Start-Up (2019) Plot Summary Explained

Against his mother's warnings, Go Taek-il leaves his home and begins working at a Chinese restaurant owned by a large man named Geo-seok. Simultaneously, his friend Woo Sang-pil starts a new job at a private loan business. As they navigate the challenging world of adulthood, both friends face a myriad of experiences that highlight the highs and lows of their new lives.

Taek-il, characterized by his rebellious nature, often drifts through his days without much purpose. One particular day leads him to a run-in with the police for riding without a helmet on a second-hand motorcycle, a purchase made by his best friend Sang-pil to help with his General Educational Development (GED) studies. Following a confrontation with his mother, Jeong-hye, who chastises him for his recklessness, Taek-il impulsively decides to leave home the next day, ultimately heading to Gunsan.

With no clear plan, he seeks refuge in a nearby Chinese restaurant for a meal. There, the presence of the short-haired chef, who he later learns is named Mega-seok, draws Taek-il in with an unusual energy that piques his interest. Not long after, he comes across a job flyer for a delivery position at the same restaurant. Fueled by a desire to escape his mundane life, he eagerly offers to join the team. Recognizing Taek-il’s need to break free from his past, the restaurant's owner expresses concern that he may struggle to maintain his independence.

As Taek-il takes on his new role, he begins to form a bond with the president of the restaurant and becomes closer to Mega-seok. Meanwhile, Sang-pil, who lives with his grandmother, who suffers from dementia, is also on a quest to secure steady employment. With the help of his acquaintance Dong-hwa Kim, Sang-pil finds a job in the loan business. Initially, he believes that the work will yield significant financial returns with minimal effort, however, reality soon proves otherwise.

During a routine collection at a butcher's shop, Sang-pil is met with hostility and violence, causing him to reassess his expectations. The situation worsens when he discovers that Taek-il's mother, Jeong-hye, has also borrowed money from the same company. Complications arise when the toast shop she operates, funded by her loans, is deemed illegal and marked for demolition. Informed of this troubling news, Taek-il rushes to the shop, only to find himself powerless against the intimidation of the loan sharks who threaten their livelihood. His journey continues as he confronts the harsh realities of adulthood and the consequences of their choices, all while forging new paths for himself and his friend.