How Much of Typhoon Family Is Actually True?
Typhoon Family isn’t a true story, but its fiction hits hard, unfolding amid the real 1997 Asian financial crisis—the IMF-era shock that reshaped a generation—delivering an original saga, not a biopic, set against a very real economic storm.
Quick heads-up if you were wondering: Typhoon Family is not based on a true story. It is, however, planted firmly in a very real moment in Korea’s history, which gives this one a little extra bite.
So what is it actually about?
The series drops us into 1997, right as the Asian financial crisis (often called the IMF crisis in Korea) smashes into the economy. In the middle of that mess, Kang Tae-poong, the son of a rich businessman, ends up shoved into the top job at his family’s trading company, Typhoon, basically overnight. He inherits a title and a panic: no employees, no money, and nothing left to sell. It’s a reluctant-CEO coming-of-age story — he starts out a bit of a carefree screw-up and has to learn, fast, what responsibility actually feels like.
Running alongside him is Oh Mi-seon, the company’s bookkeeper and the eldest daughter in her family. She’s trying to build a career while carrying a pile of family obligations of her own. Different starting points, similar pressure cooker.
Real history, fictional people
Typhoon Family isn’t a biopic or a dramatization of any specific real person. It’s pure fiction set against the very real late-90s crisis. Expect references to layoffs, bank runs, and that very specific late-90s Korean shorthand — you’ll hear “IMF” a lot — but the characters and their relationships are made up. The production has leaned into period detail to make 1997 feel lived-in; the personal drama is the point.
Who is making it (and who’s in it)
The script comes from Jang Hyun, with Lee Na-jung and Kim Dong-hwi directing. It’s a 16-episode run, produced by Imaginus, Studio PIC, and TriStudio, with Studio Dragon planning.
- Lee Jun-ho — Kang Tae-poong: CEO of Typhoon
- Kim Min-ha — Oh Mi-seon: Bookkeeper at Typhoon
- Sung Dong-il — Kang Jin-young: Tae-poong’s father and Typhoon’s founder
- Kim Ji-young — Jeong Jeong-mi: Character details not announced
- Kim Min-seok — Wang Nam-mo: Tae-poong’s best friend
- Mu Jin-sung — Pyo Hyeon-jun: Tae-poong’s rival
- Kim Young-ok — Yeom Boon-i: TBA
- Kwon Eun-seong — Oh Beom: TBA
- Kwon Han-sol — Oh Mi-ho: TBA
- Kim Jae-hwa — Cha Seon-taek: TBA
- Lee Chang-hoon — Go Ma-jin: TBA
- Lee Sang-jin — Bae Song-jung: TBA
- Kim Song-il — Gu Myeong-gwan: TBA
- Park Sung-yeon — Kim Eul-nyeo: TBA
- Kim Sang-ho — Pyo Bak-ho: TBA
The trailers set the tone
Netflix’s preview leans into the scramble: empty desks, chaotic headlines, and the palpable awkwardness of a guy who suddenly has the keys to a company that might not make it to Friday. Another trailer pushes the arc further — Tae-poong ditching his old habits, stepping into the chair, and getting squeezed from every direction: the economy, his family’s expectations, the social stigma of failure, and his own second-guessing. It looks like a workplace dramedy with a romance thread and a nostalgic 90s texture.
When and where to watch
Typhoon Family premieres October 11, 2025 on tvN in South Korea and on Netflix worldwide. We’ll see if it can juggle the messy reality of 1997 with a romcom-adjacent vibe without dropping either ball — not an easy balance, but potentially a very fun one if they stick the landing.