Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014)

Misaeng: Incomplete Life (Korean: 미생 - 아직 살아 있지 못한 자; RR: Misaeng - ajik sara itji mothan ja) is a 2014 South Korean television series based on the eponymous webtoon series by Yoon Tae-ho. It aired on tvN from October 17 to December 20, 2014, on Fridays and Saturdays at 20:30 (KST) for 20 episodes.

The title translates to Go terminology meaning "an incomplete life" (literally "not yet" (미) "living/birth" (생), meaning "not yet alive"). Misaeng: Incomplete Life was the first Korean drama to film on location in Jordan, where actors Im Si-wan and Lee Sung-min shot the series's prologue in Amman, Petra, and Wadi Rum. Yim reprised his role as the protagonist, which he played in an earlier film adaptation, Incomplete Life: Prequel (2013).

The series became a cultural phenomenon and recorded high viewership ratings for a cable network program in Korea.

Synopsis

Since he was a child, the board game baduk has been everything to Jang Geu-rae (Im Si-wan). But when he fails at achieving his dream of becoming a professional baduk player, Geu-rae must leave his isolated existence and enter the real world armed with nothing but a GED high school equivalency diploma on his resume. Through an acquaintance's recommendation, he gets hired as an intern at One International, a large trading company.

There, Geu-rae meets his boss, manager Oh Sang-shik (Lee Sung-min), who's a workaholic and has a warm personality; fellow intern Ahn Young-yi (Kang So-ra), who attracts her colleagues' ire because of her impressive educational credentials and by being extremely competent at any task; and Jang Baek-gi (Kang Ha-neul), a geeky co-worker whose anxious nature masks his inner ambition. Geu-rae learns to navigate and adapt to corporate culture, with baduk as his guide.

Cast

Main

Im Si-wan as Jang Geu-rae

Kim Ye-jun as young Jang Geu-rae

He formerly aspired to be a professional baduk player, to which he had devoted his life since childhood, but, unable to achieve this goal, he joins One International, although he has no formal skills or training. He joins Sales Team 3 as a two-year contract employee at One International.

Lee Sung-min as Oh Sang-shik

Kang So-ra as Ahn Young-yi She joins Resource Team as permanent employee at One International.

Kang Ha-neul as Jang Baek-gi He joins Steel Team as permanent employee at One International.

Byun Yo-han as Han Seok-yool. He joins Textile Team as permanent employee at One International.

Supporting

Cameo appearances

Cho Hun-hyun (cameo)

Yoo Chang-hyuk (cameo)

Oh Jung-se as Husband of Chungsol's CEO (cameo, ep. 20)

Yoo Jae-myung as Factory worker (ep. 16)

Original soundtrack

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Ratings

Awards and nominations

Remake

Hope: Kitai Zero no Shinnyu Shain

Ordinary Glory; starring Bai Jingting, Mark Chao and Qiao Xin.

References

External links

Official website (in Korean)

Misaeng: Incomplete Life at HanCinema

Misaeng: Incomplete Life at IMDb

Misaeng webtoon on Daum (in Korean)