When I first started watching A Virtuous Business, I had a hard time connecting to the story but I don’t like to give up on kdramas right away because they usually take from two to four episodes until the viewer can start to see the bigger picture of the story. And this was absolutely the case for this particular kdrama.

I also think there’s an added issue with the way it was promoted, mainly because the team behind this kdrama didn’t want to give the story away and it worked a little too well.

A Virtuous Business it’s so much more than a story about four women empowering themselves. I don’t think this kdrama is given enough credit for how progressive it actually it’s when you take into consideration the time and country it takes place, or the cultural impact the reinterpretation of Confucianism had in South Korean values, believes and relationships.

This kdrama might be set in a particular time and of course things have changed, but I think it’s fair to say there’s still some relevance in the experiences of these characters. There are very specific scenes that come to mind about this issues but I would hate it to spoil it for anybody.

The story also has a secondary subplot about a very dark and heartbreaking part of contemporary korean history, and that many people are still reckoning with to this day. This part is well balanced with the main story and the comedy, so it never takes too much (which easily could) and instead only gives the kdrama more gravitas.

The relationships are at the heart of this story, with the four female leads front and center but the other women, kids and men around them get their chance to shine and make this world feel lived-in, their dynamics real and development earned. The story ask some hard questions about women’s issues, it questions the definition of what is a “good family man”, the best way to connect with your partner and how to raise children.

I highly recommend giving A Virtuous Business a chance, I think you might be pleasantly surprised!