The web series spans three seasons: Office Watch (aka Office Watch Season 1) (2017) with 8 episodes; and Office Watch Season 2 (2018), also with 8 episodes. Seasons 1 and 2 are currently not available on US streaming platforms.
SUMMARY: Imagine working in a workplace where workers are on communication teams, but they only communicate via an app that supplies office gossip. Of course, all of the users are anonymous.
In “Office Watch: The Gossip Room”, the setting is the workplace for employees of WhyNot Communications’ Advertisement Planning Team. However, they don’t communicate! At least not directly. Instead, they developed an app called Blah Blah where they can anonymously circulate gossip and sometimes rumors about what’s going on in the office. The addictive pull of the anonymous gossip app fuels the office’s collective curiosity, turning even the smallest rumor into a full-blown event that ripples through every department. They are so into the app that one wonders how they get any work done.
Well, the new general manager, Ha Min Gyu, might change that. According to Blah Blah, he fires half of the staff as soon as he gets started. That’s the rumor, but is it true? Further gossip says that he’s a nepo baby. They say he’s related to the CEO. There’s also a new intern coming on board. The most usual thing about him is that he’s 56 years old. Even though he’s an intern, the younger officer workers find it hard to talk to him without using honorifics and feel awkward assigning him duties. But he is an intern, with 30 years of work experience, and no matter how he ended up there, he’s there to work! So they need to get over it!
Assistant Manager Lee Sa-Ra gleans a lot from the Blah Blah app, but she’s careful not to jump to conclusions. She tries to make sure to separate rumor and gossip from fact. Lee Sa-Ra becomes particularly intrigued by Ha Min Gyu’s subtle gestures and composed demeanor. Her storyline includes tension between past relationships and new possibilities. Her ex-boyfriend sent out wedding invitations, yet he resurfaces with questionable behavior. Meanwhile, even though she was not trying to attract his attention, Ha Min Gyu started crushing on her. He tries to keep their relationship professional, but … where will this lead?
This quirky K-drama also highlights the dynamics of workplace friendships and alliances. For example, a team leader tries to test the general manager’s intentions while juggling her own secrets. The team’s interactions during company dinners, workshops, and unexpected crises add layers of humor and intrigue. A blackout led to a missing tangerine, and Ha Min Gyu called everyone into the conference room to interrogate them. It was his tangerine! There is a “criminal” in the office, and they must be found out! The workplace is filled with mini-mysteries, romance, comedy, and slice-of-life storytelling. Each character’s storyline contributes to a larger tapestry of delightful workplace chaos.
Where to Watch: Tubi TV, KOCOWA+, and Apple TV
My personal rating is the same as MDL.
“Office Watch: The Gossip Room” appeared in the recommendations list on my Fire TV in the grouping “Next up for you”. The algorithm is finally starting to figure out what I like to watch. LOL. This series starred Byeon Woo Seok, who is gaining popularity for his role in “Perfect Crown”. He is a versatile actor and plays a wide range of roles, from comedy to a bad guy to historical. He never disappoints. This Korean drama must have slipped under the radar, as there were hardly any published reviews.
Byeon Woo-Seok’s 8 Best K-Dramas & Movies (Including Lovely Runner). | ScreenRant
Top 8 New Workplace Romance K-Dramas You Shouldn’t Miss!” | Sarankita Dramas on YouTube
KOK (King Of Korean-drama) TV. “[Office Watch : The Gossip Room] Prologue.” YouTube, 15 Feb. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVukBlK8P9E.
♦
Copy and paste this URL into your WordPress site to embed
Copy and paste this code into your site to embed
