BURNOUT

Budget takeaway coffee opened · BURNOUT after 5 yr 4 mo

Jang Ye-jun, 55 · 5 yr 4 mo

“Didn’t know until I tried. Now I know.”

When I stopped, everything stopped.

One morning you could not get up. The hospital chart said "moderate depression" and "sleep disorder." Unanswered orders piled up. Nobody else knew the password. For the first time, someone told you it was all right to stop.

How it went

1. 2026 · preparing to openJang Ye-jun, 50. You have decided to try starting a company in Seoul. No idea, no product yet. Savings ₩44,320,000, no job.
2. 11/2026: what now?Start a business: «Budget takeaway coffee» — You are going with «Budget takeaway coffee». Next: a location and people.
3. Where to start, and with whatStart online — You started without a storefront. You chose ad spend over foot traffic, and order forms over customer faces.
4. Who starts it with you?Part-timers for the busy days 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. 11/17 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. ₩383,456 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is ₩35,170,000.
7. 12/27 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $131 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
8. 12/28 · Supplier price increaseThe supplier said prices go up 7% from the next order. You need to find another supplier.
9. 12/29 · Your partner lost their jobMin-seo was let go. Unemployment benefit will last a few months, but less is coming into the house.
10. 1/27 · Hygiene inspection noticeGetting ready for an inspection, you re-labelled every date sticker. It took two hours after closing.
11. 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.
12. 2/21 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.83%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
13. 3/16 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
14. 3/27 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on Baemin / Coupang Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
15. 4/26 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe KRW/USD rate rose to 1,382. Imported flour and cooking oil follow it up.
16. Priorities for the next three monthsCut costs — You got new quotes from three suppliers. One came down a little.
17. 5/3 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. ₩383,456 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is ₩33,838,815.
18. 5/16 · Down sickYou came down with something. You took medicine and pushed through, but could not concentrate.
19. 6/15 · 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.
20. 7/5 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 8% rise.
21. How to handle the bad reviewsIgnore them — The reviews did not disappear. They disappeared from your days. You only remembered them when a customer asked.
22. 8/8 · Hygiene inspection noticeGetting ready for an inspection, you re-labelled every date sticker. It took two hours after closing.
23. 8/28 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $131 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
24. 9/5 · Your mentorAn old mentor called. “What scares you most right now?” they asked.
25. 9/7 · The rush before the long holidayOrders rose ahead of the long holiday. Delivery and stock both became tight at once.
26. 10/12 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on Baemin / Coupang Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
27. Priorities for the next three monthsImprove quality — You fixed the small annoyances one by one. Customers did not mention the change, but they came back.
28. 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.
29. Year 1 closeRevenue ₩161,917,494, operating profit ₩16,564,547. Cash ₩21,109,678.
30. 2027 · year 2 beginsThe Currency Calmed Down
31. 11/8 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
32. 11/18 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
33. 11/6 · Loan rate came downThe variable-rate loan followed the central bank down. Monthly payments fell by ₩13,320.
34. A gap opened in the rotaMake an urgent replacement hire — A new colleague joined. Work is shared, but payroll and onboarding are now recurring responsibilities.
35. 12/25 · 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.
36. 1/13 · Word got aroundA post in a local community said “this place is good.” Customers came in without warning today.
37. 1/24 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.37%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
38. Do you raise prices?Cut costs — Costs came down. Customers noticed immediately. "It used to be better" stayed in a review.
39. 2/28 · Hygiene inspection noticeWord went round that a shop on your street was fined at inspection. You redid the kitchen cleaning rota.
40. 3/15 · Down sickA sore throat and a fever. You got through the day in a mask.
41. 4/21 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for card payment sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
42. Demand is outrunning the teamDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
43. 5/4 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
44. 6/9 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on Baemin / Coupang Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
45. 6/21 · Supplier price increaseThe supplier said prices go up 6% from the next order. You need to find another supplier.
46. 7/6 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $142 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
47. 7/23 · Minimum wage announcementA minimum wage increase was announced. Payroll and prices have to be recalculated.
48. Raise the service standardDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
49. 8/14 · Hygiene inspection noticeWord went round that a shop on your street was fined at inspection. You redid the kitchen cleaning rota.
50. 8/23 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
51. Someone else has quitMake an urgent replacement hire — There were a few mistakes in the first week. From the second week you had time to rest.
52. 9/17 · Word got aroundA post in a local community said “this place is good.” Customers came in without warning today.
53. 10/11 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.37%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
54. 10/24 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. ₩370,136 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is ₩29,760,379.
55. The group booking never cameLet it go — Next day the booker texted: “Sorry, forgot.”
56. 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.
57. Year 2 closeRevenue ₩145,197,498, operating profit ₩18,350,983. Cash ₩11,424,484.
58. 2028 · year 3 beginsIngredient Prices Rose · Global Energy Prices Surged
59. 11/11 · 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.
60. 11/20 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
61. 12/3 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 4%. You redid your prices.
62. 12/12 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on Baemin / Coupang Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
63. Financing declinedThe Bank working-capital loan application was declined.
64. 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.
65. 1/9 · The bank asked for documentsYour bank contact changed. The new one asked for the past year’s statements again.
66. 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.
67. 2/15 · The rush before the long holidayOrders rose ahead of the long holiday. Delivery and stock both became tight at once.
68. 3/19 · Down sickYou came down with something. You took medicine and pushed through, but could not concentrate.
69. 3/30 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
70. 4/9 · Hygiene inspection noticeA hygiene inspection notice arrived from the hygiene department. You started with the fridge temperature log.
71. Financing approvedBorrowing from family ₩20,000,000 · 0.0%/yr · 36 months
72. 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.
73. 5/18 · 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.
74. 6/9 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $202 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
75. 6/25 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
76. 7/26 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on Baemin / Coupang Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
77. Financing declinedThe regional credit guarantee foundation guaranteed loan application was declined.
78. 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. But underwriting declined it. Credit and cash flow need another look.
79. 8/23 · Word got aroundA post in a local community said “this place is good.” Customers came in without warning today.
80. 9/18 · A family emergencyThe school called about your child. You left the work in other hands and rushed over.
81. 10/25 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 6%. You redid your prices.
82. Financing approvedsmall merchant policy loan ₩43,000,000 · 3.9%/yr · 84 months
83. You are short of moneyApply for the policy loan — You rewrote the business plan. The officer at SEMAS (Small Enterprise and Market Service) spent longer on cash flow and repayment than on revenue. The answer arrives by post. small merchant policy loan ₩43,000,000 approved.
84. Ingredient Prices RoseWholesale prices went up. The same stock now costs 7% more. Raise the price and customers leave; leave it and nothing is left.
85. Global Energy Prices SurgedTension in the Middle East pushed international crude prices up. Ships loaded with oil could not pass, and freight and packaging costs rose with them. A war in the news became a number on next month's cost sheet.
86. Year 3 closeRevenue ₩158,048,867, loss ₩10,260,796. Cash ₩13,489,251.
87. 2029 · year 4 beginsThe Minimum Wage Rose · The Supply Chain Broke
88. 11/11 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
89. 11/29 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.23%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
90. One pair of hands short at the rushDefer for free — No ad went up. You took over closing yourself.
91. 12/19 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $226 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
92. 1/16 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
93. Your body wants to stop firstClose for two weeks — You turned off your phone for two weeks. The work was as you left it, and your body was a little lighter.
94. 2/7 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on Baemin / Coupang Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
95. 2/8 · Hygiene inspection noticeWord went round that a shop on your street was fined at inspection. You redid the kitchen cleaning rota.
96. 3/12 · Down sickYou came down with something. You took medicine and pushed through, but could not concentrate.
97. 4/8 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 5% rise.
98. 4/29 · The bank asked for documentsYour bank contact changed. The new one asked for the past year’s statements again.
99. Hiring againDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
100. 5/30 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. ₩2,108,701 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is ₩108,386,605.
101. 6/10 · Your mentorLunch with an old mentor. “Forget the numbers. Are you sleeping?”
102. 7/14 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
103. 7/30 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
104. 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.
105. 8/11 · Minimum wage announcementA minimum wage increase was announced. Payroll and prices have to be recalculated.
106. 9/7 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on Baemin / Coupang Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
107. 10/20 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $226 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
108. Financing declinedThe Bank working-capital loan application was declined.
109. 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.
110. The Minimum Wage RoseThe minimum wage rose. Employee pay goes up, but if you raise your prices by the same percentage, customers leave. You have to do the math again between labor cost and price.
111. The Supply Chain BrokeDeliveries of what you ordered slipped by two months, and the alternative supplier quoted 20% more. Not holding inventory became a weakness this time.
112. Year 4 closeRevenue ₩112,376,357, operating profit ₩10,288,553. Cash ₩13,872,337.
113. 2030 · year 5 begins3 A.M., Your Heart Was Racing
114. 11/10 · Down sickDay three of a cold that will not lift. No time to see a doctor.
115. 11/25 · Hygiene inspection noticeGetting ready for an inspection, you re-labelled every date sticker. It took two hours after closing.
116. 12/3 · A family emergencyThe school called about your child. You left the work in other hands and rushed over.
117. 12/29 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
118. 1/30 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
119. Financing declinedThe Bank working-capital loan application was declined.
120. 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.
121. 2/17 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 5% rise.
122. 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.
123. 3/13 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. ₩2,674,034 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is ₩122,297,087.
124. 3/17 · Rate hike newsThe news said the policy rate went up. You reread the terms on the existing loan.
125. 4/9 · 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.
126. Financing approvedregional credit guarantee foundation guaranteed loan ₩16,000,000 · 4.7%/yr · 60 months
127. 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 ₩16,000,000 approved.
128. 5/12 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $201 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
129. 6/12 · The bank asked for documentsThe loan extension paperwork arrived: financial statements and copies of the VAT returns, please.
130. 6/18 · Equipment stoppedThe fridge stopped during the afternoon rush. You threw out part of the stock and called a repair technician.
131. 7/19 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
132. You are short of moneyHold on — Instead of a loan you opened the household budget. No more eating out; repairs that could wait, waited. Holding on needed a plan too.
133. 8/8 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 8% rise.
134. 8/30 · Minimum wage announcementA minimum wage increase was announced. Payroll and prices have to be recalculated.
135. 9/18 · The rush before the long holidayOrders rose ahead of the long holiday. Delivery and stock both became tight at once.
136. 9/24 · Hygiene inspection noticeA hygiene inspection notice arrived from the hygiene department. You started with the fridge temperature log.
137. 10/26 · 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.
138. Financing declinedThe Bank working-capital loan application was declined.
139. 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.
140. 3 A.M., Your Heart Was RacingYou were alone in the office. Your chest was tight and your hands shook. The hospital said "stress." You thought you had to go in again tomorrow.
141. Year 5 closeRevenue ₩105,760,688, operating profit ₩13,653,017. Cash ₩16,573,526.
142. 2031 · year 6 beginsTax Audit Notice
143. 11/22 · Rate hike newsThe news said the policy rate went up. You reread the terms on the existing loan.
144. 11/3 · Loan rate went upThe variable-rate loan followed the central bank up. Monthly payments rose by ₩14,818.
145. 12/22 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $158 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
146. 1/7 · A family emergencyThe school called about your child. You left the work in other hands and rushed over.
147. 1/20 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
148. Financing declinedThe Bank working-capital loan application was declined.
149. 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.
150. 2/7 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on Baemin / Coupang Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
151. 2/26 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
152. 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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