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| Loved The Apartment Job? Here Are 16 Korean Dramas You Should Watch Next. (Photo: jTBC) |
The Apartment Job (아파트) has quickly become one of those Korean dramas that proves an ordinary apartment complex can hide enough secrets to rival an entire crime syndicate. Mixing crime, mystery, comedy and unexpected heroics, the series follows Park Hae-Gang, a former gang boss whose plan to recover hidden billions gradually turns into a battle against corruption buried beneath polished apartment hallways and residents' meetings. It is a clever reminder that sometimes the fiercest battlefield is not a dark alleyway but a community noticeboard where everyone smiles a little too politely.
Fan reactions have been all over the place in the most entertaining way. Many viewers have praised Ji Sung for balancing ruthless charisma with surprising humour, while others have enjoyed watching a former gangster stumble through neighbourhood politics that somehow prove more dangerous than organised crime.
Knetz discussions have also highlighted the show's mix of fake identities, suspicious neighbours, corrupt executives and unlikely friendships. Apparently running a residents' association can be more stressful than leading a criminal organisation, which probably says more about apartment politics than anyone expected.
Shows Like THE APARTMENT JOB
1. Happiness (2021)
Happiness places viewers inside a newly built apartment complex suddenly locked down during a deadly public health crisis.
While survival is the obvious focus, the series also explores selfish residents, class divisions, hidden agendas and constant power struggles. Like The Apartment Job, the apartment itself becomes a character, proving neighbours can be either your greatest allies or your biggest headaches.
2. The Penthouse: War in Life (2020)
Luxury apartments have never looked more dangerous. This hugely popular thriller revolves around wealthy residents whose obsession with power, status and money leads to shocking betrayals and endless corruption.
If you enjoyed watching hidden funds and greedy executives collide in The Apartment Job, this drama raises those stakes to spectacularly chaotic levels.
3. The Fiery Priest (2019)
An ex-intelligence operative turned priest wages war against corrupt politicians, criminals and corporate figures with very little patience and plenty of attitude.
Like Park Hae-Gang, the lead is hardly a conventional hero, preferring direct action over polite conversation whenever justice is on the line.
4. Bad Prosecutor (2022)
A rebellious prosecutor refuses to follow traditional rules while exposing corruption throughout the legal system.
Much like The Apartment Job, the series features an anti-hero willing to bend expectations to achieve the right outcome. Bureaucrats quickly discover paperwork is not much use against someone who enjoys causing trouble.
5. Leverage (2019)
A brilliant insurance investigator assembles a team of former criminals, including hackers, thieves and con artists, to expose corruption and recover money stolen by powerful elites.
Like The Apartment Job, the series thrives on clever schemes, morally grey protagonists and satisfying takedowns of influential figures who believe they are above the law. It balances crime, comedy and teamwork while proving that sometimes the best people to catch crooks are those who know every trick in the book.
6. Taxi Driver (2021)
Former military officer Kim Do-gi works with a secret organisation delivering justice to people failed by the legal system.
Like Park Hae-Gang, he has a troubled past but gradually becomes an unlikely champion for ordinary citizens standing against powerful enemies.
7. Lawless Lawyer (2018)
A former gangster becomes a lawyer and uses unconventional methods to dismantle corruption controlling an entire city.
The blend of legal drama, crime and personal redemption closely mirrors The Apartment Job's journey from self-interest towards genuine heroism.
8. Chief Kim (2017)
An accountant with experience handling questionable finances unexpectedly becomes the biggest obstacle to corporate corruption.
Although lighter in tone, the series shares the same satisfying theme of clever outsiders exposing dishonest executives who believe they are untouchable.
9. Mad Dog (2017)
A group of insurance investigators specialises in uncovering elaborate fraud schemes hidden beneath seemingly ordinary lives. Like The Apartment Job, every episode peels back another layer of deception while proving appearances are usually misleading.
10. My Fellow Citizens! (2019)
A veteran con artist accidentally marries a detective before finding himself blackmailed into running for political office.
Fake identities, reluctant heroics and endless comic chaos make this one of the most entertaining alternatives for fans of Park Hae-Gang's unconventional campaign.
11. One Dollar Lawyer (2022)
Charging almost nothing for his services, an eccentric lawyer uses brilliant but unusual methods to challenge wealthy criminals and corrupt elites. Like The Apartment Job, it mixes humour with social commentary without ever losing its suspense.
12. Inspector Koo (2021)
A former detective obsessed with solving unusual crimes finds herself locked in an intellectual battle with a serial killer.
Although more focused on investigation, it shares the same quirky humour, unpredictable storytelling and fascinating anti-hero energy.
13. Player (2018)
Swindlers, hackers, drivers and fighters unite to recover illegally obtained fortunes from corrupt elites. Much like The Apartment Job, the series celebrates morally grey characters who decide rich villains deserve a very bad day.
14. Big Mouth (2022)
An ordinary lawyer is mistaken for a notorious criminal mastermind and becomes trapped inside a web of political conspiracy and corruption. Fake identities, dangerous secrets and powerful enemies create the same tension that drives The Apartment Job.
15. Special Labour Inspector Jo (2019)
A former athlete becomes a labour inspector determined to challenge corrupt employers and abusive executives. Beneath its comedy lies a story about ordinary people standing up against powerful institutions, making it another excellent companion piece.
16. Good Manager (Chief Kim) (2017)
If you somehow missed Chief Kim, it deserves another mention because it perfectly captures the spirit of a flawed but brilliant outsider taking on corrupt business leaders from the inside. Watching executives panic as their own schemes collapse is oddly therapeutic, and considerably cheaper than attending an actual residents' meeting..
One of the biggest strengths of The Apartment Job is how it transforms an everyday apartment complex into the setting for an ambitious crime thriller filled with humour, unlikely friendships and social commentary.
These 16 Kdramas capture that same combination in different ways, whether through former criminals seeking redemption, fake identities unravelling dangerous conspiracies or determined underdogs refusing to let powerful figures win. If you've already worked through this list, which drama came closest to matching The Apartment Job?