I’ve just finished Misaeng. It took me so long to watch, even when everything I heard about it was so good, because I was never in the mood to watch a 20 episode drama. The waiting was worth it, because I’ve fallen in love with the show in a way I haven’t felt in a long way, and Jang Geu Rae won my heart from the very first episode.

I work in a big company, a corporation that has branches in more than 40 countries all over the world and more that 35.000 employees, so I know how One International would feel like. Business policy in countries like mine and SK may be different, but in the end an office is just an office. During the 19 years I’ve been working there I’ve met all the stereotypes shown: the misogynist that would always treat a woman like someone who can only do basic stuff, even if she’s more qualified than him; the guy who’s always chatting and knows all the gossips around; the hardworking mum; the workaholic; that one who thinks that knows better that you and wants to teach you how to do your job; the one who can’t be a boss because he’s not a leader; the leader who doesn’t want to be a boss; the stoic one; that one who doesn’t want to share his knowledge with you, because if you know then he’ll be useless; the one who’s already decided you’re useless and stupid, but once you begin to work along him gets to admire you for your knowledge and your hard work; the one who claims to be working but is only wasting his time; the one who reports everything to the boss. And of course, Oh Sang Sik and Jang Geu Rae.

My first boss was exactly like Oh Sang Sik: he was a workaholic, had a strong character, treated his team as a family, defended us to the point he got demoted because he was annoying. He never pledged to his bosses will, he was hardly soft with other branches of the company. And when he was demoted, he kept working hard and being enthusiastic about his job. He was disappointed, of course, but he cared so much for his people that even when he retired his retirement party was the biggest one I’ve ever attended.

And what can I say about Jang Geu Rae? I can hardly speak about him without tears coming to my eyes. From the very first episode I felt I needed to protect him because the world was not ready for him, for his kindness and his effort. It was not the other way round, it was not that he wasn’t ready for the world, not at all! The world would be a better place if all of us could see it through Jang Geu Rae’s eyes. If I think about myself 19 years ago, I can feel what Jang Geu Rae felt. I had a degree then, but it was just a paper. I had to learn so many things: from how to use the fax (yes, faxes were a thing back then), to know who to address when I had a doubt, to learn how to make a business phone call and to navigate through office politics and learn who was a friend and who would care nothing for me. Just one look from Jang Geu Rae and I would break into tears. Im Si Wan acting was just amazing (his eyes, face expression, body expression, he WAS Jang Geu Rae!!).

This goes directly to my top list drama.

P.S. How is it possible that the writer of this masterpiece (I know it’s based on a webtoon) was also the writer of The Bride of Habaek? Was he badly hit in the head?