Cho Jeongnam is a kind man, he's one of those who will send a stranger on the street a smile just because today is a good day and "when you smile to the world, the world smiles back". He likes small-talk with his hair dresser and he doesn't mind helping the old lady with her groceries. It all adds up make a very charming man and there are probably more girls out there that would find themselves lucky if they ever found a man like Jeongnam. He's extremely diplomatic which is probably what got him the job at the first place. He does't like it when people fight or is in a stupid argument because he plays fair and everything can be solved with a conversation. It's not uncommon that friends call him to solve a petty argument between them and someone else. He doesn't like fighting though and he would rather get beaten than beat someone up, just to be right. It happens rarely but he can't say it didn't happen when he was 19 and went night-clubbing. His intuition is excellent but not always very present. Like right now, his intuition would be downplayed by his grief, but that doesn't mean that when he does get an intuitive idea, he should listen to his heart because it will be right in most cases. Jeongnam doesn't like telling people this because he's a little scared that people might use it in a bad way. He doesn't know exactly how people would be able to do that but it's just a fear he has. Jeongnam likes fun though and he wouldn't decline an offer for something different, something fun and something that might be an experience. Sure, he's a little more cautious with what he says yes to, because he has a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to his son. More often than not, he's that father that will take Minsuk with him to things other parents would raise an eyebrow at and some might even whisper in the corners and behind his back that Minsuk's father truly has lost his mind. But that's not true, Jeongnam just wants to create as many good experiences with Minsuk as he can. Sometimes he goes a little overboard, but he's sincere in his tries.

 

 

Jeongnam is not all good though and these days his bad sides are more prominent, strengthened by sorrow. He used to be a little naive when in his late teens but it has turned 180 and he has become almost mistrusting of people. He's still a charming man, but getting close to him is difficult. It's not that Jeongnam hides the fact that he has a son, no, people are more than welcome to know about Minsuk (he may even brag about him at times) but nobody (or very few) know of Taeyeon and even fewer is told if they weren't aware he was married to begin with. It's as if a wall has found its way in front of him. Jeongnam doesn't want to lower it though, he finds that it's actually quite nice to be hidden and watching people before he decides whether or not they're someone he wants to let closer to him and his family. This also makes him seem detached. He was detached before Taeyeon died so it's not something that has been strengthened by her death but it's awfully annoying for people trying to talk to him. Sometimes he got that look in his eyes that show that he's not in the conversation or the moment. One thing that is very very prominent in these days, however, is his lack of courage. He's not as daring as he used to be and even at work, his lack of determination has lowered. Jeongnam sort of just exists. He doesn't need or want a workload, he has a hard time meeting the deadlines because he's not motivated at all to finish his work (this leads to plenty of overtime). He's a lot more cautious than he used to be, fun is not the same as it was before Taeyeon died and there's a certain hesitation behind even the simplest of things. It's not something Jeongnam in particular likes about himself but it has always been there, the lack of courage, the lack of determination. In the past he would have called it laziness, but it is more than just being lazy. It's almost like a fear and in some cases, it's almost disabling. Jeongnam is sure he can gain a little courage and determination in time however, because he doesn't like it. And then there's his temper. When provoked or frustrated, he is quick to blow up and he is no stranger to raising his voice either. He often regrets afterwards because he doesn't mean to be so temperamental but in the moment he can't help it. His temper is the only way he ever shows frustration, never one to tears or 'talking it out'. He has never hit anyone in a temper fit and he would hate himself forever if it were to happen, but that doesn't mean, that he doesn't pull his hair in frustration or - at times - walks out of the room, just to avoid completely blowing up.

----

WHEN STRESSED

Jeongnam has two states of mind when stressed. He either becomes temperamental and throws papers, kicks the copy machine and growls at people who come close to him or he completely gives up, slumps in his chair and stares at his computer screen blankly. Neither of the two are very progressive and neither of the two offers solutions to the problems at hand that's making him stressed which often means, that work only piles up and his stress becomes even worse than before. He will do his best to meet the deadlines but the quality of his work may suffer. It also means that he's a lot more detached and he may overhear important messages because he has to focus on one problem at a time to be able to do even just a little productive. It's rare that Jeongnam gets stressed, but his reaction is definitely not something that should be encouraged in a working environment. Jeongnam also knows that it's bad and that it could - in the end - cost him his job and well, that only adds to the stress as well. It's such a cruel circle.

WHEN RELAXED

Jeongnam laughs a lot more when he's relaxed. His fun-loving side takes over and he might even become a little daring. His smile is very contagious and it's when he's relaxed that he's the most charming. He might attract quite a few girls when he's truly relaxed but he would much rather spend the time with Minsuk and finally let go of work-related stress and sorrow and just be father-son. Minsuk can easily detect when his father is relaxed, he's so much more fun to be around (and he allows more things when he's relaxed than when he's stressed and hey, who would Minsuk be if he didn't take advantage of that? He is a smart young boy after all.)

----

CURENT LIFESTYLE

Jeongnam and Minsuk lives in a smaller apartment close to Jeongnam's workplace. Jeongnam and Taeyeon had been contemplating buying house when she got ill and Jeongnam still pays off on the hospital bills. Luckily he has a great bank and he has money enough to live as well. There just isn't money enough to buy a house so - they stayed in the apartment. His mother-in-law lives close by which is of great help whenever Jeongnam has overtime work or just can't take Minsuk because he's so overwhelmed. Youngmi doesn't mind helping out with her grandson though, so it's good.

Jeongnam works as a graphic designer on the paper's webpage and he needs to make sure everything looks presentable to the public. He's constantly working on bettering the webpage, fixing bugs when he can (and getting help from IT when he can't) and making sure the layout is impeccable and fits the articles the journalists create.


[ TRIVIA ]

BACKGROUND

Jeongnam was born in Jeju to Cho Beomseok and Hwang Shinhye. His childhood was nothing special and he was a loved kid. He had everything he could have ever wished for, even with the few arguments that are bound to happen in families. Despite being an only child, Jeongnam wasn't lonely. He had a variety of friends, one of whom he traveled to Seoul with to enter college.

Here he met Lee Taeyeon and fell in love. The more they got to know each other, the deeper he fell. They became a couple when Jeongnam was only 20. His parents was a little skeptical but the ever lovely young woman had them charmed quite quickly. Her ambitions was also well-liked in the small country home. The two of them settled in Seoul, and when Jeongnam was 21, Taeyeon got pregnant.

Jeongnam's parents don't have the opportunity to go to Seoul all the time to help take care of Minsuk but they love their grandson nonetheless. They enjoy it when he comes to visit them.

----

LIKES

ㅅ Minsuk
ㅅ Snow (it's both romantic and fun - what's not to like?)
ㅅ Sleeping in
ㅅ Cooking
ㅅ Running

DISLIKES

ㅅ Rain
ㅅ TV dramas
ㅅ Cleaning
ㅅ Mismatching socks
ㅅ Hospitals

OTHERS

ㅅ Doesn't speak any other language other than Korean. Sure, he has tried learning English but gave up quite quickly. Who needs to be bilingual anyway?
ㅅ Has a habit of pulling his hair when he gets frustrated.
ㅅ Can't tie his own ties, so he doesn't wear ties at work.
ㅅ Was teased for being a straight man "with a gay major" but he's grown over it. He has a job he loves and that's more that he can say about those who in college.
ㅅ Doesn't see his parents that often because of the distance.
ㅅ Is quite athletic and enjoys a run
ㅅ Can't stand hospitals ever since Taeyeon got sick - he's simply been there too much
ㅅ Broke his leg at the age of 17 and had to have surgery
ㅅ Always sends postcards home when he travels


----

 

"Minsuk, grandma will take care of you tonight, so be a good boy and do as she says, okay?"
...
"Okay dad..."
...
"Dad?"
"Hm?"
"Why are you never home?"
 

 

 

 

 

BEST FRIEND
Oh Eunmi is the self-proclaimed and, according to herself, unlucky best friend of Jeongnam. It is, of course, more a joke than anything, she doesn't find herself that unlucky. She is a loud woman and very independent. She need no man to bring her happiness and she considers herself Jeongnam's lucky charm. She firmly believes that he needs her more than she needs him - this may be up for debate but don't debate with Eunmi. They are childhood friends from Jeju and Eunmi followed him to Seoul for college. There were rumors about them dating but neither of them has ever felt attraction towards the other - the dating rumors has become more of a laughing matter. She sees him as the younger brother she wasn't gifted with and he sees her as an older sister. They mock each other like that as well, her babying him and him acting like a brat.

After Taeyeon got sick, Eunmi has been watching Jeongnam deteriorate without the ability to do anything. She feels hopeless and helpless as she watches him spiral into sadness and she hates it. She is happy to take Minsuk when she isn't busy herself with her job as a physiotherapist and she's just happy that Minsuk still calls her 'aunt Eunmi', even if she insists that she's not old enough to be called aunt yet.

She wishes nothing more than for Jeongnam to finally get steady again, to bring back his smile and his laughter. She doesn't necesarily wish him new love because she knows how much he loved Taeyeon, but if only he would relax and let things come back slowly, instead of rushing to find a normal schedule as a single father.

"Dad, you're not thinking of it. It's for mom, but I'm not going to tell you what it is. Mom will know." He grabs the clay figure and puts it in his small back before he leaves the room. Jeongnam sighs. Not again. He needs to be here on time yesterday so he can show Minsuk that he really does love him. He wishes he was a better father, he really does. He follows the boy out of the room, helps him with his jacket when the zipper isn't working and greets the teachers as they leave. He feels their stare and blinks shortly. Tomorrow, he will do a better job tomorrow. He's sorry he's such a horrible father.

[ MYUNGSUN & FRIENDS ]

The ever-happy always-smiling spokesperson of the company was easy to talk to when Jeongnam first started at the company. Despite being older than Myungsun, Jeongnam never thought of their as something big. Myungsun was a fresh breath of air in the company of all serious business men and busy journalists and Jeongnam enjos his company even if they only meet briefly over lunch and talk. Their friendship develop slowly like most thing would and at one point Jeongnam invites Myungsun out for a friendly get-together outside of the office. This is what really deepens their friendship, now they're no longer just friendly co-workers but they have something beyond that.

Jeongnam introduces Myungsun to Taeyeon as well and there is no jealous in him, he's just proud that he can present such a beautiful woman to a trusted friend. Myungsun is also the first one Jeongnam tells when Taeyeon becomes ill. He doesn't go in detail and he detatches a little but every friend would've been able to see that something was wrong. Myungsun is no doubt. Jeongnam slowly becomes more private and Myungsun notices, of course.

When Jeongnam suddenly comes to Myungsun and asks if he can vouch for him so he can bring Minsuk with him to work, Myungsun knows that something is wrong. But of course he lets Jeongnam bring Minsuk.

Jeongnam cares for Myungsun, they're not best friends but Jeongnam would definitely consider Myungsun close to him.

[ THE UNHAPPINESS ]

Everybody at the office knew that Jeongnam's wife was sick. It was hard to cover when he had to get off urgently to rush to the hospital and the fatigue of looking after Minsuk was obvious to everybody at work. But when Taeyeon dies, Jeongnam slips into secrecy. He doesn't want to talk about it, any 'how is your wife?' gets brushed off with an inaudible mumble and Jeongnam suddenly takes his work much more serious than ever before. He's still tired, still takes care of Minsuk every hour he isn't at work and his stress is obvious to anybody.

So when Myungsun takes him out for just a little drink as friends and Jeongnam makes sure his mother-in-law is there to take care of Minsuk, he breaks down crying over a couple of soju shots and lets his grief wash over him. Jeongnam cries more than he ever has that evening.
But it's only been 1 month since Taeyeon passed away and working, being happy for Minsuk and grieving in silence is just so much harder than he could have ever imagined it to be and he's pressured and on the verge of a breakdown. Jeongnam just can't afford breaking down and that makes everything so much worse.

Jeongnam promises Myungsun that he will get it all together, he can keep working. If only Myungsun promises not to tell the office because Jeongnam doesn't want sympathy. He just wants to forget.

---

Something is wrong. It's in his steps, in the way his shoulders hunch. It's in the way he distractedly apologizes for not meeting deadlines and the way he takes on a burden bigger than he can carry. Myungsun can see it. It's obvious. But whenever he asks gently if something is wrong at home or how his wife may be, Jeongnam brushes him off. And it's for one just super annoying to be brushed off when he thought they were better friends than that and two; it's really worrying.

Jeongnam doesn't want to come when Myungsun asks him out for a beer, but being strong when stressed has never been Jeongnam's strenght and he gives up. Two glasses of soju in and he suddenly puts his face in his hands and starts cryin. Myungsun is surprised to say the least and he blinks a little before he pats Jeongnam's shoulder gently.

"They couldn't save her," Jeongnam whispers and everything seems to fall in place. He sends the young widower a small smile and feels the sadness and the burden placed on the other's shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he says and he means it. He truly means it.


[ CREATOR'S OBSERVATIONS ]

Jeongnam isn't really sure he wants to go on the trip when Myungsun offers. He has Minsuk to take care of and he should stay home and work on his deadlines and all the things he's missing, it's also soon the 2 month anniversary of Taeyeon's death and he should visit her grave. It's Youngmi that asks him to take the offer and go. Shebrings up the idea that Minsuk can visit Jeongnam's parents for a 2 week summer vacation and tells him that Taeyeon would want him to relax and not stress so much. She's painfully aware of the fact that if Jeongnam doesn't find stress relief he'll burn out sooner rather than later. So she convinces him to go and promises that everything will be fine when he returns.


[ PLOT BUNNIES ]

I can see Jeongnam charming someone, a woman perhaps (most like, lmao) in Switzerland, either fellow co-worker or maybe someone else because he finally gets to relax and he may grieve, but without the work-related stress added, it'll bring forth his positive qualities - but I don't want him to find another love interest. He's quite loyal to Taeyeon and it has only been two since her death when they travel.

Jeongnam sending a postcard to Taeyeon (possibly with the address of the church where she's buried) from Switzerland

Jeongnam opening up about his sorrow - and realizing it's okay to be sad and that he can take maybe fewer hours for a couple of weeks so he doesn't have to be stressed and can focus on Minsuk and getting better together.

A phonecall from Switzerland to Korea (Jeongnam to Minsuk) and Jeongnam promising Minsuk that he'll be together with the other when he comes home and they can do things together. (sort of like "I promise I'll be a better father").