BURNOUT

Self-service laundromat opened · BURNOUT after 3 yr 11 mo

Kwon Yu-na, 39 · 3 yr 11 mo

“If this was real I’d be in credit card debt right now 🙃”

When I stopped, everything stopped.

One morning you could not get up. The hospital chart said "moderate depression" and "sleep disorder." The shop stayed shut that day. Nobody else had a key. For the first time, someone told you it was all right to stop.

How it went

1. 2026 · preparing to openKwon Yu-na, 36. You have decided to try starting a company in Seoul. No idea, no product yet. Savings ₩48,150,000, employed (₩3,370,000 a month).
2. 11/2026: what now?Start a business: «Nail & lash studio» — You are going with «Nail & lash studio». Next: a location and people.
3. Where to start, and with whatA proven franchise — You set up the shop exactly as the headquarters manual said. Customers walked in because of the brand. That made you a little sad.
4. Who opens the doors with you?Part-timers for the rush hours only — Two students took turns. Both told you their exam weeks in advance. You were grateful.
5. 2026 · year 1 beginsUS Rates Rose Again
6. 11/8 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
7. An insurance agent dropped byOnly the compulsory cover — The bare minimum. The rest is luck.
8. 12/15 · Down sickDay three of a cold that will not lift. No time to see a doctor.
9. 1/12 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
10. 1/16 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
11. Financing approvedBank working-capital loan ₩5,000,000 · 6.1%/yr · 60 months
12. You are short of moneyBank credit line — You walked into the bank with documents and proof of income. They said your trading history is short. Now you wait for underwriting. Bank working-capital loan ₩5,000,000 approved.
13. 2/26 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
14. 3/4 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. ₩96,782 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is ₩4,928,430.
15. 3/27 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe KRW/USD rate rose to 1,373. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
16. 4/23 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
17. The “₩20,000,000 a month or your money back” courseBlock the ad — You block it and another account posts the same ad. The money is still in your account.
18. 5/3 · More regularsThe same customer came three times this week. “I don’t go anywhere else,” they said.
19. 5/5 · A competitor made a moveA nearby competitor started heavy social ads. Search for your shop and their ad comes up first.
20. 5/11 · A death in the familyYour mother passed away. You taped a note to the door: closed for family reasons.
21. Your mother’s funeralA full funeral — Three days of mourners. Faces you had not seen in years.
22. 6/6 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
23. 6/20 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
24. 6/30 · A loan payment bouncedThe loan payment did not go through. One text from the bank, and your credit grade dropped a notch.
25. Financing approvedregional credit guarantee foundation guaranteed loan ₩37,000,000 · 4.8%/yr · 60 months
26. You are short of moneyGuaranteed loan — You went to the regional credit guarantee foundation for a guarantee. It costs a fee and another review, but you can knock on the bank’s door without collateral. regional credit guarantee foundation guaranteed loan ₩37,000,000 approved.
27. 7/5 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
28. A review farm makes an offerDecline — You deleted the message. That week one customer left a good review on their own. One.
29. 8/19 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
30. 9/15 · Down sickYou came down with something. You took medicine and pushed through, but could not concentrate.
31. 9/20 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe KRW/USD rate rose to 1,373. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
32. 9/23 · PandemicThe government announced opening-hour limits and a ban on gatherings. The streets emptied.
33. The restrictions drag onTake the emergency relief loan — The relief loan arrived. You bought time.
34. 10/13 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 3%. You redid your prices.
35. How to handle the bad reviewsReport them to Naver Map / Kakao Map — Naver Map / Kakao Map removed some reviews. Not all of them. You saved screenshots and waited for the next one.
36. US Rates Rose AgainSignals of Fed tightening strengthened the dollar, and this country's funding rates followed. When the KRW/USD rate jumped, costing got complicated again for anyone buying imported ingredients or parts.
37. Year 1 closeRevenue ₩103,610,538, operating profit ₩14,725,844. Cash ₩44,113,175.
38. 2027 · year 2 beginsRates Rose
39. 11/9 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
40. 12/4 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. ₩800,711 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is ₩58,610,803.
41. 12/11 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 6.13%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
42. 12/27 · Relief paymentA government relief payment of ₩3,000,000 came in — about a month’s rent.
43. 1/14 · A competitor made a moveThe shop directly opposite started 30% off. A few regulars went there.
44. 1/21 · A baby arrivedYou and Do-yun welcomed a baby. Up three times a night. Living costs went up by ₩400,000 a month.
45. The baby is hereGo straight back to work — Behind you, as you left for work, the baby was crying.
46. Raise the service standardDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
47. 2/6 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
48. A gap opened in the rotaMake an urgent replacement hire — You hired the person who laughed most in the interview. Customers learned their name before you did.
49. 3/27 · FamilyYou talked with your family for a long time. Someone said, “You come before the money.”
50. 3/30 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
51. 4/9 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for card payment sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
52. 4/28 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
53. Keep going like this?Change concept: Self-service laundromat — New name, new lineup. A few regulars said they liked it better before; new faces started walking in.
54. 5/16 · Down sickDay three of a cold that will not lift. No time to see a doctor.
55. 5/24 · Rate hike newsThe news said the policy rate went up. You reread the terms on the existing loan.
56. 6/4 · Heavy rainHeavy rain cut the foot traffic to nothing. Two reservations cancelled.
57. Financing approvedBorrowing from family ₩20,000,000 · 0.0%/yr · 36 months
58. You are short of moneyBorrow from family — You brought it up with your family. The transfer was fast. The conversation stays. This money may cost more than bank interest. Borrowing from family ₩20,000,000 approved.
59. 7/9 · Supplier price increaseThe supplier said prices go up 5% from the next order. You need to find another supplier.
60. 7/12 · The bank asked for documentsThe bank asked for revenue evidence and the business plan again. One line said they would review whether the existing limit can be maintained.
61. This time you sell the courseWalk away — The agency probably sent the same pitch to another owner the next day. You opened the books again.
62. 8/13 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
63. 8/16 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
64. 9/16 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe KRW/USD rate rose to 1,415. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
65. Financing declinedThe Bank working-capital loan application was declined.
66. You are short of moneyBank credit line — You walked into the bank with documents and proof of income. They said your trading history is short. Now you wait for underwriting. But underwriting declined it. Credit and cash flow need another look.
67. 10/22 · Your mentorAn old mentor called. “What scares you most right now?” they asked.
68. Cash ran outTake a credit loan — The rate is 14.0%. You can breathe, but the interest comes back every month. The repayment schedule in the banking app starts to look like a calendar.
69. Rates RoseMarket rates rose. Variable-rate loans cost more, and so does any new borrowing. More people stood at bank counters tapping calculators.
70. Year 2 closeRevenue ₩76,251,578, loss ₩11,424,247. Cash ₩3,607,898.
71. 2028 · year 3 beginsThe Currency Calmed Down
72. 11/7 · More regularsThe same customer came three times this week. “I don’t go anywhere else,” they said.
73. 11/22 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for card payment sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
74. The lease is upNegotiate the rent down — The landlord came down to 1%. “If you are staying a while.”
75. 12/9 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
76. 12/10 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
77. 1/18 · Supplier price increaseThe supplier said prices go up 9% from the next order. You need to find another supplier.
78. 1/24 · A competitor made a moveThe shop directly opposite started 20% off. A few regulars went there.
79. You are short of moneyHold on — Instead of the bank you called suppliers and asked for a month’s grace. Two said yes, one said no.
80. 2/5 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
81. 2/27 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.61%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
82. 2/19 · Back to normalThe restrictions are lifted. People are slowly coming back out.
83. 3/3 · The bank asked for documentsThe loan extension paperwork arrived: financial statements and copies of the VAT returns, please.
84. 3/13 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
85. 4/10 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
86. 4/22 · An outbreakAn outbreak is in the news every day. People are staying home.
87. You are short of moneyHold on — You closed the loan papers. Instead you cancelled subscriptions, cut what you could do without and pushed the next payment date. Holding on is also a decision.
88. 5/14 · Building repairsWater leaked from upstairs. You and the landlord argued over who pays for the stain on the ceiling.
89. 5/24 · Down sickA sore throat and a fever. You got through the day in a mask.
90. Cash ran outLet an employee go — You paid the last paycheck and severance. The next day the place was one person quieter. You hated the silence.
91. 6/4 · More regularsA regular brought a coworker. “I’ve told everyone about this place.”
92. 6/9 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
93. 7/11 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
94. 7/13 · Back to normalThe restrictions are lifted. People are slowly coming back out.
95. Financing declinedThe Bank working-capital loan application was declined.
96. You are short of moneyBank credit line — You walked into the bank with documents and proof of income. They said your trading history is short. Now you wait for underwriting. But underwriting declined it. Credit and cash flow need another look.
97. 8/14 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. ₩2,372,042 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is ₩82,716,997.
98. 8/29 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 3%. You redid your prices.
99. Cash ran outTake a credit loan — The rate is 14.0%. You can breathe, but the interest comes back every month. The repayment schedule in the banking app starts to look like a calendar.
100. 9/19 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
101. 9/25 · The bank asked for documentsYour bank contact changed. The new one asked for the past year’s statements again.
102. 10/9 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
103. Your body wants to stop firstKeep going — You kept working. Your body wore down a little at a time, and the business kept running. Nobody knew which would last longer.
104. The Currency Calmed DownThe dollar's strength eased and the KRW/USD rate came down. Imported material costs fell a little, and anyone paying overseas suppliers could breathe again.
105. Year 3 closeRevenue ₩102,586,363, operating profit ₩19,247,175. Cash ₩27,331,579.
106. 2029 · year 4 beginsTax Audit Notice
107. 11/27 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe KRW/USD rate rose to 1,442. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
108. 12/7 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
109. 12/30 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.39%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
110. 12/22 · An outbreakAn outbreak is in the news every day. People are staying home.
111. 1/9 · Rate hike newsThe news said the policy rate went up. You reread the terms on the existing loan.
112. You are short of moneyHold on — Instead of the bank you called suppliers and asked for a month’s grace. Two said yes, one said no.
113. 2/10 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
114. 2/25 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
115. 2/23 · Back to normalThe restrictions are lifted. People are slowly coming back out.
116. 3/5 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
117. 4/12 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
118. You are short of moneyHold on — You closed the loan papers. Instead you cancelled subscriptions, cut what you could do without and pushed the next payment date. Holding on is also a decision.
119. 5/4 · More regularsThe same customer came three times this week. “I don’t go anywhere else,” they said.
120. 5/8 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 8%. You redid your prices.
121. 6/5 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe KRW/USD rate rose to 1,442. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
122. 7/25 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
123. Financing declinedThe Bank working-capital loan application was declined.
124. You are short of moneyBank credit line — You walked into the bank with documents and proof of income. They said your trading history is short. Now you wait for underwriting. But underwriting declined it. Credit and cash flow need another look.
125. 8/4 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
126. 8/10 · Rate hike newsThe news said the policy rate went up. You reread the terms on the existing loan.
127. 9/3 · Down sickDay three of a cold that will not lift. No time to see a doctor.
128. 9/21 · The bank asked for documentsYour bank contact changed. The new one asked for the past year’s statements again.
129. Cash ran outClose the shop — On the last day you closed the books. The faces of a few regulars came to mind first.

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