Lee Jun-ho and Kim Min-ha take the lead in Typhoon Family, as their characters Kang Tae-poong and Oh Mi-seon navigate the realities of life in the 90s.
Set in 1997 Seoul, Typhoon Family introduces us to Kang Tae-poong (Lee Jun-ho), a carefree and seemingly lazy heir to an import company, and Oh Mi-seon (Kim Min-ha), a diligent and quiet bookkeeper who lives her day-to-day life juggling her dreams and responsibilities as the family breadwinner. When tragedy strikes, Tae-poong suddenly has to fill in his father’s shoes, forced into an unwanted destiny.
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The Idyllic Start
Typhoon Family episode 1 starts with a quaint, nostalgic atmosphere that takes us back to the 90s. From old-school pagers to clunky computers, the charm of the decade shines through with every scene. Although the episode begins at a slow pace, it quickly propels us towards the core of the story.
We see the import company, Typhoon Trading, interviewed by a TV station. Among the staff is Oh Mi-seon, a dutiful bookkeeper, alongside other cheerful employees being shot for a feature. In sharp contrast is a news piece on the rich youth of Korea—where we meet Kang Tae-poong at a nightclub, a relaxed heir surrounded by his friends.
The ‘Rebel’, Tae-poong
In the club, Tae-poong gets into a brawl with a cocky teenager, Pyo Hyeon-jun (Moo Jin-sung). Emboldened by his crew, the fight escalates, ending with Tae-poong and his best friend Wang Nam-mo (Kim Min-seok), as well as Hyeon-jun, in a police station.
Kang Jin-young (Sung Dong-il), CEO of Typhoon Trading and Tae-poong’s father, arrives, refusing to bail his son out. The tension between father and son is evident, as Jin-young insists Tae-poong needs to learn a lesson. It’s worsened by Hyeon-jun’s father, Pyo Bak-ho (Kim Sang-ho), bailing the two men out, fueling the fire between the rivalry and competition between Jin-young and Bak-ho.
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The sweeter side of the Kang family
However, Tae-poong’s rebellious side and Jin-young’s frustration with his son are more than what they seem. Jin-young cherishes his son’s actions, only wanting the best for him. And soon enough we see that there’s a softer side to Tae-poong, as he brings us to his greenhouse, showing his passion: cultivating and taking care of his flowers.
The episode also shows more of Tae-poong’s depth, proving that he’s not just a lazy rebel heir—he checks up on a friend who’s in debt, making sure that he can keep himself afloat for a while longer. Tae-poong shines his dad’s shoes, a thoughtful act any bratty kid wouldn’t bother to do. It makes it easy to love the young heir, seeing that there’s more to him than just a party-loving lifestyle.
We also get a fresh, sweet train scene, as Tae-poong and Mi-seon’s lives collide in a shared train carriage. Sneaking shy glimpses and quiet stares, the romantic bud between these two naturally blooms, making any viewer look forward for more.
Financial troubles ahead
Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though—as we see Mi-seon struggle to keep her family’s finances afloat, her tireless work as the bookkeeper for Typhoon Trading leads her to advising the CEO that their new deal with a foreign client is dangerous. However, Jin-young merely brushes her warning aside, insisting that it’s necessary for survival.
Of course, a bounced check from one of the company’s local partners sets off a chain reaction for Typhoon Trading. Soon enough, their losses follow suit, as the CEO has an attack that ends up with him in the hospital.
Tae-poong, a caring son, visits Jin-young diligently, worried for his father and mother. However, he receives an emergency call during a visit, leading him to rush to the club he frequented—only to realize that he was pranked by Hyeon-jun, making fun of Tae-poong for their company’s recent loss.
Suddenly, Nam-mo enters the room, asking Tae-poong why he hasn’t been checking his pager. In an unfortunate series of events, Tae-poong misses the moment his father passed away, and he only walks to the hospital, defeated, as his mother keeps asking him why he wasn’t present.
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What to expect next
The episode trickles down with a melancholy funeral, and opens up a world of questions. What happens now to Tae-poong? Inheriting the company would mean endless responsibilities and having to abandon his dream of gardening and cultivation. Not to mention the current status of the company Typhoon Trading, and how this would affect everyone else—specifically Mi-seon, who is doing her best to survive being the breadwinner.
Typhoon Family leaves us waiting expectantly for the next episode, which will be a weekly release on Netflix. Airing until November 30, this nostalgic story about family and resiliency is reported to have a total of 16 episodes, making it the perfect ber-month series to watch.
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Source: Naver, The Chosun Daily
