K Drama Chat Weekly

Today, we take a quick break from Start-Up , the K Drama we're recapping and analyzing in Season 13 of K Drama Chat, to reflect on the best K Dramas of 2025. We share our top 5 shows, actors, actresses, scenes, and songs of the year—and we hear from YOU, our amazing listeners! We discuss: The listener-favorite and TIME Magazine’s top K Drama of 2025: When Life Gives You Tangerines Songs we loved in 2025 The top shows of our listeners. We hear from: MrsDJQ Irma Christine Malcolm Shine Sue Ernabel Our personal top 5 shows and honorable mentions A special treat: audio clips from listeners sharing their top shows! The actresses who blew us away in 2025 The standout male performances The most memorable scenes from K Dramas we watched K Dramas we’re looking forward to in 2026 Korean films from 2025 we recommend watching A reminder to join us next week when we return to Start-Up and discuss Episode 7 and Stephanie Lee, the actress who plays Jeong Sa-ha References 60+ K Dramas f...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 6 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 we featured during the recap: Where Is Dream by 10CM, Maybe You Know It by Park Sejun, and Game Room by Park Sejun. We also shared insights into 10CM’s music career and unique vocal style. The concept of the “key man,” and how Nam Do-san, as the brilliant coder, is the true key person behind Samsan Tech’s success, not Seo Dal-mi. An in-depth conversation about equity and ownership, with Han Ji Pyeong insisting that a CEO must have majority equity to lead effectively — a controversial claim that causes major friction in the team. The fallout among the Samsan Tech founders when Chul San and Yong San feel betrayed by Nam Do-san’s proposed equity structure, prompting a near breakup. Seo Dal-mi’s growth as a CEO, including how sh...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 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: "Running" by Gaho and "Shake Shake." The intense and emotional hackathon that tests our characters’ ambition, determination, and self-worth. Seo Dal-mi’s rising ambition and her impressive performance as the new CEO of Samsan Tech. Nam Do-san’s growing confidence, his romantic development, and his beautiful metaphor involving Tarzan. The theme of imposter syndrome and how both Dal-mi and Do-san feel they’re not worthy — but believe in each other. The critical role APIs, GPUs, data sets, and artificial neural networks play in tech — and how they’re introduced in the show. Han Ji Pyeong’s internal turmoil, guilt, and shift from dismissive investor to personal mentor and backer of S...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 4 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: “I Know” by Seunghui, Jiho, and Yubin, and “Let’s Go To Sandbox” by Kim Dong Hyuk. The history and meaning behind Korea's first snow superstition and how it shows up in K Dramas and real life. Netflix’s evolution and its global strategy as it reportedly acquires Warner Brothers. The symbolism behind the money plant that Dal-mi gives Do-san and the Joseon-era significance of In-jae cutting her hair. How Sandbox reflects the early 2000s .com startup culture — including casual offices and office dogs. The origin of the word “bug” in computing and its metaphorical meaning for Do-san’s emotional crash. How all three leads — Dal-mi, Do-san, and In-jae — are sailing without a map, trying to prove themsel...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 3 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: One Day by Kim Feel and Dream a Dream by Park Sejun. Kim Feel’s music is soulful and widely featured in K Drama OSTs. Joanna’s trip to Europe, highlights from Nice and Monaco, and her growing confidence speaking French thanks to Duolingo Max. The hilarious and emotional interactions between Nam Do-san and Han Ji Pyeong, including reciting the South Korean national anthem to cover a fake business discussion. The poetic metaphor of the music box, representing Nam Do-san as someone full of potential and how Seo Dal-mi’s belief in him gives him the courage to grow. The layered sibling rivalry and estrangement between Seo Dal-mi and Won In Jae, and the complex emotions tied to their mother. An in-depth e...