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The Penthouse: War in Life (펜트하우스; Penthouse) is a South Korean television series starring Lee Ji Ah, Kim So Yeon, Eugene, Uhm Ki Joon, Park Eun Seok, and Yoon Jong Hoon. The series, directed by Joo Dong Min and written by Kim Soon Ok, spins the story of real estate and education war, a desire to be number one. It depicts the solidarity and revenge of women who had no choice but to become evil women to protect themselves and their children. It premiered on SBS TV on October 26, 2020 and airs every Monday and Tuesday at 22:20 KST. The first look teaser was released on September 29.

The Penthouse: War in Life became number 1 drama, as of November 16, in Monday and Tuesday dramas. It has recorded 10.4% and 14.5% for (Ep.6 and 7) as per Nielsen Korea ratings.

As per Nielsen Korea, the eighth episode of the series which aired on the November 23, recorded an audience rating of 11.1% in the first part and 15.5% in the second part, which was the highest record for the series. And on November 24, the ninth episode of the series, recorded an audience rating of 12.2% in the first part and 16% in the second part, which is the highest record for the series beating the ratings of eighth episode.

Synopsis[]

The residents of Hera Palace, a luxury penthouse apartment with 100 floors, have many secrets and hidden ambitions. Sim Su Ryeon, who was born into wealth, is the queen of the penthouse apartment. Cheon Seo Jin, the prima donna of the residence, does all she can to give everything to her daughter. Oh Yoon Hee comes from a poor family background, but she strives to enter high society by becoming the queen of the penthouse, the pinnacle of success in her eyes.[1]

Cast[]

A graceful, elegant, dignified woman who has never once been poor in her life and is a bona-fide penthouse queen.
A wealthy woman who is the epitome of showy and arrogant and who harbors a warped ambition.
  • Eugene as Oh Yoon Hee
A woman who has never once experienced wealth and who has lived her life with gritted teeth, having done any and every job she had the chance to do. Oh Yoon Hee does everything in her power to enter high-society so that her child can have a better chance at success.
  • Uhm Ki Joon as Joo Dan Tae
A genius of real estate who rakes in money with every investment he makes.
  • Yoon Jong Hoon as Ha Yoon Chul
The husband of Cheon Seo Jin and an ambitious man who believes that a man must hold wealth and power. He is the head of surgery in the VIP department of the hospital.
  • Shin Eun Kyung as Kang Ma Ri
A woman who has recently come into wealth and leads a secretive double life.
  • Bong Tae Kyu as Lee Gyu Jin
The only son and momma's boy of a wealthy family of judges and lawyers, and is himself a lawyer at a law firm.
  • Yoon Joo Hee as Go Sang Ah

  • Kim Young Dae as Joo Seok Hoon, Dan Tae & Soo Ryun's son
  • Han Ji Hyun as Joo Seok Kyung, Dan Tae & Soo Ryun's daughter
  • Choi Ye Bin as Ha Eun Byul, Seo Jin & Yoon Chul's daughter
  • Kim Hyun Soo as Bae Ro Na, Yoon Hee's daughter
  • Heo Sung Tae as Yoo Dong Pil, Ma Ri's husband
  • Jin Ji Hee as Yoo Je Ni, Ma Ri's daughter
  • Lee Tae Vin as Lee Min Hyuk, Gyu Jin's & Sang Ah's son
  • Seo Hye Rin as Gyu Jin's mother
  • Jo Soo Min as Min Seol Ah / Anna Lee, the math teacher
  • Lee Chul Min as Yoon Tae Joo, Dan Tae's personal assistant
  • Kim Ro Sa as Yang Mi Ok
  • Na So Ye as Joo Hye In, Dan Tae & Soo Ryun's daughter
  • Park Eun Seok as Gu Ho Dong
  • Ha Do Gwon as Ma Doo Gi, a high-end opera teacher
  • Kim Dong Hyun as Kim Chi Soo, the principal
  • Byun Woo Min as Jo Sang Heon, a congressman

  • Ha Min as Seo Jin's mother (Ep.1+6)
  • Jung Sung Mo as Seo Jin's father (Ep.1+6-7)
  • Hwang Joo Ho as a veterinarian (Ep.2)
  • Kim Young Joo as a private investigator (Ep.3+6+9)
  • Park Yong as Seo Joon Yong, a police chief (Ep.4)
  • Kim Chan Lee as a police officer (Ep.4)
  • Choi Jong Yoon as a medical examiner (Ep.4)
  • Jo Mo Se as a DUI checkpoint police officer (Ep.4)
  • Kwon Hyuk Soo as a principal (Ep.5)
  • Shin Seo Hyun as Cheon Seo Young (Ep.6)
  • Ahn Tae Hwan as Seo Young's husband (Ep.6)
  • Eom Ji Man as a loan shark (Ep.6-7)
  • Kim Su Kyung as a dress shop staff (Ep.7)
  • Lee Dong Kyu as anchorman (Ep.8)
  • Choi Seo Yeon as Kwon Hye Mi
  • Son Bo Seung as Uhm Jang Dae
  • Park Su Ah as Song Ye Ri
  • Jung Ah Mi as Chairwoman Song
  • Yoon Bok In as Woon Jung
  • Ha Kyung as Heo Yoo Jung
  • Lee Hyo Bi as Seol Ah's younger sister
  • Lim Jung Min as a loan shark
  • Park Jae Wan as an adoptive parent
  • Kang Boo Ja
  • Yoo Jung Woo

  • Soundtrack[]

    Main Article: The Penthouse: War in Life OST

    Episodes[]

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

    Episode Part Aired Average audience share
    AGB Nielsen TNmS
    Nationwide Seoul Nationwide
    Episode 01 1 October 26, 2020 6.7% (15th) 8.2% (8th) 5.2% (18th)
    2 9.2% (5th) 10.5% (5th) 6.8% (11th)
    3 9.1% (6th) 6.5% (13th)
    Episode 02 1 October 27, 2020 8.2% (7th) 9.4% (5th) 6.0% (13th)
    2 9.8% (6th) 11.2% (4th) 7.0% (12th)
    3 10.1% (4th) 11.6% (3rd) 7.4% (8th)
    Episode 03 1 November 2, 2020 8.0% (9th) 8.6% (7th) 6.7% (12th)
    2 11.4% (3rd) 12.3% (2nd) 9.8% (6th)
    Episode 04 1 November 3, 2020 10.8% (5th) 12.0% (4th) 7.8% (7th)
    2 13.9% (3rd) 15.1% (2nd) 10.3% (5th)
    Episode 05 1 November 9, 2020 9.6% (6th) 10.8% (5th) 8.4% (9th)
    2 12.9% (4th) 14.2% (2nd) 11.0% (5th)
    Episode 06 1 November 10, 2020 10.3% (5th) 11.3% (3rd) 9.2% (6th)
    2 14.5% (2nd) 16.1% (1st) 12.6% (2nd)
    Episode 07 1 November 16, 2020 10.4% (6th) 11.4% (5th) 10% (7th)
    2 14.5% (3rd) 15.9% (1st) 12.8% (4th)
    Episode 08 1 November 23, 2020
    [note 1]
    11.1% (5th) 11.8% (5th) 10.8% (5th)
    2 15.5% (3rd) 16.5% (2nd) 13.7% (3rd)
    Episode 09 1 November 24, 2020 12.2% (3rd) 13.1% (3rd) 11.2% (3rd)
    2 16.0% (2nd) 17.4% (1st) 14.1% (2nd)
    Episode 10 1 November 30, 2020 13.2% (5th) 14.6% (4th) 12.3% (5th)
    2 16.9% (3rd) 18.8% (1st) 15.7% (3rd)
    Episode 11 1 December 1, 2020 14.7% (4th) 16.0% (3rd) 11.4% (4th)
    2 19.6% (1st) 21.2% (1st) 13.3% (3rd)
    Episode 12 1 December 7, 2020 16.3% (4th) 17.9% (2nd) 14.3% (4th)
    2 19.9% (1st) 21.5% (1st) 16.1% (3rd)
    Episode 13 1 December 8, 2020 17.6% (3rd) 19.2% (2nd) 15.5% (4th)
    2 22.1% (1st) 23.9% (1st) 18.9% (2nd)
    Episode 14 1 December 14, 2020 17.5% (4th) 19.5% (2nd) 16.6% (4th)
    2 22.0% (1st) 23.9% (1st) 19.5% (2nd)
    Episode 15 1 December 15, 2020 19.6% (2nd) 20.8% (2nd) 16.9% (4th)
    2 23.3% (1st) 25.0% (1st) 20.8% (1st)
    Episode 16 1 December 21, 2020 19.1% (3rd) 20.2% (2nd) 17.4% (4th)
    2 23.7% (1st) 25.2% (1st) 21.1% (1st)
    Episode 17 1 December 22, 2020 19.1% (3rd) 20.7% (2nd) 18.4% (4th)
    2 24.0% (1st) 25.8% (1st) 22.4% (1st)
    Episode 18 1 December 28, 2020
    2
    3
    Episode 19 1 December 29, 2020
    2
    3
    Episode 20 1 January 4, 2021
    2
    3
    Average

    Production[]

    The production cost of this drama is 27 billion won, 670 million won per episode.

    In September 2019, planning and preparation for the drama started. Eugene was selected for main role. She returned to drama after an hiatus of five years. The casting for the drama started in December 2019, and finalized in January 2020. Due to scheduling conflicts, Shin Sung Rok left the show in February. The script reading in February 2020 was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic and was pushed back to March 2020. Uhm Ki Joon joined the cast in April 2020.

    Yoon Joon-Hoon and Bong Tae Gyu have worked together in Return (2018).

    Release[]

    The prelude teaser was released by SBS on September 22, 2020. The teaser was termed as "[Mood teaser] a brilliant bloody prelude". The television series was premiered on October 26, 2020 on SBS TV and airs every Monday and Tuesday.

    Renewal for season 2 and 3[]

    On November 24, 2020, it was reported that the series will be renewed for a second and third season. The seasons will have twelve episodes each, in contrast to the first season which consists of 21 episodes. It was also announced that the future seasons will be moved to a new Friday and Saturday timeslot.

    Trivia[]

    • This drama took over the timeslot previously occupied by Do You Like Brahms?.[2]

    Gallery[]

    Video Gallery[]


    Notes[]

    1. Episode 8 was not broadcast on November 17, 2020 due to the Korea vs. Qatar soccer broadcast. It aired on November 23, 2020 instead.

    References[]