Veteran actress Jang Seo Hee, widely known as the “Queen of Daily Dramas,” is officially returning to KBS for the first time in 12 years.

KBS2 has confirmed that Jang Seo Hee will headline its upcoming weekday drama Trap of Desire, which is scheduled to premiere in August. The actress will take on the role of the story’s central antagonist, marking another high-profile revenge drama for one of Korea’s most recognizable stars in the genre.

In Trap of Desire, Jang Seo Hee plays Joo Mi Ran, a former nanny who now serves as the public relations director of the Cheongma Scholarship Foundation. Although she appears kind, devoted, and compassionate on the surface, Mi Ran secretly harbors deep ambition and carefully concealed secrets. Willing to manipulate and destroy the lives of others to fulfill her desires, she is expected to become the drama’s primary source of conflict and suspense.

Trap of Desire follows the story of a woman who is falsely accused of murder and loses everything she once had. Determined to reclaim her life and expose those responsible, she embarks on a journey of revenge against powerful enemies driven by greed and ambition. The drama is directed by Lee Dae Kyung and Jung Kwang Soo, with a screenplay by Gu Ji Won. Production is being handled by Studio Bom and Monster Union.

Jang Seo Hee has long been regarded as one of Korea’s defining stars of daily dramas and revenge series. Over the years, she has delivered memorable performances in hit series including Miss Mermaid, Temptation of Wife, Two Mothers, Game of Witches.

Rather than portraying one-dimensional villains, Jang Seo Hee has earned praise for bringing emotional depth to complex characters torn between ambition, obsession, pain, and revenge. Her latest role appears set to continue that tradition.

Among Jang Seo Hee’s many successful projects, Temptation of Wife remains one of her most iconic. Portraying Gu Eun Jae, she captivated audiences with one of Korean television’s most famous revenge stories. The SBS drama became a nationwide sensation during its broadcast, recording a peak nationwide rating of 37.5% and cementing Jang’s status as one of the industry’s leading actresses. The show’s popularity also helped establish the modern revenge-drama formula that continues to influence Korean television today.

The production team praised Jang Seo Hee’s casting, saying: “Jang Seo Hee is an actress who has earned the public’s trust over many years. We believe she will portray Joo Mi-ran’s ambition, desire, and hidden emotions with exceptional depth.” Given her extensive experience in the genre, expectations are high for her return to the KBS daily drama lineup.

KBS2’s Trap of Desire will premiere in August 2026, succeeding the network’s current weekday drama Pearl in Red. With Jang Seo Hee leading the cast as a compelling new villain, the series is already attracting attention from longtime fans of Korean revenge dramas.

Sources: Daum | MHN스포츠