The Price of Confession

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The Price of Confession
Promotional poster
Hangul
자백의 대가
RRJabaegui daega
MRChabaegŭi taega
Genre
Written byKwon Jong-gwan
Directed byLee Jung-hyo
Starring
Music byNam Hye-seung
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes12
Production
Running time46~60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseDecember 5, 2025 (2025-12-05)

The Price of Confession (Korean: 자백의 대가) is a 2025 South Korean mystery thriller television series written by Kwon Jong-kwan, directed by Lee Jung-hyo, and starring Jeon Do-yeon, Kim Go-eun, Park Hae-soo, and Jin Seon-kyu. This drama tells the story of Yoon-soo, who is suspected of murdering her husband, and Mo-eun, a mysterious figure known as a witch, who become embroiled in a dangerous deal.

Plot

An Yoon-soo, a high school art teacher, discovers her husband Ki-dae, a respected freelance painter, dead in his private studio. The crime scene shows signs of deliberate tampering, with key evidence destroyed. With no signs of forced entry and no clear suspects, investigators focus on Yoon-soo. Prosecutor Baek Dong-hun, a former detective who relies on behavioral analysis, forms an early suspicion that Yoon-soo is responsible and proceeds with indictment despite the absence of direct physical evidence.

Months later, a married dentist couple is found poisoned in their home. The suspect, Mo-eun, is arrested at the scene and immediately confesses without a remorse. She is imprisoned in the same facility as Yoon-soo and proposes a deal: she will confess to Ki-dae’s murder in exchange for Yoon-soo killing Se-hun, the dentists’ son, whom she claims she failed to eliminate.

Mo-eun’s confession in court includes detailed knowledge of Ki-dae’s death, weakening the prosecution’s case and leading to Yoon-soo’s release on bail under electronic monitoring. Prosecutors, however, remain doubtful and begins secretly investigating possible conspiracy between the two women.

Baek subsequently exposes Mo-eun’s true identity as Kang So-hae, a former medical doctor, who had assumed Mo-eun’s identity after her death while volunteering in Thailand.

Se-hun lives under the supervision of his grandfather, Ko Dong-uk. Under intense pressure from Mo-eun, Yoon-soo approaches Se-hun but ultimately warns him instead of killing him. To mislead Mo-eun, she stages photographic evidence suggesting Se-hun’s death. Mo-eun rejects the image, having already received separate proof of Se-hun’s death prior to Yoon-soo. Shortly afterward, Se-hun is found dead in his family home, a development that shocks both Yoon-soo and investigators.

Forensic evidence once again implicates Yoon-soo. Ko Dong-uk, devastated by his grandson’s death, abducts Yoon-soo’s daughter in an attempt to force a confession. Baek intensifies his investigation, maintaining his suspicion of Yoon-soo despite emerging irregularities in the case.

Further inquiry reveals that Mo-eun’s lawyer, Jin Yeong-in, and his wife Choi Su-yeon had been monitoring communications between Mo-eun and Yoon-soo by exploiting Jin’s access as legal counsel. After learning that Se-hun was kept alive by Yoon-soon, Jin and Choi kill him to ensure Yoon-soo would be implicated.

In flashbacks, Se-hun sexually assaulted So-hae’s younger sister years ago. When video evidence of the assault became public during legal proceedings, the resulting stigma led both her sister and father to die by suicide. So-hae’s actions are revealed to be part of a deliberate revenge plan.

Meanwhile, Yoon-soo identifies inconsistencies in Ki-dae’s death. At a university exhibition of his final artwork, she discovers a second fingerprint besides hers embedded in the paint. The evidence links Ki-dae’s murder to a plagiarism dispute involving Jin and Choi. Flashbacks show that Choi killed Ki-dae in anger over the accusation, with Jin assisting in concealing the crime.

Yoon-soo and So-hae confront Jin at Ki-dae’s studio to recover the original artwork containing the fingerprint evidence on main etching. Jin attempts to kill them to prevent exposure. During the ensuing struggle, So-hae is fatally wounded but kills Jin before dying.

Although Choi attributes the murders to her husband during proceedings, Baek continues to examine her role. Yoon-soo is ultimately cleared of the murder charges, while Choi’s final legal outcome remains unspecified. The series concludes with Yoon-soo traveling to Thailand with her daughter to visit a mountain location that was So-hae’s favorite place.

Cast and characters

Main

  • Jeon Do-yeon as Ahn Yoon-soo, a high school art teacher and wife of Ki-dae[1]
  • Kim Go-eun as Mo-eun / Kang So-hae / "the Witch", a former medical professional living under an assumed identity[1]
  • Park Hae-soo as Baek Dong-hun, a former detective turned prosecutor[1]
  • Jin Seon-kyu as Jang Jung-gu, Yoon-soo's defense attorney[1]

Recurring

  • Choi Young-joon as Jin Yeong-in, Mo-eun’s lawyer and a law professor
  • Lee Sang-hee as Bae Sun-deok, a pregnant probation officer
  • Lee Kyu-hoe as Ko Dong-uk, a retired colonel and Se-hun’s grandfather
  • Jung Woon-sun as Choi Su-yeon, a cellist and Jin Yeong-in’s wife
  • Kim Gook-hee as Um Ju-yeong, a correctional officer
  • Lee Ha-yool as Lee Ki-dae, Yoon-soo’s deceased husband
  • Lee Jae-in as Koo Hui-yeong, an inmate and acquaintance of Kang So-mang
  • Lee Cho-hee as Ryu Ji-su, a violent crimes detective
  • Seo Eun-young as Oh Seo-won, Ki-dae’s former student and mistress
  • Hwang Hee as the prison doctor
  • Lee Chae-yu as Lee Sop, the daughter of Ki-dae and Yoon-soo
  • Kim Sun-young as Walsun, a fellow inmate of Yoon-soo and Mo-eun[2]
  • Nam Da-reum as Ko Se-hun, the teenage son of the murdered dentists
  • Nam Jin-bok as Hong Se-yeong, a journalist
  • Kim Joong-don as Detective Nam[3]
  • Kim Sang-ji as Mo-eun, So-hae’s deceased friend

Production

Development

The Price of Confession was produced by Studio Dragon and written by Kwon Jong-kwan, who had also written Sad Movie (2005) and Proof of Innocence (2016). It was supposed to be directed by Lee Eung-bok, who helmed Mr. Sunshine (2018), Sweet Home (2020–2023), and Jirisan (2021).[4]

In January 2023, Lee had withdrawn from the drama due to scheduling conflicts with the ongoing production of the second and final seasons of Sweet Home. Studio Dragon clarified that Lee was only being considered and had not been officially confirmed as director of the series.[5] The next month, Shim Na-yeon was expected to take on the role of director but decided not to take part after discussions.[6][7] In December 2023, Lee Jung-hyo had been confirmed to direct the series after production delays, marking his return to the thriller genre in six years since the 2018 OCN drama Life on Mars. Production H would also be producing the series.[8]

In July 2024, Netflix announced that the production began and they would distribute the series globally on their platform.[9]

Casting

In August 2022, Song Hye-kyo and Han So-hee were both in talks to star in the drama, and each of their respective agencies had confirmed that the project was under consideration.[4] In May 2023, both actors decided to withdraw from the series due to creative differences with the production team.[7]

In December 2023, Jeon Do-yeon was cast as the new lead actor.[10] The next month, Kim Ji-won was reportedly in final talks but decided to not join.[11][12] On January 17, it was reported that Kim Go-eun has been cast, marking Kim and Jeon's second collaboration since the 2015 film Memories of the Sword.[13]

In April 2024, Park Hae-soo was reportedly cast as the male lead. Both Park and Jeon also collaborated in the play The Cherry Orchard at LG Art Center Seoul.[14] In June 2024, both Jin Seon-kyu and Choi Young-joon joined the cast.[15][16]

In January 2025, Nam Da-reum has been cast to appear.[17]

Release

In February 2025, Netflix revealed that The Price of Confession is part of the 2025 lineup of Korean films and television series, and was scheduled to be released at the fourth quarter of 2025.[18] In November 2025, Netflix confirmed the release date of the series to be December 5, 2025.[19]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10.[20]

Accolades

Award ceremony Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Baeksang Arts Awards 2026 Best Screenplay Kwon Jong-gwan Nominated [21]
Chunsa Film Art Awards 2025 Best Acting in the OTT Kim Go-eun Won [22]

References

  1. "Korean Mystery Thriller Series 'The Price of Confession' Set to Explore the Ultimate Cost of Innocence" (Press release). Netflix. July 30, 2024. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  2. Kim, Ha-young (November 28, 2025). "김선영, 전도연·김고은 사이 '왈순' 된다…'자백의 대가' 합류" [Kim Sun-young joins "The Price of Confession"]. My Daily News (in Korean). Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  3. Shin, Ah-ram (February 17, 2025). "'강매강' 김중돈, 제로하이에 새 둥지[공식]" ['Seoul Busters' Kim Joong-don Finds a New Home at Zero-Hi [Official]]. Celuv Media (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  4. Lee, Da-won (August 29, 2022). 송혜교·한소희, 이응복 PD '자백의 대가'로 의기투합(종합) [Song Hye-kyo and Han So-hee team up with director Lee Eung-bok for new series 'The Price of Confession']. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 18, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  5. Kang, Nae-ri (January 3, 2023). 이응복 감독, '자백의 대가' 연출 하차...송혜교와 재회 무산 [Director Lee Eung-bok Steps Down from 'The Price of Confession'...Reunion with Song Hye-kyo Called Off]. YTN (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  6. Lee, Min-ji (February 23, 2023). [단독]'괴물' 심나연 감독, '자백의 대가’(' 연출...송혜교X한소희 역대급 만남 [[Exclusive] 'Beyond Evil' Director Shim Na-yeon to Helm 'The Price of Confession'...Historic Collaboration Between Song Hye-kyo and Han So-hee]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 22, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  7. Yoon, Hyo-jung (May 17, 2025). [단독] 송혜교·한소희, '자백의 대가' 출연 불발...왜 [[Exclusive] Song Hye-kyo and Han So-hee Drop Out of 'The Price of Confession'...Here's Why]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  8. Hwang, Hye-jin (December 20, 2023). [단독]'자백의 대가' 새 판 짠다, 이정효 감독 연출 확정 [[Exclusive] 'The Price of Confession' Reboots with Director Lee Jung-hyo Confirmed to Lead Production]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  9. Geisinger, Gabriella (July 30, 2024). "Production begins on Korean thriller mystery series 'The Price Of Confession'". Screen Global Production. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  10. Lee, Seung-hun (December 20, 2023). 전도연, 송혜교·한소희 떠난 '자백의 대가' 주인공 [Jeon Do-yeon Cast as Lead in 'The Price of Confession', Replacing Song Hye-kyo and Han So-hee]. Starnews (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  11. Kim, So-yeon (January 9, 2025). [단독] '자백의 대가' 김지원 합류 예고, 전도연 만남 이뤄지나 [[Exclusive] Kim Ji-won in Talks to Join 'The Price of Confession', Possible Collaboration with Jeon Do-yeon]. Hankyung (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  12. Lee, Kyung-ho (January 17, 2024). 김지원, '자백의 대가' 출연 최종 불발 [★NEWSing] [Kim Ji-won Finally Withdraws from Drama 'The Price of Confession' [★NEWSing]]. Starnews (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  13. Lee, Kyung-ho (January 17, 2024). 김고은, '자백의 대가' 여주인공 합류..전도연 만난다 [Kim Go-eun Joins Drama 'The Price of Confession' as Female Lead..Will Star with Jeon Do-yeon]. Starnews (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  14. Lee, Seung-hun (April 24, 2024). 전도연과 또..박해수, '자백의 대가' 남자 주인공 [Again with Jeon Do‑yeon..Park Hae‑soo Cast as Male Lead in 'The Price of Confession']. Starnews (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  15. Lee, Seung-hun (June 7, 2024). 진선규 소원 성취..전도연과 '자백의 대가' 주인공 [Jin Seon‑kyu Fulfills His Wish..Joins 'The Price of Confession' Alongside Jeon Do‑yeon] (in Korean).
  16. Lee, Seung-hun (June 25, 2024). 최영준, 김고은 변호사 된다..'자백의 대가' 합류 [Choi Young‑joon Becomes Kim Go‑eun’s Lawyer..Joins 'The Price of Confession']. Starnews (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  17. Lee, So-jung (January 19, 2025). [단독] 남다름, 전도연X김고은 만난다...'자백의 대가'·'마이유스' 차기작 2편 확정 [[Exclusive] Nam Da‑reum to Star with Jeon Do‑yeon and Kim Go‑eun...Confirmed for Two Upcoming Projects: The Price of Confession and My Youth]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  18. Rahman, Abid (February 3, 2025). "Netflix Reveals 2025 Korean Slate of Films, Series Including New Seasons of 'Culinary Class Wars' and 'Single's Inferno'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 6, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  19. "Mystery Thriller 'The Price of Confession' Starring Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun Premieres December 5". Netflix. November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025 – via The Futon Critic.
  20. "The Price of Confession: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  21. Lee, Da-gyeom (April 13, 2026). '제62회 백상예술대상' 후보 발표...'왕과 사는 남자' 7개 부문 노미네이트 ['62nd Baeksang Arts Awards' Nominees Announced...The King's Warden Nominated in 7 Categories]. Star Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 23, 2026. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  22. Kim Bo-young (December 24, 2025). "'세계의 주인' 연말 영화상 6관왕 싹쓸이...20만 돌파 목전" ["Master of the World" sweeps six year-end film awards... nearing 200,000 admissions]. EDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 24, 2025. Retrieved December 24, 2025. 23일에 열린 제29회 춘사국제영화제에서는 윤가은 감독이 최우수 감독상을, 서수빈이 신인여우상을 [At the 29th Chunsa International Film Festival held on the 23rd, director Yoon Ga-eun won the Best Director Award and Seo Su-bin won the Best New Actress Award.]