“The Penthouse: War in Life” is a South Korean television series starring Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon, Eugene, Um Ki-joon, Yoon Jong-hoon, and Park Eun-seok. The series, directed by Joo Dong-min and written by Kim Soon-ok, aired on SBS from October 2020 to September 2021 across three explosive seasons totaling over 60 episodes. This makjang phenomenon became one of Korea’s most addictive yet controversial dramas, sparking obsessive binge-watching sessions worldwide. Available on Netflix, the series achieved record-breaking ratings domestically while dominating social media conversations with its shocking plot twists every single episode. The series was ranked the 18th most-viewed Korean drama with 3.77 million viewers despite receiving mixed critical reception. With its over-the-top storylines involving murder, betrayal, scheming parents, and ruthless ambition set against Korea’s ultra-wealthy elite, “The Penthouse” pushed boundaries of believability while keeping viewers absolutely hooked, unable to look away from the beautiful chaos unfolding in luxury apartments and prestigious arts schools.
The Penthouse: War in Life (2021): Release Date, Story, Plot, Episodes, Cast, Actors Salary, Actors Net Worth, Budget, OTT Response, Trailer, Songs, Awards, Review, Ratings & More
| Info | The Penthouse: War in Life |
|---|---|
| Genre | Suspense Drama Crime Revenge Thriller Mystery |
| Language | Korean |
| Directed by | Joo Dong-min (S1–3) Park Bo-ram (S1) Park Soo-jin (S2–3) |
| Star Cast | Lee Ji-ah Kim So-yeon Eugene Um Ki-joon Yoon Jong-hoon Shin Eun-kyung Bong Tae-kyu Park Eun-seok Yoon Joo-hee |
| Produced by | Kim Sang-hyun Cho Hyeon-jin Cho Jin Wook |
| Production companies | Studio S (SBS) Chorokbaem Media |
| Written by | Kim Soon-ok |
| Edited by | Jo In-hyeong Park Ji-hyun Lim Ho-cheol |
| Country | South Korea |
| Original network | SBS TV |
| Original release | October 26, 2020 – September 10, 2021 |
| Running time | 70–95 minutes |
Table of Contents
The Penthouse: War in Life Storyline
At Hera Palace, a 100-floor luxury penthouse in Gangnam, Seoul’s wealthiest families engage in cutthroat competition for status, power, and their children’s success at the elite Cheong-ah Arts School. Elegant Shim Su-ryeon discovers her businessman husband Joo Dan-tae’s dark secrets while seeking revenge for her daughter’s tragic death. Meanwhile, former high school rivals Oh Yoon-hee from humble beginnings and famous soprano Cheon Seo-jin clash violently in their obsessive quests to secure their daughters’ futures. When mysterious student Min Seol-ah falls to her death during a costume party, long-buried secrets surface, triggering an all-out war where these ambitious mothers and corrupt fathers will literally kill, frame, and destroy anyone standing between them and the top
The Penthouse: War in Life Cast, Crew, Role, Salary, Remuneration & Net Worth
Here are the complete details of actors and actresses names in the Web Series.
1.Lee Ji-ah as Shim Su-ryeon / Na Ae-kyo

| Info | Shim Su-ryeon / Na Ae-kyo |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Lee Ji-ah |
| Salary Per Web Series | $22,700 |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
2.Kim So-yeon as Cheon Seo-jin

| Info | Cheon Seo-jin |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Kim So-yeon |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | $10 million |
3.Eugene as Oh Yoon-hee

| Info | Oh Yoon-hee |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Eugene |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | Not Known |
4.Kim Young-dae as Joo Seok-hoon (Baek Seok-hoon)

| Info | Joo Seok-hoon |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Kim Young-dae |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | Not Known |
5.Han Ji-hyun as Joo Seok-kyung (Jo Seok-Kyung)

| Info | Joo Seok-kyung |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Han Ji-hyun |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | Not Known |
6.Jo Soo-min as Anna Lee / Min Seol-ah (Jo Seol-ah)

| Info | Anna Lee / Min Seol-ah |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Jo Soo-min |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | Not Known |
7.Choi Ye-bin as Ha Eun-byeol

| Info | Ha Eun-byeol |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Choi Ye-bin |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | Not Known |
8.Jung Sung-mo as Cheon Myung-soo

| Info | Cheon Myung-soo |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Jung Sung-mo |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | Not Known |
9.Yoon Jong-hoon as Ha Yoon-cheol

| Info | Ha Yoon-cheol |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Yoon Jong-hoon |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | Not Known |
10.Kim Hyun-soo as Bae Ro-na

| Info | Bae Ro-na |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Kim Hyun-soo |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | Not Known |
The Penthouse: War in Life Web Series Awards
| Awards | Category | Recipients |
|---|---|---|
| NA | NA | NA |
The Penthouse: War in Life Review
“The Penthouse: War in Life” is gloriously ridiculous, utterly addictive trash television at its absolute finest. The performances are outstanding, Kim So-yeon steals every scene as the deliciously evil Cheon Seo-jin, while Um Ki-joon creates one of K-drama’s most despicable villains in Joo Dan-tae. Every episode delivers jaw-dropping plot twists that defy logic and reality, making you scream “WHAT?!” at your screen constantly. Yes, the storyline becomes increasingly absurd with characters surviving impossible situations, convenient amnesia, and resurrections that strain all credibility. The ending disappointed many viewers with its scattered resolution. However, if you embrace the over-the-top melodrama without taking it seriously, it’s incredibly entertaining. The production values are stunning, the acting committed despite ridiculous material, and the sheer audacity of the writing makes it impossible to stop watching. It’s a guilty pleasure phenomenon, objectively messy but subjectively irresistible for those who love extreme makjang drama.
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