What can a board game teach us about surviving the corporate boardroom? More than I expected. ♟️
During intentional rest, I sometimes turn to movies or series. Recently, I came across Misaeng (Incomplete Life)—a K-drama that uses the ancient game of Baduk (Go) to mirror corporate life. Released more than a decade ago, the same year I first entered the corporate world, I wished I had watched it then rather than 11 years later.
🎭 A Lead Worth Appreciating
I’ve never been the bandwagon type—I don’t usually jump into whatever everyone’s watching. But as I returned to K-dramas, I found myself appreciating a particular actor, Yim Si-wan, whose talent goes far beyond acting. He sings, plays multiple instruments, and performs with depth.
What struck me most was how his lead characters weren’t the typical “prince charming” archetypes. Instead, they were layered, flawed, and deeply human. And while many would agree he’s undeniably charming in real life ✨, his on-screen presence is what drew me in—especially in Misaeng.
🎲 Jang Geu-rae and the Thin Résumé
Jang Geu-rae enters the corporate world with what many would call a fragile résumé: a GED (General Educational Development, a high school equivalency diploma), no university network, and years spent training in Baduk. Early on, he’s dismissed as a “bomb”—an intern expected to fail under pressure.
Yet, one disciplined move at a time, he turns doubt into respect:
- Reorganizing a chaotic file system with the same structured study he applied in Baduk.
- Stumbling in a presentation but impressing with fresh ideas.
- Proving grit by making street-level sales.
- Earning executive praise for reframing a stalled project.
Watching those turns felt familiar—how small, steady “stones” can reshape the board.
💡 Lessons in Being Underestimated
Misaeng reminded me: being underestimated is not a verdict. It’s a starting position from which patient, thoughtful moves can rewrite the game.
I don’t have stellar academic credentials, and I faced criticism for this in a job before corporate. That’s why I relate so much to Jang Geu-rae—someone who just wants a chance. And I’m grateful to mentors who let me make mistakes, redeem myself, and grow into roles I didn’t initially trust myself with.
So if you’re underestimated at work, focus on small wins that build credibility over time.
👥 Hiring Beyond Honors
As a hiring manager, I’m rarely impressed by honors or exam placements alone. What matters more is how you approached the work:
- Did you choose discomfort, like working while studying?
- Did you own mistakes and fix them?
- Did you design a process that outlived you, rescue a failing project, or take the unpopular path for a greater purpose?
The people who thrive are those who can sit with discomfort, learn fast, and shape outcomes—one steady move at a time. That’s the chance I was given, and it’s the chance I try to give others. 🌱
♟️ Baduk as a Lens for Work
What fascinated me most was how the series uses Baduk as a metaphor for both career and corporate culture. In Baduk, stones are placed on intersections to surround territory. Success isn’t about one flashy move—it’s about patient expansions, solid shape, and foresight. Sometimes you even sacrifice a stone to gain larger influence elsewhere.
That mindset—strategic patience, foresight, and knowing when to withdraw—is pure corporate survival.
🔄 Sacrificing Stones in Real Life
In my own journey, I’ve had to “sacrifice stones”:
- Step back from projects I loved to align with shifting priorities.
- Let others present so they could grow.
- Wait for the right moment to voice unconventional ideas, knowing timing matters.
Misaeng validated those instincts. Real progress often comes from quiet, steady moves that improve shape and secure territory—not dramatic lunges.
Leadership, like Baduk, is about reading the board, staying patient, and valuing influence over impulse.
🌸 Slow Change, Sweet Change
Eventually, Jang Geu-rae’s patience earned him a fair evaluation as a permanent employee candidate. But acceptance didn’t come right away.
Such is the reality of our own corporate environments. Change is slow but it’s the patient, deliberate moves that carve lasting influence. ♟️
👉 If you enjoyed this review, you might also like my reflections on another drama starring Yim Si‑wan:
Run On: Life, Leadership, and Love Lessons from a Light K-Drama
References
[1] Misaeng: Incomplete Life overview (tvN, 2014)
[2] American Go E-Journal – Go Spotting: Misaeng
[3] Netflix episode summaries
[4] IMDb episode note
[5] Community list on Netflix departure
[6] Korea Baduk Association – Basic rules
