A Trap Called Desire

1. 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, and her first plan is to track down the fake witness, Lee Jung-tae, who accused her of murder. She subsequently joins the Cheongma Group, where she becomes involved with her first love Cha Seok-jin and her rival Kang Hae-ra while searching for the real culprit.

2. Cast and characters

2.1. Main

• Jang Seo-hee as Joo Mi-ran / Joo Ae-suk, the head of the PR department at the Cheongma Scholarship Foundation. She is the real murderer who killed Park Hee-jung and framed Eun-seol for it.^[3]
• Jeon Hye-won as Go Eun-seol, who was wrongly framed and served 10 years in prison.^[4]
• Seol Jung-hwan as Cha Seok-jin, the Cheongma Group Head of Strategic Planning. He is Eun-seol's first love, but was engaged in an arranged marriage to Hae-ra.^[4]
• Joo Sae-byeok as Kang Hae-ra, the sole heiress of the Cheongma Group and the head of the design team.^[4]
• Jang Se-hyun as Seo Hyun-jae, the head of the legal team at Cheongma Group.^[4]

2.2. Supporting

• Yoon Hae-young as Kim Jeong-seon, a former actress who is the chairperson of the Cheongma Scholarship Foundation.^[4]
• Yoo Tae-woong as Kang Young-hoon, Jeong-seon's husband, who is the CEO of Cheongma Holdings.^[4]
• Son Seong-yoon as Seo Mi-rae, Hyun-jae's older sister.^[4]
• Seo Kwon-soon as Wang Geum-ja, Eun-seol's adoptive grandmother.^[4]
• Choi Jae-won as Go Gi-han, Eun-seol's adoptive father.^[4]
• Park Hyun-jung as Park So-yeon, Seok-jin's mother.^[1]
• Park Sung-kyu as Go Eun-guk, Eun-seol's adoptive older brother.^[1]

2.3. Special appearance

• Seo Yoo-jung as Park Hee-jung, Eun-seol's adoptive mother.^[1]

3. Production

3.1. 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.^[3]

3.2. 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).^[5][3] Nine actors were announced the following month.^[4]

4. Viewership