I hope this season at least serves some justice for the good people. Every main characters of the Penthouse are not without crime. Shifting dead body, bribery and fabricating evidences, they should be jailed for that. Using a lie to cover up for another, and another give them more crimes. Murder is worst! Bullying is not right, and if lesson’s not learnt from MSA for these children, their current redemptions will never ever erase their past actions.
JDT OHY CSJ HCY LGJ & Wife KMR All their children except BRN
Even if any of the villain learns their mistake or is getting their karma now, or if they are trying to atone for their sins, they had still committed a crime before. Even if they turn good now, I hope they will still get punish. Punish for fooling around with poor SSR‘s life and MSA’s, and now trying to cover up on BRN’s death. Mocking and don’t show remorse is a terrible behaviour. Those who never learn that they are wrong, don’t deserve a lighter judgement. Yes, JDT is the worst!
I never thought that I would fall for CSJ but in this season is more stunning than ever and I love her craziness!
She is stunning, but trampling someone else’s life to get to her position is not admirable. I hope justice still can be said for OYH, even though she did eventually kill MSA, but wouldn’t have happened if Cheong A isn’t corrupted
Am i the only one who thinks that the writer is trying not to make CSJ a villain anymore since in the last 2 episodes…
CSJ never killed anyone? She is involved in her father’s death. Even if she didn’t intentionally make her father fall from the stairs, but leaving him to die there, is still a crime.
The writer is making CSJ admit most of her wrongdoings to be less of a villain, but I would say she is worse than OYH. Why? Cheong A is corrupted, inherited by CSJ. Based on capability, OYH, MSA & BRN should have graduated with honours. It all started out with faking the exam score to let CSJ win when she don’t deserve it. OYH obviously won but CSJ made her life turn upside down. It wasn’t fair to her. She used to accept her pathetic fate to stop singing and lead a normal life ever since, but just things changed and she eventually killed MSA when her mind wasn’t very conscious at that time, bearing evil thoughts.
Episode 2 was really nice to watch. The fight scene between Mr. Ha & JDT was so cool! Initially JDT was the better fighter but that scene showed so clearly how much the table has turned. Personally I feel in terms of character development, JDT is one of the most stagnant that everything he do now has no “wow” factor. He is losing his charm. Mr. Ha gain more of my attention now. Initially he was really just a “loser” with no power.
OYH’s comeback was real good! I feel the reason why she didn’t ruin the performance is also because it is her very first full performance after so many years since her vocal injury. It was a test of her strength. She proved to be the better one than CSJ who couldn’t do that perfect High F pitch that everyone knew she didn’t achieve before. This event gave OYH the opportunity to perform her true prime that she couldn’t because CSJ played dirty. I think it would be so fun to watch how the bad people gets toyed around by all sort of possibilities that we don’t expect in how the table turned.
Looking forward to the next episode, can’t wait! ><
S1 sparks SSR’s revenge because of MSA then if S2 that girl who fell the stairs with blood got injured/died is BRN, OHY’s revenge will start. Now it’s more like her redemption to pay back for her past mistake, her wrong accusations and continue SSR’s vengeance.
Me too..loll but it felt like a redundant scene... like those two could've walked in together and the reaction…
But the wind kinda messed the place and the scene which would be different if they had just walked in. I think it is good and something We never expect
I don’t understand why people rate shows so fast when this drama just started. It hasn’t end yet and there are so many surprising things that have yet to come. Penthouse 1 imo has quite a relative Low rating despite all the splendid acting and the crazy storyline. Although I understand Penthouse 1 ends off badly for the good people, but there are more than 1 season for a reason, so I believed if things ended too well then there is no need for a season 2. Although it is sad SSR “died” last season but I am excited to see a season 2 because the actors are so immersed with their characters and it was nice to watch
To be quite frank, Start Up could have been an amazing show. The first episode is probably one of the more effectual…
I agree with all the reasonings you have mentioned, as currently your views have also sided less towards HJP.
I would like to clarify on your confusion about NDS based on how I interpret these 3 characters with just some baseless questions to trigger some thinking towards how I feel the reason why the writer created such storyline which could be seen that confusing to many people. I will be including WIJ in my discussion as she also serves an important role to SDM's life. However, she does have lesser screen time as compared to the rest. That's most likely because she acted like a villain. But not the main point of discussion.
Imagine if the storyline started with HJP writing letters as HJP in the name to SDM, where NDS wouldn't have come into play. How do you think the story would have ended? Good for both HJP and SDM but wouldn't it be a little too plain and too short for a story? What would be the obstacles for the characters to grow individually? What truly makes a story, a story?
SDM's dream is to be an entrepreneur, but her dream is unable to be fulfilled without both NDS and HJP's help actually. HJP indeed give very good advices to help her in her business. NDS is the one who started this business which allows SDM to be that CEO to take the lead to bring their business and partnership to the next level of success, with HJP's guidance. HJP do not have that business of his own that can allow SDM to be an entrepreneur, and hence NDS came into play. NDS comes with a business model while SDM helps to make it to be a profitable model and workable business model, with HJP's help as a financial guru. This goal has yet be to be achieved, but I believed it is something along this line, as HJP has constantly been saying to NDS about his business model not being profitable that no investors would want to invest even though their idea was great. WIJ is SDM's motivator to success. She is the sole reason why SDM wants to try to win and proved that her decision to stay with father was the right choice. To side track a bit, WIJ's herself in character is smart, but she lacks the emotions to improve because she already felt that she is the best. She came into Sandbox so that she can act her competitor role to helped SDM improve and prosper as an entrepreneur, whom did not receive any proper education due to her unfortunate life. But that didn't stop her from being optimistic and moving forward.
Backstory aside, we saw HJP first and how he grew up to be SDM's friend in their letter exchange because of Grandmother's grace and favour. The first few letters might have been from Grandmother, and the subsequent one came from HJP himself. However, he did not have any feelings for SDM prior when he grew up to be 30+ set in the present timeline even though he wrote the letter. He got too involved with the money he made using Grandmother's bank and decided to leave for Seoul, even though they managed to clear the misunderstanding HJP had for Grandmother, he ultimately left to Seoul for his own bright future. SDM wasn't on his mind at all. 15 years passed since he last left and wrote the last letter for SDM. Then the question is, why wait until 15 years later? It was revealed that Grandmother sold her shop to help SDM's university but she quit and earn back some money from part time jobs to give her the Corn Dog Truck to work, based on the conversation Grandmother had with SDM's mother, as heard from HJP. But does it really take so fast that they became uncontactable that out of the blue, HJP saw SDM again 15 years later to reconnect with Grandmother? My analysis is that HJP took all these time to learn and study, using his own money to build more money by investing in himself to become the person he is today. He will find Grandmother again once he is ready, but when he was ready, he cannot find her until 15 years later because of SDM this name. Then it all make sense to him on how come he no longer can find Grandmother when he tried to, and then asked why Grandmother didn't find him when she needed money. Both characters never exchanged any numbers, and Grandmother won't know where HJP is except in Seoul. The only way for Grandmother to see HJP again is to wait for HJP to find her again, but that already sets a 15 years later for it to happen, as when HJP tries to find her previously, he couldn't. He missed that first coincidental chance - when he is ready but SDM and Grandmother were having difficulties that they missed out on one another.
Why NDS is being pulled in the picture? He plays an important role as a middle man to start an entrepreneurship career. The newspaper we see in Episode 1 gives NDS a very good picture that he is a genius and seemingly would be a very successful kid. But when HJP first found NDS as an adult, he was stuck in his life as nothing seems to be moving ahead for him. He has been wasting his father's money just to survive on daily expenses that may be unnecessarily because of the team. How come a genius kid would end up this way? It was later explained that he was no genius at all, as he had cheated during that competition. And because of that, the person who came 2nd lost a medal, while he benefitted from the photo he took with the athlete when he created NoonGil. His family has high expectation of him since young, because he had that talent. But due to the competition, and probably due to nervousness, he forgot the answer to a question he knew how to answer, and saw the opportunity to cheat. At that point of time I saw this scene, I felt it was very relatable, because it has happened to me before in my past, and I did cheat but never again, as these were all in the past.
NDS might not be an actual genius, but in Start-Up he has shown that he do have that potential. SDM gave the idea, NDS executed it. Even when their business seemed to have failed in comparison because WIJ's team "cheated" in using the same base programming language, but NDS eventually found a solution after, that their idea "won" despise nobody ever get to recognise it except themselves. He never gave up and has shown his ability. But one weakness that he has is because he has cheated before, and thus he felt that he don't deserve certain things that he have which he achieved by his own. It is a bad behavior in cheating that could result in a bad habit. He has never cheated ever since the incident, but because he fell in love with SDM, he cheated once again and again, in his way as he really didn't want to lose SDM even though they were together due to a lie.
Despite being a lie, the lie involved HJP himself. HJP wanted NDS to lie in the first place, and thus NDS eventually follows along. Some of his actions were according to HJP's wishes, but most of them were swayed and he acted on his own because he accidentally fell in love for SDM. NDS realised that HJP also fell for SDM, and wanted to selfishly keep the love to himself with SDM. All these relationship conflicts result in why we felt HJP would have deserved SDM more. I totally understand, but I would like to point out that all characters are important in their roles in building the characters we see till the latest episode. Why is NDS like this? Because that would have made him a lot to say. The image of him being a selfish person, a liar, a person with low self-esteem kills him to be in the conflict of why he don't deserve to be the main male lead as compared to HJP. But all these traits are the things that his character would grow to improve so that he would become a better NDS. Even though SDM is hurt, but NDS really love her and hence didn't want her to involve with HJP as much as possible in his own way. That doesn't mean his method is correct, but from my point of view. I can understand his actions, as he felt anxious in losing SDM to HJP if her feelings swayed when she knew the truth.
HJP on the other side, realised a bit late for his feelings with SDM. Eventually he confessed to her and said every truth without a single lie. His character has portrayed very well ethics and manners, and have so far been portrayed as a successful role model to most people. He indeed is a very nice person for SDM to be with, as he lacks "nothing". But "nothing" in a character to improve is also a reason why he may not be the male lead. He gains more emotion and found comfort in a family despite being in a less rich and less comfortable environment when he realised he loved SDM. He has his rich house and nice bed to sleep, but choose to stay over at Grandmother's house. Do note, the words I described are subjective. Back when he was young, he chose money because he wants to live comfortably. But now when he found love, he is okay with "poverty" over his "monetary". Something along this line. Again, I'm using terms to described what I see, so pardon with my English.
So far, because of all these incidents, all characters have development. The storyline may not be the best in depicting what it is trying to portray, but I felt that I am able to be able to read and understand the thinking and actions of each individual characters. For example, WIJ appears a little bit evil, but I don't really hate her as there are points which I sympathise about her for in the later part of the story.
HJP suddenly turned into a rich financial genius from that kid we first saw in episode 1, is something that I don't see any relationship of myself with. He is the least I can relate, because I don't see any failure in life that he went through, other than being poor and orphan at one point of his life. 15 years from the storyline, he led a comfortable life, with nice clothes and a car.
NDS on the other hand appears more successful at the start as a kid, but turned out to be nothing more than just a normal human I can experience. Lying, having low self-esteemed, and etcetera, is something that I personally have experienced in my life as well. The stories of NDS and I might not be the same or exact similar, but such flaws itself in a character is how we would like to see in improvement and how he become a better person in picture.
Like I mentioned, there is no stand between who's good, who's better, but because of the current direction of the drama, I choose to feel how I can feel as each characters display their emotions, and how they make their decisions and take their actions of their choice to proceed with the plot. The 4 "main" characters introduced are necessarily to build one another, as they influenced one another to be who they are today as compared to "yesterday".
I wrote a previous post about a day or two ago and I'm continuing a bit on my point as there seem to be some misunderstanding on what I am conveying. I do admit that I sounded like I sided more towards NDS instead of HJP but let me clear off the stand here, as my posts are getting lengthy, bear with me. Please kindly read the full post.
First of all, it is true that NDS lied and play a little "dirty" in his relationship with SDM. It is also true that due to certain incident, HJP would have ended be the one with SDM instead, as his character portrayed is clean and his actions has showed that he deserved SDM more than NDS. Every little details, every single pros and cons of whatever each characters are portraying are relatable fiction. The story and characters aren't real, but the signs and things that they experienced, do happen in real life.
What I stand for is the direction of what the writer is trying to convey here in this drama, and not so much about who will end up with SDM. The reason why I mentioned unbias stand is because I've seen too much comments either shipping NDS with SDM or HJP with SDM. From what I see is that if you ship NDS with SDM, then you'll commonly be painting black about HJP, and vice versa.
Start-Up is the way it is now because of all its script and credits to the actors/casts for being able to act so well to display the traits of each of its characters, according to the direction of what the writer wants to portray. It has never been the case of the direction of what you want to see on screen. A story of a drama/ a show will never ever meet the expectation of everybody, and will never ever satisfy everyone. Everyone will have their own personal outlook of what they would want to see, but is that the point of such drama? It is a fact that HJP is not the cast as the main Male Lead in Start-Up. That is a fact that everyone has to accept. From what I see the drama is going, I feel that SDM will end up with NDS. If there is a twist, then that's good news too. Because all are based on the direction of what the writer wants to convey in the drama. But whether it happens or not, it's all up to their control, not ours. The show has already been aired, which means that all the acting and scenes have already been wrapped up. Whether the show would go directly to your direction, it's not in your control. So why get so bothered about what should happen or what should not, and forget that a show is to display a story, for us to learn lessons in life that we should and should not do?
Specifically speaking, NDS did lied in a relationship. This is something that we should not learn from him. Also specifically speaking, HJP did missed his chance to be with SDM. Period. What's one thing to learn from HJP? Wrong decision made and then regret. Time does not playback. You make decisions with every actions and you bear the consequences for each decision you make in your life. Don't get too caught up with what's wrong with characters or things that they should have done better, because time doesn't turn back. If you have specific direction towards this story, then go ahead and make one of your own. I understand the feels from HJP's perspective that he deserves better. But finding the actual NDS was the decision he made in his life in this drama then he needs to bear all the consequences for SDM falling in love with that NDS and not him. It's not something that he expected it to happen, we know it. But that's the direction of what the writer wants us to feel, do take some time to accept it. SDM is currently confused but she will ultimately make her decision who she wants to be with. It's not something we can decide for either of them, so why not just enjoy the storyline of what each characters are trying to convey in this drama? If HJP didn't find that actual NDS but tells the truth that he is the NDS in the letter, then he might have ended up with SDM already. But this is not something that happened in the drama. We can't change that, so move on. NDS have many flaws as compared to HJP as a character, I'm sure we all agree on that. NDS may have lied many times in his life due to his insecurities and what's not, but he did slowly admit his past and present mistakes. He also have many regrets and decisions he wished he would have made better. Whether he has improved in being a better person? Give him the chance as this drama has yet to end for you to find out. HJP on the other hand is quite perfect on his own. Other than not having any parents loving him in his growth, as well as being very independent on his own journey, his character growth has nothing much to learn on my perspective, not as much as NDS in this drama play. Why I mentioned previously on HJP being self-centered is mostly based on one scene, where he asked NDS to act out the NDS in the letter and straight forward giving no chance to SanSam Tech, having that confidence that NDS's business would fail no matter what. He has stated something about his vision has never been wrong and he cared about his success rate. He will only mentor business which he sees the value of success. Those that he didn't mentor because he foresee that their business fail, really failed in the end. I'm unable to quote out the exact words he used in this scene so pardon me if there is any mistake. Subsequently once he is with SDM and NDS in the drama, he's not that self-centreed. But what I mean prior to his journey to grow as a character, he seemed self-centred because he basically lack "nothing". If anyone feels that the term "self-centred" is not the right words to use, then pardon me as well. My English vocabulary ain't that great as yours but I hope you understood what I meant. HJP also displays very little feelings to Young-Sil in the beginning, until he felt Young-Sil is growing on him. HJP is starting to have his own character growth since. And also, SanSam Tech seems to at least have a better direction in the later episode in the drama. Would they really "fail" as what HJP were to say in the beginning to NDS and his team? Meeting the right people and giving the chance to mentor I believed would have change the outcome according to this drama. Again, this is fictional, but I see it as that is what the writer is trying to convey as a message to people about Start-Up. This again, is also not the main point, but to answer on the 'evidence' one person asked me regarding on my previous stand. Not the correct word used by me, but do understand what I am seeing here regarding on the lessons I learnt in this drama.
I agreed that what NDS did when he is with SDM all along since are not correct decisions he should make in life. But making wrong decisions are what makes him human. Making wrong decisions are what make us, human. We all make wrong decisions before. Admit it, we do lie at certain points in our life as well, and we do have regrets just like HJP, for not being able to display his love for SDM sooner. Not everyone of us may be the same or understands what is going on, but it's definitely relatable to most of us.
Why I previously mentioned NDS deserves SDM or HJP deserves SDM the same is because, most of the downs that SDM experienced were with NDS. It doesn't change the fact that he played a little dirty to be there with her, but it also doesn't change the fact that the person who is physically around and readily be made available to SDM, was him in this drama (the actual NDS). Please kindly stop debating on what would have happened better if HJP had expressed his love earlier and that SDM would have been together with HJP, such that HJP could have done the same as this NDS or even better, to make each other stronger. I believed we all have the right to fantasize the direction of what we would like to see on screen. But again, that is not the point of this drama, and hence my words of standing unbias.
I felt that each of the main characters are relatable, and we shouldn't be judging on what's wrong with them or what kind of decisions/actions they should have taken. That is what a story is for. We get to learn from the characters to do the things that we feel is right, and to really execute what's right in own personal life. We would not be 100% clear of our decisions whether they would set us to the right path or not, but we have to bear the consequences of the decisions we make. There's no time for regrets. We've got to just keep moving forward. If we knew how certain things would turn out, who wouldn't want the option to rewind and to set things "right" again just like the drama "The Miracle We Met".
Again, my point is about understanding the direction of the story it conveys, learning from the mistakes and life lessons displayed by the wonderful actors and actresses in this drama. We all have the right to fantasize and have that feels for any individuals in the drama, but please don't get too caught up with what you feel should happen in this drama or what you would have done differently if you are the writer. Go ahead and write your own story instead if you want certain things to happen. But respect what is there for us here in this drama, and what the story of this drama tells according to the writer. Period.
of course im happy for this explanation. aside from my growing bias for NDS, this explanation does not paint HJP…
I don't think I mentioned HJP as a painted Bad person.
I truly believed that there is a reason why HJP is involved in this love triangle for a reason in the plot.
At first, he was an orphan who excel in investing, but being poor and hungry at the point of time with some pride that he have. He is underage so his talent couldn't be utilise without an adult's help. Grandmother's grace gave him food and shelter that he needs, and he helped her with financial solutions that solve the solution of her not needing to leave cold hard cash in her shop which people could just take it if she invited anyone like HJP himself to the shop to stay for the night.
HJP himself mentioned that he was tempted to take the money but in the end he didn't because he have morals. He saw the opportunity to utilise Grandmother's bank account he helped her to create and he made good investment money to live in a good sheltered place of his own, but he misunderstood her when he thought she gave all his earning to her son. Grandmother gave all her own money to her son, returned the money that wasn't hers yet still bought a new shoes for HJP to wear to Seoul. How a graceful soul one can be like Grandmother. She is a Saint, someone we would love but we know we don't deserve to have in our lives, because of the bad things we did in our past.
HJP in the present story, lacks nothing in possession. He has reputation and wealth, something that his talent in investment helped to create the shelter he wanted, and he will not ever feel the same state of hunger he felt during the time he was poor and hungry again. He also have plenty of high technology belongings that serve his wants and needs.
That's it? What about HJP's character growth? HJP's life was inclined to Grandmother in his early life, and I felt it was natural to link his life again back to Grandmother and SDM again.
Without Grandmother and SDM, I felt that HJP lacks emotion. He felt loved by Grandmother in his teenage years but 15 years later, he was on his own. He was very strict and direct in the things he say to other people and businesses without considering how they would feel. When his opinion according to his experience about a business will fail, he said that they will really fail. He even suggested NDS's group to find other jobs to do as SanSam Tech will sure to fail as a business. Later in the episodes, then he mentioned that SanSam Tech needs a CEO that can help them. What does this imply?
With his relationship with SDM, there are actually solutions towards the things that he mentioned are destined to fail. I felt that if HJP really want to do it, things are possible. Now SanSam Tech didn't fail as far as he previously mentioned to them, correct? SanSam Tech is growing as a business with SDM's lead although they have yet to find a Profitable solution to their business model.
But the main point is, I believed HJP's main point of his character growth comes from his relationship. He lacks love in his process of growing up and this feeling allowed him to feel confused and feel sad. Previously, he felt that he was sure that business he mentioned couldn't succeed, they didn't succeed, and he only feels angry when he is pissed or angry when things don't go his way. He has never felt confused or sad about anything until he met SDM in real life and remembering about his past relationship with Grandmother, and thus reconnecting with her.
I believed a story comes with character growth. If HJP mainly acts as a mentor for them like you said, I think HJP's life is really boring in this drama, because he already achieved what he has achieved, and there is nothing more to change or to see.
Having to watch 10 episodes now, and looking through some of the comments, I would like to comment on certain…
I believed most people cheat in exams, etcetera at some point of their lives. I believed most of us do. I can totally relate for NDS's case as it wasn't that he didn't know the answer, but it just so happens that during exams or competitions, you just forgot the answer to a question you know the answer, but doesn't remember the answer to it. It's relatable to me.
When you missed a chance, you might not get another. I think this depicts very well to HJP's case to his relationship with SDM for more than just friends in a relationship.
It's a great drama with a great storyline that I enjoyed watching. It shows me that the characters are all humans. Their actings were all great. When they got angry and when they got sad, I really can relate to each of them. I think that's what amazing. Please don't get too caught up with the individual characters or the relationships going on too much that you overlooked what the drama has been trying to convey. The messages and moral of the story are amazing.
Having to watch 10 episodes now, and looking through some of the comments, I would like to comment on certain points which I feel we should all be looking at things in an unbias way, as some comments are way too bias towards HJP, or rather KSH I would say. If today their role would have swop, having NJH acting as HJP and KSH acting as NDS, would people react the same way? Might not be. I felt some comments are bias towards KSH as a person, and thus support his character to be in the relationship with SDM, instead of the NDS whom NJH is acting. I feel that I should recap in some of the incidents that happen, so that there would be able to have a more unbias stand among Start-up fans, that both characters deserve SDM (Bae Suzy) the same.
First of all, the story started with KSH seemingly as the ML as his character, HJP appears and SDM's Grandmother tried to take care of him when she felt he needed her. She gave him her Motherly love unconditionally despite him mistakenly misunderstands her at times. HJP wrote the letters to SDM according to Grandmother. He didn't wanted to use his own name and thus came out with NDS when he saw the newspaper article which Grandmother agreed with. There were no feelings attached when HJP wrote the letters. Grandmother were there when the letters were wrote which she uses her words and feelings and ask HJP to convey to SDM. He and SDM have never met before in person. SDM on the other hand, started to have feelings for this stranger whom she has never met before, and it got her intrigued, because her family became broken and this guy who wrote the letter, has helped to heal part of her wounds. It was only one sided love, prior to the main storyline that sets 15 years later.
When HJP first started to hear SDM's name again during the event, it triggered his memory as he remembered this name somewhere but doesn't exactly remember where, until he follows SDM and saw Grandmother. The following events after, on what he did for SDM were all part of the plot where he and Grandmother doesn't want SDM to feel disappointed and hurt because of the fabricated "friend" Grandmother made for SDM, with HJP using NDS's name and adopting this fake "Friend" persona.
NJH, who came into play as the real NDS, whom didn't know his name was used in part of HJP and Grandmother's play, was innocent in the plot. Although his business require help and assistance, NDS didn't really agree to the terms, and he willingly helped out to act as the NDS HJP requested him for, on his own will because he didn't want to disappoint SDM as well. They have never met before, but NDS understood what it felt to feel disappointed, and hence he didn't want to let a stranger felt the similar disappointment he has experienced in his life. It was accidental, that NDS felt in love with SDM. He subconciously become the NDS that SDM thought her "first love" was. All these lies are coordinated between HJP and NDS since then, but HJP was the one who has stopped NDS from saying the truth when NDS initially at one point, came to the conclusion where he wanted to say the truth. Back then, HJP tried to stop him from doing that, as he could not imagine what would happen if SDM knows the truth and the disappointment of her would show. Before NDS were to speak, he saw SDM's smile and he wanted to continue seeing SDM smile and hence once again, become selfish due to his love for her and ultimately decided to not tell the truth. SDM was NDM's first and only love so far, and this feeling gave him light that he has never experienced with anyone before. Love has often been selfish, I believed most people are able to relate that. NDS just wanted SDM. Even if he wasn't the NDS that SDM knew 15 years ago, he became selfish because of love.
It is later revealed for NDS that he cheated in that prestigious competition and he wasn't a genius which everyone thought he was to be. His life has been trying to keep up to his parents (Father's especially)' expectation and the lies that he tried to keep and uphold his "prodigy" image is slowly killing him. He is actually very good in programming. He might not be a true perfect genius, but every failure that strikes him, he has shown that he have been able to bounce back up to make his best, the better, for every improvement that's possible to be made in this drama. NDS's character has so much growth to be seen in the character, where he displayed many flaws and insecurities and how he eventually wanted to just not live to anyone expectation. His dream was initially to flourish his SanSam Tech, so that he can answer to be the pride of his father, but now his dreams has changed to be SDM's support, to be her one and only right hand man where her happiness would be with him, and when she faced problems, he could help her to resolve and stay strong and confident.
Truthly speaking, SDM is the real victim here. Having to surround herself with the white lies of her Grandmother and HJP, and later, NDS. But because of how NDS and SDM met, their character have grown alot together, because they have experienced a lot of things together even though they only knew each other for a few months. Even if their story may be due to some lies, but their love for each other is true. The lie 15 years ago made SDM stronger today to be the present which we see in the first episode, but their encounter with one another made SDM stronger which we could see her in the later episodes as compared to when they didn't met. It's due to their own characters with flaws that they are able to overcome certain obstacles. Without the NDS we see now, SDM wouldn't be that successful leading as a CEO. Without SDM in NDS's life, NDS would still be that nerd and his business would go nowhere.
HJP grew up to be a Financial Genius I would say, where he knew how to invest to grow his own money at a young age, and later be a successful mentor to businesses in the present life. However, his attitude is flawed as he became a little self-centred until he met Grandmother again. It is understandable, as he has been alone throughout most of his life and thus he wouldn't care much to anything else, other than to repay Grandmother's kindness when he needed her the most. Where HJP plays well as a support main role, in giving useful financial advices for SDM and NDS to grow their SanSam Tech business, HJP didn't grow much as a character other than realising what is love to a relationship. Without the lie he made for Grandmother to SDM as NDS, he wouldn't have pushed, cover up and support the real NDS and his business to grow to what you have seen in the latest episodes. SDM wouldn't have been part of the journey since, and neither of them would have fallen for one another. There wouldn't be a love triangle either.
HJP's intention initially was to solely help the graceful Grandmother. Falling in love with SDM was also accidentally, and he didn't fell for her before NDS. He fell for her after NDS expresses his feelings towards SDM which got himself tangled in a confused situation where he wasn't sure what he was doing or what he was feeling. It's only when he was sure he fell for her that he wanted to change the things and say the truth, which could have hurt SDM but he didn't care much for until he really felt that SDM was in pain, which he regretted it. But since things has already been done, moving ahead, HJP has decided to express his feeling and let SDM decide for herself - whether she is in love with the person in the past or the person in the present while losing her self-confidence in a dilemma on what are the things that are true and fake.
All in all, I can say that the letters express not much significance for HJP at the start because he only did it when he was asked for a favour by Grandmother. He didn't write it with the same feelings that SDM had when she received every letters of the NDS with fake persona. The present NDS genuinely felt for her as a person even when they didn't really know each other from the start, but only due to the letters that they met. The fake NDS gave her strength in her teenage years. The present NDS builds her strength in her adult years. I believed that's also a reason why both are the Main ML and FL. They have many obstacles that they overcome because of one another. They might be entangled in a fake story, but what happens in their present lives that build their love relationship are what's real.
It might sound sad for HJP. It's not that he don't deserve SDM or who deserves SDM more. But it's the truth which he missed the chance. Instead of admitting that he is the fake NDS stated in the letter initially, he went on to find the present NDS to continue to lie till the end, which gave SDM the opportunity to fell for the NDS she knew in the present. That was the chance he gave up on, for not realising he fell for SDM sooner.
JDT
OHY
CSJ
HCY
LGJ & Wife
KMR
All their children except BRN
Even if any of the villain learns their mistake or is getting their karma now, or if they are trying to atone for their sins, they had still committed a crime before. Even if they turn good now, I hope they will still get punish. Punish for fooling around with poor SSR‘s life and MSA’s, and now trying to cover up on BRN’s death. Mocking and don’t show remorse is a terrible behaviour. Those who never learn that they are wrong, don’t deserve a lighter judgement. Yes, JDT is the worst!
Everyone
The writer is making CSJ admit most of her wrongdoings to be less of a villain, but I would say she is worse than OYH. Why? Cheong A is corrupted, inherited by CSJ. Based on capability, OYH, MSA & BRN should have graduated with honours. It all started out with faking the exam score to let CSJ win when she don’t deserve it. OYH obviously won but CSJ made her life turn upside down. It wasn’t fair to her. She used to accept her pathetic fate to stop singing and lead a normal life ever since, but just things changed and she eventually killed MSA when her mind wasn’t very conscious at that time, bearing evil thoughts.
But both OHY and CSJ are murderers
OYH’s comeback was real good! I feel the reason why she didn’t ruin the performance is also because it is her very first full performance after so many years since her vocal injury. It was a test of her strength. She proved to be the better one than CSJ who couldn’t do that perfect High F pitch that everyone knew she didn’t achieve before. This event gave OYH the opportunity to perform her true prime that she couldn’t because CSJ played dirty. I think it would be so fun to watch how the bad people gets toyed around by all sort of possibilities that we don’t expect in how the table turned.
Looking forward to the next episode, can’t wait! ><
I would like to clarify on your confusion about NDS based on how I interpret these 3 characters with just some baseless questions to trigger some thinking towards how I feel the reason why the writer created such storyline which could be seen that confusing to many people. I will be including WIJ in my discussion as she also serves an important role to SDM's life. However, she does have lesser screen time as compared to the rest. That's most likely because she acted like a villain. But not the main point of discussion.
Imagine if the storyline started with HJP writing letters as HJP in the name to SDM, where NDS wouldn't have come into play. How do you think the story would have ended? Good for both HJP and SDM but wouldn't it be a little too plain and too short for a story? What would be the obstacles for the characters to grow individually? What truly makes a story, a story?
SDM's dream is to be an entrepreneur, but her dream is unable to be fulfilled without both NDS and HJP's help actually. HJP indeed give very good advices to help her in her business. NDS is the one who started this business which allows SDM to be that CEO to take the lead to bring their business and partnership to the next level of success, with HJP's guidance. HJP do not have that business of his own that can allow SDM to be an entrepreneur, and hence NDS came into play. NDS comes with a business model while SDM helps to make it to be a profitable model and workable business model, with HJP's help as a financial guru. This goal has yet be to be achieved, but I believed it is something along this line, as HJP has constantly been saying to NDS about his business model not being profitable that no investors would want to invest even though their idea was great. WIJ is SDM's motivator to success. She is the sole reason why SDM wants to try to win and proved that her decision to stay with father was the right choice. To side track a bit, WIJ's herself in character is smart, but she lacks the emotions to improve because she already felt that she is the best. She came into Sandbox so that she can act her competitor role to helped SDM improve and prosper as an entrepreneur, whom did not receive any proper education due to her unfortunate life. But that didn't stop her from being optimistic and moving forward.
Backstory aside, we saw HJP first and how he grew up to be SDM's friend in their letter exchange because of Grandmother's grace and favour. The first few letters might have been from Grandmother, and the subsequent one came from HJP himself. However, he did not have any feelings for SDM prior when he grew up to be 30+ set in the present timeline even though he wrote the letter. He got too involved with the money he made using Grandmother's bank and decided to leave for Seoul, even though they managed to clear the misunderstanding HJP had for Grandmother, he ultimately left to Seoul for his own bright future. SDM wasn't on his mind at all. 15 years passed since he last left and wrote the last letter for SDM. Then the question is, why wait until 15 years later? It was revealed that Grandmother sold her shop to help SDM's university but she quit and earn back some money from part time jobs to give her the Corn Dog Truck to work, based on the conversation Grandmother had with SDM's mother, as heard from HJP. But does it really take so fast that they became uncontactable that out of the blue, HJP saw SDM again 15 years later to reconnect with Grandmother? My analysis is that HJP took all these time to learn and study, using his own money to build more money by investing in himself to become the person he is today. He will find Grandmother again once he is ready, but when he was ready, he cannot find her until 15 years later because of SDM this name. Then it all make sense to him on how come he no longer can find Grandmother when he tried to, and then asked why Grandmother didn't find him when she needed money. Both characters never exchanged any numbers, and Grandmother won't know where HJP is except in Seoul. The only way for Grandmother to see HJP again is to wait for HJP to find her again, but that already sets a 15 years later for it to happen, as when HJP tries to find her previously, he couldn't. He missed that first coincidental chance - when he is ready but SDM and Grandmother were having difficulties that they missed out on one another.
Why NDS is being pulled in the picture? He plays an important role as a middle man to start an entrepreneurship career. The newspaper we see in Episode 1 gives NDS a very good picture that he is a genius and seemingly would be a very successful kid. But when HJP first found NDS as an adult, he was stuck in his life as nothing seems to be moving ahead for him. He has been wasting his father's money just to survive on daily expenses that may be unnecessarily because of the team. How come a genius kid would end up this way? It was later explained that he was no genius at all, as he had cheated during that competition. And because of that, the person who came 2nd lost a medal, while he benefitted from the photo he took with the athlete when he created NoonGil. His family has high expectation of him since young, because he had that talent. But due to the competition, and probably due to nervousness, he forgot the answer to a question he knew how to answer, and saw the opportunity to cheat. At that point of time I saw this scene, I felt it was very relatable, because it has happened to me before in my past, and I did cheat but never again, as these were all in the past.
NDS might not be an actual genius, but in Start-Up he has shown that he do have that potential. SDM gave the idea, NDS executed it. Even when their business seemed to have failed in comparison because WIJ's team "cheated" in using the same base programming language, but NDS eventually found a solution after, that their idea "won" despise nobody ever get to recognise it except themselves. He never gave up and has shown his ability. But one weakness that he has is because he has cheated before, and thus he felt that he don't deserve certain things that he have which he achieved by his own. It is a bad behavior in cheating that could result in a bad habit. He has never cheated ever since the incident, but because he fell in love with SDM, he cheated once again and again, in his way as he really didn't want to lose SDM even though they were together due to a lie.
Despite being a lie, the lie involved HJP himself. HJP wanted NDS to lie in the first place, and thus NDS eventually follows along. Some of his actions were according to HJP's wishes, but most of them were swayed and he acted on his own because he accidentally fell in love for SDM. NDS realised that HJP also fell for SDM, and wanted to selfishly keep the love to himself with SDM. All these relationship conflicts result in why we felt HJP would have deserved SDM more. I totally understand, but I would like to point out that all characters are important in their roles in building the characters we see till the latest episode. Why is NDS like this? Because that would have made him a lot to say. The image of him being a selfish person, a liar, a person with low self-esteem kills him to be in the conflict of why he don't deserve to be the main male lead as compared to HJP. But all these traits are the things that his character would grow to improve so that he would become a better NDS. Even though SDM is hurt, but NDS really love her and hence didn't want her to involve with HJP as much as possible in his own way. That doesn't mean his method is correct, but from my point of view. I can understand his actions, as he felt anxious in losing SDM to HJP if her feelings swayed when she knew the truth.
HJP on the other side, realised a bit late for his feelings with SDM. Eventually he confessed to her and said every truth without a single lie. His character has portrayed very well ethics and manners, and have so far been portrayed as a successful role model to most people. He indeed is a very nice person for SDM to be with, as he lacks "nothing". But "nothing" in a character to improve is also a reason why he may not be the male lead. He gains more emotion and found comfort in a family despite being in a less rich and less comfortable environment when he realised he loved SDM. He has his rich house and nice bed to sleep, but choose to stay over at Grandmother's house. Do note, the words I described are subjective. Back when he was young, he chose money because he wants to live comfortably. But now when he found love, he is okay with "poverty" over his "monetary". Something along this line. Again, I'm using terms to described what I see, so pardon with my English.
So far, because of all these incidents, all characters have development. The storyline may not be the best in depicting what it is trying to portray, but I felt that I am able to be able to read and understand the thinking and actions of each individual characters. For example, WIJ appears a little bit evil, but I don't really hate her as there are points which I sympathise about her for in the later part of the story.
HJP suddenly turned into a rich financial genius from that kid we first saw in episode 1, is something that I don't see any relationship of myself with. He is the least I can relate, because I don't see any failure in life that he went through, other than being poor and orphan at one point of his life. 15 years from the storyline, he led a comfortable life, with nice clothes and a car.
NDS on the other hand appears more successful at the start as a kid, but turned out to be nothing more than just a normal human I can experience. Lying, having low self-esteemed, and etcetera, is something that I personally have experienced in my life as well. The stories of NDS and I might not be the same or exact similar, but such flaws itself in a character is how we would like to see in improvement and how he become a better person in picture.
Like I mentioned, there is no stand between who's good, who's better, but because of the current direction of the drama, I choose to feel how I can feel as each characters display their emotions, and how they make their decisions and take their actions of their choice to proceed with the plot. The 4 "main" characters introduced are necessarily to build one another, as they influenced one another to be who they are today as compared to "yesterday".
First of all, it is true that NDS lied and play a little "dirty" in his relationship with SDM. It is also true that due to certain incident, HJP would have ended be the one with SDM instead, as his character portrayed is clean and his actions has showed that he deserved SDM more than NDS. Every little details, every single pros and cons of whatever each characters are portraying are relatable fiction. The story and characters aren't real, but the signs and things that they experienced, do happen in real life.
What I stand for is the direction of what the writer is trying to convey here in this drama, and not so much about who will end up with SDM. The reason why I mentioned unbias stand is because I've seen too much comments either shipping NDS with SDM or HJP with SDM. From what I see is that if you ship NDS with SDM, then you'll commonly be painting black about HJP, and vice versa.
Start-Up is the way it is now because of all its script and credits to the actors/casts for being able to act so well to display the traits of each of its characters, according to the direction of what the writer wants to portray. It has never been the case of the direction of what you want to see on screen. A story of a drama/ a show will never ever meet the expectation of everybody, and will never ever satisfy everyone. Everyone will have their own personal outlook of what they would want to see, but is that the point of such drama? It is a fact that HJP is not the cast as the main Male Lead in Start-Up. That is a fact that everyone has to accept. From what I see the drama is going, I feel that SDM will end up with NDS. If there is a twist, then that's good news too. Because all are based on the direction of what the writer wants to convey in the drama. But whether it happens or not, it's all up to their control, not ours. The show has already been aired, which means that all the acting and scenes have already been wrapped up. Whether the show would go directly to your direction, it's not in your control. So why get so bothered about what should happen or what should not, and forget that a show is to display a story, for us to learn lessons in life that we should and should not do?
Specifically speaking, NDS did lied in a relationship. This is something that we should not learn from him. Also specifically speaking, HJP did missed his chance to be with SDM. Period. What's one thing to learn from HJP? Wrong decision made and then regret. Time does not playback. You make decisions with every actions and you bear the consequences for each decision you make in your life. Don't get too caught up with what's wrong with characters or things that they should have done better, because time doesn't turn back. If you have specific direction towards this story, then go ahead and make one of your own. I understand the feels from HJP's perspective that he deserves better. But finding the actual NDS was the decision he made in his life in this drama then he needs to bear all the consequences for SDM falling in love with that NDS and not him. It's not something that he expected it to happen, we know it. But that's the direction of what the writer wants us to feel, do take some time to accept it. SDM is currently confused but she will ultimately make her decision who she wants to be with. It's not something we can decide for either of them, so why not just enjoy the storyline of what each characters are trying to convey in this drama? If HJP didn't find that actual NDS but tells the truth that he is the NDS in the letter, then he might have ended up with SDM already. But this is not something that happened in the drama. We can't change that, so move on. NDS have many flaws as compared to HJP as a character, I'm sure we all agree on that. NDS may have lied many times in his life due to his insecurities and what's not, but he did slowly admit his past and present mistakes. He also have many regrets and decisions he wished he would have made better. Whether he has improved in being a better person? Give him the chance as this drama has yet to end for you to find out. HJP on the other hand is quite perfect on his own. Other than not having any parents loving him in his growth, as well as being very independent on his own journey, his character growth has nothing much to learn on my perspective, not as much as NDS in this drama play. Why I mentioned previously on HJP being self-centered is mostly based on one scene, where he asked NDS to act out the NDS in the letter and straight forward giving no chance to SanSam Tech, having that confidence that NDS's business would fail no matter what. He has stated something about his vision has never been wrong and he cared about his success rate. He will only mentor business which he sees the value of success. Those that he didn't mentor because he foresee that their business fail, really failed in the end. I'm unable to quote out the exact words he used in this scene so pardon me if there is any mistake. Subsequently once he is with SDM and NDS in the drama, he's not that self-centreed. But what I mean prior to his journey to grow as a character, he seemed self-centred because he basically lack "nothing". If anyone feels that the term "self-centred" is not the right words to use, then pardon me as well. My English vocabulary ain't that great as yours but I hope you understood what I meant. HJP also displays very little feelings to Young-Sil in the beginning, until he felt Young-Sil is growing on him. HJP is starting to have his own character growth since. And also, SanSam Tech seems to at least have a better direction in the later episode in the drama. Would they really "fail" as what HJP were to say in the beginning to NDS and his team? Meeting the right people and giving the chance to mentor I believed would have change the outcome according to this drama. Again, this is fictional, but I see it as that is what the writer is trying to convey as a message to people about Start-Up. This again, is also not the main point, but to answer on the 'evidence' one person asked me regarding on my previous stand. Not the correct word used by me, but do understand what I am seeing here regarding on the lessons I learnt in this drama.
I agreed that what NDS did when he is with SDM all along since are not correct decisions he should make in life. But making wrong decisions are what makes him human. Making wrong decisions are what make us, human. We all make wrong decisions before. Admit it, we do lie at certain points in our life as well, and we do have regrets just like HJP, for not being able to display his love for SDM sooner. Not everyone of us may be the same or understands what is going on, but it's definitely relatable to most of us.
Why I previously mentioned NDS deserves SDM or HJP deserves SDM the same is because, most of the downs that SDM experienced were with NDS. It doesn't change the fact that he played a little dirty to be there with her, but it also doesn't change the fact that the person who is physically around and readily be made available to SDM, was him in this drama (the actual NDS). Please kindly stop debating on what would have happened better if HJP had expressed his love earlier and that SDM would have been together with HJP, such that HJP could have done the same as this NDS or even better, to make each other stronger. I believed we all have the right to fantasize the direction of what we would like to see on screen. But again, that is not the point of this drama, and hence my words of standing unbias.
I felt that each of the main characters are relatable, and we shouldn't be judging on what's wrong with them or what kind of decisions/actions they should have taken. That is what a story is for. We get to learn from the characters to do the things that we feel is right, and to really execute what's right in own personal life. We would not be 100% clear of our decisions whether they would set us to the right path or not, but we have to bear the consequences of the decisions we make. There's no time for regrets. We've got to just keep moving forward. If we knew how certain things would turn out, who wouldn't want the option to rewind and to set things "right" again just like the drama "The Miracle We Met".
Again, my point is about understanding the direction of the story it conveys, learning from the mistakes and life lessons displayed by the wonderful actors and actresses in this drama. We all have the right to fantasize and have that feels for any individuals in the drama, but please don't get too caught up with what you feel should happen in this drama or what you would have done differently if you are the writer. Go ahead and write your own story instead if you want certain things to happen. But respect what is there for us here in this drama, and what the story of this drama tells according to the writer. Period.
I truly believed that there is a reason why HJP is involved in this love triangle for a reason in the plot.
At first, he was an orphan who excel in investing, but being poor and hungry at the point of time with some pride that he have. He is underage so his talent couldn't be utilise without an adult's help. Grandmother's grace gave him food and shelter that he needs, and he helped her with financial solutions that solve the solution of her not needing to leave cold hard cash in her shop which people could just take it if she invited anyone like HJP himself to the shop to stay for the night.
HJP himself mentioned that he was tempted to take the money but in the end he didn't because he have morals. He saw the opportunity to utilise Grandmother's bank account he helped her to create and he made good investment money to live in a good sheltered place of his own, but he misunderstood her when he thought she gave all his earning to her son. Grandmother gave all her own money to her son, returned the money that wasn't hers yet still bought a new shoes for HJP to wear to Seoul. How a graceful soul one can be like Grandmother. She is a Saint, someone we would love but we know we don't deserve to have in our lives, because of the bad things we did in our past.
HJP in the present story, lacks nothing in possession. He has reputation and wealth, something that his talent in investment helped to create the shelter he wanted, and he will not ever feel the same state of hunger he felt during the time he was poor and hungry again. He also have plenty of high technology belongings that serve his wants and needs.
That's it? What about HJP's character growth? HJP's life was inclined to Grandmother in his early life, and I felt it was natural to link his life again back to Grandmother and SDM again.
Without Grandmother and SDM, I felt that HJP lacks emotion. He felt loved by Grandmother in his teenage years but 15 years later, he was on his own. He was very strict and direct in the things he say to other people and businesses without considering how they would feel. When his opinion according to his experience about a business will fail, he said that they will really fail. He even suggested NDS's group to find other jobs to do as SanSam Tech will sure to fail as a business. Later in the episodes, then he mentioned that SanSam Tech needs a CEO that can help them. What does this imply?
With his relationship with SDM, there are actually solutions towards the things that he mentioned are destined to fail. I felt that if HJP really want to do it, things are possible. Now SanSam Tech didn't fail as far as he previously mentioned to them, correct? SanSam Tech is growing as a business with SDM's lead although they have yet to find a Profitable solution to their business model.
But the main point is, I believed HJP's main point of his character growth comes from his relationship. He lacks love in his process of growing up and this feeling allowed him to feel confused and feel sad. Previously, he felt that he was sure that business he mentioned couldn't succeed, they didn't succeed, and he only feels angry when he is pissed or angry when things don't go his way. He has never felt confused or sad about anything until he met SDM in real life and remembering about his past relationship with Grandmother, and thus reconnecting with her.
I believed a story comes with character growth. If HJP mainly acts as a mentor for them like you said, I think HJP's life is really boring in this drama, because he already achieved what he has achieved, and there is nothing more to change or to see.
When you missed a chance, you might not get another. I think this depicts very well to HJP's case to his relationship with SDM for more than just friends in a relationship.
It's a great drama with a great storyline that I enjoyed watching. It shows me that the characters are all humans. Their actings were all great. When they got angry and when they got sad, I really can relate to each of them. I think that's what amazing. Please don't get too caught up with the individual characters or the relationships going on too much that you overlooked what the drama has been trying to convey. The messages and moral of the story are amazing.
First of all, the story started with KSH seemingly as the ML as his character, HJP appears and SDM's Grandmother tried to take care of him when she felt he needed her. She gave him her Motherly love unconditionally despite him mistakenly misunderstands her at times. HJP wrote the letters to SDM according to Grandmother. He didn't wanted to use his own name and thus came out with NDS when he saw the newspaper article which Grandmother agreed with. There were no feelings attached when HJP wrote the letters. Grandmother were there when the letters were wrote which she uses her words and feelings and ask HJP to convey to SDM. He and SDM have never met before in person. SDM on the other hand, started to have feelings for this stranger whom she has never met before, and it got her intrigued, because her family became broken and this guy who wrote the letter, has helped to heal part of her wounds. It was only one sided love, prior to the main storyline that sets 15 years later.
When HJP first started to hear SDM's name again during the event, it triggered his memory as he remembered this name somewhere but doesn't exactly remember where, until he follows SDM and saw Grandmother. The following events after, on what he did for SDM were all part of the plot where he and Grandmother doesn't want SDM to feel disappointed and hurt because of the fabricated "friend" Grandmother made for SDM, with HJP using NDS's name and adopting this fake "Friend" persona.
NJH, who came into play as the real NDS, whom didn't know his name was used in part of HJP and Grandmother's play, was innocent in the plot. Although his business require help and assistance, NDS didn't really agree to the terms, and he willingly helped out to act as the NDS HJP requested him for, on his own will because he didn't want to disappoint SDM as well. They have never met before, but NDS understood what it felt to feel disappointed, and hence he didn't want to let a stranger felt the similar disappointment he has experienced in his life. It was accidental, that NDS felt in love with SDM. He subconciously become the NDS that SDM thought her "first love" was. All these lies are coordinated between HJP and NDS since then, but HJP was the one who has stopped NDS from saying the truth when NDS initially at one point, came to the conclusion where he wanted to say the truth. Back then, HJP tried to stop him from doing that, as he could not imagine what would happen if SDM knows the truth and the disappointment of her would show. Before NDS were to speak, he saw SDM's smile and he wanted to continue seeing SDM smile and hence once again, become selfish due to his love for her and ultimately decided to not tell the truth. SDM was NDM's first and only love so far, and this feeling gave him light that he has never experienced with anyone before. Love has often been selfish, I believed most people are able to relate that. NDS just wanted SDM. Even if he wasn't the NDS that SDM knew 15 years ago, he became selfish because of love.
It is later revealed for NDS that he cheated in that prestigious competition and he wasn't a genius which everyone thought he was to be. His life has been trying to keep up to his parents (Father's especially)' expectation and the lies that he tried to keep and uphold his "prodigy" image is slowly killing him. He is actually very good in programming. He might not be a true perfect genius, but every failure that strikes him, he has shown that he have been able to bounce back up to make his best, the better, for every improvement that's possible to be made in this drama. NDS's character has so much growth to be seen in the character, where he displayed many flaws and insecurities and how he eventually wanted to just not live to anyone expectation. His dream was initially to flourish his SanSam Tech, so that he can answer to be the pride of his father, but now his dreams has changed to be SDM's support, to be her one and only right hand man where her happiness would be with him, and when she faced problems, he could help her to resolve and stay strong and confident.
Truthly speaking, SDM is the real victim here. Having to surround herself with the white lies of her Grandmother and HJP, and later, NDS. But because of how NDS and SDM met, their character have grown alot together, because they have experienced a lot of things together even though they only knew each other for a few months. Even if their story may be due to some lies, but their love for each other is true. The lie 15 years ago made SDM stronger today to be the present which we see in the first episode, but their encounter with one another made SDM stronger which we could see her in the later episodes as compared to when they didn't met. It's due to their own characters with flaws that they are able to overcome certain obstacles. Without the NDS we see now, SDM wouldn't be that successful leading as a CEO. Without SDM in NDS's life, NDS would still be that nerd and his business would go nowhere.
HJP grew up to be a Financial Genius I would say, where he knew how to invest to grow his own money at a young age, and later be a successful mentor to businesses in the present life. However, his attitude is flawed as he became a little self-centred until he met Grandmother again. It is understandable, as he has been alone throughout most of his life and thus he wouldn't care much to anything else, other than to repay Grandmother's kindness when he needed her the most. Where HJP plays well as a support main role, in giving useful financial advices for SDM and NDS to grow their SanSam Tech business, HJP didn't grow much as a character other than realising what is love to a relationship. Without the lie he made for Grandmother to SDM as NDS, he wouldn't have pushed, cover up and support the real NDS and his business to grow to what you have seen in the latest episodes. SDM wouldn't have been part of the journey since, and neither of them would have fallen for one another. There wouldn't be a love triangle either.
HJP's intention initially was to solely help the graceful Grandmother. Falling in love with SDM was also accidentally, and he didn't fell for her before NDS. He fell for her after NDS expresses his feelings towards SDM which got himself tangled in a confused situation where he wasn't sure what he was doing or what he was feeling. It's only when he was sure he fell for her that he wanted to change the things and say the truth, which could have hurt SDM but he didn't care much for until he really felt that SDM was in pain, which he regretted it. But since things has already been done, moving ahead, HJP has decided to express his feeling and let SDM decide for herself - whether she is in love with the person in the past or the person in the present while losing her self-confidence in a dilemma on what are the things that are true and fake.
All in all, I can say that the letters express not much significance for HJP at the start because he only did it when he was asked for a favour by Grandmother. He didn't write it with the same feelings that SDM had when she received every letters of the NDS with fake persona. The present NDS genuinely felt for her as a person even when they didn't really know each other from the start, but only due to the letters that they met. The fake NDS gave her strength in her teenage years. The present NDS builds her strength in her adult years. I believed that's also a reason why both are the Main ML and FL. They have many obstacles that they overcome because of one another. They might be entangled in a fake story, but what happens in their present lives that build their love relationship are what's real.
It might sound sad for HJP. It's not that he don't deserve SDM or who deserves SDM more. But it's the truth which he missed the chance. Instead of admitting that he is the fake NDS stated in the letter initially, he went on to find the present NDS to continue to lie till the end, which gave SDM the opportunity to fell for the NDS she knew in the present. That was the chance he gave up on, for not realising he fell for SDM sooner.