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Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 1 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: “Future” by Red Velvet and “A Small Post Box of Hope” by Park Se-jun.
• The heartbreaking and hopeful relationship between Han Ji-pyeong and Choi Won-deok, who gives him a place to stay and helps launch his future.
• The idea that sometimes, people don’t fall on soft sand—they fall on concrete—and what that means for those who risk everything to start a business.
• The many business concepts introduced in this episode: startups, angel investors, venture capitalists, incubators, and accelerators.
• The heartbreaking story of Seo Dal-mi’s father, who dies just as he achieves the first step in scaling his business.
• The metaphor and origin of the name “Sandbox” and what it means for entrepreneurs.
• The painful separation of sisters Seo Dal-mi and Won In-jae, who make opposite choices after their parents’ divorce.
• How letters from a fictional Nam Do-san helped a lonely Dal-mi through the darkest period of her life.
• Why Han Ji-pyeong’s role in writing those letters may have brought healing to him as much as it did to Dal-mi.
• A powerful early reveal: Han Ji-pyeong is now a wealthy VC who may hold the future of many young entrepreneurs in his hands.
• The moving reunion between Choi Won Deok and Han Ji-pyeong after 15 years.
• The harsh confrontation between Dal-mi and her sister, where In-jae mocks Dal-mi’s struggles and claims she has no regrets about choosing to stay with their mother.
• Dal-mi’s bold lie that she’s in business with Nam Do-san—and the fallout as she must now find him and make the story real.
• The cliffhanger introduction of the real Nam Do-san, who’s quietly working on groundbreaking AI recognition software.
• What we’re watching now, including The Uncanny Counter, Under the Queen’s Umbrella, Typhoon Family, and more!

References

• Wikipedia: Chang Yŏngsil