The Penthouse (Korean: 펜트하우스) is a story of love, desire and revenge among wealthy families and the children of a prestigious arts school, who live in "Hera Palace," a 100-story luxury tower in Seoul. It ran for three seasons and hit a peak instantaneous rating of 31.1%.
📺 Drama Info
| Broadcast | Season 1: Oct 26, 2020 – Jan 5, 2021 / Season 2: Feb 19 – Apr 3, 2021 / Season 3: Jun 4 – Sep 10, 2021 (SBS, Korea) |
| Genre | Love suspense / revenge |
| Ratings | Peak instantaneous rating of 31.1% |
| Award | Kim So-yeon won Best Actress (TV) at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards |
| In Japan | Aired on KNTV from May 2021, and on J:COM BS from December 2025 to January 2026 |
👥 Main Cast
- Lee Ji-ah as Shim Su-ryeon
- Kim So-yeon as Cheon Seo-jin
- Eugene as Oh Yoon-hee
- Uhm Ki-joon as Joo Dan-tae
- Kim Young-dae as Joo Seok-hoon
- Han Ji-hyun as Joo Seok-kyung
- Choi Ye-bin as Ha Eun-byeol
- Kim Hyun-soo as Bae Ro-na
Role-name spellings differ between media; we list what we could confirm.
📖 Plot (no spoilers)
The story takes place in Hera Palace, a 100-story luxury tower in a high-end Seoul neighborhood. It follows three mothers — Shim Su-ryeon, who lives on the top floor, the popular tutor Cheon Seo-jin and the former soprano Oh Yoon-hee — and their children at the arts school.
Real-estate troubles and fierce educational competition intertwine, and the story takes unexpected turns. Shocking developments continue in what is called the "ultimate love suspense."
✨ Three Reasons to Watch
- Dramatic twists in nearly every episode — many viewers could not stop watching
- Kim So-yeon's overwhelming presence as the villainous Seo-jin, which won her the Baeksang Best Actress award
- Luxurious sets and fashion that are a pleasure to look at
With three seasons, set aside time if you want to watch them all at once.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many seasons does The Penthouse have?
Three seasons, aired from 2020 to 2021 on SBS.
Who stars in The Penthouse?
Lee Ji-ah (Shim Su-ryeon), Kim So-yeon (Cheon Seo-jin) and Eugene (Oh Yoon-hee), with Uhm Ki-joon and others.
What was The Penthouse's highest rating?
A peak instantaneous rating of 31.1%.
Where can I watch it in Japan?
As of October 2026 it was listed on U-NEXT, FOD, Lemino and ABEMA (included), Hulu, and season 3 on Netflix. Availability changes.
Based on information as of October 2026. Streaming availability changes — please check each service.