d recognized her when he read Hyun’s book. Growing angry, Ho-won vows to show Hyun that even a mouse can bite a cat when it’s cornered.

She meets with Hyun the next day and hands him an envelope which contains enough money to cover the hospital bills he paid for all three of them. With a smile, Ho-won parrots Hyun’s words that nothing is for free, adding that now she doesn’t owe him a thing.

She denies being angry, explaining that she’s only following his example of making moves that won’t cause her a loss. Steeling herself, she tells Hyun that she’s thinking about suing him for defamation of character and violation of medical law. Oh, now it’s on.

 
COMMENTS

The thing that I love most about Ho-won is that, while she makes a lot of mistakes and trusts people too much, she never makes the same mistake twice and she always learns something from the experience. So now that she knows Hyun’s true colors, she’s ready to meet him on his own playing field, weighing everything tit for tat to get back what’s hers. I’ve been wondering when someone would nail Hyun for his breach of confidentiality, so I’m glad that Ho-won has the guts to hold him responsible for how he’s harmed her and her friends (medical confidentiality is very different in Korea, but he could still be privately sued for revealing their identities without their permission). I can’t wait to see Ho-won use the skills she’s learned at the job Hyun got for her in order to take him down.

I’m still confused as to why Hyun is so interested in Hauline. One of the very first things we ever heard him say was that he had no intention of going into business or taking over his father’s company. But then he got involved with who they hired, started showing up randomly, closed the hospital that he opened only weeks prior, and began aggressively campaigning to inherit the business. Everything that’s happened, particularly between him and Ho-won, would make so much more sense if we knew why Hyun suddenly wants Hauline, and what made him change his mind. And while I’m wishing for explanations, I’d love to know why Chairman Seo doesn’t think Hyun is capable of running Hauline — he’s smart enough to become a doctor, and capable enough that he opened his own hospital. What makes furniture sales so much more important that in his father’s eyes, Hyun couldn’t possibly handle it? He’s a jerk, of course, but being a jerk doesn’t make a person incompetent.

I do finally understand why Hyun got Ho-won, Ki-taek, and Kang-ho their jobs at Hauline in the first place — because he needed that boost of publicity that he could reveal at just the right time to help facilitate his takeover of Hauline. But I don’t understand, if this is his true personality that we’re seeing now, why did he spent so much time with Ho-won in the meantime pretending to be a nice guy? He even sought her out regularly, seemingly for no other reason than that he liked her company. He says that he had an ulterior motive, but if spending time with the recipients of his “generosity” was part of his plan, then why did he only single out Ho-won? I want to know what he got out of spending extra time with her.

I’m so proud of Woo-jin and how far he’s come in his dedication to the company. In the past he would give up at the slightest hint of any opposition, but no matter how difficult things get at Hauline, and no matter how much Hyun threatens him, he’s decided to sit tight to the bitter end. Not only is he much more determined to stick things out no matter how bad they get, but now he’s the one cheering Ho-won, Ki-taek, and Kang-ho not to give up. He’s always felt that a person should advocate for themselves before they can expect anyone else to believe in them, and he even made Ho-won stand in a corner to prove how badly she wanted a job. But before, he said those things condescendingly, already expecting that she didn’t have what it takes. Now he’s the one who believes in Ho-won and her friends the most, even when they’re struggling to believe in themselves.

The show hasn’t made a big deal of it, but I think that seeing Ho-won fight so hard for her job has had such an impact on Woo-jin, even though she’s only in a temporary position doing grunt work. She’s shown him that having a job isn’t something to be taken lightly or thrown away casually, but that there are people who would do anything to have even the humblest of careers. Woo-jin is learning that the value in his job isn’t in whether it meets a list of arbitrary criteria and never causes him a moment of discomfort, but in facing the difficulties and making that job something he can be proud of through hard work, loyalty, and dedication.

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I totally agree - tbh no one has addressed the fact that these people tried to commit suicide. Sure, we know that they were sort of accidents (at least for Ho Won and Ki Taek) but no one else knows that. And I wish that was the big deal surrounding them - like Ji na especially should be concerned about this. Though I'm glad that people are shaming them about connections rather than shaming them about suicide.
In other news, that suit was horrific.

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Oh No, I applaud Ji-na for not mentioning the suicide part, he does't need her pity, they can get to that later. She may genuinely have a revelation that she really wants to be with Ki-taek.

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Woo Jin must've meant it when he's scolding them, he always shows he hates unprofessional behaviour. He might also be mad because he cares, as he felt they are under scrutiny and should be behaving their best instead of hanging around in the office a cute dog...

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This show keeps drawing me in...I am looking forward to the next episode recap.

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LOL I'm shocked that Ho Won wants to sue Hyun. I thought that just came out of nowhere, but I'm totally for Ho Won. Hyun is just terrible and didn't even feel bad at all for what he did.

I'm really starting to like Ji Na in this drama. I feel like we're seeing a new side of her that we haven't seen before, but same goes for most other characters in this drama too.

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I also forgot to mention, I totally agree about Ho Won and Woo Jin. I honestly hope there's no romance between them (is there supposed to be?) since it's more than enough for Ho Won to meet a supportive supervisor and have this friendship with him.

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I think there are hints of romance between them and some chemistry too. But I'm glad they are slowly building to it by starting on a friendship level. The romance almost always feels rushed in these kind of settings where the couple meet as a superior and subordinate.

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I disagree on this point, I think romance is coming, slowly but surely. And they did such a good job in founding it on respect, admiration and understanding of each other. It is turning to romance by the hints they are giving us, and I welcome it happily as they are coming a long way to be ready to love each other freely and deeply.
I dont think it diminishes the show in any way as it is only getting short cuts of screentime and all the other stories and characters are developing just as well.
It is just a very good show

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Ditto!

The show did a remarkable job in convincing us Woo Jin and Ho Won's budding relationship which will blossom into romance. Many dramas have the OTP at loggerheads with each other and then inexplicably fall in love. I exaggerate but what reasons or circumstances they do, they often feel forced. Not this one.

As individuals, both Ho Won and Woo Jin are also changing and growing. At the same time, we see them draw nearer to each other, I think this is way characters should be written.

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I for one am all for the romance. Like LollyPip said, the slow building is beautifully and subtly done, but am getting impatient for more ^^

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I accidentally clicked on this recap even though I'm not watching the show and omfggg im excited to know what happens next

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Lol, happened to me with the ep 10 recap and now I am all caught up on watching ;)

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You accidentally clicked the recap but then intentionally read it. No one forced you to. It was your choice. And now you're hooked! Ha ha........

Now, let's both start watching the show and play catch up, shall we? :-)

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Yes we shall!! I'm gonna start asap

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Hahah! yess watch! love this show ^_^

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I just watched watched this episode so I'm still shaking from that ending. Take that doc! Seeing EUN.HO.WON's growth every single episode makes me so proud. Babe is fearless and not one to mess with. The whole misunderstanding of the terminal illness was a blessing in disguise as it gave her that boost in confidence and self esteem that she needed. When she first stopped showing up I missed little Ho Won, but actually real Ho Won doesn't need the voices in her head to speak her mind, she can do now just fine by herself. RAWR.
Love that every other lead is also showing heaps of progression in their character.

So glad I started this gem, it was a lot easier to follow than I initially thought when I read the first episode. It helps that every conflict dissolves before the next starts. Haha. HO.KI.KANG hwaiting!!
Thanks for the great recaps!

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It's EUN.KI.KANG* the bestest trio in the office . ?

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Eun Do Kang?

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It's Eun. Jang. Do.

Eun HoWon, Jang KangHo, Do KiTaek.

That's what WooJin has been calling the three.

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Sorry I haven't been getting notifications. But yeah, EunJangDo. I felt weird writing EunDoKang. Thanks for correcting me!

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Doggos in a drama are always a delight, but Jung-Tae's appearance was at the centre of one of the funniest moments in this drama. And it's fun to see manager Jerk being knocked down a peg. Way to show appreciation to your boss. ?

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yes! and that pub was adorable!

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Loving this so much! Off to read!

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I love this show so much, but I can't help but feel like things have slowed down for me. When I started it, I was sure that it would be in my top ten but things have just gotten so slow! At first I loved the leisurely pace that Ho Won and Woo Jin's relationship took, but I feel like it reached it's peak around episode 6. It's gotten a little stagnant for me - I do love the subtle developments and their long talks, but I need just a touch more umph to get me excited again. Like that cutesy "has he texted me yet" scene from last week. I love not being exasperated with a show but I hate the fact that I'm getting a little bored with it. Hopefully the next episode will bring back the excitement.

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I already knew that with Hyun's reveal, this episode was going to be about company politics and without the cute. As you've said, this show has slowed down for me. I used to excitedly watch the episodes raw, then subbed, and I would still enjoy them. When I watched this episode yesterday, I was half paying attention.

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I am right there with you guys. In many ways this episode was painful to watch. I'm happy I stuck though it as the ending looks quite interesting/promising for the future episodes. But it does feel that this show has lost it's spark.

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I lovee this show. But i have to admit, I also felt the slowdown this episode. But since I love it too much, I would hold on and see :D

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I never realized how much of a cute little kid Ha Seokjin looks like in the header.

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That ending was immensely satisfying! I can't wait for the next episode!

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Eun Ho-won jjang!! That small little smirk at the end made the whole episode's pain better. Gosh, felt so good when she managed to scratch that smug veneer on Dr. Seo's face!

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I love Han Jung Tae! The dog that is. Gosh that part was so hilarious and played beautifully by the cute little pug who like Lollypip said, was so blissful.

About the confusion as to why Hyun wants Hauline, remember that this guy is someone his father described as always speaking in riddles. You can't really take what he says at face value nor his smiling face at that.

I am sure he has always been interested in Hauline, not so much the company or the business but it is the best place to prove himself to his father. Prior to his father collapsing and his brother announcing his disinterest in taking over, Hyun can only make small progress like using Manager Park and the trio to make his moves. With Dad and hyung out of the way, his path has become a lot easier.

I also don't think Hyun was pretending to be nice to Ho Won. He genuinely enjoys her company but is not beneath lying to her or using her. Don't you find his conversation with Ho Won scary? He sees nothing wrong in what he has done. In fact, he will play the part of a devil's advocate very well. His glib tongue almost shook Ho Won into doubting if she was in the wrong for being so naive and that part about her pride versus doing the right thing, ouch!

I guess Chairman Seo was looking for a successor who has a real passion for the business and not someone who just wants the power. Remember his disappointment when Hyun declared that his hospital would make profits? He probably didn't know that his son became a doctor to prove himself. He thought Hyun must be passionate about medicine and caring for his patients.

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Agree! Is that why he hired Woo-jin to Hauline and met him in the earliest episode? I guess Chairman Seo wants to groom him as successor, or at least, someone who can manages the company. And, I think Hyun knows about it. That's why he met Woo-jin and asked him to be on his side.

Let's see how Hyun will deal with Woo-jin. I think he'll do something. He's so scary though.

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I don't think Chairman Seo intended to groom Woo Jin as his successor. At that point in time, he still favored his older son as the one to take over.
He scouted Woo Jin probably for his talent and how embodies the same values and integrity as himself. Woo Jin is an asset to the company.
Hyun also knows he needs more capable people on his side and he can see it in Woo Jin. Only thing is he didn't know that Woo Jin cannot be bought.

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I think this writer wants to be different from the usual kdrama tropes. I won't be surprised if Chairman's eldest son doesn't appear at all.

Some viewers are disappointed in the terminal illness issue being naught. However, we can't fault the show because there were many hints that Ho Won wasn't seriously ill. We are just too conditioned to expect a melodramatic turn. The writer obviously knows and trolls the rest of us by giving some false indication that maybe Ho Won is really ill after all.

I see the same with this issue of the elder son. That's why Woo Jin's family name is also Seo. Even Manager Park and CEO Han once suspected that Woo Jin is related to Chairman Seo.

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They can troll me as much as they want. I don't get trolled very often in dramas, so it's nice to not have tropes used in the normal way haha

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Inferiority complex. That's why he wants Hauline - to show Daddy that he's better than Hyung and to show off. He didn't really want to be a doctor anyway. He said it himself that he put on a coat just to show Dad. Plus, Hauline gives him incredible unique power, which being a doctor, where he's seen the same as other doctors, doesn't. At Hauline, he'll be seen as better than the rrst of the employees.

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Bet the Chairman doesn't think Hyun capable of running Hauline is because Hyun manipulates. See where that gets people: office politics. And Hauline was basically like a hollow tree and would have collapsed if WooJin hadn't come in and fussed with all his principles.

He seeks out HoWon because she gives him what he wants - reverence and friendship. And basically, he likes her because she makes/lets him like himself. But he doesn't think much about what he's doing to her because he's a jerk.

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Yes agree. I feel everything he does is somehow to prove himself to his father. I feel bad for him in a way

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Great recap, thanks!!!
I'm loving (most of) the development of this story! Ho Won is a hero of the workplace, and so, so relatable! Favorite scenes in this ep:
1) Ho Won breaks down in front of Woo Jin at the office then Woo Jin takes her by the river to talk.
2) Further talk on the swings bet. Ho Won and Woo Jin
3) The short can't-really-sleep bonding talk bet. Ki Taek and Kang Ho

Great icing on this cake is the gorgeous pug.

It's ep. 11 already and I don't feel any romance coming near the MCs. But honestly, I'm OK with that. I'm looking forward to the unraveling of Hyun's true intentions about Hauline (please don't be evil!!! I loved you so much when you de-stressed with Ho Won, eating spicy ddukbokki!) and the turnaround of our 3 workplace heroes.

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Seo Hyun outing the "charity hiring" makes me so mad, he's making our Suicide Squad facing all the flak about connection hiring, when they don't even benefit from it! It's such a bitchy thing to do, especially since all three are decent people, unlike, say, Yong-jae, who might well plaster himself all over Seo Hyun if the same thing happened to him.
Mr. Jerk & Han Jung-tae (the person) really shows how detrimental office politic is for the actual working process. Here they got 3 competent people working well with their direct supervisors satisfied with their job, and they want to fire them and restart the whole new hiring process. It's even worse coz they fault our Suicide Squad for something they actively takes advantage on. Uuugh, such distasteful people!
It's sweet that each of these three received comfort from where it mattered; Woo-jin & Jin-ah are definitely supportive, but am so happy Kang-ho got Suk-kyung validating he's a good employee.
Thank God for an uplifting ending, have high hopes for next ep!

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Seo Hyun must have been this manipulative since he was a kid for the Chairman to not think of him as a candidate. Why not let an outsider run the company.Korean companies like to keep it in the family and propagate all the negative activities that makes front page news.

Ho Won shares alot with WooJin.Unless,she is an excessive sharer or this is played for the audience for get her inner thoughts which seems like a running commentary of the trials of youths these days especially ones in Korea with its cuthroat recruitments.

But I still like it as these words negatives being changed to positives does liven up one's day especially as a working person who sees this show after work.

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Based on what Seo Hyun said, the chairman wasn't around to raise him. He said the chairman left him and his mother. ( maybe a mistress), so he tried everything to prove his worth even becoming a doctor. I still think he is a jerk, but the chairman is no saint either.

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I caught up with this show just this past week and I find it such a satisfying watch. It's just so...comforting! And I find I really love how some of the storylines are being executed, especially when it comes to character growth and relationship-building.

Loved your commentary on Woo-jin. This was truly his episode to shine as he fully supported the trio even when they didn't believe in themselves. I didn't expect him to take them under his wing like this! I think it honestly had to do with Drinking Solo and being disappointed when Ha Suk-jin's character never really did that for his brother and his friends (something I actually desperately wanted for that relationship).

I'm really loving how the romance is not the focal point here, but more a natural progression from the strong friendship the leads are building now. Which is totally adorable! I think it helps to allow the characters more growth in other areas so that they fall in love after helping each other to find the best versions of themselves :) It's really gratifying to see and I'm so pleasantly surprised that such a lovely relationship is forming between them.

Thanks for the recap!

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I'm liking Ji Na more and more. She has grown so much, realizing what she had lost. But then again, I think Ki Taek quite possibly has grown as well, which of course makes him a better, more valuable person. Even Kang Ho has grown a spine. Sure he still kowtows to The Bower (aka dirtbag who will eat with you and make you pay), but he doesn't do it just because he's a manager.

I have always enjoyed Ho Won's philosophical growth. She continues to become deeper and deeper as this drama continues. I also snort every time Woo Jin smiles at her. We all know he likes her, she may even know that, but HE still doesn't know that she's gotten to him. It's so endearing. Also, Ha Suk-Jin somehow makes a tacky plaid suit look good. I guess it's a gift. I'd look frightening in something like that, LOL.

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Hahaha....I think you are the only one who's taking Ha Suk Jin in plaid suit positively. But you are right, he still manages to make it look good. Got to give him credit for it.

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Haha, I do find it cute on him for some reason...

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He looks cute in anything :)

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Sometime I think drama costume designers/dressers deliberately put the stars in really ugly clothes just to point out how unbelievably good-looking the star is; as if to say, "Yes, he's so gorgeous that he can wear anything, and get away with i!"

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Yes, i'm liking Ji Na too! her character growth was very believable that i moved from being annoyed to understanding her to liking her

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I felt like smacking Seo Hyun in this episode.... His smug smile and the way he hurt talks while keeping a smile on his face and not betraying any emotions.... Wow... Is it even possible to be like this????
But i really really hope he turns out to be good.. Because i felt like the times he spent with HoWon before this reveal were honest... He was there with her while she went through the surgery and dropped her to her home.... He could be stopped at getting them their jobs, he needn't help her as such.... This guy is confusing me very much.....

Last but not least.... As usual our lead Mr. Woo Jin is awesome... Can i get a boss like that who supports me and recognises our work and encourages us during our rough times.....

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1. I love Woo-jin more and more in each episode. When I started the show, I thought Ha Seok-jin plays similar characters in “Drinking Solo” and “1% of Anything.” But this character is a little bit different thought. He looked arrogant and a little bit a jerk in the first five episodes. But the community services and incidentally travel to his home, began to reveal his true colours. He’s turned to be a good superior or mentor for our beloved Trio. He’s a good supporters for them as well as give them comfort. I think he began to see how hard they work. Maybe, Woo-jin just reflects his own experiences when he had to work his butt to his position now.
2. Mr. Jerk is really a jerk. To me, he’s just unprofessional to ask his subordinates to do errands for his own sakes. I can’t wait until all his scandals and corruptions are reveals. How long will he be able to rely on Hyun? As we know, there’s such no free lunch for Hyun. And now, we know Hyun’s true colours. It's possible that Hyun will abandon him at any times.
3. I don’t mind with Ho-Won & Woo-Jin slow burnt romance. Although we become impatient in the romance department, there’s a hint they go to that direction. I think this show wants to make it as natural as possible. That what usually happen in real life though. I love their development, although they maintain their formal relationship, they started to feel very comfortable to each other.
4. I love Ho-Won became such a brave girl! That’s my girl. And the terminally ill misunderstanding made all her good changed. I like the way she cornered Hyun. Hyun deserves some smacks from our Trio, THB.
5. Hyun: although his motives is still mysterious, I guess all he wants is his father’s recognition and attention. That what he’s lacking since his father left him when he divorced his mother. Deep down in his heart, he's a child trapped in adult body. Poor Hyun.

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I first thought the episode a bit slow, but nothing here was unecessary, they were things that needed to be talked clear and thought through.

I so like Ji Na! The girl has it tough with those jerks in the office. I would have exploded long time ago. I haven´t watched ep 12 yet, I hope she and Ki Taek will get together again.

I am glad Ki taek asked Kang Ho about his situation with home - we stay updated about everyone. even the jerk characters were developed evenly. I really like how Ho Won and Woo Jin have become to trust each other an talk in confidence.

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SHOTS FIRED YOU ASSHOLE (sorry, I just got really mad at Hyun in this episode)

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Where did the hour go? ? I'm quite confused with Seo Hyun. He spent so many years in med school and then at the end of the day, he's always wanted to run his father's company?

Loved how toned down Woo Jin now is around Ho Won. Didn't get to see a lot of them together this episode but their time together was so sweet and tender, can't complain. Loved how he is now a support system to Ho Won ❤️

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He’s always felt that a person should advocate for themselves before they can expect anyone else to believe in them, and he even made Ho-won stand in a corner to prove how badly she wanted a job. But before, he said those things condescendingly, already expecting that she didn’t have what it takes

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Why did he do that in the first place ?
It was demeaning not to mention got her hopes up.

She wouldn't have been driven to that bridge if not for his attitude

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Thanks for the recap. I am enjoying the journey of Ho Won and the others along with Woo Jin. Still not keen on Hyun and him showing his true colors ---what underhanded ways to get what he wants. I totally see why his father and others including Mgr Heo and Mgr Park notice that too.

It was hilarious that Mgr Park's dog is named after CEO Han. LOL. I loved it. I am not keen on Mgr Park's flipflopping. Feel bad for Mgr Choi for siding with him. I love her and think she is kind but yes to reality to make a living you have to do stuff you don't like. (Thinking back at turning a blind eye on the bribes that Mgr Park got that night at dinner from the vendor and free meal.)

It is my first drama watching the lead actress as Ho Won. She is commendable and not conventionally too pretty to be someone unbelievable.

The friendship between Ho Won and Woo Jin is lovely. Will the romance heat up at all at any time? Only a few episodes left, hope it is not a slap dash job.

Look forward to the ep 12 recap.

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A few episodes ago I was concerned that the script was headed into love triangle territory, and I am pleasantly surprised to see it being anything but that.

I have always appreciated the "slow food" type of dramas where something is cooked up with deft additions to a simmering pot of emotional stew. It would feel jarring at this point to hurry up a romance between the two leads, and I like the possibility that it may not ever go there completely. The writer is just dangling it out there now, not quite within reach. I don't want the end result to be a relationship pinata bursting forth with too sweet goodies, but rather a delicious, satisfying meal that one can linger over.

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