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
First of all, I am surprised you did not discuss Chekhov’s milk! IYKYK
ReplyDeleteI am just getting caught up on the show and the podcast because I’ve been traveling and didn’t get to watch or listen to last week’s show – so I have a lot to say!
If Sandbox is supposed to be a safe place for these potential startups, it seems pretty harsh that they eliminate all but five of the teams after four or five days! Also, am I right that Kang Hah-na lied about being the girl on the swing? I thought that was Dal-mi. If so, that’s pretty low. I really don’t understand why Ha-na has it in for her sister. I can understand itthe other way around, but this is some sibling rivalry!
In your K Drama Elements on clothing, you didn’t mention the mom’s outfit. She does not seem like a very good person, but her outfits are always on point! Also, I loved how Nam Do-san tells his dad that no one dresses in a suit at Sandbox and in the very next scene he’s walking in the door with Dal-mi in essentially the same outfit!
Nam Do-san has become very emotionally intelligent in just a few days! I also think you guys are missing the reason Han Ji-pyeong is so upset about Nam Do-san coming up with a good covering lie. He wants Dal-mi to know he wrote the letters! He likes her!
Now, as for this shares business….. This made absolutely no sense. First of all, Samsan Tech was an existing business, and you can’t just take people’s shares away. Second, this whole issue could have been resolved by having controlling (voting) shares and equity (non-voting) shares. I guess Dal-mi didn’t get to that chapter in her CEO book. Dal-mi and Nam Do-san could have received the majority of the controlling shares as the CEO and Key Man, and the rest could have received some controlling shares and then equity shares. Are they really going to let the cousin have even one controlling share?! And wouldn’t Sandbox want some shares for its 100,000 investment?!
And don’t even get me started on Jung Sa-ha! When she showed up the day after they won, I would be like “What are you even doing here? I thought you left!” What IS she doing? Wasn’t she a lawyer? Wouldn’t she know about corporate law and be able to help out with this whole due diligence thing?! And what was she doing when these guys were coding for three days straight?! Working on a PowerPoint?! I don’t get it. That being said, she might be my favorites character. This actress plays this role so well. And she is certainly the best dressed in every scene and its not even close!
As for What’s Malcolm Watching….. not much. I have only been able to finish off Dynamite Kiss on Netflix. This drama really tried to fit in every possible K Drama element/trope in 12 episodes. The ending was a bit ridiculous, but the chemistry stayed off the charts.
OK, off to record my top 5 shows of 2025….
Malcolm,
Delete"...Chekhov’s milk! " hahaha
I knew that Chekhov had a gun, but didn't know that he had milk too lol.
The thing with Kdrama though is that you are never sure whether this thing is important, or it is a product placement.
I thought it was the latter until it proved to be the former.
I totally agree with you about Han Ji-pyeong. At this point, I believe he wants Dal-Mi to know that he is the writer of those letters because he started to like her. But, maybe also because of a sense of injustice.
He feels that he deserves the credit that Do-San is getting for those letters.
It is questionable whether he is right though.
As Dal-Mi and Do-San relationship continue to grow, it will get to a point that doesn't really matter who wrote those letters.
I actually think that people IRL get over such lies quicker than in dramas.
".... I guess Dal-mi didn’t get to that chapter in her CEO book". LOL that really made me laugh!
*Sigh* Again, 100% agreement. That whole thing was such BS. And what kind of final distribution of shares is that? The coders get 7% and the power point lady get 7%??!!!. And in which world the CEO (even a mediocre one)has the same shares as easily replacable team member?
And 1% for editing video (..and terrible one at that), but only 7% for coders who actually do the job?? Complete joke imo.
Hey Malcolm - I think voting/equity share split makes total sense. Since Google/Facebook did this and kept founders in control I think it's a popular thing to do in tech. As for Samsan Tech having an existing structure - they should have had one but who knows what they were doing? They were clueless enough to nearly reveal trade secrets to a competitor!
DeleteMalcolm, thanks for pointing out the difference between voting and equity shares. I am completely ignorant on that subject so would never have thought about that, but it would have made total sense.
DeleteAs far as IYKYK, I had no idea about Chekhov's milk. I had to look that up to understand what you were talking about!
As for Won In Jae, I think she is mean to her sister because she is acting out of guilt that she took the easy way out and ended up with an evil stepfather, betraying her real father who was a good man.
I think that Han Ji Pyeong is ambivalent about telling Seo Dal Mi that he is the one who wrote the letters. First of all, I think he is not even sure himself what his true feelings are, but is unsettled with respect to her. Nam Do San coming up with the story that they're close is both a relief and a dilemma for him. He is starting to realize that he might like Dal Mi, but admitting that and confessing his role in her life is still a stretch for him. I agree with Seven Seas, too, that the more time Do San and Dal Mi spend together, the more the letters will fade into the distance.
And I agree that Jung Sa Ha is of no help to Samsan Tech other than being someone for Chul San to pine over. She does dress well, though. I loved the dress she wore when Dal Mi first recruited her to the team.
Joanna & Sung-Hee: glad you mentioned "No Other Choice".
ReplyDeleteThe year hasn't finished yet, and I will still watch couple of movies, but 99.99% this is not only my favourite Korean movie of the year, but the overall favourite of 2025.
I have watched it as part of festival, but when it goes on wide release here in UK next month, I am going again.
I have watched 7 Korean movies this year (3 starring starring Lee Byung-hun. He is amazing)
07. The Match (2025)
06. Zombie for Sale (2019) features a vegetarian Zombie LOL
05. Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)
04. Sleep (2023)
03. A Bittersweet Life (2005). LBH oozes charisma. Incrediby stylish gangs movie. Young Shin Min-A
02. The Chaser (2008)
01. No Other Choice (2025)
About formal speech in the office. I am not fond of it. I think it creates barriers, and lessen the feelings of unity and team bondings. I am much less likely to go that extra mile for someone I don't have feeling for.
I don't like overly casual as well. I must say I hated places where they had pet days. I mean, you love your dog and cat fine, but I don't want to work while dogs and cats are next to my leg (..and I am expected to comment about how wonderful they are lol).
I also hate communal radio. Some people find songs helpful, but I struggle to think properly when there are songs playing loudly.
I think happy middle ground is best, which I am happy to say most places I worked in were like that. Smart casual dress, and pretty informal atmosphere, but nothing outlandish.
Where I am originally fom there is a saying that translates roughly to "If you have a friend, don't go into business with them, and don't marry into their family"
I thought about calling this last segment WSSW, but I thought better of it. WMW has the vibes of a car model. But, WSSW has the vibes of N*z* organisation lol.
I finished Dynamite Kiss. Even with all goodwill, I can't call it more than average. This could have been decent 8 episodes sries. But, 14 was WAY too much. And that space was filled by an incredible amount of cheesiness, fluff and sillines. They could have developed side stories better, because there was a potential for them.
Very mediocre writing, and I wouldn't have finished if it wasn't for FF button.
But, I can't deny that there was enough fun, especially in earlier episodes, and the leads are very charming.
Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. Use your time for better things, or make sure to FF.
I am thinking to start watching Start Up without waiting weekly, because sadly, I am not loving it. Don't get me wrong, I like it, and it is good, but after 6 episodes, it is not giving me the impression that it will be a favourite.
Seven Seas, I have often thought of replying to you by just typing SS, and it just didn't feel right!
DeleteReally looking forward to seeing No Other Choice!
Start Up is one of the first K Dramas I watched, so its got a special place in my heart. I agree the whole Sandbox/Start Up story is not strong. But it is one of the better love triangles in K Dramas, so I appreciate that.
And yes, those last two episodes of Dynamite Kiss were bad. Why do K Dramas have so much trouble with their final episodes?!
I just want to add that my remarks about formal language was more about England, or US.
DeleteI will admit to skipping some of the silly business in Dynamite Kiss, and agree that in the broader context of Kdramas it is average. I think this year's new Netflix Kdrama offerings as a whole have been a bit underwhelming, actually, and maybe that's why people appreciate the best aspects of Dynamite Kiss.
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone who knows more about business and start-ups than me for explaining what is unrealistic about the whole Sandbox storyline.
It is easy for me to embrace the fantasy of the romance/relationship elements in Kdrama, as long as they are consistent within the story, but I can be annoyed by other missteps.
In Hymn of Death, a period drama, there was a modern music stand which annoyed me, and even Mr Sunshine had an anachronistic banner, and some contoversial CGI, if I recall correctly.
No doubt there are plenty of other 'wrong' things I miss, all the time!
In terms of 2025 Netflix dramas, Tangerines and Our Unwritten Seoul were my favourites, and I enjoyed Resident Playbook, too.
I don't think I could put anything else in a Top 5, although if we're counting December /January dramas, Pro Bono and Idol I are looking promising.
2024 drama Atypical Family is my personal 'best watch' of the year. Such great writing, tight pacing, clever cinematography and use of music. Perfect ending as well.
Hi all, back from South Korea and Ireland and glad to be home. I have a question for Malcolm and Joanna on the intellectual property of a startup. Do-san came up with a unique algorithm for image recognition, which is the basis for the valuation and shares distribution.
ReplyDeleteIs this now the property of the company? If so, then if they were acquired by a larger company, would the rights to that code go with the sale? The company I worked for was bought out, and we employees were happy because the new company was better for us. But it was messy because the old company had misrepresented the value of a new product, saying it was developed when it had not been, and presented fraudulent R&D bookeeping to support the lie. We were witnesses and the new company successfully sued the old one and got lots of its money back. But some of us (not me) had participated in the fraud itself. And I think they should have been fired.
I think Startup oversimplifies this stuff based on my experience, but it’s a drama and a good one.
WMW, finished Signal, and I’m so hoping that they will show the already-filmed second season. There’s some controversy about one of the actors, so it’s up in the air. Halfway through Dynamite Kiss, full of Kdrama elements! I think there have already been three piggyback rides, four trip and catches, and a few wrist grabs. It’s enjoyable.
And I’m also quite hooked on Pro Bono, very original, and a great combination of funny and serious. Happy New Year everyone!
I hope Joanna brings on her investor friend for an interview; i think the business aspects of this show are so interesting.
And thanks everyone who comments here, what a perceptive group!
Ellen,
DeleteYou’ve asked a question on subjects that are very outside of my wheelhouse – intellectual property and mergers and acquisitions.
My guess is that the algorithm would be property of the company, but I don’t think Samsan tech really has policies in place that would make that legally binding. I imagine Nam Do-san could claim it as his own. I think he would want to apply for an international patent for the algorithm to protect it. But that’s a fairly complicated process and these guys don’t even know what due diligence is! IF it were the property of the company it would most likely be transferred if the Samsan Tech was acquired by another company. But I imagine the acquiring company would want to make it clear that they are quiring all of Samsan Tech’s intellectual property, including the algorithm.
This is not really a fair question because nothing in this series is being done the way an actual start up is run!
Thanks Sung-Hee and Joanna for dropping a podcast episode even on Christmas week, and Happy New Year! Lots of good comments on the recent episode here. I was surprised that Do-San came up with the covering lie. I suppose it worked, and theoretically was "good" for Han Ji-Pyeong, but I more had the impression that Do-San was trying to kneecap him in the developing triangle. Do-San is showing more backbone. He committed to Dal-Mi before he knew the result. Otherwise Han Ji-Pyeong was a bit of a jerk to the Samsan Tech guys early on but he's been right about pretty much everything and his type of direct feedback and advice (especially to Dal-Mi) is priceless.
ReplyDeleteWill wait on "No Other Choice" since it's not playing here in the hinterlands until January. I haven't watched as many movies as full dramas so good to have Seven Seas' list. For Kdramas my top 5: 1) Our Unwritten Seoul; 2) Tangerines; 3) Trauma Code; 4) Resident Playbook; 5) You and Everything Else. A lot like Doremi's list! Our Unwritten Seoul for a future season?
Happy New Year everyone!
ReplyDeleteSince there are not many comments, I thought I will also share what Korean novels I read in 2025. I read 4 of them.
04. The Plotters by Kim Un-Su
03. The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Hwang Sun-Mi
02. The Girl Who Wrote Loneliness by Shin Kyung-Sook
01. Please Look After Mom by Shin Kyung- Sook
I can safely say that at this point SKS is my favourite South Korean author (I have also read another of her novels in previous years). She is actually very popular in SK as well. Of course after the Nobel Prize Kang Han gained a lot of attention, but I believe SKS is the more popular on the long run.
Of course I am one of the loudest people who argue that popularity is not a sign of quality (often it is the opposite actually) , but in this case I found her writing not only more accessible than KH, but also more beautiful, although I am probably more fond of KH the person.
I recommend both her books. I have also bought her book I will be right there, but I want to let couple of month pass before I read it.
If you are going to read them all, I suggest them you read them in the order of publication.
Please look after Mom is great. I am still debating whether it is my overall favourite novel of the year or 2nd.
Here is a short non-spoiler review, although the book is not about the plot at all.
This is a great book.
Very simple premise. An elderly couple visiting their children in Seoul. The husband looses his wife in the underground station. The family starts to search for her.
Now that the mother is missing and absent, the reflection and self inspection begins.
Through different point of views from the eldest daughter, the first born and eldest son, the husband, and the mother herself we get to know the mother and her life.
A book full of memories, regrets, and relationship between a mother and her children.
It is a very powerful book about motherhood, especially those at certain time and places. The book will probably resonates more with those of Asian heritage, but I fully believe it is universal. Especially for people in this blog.
While it is not the most cheerful of books, it is a fantastic one.