The Escape of the Seven

The Escape of the Seven
Promotional poster
Also known as
  • 7 Escape
  • The Escape of the Seven: War for Survival
  • Reborn of the Seven (Season 2)
Hangul
7인의 탈출
Hanja
七人의 脫出
Literal meaningThe Escape of 7
Revised Romanization7in-ui talchul
McCune–Reischauer7inŭi t'alch'ul
Genre
Developed by
Written byKim Soon-ok
Directed by
  • Joo Dong-min (S1)
  • Oh Joon-hyuk (S1~2)
  • Oh Sung-hee (S3)
Starring
Music by
  • Kim Jun-seok
  • Jeong Se-rin
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes17
Production
Executive producers
  • Park Young-soo (CP)
  • Kang Bo-ah
Producers
  • Han Jeong-hwan
  • Seo Jang-won
  • Yoo Ho-seong
  • Seo-kyun
Running time80–70 minutes
Production companies
Budget₩46.2 billion
Original release
NetworkSBS TV
ReleaseSeptember 15, 2023 –
present

The Escape of the Seven (Korean: 7인의 탈출) is a 2023 South Korean television series starring Um Ki-joon, Hwang Jung-eum, Lee Joon, Lee Yu-bi, Shin Eun-kyung, Yoon Jong-hoon, Jo Yoon-hee, and Jo Jae-yoon. It revolves around seven main characters. The first season aired on SBS TV from September 15 to November 17, 2023, every Fridays and Saturdays at 22:00 (KST) for 17 episodes. The second season is scheduled for release on SBS TV in March 2024. It is also available for streaming on Viu, Kocowa, and Viki in selected regions.

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedTime slot
(KST)		Avg. viewership
(millions)
First airedLast airedNetwork
117September 15, 2023November 17, 2023SBS TVFridays and Saturdays at 22:00 (KST)1.133
2TBAMarch 2024April 2024Fridays and SaturdaysTBA

Synopsis

The series is about seven people involved in the case of a missing girl, who face huge events intertwined with many lies and desires. It also depicts the journey of searching for the truth, as well as the bloody revenge that resembles divine punishment.

Cast

Main

A mysterious figure who was the mastermind of the events happening in the drama, and the real killer of Da-mi. His real identity was Shim Joon-seok, apparent heir of Sungchan Group. He was revealed to be the adoptive son of Sungchan Group's chairman, and he had also hated Do-Hyuk for being the biological heir, leading to him attempting to kill Do-Hyuk. After having plastic surgery, he returns as Mathew Lee, a Korean-American man who runs the biggest mobile platform company in South Korea but is a mysterious figure behind a veil. He pretends to be Lee Hui-So to gain trust of Do-Hyuk and Ki Tak and uses Da-mi's revenge as an act after finding out about Chairman Bang and Kang Ki-Tak's plan. His true intention is to kill Do-Hyuk after making his life miserable.
The CEO of a drama production company and Da-mi's biological mother. She is skillful and aggressive at her job. Geum Ra-hee values money and success the most in her life and she will take any path to achieve that. To receive a huge inheritance, she tries to find her daughter whom she abandoned 15 years ago.
A man who used to be a gangster. He does not have a dream or hope for his life. If he trusts someone once, he will trust them for good. Due to this, his life is filled with a series of betrayals. He believes his younger brother and mother died due to Da-mi's adoptive mother, but later found out that it was Jin-mo who killed them, and it led to him secretly acting as a spy for Matthew Lee in order to exact revenge on Jin-mo. He was revealed to be the long-lost biological son of the chairman of Sungchan Group.
A young woman wants to become an idol and she is admired by her friends. Mo-ne seems to have a perfect life but she has a weakness. Her weakness is that she consistently turns out lies. Her life is full of these lies. She secretly had a relationship with Joon-seok and gave birth to a daughter, whom she cruelly abandoned. She later frames Da-mi, her bestfriend, of having the child and ruins her life to protect herself. She also lies about her family having a business is Silicon Valley when in fact her family is poor. Mo-ne will do anything to achieve what she wants even if she has to lie or sacrifice someone to achieve it.
An OB-GYN and Bang Chil-sung's former lover. She lives with Bang Chil-sung and loves the money he has. Later on she tries to kill him with Geum Ra-hee when he finds out that she made a fake doctor's report stating that Da-mi is pregrant and ruining her life. She later works as the nurse of Sungchan Group's chairman after being blackmailed by Matthew.
The CEO of Cherry Entertainment. He is usually gentle, but once his anger explodes nobody stops him. He is extremely greedy and will do anything for profit. Yang used to work directly for K (Joon-seok) and knew his identity. He tried to send Min Do-Hyuk to jail and killed his family due to K's orders. One of Mo-ne's most trusted allies, he also knew her and K's relationship. While obeying K's order of destroying Min Do-Hyuk, he grows suspicious of the reasons behind K's hate for him. The only person Yang Jin-mo cares about throughout the series in Ms.Noh.
An art teacher at school. She creates a lie to protect something precious to her and she spreads a weird rumor at school to hide her weak point.
A chief detective of Deokseon Police Station who is promoted to Commissioner on later parts of the series. He frames Da-mi's (Matthew/ Lee Hwi-so) father for murder and drug dealing as well as for being a drug addict. Ironically, Nam is a drug addict himself. He works for Joon-seok. Later in the series, he decides to help Mathew and work against Joon-seok to save himself.

Supporting

CEO of Yeolbaek Entertainment who is kept in check by Jin-mo. He was also the former boss of the Central Party, a gangster group centered in Seoul. He was also the former boyfriend of Ra-hee and still have feelings for her. He allied with Matthew Lee to exact revenge on the seven villains.
Da-mi's paternal grandfather who is a very wealthy man-building owner. He loves Da-mi very much and genuinely care for her.
  • Jung Ra-el as Bang Da-mi
A school star, Bang Chil-sung's granddaughter and Geum Ra-hee's biological daughter. She is actually the descendant of a wealthy tycoon, the only grandchild of Chairman Bang Chil-sung, but due to heart disease, her mother abandoned her for 15 years. When her biological mother brought her back home, she became a tool to inherit her grandfather's property in her mother's plan.
Da-mi's adoptive mother. She was murdered by Jin-mo, who framed her for killing Do-hyuk's family.
  • Min Young-ki as Lee Hwi-so
Da-mi's adoptive father who was framed for murdering her and sentenced to death. He was kidnapped by K who assumed his identity to trick Do-hyuk and Ki-tak.
  • Ahn Eun-ho as Hong Man-du
Jin-mo's subordinate.
A bar owner who was Kang Ki-tak's partner. She adopted a daughter named Noh Han-na, who was the biological daughter of Han Mo-ne.
  • Eom Ji-yoon as Yoo-jin
A bully at Myeongju Girls' High School.
  • Jang Ha-kyung as So-yeon
A bully at Myeongju Girls' High School.
Mo-ne's deaf-mute mother.
  • Eun Hae-sung as Han Kyung-soo
Mo-ne's eldest younger brother with a confident personality and strong assertiveness.
Mo-ne's younger brother.
  • Im Seong-gyun as Min Jae-hyuk
Do-hyuk's foster younger brother.
  • Lee Jong-nam as Jung Mi-so
Do-hyuk's foster mother, who adopted Do-hyuk during his birth.

Extended

A deputy prosecutor who fabricated the evidence of the killings to seek a death sentence for Lee Hwi-so on the grounds of murdering Da-mi and Bang Chil-sung. He was murdered by Joon-seok after he found out the secret of Joon-seok's parentage.
  • Kim Ki-doo as Joo Yong-ju (Ep. 1–5)
Jin-mo's subordinate. He was responsible for spreading fake news to frame Da-mi and her adoptive father for having a sexual relationship in order to hide Mo-ne's secret.
A bully at Myeongju Girls' High School. After reaching adulthood, she grew remorseful for bullying Da-mi, and also fell out with Mo-ne, who often ordered her to do the bullying and even stole Ji-ah's written songs as her own. She was revealed to have taken the blame of murdering her abusive father in self-defence to protect her elder sister from prosecution, and Mo-ne made use of this secret to force Ji-ah to do her bidding. She was later murdered by Joon-seok.
  • Lee Jung-hyun as Baek Ik-ho
A baker in the detention center. He was Ki-tak's loyal henchman while in and outside of prison
  • Lee Boo-young as Executive Director Hwang
A silent assistant and executive assistant to Chairman Bang Chil-sung.
  • Han Da-hee as Oh Hye-bin
A head secretary of Geum Ra-hee.
  • Yuju as Song Ji-sun / Michelle (Ep. 8)

Special appearances

Production

Development

The work brings together author Kim Soon-ok with director Jo Dong-min for the third time after the series The Last Empress (2018) and The Penthouse: War in Life (2020–21). The series will be produced by SBS Drama Division called Studio S, in cooperation with Chorokbaem Media. The cost of producing the series is about 46.2 billion won (includes seasons 1 and 2).

On February 24, 2023, it was revealed that the series is preparing for a second season. On October 13, 2023, it was announced that main director Jo Dong-min was leaving, and the season 2 would be directed by Oh Jun-hyuk, who also co-directed the first season. On December 29, 2023, it was announced that director Oh Seung Hee would co-direct the second season with Oh Jun Hyuk.

Filming

On September 22, 2022, the cast was confirmed with the start of filming for the series. Filming for the first season ended on July 6, 2023. Filming for the second season began in July 2023.

On December 5, 2022, the production company apologized for illegally parking a small car on the sidewalk and paid a fine to the Parking Management Division of the Administrative Support Bureau of the District Office.

Viewership

The Escape of the Seven : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
1234567891011121314151617
1972118311381310116313741193114510801120975105613371044990102511541133
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
Nielsen Korea TNmS
Nationwide Seoul Nationwide
1 September 15, 2023 6.0% (6th) 5.4% (7th) 5.1% (9th)
2 September 16, 2023 6.1% (4th) 6.3% (2nd) 5.9% (8th)
3 September 22, 2023 6.7% (4th) 6.5% (4th) 5.6% (10th)
4 September 23, 2023 7.7% (2nd) 7.3% (2nd) 7.0% (2nd)
5 September 29, 2023 5.6% (3rd) 5.5% (3rd) N/A
6 September 30, 2023 7.3% (2nd) 7.0% (2nd) 6.4% (2nd)
7 October 13, 2023 6.8% (7th) 7.1% (4th) 6.2% (7th)
8 October 14, 2023 6.5% (4th) 6.5% (3rd) 6.7% (3rd)
9 October 20, 2023 6.0% (7th) 6.7% (6th) 5.4% (13th)
10 October 21, 2023 5.7% (5th) 5.9% (4th) N/A
11 October 27, 2023 5.3% (9th) 5.3% (7th) 4.8% (11th)
12 October 28, 2023 5.6% (5th) 5.8% (4th) N/A
13 November 3, 2023 7.2% (4th) 7.4% (3rd) 5.9% (9th)
14 November 4, 2023 5.6% (5th) 5.7% (5th) N/A
15 November 10, 2023 5.2% (10th) 5.5% (9th) 4.7% (13th)
16 November 11, 2023 5.2% (6th) 5.3% (5th) N/A
17 November 17, 2023 6.6% (7th) 7.3% (5th)
Average 6.2% 6.3% —
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • N/A denotes ratings that were not published.

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
SBS Drama Awards 2023 Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama Lee Joon Won
Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama Lee Yu-bi Won
Best New Actor Kim Do-hoon Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama Um Ki-joon Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama Hwang Jung-eum Nominated
Best Supporting Performance in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama Yoon Tae-young Nominated
Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama Jo Yoon-hee Nominated