ReviewK-drama review: The Penthouse – deliciously overblown melodrama starring Lee Ji-ah and Kim Seo-yeon makes for compulsive viewing

Set in a luxurious high-rise in Seoul among the super-rich, the series centres on three women whose dark fates become inexorably intertwined

Breathless in its plotting, the show dazzles with its fancy costumes, sumptuous sets and relentless musical score

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Lee Ji-ah in a scene from The Penthouse. The K-drama about the super-rich living in a luxurious high-rise in Seoul has made for compulsive viewing.

Published: 5:15pm, 6 Jan 2021Updated: 6:15pm, 6 Jan 2021

4/5 stars

Closely modelled on the staggering success of 2018 drama series SKY Castle, Korean TV drama series The Penthouse, about the lives, love and lies of the uber rich, debuted in September and quickly became a smash hit. The series ended its 21-episode run on January 5.

Similar to the aforementioned series, The Penthouse sets its story in a luxurious high-rise – Hera Palace, which towers over the Seoul skyline – whose power-obsessed residents will stop at nothing to make sure their children get into the prestigious Cheong-ah Arts School.

Taking centre stage are three women whose dark fates become inexorably intertwined in this glossy and deliciously overblown melodrama, which takes after the popular makjang dramas that normally populate daytime TV.

Shim Su-ryeon (Lee Ji-ah) occupies the penthouse with her shady investment firm director husband Joo Dan-tae (Um Ki-joon). Cheon Seo-jin (Kim Seo-yeon) is a ruthless opera singer who also teaches at Cheong-ah Arts School.