He's on Duty

He's on Duty
Directed by Yook Sang-hyo
Produced by Kim Bok-geun
Lee Se-young
Written by Yook Sang-hyo
Starring Kim In-kwon
Kim Jung-tae
Music by Shin Hyung
Cinematography Jeon Dae-sung
Edited by Park Gok-ji
Release dates
  • September 30, 2010 (2010-09-30)
Running time
 110 minutes
Country South Korea
Language Korean

He's on Duty (Hangul: 방가? 방가!; RR: Bangga? Bangga!; MR: Pangga? Pangga!) is a 2010 South Korean film that comically yet incisively depicts racial issues in Korea. Tae-sik finds it difficult to get a job due to his odd appearance and impatient character. After failing repeatedly, he disguises himself as a foreigner and finally lands a job. Tae-sik, however, witnesses the cruel treatment migrant workers face in Korea.[1][2]

The Korean title is a pun on the lead character's name and is an abbreviated form of 반갑습니다 (bangabseumnida) or 반가워요 (bangawoyo) which translates to "Delighted? Delighted!" or "Nice to meet you."

Plot

Bang Tae-sik is perennially unemployed as he drifts from one job to another, from manual labor to serving coffee. His appearance (dark skin and short height), being rather atypical for a Korean is to blame it seems, but best buddy Yong-cheol persuades Tae-sik to make better use of these disadvantages: Desperate and having nothing better to do, he adopts a strange accent and ethnic hat and is reborn as Bang-ga (a twist on his family name) from Bhutan, and immediately lands a job at a chair manufacturing factory.

Despite a shaky beginning ― due to his unredeemable clumsiness, rather than doubts about his alleged Bhutani roots that are all too convincing ― Tae-sik gets along with his co-workers, and even starts romancing the lovely Jang-mi from Vietnam. He is even voted to become president of a migrant workers labor union and competent Korean language instructor, and joins in a harmonious effort to win a local singing competition for foreigners.

Tae-sik begins to truly bond with his co-workers but his loyalties are put to the test when Yong-cheol finds a way to swindle their money.[3]

Cast

Awards and nominations

2010 Korean Film Awards

2011 Baeksang Arts Awards

2011 Buil Film Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Now showing". The Korea Times. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  2. ↑ "He's on Duty (2010)". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  3. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (14 October 2010). "Duty falters in satirizing social issues". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.


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