Songgot: The Piercer
Songgot: The Piercer (Korean: 송곳) is a South Korean television drama series that aired on JTBC from October 24 to November 29, 2015. The 12-episode series was directed by Kim Suk-Yoon and written by Lee Nam-Kyu and Kim Soo-Jin. The drama is based on the webcomic Songgot by Choi Kyu-Seok, which began serialization in 2013.
Plot
The story follows Lee Soo-In, a man known for his rigid adherence to principles. After completing his military service, he secures a position at a large retail market. The narrative centers on a conflict that arises when his superiors order him to terminate the contracts of temporary employees. Refusing to comply with what he perceives as an unjust directive, Lee Soo-In joins a labor union to support the workers in their struggle against unfair dismissal.
Background
The series is adapted from a webcomic that draws inspiration from actual events that occurred in July 2007 at an E-Mart retail store in South Korea. The real-world incident involved the mass dismissal of temporary cashiers, which triggered a prolonged labor dispute and a sit-in protest that lasted for 510 days.
Production
The production team, including director Kim Suk-Yoon and screenwriters Kim Soo-Jin and Lee Nam-Kyu, had previously collaborated on the 2004–2005 KBS drama Old Miss Diary, which also featured lead actor Ji Hyun-Woo. The series is noted for its thematic connection to other works exploring labor rights in South Korean media, such as the 2014 film Cart.
Cast
The series features an ensemble cast, including:
- Ji Hyun-Woo as Lee Soo-In
- Ahn Nae-Sang as Goo Go-Shin
- Hyun Woo as Joo Gang-Min
- Yesung as Hwang Joon-Chul
- Park Si-Hwan as Nam Dong-Hyub
