Synopsis
Aspiring entrepreneurs chase a startup dream — and a long-buried first love — at a Korean Silicon Valley campus.
What makes Start-Up worth watching
Sparked the great Korean drama "second-lead syndrome" debate of 2020.
Start-Up represents a strong example of south korea romance from the 2020 production cycle. Korean studios have spent the past decade refining the kind of long-form storytelling on display here — careful character work, restrained pacing in the early episodes, and a willingness to let emotional beats land without overstatement. The blend of Romance and Drama elements gives the show its tonal signature, sitting somewhere between mainstream comfort viewing and prestige drama.
The cast is led by Bae Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Seon-ho, with strong supporting work from Kang Han-na. It originally aired on tvN, and has since travelled internationally through the streaming partnerships listed above.
Where to watch Start-Up online
You can currently stream Start-Up on the following platforms (regional availability varies):
- Netflix — see all Netflix Asian drama listings on DramaSeek.
Streaming rights for Asian dramas shift constantly. We update each title page when a new platform picks up a series or a contract expires. If a service is geo-locked in your region, see our guide to legitimate options for international drama viewers.
If you liked Start-Up
Viewers who enjoy Start-Up typically also enjoy other south korea romance. Below are six closely related titles drawn from our catalogue, ranked by genre and country overlap.
