Subscribe
E-Paper
" src='https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/newsV2/images/nam.jpg/dims/resize/740/optimize' /> |
| Namkoong Min in a scene from "Good Manager" / Courtesy of KBS |
"Good Manager," the drama currently airing on KBS, continues to make headlines as a ratings underdog, surprising the viewers.
The initially downplayed workplace comedy with no big-name stars has beaten the rivaling 20 billion won budget SBS drama "Saimdang, Memoir of Colors" in viewer ratings after four episodes and continues to enjoy nearly explosive popularity.
The drama starring Namkoong Min started out with 7.8 percent viewership, but viewership has doubled in five episodes. Its sixth episode, aired last Thursday, posted a record 16.7 percent rating.
The satirical comedy series revolves around Kim Sung-ryong, played by Namkoong, an accountant at the fictional TQ Group, hired by the company, which wanted to use his genious skills to misappropriate corporate funds for personal use.
The surprise success of the drama lies in its punchy and satirical lines on the corrupt corporate owners and the society, which quench the thirst of the viewers, who have been infuriated and tired at the same time in the wake of the unprecedented corruption case involving Choi Soon-sil.
Kim, who makes a living off of playing with numbers, has formerly worked for a company owned by a mob boss. He is a person who says ecstatically "What is the unchanging trend in Korea? Embezzling! No place in Korea is free of corruption and loopholes. How great the world is… heaven of embezzlement!"
Kim, with a questionable moral compass, enters TQ Group aiming for bigger kickbacks to leave "Hell Korea" for Denmark with its developed welfare system. But, after being involved in a series of events including accidentally saving a pedestrian from a car accident, Kim becomes praised as a national hero by others. He slowly becomes a real hero, who stands up for to fight against greater corruption within the workplace to save the ailing company.
The drama delivers social messages telling the story of small embezzlement and big embezzlement cases and petty thieves and big thieves. But it has the ability to tell uncomfortable stories in a witty way.
The great performance of 38-year-old actor Namkoong, who is said to be multifaceted, freely crisscrossing serial killer in "The Girl Who Sees Smells" to a twisted offspring of a giant corporate owner in "Remember-War of the Son" to a lawyer helping other in "Beautiful Gong Shim," is definitely what completes this drama as a great workplace show.
