"How can you know that feeling if you don’t experience it directly?" Oh My Ghost Clients, led by actor Jung Kyung-ho, is resonating on labor issues.
The recently aired MBC Friday-Saturday drama Oh My Ghost Clients (written by Kim Bo-tong and Yoo Seung-hee, directed by Lim Soon-rye and Lee Han-jun) depicts the heavy topic of labor issues in a delightful and lighthearted way, garnering positive reviews from viewers. Oh My Ghost Clients (Jung Kyung-ho), who sees ghosts, teams up with Na Hee-joo (Seol In-ah) and Go Gyeon-woo (Cha Hak-yeon) as the 'Mu-jins' to resolve the grievances of unfairly deceased workers and help them attain peace while gradually growing more sincere about labor issues.
In particular, the labor issues addressed by the 'Mu-jins' gained attention on social media after airing, leading to positive reactions that prompted a reconsideration of real labor issues. In the case of Jung Kyung-ho, who has been publicly in a relationship for 14 years with Girls' Generation member and actress Choi Soo-young, he is particularly becoming a hero for workers. We reviewed the labor episodes solved by the 'Mu-jins', led by him.
# Factory intern's accident: "My friend Min-wook could have lived, but he died!" (episodes 1, 2)
The death of high school student Min-wook (Park Soo-oh), who suffered an accident with machinery while interning at a factory, could have been buried due to violations of safety regulations and neglect and manipulation by managers trying to cover up the industrial accident. The 'Mu-jins' persuaded the foreign worker Nimal (Anupam), who was a colleague of Min-wook, and through Nimal's revelation, exposed the misdeeds of the unscrupulous factory owner with the knowledge of labor law gained by Mu-jin. The sight of Mu-jin warmly hugging and comforting Min-wook's mother, along with Mu-jin's statement that “There seem to be many people in the world who cannot choose how to live,” left a deep impression.
# Death of nurse accused of medical malpractice: "How can you know that feeling if you don’t experience it directly?" (episodes 3, 4)
New nurse Eun-young (Hwang Bo-reum-byul) tragically ended her life due to excessive work, bullying, and being falsely accused of medical malpractice. Mu-jin was able to empathize even more by experiencing the psychological pain that Eun-young felt through possession. The doctor who shifted the blame onto Eun-young was engulfed in the same suffering, and the structural issues at the hospital that caused the bullying were also illuminated. Eun-young's smile as she expressed her gratitude to Mu-jin and the final farewell of the 'Mu-jins' touched hearts.
# Cleaners forced to take a general knowledge test: "Let's see if you possess that knowledge too" (episodes 5, 6)
This episode marked the point where Mu-jin came to encounter labor issues not just as someone else's problem, but as a family matter, as the 'Mu-jins' fought for Mu-jin's mother Eun-ja (Jeon Guk-hyang), who is a university cleaning staff, and her colleagues. The administrative director (Park Won-sang), who threatened dismissal with irrelevant general knowledge tests related to cleaning work and imposed dress codes, was brought to light through a live broadcast on the 'Gyeon Jjang TV' channel. The scene where the cleaning staff turned the tables on the administrative director by posing general knowledge questions and singing the school song provided a refreshing experience. Eun-sook (Kang Ae-sim), who died while studying for the exam, smiled seeing her colleagues working in the changed environment, leaving a strong emotional impact.
# Job seeker collapsed working as a cart laborer and a hopeful message: "There is definitely an end" (episode 7)
Job seeker Yoon-jae (Yoo Seon-ho) was hired by a large company but received a job cancellation notice and ended up working part-time at a large supermarket. While pulling a cart in the sweltering heat of the parking lot, Yoon-jae collapsed from dehydration, becoming a disembodied spirit. Weary from job hunting, he did not want to return to the harsh reality. Mu-jin inspired confidence in Yoon-jae by saying that there is definitely an end after passing through a dark tunnel, and Yoon-jae began to dream of becoming a labor attorney as he looked at Mu-jin. It provided a hopeful message while shedding light on the realities of cart workers and young job seekers.
In this way, Oh My Ghost Clients portrays labor issues realistically, reminding viewers of labor concerns that could easily be forgotten. In the final two episodes, stories of laborers who died in a warehouse fire are set to be revealed. Attention is focused on what message the 'Mu-jins' will convey through their efforts to help the last lingering spirits attain peace.
[Photo] Provided by OSEN DB, MBC.
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