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Strangers from Hell (타인은 지옥이다; Taineun Jiogida; lit. Hell Is Other People) is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Im Si Wan and Lee Dong Wook. Based on the Naver webtoon series of the same name by Kim Yong-ki, it is the second series of OCN's "Dramatic Cinema" project which combines film and drama formats. It aired from August 31 to October 6, 2019.

The title is a reference to an often misinterpreted quote by Jean-Paul Sartre from No Exit.

Synopsis[]

Unpleasant events disturb the life of an aspiring crime fiction writer when he becomes a resident of an apartment building teeming with shady neighbors.

—Official Description[1]

Yoon Jong Woo is a young guy in his 20s who moves from the countryside to Seoul after his college friend, Jae Ho, offers him a job. While looking for a place to live, he stumbles upon Eden Gosiwon, a cheap apartment that shares the kitchen and bathroom with other residents. He is not thrilled about the quality of the place or the other abnormal residents, such as his next-door neighbor Seo Moon Jo, a charismatic dentist. Nevertheless, Jong Woo decides to put up with it for 6 months until he saves enough money to move out. However, mysterious events start occurring in the apartment, causing Jong Woo to begin fearing the apartment's residents.[2]

Cast[]

  • Im Si Wan as Yoon Jong Woo, a writer who moves in Room 303 at Eden Dormitory
  • Lee Dong Wook as Seo Moon Jo, a dentist who works near Eden Dormitory

  • Lee Jung Eun as Eom Bok Soon, the owner of Eden Goshiwon
  • Ahn Eun Jin as Seo Jung Hwa, a policewoman
  • Park Jong Hwan as Byun Deuk Jong | Byun Deuk Soo, the twin brothers who live in rooms 306 and 307, respectively
  • Lee Joong Ok as Hong Nam Bok, the resident of Room 313]
  • Kim Ji Eun as Min Ji Eun, Jong Woo's girlfriend
  • Cha Rae Hyung as Shin Jae Ho, Jong Woo's university senior and boss
  • Noh Jong Hyun as Kang Seok Yoon, a new resident at the goshiwon
  • Kim Han Jong as Park Byung Min, Jong Woo's chief
  • Oh Hye Won as Son Yoo Jung, Jong Woo's colleague
  • Park Ji Han as Go Sang Man, the head of section at Jong Woo's company
  • Lee Hyun Wook as Yoo Ki Hyuk, the resident of Room 302
  • Hyun Bong Shik as Ahn Hee Joong, the resident of Room 310
  • Lee Suk as Jo Yoo Chul, a reporter
  • Heo Seon Haeng as Seo Jae Heon, Jung Hwa's father
  • Son Young Sun as Jung Hwa's grandmother
  • Song Yoo Hyun as Han Go Eun, Ji Eun's boss
  • Yoon Sung Won as the chief of the patrol division

  • Song Wook Kyung as Cha Sung Ryul, a detective (Ep.2)
  • Park Seung Tae as a flower seller
  • Nam Jung Hee as the old woman who visits Eom Bok Soon
  • Kim Yannie as Kumail's Wife (Ep.3)
  • Choi Chan Ho as Cho Hyun Ho, a policeman
  • Joo Byung Ha as an exam student (Ep.5)
  • Park Cheon Guk
  • Lee Bong Gyu
  • Seo Jin Won
  • Shin Hee Gook
  • Lee Joo Young

  • Soundtrack[]

    Main Article: Strangers from Hell OST

    Episodes[]

    In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

    Episode Original broadcast date Title Average audience share
    AGB Nielsen
    Nationwide Seoul
    Episode 01 August 31, 2019 "Hell Is Other People"
    ("타인은 지옥이다")
    3.763% 4.645%
    Plain bad luck awaits Yoon Jong Woo on his first day in the big city. He finds a cheap place to live and vows he will stay there only for a short while.
    Episode 02 September 1, 2019 "Human Nature"
    ("인간 본능")
    3.538% 4.168%
    Jong Woo receives unwanted attention from his neighbors but none at all from his supervisor at work. Meanwhile, dead cats are found near Eden.
    Episode 03 September 7, 2019 "The Secret Whisper"
    ("은밀한 속삭임")
    3.191% 4.158%
    On the building rooftop, Jong Woo meets Seo Mun Jo, who has taken a liking to him. They bond over their mutual interest in crime and art.
    Episode 04 September 8, 2019 "Mental Derangement"
    ("정신 착란")
    3.082% 3.501%
    Something about Mun Jo and the mystery meat rests uneasily with Jong Woo, causing his nightmares to worsen. Um Bok Sun's lies come to light.
    Episode 05 September 21, 2019[note 1] "Malte's Notebook"[note 2]
    ("말테의 수기")
    2.2% 2.436%
    There's been an intruder. But before Jong Woo is able to catch the person who broke into his room, Mun Jo pulls him aside to offer a word of advice.
    Episode 06 September 22, 2019 "Lost"
    ("로스트")
    3.400% 3.790%
    When Min Ji Eun stops by Eden alone, Jong Woo rushes home with the police — only to have her lash out at him for overreacting. He needs to get out.
    Episode 07 September 28, 2019 "The Horror of the Basement"
    ("지하실의 공포")
    1.964% 2.410%
    Jong Woo confides in a new neighbor, and they agree to look out for one another. So Jeong Hwa's investigation finally develops some leads.
    Episode 08 September 29, 2019 "Voices that Choke Me"
    ("옥죄는 목소리들")
    2.651% 2.801%
    Mun Jo helps out Jong Woo when he's arrested after a brawl. While the act of kindness intensifies Jong Woo's fear, something violent stirs from within.
    Episode 09 October 5, 2019 "Cognitive Dissonance"
    ("인지 부조화")
    2.355% 2.603%
    Suspecting that Kang Seok Yun's message is a cry for help, Jong Woo goes back into Eden to pull him out. But Seok Yun nervously admits it was a joke.
    Episode 10 October 6, 2019 "Gas-lighting"
    ("가스라이팅")
    3.908% 4.509%
    Mun Jo dares Jong Woo to commit his first murder if he ever wants to see Ji Eun again. When Jong Woo refuses, his bloodthirsty neighbor is dissatisfied.
    Average 3.005% 3.502%

    This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).

    Production[]

    It is written by Jung Yi-do (Save Me, Item) and directed by Lee Chang-hee (The Vanished).

    The first script reading took place in April 2019 in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.

    Trivia[]

    • This drama took over the timeslot previously occupied by "Watcher" and was followed by "The Lies Within" on October 12, 2019.[3]
    • The drama was based on webcomic of the same name by Kim Yong Ki.[3]
    • This drama marks Im Si Wan's first acting role since being discharged from the South Korean military on March 27, 2019.[3]

    Gallery[]

    Notes[]

    1. Episode was delayed because of Chuseok
    2. A reference to Rainer Maria Rilke's The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge

    References[]

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