We Revisited 5 Things Director Oh Choong-Hwan Said About "Start-Up" And Its Actors/Characters
With two episodes left, we take a look back on some quotes from director Oh Choong-hwan during the series' virtual press conference
Last October, a few days before the premiere of K-drama Start-Up, Metro.Style was invited to watch its virtual press conference that was attended by director Oh Choong-hwan and cast members Bae Suzy (Seo Dal-mi), Nam Joo-hyuk (Nam Do-san), Kim Seon-ho (Han Ji-pyeong), and Kang Han-na (Won In-jae).
The director revealed that the idea for the series had been simmering about a couple of years ago, with the main plot zooming in on business. But to make things more exciting and relevant to viewers looking for inspiring and aspiring content, the lead stars are all young and are doing their best to succeed in life through start-up companies.
The setting of the story is the Sandbox, symbolic of the sandbox at the playground, which is meant to protect aspiring businesspeople from getting hurt at the initial stages of establishing their start-up companies. The idea of sandbox lends a youthful, high-spirited approach to putting up and running businesses, encouraging one to just get into the swing of things.
Check out the gallery below to see what director Oh Choong-hwan had to say about "Start-Up" and its actors and characters during the series' virtual press conference:
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Director Oh Choong-Hwan On "Start-Up"
Director Oh Choong-Hwan On "Start-Up"
On Bae Suzy
"I’ve worked with Suzy before and there’s this kind of energy about Suzy that you want to encourage and want to see grow," says director Oh Choong-hwan, who previously worked with Bae Suzy in the K-drama "While You Were Sleeping." Bae Suzy also worked with writer Park Hye-ryun in "Dream High" and "While You Were Sleeping."
Photo Credit: tvN
Bae Suzy's character, Seo Dal-mi, started off as a hardworking employee who was juggling different part-time jobs and struggling to get a permanent full-time work. At first, she wanted to enter Sandbox to beat her older sister, but she later realized her real goal and ambition. And when she came to that realization, one can't help but root for and empathize with her, as she's driven to make a difference and an impact as a CEO. She had a tough life growing up, so it'll be nice to finally see her have a happy, comfortable life with successes of her own that she can truly be proud of.
Photo Credit: tvN, courtesy of Netflix
On Nam Joo-Hyuk
"Nam Joo-hyuk had a memorable performance in 'The Light in Your Eyes.' He showed a very memorable performance there and the writer had been very taken with him. We thought he’d be perfect for a developer who grows by relationships and grows by meeting different people," shares the director.
Photo Credit: tvN
Nam Joo-hyuk's Nam Do-san is a math genius, who was once the pride of his family. Tech savvy, he put up a start-up company with his friends, but became a disappointment to his parents when he failed to succeed in this endeavor. Do-san was socially awkward and is a late bloomer, but when he ventured into a bigger world (aka Sandbox), he began to open up, explore the depths of his mind and heart, and realize his full potential. At Sandbox, where he's surrounded by likeminded individuals, he gets to show both sides as a team leader and a team player. Now that he has established a name for himself and their company, Do-san has become noticeably more confident yet still mindful of his humble beginnings.
Photo Credit: tvN, courtesy of Netflix
On Kim Seon-Ho
"Kim Seon-ho is an actor I’ve always been a fan of," says director Oh Choong-hwan. "He has a clean, but complex aura. He seems very sharp, but he’s a softie on the inside. Such a cute and friendly character. Han Ji-pyeong also has a sharpness about him but also has a softness within him."
Photo Credit: tvN
Kim Seon-ho's Han Ji-pyeong is an orphan who, through hard work and perseverance, later succeeded as a venture capitalist. He has an inspiring rags-to-riches story. Because Ji-pyeong grew up with no one else to rely on but himself, he became a tough cookie. He's often misunderstood for his harsh words even when all he wants is to be blunt, honest, and straightforward about certain matters and situations. Ji-pyeong has now realized the power of words and how much it can hurt others, and has become more considerate of others' feelings. He may be mean on the façade but deep inside, he's soft-hearted and thoughtful.
Photo Credit: tvN, courtesy of Netflix
On Kang Han-Na
According to the director, Kang Han-na’s character "is the loneliest out of the four characters. She has relatively less scenes and lines, but there’s something about her energy. She’s strong and complex, but also very warm."
Photo Credit: tvN
Kang Han-na's character is Seo In-jae/Won In-jae. She's the sister of Seo Dal-mi. When their parents decided to file for divorce, she chose to be with her mother who got married again to a rich man. She then enjoyed a comfortable life and even got an opportunity to run her own company, thanks to her stepfather's wealth and connections. However, she grew tired of having to constantly prove herself in order to secure her position, and wanted to succeed on her own, away from her stepfather's shadow. To show that she can make things happen with her talent and business know-how alone, she joined Sandbox and put up a start-up company. She may be ambitious and condescending, but there's no denying that she makes a clever CEO. She's cool and calm, but she has a fiery passion for what she does.
Photo Credit: tvN, courtesy of Netflix
On "Start-Up"
Director Oh Choong-hwan said, "I was surprised to see many shows of similar genres among K-dramas. I think it reflects viewers’ desires to watch heart-fluttering stories about youth. Our story has ups and downs because it follows the characters’ ups and downs. You’re going to watch our characters grow and foster friendships with one another and also learn life lessons and learn more about who they are. It’s about love, but not just about love, it’s about having a vision for your life and working hard for your vision."
Photo Credit: tvN
As a bonus, director Oh Choong-hwan also commented on how the actors really embraced their characters, saying, "When I work on drama series and when the talent gets on set, I believe it’s important to create a space on set where they feel comfortable to do their art. All the actors feel like their characters to me. They really embodied their characters."
Photo Credit: tvN
Start-Up is available on Netflix, with the last two episodes airing this Saturday and Sunday!
Photos from tvN
