Start-Up

Start-Up

show

TV-14, 2020

WISE
68%

WISE Score

7.9

IMDb

Korean drama where tech startup dreams meet romantic chaos—think Silicon Valley meets love triangle, with way more crying.

IMDb7.9
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

Start-Up is a perfectly watchable K-drama that markets itself as a tech entrepreneurship story but delivers mostly romantic angst with startup set dressing. If your teen loves K-dramas and has shown interest in business or tech, this could be a decent entry point—the production quality is solid and it does touch on real startup concepts.

That said, be prepared for the romance to completely overshadow the innovation storyline. The love triangle is divisive (many viewers find it exhausting), and character decisions can be frustrating rather than enlightening. It's not going to inspire the next Gen Z founder, but it won't rot their brain either.

The IMDb 7.9 vs Letterboxd 3.4 split tells you everything: it's popular but polarizing. Some people love the emotional drama; others find it a slog. At 16 episodes, it's a commitment, so make sure your teen is actually into K-dramas before diving in.

Age Fit

Best for ages 14+ who are interested in K-dramas, romance, or entrepreneurship. The business elements might engage teens curious about tech, but fair warning: this is primarily a romantic drama with startup dressing, not the other way around.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
72

Korean drama focused on tech entrepreneurs navigating ambition, friendship, and romance. Generally models positive relationships and perseverance, though includes competitive business tension and some emotional manipulation between characters. Pacing is typical K-drama (16 episodes, slower build), which some viewers find engaging while others find dragging.

Imaginative
68

Centers on startup culture and tech innovation in a fictional Silicon Valley-style sandbox in South Korea. Explores entrepreneurship, coding, and business strategy, though execution leans more toward romantic drama than genuinely imaginative exploration of tech. The 'sandbox' concept and startup journey offer some creative framework, but it's more aspirational than truly inventive.

Safe
78

Common Sense Media rates it 14+, which aligns with typical K-drama content: minimal violence, no graphic content, some romantic tension and kissing, emotional intensity around family trauma and business betrayal. No surprise gore or inappropriate sexual content. Main concerns are emotional manipulation storylines and complex relationship dynamics that younger viewers might misinterpret.

Enriching
65

Offers window into startup culture, entrepreneurship, and tech world dynamics. Explores themes of ambition, ethical business decisions, and class differences. However, romantic triangle often overshadows business storylines, and some viewers find character decisions frustrating rather than instructive. IMDb 7.9 and Letterboxd 3.4 suggest decent entertainment value but not universally beloved.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Introduces entrepreneurship and startup culture concepts in an accessible, dramatized way
  • Strong production values and cinematography typical of quality K-dramas
  • Explores class differences and ethical business decisions amid ambition
  • Characters show perseverance through failure and setbacks
  • Good gateway into Korean dramas for teens interested in tech or business
⚠

What to Watch For

  • Romance heavily dominates what could have been a more tech-focused show—if you're hoping for Korean Silicon Valley, prepare for disappointment
  • Love triangle dynamics and emotional manipulation between characters can be frustrating and model questionable relationship behavior
  • Typical K-drama length and pacing (16 episodes) requires commitment and patience
  • Some viewers find the female lead's choices maddening, which could spark good conversations or just annoyance

Conversation Starters

  • "Would you want to work at a startup? What kind of company would you want to build?"
  • "The characters make some questionable choices in their relationships—what would you do differently?"
  • "How do you think ambition and friendship can clash? Where's the line between healthy competition and betrayal?"
  • "What do you think about the way success and wealth are portrayed in the show?"
Stills
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