ENA's "Salon de Holmes": A Complete Guide to the Comic Womance Action-Adventure Set to Thrill in 2025!
In June 2025, ENA is set to release its highly anticipated new Monday-Tuesday drama, "Salon de Holmes," and the buzz is already undeniable. An extraordinary tale unfolding in an ordinary apartment complex, what makes this drama a must-watch? Here's everything you need to know about "Salon de Holmes" in one comprehensive guide.
1. "Salon de Holmes" at a Glance: When and Where to Watch
"Salon de Holmes" is poised to be one of the most talked-about dramas of the first half of 2025.
- Broadcast Channel: ENA (Primary) and Genie TV
- Premiere Date: June 16, 2025
- Airs: Every Monday and Tuesday at 10:00 PM KST (running until 11:20 PM KST)
- Episodes: 10 (Tentative)
- Genre: A unique blend of Comedy, Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Womance, and Action.
- Directors: Min Jin-ki (famed for the hit series New Recruit) and Jung Hyun-nam
- Screenwriter: Kim Yeon-shin (with Ahn Yong-jin of SNL Korea fame also contributing)
- Production Companies: Artist Company, A2Z Entertainment, Neo Entertainment (marking the first drama project by Artist United)
- Rating: 15+
- Main Setting: Gwangseon Jugong Apartment (filmed on location at Seoksa Jugong Apartment Complex 2 in Chuncheon).
2. The Plot: A Housewives' Detective Agency Emerges!
"Salon de Holmes" is set in the bustling Gwangseon Jugong Apartment complex, a place teeming with everyday villains. The story follows four distinctive women who take matters into their own hands, forming a neighborhood detective agency to solve the various incidents occurring within their apartment community.
Core Storyline:
- Punishing Everyday "Apartment Villains": The team delivers satisfying justice to those who cause common, relatable problems like parking disputes, improper recycling, and noise complaints.
- Unraveling a Deeper Mystery: What starts with minor civil complaints soon escalates. The team finds themselves tracking down flashers and illegal dumpers, eventually leading them to a serious criminal case involving a serial killer known as the "Ribbon Man."
- The Power of Four: Each of the four women brings a unique strength to the table—deduction, physical power, information gathering, and social networking. Their teamwork creates a delightful action-comedy and a heartwarming "womance."
- Extraordinary in the Ordinary: The drama delivers catharsis and empathy by showing how these housewives, often overlooked by society, unleash their hidden potential to crack cases and become local heroes.
Director Min Jin-ki noted that he was drawn to the original novel's "thrilling plot of defeating villains," signaling that the drama will be more than a simple comedy, featuring tense and gripping case developments.
3. Key Characters: An In-Depth Look at the Neighborhood Saviors
The four leading ladies of "Salon de Holmes" are a formidable team, each with a distinct personality and skill set.
Gong Mi-ri (Played by Lee Si-young)
- Role: The team's brain, the "Sherlock Holmes" of Gwangseon Apartments.
- Stats: Reasoning: 98%, Agility: 85%, Intuition: 100%. A "real-life detective" with a sharp eye for detail and relentless persistence. She's been an avid reader of mystery novels since high school.
- Profile: With an unyielding sense of justice, she is the driving force behind the team's investigations. Lee Si-young is expected to be a perfect fit for the role, with scenes of her finally achieving her dream of homeownership and her dynamic motorcycle riding already creating buzz.
Chu Kyung-ja (Played by Jung Young-joo)
- Role: The team's muscle, the "Female Ma Dong-seok" of the group.
- Stats: Strength: 100%, Drive: 90%, Justice: 80%.
- Profile: A legendary former ace detective who retired after marrying her junior colleague. To bring her character to life, actress Jung Young-joo committed to intense training at an action school, promising to deliver refreshing and powerful action sequences.
Park So-hee (Played by Kim Da-som)
- Role: The team's intelligence agent, the "Queen of Part-Time Jobs."
- Stats: Information Network: 90%, Mobility: 100%, Life Skills: 95%.
- Profile: A single mother who juggles more than five jobs. Riding her scooter, she zips through the apartment complex, making her a natural-born informant. Actress Kim Da-som poured her passion into the role through extensive character research and motorcycle practice. In the original novel, her character is also central to a major missing person case.
Jeon Ji-hyun (Played by Nam Ki-ae)
- Role: The team's social hub and local intel source.
- Stats: Discernment: 100%, Eloquence: 95%, Improvisation: 70%.
- Profile: A former star insurance agent who now runs the Gwangseon Supermarket. She knows every piece of gossip and information in the complex. Actress Nam Ki-ae studied regional dialects to add a layer of realism and charm to her character.
Supporting Cast & Special Appearances:
- Oh Dae-hwan as Noh Kang-sik: Chu Kyung-ja's husband and a current police officer.
- Sihyeon (of EVERGLOW) as Noh Yoon-mi: The daughter of Chu Kyung-ja and Noh Kang-sik.
- Jung Sang-hoon as Park Seung-ho: Gong Mi-ri's husband and a gym trainer, known for being the mood-maker on set.
- Lee Hwa-kyum as Yoon-joo: A resident who clashes with the detective team, adding tension to the story.
- Kim Geum-soon as Jenny's Mom: Appears in the first episode with a hunting rifle, providing the catalyst for the team's formation.
- Heo Jung-eun as Young Gong Mi-ri: Portrays the younger version of Lee Si-young's character.
- The Late Park Ji-a: This drama is one of the final works of the beloved late actress, making her appearance especially meaningful.
4. Why You Should Watch: The Charm of "Salon de Holmes"
"Salon de Holmes" stands out with several compelling features:
- A Fresh Genre Mix: The masterful blend of comedy, mystery, action, and womance offers both thrilling suspense and laugh-out-loud moments.
- Hyper-Relatable Premise: By tackling common apartment issues, the drama creates a deeply resonant connection with viewers. The concept of "apartment villains" is both realistic and intriguing.
- Powerful Female-Led Narrative: The story centers on four women who proactively solve problems and build an unbreakable bond of friendship. Director Min Jin-ki aims to convey the message that "mothers are cooler and stronger than anyone."
- Fantastic Cast Chemistry: The synergy between veteran actresses Lee Si-young, Jung Young-joo, Kim Da-som, and Nam Ki-ae is a key highlight, promising to elevate the drama's fun factor.
- Cathartic Justice: In a world full of frustrations, watching the team serve satisfying justice to neighborhood troublemakers offers viewers a refreshing sense of vicarious pleasure.
5. Connection to the Original Novel
The drama is based on the 2019 novel of the same name by author Jeon Geon-woo.
- Novel's Focus: The book is a mystery thriller that follows a housewives' detective team solving crimes (like a flasher incident and a severed wrist case) in the Gwangseon Apartment complex. It delves into the hidden passions, psychological tensions, and solidarity of its characters.
- The Drama's Spin: While retaining the core framework, the drama amplifies the comedic and "womance" elements to appeal to a wider audience. Where the novel leans into thriller and psychological depth, the series opts for a more energetic and lighthearted tone, making it a distinct creative work.
6. Behind-the-Scenes Passion
- Director's Vision: Director Min Jin-ki, the hitmaker behind New Recruit, was captivated by the source material's blend of relatable daily life and thrilling villain-hunting. He intends to focus on each woman's emotional journey.
- Actors' Dedication:
- Lee Si-young expressed excitement about her first "womance" role and her love for the mystery genre.
- Jung Young-joo underwent over a month of grueling training at an action school to perfect her "Female Ma Dong-seok" character.
- Kim Da-som conducted in-depth research, including watching documentaries about single mothers, to understand her character.
- Nam Ki-ae worked on perfecting a dialect to make her character more relatable and authentic.
7. Final Thoughts: Get Ready for the Neighborhood Detectives!
"Salon de Holmes" is shaping up to be a complete entertainment package, delivering laughter, suspense, and heartwarming friendship. With its unique premise, captivating characters, and a powerhouse cast and crew, the drama is set to become another smash hit for ENA.
Mark your calendars! The delightful chaos begins on June 16, 2025, at 10:00 PM KST. Don't miss the debut of the Gwangseon Jugong Apartment's most formidable problem-solvers.