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 10 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 10 Review Contains Spoilers –
Race Episode 10 Recap
Race episode 10 starts with the protein powder debacle and Yoon-jo and Eun-jeong getting an earful from Yi-jung. She asks for a report from them and threatens to disband the team if she learns that everyone was in on it. Later, a frantic Jae-min learns from Chul-jun that the company might just blame Yoon-jo again for this mess since her name was on everything, even though Ji-hyo was the one who took the call.
Either way, Yi-jung is pulled into a meeting with Gu-young and Ji-hyeon, wherein Yi-jung agrees to her part in the mess that the PR team created and agrees to take responsibility for it. Gu-young is pleased with the conversation and immediately starts to rope Su-hwan in for the CSO position, but Yeon-soo tries to push for Byung-man in his place. Inside the room, Ji-hyeon is frustrated at the declaration of war from the VP’s side. Meanwhile, Yoon-jo’s frustration steadily grows as she wonders what to write in the incident report, and Jae-min comes to know that there is a larger conspiracy in the works surrounding the protein powder.
That night at Seyong, Yoon-jo gets some good unsolicited advice from Sun-tae, who tells her that she should save herself since no one cares about her in the company and then she is joined by Jae-min, who gives her a shoulder to rant on, after which he is left enamoured by her eventually leading to a rather awkward conversation.
Also Read: Race Episode 9 Recap and Review: Incorrect and Immoral Decisions Galore
The next day at work, Byung-man tries to give an already on-edge Yi-jung unsolicited advice about the R&I Project, even going as far as to tell her to shut it down since she “clearly can’t take care of herself”. Having had her patience tested first thing in the morning, Yi-jung tells him to mind his own business and eviscerates him in front of Young-ho. After she leaves, though, Byung-man is convinced that he said what needed to be said, and things will turn once he becomes CSO.
Meanwhile, Sun-tae is appalled to learn that Jin-seo wants to push the blame on the PR team and advises him to also pull out of the mess as well. However, Sun-tae takes his team’s side and refuses to budge from a collective stand. That night, Yoon-jo visits Earth Comm to meet Dong-hoon and discuss Ang’s Bakery. However, before that, they have a rather sweet scene with Dong-hoon overeating sushi after Yoon-jo brings some in for them.
On the other hand, Jae-min gets an interesting phone call from the employee at the warehouse while Hye-young gets the opportunity to look over the two ingredient lists for the same product. After a tearful conversation with Ji-hyo, Yoon-jo decides to take all the blame on herself for the debacle, leaving Yi-jung disappointed in her and putting her on probation. Just as she is about to leave, Eun-jeong and Sun-tae barge in and tell Yi-jung everything – that the PR team and the sales team were all in it together and that it is a strategy that has been implemented plenty of times before.
Yoon-jo is touched by the sudden camaraderie and shares her feelings about the incident with Dong-hoon later on. After sharing a rather sweet evening drinking with him, Yoon-jo calls up Jae-min, who tells her that he has come to a driving range to talk to Dong-kyun, the owner of PF, Seyong’s protein powder supplier. From him, they both learn that Cho Jin-seo’s brother-in-law is PF’s president. The realisation leaves them both shocked. He also tells Chul-jun about the entire conspiracy later on, which leaves him equally shocked.
Race Episode 10 Ending
The next day at Seyong, Yi-jung instructs Jae-min to complete the R&I Project on priority and promises to see it through even if she leaves. Meanwhile, Hye-young gets ready to publish the truth about Seyong and its protein powder and decides to give Jae-min a heads-up before it is published. When the truth finally reaches the internet, it makes Ji-hyeon scream at Yi-jung to get things done. Sun-tae also screams at Jae-min when he realises that the reporter is his friend.
This news also reaches Yeon-soo and Byung-man, and the latter suggests pushing the blame on Yoon-jo and Jae-min. As the disciplinary hearing gets scheduled, Yoon-jo and Jae-min face Byung-man and Yeon-soo.
Race Episode 10 Review
I guess this episode is a bit more thrilling and gives us some nice camaraderie to look at in the PR team. Dong-hoon’s character, although cute as a button, is just there to look cool in front of Yoon-jo and pine for her. At least Jae-min does something more than that.
I don’t know, guys – although there is a lot going on in episode 10, I think the engagement is rather less in the series, especially now that we are towards the end. There is some direction in the last few episodes, it seems, but the rather lack of anything concrete previously has taken away the little interest I had in the series.
At least Dong-hoon falling on a rose bush in last week’s episode was something to fawn over.
Race is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.