Ha Jung-woo Delivers a Powerful Finale in 'How to Become a Building Owner in Korea'

Actor Ha Jung-woo, who is publicly dating Cha Jung-won, delivered a powerful performance until the very end.

On the 19th, tvN's weekend drama 'How to Become a Building Owner in Korea' concluded, with Ha Jung-woo starring as Ki Soo-jong, a building owner struggling to make ends meet. His unique emotional portrayal brought the series to a perfect close.

The drama captivated viewers with its unpredictable and shocking endings each week. Centered around Ha Jung-woo's character, Ki Soo-jong, the show explored themes of family, livelihood, and the unique yet realistic setting of 'buildings,' drawing significant attention.

Soo-jong, who cares only for his wife and daughter, had to protect his building to safeguard his family. His struggles to become a building owner and the ensuing challenges transformed him from a simple family man into a hardened individual. The series depicted his journey through death, betrayal, and cooperation, ultimately showing a bittersweet reality where he distances himself from being a family man to continue as a business representative.

Ha Jung-woo portrayed Ki Soo-jong's past, present, and eventual transformation into a perfect building owner, maintaining the character's core humanity while naturally depicting his descent into a black comedy. Although he chose buildings over family, his longing gaze conveyed that his choice was still for his family. The series ended with a poignant message, showing Soo-jong still grumbling as he unclogs a toilet, just as he did in a small building, completing the narrative with Ha Jung-woo's gravitas.

'How to Become a Building Owner in Korea' dominated weekend drama discussions, proving Ha Jung-woo's worth. According to Good Data Corporation's Fundex survey, it ranked first in the weekend drama category for four consecutive weeks. It also topped TVING's weekly content rankings for the second week of April, showcasing Ha Jung-woo's strength in his return to drama after 19 years.

Ha Jung-woo expressed his gratitude, saying, "I thank the viewers, director, writer, staff, and all the actors for watching each episode. I hope Soo-jong will live a happier and more relaxed life in the future."

Recently, Ha Jung-woo released his first commercial directorial work, 'Hana Universe,' which is nearing 10 million views, and he is currently preparing for his next project.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr