(Agency) [Subtitles by K-Plus Asia]
(All characters, institutions, enterprises and designation
(...appearing in this drama are purely fictional.)
Let's ban the freelance copywriters from entering the building.
If they aren't working with us, we shouldn't let them work with the planning team too.
Commercials are like love letters sent to the target audience, aren't they?
That's right.
This way.
What's the point of writing so many letters
if we don't know who we're sending it to?
This commercial is directed at only one person.
We need to appease that one person
for us to become a country where miracles occasionally happen.
I should start praying.
Praying that Director Choi doesn't know what I know until the presentation is over
(The prepared villain has extraordinary speed)
(Episode 8) First off,
as you might have already heard,
this is an important presentation.
It's like no other.
Do you have anything that you'd like to ask?
Yes.
With all due respect, it's a little hard for us to communicate directly.
I am aware.
We will settle that internally.
All of you...
can feel free to share your ideas.
So you're saying you don't know which hole the water is going to come from, right?
That is the reason why we've hired all of you freelance copywriters here.
I will look forward to it.
You didn't like it?
That place is really famous.
It's still just soup and rice after all.
You're obsessed over soup and rice
You said to eat what I wanted to eat today.
Yeah, but why is it always Korean blood sausage soup that you crave?
I don't think you should be the one saying that.
What?
Why?
You took all the meat in my bowl.
It's hot, so be careful when you eat it.
Thank you.
I'll eat this.
There's one more.
Do you even know what that is?
Yeah.
Cartilage, isn't it?
What?
Nothing, go ahead.
Yeah, I did.
You always don't eat it, so I didn't want it to go to waste. What about it?
It's not that I don't eat it. I was saving it for later.
You're so stingy about that thing that doesn't even look like meat.
Right.
Did she gobble up the meat we gave her?
Director Go's eyes lit up.
I didn't know what it meant even after reading it.
There must be something that only the industry insiders know about.
Let's go.
Where to?
To test the waters.
- You said you were going to test waters. - Yeah.
I can't go empty handed, can I?
You're buying these there?
This is a place I frequent.
Go ahead and choose
the ones you usually like to eat.
We just ate, so I'm full.
Why should I choose what I'm going to eat?
You should buy them what you like.
Isn't this a little too sweet to eat while working overnight?
Cup noodles can help them destress at night.
It's good, but
these are VC Planning employees.
They're not university students. How can they just eat cup noodles everyday?
Besides, you're the chairman's daughter
So I should uphold my dignity?
You want me to show them the image they expect of me?
Here.
Show them.
I eat soup and rice all the time so I don't know about these.
If I pick, the pastries will be so delicious that it might hinder their work.
Excuse me.
Please wrap two sets of prosciutto and champagne for me.
Sure.
Yes.
She's coming?
Alright.
Mr. Kwon.
Yes?
Go back to your seat for a while.
What?
Why?
Director Han-na is coming over.
Really?
But why do I have to go back to my seat?
You're from the production team.
Besides, it seems like Director Han-na
is still angry at you.
Fire him.
Director,
seeing these makes you angry right?
We should fire such executives...
Call me when it's over.
Get them to tidy this place up.
Alright.
Let's tidy up.
(Planning Team Meeting Room)
Yes?
You're here, Director.
I'm not sure if I'm disrupting your busy schedule.
Please take a seat over here.
We focused on delivering the message to the public and finalised our key copy.
I enjoyed your explanation.
What do you think about it?
You're going to disguise what Chairman Kim wants as what the public wants?
That's right.
Sounds good.
It does seem to lack impact though
A strong message will lead to another set of issues.
It will make people focus on it.
Given the situation Woowon Group is in,
it might be detrimental to them.
That makes sense.
You've worked hard.
We'll enjoy the food, Director.
Are you not happy with the direction of their message?
That's not it.
It's nothing like what I imagined.
What is?
The atmosphere.
It's too tidy and dry,
just like a regular company.
Well, it's different from how I thought an agency's meeting room would be like too.
Is it because I called them in advance?
Did you call the production team too?
No. I should call them now.
Don't call them.
Let's see them in their natural state.
Alright.
What do you think about Director Han-na's reaction?
Our direction is a little
too difficult for a newbie to understand.
You shouldn't stick the images in such a disorganised way!
Eun-jung, how can you call this disorganised?
- Shall I make it black and white? - No to nostalgia.
This is how an advertising agency should be like.
Who dares to open the door in the middle of a meeting
Are you here to view a house?
What?
Why are you looking all around like that?
This is similar to the image I had in mind,
though it's a little more messy than I thought.
You're working hard. Have some food.
We'll eat them well.
I just looked at the planning team's progress earlier.
How is it going for the production team?
We still don't have anything ready.
Is that so?
(Make your K-WISHLIST with Woowon. The Korea that we want)
Chasing too much after an ideal might cause your reality to end up in the gutter.
If I get used to compromising to reality,
that's when my life will really end up in the gutter.
I see you have lots of greed.
There's a difference between being ambitious and being overly greedy.
When people who don't know anything and don't have skills try to be ambitious,
that's what we call being overly greedy.
No no no.
I wasn't trying to drink it.
I simply touched it and the cork just
No no. No.
That was just a reflex action.
An instinctive reflex
You may drink it.
A glass of champagne can help you to relax.
How are you going to go about doing this corporate PR?
Will you be going with an impactful message?
That's right.
Something that will incite lots of reactions.
That might lead to another set of issues.
Given Woowon Group's current situation,
making them stand out will attract people's attention,
which might not be such a good idea.
That sounds like something the planning team would say in their meeting room.
This time,
we need to make a miracle happen.
Will that be possible?
Of course not.
Not with the current situation.
It seems like it backfired.
What?
The information we gave to Director Go Ah-in.
She said she's going to make a miracle happen
Choi Chang-soo is stable but predictable.
Go Ah-in is unstable but useful.
As long as it can be kept under control,
an unstable substance has great destructive power.
Let's see how it goes.
I'll go and meet somebody.
- Uncle Moon-ho. - It's CEO Jo.
It's just the two of us. What's wrong with calling you that?
You'll get used to it.
Am I doing well now?
Doing what well?
What do you mean? You know everything.
There's nothing in VC Planning that Jo Moon-ho doesn't know about.
Why are you bringing up things of the past?
It seems like you're doing whatever you're inclined to do.
Well,
I'm just doing what I feel is right.
What is it that you're trying to get?
There must be something that you're trying to get at the end of this.
You already know.
Then will you be able to give up everything for that?
Sorry for interrupting you.
Director, there will be a meeting at the headquarters in 30 minutes.
You could have called to tell me that.
You left your phone behind.
How did you even know that I was here?
Mr. Park, are you stalking me right now?
Please continue your conversation.
Seems like it won't be easy.
What?
In order to gain something, one has to give up something just as huge.
I'm an exception.
There's no exception.
Action and reaction is the law of the universe.
The time will come where you have to make your decision.
(CLOSED)
(Woowon presentation D-2)
Director Go, we don't have much time. We need to start on the production.
Even if it doesn't completely fit your expectations
Doesn't fit my expectations?
When the best option isn't available, we can only choose whatever is less bad.
You have something to fall back on.
That must be why you keep trying to settle for it right?
No, but...
Redo it from the start.
We can't. We'll have to go to the presentation empty handed at this rate.
Director Go, with our schedule...
You think we can just do a rough job, don't you?
You think this is sufficient, don't you?
Is this how you're going to do your work?
Director Go, we need to come to terms with reality.
Reality?
If I was realistic, do you think I'd have made you all creative directors?
If you want to be realistic and do your work roughly,
go to an agency who does snack commercials.
I'm not going to do my work like that.
Director Go is being exceptionally harsh today
She doesn't usually raise her voice.
After yesterday, today too...
I'll go and speak to her.
Don't go there now.
Director Go is also human. She must be feeling afraid too.
She might be harsh, but she's not someone who says things emotionally.
Her being unlike herself
shows that she's afraid.
The person who will be directly affected by the results of this presentation
is not us but her.
You're right.
We're all really sensitive now.
Let's leave for now.
Having sensitive people in a room together just leads to disaster.
Why are you being like this all of a sudden?
Being like what?
That was respectable.
You've changed from who you were yesterday.
Is this the power of Korean beef? The effect of marbling?
Gosh. I showed you guys this hidden side of me.
The way I scanned the situation and came up with a solution.
I kept it hidden because I was afraid that you'd feel burdened by it.
So what happened earlier with the champagne
was a calculated move too?
Woah...
The twist was just like Keyser Söze.
I almost peed my pants back there.
How can a champagne pop open when all I did was touch it?
Are all expensive things like that? Are they?
Remember the times that we'll spend together.
For the happiness that we want,
the Korea that we want.
Woowon will make that happen.
Something feels off.
Why? Are you unsatisfied with something?
No. It's just that everything is going too smoothly.
It feels like
we're missing something here.
Why is that so?
Because Go Ah-in
hasn't even decided on a direction yet.
This presentation will also eventually come to an end right?
(Woowon presentation D-1)
I won't run away.
Rather than getting kicked out in disgrace,
would it be better for me to just leave on my own?
You must never take the medicines with alcohol.
Answer me!
I should leave it to fate now.
Mr. Han.
Yes, Director.
Are you feeling unwell?
It will soon be morning.
We only have two options left.
We can either go with one of the ideas we've had so far
or advise them not to do this corporate PR.
I don't think we can use the second option.
Same here.
Let's start creating it.
Between doing a sloppy presentation and getting fired
and resigning after giving up on the presentation,
which would be worse?
Director Go.
We have to give the presentation a shot to know how it'll turn out.
I'll make sure the quality is the best.
Then...
are you sure we'll win with our current direction?
We don't even have to try it to know.
What do you think, Eun-jung?
What are you typing so furiously?
What is this?
Bring this into the meeting room. All of you. Right now.
What's going on? What's the matter?
What exactly is going on today?
Eun-jung.
Yes?
Open your laptop and show them.
- Director Go, I didn't mean to do that... - Quick.
I didn't commit a crime, but I'm living in this prison called an agency.
In jail, they let you eat on time.
In jail, they let you sleep on time.
I feel wronged. So wronged. Absolutely wronged!
Wronged
No. I don't feel wronged at all.
That's right.
One would feel wronged if they were locked up in jail without comitting a crime.
No. I like it here. I love it so much.
Public opinion and a miracle
That's right.
We can just let people see that resentment.
When people empathise with that resentment,
public opinion will be formed.
Then...
we'll become a country where miracles occasionally happen.
- Mr. Han. - Yes?
Find a director who's good at making their work look lively.
Have you decided on the concept?
Yup.
I'll explain it to you another time. Get started on it quickly.
You want to film a video? We are left with less than two days.
If things work out, two days will be sufficient.
Get it ready.
I have to meet somebody in the morning.
Alright.
And you guys
Yes?
Go home and sleep.
- Sorry? - Sorry?
Sorry?
We'll have to get down to work from morning onwards.
(I didn't commit a crime, but I'm living in this prison called an agency)
(VC Planning Director Go Ah-in)
At this time?
Yes, Director.
What are you calling about at this hour?
I need your help.
What help?
The headquarters legal team head used to be a prosecutor right?
Yes, he was the district attorney.
Please help me to schedule a meeting with him.
With the legal team head?
Yes. This morning, as soon as possible.
May I know the reason why?
The reason...
would be to keep my promise with you.
Is it a win-win?
Yes, if it works out according to my plan.
I'll contact him, but I'm not sure if he will be available.
He's the busiest person in VC Group right now.
Send me his contact details first then.
I don't think it's polite to do that.
It will be polite to win.
Alright.
Politeness...
(Legal Team Head Bae Jung-hyun)
Mr. Bae says he isn't available this week.
He raged about why he has to meet an advertising staff when he's already so busy.
This is not good.
I need to meet him to know if I should humour or pacify him.
However, he has a meeting scheduled with the legal team
on the 14th floor of headquarters.
Kang Han-na is such a lucky woman.
- What is this? - What?
Who are you texting at this hour that you're smiling like that?
A woman that I know.
A woman
You're working now.
How can you be smiling while talking to a woman in this critical period?
Are you allowed to do your job like this?
Well, it's 8am now, so I haven't started work yet.
The contract states that my working hours are nine to six.
It's Director Go.
Director Go? Why?
Did something happen?
She wants to meet the legal team head.
The legal team head?
Look at her.
Something's up.
That's right.
So it wasn't excessive greed.
The piece of meat we threw her,
it seems like she's digested it.
So did you schedule a meeting for her?
No.
He turned it down.
You should have told me! I could have settled it with a phone call.
You can't do that.
Can we keep giving her meat?
We need to teach her how to hunt for meat herself.
So you just told her where he'll be at?
But...
isn't headquarters out of bounds without an appointment?
It is.
With Director Go's personality, do you think she'll just give up?
Definitely not.
She'll meet him no matter what it takes.
There's no meeting scheduled with the marketing team today.
It was scheduled last minute. We just spoke over the phone.
Let me just check with the marketing team
Look.
Sorry?
You're treating a VC Planning director like an outsider in VC Group.
I'm sorry.
People from subsidiaries are not allowed to come to headquarters without an appointment.
I'm an executive with a clear identity
Director Go Ah-in?
I'm Vice President Kang Han-soo.
You must be having a hard time.
Well, work is always hard.
Work is work, but it's not easy to work with my younger sister.
I heard that on Han-na's first day of work,
you told her to ask you if she's unsure of anything.
Yes, I did.
Let's have a meal together one day.
Why?
Should I say, curiosity and discovering talent?
I'll decline the curiosity.
I'm a talent who has already been discovered, so the same goes for that.
However,
if it's the appointment of talent, then I'll be curious.
She's not an ordinary one.
I shouldn't let her stay next to Han-na.
Getting involved in a whale fight
will either let you be crushed to death or let you catch a whale.
I told you not to tell me it's impossible.
I'm sorry. As of now, bail for Chairman Kim...
- It'll incite public backlash... - Hey!
You guys really...
(VC Group Legal Team Meeting)
Who are you?
The person you're calling is not available.
Please call again later.
That's what it said,
but I don't have time to call again later so here I am.
It's not polite to just come in here without an appointment.
Not being able to do your job well despite getting a monthly paycheck.
That is what I call impolite.
What?
Who are you to say such things?
Mr. Bae?
Yes?
From what I know, you've been struggling to keep your head above the water these days.
Are you going to just drown like that?
What did you say?
If I save you, what can you do for me?
If I turn this crisis into an opportunity?
Let's talk for just 10 minutes.
Just us two.
What are you doing right now?
- Please leave. - Hold on.
Will 10 minutes be enough?
Just don't beg me to tell you more.
Right now, time is of the essence.
Mr. Kim, have you had lunch?
I'm about to.
You must have had an amazing lunch.
I met my junior and had puffer fish stew for the first time in a while.
It must be nice.
As far as I know, nothing that would put you in a good appetite has happened so far.
About that...
It seems doable in theory,
but would it work in real life too?
We'll have to try.
Saying that it'll work without even giving it a shot
will make me a swindler.
The structure seems fine in general,
but I see a few loopholes here and there.
Other experts would have to fix those.
Hey.
Hold on.
Okay, go ahead.
How is he like?
Alright, got it.
It won't be easy.
It seems like he lives for meaning rather than ambition.
That will only be relevant if ambition and meaning are separated.
What I just gave you was not difficult,
but for the model aspect that you mentioned,
my juniors might feel uncomfortable about it.
They're embarrassed about it?
T-That's right.
Then to make your juniors comfortable,
you can retire to the countryside
and raise dogs there.
What did you say?
Will you be able to do that?
Giving up on everything here.
With the current situation, it looks like you're headed in that direction.
You're telling me you can't handle a prosecutor who earns 50 million won a year?
- That... - You should work the money's worth.
You're no longer a civil servant who's guaranteed
a nice retirement even if you don't work enough for your income.
This is a company.
A company where performance and results are everything.
Mr. Bae.
Yes?
Being nice to the senior who's doing well even if it's uncomfortable
while conveniently ignoring a senior who's not doing so well.
Don't we call that surviving in society?
In particular, your juniors are the best at doing that out of everyone in this country.
You do your job like a heroine.
I'm not doing it like a heroine. I'm just doing it like me
An uncomfortable but powerful senior
Alright.
I'll check and send you the list.
Please find those who look simple.
That would be advantageous.
Also, please keep our conversation a secret from other people.
Why?
If they know in advance, wouldn't they try to pass it off as their own achievement?
Especially the one right next to the chairman.
You're right.
You couldn't give me more than 10 minutes,
but you took up 25 minutes of my time.
She's smart and reckless...
She'll cause something huge.
About that...
The harder the situation is, the more we should live positively.
I'm busy, so I'll get going.
Find out who Mr. Bae met today.
You've gotten hold of something,
but you're trying to keep it for yourself.
This is the place?
Seems like his ambitions are now bigger than the meaning he seeks.
(Lawyer Choi Young-jae)
Are you Lawyer Choi Young-jae?
- Do you work out? - Sorry?
You climbed up four storeys but you're not panting,
which means you either work out often
or you stabilised your breathing before coming in to appear strong.
People usually come in panting
since they haven't eaten nor slept because they feel so wronged and angry.
I haven't eaten nor slept before coming here either.
Your outfit doesn't look like someone who feels wronged about something.
That's because I don't.
Who are you then?
Santa Claus.
I'm here to give you a present since you do good work.
My goodness.
Seems like Santa Clauses these days drive foreign cars.
Well, I suppose
getting pulled around by Rudolph would get them reported for animal abuse.
I'd like to offer you a proposal.
Will you be eating that as you listen to me?
Santa Claus believes in not crying,
but I believe in not letting my noodles go soggy.
You might get a stomach upset if you eat while listening to what I'm about to say.
I'd like to support your work.
Yeah, go ahead.
With three billion won a year.
I told you
that you'd get a stomach upset if you eat while listening to what I say.
Are you in the office?
Go to my office and call me again when you're there.
(Production Team 2 Han Byung-soo)
Did you find a director?
We've decided to work with Director Jang.
Would you rather work messily with them, paying for their drinks
or establish a clean working relationship with me?
Think about it wisely and make your decision.
Well, I guess we won't have to worry about word spreading to Director Choi's side then.
The problem is
it's hard to get the best camera directors at this moment.
That's fine. Getting it done fast is more important than the quality right now.
What about the staff preparation?
Hold on.
The staff are all ready.
They're ready.
Got it. I'm on the way back now. Let's talk when I'm back.
How long will you take?
(20 minutes)
10 minutes.
Alright.
Director Go is almost back. Let's head to the meeting room.
Alright.
Is it going well?
I heard you still haven't decided on a direction.
You're right. It's not going well at all.
I heard you've started producing it.
That's none of your business.
Must be nice. I'm envious.
I still haven't decided on a direction, so I'll get going.
Hey.
The headquarters legal team head?
Looks like you're in a better state now that you've gotten some sleep.
It's not because of sleep but because we have hope now.
We were cracking our heads thinking of what message to send.
We will make sure you won't regret making us creative directors.
About what I said the other time...
I've sent you the list of people you mentioned.
Thank you.
He said he wouldn't do it regardless of the amount,
but he called me again.
Lawyer Choi Young-jae, I mean. I spoke to him over the phone.
He said he'll do it.
Right. I'm supposed to meet a Director Choi from the agency.
Did Mr. Kim tell you to do so?
How did you know?
Walls with ears...
There are so many of them.
I knew something was off.
- Where are you? - I'm on my way.
What should I tell him?
Anything other than what we talked about.
I'll hang up now.
I've sent you an email. Go and film an interview with this person.
Alright.
Make it as trendy as possible.
- The BGM will be as important as the video. - Yup.
Use a pop song that everyone in the country would know.
Can you get it done before the presentation day?
I'll have to,
no matter what.
What shall we do?
This isn't it right?
It needs to capture the audience's attention
Eun-jung,
you guys handle the printing.
We'll just use one line for the copy.
How so?
The law is not perfect.
But what's the meaning behind this copy?
You're asking what that has to do with Woowon's corporate PR right?
That sounds like a message an NGO will put out.
That's the point.
Something that sounds like it's from an NGO.
Instead of a private enterprise, make it sound like it's from a public organisation.
Something that people will take notice of in their daily lives.
You mean to use daily environments as a medium
to create an eye-catching commercial that will capture attention?
A way to let it make rounds on social media and create buzz.
Just focus on that.
Jang-woo,
how about this?
Making use of places or objets that give off an imperfect image
and attaching just the copy there.
How about a broken things? Things that require fixing.
- Things that appear to be in bad condition? - Yes.
For example, a wall with cracks or a subway elevator under repair.
Also...
How about putting a broken car in front of the court and wrapping it with our copy?
I'll look for it.
Send it to me once you find it. I'll edit it right away.
I thought you'd be doing something amazing since she met the legal team head.
Who?
Nevermind.
You really don't know what Go Ah-in is like.
What?
Go Ah-in hates this kind of lengthy and boring proposals.
Going on and on about what the trends are like and all.
- I also... - Well, I suppose...
...the proposal can only turn out like this since the direction is lousy.
Good luck with that.
Write a lengthy and boring one.
Talking about how the trends are like and all with graphs attached.
Do you mean proposals like that?
Yes, things like that.
I thought you liked short and impactful proposals.
Yes, I usually do.
But this time, the kind of proposals I hate is the way to go.
Write it
and make it lengthy and boring.
About
100 pages?
You know what I mean right?
She must have her reasons.
Director Jang, let's stop by the supermarket.
Sure.
Excuse me.
Shall we buy some drinks there?
Sure.
Okay.
Is anyone there?
- Hello. - Welcome.
There's a man called Jo Suk-jae living up the street.
Who? Jo Suk-jae?
Jo Suk-jae...
That old man who lived a hard life?
I know him well, of course.
He always comes to the store. What's the matter?
Bring him beer instead of this.
He must be so frustrated. How could he possibly fall asleep easily?
He needs to drink to be able to sleep.
He loves to have beer with dried pollack.
Hello.
Thank you so much for helping us.
I didn't do anything much.
It will take some time for them to set up.
Shall we have some beer in the meantime?
There you go.
But can I really drink before doing the shoot?
Don't think of it as a shoot.
Just think of it as chatting over some beer.
Mr. Han,
we're ready.
Can we begin?
We shall begin.
Do you remember that day
23 years ago?
Would I only be remembering it?
(Arrest investigation, protecting citizens' rights)
This position is nice.
(QnA, This concludes our presentation.)
(Saving file)
(VC Planning CCO Go Ah-in)
Yes, Director.
How is the proposal going?
I'm checking for typing errors. Would you like to take a look at it?
It's fine. What about the rest?
It's all done.
Shall we email it to you?
Sure.
- Eun-jung, email it to Director Go. - Okay.
I'll fix it as this.
(TF Team, Bae Won-hee, Jo Eun-jung)
(VC Planning Department Head Han Byung-soo)
We're done with the editing.
But if we had more time, we would be able to get the details down.
It's fine, we still have time until it's released.
That's if we can release it.
How is it?
How was it?
I even turned off the sound while I was working on it,
just in case I get emotional while editing.
Director Go, I really have a good feeling about this.
I think it'll turn out well.
Email it to me.
I'll send it to you and head back to the office.
(STORYBOARD)
(SOLUTIONS)
(QnA, This concludes our presentation.)
We've finished writing the letter.
(That person, Yeouido)
Your Honour, you're here early as usual.
How can a civil servant who gets his pay from the citizens be lazy?
It's such a pity for him to remain in the court.
He should go to Yeouido and do great work.
I hope he likes the letter I'm sending him.
A miracle
I need that too.
(D-DAY)
(Agency)
Director Go, why did you come here empty handed?
We aren't done with the editing yet.
Aren't we supposed to review the presentation this morning?
No.
We're not going to review it.
It seems like Go Ah-in is trying to do me dirty again.
You.
Get out.
I need to meet that female servant.
We need to get prepared while Go Ah-in has her guard down.
Quietly, while she has her head in the clouds.
What do you think I'm doing now?
The things that I'm saying are all useless.
Director Go!
Put ur feet down and listen carefully from now.
If you get a shock while listening in that posture,
you'll get a herniated disk.