Typhoon Family

THIS IS NOT A TYPHOON, ITS NOT EVEN A DRIZZLE

A show trying too hard at becoming a heartwarming series that falls short on tugging your emotions.

Lee Jun Ho has proven himself as an actor, here he does so much of the heavy lifting. Unfortunately, he can only do so much as this show is just lacking. I didnt feel any empathy for his character, i didnt even feel his chemistry with the FL. Definitely not his best work.

Its pretty obvious that the show relied so heavily with LJH. In fact, there were parts when the series wanted to s how how charming he is and you'll notice the cinematography changes and the screen is filled with this glowy sunshine-y filter common with Korean romcoms - the difference in tone is so jarring and just doesnt work with the 90's vibe.

Episodes are long, and sad to say, boring. They want you to feel sorry and relate to the plights of the characters but almost everyone is just so bland and unlikeable. There is no real character development and no transformation for everyone except maybe for Tae Pung's mother. The story arcs and the challenges are so staged and are mostly resolved so conveniently and unrealistically.

To create depth and layers to a family drama there are 2 ways a series can go - First is the no-villain route (a la the Reply Series), create "natural" , emotional, interesting scenarios for the characters to go through and overcome, and the second route is to create a villain so strong, disgusting, scary and/or powerful that youd be afraid for the protagonist. The problem with this series is the annoying villains totally ruined this show. I didnt say effective, i said annoying. Probably one of the worst written villains in a Korean drama. Pyo Hyeon Jun's endless obsession with Tae Pung, his character was a joke and is shallow, repetitive and so uverused during the entire series, -he is not scary, not even entertaining, just annoying.

Will i recommend? Im honestly not sure, maybe if you are a LJH fan. Will i rewatch? Are you kidding me, big NO.

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One of Jun Ho's Best!

This is definitely Jun Ho like you've never seen before ...
Some reviews were so brutal here, I'm not sure we were watching the same series. I found this drama to be so fantastic in every way. Jun Ho is masterful as always. For anyone who lost a parent and had to pick up the pieces of their lives and go on, this series shows us exactly that. In the beginning, you can't imagine Tae Pung taking over the family business for his recently departed dad, but not only does he transform himself, but everyone around him changes for the better as we get deeper into each episode.
Watching the two lead protagonists fight the evil and dishonest practices of the main antagonists, Hyeon Jun & Bak Ho (Pyo's Owners), it's exhausting to say the least. At times it gets a bit too overwhelming, watching the evil father and son get the best of Tae Jung over and over again ... but you know eventually things will change. It does take forever for this to happen, but don't give up hope. It really does happen!
Early on I couldn't see or feel the magic of Tae Jung & Mi Seon becoming a couple, but somehow it happens and becomes quite believable about halfway through the drama. They become perfectly matched, making for a one two punch tag team to keep Typhoon Trading alive. I think episode 8, the Thailand trip, is when it begins to show us anything is possible, especially seeing Jun Ho sing in English. That was definitely the pinnacle episode of the series. That's where everything started to gel with all the characters, and you could see and feel an unofficial family starting to bond.
Toward the end, I must admit I was hoping for a better demise of the wicked Hyeon Jun. Even though he gets what he deserves, it would have been nice to see the full retribution that was coming his way. The writers seem to leave that up to our imagination.
Throughout each episode, as things kept appearing to be so bleak for Typhoon Trading, one line used earlier on, seems to apply many times over... ... "stars still exist even when they can't be seen"
Don't give up hope!
Extremely enjoyable series with great performances to match!!

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A Heartfelt Slice of Life Set in the Toughest Times

This drama is set during the IMF crisis in Korea, and honestly, it captures that era with so much sincerity. Our male lead doesn’t grow into the typical “tough hero” K-dramas love to sell us. Instead, he becomes a real man — soft, humble, emotional, and someone who cries in his mother’s arms without shame. He’s a good friend, a good son, and even though his father never said it out loud, you can feel that quiet, unspoken love in the background.

Then we have our female lead — the true backbone of her family. Strong, determined, and carrying responsibilities bigger than her age. She’s the sole earner, yet somehow still holds on to her dreams with both hands. Watching her grit and resilience was honestly one of my favorite parts of the show.

If you enjoyed the cozy nostalgia and family warmth of the Reply series, this one will definitely hit a similar emotional chord. The only difference? I’ve rewatched Reply 1988 more than 5 times… but this one? Probably not. It’s beautiful, meaningful, touching — but a one-time emotional journey for me.

Still, it’s a heartfelt story about family, hardship, growth, and love that doesn’t need big gestures to feel real. Worth a watch for anyone who loves quiet, grounded storytelling.

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The biggest villains of this story were the writers.

I have a lot to say, but I feel like so much of my time has already been wasted, so I will keep this short.

Typhoon Family was introduced with so much potential — a strong foundation, an ensemble of endearing characters, and its setting in the nostalgic 1990s. Even though the story was slow from the beginning, I really enjoyed the first half. Unfortunately, my interest diminished when the repetitiveness in the plot became too glaring to ignore. I was expecting a heartwarming story of good people overcoming hardships, with a balanced amount of wins and losses to inspire hope, and a healthy narrative progression to keep me on my toes. This was not it. The only things that were consistent in this drama were the disappointments and setbacks our protagonists suffered. Every episode was the same story of failure, just told slightly differently.

In general, I liked the cinematography and the characters. They were the reasons why I kept tuning into this drama week after week. However, as charming as they were, they just weren't enough to offset the messy writing that hijacked the plot in the second half. The Pyo father-and-son duo might have been annoying antagonists for constantly trying to sabotage the Typhoon Trade crew, but the biggest villains of this story were actually the writers. There were so many times during my watch that I wondered, what happened to the compelling storytelling that was present in the beginning? It was nowhere to be found since the Thailand arc.

I'm happy for those who loved Typhoon Family from the start until the end, but sadly for me, this was a missed opportunity. It did not have enough substance and momentum to sustain sixteen episodes, which was probably why the repetitiveness was so obvious. On top of that, the way the writers dealt with the antagonists — both the traitors and the rivals alike — was unsatisfying. The story dragged until the finale, where the writers lazily crammed all the action into the last episode as a means to wrap everything up. No matter how much I initially cared for the characters, their relationships, and their journeys, by the end, I was just thankful that everything was over. It was a mentally draining experience, taking one too many hours of my life that I won't be getting back.

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Boys playing CEOs

The series has a good guy, a bad guy and a girl. The ML is a spoiled brat that only wants to have a good time and he gets into a fight with another spoiled brat, who becomes the villain. The ML parents come to the police station, but tells him how disappointed they are with him and the father walks away,but the father, rival of the ML's father, of the boy he was fighting gets everyone out.
Soon after that, the ML's father, who owns Typhoon Trading, dies and the ML, who idolized his father, as he passes out bonus checks to the five employees he decides to try and save the company. He's attracted to the girl on the bottom rung, who seems to be the most qualified of the five and talks her into helping him.
The series is based on South Korea's IMF bail out in the late '90's when small businesses were going bankrupt and Typhoon Trading was not only having financial trouble, but the 'villain' was doing everything he could to have them go under. That is what became boring, in that one episode the 'villain' would do something, which the next episode they had to fix.
The ML and FL were supposedly the romantic plot, but in reality the supporting cast couple wound up being the couple that had chemistry together.
Overall, I enjoyed the first couple episodes, then he became boring I only watched it hoping it'd get better, which IMO didn't happen.

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A Patience-Rewarding Underdog Tale

Typhoon Family has one of the slowest first episodes I’ve sat through. I was genuinely fighting for my life to stay awake. But it’s also the kind of show where you feel the potential underneath, and I’m glad I pushed on because it eventually delivers.

What sets this drama apart from other underdog stories is both what makes it endearing and what makes it frustrating. Unlike Hot Stove League, Designated Survivor, The Winning Try, and similar dramas, there are no small victories along the way. There’s no steady progress or tiny wins to keep you hopeful during the journey. Instead, the drama seems to save everything for one big, ultimate payoff in the final episode. It’s realistic, but the lack of progress almost made me quit more than once.

One of my disappointments was the wasted potential of the female lead. Kim Min-ha is a genuinely great actress, and I’ve seen her shine in other works, but this drama never gives her the room to do so. The way her character is introduced makes you expect major growth and meaningful contribution. Instead, she keeps trying but never truly delivers, and it is consistently the male lead who ends up saving the day. She feels more like an extension of the story rather than a central force in it.

The romance is subtle and charming, even if it doesn’t offer many fluttery moments beyond the Thailand sequence. What it lacks in excitement, it makes up for in sincerity. Their chemistry builds quietly and steadily, and the development of their relationship is handled with care, making each shift in their dynamic feel natural, authentic, and earned.

The standout of the entire show is Lee Jun-ho. He is the heart of this drama and steals every scene with ease. The way he portrays Kang Tae-poong, with sincerity, joy, sorrow, hope, and that dorky charm, is infectious. You feel everything with him. Watching his growth from an easygoing, carefree person to someone who carries real responsibility and becomes someone others rely on is one of the show’s best qualities. He is also incredibly good looking, to the point where it’s impossible not to stay glued to the screen.

The group dynamic is another major strength. They may be a company, but they function as a true family. Their camaraderie, playful banter, loyalty, and determination to survive together are heartwarming. The found family element shines throughout, and each supporting character feels unique, consistent, and delightful in their own way.

Typhoon Family is a drama that takes its time, sometimes to a fault, but it ultimately finds warmth, heart, and purpose. It succeeds in creating characters you genuinely root for and moments that feel earned. By the end, the journey feels worthwhile, and their victories feel like your own.

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Every week it's the same story in a different location.

I've been watching Typhoon Family on Netflix for 6 weeks now. It has high ratings but it's boring. Every week it's the same story in a different location. Tae Poong and his squad overcoming the bullying of the Pyo's. Every. Single. Week. Toss in developing relationships, poverty, wealth and class disparity, it's boring.

They get stuck in a narrative rinse-and-repeat cycle. And Typhoon Family is absolutely one of those shows where:
• the “Pyo family = cartoon bullies”
• the “Tae Poong squad = eternally righteous underdogs”
• the “rich vs poor morality play”
• plus a sprinkle of romance arcs
…all just keep looping without actual forward motion.

It’s like they wrote 16 episodes of plot and then stretched it across a much longer runtime to fit the daily drama format. You can practically predict each beat:
1. Pyo family postures.
2. Tae Poong’s crew suffers.
3. Tae Poong rallies.
4. Minor victory.
5. Reset.
6. New location, same template.

It’s not that those themes are inherently bad — bullying, class tension, and slow-burn relationships can be great — but the show doesn’t develop them. It just recycles them.

You’re supposed to care more as the story goes on, but it actually flattens because nothing escalates meaningfully. No stakes evolve, no characters change, the villains don’t deepen, and the emotional notes stay exactly the same. The end is predictable. The Pyo's will fall and received their just rewards, Tae Poong and his people will survive, if not rise. Nothing new. Same old recycled tropes.

You can't fault the cast. They're all seasoned and proven veterans. The soundtrack is respectable and the historical facts of the era, architecture and fashion are spot on. But the doesn't change the fact that the entire series could have played out in 8 episodes or less.

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More than a boring business drama!!

I was initially hesitant to watch this show thinking it would be another boring business-focused kdrama with longwinded plots and business jargon. But.. my god.. i was so suprised when this turned out to be one of my favourites of this year!!
Under the façade of a business drama set in the economic drought of the imf crisis, this drama became such a heartwarming slice of life drama revolving around Taepoong and his colleagues navigating the troughs and peaks of life by relying on nothing but eachother.
Definietly worth a watch if you enjoy a good slice of life drama!!

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Pretty moments in between survival!

Typhoon Family is really different. Its based during the IMF crisis of Korea, a regular slice of life! Its about fighting, keep going everyday in life, falling and then again standing! Family, friends, colleagues, bonds are so beautifully portrayed. So many moments just touch your heart! I feel the writing, direction is beautifully done! After watching the end, it feels the drama just showcases a circle of life, situations and moments with it.
People who love romance, though its not fully romance based, this drama has plenty of romantic moments. The lead couple are beautiful green flags, always together, have top notch chemistry, support each other, and end up together as well. Actually they give such a married vibe from the very first episode. We also have a cute second leads couple.
Again, the drama is based in 1990s, so you need to understand characters would act according to that situation, though everyone goes through a transition as the episodes further. The family moments are top notch!
Someone who is interested in revenge, or winning almost everything, doing business deals, becoming a chaebol, this isn't it. This is not Itaewon Class! This drama is more about failures, and how people cope up with it, seeing their dreams fail! It brings tears to you. Continuous failures can make you feel that the drama is dragged. But it is not. The drama is about survival, and they survive. Its a happy ending! But the drama is not for everyone!
I personally loved it. After a tiresome week, eating good food while watching the drama gave such a complete feel to me! It made me blush, cry, happy and various other emotions! Do give it a try!
The actors everyone did such a good job! Especially Junho & Minha were fantastic!
I will remember this drama for a very very long time :)

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"If we do not give up, anything is possible"

Typhoon Family reads like a well-made, sentimental and mildly patriotic Hollywood movie (only 8+x longer!). I cried happy, proud tears continuously throughout the last half of the last episode. A total paean to small businesses everywhere and the affections and family lives of ordinary people.

Koreans are justly proud of their country's revival from the IMF crisis and of the 'Miracle on the Han River' which followed. In a nation full of tragic and painful histories, the resilience of everyday citizens remains a marvel then and now. Ma-Jin, the initial head of sales at Typhoon Trading, says it best. ( in the English translation) " Times may change but I believe there are timeless things...well, it's nothing much: family, love, comradeship, and patriotism. Things like those."

This series follows a business struggling thru the crisis and a family struggling with loss. Businesses often face disasters and either snatch success from the jaws of defeat, or they fail and start again. Businesspeople will tell you nothing different. In fact they will regale you with such tales until your ears turn blue.

I am not quite sure how the creators of this series dared to make history this mundane the subject of a drama, and how they discovered the magic recipe of Typhoon Family. Episode after episode of struggling with the dastardly opposing company who live by the belief that business is a zero-sum game where compassion is weakness, somehow never became boring. The anxiety alone will keep you roiled up and attentive.

The show has several through lines, but episodes are organized by things the company finds to sell. Honestly fascinating as you reflect on korean economic history, the team must locate supply lines, figure out funding problems and transport logistics for the following: surgical-quality rubber gloves, helmets to use on scooters, safety shoes for work using new high-performance materials, finally micro-fans for cooling small electronics (cameras ostensibly but we all know where they are destined). I found the last segment particularly affecting as it highlighted the sort of patented inventions created by regular people in their spare time in other great periods of technological change around the world.

JunHo's best qualities as an actor are showcased: his tenderness, his unabashed idealism and his sturdy, stubborn portrayals of men who lead by protecting others. The script boldly tossed the usual FL roles out the window and the casting of Kim Min Ha as the FL was courageous as well. The character is a diligent, tactful, ambitious person, in short, a normal elder child, an affectionate and responsible girl. The progression of their relationship is almost too gentle, too discreet, too respectful. and once again, only in the ending episode do you realize how strong that relationship can be without any fanfare at all.

Kim Min-Seok (once again!) and Kwon Han Sol will steal your heart, break it into little pieces and put it back together again as the second couple. The street scenes are a joy, the office scenes are lived-in, with that edge that domesticity brings -- utility balanced against order. The scene dressers deserve a special award.

The technical aspects of the show demonstrate absolute professionalism and balance. The soundtrack is of course wonderful, but everything, cinematography, camerawork, choreography, editing supports the story directly and cleanly. I recommend this highly. I watched it on air for six weeks, but I thin k it will be a better bingewatch. And a rewatch for a family party or a long warm evening.

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Stability in Unstable Times

This drama clearly showed that even in the midst of crisis, survival is possible...particularly when one is held together by a sense of family, even when that family isn’t blood-related. Tae-poong, the male lead, faced the sudden death of his father, who ran a trading company called Typhoon Family. Coincidentally, his father died on the same day the South Korean IMF crisis hit, leaving many businesses in shambles and some completely closed.
Determined, Tae-poong took over his late father’s company and worked to guide its employees toward stability amid the economic storm. The drama did a commendable job of illustrating how each employee’s life was disrupted by both the IMF crisis and the loss of their boss and yet many still chose to return to Typhoon Family to support their new captain. Bold, right?!
What stood out most to me was how the employees collectively gave their all to stabilize the company, even under severe financial strain. Each individual revealed distinct strengths from sales and accounting to networking and language skills highlighting the value of teamwork during uncertainty. The female lead, Mi-seon, was portrayed as a smart, hardworking, and resilient trader who faced criticism from a colleague simply for being a woman in the field, the nerve! Her perseverance and eventual recognition reinforced her position as a capable professional and, quite frankly, a boss lady.
Beyond the workplace, the romance between Tae-poong and Mi-seon was genuinely charming. Their chemistry felt organic, and their mutual support (both professionally and personally ) added emotional warmth to an otherwise tense narrative.
Another notable aspect was how the drama portrayed different forms of family and personal hardship, including single-parent households and children without parental support. These narratives added emotional depth and grounded the story in social reality, making moments of success feel genuinely earned.
That said, the drama isn’t without its shortcomings. The recurring “loss-win” cycle repeated setbacks followed by recovery at times felt overly repetitive and slowed the pacing. This may be a deal breaker for some viewers; however, within the context of an economic and business drama set during a financial crisis, the repetition felt thematically justified, as it reflected the unstable nature of businesses at the time. Additionally, while Mi-seon eventually earned respect in the workplace, the early depiction of sexism was difficult to watch. Although it was addressed later, those initial episodes were particularly frustrating.
Overall, this was a heartfelt drama that thoughtfully explored resilience, teamwork, love and family in all its forms. It remains both emotionally engaging and intellectually grounded, making it well worth watching.

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