Death's Game (Yijae, Got Jookseummida / 이재, 곧 죽습니다)

THE MOST PAINFUL DEATH TO A MORTAL IS ONE THAT IS FORESEEN

BACCHYLIDES

What did I ever do?

Why do I have to go there when I haven't done anything wrong?

You are guilty of coming to find me

before I came to find you.

Damn it!

Wait.

I wanted a clean death.

That was

the only thing I ever wanted.

To be able to do that,

I can't

let myself die like this.

EPISODE 1 DEATH

The train will depart soon.

Please step behind the safety line.

7 YEARS AGO

Hey, Ji-su.

Are you there?

Not yet. I'm almost there.

I can't believe how awesome my boyfriend is.

What do you mean?

You know what I mean.

You're a finalist at Taekang, and you haven't even graduated yet.

It's not like they've hired me yet.

I'm so nervous.

Don't worry.

If Taekang knows what they're doing,

they'll definitely hire you.

Just show them your natural self.

That'll be more than enough.

Thanks, Ji-su.

I'll call you after the interview is over.

Okay. You can do it!

Thanks.

I need to get a job before I graduate.

I can do this.

No.

I have to do this.

Are you all right? Sir.

Are you okay?

APPLICANT ID CHOI YEE-JAE

Mr. Choi Yee-jae.

Mr. Choi Yee-jae?

Mr. Choi Yee-jae!

Yes, sir.

Why don't you answer this one?

I'm sorry, but I didn't hear the question.

Could you repeat the question one more time?

Next.

-But… -Mr. Jeong Jae-han, you may answer.

An opportunity to work at Taekang…

I was given a chance ahead of my peers,

but I blew it in the blink of an eye.

What I hadn't realized then

was that I'd spend the next seven years

hunting for a job.

Having failed to secure employment,

I started off with debt due to my student loans.

And with COVID-19 sweeping the entire world,

it only became harder to find a job.

Yes, sir.

I'm on my way. It'll be about five minutes.

Sure. I'll be there soon.

I'm almost there, sir.

Why can't you find a job when you're still so young?

There are plenty of jobs…

While others gained more work experience,

I had to work part-time jobs so that I could pay off my debt

and finally get a proper job.

Here's what I learned while caught in this vicious cycle.

-Did you call for a designated driver? -There he is. Thanks.

-Good job today. -Thank you, sir.

-Get going. -Get home safely, sir.

-Have a safe trip home, sir. -See you tomorrow.

The most difficult thing to achieve…

I'm getting married.

…is an ordinary life

where you get a job and get married

just like everyone else.

While I stood in place, unable to move forward,

and the days kept repeating,

what scared me the most was my uncertain future.

While I wrote hundreds and thousands of cover letters,

went to job interviews, and repeatedly failed to get a job,

I consoled myself by saying that everything would work out.

And after spending seven years like that,

I managed to become a finalist at Taekang again.

2023 TAEKANG NEW EMPLOYEE FINAL INTERVIEW

Mr. Choi Yee-jae, you have a high TOEIC score

and even have an HSK,

but you've never once studied abroad.

That's right, sir. I haven't.

Experience is important when it comes to language,

but all you ever did was work part-time jobs.

He must've been really desperate

to have listed his part-time jobs on his résumé.

The reason I listed my part-time jobs on my résumé is--

I think I may know why.

You wanted to show us your tenacity and persistence, didn't you?

Yes. That is correct.

You lost your father at a young age.

Yes. He passed away when I was five.

I think that explains why you had to work so hard.

Even while continuing to work,

you managed to get all these certificates and licenses.

You know how to work on yourself.

Mr. Choi Yee-jae.

You're admirable.

Thank you, sir.

INTERVIEW ROOM

Hey, Tae-sik.

Hey, Yee-jae. Did you invest in Hyeon-su's deal too?

What? Why do you ask?

He got involved in a scam to manipulate the market,

lost all our money, and took off.

Hyeon-su.

It's me, Yee-jae. Open up.

I know you're in there, Hyeon-su!

Open the damn door!

You bastard!

You bastard!

How could you do this to me?

Open the door right now!

Open up!

Please open the door.

Please.

Please.

You should've known better.

Destroying a door and screaming would naturally get you reported.

I thought you were a crazy person.

How could I not go crazy?

I lost all the money I had.

Please catch him.

You said it was an investment.

Since the investment was made with profit in mind,

you won't be able to sue him for fraud

just because there was a loss.

How does that make any sense?

That's just the law in Korea.

There's this company that'll be listed on the KOSDAQ next year.

Invest in that company.

You're guaranteed to make money.

-But still-- -Dude.

How long will you keep living like this?

And aren't you going to marry Ji-su?

Damn it.

Ji-su.

Thanks.

-Take care. -Okay. Bye.

-Drive safely. -All right. See you.

Yee-jae.

What are you doing here?

I had business nearby.

Have you been drinking again?

What's wrong?

Am I not even allowed to drink on a day like this?

What do you mean by "a day like this"?

A day where nothing goes right.

No.

Things never really worked out for me.

I'll get going then. Bye.

Wait.

I know you skipped your part-time jobs this month

because of the job interviews.

Did you find a new boyfriend?

-No. -Then what?

Were you on a blind date or something?

I told you that's not it.

Ji-su.

Should I just let you go now?

What?

I feel bad that you're wasting your time on a loser like me.

It's too much pressure.

I've only ever been a burden to you.

Why don't you try to work even harder instead?

How long are you going to keep this up?

"Work even harder"?

What do you think I've been doing all this time?

No matter how hard I try, nothing ever changes for me.

I'm sick and tired of this too.

Look at our relationship.

Are you really okay

with how things are?

Let's just end it here.

I've put you through so much.

Have a good life.

What's this?

Damn it.

I'm keeping your deposit to make up for the overdue rent.

A new tenant is moving in in two days,

so take your things by tomorrow.

Seriously?

Damn it!

The number you have reached…

Damn it.

YOU HAVE FAILED YOUR FINAL INTERVIEW WITH TAEKANG

THANK YOU FOR APPLYING

KYOHAK UNIVERSITY NUMBER 1 EMPLOYMENT RATE!