Kkondae Intern

Kkondae Intern (Korean: 꼰대인턴) is a South Korean television series that aired on MBC from May 20 to July 1, 2020. The series, which consists of 24 episodes, was broadcast in the Wednesday and Thursday 21:00 time slot. It follows the professional and personal dynamics within a corporate environment, specifically focusing on the reversal of roles between a former subordinate and his past superior.

Plot

The story centers on Ka Yeol-Chan, played by Park Hae-Jin, who faced significant hardship early in his career due to his manager, Lee Man-Shik. Lee was a "kkondae"—a term used in South Korea to describe a rigid, older individual who imposes outdated, authoritarian values on others. Due to this difficult work environment, Ka Yeol-Chan resigned from his first job.

Years later, Ka Yeol-Chan has achieved professional success as the head of the sales and marketing department at a ramen company, where he is known for his innovative planning and aggressive marketing strategies. The power dynamic shifts unexpectedly when Lee Man-Shik joins the company as a senior intern, placing him under the direct supervision of his former subordinate.

Production

The series was directed by Nam Sung-Woo and written by Shin So-Ra. The first script reading for the production took place on February 8, 2020. The drama occupied the MBC time slot previously held by Find Me in Your Memory and was succeeded by She Knows Everything on July 8, 2020.

Cast

The main cast features Park Hae-Jin as Ka Yeol-Chan and Kim Eung-Soo as the senior intern Lee Man-Shik. The supporting cast includes Han Ji-Eun, Park Ki-Woong, and Park Ah-In, among others, portraying various roles within the fictional Joonsu Food company.