Effective strategies for scaling a start-up include having a solid business plan, streamlining operations, and leveraging technology to automate processes. Start-ups should focus on customer acquisition, strategic partnerships, and strong branding while maintaining flexibility to adapt to market changes. Strong leadership and a clear vision are essential for successful growth.
“Start-Up”, when you hear this title what comes to your mind? What kind of drama is it? I guess you are right, this drama highly deals with ambition, innovation and motivation. This drama tells the story of some people who are highly ambitious and work so hard to fulfill their dreams. This drama is a splendid mixture of dreams, growth, ambition, love and so on. Here in this article, Start-Up full review, together we will explore this superfine story of some dreamers. I will give a full review of the Kdrama Start-Up. Let’s go.
Story Summary: A Tale of Passion, Deceit, and Redemption
Seo Dal Mi and Seo In Jae live with their parents but their father who wanted to become successful, his back-to-back failures make their mother frustrated and they get separated. Seo Dal Mi stays with her father and her sister goes with her mom and changes her name to Won In Jae. However, after that, Dal Mi was happy with her father, grandmother and her pen friend Nam Do San. But alas! Her father dies all of a sudden and Dal Mi shatters. But she wanted to keep her father’s dream alive, now she wants to be Korea’s Steve Jobs. To do so she works hard and drops out of her university to focus on her dream. Now she is ready to do everything to fulfill her and her late father’s dream.
On the other side, we have Nam Do San who once used to be the pride of her family because he was a math genius but now he is a total loser. Now Nam Do San is the founder of Samsan Tech, along with his two loser friends. But This Nam Do San is now the actual pen friend of Dal Mi, again somehow he is the one. When both of them meet Dal Mi takes her to be her pen friend and her first love. But later on, he falls in love with her and decides to turn the mistake into reality.
Key Characters and Their Evolution:
For every drama to be successful a panel of characters, especially well-developed characters plays a vital role. It’s so natural that if you like a character or even you dislike one you will remember that character for a long time and that’s how that particular drama also stays in your mind, am I wrong? For me, in this drama, a particular character “Han Ji Pyeong” is the most cherished character because I cried for him so much. However, let’s know the main or the key characters of the drama Start-Up.
Seo Dal Mi: The Dreamer with a Plan
Seo Dal Mi is the central character of the drama Start-Up and the beautiful and talented actor Bae Suzy played the character. Dal Mi is ambitious, determined and has a good heart who craves for success, and she chose her own path overcoming all the obstacles. She is inspired by Steve Jobs and is full of optimism. To achieve her dreams she drops out of university and she knows she lacks a formal educational certificate and also has no connection in her cherished field but still, she pushes herself forward and has full faith in her capabilities. As the drama goes forward we actually can see the growth and capabilities of Dal Mi as she becomes a confident leader from a dreamer. She super finely balanced her professional aspirations with her emotional struggles.
Nam Do San: From Tech Genius to Romantic Lead
The handsome actor Nam Joo Hyuk played the role of Nam Do San who once got the title of “Math Genius” but as days passed on he became good for nothing until he met Dal Mi. Do San owned a small tech company along with his two friends who are losers just like him. His name Nam Do San was once used by someone to give ease to Dal Mi’s young and depressed heart but later this lie magically changed his life, and again he proved his capability to his co-workers as well as the whole world. The socially awkward and timid coder Nam Do San turned into a successful coder and lover with the emotional support of Dal Mi. This character growth is so satisfying that anyone can be influenced by this character if they are having a hard time in their lives.
Han Ji Pyeong: The Ultimate Scene-Stealer
Kim Seon Ho played the role of Han Ji Pyeong and immediately made a place in the hearts of the fans. Well the character is complex yet very simple, and I am truly biased over this character, I am sorry. Anyways, when Han Ji Pyeong was young he got shelter and financial help from Dal Mi’s grandmother, for this favor, he also helped her to write letters to Dal Mi in the name of Nam Do San. After so many years, we see Han Ji Pyeong in a prestigious position in an honorable company. Han Ji Pyeong is a hard worker, self-made, kind-hearted and so on but what makes this character even more special is his selfless love for Dal Mi. He silently helps her from their young till the current time. This man sacrifices his love just to make her happy and in so many stages of this drama, you can tell why the fans are obsessed with him more than the male lead.
Won In Jae: The Struggles of a Self-Made Woman
Seo In Jae later Won In Jae is the elder sister of Seo Dal Mi and she symbolizes the mixture of privilege with hardship and the character played by Kang Han Na. She is quite calculative and for this reason, she follows her mother when she was young and chooses to be in luxury rather than financial struggle. At first, this character comes out as the antagonist and the direct rival of her own sister Seo Dal Mi. But as the story of In Jae reveals we see she left privilege just to find independence and respect, she doesn’t want to live under the name of her stepdad, rather she wants to achieve her own name, just like her real father and sister. She is determined to achieve her dream like her sister and this mindset makes In Jae a strong and positive character from an antagonist.
The Love Triangle That Stole the Show
Start-Up covers an amazing story of some youth who are full of dreams and ambition but it also covers a sweet love story of the youth. As a bonus I can say here in this drama lies one of the most extraordinary and unforgettable love stories, safe to say one of the most memorable love triangles. Seo Dal Mi, the central character of the drama, finds herself in the most complex moment of life where she has to choose the right man to love. Both Nam Do San and Han Ji Pyeong loved Dal Mi from the depth of their heart, where one chose to be silent and the other chose to hold her hand. Both of them played an important part in Dal Mi’s life that built the personality of Dal Mi. Now Dal Mi chose whomever she preferred but the debate passed on to the audience. Some people think Nam Do San is the most deserving guy and another group thinks Han Ji Pyeong is the one who deserves to end up with Dal Mi. Now let me tell you the debate in detail.
The Debate: Team Do-san vs. Team Ji-pyeong
Dal Mi was always kind of an unfortunate kid, whose parents got separated when she was very young and also lost her dad at a young age. When she used to live with her grandmother she got a letter that says a name ‘Nam Do San’, it actually was written by Han Ji Pyeong, and that is how Dal Mi, Do San and Ji Pyeong’s fate got tangled.
Nam Do San is a person who is socially awkward but is a talented tech developer. When both of them meet they fall in love, who? Dal Mi already takes him as her first love who used to write her letters, and Do san also falls for her purity and doesn’t want to break Dal Mi’s heart. The best part of the relationship between Dal Mi and Nam Do San is that he struggled with me hand to hand and was there to tell her that he would always be with her.
On the other hand, Han Ji Pyeong is a man who is self-made and is always obsessed with his work. When he was young he had no family and Dal Mi’s grandmother helped him and he did a favor by writing those letters in the name of Do San. This could be the end but it didn’t end here, those letters pushed her to dream and later worked as fuel to achieve those dreams. Not only that he silently helped Dal Mi in every step. He silently supported her and cared for her. Not only that he was the person who found out the real Nam Do San and brought him in front of Dal Mi so that she would not get heartbroken. Even though he didn’t give her his shoulder, he became her shadow and provided her strength and wisdom.
The debate is still going on but to me, Nam Do San is no doubt a good partner but Han Ji Pyeong deserved a good ending for sure.
Production Quality: Cinematography, Sets, and Style
The production quality is the strength of the drama Start-Up. This drama is mainly set in an atmosphere where the audience can experience a world of technology. They used vibrant colors and a modern set which indicates a world of technology that is ahead of time. The interior of Sandbox gives a rich and cozy vibe. The wide shots of the whole office, the roads, the rooftop as well as the shots of Seoul’s skyline are beautifully framed which gives a polished and cinematic vibe.
The set design is no doubt praiseworthy as we see the minimalist yet futuristic setting of the workplace which mesmerizes us. The color palette that is used here is thoughtful too. Not only the set but also the fashion choice is thoughtful as each character’s clothing reflects their personality and status. You can guess the difference between the two ambitious sisters Dal Mi and In Jae by their dressing sense. In short, the well-crafted world of the production team enhances the beauty of the drama and also gives a visual satisfaction to the viewers.
The Soundtrack: Songs That Amplify Every Emotion
The music of the drama Start-Up is more like a heartbeat because through the music we can feel the emotion of this drama vividly. This drama is full of love as well as seriousness with a lot of mixture of different emotions of the characters and each track differently showcases the emotions, struggles, mindset and so on through the lyrics and music.
There are a total of official vocal tracks in this drama that beautifully express the emotions of the drama and the characters of the drama. I will give you the list of all the OSTs, please do listen to all of these.
Shortlist:
- Future – Red Velvet
- Day & Night – Jung Seung Hwan
- I Know – Seunghee, Jiho and Binnie (Oh My Girl)
- One Day – Kim Feel
- Running – Gaho
- My Love – Davichi
- Where Is Dream – 10cm
- Blue Bird – Ailee
- Even For A Moment – CHEEZE
- Adult Diary – Sandeul (B1A4)
- Two Words – Wendy (Red Velvet)
- Love Letter – BOL4
- My Dear Love – Bae Suzy
- Dream – Jamie
- Love Me Like You Used To Do – Kassy
- To Me – Jung Eun Ji (Apink)
- Care About You (K.Will)
Trust all of these tracks deserve a huge round of applause because if you start listening to them, they will take you to a world that is so relaxing and you will feel like “yeah, this is what I needed for so long”
Anyway, here I will give you the best one, one fan favorite, the most popular one and a masterpiece. Well, this is not enough, I will add an honorable mention too, because as I said all of them are so good to hear.
Fan-Favorite: “Running” by Gaho
Running is a song that has its own beauty as it’s altogether energetic, motivational and a crowd-pleaser. Suppose you are working so hard with your studies or work and it’s being dull to go on then play Running by Gaho, it will definitely give you the fuel to run again. And I guess for this reason it became a fan favorite among the list.
The Best One: “Future” by Red Velvet
Future is such a lovely song, if you finish watching the drama and suddenly you think about the movie again then I am sure this song will pop up into your mind. This song brings out the most perfect vibe with the blending of warmth, hope and so on. The soft and uplifting sound and the lovely lyrics makes it stand out as one the best tracks on the list.
Most Popular: “My Love” by Davichi
Again it’s Davichi whose voice gave another most popular song in the world of Kdrama. When it comes to emotional ballads there are very few who can beat Davichi, and this one is not an exception. The angelic voice and the heartfelt lyric make it stand out as the most popular OST of Start-Up.
The Masterpiece: “Day & Night” by Jung Seung Hwan
Personally, I am super biased for this song, this song is so close to my heart. Whenever I feel emotionally low I search for some music that gives me ease and Day & Night is one of them. However, this one is truly considered to be a masterpiece plus a fan favorite. Jung Hwan’s soulful voice paired with the soft and melancholic melody and the emotional lyrics is actually a show-stopper. The theme of love and longing, hope and uncertainty is perfectly captured in this song. Every time this song plays, you can feel the sudden break from all the chaos of life. Overall, this song is a must hear, even if you don’t have time to watch the whole drama right now, give it a listen to this song.
Honorable Mention: “Two Words” by Wendy (Red Velvet)
Some people call it the crown jewel of the entire OST list. Wendy of Red Velvet sang this song, and her powerful voice with the side of simple, poignant melody is everything you crave. To some fans, it’s the ultimate fan favorite and to some, it’s more than that. It blends with the emotions like longing, hope, and love and makes a total package and also one of the most unforgettable OSTs of all time.
When you hear the name of the drama “Start-Up” you immediately think of something related to business and innovation right? But it’s actually more than that. It tells a story about dreams, struggles, love and achieving dreams with a new start. It also covers a story of self-reliance and self-discovery. The story is so engaging and has the ability to inspire the youth, the unforgettable soundtracks are the complement of the drama for sure. All the characters are so lovely and supportive, the friendship, partnership, leadership and everything is so heart-touching and inspiring.
So, obviously, it is up to you if you will watch this drama or not, but my personal suggestion to you is that you should watch this drama. And if you are already convinced then I want to say that no matter what is your reason to watch this drama, either the polished storyline or love triangle or the entrepreneurial spirit or even just beautiful life lessons you will never regret watching this.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the core idea behind a start-up focused on love and innovation?
A start-up that combines love and innovation focuses on creating meaningful connections while using cutting-edge technologies or unique approaches to solve problems. The core idea is to bring passion and creativity together to foster positive change, whether through products, services, or experiences that resonate deeply with people’s emotions and needs.
2. How can love be incorporated into a business model?
Love in business refers to creating a customer-first culture, showing empathy, and building genuine relationships with customers. Start-ups can integrate love by providing outstanding customer service, delivering products or services that improve lives, and fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment where passion for the mission is shared by all.
3. What are the key innovations in successful start-ups?
Innovations in successful start-ups often come from a unique value proposition, technology integration, or disruptive business models that meet unaddressed needs. Whether it’s a new app, a fresh approach to sustainability, or novel ways of connecting people, start-ups innovate by thinking outside the box and responding to market gaps creatively.
4. What challenges do start-ups face in their journey to success?
Start-ups typically face challenges like limited funding, market competition, and scaling their operations. They must also overcome obstacles such as building a strong customer base, attracting talent, and navigating regulatory hurdles. Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to pivot are key to overcoming these hurdles.
5. How do love and passion contribute to a start-up’s success?
Love and passion are the driving forces behind many successful start-ups. Entrepreneurs who are passionate about their idea often have the persistence to push through tough times. This passion fuels creativity, problem-solving, and the ability to inspire others, which helps attract customers, investors, and talent.
6. Can a start-up be both profitable and socially responsible?
Yes, many start-ups prove that it’s possible to be both profitable and socially responsible. By integrating sustainability, ethics, and community focus into their business models, start-ups can attract conscious consumers and investors while maintaining financial success. Socially responsible start-ups often build strong, loyal customer bases.
7. How can start-ups measure their success in the early stages?
In the early stages, start-ups measure success through metrics such as customer acquisition, user engagement, product-market fit, and financial health (e.g., cash flow and profitability). Additionally, feedback from early adopters and the ability to pivot or iterate based on market demands are key indicators of success.