Scene 2: Day One in the Executive Office

The new assistant reports to her boss for the first time — and recognises the man from the lobby.

The assistant
오늘부터 본부장님 비서로 일하게 됐습니다.
Starting today, I'll be working as your assistant, sir.
hapsyo (formal)
The heir
아침에 커피 쏟은 그분이네요.
You're the one who spilled coffee this morning.
haeyo (polite)
The assistant
네? 본부장님이셨습니까?
Pardon? That was you, sir?
hapsyo (formal)
The heir
앉으세요. 오늘 일정부터 보고하세요.
Have a seat. Start with today's schedule.
haeyo (polite)
The assistant
오전 10시에 기획 회의가 있습니다.
There's a planning meeting at 10 a.m.
hapsyo (formal)
The assistant
오후 3시에는 해외 투자자 미팅입니다.
At 3 p.m. you're meeting overseas investors.
hapsyo (formal)
The heir
회의 자료는 30분 전까지 올려 주세요.
Send me the meeting materials 30 minutes before.
haeyo (polite)
The assistant
알겠습니다. 바로 준비하겠습니다.
Understood. I'll prepare them right away.
hapsyo (formal)

Vocabulary

Korean	English	Note
본부장	division head (executive title)	With 님 when you address him: 본부장님.
비서	assistant, secretary	본부장님 비서 = the division head's assistant.
일정	schedule	오늘 일정 = today's schedule.
보고하다	to report	The word for briefing a superior.
기획 회의	planning meeting	기획 = planning.
투자자	investor	해외 투자자 = overseas investors.
자료	materials, documents	회의 자료 = meeting materials.

Speech-level and title notes

본부장님 = the title 본부장 + the honorific 님. In Korean offices you address people by title, not by name, and never with 당신 ("you"), which would sound rude to a boss.

For a work report the assistant switches to the formal -습니다 / -ㅂ니까 style (hapsyo). It is the register of briefings, announcements and the news.

The boss answers in haeyo, not banmal. Some bosses drop to banmal with juniors, but a polite one keeps -요 with a new staff member, especially on day one.

본부장님이셨습니까 = 이다 (to be) + honorific -시- + past -었- + formal question ending. The honorific raises him, the person she is talking about and to.

Quiz

Original dialogue inspired by genre tropes — not show scripts. AI-assisted.