Branding in Seongsu (2024) Episode 1

Feb 16, 2024

A scene of meeting sets the stage for Branding in Seongsu Episode 1. Based on what we understand, Na-eon has a meeting scheduled with her client, the CEO of XU Beauty. Unfortunately, her colleague deliberately sabotages her meeting preparations by failing to notify her in advance. Consequently, Na-eon is late to the meeting by 45 minutes.

Following this, Na-eon’s tardiness irks the CEO. But in all, it takes her just three minutes to lay out her marketing pitch and win over the CEO with her rebranding expertise. Additionally, she contacts her celebrity client, who has a criminal record. He can tell her client values her abilities because he shows up right away to see her. Thanks to Na-eon’s marketing savvy, her client’s reputation has been restored, as we find out. The CEO then takes her on a stroll to finalise the terms of the contract.

The chief executive officer wants to launch his business in a repurposed shoe factory. Furthermore, there are claims that his brand is not eco-friendly and that his products have undergone animal testing.

Even though Eun-ho is an intern at Seongsu, we catch a glimpse of him at the shoe factory protest. Despite his position as an intern at Seongsu, he supports the protesters. In the end, this gets him into trouble, as his coworkers assure him that he will probably be assigned to the worst team, even though he survives the internship.

We are transported into the past, and we learn that Eun-ho and Na-eon knew each other. We witness her advising him that his ethics aren’t an asset to the marketing industry, where he hopes to find work. Nonetheless, he appears adamant about his ability to bring about change.

As the episode comes to a close, we witness Eun-ho’s coworkers in the cafeteria discussing whether or not Eun-ho and Na-eon are having an affair. The episode ends shortly after Na-eon calls Eun-ho and requests that they meet at a hotel.

The Episode Review

In the pilot, we meet Na-eon, our ambitious and fearless protagonist. Her negotiation and persuasion skills, as well as her “getting the job done” mentality, are introduced. Besides that, we get to know the interns who are helping out around the office. We also witness Na-eon land a difficult client.

Taken as a whole, the episode’s plot is interesting, engaging, and teases a romance in the workplace. However, the editing, cinematography, and transitions all look quite shabby, and the plot is muddled. We are only one episode in, so there is still time for the show to improve. So, we’ll have to wait for the next episodes to find out how the plot develops.