Korean Drama - The Manipulated

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The Manipulated is a 2025 South Korean action thriller drama, written by Oh Sang Ho and directed by Park Shin Woo and Kim Chang Ju.

The series aired on Disney+ November 5 - December 3, 2025, it has 12 episodes.

Main Cast:

Ji Chang Wook as Park Jae Jung

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Doh Kyung Soo as An Yo Han

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Kim Jong Soo as No Yong Sik

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Jo Yoon Su as No Eun Bi

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Lee Kwang Soo as Baek Do Kyoung

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Supporting Cast:

Yang Dong Geun as Yeo Deok Su

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Kim Jae Chul as Yang Chul Hwan

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Eum Moon Suk as Do Gang Jae

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Lee Jae Kyoon as Koo Ji Yong

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Lee Seo Hwan as Park Han Hee

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Lee Sung Woo as Hwang Il Guk

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Ahn Ji Ho as Park Tae Jin

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Kwon Da Ham as Woo Jung

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Kim Jung Heon as Jung Soo

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Lee Suk Hyeong as Dae Hoon

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Pyo Ye Jin as Song Su Ji

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Kim Joong Hee as Kim Sang Rak

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Jeong In Ji as Nanny

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Bae Na Ra as Woo Min Hyung

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Lee Hyun Jin as Chung Ri

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Han Ji Hyo as Lee Sun Ah

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Do Yun Jin as Han Byeol

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The series is based on the film Fabricate City, which Oh Sang Ho co-wrote and starred Ji Chang Wook.

Tae Joong is an ordinary man living an ordinary type of life. But, his life changes.

One day, he unjustly gets involved in a heinous crime and he is sent to prison.

Tae Joong discovers that everything was planned by Yohan and he carries out revenge on Yohan.

Disney+ Singapore

I decided to watch this on a whim because I was familiar with a few of the cast members and I was blown away by a few of them as I wasn't used to them acting as the characters they were playing.

The show itself was really good, it didn't take me long to finish watching it as I was hooked. I will admit that I did nearly stop watching during the first few episodes, as they were really difficult to watch, but I'm glad I pushed through and continued because it did really have me on the edge of my seat and wanting to continue at the end of each episode.

I absolutely loved Ji Chang Wook as Park Jae Jung, I know he's known for his roles, especially when it comes to action, but for me, he was on another level in this drama. From the first to last episode, I felt all his emotions, but watching him in those first few episodes, while difficult and traumatising to watch, he really did an amazing job.

I thought Doh Kyung Soo was amazing as An Yo Han, I joked that I now know why the rest of EXO are scared of him, because he plays crazy extremely well. He even scared and creeped me out.

I really liked Kim Jong Soo as No Yong Sik, I really loved the friendship between Jae Jung and Yong Sik, and there were times I was scared what would happen to him and how it would affect Jae Jung.

I thought Jo Yoon Su did a really great job as No Eun Bi. I initially didn't like her as she seemed to push the people closest to her away, but the more we got to know her, we knew why she acted the way she did.

Lee Kwang Soo was amazing as Baek Do Kyoung, he's the typical character that comes from money and power, which means he believes he can do anything and get away with it, even committing murder. Even as he loses power, he still believes he can get away with his crimes.

I thought Yang Dong Geun was amazing as Yeo Deok Su, I didn't even realise that he played the son in season 2 of Squid Game. It really shows how he can pull off any role and character.

I really liked Kim Jae Chul as Yang Chul Hwan, for me, he was the character that gave me hope for Jae Jung throughout the show. It was sometime hit or miss on whether he would believe Jae Jung, but he also seemed to lean on trusting what he said.

I was surprised to see Bae Na Ra as Woo Min Hyung as I'd not long finished Would You Marry Me, in which he also appears in. While the characters I've seen him play have been of similar roles. Woo Min Hyung is definitely the best I've seen so far as like Yo Han, he's on the crazy side and seems to revel in cleaning up messes and being a hitman for hire.

I highly recommend this drama, I'll just say to be prepared for the first few episodes and push through them. Once you get past that initial trauma, you'll be on the edge of your seat even more.

The casting is amazing as is the story, even if it seems a little far-fetched at times. It's also scary to think there are probably people like this in real life.

Have you watched The Manipulated?

Were you a fan of the cast?

Did you enjoy the plot?

Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!

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(Annyeong)

さようなら

(Sayonara)

再见

(ZaiJian)

Bye

Korean Drama - Karma

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Karma is a 2025 South Korean crime thriller series written and directed by Lee Il Hyung. The series is based on the webtoon of the same name by Choi Hee Seon.

The series aired om Netflix April 4, 2025 and contains 6 episodes.

Main Cast:

Park Hae Soo as Kim Beom Jun

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Shin Mina as Lee Ju Yeon

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Lee Hee Joon as Park Jae Yeong

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Kim Sung Kyun as Jang Gil Ryong

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Lee Kwang Soo as Han Sang Hun

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Gong Seung Yeon as Lee Yu Jeong

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Special Appearances:

Kim Nam Gil as Yoon Jeong Min

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Park Ho San as Hwang Cheol Mok

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The series is about people who are entangled in an unexpected ill-fated relationship and destroy each other while pursuing their own desires.

The lives of 6 people become entangled in ill-fated relationships.

A man witnesses a mysterious accident and makes an irreversible deal.

Lee Ju Yeon, who works as a doctor, lives with trauma that occurred in her childhood. She runs into the person who is responsible for her trauma.

A man wanted to make a large amount of money to change his life. He resorted to borrowing from loan sharks to invest in Crypto currency, but his investment collapses.

Jang Gil Ryong unfairly lost his job and is then asked to do something involving a large sum of money.

Han Sang Hun runs a successful private clinic in Gangnam. He has a girlfriend, Lee Yu Jeong, who is dangerously charming.

There were 2 main selling points for me that made me decide to check out this drama. The first being Shin Mina and the 2nd being that it's a short drama with only 6 episodes. I really enjoyed it, the show flowed really well and keeps you on edge.

I loved how it revealed how each of them were connected and how they all get their piece of karma.

Normally I would go into detail on the cast and their characters, but I don't want to reveal any spoilers as I loved how everything was revealed. Even in the final moments it blew my mind with how it all came full circle.

The cast really did an amazing job bringing each of their characters to life, I honestly don't think I could say that any of them stood out more than the others, they were all so good.

I definitely recommend this drama, it's a really good crime thriller, that takes your on a spine-tingling ride for justice and Karma.

안녕

(Annyeong)

さようなら

(Sayonara)

再见

(ZaiJian)

Bye