Race (레이스) is the latest K-drama addition to Disney+ Hotstar’s catalogue of Korean content, and it has been directed by Lee Dong-yoon and written by Kim Roo-ri. Starring Lee Yeon-hee as Park Yoon-jo, Moon So-ri as Goo Yi-jung, Hong Jong-hyun as Ryu Jae-min, Jung Yun-ho (TVXQ’s Yunho) as Seo Dong-hoon in the titular roles, the workplace drama premiered on May 10, 2023, with its first 2 episodes.
Race Episode 1 has a runtime of 55 minutes.
The closer-to-life workplace dramedy and its fun ensemble follow Park Yoon-jo’s drive and professionalism at a PR agency. Despite not pursuing a formal education, her undeterred work ethic is her biggest strength. After landing a job at a Korean conglomerate, she believes that she’s finally on her way to achieve great things until the truth of her employment is revealed and brings her down again. Nevertheless, she keeps treading on the same path, charting a journey to prove she’s right where she belongs and deserves to be. Yoon-jo’s Race will stand as a testament that hustling through hardships does make a difference and that one’s worth can’t be defined by their CV.
– Race Episode 1 Review Contains Spoilers –
Race Episode 1 Recap
Employed under a small agency, Yoon-jo works hard to prepare for a party with a retro ’90s theme. It eventually turns out to be a bummer since only most of her acquaintances and their extended contacts turn up for the event, with none of the target audience making it. Since people across all age groups join the party, a brawl breaks out between youngsters trying to watch a movie as planned and the middle-aged attendees who’re louder than needed and turn the whole thing into their drinking fest.
After the event, Yoon-jo cools off at her friend’s bar, where they talk about her other friend, Jae-min, who also works in the PR department but at a much more dignified and renowned conglomerate compared to Yoon-jo who works at a small agency – PR Joa. While Jae-min seems like the kind of person whose not too thrilled about his work but keeps submitting to his job as it makes up a part of his daily routine, Yoon-jo is more driven. They’re in two different places, considering their office locations, mental space, and acceptance of their job.
Nevertheless, despite their existing at crossroads from each other, they both end up being dragged in for work on the weekend. Yoon-jo also has to face a crisis when one of her company’s subordinates fails to follow her lead. The tag of her graduation from Seoul National University doesn’t make it easier for Yoon-jo, who’s never attended university, to establish her commanding presence.
Getting beat by the rookie in her early 20s, the complex comes back to bite her again as she addresses the issue with her mother later. However, the same discussion takes her back in time, reminding her how hard she’s had to work to get where she is, especially since she started working in her 20s.
Meanwhile, Jae-min grapples with new work-related headlines that could drag their company through the mud. Pulling strings and contacts, he deals with the situation while working under these higher-ups as Seyong prepares for bidding presentations from other companies, PR Joa included. As the scenario pans out, Jae-min is already aware that things won’t work out for Yoon-jo’s agency, but seeing how hard his friend is preparing for the presentation, he can’t help but pull her out to blow off some steam and take a breath.
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Soon, a new character is introduced as Seo Dong-hoon, the leading face of yet another PR agency Earth Comm. His first meet-cute with Yoon-jo is disastrous, but at least he comes across as a gentleman. Bringing his bicycle on the side walk in a rush while Yoon-jo buys a coffee before stepping in, his swift arrival on the scene takes her by surprise, causing her to spill the entire drink on her outfit. He hands out his card to her and earnestly apologises while promising to make it up to her later some time.
Race Episode 1 Ending
Eventually, the two meet inside, along with Jae-min, who welcomes them. At this point, Yoon-jo officially introduces herself to the man she met by handing out her business card. Jae-min can’t help but be intrigued by their exchange. Before her presentation, PR Joa’s CEO lays out the cards on the table and reveals that the bidding is just a show being put up by Seyong, and they’ve already picked their choice as Earth Comm.
Yet she also encourages her to do her best since even merry presenting in front of Seyong is a big deal for them, which means that it’s more than a show for them at least. It then hits Yoon-jo that Jae-min may have known the truth all along, and her expressions are loud enough to speak of her realisation to him as well. Before you know it, the distance between the two middle school friends grows larger than it appears to the mere eye.
Race Episode 1 Review
The first episode itself draws out an accurate picture of the themes being dealt with by the new series. It sensitises us to the idea that a ‘Race’ constitutes a ruthless competition, not a fantasy. Therefore, leading with its life-like set-up and theme, the series introduces us to two equally relatable characters. If Yoon-jo hopes to climb the social ladder higher, her dear friend, Jae-min, has already attained a reputable stance in work life, but it equally stresses him out to complete his mundane responsibilities of day-to-day life.
If, through Yoon-jo, we get an idea of how hard it is to hustle and make it to the top, then through Jae-min we understand that even after making it big in life, not everything gets handed to you on a silver plate. And then, the social ladder itself comes to life as it places endless hurdles in the way of someone trying hard to rise higher. By bringing the concept of work-life balance and other such terminology, Race presents a realistic view of the workplace scenario without romanticising it like many other K-drama precedents have done before.
While the divide between two among the four leading characters has barely been laid down in the first episode, we’re still waiting to see Moon So-ri’s character add a new texture to the story. It’ll be quite interesting to see if the upcoming episodes will also end up slipping into the usual archetype build-up of a love triangle or not.
Race is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
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