Jang Seo Hee returns to KBS after 12 years, playing an antagonist for the first time in a 100-episode revenge drama that began airing on August 10, 2026.
KBS 2TV’s new daily drama A Trap Called Desire (욕망의 덫) officially premiered on August 10, 2026, at 7:50 p.m. KST. The series airs every Monday through Friday and is planned for 100 episodes.
The drama marks actress Jang Seo Hee’s return to KBS for the first time in 12 years, since her last KBS daily drama The Cuckoo’s Nest in 2014. Known as the “Queen of Daily Dramas” and “Queen of Revenge Dramas” for her roles in hits like Miss Mermaid (47.9% peak rating) and Temptation of Wife (over 40% peak rating), Jang takes on an entirely different character this time.
Jang Seo Hee Plays the Villain, Not the Victim
In A Trap Called Desire, Jang Seo Hee plays Joo Mi-ran, the main antagonist. This is a major shift for the actress, who has built her career playing wronged women seeking revenge.
“This time, I’m not the victim but the villain,” Jang Seo Hee said during the online production press conference on August 10. “I will act with the determination to ensure my previous works don’t come to mind.”
Joo Mi-ran is the Director of Public Relations at the Cheongma Scholarship Foundation. She is a cold, calculating character who uses lies and schemes to protect her desires. Coming from a humble background as a former nanny, Mi-ran has her eyes set on taking over the Cheongma Group. She does not hesitate to completely destroy other people’s lives to get what she wants.
Jang explained her decision to take on this role: “I’d been thinking that I wanted to try playing a villainous character with a dual nature who gaslights people at least once, and that’s when I came across this project.”
She also shared her approach to the 100-episode format: “Since it’s a 100-episode drama, putting too much effort in from the start could be overwhelming. In the early episodes, I’ll mainly show her gaslighting those around her without revealing her true colors.”
The Story: A Woman Framed for Murder Fights Back
A Trap Called Desire is a revenge drama about a woman who loses everything after being falsely accused of murder.
The main character is Go Eun-seol, played by Jeon Hye-won. Eun-seol grew up in a loving adoptive family and was in a happy relationship with her first love Cha Seok-jin (played by Seol Jung-hwan).
Her life falls apart when she is framed for murder. The false accusation destroys her reputation and takes away her future. She spends her entire twenties in prison after being wrongfully convicted.
After her release, Eun-seol joins the design team at Cheongma Group as a new employee. She makes a firm vow: “I will find those who did this to me and make them pay. It’s time to reclaim my life.”
The drama follows her quest to uncover the truth and take revenge on those who destroyed her life. At the center of it all is Joo Mi-ran, who set the trap with a false accusation.
Full Cast and Characters
The main cast of A Trap Called Desire includes:
- Jang Seo Hee as Joo Mi-ran – the ambitious villain who orchestrates the entire plot
- Jeon Hye-won as Go Eun-seol – the woman framed for murder seeking revenge
- Seol Jung-hwan as Cha Seok-jin – Eun-seol’s first love
- Joo Sae Byeok as Kang Hae-ra – the only heir of Cheongma Group
- Yoon Hae-young as Kim Jeong-seon
- Yu Tae-woong as Kang Young-hoon
Lee Dae-kyung and Jeong Gwang-su direct the series, with Gu Ji-won writing the script. Lee Dae-kyung previously directed popular dramas including Father, I’ll Take Care of You, Be Strong, Geum-Soon!, and Flower of the Queen.
What Makes This Drama Different
Director Lee Dae-kyung described the drama’s core themes as “desire,” “the moment of crossing the line,” and “universality.”
“I wanted to depict the characters’ gradual crossing of moral boundaries with depth, evoking emotions like empathy, anger, compassion, and love,” Lee explained. “Ultimately, ‘The Trap of Desire’ is about the characters.”
Writer Gu Ji-won emphasized that the drama differs from typical revenge stories:
“It doesn’t stop at a victim’s revenge against a perpetrator. Through the twisted desires of one person, we explore how destinies of the real and the fake are swapped, and how far humans can become cruel.”
Unlike conventional revenge dramas where the villain reacts to events, in A Trap Called Desire, the antagonist orchestrates the entire plot. Joo Mi-ran designs the game, and Go Eun-seol must fight to reclaim her life.
Writer Gu added: “Mi-ran designs a new board at every moment, and Eun-seol breaks down each wall one by one to approach the truth. You will feel the immersive fun of a classic revenge drama.”
Production and Release Information
- Network: KBS 2TV
- Premiere Date: August 10, 2026
- Airtime: 7:50 p.m. KST, Monday to Friday
- Total Episodes: 100
- International Streaming: Viu (exclusively in Singapore from August 10), Wavve, Kocowa
The drama follows Red Pearl, which concluded with a peak rating of 8.2% (Nielsen Korea national standards). KBS World will broadcast the series under the English title A Trap Called Desire starting August 17, 2026, airing weekdays at 9:10 p.m. to 9:50 p.m. (UTC+9).
Related:
Jeon Hye-won Takes on Her First Leading Role
For Jeon Hye-won, A Trap Called Desire marks her first leading role in a drama since her debut. She plays Go Eun-seol, a character who spent ten years in prison for a crime she did not commit.
“I’m approaching the filming with the mindset that I need to give it my all. In particular, I’m focusing on delivering an intense gaze,” Jeon said at the press conference. “I’ll do my best to deliver a great performance by drawing inspiration from senior actress Jang Seo-hee, the ‘Queen of Revenge Dramas.’”
Director Lee praised both leads: “Jang Seo-hee is an iconic actor who needs no introduction. I believed she could portray Mi-ran most convincingly. Jeon Hye-won also possesses exceptional acting skills and unique charisma.”
Writer Gu added: “The intense acting synergy between Jang Seo-hee and Jeon Hye-won, who embody the twisted ambition of Joo Mi-ran and the truth-seeking Go Eun-seol, will be the drama’s greatest strength.”
The production team shared their hopes for the drama: “We aspire for this drama to be remembered as a ‘life-changing revenge melodrama’ that leaves a heavy yet meaningful impression. We want audiences to laugh, cry, and feel the catharsis of truth’s victory each night.”
Also Read: A Trap Called Desire Global Release Date, Time and Streaming Details
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