13.12 - Podcast Review of Episode 12 of Start-Up

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 12 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: Love Letter by BOL4, In the Same Way or Another by Park Sejun, and Without Your Letter by Lee Nyeom.
The fallout of the 2STO deal and how Samsan Tech’s lack of legal, financial, and strategic guidance led to a contract that technically worked, but failed them completely.
Han Ji-pyeong’s crisis of conscience and how his absence at Demo Day changed everything for Dal-mi and Samsan Tech.
Why Seo Dal-mi didn’t bring the contract to Ji-pyeong for review, and how excitement, pride, and emotional distance all played a role.
The brutal moment when Dal-mi and Jung Sa-ha are let go, revealing who 2STO actually wanted and how “acquiring a company” doesn’t mean protecting its people.
The heartbreaking confrontation between Nam Do-san and Han Ji-pyeong, culminating in a physical fight and the devastating reveal about Dal-mi’s grandmother losing her vision.
Ji-pyeong’s visit to the grandmother at her corn dog stand, the meaning of the word “순딩이” (gentle soul), and why this hug becomes his emotional breaking point.
The quiet late-night phone call between Dal-mi and Do-san, the recorded confession, and the realization that love alone cannot be a shared dream
Why Dal-mi breaks up with Do-san on his birthday, and how humiliation, pride, and unequal trajectories force her to let him go.
Dal-mi’s decision to apply for a Strategic Planning Manager role at In-jae Company, swallowing her pride and reframing what leadership and vision look like after failure.
The episode’s closing questions: the uncertain future of NoonGil, Do-san’s reluctant departure for Silicon Valley, and whether Ji-pyeong is finally ready to step into the role he’s been avoiding.
The two unforgettable dads of Start-Up: Kim Won-hae, who plays Nam Do-san’s father, and Kim Joo-hun, who portrays Seo Dal-mi’s father.
What we’re watching now, including Pro Bono and Can This Love Be Translated.
The exciting interview with a real-life venture capitalist next week!

References

###

K Drama Chat is a weekly podcast where we take one Korean (K) Drama each season and and recap and analyze each episode. K Drama Chat is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

Comments

11.10 - Podcast Review of Episode 10 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, then Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The featured song during the recap: “Theme of Ae-sun” by Park Sung-il, the musician who also wrote “Theme of Gwan-sik,” “Spring in a Heartbeat,” and “Two Faced Summer” from this OST. The Baeksang Awards wins for this show—Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor—and how validating it feels to have picked a gem for Season 11 of our podcast! How this episode focuses on three mothers and their powerful love for their children: Ae-sun, Yeong-ran, and Chung-seop’s mom. The symbolic and cultural significance of white rice, and how Bu Sang-gil uses it as a weapon in his drunken tirade. Oh Seong’s boiling anger against his father and sister, and his tragic learned behavior from witnessin...

11.14 - Podcast Review of Episode 14 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 14 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, then Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The songs featured during the recap: “A Rock that never erodes in the sea of my heart” and “Just be a good son, that’s all,” both by Park Seong-il, whose work captures the sad, wistful tone of the episode. Our guest Kim Soomin from Virginialicious shares her passion for Korean food and the stories behind her food tours. How Eun Myeong’s storyline takes center stage, highlighting the painful dynamics of favoritism, ambition, and parental regret. The cultural and historical context of buncheong stoneware, how Eun Myeong’s life was turned upside by a single buncheon statue. Pawnshops, especially during the IMF crisis in Korea. The heartbreaking reasons Eun Myeong started his business, and his desperate need to be...

12.1 - Podcast Review of Episode 1 of Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 1 of Extraordinary Attorney Woo , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Eun Bin as Woo Young Woo, Kang Tae Oh as Lee Jun Ho, Ha Yoon Kyung as Choi Soo Yeon, Ju Hyun Young as Dong Geu Rami, Kang Ki Young as Jung Myung Seok, and Joo Jong Hyuk as Kwon Min Woo. We discuss: The songs featured during the recap: “Brave” by Kim Jong Wan and “Beyond My Dreams” by Sunwoo Jung-a. Kim Jong Wan is the lead of alternative rock band Nell; Sunwoo Jung-a is a prolific indie artist and producer in South Korea. The episode title in Korean, 이상한 변호사 우영우 (“Strange Attorney Woo Young Woo”), and how the English title "Extraordinary" reflects her character more positively. Woo Young Woo’s first words: quoting the Korean criminal code after her father is attacked, marking both her autism diagnosis and her path toward becoming a lawyer. The careful, touching portrayal of autism spectrum disorder through Woo Young Woo’s sensitivity to stimuli, love of ord...

K Drama Chat Weekly

Search This Blog