‘Penthouse: War in Life’ comes back with more vicious storyline

SBS’s “Penthouse: War in Life” created an enormous buzz from late last year to early this year with a suspense-filled story, scoring the network’s highest viewership rating of the year so far — at 28.8 percent with the Jan. 5 season finale.

And about a month later, the hit series is back with even more intense stories filled with greater twists and turns.

“Oh Yoon-hee’s revenge begins in this season. Out of three-tier, the (season’s) beginning starts from the middle and works up,” Eugene, who plays the character, said during an online media conference for the series, Friday. “In Season 2, Oh is changed. She becomes more meticulous and organized… she quits drinking and regains her sanity.” The series, written by Kim Soon-ok who is famous for creating the hit series “Temptation of Wife” and “The Last Empress,” revolves around the residents of the 100-story luxury residence called Hera Palace.

The first season, which aired last October, was about a kindhearted widower Yoon-hee who is struggling to make her ends meet. When her daughter tries to enroll in a prestigious music school, her life changes as she re-encounters her archenemy Cheon Seo-jin (Kim So-yeon) who is the principal of the school.

Filled with ambition, Yoon-hee tries to work up the social ladder to get into the Hera Palace’s circle, but ends up getting involved in a series of backstabbing by the residents, especially by Joo Dan-tae (Uhm Ki-joon).

The season ended on a cliffhanger with the death of another resident Shim Su-ryeon (Lee Ji-ah) who was seeking revenge against other residents, including her husband Dan-tae and his mistress Seojin for the killing of her daughter.

The second season, under the same director Joo Dong-min, will pick up two years after the first season and unfolds stories of revenge revolving around the lead characters.

Actor Uhm hinted that his character becomes even more “vicious” in the new season. “He commits cruel acts that go beyond what he had done in Season 1. They are unspeakable,” he said.

Kim made a huge impression on viewers as the ruthless villainess character Seo-jin, who is not afraid to commit crimes to get things her way.