[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Radiant Office" Episode 13

While episode 12 was about the rampant corruption in Hauline, this episode is about the hearts of the workers and their desire to have a job and take pride in it. It's a concept that has been at the core of Ho-won's character, but we see it manifesting in the other workers. Each person has a different way of chasing his or her dreams, but in the end, steady employment is a major end goal. Especially when the company decides to hire two of the temps instead of just one.

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Ho-won wants to earn her position, although she doubts that she will be selected. Her self-evaluation in her application for the full-time position is a collection of her personal statements that describe her pursuit of employment and the joy she takes in life. It does seem to melt even the iciest of hearts, but there are some, like Yong-jae, are hopeless causes. And while she vies for work that ensure she can make ends meet, Hyeon is struggling to prove himself to his comatose father, financially stable, but emotionally unstable. That insecurity pushes him to do things that aren't fair to others, like use Ho-won and her friends and intimidating managers. He does what many young, powerful, yet inexperienced people do and forces his ideas upon others to make a name for himself. What makes him a good character is that he is interested in Ho-won, but that interest doesn't deter him from his path, however wrong that path may be. In complete opposition to him stands Ho-won, a solid wall against wrongdoing, making a name for herself as the temp who speaks her mind. She is considered dangerous by many, but Woo-jin admires her as do I. She refuses to cave to Yong-jae's not-so-subtle demands for bribes while her cohort agrees to take him for expensive food and drink. They later regret doing so.

When Ho-won loses some spirit (because no matter how strong someone is, sometimes he or she needs a little support) Woo-jin is there to happily bolster her, enjoying her renewed vigor and smiles. The two continue to grow closer in a most adorable fashion despite troubles at work. Woo-jin is constantly pressured by Hyeon to join ranks. So far, he's holding out valiantly against the selfish chaebol. Manager Park is working very hard not to let Hyeon completely take over, but it is hard work indeed. Hyeon is driven and smart.

With all of these plot threads running through the story, intrigue is high and the challenges of clean followthrough on the storyline are equally difficult. So far "Radiant Office" is doing a great job of handling them.

Written by: Lisa Espinosa AKA Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Radiant Office" is directed by Jeong Ji-in and Park Sang-hoon-III, written by Jeong Hee-hyeon, and features Go Ah-seong, Ha Seok-jin, Lee Dong-hwi, and Hoya.