Won the lottery, still clocking in: Why this K-drama is striking a nerve

The Korea Times - Sep 22, 2026

Played by actor Lee Jun-hyuk, Gong Eun-tae is the youngest team leader at major corporation Hongseong International, yet he has risen through the ranks at lightning speed thanks to his characteristic diligence. He has endured a series of unreasonable situations without ever losing his temper. He is looked down on by team members who joined the company before him, while office politics above him leave him saddled with difficult assignments. Now on the verge of burnout, his mundane life takes an unexpected turn when he wins the lottery. The 1.3 billion won ($950,000) jackpot is not enough for him to spend the rest of his life doing nothing, but it is more than enough to serve as a financial safety net. With the windfall in hand, Gong decides to turn his suffocating corporate life upside down. There is no absolute villain to take revenge on, nor is there a Cinderella-style romance. Instead, a new wave of hyperrealistic dramas depicting the everyday lives of ordinary people is making its way onto television screens. Far removed from the cathartic storylines currently in vogue, these dramas

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