Ha Jung-woo, right, poses with other cast memebers for tvN drama "Mad Concrete Dreams" during a press conference at The Link Seoul hotel in Guro District, Monday. Courtesy of CJ ENM

Veteran actor Ha Jung-woo returns to the small screen with tvN's dark comedy "Mad Concrete Dreams," 19 years since his last role in the 2007 drama "H.I.T."

The 47-year-old stars as Ki Su-jong, a small building owner pushed to the brink by debt. After stretching his finances to the limit in an attempt to hold on to his prized property, he becomes entangled in a fake kidnapping scheme as he struggles to protect both his family and his investment.

The story unfolds against the backdrop of Korea’s real estate-obsessed culture. It reflects the so-called "yeongkkeul" phenomenon — a Korean slang combining "yeonghon" (soul) and "kkeulda" (to drag), referring to buyers who "pull together their soul" to enter the property market. The phrase describes people, mostly in their 30s and 40s, who stretch their finances through high-ratio mortgages in hopes of riding continued rising housing prices. As lending rules tighten and interest rates remain elevated, many of these heavily leveraged buyers now face mounting financial pressure.

Director Yim Pil-sung credited the series' strong script for bringing together a cast unlikely to appear together in a single project.

"I must have hit one of those once-in-a-decade strokes of luck — that's the only way to explain it. There are surprise guest stars that will shock viewers. I feel incredibly fortunate and grateful for the trust without preconceptions," Yim said during a press conference at The Link Seoul hotel in Guro District, Monday.

The director said the series prioritizes entertainment rather than delivering an overt moral lesson.

"I wanted the actors and story to shine without heavy-handed direction," he said. "The pathos and chaos from clashing desires will keep it lively. Viewers won't see the next twist coming. It's more about fun than messages."

Actor Ha Jung-woo is seen during the tvN drama "Mad Concrete Dreams." Courtesy of CJ ENM

For lead actor Ha, the project offered a chance to reflect on the risks behind Korea’s real estate boom.

Source: Korea Times News