K-Drama Agency Shorts: Learn Real Korean Workplace Expressions!

🎥 K-Drama ‘Agency’ – A Fierce Battle of Advertising Strategies!

Korean dramas set in corporate environments have gained traction in recent years, offering intense and compelling narratives. JTBC’s drama “Agency” stands out for its realistic portrayal of the advertising industry, earning widespread acclaim.

The short scene we’re introducing today features a high-stakes moment in which an advertising team devises a strategy to help release an imprisoned chaebol. In this scene, Go Ah-in, the team leader, struggles to find a solution until she spots a doodle by her colleague, Creative Director Jo Jung, which sparks a brilliant idea.

This short yet powerful moment highlights the urgency and intensity of the advertising industry, where a single spark of creativity can turn the tide. Additionally, we’ve broken down the dialogue from this scene to help Korean language learners pick up authentic expressions commonly used in professional settings in Korea.

 

🎥 Short Video

[Source] YouTube, @1minute_drama

 

🎥 Cast

- Lee Bo-young as Go Ah-in (VC Planning Team Director)

- Jeon Hye-jin as Jo Eun-jung (Creative Director)

- Han Joon-woo as Han Byung-soo (Copywriter)

- Jung Woon-sun as Bae Won-hee (Designer)

 

🎥 Dialogue Analysis & Learning Points

The advertising industry, especially agencies, is a battlefield ruled by fierce competition and relentless pressure. “Agency” captures this intense atmosphere, resonating deeply with working professionals.

In this scene, Go Ah-in (Lee Bo-young), the leader of VC Planning Team 2, struggles while preparing for an important presentation (PT). She faces only two choices:

- Attempt the PT and risk getting fired.

- Abandon the PT and resign voluntarily.

At this critical moment, a seemingly insignificant doodle by Creative Director Jo Eun-jung (Jeon Hye-jin) becomes the key to turning the crisis into an opportunity.

What solution do they ultimately find?

 

고아인: "이제 남은 방법은 둘 중 하나."

Go Ah-in: "Now, there are only two options left."

- "이제": Means "now" or "at this moment," implying a shift in circumstances.

- "남은 방법": Indicates that the available solutions are limited. "남다" is a verb meaning "to remain."

- "둘 중 하나": Directly translates to "one of the two," emphasizing that only two choices are available.

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "이제 남은 방법은 오직 하나야." → "Now, there is only one option left."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tip: "남은" → "나믄" (linked pronunciation).

 

고아인: "어설프게 PT하고 해고당하는 거랑."

Go Ah-in: "Either give a sloppy presentation and get fired, or..."

- "어설프게": Describes something being done inadequately, meaning "sloppily" or "in an unskilled manner."

- "PT하고": "PT" is short for "presentation," and "하고" connects the action to the following clause.

- "해고당하는": "해고" (termination, being fired) + "-당하다" (passive verb suffix, meaning "to be subjected to") + "는" (modifying ending).

- "거랑": Contraction of "것이랑," meaning "-(이)랑" used in informal speech to compare two choices.

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "어설프게 발표했다가 창피만 당했어."

→ "I gave a sloppy presentation and just embarrassed myself."

 

고아인: "PT 포기하고 사표 내는 거랑."

Go Ah-in: "Or give up on the presentation and resign."

- "PT": Short for "presentation." "PT를" would be the complete form, but the object marker is omitted in natural speech.

- "포기하고": "포기하다" (to give up) + "고" (connective ending), meaning "to give up and…"

- "사표 내는 거랑": "사표" (resignation letter) + "내다" (to submit) → "To submit a resignation letter" (to resign voluntarily).

- “거랑”: “것이랑” → “거랑”

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "시험을 포기하고 그냥 자버렸어."

→ "I gave up on the test and just went to sleep."

 

- "그거랑 이거랑 어떤 게 더 좋아?"

→ "Which one is better between these two?"

 

고아인: "둘 중에 뭐가 더 보기 흉할까?"

Go Ah-in: "Which one would look worse?"

- "둘 중에": "Among the two options."

- "보기 흉할까?": "흉하다" means "unsightly" or "shameful," often referring to something looking bad.

- "보기" is the noun form of "보다" (to see), and "보기 흉하다" means "to look disgraceful" or "to be embarrassing."

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "이 두 개 중에 뭐가 더 나아?"

→ "Which one is better between these two?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tip: "둘 중에" → “둘 쭝에”

 

고아인: "은정 CD 생각은 어때?"

Go Ah-in: "What do you think about Eunjung as CD?"

- "CD": Short for "Creative Director." The possessive particle "의" is omitted in casual speech.

- "생각은 어때?": Asking for someone's opinion.

- "어때" is a contracted form of "어떠해," which is derived from "어떻다" (to be how).

 

📌 Example Usage:

"뭐 어때?" → "So what?" (Indicating indifference.)

 

고아인: "넌 뭘 그렇게 열심히 쓰고 있니?"

Go Ah-in: "What are you writing so intently?"

- "넌": Contraction of "너는" (you).

- "뭘": Contraction of "무엇을" (what), used in spoken language.

- "그렇게": "Like that," emphasizing the manner of the action.

- "쓰고 있니?": "쓰다" (to write) + "-고 있다" (progressive form) + "-니?" (informal question ending).

 

📌 Example Usage:

"넌 지금 뭘 보고 있어?"

→ "What are you looking at?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips:

- "그렇게" → “그러케”

- "열심히" → “열씸히”

 

고아인: "너 이거 뭐야?"

Go Ah-in: "What is this?"

- "이거": Casual form of "이것" (this).

- "뭐야?": Casual form of "무엇이야?" Used when something is unexpected or surprising.

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "이거 뭐야? 어떻게 된 거야?"

→ "What is this? What's going on?"

 

조은정: "어!" (깜짝 놀란다.)

Jo Eun-jung: "Oh!" (expressing surprise)

- "어": An exclamation used to express sudden surprise.

 

📌 Example Usage:

- (A friend appears suddenly) "어! 너 언제 왔어?" 

→ "Oh! When did you get here?"

고아인: "이거 들고 당장 회의실로 와!"

Go Ah-in: "Take this and come to the meeting room immediately!"

- "이거 들고": "Holding this" or "Take this with you."

• "이것을 손에 들고" (holding this in hand). “이것을” → “이거”, “손에 들고” → “들고”

• "들다" (to hold, lift) + "-고" (connective ending).

- "당장" → "Right now," emphasizing urgency.

- "회의실로": "To the meeting room."

• "회의실" (conference room) + "-로" (directional particle, meaning "to").

- "와!": Command form of "오다" (to come).

 

💡 Overall Meaning:
A strong command from Go Ah-in, urging someone to bring an item and come immediately.

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "이 파일 들고 회의실로 와!"
→ "Grab this file and come to the meeting room!"

 

고아인: "다들, 당장!"

Go Ah-in: "Everyone, now!"

- "다들" → Casual spoken form of "모두" (everyone).

- "당장" → "Immediately," often used in urgent or commanding situations.

 

💡 Overall Meaning:
A forceful command telling everyone to act immediately.

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "다들, 당장 움직여!"
→ "Everyone, move now!"

조은정: "지은 죄도 없이 대행사라는 감옥에 살고 있구나."

Jo Eun-jung: "You're living in the prison of an agency without even committing a crime."

- "지은 죄도 없이": "Without committing a crime."

• "짓다" (to commit, to build) + "은" (past modifier) → "지은" (committed).

• "죄" (sin, crime).

• "도 없이" (without even). “~도 없다” + “-이”

- "대행사라는 감옥": A metaphor comparing the advertising agency to a prison.

• "-라는": Contraction of "-라고 하는," used for indirect quotes or descriptions.

- "살고 있구나": "살다" (to live) + "-고 있다" (present continuous) + "-구나" (exclamatory ending).

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "아무 잘못도 없이 혼났어." 

→ "I got scolded for no reason."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tip: "없이" → "업씨"

 

조은정: "구치소는 때 되면 밥은 먹여주는데."

Jo Eun-jung: "At least in jail, they feed you on time."

- "구치소": Detention center, where people are held before trial.

- "때 되면": "When the time comes" → meaning meals are served at scheduled times.

- "밥은": Emphasizing "밥" (food, rice) using the topic particle "-은."

- "먹여 주는데": “먹이다” + “주다” + “-는데”

• "먹이다" (causative form of "먹다," meaning "to make someone eat").

• "주다" (to do something for someone, emphasizing favor).

• "-는데" (ending that implies contrast or an expected follow-up statement).

💡 Overall Meaning:

- This implies that meals are provided at least in jail, but other aspects might not be as favorable.

- The sentence trails off, suggesting an unstated contrast (e.g., "but everything else is terrible").

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "엄마가 아이에게 밥을 먹여 주는데 아이가 자꾸 딴짓을 한다."
→ "The mother tries to feed the child, but they keep getting distracted."

 

조은정: "구치소는 때 되면 잠은 재워 주는데."

Jo Eun-jung: "At least the detention center lets you sleep on time."

- "잠은": Emphasizing "잠" with the topic particle "-은."

- "재워 주는데": “재우다” + “주다” + “-는데”

• "재우다" (causative form of "자다," meaning "to put someone to sleep").

• "주다" (to do something for someone, emphasizing favor).

• "-는데" (ending that implies contrast or expectation of further explanation).

 

💡 Overall Meaning:

- Implies that sleeping is ensured at least in jail, but something else might not be as good.

- The sentence trails off, suggesting an unstated contrast (e.g., "but everything else is terrible").

 

조은정: "억울하다! 억울해!"

Jo Eun-jung: "It's unfair! So unfair!"

- "억울하다": Used when feeling wronged or treated unfairly.

- "억울해": "억울하다" + "-어" (casual ending). The repetition emphasizes frustration.

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "나는 잘못한 게 없는데 혼났어. 억울해!"
→ "I got scolded even though I did nothing wrong. It's unfair!"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tip: "억울하다! 억울해!" → "어굴하다! 어굴해!"

 

조은정: "완벽하게 억울해!"

Jo Eun-jung: "I feel completely wronged!"

- "완벽하게": "완벽하다" (to be perfect) + "-게" (adverbial suffix) → "완벽하게" (perfectly, entirely).

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "나는 완벽하게 준비했는데도 실패했어."
→ "I prepared perfectly, but I still failed."

 

고아인: "그러네!"

Go Ah-in: "You're right!"

"그러네": Casual form of "그러하다" ("That is so"). Used when agreeing with someone’s statement. “그러하다” → “그러다” → “그러네”

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "그거 생각해보니까 맞네!"

→ "Now that I think about it, you're right!"

 

고아인: "그 억울함을 보여주면 되겠어."

Go Ah-in: "Then you just have to show that injustice."

- "그 억울함을": Refers back to the previously mentioned feeling of unfairness.

- "보여주면 되겠어.": "보여주다" (to show) + "-면" (conditional form: "if you show") + "되겠어" (it will be fine, it should work).

 • “되겠어”: “되다” → “되겠다” (future form) + “어” (Final endings. They change into more polite expressions.) → “되겠어”

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "너의 실력을 보여주면 되겠어."

→ "You just have to show your skills."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tip: "억울함을" → "어굴하믈"

 

고아인: "너희들 당장."

Go Ah-in: "You guys, right now."

- "너희들": Plural form of "너" (you), used for addressing multiple people.

- "당장": "Right now" or "immediately," emphasizing urgency.

 

조은정/한병수/배원희: "네."

Jo Eun-jung / Han Byeong-soo / Bae Won-hee: "Yes."

- "네" vs. "예":

• "네" is more casual, used in daily conversation.

• "예" is more formal and used in respectful situations.

 

📌 Example Usage:

- (Informal) "네, 알았어요." → "Yes, got it."

- (Formal) "예, 알겠습니다." → "Yes, I understand."

 

고아인: "집에 가서 자."

Go Ah-in: "Go home and sleep."

- "가서": "가다" (to go) + "-아서" (sequential connection: action A → action B).

- "자": "자다" (to sleep) in imperative form.

 

📌 Example Usage: "-아서"

- Sequential connection: "집에 가서 숙제를 했다." → "I went home and did my homework."

- Cause and Effect: “비가 와서 길이 미끄럽다.” → "Because it rained, the road is slippery."

 

조은정/한병수/배원희: "네?"

Jo Eun-jung / Han Byeong-soo / Bae Won-hee: "What?"

- "네?" is used when:

• You didn’t hear the speaker clearly.

• You’re surprised by what was said.

• You want to confirm what was said.

 

📌 Example Usage:

• (Didn’t hear) "네? 다시 말해 줄래요?" → "What? Can you say that again?"

• (Surprised) "네? 진짜요?" → "What? Really?"

 

고아인: "아침부터 본격적으로 달려야 하니까."

Go Ah-in: "Because we have to go all out from the morning."

- "아침부터": "아침부터" → "From the morning" (emphasizing when the action begins).

• "-부터": A postposition indicating the starting point of an event or condition.

- "본격적으로": "본격적" (being in full swing, getting serious) + "-으로" (indicating manner or direction).

• Meaning: "Not half-heartedly, but properly and seriously."

- "달려야 하니까": “달리다” + “-야 하니까”

• "달리다" (literally "to run"), but in this context, it means "to work hard" or "to go all out."

• "-야 하니까": "-야 하다" (must do) + "-니까" (indicating reason: "because").

• "달려야 하니까" → "Because we must push forward/work hard."

 

📌 Example Usage:

- "오늘은 본격적으로 공부해야 하니까."
→ "Because I have to study seriously today."

Agency (2023)

🎥 Conclusion – Realism in Drama and Korean Language Learning

“Agency” offers a gripping look at the intense competition in the advertising world and the relentless struggles of the planning team. This scene stands out as it highlights a moment of creative brilliance, where the emotion of ‘frustration’ is cleverly used as the concept for an ad.

Through the dialogue in this scene, Korean language learners can pick up practical workplace expressions commonly used by professionals in Korea. For instance:

• "둘 중에 뭐가 더 보기 흉할까?" (Which one looks worse?)
• "아침부터 본격적으로 달려야 하니까." (Because we have to go out all day starting tomorrow morning.)

These phrases can be handy in honest workplace conversations. So why not practice using them in your dialogues? Imagine the tense atmosphere of the drama as you hone your practical Korean skills!

Depending on your region, “Aagency” can stream on Netflix.

 

🎯 A Collection of Useful Korean Expressions

1. 선택지 제시: "둘 중 하나" / "-(이)랑"

Go Ah-in emphasizes choices by using "둘 중 하나" and the "-(이)랑" structure.

- Expressing "A or B" choices:

• "A와 B 둘 중 하나" → "Between A and B, one option."

• "A-(이)랑 B-(이)랑" → "Comparing A and B as options."

 

📌 Dialogue Examples:

- "이제 남은 방법은 둘 중 하나."
→ "Now, there are only two options left."

- "어설프게 PT하고 해고당하는 거랑, PT 포기하고 사표 내는 거랑."
→ "Giving a half-hearted presentation and getting fired, or giving up and resigning."

 

2. 비교와 평가: "뭐가 더 ~할까?"

Used to compare A and B, asking which is better (or worse).

- Structure: "뭐가 더 + 형용사 + (으)ㄹ까?" → "Which one is more ~?"

 

📌 Dialogue Examples:

- "둘 중에 뭐가 더 보기 흉할까?"
→ "Which one looks worse?"

 

📌 Additional Example:

- "이 둘 중에 뭐가 더 맛있을까?"
→ "Which one tastes better?"

 

3. 상대방의 의견 묻기: "-은/는 어때?"

Used to ask for someone’s opinion or evaluation.

- Structure: "명사 + (은/는) 어때?" → "How about ~?"

 

📌 Dialogue Example:

- "은정 CD 생각은 어때?"
→ "What do you think, CD Eun-jung?"

 

📌 Additional Example:

- "이 디자인은 어때?"
→ "How is this design?"

 

4. 명령과 제안: "-아/어라" / "-(으)면 되다"

Used when Go Ah-in gives orders to team members.

- Command form (Do this!):

• "동사 어간 + 아/어라" → Casual command.

• "동사 어간 + (으)면 되다" → Suggesting a solution or giving permission.

 

📌 Dialogue Examples:

- "이거 들고 당장 회의실로 와!"
→ "Bring this and come to the meeting room immediately!"

 

- "그 억울함을 보여주면 되겠어."
→ "We just need to show that unfairness."

 

📌 Additional Example:

- "너 먼저 가 있어라."
→ "You go ahead and wait."

 

5. 동작의 진행: "-고 있다"

Indicates an action is currently in progress (present continuous).

- Present progressive form: "동사 + -고 있다" → "be ~ing"

 

📌 Dialogue Example:

- "넌 뭘 그렇게 열심히 쓰고 있니?"
→ "What are you writing so diligently?"

 

📌 Additional Example:

- "나는 지금 커피를 마시고 있어."
→ "I'm drinking coffee right now."