A Trap Called Desire (2026)

A Trap Called Desire (Korean: 욕망의 덫) is an ongoing South Korean revenge drama television series written by Koo Ji-won, directed by Lee Dae-kyung and Jung Kwang-soo, and starring Jang Seo-hee, Jeon Hye-won, Seol Jung-hwan, Joo Sae-byeok, and Jang Se-hyun. The series centers on a woman wrongfully convicted of murder as she seeks to clear her name. It premiered on KBS2 on August 10, 2026, and airs every Monday to Friday at 19:50 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Kocowa.

Synopsis

Joo Ae-suk, consumed by envy of another woman's life, orchestrates a switch between her own daughter and the heiress of a wealthy family. Under the new identity of Joo Mi-ran, she infiltrates the household as their manager to observe her biological daughter, Kang Hae-ra. Meanwhile, the true heiress, Go Eun-seol, is adopted by Ae-suk's former friend, Park Hee-jung. By fate, both daughters attend the same school, where Eun-seol faces conflict with Hae-ra and is framed and bullied by her. When Hee-jung discovers the truth about the swap, she plans to reveal it to Eun-seol's biological parents. However, she is killed by Joo Mi-ran after being pushed off a building rooftop. Eun-seol arrives to find her adoptive mother already dead. She is unexpectedly framed for the crime and arrested during the funeral. Upon her release from prison, Go Eun-seol vows to clear her name, reveal the truth, and take revenge.

Cast and characters

Main

Jang Seo-hee as Joo Mi-ran / Joo Ae-suk, the head of the PR department at the Cheongma Scholarship Foundation.

Jeon Hye-won as Go Eun-seol, whose life crumbles after being wrongly framed.

Seol Jung-hwan as Cha Seok-jin, Eun-seol's first love.

Joo Sae-byeok as Kang Hae-ra, the heiress of the Cheongma Group.

Jang Se-hyun as Seo Hyun-jae, the head of the legal team at Cheongma Group.

Supporting

Yoon Hae-young as Kim Jeong-seon, a former actress who is the chairperson of the Cheongma Scholarship Foundation.

Yoo Tae-woong as Kang Young-hoon, Jeong-seon's husband, who is the CEO of Cheongma Holdings.

Son Seong-yoon as Seo Mi-rae, Hyun-jae's older sister.

Seo Kwon-soon as Wang Geum-ja, Eun-seol's adoptive grandmother.

Choi Jae-won as Go Gi-han, Eun-seol's adoptive father.

Park Hyun-jung as Park So-yeon

Park Sung-kyu as Go Eun-guk, Eun-seol's adoptive older brother.

Special appearance

Seo Yoo-jung as Park Hee-jung, Eun-seol's adoptive mother.

Production

Development

The series is directed by Lee Dae-kyung and Jung Kwang-soo, written by Koo Ji-won, and co-produced by Studio Bom, Bamboo Network, and Highline Company.

Casting

On June 13, 2026, Ilgan Sports reported that Jang Seo-hee was cast as the main antagonist, and her appearance was confirmed on June 30. The series marks Jang's return to KBS dramas after 12 years since Two Mothers (2014). Nine actors were announced the following month.

Viewership

References

External links

Official website (in Korean)

A Trap Called Desire at HanCinema