The Ordinary Jackpot 2026 Full Review

Lee Jun Hyuk as Kong Eun Tae

Kong Eun Tae has worked his way up through the ranks of Hongesong International. With his most recent promotion, he is now the youngest team leader in the company. But when they transfer Jung Seon Hyeok onto their team as assistant manager, even though he is older and has more seniority  than Eun Tae, the work environment becomes strained. The added interpersonal drama, along with the high stress of the job itself, quickly leads Eun Tae to become burned out.

So when he suddenly finds himself the winner of a 1.3 billion won lottery, he dreams of leaving corporate life behind and living a life of luxury. But a little research quickly shows him that his winnings are not enough to fully support him for the rest of his life. Instead he decides to hold onto his money. But having a financial safety net gives him the confidence to approach life from a whole new perspective. He finds the freedom to stick up for himself and take risks. And that newfound freedom leads to some surprising benefits, both in his work and in his private relationships, particularly with his team members.

Kong Eun Tae has always tried to steer clear of office politics and difficult peers and supervisors. And while that helped get him promoted quickly, it made him progressively more isolated at work. But when he begins to relax and come out of his shell a bit, he finds his co-workers are quick to warm up to him and include him in activities during and after work. And he soon realizes how nice it is to be part of a team. Lee Jun Hyuk has such a quiet charm. He was really perfect for this role. His soft-spoken dialogue really gave this character a distinct quality.

Oh Dae Hwan as Jung Seon Hyeok

Jung Seon Hyeok is a close friend of Eun Tae. The pair have worked together for years and stayed friends through each of their promotions. Currently they are both team leaders. But when Seon Hyeok suddenly quits the company and tries to start a competing company, he and Eun Tae find themselves on opposite sides of the table.

Hong Jin Ki as Park Gi Tae

Park Gi Tae is the youngest member of Sales Team 5. He is enthusiastic and eager to please. But his inexperience sometimes gets him into trouble at work. He considers Jun Ho a mentor and often looks to him for advice. But as the team comes together, he also develops a close relationship with Eun Tae.

Ha Yul Ri as Lee Ji Hye

Lee Ji Hye is a contract employee for Sales Team 5. Because her job is temporary, year to year, she is particularly diligent and hard-working. While the other team members tend to get caught up in the office drama, Ji Hye works hard to establish herself and prove her worth as a full-time employee.

Get Mad!

I loved this answer, when Eun Tae asked the other winner at the bank office what she would do with her winnings. Eun Tae seemed to take it to heart, since it was one of the first things he did when he went back to work. And that one simple action set the stages for all the rest of the changes Eun Tae experienced. Not only did it bring Team 5 together but it gave Eun Tae the confidence to step out in other areas as well. Sometimes one small step in learning to be true to yourself can open the door for so much more.

Jun Ho's Arc

I enjoyed watching Jun Ho change from the petty, bitter rival to a business partner and friend. At first, it must have been hard for him to put aside his own disappointment and resentment at being overlooked. But when he and Eun Tae start working together, it ends up looking better for both of them. And the scene where promotions come out and Jun Ho is so excited about Eun Tae's new position that he totally forgets to look for his own was the perfect demonstration of how far he had come. 

Eun Tae's Family

At first I felt like Eun Tae's visit home didn't fit in with the business themes in this drama. But then I realized that it was important because it shows us that Eun Tae 's changes go beyond just work. He no longer has to hide from his brother because he doesn't want to have to say no. And yet he turned him down in a loving and supportive way that didn't hurt his brother either. Eun Tae is learning to communicate with the people in his life, both at home and at work.

Hae Ju

So, yes, I am a little disappointed that there seemed to be some romantic sparks between Eun Tae and Hae Ju that was never explored. But more than that, I wanted to know more about how they became friends. Both of them seem known for keeping to themselves in their respective work departments. So how did these two social outcasts form a mutual friendship? And when did their history begin? Did they know each other before? Because they felt like they had more of a backstory than just the company.

Fellow Winner

I was happy that Eun Tae finally asked his friendly barista about his suspicions that President O was also a lottery winner. But I would have loved to see Eun Tae meet up with the other winner he met at the bank. I wanted to know how things went for her. Did she get mad and was it everything she had hoped it would be?

CEO

That scene with the CEO at the end just felt kind of weird to me. There was no foreshadowing of a crazy man-child in charge of Hongseung International. But suddenly this random guy shows up, throws Eun Tae's good intentions in his face, and fires Ji Hye. WHAT? With all the business talk we heard around the company, it seems like if he was that bad, there would have been some references to his unpredictable and unprofessional behavior. 

'The Ordinary Jackpot' ends on a high note, with all of Team  5 giving their all for the company and their teammates. Things are resolved with CGM, with a little help from Sponza and the team at Mantua. Eun Tae meets Seon Hyeok on the roof and Seon Hyeok tells him that CGM is giving him another chance. Seon Hyeok also admits that he is jealous that he had to leave the company to find joy in his job again while Eun Tae manages to find it without leaving. They agree to meet for drinks after a little time has passed.

Eun Tae is called to meet with the CEO, who offers him a much-deserved promotion. When the CEO offers him any favor he wants, Eun Tae tries to bargain for a full-time job for Ji Hye. But his plan backfires and the CEO tells Eun Tae to fire her. Luckily, Eun Tae has planned for just this kind of setback. He has already talked to Sponza and Martina about having Ji Hye work with them in Italy. Meanwhile, Eun Tae isn't the only one getting promoted. With Eun Tae moving up to general manager of sales, his team leader position is offered to Jun Ho. 

Eun Tae's lottery winnings are still safely tucked away in his bank account, should the need ever arise. Eun Tae stops in for a coffee at his favorite cafe and asks the owner if he is also a lottery winner. President O admits that he is and that he could easily recognize Eun Tae as a fellow winner. They talk about how money can change your life without actually spending a dime. And then Eun Tae goes happily to work, meeting the whole team in the elevator, bright eyed and early!