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A beautiful story that shows how our dream life has always been before our eyes
Meet Kim Nak Su, a middle-aged salesman with an experience of 25 years. On the surface, Nak Su appears to have the perfect life: a good job, a loving family, an apartment in Seoul. But Nak Su isn't satisfied. He chases bigger achievements. In his pursuit of his dream life, Nak Su makes many questionable choices in order to achieve his dream life. And thus, he embarks on a hectic journey to self-growth.
The Dream Life of Mr Kim is one of the biggest surprises this year. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did and yet here I am gushing over it. I love this type of stories about older people who rediscover themselves and undergo a big development. I understand why they might not appeal to the masses but they can be so beautiful if done well. And The Dream Life of Mr Kim passed this test.
From the get-go, the series makes it plainly clear that Nak Su is not a likeable character. He is arrogant, overconfident, strict, dismissive, he displays conservative ideas. In short, he's the type of character you will not love so easily. Taking into account the fact he's such a controversial person, it makes sense why viewers might not feel connected to him or even choose to give up on this drama. But me, personally, I felt a pull towards this character particularly because he seemed so unlikeable.
Nak Su was a very realistic character. He is the embodiment of many men around his age, not only in South Korea, but in other countries in general. He believed he was faultless, that no matter what his decision was always right and everyone who thought otherwise couldn't be more wrong. He took many things for granted and instead of improving, he insisted on following his old methods. His views reflected his upbringing and the patriarchal nature of South Korean society and he undermined his wife's skills while trying to pressure his son into following a career he didn't like.
Underneath his facade, Kim Nak Su hid many insecurities. He strived to be better and he constantly compared his lifestyle to others. A colleague has an expensive suitcase? He will purchase the next best brand. An "inferior" employee owns an expensive car? Nak Su would need to step up his game. His life was a constant game of comparisons, not only on a professional level but a personal too.
I will not lie, there were times when I got annoyed by Nak Su's attitude. His know-it-all attitude and his refusal to take accountability of his actions puzzled me a lot. How could someone be so ignorant of their actions and their behavior? His inability to communicate properly with his colleagues almost gave me second-hand embarrassment and some of his choices were so infuriating, to the point I wanted to scream at him through my screen.
And yet, even after all that, Nak Su still managed to win my heart, in the most peculiar way. Although I strongly disagreed with his initial attitude, I secretly rooted for him to finally find his dream life. Watching him getting beaten down after every bad decision, made me both satisfied and yet so sad. He needed to fall from grace in order to develop and realise what he had lost but at the same time, my heart bled for him.
Nak Su might had been unlikeable but he wasn't heartless. Clueless yes. Selfish too. But he wasn't incapable of caring for others and their feelings. We saw that with Tae Hwan and the factory workers and as the story progressed, he allowed himself to be more open about his concern and affection. In his own way, Nak Su did everything for his family's case. He didn't express it but he cared for their well-being and he wanted to be the provider of it. So once he started losing his footing, he began to think that his life didn't have a purpose.
And even then, after losing almost everything, he insisted on clinging to the idea of proving everyone wrong. He was desperate to showcase his value and prove his worth as a salesman and a capable man who's the head of his family. He couldn't stand the idea of the company thriving despite his absence. He couldn't allow his wife to earn more than him. He couldn't accept reality in general. And that was his major flaw - and the beginning towards his self-discovery.
I could talk for hours about Nak Su's growth. At first, I was worried about how the writers would depict it because the first four episodes barely had any progress. But as the story went on, Nak Su started changing. Little by little, his old personality began to crumble and he allowed himself to be more vulnerable and open. His shattered life allowed him to open his eyes and reconnect not only with his loved ones but himself to.
As someone who studies psychology, I especially enjoyed and appreciated how the drama handled Nak Su's treatment of his mental health. His scenes with his therapist felt like a breath of fresh air and his initial reluctance in treatment was so realistic and consistent with his character. More kdramas need to address the topic of mental health and I'm glad to see that The Dream Life of Mr Kim did not overlook it.
As expected from a drama like this, The Dream Life of Mr Kim hit me right in the feelings. It caused me a plethora of emotions. Sadness, anger, confusion, cheerfulness, happiness. Just like real life, the drama makes you undergo many different emotional experiences, both positives and negatives. Above all, the drama included some heavy scenes that put tears in my eyes, like the one where Nak Su confessed to his brother how their parents' comparison shaped him up as a person or where he cried after giving up his job.
Of course a big part of my fondness towards Nak Su must be attributed to Ryu Seung Ryong's performance. This man does not disappoint with his roles. It's not easy to play an unlikeable character and make your audience root for him simultaneously but Ryu Seung Ryong did. He never failed to reveal Nak Su's real emotions, even his microexpressions like a twitch on his face or his furrowed eyebrows could convey so much. His acting really shined during the emotional moments and this is when he truly made me sympathize with Nak Su's struggles, as if they were my own. I am not exaggerating when I'm saying that he deserves to receive many nominations and awards for such a compelling performance.
Aside from Nak Su's personal growth and re-birth, The Dream Life of Mr Kim offered some other interesting topics in the story. For starters, it was amusing to see how workplace environments can be and observe the politics behind them. Through Nak Su's employees, we see what it feels like to have a demanding yet incompetent boss and through the background activities, it's revealed that corporations will often turn to shady activities if its profitable for them, without regarding their employees and how they'll be affected.
I was beyond surprised to learn that what the drama depicted is very accurate for South Korea: Korean companies will fire you, without actually firing you. That's the case in The Dream Life of Mr Kim, too. Nak Su doesn't get fired. Instead, he is shipped off as the team leader for Asan Factory Safety Management. It was so interesting to have more insight about companies in Korea and how they treat employees and once again, I couldn't help but still feel sorry for Nak Su (even though it was understandable for him to lose his position).
Another interesting aspect of the story was the development of Nak Su's wife, Ha Jin and their son, Su Gyeom. I was heavily rooting for both Ha Jin and Su Gyeom, especially Ha Jin. Her determination to become a real estate manager and resume her studies made me admire her a lot. I was happy to see that the writers didn't settle with making her a mere background character whose purpose would be to uplift Nak Su's development. She was a person of her own, with her own dreams and feelings and that was very refreshing to see.
I loved how she cared for Nak Su and yet still called him out for his behavior and decisions. Nak Su needed more people to knock some sense into him and hearing this from his own wife had a great impact on him. Similar to how she wasn't afraid to talk some sense into her husband, Ha Jin was not willing to let others step on her. She defended herself and refused to go down without putting a battle, which made her even more exciting to see.
As for Su Gyeom, I found his arc to be realistic and relatable. He was a young adult who wanted to earn his independence and pursue his own career path. It was quickly proven that this wouldn't be an easy road to cross and yet, with the help of his family, he didn't give up. I admit that at first I was bored during his scenes and I found his story to be the least engaging but as the episodes went by, I warmed up to him and I quietly supported his developing career.
Nak Su and Su Gyeom's relationship was complex and yet so beautiful. Both father and son deeply cared about each other. The problem was due to Nak Su's pride and his devotion towards his job, they drifted apart and this, Su Gyeom developed a disliking towards his father's ideas. It was only after Nak Su hitting the rock bottom that they began understanding each other better. Watching them bond and rekindle their relationship made my heart melt. Nak Su supported Su Gyeom and Su Gyeom supported Nak Su in return and their actions could speak louder than words.
The directing and cinematography highlighted the emotional impact and the characters' stories. The camera work and editing were very effective during the dialogues, they added so much tension and accompanied by the delightful yet intense piano notes in the background, they made me bite my nails in distress. Another example of the drama's excellent cinematography were the scenes of Nak Su having a panic attack. The way it was filmed made it feel like I was the one experiencing it. As someone who has experienced panic attacks before, their portrayal in the drama was realistic and grounded. They weren't overused to the point they lost their impact but they were equally effective and set up the ground for Nak Su's anxiety spiral.
If I could voice some minor complaints, they would be about some story points. As I mentioned above, Su Gyeom's arc took a while to make me invested. I got kinda bored with his interactions between Han Na and this whole "will-they-won't-they" situation between them was kinda annoying. Additionally, although I still believe that the writers handled Nak Su's development very well, the writing could have been a little bit tighter in some areas, particularly the first four or five episodes. Had the series been a little longer (say 14 episodes), Nak Su's growth could have been presented in an even more compelling way.
But even these minor flaws didn't ruin my overall impression. Although the first episodes had given me a lukewarm feeling, The Dream Life of Mr Kim actually got better as the story progressed. It's a drama with messages that can resonate with many people, no matter how old they are. Just like Nak Su, many of us are constantly trying to climb the ranks of society, while trying to build "the perfect life". But while trying to survive in a society that wants us to move forward and then stop once we'll reach a limit, we forget one important thing: we forget to LIVE. Life is not about luxurious, superficial things. It's not about owning a big apartment at the capital of your city. It's not about pleasing your higher-ups just to receive a promotion. It's not about buying expensive goods just to feel superior. It's about the memories we build with our loved ones and the small things that bring us joy.
Finding a purpose in this world is difficult. And if we have gotten used to a routine that provided us with some sort of stability and security, losing it might make us crumble. That doesn't mean we should give up. Every ending can lead to a new beginning. Sometimes, instead of clinging to our pride and unreachable dreams, it's okay to settle back and just accept reality.
Spending all our lives chasing after promotions, becoming our companies' erant boy and neglecting the people close to us will become exhausting and soul draining. Maybe all we need to do is sit back, take a break and reflect on everything. And maybe, if we open our eyes, we might realise that what we've looking for has always been right in front of us.
The Dream Life of Mr Kim is one of the biggest surprises this year. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did and yet here I am gushing over it. I love this type of stories about older people who rediscover themselves and undergo a big development. I understand why they might not appeal to the masses but they can be so beautiful if done well. And The Dream Life of Mr Kim passed this test.
From the get-go, the series makes it plainly clear that Nak Su is not a likeable character. He is arrogant, overconfident, strict, dismissive, he displays conservative ideas. In short, he's the type of character you will not love so easily. Taking into account the fact he's such a controversial person, it makes sense why viewers might not feel connected to him or even choose to give up on this drama. But me, personally, I felt a pull towards this character particularly because he seemed so unlikeable.
Nak Su was a very realistic character. He is the embodiment of many men around his age, not only in South Korea, but in other countries in general. He believed he was faultless, that no matter what his decision was always right and everyone who thought otherwise couldn't be more wrong. He took many things for granted and instead of improving, he insisted on following his old methods. His views reflected his upbringing and the patriarchal nature of South Korean society and he undermined his wife's skills while trying to pressure his son into following a career he didn't like.
Underneath his facade, Kim Nak Su hid many insecurities. He strived to be better and he constantly compared his lifestyle to others. A colleague has an expensive suitcase? He will purchase the next best brand. An "inferior" employee owns an expensive car? Nak Su would need to step up his game. His life was a constant game of comparisons, not only on a professional level but a personal too.
I will not lie, there were times when I got annoyed by Nak Su's attitude. His know-it-all attitude and his refusal to take accountability of his actions puzzled me a lot. How could someone be so ignorant of their actions and their behavior? His inability to communicate properly with his colleagues almost gave me second-hand embarrassment and some of his choices were so infuriating, to the point I wanted to scream at him through my screen.
And yet, even after all that, Nak Su still managed to win my heart, in the most peculiar way. Although I strongly disagreed with his initial attitude, I secretly rooted for him to finally find his dream life. Watching him getting beaten down after every bad decision, made me both satisfied and yet so sad. He needed to fall from grace in order to develop and realise what he had lost but at the same time, my heart bled for him.
Nak Su might had been unlikeable but he wasn't heartless. Clueless yes. Selfish too. But he wasn't incapable of caring for others and their feelings. We saw that with Tae Hwan and the factory workers and as the story progressed, he allowed himself to be more open about his concern and affection. In his own way, Nak Su did everything for his family's case. He didn't express it but he cared for their well-being and he wanted to be the provider of it. So once he started losing his footing, he began to think that his life didn't have a purpose.
And even then, after losing almost everything, he insisted on clinging to the idea of proving everyone wrong. He was desperate to showcase his value and prove his worth as a salesman and a capable man who's the head of his family. He couldn't stand the idea of the company thriving despite his absence. He couldn't allow his wife to earn more than him. He couldn't accept reality in general. And that was his major flaw - and the beginning towards his self-discovery.
I could talk for hours about Nak Su's growth. At first, I was worried about how the writers would depict it because the first four episodes barely had any progress. But as the story went on, Nak Su started changing. Little by little, his old personality began to crumble and he allowed himself to be more vulnerable and open. His shattered life allowed him to open his eyes and reconnect not only with his loved ones but himself to.
As someone who studies psychology, I especially enjoyed and appreciated how the drama handled Nak Su's treatment of his mental health. His scenes with his therapist felt like a breath of fresh air and his initial reluctance in treatment was so realistic and consistent with his character. More kdramas need to address the topic of mental health and I'm glad to see that The Dream Life of Mr Kim did not overlook it.
As expected from a drama like this, The Dream Life of Mr Kim hit me right in the feelings. It caused me a plethora of emotions. Sadness, anger, confusion, cheerfulness, happiness. Just like real life, the drama makes you undergo many different emotional experiences, both positives and negatives. Above all, the drama included some heavy scenes that put tears in my eyes, like the one where Nak Su confessed to his brother how their parents' comparison shaped him up as a person or where he cried after giving up his job.
Of course a big part of my fondness towards Nak Su must be attributed to Ryu Seung Ryong's performance. This man does not disappoint with his roles. It's not easy to play an unlikeable character and make your audience root for him simultaneously but Ryu Seung Ryong did. He never failed to reveal Nak Su's real emotions, even his microexpressions like a twitch on his face or his furrowed eyebrows could convey so much. His acting really shined during the emotional moments and this is when he truly made me sympathize with Nak Su's struggles, as if they were my own. I am not exaggerating when I'm saying that he deserves to receive many nominations and awards for such a compelling performance.
Aside from Nak Su's personal growth and re-birth, The Dream Life of Mr Kim offered some other interesting topics in the story. For starters, it was amusing to see how workplace environments can be and observe the politics behind them. Through Nak Su's employees, we see what it feels like to have a demanding yet incompetent boss and through the background activities, it's revealed that corporations will often turn to shady activities if its profitable for them, without regarding their employees and how they'll be affected.
I was beyond surprised to learn that what the drama depicted is very accurate for South Korea: Korean companies will fire you, without actually firing you. That's the case in The Dream Life of Mr Kim, too. Nak Su doesn't get fired. Instead, he is shipped off as the team leader for Asan Factory Safety Management. It was so interesting to have more insight about companies in Korea and how they treat employees and once again, I couldn't help but still feel sorry for Nak Su (even though it was understandable for him to lose his position).
Another interesting aspect of the story was the development of Nak Su's wife, Ha Jin and their son, Su Gyeom. I was heavily rooting for both Ha Jin and Su Gyeom, especially Ha Jin. Her determination to become a real estate manager and resume her studies made me admire her a lot. I was happy to see that the writers didn't settle with making her a mere background character whose purpose would be to uplift Nak Su's development. She was a person of her own, with her own dreams and feelings and that was very refreshing to see.
I loved how she cared for Nak Su and yet still called him out for his behavior and decisions. Nak Su needed more people to knock some sense into him and hearing this from his own wife had a great impact on him. Similar to how she wasn't afraid to talk some sense into her husband, Ha Jin was not willing to let others step on her. She defended herself and refused to go down without putting a battle, which made her even more exciting to see.
As for Su Gyeom, I found his arc to be realistic and relatable. He was a young adult who wanted to earn his independence and pursue his own career path. It was quickly proven that this wouldn't be an easy road to cross and yet, with the help of his family, he didn't give up. I admit that at first I was bored during his scenes and I found his story to be the least engaging but as the episodes went by, I warmed up to him and I quietly supported his developing career.
Nak Su and Su Gyeom's relationship was complex and yet so beautiful. Both father and son deeply cared about each other. The problem was due to Nak Su's pride and his devotion towards his job, they drifted apart and this, Su Gyeom developed a disliking towards his father's ideas. It was only after Nak Su hitting the rock bottom that they began understanding each other better. Watching them bond and rekindle their relationship made my heart melt. Nak Su supported Su Gyeom and Su Gyeom supported Nak Su in return and their actions could speak louder than words.
The directing and cinematography highlighted the emotional impact and the characters' stories. The camera work and editing were very effective during the dialogues, they added so much tension and accompanied by the delightful yet intense piano notes in the background, they made me bite my nails in distress. Another example of the drama's excellent cinematography were the scenes of Nak Su having a panic attack. The way it was filmed made it feel like I was the one experiencing it. As someone who has experienced panic attacks before, their portrayal in the drama was realistic and grounded. They weren't overused to the point they lost their impact but they were equally effective and set up the ground for Nak Su's anxiety spiral.
If I could voice some minor complaints, they would be about some story points. As I mentioned above, Su Gyeom's arc took a while to make me invested. I got kinda bored with his interactions between Han Na and this whole "will-they-won't-they" situation between them was kinda annoying. Additionally, although I still believe that the writers handled Nak Su's development very well, the writing could have been a little bit tighter in some areas, particularly the first four or five episodes. Had the series been a little longer (say 14 episodes), Nak Su's growth could have been presented in an even more compelling way.
But even these minor flaws didn't ruin my overall impression. Although the first episodes had given me a lukewarm feeling, The Dream Life of Mr Kim actually got better as the story progressed. It's a drama with messages that can resonate with many people, no matter how old they are. Just like Nak Su, many of us are constantly trying to climb the ranks of society, while trying to build "the perfect life". But while trying to survive in a society that wants us to move forward and then stop once we'll reach a limit, we forget one important thing: we forget to LIVE. Life is not about luxurious, superficial things. It's not about owning a big apartment at the capital of your city. It's not about pleasing your higher-ups just to receive a promotion. It's not about buying expensive goods just to feel superior. It's about the memories we build with our loved ones and the small things that bring us joy.
Finding a purpose in this world is difficult. And if we have gotten used to a routine that provided us with some sort of stability and security, losing it might make us crumble. That doesn't mean we should give up. Every ending can lead to a new beginning. Sometimes, instead of clinging to our pride and unreachable dreams, it's okay to settle back and just accept reality.
Spending all our lives chasing after promotions, becoming our companies' erant boy and neglecting the people close to us will become exhausting and soul draining. Maybe all we need to do is sit back, take a break and reflect on everything. And maybe, if we open our eyes, we might realise that what we've looking for has always been right in front of us.
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