SIU described him as a "Test Jaesusaeng" (시험 장수생, Siheom Jaesusaeng) This was meant to be taken at face value, as he is very old, enough to be a "brother" to Karaka. When Ja Wangnan reached the 20th Floor with a group of friends, they were not able to pass. That being said, all of his friends eventually gave up until he was the only one still trying to pass the test. At that point, he was all alone in his dark room, with an accumulating debt, an empty bowl of rice and no-one to talk to. But still, he held on to hope.