It’s got a really relatable storyline

After experiencing her parents’ divorce and the sudden loss of her father, Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy) is determined to reach her big dream: to be the next Steve Jobs. Determined to become the next Steve Jobs, she drops out of university and takes up part-time work to raise money to start her own business.

At a place called Sand Box, a Silicon Valley-esque incubator for start-up companies, she crosses paths with former math whiz Nam Do-San (Nam Joo-Hyuk), a founder of a struggling company. As they get to know each other, the two work towards their dreams side by side and cheer each other on.

“It’s a very heart-warming story,” said Bae Suzy at a recent press conference for the show. “I hope you can watch it with a warm and joyful heart.”

Apart from the inspiring stories and obligatory kilig, the show also gives a behind-the-scenes look into technology and enterprises.

The leads are fantastic

Bae Suzy and Nam Joo-Hyuk star as Seo Dal-Mi and Nam Do-Sal, two characters who are determined to prove other people wrong. They may seem like the typical K-drama leads but what makes them different is that both of their characters are underdogs.

“I really am confident when I say that you’ll be able to see so many wonderful sides of so many wonderful people,” said Nam Joo-hyuk. “I hope that you can enjoy our drama series at home.”

It may be too early to tell what happens next, but based on the first two episodes, we can see the two growing fond of each other because of their common experiences. Kim Sun-ho and Kang Han-na also star as Han Ji-Pyeong and Won In-Jae. Han Ji-Pyeong is the young boy who was Dal-Mi’s pen pal, he was taken care of by Dal-Mi’s grandmother. Won In-Jae is Dal-Mi’s sister who went with their mother when their parents got divorced.

Other familiar faces

You may have seen the other cast members in other dramas, such as Kim Joo-hun (who is known for his role as Lee Sang-In in the hit drama It’s Okay Not To Be Okay) and (Yoo Su-bin, who played Kim Ju-Meok, the K-drama fanboy from Crash Landing on You). Famous K-drama ahjussi Kim Won-hae plays Nam Do-Sal’s father. With an all-star cast, this drama is sure to get better and better per week.

The OST is just *chef’s kiss*

So far, the drama has released two songs from its OST: “Day & Night” by Jung Seung-hwan and “Future” by Red Velvet. Take a listen to these beautiful songs and we’ll bet you’ll want to watch the drama after!

It’s visually aesthetic

The first part of the drama is set in early spring, or cherry blossom season in Korea. Seeing the pretty leaves and petals falling, adding to the story’s atmosphere, is just extraordinary!

“I, myself, was taken aback by how beautiful, how encouraging and wonderful our scenes looked,” said Kim Seon-ho.

The drama also manages to add little symbols to illustrate the contrasting lives of Seo Dal-Mi and Won In-Jae. We can’t wait for the next episodes to further connect everything together.

It’ll inspire you to ~follow your dreams~

With highs come the lows and this drama certainly shows that. While the first two episodes may be a bit sad, it’s realistic in that it shows that not all things will go our way. But with hard work and determination, we’ll get what we dream of, even if it takes years.

“Our drama series is truly a sparkling story that will create a fire in your hearts,” said Kang Han-na. “It’s a good drama to watch with someone you love, your family, or even on your own.”

It’s already got a fanbase

We won’t spoil anything but please prepare tissues when you watch this drama. The first episode is sure to send you into an emotional spiral! Just a couple of episodes is all it took for the drama to get a loyal fanbase, so you won’t have to look too hard to find someone to gush about it with.

It’ll give you something to look forward to every week

There’s a new episode every week, so you can still catch up while the drama is still airing. Sure, you’ll have to wait a week to see what happens next, but the waiting’s just part of the fun, right?

What do you think about the first episodes of Start-Up? Tell us below!