The Coupang Play series "Office Workers" is set against the backdrop of DY Planning, a struggling small marketing company, showcasing the office survival stories of MZ individuals becoming the "sandwiched" generation between AZ and Gen Z.
The episode released on the 22nd captures the struggles of genuine office workers, from the subtle battles of leaving work to the uncomfortable company dinner culture, through vivid descriptions that drew admiration from viewers. The opening scene unfolds in the afternoon setting of DY Planning employees' subtle tactics to leave work due to Director General Kim Min-kyu, who remains at his desk indefinitely. Just as the employees hesitate to leave work, the sudden appearance of actor Kang Ha-neul at DY Planning adds to the chaos, leading to a bittersweet ending with all employees forced to work overtime.
The unexpected visit of actor Kang Ha-neul to DY Planning required him to undergo a transformation away from his clean image for a broader acting career. Taking advantage of the strengths and weaknesses of celebrities, DY Planning provided a solution for him to challenge his bad boy image. In a first presentation ambitiously prepared by the youngest team member, Shim Ja-yoon, he received a proposal for a premium name-changing solution, resulting in laughter as he obtained a shockingly powerful name that resonated.
Next, as Kim Won-ho's demand for an impromptu negative comment show unfolded to completely overturn the nickname "Midas Touch Machine," Kang Ha-neul, undeterred, began to deliver ad-libs aimed at Kim Won-ho while pretending to read the proposal, showcasing a fierce battle of curses. Improved in mental structure, Kang Ha-neul confidently responded to the "SNS consulting specialist" Cha Jung-won's handsome selfie solution, quickly rising to become "the male Witherspoon" under DY Planning's special coaching and captivating viewers with his new charm.
Meanwhile, following the consulting, a gathering disguised as a company dinner continued, and viewers burst into laughter at the surreal ad-libs of DY Planning employees depicting the genuine office worker drinking culture. While the atmosphere began cheerfully with cheers directed towards representative Shin Dong-yup, who declared "corporate card payment" instead of using his own, the mood quickly crumbled during the youngest Shim Ja-yoon's late-night activities. Representative Shin Dong-yup, who boldly set up the gathering for employee welfare, grew increasingly bitter as the late-night activities led to rebellious behavior among employees. To make matters worse, as the employees ordered expensive whiskey depleting the "corporate card balance," he ultimately lost his temper.
On the other hand, from the standpoint of DY Planning employees, it was frustrating to hear representative Shin Dong-yup only talk about work even during the dinner. Ultimately, the stark contrast between the representative and the employees unfolded in a realistic manner, depicting the various scenes of office worker drinking culture even more realistically. Comedy masters delivered lively performances reflecting the viewers' empathy in an enjoyable manner.
Viewers collectively noted that the increasingly intense ad-lib battles made for a work that filled Saturday nights with laughter. New episodes are released every Saturday at 8 p.m. on Coupang Play.
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