Start Up: Is there always a sandbox to fall into?

Ideas and thoughts tend to come in and out in our minds. It is easy for us to imagine things but so hard to start something up and maintain the things we have started, especially in the business field.

Start-Up is a Korean Drama Series that has blown the minds of all Korean fans all over the world since the day it was released on Netflix last October 17, 2020.

I, myself can’t deny the fact that I have been an avid fan of Korean Dramas since I was in High School. There are times wherein we can already predict the plot and the ending of the story.

Nevertheless, knowing these facts doesn’t stop us from watching these series because it always leaves us a great lesson and remarkable impact in life, or is it just the Oppa we all love?

Kidding aside, this Kdrama series has portrayed excellent character development, and this drama is not just about love and romance. It also presents different aspects of relationships such as family, friends, and even workmates.

The main characters of this drama were Bae Suzy, Nam Joohyuk, and Kim Seonho. The chemistry of these characters was Superb, and they were able to portray their characters well.

Seo Dal Mi (Bae Suzy), the girl in the swing, a girl who did not finish any college degree, turns into a CEO of a Start-Up Company in Sandbox. She gives her best effort in everything she does, especially for the sake of their company. Because of her educational background, doubts are arising, but she managed to prove that she can keep up with those who have a better background than her. She learned a lot because of what happened in the middle of the series; this made her stronger and became a better version of herself. She also learned how to sacrifice and cast away her personal issues to move towards her dreams and aspirations.

Nam Do San (Nam Joo Hyuk), a smart, math olympian guy that was accelerated to college and a genius in programming. He tends to feel inferior all the time, especially with Han Ji Pyeong. It is not the material things that he envied the most; it is the person in those letters years ago. Due to his impulsiveness and eagerness to prevent asking for help from Ji Pyeong, they were caught up in a trap. However, this trap wasn’t bad after all because this made a huge difference in his life. He became bolder and confident in the things he did, but his love for Dal Mi didn’t change at all. He exemplifies great character development, which made the storyline even better.

Han Ji Pyeong (Kim Sun Ho), from an orphan who was helped by Dal Mi’s grandmother in his younger years, turned into a successful person. His experiences in life were his inspiration to become successful. He has a different style in teaching his juniors or apprentices in the Sandbox. He always looks into the loophole or deficient in everything instead of praising them with their accomplishments. This personality made Dal Mi appreciate him more as a mentor because she believes that this is his way of pushing them to their limits. His character also presents how love affected his way of seeing things. He learns how to let other people enter his personal life and see every inch of him, from a guy who just talks to Young- Sil, (AI assistant) into a guy who learns how to spend time with Dal Mi’s family.

This drama made me realize six (6) things:

1. Life isn’t that unfair at all; we just need to look for ways to become a better version of ourselves. Looking for our strengths and weaknesses as we try to find or wait for someone who will be our perfect match, partners in business, life and can also be in love.
2. Family will always be family at the end of the day. No matter how painful and shameless you are, they will accept you because you are family. Also, with every accomplishment you’ve made, you’ll feel happier and proud when your family feels the same way.
3. Money is indeed powerful and can outshine real talents, but I believe in Margery Williams’s quotation or line saying, “When you are Real you don’t mind being Hurt.” When you are hurting, it means you are learning something, and those learnings can make you a better person.
4. When you are meant to be, you will be! Am I that hopeless romantic? I am just quite amazed at how Do San and Dal Mi still feel the same even after all those years that they have been apart. True love will really conquer all odds and evens in life. Ji Pyeon has been showing his affection towards Dal Mi, but she can’t seem to notice it because she is too focused on Do San.
5. Forgiveness is not something you ask; it is something you work hard for and will wait until they give it naturally without you asking for it. Those lines in the series and even the last episode really made me reflect on this. I believe that saying sorry is not enough because sometimes, that word has been overused and loses its essence.
6. Life is not full of sandboxes because we learn better through failures. Getting hurt countless times is better for us to learn and be wiser. In that way, we won’t be thinking that someone or something will catch us when we fall.

This series will always have a special place in my heart. Ji Pyeong aroused my Second Lead Syndrome, not just because of his looks and cuteness but also because of how he helped Dal Mi throughout the series, even knowing that he does not stand a chance.

A great example of a relationship wherein the couples need to let go of someone for their own sake, for a better future even if they are no longer part of the picture. I guess this is the hardest break up of all breakups. It is really heartbreaking to let go of someone not because of third parties and such but because you do not want to ruin a good opportunity for them.

Nonetheless, Starting Up something such as relationship, business, and even in work is not that easy, but if you have a background, abilities, or skills and are financially stable, especially on the business aspect, it will be much easier than those who lack these things. The hardest part here is how you’ll be managing and overcoming the obstacles you’re going through.