'The Defects' finally unveiled a shocking storyline, rarely seen in Korean television.
The drama series premiered at 10 PM on July 21 KST. Even before airing, the drama drew significant attention from both the industry and viewers for its bold and unprecedented themes, including child trafficking and a refundable adoption system, which are topics never before handled in mainstream Korean TV.
A controversial Webtoon reborn as a drama series
'The Defects' was based on a Kakao Webtoon series of the same name, which won the Grand Prize for Creativity at the 2017 SPP Webtoon Awards. The webtoon garnered over 51 million cumulative views and caused a major stir upon its release for its provocative storyline.
At the heart of the plot is an action-thriller narrative about children abandoned by their adoptive parents who managed to escape from an illegal adoption ring and plot for revenge. The drama vividly portrays the dark underside of an adoption system where children could be "returned for a full refund if unsatisfactory."
Top stars meet fresh talent: Bold transformation across the cast
The casting also generated much buzz. Yum Jung Ah took on a completely new persona as Kim Se Hee, the cold and ruthless head of SH Medical Foundation, which runs the illegal adoption cartel. Her transformation into a charismatic villain had fans eagerly anticipating her performance.
Won Jin Ah plays Kim Ah Hyun, the emotional pillar of the surviving children and the central figure in their revenge. Choi Young Hoon portrays Woo Tae Sik, a man with a complex inner world who protected the returned children, while Dex (Kim Jin Young) appears as Jung Hyun, a key operator of the illegal adoption network.
Other rising actors including Lee Na Eun (as So Mi), Kang Ji Yong (as Choi Si Woo), Oh Seung Joon (as Seok Soo), and Ahn Ji Ho (as Joo An) play roles of children who had been "refunded." The combination of veteran and rookie actors creats a multigenerational synergy that enriches the drama's emotional depth.
Heated reaction online and high expectations
Online communities were filled with positive reactions after the trailer dropped. Comments included, "I've never seen a concept like this," "I can't believe a drama is covering this topic. So daring," and "There's no way I'm missing Yum Jung Ah as the villain."
While some expressed concerns over the graphic and sensitive subject matter, most viewers showed curiosity and anticipation for the series, saying, "It's disturbing but I want to know the message it delivers," and "It's an uncomfortable subject but it's a reality that needs to be addressed."
Many also praised the intensity by saying, "I got sweaty palms just from the trailer," "I'm expecting big twists," and "It looks like a visual feast with action and psychological warfare."
Meanwhile, 'The Defects' airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10 PM on ENA, and is simultaneously streamed on OTT platforms including TVING.
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