Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
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Money is to JP as Preciousssss is to Gollum.
A. Money has always been a JP’s #1 love.
If you rewatch Episode 1, that was how the young JP was introduced to the show. He was looking at his money.
When Grandma asked him, “What can I get for you?” the first thought that entered his head was Grandma was trying to get him to part with his money. So he quickly hid his bundle of cash.
Like Gollum (aka Smeagol) and his precious.
His “breakup” with grandma was about money, too. Did you notice? He was like a boyfriend accusing his girlfriend of “cheating” on him with another man and giving his love…errr…money away.
So grandma shoved the bag of love money back to him. lol.
And like the first time, he checked to see his money.
Do you see what I mean?
B. Throughout the drama, his main concern is protecting the money.
Remember the scene in Ep 6, 18:00, when he grilled his assistant on the Yeongsil app.
Assistant: The service will be validated through collaboration with Kangun Hospital in the future. And in the future, Yeongsil will help monitor the health of —
JP: (shouting) Stop saying “in the future!” Enough of what’ll happen in the future. Maybe they should go to the fortune-tellers, not investors.
The assistant was startled at his attack. (lol. He hadn’t heard JP insult Samsan Tech.) Even Director Yoon grimaced. JP’s comment was uncalled for.
So she tried to tone down JP’s words a notch.
Director: I’m sure you know this. We make decisions based on the current data, not on predictions.
Assistant: (her comment got the assistant smiling again) Yes, but these services cannot be implemented until investments are made.
JP: (sighing) I see. Then answer these questions.
And then he bombarded his secretary with questions. This was an awkward moment. Director Yoon’s facial expression and her body language demonstrated her displeasure with JP’s continued tone of questioning. (ha! Wait till she hears how JP insulted Samsan Tech.)
Assistant: Mr. Han, isn’t it great that they intend to serve the public interest?
JP: Indeed. But that’s not enough. Why should we give them our LP’s money to do charity work that creates little value? Let then use their own money! Their own money!
Her reaction.
Do you see what I mean about money being preciouuussssss to JP? You can’t pry it from him.
And the funny thing here is that Dosan was the one filmed shouting “Money. Money. Money.” The clip was edited by “Leo Burnett” aka his cousin. In reality, it’s JP whose motto is “money. money. money.”
Smart viewers shouldn’t be deceived by JP’s baloney about caring for Grandma. She had NOT been his priority. If he did, he would have found 1,001 ways to help her out all these 15 years.
Remember: the least he could have bought her was a pair of new shoes!
C. Then, in Episode 7, he extolled money as the sole business objective.
Here is the scene from Ep 7 at 41:00:
JP: (offering her coffee) I heard InJae Company landed an AI project Jeonghan Bank is launching.
Director: Yes, I heard. Won InJae is impressive, isn’t she? She’s already landed a 300M won project.
JP: (admiring) Ahh. She doesn’t even need a mentor.
Director: I know. She makes my job very easy. She knows what to do and how to accomplish it. But I must say that I don’t think she knows why she’s doing this.
JP: For money, of course. What other reason could there be?
He asked, “What other reasons”? Dalmi’s dad’s goal was to “change the world” and make a better future…and to get his family back together again. Not everything is all about money.
She was being sardonic here.
Director: Right, it all comes down to money. It’s a good reason and also an honest one. But I thought this kid would be different. I thought she’d find a different reason. Not money.
JP: Different reason? Like what?
Director: That I don’t know yet.
I already commented about this to @Fern. But here are the key points:
One, while Director Yoon verbally agreed that it all came down to money, it didn’t mean that she was IN FAVOR of this reality or that she subscribed to this philosophy that money is the endgoal of all. That’s why she was expecting (and HOPING) that the Sand Box child would have a different goal in life than generate money.
Two, Director Yoon wouldn’t have founded Sand Box if she’d truly espoused that view. Remember that she founded Sand Box for startups as a temporary shelter from money woes. She was giving the startups funds and time to grow in order to stand on their own. It’s a place to make errors without worrying about money.
Recall her conversation with Dalmi’s dad. She asked him how he was going to get profit from his idea. He replied that he wasn’t going to compromise the growth of user base just for profit. She agreed, saying, “No matter how thirsty you are, you should never drink seawater. You have to hold out until it rains. Pursuing profits in the early stage of a business is like drinking seawater.”
In other words, choosing the “right” people (whether they’re the users of the tech, the developers of the tech, or the partners in the tech) is critical when establishing a start-up.
Three, although Director Yoon doesn’t share JP’s view of money, she doesn’t correct him. She permits him to think that way…perhaps because she wants him to discover his mistakes himself. “Experience is the best teacher,” after all.
In a way, JP is also in a “sand box” of his own. It’s NOT a sand box for him to get more business sense (since he already reached the top of heap). Instead, it’s a sand box for him to gain humanity. His task is to value the real things in life; not money.
Next, in Episode 8 at 11:00, he lectured Dalmi — or should we say “nitpicked” Dalmi about the costs of the NoonGil program?
“Nitpick.”
JP: It won’t work.
Dalmi: Why do you say that without even looking into it? This is a brilliant idea.
JP: I know. It’s brilliant. I like the name, too. “NoonGil.” But if this was such a great idea why has no one done it yet?
Dalmi: (refuting him on point) There are similar services, in the US.
JP: I know. Google and MS are doing it. And a mere start-up wants to do it?
Note his argument. Other people have done it, Google and Microsoft. But he didn’t think Samsan Tech could do it BECAUSE they’re amateurs.
Dalmi: (fiercely) Yes, we do. Why? Don’t you think we can?
JP: Do you want facts of a future filled with hopes and dreams?
Dalmi: A future filled with hopes and dreams.
JP: That’s never going to happen.
Dalmi: Why are you being so negative?
JP: Have you calculated the API cost of Yeongsil?
Blah. blah blah. His point was NoonGil is not a profitable venture for investors.
JP: The more users, the higher the costs. Who’d invest in this?
Dalmi: I’m sure someone will. Surely, there’ll be investors out there who will be moved by our solution.
JP: No, there won’t be. Investors are moved by one thing. Money.
Dalmi: No.
Here’s my takeaway from this scene:
One, there’s a difference between how JP relates to Dalmi and the others. I pointed this out already; I said he was playing favorites. He allowed Dalmi to question him on his mindset and values.
He wouldn’t have permitted his assistant to do the same thing. Look at the way he treated him when he pitched Yeongsil. Yeongsil, like NoonGil, was intended to provide public service. JP blasted his assistant with questions.
Afterwards, his assistant wondered what was wrong with him that he was so “edgy.”
Assistant: Why is Mr. Han so on edge today? Is something bothering him?
(lol. He should see JP with the guys)
Director: It’s nothing serious. He just started mentoring the newcomers at Sand Box today.
(lol. Making excuses again??)
Assistant: What? I thought he was only mentoring at the Hackathon.
Director: He was sure that the team would fail, but they got in in the end.
(lol. I think he was actually HOPING that they would fail so he’d be proven right.)
Assistant: Gosh. So that’s what happened. I get how he feels. A Sand Box mentor is like an angel investor. What kind of VC wouldn’t go crazy to be accelerating startups? It’s like asking a professor to teach preschoolers the alphabet.
Nope! I really wish people would stop making JP’s “superiority” as an excuse for bad behavior.
Look: A GOOD professor wouldn’t mind teaching a preschooler the alphabet because she knows that this is a fundamental step to creating readers. In truth, a good professor would LOVE to be part of this grand and exciting beginning. She’d be unlocking the world of knowledge for the preschooler, and sharing her passion for words and books.
Similarly, a GOOD mentor wouldn’t mind teaching his mentees and passing down his knowledge and wisdom to the new generation. It’s how a profession, a society, a culture, and a civilization improve and become better.
Two, when JP allowed Dalmi to argue with him that investors could be moved by things OTHER THAN MONEY, her counterargument was the preciousness of life.
JP: …How are you going to persuade others?
Dalmi: What if I convince you? What if I try to persuade you and it works?
JP: It won’t
Dalmi: Still, let me give it a try.
And she pushed the reaction ball on his finger, explaining that it would light up if she managed to convince him that investors would invest in their product even if it wasn’t a money-earner.
JP: I told you it isn’t going to work.
Dalmi: Let me tell you about my childhood memory.
JP: It’s already wrong. Don’t be so mushy. Investors want to hear about facts and data. (Dalmi raised her hand to stop him.)
Dalmi: It was about 15 years ago. One day, Dosan sent me this letter. And it taught me something. How precious the things that I take for granted actually are. And how valuable everyday life is. That’s what the letter taught me. I’m not trying to achieve something new or great here. It’s just for some people, what’s ordinary to us isn’t ordinary at all. I want our technology to help them. Even just a little bit. Even if it’s just a tiny little bit, if we can protect their everyday lives, I think that’s reason enough to do this. I’m sure someone out there thinks like me.
To Dalmi, the real preciousssssss is life.
With her father’s death, she already experienced how fleeting life could be. Here today, gone tomorrow. Unlike JP who wanted to protect the money, she wanted to protect these lives.
In a way, that’s why she fixated on hands, especially Dosan’s hands. To her, hands are for holding on while traveling through life.
Hands are for joining together in a life mission.
And hands are for protecting the cherished people in one’s life.
Three, when Dalmi and JP had this discussion, she didn’t know of her grandma’s degenerative vision loss. But she already believed that Samsan Tech start-up should have a higher purpose than simple creation of wealth. Fortunately for her, Dosan held the same belief.
To me, Dosan didn’t need to write that letter to her 15 years ago, nor did he need to see that letter. Dosan already understood how precious life was, too. He understood the life lesson that Grandma was trying to impart to Dalmi that time15 years ago.
That’s why he drove her and her grandma to the beach. He read Dalmi’s comment, “I’d also like to gift the person I love with the most beautiful scenery so that I don’t regret not doing so in the future,” and he galvanized into action.
He wanted to made her wish a reality. He wanted Grandma to look at the most beautiful scenery. But of course, out of habit, Grandma was more interested in gathering food for them to eat. lol
D. Last, for JP, money excuses everything.
That’s what he did in Episode 12.
Dalmi: Mr. Han. What is this all about?
JP: I was giving my opinion as an investor. If it sounded like nitpicking, that’s a shame.
This is a lie. I explained here: Start-Up: Ep 11 Quick Takes
He didn’t simply point out problems with his brother’s business, he accused his brother of engaging in fraud. There’s a difference.
Youngsan: “That’s a shame”? A person died. How could you?
Chulsan: Kim Youngsan!
JP: If I hadn’t pointed out the problems with your brother’s business, innocent LP’s would have taken a hit. Telling the hard truth. That’s my job.
In effect, by showing zero remorse to Youngsan, he was saying that money matters was STILL a more important consideration for him than the suicide. He absolved himself of any culpability because he had to “protect” the money.
To me, JP presented a false dichotomy. He could have pointed out the problems to “save the innocent LP” in a less public, more professional and less defamatory manner. He could have withheld investments until a more detailed investigation was completed. Remember “due diligence”? He could have spoken with the mentor, if ever there was one assigned to the brother, about his misgivings. He could have given tangible evidence, instead of insinuation, that the brother was attempting to defraud the investors. He could have resolved this issue in so many different ways OTHER than the public ambush of the brother.
But here, he damaged the reputation and existence of his brother’s startup with one word of accusation (fraud!) which might or might not have been false. Since the brother committed suicide, JP dodged guilt and accountability by saying he was only “telling the hard truth” as part of his job.
That’s a serious character problem.
Next, after his brawl with Dosan, he told Dosan, “why waste caviar in a stew?” He thought that Dosan should accept the money and dump NoonGil and the Samsan Tech group.
In his own words, “The deal itself isn’t bad at all. Except for the team being disbanded, the terms are pretty good. Give up on NoonGil. Even if this hadn’t happened, it wouldn’t have lasted long. Use your technology for something more lucrative. Why waste caviar in a stew?”
And there you go. His precioussssss.
Money is as precious as caviar. Why waste it on the daily concerns of the common people?
>>>>
I have to go now.
Can you guess now what’s precioussss to Dosan? It’s symbolized by the baseball.
What about InJae? What’s precioussssss to her? I think I know what it is, and isn’t money like JP.
@packmule3,I love this post so much. If you think about it Jyp will never get a hug from money-the “warmth”it can buy runs cold and is populated by prostitutes-real or figurative ones). I think Dosan, Dalmi and Injae all have family issues. Dosan feels the need to please his parents, especially his Dad. Dalmi struggles with the parental and cherished sibling loss she’s experienced-from her mother’s abandonment which was fueled by economic insecurity to her father’s death. Dalmi wants so muchto prove her mother and sister wrong regarding her Dad. Dalmi loves and depends on Grandma for financial, but mostly psychological support and acceptance and live. And too little too late, Injae has kearned, to parPhrase a Beatles song-Moneycan’t buy her love or respect or position as stepfather ultimately chooses his blood son (an incompetent in the mode if a certain US givernment official’s two grown sons) despite her highly competent and superior work. Jyp has none of the family connections but couldn’t appreciate a true iffer of a secind vhance family by Grandma. The emotional riches she could provide are worth so much more than just the money. Had he accepted it, he might have gained emotional intelligence that would have served him well in business (if money continued to be his main goal).
And to those who celebrate it, Happy, healthy and safe Thanksgjving. I am thankful for @packmule3 and the regular posters on Bitches Over Drama who nourish me with regular food for thought and who are unafraid to buck trendiness with reasoned commentary based on careful examination of actual content and who do not gloat or condescend. Blessings(religious and otherwise) to you all.
Juz some simple thoughts. Injae valued success, she thought her father was a failure, didn’t want to be like him so she chose to follow her mother. When she had success in her career but was being make use by Mr Won, then she left Won and became independent as that’s the way to achieve and own it. Do-san’s preciousness was his dreams. When he was young, he tried to live up to his father’s dreams of him. It was only when he met Dalmi that he found his own dream. Follow your dream-
Blessed Thanksgiving to all!
Thanks for the write up packmule, happy thanksgiving!!
I missed the scene with the JP speaking Grandma about her shoes but you’re right, he could afford to but her a new pair.
I think Dosan’s precious is making his parents and the people he loves happy- hence why the baseballer wrote follow YOUR dreams, he could see that Dosan was just saying what his dad wanted him to say.
Injae’s precious is recognition for her work/ acknowledged as a brilliant businesswoman, something she thought would come from the business she set up under her stepfather but is hoping to achieve through her start-up.
I think JP is representative of Donald Duck’s Uncle Scrooge. 😅
He’s Mr. Scrooge alright. But he had a change by the Episode 16 so all’s good.
Yeah, good for him finally find a way to be a real good boy. 😌
I enjoyed your insight on DS throughout the story. but maybe you are being a tad too harsh on JP here?
I personally think that the scene of him shoving the money down his bag and acting paranoid about parting with it was justifiable. He was a kid who had been kicked out of an orphanage and asked to fend for himself afterall. I thought that the way he kept gazing at the hotdogs and noodles and contemplating if he could afford to indulge himself was a very human sentiment.
After the fight scene he said something along the lines of “earning money and then investing that in whatever you want”(if I remember correctly). He eventually does this when it comes to funding the project in the last episode.
I understand that his materialistic obsession comes from his abandonment issues etc… but I was a little disappointed with how DS approached this as well. When DS and HJP argue about who has the most to offer what automatically comes to DS’s mind is the fact that JP is richer than him.
Even for a character who was surrounded by friends and family he felt thrown off balance by JP’s wealth(even though DS was portrayed as a character who values people over price tags)
Miss newbie,
Oh dear, you must have forgotten your place in life so let me remind you where you are. You’re in the BITCH’s blog, my blog. I wasn’t a “tad too harsh.” If ever, I was too soft. I wasn’t as hard-hitting as I should have been from the beginning to shut the JP fans up. I gave them the benefit of the doubt.
One, it’s been two months since the drama ended. You don’t have to admit that I was right; I don’t seek validation. But you should know by now that JP’s obsession for money WAS his downfall like Gollum.
He only found a way to repay the kindness he received in the LAST episode because, in that calculating head of his, he insisted on paying Grandma back with money. In case, you miss this, let me repeat:
L
A
S
T
episode.
If you read my earliest posts on him, you would know that I was the first one to call it. I said that his primary purpose in this drama was to discover that “love is never transactional.”
TRANSACTIONAL, miss newbie.
I wrote, “love isn’t about keeping score, demanding quid pro quo, or splitting 50-50.”
Grandma wasn’t asking for a monetary recompense. He kept bringing up the money despite Grandma’s protests. He should have listened to her with an open heart, instead of a closed mind. For her, it wasn’t about money. For her, it was about kindness, generosity, and compassion.
In short, humanity.
Two, JP fans should stop apologizing for his behavior. It’s downright repulsive to insinuate that the characteristics that JP showed, e.g., paranoia, rage, greed, hostility, resentment, and persecution complex are “justifiable” (your word, not mine) consequences of his being an orphan.
This outlook is unacceptable to me since it unfairly paints all orphans with the same brush. JP’s assistant said, “orphans struggle financially once they leave the orphanage since they’re in-between adolescence and adulthood.”
Did all these orphans also exhibit signs of persecution complex like JP? Or acted insufferably like JP?
No.
Hong Jiseok, the CEO of “Go Gildong” project, was unlike JP. He too was from the orphanage but he used on his bad experience as an opportunity to help others. The fact is, for 15 years, JP had done not a single thing to pay back/pay forward.
In fact when an opportunity came to help out others, in the form of mentorship, he abused Dosan and the Samsan Tech guys. He was even reluctant to help Dalmi and was only guilt-tripped into helping her.
Get this: JP believed that lack of preciousssss money was the root of all his problem and resolved never to be without money again. He didn’t realize till the end that his lack of humanity, or at least his insufficient humanity, was the root of his problems.
Yes, this was evident from the first episode. He didn’t appreciate the kindness Grandma extended to him, and accused her of stealing his money. And when he realized that he made an unspeakable error, he didn’t bother to APOLOGIZE. He didn’t want to apologize because – just like people like you – he excused his bad behavior as “justifiable.”
The world was cruel to him, so he could be cruel to others, too.
This mindset is indefensible.
Three, move on. He wasn’t a “good boy.” It was a long and arduous transformation for him. That’s his narrative arc: to discover that he was good boy. But thank goodness that he made the right steps to become a good boy IN THE END.
He rejected that moniker Grandma gave him because he found the idea:
a. cloying,
b. childish,
c. required him to be virtuous,
d. humiliating, because he’s forced to admit that he wasn’t good at all,
e. and above all, humbling.
But in the end, when he cried in Grandma’s arms, he realized that becoming a good boy wasn’t so bad after all.
Four, why do you think was the purpose of his conversation with Dosan in the finale about charity? I already pointed this out a thousand times, but perhaps you didn’t read them or you refused to understand.
The point of their conversation is to show that he and Dosan share the SAME abhorrence towards being treated like a charity case. He and Dosan are alike in this respect.
However, the DIFFERENCE between with him and the REAL good boy, Dosan, is that Dosan chose to treat those people who offered him charity, with kindness and humility. Certainly, he disliked being regarded as a charity. Hence, he was generous in sharing his skills, like knitting the scrubbers and the cactus, and creating the app.
And five, I looked through you other two posts. To be quite frank with you, neither of them contributed anything insightful or consequential to my blog. But I tolerated them because I wanted to do YOU a favor. lol. I wanted to be like Grandma to JP.
But that was a moment of delusion because I’m no kind Grandma. I’m a bitch after all. So let this be a learning moment for you and the JP fans like you still lurking here in my blog. You have outstayed your welcome.
Do know your place in this world…or at least in my blog. You’ve been blocked.