How to Become a Property Owner in Korea: Insights from the New Drama ‘Building Owner’

Daniel Kim 2026.03.14 Views

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[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung] tvN’s new weekend drama ‘How to Become a Building Owner in Korea’ premieres today (March 14).

The series is a suspense drama about a debt-strapped landlord who becomes entangled in a staged kidnapping as he fights to protect the family and the building he values above all else. With the first episode set to air, here are the key points to watch that will help viewers get the most out of ‘Building Owner.’

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◆ The price of going all-in: a survival thriller about a struggling landlord

‘Building Owner’ centers on Gi Soo-jong (Ha Jung-woo), a blue-collar patriarch who claws desperately to keep the building he owns. After taking on crushing debt to become a landlord, Gi faces the imminent loss of the Se-yun Building — the family’s future — and fights back with everything he has.

His desperate decision to protect both his family and his property spirals into an escalating struggle for survival, creating a darkly comic yet suffocating suspense. In South Korea’s real estate-obsessed landscape, the dream of becoming a building owner carries familiar, often brutal pressures; because the story springs from that reality, it resonates and keeps viewers on edge.

◆ Ha Jung-woo, Im Soo-jung, Kim Jun-han, Jung Soo-jung, Shim Eun-kyung — a powerhouse cast promising electric chemistry

Leading man Ha Jung-woo, one of Chungmuro’s most bankable actors, returns to television after 19 years. As Gi Soo-jong, Ha ranges from understated domestic moments to intense emotional extremes, and his fully committed performance is poised to anchor the series.

Im Soo-jung also makes a TV comeback after five years. As Kim Sun, Gi’s resolute wife, Im helps pull her husband into the plot and gradually reveals a character whose shifts add unexpected layers to the drama.

Kim Jun-han plays Gi’s close friend Min Hwal-seong, while Jung Soo-jung portrays Hwal-seong’s wife Jeon Yi-kyung, an only daughter from a wealthy family; both deliver memorable turns that deepen the story.

Shim Eun-kyung, who has found acclaim at Japanese award ceremonies and returns to Korean drama after six years, takes on Yona — a villain who menaces Gi — and offers a striking, transformative performance. The cast’s collective range fills the series with high expectations.

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◆ An unpredictable turn: a staged kidnapping that becomes real crime

The show hooks viewers with unanticipated twists and reversals that make each episode a must-watch. Gi signs on to a planned ‘staged kidnapping’ to save the building, but when the scheme goes off script, he finds himself sinking deeper into criminal jeopardy.

Conflicting desires among the characters collide, and each choice sets off unpredictable consequences. Episode endings ramp up the tension and pull viewers into a relentless whirl of suspense that leaves no moment for complacency.

◆ Script, direction, and performances in sync — another well-made tvN drama in the offing

Director Lim Pil-sung, known for films such as Antarctic Journal, Hansel and Gretel, and Persona, teams with novelist Oh Han-gi, winner of the 7th Young Writers’ Award, to deliver a dense story and stylish direction that raise the genre’s bar. With script, direction, and acting working organically together, the series looks set to continue tvN’s run of carefully crafted hits.

At the ‘Building Owner’ press event, Ha Jung-woo teased, \”You’ll see just how terrible things can get when someone buys a building on a vague hope and goes all-in on loans.\”

Im Soo-jung urged viewers to watch closely: \”Every character changes as the events unfold. Some descend into darkness; others flirt with it. Within that uneasy rhythm, our show will find its own distinct pulse.\”

Director Lim Pil-sung offered a viewing tip: \”Everyone wants to be rich and to own property. When desire springs from irrational thinking, it’s fascinating to watch how far the resulting cracks spread.\”