History of a Salaryman () 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, 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.
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 Lee Beom-soo as Yoo-bang 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. Jung Ryeo-won as Baek Yeo-chi A spoiled rich girl who was raised by her grandfather after her parents' death. Her historical analogue is Empress Lü Zhi. Jung Gyu-woon as Choi Hang-woo 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. Hong Soo-hyun as Cha Woo-hee 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. Her historical analogue is Consort Yu. Kim Seo-hyung as Mo Ga-bi 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. Lee Deok-hwa as Jin Si-hwang (Yeo-chi's grandfather). His historical analogue is Qin Shi Huang, the last emperor of Qin dynasty. Kim Il-woo as Jang Ryang. His historical analogue is Zhang Liang. Yoon Yong-hyun as Bun Kwae. His historical analogue is Fan Kuai. Lee Ki-young as Park Bum-jung. His historical analogue is Fan Zeng. Yoo Hyung-kwan as So Ha. His historical analogue is Xiao He. Yang Hyung-wook as Han Shin. His historical analogue is Han Xin. Kim Eung-soo as Oh Ji-rak Park Sang-myun as Jin Ho-hae. His historical analogue is Hu Hai. Jang Hyun-sung as Choi Hang-ryang. His historical analogue is Xiang Liang. Im Hyun-sik – Yoo-bang's father (Liu Bang's father Liu Taigong) Lee Joo-shil – Yoo-bang's mother (Liu Bang's mother Wang Hanshi) Kim Ji-young – Ji-won Lee Joon – Yeo-chi's boyfriend (cameo, ep 1) Jeong Bo-seok – Congressman Jo Pil-yeon (cameo, ep 6), the antagonist in the series Giant. Jeon Jae-hyung – Delivery man (cameo) Kang Kyung-joon – Bok Sa-yeol (cameo, ep 17) Kim Sung-oh – Prosecutor Park Moon-soo (cameo, ep 20)
Soundtrack 성냥팔이 소녀 (Little Match Girl) – Yoon Gun feat. Misty 너 때문에 (For You) – JeA (Brown Eyed Girls) Bravo – Lee Teuk (Super Junior), Key (SHINee) 기대했단 말야 (Not What I Expected) – Joo 샐러리맨 초한지 Title 막무가내 Relax Your Mind 긴 여정 Determination 자중지란 군웅할거 방이 Theme 천년지애 낙장불입 샐러리맨 초한지 Score Title 도원결의 비육지탄
Episode ratings Original broadcast dateAverage audience shareTNmSAGB NielsenNationwideSeoulNationwideSeoul1 2 January 20128.1%9.9%8.7%9.8%2 3 January 201210.2%11.9%10.0%12.3%3 9 January 201211.3%12.8%10.5%12.3%4 10 January 201210.2%12.1%10.1%11.4%5 16 January 201213.5%14.9%12.1%12.7%6 17 January 201211.5%12.2%10.6%11.6%7 23 January 20129.2%9.4%9.9%10.8%8 24 January 201212.6%14.5%12.8%13.5%9 30 January 201214.5%16.1%13.7%15.2%10 31 January 201215.9%17.3%15.1%15.8%11 6 February 201217.1%19.1%14.6%15.7%12 7 February 201219.4%21.5%15.1%15.0%13 13 February 201220.1%23.8%15.9%16.3%14 14 February 201220.4%22.9%16.0%16.2%15 20 February 201221.6%25.2%16.9%18.1%16 21 February 201222.2%24.3%19.1%19.6%17 27 February 201221.0%22.8%18.8%19.4%18 28 February 201223.0%25.2%19.2%19.7%19 5 March 201222.7%24.7%18.7%19.2%20 6 March 201223.3%24.5%21.0%21.9%21 12 March 201222.1%23.5%19.1%19.9%22 13 March 201224.2%24.7%21.7%22.4% Average 17.0% 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 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Jung Ryeo-won Special Award, Actor in a Miniseries Lee Deok-hwa Top Excellence Award, Actor in a MiniseriesLee Beom-soo Special Acting Award, Actress in a MiniseriesKim Seo-hyung
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