The Apartment Job Episode 4 Recap: Will Chung-won Let Hae-kang Unfold His Plan?

In the fourth episode of “The Apartment Job,” Hae-kang’s employees, Big Guy, Jae-gil and Gyeong-nam, celebrate his representative election victory. For Hae-kang, this is a new beginning and he must use this momentum to solidify his clean social image. In the meantime, he comes to know that it was Ha-ri who caught two kids filming his fight, took the unedited clip from them and forced the Security Head to post it on the residents’ thread. Hae-kang is genuinely surprised because he did not expect Ha-ri to be that much helpful. As hours go by, Lizard and Ha-ri both realize that Hae-kang needs to work very hard to be the President of the apartment complex because beating Gang-won is not an easy job. 

Spoilers Ahead

How Does Ha-ri Plan On Creating A Good Public Image?

Hae-kang may have won the public representative election but he still has a long way to go. If he wants to ascend to the President’s chair, he must continue to carry a good public image because that’s the easiest way to turn the votes in favor instead of preaching catchy slogans. To solidify Hae-kang’s fame, Ha-ri realizes takes him to a café where the housewives of the residents meet everyday and according to her plan, they are instantly charmed by him. You can see how overjoyed they are when Hae-kang talks to them or cracks jokes because all of these housewives are deprived of their husbands’ affection. Soon, the housewives in the café get convinced that Hae-kang is a caring husband and a perfect man, who deserves to represent them, no matter which sector they live in.

What Does Chung-won Want ?

If you have read my previous recaps, I have always told you that Chung-won – the Chairman of True Value – doesn’t want anyone to come in his way. He cannot stand single residents because he thinks that they are a  threat to the apartment complex. After Hae-kang wins the election and the video of him kicking the thug gains traction, it leaves Chung-won’s blood boiling because he cannot accept someone else becoming a hero in the residents’ eyes. He feels restless when Gang-won informs him that Hae-kang has already applied to run for the President. Since Chung-won wants to destroy whatever fame Hae-kang has managed to achieve, he plans to eliminate the package delivery team first. This marks a major shift in Chung-won’s policies; after opposing the delivery trucks for years, he finally allows them to enter the complex in order to prevent Hae-kang from playing the hero. 

How Does Gang-won Sabotage Hae-kang’s Plan?

President Gang-won always follows Chung-won’s instructions. With Chung-won’s advice, he forces Choi to let all the delivery trucks inside, thus pressuring Hae-kang and his team to stop working for the residents. After two waste management employees – who bribe Gang-won to secure the contract – identify Hae-kang as the leader of the Oasis gang, Gang-won plots his next move. He calls an emergency board meeting to expose Hae-kang in front of other governing body members and livestreams it to every residents’ television. Although Hae-kang decides to come clean and explain himself, Gang-won deliberately switches off the feed just when he is about to speak. This leaves Hae-kang at a very tough spot since the residents, who don’t know his side of the story, feel scared and regret their decision to elect him. A helpless Hae-Kang feels heartbroken to see the residents refusing to take the same elevator as him because they are all scared.

What Causes Hae-kang to side with Suk-jin?

Hae-kang is in a tough spot because he has lost biggest weapon – his public image as a hero. He cannot let his team run another service because the residents will think that they are criminals. Although Hae-kang despises Suk-jin for running a smear campaign against him, he still sides with her because she is the only one who can help him clean his image. For months, Suk-jin has been leading a protest against the city authorities for moving the train station exit near the apartment. Although she is selfish and narcissistic, everyone who has seen her campaign thinks that she is worthy of being a leader. Hae-kang plans to exploit this popularity and plant an ancient treasure near the apartment to make the city officials believe that the estate is valuable.

Why Is Tadayoshi Helping Hae-kang?

Years ago, when Hae-kang had just become the leader of the Oasis Gang, he met Tadayoshi, who arrived at his casino as a VIP guest. Things took a wild turn after Tadayoshi got sabotaged and dangerously wounded by his rival gang. After Tadayoshi got Hae-kang on his side, he never forgot this unexpected help and considered his business partner a brother. For years, Tadayoshi has tried to repay the debt but Hae-kang never really was in need of that, until now. When Hae-kang calls Tadayoshi and requests for a Korean artefact from his treasury, the Japanese leader immediately agrees. Once Hae-kang executes his plan, estate prices start increasing around the area and the city officials finally agree to build a train station exit near the True Value Apartment complex. 

Will Chung-won Let Hae-kang Peacefully Execute His Plan?

Hae-kang once again becomes a hero in the residents’ eyes because they have seen him protesting on the front lines with Suk-jin. Since it happens just before the Presidential election, a major section of the residents vote in his favor and Hae-kang easily defeats Gang-won. Now that he is the President, Hae-kang has all the power to steal from the long-term reserve fund, pay Ju-gwon and rescue Yong-man from his clutches. He is already sick and Hae-kang wants to speed up the whole process but it will not gonna be an easy job.

Chung-won has unleashed his wrath on Gang-won for losing the elections and he can even kill Choi if he wants to. He has physically assaulted Gang-won and left him wounded behind closed doors. Since Chung-won did not expect to lose control over the apartment complex this soon, he will definitely put pressure on Hae-kang and be the biggest hurdle in his path. Considering the kind of man he is, Chung-won can do everything in his power to remove Hae-kang or expose his sham marriage with Ha-ri. After Hae-kang planted the artefact, the city officials have kept Chung-won‘s new town project on hold for at least three years so I don’t think he will hesitate before going full evil. Keeping aside Chung-won, Suk-jin still remains a potential threat to Hae-kang’s Presidency, particularly due to her intrusive nature. Now that Gang-won is gone and Choi is powerless, Suk-jin can start an investigation regarding the high maintenance charges any time she wants to.

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