Wikipedia

A Virtuous Business

A Virtuous Business (Korean: 정숙한 세일즈) is a 2024 South Korean comedy drama television series written by Choi Bo-rim, directed by Jo Woong, and starring Kim So-yeon, Yeon Woo-jin, Kim Sung-ryung, Kim Sun-young, and Lee Se-hee. The series is a remake of the 2016 British television series Brief Encounters by Oriane Messina and Fay Rusling. Set in the 1990s and tells the story of women who make door-to-door sales about adult products. It aired on JTBC from October 12, to November 17, 2024, every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.

A Virtuous Business
Promotional poster
Hangul
정숙한 세일즈
Hanja
貞淑한 세일즈
Literal meaningVirtuous Sales
Revised RomanizationJeongsukan seiljeu
McCune–ReischauerChŏngsuk'an seilchŭ
GenreComedy drama
Based on
Brief Encounters
by
Written byChoi Bo-rim
Directed byJo Woong
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes12
Production
Running time70 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkJTBC
ReleaseOctober 12 (2024-10-12) –
November 17, 2024 (2024-11-17)
Related
Brief Encounters (2016)

Synopsis

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A Virtuous Business follows the independence, growth, and friendship of the four Bangpan Sisters who jump into door-to-door sales of adult products in a rural village in 1992, a time when sex was still a taboo.

Cast and characters

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A Virtuous Business main cast at the press conference on October 11, 2024

Main

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A housewife who lives a virtuous life. She elected as the Geumje Chili Lady "Jin" with her bright beauty, married her husband, her first date, and led a modest and passive life. However, she is unable to buy her only son a new bag and worries about monthly rent arouses her. When she jumps into door-to-door sales of foreign adult products to make money on her own, she discovers the natural talent of a marketer she did not know she had.
An American-style detective who lived in the United States. He grew up in a wealthy family and graduated from a prestigious Ivy League school, returns to Korea and is promoted quickly through special promotions at Gangnam Police Station but for some reason, he is transferred to Geumje Police Station.
The elegant brain of the Bangpan Sisters. She graduated from Ewha Womans University who grew up well-mannered and called a lady back then. However, she is currently spending her free days in Geumje, the hometown of her husband whom she married through her family's arrangement.
A mother of four children who has a wonderful relationship with her husband. She jumps into door-to-door sales to somehow provide separate rooms for her children. She also plays the role of licorice that makes the Bangpan Sisters laugh by turning even extreme situations into humor.
A single mother raising her son alone and Geum-je's "it girl". She runs a beauty salon and wins the hearts of men who send her sly glances for enjoying unconventional clothes with her smiling face and cute speech. At first, she enters door-to-door sales thinking that it is an interesting event in her boring daily life, but she grows up to become the brash youngest who wakes up her sisters with a lively fact bomber who is not frustrated under any circumstances.

Supporting

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Geum-hee's blunt kkondae husband.
Jeong-suk's unfaithful fighter husband.
Young-bok's loving but incompetent husband
Jeong-suk's mother
Son of a wealthy real estate agent who the townspeople can't stand, but he is a reckless person who works part-time at the town pharmacy.
  • Park Ok-chul as a local supermarket owner[2]
  • Kim Sun-mi as a rice shop owner[2]
A hardware store owner who is one of the Anti Sisters fighting against Bangpan Sisters.
The one who led the Anti Sisters who is called Madam Bokdeokpang.

Special appearance

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CEO of Fantasy Lingerie, a company that sells adult products door-to-door by Bangpan Sisters.

Production

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In March 2024, Kim So-yeon, Lee Se-hee, Kim Sung-ryung, and Kim Sun-young were reportedly cast as the four female leads of the series.[10][11][12][13]

In May 2024, Yeon Woo-jin was reportedly cast as the male lead of the series.[14]

In July 2024, the five actors were officially confirmed to lead the series. Directed by Jo Woong, written by Choi Bo-rim, provided by SLL, and co-produced by HighZium Studio and 221b.[15]

Release

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JTBC announced that A Virtuous Business is scheduled to air in the second half of 2024.[15] The series was confirmed to be broadcast on October 12, 2024, and would air every Saturday and Sunday.[16] It is also available to stream on Netflix in selected regions.[17]

Viewership

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A Virtuous Business : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
123456789101112
10.8331.0161.0141.2891.1241.3021.1261.3020.9951.3551.2711.8981.210
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[18]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[18]
Nationwide Seoul
1 October 12, 2024 3.862% (1st) 3.996% (1st)
2 October 13, 2024 4.544% (1st) 4.676% (1st)
3 October 19, 2024 4.632% (1st) 5.101% (1st)
4 October 20, 2024 5.924% (1st) 6.495% (1st)
5 October 26, 2024 5.070% (1st) 5.559% (1st)
6 October 27, 2024 6.035% (1st) 6.188% (1st)
7 November 2, 2024 4.834% (1st) 5.091% (1st)
8 November 3, 2024 5.576% (1st) 5.664% (1st)
9 November 9, 2024 4.393% (1st) 5.027% (1st)
10 November 10, 2024 5.950% (1st) 6.015% (1st)
11 November 16, 2024 5.725% (1st) 5.846% (1st)
12 November 17, 2024 8.580% (1st) 9.077% (1st)
Average 5.377% 5.391%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • This drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS).

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Hwang, So-young (July 25, 2024). 김소연·연우진·김성령·김선영·이세희 '정숙한 세일즈' 출연 [Kim So-yeon, Yeon Woo-jin, Kim Sung-ryung, Kim Sun-young, and Lee Se-hee to Appear in 'Virtuous Sales'] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Oh, Seung-hyun (September 6, 2024). '성인용품 판매' 김소연→김성령, 연습도 핫하네...'풍기문란' 연기 차력쇼 (정숙한 세일즈) ['Adult Product Sales' Kim So-yeon → Kim Sung-ryung, Even Practice Is Hot...'Immorality' Acting Power Show (Virtuous Sales)] (in Korean). Xports News. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  3. ^ Kim, Hyun-rok (September 9, 2024). 김소연, 성인용품 판매 뛰어든다...최재림, 또 문제적 남편('정숙한 세일즈') [Kim So-yeon, Jumps into Adult Product Sales...Choi Jae-rim, Another Problematic Husband ('Quiet Sales')] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Son, Bong-suk (September 25, 2024). 배우 임철수, '정숙한 세일즈' 다정하지만 무능한 남편 박종선 역 출연 [Actor Im Chul-soo to appear in 'Virtuous Sales' as affectionate but incompetent husband. Park Jong-sun] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  5. ^ Hwang, So-young (September 6, 2024). '소년시대' 김정진, '정숙한 세일즈' 출연..김소연과 호흡 ['Boyhood' Kim Jung-jin, 'Virtuous Sales' appearance..Working with Kim So-yeon] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Son, Bong-suk (September 13, 2024). 배우 주인영, '정숙한 세일즈' 철물 역 낙점 [Actor Joo In-young, selected as the role of ironware in 'Virtuous Sales'] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  7. ^ Son, Bong-suk (September 24, 2024). 배우 우현주, '정숙한 세일즈' 조순애 역 낙점 [Actress Woo Hyun-joo, selected as Jo Soon-ae in 'Virtuous Sales'] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  8. ^ 정영주, 김소연 란제리에 '동공지진'...풍기문란 결사반대 (정숙한 세일즈) [Jung Young-joo, Kim So-yeon's lingerie 'earthquake'...Strong opposition to indecency (Virtuous Sales)] (in Korean). Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  9. ^ Ryu, Ye-ji (September 13, 2024). 라미란, 성인용품 사업 시작했다..."성생활에 관심 有, 누릴 권리 있어"('정숙한 세일즈') [Ra Mi-ran, Started Adult Products Business..."I'm Interested in Sex Life, I Have the Right to Enjoy It" ('Virtuous Sales')] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  10. ^ Kim, Ye-eun (March 15, 2024). [단독] '대상 배우' 돌아온다...김소연, '정숙한 세일즈' 주인공 [[Exclusive] 'Grand Prize Actor' Returns...Kim So-yeon, 'Virtuous Sales' Leading Role] (in Korean). Xports News. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  11. ^ Kim, Ye-eun (March 15, 2024). [단독] 이세희, 미혼모 된다...'정숙한 세일즈' 주연 [[Exclusive] Lee Se-hee becomes a single mother...Starring in 'Virtuous Sales'] (in Korean). Xports News. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  12. ^ Kim, Ye-eun (March 15, 2024). [단독] 김성령, '정숙한 세일즈' 주연...김소연·이세희와 호흡 [[Exclusive] Kim Sung-ryung, starring in 'Virtuous Sales'...Working with Kim So-yeon and Lee Se-hee] (in Korean). Xports News. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  13. ^ Kim, Ye-eun (March 20, 2024). [단독] 김선영, '정숙한 세일즈' 주연 합류...김소연과 호흡 [[Exclusive] Kim Sun-young joins the cast of 'Virtuous Sales'...Working with Kim So-yeon] (in Korean). Xports News. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  14. ^ Lee, Seung-hun (May 22, 2024). [단독]19禁 코미디 도전..연우진, '정숙한 세일즈' 남자 주인공 [[Exclusive] 19+ comedy challenge..Yeon Woo-jin, male lead in 'Virtuous Sales'] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  15. ^ a b Lee, Mi-ji (July 22, 2024). 김소연X연우진X김성령X김선영X이세희 '정숙한 세일즈' 캐스팅..올 하반기 방영(공식) [Kim So-yeon X Yeon Woo-jin X Kim Sung-ryung X Kim Sun-young X Lee Se-hee Casting for 'Virtuous Sales'..Airing in the Second Half of This Year (Official)] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  16. ^ Bae, Hyo-joo (September 23, 2024). 김소연X연우진, 야한 속옷+성인용품 보고 '찐당황'(정숙한 세일즈) [Kim So-yeon X Yeon Woo-jin, 'Really embarrassed' after seeing sexy underwear + adult products ('Virtuous Sales')] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Naver.
  17. ^ "Video: "A Virtuous Business" - Official Trailer - Netflix" (Press release). Netflix. September 23, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via The Futon Critic.
  18. ^ a b Nielsen Korea ratings:
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