Jung Kyung-ho announced the arrival of the ghost-seeing ‘Oh My Ghost Clients’.
The new MBC Friday-Saturday drama ‘Oh My Ghost Clients’ (planned by Kwon Sung-chang, directed by Im Soon-rye, Lee Han-jun, written by Kim Bo-tong, Yoo Seung-hee), which aired for the first time on the 30th, opened with the story of the labor attorney No Mu-jin (played by Jung Kyung-ho), who returned to life from the brink of death. It captivated viewers as the narrative unfolds joyfully and cleverly, detailing how the livelihood-driven Mu-jin came to see ghosts. The script and direction, along with the performances of the actors, perfectly harmonized to draw viewers' responses.
The audience rating for the first episode of ‘Oh My Ghost Clients’ recorded 4.5% in the metropolitan area and 4.1% nationwide, signaling a good start. The highest rating soared to 7.1% during the scene where Mu-jin signs a labor contract with a mysterious young man (played by Tang Jun-sang) whom he meets at a life-or-death crossroads. (Based on Nielsen Korea)
Before becoming a labor attorney, Mu-jin's life was indeed a series of 'unfortunate events.' He quit his job hoping for a turnaround, but lost all his retirement funds in coin investments and eventually faced separation from his wife. His disillusionment deepened when a senior colleague promised to help him get into the HR department if he obtained his certified labor attorney license, a promise that also dissolved into thin air. Left with no place to go, Mu-jin established his own labor attorney office, but even that sank lower. He had zero clients and was on the verge of eviction due to unpaid rent.
In response, Mu-jin's sister-in-law, Deputy Minister Na Hee-joo (played by Seol In-a), stepped in to help her tearful brother-in-law. Together with creator Ko Gyeon-woo (played by Cha Hak-yeon), who runs the ‘Gyeon-jjang TV’ channel, they came up with a business idea. It involved consulting factories with frequent industrial accidents and extorting money from unscrupulous bosses. Hee-joo and Gyeon-woo convinced Mu-jin that they were like necessary Batman figures in society, scaring bad guys and preventing industrial accidents.
As the three began earning money, they aimed to expand their reach to a larger factory. Shocked by the unsafe working conditions, Mu-jin rescued a foreign worker, Nimal (played by Anupam), who was almost caught in machinery. However, while Mu-jin was joking in front of the factory workers, an accident occurred when rebar rained down right above his head. As scenes from his past flashed before his eyes, he heard a knock on the door, wondering if the visions were too long and then a man engulfed in flames, whom he had seen in his dreams before, appeared and pleaded for him to open the door.
When Mu-jin opened his eyes in an unknown space, there stood a youthful-looking spiritual guide (played by Tang Jun-sang) in front of him. The spiritual guide scolded Mu-jin, saying, “Why were you just standing there without opening the door?” while exuding an aura that belied his age. He then took out Mu-jin's business card, saying, “You’re a labor attorney, a scholar who works for others. Isn't that you?” What the spiritual guide wanted was to save his life, but only on the condition that Mu-jin helps the wronged spirits find peace. Without even a moment to review the 'special labor attorney appointment contract (labor contract)', Mu-jin signed it, and the spiritual guide vanished after completing the contract.
When Mu-jin returned to reality and opened his eyes, the falling rebar had miraculously avoided hitting him. The dramatic revival of Mu-jin capped off the first episode, leaving viewers looking forward to the upcoming tumultuous 'labor contract fulfillment saga.' In the subsequent 'cookie video,' the secret of how the spiritual guide came to possess Mu-jin's business card was revealed. The scene showed the drunken Mu-jin leaving his card on a statue's hand, and as the statue lifted its hand to view the card, curiosity about the spiritual guide's identity intensified.
‘Oh My Ghost Clients’ captivated audiences with a unique tale of a labor attorney portrayed by the ‘professional actor’ Jung Kyung-ho. Jung Kyung-ho crafted the character of the 'ghost-seeing labor attorney' with refined comedic timing and relatable acting. He also drew attention by seamlessly delivering a large volume of labor law dialogue. Additionally, Seol In-a and Cha Hak-yeon effectively brought life to their characters with their vibrant performances. The drama's direction by film director Im Soon-rye, making her directorial debut in television, succeeded in achieving a unique atmosphere, smoothly transitioning between reality and fantasy with innovative camera angles and directing techniques. Writers Kim Bo-tong and Yoo Seung-hee solidified the distinct character of ‘Oh My Ghost Clients’ with detailed research and humorous dialogue.
[Photo] MBC ‘Oh My Ghost Clients’ broadcast capture
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