Start Up-TV/Web Series
- Min
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Genre: Romance 💕Comedy 😂 Melodrama 🎭
Language: Korean (Original), available with subtitles/dubbing
Country of Origin: South Korea
Category: K-Drama
Start Up is a heartfelt blend of ambition, destiny, friendship, and emotional growth set against the vibrant world of tech startups. Starring Bae Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, and Kim Seon-ho, and originally aired on tvN, the drama goes far beyond business, it is ultimately about people, choices, and the invisible threads of fate that connect lives.
At its heart, the story follows two sisters whose lives are shaped by past choices and unspoken emotional wounds. A young boy unknowingly enters their lives and slowly becomes someone deeply important to them. Another young man crosses paths with them too, not intentionally, but because destiny keeps pulling him towards them. What begins as coincidence slowly transforms into something that feels like family.
The drama beautifully shows how people working toward their dreams often become each other’s emotional anchors. As they chase success, they also carry responsibilities tied to their roles, yet never hesitate to go the extra mile when it comes to loyalty, trust, and doing what is right.
One of the strongest elements is workplace friendship, the kind that begins professionally but soon grows into something personal and deeply meaningful. It reminds us of those early days of friendship when we promise to live in the same neighborhood forever, only to later get swept into our own lives and paths. The nostalgia and realism of these evolving relationships make the story deeply relatable.
Official Trailer:
The series skillfully balances: Dream vs. Reality, Love vs. Timing, Ambition vs. Emotional Responsibility, Success vs. Personal Values, Pursuit and Hard Work vs. Destiny
Visually, the show is polished and modern, perfectly matching the startup ecosystem vibe. Emotionally, it is warm, nostalgic, and sometimes bittersweet.
The Behaviours in the characters that stood out and caught my attention in this series.
1. The Ambitious Yet Misunderstood Realist
I particularly liked one of the female characters who is highly ambitious and often misunderstood as someone who only cares about money or material success. In reality, she is extremely practical and grounded. She does not allow emotions to cloud her professional decisions, yet she quietly carries deep emotional turbulence within herself. What makes her admirable is her emotional maturity, she processes her struggles privately without disturbing others or letting it affect her responsibilities. She is resilient, self-aware, disciplined, composed, and emotionally intelligent.
2. The Emotion-Driven Dreamer Who Evolves
Another female character initially makes decisions driven heavily by emotions. However, as she steps into the professional world and begins chasing her dreams, she gradually learns to differentiate between what truly matters and what does not. Her growth is subtle but powerful, she becomes more self-reflective, courageous, adaptable, and open to learning. Watching her transition from emotional impulsiveness to balanced decision-making is very satisfying.
3. The Quiet Support Systems (Mother and Grandmother Figures)
The mother and grandmother figures are some of the warmest parts of the story. They are affectionate, nurturing, wise, patient, observant, gentle, emotionally strong, and quietly humorous. They carry their own life struggles yet continue to live gracefully and cheerfully. Their love feels unconditional and grounding, and they represent stability in an otherwise fast-moving world.
4. The Loyal Friends and Teammates
Some characters show what true professional friendship looks like, supportive yet honest, competitive yet respectful, and always ready to stand up for each other. They are dependable, encouraging, collaborative, and emotionally present.
Behaviours that I did not like much in the characters but found Realistic are and relevant to the storyline:
1. Emotional Avoidance
Some characters avoid difficult conversations, which leads to misunderstandings and prolonged emotional pain. While frustrating, it feels very human and realistic.
2. Sacrificing Personal Happiness for Duty
Certain characters repeatedly prioritize responsibility over personal happiness. While noble, it sometimes feels self-destructive and emotionally exhausting.
3. Poor Communication During Emotional Conflict
At times, important truths are hidden to “protect” others, which ironically causes deeper hurt later. This behaviour adds emotional tension but can be frustrating to watch.
4. Over-Idealizing People or Situations
Some characters initially see others or opportunities through unrealistic emotional lenses, leading to disappointment and hard life lessons later.
Overall
Start Up is not just about building companies, it is about building people. It captures how dreams, friendships, missed timing, destiny, and emotional growth all coexist. It is the kind of story that makes you reflect on your own journey, the people who shaped it, and the ones who quietly became family along the way.
Just like most of the K-Drama, Start Up is very addicitive, worth binge watching and makes every day fulfilling as long as we are watching it.
The OSTs from this series are worth watching for quick recap or feeling the characters and their journey again.
Here’s a list of some excellent South Korean movies and series that are worth watching.
Here is a list of some really good South Korean movies/series that we have watched and loved.
2.”The Negotiation”
4.”King the Land”
5.”Business Proposal”
6.”Hometown Cha Cha Cha”
8."Melo Movie"
*(Keep checking back for updates to this list.)
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