Drama 'Apartment' Ranks #1 in Ratings from First Episode?! A Complete Summary of the Original Story, Plot, and Cast of the Drama 'Apartment'

From the original work to the premiere ratings, plot, and cast! I've compiled a complete summary of the information for the JTBC weekend drama "Apartment," which is making headlines as Ji Sung's comeback project 🏢🔥

 

Today, I’m going to summarize everything about the drama *Apartment* in one go, from the controversy surrounding its original source material (?) to the plot, ratings, and cast. If you, like me, were confused wondering, "Isn't this that webtoon by Kang Ppul?", this post will definitely clarify things for you ✨

 

 

1. Start by checking the basic information about the drama apartment.

Let's start by going over the basic information. I've noticed that a lot of people are confused about the premiere date and time slot!

 

channel	JTBC
First episode	Saturday, July 11, 2026
Broadcast time	Sat/Sun 22:40~00:10
Total episodes	12 episodes
production	Director Jo Yong-won
Screenplay	Writer Kim Yun-young
Watch again	Netflix

 

If you plan to watch the live broadcast, make sure to check this out! Also, writer Kim Yoon-young is famous for her previous work, 'Revenge Is Back,' so I don't think you need to worry about her writing skills.

 

 

2. Did the drama 'Apartment' really hit No. 1 in viewership ratings for its first episode?

 

To start with the conclusion, it's true 😳 It was unusual right from the first episode.

July 11th Episode 1 aired, average viewership rating in the Seoul metropolitan area 4.9% (peak rating 6.3%)
National average 4.6% (Based on Nielsen Korea)
Despite it being the first episode No. 1 in non-terrestrial viewership ratings Ascension

Looking solely at the ratings for the first episode, you can tell it got off to a pretty strong start. At this rate, I’m curious to see how the ratings will trend going forward. It starts out comically but gradually expands in scale. Since you say that, I think we'll have to wait and see if the viewership ratings continue to rise with each episode.

 

 

3. Is there a real original work for the drama 'Apartment'? (feat. Warning: Not a Kangpul webtoon)

 

Here is the part that everyone finds most confusing! It is... Drama Apartment Original Work Issue It is.

Famous as a horror genre even before airing due to the title "Apartment" The webtoon of the same name by author Kang Ppul Ina, 2006 movie 'Apartment' starring Ko So-young It turns out there were really a lot of people who thought of that. But to start with the conclusion... These two works are completely separate. It is!

 

 

The original work of this drama, Apartment, is Author Oseo's novel 'Sammun-dong Bonjour Apartment' Yes. However, the setting was adapted a bit; while the original novel is set in an old apartment in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, the drama expanded the scale. Newly built large apartment complex It is said that the setting has been changed. How much the ending of the original novel differs from the direction of the drama's adaptation is also considered one of the key points to watch.

To summarize, the drama *Apartment* is based on a novel by author Oh Seo, not a webtoon by Kang Puhl or a completely original creation! For those of you who were confused, you know for sure now, right? 😆

 

 

4. Complete Summary of the Drama Apartment Plot

 

To summarize the plot in one line "A former gangster boss’s corruption-fighting story of running for chairman of the residents’ association to seize the ill-gotten money hidden in the apartment complex" It is.

Park Hae-kang, a former boss of the Oasis Gang, urgently needs 10 billion won to save Yong-man, a father figure to him, and runs for chairman with his sights set on the 17.8 billion won in long-term repair reserve funds lying dormant in the apartment complex's account. However, as he discovers that power struggles and a corruption cartel are lurking within the seemingly peaceful complex, he unintentionally transforms into a "slice-of-life hero" who uncovers the injustices alongside the residents.

The keyword 'intermittent family,' meaning 'a family that only pretends to be a family when needed,' is also becoming a hot topic. The process of residents, united for their own reasons, coming to care for each other more than their real families. This is the charm point of this work.

 

 

5. Drama Apartment Cast & Character Relationship Chart

 

This time, here is the cast information that everyone is curious about! I'll start by summarizing the main characters.

 

• Park Hae-gang (Ji Sung): Former gangster boss who ran for chairman and unexpectedly became a champion of justice
• Kang Ha-ri (Ha Yun-kyung): Aspiring lawyer, an accomplice who gets entangled with Haegang as a fake married couple part-timer.
• Lee Chung-won (Park Byung-eun): A penthouse resident and the key villain leading the corruption cartel
• Jang Suk-jin (Moon So-ri): The real power behind the scenes, Haegang's candidacy is a variable
• lizard (Kim Won-hae): Gambling den VIP, intense presence from the first episode
• Choi Young-jae (Jeong Seung-gil): Adds density to the drama with the character of a "goose dad" (a father who lives separately from his family).
• Gyeongnam (Jung Sun-won) · Je-gil (Hwang Hee) · Keundungi (Kim Kyu-won): Haegang's family
• Seojun's Mom (Jeong Yi-rang): In charge of hyperrealism comedic acting

Others Baek Hyun-jin The back adds strength and heightens the density of the play.

 

With a cast like this, you can understand why it topped the ratings from the very first episode, right? Haha.

 

 

6. Wrap-up & Key Points to Watch

 

To summarize, the drama Apartment is unrelated to the Kangpul webtoon, and A work based on the novel *Sammun-dong Bonjour Apartment* by author Oser And, from the first episode Started off as a hit, recording the highest viewership rating among non-terrestrial channels (4.6% nationwide, peak 6.3%) It starts as a comedic farce, but the genre variation, which increasingly incorporates noir and thriller narratives, is considered a highlight, and the acting showdown between Ji Sung, Ha Yoon-kyung, Park Byung-eun, and Moon So-ri is also a point not to be missed.

 

The drama Apartment, coming every Saturday night at 10:40 PM and Sunday night at 10:30 PM! I'm sure a lot of you will be watching the live broadcast this week, right? I can't wait to see the next episode, either 🍿

 

 

💡 Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

 

Q. Is the drama 'Apartment' based on an original work?
A. Yes, there is. It has absolutely nothing to do with the webtoon of the same name by Kang Puhl or the 2006 movie 'Apartment,' and it was adapted from the novel 'Sammundong Bonjour Apartment' by Oh Seo. However, the setting has been changed from an old apartment in Miryang, Gyeongnam to a newly built large apartment complex.

Q. How many episodes is the drama Apartment?
A. It consists of a total of 12 episodes and is scheduled to air for about 6 weeks. You can watch it every Saturday night at 10:40 PM and Sunday night at 10:30 PM.

 

Q. What were the viewership ratings for the first episode of the drama Apartment?
A. It ranked first in non-terrestrial viewership ratings from its first episode, recording an average of 4.9% in the metropolitan area (peak of 6.3% in Bundang) and 4.6% nationwide (according to Nielsen Korea).

 

Q. Who are the cast members of the drama Apartment?
A. Led by Ji Sung as Park Hae-kang, the cast includes Ha Yoon-kyung as Kang Ha-ri, Park Byung-eun as Lee Chung-won, and Moon So-ri as Jang Suk-jin, while Kim Won-hae, Baek Hyun-jin, Jung Seung-gil, and Jung Yi-rang lend their support in supporting roles.

 

Q. Where can I watch replays of the drama Apartment?
A. The original broadcast airs on JTBC, and reruns and on-demand viewing are available via streaming on the OTT platform Netflix.

 

 

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