7th Grade Civil Servant (Korean: 7급 공무원; Hanja: 七級 公務員; RR: 7geup Gongmuwon; MR: 7kŭp Kongmuwŏn) is a 2013 South Korean television series starring Choi Kang-hee and Joo Won as rookie spies who trained together, and later become NIS agents who must hide their real identities from each other even as they fall in love.[1][2][3][4][5][6] It aired on MBC from January 23 to March 28, 2013, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 (KST) for 20 episodes.[7]
| 7th Grade Civil Servant | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for 7th Grade Civil Servant | |
| Also known as | Level 7 Civil Servant Class 7 Civil Servant |
| Hangul | 7급 공무원 |
| Hanja | 七級 公務員 |
| Revised Romanization | 7geup Gongmuwon |
| McCune–Reischauer | 7kŭp Kongmuwŏn |
| Genre | |
| Based on | My Girlfriend Is an Agent by Chun Sung-il |
| Written by | Chun Sung-il |
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | |
| Composer | Park Se-jun |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Park Hong-gyun |
| Producer | Kim Jung-hwan |
| Production locations |
|
| Cinematography |
|
| Editor | Lee Taek-joo |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | MBC TV |
| Release | January 23 – March 28, 2013 |
| Related | |
| My Girlfriend Is an Agent (2009) | |
The series is a remake of the 2009 film My Girlfriend Is An Agent.[8] Early working titles were "Secret Agent War" and "The Secret Lovers".[9][10]
Plot
editLove and espionage collide in this drama of the National Intelligence Service's rookie agents. Han Gil-ro (Joo Won) realizes his dream of becoming an international man of mystery, after a childhood spent poring over James Bond films. Kim Seo-won (Choi Kang-hee) spices things up as a goofy, yet determined agent, but it's not all 007 glamor. Both Gil-ro and Seo-won must learn what it takes to uphold their sworn duty, even at the sacrifice of their happiness — and lives.
Cast
edit- Choi Kang-hee as Kim Seo-won / Kim Kyung-ja[11]
- Joo Won as Han Gil-ro / Han Pil-hoon[12][13][14][15][16][17]
- Hwang Chan-sung as Gong Do-ha[18][19]
- Kim Min-seo as Shin Sun-mi
- Ahn Nae-sang as Kim Won-seok
- Jang Young-nam as Jang Young-soon
- Kim Soo-hyun as Kim Mi-rae
- Lim Yoon-ho as JJ / Choi Woo-jin
- Dokgo Young-jae as Han Joo-man, Gil-ro's father
- Im Ye-jin as Go Soo-ja, Gil-ro's mother
- Lee Han-wi as Kim Pan-seok, Seo-won's father
- Kim Mi-kyung as Oh Mak-nae, Seo-won's mother
- Noh Young-hak as Kim Min-ho, Seo-won's younger brother
- Choi Jong-hwan as Oh Kwang-jae
- Ha Shi-eun as Jin-joo
- Son Jin-young as Kim Poong-eon
- Lee El as Park Soo-young
- Jung In-gi as Kim Sung-joon
- Seo Seung-man as IT&TI manager
- Lee Hye-eun as Won-seok's wife
- Uhm Tae-woong as Choi Woo-hyuk (guest appearance, Ep. 1–4)
Reception
edit| Episode # | Original broadcast date | Average audience share | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TNmS Ratings (%)[20] | AGB Nielsen (%)[21] | ||||
| Nationwide | Seoul National Capital Area | Nationwide | Seoul National Capital Area | ||
| 1 | January 23, 2013 | 12.8% | 15.6% | 12.7% | 14.6% |
| 2 | January 24, 2013 | 14.0% | 16.0% | 14.5% | 16.9% |
| 3 | January 30, 2013 | 16.0% | 18.1% | 15.9% | 18.1% |
| 4 | January 31, 2013 | 15.8% | 18.8% | 15.2% | 17.2% |
| 5 | February 6, 2013 | 17.1% | 20.1% | 16.0% | 17.7% |
| 6 | February 7, 2013 | 14.9% | 16.8% | 14.3% | 16.0% |
| 7 | February 13, 2013 | 13.3% | 14.0% | 12.7% | 13.3% |
| 8 | February 14, 2013 | 13.8% | 15.1% | 12.1% | 13.2% |
| 9 | February 20, 2013 | 12.6% | 12.9% | 12.5% | 13.8% |
| 10 | February 21, 2013 | 12.4% | 13.1% | 11.4% | 12.5% |
| 11 | February 27, 2013 | 11.8% | 13.2% | 10.0% | 10.7% |
| 12 | February 28, 2013 | 11.0% | 11.8% | 10.6% | 11.8% |
| 13 | March 6, 2013 | 10.0% | 10.6% | 9.2% | 10.8% |
| 14 | March 7, 2013 | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.9% | 10.8% |
| 15 | March 13, 2013 | 8.8% | 9.3% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| 16 | March 14, 2013 | 9.0% | 8.8% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 17 | March 20, 2013 | 9.3% | 10.9% | 9.8% | 10.9% |
| 18 | March 21, 2013 | 9.5% | 10.8% | 8.4% | 9.0% |
| 19 | March 27, 2013 | 7.9% | 8.4% | 7.5% | 7.7% |
| 20 | March 28, 2013 | 9.0% | 9.4% | 8.4% | 8.6% |
| Average | 12.0% | 13.2% | 11.4% | 12.6% | |
Original soundtrack
edit| 7th Grade Civil Servant OST | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various Artists | |
| Released | March 6, 2013 |
| Genre | Pop, K-pop, soundtrack, R&B |
| Label | Pony Canyon Korea |
Part 1
edit| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "너에게 가는 길" (My Way to You) | Junho featuring Taecyeon | 3:25 |
| 2. | "너에게 가는 길" (Inst.) | Junho featuring Taecyeon | 3:25 |
| Total length: | 6:50 | ||
Part 2
edit| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3. | "꽃이 핀다" (Flowers Bloom) | Park Ji-heon of V.O.S | 4:09 |
| 4. | "Stranger" | Big Baby Driver | 2:34 |
| 5. | "꽃이 핀다" (Inst.) | Park Ji-heon of V.O.S | 4:09 |
| 6. | "Stranger" (Inst.) | Big Baby Driver | 2:34 |
| Total length: | 13:26 | ||
Part 3
edit| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | "I'll Be There for You" | Hanbyul (Led Apple) | 4:14 |
| 8. | "말하지 그랬어" (You Should've Told Me) | SpinEL (스피넬) | 4:50 |
| 9. | "I'll Be There for You" (Inst.) | Hanbyul (Led Apple) | 4:14 |
| 10. | "말하지 그랬어" (Inst.) | SpinEL (스피넬) | 4:50 |
| Total length: | 18:08 | ||
Part 4
edit| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8. | "어떡해" (What To Do?) | Melody Day | 3:48 |
| 9. | "사랑할 줄 몰라서" (Don't Know How to Love) | Ash Gray | 2:52 |
| 10. | "어떡해" (Inst.) | Melody Day | 3:48 |
| 11. | "사랑할 줄 몰라서" (Inst.) | Ash Gray | 2:52 |
| Total length: | 13:20 | ||
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular Actor (TV) | Hwang Chan-sung | Nominated |
| Most Popular Actress (TV) | Choi Kang-hee | Nominated | ||
| MBC Drama Awards[22][unreliable source?] | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Choi Kang-hee | Nominated | |
| Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Joo Won | Won |
International broadcast
edit- Japan: Aired on KNTV beginning March 30, 2013.[23]
- Indonesia: Aired on B-Channel beginning April 3, 2013.[citation needed]
- Malaysia: Aired on TV9 beginning October 9, 2013.
- Thailand: Aired on Workpoint TV beginning December 18, 2013.
- Philippines: Aired on Net 25 beginning February 3, 2014.
- Singapore: Aired on VV Drama beginning June 20, 2015. Also aired on Channel U beginning April 9, 2016.
References
edit- ^ Ho, Stewart (November 20, 2012). "Joo Won, Choi Kang Hee, 2PM's Chansung and Others Hold First Reading for 7th Grade Civil Servant". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ Lee, Hye-jin (November 20, 2012). "Joo Won, 2PM Chansung Attend 1st Reading of New Drama". 10Asia. Retrieved January 19, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Joo Won begins filming for 7th Level Civil Servant". Korea Star Daily via Yahoo!. November 28, 2012. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ "7th Level Civil Servant releases stills of Choi Kang Hee meeting Joo Won for the first time". Korea Star Daily via Yahoo!. December 11, 2012. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ Ho, Stewart (December 13, 2012). "Joo Won, Choi Kang Hee Film Their First Scene for 7th Grade Civil Servant". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ "Choi Kang Hee gives Joo Won a beat down on Level 7 Civil Servant". Korea Star Daily via Yahoo!. January 16, 2013. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ Kim, Hyun Rok (February 21, 2013). "My Girlfriend is an Agent records the second highest audience rating". Star News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Oh, Jean (February 3, 2013). "Feels like you've seen it before?: Box office hits like My Sassy Girl coming to the small screen". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ^ Lee, Hye-ji (October 23, 2012). "Choi Kang-hee, Joo Won Readying for Battle of Love". 10Asia. Retrieved January 19, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Sunwoo, Carla (May 25, 2012). "Lee Dong-gun to return to K-dramas". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ An, So-hyoun (January 22, 2013). "Choi Kang Hee Says She was Shocked by Joo Won′s Looks". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ "Actor Joo Won confirmed for MBC TV drama Secret Battle of Man and Woman". Korea Star Daily via Yahoo!. October 1, 2012. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ "Joo Won praises his Level 7 Civil Servant co-star Choi Kang Hee". Korea Star Daily via Yahoo!. January 16, 2013. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ An, So-hyoun (January 22, 2013). "Joo Won and Choi Kang Hee Are Close Despite Age Gap". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ "JOO Won's Interview". MBC Global Media. February 15, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
- ^ Ko, Hong-ju (April 10, 2013). "Joo Won Chooses Choi Kang Hee of 7th Grade Civil Servant as His Best Partner". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on June 12, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ Ko, Hong-ju (April 21, 2013). "Interview: Joo Won Talks about His Three Years of Growth". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
- ^ Ho, Stewart (October 31, 2012). "2PM Chansung Joins Joo Won, Choi Kang Hee for Story of a Secret Man, Woman". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ Lee, Hye-ji (December 6, 2012). "2PM Chansung to Go Wild in New TV Series' Thailand Set". 10Asia. Retrieved January 19, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "TNMS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNMS Ratings (in Korean). Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ "Live Updates: Winners of the 2013 MBC Drama Awards". Soompi. December 30, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ Lee, Sun-min (March 13, 2013). "MBC drama to air in Japan". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
External links
edit- 7th Grade Civil Servant official MBC website (in Korean)
- 7th Grade Civil Servant at HanCinema
- 7th Grade Civil Servant at IMDb
- Level 7 Civil Servant at MBC Global Media