History of a Salaryman
Promotional poster
Also known asSalaryman Cho Han Ji
GenreComedy
Thriller
Romance
Written byJang Young-chul
Jung Kyung-soon
Directed byYoo In-shik
StarringLee Beom-soo
Jung Ryeo-won
Jung Gyu-woon
Hong Soo-hyun
ComposerKim Ji-soo
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes22
Production
Executive producerChoi Moon-seok
ProducersKim Yang
Lee Jin-suk
Production companyJS Pictures
Original release
NetworkSBS TV
ReleaseJanuary 2 (2012-01-02) –
March 13, 2012 (2012-03-13)

History of a Salaryman (Korean: 샐러리맨 초한지; RR: Selreorimaen Chohanji; lit. "Salaryman Cho Han Ji") is a 2012 South Korean television series that aired on SBS from January 2 to March 31, 2012 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 22 episodes. Starring Lee Beom-soo, Jung Ryeo-won, Jung Gyu-woon, Hong Soo-hyun, Lee Deok-hwa, and Kim Seo-hyung,[1] the series is a quirky comedy and murder mystery about an ordinary salaryman who finds himself involved with corporate spies and rival pharmaceutical companies. It satirizes the historical events during China's Chu–Han Contention (206–202 B.C.) using the background of modern office politics.[2][3]

Plot

Yoo-bang (Lee Beom-soo) sneaks into a villa at night and discovers the dead body of Chunha Medical Group executive Ho-hae (Park Sang-myun). His niece Yeo-chi (Jung Ryeo-won) is hiding in the room. At the funeral, both Yoo-bang and Yeo-chi get arrested for murder. How did things come to this? It all began three months ago when Chunha began trial testing for their new medicine. In exchange for a job recommendation from Ho-hae, Yoo-bang agrees to join the trial testing and steal information about the drug. Rival company director Hang-woo (Jung Gyu-woon) is also there undercover to find out about the new drug. Spoiled rich girl Yeo-chi is undergoing training because her grandfather wants her to inherit Chunha one day, though she herself is completely uninterested. For the trial testing, 30 testers, including Yoo-bang and Hang-woo, are shut off from the outside world for 10 days. During the trial period, strange things begin to happen...

Cast

Hero of the series who is a bright and optimistic man. He steals the heart of Yeo-chi. His historical analogue is Liu Bang, the first emperor of Han Dynasty.
A spoiled rich girl who was raised by her grandfather after her parents' death. Her historical analogue is Empress Lü Zhi.
A man who tries to get revenge against Chairman Jin for his father's suicide. His fiancée is Cha Woo Hee. His historical analogue is Xiang Yu, the self-styled "Hegemon King" of Western Chu.
A woman who is engaged to Hang-woo, and whom Yoo-bang is very close with. In an earlier draft of the script, Woo-hee dies after reuniting with Hang-woo, but the script was modified to give fans a happier ending.[4] Her historical analogue is Consort Yu.
Antagonist of the series. She worked as the secretary for Jin Si-hwang, whom she later kills to become the company chairman herself. She manipulates people to do her bidding, among them her colleague Park Bum-jung, who sincerely loved her. In the end she goes insane after she is found guilty for conspiring to kill Jin and the attempted murder of Woo-hee. Her historical analogue is Zhao Gao, an official who served all 3 emperors of the Qin Dynasty yet played an instrumental role in the dynasty's downfall.[5]

Soundtrack

  1. 성냥팔이 소녀 (Little Match Girl) – Yoon Gun feat. Misty
  2. 너 때문에 (For You) – JeA (Brown Eyed Girls)
  3. Bravo – Lee Teuk (Super Junior), Key (SHINee)
  4. 기대했단 말야 (Not What I Expected) – JOO
  5. 샐러리맨 초한지 Title
  6. 막무가내
  7. Relax Your Mind
  8. 긴 여정
  9. Determination
  10. 자중지란
  11. 군웅할거
  12. 방이 Theme
  13. 천년지애
  14. 낙장불입
  15. 샐러리맨 초한지 Score Title
  16. 도원결의
  17. 비육지탄

Episode ratings

Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
TNmS[6] AGB Nielsen[7]
Nationwide Seoul Nationwide Seoul
1 2 January 2012 8.1% 9.9% 8.7% 9.8%
2 3 January 2012 10.2% 11.9% 10.0% 12.3%
3 9 January 2012 11.3% 12.8% 10.5% 12.3%
4 10 January 2012 10.2% 12.1% 10.1% 11.4%
5 16 January 2012 13.5% 14.9% 12.1% 12.7%
6 17 January 2012 11.5% 12.2% 10.6% 11.6%
7 23 January 2012 9.2% 9.4% 9.9% 10.8%
8 24 January 2012 12.6% 14.5% 12.8% 13.5%
9 30 January 2012 14.5% 16.1% 13.7% 15.2%
10 31 January 2012 15.9% 17.3% 15.1% 15.8%
11 6 February 2012 17.1% 19.1% 14.6% 15.7%
12 7 February 2012 19.4% 21.5% 15.1% 15.0%
13 13 February 2012 20.1% 23.8% 15.9% 16.3%
14 14 February 2012 20.4% 22.9% 16.0% 16.2%
15 20 February 2012 21.6% 25.2% 16.9% 18.1%
16 21 February 2012 22.2% 24.3% 19.1% 19.6%
17 27 February 2012 21.0% 22.8% 18.8% 19.4%
18 28 February 2012 23.0% 25.2% 19.2% 19.7%
19 5 March 2012 22.7% 24.7% 18.7% 19.2%
20 6 March 2012 23.3% 24.5% 21.0% 21.9%
21 12 March 2012 22.1% 23.5% 19.1% 19.9%
22 13 March 2012 24.2% 24.7% 21.7% 22.4%
Average17.0%18.8%14.9%15.8%

Sources: TNmS Media Korea, AGB Nielsen Korea

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2012 2012 SBS Drama Awards Top 10 Stars Jung Ryeo-won Won
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Jung Ryeo-won Won
Special Award, Actor in a Miniseries Lee Deok-hwa Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Lee Beom-soo Nominated
Special Acting Award, Actress in a Miniseries Kim Seo-hyung Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Kim Suh-hyung Prepared to Play Villain While Biding Time". The Chosun Ilbo. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  2. ↑ Noh, Hyun-gi (25 December 2011). "History of Salaryman, comic tribute to breadwinners". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  3. ↑ Choi, Ji-eun (3 January 2012). "REVIEW: SBS TV series Salaryman, Cho Han Ji – 1st Episode". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  4. ↑ "Kim Suh Hyung on Salaryman: Hong Soo Hyun Dies in Original Script". Drama Haven. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  5. ↑ "두 얼굴의 모가비…"반전 열쇠는 제 손에 있죠"". 10 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "TNMS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNMS Ratings (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2013-11-28. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  7. ↑ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2013-12-26. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
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