The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Song Ji-hyo to make silver screen return in 'House of Meeting'

  • 3

    Seoul says FEOC guidance reduces uncertainty, will continue close consultation with US

  • 5

    5 Korea tourism clips top 225 mil. views

  • 7

    Yoon accepts resignation offer of head of state broadcasting watchdog

  • 9

    Is ruling party's reform drive at end of road?

  • 11

    Life expectancy of Koreans falls for first time in 52 years over COVID-19: data

  • 13

    Late Ven. Jaseung's additional notes on last will found at his residence

  • 15

    DL, SPC chiefs apologize for worker deaths under poor labor conditions

  • 17

    Crackdown on illegal short selling takes priority over MSCI listing: FSC vice chair

  • 19

    Cabinet passes motion requesting parliamentary reconsideration of 'yellow envelope bill'

  • 2

    N. Korean leader calls for increased aerial combat posture amid tension over satellite launch

  • 4

    First S. Korea spy satellite successfully launched into orbit

  • 6

    Tension mounts between Yoon administration, opposition party

  • 8

    Nexon workers in conflict with umbrella union over stance on feminism

  • 10

    Daegu mayor criticizes officials for spreading false hope about Expo bid

  • 12

    INTERVIEWHip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup

  • 14

    Rights activists criticize wage discrimination against migrant boat crews

  • 16

    Yoon's state visit to Netherlands to focus on semiconductor cooperation

  • 18

    Hyundai chief pledges to support globalization of archery

  • 20

    US slaps additional sanctions against N. Korea in response to spy satellite launch

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Sun, December 3, 2023 | 07:38
Travel & Food
'Suck Up Project' pokes fun at corporate Korea
Posted : 2012-06-19 16:18
Updated : 2012-06-19 16:18
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link

Actor Song Sae-byeok’s character Dong-sik observes a Buddha sculpture’s facial expression to master an effortless fake smile in a scene from the film “Suck Up Project.” The satire on the Korean corporate culture by director Jung Seung-koo opens tomorrow in theaters nationwide.
/ Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

By Kwaak Je-yup

After a rather quiet weekend without any strong releases, this week sees major Korean efforts vying for the box office throne. Among them, it appears only “Suck Up Project” by Jung Seung-koo has any chance of achieving that feat.

Despite its relative lack of star power, the satire on Korean corporate culture should resonate with virtually anyone who has had to resort to flattery at work.

And that is a lot of audience to take away from Park Chul-kwan’s messy “Miss Conspirator (“Miss Go” in the local title),” KimJho Gwang-soo’s gay-themed “Two Weddings and a Funeral” and SM Entertainment’s unabashedly self-celebratory documentary “I AM: SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in Madison Square Garden.”

“Suck Up” begins with the white-collar everyman Dong-sik (played brilliantly by Song Sae-byeok) who has made his living honestly thus far, following the teachings of his too-honest-for-good father. He pulls an all-nighter for a presentation to the CEO, but in the morning, the rest of his team is at a mountain waiting to run into the boss “by chance” and nonchalantly bring the matter up while climbing. Dong-sik continues to say what is on his mind and lands in one sticky situation after another.

When he is demoted to insurance salesman, he seeks help from a legendary silver-tongued master (the equally admirable Seong Dong-il), whose book about whispering sweet nothings into people’s ears is prized like the Bible among his colleagues.


Meanwhile, Dong-sik’s mother borrows from a loan shark and bribes the board of her husband’s school in order to secure his promotion to principal, and the son is in a time crunch to master the rules of the flattery game to achieve success and repay the debts.

None of the subjects should be taken lightly in real life, yet the director’s whimsical approach creates an effective wry comedy. It feels like a fable; the simpleton learns his lesson and achieves moral victory. You know who to root for and who to be wary of from the beginning and the lead’s obsession with getting rich quick makes you reflect on life in Korea today.

It works, avoiding cliches, thanks to its splendid cast. Song has one of the more ordinary faces in Korean cinema, and he knows how to use it with an uncanny ability to fit any part so effortlessly. His sad puppy-eyed Dong-sik, reminiscent of the timid, innocent title character from Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Amelie” (2001), arouses so much pathos and sympathy, as he suffers series of humiliating events.

Seong’s flattery master character is there more for comic value, but he shines in his part as usual.

The supporting cast, filled with seasoned actors like Kim Sung-ryoung (playing the rival flattery master Ye-ji) and Go Chang-seok (as boxer-turned-loan shark king Seong-cheol), is more than adequate. Perhaps the only exception was Lee Byung-jun, who was a little over the top as the CEO.

“Suck Up Project” opens Thursday in theaters nationwide. Runs for 118 minutes. Rated 15 and over. Distributed by Lotte Entertainment.

‘Miss Conspirator’ misses

There was much brouhaha over actress Ko Hyun-jung’s commercial film debut, taking place 20 years into her career. But her pick, “Miss Conspirator” by comedy specialist Park Chul-kwan, is a disaster.

With Seong Dong-il and Go Chang-seok, stars of “Suck Up Project,” in the supporting cast as well as Yoo Hae-jin in the lead, it is a wonder how much talent the director has wasted here. Not everyone will agree, but the fact that TVstar Park Shin-yang’s obviously inaccurate Gyeongsang Province accent was left in the film saliently shows something went wrong during production.

The flow is so awkward in this crime thriller that if it were not for the painfully predictable ending, it would have been difficult to understand the plot, where Ko plays (rather poorly) a woman who has many phobias to an instrument to a drug deal.

There is a reason why almost half of the media walked out of the screening instead of staying for the press conference. That is very rare.

“Miss Conspirator” opens Thursday in theaters nationwide. Runs for 115 minutes. Rated 15 and over. Distributed by Next Entertainment World (NEW).
Emailjay@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
15 Korea tourism clips top 225 mil. views 5 Korea tourism clips top 225 mil. views
2Tension mounts between Yoon administration, opposition partyTension mounts between Yoon administration, opposition party
3Nexon workers in conflict with umbrella union over stance on feminism Nexon workers in conflict with umbrella union over stance on feminism
4Is ruling party's reform drive at end of road? Is ruling party's reform drive at end of road?
5Daegu mayor criticizes officials for spreading false hope about Expo bid Daegu mayor criticizes officials for spreading false hope about Expo bid
6Rights activists criticize wage discrimination against migrant boat crews Rights activists criticize wage discrimination against migrant boat crews
7DL, SPC chiefs apologize for worker deaths under poor labor conditions DL, SPC chiefs apologize for worker deaths under poor labor conditions
8Crackdown on illegal short selling takes priority over MSCI listing: FSC vice chair Crackdown on illegal short selling takes priority over MSCI listing: FSC vice chair
9Hyundai chief pledges to support globalization of archery Hyundai chief pledges to support globalization of archery
102023 Korea-EU CSO Network Human Rights Conference to emphasize diversity, practice inclusivity 2023 Korea-EU CSO Network Human Rights Conference to emphasize diversity, practice inclusivity
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Hip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup INTERVIEWHip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup
2ONE PACT debuts hoping to leave big impact on K-pop scene ONE PACT debuts hoping to leave big impact on K-pop scene
3[INTERVIEW] ASTRO members aim to shine in musical theaterINTERVIEWASTRO members aim to shine in musical theater
4'Our Season' director, veteran actor discuss creating relatable mother-daughter story 'Our Season' director, veteran actor discuss creating relatable mother-daughter story
5December brings mix of action, thriller, romance to small screen December brings mix of action, thriller, romance to small screen
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group