The inaugural episode of "The Dream Life of Mr. Kim" commences with the ascension of Kim Nak-su to vice president at his alma mater, overshadowed by the undeniable popularity of Park Gyeong-tae. Despite his joy at this achievement, Nak-su's life has been driven by an insatiable desire to outshine his brother and forge a meaningful impact. This quest has imbued his professional demeanor and career trajectory, manifesting in his current role as a thriving corporate shaper at ACT, a telecommunications powerhouse in a fiercely competitive landscape.
As a General Manager, Nak-su is rewarded with numerous accolades for his impeccable sales prowess, yet his personal life with Ha-jin, his wife, is marked by an indifferent discontentment. His son, Kim Su-gyeom, stands in stark contrast to his father's driven nature. While possessing a keen intellect and aspirational visions of his own, Su-gyeom prefers to meander through life with a nonchalant attitude towards work. Nak-su presses him to join the Student Marketer Program at university as a means of enhancing his résumé, oblivious to Su-gyeom's genuine disinterest.
Meanwhile, on campus, Nak-su's path crosses with Lee Han-na, an old acquaintance from middle school. After her abrupt departure for overseas studies, she returns now, eager to reconnect that evening at 7 pm, scrawling the address on his hand with a sense of nostalgia.
Within the competitive confines of ACT, Nak-su's leadership is overshadowed by the punctual and well-prepared team under Do Jin-woo, the Sales Team 2 General Manager. The current Managing Director, Jeong-tae, whom Nak-su aspires to emulate and eventually surpass, embodies the epitome of success within the company. Despite his prestigious position, Nak-su faces an unspoken challenge—his team's habit of arriving late each morning, casting a shadow on his otherwise immaculate reputation.
The gossip of Nak-su snooping around the Director's office that morning soon reaches Jeong-tae's ears, and unfortunately, this places Jin-woo in a significantly more advantageous position for a potential promotion. ACT is a ruthless company, and they are not hesitant to transfer or sideline underperforming employees. One such unfortunate soul is Heo Tae-hwan, who is set to be shipped out to Ulleungdo in a month. This is a shame because he is one of Nak-su's friends at the company. Tae-hwan, on the other hand, is a bit of a slob, which is the exact opposite of how Nak-su views himself. He is hyper-aware of his appearance and possessions, and is determined to impress the executives by buying a new bag and various other trinkets. This ironic behavior, however, is akin to a slap in the face for Park Ha-jin, who has been chastised by Nak-su in the past for "spending recklessly" and taking out a loan to help the family.
Meanwhile, Kim Su-gyeom heads out to the meet spot with Han-na that night, which happens to be a grand opening party for a high-flying guy called Jeong-hwan. He is the CEO of Jealousy, My Strength, and has big plans to make his company a success. However, Su-gyeom questions the work ethic and position of the company. Naturally, Jeong-hwan decides to badmouth Su-gyeom's family setup and his lack of success in life, snubbing his suggestions and forcing Su-gyeon to leave.
Back home, Nak-su is in a slump and drinks with Su-gyeom. The former admits that he is envious of his friend who works as a landlord and earns "free money." Su-gyeom bites back and tells him that it's not as easy as it seems.
However, the conversation clearly reveals that Mr. Kim is deeply materialistic and solely focused on success. To him, greatness is synonymous with acquiring an apartment, sending Su-gyeom to college, and enduring a decades-long career in his company. Su-gyeom, on the other hand, yearns to make his mark in the world, independent of his father's shadow.
The following day, the big golf meet looms on the horizon, where Nak-su must pick up Jin-woo and Jeong-tae. Traversing the city, he eventually locates the apartment but is shocked by its exorbitant price. Despite the initial shock, Nak-su excels at the golf tournament, earning the title of Star of the Day and joining in a post-game booze session with his peers. He is almost convinced that his executive position is within reach, splashing out on lavish nightlife activities. However, as the promotion seems imminent, Jung Sung-gu approaches Nak-su at work with a concern.
Upon conducting final checks, he notices a discrepancy in the estimate for the Yangpyeong Dream Cultural Center. The quote was based on Super Giga, but the area isn't yet covered. They are supposed to receive the service in August but are expected to start it next week. Undeterred by these discrepancies, Nak-su decides to push ahead, convinced that they won't be subjected to speed checks and will be able to coast through for a few months. This decision foreshadows impending trouble.
At work, Heo Tae-Hwan appears in a state of disarray, seeking a better position by speaking to Jeong-tae. However, Nak-su is reluctant to do anything that might jeopardize his director promotion. Tae-hwan confesses that he endures daily excursions through manholes and is terrified of tight spaces. He now realizes that the company has no plans to send him to Ulleungdo and that this entire ordeal is merely a ruse to force him out.
Nak-su loses his patience and tells Tae-hwan that he is the true victim here, shunning his friend and urging him to leave. He essentially humiliates Tae-hwan, which does not help the situation in any way. To make matters worse, Nak-su also passes over a deserving employee in his team, Song-hee, for a potential promotion.
After reflecting on his harsh words towards Tae-hwan, Nak-su decides to speak with Jeong-tae. It turns out that the Director made the final decision to cut Tae-hwan, but he didn't anticipate such harsh treatment. Nevertheless, he stands firm on his decision and tells Nak-su to handle this situation otherwise it'll hinder his promotion. As he leaves the office, a sudden announcement shuts down the parking lot due to a safety incident. Nak-su receives a call confirming the worst – Tae-hwan has had a terrible accident.
