The Gap of Mr. Kim in Korea
Even People Who Look Perfect Are Fretful Inside
Hey diptok Fam! It's Ah-Young here!
Are you watching the JTBC series "Mr. Kim, Who Owns a House in Seoul and Works for a Large Corporation"? Even if you haven't watched the full episodes, you've probably seen a 'real-life office worker meme' scene featuring Mr. Kim in shorts or reels. Before diving into Mr. Kim’s story, these two posts help deepen the emotional context — especially the themes of hidden loneliness and the gap between appearance and reality.
👉 diptok blog — Flirting, Yet So Lonely? Understanding Modern Situationships
👉 diptok blog — Does Anyone Else Feel Super Lonely When Night Falls?
This series, originally a beloved webtoon, exquisitely highlights the gap between the life that is presented to the world and one's true inner self, through the eyes of a middle-aged manager, Mr. Kim, who seems perfect on the outside. He owns his home in Seoul (probably worth around 2 billion KRW?), is a manager at a major corporation, and has a solid career—someone who looks successful by all measures. Yet, as you follow him in the series, you realize the thing he has successfully hidden all along is his true inner heart. So today, let's talk about Mr. Kim, focusing not on his physical success but on his emotional fortitude.
Moments When the Inside Quietly Crumbles, Despite Outer Perfection
As mentioned, the Mr. Kim on screen has conditions that anyone would envy. But the reality he faces at work and at home are the realistic struggles we know too well. Responsibility keeps piling up, while opportunities to laugh comfortably with colleagues decrease; there's a growing distance from his family; and at the company, survival and perseverance become a bigger goal than growth. Simultaneously, he is navigating the ambiguous age of 50, a burden hard to share with anyone. Though he constantly says "I'm fine," moments of emptiness quietly creep in at night. Ironically, the more stable and flashy the exterior is, the lonelier and more complex the inner mind can become.
Conversation, whether in reality or anonymously, is subtle. A tone, a reply speed, an emoji—any of these can change the other person's mood or make your own heart unnecessarily anxious. Sometimes, thoughts like "Ah, did that sound wrong?" or "Did I accidentally hurt their feelings?" begin to spiral. Relationships built on words are truly difficult. Unseen emotions clash, and even if we pretend to be okay on the outside, our insides are deeply turbulent. Mr. Kim is always "pretending to be okay," but deep down, he is constantly conflicting, wavering, and worrying. He is just like us.
What We Need is a Place to Let Down Our Guard
Relationships are never always easy. If you throw harsh words, both parties get hurt, and it becomes a lose-lose battle, not a competition to win. That’s why people absolutely need a safe space for conversation where they can let down their guard. diptok wants to be that space, which is why we don't ask for profiles, photos, job titles, or age. It is a choice made to prioritize words and emotions over appearance. Perhaps the conversation a person like Mr. Kim truly needs is one he can easily have while leaving his job title and specs behind.
Watching Mr. Kim, I realized one thing: what is truly important in this day and age is not specs, money, or physical strength, but the strength to endure our constantly wavering hearts. The courage to continue a conversation after being hurt, the balance to hold steady between a vastly different inside and outside, and the composure to not be easily devastated by someone's words. These are the inner muscles that allow us to truly live.
If today was a day when your mind was a little noisy, that's okay. A word you ignored might have lingered in your heart, or perhaps someone's small kindness helped you get through the day. Every kind of day is okay. We are all wavering, and yet we are all living well. If you feel the need to quietly let down your guard right now, it's okay to bring out your story on diptok. This is a space that sees the real heart before the outward appearance.
I’ll be back next time with a 100% relatable story! Thank you so much for reading until the end!
Hope Ah-Young's story brought you a little comfort tonight. If you ever need a chill spot to chat about these things in the late-night hours, why not give diptok a try and start your own honest conversation? 💜