Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama The Defects, which premiered on July 21, 2025, delivering one of the most chilling and controversial storylines ever attempted in Korean television history.
Currently airing on ENA network every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 KST, The Defects consists of 8 episodes with approximately 60-minute runtime each. The series is available for streaming on TVING and Kocowa, with its finale scheduled for August 12, 2025. Based on the Kakao webtoon originally titled “Ayishopping” by Eom Se-Yoon and illustrated by Ryu Ga-Myeong, this action thriller tackles the horrifying world of illegal adoption trafficking.
The Defects breaks new ground in Korean drama by exploring themes rarely touched in television. The series combines psychological horror with revenge thriller elements, creating a narrative that examines the darkest aspects of human trafficking disguised as charitable work. This isn’t your typical K-drama romance or family drama, but rather a hard-hitting exploration of survival, justice, and the fight against systematic abuse.
The drama has already generated significant buzz for its bold subject matter and stellar performances from its ensemble cast, proving that Korean television continues pushing boundaries in storytelling.
The Sinister World of Illegal Adoption Trafficking
The Defects exposes a horrifying illegal adoption cartel that operates like a twisted marketplace. Children abandoned by their parents are bought, rated, and sold to adoptive families based on price and desirability. The most disturbing aspect? If adoptive parents become dissatisfied with their “purchase,” the organization offers a free refund service, treating human lives like defective merchandise.
The series doesn’t shy away from the brutal reality of what happens to “returned” children. When families decide they no longer want the adopted child, the cartel eliminates them to destroy evidence of their crimes. This chilling premise sets up a story about survival against impossible odds and the quest for justice in a system designed to erase victims completely.
The Defects masterfully builds tension through its exploration of how respected institutions can harbor the most heinous crimes, making viewers question the true nature of charitable organizations and medical establishments that appear virtuous on the surface.
Kim Se Hee: The Devil in Medical Scrubs
Yum Jung-ah delivers a career-defining performance as Kim Se Hee, a celebrity doctor who serves as the chief director of a major hospital and operates a charity foundation. On the surface, she’s highly respected in the medical field, but secretly runs the illegal adoption trafficking ring with a twisted belief that only superior genes deserve to survive.
Kim Se Hee represents the ultimate villain, someone who uses her medical expertise and social standing to commit unthinkable crimes. Her character operates under a warped eugenic philosophy, treating children as commodities to be evaluated, sold, and disposed of when they fail to meet expectations. Yum Jung-ah’s portrayal captures both the public persona of a respected doctor and the cold, calculating nature of a human trafficker.
The complexity of this antagonist lies in her ability to maintain dual identities, making her far more terrifying than typical drama villains. Her medical background adds another layer of horror, as she uses scientific reasoning to justify monstrous actions.
Kim Ah Hyun: The Survivor Who Refuses to Stay Silent
Won Jin-ah portrays Kim Ah Hyun, one of the “refunded” children who miraculously survived the cartel’s elimination process. Now grown up, she serves as both leader and spiritual supporter of other surviving children, organizing their fight for survival and revenge against Kim Se Hee’s organization.
Ah Hyun’s character arc represents resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma. Her transformation from victim to leader showcases the strength required to confront systematic abuse and seek justice. Won Jin-ah brings depth to a character who must balance her desire for revenge with her responsibility to protect other survivors.
The dynamic between Ah Hyun and the other survivors creates a found family narrative within the larger thriller framework, showing how trauma bonds can become sources of strength and determination in the fight against oppression.
The Explosive Confrontation That Changes Everything
The series builds toward an inevitable confrontation between the survivors and their tormentors, but The Defects doesn’t rely on simple revenge fantasy. Instead, it explores the psychological warfare between victims who refuse to remain silent and an organization that will stop at nothing to protect its operations.
As Ah Hyun and her group infiltrate Kim Se Hee’s research centers and charitable foundations, they uncover evidence of the cartel’s true scope. The series reveals how deeply embedded the trafficking ring has become within respected institutions, making their fight not just about personal survival but about exposing systematic corruption.
This climactic revelation forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about how evil can hide behind respectability, making the stakes feel genuinely urgent and important beyond entertainment value.
Success on ENA Network
The Defects has achieved an impressive 8.7 rating on IMDb despite being currently airing, demonstrating its impact on audiences willing to engage with challenging subject matter. The series represents ENA’s commitment to producing bold, socially conscious content that tackles difficult topics without sensationalizing them.
The drama’s 8-episode format allows for tight storytelling without unnecessary filler, making each episode essential viewing. Streaming availability on TVING and Kocowa has made the series accessible to both domestic and international audiences interested in Korean content that pushes creative boundaries. The Defects proves that audiences appetite for serious, socially relevant thrillers when handled with care and artistic integrity.
A Necessary and Unforgettable Viewing Experience
If you love psychological thrillers, social justice narratives, and performances that challenge viewers’ comfort zones, The Defects is the perfect series to experience on ENA and TVING. This groundbreaking drama offers essential viewing for those interested in Korean television’s evolution toward more complex, socially conscious storytelling.
Why This Thriller Demands Your Attention
The Defects succeeds because it treats its difficult subject matter with the seriousness it deserves, creating a thriller that entertains while forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable realities about systematic abuse and the resilience of survivors.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 8 episodes (currently airing, finale August 12, 2025)
Platform: ENA (original broadcast), TVING, Kocowa
Release Date: July 21, 2025 – August 12, 2025
Current IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Genre: Action Thriller, Psychological Drama
Status: Currently airing (Mondays & Tuesdays at 22:00 KST)
Protagonists: Yum Jung-ah (Kim Se Hee), Won Jin-ah (Kim Ah Hyun)
Antagonist: Kim Se Hee and the illegal adoption trafficking cartel