Office (2015 South Korean film)

Lore & Background

The film follows detective Choi Jong-hun as he investigates why employee Kim Byeong-guk killed his family with a hammer and then targets his co-workers. After the crime, Kim returns to his office but is not seen leaving on camera, leading police to suspect he remains in the building. The company obstructs the police investigation to protect its reputation. Intern Lee Mi-rye, who was the only person kind to Kim, becomes a central figure as the killings continue.

Reader's Guide

Office is significant as the directorial debut of Hong Won-chan, premiering at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival's Midnight Screenings section. The film explores themes of workplace alienation and psychological pressure, with an ambiguous ending that leaves it unclear whether Mi-rye or Kim Byeong-guk kills the other employees. The narrative shifts focus to Mi-rye, an intern with poor social skills who feels overlooked, and reveals that Kim gave her a kitchen knife. Her neighbor describes her as a ticking time bomb in a trance-like state. The film's legacy lies in its tense, claustrophobic atmosphere and its critique of corporate culture, though it does not resolve the central mystery of who committed the murders.

Did You Know?

• The plot leaves it unclear whether intern Lee Mi-rye or employee Kim Byeong-guk kills the other employees.
• Kim Byeong-guk gave a kitchen knife to Lee Mi-rye before his death.
• The company blocks police work to avoid association with the murders.