Mad Concrete Dreams

Mad Concrete Dreams
Promotional poster
Hangul
대한민국에서 건물주 되는 법
Hanja
大韓民國에서 建物주 되는 法
Lit.How to Become a Building Owner in South Korea
RRDaehanmingugeseo geonmulju doeneun beop
MRTaehanmin'gugesŏ kŏnmulju toenŭn pŏp
Genre
Written byOh Han-ki
Directed byYim Pil-sung
Starring
Music byDalpalan
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes4
Production
Running time70 minutes[1]
Production companies
Original release
NetworktvN
ReleaseMarch 14, 2026 (2026-03-14) –
present

Mad Concrete Dreams (Korean: 대한민국에서 건물주 되는 법) is an ongoing South Korean crime thriller black comedy television series written by Oh Han-ki, directed by Yim Pil-sung, and starring Ha Jung-woo, Im Soo-jung, Kim Jun-han, Jung Soo-jung, and Shim Eun-kyung. The series follow a building owner who becomes involved in a kidnapping plot to resolve his mounting debts. It premiered on tvN on March 14, 2026, and airs every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10 (KST). It is also available for streaming on TVING, HBO Max, and Rakuten Viki.

Synopsis

Ki Su-jong acquires a building in Seoul by utilizing maximum available loans, a practice known as "Yeongkkeul" (gathering every available penny for loans). Despite achieving the status of a property owner, he faces severe financial distress due to the resulting debt. To prevent the foreclosure of the building and support his family, Su-jong becomes involved in a criminal scheme. However, the plan deviates from the original intent, leading to unforeseen legal and personal complications.

Cast and characters

Main

The owner of Seyun Building, who is determined to achieve wealth and provide a better life for his wife and his brilliant, hearing-impaired daughter. Struggling with debt, tenant issues, and the threat of losing his building, he is lured into a kidnapping scheme by Hwal-seong's promise of easy money, only to become involved in crime.
Su-jong's wife and a strong-willed mother. She resolves to protect her daughter and family, refusing to let their lives collapse because of Su-jong's choices.
Su-jong's friend who is desperate to prove himself to his wealthy wife and disapproving mother-in-law. After borrowing money from a dangerous loan shark, he devises a fake kidnapping scheme to raise money and pulls Su-jong into it, ultimately dragging him into a dangerous scheme.
Hwal-seong's wife and only daughter of a wealthy businesswoman. Her seemingly peaceful life is shattered when Hwal-seong and Su-jong's fake kidnapping scheme spirals out of control.
A ruthless operative at Real Capital's South Korea branch who has her sights set on Su-jong's building.

Supporting

Real Capital
  • Lee Shin-ki as Dr. Jang, Yona's attendant
  • Miyavi as Morgan Lee, an executive at Real Capital and Yona's superior
Sejeong-ro Redevelopment Project
  • Kim Geum-soon as Jeon Yang-ja, owner of Pyeongbukgwan and Yi-kyung's mother
  • Park Sung-il as Aide Nam, policy advisor at Seoul City Hall
Police
Seyun Building
  • Hyun Bong-sik as Oh Dong-gim, cafe owner
  • Nam Myeong-ryeol as Mr. Kim, owner of Hanmaeum Building
  • Ryu Abel as Jang Hee-joo, Sejeong-ro real estate agent
Others

Special appearances

Production

Development

The series was developed under the working title Building Owner (Korean: 건물주; RR: Geonmulju) before being finalized as Mad Concrete Dreams. It is planned by Studio Dragon, a co-production between Mindmark and Studio 329, directed by Yim Pil-sung, and written by Oh Han-ki, a critically acclaimed novelist (winner of the 7th Young Writers' Award) making his debut as a TV screenwriter.[2] The plot is a crime thriller and black comedy centered on the financial pressures of property ownership and a "fake kidnapping" that escalates into a genuine criminal incident.[3]

Casting

The casting process was finalized in late June 2025.[3] Ha Jung-woo was cast in the lead role, marking his return to a domestic television network 19 years after the 2007 series H.I.T.[3][4] Im Soo-jung joined the cast, this project is her first television role since 2021 and her second collaboration with Ha following the 2011 film Come Rain, Come Shine.[3][5] Kim Jun-han, Jung Soo-jung, and Shim Eun-kyung were also cast.[4][6][7] The role marks Shim's return to South Korean television after six years of working primarily in Japan.[3] While Kim Geum-soon to play a supporting role and a special appearances for Kim Nam-gil and Ju Ji-hoon.[8][9][10] Japanese rock star Miyavi would also make a special appearance marking his first in a Korean drama.[11]

Filming

Principal photography began in July 2025.[3]

Release

Mad Concrete Dreams was slated to air on tvN in the first half of 2026.[3] In early 2026, it was reported that the series is scheduled to premiere in March 2026, following Undercover Miss Hong.[12][13] The series was confirmed to premiere on March 14, in tvN's Saturday–Sunday timeslot at 21:10 (KST).[2] It will also be available for streaming on TVING and Wavve in South Korea, and internationally on HBO Max and Rakuten Viki.[14][15]

Viewership

According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode of Mad Concrete Dreams recorded an average nationwide household rating of 4.1% and a peak of 5.1%. In the Seoul metropolitan area, the episode averaged 4.4% with a peak of 5.4%.[16]

Mad Concrete Dreams : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
123456789101112
110691125724916TBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[17]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[17]
Nationwide Seoul
1 March 14, 2026 4.124% (1st) 4.372% (1st)
2 March 15, 2026 4.533% (1st) 4.963% (1st)
3 March 21, 2025 3.131% (1st) 3.140% (1st)
4 March 22, 2026 3.922% (1st) 4.173% (1st)
5 March 28, 2026
6 March 29, 2026
7 April 4, 2026
8 April 5, 2026
9 April 11, 2026
10 April 12, 2026
11 April 18, 2026
12 April 19, 2026
Average — —
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • N/A denotes ratings that were not published.
  • This series airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS).

References

  1. ^ "Mad Concrete Dreams". CJ ENM. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Kim, Mi-ji (February 4, 2026). 하정우·임수정, 부부 호흡 어떨까...'건물주 되는 법' 3월 첫 방송 [Ha Jung-woo and Im Soo-jung to Play a Married Couple...Mad Concrete Dreams Premieres in March]. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Kim, Su-jin (June 26, 2025). 하정우→임수정, '대한민국에서 건물주 되는 법' 캐스팅 공개 [공식] [Ha Jung-woo→Im Soo-jung, Casting Revealed for Mad Concrete Dreams [Official]]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  4. ^ a b Moon, Ji-yeon (January 14, 2025). [단독] 하정우, '건물주' 되는데 15년 안 걸렸다..정수정과 '건물주' 주인공 [[Exclusive] Ha Jung-woo, it didn't take 15 years to become a 'building owner'..Lead in Mad Concrete Dreams with Jung Soo-jung]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  5. ^ Kim, Ji-won (April 10, 2025). [단독] 임수정, '건물주' 하정우 아내 된다...'대한민국에서 건물주 되는 법' 캐스팅 [[Exclusive] Im Soo-jung to play 'Building Owner' Ha Jung-woo's wife...cast in Mad Concrete Dreams]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  6. ^ Choi, Bo-ran (April 23, 2025). [단독] '굿파트너' 김준한, 스릴러로 연기 변신...'건물주 되는 법' 주역 [[Exclusive] Good Partner's Kim Jun-han undergoes acting transformation for thriller...takes lead role in Mad Concrete Dreams]. YTN (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  7. ^ Choi, Yi-jung (June 16, 2025). [단독] 심은경, 드라마 복귀..하정우X임수정과 ‘대한민국에서 건물주 되는 법’ 출연 [[Exclusive] Shim Eun-kyung returns to dramas..joins Ha Jung-woo and Im Soo-jung in Mad Concrete Dreams]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  8. ^ Jang, Jin-ri (May 30, 2025). [단독]'폭싹' 제니 엄마 김금순, 이번엔 정수정 엄마 된다...'건물주' 합류 [[Exclusive] When Life Gives You Tangerines "Jenny's Mom" Kim Geum-soon to play Jung Soo-jung's mother this time...joins Mad Concrete Dreams]. SPOTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 7, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  9. ^ Jang, Jin-ri (June 25, 2025). [단독]김남길, 하정우와 BL 대신 '건물주'...임수정 동생 된다 [[Exclusive] Kim Nam-gil joins Mad Concrete Dreams with Ha Jung-woo instead of a BL...will play Im Soo-jung's younger brother]. SPOTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  10. ^ Yoon, Hyo-jung (January 28, 2026). [단독]주지훈, 하정우 드라마 복귀작 '건물주' 특별출연...'찐친' 의리 [[Exclusive] Ju Ji-hoon to make special appearance in Ha Jung-woo's drama comeback Mad Concrete Dreams...'Besties' showing loyalty]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  11. ^ Kim, Ji-hye (March 12, 2026). 일본 록스타 미야비, 하정우 만난다... '건물주' 특별 출연 [Japanese Rock Star Miyavi to Meet Ha Jung-woo... Special Appearance in Mad Concrete Dreams]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  12. ^ Go, Seung-a (January 1, 2026). '붉은 말'의 해...임윤아·이영지·하정우·남궁민·지석진, 연예계 말띠 스타들은 [The Year of the 'Red Horse'...Im Yoon-ah, Lee Young-ji, Ha Jung-woo, Namkoong Min, Ji Seok-jin, Who are the Entertainment Industry's Horse-Zodiac Stars]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 1, 2026. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  13. ^ Hwang, Yeon-do (January 20, 2026). 임윤아·이준호·정경호, tvN 주말극 살린 흥행 제조기들 [Im Yoon-ah, Lee Jun-ho, and Jung Kyung-ho are the hitmakers who saved tvN's weekend dramas]. AtStyle (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  14. ^ Songco, Pauline (March 2, 2026). "New comedies, award buzz, and must-watch K-dramas". Daily Tribune. Makati: Concept and Information Group, Inc. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  15. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (March 4, 2026). "Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Ji-won, Ha Jung-woo K-Drama Thrillers Set Rakuten Viki Debuts (Exclusive)". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 60626328. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  16. ^ Ahn, Byung-gil (March 15, 2026). '건물주' 영화 같았다! 첫방 최고 5.1% 궁금한 출발 [Mad Concrete Dreams was like a movie! Premiere peaked at 5.1%, a curious start]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  17. ^ a b Nielsen Korea ratings:
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