[K Movie] A Company Man Plot Summary Ending Cast (2012)

Korean John Wick ‘A Company Man’ is a compelling South Korean thriller that explores the dark underbelly of corporate life through the eyes of a seemingly ordinary office worker. Directed by Lee Sang-yong, this 2012 film delves into the psychological and physical toll of workplace bullying, power struggles, and the desperate fight for dignity in a ruthless environment.

The story follows Han Jeong-won, a diligent and unassuming employee who becomes the target of relentless harassment by his superiors and colleagues. As the pressure mounts, Jeong-won’s life spirals into chaos, revealing the harsh realities faced by many in the corporate world. The film’s raw portrayal of office politics and human resilience resonates deeply with audiences, shedding light on a pervasive social issue.

With its intense performances, stark cinematography, and unflinching narrative, “The Relentless Office Worker” captures the suffocating atmosphere of a toxic workplace. The film not only entertains but also provokes critical reflection on the cost of ambition and the human spirit’s endurance. This movie stands as a poignant reminder of the struggles hidden behind the facade of everyday office life, making it a must-watch for those interested in social dramas and psychological thrillers.

A Company Man 2012

English: A Company Man | Korean: 회사원 | Japanese: ある会社員
Directed by: Lee Sang-yong | Screenplay by: Lee Sang-yong
Based on: Original screenplay
Produced by: Kim Mi-hee
Cinematography: Kim Byeong-seo
Edited by: Shin Min-kyung
Music by: Kim Hong-jip
Starring: So Ji-sub (Han Jeong-won), Lee Mi-yeon (Lee Ji-na), Kwak Do-won (Kim Sang-gu), Kim Dong-jun (Min-cheol), Kim Kang-woo (Lee Sang-jun)
Production companies: Taewon Entertainment
Distributed by: CJ Entertainment
Release dates: October 11, 2012 (South Korea)
Running time: 96 minutes
Country: South Korea
Language: Korean
Budget: Not officially disclosed
Box office: Approximately 1.2 million USD (South Korea)
Rating: 15+ (South Korea)

[K movie] A Company Man Plot Summary Ending Cast (2012)

Movie A Company Man Rating

Naver Audience Score: 7.24/10 (based on user ratings)

Director Lee Sang-yong

Director Lee Sang-yong is known for his sharp, character-driven narratives and his ability to explore social issues through genre filmmaking. Prior to “A Company Man,” he directed “The Art of Fighting” (2006), a gritty action drama that also received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of violence and human nature. Lee’s style is marked by intense performances, stark visuals, and a focus on the psychological struggles of his protagonists. During the production of “A Company Man,” Lee worked closely with the cast to ensure authentic performances, and the film’s realistic office settings were carefully selected to enhance the story’s impact.

A Company Man cast

Han Jeong-won (So Ji-sub – Instagram):

Character Info: A diligent and unassuming office worker who becomes the target of relentless workplace bullying. As the pressure mounts, Jeong-won’s life spirals into chaos, revealing the harsh realities of corporate life.

Notable Works: Alienoid (2022), Alienoid: Return to the Future(2024), Mercy for None (2015)

Lee Ji-na (Lee Mi-yeon):

Character Info: A colleague who becomes involved in Jeong-won’s struggles, offering support and understanding.

Kim Sang-gu (Kwak Do-won):

Character Info: A senior colleague who participates in the bullying of Jeong-won.

Min-cheol (Kim Dong-jun):

Character Info: A junior colleague who observes the workplace dynamics.

Lee Sang-jun (Kim Kang-woo):

Character Info: Another colleague involved in the office politics.

A Company Man Plot Summary

A delivery van waits in front of a building, along with intern Ra-hoon, who is consumed by anxiety over the uncertainty of when he might be fired. Ra-hoon feels insecure, thinking he is not doing enough, but his senior Ji Hyeong-do (played by So Ji-sub) comforts him, saying it’s okay because he is only twenty.

Hyeong-do’s company appears to be an ordinary metal manufacturing firm, but in reality, it is a contract killing organization. When Ra-hoon asks Hyeong-do what his dream was at age twenty, Hyeong-do answers that he wanted to be a singer. When the time comes, Ra-hoon carries a delivery package and takes the elevator. The area around the building is swarming with police, but Ra-hoon, disguised in a delivery uniform, easily enters and heads to the sixth floor.

Detectives who get off on the seventh floor try to escort out a terrified man, but Ra-hoon appears. When asked where he is going, Ra-hoon pulls out a gun hidden in the delivery box and kills five detectives. He also executes the frightened man. As Ra-hoon is about to leave after completing his mission, Hyeong-do attacks him. However, Hyeong-do cannot bring himself to eliminate Ra-hoon and instead hides him.

Hyeong-do drives the delivery van to the Han River, changes into ordinary office worker attire, and erases all traces of the van. After finishing everything, Hyeong-do commutes by subway like a regular office worker. Executive Kwon Jong-taek (played by Kwak Do-won) scolds him for being two hours late.

Meanwhile, former assassin Ban Ji-hoon, the only person Hyeong-do can confide in, now lives a normal life running a sushi restaurant after retirement. Hyeong-do visits Ban Ji-hoon (played by Lee Kyung-young), who lives alone on a remote beach. Ban advises Hyeong-do to think carefully, not just endure everything, and to consider leaving only after getting everything he deserves.

When asked if he regrets quitting the company, Ban replies that a job is a love-hate relationship—when you leave, you want to return, and when you return, you want to leave. After talking to Ban, Hyeong-do feels a bit less empty. The next day, Hyeong-do visits Ra-hoon’s mother to deliver the life insurance money. That day, Hyeong-do realizes for the first time that Ra-hoon’s mother, Yoo Mi-yeon, was his favorite singer when he was young. Feelings of love begin to blossom between Hyeong-do and Mi-yeon.

Meanwhile, since Senior Manager Jin Chae-guk has not returned to work, Hyeong-do is ordered to tail him. Hyeong-do is caught while following him, but Jin refuses to return to the company even though he could have been pardoned. Ultimately, Jin is fired and becomes a target of the contract killing company. However, Hyeong-do, whose heart has softened, cannot kill Jin and instead files a false report, just as he did with Ra-hoon.

After being promoted to head of Sales Department 2 in place of Jin, Hyeong-do becomes the subject of suspicion from executive Kwon Jong-taek. Even Ban Ji-hoon, whom Hyeong-do trusted, is ordered by the company to eliminate him. While on his way to sign a contract with his team, Hyeong-do senses something suspicious and, after a struggle, subdues his teammates.

Realizing everything has been exposed, Hyeong-do first evacuates Ra-hoon and his family to Ban Ji-hoon’s place. However, Ban ultimately chooses reinstatement and betrays Hyeong-do. Surrounded by contract killers, Hyeong-do ends up killing Ban and the other company employees. But during the chaos, Ra-hoon’s mother, Yoo Mi-yeon, is killed.

A Company Man Ending

Enraged, Hyeong-do returns to the company and begins a bloody battle with the employees. Ra-hoon also arrives at the company to avenge his mother and shoots the CEO, who was confronting Hyeong-do. Kwon, who always disliked Hyeong-do, tries to ambush him but is instead overpowered by Hyeong-do.

Police surround the building after reports of gunfire, and Hyeong-do helps Ra-hoon escape before turning himself in. Injured, Hyeong-do walks out the front door of the company, surrounded by police. The film ends with Hyeong-do appearing as if he is just another office worker on his way to work.

A Company Man Ending Explained

A Company Man uses the profession of a “killer” as a metaphor for the corporate system, depicting the ruthless evaluation, termination, and power struggles that resemble those of real office workers. Hyeong-do is torn between organizational discipline and human emotions, deeply portraying the longing for a normal life and the weight of choices. The film carries a message about realistic office politics, human nature, and the pursuit of happiness.

A Company Man Review

The movie A Company Man 2012 centers on the character Ji Hyeong-do, played by So Ji-sub, and tells the story of an employee working at a contract killing company disguised as a corporation. So Ji-sub’s intense action and “suit action” stand out, and the unique setting of an office worker in a contract killing company attracted the audience’s interest.

However, many reviews express disappointment in the depth of the narrative and characters, as well as the lack of presence of the villain. In particular, the blend of romance and action is criticized as somewhat awkward. In the ending, the scene where Ji Hyeong-do charges at the company holding a weapon as a sign of “resigning” stimulates the fantasies of office workers, making it a worthwhile action film to watch.

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