Series Details
Air Dates: October 25 - November 30. 2025
Episodes: 12
Where to Watch: Netflix
Genre: Business Comedy
Starring: Ryu Seung Ryong and Myung Se Bin
The Story
After spending 19 years climbing the corporate ladder and sacrificing his family life for the job, a man is suddenly forced to give up his position at his demanding workplace. Losing everything he worked so hard for, he is left to deal with the emotional trauma and shame of letting down his family. But as he begins a journey of perseverance and self-discovery, he will learn that life is much more than just your job title.
The Leads
Ryu Seung Ryong as Kim Nak Su
Kim Nak Su is a middle-age man who has spent the last 19 years building what he considers a successful life. He has worked hard to rise in rank through his corporate job, bought an apartment in Seoul, and provided financially for his family. But just as he is about to be promoted to an executive role, the higher ups in charge decide Nak Su has gotten too old to be useful to the company, Since it would look bad to fire him, the company sends him to work as a security guard at a factory in the country. Not only does Nak Su have to work there, he has to leave his nice home in Seoul and live on site at the factory. Eventually the humiliation is too much and Nak Su quits the company.
At first, Nak Su decides to start his own business. He is lured into a real estate investment fraud and loses all of his retirement package and savings. With no other choice, he goes to his brother, who owns a car repair service, and asks for a job. His brother gives him a job and creates a separate position for Nak Su as a car washer and detailer. And as Nak Su adjusts to his new life, he gets an opportunity to look around at his life and all he has given up in the name of success and stability. Slowly he turns his attention to his own personal dreams and relationships. And as he does, he finds happiness and healing.
Kim Nak Su is a typical middle-age businessman. He is stubborn, short-sighted, and incredibly traditional in his beliefs. He has never taken the time to ask himself what he wants for his life or what makes him happy. His relationships with his brother, wife, and son have suffered neglect and he has never taken time to pursue any hobbies or dreams outside of work. But as his mental health hits an all-time low in the wake of his resignation, he gets a second chance to re-evaluate his priorities and life choices. Ryu Seung Ryong is a wonderful, older actor and I thought he was perfect for this role. He gave an honest, sincere performance that was heartwarming to watch.
Myung Se Bin as Park Ha Jin
Park Ha Jin is the wife of Nak Su. She was working for a credit card company when they met and the couple were set up on a blind date. Ha Jin was charmed by her awkward date and his practical approach to life. The pair married and had a son, Su Gyeom, which forced Ha Jin to quit her job and stay home with the baby. Now that Su Gyeom is grown and attending college, Ha Jin keeps herself busy working on all the house projects Nak Su doesn't have time for. But she longs to find purpose again in a role that is more than just housewife and mother.
When Ha Jin learns that Nak Su quits his job, she is sympathetic, but she is also practical enough to examine her own choices. She decides to go back to work, to help support their family. She immediately starts studying for a realtor's license and eventually passes the test and starts working. And after Ha Jin finds out that Nak Su had invested and lost all of their money without consulting her, she makes the decision to sell their apartment, even though Nak Su tries to stop her. Luckily in the end, they are able to keep their home and find some financial stability in their new roles.
Ha Jin is wise and determined. She doesn't wallow in pity or waste time pointing fingers at her husband. Instead, she steps up to do her part in keeping the family afloat. And as frustrating as Nak Su can be, Ha Jin understands his short-comings and gives him useful advice and insights into his situation. She never coddles him or holds her punches, but she is also loving and gracious, even when he doesn't deserve it. Myung Se Bin is a spunky actress who brings a fun vitality to her roles. She fit this role well and I liked her chemistry with both her husband and her son.
Supporting Characters
Cha Kang Yoon as Kim Su Gyeom
Kim Su Gyeom is Nak Su and Ha Jin's son. He has spent his life watching his father struggle, and he is determined to follow his own path. He wants to start his own business, but he gets scammed out of his money. Later, he and Lee Ha Na start a t-shirt business, working out of the space Nak Su had rented for his business.
Yoo Seung Mok as Baek Jeong Tae
Baek Jeong Tae started working at ACT at the same time as Nak Su. In the beginning, Nak Su helped Jeong Tae stay out of trouble with the bosses. But over time, Jeong Tae was able to pass Nak Su and become an executive first. But when the tide turns against Nak Su, Jeong Tae turns his back on his old friend.
Lee Seo Hwan as Heo Tae Hwan
Heo Tae Hwan used to work with Nak Su and Jeong Tae. He is the first to lose favor with the executives and they try to make him quit by sending him to a harsh new job. He eventually does quit. He finds a new job but doesn't have his contract there renewed. After Nak Su starts working as a car washer, he recruits Tae Hwan
Things I Like
Mental Health
This drama could have put all of the focus on Nak Su's financial struggles and bruised ego. But instead, they took a more wholistic approach, by bringing in his panic attacks and mental health diagnosis. This generation can be especially prone to denying any mental health problems, so I love the fact that they included it in the story. I also loved the few scenes that we got with Na Dae Ryong, the therapist upstairs.
Social Commentary
This is not just one man's story. It is the struggle of many of the people who have raised their children and are facing retirement. They discuss the pitfalls of agism, sexism, and corporate bullying, as well as the social pressure to excel in your career, in a realistic and relatable way. These are all important issues and dramas like this open the door for meaningful dialogue.
Well Balanced Ending
Slice of life dramas are best when they don't give us a perfect, rosy ending for every storyline. This one does a nice job of reminding us that life is more about the process than easy answers. Some stories gave us a bit of closure while others never had any kind of conclusion, because sometimes that is just how life is. And sometimes that is okay.
Things I Didn't Like
Su Gyeom and Ha Na
Su Gyeom and Ha Na were cute, but their romance didn't really fit in with the themes of the rest of the drama. I love a cute first-crush love story as much as the next person, but I think this drama could have done without this one. We never really find out enough about Ha Na to make me feel invested in her. And while Su Gyeom's search for his own career path fit in perfectly with the message of the show, his exploration of first love really didn't.
Brother and Sister-in-Law
What terrible people Ha Young and Sang Cheol were! As Ha Jin's sister, you would think that Ha Young would have been loving and supportive of her brother-in-law. First Sand Cheol humiliates Nak Su by making him do work far beneath his skill level. And then he stabs Nak Su in the back by side-bargaining him out of his commission. And until the very end, they never showed a bit of sympathy or remorse.
Depressing Outlook
While I enjoyed the realistic style of this drama, some found the hopelessness of it all to be too dark. Nak Su spends most of the show as a stubborn and rude man standing on outdated principles. He is the lead, but he is no hero. But even so, the amount of suffering he endures can be hard to watch. And in the end, he is still working a manual labor job that is difficult on both his body and his ego, and he is still having panic attacks. This one focuses much more on progress than healing. The victories can seem small when compared with all he has been through.
The Ending
'The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' gives a happy, but unexpected ending for Mr. Kim. He has mended his relationship with his wife and son. He and Ha Jin are taking time together to go on walks and laugh. Su Gyeom saw Ha Na off at the airport when her parents called her back to the US, and that's the last we see of them as a couple. But Su Gyeom continues to run the business, and it is thriving. He is finishing college and attending a job seminar led by Kwan Song Hui. And she is passing on what she learned from his father, including appropriate fonts.
Nak Su even gets a chance to smooth over his relationship with Jin U, who shows up drunk to Nak Su's work after a rough day at the office. Although Jin U was facing his own transfer into exile, we see he and Jeong Tae sticking together, as they continue to grind it out. The rest of the team is also still working for ACT, and now they actually get to attend meetings.
Nak Su is back working with his brother, and they have worked through their past misunderstanding. And Nak Su is no longer alone since he brought Tae Hwan in as his permanent business partner. The drama ends as Nak Su's work is delayed by an unexpected downpour. As he takes cover in the garage he closes his eyes and thinks back on all he has been through. He smiles and finally seems at peace. For him, true success had nothing to do with a corporate ladder and everything to do with valuing the people around him and accepting himself.
Should I Watch
'The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' is a realistic, slice of life drama about work life balance and priorities. It is a gem of a drama that is well-written and perfectly acted by Ryu Seung Ryong. Topics of aging, mental health, and social pressures are explored with honesty and bit of wry humor. The insights into cultural values, family dynamics, and workplace relationships and hierarchies are poignant and thoughtful.
But this drama definitely plays best to an older audience. As a slice of life drama, there's no grand action to move the plot along. It focuses on Mr. Kim, his relationships, and his search for purpose. Some viewers complain that the story is slow and boring. The lead character is extremely patriarchal and frustrating. But I still found myself rooting for him, and hoping he could learn to find value in the things that really count. I give 'The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' a 4 out of 5 ramen.
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