Han Ji-eun pins her hopes on the stock market in Stock Struck

by solstices

Stock Struck

In the rat race that characterizes today’s society, even just staying afloat can be a struggle. TVING’s upcoming drama Stock Struck centers around a ragtag group of five eclectic individuals, comparing them to diligent worker ants — they may work hard, but they don’t necessarily reap much reward in return. Tired of their bleak prospects and eager to earn big bucks, they turn to the volatile but promising stock market.

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The drama’s first teaser begins with a narration by our spirited protagonist Yoo Mi-seo, played by Han Ji-eun (Bad and Crazy). Faced with the increasingly competitive job market, ever-rising housing prices, and dwindling bank interest rates, she turns to the stock market as her last hope. But it has her cursing before long — the stocks she invested in plunge drastically, and her money evaporates into thin air. It’s as devastating as her dud lottery tickets.

Through a montage, we’re introduced to the rest of our main cast. First up is convenience store worker Choi Sun-woo — played by Hong Jong-hyun (My Absolute Boyfriend) — whose home is akin to a pigsty. Next is the free-spirited hippie Kang San — played by Jung Moon-sung (The Good Detective 2) — who spends his days partying. Then we have our sharply-dressed restaurant owner Jung Haeng-ja — played by Kim Sun-young (The Silent Sea) — and affable retiree Kim Jin-bae — played by Jang Kwang (Remarriage & Desires). A little kid joins the quintet, bemusedly asking why they invest in stocks. Their answer: through stocks, they can end their days of toiling away. Onward to happiness!

In a befuddling bonus scene, Mi-seo has one leg over a bridge’s railing when a stranger yanks her back from the brink. She screams at him in a panic that she almost died, prompting him to point out that he literally just saved her life, LOL. I have no idea what’s going on, but it’s kinda hilarious.

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In the drama’s second teaser, our quintet celebrates as their stocks rise. We’re introduced to our main cast one by one — Mi-seo’s the ant that’s often down on her luck, but bounces back with renewed determination each time. Having had a bad experience with stocks before, Sun-woo is the traumatized ant; a flashback shows him standing forlornly on a bridge with scruffy stubble on his chin.

Long-haired party animal San is the YOLO ant, but it seems like he may have more depth to him. A relative of his is in the hospital, and he’s working as an extra on a historical film set to make ends meet. (He’s not doing a very good job at it though, given he knocks himself out with his own slingshot.)

Haeng-ja relies on her gut feeling to make her stock market decisions, earning her the nickname of the intuition ant. And finally, Jin-bae’s the ant that’s old in age, but young at heart — he rides a scooter fearlessly, tests out lipstick colors, and even tries his hand at illustrating.

Of course, the key trait of the stock market is that it’s unpredictable, and it has our characters screaming both in despair and then in elation. Still, they’re determined to find success with their investments, and Mi-seo even watches an online lecture to learn some tips.

Written by Im Yeon-soo (SNL Korea, Birthcare Center) and directed by Choi Ji-young (who worked on What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim and Beyond Evil), the TVING original comedy premieres August 12, airing Friday nights for a total of 12 episodes.

Stock Struck

via Sports Chosun, Xports News