Popular Korean drama Start-Up is about job aspirations. However, it is much more than that! Its ardent supporters, including myself, are aware that it is a reassuring tale about realism, dreams, optimism, and endearing contemporary relationships.
Office dramas are a common genre in Korean television. Whatever the case, Start-Up stands out with themes of gender equality in the workplace and the battle to succeed, making it relatable for the majority of youthful viewers. Fans adore this show for a number of reasons. They disagree, however, on one point: who of Han Ji Pyeong and Nam Do San was a better fit for Seo Dal Mi.
The Boy From The Letters
I think Ji Pyeong and Dal Mi got along really well. In addition to being previous pen pals, the two formed a strong mentor-mentee team and enjoyed a special affinity. Ji Pyeong’s cynicism would (naturally) make Do San and his buddies sneer, but Dal Mi looked past his resentment.
Despite having very different personalities—Ji Pyeong’s impulsive fights and Dal Mi’s immature daydreaming—the two formed a mature connection based on respect. Due to their similar conflicting features, a love connection between the two would be very incompatible. Although they provided each other with support during a difficult childhood, it didn’t follow that they would marry. After all, the television show showed that true love does not follow conventional filmic forms or genres.
8 Reasons Why Do San Was Perfect For Dal Mi
To help two true loves find one other, Ji Pyeong introduces Dal Mi to the real Do San. So, returning to the primary theme of this piece, I have plenty of justifications for why I support the romantic relationship between Do San and Dal Mi.
- They Shared A Childlike Dreaminess: Unlike the shrewd practicality that Won In Jae and Ji Pyeong possessed, Dal Mi and Do San had a childlike optimism about their careers. As rookies in the Start-up world, the two of them were inexperienced but foresighted and hardworking. Dreaming big and sharing similar struggles was what made them connect with each other. Dal Mi even forgave Do San for lying about being wealthy and successful as she could relate with him.
- They Admired Each Other: Dal Mi and Do San shared a unique relation of both comfort and high regard. While Dal Mi would blush at every little text from him, Do San would make consistent efforts to live up to the ideal standards of her former pen pal.
- Do San Went Out Of His Way Not To Let Her Down: Do San was a coding geek who had most of his interactions with his laptop and had trouble understanding human mannerisms. However, keeping his technical attitude aside, he understood Dal Mi emotionally. Without even knowing her, Do San rescued her at the networking event out of sheer kindness.
- Dal Mi Helped Him Open Up Emotionally: Despite being a prodigy and a coding genius, Do San had issues with self-esteem owing to a childhood incident. Even so, Dal Mi brought out the best in him with her loving support. She would dote on him, and validate him as the wise and attractive boy she had fallen for.
- They Faced Challenges As A Team: The duo faced consistent challenges with their Start-up SamSan Tech. Even so, be it financial issues, technical glitches, or external intimidation, they supported each other as a team and persisted as a power couple!
- They Saw Each Others Potential: Do San trusted Dal Mi s leadership to the extent that he made her the CEO of his own Start-up. Dal Mi trusted Do San s technical creativity to the extent that she took the pain of finding investors without disclosing the problems. This was only possible as the two believed in each others capabilities.
- Dal Mi Kept Getting Drawn To Him: On finding out that Nam Do San wasn t her love from the letters, after all, Dal Mi was devastated. However, as a consequence of their precious time together, Dal Mi realized that she had finally gotten over the boy from the letters. She had deeply fallen for every little mannerism, and every adorable flaw of the real Do San.
- Do San Let Go Of Their Painful Past: The painful separation of SamSan tech had led to a painful breakup of the power couple! Having mixed feelings about the acquihire, the lies she had been told, and her own future, Dal Mi chose to end things with Do San. While Dal Mi s decision was understandable, Do San s decision not to forgive her would be too! Nevertheless, true love conquers the heartbreaks of the past, and Do San proved it. He let go of their past and confessed his feelings for Dal Mi. And we all know which ship persisted as the best one after all.
Beginning in 2020, HiSTORY D&C will release the South Korean drama Start-up, starring Bae Suzy, Nam Joo Hyuk, Kim Seon Ho, and Kang Ha Na. Netflix is streaming it.
