SKY CASTLE also known as The Princess Maker has the largest audience in the history of JTBC
“Sky Castle” is a dark satirical Korean drama about power-hungry people. How far would you go for your family’s goals?
Created by Yoo Hyun-mi, SKY Castle aired between 2018-2019, starring famous names such as Yum Jung-ah, Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, Oh Na-ra, and Kim Seo-hyung. At the time of airing, Sky Castle, directed by Jo Hyun-tak, was the most watched drama in Korean cable television history.
Currently, “Sky Castle” holds the crown for the largest audience in the history of JTBC.
- Sky Castle is also known as Princess Maker
Original title: SKY 캐슬 | Genre: Drama, Comedy, Mystery
Release Date: 23 November 2018 | No. of Episodes: 20 + 1 bonus
Is it worth watching?
The K-drama “Sky Castle,” depicts comically the materialistic desires of the elite parents and how they secure their children’s success. Impeccably directed, this dark satirical drama with a story full of twists has an attractive mix of mystery and subtle comedy that blends perfectly. An intense Kdrama, definitely a must-watch!
What’s the story of “Sky Castle”?
“Sky Castle” follows the lives of four women who struggle to maintain their aristocratic status in South Korean Society. For them is a constant battle to make their husband and children more successful. This K-drama action takes place in a luxury neighborhood, in the high-class villa “SKY Castle”(a reference to upper-class universities), where four elite families live.
The wives are ambitious, coming from prestigious and educated backgrounds. The husbands are judges, doctors, prosecutors, teachers, etc. Part of the story is about their ruthless efforts to see their children admitted to top university. Painted in a humoristic but realistic way, their ambition can go as far as destroying other people’s lives for their own benefit.
1. KANG FAMILY
The protagonist, Han Seo-Jin, is married to a successful orthopedic surgeon Kang Joon-Sang (played by Jung Joon-Ho). The couple has two daughters. Han Seo-Jin wants her eldest daughter, Kang Ye-seo, to become a doctor. To achieve that, she hires Kim Joo-young. Han Seo-Jin hides a dark past, but for how long?
2. WOO FAMILY
Jin Jin-hee is the princess type, coming from a rich family. Her father owns multiple buildings. Jin Jin-Hee admires Han Seo-Jin, and like her, she is also married to an orthopedic surgeon, Woo Yang-Woo(played by Jo Jae-Yun). She wants her son Woo Soo-Han (Lee Eugene) to be like her husband, meaning to become a doctor. She tries to copycat and gets information from Han Seo-Jin on achieving a perfect career and education for her child.
3. CHA FAMILY
No Seung-Hye is married to a law professor Cha Min-hyuk (portrayed by Kim Byung-Chul). Her husband loves to talk about justice and happiness. But, he hides many faces, one with extreme selfishness. The couple has three children. No Seung-Hye doesn’t like the education her twin sons, Cha Seo-Joon (Kim Dong-hee) and Cha Ki-Joon (Jo Byeong-kyu), are getting from their father. Since attending Harvard University, the older daughter Cha Se-ri played by Park Yoo-Na has always been her father’s pride. But, she hides a big secret.
Who or What changes the action?
A terrible death. After the alleged suicide of Lee Myung-Joo, the mother of Park Young-Jae (Song Geon-hee), a new family moves into SKY Castle.
4. HWANG FAMILY
Lee Soo-Im is a compassionate human being and a children’s book writer. Her husband, Hwang Chi-young (portrayed by Choi Won-young,) is a neurosurgeon who works at the same hospital as Yang-woo and Joon-sang. Their son, Hwang Woo-Joo,(played by Kang Chan-hee), goes to the same high school as Ye-Seo. Lee Soo-Im’s family has different opinions leading to multiple clashes with the other residents.
- Kim Joo-Young is a coordinator with a 100% success rate regarding her students’ admission to the best universities.
The Main Cast and characters of SKY CASTLE:
Han Seo-jin, played by Yum Jung-ah, is the wife of an upper-class doctor whose end goal is for her elder daughter to enter Seoul National University at medicine. She has a tumultuous past known only by her husband and his family. Han Seo-jin grew up in a poor household with an alcoholic father who sold offal and oxblood to survive. Han Seo-jin has two children, Kang Ye-seo and Kang Ye-bin; She is the daughter-in-law of Madame Yoon.
Jin Jin-hee, portrayed by Oh Na-ra, is Seo-jin’s ”best friend” and her intimate assistant. Jin Jin-hee is not as polished as Seo-jin, but she dreams of being. She is sneaky, bribing Seo-jin with gifts to win her trust and information. However, her loyalty changes quickly and being hard for her to keep secrets. Jin Jin-hee pushes her son to spend as much time as he can with Seo-jin’s daughter so he can be successful. Jin Jin-hee also dreams of her son, Woo Soo-han, studying medicine at the Seoul National University when the time comes.
No Seung-hye, played by Yoon Se-ah is quite smart, and I find her the most elegant of them all. She protects her twins from their father’s severe teaching methods. No Seung-hye will befriend Lee Soo-im.
Lee Soo-im, portrayed by Lee Tae-ran, is an author from a humble background. She knows Seo-jin’s real identity because of their past. Lee Soo-im disapproves of the methods other parents use, to get their kids to top universities because she finds them too harsh. Because of her beliefs and their family’s low roots, Lee Soo-im, is disliked by the other parents. Lee Soo-im is the stepmother of Hwang Woo-joo.
Kim Joo-Young, played by Kim Seo-Hyung, is the last but not least important woman in this game. Kim Seo-hyung is a well-known teacher accessible only to upper-class families, and takes only two students at a time. She taught Young-jae and Ye-seo.
,How many episodes this korean drama?
The first season has 20 episodes, plus a special one. Each episode runs up between 60-80 minutes.
Is a happy ending?
Surprisingly is intensely dramatic, and at the same time, a touching ending. The finale doesn’t match the overall vibe of the Kdrama. Most of the characters got a happy ending, except the villain.
Who is the villain?
Kim Joo Young (played by Kim Seo Hyung) is the ultimate villain, intelligent and mentally unstable. She hides behind the mask of a mother and teacher. And when you think that parents are fighting to get to her, only to traumatize their children.
Will there be a season 2?
There are no official news about the release date of season 2 of Sky Castle. Most probably, and despite the enormous success of Sky Castle, there will not be a second season.
- “Sky Castle” had the largest audience for a drama on Korean cable television
According to Nielsen Korea’s statistics, the final episode of the popular Kdrama series, “SKY Castle,” which aired on 1 February 2019, recorded a nationwide rating of 23,78%. Surpassing its own record of episode 19 with 0.56%, “SKY Castle” held the title for highest viewing ratings in the history of any Korean cable network for both dramas and non-drama programs.
- Does Sky Castle exist in Korea?
It does exist, but not under the same name. There is a luxury neighborhood in Yongin estimated at over 4 billion KRW (about 3.7 million USD). Due to the influence of the Kdrama Sky Castle, people started visiting this area.
SKY stands as an acronym for South Korea’s top 3 universities. – Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University.
