'Yeong-kkeul (borrowing up to the soul)' building owner Ha Jung-woo's life — how much more tangled will it become? An unpredictable drama that makes viewers desperately curious for the next episode has appeared.
tvN weekend drama Mad Concrete Dreams (written by Oh Han-gi, directed by Lim Pil-seong, hereafter 'Mad Concrete Dreams') delivered developments and an ending in its first week that overturned viewers' expectations. Ki Su-jong (played by Ha Jung-woo), as a master of 'yeong-kkeul,' in just two episodes faced an accident and commotion whose ripple effects could grow widely, drawing attention to how uncontrollably the unfolding events would spread.
After the broadcast of 'Mad Concrete Dreams,' a heated reaction followed. After the broadcast of 'Mad Concrete Dreams,' a heated reaction followed. On the OTT platform Wavve, it rose to No. 1 in today's Top 20, claimed No. 1 in total viewing time, and ranked No. 1 in driving new paid subscriptions, demonstrating strong momentum. (as of Mar. 16)
In episode 1, the story portrayed Ki Su-jong, a 'yeong-kkeul' building owner and family head, facing the crisis of potentially losing the Seyun Building, which is his life's hope. Ki Su-jong was a building owner in name only and was in a position where he had to work part-time because he could not afford to pay the monthly loan interest. His goal was to hold on until redevelopment. However, when a mysterious financial company, Real Capital, appeared, Ki Su-jong's family's livelihood was threatened. Real Capital bought Ki Su-jong's bond and notified him that if he did not repay the debt, he would have to hand over the building. Moreover, his brother-in-law Kim Gyun (played by Kim Nam-gil), who had been helping him investigate Real Capital, died in a suspicious traffic accident, piling more pressure on Ki Su-jong.
The ending of episode 1 led to an unexpected development in which Ki Su-jong becomes entangled in a fake kidnapping staged by his close friend Min Hwal-seong (played by Kim Jun Han), exploding curiosity. In episode 2 it was revealed that Min Hwal-seong kidnapped his wife Jeon Yi-kyung (played by Jung Soojung) and planned to extort 3 billion won from the wealthy mother-in-law. The two friends staged a fake kidnapping because of money. Their clumsy kidnapping created comedy even amid a serious situation and generated a strange and distinctive suspense that painted the unique color of the 'Mad Concrete Dreams' drama.
The ending of episode 2 delivered another unpredictable ending as the two friends' fake kidnapping went awry against the plan. Mother-in-law Jeon Yang-ja (played by Kim Geum-sun) reacted differently than expected when asked to pay her daughter's ransom, saying that is not how a transaction is done, and she reported it to the police. In the meantime, Min Hwal-seong had a fall and died after a scuffle with Ki Su-jong. Ki Su-jong, who was acting as the kidnapper, ended up becoming the real kidnapper who fled the scene.
'Mad Concrete Dreams' delivered unexpected developments and endings in both episodes 1 and 2, earning a reputation for strong endings. In episode 1, Ki Su-jong, an ordinary family man and building owner, unintentionally became a real kidnapper in episode 2. The parade of flawed, unpredictable, and desire-filled characters, including Ki Su-jong and Min Hwal-seong, made what comes next completely unforeseeable. Viewers reacted, "I have no idea what will happen in the next scene," "the ending was really crazy," and "the most unexpected ending among first broadcasts of dramas I've seen recently."
How far Ki Su-jong's yeong-kkeul life will become further tangled will be a viewing point going forward, and it is expected to raise the drama's fun and tension. A preview for episode 3 revealed Ki Su-jong fleeing the kidnapping scene and being suspected by the police and his wife Kim Seon (played by Lim Soojung), intensifying curiosity about what other unexpected situations will unfold for Ki Su-jong cornered in a tight spot.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by tvN
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