K Drama Chat

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Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 9 of Start-Up, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Bae Suzy as Seo Dal-mi, Nam Joo Hyuk as Nam Do-san, Kim Seon Ho as Han Ji-pyeong, Kang Han Na as Won In-jae, and Kim Hae Sook as Choi Won-deok. We discuss:
The songs featured during the recap: “Bluebird” by Ailee, “Love Designer” by Park Se-jun, and “Cupcake” by Park Se-jun and Kim Min Ji.
The heartbreaking story behind Nam Do-san’s Math Olympiad win and how it defined his identity and self-worth.
Seo Dal-mi’s slow realization that something is off. Why do Han Ji Pyeong and Nam Do San have the same birthday and handwriting?
The powerful metaphor of the wind: how it brings both luck and storms into Nam Do-san’s life.
Han Ji-pyeong's explosive confrontation with Choi Won-deok, his declaration of love for Dal-mi, and the emotional fallout.
The idea that risk is measurable, while danger is unpredictable, as articulated by Chairwoman Yoon in her evaluation of Won In-jae.
Nam Do-san’s confession to his parents that he cheated in the Math Olympiad, and their crushing disappointment.
The beautiful and emotional beach trip where Nam Do San gifts a moment of beauty to Seo Dal Mi’s grandmother.
The escalating love triangle, with both Nam Do San and Han Ji Pyeong vying for Seo Dal Mi’s heart.
The AI-related layoffs and protests surrounding In-jae Company and the broader implications for the workforce.
A tense and cinematic ending where Dal-mi uncovers the truth, leaving both Nam Do San and Han Ji Pyeong speechless and in emotional disarray.
The incredible performance of Seo Yi Sook, who plays Chairwoman Yoon, and her long and fascinating journey to stardom.
What we’re watching now, including Dynamite Kiss, Made in Korea, Can This Love Be Translated, Pro Bono, and more.
References
The top 15 K dramas ever made
The best 30 K dramas of all time, ranked
Oxford English Dictionary Adds Eight Korean Words.”
StartUp Complete List of Filming Locations
You're just staring at yourself': Job seekers lament AI interview process
Endoscopist deskilling risk after exposure to artificial intelligence in colonoscopy: a multicentre, observational study - The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Seo Yi Sook on Wikipedia
​​Where To Buy The Dooly And Gildong Shirts From ‘Start-Up’
Dooly the Little Dinosaur - Wikipedia

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Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 8 of Start-Up, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Bae Suzy as Seo Dal-mi, Nam Joo Hyuk as Nam Do-san, Kim Seon Ho as Han Ji Pyeong, Kang Han Na as Won In Jae, and Kim Hae Sook as Choi Won Deok. We also discuss Yoo Su Bin, the actor who plays Lee Chul San, and Kim Do Wan, the actor who plays Kim Yong San. We discuss:
The songs featured during the recap: “Even for a Moment” by CHEEZE, “My Past” by Park Sejun and Kim Min Ji, and “Heart Signal” by Kim Dong Hyeok, plus a fun mention of IU’s “Good Day.”
The theme of backups—literal and metaphorical—including cloud, device, and hard drive backups and what they signify about risk management and emotional safety.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): what it is, its key components, and how Samsan Tech uses CSR to fund their app for the visually impaired.
The evolving nature of NoonGil and how Seo Dal-mi and Nam Do-san combine image recognition and AI voice tech to empower visually impaired users.
Han Ji Pyeong’s initial rejection of the idea, and how storytelling plays a crucial role in business, as Seo Dal-mi’s pitch emotionally resonates with Han Ji Pyeong despite his pragmatic stance.
The concept of Daily Active Users (DAUs), viral marketing, and how NoonGil’s downloads explode after a social post from baseball star Park Chan Ho.
The powerful reveal of Choi Won Deok’s feedback notebook, and how this leads to Seo Dal-mi finally learning about her grandmother’s deteriorating eyesight.
The emotional gravity of the grandmother using NoonGil to hear a Bible passage, and the symbolism of her regaining a sense of independence.
The rivalry between Han Ji Pyeong and Nam Do-san intensifies, with two alternate endings showing different dynamics around the scrunchie.
Important language and etiquette notes: how Seo Dal-mi calls HJP “Han Jang-nim” and how he respectfully calls her “Seo Daepyonim.”
The storyline of Seo Dal-mi’s mother and her complicated motivations around reuniting with Won In Jae.
A deep dive into Silicon Valley’s Pay It Forward culture and the “five-minute favor.”
We spotlight Yoo Su Bin and Kim Do Wan—the quirky best friends in Samsan Tech—and discuss their careers, recent works, and breakout roles.
References
No Other Choice on IMDB
Good Day by IU
Jat-guksu - Wikipedia
Gapyeong County - Wikipedia
Pay It Forward is Silicon Valley’s Open Secret to Success
The Power of the Five Minute Favor by Adam Grant

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Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 7 of Start-Up, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Bae Suzy as Seo Dal-mi, Nam Joo-hyuk as Nam Do-san, Kim Seon-ho as Han Ji-pyeong, Kang Han-na as Won In-jae, and Kim Hae-sook as Choi Won-deok. We discuss:
The songs featured during the recap: My Love by Davichi, Maybe You Know It by Park Se-jun, and Alchemist by Park Se-jun.
The startup terms "burn rate," "nut," and "valuation" and how they relate to Samsan Tech’s financial situation.
How Dal-mi bombards Ji-pyeong with 400 questions, revealing her inexperience and eagerness, and how Ji-pyeong answers them all.
The intensifying love triangle and growing tension between Ji-pyeong and Do-san, especially as Ji-pyeong begins to realize his feelings for Dal-mi.
The hilarious but symbolic scene where Ji-pyeong tries to throw out the money plant and gets scolded by the building manager.
The heartbreaking moment when Choi Won-deok begs Do-san not to reveal her deteriorating eyesight to Dal-mi.
Do-san's touching realization that all the "miracles" began with the grandmother’s kindness, deepening his respect and resolve.
How Do-san’s concern for the grandmother inspires the idea for Samsan Tech’s new business model: an app for the visually impaired.
The pitch meeting with Morning Group, where Dal-mi and Do-san realize they are being offered an exploitative contract.
Dal-mi’s kiss, sparked by Do-san defending her and standing up for their dignity, despite their financial precarity.
How the sisters, Dal-mi and In-jae, each struggle to be recognized on their own merits: one without credentials, one despite connections.
Stephanie Lee, who plays Jung Sa-ha, her Korean-American background, her shift from dramas to movies, and her award-winning fashion.
References
Google Options Make Masseuse a Multimillionaire - The New York Times
Stroke of luck for masseuse who found millions at Google | The Independent
MIcrosoft and OpenAI reach a deal valuing OpenAI at $500B
Actress Stephanie Lee is preparing for a new leap forward
Moon Se-yoon - Wikipedia
Faces of wealth, intellect and longevity, as revealed by veteran face reader

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Today, we take a quick break from Start-Up, the K Drama we're recapping and analyzing in Season 13 of K Drama Chat, to reflect on the best K Dramas of 2025. We share our top 5 shows, actors, actresses, scenes, and songs of the year—and we hear from YOU, our amazing listeners! We discuss:
The listener-favorite and TIME Magazine’s top K Drama of 2025: When Life Gives You Tangerines
Songs we loved in 2025
The top shows of our listeners. We hear from:MrsDJQ
Irma
Christine
Malcolm
Shine
Sue
Ernabel

Our personal top 5 shows and honorable mentions
A special treat: audio clips from listeners sharing their top shows!
The actresses who blew us away in 2025
The standout male performances
The most memorable scenes from K Dramas we watched
K Dramas we’re looking forward to in 2026
Korean films from 2025 we recommend watching
A reminder to join us next week when we return to Start-Up and discuss Episode 7 and Stephanie Lee, the actress who plays Jeong Sa-ha
References
60+ K Dramas from the first half of 2025
TIME Magazine’s Top 10 K Dramas from 2025
New KOREAN Drama 2025
KDramas of 2025 (complete, on-going, and upcoming) (156 shows) - MyDramaList
Day and Night by Jung Seung Hwan
I Find You by Do Young
Woojooin by Seo Young Joo
I’ll Be Your Idol from KPop Demon Hunters

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Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 6 of Start-Up, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Bae Suzy as Seo Dal-mi, Nam Joo Hyuk as Nam Do-san, Kim Seon Ho as Han Ji Pyeong, Kang Han Na as Won In Jae, and Kim Hae Sook as Choi Won Deok. We discuss:
The songs we featured during the recap: Where Is Dream by 10CM, Maybe You Know It by Park Sejun, and Game Room by Park Sejun. We also shared insights into 10CM’s music career and unique vocal style.
The concept of the “key man,” and how Nam Do-san, as the brilliant coder, is the true key person behind Samsan Tech’s success, not Seo Dal-mi.
An in-depth conversation about equity and ownership, with Han Ji Pyeong insisting that a CEO must have majority equity to lead effectively — a controversial claim that causes major friction in the team.
The fallout among the Samsan Tech founders when Chul San and Yong San feel betrayed by Nam Do-san’s proposed equity structure, prompting a near breakup.
Seo Dal-mi’s growth as a CEO, including how she proposes a new equity split and confronts Jeong Sa Ha with strength and confidence, signaling her rising leadership.
The tension between being a good person and being an effective CEO, and how Seo Dal-mi learns to make hard decisions without trying to please everyone.
The emotional weight of keeping the truth about the letters hidden from Seo Dal-mi, especially now that Nam Do-san learns the grandmother is losing her eyesight.
The deepening love triangle between Seo Dal-mi, Nam Do-san, and Han Ji Pyeong, as seen in the nuanced facial expressions, especially during their scene on the bleachers.
A sobering look at Won In Jae’s fraught relationship with her stepfather and mother, and how her need to “win” is rooted in betrayal and guilt.
The dark twist at the end of the episode, where a hooded figure leaves a message about revenge on the Sandbox wall — suggesting deeper intrigue ahead.
A spotlight on the incredible Kim Hae Sook, who plays the grandmother, Choi Won Deok. We discuss her prolific career, her range as an actress, and her importance to Korean cinema and TV.
References
Could Malcolm Gladwell's Theory of Cockpit Culture Apply to Asiana Crash?
Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers and Aircraft Dispatchers
Thinking Beyond Cultural Legacy: The Case of Korean Air
Malcolm Gladwell Theory Debunked - Hacker News